Making Room for a Simpler Life

What would you love to learn if you felt confident enough to try?In this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Cindy Schroppel welcomes Gaia Goldhill, executive director of Wild Abundance, a school near Asheville, North Carolina, that teaches carpentry, tiny house building, and land-based skills.Gaia shares her own story of living in a tiny house while building another, including what her current home has taught her about the home she’s creating next.We’ll also explore what makes learning at Wild Abundance distinctive, hear about student experiences, and discuss how the school’s work has evolved over the last couple of years. Gaia will introduce the nonprofit, share what’s ahead for 2027, and explain why she believes this is a meaningful time to focus on practical skills.Whether you want to build a tiny home, try a small project, or feel more capable caring for the home you have, join us for a conversation about finding your place to begin.What is one skill you would love to learn? Tell us in the comments!Explore Wild Abundance: https://www.wildabundance.net/WildabundanceWild Abundance | Tiny House, Permaculture & Carpentry SchoolMore actionshttps://www.wildabundance.net/https://www.youtube.com/@WildAbundancehttps://www.instagram.com/wildabundance/https://www.facebook.com/WildAbundance.nethttps://www.wildabundance.net/tiny-house-planner/online tiny house classWatch Let’s Talk Tiny live Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. Central on Tiny Home Tours. You can also listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Submit your questions for Cindy to answer Live on the show: https://www.tinyhometours.com/ask-cindyJoin the Tiny Home Tours Newsletter: https://www.tinyhometours.com/newsletter  

Love the idea of living in a tiny home, but feel overwhelmed by everything in your current house? Dana K. White joins Cindy Schroppel on Let’s Talk Tiny to explore how to begin decluttering, make decisions about sentimental belongings, and prepare for a smaller space.We’ll discuss Dana’s No Mess Decluttering Method, Container Concept, Clutter Threshold, and the questions to consider before renting a storage unit. Whether you’re preparing to move or simply want a home that’s easier to manage, this conversation offers a place to begin.Explore Dana’s resources at ASlobComesClean.comhttps://www.aslobcomesclean.com/http://declutteringcoaches.com/Dana's Books: https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/book/Facebook: @ASlobComesCleanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aslobcomesclean/

What makes a tiny home community feel like more than a place to park?In this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Cindy sits down with Molly McNown, co-owner of NamaStay Hideaway in Van Alstyne, Texas. Before creating a community of her own, Molly lived in a 304-square-foot tiny home surrounded by neighbors she called her “soul group.”Molly shares how that experience helped inspire her and her husband, Chuck, to turn their dream of creating a community into reality. They’ll talk about what it took to prepare the land, create a welcoming neighborhood, and help residents find a sense of belonging.If you’re considering a tiny home community—or dreaming of creating one—you’ll hear what to look for when you visit, questions to ask about ongoing costs, and the tradeoffs to consider before making a move.Would you rather live in a tiny home community or on your own property? Let us know in the comments, and share your questions for Molly!You can also listen to Let’s Talk Tiny on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.https://www.namastayhideaway.com/https://www.facebook.com/namastayhideawayhttps://www.instagram.com/namastay_hideaway/https://www.instagram.com/namastay_hideaway/mailto:[email protected] the Tiny Home Tours Newsletter: tinyhometours.com/newsletter.#LetsTalkTiny #TinyHomeCommunity #TinyLiving #NamaStayHideaway

You want to go tiny—but something keeps holding you back. Maybe it’s the cost, finding a place to live, sorting through years of belongings, or wondering whether you’ll regret the decision. Where do you start when every answer seems to lead to another question? Join Cindy for a live Q&A on Let’s Talk Tiny as we talk through the obstacles that can keep you stuck between dreaming about tiny living and taking your next step. We’ll discuss the full cost of making the move, choosing a location or community, getting your spouse or family on board, downsizing, and working through the fear of making the wrong choice. Cindy will also share insights from her own experience moving from 2,400 sq. ft. to tiny living. Bring your questions and tell us what’s holding you back. Whether you’re just exploring or have been considering this move for years, this conversation will help you identify a practical next step.Watch live on the Tiny Home Tours YouTube channel and join the conversation!

Can the home you love today support your needs in the years ahead?On this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Cindy talks with Tiffany McDeavitt, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and founder of Accessible Housing Solutions.Tiffany shares how watching her great-grandmother struggle at home helped inspire her work connecting healthcare and residential design. Together, we explore questions to ask before buying, building, or renovating—from entry steps and bathroom accessibility to kitchen functionality and main-level living.We also discuss what tiny home and ADU buyers should consider when planning for changing mobility and long-term independence.Learn more about Tiffany’s work:https://www.accessiblehousingsolutions.com/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590677803334Listen to Let’s Talk Tiny on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and subscribe to Tiny Home Tours for more conversations about living smaller.https://bit.ly/THTNewsletterLink

Are you designing a tiny home? Before you choose a floor plan, watch this.One of the biggest mistakes people make isn't buying the wrong tiny home—it's designing one that doesn't fit the way they actually live.In this episode of Let's Talk Tiny, Cindy sits down with Kelley Walker of Cowtown Cottages to discuss what she's learned after helping hundreds of people design custom tiny homes. As a designer—and a tiny homeowner herself—Kelley shares the questions every buyer should ask before making decisions that can affect daily life for years to come.Whether you're planning your first home, downsizing for retirement, looking for a more affordable lifestyle, or simply exploring tiny living, you'll walk away with practical advice that could save you money, frustration, and expensive design regrets.In this episode, you'll discover:✅ The biggest mistakes people make when designing a tiny home✅ Tiny home trends that look great online but don't work in real life✅ Where to spend your money—and where to save it✅ The custom features homeowners appreciate most after moving in✅ How your age, lifestyle, and future plans should influence your floor plan✅ Tips for designing a home you'll love for years to comeIf you've ever thought, "I wish my home fit my life better," this conversation is for you. Kelley Walker, owner of Cowtown Cottages, is a Texas-based tiny home dealership specializing in custom-designed cottages built around the way people actually live. Kelley has decades of experience in real estate, remodeling, and interior design and has created numerous custom floor plans while helping buyers navigate the purchase of their tiny home. She and her husband Warren also live in a tiny home themselves, giving her firsthand experience with the lifestyle she helps others create.Links:Website: https://www.cowtowncottages.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cowtowncottagesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowtowncottages/Kelley's Tours with Tiny Home Tours:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVr-ZyFNLN0&t=1019s&pp=0gcJCUwLAYcqIYzvhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGkMS8OVHm4

Could you live well with less space? Before you buy a tiny home or begin downsizing, how can you tell what you actually need?This week on Let’s Talk Tiny, Cindy talks with Laura Fenton, author of The Little Book of Living Small and writer of the LIVING SMALL newsletter. Laura shares why she began writing about real people in small homes, what it means to “test-drive tiny,” and where to start when your belongings feel overwhelming.They’ll also explore the decisions behind decluttering, the debate over storage units, and the benefits and tradeoffs of choosing a smaller home. Whether you’re planning a move or hoping to make your current space work better, this conversation will help you take a practical first step.Join us live and bring your questions for Laura! Laura Fenton is the author ofThe Little Book of Living Small and the best-sellingSubstack newsletter Living Small. Prior to her independent writing career, Laura was a senior editor at several national magazines including Parents and Good Housekeeping. Her home and garden writing has been published in the Better Homes & Gardens, Gardenista, Real Simple, and The New York Times, among other publications. She lives in a 690-square foot apartment in New York City with her husband and son. https://laurafenton.substack.com/This is how they can subscribe to her newsletter.Her website: https://www.laura-fenton.com

In this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Cindy talks with Chris Moeller, founder of Pathway Communities, about what it takes to make homeownership work beyond the day someone gets the keys. They explore why a lower purchase price is only part of the picture—and why utilities, insurance, maintenance, and other monthly costs matter just as much.Chris shares the surprising buyer response to an 800-square-foot, single-level home and explains the thinking behind Hudson Commons, a planned community with homes ranging from roughly 500 to 1,100 square feet. They also discuss shared equity, connection, and how Hurricane Helene has shaped his thinking about building communities that can withstand disruption.If you’re considering a smaller home, approaching retirement, or looking for a more attainable path to ownership, this conversation will help you ask a bigger question: Can I afford to live well here for years to come?In this episode:• Why buyers chose a smaller, single-level home• What Chris means by “stable living and ownership”• Who Hudson Commons is being planned for• The costs to consider beyond the purchase price• How community design can support connection and resilience• What to ask before choosing a home or communityWhat matters most to your long-term stability: a lower purchase price, predictable monthly expenses, the chance to build equity, or access to community resources? Tell us in the comments—and bring your questions for Chris to the live conversation.Join Let’s Talk Tiny live on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. Central, or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Chris Moeller is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based developer, entrepreneur and systems thinker; CEO of Orion Growth; Founder of Pathway Communities; and Land Steward at The Retreat at Firefly Farm. His work sits at the intersection of the built environment, emerging technology and regenerative economics, exploring how AI, systems thinking and lessons from natural systems can create more stable, connected communities. He is also a speaker, educator, housing practitioner, and Producer and Host of The Edge Report: From Bricks to Clicks. Website: http://www.pathwaycommunities.org/

Building a small home on raw land may sound simple—but what happens before construction begins can determine whether the dream stays on budget or becomes an expensive surprise.After living in ten homes and completing six corporate moves, Wanda Glover thought she understood the building process. But creating her custom 450-square-foot home on undeveloped land in South Carolina required an entirely different kind of preparation.In this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Wanda shares how she transformed a peaceful wooded property near her daughter and grandchildren into a beautiful, debt-free home designed for the life she truly wanted.We’ll discuss:What to investigate before purchasing raw landCounty regulations, covenants, and minimum-square-footage requirementsSoil tests, surveys, drainage, grading, and driveway decisionsThe cost of bringing utilities and road access to undeveloped propertyEasements and private road-maintenance agreementsChoosing an architect and builder with local experienceProtecting your budget and construction fundsDesigning a small home around your belongings and lifestyleThe three questions Wanda believes every buyer should answer firstIf you’re thinking about purchasing land or building a smaller home, Wanda’s story will help you understand the questions to ask—and the costs and complications you may not see when you first walk onto a property.Watch Wanda’s complete home tour on the Tiny Home Tours YouTube channel.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k-Ovku_g7sLet’s Talk Tiny airs live every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Central. You can also listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

What does tiny living really look like after eight years, four moves, extreme weather and the realities of community life?Betsy Barbour has lived in her 200-square-foot tiny house through hurricanes, snowstorms, difficult community dynamics and challenges she never expected. Yet through it all, she remains passionate about living smaller, building stronger communities and creating a more sustainable life.In this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Betsy shares the triumphs, trials and hard-earned truths of long-term tiny living. We discuss what went wrong during her first attempt to build, the financial and emotional toll of moving her home four times, how she prepares for severe weather and what separates a place to park from a community where residents can truly thrive.Betsy also reveals the questions every prospective resident should ask about builders, lot rent, community leadership and long-term affordability before making the move.Whether you’re dreaming about a tiny home, searching for the right community or already living tiny, Betsy’s story offers an honest look at what it takes to build a tiny life that can last.Join us live and add your questions in the comments. You can also listen to Let’s Talk Tiny on Spotify and Apple [email protected]://tinyhousetalk.com/Tiny House Alliance of Southwest Florida https://www.facebook.com/groups/1404783419608950/