🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: We have a brand new, dedicated website! Go check out howtohandymaam.com! We officially separated it from our construction page, and we are SO excited for you to see it!

Welcome to the official "off-topic" podcast episode! In this highly conversational and chaotic Side Quest, we are running entirely on Sparkling Ice +Caffeine and good vibes.

We're taking a break from the heavy maintenance guides to just chat, catch up, and share some hilarious stories from our week. Grab a snack and join the conversation!

In this episode, we cover:

• The Great Candy Debate: From the superiority of unwrapped mini Kit Kats and 100 Grand bars to the absolute crime that is Lemonheads and Hot Tamales.

• The "Menty B": We talk about Emily's recent "menty b" (mental breakdown) and how the team had to forcefully remove items from her chart to help her out.

• The Tighty Whitey Incident: We launch into "Tales from the Field" with a story you have to hear to believe—Samantha shares the traumatic experience of showing up to a home estimate only to have the customer answer the door in his tighty whities. (Spoiler: She turned right around and left!)

• Experiencing the "Female Contractor" Treatment: Arly shares a story about her boyfriend, Jayce, experiencing what it feels like to have your expertise second-guessed when a customer bypassed him to ask a female coworker the exact same question.

Next Week's Teaser: Make sure you tune in next week for more "Tales from the Field," where we will find out why Arly had to call 911 and how she got verbally assaulted in a Home Depot!

Join The Village! 🛠️✨We are licensed builders teaching you everything we learned "the hard way" so you don't have to. Subscribe to the podcast to help us fund trade education for women.

• Website: howtohandymaam.com

• Follow us on Socials: @HowToHandymam

• Contact Us: Have a wild contractor story of your own? Email us at hthm@myhandymam.com!

We’re kicking off a brand-new series to help you stop being a "reactive" homeowner and start being a proactive Handyma’am. This episode moves past the basics to cover the high-priority safety and maintenance tasks that most people ignore until something goes wrong.

Inside the Episode:

• The Recommendation Engine: We dive into our current obsessions, from Bridgerton (Season 3) to the high-stakes reality TV of The Traitors.

• Podcast Hall of Fame: A massive list of recommendations including Malice in the Mitten (Michigan true crime), Singly Married (the "guy version" of our vibe), and Marcy Talks Money.

• The #1 Fire Risk: Why the dryer vent is the most dangerous thing in your house. We discuss the "accordion" ducting trap and the Handyma’am Leaf Blower Hack for cleaning vents.

• The Tissue Test: How to verify if your bathroom exhaust fan is actually removing moisture or just making noise.

• The Water Heater Trap: Why you should flush your heater yearly, but also why you should never start flushing an 8-year-old heater if it’s never been done before.

• Fire Science: The difference between Ionization (detecting flames) and Photoelectric (detecting smoldering smoke) detectors, and where you absolutely need them.

• Winky Face Outlets: Understanding 15-amp vs. 20-amp outlets and why you shouldn’t just swap a plug to make it fit.

• GFCI for Older Homes: How to use GFCIs to provide safety in ungrounded houses with two-prong outlets.

Maintenance Mindset: We wrap up with the concept of Habit Stacking—how to add one small maintenance task to your routine every month to keep your house (and bank account) healthy.

• 1. 
     

     Join the Village!

     • ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
     • ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
     • ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

In this milestone 10th SideQuest, Samantha, Emily, and Arly discuss why the "why" is just as important as the "how." From Emily’s late-night war against a neighborhood skunk to a listener’s four-year battle with a mysterious sewer smell, we’re breaking down how to diagnose the root cause of your home’s biggest headaches.

Inside the Episode:

• The "Moby Dick" Moment: Emily recounts her descent into madness trying to outsmart a skunk living under her porch and the low-tech lightbulb solution that finally won the war.

• The $6,000 Smell: We walk through a FaceTime consultation with a listener who spent thousands on professionals who couldn’t find the source of a sewer smell. Spoiler: Nobody thought to use a camera.

• Sewer Scope 101: Why you should always ask for the video proof (and a thumb drive) when a contractor scopes your lines. If they won't show you the crack, don't pay for the fix.

• Settling Houses & Sinkholes: A fascinating (and slightly terrifying) look at how a house settling near an active sinkhole can create a "stinky burger" situation for your next backyard BBQ.

• The "Handyma’am" Mindset: Why looking at a diagram and understanding how a system should work is the first step to figuring out why it isn’t.

  
  

  The Village Resources

  • Got a question? Email us at hthm@myhandymam.com or find us on social media linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

  • Join the Community: We are nearly at 800 members in our private Facebook group! Join the "Village" to get advice from Samantha, Emily, Arly, and hundreds of other DIY-capable women.

    • ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics.

    
    

    Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

    • ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    
    

  • Follow the Journey: Catch our older SideQuests now moving to YouTube with full video!

We are coming full circle! Our very first episode was a deep dive into Cheap vs. Quality tools, and today we are returning to that concept to tackle home products and DIY materials. From the "science" of top-shelf paint to the nightmare of peel-and-stick wallpaper, we’re breaking down where to invest and where you can actually afford to save.

The reno industry is flooded with "beginner-friendly" products that are actually designed to fail. We discuss why your "bargain" flooring might be unclicking itself as you speak and why Arly almost lost a finger trying to use a miter saw as a handheld tool.

Episode Highlights:

• The Big Win: We officially won the Saint Johns Business Incubator Challenge! We’re sharing the "Shark Tank" style presentation experience and how this win is funding our upcoming in-person DIY classes.

• Paint Science: Why Sherwin Williams is the "top-shelf vodka" of the paint world and why cheap "barn paint" requires 12 coats just to look decent.

• Flooring & Levelers: A stern warning on why "liquid floor leveler" is a marketing gimmick that can end up leaking into your basement if you aren't careful.

• Wallpaper Wisdom: Why we emphatically say NO to peel-and-stick or pre-pasted wallpaper. If it doesn't feel like a heavy placemat, don't put it on your walls.

• Lumber 101: The difference between "wet" and "dry" lumber and why you should carry a moisture meter to the hardware store to avoid buying a "pretzel" board.

• The "Cheek Test": How to pick a quality paintbrush by testing it against your face—if it's soft enough for foundation, it’s good enough for your trim.

• Village Vision: We are officially partnering with a local Girl Scout troop to teach young girls how to build, and we're dreaming up a weekend-long "Handyma’am Intensive" for this fall.

Resources & Mentions:

• Podcast Rec: The Marvelous Middle Age with Nicole Studt.

• The "Weird" Rec: Tooth and Claw (Animal attack stories for the brave).

• Dedicated to: Emily’s mother-in-law, Jeanne, a badass cancer survivor who reminds us all to lead with "vulnerable badassery".

• Get in Touch: Email us at hthm@myhandymam.com to suggest future "Cheap vs. Quality" topics.

  
  

  
  

  Join the Village!

  • ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

In this SideQuest, Samantha, Emily, and Arly dive into the mailbag to solve some common homeowner headaches. From the mysteries of "clicking" floors that have stopped clicking to the science of why your laundry room walls might be "sweating" syrup, the ladies break down how to fix it without calling in a pro (or burning the house down in frustration).

Is your click-and-lock flooring starting to show its teeth? We discuss the "Organized Chaos" approach to gaps in vinyl and laminate, including why a block of wood and some duct tape might be your new best friends.

• Mind the Gap: Why click-and-lock floors separate and how to "kick" them back into place—literally.

• The Glue Debate: Arly and Samantha face off on whether wood glue belongs on vinyl (Spoiler: Things get heated).

• Yellow Drips & Sticky Walls: If your walls look like a smoker lives there but they don't, it’s likely "surfactant leaching." We explain how high humidity and latex paint create this "syrup" and how to cure it for good.

• Wall Sweats: Condensation on your walls (not just the windows) is a major red flag for missing insulation. We talk about the "Breezeway Effect" and how to stop the moisture.

• The Anchor Struggle: How to remove plastic drywall anchors without leaving a crater in your wall—including the "hammer it in" trick.

Featured Tips & Tricks

• The Duct Tape Block: Wrap a 2x4 in duct tape (sticky side out) to create a high-grip tool for sliding floor planks back together.

• The Suction Cup Hack: Mention of the "Dumbbell" suction tool seen on TikTok for closing floor gaps.

• The Paint Cure: Don't steam up your bathroom for at least 3 days after painting to prevent the surfactant from leaching out.

  
  

  The Village Resources

  • Got a question? Email us at hthm@myhandymam.com or find us on social media linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

  • Join the Community: We are nearly at 800 members in our private Facebook group! Join the "Village" to get advice from Samantha, Emily, Arly, and hundreds of other DIY-capable women.

    • ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics.

    
    

    Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

    • ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    
    

  • Follow the Journey: Catch our older SideQuests now moving to YouTube with full video!

This week’s episode is dedicated to our favorite sister/DIY-er, Isabel Bowen (of Bowen’s Builds)!

In this episode, we play a game of "Red Flag, Green Flag, Yellow Flag" to help you navigate the stressful world of hiring contractors. If you are planning a renovation or need a repair, knowing these warning signs can save you thousands of dollars (and a lot of headaches).

We discuss:

• 🚩 Cash Discounts: Is it a deal or a liability? We explain why paying cash often means you have zero recourse if the job goes wrong.

• 🚩 100% Payment Upfront: Why you should never pay in full before the work starts, and what a reasonable deposit actually looks like.

• 🚩 Trash Talking: Why a contractor who badmouths the previous worker is usually a major red flag for their own professionalism.

• 🟢 Change Orders: Why a contractor asking for more money mid-project might actually be a green flag (if they communicate it correctly!).

• 🟡 Lump Sum vs. Itemized Estimates: How to read a quote and know exactly what you are paying for.

Resources Mentioned:

Join the Village:Have a contractor horror story? Or a "Red Flag" we missed? Tell us in the Facebook Group!

• ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics.

Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out the blog post ⁠⁠here!⁠⁠

Join the Village!

• ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠

We realized we’ve been hanging out in your earbuds for a few weeks now, but we haven't properly introduced ourselves!

In this SideQuest, we’re hitting pause on the tutorials to tell you who we actually are and how "My Handyma'am" started. Spoiler: It began with an accidental renovation, a biology major who never left, and a lot of plaster dust.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "Accidental" Beginning: How Samantha and her husband bought a historic house, and Emily (fresh out of art school) came home for spring break and accidentally started a demolition by looking for a brick wall behind the plaster.

• The "Master Class": How Samantha and Emily spent 9 months renovating a flip house together—teaching themselves everything from tiling to making custom trim—which eventually launched their business.

• Arly’s Entry: How Arly went from a biology major to "Employee #1" (and basically an adopted family member) who joined the chaos and just never left.

• Why We Do This: We aren't just here to show off projects. We are here to build a community large enough to fund affordable, accessible trade education for women.

• The Tools We Started With: (Hint: It wasn't much). Proof that you don't need a fancy workshop or a contractor's license to start fixing your own home—sometimes you just need a hammer and some audacity.

Join the Village:Whether you are here to learn how to fix a leaky faucet or just need permission to pick up a hammer for the first time, you are in the right place.

Connect with us:

• Instagram/TikTok: @HowToHandymaam

• Email: HTHM@myhandymaam.com

• Leave a Review: If you love what we’re doing, rating and reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcasts helps us reach more people (and convince sponsors to help us teach more women!).

Find us everywhere: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

We are taking a little trip back in time to right after Christmas! 🎄 In this episode, we are recapping the gifts we received (including a pink bucket that almost made Arly cry), sharing the moment Emily got recognized from the podcast while sitting in her car looking like a "Gremlin," and answering the ultimate beginner question: Do you really need power tools to DIY?

We break down the most common home renovation projects—from installing trim to tiling a backsplash—and decide whether you need to invest in the expensive power tool or if you can just "power through" with a hand tool.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Christmas Recap: Arly’s pink bucket saga, Samantha’s label maker obsession, and the Hamilton experience.

• The "Gremlin" Incident: Emily tells the story of eating Dunkin’ Donuts in her car (filled with trash) when a stranger knocked on her window because they recognized her from the podcast!

• Boob Lights vs. Titty Lights: A very important debate on ceiling fixture terminology.

• Power Tools vs. Hand Tools: We go project-by-project to tell you what you actually need:

  • Trim & Baseboards: Can you use a miter box instead of a miter saw? (Yes, but get ready to sweat).

  • Flooring: Do you need a wet saw for tile or a jigsaw for laminate?

  • Drywall Repair: The magic of "California Patches" vs. cutting a new hole.

  • Hanging Heavy Stuff: Why you might not need a drill if you have a stud magnet.

    
    

    
    

    Resources Mentioned:

    • ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics.

    
    

    Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

    • ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Check out the blog post ⁠here!⁠

    Join the Village!

    • ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠

    
    

    Credits

    Host -Samantha Pearl

    Host- Arly Streed

    Host - Emily Pearl Reist

    Editing and Music - Thomas Streed