Tiny House Podcast

Drum Roll Please!!! For this week’s episode Michelle is THRILLED to have finally lassoed our guest; Actor, Traveler, Videographer, and Internet Star; Bryce Langston. After meeting him in North Carolina and experiencing her first bout of nervous dry mouth on stage, she wanted another chance to ensure this tiny house advocate on wheels got a “proper” interview. What started as Bryce’s passing interest in permaculture, became a full time obsession, that then turned into a still-in-progress trip around the world to prove that the rewards of living tiny are more than worth the sacrifice. And while his own tiny house remains still under construction, we think the fun and lesson-filled stories are most definitely worth the sacrifice he makes for us all. And, by the way ladies, yes…this guy is as dreamy in person as his accent implies. So, where is he headed to next? You’ll have to tune in this week, to find out! http://www.livingbiginatinyhouse.com/

For so many, tiny houses are more than just a home; they’re a tool that allows their occupants to live a fulfilled and creative life. This week we’re chatting with Coles Whalen, who is instead using her love of tiny houses to support her true passion; music. If you have attended the Tiny House Jamboree in years past, or one the Tiny House Living Festivals this year, you have no doubt met this Colorado native who is now enjoying riding the tiny-house wave of popularity. Armed with experience as an event coordinator, and connected in the industry like few others are, Coles is a force to be reckoned with. She has been, and remains, front and center, continuing to push the notion that tiny houses and schoolies and van conversions are more than just four-wheels-to-call-your-own. http://www.tinyhouselivingfestival.com/

Fame is a fickle mistress and while the team at Tiny Heirloom is enjoying the spoils of their decisions which have rocketed them to the top of the HGTV viewing stats, they are also facing challenges that few other tiny house builders ever have to. In this week’s episode we have “the guys”; the hammer yielding family centric team that creates and leads and lives and builds Heirlooms, side by side. True to their young-forms, they focused early and heavily on social media and after their first build went truly “viral” they hunkered down, focusing both on the tasks of keeping the wheels on the tiny houses while also building made-for-TV tiny houses whose six-figure-price-point was unmatched in the market. Now after learning from the criticism that has come from leading in an unfamiliar territory, they’re crafting a future which includes more affordable tiny house options. What makes them tick? Who is the leader, who is the follower, and who is the creative genius on this team? Is this company the same after the

Often, I (Michelle) have to work pretty hard to write this; the introduction copy for a podcast episode. It’s not because our guests aren’t awesome; it’s because finding the unique words to explain just HOW awesome they are, can often be a creative challenge. So, as you might imagine my workflow includes perusing the guest’s website for additional fun clues into their particular brand of awesome. And, I gotta’ admit, this week’s introduction literally wrote itself. Within a few seconds of clicking on their homepage a chat window opened up accompanied with a loud “BING” noise!! Chat Window: “Hello! Is there anything I can help you with today?” Me: “Wow. There’s actually someone on the other end of this website on a Sunday afternoon?” Chat Window: “How can I help you?” Me: “This is Michelle from the Tiny House Podcast just perusing their website and writing the introduction copy for their upcoming episode. I don’t need any help really. (Unless you want to write it for me? 300 words about how awesome they

#109 Trees Company - with Michael Garnier by Bigfoot Podcast Network

The explosive growth of the simple-and-intentional-living movement has created opportunity for so many companies and nowhere is that more evident than with Eagle Log Cabins. This week, our chat with Vivian reminds us all that a healthy living environment leads to a healthy life. And, that a quiet and purposefully built structure leads to a purpose focused life. But the cabins that she and her partner Thomas design build are far from your Grandpa’s damp and dusty old box-like house in the woods. The woods used in their building, which range from private retreat pods, to huge living quarters, is harvested in the Nordic Regions and imported to Vashon Island WA. Their cabins are both lovely, and liveable, and worth taking a look at; even if you have your eyes on a tiny house on wheels. You know why!? They build those too! http://www.eaglelogcabins.com/

For some of us, our journey into the world of tiny houses takes many turns. But this week, our guest’s tiny house story begins on the other side of the world. What started as a business venture in the bustling city of Abu Dhabi eventually led this entrepreneur back to Austin Texas where he now builds tiny house frames from cold form steel. Here on the podcast we’ve talked about Pocket Living, and Pocket Neighborhoods; but this week we’re talking about a Pocket Shop. This idea which blends small retail stores, easily and quickly amongst their more bustling cousins, led to the creation of the Volstrukt steel framed tiny house which now leads the way in the super-light-weight-tiny-house race. And, believe it or not, their first showing was right here in Portland, Oregon where their revolutionary creation met with somewhat blank stares from the local tree huggers. Not deterred, they partnered with a couple of tiny house builders to prove their theory and the rest is cold, hard, steely, profitable, and growin

Everywhere you look, nowadays, there is a tiny house! In addition to their cute-as-a-KITTEN looks, their somewhat recent rise to stardom causes a BUZZ wherever they go! So much so that more than just simple-life-enthusiasts are now joining the HERD. Now, even the ANIMALS are starting to get in on the action…..well…….the Creative ANIMAL Foundation that is. Even if the only animal you love is your DOG or BIRD, you should listen in to this week’s interview with Stephanie and Tim, the passionate duo who is using their tiny house on wheels to promote animal welfare, and spread awareness about what us human-animals can do to save them and protect their environment. And, Stephanie knows a thing or two about ANIMALS. As a seasoned WILDLIFE educator and the Host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, Stephanie knows first-hand about non-sustainable human practices and how they impact ecosystems and the species they support. Also joining the PACK this week is Tim; a WILDLIFE artist, educator, and filmmaker; who’s gained

What started as a tiny apartment experiment in 2009 turned into the internet explosion that is now TreeHugger and LifeEdited. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have no doubt been impressed and influenced by the ideas, architecture, products and tips from this week’s guest. Spurred on by the same economic and environmental issues as the tiny house movement has been, the concepts of living simply have gained impressive traction in the mainstream press, leaving product manufacturers, architects, and builders; stunned and scrambling to catch up. Even if you can afford a 10,000 square foot mansion with a view, should you? Life is about so much more than what we have and Graham Hill embodies this concept in everything he does. You will truly miss out if you don’t tune in to this rare interview with a true King of All Things Edited. So stop what you’re doing, listen in; and be inspired by his vision, his story, his travels, and his energy. http://lifeedited.com/ https://www.treehugger.com/

A typical tiny house will only be moved a few times in its lifetime. Jenna Spesard, however, built hers with the intent of hauling it more miles than even a typical RV. As such, you can then imagine how THRILLED we were to finally catch Jenna between trips and have her in the studio for this week’s interview. Even if her original plan started with a partner, the change in their relationship didn’t dampen her enthusiasm for tiny houses, traveling, or advocating for living simply. Of all the tiny house people we have chatted with, Jenna is one of the most impressive. This is a lady who knows how to not let anything get in the way of living life on her own terms. She has been from Maine, to California, to Alaska, in her tiny house; and everywhere in between. These days, while she doesn’t have her tiny house in tow, she still travels; only now her destinations include exotic foreign countries and far reaching corners of sparsely traveled back roads. This woman is brave, driven, and passionate. This tiny-yet-fierc

While we have talked, more than a few times, about the concept of using tiny houses to help our homeless and disadvantaged citizens, today’s interview with Reverend Fowler is by far the most inspiring conversation we have had, to date. (Michelle even cried.) Most homeless communities focus on transition housing but the Cass Community Social Services program in Detroit provides a guaranteed inroad to tiny home OWNERSHIP! And these aren’t cookie cutter houses. Each one is as different as the challenges their occupants face. Listen in this week to learn how Faith (our new hero’s name) helped to bring together private donors to overcome the lack of subsidized funds, how she motivated an entire city to support the CCS mission, and prompted millions of internet viewers to “like”, share, and follow the now-viral videos featuring the impressive results of their hard work. https://casscommunity.org/tinyhomes/ And, as mentioned in today’s podcast, here is a link to a recent MSN article featuring Michelle’s “Emp

One of the best parts of attending the various tiny house events that occur, almost every weekend, is meeting all of the amazing people that make up this inspiring movement. And, Kari Cooper, certainly fits that bill. This fun and inspiring woman found peace, not in a tiny house, but in a yurt. Her mobile yurt, named “Gert”, came to her as a wedding present but keeps on giving; not only to her but to all who enter. At times, immobilized by health issues, her story echoes what we hear from so many of our listeners. They want a simpler life, a smaller life, a tribe on which to lean, a fun story to tell, a friend on whom to call, and a space to call one’s own. The strength of this tiny woman, the story of her creative journey, and her irreverent approach to life keeps her moving. And, maybe, her story might be the inspiration you need to make the next move towards the tiny life of your dreams too! You Go GRRL! www.yurtgrrl.com

We often find that when we take time to walk, to talk, to listen, and to quietly contemplate our future; it’s easier to envision it. And this week our guest, Byron with Switchgrass Tiny Homes, proves our theory. And, although this tiny house builder’s plan started out quietly enough, with the recent addition of a son; his life hasn’t been quiet since. If you have been out and about at the tiny house festivals East of the Mississippi you have, no doubt, seen Byron and his hardworking crew giving tours and inspiring us with their clean designs. Their responsible and responsive approach to customer education, and their flexible approach to design, made an impression on Michelle who recently met Byron at a festival in North Carolina. Afterwards, she wasn’t a bit surprised to learn that the house she fell in love with there, didn’t make it back home. Someone else loved it so much, they bought it! As Byron says on their website: “Going tiny, isn’t just a move; it’s a move that will change your life…” and we could

You don’t have to appreciate Marvel Comics to enjoy this week’s interview with the dynamic duo of tiny houses, Josh and Shelley. Long before their episode on “Tiny House Nation” aired, this young power couple was already moving their lives in a direction which focused on freedom, travel, and using their talents to help others achieve their dream. And if you think that living in a tiny house with someone would be a challenge, just imagine living AND working together WITH two dogs underfoot. With a lot of work, sweat, and tears, these two have carved out a pretty impressive corner of the tiny house world; and there is nothing “TINY” or “BASIC” about the thriving business they have created. Equally impressive is their refusal to sacrifice quality or what they love (Finally! We meet someone who loves shoes and clothes as much as Michelle does!?) Every time we see their 374 sq foot tiny house on wheels, or hear their story, we are even more convinced that this is a couple who is bound for bigger and better thin

If you’re planning on visiting, living in, creating, or dreaming of a tiny house community; you have no doubt heard of our guest this week; Ross Chapin. His amazing vision, his dedication, and his book “Pocket Neighborhoods – Creating Small Scale Community in a Large Scale World” have created an opportunity to reshape the way cities approach planning neighborhoods. It doesn’t matter if the house is on wheels, or on a foundation; his ideas about how to create an environment of both connection and privacy are positively ground-breaking. (pun intended!) His style is simple, inspired by the idea of creating an environment that encourages sharing with our neighbors, and every feature of the spaces he envisions has a practical function; though many of them are not obvious. This is one of those interviews that you really should take time-out for. So, grab a cup of your favorite tea or coffee, settle into a comfy chair, turn off the ringer on your cell phone, and join us for a discussion with a guy who gives ideas on

Tiny Houses come in all shapes and sizes but building most tiny houses doesn’t require the complex mathematical calculations like building a yurt does. Lou, with Octobie, must be a genius. Michelle can hardly wrap her brain around designing in dormers for her tiny house. Lou builds copulas. Michelle finds compound miter cuts intimidating; for Lou it’s another day at the office. His yurts are beautiful, efficient, unique, and we love everything about these eight-sided tiny houses. If a different kind of tiny, suits your fancy, and you’re interesting in a space NOT on wheels, you should listen in this week as we chat about the challenges of building these uncommonly-wood but truly-amazing structures. http://www.octobie.com/

There is nothing tiny about the vision of Jon Staff, our guest this week. And, “impressive” does not even begin to describe what he and his team have created for their guests. If you’re lucky enough to live in Boston or New York, you have no doubt heard about this amazing new way to unplug and unwind in one of Getaway’s tiny houses. So many of us live such harried lives. So many of us get caught up in our day to day lives and don’t make downtime a priority. We know we should, but there are so many details to work out; which is oddly ironic, isn’t it? And while many people in the tiny house movement don’t need convincing of the value of simplicity, many do. Picture this. It’s been months since you did something just for you. So you decide to splurge and book a weekend in a tiny house in the mountains. You don’t even know where it is, really. But on Friday morning you receive an email with a song list. You listen and unwind as you find your way to your weekend oasis. Once you arrive, you find everything yo

Oregon is such a great place to call home. But finding an affordable home option is not so easy in this amazing state of ours. Can you believe that over 50% of the houses that sold in Portland in the past two months, sold for OVER the asking price? It’s a fever-pitched real estate market that is crowding out first time home buyers, and leaving renters to question if they’ll ever have a place to call their own. And, we know that Portland is not alone and if there ever was a perfect situation in which to launch a new company who helps first time homebuyers think outside the traditional foundation-based-box, we think our guest this week has found it! It’s not often that we have the opportunity to interview our guest in the studio so this chat with Covo Tiny Houses’ founder, Tyson, was a real treat for us. And, speaking of treats, Michelle also had the opportunity to see their latest build at a local event in the Spring. If you’re looking for an advocate to help you navigate the complex world of tiny house f

Tiny Houses are often offered up as a solution to homelessness. And while the Podcast Crew may have varying opinions on the subject, we can all agree that our guest this week has the best idea we’ve heard yet. No so long ago, Alan Graham left the comfy confines of his Westlake Hills home and took to the streets to hang with the people who inhabit them. It is a routine Graham has had since 2003, when he began hosting “Street Retreats” as part of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, the Austin nonprofit he co-founded in 1998, whose mission is to restore dignity to homeless people through food, clothing, and camaraderie. But, in all honesty, our favorite contribution of the Mobile Loaves & Fishes organization is the Community First Village. It is a 27-acre community in East Austin that provides affordable, permanent, small houses for the homeless. And, in exchange for modest rent, paid through wages or disability checks, residents have access to features like a medical facility for health screenings, an outdoor movie theate

If the past three years have taught us anything, they have taught us that the lack of legal and welcoming spaces for tiny houses has kept the tiny house movement from blossoming into the bustling industry it should be. So many people want to live in a tiny house but are hesitant to build one, for fear of not finding a spot to park it. Our guest this week recognized this opportunity, and seized it by recently launching “Try It Tiny”; an online resource which connects tiny house enthusiasts and occupants, with landowners and tiny house owners. Listen in this week to hear how this hustling entrepreneur finds listings, about her challenges of launching a new website, and how she hopes to change the landscape of America and perceptions of the possibilities that tiny houses provide. Whether you want to park your tiny house in someone’s side yard for a month, stay on a back lot for a year, or simply try a tiny on for size; “Try It Tiny” will no doubt be the go-to place to meet your needs. We agree with Maggie, pr