How To! How To Take Charge of Home Repair (with Sam Sanders and Mercury Stardust)
Nov 11, 2025
Join Mercury Stardust, known as The Trans Handy Ma’am and home repair expert, alongside journalist Sam Sanders, a first-time homeowner, as they dive into the world of DIY. They challenge the notion of hiring contractors, discussing the importance of embracing failure as a learning tool. Mercury highlights painting as a great starter project and shares essential tools for beginners. They also explore how personal histories impact our approach to home maintenance and encourage listeners to take small steps towards building their confidence.
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Start Small With Paint And Three Videos
- Try small, low-risk projects like painting to build skills and confidence.
- Watch three different how-to videos from varied creators before starting a project.
Early Costly Mistake Led To Learning
- Mercury once cost her company $7,000 on her third day at a job as she learned.
- She says that early costly mistakes are normal and part of learning trades.
Cross-Check Different Sources
- Compare three different instructional sources and use the overlap as your plan.
- Prefer diverse creators, including at least one woman, to catch crucial details.
