

Home Assistant Podcast
HK Media
Join hosts Phil Hawthorne and Rohan Karamandi as they explore the newest Home Assistant releases and the latest Home Automation news. Featuring guests who use or contribute to Home Assistant, the podcast aims to inspire new ways to make your home smarter.
Episodes
Mentioned books

44 snips
May 6, 2025 • 1h 14min
Paulus joins us to break down 2025.5 and the State of the Open Home
Paulus, the Founder of Home Assistant and president of the Open Home Foundation, shares exciting updates about the transition to non-profit status and the importance of community-driven development. He discusses the upcoming Areas dashboard and insights from a community survey on smart home trends. Topics include advancements in Z-Wave technology, new integrations with HomeKit, and innovative parental automation tips. The importance of open standards like Matter and the evolution of user experience within Home Assistant are also spotlighted.

18 snips
Apr 21, 2025 • 1h 26min
From music theatre to Home Assistant installers with Connor and Tez
Discover the fascinating journey of two theater professionals who pivoted to installing smart home systems! They share essential tips on smart home integration, including hardware recommendations and the importance of maintaining communication with clients. Get insights into innovative automation ideas, troubleshooting techniques, and the significance of user-friendly software. Explore practical design practices and the role of doorbell systems in enhancing home connectivity. This enlightening discussion blends creativity with technical expertise in the world of home automation.

28 snips
Apr 15, 2025 • 1h 20min
How Bob automates an RV and a smart home with Home Assistant
Dive into Bob's journey automating both his RV and home using innovative tech! Discover how he enhances accessibility for his disabled son and tackles the unique challenges of RV living. Learn about integrating security cameras, weather monitoring, and the role of automation tools like Node-RED. Bob shares practical insights into energy monitoring, hardware transitions, and community collaboration. Get inspired by how technology can improve safety and convenience for families on the go!

8 snips
Apr 8, 2025 • 1h 11min
Catching up with Travis aka digiblurDIY to talk Home Assistant
Travis, aka digiblurDIY, is a YouTube content creator renowned for his engaging tutorials on Home Assistant and ESPHome. In this conversation, he shares his journey into home automation, the challenges he's faced, and his evolution from SmartThings to Home Assistant. He discusses the balance between creative freedom and sponsorship, integrating family into projects, and the clever use of scene controllers. Travis also touches on how AI enhances smart homes and offers advice for aspiring creators.

27 snips
Apr 1, 2025 • 45min
2025.4 - A new areas dashboard and some big announcements (for us!)
Exciting advancements are on the horizon with the introduction of a new Areas dashboard, making device organization effortless. The hosts dive into the official certification of the MATA standard, paving the way for improved smart home integrations. Listeners can look forward to enhanced voice assistant features, including customizable notification sounds. The podcast also highlights innovative automation solutions, like motion blinds, and announces a collaborative Global Home Assistant Community Day. Plus, improved troubleshooting tools and SmartThings integrations are set to elevate the user experience.

17 snips
Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 4min
Jeroen’s energy dashboard and e-ink calendar display
Jeroen Leonards, a software developer from The Netherlands, passionately discusses energy efficiency and smart home automation. He shares insights on his innovative energy dashboard and a unique e-ink calendar display. Listeners will learn about enhancing air conditioning with automation, smart temperature control, and the benefits of integrating solar energy with electric vehicle charging. Jeroen emphasizes the importance of community support and practical safety measures in energy management, making smart living both efficient and engaging.

19 snips
Mar 4, 2025 • 46min
Home Assistant 2025.3 lands with more dashboard improvements
The latest release brings exciting dashboard enhancements, making user interaction more intuitive and visually appealing. There's a fascinating discussion on the new Speech-to-Phrase feature, allowing for local voice command processing. SmartThings collaborates with Home Assistant for smoother integration, while media player updates enhance user experiences with voice assistance. They also delve into the challenges of integrating various smart devices and share insights on new mapping features and backup capabilities to elevate home automation.

69 snips
Feb 18, 2025 • 56min
How Damien Uses Home Assistant to Simplify Life
A tech-savvy teacher turned police officer shares his journey into the world of smart home technology. Discover how he integrates solar energy management and automates his backyard with chickens and gardens. Learn about innovative water conservation techniques and DIY heating solutions. He also tackles the complexities of home entertainment systems and managing children's screen time through automation. This insightful conversation reveals how technology can truly simplify life and enhance home productivity.

8 snips
Feb 5, 2025 • 29min
2025.2 - Broadcasting our backups to OneDrive and Google Drive
Discover the latest updates to the backups feature and how the Home Assistant voice assistant gains exciting new skills. The hosts delve into Logitech's new office occupancy sensor and its smart applications. Learn about the challenges and experiences of upgrading to version 2025.2, along with improvements in encryption and convenience. Explore enhanced Bluetooth management and innovative smart home integrations, all while enjoying new broadcasting features that elevate voice control in your smart ecosystem.

32 snips
Jan 21, 2025 • 46min
CES 2025 Debrief
Rohan and Phil share their excitement after attending CES 2025, highlighting innovative advancements in gesture control technologies like the Wow Mouse. They discuss the challenges of navigating the Matter protocol and its implications for smart home compatibility. Exciting new security tech, including AI-powered cameras and drones, also grabs their attention. Conversations about local language models for smart home integration reveal a mix of skepticism and enthusiasm. Ultimately, their reflections on connections made underscore the vibrant open-source community.