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:

1. ​Universal: Accessible for everyone (the gold standard).
2. ​Livable: You can live on the main floor comfortably.
3. ​Visitable: A friend with a disability can come for dinner and use the bathroom.
4. ​Adaptable: It’s not ready now, but it has the bones (like blocking in the walls) for future upgrades.
5. ​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's⁠⁠⁠

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: hthm@myhandymaam.com
  • Socials: @HowToHandymaam
  • LinkTree: ⁠linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠

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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:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠

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:

• RTA Cabinet Store: https://rtawholesalers.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorR_XVLzXF5Uy8RKvknmIfEUdz3VEfH8DgxN4JlvlljmWbU6Vbc
• Email Us: hthm@myhandymaam.com
• Socials: @HowToHandymaam
• LinkTree: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

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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:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠

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's⁠

Connect with Us!

• ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://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's

Lemon Content

• https://www.instagram.com/p/DTA_c2_gICn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Us!

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

Blog 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:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl
• ​Host- Arly Streed
• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist
• ​Music- Thomas Streed