How To Handyma’am | A Home Improvement Comedy Podcast

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 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.comSocials: @HowToHandymaamLinkTree: ⁠linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠Blog Post

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 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's⁠⁠Connect with Us!​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaamBlog Post⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

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.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: hthm@myhandymaam.comSocials: @HowToHandymaamLinkTree: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

Ep 6: Flush Around and Find Out | Common Toilet Problems and Solutions

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 Dedication01:04 Our Favorite Movies and Musicals11:36 Let’s Talk about Toilets16:54 Types of Toilets17:19 Anatomy of a Toilet20:20 Running Toilet and Solutions22:55 Leaky Toilet and Solutions30:57 Caulking Around the Toilet34:33 Bad Flush and the Solutions39:02 Wobbly Toilet or Tank and Solutions42:50 Seperating the Tank and the Bowl for Easier Moving43:44 Where to Find UsLinks & 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/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog Post⁠Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

SideQuest 04: Collecting Mentors Like Infinity Stones (with Hannah Pearl) | Women in Engineering & Leadership

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/howtohandymaamBlog Post⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​Host- Arly Streed ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist ​Music by Thomas Streed