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!) and the rules for Craftsman, Mid-Century, and Colonial aesthetics.

• Committing Shutter Crimes: Why undersized, non-functional-looking shutters are a federal crime in our book, and how to remove them and fix the holes.

• Exterior Paint Prep: Can you paint vinyl siding? (Yes, but you have to use the right stuff so it doesn't melt!) Plus, wood siding prep and when to use a "Paint Eater."

• Sneaky Exterior Repairs: Using "Siding Band-Aids" (patches) for holes and swapping rotted wood trim for PVC/composite.

• Landscaping for Real People: How to pick plants based on the person you actually are, not who you wish you were. Hint: Hostas are your friends.

This episode is proudly dedicated to Emily’s fierce, intelligent, and effervescent cousin-in-law, LaTonya! Be like LaTonya.

Plus, we have your three (nine?) minutes of controlled chaos, featuring:

• Live otter cameras as stress relief.

• Florida sunshine as a cure for depression (and laying in it like a lizard).

• A medium amount of investigation into a tiled shower room that was totally missing waterproofing.

• A truly horrifying "Tale from the Field" involving contaminated drywall, fecal matter, and handcuffs attached to bolts in the floor. 😱

Links & Resources:

• 🌐 Check out our storefront for tools mentioned in this episode: https://shoplowes.me/4i2zfaI

  •Linktree: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

• 📸 Follow us on Instagram (help us get to 1,000!): @howtohandymaam

• 💌 Got a DIY question? Email us at hthm@myhandymaam.com

• Malice in the Mitten, Singly Married, Marci Talks Money (podcasts mentioned).

This week on the Sidequest, 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 interviews we've held, we are sharing the ultimate guide to getting hired.

In this episode, we cover:

• Resume Red Flags: Why you aren't getting callbacks, how to fix your AI-generated resume, and why your voicemail greeting might be costing you the job.

• The Do's of Interviewing: How to prep behavioral stories, what to research before you arrive, and why you should always bring a pen and paper.

• The Absolute Don'ts: Why you should never ask about pay in the first interview, why badmouthing your toxic ex-boss makes you look bad, and the "Forbidden Three" topics you can never bring up.

• The Handyma'am Reality Check: Why not getting hired is actually a "you" problem—and how to fix it by treating your interview like an audition!

Join the Handyma'am Community:Have a wild interview story or a DIY question for us? Email us at hthm@myhandymaam.com!Sign up for our newsletter at howtohandymaam.com.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @howtohandymaam

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 decking materials: pressure-treated lumber, cedar, and composite. Whether you want the cheapest option or a deck that will outlive you, we have the installation secrets you need to know.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your deck's substructure must always be ground-contact pressure-treated lumber.

• The 6-to-12-month waiting rule for sealing a pressure-treated deck.

• Why you need to wear a mask when cutting cedar.

• The hidden costs of composite decking, including special fasteners and structural framing requirements.

• A major safety warning about modern cable railings.

Connect with us!Got a question or a "Tale from the Field"? Email us at hthm@myhandymaam.com!🔗 All our links in one place: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam🏡 Check out our website: howtohandymaam.com

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, the absolute necessity of voltage testers, and the one wire you should never, ever touch if you want to stay alive.

• Cindy: We settle the great deck debate: stain vs. paint. We explain why painting a horizontal wood deck is a terrible idea, why we swear by Australian Timber Oil for low-maintenance longevity, and the strict rules you cannot cheat on when waiting for your pressure-washed deck to dry.

• Lola: How do you safely remove old kitchen cabinets? We break down the reverse-engineering method, why you must remove the doors and shelves first, where to find the hidden face-frame screws, and the sneaky ways new flooring can trap your base cabinets.

Plus, Minutes of Chaos: We're talking about whispering toddlers, horrifying OSHA training videos, and the slippery dangers of using the wrong water seal on your walking paths.

Got a question for the Handyma'ams? Email us at hth@howtohandymaam.com!

🔗 All our links in one place: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam🏡 Check out our website: howtohandymaam.com

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 Yard: Why you need to slope the dirt away from your foundation (1 inch per foot!), use proper fill dirt instead of topsoil, and use downspout extenders to keep water out of your basement.

• Mulching: How 3 to 5 inches of organic mulch can save you from weeding and watering, why you should never "volcano" mulch around your trees, and how to get free mulch using Chip Drop.

• Gardening on Your Deck: Why heavy ceramic pots and regular dirt will cause "fast rot" on your wood deck, and why you should switch to light plastic pots with fast-draining potting soil.

• DIY Garden Beds: Emily breaks down how to build cheap, safe beds using cedar fence pickets instead of toxic pressure-treated wood. Plus, we explain the "lasagna method" for filling them so you don't go broke buying topsoil!

• Critter Control: Why your bird feeder is actually attracting raccoons to rip off your siding, natural ways to deter pests, and why you should never, ever plant bamboo or mint directly in the ground.

Plus, Minutes of Chaos: We're talking about eating Mr. Leslie's Cheesecake, Samantha getting her lizard-on in the Florida sun, happy sci-fi movies, and doing an ASMR review of the Enviro Brush (a reusable paintbrush helping reduce construction waste!).

🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: In-Person Training! 🚨We are hosting our first in-person training this June! Head to our website and put your email in on the events page to get registration access two days earlier than everyone else.

🔗 All our links in one place: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam🏡 Check out our website: howtohandymaam.com

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 official hype squad.

In this Sidequest, we cover:

• Coping Mechanisms & Avoiding Spreadsheets: We share how we actually get things done. From Emily’s hyper-focusing (and literally trading TikTok video creation to get out of building a spreadsheet) to Samantha’s "all the way on or all the way off" lifestyle that requires long, decompression baths.

• The Importance of Support Systems: We are destigmatizing therapy and talking about why having a solid support system is non-negotiable. Huge shoutout to the partners picking up the laundry and dog-walking slack during 80-hour work weeks!

• Reframing Disappointment: What happens when your big plan fails? We talk about pivoting our original November podcast launch and reframing that "failure" into building a massive online ecosystem instead.

• The Ultimate Mission: Why quitting is never an option for us. We are building this community to give women the autonomy, knowledge, and agency to make choices about their own homes.

When a project is this important, you aren't just the person who can make it happen—you are the person who cannot not make it happen.

Join the Handyma'am Community!🔗 All our links in one place: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam🏡 Check out our brand new ecosystem: howtohandymaam.com

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 Handyma'am Showdown! We go head-to-head to list the top 10 things you need to check outside your house as the weather warms up.

Our top 10 spring maintenance tips include:

1. Check doors and windows: Ensure they open, close, and seal properly, and watch for sticky spots.

2. Turn on the power: Find your breaker box and flip the switch to test your outdoor outlets.

3. Test smoke detectors: Make sure you have working batteries (and a carbon monoxide detector!).

4. Change your furnace filter: Get ready for AC season.

5. Inspect the siding: Look for holes, damage, or missing pieces, and fill any gaps.

6. Check for water leaks: Check under sinks, around toilets, and make sure your sump pump is working.

7. Inspect your porch/deck: Look for rotting wood, peeling paint, or loose boards.

8. Check the mailbox: Ensure it's secure, not rotting, and firmly attached to the post.

9. Examine exterior trim: Look for peeling paint or wood rot, which can lead to water and pest issues.

10. Test the outdoor spigot: Turn the water on, attach a hose, and check for leaks.

We've got you covered with tips, tricks, and a little bit of chaos along the way. Be sure to check out our website for a printable spring checklist!

Join The Community!

•Sign up for the newsletter & submit listener questions: howtohandymaam.com

•Follow us on social media: @howtohandymaam

•All our links in one place: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

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 tackle chipping, lifting exterior paint, whether you choose to scrape, use a heat gun, or replace the doors entirely.

Next, we address the mystery of the missing studs. What do you do when your stud finder refuses to beep, even after dragging it across an entire wall? We share our favorite tips for finding studs manually (hello, rare earth magnets!) and how to make sure you're using your tools correctly.

Finally, we share a major tip from our time working on the VFW: how to hang things on solid concrete walls. We explain what "wall plugs" are, how to use them, and why they are the absolute best way to hang everything from TVs to artwork on concrete.

Join The Community!

• Sign up for the newsletter & submit listener questions: howtohandymaam.com

• Follow us on social media: @howtohandymaam