Pro Kitchen Hacks with Ellen Marie Bennett + Backyard Beekeeping 101 + The Fix for Woodpecker Damage
This episode starts in the kitchen with chef and Hedley & Bennett founder Ellen Marie Bennett, who shares her professional kitchen wisdom that anyone *renters included* can use to make their cooking space more efficient and joyful. Then, we head to the red rock canyons of Utah, where former miner Grant Johnson spent 30 years carving his off-grid dream home by hand. Also, beekeeper Ariel Silva, aka Bowser Bee on TikTok and Instagram, explains how to start a hive in your own backyard, no matter where you live—even if it’s a rooftop in the city. We also tackle listener questions about cracked ceilings, old doors, keeping woodpeckers away, and bricks shaken loose by an explosion. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Smarter Kitchen Flow: How thinking in zones—prep, cook, serve, store, and clean—can turn any kitchen into a more functional and stress-free space. (0:54)Ceiling Cracking?: What might cause a piece of drywall to sag from the ceiling, and why you don’t have to panic right away! (8:53) Woodpecker Deterrent: Woodpecker’s marking up your home? We might have the fix to make your home less attractive to them. (17:28)Hanging an Old Door: Why building a new door frame may be the best way to hang an antique door. (22:13) Post-Blast Brick Repair: How structural cracks in brickwork can hide deeper issues, and why replacing the full façade might be necessary if insurance allows. (28:00) Life Inside Stone: One man spent 30 years hand-blasting a 5,700 sq ft home into solid rock—and why living in stone can bring unexpected peace. (32:27)Backyard Beekeeping Basics: Learn everything you need to start your own beehive from Bowser Bee on TikTok and Instagram (40:49)
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50:29
An Expert’s Guide to Babyproofing Your Home + Gas and Power Tips for Hurricane Season
On this This Old House Radio Hour, we’re helping parents breathe a little easier with a full guide to babyproofing your home, courtesy of Stephanie Lyons from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. From newborn-safe sleep setups to toddler-proof kitchen fixes, we cover every stage of early development with tips that make your home safer—without turning it into a padded cell.Then we visit the Massachusetts South Shore, where New York Times bestselling author J. Courtney Sullivan tells us how a weathered beach cottage became her real-life literary retreat—and the unexpected joys of moving back to her hometown.Plus, Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein of Cheap Old Houses showcase a $35,000 Arkansas cottage and a 150-year-old general store in Pennsylvania ripe for restoration. And, as always, our team of experts take your home improvement calls, from shifting laminate floors to hurricane-proofing stucco, fridge mishaps, and generator upgrades. In This Episode You Will Learn: How to babyproof for every stage: from newborns to crawling toddlers (1:03)How to shift floating floorboards a DIY Trick (8:13)Safe and simple ways to repair cracks in stucco around windows (17:32)Installing the right portable generator safely for hurricane prone homes (26:25)How to keep your A/C running efficiently by cleaning filters and avoiding overcooling (39:13)
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A Field Guide to the American Porch, Urban Gardening and Musician Nathaniel Rateliff's Mountain Hideaway
This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we explore the spaces that bring us together—both inside and out. Architect and author Charlie Hailey joins us to discuss the surprising resurgence of the American porch, what makes it such a powerful space for connection, and how to design one that enhances airflow, light, and livability. Then we head to Morrison, Colorado, where musician Nathaniel Rateliff gives us a tour of his rustic mountain hideaway—complete with a recording studio and cliffside views. In our call-in segment, we tackle everything from crumbling brick railings to filling in a missing hot tub hole in a deck, choosing smart venting options for old houses, and whether to trust those free arc fault detectors from your insurance company. Finally, Kamaria Gray of Detroit’s Hood Stead Farm shares tips for starting an urban garden anywhere—even on a windowsill. Whether you’re a DIYer, a porch-sitter, or a green thumb in training, this episode’s packed with inspiration and smart advice you can use. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: [0:55] – Porch design tips: Six-sided structure, passive cooling, sloped floors, air circulation, screened protection, blue ceiling effect[8:35] – Masonry fix: Water-damaged brick, bugs under brick, how to stop freeze/thaw damage[17:03] – Deck repair: How to fill an old hot tub hole, reframe and weave in decking, DIY structure support[21:22] – Arc fault detectors: Are they worth it? Pros, cons, privacy concerns, and DIY monitoring alternatives[26:24] – Bathroom ventilation: How to vent through a soffit, prevent rot, best practices for short overhangs[40:29] – Urban gardening tips: Soil prep, composting, what to grow first, pest deterrents, low-stakes learning[49:55] – Simple Fix: Remove lint from roller covers with painter’s tape for smoother paint jobs
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The Ultimate DIY Cleaning Solution + Peter Sagal’s House from Hell!
This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we’re scrubbing deep, digging trenches, and pulling back the curtain on the emotional side of homeownership. We open the episode with Brandon Pleshek—aka “Clean That Up”—who shares his go-to DIY vinegar-based cleaner, why it works, and where you should never use it. Then it’s onto the phones, starting with a call from California about whether vintage tile can (and should) be saved.Our weekly House Rules game delivers a quick hit of lawn care wisdom, while a listener from Brooklyn gets a hard truth about the perils of combined sewer systems. We cover safe ways to remove lead paint from masonry, how to properly replace a rake board, and why PVC might be the best upgrade you didn’t know you needed.In My Old House, Peter Sagal (host of NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!) shares the darkly funny, deeply relatable story of buying the wrong house for all the wrong reasons. Finally, Cheap Old Houses delivers a bank vault with Airbnb potential and a train caboose you can live in—with one smart DIY trick for seed spreading to close the show. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: DIY Vinegar Cleaner (0:55):Make a simple, effective cleaner using 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water, and 1 tsp dish soap. Great on glass and hard surfaces—but avoid marble, granite, and wood.Vintage Tile Advice (9:48):If the glaze is worn or the pattern fading, you may need to replace—but decorative vintage tile is often worth preserving.Lawn Tip (House Rules):Grubs—not beetles or cinch bugs—are eating your grass from below. Here's how to identify and control them.Flooding Solution (17:27):Combined storm/sewer systems can cause backups during heavy rain. Why a sump system or rerouting is essential in older cities. Lead Paint Safety (21:38):Use an over-the-counter swab test to check old paint for lead before scraping. If positive, consider hiring a pro or using EPA-safe methods.Rake Board Repair with PVC (26:49):When your spotlight rips away from old wood trim, replace the rake board with maintenance-free PVC—just mind the expansion gaps.Simple Fix – Bucket Seeding Trick:No broadcast spreader? Use a bucket and your hand to cast seed—just like feeding chickens. Perfect for small lawns or quick reseeding. -- other moments -- Peter Sagal (32:27)Save This Old House (41:24)
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51:16
Is Your Parents Home Safe + DIY Weed Killer + The Right Way to Refinish Butcher Block
This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we’re making your home smarter, safer, and more soulful—whatever your age, stage, or style. Rick Cantino from Operation Independence joins us with essential advice for aging in place, from grab bars to threshold-free showers to stair lifts that won’t kill your curb appeal. Then we take your calls: a fireplace switch that only works if you smack it, post-contractor tile repairs, and the right way to refinish butcher block. Later, Third Eye Blind’s Stephan Jenkins takes us inside his decade-long restoration of a San Francisco Victorian. Plus: the real difference between gas and induction—and the DIY weed killer that actually works.In This Episode You’ll Learn:• How to make your home safer for senior. (0:55)• Wiring a wall switch for a gas fireplace (8:38)• How to hide tile holes after glass shower reinstallation (16:35)• The best food-safe finish for butcher block counters (23:04)• Fixing HVAC issues in multi-level homes (27:36)• Stephan Jenkins’ renovation journey in a San Francisco Victorian (32:56)• Gas vs. induction: which is right for your kitchen? (41:09)• Simple Fix: DIY weed killer you can mix in minutes (49:46)
For over four decades, This Old House has been America’s most trusted source for home improvement, craftsmanship, and restoration. Now, we’re bringing that same expertise to the airwaves with This Old House Radio Hour—a weekly deep dive into the art, science, and soul of home building. Hosted by This Old House editor Jenn Largesse and featuring all your favorite TOH experts, each episode blends practical advice with rich storytelling. Whether you’re tackling a DIY project, renovating a historic home, or simply fascinated by the way we shape—and are shaped by—the spaces we live in, this show has something for you. Expect expert guidance from a roster of top builders, designers, and craftspeople who answer your home improvement questions—covering everything from plumbing to flooring, framing to finishing. We also go beyond the toolbelt, exploring the philosophy of craftsmanship with master artisans, and uncovering America’s forgotten architectural gems with the team behind Cheap Old Houses who spotlight properties you can buy for as little as $1000. Along the way, we’ll dive into the latest in building science, design trends, and home innovation. Plus, we keep things fun with games, surprise guests, and some seriously ridiculous prizes. So join us each week for the best home has to offer. Subscribe now to This Old House Radio Hour!
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