{"podcast":{"title":"This Old House Radio Hour","slug":"this-old-house-radio-hour-7435754","podcast_index_feed_id":7435754,"rss_url":"https://pdrl.fm/53c558/feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/this-old-house-radio-hour","website_url":"https://www.apmdistribution.org/","image_url":"https://img.apmcdn.org/beea7c996fbe10487314ad67d941c1a77bcbf26b/uncropped/8610bd-20250306-this-old-house-radio-hour-2000.jpg","author":"American Public Media","episode_count":72,"summary":"This Old House has been America’s most trusted source for home improvement, expert renovation advice, and DIY inspiration for over 40 years. Now, that trusted guidance comes to your ears with This Old House Radio Hour—a weekly home improvement podcast designed to help homeowners, renters, and renovators take better care of the places they live. Hosted by This Old House editor Jenn Largesse, and featuring fan-favorite experts like Zack Dettmore (general contractor), Richard Trethewey (plumbing and HVAC specialist), and Jenn Nawada (landscape designer), each episode offers practical, step-by-step solutions to real home improvement problems. Listeners can expect weekly episodes packed with actionable advice on everything from plumbing and electrical upgrades to bathroom remodels, basement waterproofing, HVAC maintenance, flooring installation, window repair, insulation tips, and more. We answer listener questions, break down renovation techniques, and spotlight smart fixes for everyday challenges. Whether you're a first-time DIYer, a seasoned weekend warrior, or just trying to make sense of home maintenance, This Old House Radio Hour is your go-to podcast for trusted home improvement…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-26T06:23:50.076347+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-old-house-radio-hour-7435754"},"episode":{"title":"Tornado Shelter Truths + Renovation Red Flags + Tracy Sierra’s 300-Year-Old Colonial","slug":"tornado-shelter-truths-renovation-red-flags-tracy-sierra-s-300-year-old-colonial","published_at":"2026-03-03T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-old-house-radio-hour-7435754/tornado-shelter-truths-renovation-red-flags-tracy-sierra-s-300-year-old-colonial","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-old-house-radio-hour-7435754","url":"https://pdrl.fm/53c558/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/5/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/play.publicradio.org/podcast/o/americanpublicmedia/podcasts/this_old_house_radio_hour/episodes/2026/03/03/thisoldhouseradiohour_50_20260303_128.mp3?awCollectionId=apm-TOHRH&awEpisodeId=01KJFREFM50A3BBEHFQMVMVXEH","audio_url":"https://pdrl.fm/53c558/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/5/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/play.publicradio.org/podcast/o/americanpublicmedia/podcasts/this_old_house_radio_hour/episodes/2026/03/03/thisoldhouseradiohour_50_20260303_128.mp3?awCollectionId=apm-TOHRH&awEpisodeId=01KJFREFM50A3BBEHFQMVMVXEH","summary":"As tornado season ramps up, we separate myth from fact about storm protection and explain what actually makes a shelter tornado-rated. Then bestselling author Tracy Sierra takes us inside her 300-year-old New England colonial, where squeaky floorboards, carved windowpanes, and a real bump in the night helped spark her latest novel. Finally, structural engineer Dr. Nehemiah Mabry lays out the clear line between cosmetic updates and risky renovations, including the warning signs that mean it’s time to call in a licensed pro. On this episode you’ll learn: * Whether insulating between an 1806 home’s basement and original first-floor wood floors is worth it, and how to do it without trapping moisture. * Why certain rooms and interior walls can feel unusually hot in winter and cold in summer with a ducted heat-pump system, and how to diagnose air leakage or airflow patterns. * What to do when a single slate shower tile starts turning to powder, including whether it’s a bad tile, a moisture issue, and how sealing and maintenance can help. * Options for updating a large vaulted popcorn ceiling in a 1992 home. All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.","meta_description":"As tornado season ramps up, we separate myth from fact about storm protection and explain what actually makes a shelter tornado-rated. Then bestselling au…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3091,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/this-old-house-radio-hour-7435754/episodes/tornado-shelter-truths-renovation-red-flags-tracy-sierra-s-300-year-old-colonial/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-old-house-radio-hour-7435754/tornado-shelter-truths-renovation-red-flags-tracy-sierra-s-300-year-old-colonial.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}