Advertise on podcast: How To Handyma’am | A Home Improvement Comedy Podcast

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 [email protected] 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's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check 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: [email protected] 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's⁠⁠⁠⁠Check 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

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 starting a business, why "perfect" is the enemy of "done," and how to renovate a house when you work a full-time job. In this episode, we discuss: The "Toilet Incident": The chaotic origin story of Bowen's Builds involving an exploded toilet, a flooded dining room, and a smoke detector going off in the middle of the disaster. "Doing It In The Dark": The reality of renovating after your 9-5 job. Isabel shares how they tackle projects one hour at a time—often with no sunlight! Budgeting 101: How to navigate the gap between your "Champagne Dreams" and your actual budget (including painting kiddie pools to look like brass vessels!). Type A vs. Chaos: A hilarious look at the difference between Isabel (who plans everything) and Arly (who starts 10 projects and finishes none). The "Daily Grievance" List: Isabel’s top tip for deciding what to renovate first—fix the thing that annoys you every single day. Connect with Isabel:📸 DIY & Renovation: Follow @bowens.builds💍 Wedding Planning: https://theyellowroseweddings.com/ 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 Join the Village! ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

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 the lead (because she is a certified specialist!) to guide us through Aging in Place. We break down the 5 levels of home accessibility—from "Universal Design" to "Non-Functional"—and put Samantha and Arly to the test to see how their own homes stack up. (Spoiler: Samantha fails the zero-step entry test). In this episode, we discuss: ​The "Good Villager" Theory: Why you need friends who will drop off soup, text you daily, and bring you a neck fan at hot yoga.​What is Aging in Place? It’s not just for the elderly. It’s about making your home safe and functional for any stage of life (or temporary injury).​The 5 Levels of Home Design:​Universal: Accessible for everyone (the gold standard).​Livable: You can live on the main floor comfortably.​Visitable: A friend with a disability can come for dinner and use the bathroom.​Adaptable: It’s not ready now, but it has the bones (like blocking in the walls) for future upgrades.​Non-Functional: Good luck getting in without a Sherpa.​Quick Fixes vs. Renovations: From installing offset door hinges (to widen a doorway without construction) to adding blocking for grab bars before you tile.​The "Forever Home" Test: We grade our own houses on accessibility. (Samantha’s 175-year-old house gets a solid "D"). Resources Mentioned: ​Free Download: Emily’s "Aging in Place Guide & Home Grading System” https://www.myhandymaam.com/free-resources-and-downloads/aging-in-place-magazine​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's⁠⁠⁠Check 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

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 primer. Sanding Hacks: Why it’s totally fine to fold a power-sanding disc in half to clean your tools by hand. Plumbing Access: Why you should NEVER drywall over a shut-off valve, and how to install an access panel instead. Flooring Fixes: How to patch a missing subfloor and "mine" your own closets to find matching hardwood planks. Resources & Links: Email Us: [email protected]: @HowToHandymaamLinkTree: ⁠linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠ Blog Post

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 hosts the first-ever "Talk About Caulk" Game Show! 🎙️ We break down exactly which tube to buy for which project so you stop staring blankly at the aisle in Home Depot.In this episode, we cover:100% Silicone: Why you use it for showers/sinks, why it smells like vinegar, and why you can NEVER paint it.Siliconized Latex (The "Paintable" One): The holy grail for trim, baseboards, and molding.Sanded Caulk: The secret weapon for matching grout lines in tile and tubs.Exterior Repairs: Why you should use wood filler or epoxy instead of Bondo (sorry, Bondo).Concrete & Mortar Repair: The textured gray stuff for your driveway cracks.Products Mentioned:For Kitchen/Bath: GE 100% Silicone (Waterproof, not paintable).For Trim/Paint: DAP Alex Flex or Alex Plus (Paintable).For Tile: Sanded Ceramic Tile Caulk (Matches grout texture).Grab your caulking gun (and maybe some lemon candy) and join the crew! 🦁🔨 Links & 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 Connect with Us! ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam Blog Post⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

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. Plus, we issue a formal correction regarding Emerald Urethane paint (oops!) and share our "Flashlight Trick" for finding imperfections on your walls. Resources & Links: Blog PostRTA Cabinet Store: https://rtawholesalers.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorR_XVLzXF5Uy8RKvknmIfEUdz3VEfH8DgxN4JlvlljmWbU6VbcEmail Us: [email protected]: @HowToHandymaamLinkTree: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

Nobody wants to talk about the "throne"… until it starts leaking on the bathroom floor. In this episode, the trio dives into the unglamorous but essential world of Toilet Troubleshooting. Samantha, Emily, and Arly break down the anatomy of your toilet (it’s simpler than you think) and explain why a "running" toilet is essentially flushing your money down the drain. We cover the difference between gravity-fed and pressure-assisted toilets, how to diagnose a leak using a piece of paper towel, and the mysterious "Wax Ring" that keeps your floor safe. Plus: We kick things off with a chaotic debate about our favorite movies—from Pride and Prejudice to Clash of the Titans—and reveal why the Hamilton soundtrack lives rent-free in our heads. Whether you have a wobbly tank or a "ghost flush," this episode is your guide to fixing it yourself. 00:00 Welcome and Dedication 01:04 Our Favorite Movies and Musicals 11:36 Let’s Talk about Toilets 16:54 Types of Toilets 17:19 Anatomy of a Toilet 20:20 Running Toilet and Solutions 22:55 Leaky Toilet and Solutions 30:57 Caulking Around the Toilet 34:33 Bad Flush and the Solutions 39:02 Wobbly Toilet or Tank and Solutions 42:50 Seperating the Tank and the Bowl for Easier Moving 43:44 Where to Find Us Links & 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 Connect with Us! ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog Post⁠ Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

Episode Summary:What happens when you take the "Handyma’am Spirit" out of construction and drop it onto a 1-million-square-foot factory floor? In this SideQuest, Samantha, Emily, and Arly sit down with a very special guest: Hannah Pearl. She’s Emily’s twin sister, Samantha’s daughter, and—along with dad, Jim—one of the few members of the family who chooses not to pick up the power tools. But don’t let that fool you. Hannah is an award-winning Engineering Manager at Denso Manufacturing and a trailblazer for women in the automotive industry. We discuss navigating male-dominated fields (whether it’s a job site or a factory), the difference between equity and equality in leadership, and why you should treat your mentors like "Infinity Stones." In this episode, we cover: 👯‍♀️ The Twin Dynamic: Growing up with (and without) the "Handy" gene. 🏭 Women in Industry: What it’s really like managing a team in a field where women make up less than 30% of the workforce. ⚖️ Equity vs. Equality: Why treating everyone the "same" isn't the best way to lead, and how to create safe spaces for diverse teams. 💎 The Mentor Strategy: Why Hannah collects mentors like "Infinity Stones" and why you need a personal "Board of Directors" for your life. 🗺️ Career Mapping: How to use SMART goals and tools like CliftonStrengths to find your "Why"—even if you feel stuck. Resources Mentioned: CliftonStrengths (Gallup): A tool for discovering your top talents. Five Clues to Talent: A framework to uncover what you naturally do best. SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Links & 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's⁠Connect with Us! ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam Blog Post⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Music by Thomas Streed

Welcome, friends! This week our Handy Hosts Samantha, Emily, and Arly round out our painting series with a focus on choosing paint color. If staring at a display of paint swatches leaves you perplexed and standing on the precipice, this episode is for you! We kick off with a special dedication to Arly’s mom Barbara Streed, a cheerleader in our mission to support women in the trades. Emily teases us with her top ten favorite shades of white and we learn why, if you find yourself on a deserted island, the back of a leaf may be the best shade of green. Samantha shares why it is important to have choices when it comes to letting contractors in your home and to always advocate for yourself in tough moments… because you matter and you are loved. If nothing else, we can take inspiration from the other “Panera Ninja” in the family, Emily’s humanoid dog Lemon, who lives her colorful life “loudly, proudly, and insanely”. Join us as we work toward our goal of funding future in-person classes and an apprenticeship academy for women in construction. You can help by tuning in each week and sharing the love for women in the trades... let’s get handy! 2:29 Tips for choosing a contractor 8:13 Lemon, the human dog in fur 17:13 Paint sheen and why it’s important 19:16 Should you do whatever you want? 26:17 Emily’s designer tip 36:15 It’s Game time, friends! 43:33 Our favorite tips (besides “the brush”) Links & 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'sLemon Content https://www.instagram.com/p/DTA_c2_gICn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Us! ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/ep-5-safety-first-desert-island-tools-and-how-to-pick-a-paint-color Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

  It’s never the big things that build trust and deeply bonded relationships…it’s always the small things.  Sharing in the joy is the reward you get for sharing in life’s daily indignities.    In this week’s episode, Emily, Samantha, and Arly talk about how building a culture of joy, support, and grace is about action – it’s bringing the problems into the light, talking about the hard things, and approaching every single conversation with preservation of the relationship as the end goal.      Join us here to learn how we keep our crew together through all the difficult days inherent in any high-service, high-performance industry. Links & 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 Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/sidequest-03-relationship-maintenance-amp-building-a-crew-that-lasts Connect with Us! ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Music- Thomas Streed

Hey there, Handyma'ams! Welcome to the How to Handyma'am podcast, where hosts Samantha, Emily, and Arly from MyHandyma'am are diving into the most critical (and least glamorous) step of any painting project: Paint Prep! Before you even pop a can of paint, you need to know the starting steps. In this episode, we're talking about everything from getting the "floof" off your rollers to using joint compound for wall repair. You'll learn: Why washing your walls is a non-negotiable step (especially in the kitchen!). The secret to flawless paint patches with the right primer, and the specific, powerful jobs of shellac (oil-based) primer. The final, seamless step: caulking like a pro. The great debate: "Cutting In" Freehand vs. Painter's Tape—and the one time you absolutely must use tape. Plus, some clever painting hacks like the "paintbrush on a stick" for high places. This one is for all the DIYers—and for our matriarch and first customer, Sue T. We also drop in with an update on our pets, Winnie, Lemon, Satchmo, and Patches!  Our goal is to eventually fund in-person classes and an apprenticeship academy for women in construction, so tune in and let's get handy! 01:28 Pets, pets, and did we mention our pets?  15:22 Tips and tricks for rollers 20:20 Paint prep introduction 22:42 Washing walls is important  25:24 Wall repair  29:57 Primer  41:35 Caulking 44:28 Painters tape vs Cutting in  50:14 Paint brush on a stick  52:48 Why a podcast?  55:21 Where to find us!  Links & Resources Mentioned ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics! Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/ep-4-the-painting-pre-game-show-painting-103-how-to-properly-prep-for-your-paint-job Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront: ​⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Us! ​Web:⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠ Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

Welcome back to the Sidequest! In these bonus episodes, we step away from the classroom curriculum to share stories from the field, chat about what drives us, and get to know the How to Handyma’am crew a little better. In this episode, Samantha, Arly, and Emily dive into the "why" behind home repair. We talk about breaking the cycle of "inherited male skills" and the power of choice—like knowing how to swap a $5 wax ring on your toilet so you can save your budget for the things you actually want to pay for (like a house cleaner!). Plus, we reveal our personal favorite projects. Arly geeks out on the satisfying magic of trim carpentry—specifically that moment when caulk and paint make all the imperfections disappear. Meanwhile, Emily shares the success of her first full design project and drops a massive design secret: it’s all about the toilet lever. Tune in for a dose of motivation to tackle that one nagging task in your house, and learn why "making it beautiful" is just as important as making it work. In this Sidequest, we cover: The "Nagging Task" Rule: How to pick your first project to get that dopamine hit. The Power of Choice: Why DIY isn't just about saving money; it's about not getting taken advantage of. Arly’s Trim Obsession: Why painting, caulking, and wood filler are the ultimate magic tricks for a professional finish. Emily’s Design Sense: How to "see things that don't exist" and the tiny details (like matching hardware) that elevate a room. Links & Resources Mentioned ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics! Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/sidequest-02-the-magic-of-trim-toilet-levers-amp-why-we-diy Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront: ​⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Us! ​Web:⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠ Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Music- Thomas Streed