In this episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, Dan kicks things off with a lighthearted winter story before diving into two practical, surprisingly connected topics: organizing digital memories and choosing the right wood finish.

The first half of the show tackles the growing stress of digital photo overload. Dan breaks down why our phones feel so cluttered, explains the critical difference between syncing and backing up photos, and outlines simple, realistic steps for freeing up storage while keeping important memories safe. Along the way, he introduces the “paradox of plenty” — why having fewer, more meaningful photos can actually help us enjoy our memories more.

In the second half, the focus shifts back to the Winter Wood Shop with a deep but accessible look at lacquer and polyurethane. Dan explains how modern wood finishes evolved, the practical differences between oil-based and water-based polyurethane, and how recent VOC regulations have changed what’s available today. He also shares application tips, common mistakes to avoid, and why polyurethane remains one of the most versatile finishes for real-world woodworking projects.

The episode wraps up by connecting good materials, good habits, and good outcomes — whether you’re protecting wood or preserving memories.

If you want to go deeper, these articles and guides are clear and practical:

1. How to Organize and Protect Digital Photos (The Photo Managers) — A professional’s guide to consolidating, organizing, and backing up your entire library. How to Organize and Protect Digital Photos
2. How To Organize And Back Up Digital Photos and Videos (DIY Playbook) — Practical steps for creating a “photo hub,” removing duplicates, and backing up to a cloud or hard drive. How to Organize and Back Up Digital Photos and Videos
3. Step-by-Step Photo Storage Guide (Eyes The Limit) — A straightforward walk through sorting, backing up, and deleting unwanted photos, including folder and tagging tips. How to Organize Your Photo Storage: Step‑by‑Step Guide
4. Apple Support — iCloud Photos & Optimize Storage — Official Apple instructions so you can see exactly how iCloud sync, optimize storage, and deletions work (and why synced photos are everywhere). Set up and Use iCloud Photos (Apple Support)

1. Google Photos Help — Manage Storage & Cleanup — Official support from Google on how to manage storage, clean up large files, and understand what counting against storage means in Google Photos. Manage Your Storage (Google Photos Help)

In this episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, the conversation starts with a teaser from the Winter Wood Shop series—then takes a sharp turn into one of the most unexpected topics we’ve covered yet.

The show opens with real-world painting questions from new homeowners, including whether dark paint really covers bright pink walls better, how to temporarily paint a tile kitchen backsplash, and what to consider when tackling large trim projects in older homes where lead paint may be present. Along the way, we break down how paint bases and primers actually work, why the order you choose colors matters, and when extra caution is required for health and safety.

From there, the episode pivots into a surprisingly fascinating deep dive on shellac—what it is, how it’s used, and why it’s still relevant today. We explore both clear shellac and white pigmented shellac, its role in woodworking and finishing, and its long, strange history. That includes the origin story most people never hear: shellac’s connection to the lac bug, how it shows up in everyday products, and why it sometimes sparks debate in the vegan world.

It’s a practical, informative episode with a twist—grounded in real home improvement advice, but ending with a topic you probably didn’t expect to hear on a painting show.

1. Make Your Own Shellac (Video)

00:00 — Introduction & Winter Wood Shop Teaser

00:41 — Painting Questions from New Homeowners

02:08 — Paint Coverage, Bases, and Primers Explained

05:56 — Can You Paint a Tile Backsplash?

08:31 — Lead Paint Concerns in Older Homes

13:26 — Choosing Paint Colors in the Right Order

17:49 — How RepcoLite Helps Homeowners Get It Right

18:29 — Meet the Lac Bug

19:18 — The Secret Life of Lac Bugs

21:28 — Lac Bugs in Everyday Products

24:49 — The Vegan Debate

25:56 — From Bug Secretions to Shellac

27:04 — Shellac in Woodworking

32:15 — Shellac’s Historical Role

35:58 — Modern Uses (and Limits) of Shellac

39:04 — Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

In the first full episode of 2026, Home in Progress host Dan Hansen takes a fresh look at New Year’s resolutions—why they so often fail, and how a small shift in thinking can make them far more sustainable. Drawing on personal experience, Dan shares a practical, realistic approach to setting goals that actually stick.

From there, the episode pivots to a common winter home concern: mold and mildew. Dan breaks down what mold really is, when it’s a health concern, and when it’s more of a maintenance issue. You’ll hear clear, step-by-step guidance on safely cleaning mold, choosing the right products, and preventing it from returning—plus what to do after mold is removed so your repairs last.

The episode wraps up with the launch of a new Winter Wood Shop series, starting with one of the most misunderstood finishing products out there: tung oil. Dan explains the differences between pure tung oil, tung oil/varnish blends, and products labeled “tung oil finish,” and compares their real-world performance to polyurethane so you can choose the right finish for the job.

00:00 — Welcome to Home in Progress

00:24 — Why New Year’s Resolutions So Often Fail

02:06 — A More Sustainable Approach to Goal-Setting

07:31 — Introducing the Winter Wood Shop Series

08:32 — Mold and Mildew: What Homeowners Should Know

12:56 — Understanding Mold in the Home

19:34 — Essential Safety Gear for Mold Cleanup

20:21 — Effective Mold Cleaning Methods

21:39 — How to Know When Mold Is Truly Gone

23:01 — Priming and Painting After Mold Removal

24:18 — Preventing Mold from Coming Back

27:29 — What Tung Oil Really Is (and Isn’t)

32:05 — The Three Types of “Tung Oil” Products

35:22 — Where Tung Oil Works—and Where It Doesn’t

38:25 — Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

In this special Best Of episode of Home in Progress, Dan Hansen blends craftsmanship, practical paint advice, and motivation to kick off your next project with momentum. First, he dives into the story of the legendary H.O. Studley Tool Chest, exploring its remarkable construction and what it can teach us about quality work, organization, and efficiency. From there, Dan shifts into paint know-how—breaking down why dedicated primers still matter, when “paint-and-primer-in-one” products fall short, and how the right prep steps can save time and frustration. The episode wraps with a practical, encouraging segment on setting goals and actually sticking with them long after the initial New Year’s motivation fades.

00:00 — Introduction and 400th Episode Announcement

00:32 — Reflecting on 400 Episodes

02:56 — Today’s Historical Focus

03:37 — The Story of the Studley Tool Chest

13:07 — Lessons from the Studley Tool Chest

18:59 — Why Primer Still Matters

20:24 — Paint + Primer Combo Products: What They Really Do

23:23 — The Truth About “Paint and Primer in One”

24:20 — When You Need a Dedicated Primer

27:02 — Special Offer on Quicksand Primer

29:44 — Setting Goals That Actually Stick

38:08 — Maintaining Long-Term Success with Goals

In this special Best Of episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, Dan Hansen shares a handful of favorite segments from the past year—perfect for the holiday stretch when you’re tackling projects, relaxing at home, or doing a little of both.

The show opens with some weekend chatter (including a nostalgic roller-skating detour sparked by Back to the Future), then into a paint-heavy segment aimed at a classic homeowner problem: how to make a small room feel bigger without remodeling. He breaks down five practical paint strategies, including smart color choices, monochromatic palettes, and “color drenching,” plus a couple of visual tricks that add height and depth.

The second half of the show takes a surprisingly fascinating turn into the history of glass—from natural obsidian to early glassmaking legends, Roman breakthroughs like glass blowing and early window panes, and the evolution to modern insulated windows. Dan wraps the episode with a rapid-fire guide to common window issues—drafts, condensation, fog between panes, and windows that won’t operate smoothly—along with realistic fixes and when it’s time to call in a pro.

00:00 — Best Of kickoff + holiday-week programming

00:16 — Weekend plans and roller-skating nostalgia

02:09 — New Year’s resolutions, “Quitter’s Day,” and the mindset reset

03:32 — A funny “height hack” detour (and why it secretly sets up the paint point)

12:45 — Paint Point: 5 ways to make a small room feel larger

17:39 — Two-toned walls and eye-trick design strategies

18:30 — Listener emails + how to send topic ideas

18:56 — The history of glass: discovery, invention, and innovation

20:25 — From early glassmaking to Roman windows

26:09 — Industrial-era improvements and modern window evolution

30:38 — Window problems homeowners actually deal with (and what to do)

39:36 — Wrap-up, where to find the episode, and next week’s preview

In this special annual Christmas episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, Dan Hansen steps away from the usual home improvement topics to celebrate the season—and give back to listeners.

This year’s Extravaganza includes a festive giveaway: ten $100 gift certificates, awarded to listeners who share their favorite Christmas songs, memories, or traditions via email.

Dan opens the show with a humorous and heartfelt story about a long-ago family Christmas card featuring a screaming toddler—an unexpected reminder of how the most genuine moments often become the most meaningful memories. From there, the episode dives into the fascinating history behind familiar holiday traditions.

You’ll hear how Christmas cards originated in Victorian England, why they were once criticized as cold and impersonal, and how they eventually became a beloved seasonal ritual. Dan also explores the birth of Christmas music on the radio, beginning with the groundbreaking Christmas Eve broadcast of 1906, and how radio forever changed the way the holiday is shared and experienced.

The episode wraps up with the story of Christmas lights—from the risky early days of candle-lit trees to the invention and widespread adoption of electric lights that transformed holiday decorating. The show closes with warm Christmas wishes and a reminder to enter the holiday giveaway.

• Reproduction of the First Radio Broadcast

00:00 — Welcome to the Annual Christmas Extravaganza

01:49 — Christmas Card Chaos: A Family Story

04:37 — The Controversial Origins of Christmas Cards

09:58 — How Christmas Communication Evolved

11:25 — The Birth of Christmas on the Radio

18:25 — The First Christmas Eve Broadcast (1906)

22:32 — Radio’s Impact on Holiday Traditions

24:46 — The History of Christmas Lights

28:40 — Candles, Symbolism, and Seasonal Danger

32:23 — The Rise of Electric Christmas Lights

35:16 — Modern Christmas Light Displays

35:33 — Final Thoughts, Christmas Wishes, and the Giveaway

In this episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, we take a moment to honor the life and legacy of Frank Gehry—the visionary architect behind landmarks like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Gehry passed away at 96, leaving behind a body of work that continues to reshape how we think about buildings, space, and the creative process itself.

Host Dan Hansen reflects on Gehry’s impact and unpacks what made his approach to creativity so powerful. From embracing the unknown to challenging long-held assumptions, Gehry’s mindset offers practical lessons for anyone looking to bring more originality, curiosity, and play into their own projects—whether you're designing a home, solving a problem, or simply trying something new.

This episode explores how stepping into uncertainty, allowing yourself to experiment (and even fail), and pushing past convention can unlock refreshing and unexpected possibilities. Along the way, Dan shares examples from Gehry’s career and applies those principles to everyday spaces homeowners often struggle with.

00:00 Introduction and Tribute to Frank Gehry

01:14 The Importance of Creativity

04:59 Frank Gehry's Early Life and Influences

09:11 The Turning Point: The Santa Monica House

12:41 The Bilbao Effect and Gehry's Global Legacy

14:12 Unleashing Creativity: What Gehry Teaches Us

18:50 Embracing the Unknown and Staying Curious

21:10 Applying Design Principles to Everyday Rooms

22:15 Challenging Assumptions in Small Spaces

23:39 Reimagining the Living Room

26:21 Experimenting with Kitchen Cabinets

29:00 Learning from Failure and Criticism

33:57 Discovering Your Own Creative Signature

37:33 How Architecture Shapes Community

39:07 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode of Home in Progress, host Dan Hansen sits down with Andrea Magno, Director of Color Marketing and Design at Benjamin Moore, for an inside look at the 2026 Color of the Year: Silhouette. Andrea walks us through the behind-the-scenes process of selecting the color, the cultural and design trends that shaped this year’s choice, and why this rich, moody brown feels both fresh and timeless.

You’ll hear practical tips on how to use Silhouette throughout your home, how to pair it with the rest of the 2026 palette, and what sets this year’s colors apart from short-lived micro-trends. Andrea also shares stories from her years in color research and design, offering listeners a grounded and inspiring guide to making thoughtful color decisions.

00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Shoutout

00:28 — Meet Andrea Magno

02:13 — How the Color of the Year Is Chosen

07:28 — The Emergence of Silhouette

09:08 — Why Brown Is Back (and Where It Works)

16:26 — Micro-Trend Fatigue & the Return to Timelessness

20:50 — Do Color Trends Last?

22:52 — Fashion, Closets, and Color Inspiration

24:56 — Andrea’s Favorite Supporting Colors

29:16 — Unexpected Places to Use Silhouette

31:45 — Ceiling Painting Disasters (and Lessons Learned)

34:07 — Common Color-Choosing Mistakes

36:13 — The Many Faces of Silhouette

37:14 — Closing Thoughts