On the show today, Anna & Josiah and I chat about their wild first-time bathroom renovation journey. From completely rearranging the entire layout (without any prior knowledge of plumbing) to “using the bathroom” in the sink and a Home Depot bucket for a month (it was their only bathroom), it was a WILD ride. From the get go it’s obvious that Anna & Josiah are go-getters and have little to no fear of jumping into huge projects that would scare just about every single one of us. As...

On the show today, Krystle gives us an amazing insight on what not to do when it comes to hiring out a contractor in your home. Unfortunately, Krystle learned the hard way and it’s our sincere hope that you don’t have to. We touch on how to ensure you’re hiring the right contractor that is both trustworthy and will do good work at a good price. Thankfully, there is a silver lining to Krystle’s story as her contractor nightmare scenario turned into her new full-time career as a DIY creator on...

On the show today, Amanda and I dive into a completely different realm of DIY - investment properties. As a first-time AirBNB host, Amanda bought a home in Phoenix and took on the projects and design by herself without any prior experience (crazy I know). We go into everything from how she got started, how she built up the courage to start, what it’s like to host an AirBNB, and how profitable it is to DIY a short-term investment property. Amanda is a true go-getter and is well worth a follow....

On the show today, Stephanie and I vent about what it’s like to tackle projects in your home and balancing the mess & stress with your spouse. As DIYers, this is probably your creative outlet and a way to also bring value to your home, but sometimes your spouse/partner can get annoyed with the constant construction. It can be hard to find a balance, so we discuss how we navigate the difficulties. Stephanie is also well into her pregnancy and already has three little ones running around...

On the show today, Liz and I discuss her insane path where she began her career journey in Alaska in commercial fishing as a teenager, to becoming a wedding photographer, to an interior designer, and now a full-time DIYer. Her unique journey gives her an amazing perspective on budget design & tackling huge DIY projects on her own. We talk about the DIY landscape and how the majority of people in construction-related activities tend to be men, and how she hopes to empower a new wave of...

On the show today, Alex and I talked about how she, as a 22-year-old and a hectic work-life with nursing school & night shifts, was able to teach herself and build up to massive DIY projects in her home. Alex touches on her first ever DIY project where she had zero tools at the time and completely failed, but turned her mistakes into lessons learned and has come out the other side stronger and better. Any excuse NOT to start, Alex has it. As a young homeowner with zero experience and a...

On the show today, Molly touches on how she’s able to take on extensive DIY projects with a 9-month-old baby crawling around and how other parents can do the same. Molly goes into how her and her husband saved over $50,000 when they bought her brand new home by paying for builder-basic from the general contractor and then DIYing her own projects to add value & vibes. One of my favorite things we discussed is how Molly completely rebranded her social media back in October and started a new...

On the show today, Kyle and I chopped it up about how he created a "vibe" in his master bedroom for under $150 with some paint, lights, and plants - and how you can too. He dives into how he views new projects and skillsets as unlockable achievements for a self-taught DIYer and how to push past the initial intimidation. Kyle also goes into why/how he became a full-time DIY content creator through working with giant brands such as Home Depot. Kyle's engagement/following is super loyal and it's...

On the show today, Dawson Hoppes and I have some laughs as we discuss his DIY journey with his starter home that he purchased that had been smoked in for decades. From full gut room renovations to small fun projects, Dawson does it all. He gives us insight on what he feels is the best way to start as a beginner DIYer as he preaches his mantra, progress over perfection. At the end, Dawson even asks me a few questions including what made me quit my job as an engineer to go full-time into being...

On the show today, I got the opportunity to chat with the hilarious Kim Heighes (@theamateurdiy.er). We went into how Kim came to be unapologetically herself in the DIY community and her insane story of surviving a 10% chance to live, to where she is now. Kim is absolutely unafraid to own her mistakes. She shares her shortcomings and things she wished she could do differently, such as her epoxy countertops. Kim discusses how her DIY journey got started through a few simple and easy DIY...

On the show today, I chopped it up with one of my favorite DIY creators, Morgan Susice (@lifeonwillowcreek). We discussed her crazy leap of faith to buy a nearly 200-year-old farmhouse fresh out out of high school and all the triumphs and headaches that have gone into her renovation journey. Morgan shares her go-to budget tip for her renovation projects, how she's able to balance her project and her 9-to-5 job, and some amazing advice for anyone that's looking into starting their renovation...

Welcome to The Real Life Renovation Podcast! I am your host Alex D’Alessio and I'm beyond excited to build this DIY community for people like me and you. In this episode, I spend a few minutes introducing myself, my journey, and what this podcast will provide you. If you're interested in DIY, this is the place for you. Whether you've never picked up a power tool before in your life or you're a well-seasoned vet, this is where we come to learn, laugh, and to be inspired to pick up a tool and...