How To Handyma’am | A Home Improvement Comedy Podcast
How to Handyma’am is a home improvement comedy podcast hosted by three women who work in the home remodeling business. Drawing on their experience as licensed builders, they share practical advice and entertaining stories about maintaining and improving your home. The show aims to help women feel confident and independent when caring for their homes, careers, and choosing service providers. It is a Michigan-based production from the team at MyHandyma’am.
Episodes
Can You Paint Latex Over Oil-Based Paint? Track Saw Kickback & Saw Safety Q&A | SideQuest 44
Can you paint latex over oil-based trim? What happens when a track saw kicks back? Why does your wall scanner say there’s live electrical when there isn’t? In SideQuest 44, our October listener Q&A, Emily, Samantha, and Arly answer your DIY and power tool safety questions (while all three of us are sick, so bear with us).In this episode:Circular saw safety: why you never mess with the blade gu
Don’t Burn Your House Down! 🔥 9 Common Home Fire Hazards | Ep 45
Happy Fire Safety Awareness Month! 🔥 In this episode, Arley cooks up a high-stakes game of "Fire Hazard or False Alarm?" to test Emily and Samantha on household fire safety, hidden electrical dangers, and smoke detector myths! Before we dive into how to keep your house from burning down, we start with our signature "Three Minutes of Chaos"—which somehow turned into an intense,
The Woman Who Secretly Built the Brooklyn Bridge! | SideQuest 43
Live from Podcast Movement in New York City! 🗽 In this special NYC-themed Side Quest, the Handyma’am crew takes over the convention studio to play a round of NYC Fact or Fiction before diving into the incredible, uncredited story of Emily Warren Roebling—the badass woman who actually built the Brooklyn Bridge!From fake brownstone subway vents and wooden rooftop water tanks to a woman riding across
Where to Save vs. Splurge on Your Home! 🏠 Cheap vs. Quality (Part 3) | Ep 44
Where to Save vs. Splurge on Your Home! 🏠 Cheap vs. Quality (Part 3)Should you buy the $20 light fixture or the $200 brand-name version? 🛠️ In Part 3 of our Cheap vs. Quality series, we are breaking down 9 common home fixtures to tell you where to save your hard-earned cash and where cheaping out will ruin your life!Plus, in our 3 Minutes of Chaos, we recap our wild trip to New York City for Podca
Super Glue vs. Gorilla Epoxy: The Ultimate Junk Drawer Debate! | SideQuest 42
Welcome back to the How to Handyma’am SideQuest! 🎙️✨If a main episode is a structured build, the SideQuest is the junk drawer of our podcast—unfiltered, chaotic, and full of surprising gems! 📦In today's episode, Emily presents her "Official Top 10 Ideal Junk Drawer Items" to Samantha and Arly. From precision screwdrivers and zip ties to heated debates over Gorilla Epoxy vs. Super Glu
Blind Date with a Floor! 💘 How to Choose the RIGHT Flooring for Your Home | Ep 43
Welcome back to How to Handyma’am! 🎙️✨In today’s episode, Samantha debuts her brand-new game show: "Blind Date with a Floor"—the only dating show where getting laid correctly is extremely important! 🪵💘Choosing flooring based purely on appearance is like picking a life partner from a flattering profile picture—eventually, you have to live with it. Emily and Arly ask secret questions to fi
THE CASE OF THE MISSING SAMANTHA! (Buy, Borrow, or Build Tool Guide) | SideQuest 41
Welcome to another chaotic Side Quest episode of How to Handyma’am! 🎙️✨Samantha is out taking care of business today, leaving Emily and Arly completely unsupervised in the studio to play a game of BUY, BORROW, OR BUILD! 🛠️We’re breaking down 10 major homeowner tools and equipment to tell you what's worth building yourself, what you should rent or borrow, and what you should buy secondhand.----
FIREWORKS IN THE BREAKER BOX! 💥 (Our 1st Live Podcast!) | Ep 42
Welcome to a very special episode of How to Handyma’am—our FIRST EVER live podcast recording! 🎙️✨We sat down in front of a room full of incredible women at our full-day hands-on DIY workshop to debrief the magic, tears, and toilet-on-wheels engineering of the event before diving into a rapid-fire Q&A session.--------------------------------------------------In This Episode:--------------------
How to Become a Handywoman (And Why Your Cabinet Paint Chipped!) | SideQuest 40
Welcome to another weekly Side Quest episode of How to Handyma’am! 🎙️✨In this episode, we’re diving into porch-garden drama, real-life shop safety lessons, and an honest Q&A session unpacking everything from switching careers at 44 to busting major cabinet painting myths.--------------------------------------------------In This Episode:--------------------------------------------------• 🌻 Arly
The 6-Day Kitchen Renovation: From Demo to Functional (Without Losing Your Mind) | Ep 41
Can you turn a completely gutted kitchen into a fully functioning cooking space in just six days? In this episode, Samantha, Arly, and Emily break down the exact 3-phase framework used to renovate Samantha's daughter Hannah’s kitchen on a realistic budget and timeline. HGTV makes kitchen remodels look like magic, but real-life renovations require strategy, realistic scheduling, and knowing how
Why Medieval Houses Were Made of POOP (vs. Modern DIY) | SideQuest 39
The chickens have left the coop! 🐔 In this unusually chaotic SideQuest, Samantha, Emily, and Arly hop into a time machine to look at how medieval peasant houses were built compared to modern homes. From timber framing with puzzle-piece wooden pegs to walls literally made of animal poop (wattle and daub!), thatched roof fire hazards, and candles made of bacon grease—thank goodness for modern drywal
Which Sheet Good Should You ACTUALLY Buy?! (Plywood vs OSB vs MDF) | Ep 40
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! 🛠️✨Standing in the lumber aisle staring at 17 different types of panels and wondering what the heck to buy? In this episode, we give you the ultimate guide and ranking for the 4 main types of wooden sheet goods: Plywood, OSB, Particle Board, and MDF! We break down how each one is made, what they’re actually good for, and why MDF belongs straight in the trash
Dead Salmon or Divorced Dad Gray?! (We Guess Real vs Fake Paint Names) | SideQuest 38
Welcome back to the SideQuest! 🎨✨ This week, Emily puts Samantha and Arly to the test in a game of REAL vs. FAKE paint color names! From Farrow & Ball to Benjamin Moore, can you guess which ridiculous names are actual paint swatches and which ones Emily totally made up? (Looking at you, "Divorced Dad Gray" and "Unpaid Invoice"). Grab your paintbrush, play along, and see if
5 Warning Signs Your House Is Trying to Tell You Something (Home Maintenance Part 2) | Episode 39
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! 🛠️ Dr. Pearl and Dr. Streed are in the house today to diagnose your top home maintenance symptoms! 🩺 In Part 2 of our Homeowners Maintenance Guide, Emily, Arly, and Samantha break down 5 common home problems—from stinky washing machines to loud refrigerators and jammed garbage disposals—plus exact step-by-step treatments to fix them before calling a pro.We al
Can You Guess These 11 Workshop Sounds? 🔊 (The Sound of DIY) | SideQuest 37
Welcome back to another chaotic bonus episode of The Side Quest! 🎙️Today, Emily, Samantha, and Arly are playing "The Sound of DIY"—a trivia game where Emily plays mystery audio clips recorded right in the workshop, and the gals have to guess the tool or task! Powered by 7 PM work-night energy and "Crunchy Lemonade," things get loud, weird, and surprisingly competitive. Test you
7 Costly Bathroom Remodel Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them!) | Episode 38
Welcome to How to Handyman, the podcast where we empower women to take care of their homes! 🛠️Planning a bathroom remodel or thinking about hiring a contractor? Welcome to Bathrooms 101! 🛁 In this episode, Emily, Samantha, and Arly walk you through the essential steps to consider BEFORE buying supplies, swinging a sledgehammer, or getting in over your head=dden plumbing costs to waterproofing myth
Do These Viral "Dad Hacks" ACTUALLY Work? 🛠️ | SideQuest 36
Welcome back to another bonus episode of The Side Quest! 🎙️Today, Emily, Samantha, and Arly are putting home improvement old wives' tales, viral "dad hacks," and common DIY myths to the test in an ultimate game of Fact or Fiction! Can a raw potato really unscrew a broken lightbulb? Does mayonnaise actually remove water rings from wood? Is bleach actually killing the mold on your dryw
10 Flipper Red Flags Every Homebuyer Needs to Spot! 🚨 (Flipper Detection Agency) | Ep 37
Welcome to How to Handyman, the podcast where we empower women to take care of their homes and investigate cheap flipper crimes! In today’s episode, Emily, Samantha, and Arley launch the Flipper Detection Agency to uncover the most common shortcuts flippers take to make a house look pretty while hiding massive structural, plumbing, and electrical red flags. We break down what the crime is, why it’
Kiss, Marry, Eliminate (Design Trends Edition!) | SideQuest 35
Welcome back to another chaotic bonus episode of The Side Quest! Today we are playing an unhinged game of Kiss, Marry, Eliminate—because last time we used the word "Kill" in our episode title, the platform flagged and removed it! We are tackling the best, the worst, and the downright heinous interior design trends, forcing ourselves to reach a consensus on what stays and what gets booted
Buy, Borrow, or Bury: Which Measuring Tools Do You ACTUALLY Need? | Ep 36
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am, the podcast where we empower women to take care of their homes! It’s been way too long, but we are back and talking all things measuring tools[cite: 3]! Today, we are playing a game of "Buy, Borrow, or Bury" to tell you exactly which tools you actually need to own as a casual homeowner, which ones you can just borrow from a neighbor, and which ones
Impact Drivers vs. Hammer Drills & Giant TV Hacks (August Q&A) | SideQuest 34
Welcome to another How-To Handyma'am Side Quest! This time, Emily, Samantha, and Arly are diving into our August Q&A to answer your amazing DIY questions. You all have been sending in so many great messages to our inbox, and we are breaking down the answers so you don't have to learn the hard way. In this episode, we cover:How to safely mount a massive 77-inch TV using proper mounts, l
Nails, Screws, and a Screw Loose: Your Guide to Fasteners | Episode 35
In this episode of How to Handyma'am, Emily, Samantha, and Arly are covering the absolute essentials of household fasteners! 🔩 Before diving into the hardware, we have six minutes of chaos catching up on Samantha’s European Viking cruise and Arlie’s 4th of July engagement! 💍 Then, we play a rapid-fire scenario game to determine the exact right fastener for your DIY jobs—from hanging heavy TVs
Why Home Improvement Marketing Fails Women (And Crazy DIY Stats!) | SideQuest 33
Welcome back to Sidequest Tuesday! Today, Emily, Arly, and Samantha are competing in a trivia game all about the statistics that matter most in homeownership and construction. In this episode, we break down the numbers that radicalized our mission for women's home education, including why traditional marketing fails female homeowners and the reality of how many women live alone. Then, we dive into
Home Inspection Red Flags: What to Fix and When to Walk Away | Episode 34
Are you getting ready to buy a house, or currently staring down a lengthy home inspection report in a panic? In this episode, Samantha, Emily, and Arly play a game of "Deal or No Deal: Home Inspection Edition" to help you understand what is fixable, what requires negotiation, and what is an absolute dealbreaker! We break down what is an approachable DIY repair for beginners, what you sho
The Handyma'am State of Mind (with Johanna Schuster-Craig, Smaller Scale LLC) | SideQuest 33
Welcome to the Sidequest! 🗺️ On Tuesdays, we detour from our regular Friday format to bring you something a little different. Today, we’re sitting down with an incredible human being to celebrate courage, community, and what it really means to have a "handyma'am state of mind".We are so honored to introduce you to Johanna Schuster Craig, owner of Smaller Scale LLC, based in the Lansi
PATREON TEASER: Rating Our Unhinged Hate Comments (1 to 5 Screws Loose)
👉 Click here to subscribe to the Patreon for full, uncensored episodes: https://patreon.com/howtohandymaamWelcome to the chaos, friends! 🌪️ Today we are dropping a special, uncensored sneak peek of our Patreon-exclusive content right here on the main feed.Normally, we are here to calmly help you not burn your house down. But on our Patreon, there is absolutely no filter, and we are completely un
How to Make Your Walls Fancy (And Fix the Chewed-Up Ones!) | Trim 101 | Ep 33
Welcome back! Today, Samantha, Emily, and Arly are diving into Arly's absolute favorite topic: making your walls fancy with trim and molding! Whether your house is a historic Craftsman, a detailed Victorian, or just has walls that look like a dog chewed them up, we have a solution for you. We break down the different styles of trim, the functional (and purely decorative) purposes of wainscotin
Unearthing Spines, Mummified Mice, & Job Site Mysteries | Sidequest 32
Welcome to our Sidequest! This is our mini bonus episode where we take a break from the main educational content to go down some structured bunny trails. Today, Samantha, Arly, and Emily are leaning into their true crime era to share the absolute weirdest, spookiest, and most confusing things we have unearthed on construction sites over the last six years. Because sometimes, the only adequate paym
The Holy Grail Tool Guide: 9 Tools We Can’t Live Without | Ep 32
We are turning the tables on each other today! 🪚🔥 Instead of choosing our own rants, we selected each other's "Three Minutes of Chaos" topics—covering everything from country Bologna picnics to horrifying Pop-Tart ant infestations and wild Amazonian otters. 🐜🥪Then, we transition into full salesman mode to give you an unfiltered, rapid-fire breakdown of the 9 tools we physically canno
Cat Urine Houses, Drywall Crackers, & The WD-40 Lie | SideQuest 30
Dog barking drama couldn't stop us! 🐶❌ We are back with another monthly SideQuest Q&A, answering your real-world home improvement questions straight from Instagram DMs and our website mail portal. 🛠️✨From structural drywall fixes to hazardous job site safety myths, we are breaking down the direct, data-backed truth about your homes. 🪚 THE DRYWALL & TOOL CLUBHOUSE:Our mission is to give
DIY Forensic Files | The Ultimate Guide to IKEA Melamine, Brick, Tile, and Metal | Episode 31
Welcome to How to Handyma'am, the podcast where Samantha, Arly, and Emily put on their detective hats! In this episode, we investigate why good paint goes bad on weird surfaces, why it peels off in long sheets, and how to fix it.Before we jump into the case files, we kick things off with our signature segment: Three Minutes of Chaos. We throw a massive shoutout to one of our lovely support sys
SideQuest 29 | Weird Tool Origins Part 2!
Welcome to the SideQuest! Today, we are taking a break from our regular instructional deep dives to bring you Team Chaos: Part Two of Weird Tool Origins! Samantha, Arly, and Emily are going head-to-head in a tool trivia battle to guess the bizarre, accidental, and sometimes bloody backstories of the items sitting inside your toolbox right now. Play along with us in the comments and keep track of y
Ep 30: The Definitive Guide to Deck Refinishing (And Why Paint is a Sin!)
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! In Episode 30, we are tackling a massive project that every homeowner dreads but desperately needs: Deck Refinishing!Before we dive into our definitive 4-phase guide, we kick things off with literal, actual, certifiable studio chaos. We discuss why Emily’s "dead" backyard groundhog, Gerald, is actually alive and eating mulberries, how Emily blew $40
SideQuest 28 | How a Garbage Disposal ACTUALLY Works (And 2 Hidden Fixes!)
Think your garbage disposal is just a blender with sharp blades waiting to destroy your silverware? Today we are completely busting the myths around sink maintenance! 🛑🌪️In this "Sidequest" bonus episode of the How to Handyma’am Podcast, Emily plays garbage disposal detective to explain why a recent plumbing class completely blew everyone's minds. We reveal the hidden reality of how
Episode 29 | Fact or Fiction: The Outdoor Building Code Game Show! 🛠️
Welcome back to the studio! Today, we are putting our building knowledge to the ultimate test with Fact or Fiction: Outdoor Code Edition. Samantha steps up as our quizmaster and game show host while Emily and Arly battle it out to see who wins the Handyma'am Olympics of building code. Before we look at the rulebook, we dive into our mandatory 3 minutes of chaos to talk about Samantha's gol
SideQuest 27 | Kiss, Marry, Eliminate: POWER TOOL EDITION 🛠️
Welcome back to another chaotic How to Handyma'am Sidequest! Today, we are playing a legendary game with a workshop twist: Kiss, Marry, Kill: Power Tool Edition. The rules are simple: Emily gives us three common tools, and as a crew, we HAVE to agree on which one we’d marry, which one we’d give a quick kiss to, and which one is getting permanently thrown into the dumpster.Warning: Things get i
Saws 101 | Episode 28
Welcome to Episode 28 of How to Handyma'am, the podcast where we are all up in your business! This week we are tackling Saws 101—breaking down the 6 best saws for your DIY arsenal, what they actually do, and how to use them without a trip to the emergency room. But first, we’ve got some serious field chaos to catch up on. The Chaos Before the Tools:The Maddie Fan Club: This episode is dedicate
Sidequest 26 | We Placed a Bet on Our Worst Construction Habits 🛑
Welcome to another unhinged edition of the How to Handyma’am Sidequest! 📻🧰 Friday to Friday is just way too long to wait, so we are back for our weekly halfway point bonus episode. We decided to give you a normal, well-organized main episode followed by complete, coo-coo-bananas chaos on the sidequest. We kick things off with a highly relatable discussion about a viral video featuring a chicken we
Episode 27 | DIY Judgment Day: The Internet Hacks That Are Accidentally Ruining Your House
Welcome to Episode 27 of How to Handyma’am! ☀️🪚We missed you all so much, and today the trio is back with an incredibly packed episode dedicated to one of our day-one supporters, Pam! We kick things off with a chaotic late-night studio session featuring emergency mac and cheese, blue slushies, and a complete breakdown of our very first in-person workshop class. We also celebrate a massive mileston
SideQuest 25: The Bondo Debate, Ceiling Fan Struggles, & Legal Fence Drama
Welcome back to the How to Handyma’am Sidequest! 📻🧰We are switching things up and moving to a once-a-month, rapid-fire Q&A format so we can dive deep into your burning home improvement questions . Recording late on a Tuesday night from Samantha’s house (aka Emily’s mom!)—complete with an angry, trapped dog downstairs acting like a disgruntled Pixar character—the trio gets straight to the point
Ep 26: The Outdoor Independence Audit: 10 Exterior Accessibility Upgrades
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! ☀️🪚In this episode, Samantha, Emily, and Arly are breaking down Part 2 of their "Aging in Place" series—this time, taking the conversation completely outside for an Outdoor Independence Audit. As licensed builders running their construction company, MyHandyma'am, the crew dives into 10 practical ways to modify your home’s exterior so that you an
Sidequest 24| The Shocking Medical & Military Origins of Your Tools!
Welcome back to How-To Handyma’am! This week, Samantha, Arly, and Emily are stepping away from our standard workshop schedules to take you on a wild, chaotic deep dive into the completely bizarre history of the everyday tools sitting in your garage . Emily is feeling sneaky and sharing her inner history nerd as we play a guessing game with the unsettling origins of modern trade tools : 🩸 The Child
Ep 25: Summer Hosting Hacks & Ladder Safety
Welcome back to How-To Handyma’am, the podcast where we put the handyman in the hosting ! This week, Samantha, Arly, and Emily are bringing you part two of our ultimate summer hosting guide, packed with genius backyard hacks and tactical entertaining blueprints to put even your most introverted guests completely at ease .Before we hit the backyard, we kick off with our Three Minutes of Chaos segme
Sidequest 23: Welcome to the MDF Hate Club: Sponge Wood, Toxic Dust, and "Smartie Candy" Screws 🪵❌
Grab your respirators, folks. In this Sidequest, Samantha, Arly, and Emily officially open the doors to the MDF Hate Club . While medium density fiberboard looks uniform and beautiful on the store shelf, we are here to expose the pros, the cons, and the absolute lies surrounding this compressed wood fluff .In this Sidequest, we break down:What is MDF anyway?: A mid-20th-century invention made from
Episode 24: Fence 101: Digging Deep, Neighbor Etiquette, and Beating the Frost Line 🪵🏗️
We’ve officially hit Episode 24! This week, Samantha, Arly, and Emily are breaking down the essential steps to building a fence that stays level, plumb, and square for years to come. Samantha kicks things off with a heartfelt dedication to her Aunt Annie—the original "master of the chaos" who taught her that getting older means finally being exactly who you are.In this episode, we discus
Sidequest 22: Deck Staining Secrets, Patio Permits, & Why We Hate Wood Filler 🪵🛠️
We’ve officially survived the "22-episode failure zone," and with over 43 total uploads including our Sidequests, we’re just getting started! This week, the studio door is open, and Winnie the dog joins Emily, Arly, and Samantha as we tackle a themed Q&A all about your home's exterior. In this Sidequest, we answer:Staining a Weathered Deck: Is it ever too late to stain a graying
Ep 23: Summer Hosting Part 1 — Fire Pits, Lighting, & How Not to Burn a Hole in Your Deck 🪵🔥
Winter is finally over in Michigan, and the Handyma’ams are ready to head outside! This episode kicks off a two-part summer hosting series designed to help you get your home party-ready and, most importantly, safe for your guests. In this episode, we cover:Memorial for Carla Jean: A special dedication to a "girls' gal" who loved life. The 3-Minute Catch-up: New eyebrow freckles , a h
Sidequest 21: Reddit Contractor Nightmares, The "Materials Scam," & Unpermitted Disasters 🚩
Grab your concert tees and get ready to rock, because this is the Sidequest of the 90s! This week, Emily went rogue in the basement office and dug into the depths of Reddit to find some truly unhinged contractor horror stories. Samantha, Arly, and Emily read through four different nightmares and provide their professional commentary on the massive red flags these homeowners missed. In this Sideque
Ep 22: The Price is Right: Hardware Store Edition, Body Positivity, & A Milwaukee Giveaway! 💸🛠️
Welcome back to How To Handyma'am! This week, Arly survived a brutal bout of food poisoning to bring you an episode packed with chaotic energy, essential life advice, and a hardware store game show. Before we talk tools, Samantha celebrates finding a great new therapist , and then Emily takes the mic for an important soapbox moment about body neutrality, diet culture, and dealing with internet
SideQuest 20: Deck Permits, Ripped-Out Handrails, & Toxic Lumber 🛠️
Welcome to another Side Quest! ⚔️ Today, Samantha, Arley, and Emily are tackling your listener questions. We’re covering everything from the legalities of deck building to why poorly installed safety equipment is the absolute worst. In this episode, we answer:Do you need a permit to replace your deck boards? (And why you should never pull a permit for your contractor!) . Can you put mulch over a w
Ep 21: 48-Hour Curb Appeal, Shutter Crimes, & Neglect-Proof Plants
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am, besties! We missed you. In this episode, we are wrapping up our four-part "Spring is Sprung" series with the ultimate guide to beautifying the outside of your home in 48 hours or less.We are giving you beginner-friendly DIY tips for:Diagnosing your house style: Why you need to lean into the house you have (stop making ranches look like farmhouses!)
Sidequest 19: The Ultimate Job Interview Guide (Tips from an HR Pro!)
This week on the Side Quest, we are putting down the power tools and picking up our resumes! If you are job hunting, switching careers, or just struggling to land an offer, this is the episode for you. Before we started How to Handyma'am, our very own Samantha Pearl had a long career in Human Resources and conducted hundreds of interviews. Inspired by the absolute trauma of some recent chaotic
Episode 20: Decks 101 (Permits, Materials & Building It Right)
If you are planning on building, replacing, or resurfacing a deck this summer, you cannot afford to skip this episode! Today, we are starting from the ground up to give you the ultimate Deck 101 survival guide.We talk through the dreaded permitting process and explain exactly when you can legally skip the paperwork. Then, we break down the pros, cons, and hidden costs of the three most common deck
SideQuest 18: Deck Stain vs. Paint, Removing Cabinets, & Please Don't Touch That Wire!
Welcome back to the Sidequest! This is where we drop the script, embrace the chaos, and answer your emails. Today, we are tackling three listener questions that cover everything from electrical safety to heavy lifting in the kitchen.In this episode, we answer questions from:Marguerite: Looking for tips on rewiring a house? We share why you need to make friends with your local electrical inspector,
Ep 19: Spring Landscaping 101 | Garden Beds, Yard Grading & Keeping Critters Out
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! In this episode, we are continuing our Spring Series by teaching you everything you need to know to grow things outside your house this spring. We are also dedicating this episode to Arly's mother-in-law, Johanna, who is retiring after 20 years of working night shifts—congratulations!In this episode, we cover the Do's and Don'ts of:Grading Your Ya
SideQuest 17: The Ugly Truth About Building a Business (80-Hour Weeks & Therapy)
Welcome back to the Sidequest! This week, Samantha poses a deeply personal question to the group: How do you handle the stress and long hours when you're trying to create something incredibly important, but circumstances make it difficult?If you are currently pouring your heart into a passion project, a small business, or just trying to survive a chaotic season of life, this episode is your of
Episode 18: Spring Has Sprung: 10 Exterior Maintenance Tips
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! It is finally spring, and we are kicking off a four-part series dedicated to all things spring maintenance and landscaping.But first, 3 Minutes of Chaos! We also take a moment to talk about leaning into who you really are and accepting your unique quirks. We also give a shoutout to our favorite med student, Hannah MacArthur!Then, we dive into the Spring Handy
SideQuest 16: Concrete Walls, Keypad Codes, & The Stud Finder Mystery
Welcome back to the Side Quest! We kick things off with a truly chaotic (and somewhat mournful) rendition of our theme song, and then dive right into some excellent listener questions.First up, a listener asks a question we've all been wondering: what happens to the painted exterior doors of a house that's been stripped down to the studs and abandoned for years? We break down a few ways to
Episode 17: You Just Bought a House! Now What? (The New Homeowner Checklist)
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! We are kicking off today's episode with 3 Minutes of Chaos, featuring Samantha's Victorian romance tv show recommendations, a quick menopause update, and the hilarious story of her cartoon-style wipeout on a loose rug while chasing Winnie the Golden Retriever. (Spoiler: Winnie's response was to sit directly on Samantha to tell her to calm down!)Bu
SideQuest 15: Pushing Through the DIY Wall, Four Seasons Gardening, & Secret Command Strips
Welcome back to the Side Quest! Today, we are skipping the intro and diving straight into some listener questions, ranging from the highly technical to the completely chaotic.We start by helping Sherry F. figure out how to restore the water-damaged fronts of her sink cabinets without totally replacing them. (And yes, we may have gotten a little distracted by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons alon
Ep 16: What to Expect When You’re Expecting a (DIY) Project
Welcome to How to Handyma'am! We are kicking off Episode 16 with a little singing, a sweet dedication to Samantha's sister, Sandy, and a recap of our live TV debut on New Day Cleveland! Fun fact: Samantha and Sandy both have golden retrievers (including Samantha's dog, Winnie the Pearl) and the dogs are actually sisters! We also got to teach an amazing troop of Girl Scouts how to build
SideQuest 14: Vault Release - Kissing Raccoons, Ankle Monitors, & F*ck Politeness!
Welcome back to a very special Side Quest! We are officially recovering from a wild weekend at the Lansing Home and Garden Show, so we are opening up the vault and giving everyone early access to an episode originally recorded just for our Patreon.This week, we are taking a break from home repair to share our ultimate "horror stories from the field". Warning: this episode is essentially
Ep 15: To Fix or Not to Fix | When to DIY vs. Replace 6 Common Home Repairs
Welcome to How to Handyma'am! This week, we are consulting Shakespeare for our home repairs and asking the ultimate DIY question: To fix, or not to fix? But first, we kick things off with a sweet dedication to Arly's grandma, the "OG Handyma'am," and spill the tea on the products we are absolutely loving right now.From navigating the tragedy of dragging a refrigerator across
SideQuest 13: Q&A | Prying Off Paneling, Swollen Shed Doors, & Tub Caulk Talk
Welcome back to another Side Quest! This week, we are answering three of your most pressing DIY questions from the community. If you have a question you want us to tackle on a future Side Quest, you can now submit it directly on our new website: howtohandymaam.com!In this episode, we answer:Amanda's Question: How hard is it to take down old living room paneling, and what do I have to do to the
Ep 14: Feeling Safe in Your Own Home: Your DIY Security Checklist
Welcome back to How to Handymaam! 🛠️ This week, we are introducing a brand new segment called "Three Minutes of Chaos" before diving into a highly practical checklist for securing your home. Whether you live alone or just want some extra peace of mind, we are breaking down the easiest, most effective security upgrades you can tackle this weekend.In this episode, we cover:Three Minutes of
SideQuest 12: Tales from the Field: Home Depot Audacity & 911 Calls
Welcome back to the Side Quest! 🎧 This week, we are off the leash and bringing you a brand new edition of "Tales from the Field".If you've ever dealt with unwarranted comments in the hardware store or accidentally become the star of your own true-crime podcast, this episode is for you. We are sharing three highly chaotic stories from our day-to-day lives as female contractors.In this
Ep 13: The Secret Life of Drywall | Basic Drywall Diagnosis
Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! This week, we are dedicating the episode to the ultimate hype-woman: Grandma Chris. She embodies the true Handyma'am spirit of loving support and "of course you can do that" energy.Before we get into the heavy lifting, we have a very chaotic catch-up session. We’re talking about a "menty b" over a DoorDash order missing its emotional s
SideQuest 11: The One Where We Just Chat (A Lot) and the Tighty Whitey Incident
🚨 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
Ep 12: The Homeowner's Guide to Maintenance Nobody Told You About
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-sta
SideQuest 10: Skunk Battles & Sewer Scopes: The Art of Diagnosis
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
Ep 11: Cheap or Quality | Home Edition | When to Save on Your Materials
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 "beginn
SideQuest 9: Q&A | Sticky Situations: Fixing Floor Gaps & Yellow Wall Drips
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 floo
Ep 10: Contractor Red and Green Flags | How to Find the Right Contractor for Your Project
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 Di
SideQuest 08: Who the Heck Are We? (The Origin Story)
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 "A
Ep 9: Power Tools or Power Through? | DIY for Beginners
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 mo
SideQuest 07: Exploding Toilets, Budget Hacks, and "Doing It In The Dark" (with Isabel Bowen) | DIY Renovations and Creative Entrepreneurship
Welcome to a very special Side Quest! Today, we are keeping it in the family—Arly’s sister, Isabel Bowen, joins the chat!Isabel is the ultimate "double threat": she plans luxury South Asian and multicultural weddings by day, and by night (literally), she runs Bowen’s Builds, a DIY renovation brand she built with her husband, Jacob.In this episode, we talk about the messy reality of start
Ep 8: Help We've Fallen and We Can Get Up | Introduction to Aging in Place
Welcome back to How to Handyma’am! In this episode, we are celebrating some huge wins: we hit the Apple Education (How-To) Charts (Top 30!), went viral on TikTok, and are officially building the best village on the internet.We dedicate this episode to our favorite villager, Kayleigh (our “guinea pig numero uno”), who proves you don’t need to be handy to be essential to the crew.Then, Emily takes t
SideQuest 06: Q&A | Shellac, Hidden Valves & Mining Closets
The squirrels in our brains are running wild today (Gerald says hello), but we are staying on track to answer your questions!In this episode, the crew discusses:Sticky Situations: Can you use Shellac primer over sticky window cling residue? (Yes, but sand the texture off first!)The "Oogity Oogity" Debate: The difference between antique shellac furniture finishes and modern shellac-based
Ep 7: Talking About Caulking | How to Choose the Right Caulk
We are back! In this episode, we are dedicating the show to Arly's new niece (Welcome, GooGoo! 🎀) and recapping Samantha’s 50th Birthday trip to NYC with her husband Jim and daughters Emily and Hannah.We talk about the emotional rollercoaster of seeing Hamilton, surviving the city, and the insane story of how Samantha got so excited at the airport that she literally kicked Emily. 🍎🦶Then, Arly
SideQuest 05: Q&A - Perfectionism, RTA Cabinets, and Finding Your Flaws
Welcome to the SideQuest! This week, the trio opens up the mailbag to answer your questions. We tackle the paralyzing fear of perfectionism (and why "making it exist" is better than making it perfect), react to a truly horrified listener who got a quote for $204,000 for kitchen cabinets, and share a cautionary tale about why you should never mix red food coloring into your drywall mud.Pl
Recommended
Deadline: White House
Crickets Corner
History of the Earthquake and Fire in San Francisco
Fox news
K-Drama Obsessed Mamas | Beyond “Just One More Episode!”
True Crime Classics
The Healer Revolution
Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
Booked, Blonde & Busy w/ Olivia Ponton
McKinsey on Consumer and Retail
megahired.com
Hard Knocks Podcast
