Farm to Table Architecture, Soundproofing your Bedroom, Plus Our DIY Experts Answer Your Home Improvement Questions
On this week’s This Old House Radio Hour, architects Jack Becker and Andrew Linn of BLDUS in Washington, D.C. explain how they’re turning the sustainable food movement into a sustainable building movement with their “Farm-to-Shelter” philosophy—drawing inspiration from Chef’s Table and using regional, regenerative materials to create homes that are beautiful, healthy, and good for the planet. Then, bestselling author Ariel Lawhon (Frozen River) returns to her childhood bunker in Taos, New Mexico, built by her father with no electricity or running water, in this week’s “My Old House.” Plus, Cheap Old Houses returns with listings in Oil City, PA and Garfield, WA, we play a new listener game called House Rules, and our expert team fields your DIY questions—from mysterious outlets and noisy neighbors to fence repairs and stubborn carpet glue.Need help with your home? Call us at 1-877-864-7460 or email us at, [email protected]
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50:31
MYTHBUSTERS ADAM SAVAGE, ROSEANNE CASH'S STEAM PUNK MEETS JANE AUSTEN TOWN HOUSE + DIY AND HOME IMPROVEMENT ANSWERS
Adam Savage—former MythBuster and maker movement icon—joins us to talk about the philosophy of tools, the joy of failure, and building a 200-hour replica of Hellboy’s revolver. Then we visit Charleston to uncover the truth behind those sideways-facing row houses (spoiler: it’s not about taxes). Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash invites us into her lovingly restored 1855 Manhattan brownstone, where music, memory, and steampunk-Jane-Austen style live in harmony. Plus, our experts take your calls—from crooked kitchen cabinets to leaking pond pumps—and face off in a hilarious round of What’s That Sound?
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“How Much Do You Pay in Rent" with Caleb Simpson + Home Improvement Q&A + Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin
On this episode of This Old House Radio Hour, we sit down with viral sensation Caleb Simpson, the TikTok star who’s made a name asking one simple question: “How much do you pay in rent?” Caleb shares what 500+ home tours have taught him about housing, design, and what our spaces say about who we are. Then, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin reflects on turning grief into meaning by recreating her 19th-century farmhouse inside a Boston condo. Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein from Cheap Old Houses showcase two historic stunners for less than $125K, including one with its own National Register–listed playhouse.We also dive into your DIY questions—from whether you should paint over ugly floor tile, to what to do with a puddle-prone bathtub, and how to protect your HVAC system from power surges. And we play another round of What’s That Sound?, where your favorite This Old House pros try to guess the noise—and maybe save your outlets in the process. All that, plus a Simple Fix from Jenn Nawada that tells you if your backyard trees are dying.
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50:32
Ken Burns Shows Us, His Creative Shangri-La, Sarah Susanka On Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better and a Blue Print for Rebuilding Los Angeles
On this week’s episode, we rethink the meaning of home—from the scale of a single room to the soul of a sprawling city.First, visionary architect and best-selling author Sarah Susanka joins us to reflect on the enduring appeal of her groundbreaking book The Not So Big House. She unpacks power of designing for quality over quantity, how smarter, smaller spaces can transform our lives, and why her “Not So Big” philosophy is more relevant than ever in a world grappling with sustainability, affordability, and a hunger for meaning in our living spaces.Then we travel to Walpole, New Hampshire, where acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns has created his own sanctuary on 111 acres of rolling New England landscape. He walks us through the barn he dreamed up as a child and built as an adult—proof that sometimes, the stories we tell start with the places we make. And finally, a bold conversation about the future of Los Angeles. In a time of housing crises, infrastructure strain, and environmental urgency, we explore b—one that centers community, climate, and the power of design to create a city that works for everyone. All that, plus your DIY and Home Improvement questions answered. Call us today at 877-864-7460
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American Picker Mike Wolfe’s Main Street Revival, Historic Homes Under $1,000, and 60-Second Fixes for Everyday Problems!
Welcome to the Premiere of This Old House Radio Hour! Join us for an hour of expert-driven DIY and home improvement, where craftsmanship, history, and hands-on know-how come together. Master carpenter Callum Robinson reads from his bestselling memoir, Ingrained: The Making of a Craftsman, and shares with host Jenn Largesse the deep joy of woodworking—and the stories locked inside every piece of wood.Then, we head to Le Claire, Iowa, where American Pickers’ Mike Wolfe restores a 19th-century general store on the banks of the Mississippi River. Plus, we uncover historic homes under $1,000 with Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein from Cheap Old Houses! All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.
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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