Explore every episode of the podcast Candid Tiny House
Dive into the complete episode list for Candid Tiny House. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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ARCHITECTURE Student's First Tiny House: Lars E6, S3
In this episode of the Candid Tiny House Podcast, Lars shares the honest reality of designing and building his tiny house on wheels while studying architecture at university — and why applying standard house-building logic to a vehicle nearly caused major weight problems.
Starting his build at just 20 years old, Lars reflects on the mistakes he made, including overbuilding with heavy construction materials, pushing close to the 4.5 tonne limit, and learning the hard way why tiny houses need vehicle-aware design.
We discuss towing, moisture management, windows and temperature control, minimalism, sharing a small space, off-grid living, and what he would do completely differently if he built again.
This episode is packed with practical lessons for anyone considering building a tiny house in Australia.
👉 Online Course Lars said was "tremendously helpful".
Candid Tiny House is an Australian podcast about the real experience of building, living, and advocating for tiny houses on wheels.
Hosted by Shannon Schultz from Fred’s Tiny Houses, the podcast features honest, candid conversations with people who have built their own tiny houses in Australia, taken workshops or online courses with Fred, and navigated the full journey from planning to living tiny.
Instead of glossy social media posts or idealised tiny house tours, Candid Tiny House focuses on the realities of designing, building, and living in a tiny house that is both a safe road vehicle and a comfortable home.
Across the series, guests share lessons learned, challenges overcome, and insights gained — from technical building tips and budgeting, to problem-solving, community support, and the physical and emotional demands of a tiny house project.
You can also watch video interviews, tours, and build footage on the Fred’s Tiny Houses YouTube channel, and see photos and articles about each build on the Fred’s Tiny Houses blog.
At just 22 and 23 years old, Alex and Harrison designed and built a beautifully refined DIY tiny house on wheels in Australia — learning resilience, problem solving, and perseverance along the way.
In this episode of Candid Tiny House, they share the full story behind their lightweight tiny house build, including planning their trailer size, building outdoors on a nature strip, managing strong winds during construction, transport costs, insurance, budgeting, finding land in the Blue Mountains NSW, and adapting to tiny house living.
They also discuss material choices including charred cedar shou sugi ban cladding, timber framing, grey water management, composting toilets, and the emotional realities of burnout and maintaining momentum through a long DIY build.
This episode is packed with practical advice for anyone interested in: • DIY tiny house builds in Australia • Tiny house trailers and lightweight design • Tiny house budgeting and transport costs • Tiny house parking and renting land • Composting toilets and grey water systems • Minimalist living and alternative housing • First-time owner builders and resilience
Alex shares: “Rest when you need it — rest is really productive.”
And Harrison reflects on how the build strengthened his mindset: “You realise everything has a solution and it doesn’t have to ruin the whole day.”
Whether you're dreaming of building a tiny house, already deep in your build, or simply curious about alternative housing in Australia, this episode offers honest insight into the challenges and rewards of creating a tiny home from scratch.
👉 Online Course Alex & Harrison found very helpful: https://www.tinyhouseuniversity.com.au/courses/how-to-build-a-tiny-house
👉 See Alex and Harrion's Tiny House Trailer: https://fredstinyhouses.com.au/trailer/8-meter-flat-top-trailer-hot-dip-galvanized-triaxle-2-4m-wide-4500kg-rated/
In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the groundbreaking decision by Mount Alexander Shire Council to legalise tiny houses on wheels. Featuring a detailed interview with Councillor Rosie Annear, who was Mayor at the time of the law change, we explore:
• The journey from initial proposal to successful implementation • Challenges faced in navigating planning schemes and local laws • How community engagement played a crucial role in the process • The council's approach to balancing safety concerns with housing needs • The impact of the decision on local housing options and affordability
Key highlights:
- Insight into the council's decision-making process and risk assessment - Discussion of the planning scheme complexities and how they were overcome - The unprecedented level of community support (91% in favour) - Reflection on the broader implications for housing solutions in Victoria
Whether you're a tiny house enthusiast, interested in local government processes, or concerned about housing affordability, this episode offers valuable insights into how innovative policy changes can address pressing community needs.
Don't miss our special announcement at the end of the episode!
Listen now to discover how one council's brave decision is paving the way for alternative housing solutions across the country.
This is season 2 of Candid Tiny House where we peek behind the scenes of the successful campaign to change tiny house laws in Central Victoria, to show you how you can campaign to replicate the changes in your home town.
Kaz Neilson is key to this second attempt at changing tiny house laws. She is the coordinator for My Home Network, the driving force behind the new campaign.
Kathryn McGoldrick is a tiny house dweller and advocate, who solved her homelessness through building a tiny house on wheels.
They share the steps they took to campaign for change that they needed to see happen, and inspire and educate along the way.
This is Candid Tiny House, hosted by Shannon Schultz from Fred’s Tiny Houses. Usually this is a podcast interviewing people about their tiny house builds. This season, Season 2, we are doing something different.
Last June, in 2023, the local shire here in central Victoria, Mount Alexander Shire did something extraordinary. They passed a local law that allowed for living in a tiny house on wheels on private property without a permit or a time limit. They removed the biggest barrier to living in a tiny house on wheels that there is: council regulations.
It was huge, we got national media attention, a lot of happy community members and a whole new option for affordable housing in our region. We also got a lot of people from other councils, in other states, around Australia, calling up and asking how did you do this? We want to do that here! How did you make that possible?
So this podcast is in answer to that question. We talk to all the key players involved in the change - what they did, what were the factors for success, what were the obstacles they faced and how did they overcome or avert them? And most importantly, what are the list of things that you can do to replicate the same progress in your home town?
This episode we take a trip down memory lane, to 2020 and the lead up to the local law review, when Fred Schultz led a campaign to legalise tiny house living. We hear about what steps we took, here at Fred's Tiny Houses to create a friendly law, present it to council and generate public support for the idea.
Councillor Christine Henderson was a fan of the proposed tiny house law change, and pushed very hard inside council to get the progressive laws over the line. Hear all about their efforts, the obstacles they faced, and how you can use their experience to overcome obstacles in your home-grown campaign.
This is Candid Tiny House. I'm your host, Shannon Schultz from Fred’s Tiny Houses.
You might have heard that last year, our local government, Mount Alexander Shire here in Central Victoria, changed their local laws to essentially legalize tiny house living. You can now live in a tiny house on wheels on private property where there’s a dwelling, without a permit or a time limit.
It’s great! It removes the biggest obstacle to tiny house living - council regulations - and as such, it’s a significant step towards increasing affordable housing options in our area.
It took 2 campaigns, 2 revisions of the same local law, much community in-put and a lot of research and head-scratching by all involved.
As you can imagine, this law change sparked a lot of interest from other communities and local councils all calling up asking "How did you do this? How can we do that here?!"
So this season of Candid Tiny House, we are answering that question.
We hear from key players in the two different campaigns, Councillors, the Mayor, tiny house dwellers and advocates, and from people in the community who are now offering land to tiny house owners, because of the law change.
It’s a case study of initial disappointment, new strategies, internal council insights, overcoming obstacles and working together for a better outcome.
And the best part? It's not just about this town. It's a playbook for anyone, anywhere, itching to make a difference in their own backyard.
So grab your headphones and buckle up. The Advocacy Season of Candid Tiny House is about to drop, and you won't want to miss a minute.
First episode is out on June 14th, and each Friday following.
Michael Bartz built his tiny house on wheels in Canada. He built the trailer too. It took him four years and now he lives in it with his partner and their three cats.
This is a bonus episode where we compare notes between building a tiny house in Canada and in Australia. The weight limits, regulations and seasons are all so different that it can lead to really different tiny house designs. But there are also lots of things in common… as we find out!
Hear about how:
To assess tiny house projects that you see in Canada or North America and how they might differ from a successful design here in Australia.
Michael felt when designing, building and living in a tiny house on wheels.
Michael approached the stress of living illegally in a tiny house on wheels.
This tiny house project sits within a greater project for Michael of reducing his carbon footprint and how he is now continuing that work through his podcast: In Over My Head.
Jim wanted to be able to stand up in his bedroom loft, so he commissioned Fred’s Tiny Houses to come up with a design that included a pop-up roof that can be elevated when his tiny house is parked; and lowered when it is being transported. Inspired by a tiny house that he saw in Byron Bay, Jim engaged a local registered builder to undertake this project on a 7.2 meter Flat Top Trailer.
In this interview Jim talks about:
His decision to choose a tiny house on wheels as a single person.
Off-grid living and the lack of bills.
Internet access in a tiny house on wheels.
How he found the property that he lives on.
Working with a builder to make his tiny house idea into a reality.
Anna & Rowan built their tiny house on wheels in Canberra and moved it up to Newcastle where they now live. They built on a 7.8 meter Protruding Wheels Guard trailer and have recently added a deck and verandah that more than doubles the living area available in their tiny house.
Hear about their:
Concerns in getting their tiny house insured as DIY builders;
The formal valuation of their tiny house - compared to how much they spent;
Transporting their tiny house through a tight spot;
The best and worst aspects of DIY building a tiny house;
Maintaining their relationship throughout the stressors of building and managing decision-fatigue; and
The problem with getting ‘help’ on a build-site, as well as much much more.
Helpful links from this episode:
Blog article with photos of Anna & Rowan’s tiny house on wheels.
Lou built her 7.2m long tiny house on a Fred’s Tiny Houses flat top trailer in the Northern Rivers area in NSW with the help of her partner and a retired tradie friend. An award-winning travel writer, Lou had no prior experience building, designing or using power tools. That all changed when she set about creating her dream tiny house on wheels.
Hear about her:
Experience designing on paper & building for the first time;
Choice of materials and making changes to her design along the way;
Designing the lighting and window choices;
Financial budget breakdown of all the big-ticket items in her tiny house;
Advice she would give to anyone embarking on their own tiny house journey.
Bree and Lucas DIY built their beautiful, fully-equipped 7.8m long tiny house in Bree’s parents’ back yard on weekends over a two year period, while they both worked full time.
Hear about their:
Experience using the light-weight wood paulownia as exterior cladding;
Creation of a design that reflected their values and met their (sometimes divergent) needs;
Overcame significant building setbacks;
Outsourced some aspects of the building;
Financial budget for the tiny house.
Helpful links from this episode:
Blog article with photos of Bree and Lucas and their tiny house on wheels.
Deon and Marine DIY built their 7.2m long tiny surf house in Northern Beaches, NSW. Keen to build a tiny house on wheels that supports their surfing lifestyle and their eco values, Deon and Marine learnt on the job and adapted to their changing circumstances.
Hear about their:
Experience building their tiny house while off-grid and outside;
Finding a place to build and live in their tiny house;
Sourcing custom fittings to suit their unique dimensions;
Insurance hurdle jumping;
Injuries sustained;
Design considerations, and
Financial and weight budgets and calculations.
Helpful links from this episode:
Blog article with photos of Deon & Marine and their tiny house on wheels.
In this episode of Candid Tiny House, Tyson shares his journey from dreaming about van life to building a fully off-grid, 8-metre tiny house on wheels—despite having no prior building experience.
Working full-time while learning on the job, Tyson faced everything from trailer levelling mishaps and burnout, to the stress of moving day and navigating planning regulations in South Australia. Through it all, he stayed committed to creating a home that was not only functional, but beautifully detailed.
This episode is a powerful reminder that building a tiny house isn’t about what you already know—it’s about your willingness to learn, problem-solve, and keep going.
What you’ll learn:
Real time frame and cost of building a tiny house on wheels
Selecting the right trailer size
Common beginner mistakes (and how to recover from them)
Strategies for managing time, energy, and burnout
How to successfully manage weight in a tiny house build
About the Podcast Candid Tiny House is a podcast and video series hosted by Shannon Schultz of Fred’s Tiny Houses. Each episode features real conversations with people who have built their own tiny house on wheels in Australia after purchasing a trailer or attending one of Fred’s Tiny Houses workshops. Instead of polished success stories, these interviews focus on honest reflections after the build is finished — exploring the lessons, mistakes, surprises, and wisdom that come from actually living in a tiny house. The goal is to help future tiny house builders make better decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and understand the realities of tiny house living.
Candid Tiny House is a series of honest interviews with people who have built a tiny house on a Fred's Tiny Houses Trailer in Australia after taking a Workshop or Online Course with Fred.
Mine these interviews for tiny house building tips that are grounded in reality and experience.
Hear stories of everything that it's taken to build each tiny house on wheels, including:
the financial costs & the savings;
the things they wish they knew before starting out on their tiny house building journey;
the injuries & the community support;
the setbacks & triumphs; and
the compromises & innovations.
Instead of presenting a shiny tiny house ideal, we take a gritty and realistic look at the enormous feat it takes to build a tiny house on wheels. Each client sets out to make a home that is a successful road vehicle as well as being a comfortable place to live in year-round.
Enjoy photos of each episode and read a short article on each tiny house story on the Fred's Tiny Houses Blog.
Be inspired by all the people who have walked the path before you.
Access an informed community of conscientious tiny house builders and see the results of their efforts on Fred's Tiny Houses YouTube channel, then start your build well informed and better equipped for the journey ahead!
Season 1 (E1-6) starts on Friday 24th September 2021.
All the interviewees are in Australia and we focus exclusively on information that is relevant to Australia.
Shannon Schultz is your host on Candid Tiny House. She talks to people every day about their tiny house projects at Fred's Tiny Houses and enjoys getting real about tiny houses and everything that is involved in making them and living in them. She picks up the technical stuff from Fred (her husband) and loves catching up with clients to celebrate their journey and their tiny house successes! :-)
What happens when home ownership becomes a financial trap? Nick flipped the script—and found freedom in a tiny house on wheels.
Nick’s journey into tiny house living didn’t start with a dream build—it started with the weight of a mortgage.
After entering the property market, he was “house-poor,” locked into a financial situation that simply didn’t deliver the lifestyle or freedom he expected. In this episode, Nick shares the turning point—what made him question the path he was on, and how that led him to make a bold shift into tiny house living.
Unlike many guests this season, Nick didn’t build his tiny house himself. Instead, he worked with a professional builder, offering a valuable perspective on what it’s like to commission a THOW —from choosing a design and navigating specifications, through to transport, setup, and long-term living.
Now, 3 years into living in his 7.2m tiny house (based on plans from Fred’s Tiny Houses), Nick reflects on the reality of his costs, lifestyle, and the financial transformation he’s achieved. His story is a powerful example of what can happen when tiny house living truly works—and what it takes to get there.
We discuss:
What it really means to be “house-poor” in Australia
The mindset shift that led Nick to leave conventional home ownership
The process of commissioning a professionally built tiny house on wheels
Key considerations: transport, insurance, and compliance
Transitioning from city living to a rural, off-grid lifestyle
Real-world budget insights: expected vs actual costs
Ongoing expenses of living in a tiny house over several years
Why lightweight design matters more than most people realise
What makes a tiny house journey a genuine long-term success
Tiny House Specifications:
Length: 7.2 metres
Off-grid
Built by a professional builder (non-DIY)
Based on plans from Fred’s Tiny Houses
Two queen lofts
Full bathroom and kitchen
Lightweight construction
Nick’s story stands out as one of the clearest, real-world examples of tiny house living delivering on its promise. With years of lived experience, financial insights, and a professional build pathway, this episode offers a rare set of data points for anyone seriously considering a tiny house on wheels in Australia. If you’re weighing up whether tiny house living can genuinely improve your financial position—this is essential listening.
About the Podcast Candid Tiny House is a podcast and video series hosted by Shannon Schultz of Fred’s Tiny Houses. Each episode features real conversations with people who have built their own tiny house on wheels in Australia after purchasing a trailer or attending one of Fred’s Tiny Houses workshops. Instead of polished success stories, these interviews focus on honest reflections after the build is finished — exploring the lessons, mistakes, surprises, and wisdom that come from actually living in a tiny house. The goal is to help future tiny house builders make better decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and understand the realities of tiny house living.
What happens when a professional builder takes on a tiny house on wheels?
In this episode of Candid Tiny House, we sit down with Aaron, a carpenter and builder, and his partner Amanda, to explore the realities of building and living in a tiny house in Australia. Aaron shares how the process challenged his traditional construction mindset—and what he had to unlearn to successfully build on wheels.
This is a story of learning, adapting, and evolving—not just in the build, but in the home itself.
Aaron and Amanda’s tiny house wasn’t designed all at once. It developed over time, shaped by changing ideas, preferences, and life circumstances. And unlike many builds, their journey doesn’t stop at move-in.
They’re still living in their tiny house today—and they’ve expanded and adapted it as their family has grown.
Stick around to the end to hear how their home has transformed over time, with true before-and-after moments across years of living in it: from 2023 to 2025.
⚠️ Content note: This episode briefly references miscarriage as part of their journey. It is mentioned gently, without detail, and shared within a story that ultimately holds a positive outcome.
If you’re planning your own tiny house build, this episode offers valuable insights into design flexibility, long-term living, and real-world lessons from the build process.
Aaron and Amanda took this online course to answer their technical questions about tiny house building that were not able to be found on the internet.
Music by Scott Buckley.
About the Podcast Candid Tiny House is a podcast and video series hosted by Shannon Schultz of Fred’s Tiny Houses. Each episode features real conversations with people who have built their own tiny house on wheels in Australia after purchasing a trailer or attending one of Fred’s Tiny Houses workshops. Instead of polished success stories, these interviews focus on honest reflections after the build is finished — exploring the lessons, mistakes, surprises, and wisdom that come from actually living in a tiny house. The goal is to help future tiny house builders make better decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and understand the realities of tiny house living.
Two Kids in a Tiny House? Jesse & Esther Reflect on Building, Parenting, and Moving On
In the first episode of Season 3 of Candid Tiny House, host Shannon Schultz sits down with Jesse and Esther to reflect on their experience building and living in a tiny house on wheels in Australia — with two children.
This candid conversation explores what it’s really like to raise a young family in a tiny house, including the practical realities, the unexpected challenges, and the meaningful rewards that come with choosing a smaller lifestyle.
When this interview was recorded in June 2022, Jesse and Esther were preparing to sell their tiny house after living in it for two years in Esther’s parents’ backyard. By this point, the house was almost empty — making it the perfect moment for honest reflection about what worked, what didn’t, and what they would do differently.
They originally moved into their tiny house when their first child was still a toddler. During their time living there they welcomed their 2nd child with a home birth in the tiny house during COVID lockdowns, adding another layer to their experience of family life in a very small space.
In this episode, Jesse and Esther generously share their warts-and-all reflections about building and living in a tiny house with children. This conversation is not about selling the tiny house dream — it’s about helping future builders learn from real experiences.
If you’ve ever wondered:
Can you live in a tiny house with kids?
How much does a tiny house really cost?
Should I DIY my tiny house or hire a builder?
How do families manage storage in a tiny house?
…this episode is full of valuable insights.
Host Shannon Schultz also shares some reflections from her own experience raising a young child while living in a tiny house, adding another perspective on parenting in small spaces. Stay tuned until the end of the episode for a heart-warming update on Jesse and Esther’s next project.
Topics discussed in this episode
Why Jesse and Esther decided to build a tiny house on wheels
Working with a professional builder vs DIY tiny house construction
How long their tiny house build actually took
The real cost and budget of building their tiny house
Renovating and modifying a tiny house after moving in
The realities of raising kids in a tiny house
Having a home birth in a tiny house
Living through COVID lockdowns in a tiny house
Storage and layout ideas for tiny house design
How to interview a tiny house builder
Weight management and trailer considerations for tiny houses on wheels
Building homemade Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
The challenges of finding land for a tiny house in Australia
Ethics and motivations behind choosing tiny house living
About the Podcast Candid Tiny House is a podcast and video series hosted by Shannon Schultz of Fred’s Tiny Houses. Each episode features real conversations with people who have built their own tiny house on wheels in Australia after purchasing a trailer or attending one of Fred’s Tiny Houses workshops. Instead of polished success stories, these interviews focus on honest reflections after the build is finished — exploring the lessons, mistakes, surprises, and wisdom that come from actually living in a tiny house. The goal is to help future tiny house builders make better decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and understand the realities of tiny house living.
What’s it really like to build and live in a tiny house in Australia?
In Season 3 of the Candid Tiny House Podcast, host Shannon from Fred’s Tiny Houses sits down with past clients who have taken the leap — buying a trailer, attending the How to Build a Tiny House in Australia Weekend Workshop, or completing the Online Course — and then going on to build their own tiny houses on wheels.
These are honest, warts-and-all conversations with real people who have designed, built, and lived in their tiny homes. They share the challenges, the unexpected obstacles, the problem-solving, and the lessons they learned along the way.
In this season you’ll hear stories from:
• A first-time builder who had only made a coffee table before building his entire tiny house • A family who lived with two children in their tiny house and even experienced a home birth during lock-down • An architect student who built a tiny house to gain hands-on building experience • Couples who designed and built their tiny house as their lives evolved • Tiny house dwellers who dramatically reduced their housing costs and achieved financial freedom
Each episode dives into the real process of designing, building, and living in a tiny house on wheels in Australia — including the hard parts as well as the rewards.
If you're thinking about building your own tiny house, planning a DIY tiny house build, or simply curious about tiny house living, these candid interviews will give you the insights you won’t find in polished social media posts.
Candid Tiny House – Real people. Real builds. Real stories.
Hello and welcome to this bonus [book club] episode of Candid Tiny House!
It’s a special occasion because one of our DIY builders, Lou Southerden, who you might remember from Season 1 Episode 4, has written a book about her journey of building her tiny house on wheels.
TINY: A Memoir About Love, Letting Go and a Very Small House tracks the story of Lou’s DIY tiny house build in the Northern Rivers area in NSW and the love relationship that she was in at the time.
Fred and I had the privilege of reading the book earlier this year and I have to say that what stood out to me was the realness of her accounts of both building as a DIYer and the honesty of how she lets us in on her relationship, as it suffered massively during the tiny house build and eventually lead to the relationship breaking down.
In this interview we hear about: - Writing about the tiny, in the tiny house - Themes of building as a female DIY builder in a male-dominated industry - Moving her tiny to a new location - Site preparation, costs and moving details - Council regulations for tiny houses in her location (Ballina Shire) - Writing as a personal process of healing and integration.
This episode we are looking at present day uptake of the tiny house local laws, and we talk about some of the remaining obstacles to overcome when it comes to tiny house living and hosting in our area.
We examine the grey water processing issue: what the limits are and how to work around them.
We discuss the clause that states that there should be no 'commercial relationship' between tiny house dweller and land owner.
We discuss creating contracts to underpin the relationship between tiny house owner or occupier and the land owner.
We hear from different people who are offering a place for tiny house dwellers to park on their private property, and their different motivations for seeking out a tiny house arrangement.
With a discussion about what is happening at the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) level, and how to overcome these remaining obstacles in the future, we have a look at what is next in the ongoing pursuit of better tiny house laws across Victoria.
Finally, we hear from Kathryn McGoldrick, tiny house dweller and advocate, who now has a place to call home because of the tiny house law change. And we hear from Fred Schultz about what it was like to finally get an outcome that created meaningful change for people in our community.
This episode, we will reflect on the key turning points and factors for success from this campaign, so that you can be well armed with a best-practice set of pro-tips to help you create meaningful change in your home town and increase affordable housing options like tiny houses on wheels in your area.
We hear from:
Kaz Neilson, Co-ordinator of My Home Network, the leader of the successful campaign as she reflects on the things that really worked this time, setting this campaign apart form other attempts to change the local law.
Councillor Matthew Driscoll shares what he thinks might be obstacles in the way for other local councils making progressive changes to their local laws, and what people can do now if they happen to be serving as an elected member of council.
Councillor Rosie Annear reflects on the process as a whole and what stood out for her in this campaign to change tiny house laws.