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Home Assistant Podcast

Technology Podcasts

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.

Location:

Melbourne, New Zealand

Description:

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.

Language:

English

Contact:

+64278223815


Episodes
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A new Z-wave radio launches, and a new home screen on the horizon with Home Assistant 2024.9

9/2/2025
Home Assistant has launched their own Z-wave radio. 2025.9 lands with a new experimental home screen. Meanwhile Rohan and Phil discuss LLM Vision and some of its use cases Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha200 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:14 Home Assistant Connect ZWA2 00:03:01 Z-Wave Network Challenges and Migration 00:16:45 Rainbird Integration and Irrigation Setup 00:23:25 New Features in Home Assistant 2025.9 00:30:13 Introduction to Smart Home Automation 00:33:17 Husqvarna Automower Features 00:35:54 Reolink Doorbell Updates 00:38:00 PlayStation and Unify Integrations 00:39:11 Tesla and Other Cars Integration 00:41:21 Weather and Bayesian Sensors 00:44:10 AI Vision and Home Automation 00:51:40 New Integrations: Seco, Sleep as Android 00:53:56 Breaking and Backward Incompatible Changes 00:55:26 Hacs Components: Person Location Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:57:05

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Doug Roberson from Shelly USA

8/26/2025
Curious about Shelly? COO Doug Roberson explains their local control philosophy, versatile products, and commitment to empowering your Home Assistant experience Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha199 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:54 Intro to Doug from Shelly 00:03:04 Shelly's Product Offerings 00:03:41 Privacy and Local Control 00:08:56 Shelly's Certification and Community 00:14:32 Automation and Use Cases 00:25:46 Applications in Professional Spaces 00:27:25 Introduction to Network Failover with Devices 00:28:48 Exploring Shelly's Core Features and Automation 00:32:14 Real-Life Home Automation Experiences 00:33:35 Advanced Energy Management Strategies 00:39:03 Innovative Use Cases for Shelly Products 00:40:50 Getting into Smart Home Technology 00:42:36 New Irrigation Solutions and ShelleyX 00:50:50 Business and Education Initiatives 00:54:25 Classroom Training on Shelly Products 00:55:50 Introduction to North American Wiring 00:56:38 Training and Meetups 00:58:52 Product Wishlist 01:05:47 Irrigation and Automation 01:07:14 Community Feedback Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:10:53

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An empty-nester sparky’s Home Automation journey

8/19/2025
Join us as we talk with Scott, a licensed Electrician with a deep IT background who's been bouncing between code and conduit for years. Discover how this empty-nester crafts ingenious automations, from power monitoring with custom solutions to integrating nine pinball machines Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha198 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:53 Guest Introduction: Scott the Sparky 00:01:08 Scott's Home Automation Journey 00:04:25 Challenges with DIY and PLCs 00:07:35 Home Automation Concerns and Sustainability 00:22:35 Scott's Water Management and Fire Protection Plans 00:29:48 Introduction to LoRa and Challenges 00:30:42 Powering Devices & Solar Solutions 00:31:26 Communication Projects: MeshTastic 00:31:41 Bushfire Resilience and Backup Solutions 00:32:16 Exploring LoRa Applications 00:32:41 Solar Solutions for ESP32 00:35:15 Z-Wave and Zigbee Discussion 00:37:16 Advantages of Z-Wave Over ZigBee 00:45:43 Power Monitoring Solutions 00:46:43 Smart Home Automation with Shelly 00:48:14 Challenges with Exporting Solar 00:53:30 Animal Automation & Security 00:57:44 Introduction to AI in Home Automation 00:58:07 Automating Fox Detection 00:59:37 The Role of Cameras and Reolink Integration 01:01:09 Exploring Advanced Automation Scenarios 01:07:32 AI in Home Automation: Prospects and Concerns 01:11:35 Challenges and Opportunities in AI and Automation 01:15:17 Simplifying Home Automation for Life 01:18:47 Community and Innovation in Home Automation 01:20:17 Fun with Pinball Machines and Automation Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:23:41

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TJ Huddleston from HomeTech.fm

8/12/2025
Phil and Rohan sit down with Jürgen, co-founder of Nuki - a smart lock provider from Europe who has just joined the Works with Home Assistant program. Jürgen shares insights into Nuki's vision, emphasizing their commitment to user-friendly solutions that integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant. Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha197 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:04 Professional vs. DIY Automation 00:03:19 Home Automation Tools 00:04:42 Automation in TJ's Home 00:06:52 Role of Home Assistant 00:17:10 Podcasting Experience 00:24:16 E-Waste and Gadgets 00:24:52 Innovative Devices 00:26:15 Enthusiast Discussion 00:27:42 Smart Locks & Security 00:28:25 Zigbee vs. Z-Wave 00:32:48 Smart Home Tech Future 00:42:28 Managing Automation 00:46:41 Automation Introduction 00:47:10 Sonos Integration 00:49:30 Video & HDMI Setup 00:52:52 Media Consumption 00:53:59 Smart Home Automations 00:54:10 Gardening Automation 01:04:24 Garden Lighting 01:10:05 Smart Home Tech Introduction 01:10:15 Implementing Home Tech 01:10:29 Design & User Experience 01:10:45 Flexibility & Control Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:12:27

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Home Assistant AI is here with Home Assistant 2025.8

8/6/2025
Home Assistant AI Tasks can now help you name and tag your automations, meanwhile the cloud strikes again thanks to Belkin and FutureHome Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha196 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:38 Episode Overview and Topics 00:01:21 Belkin Wemo Disruption 00:06:00 FutureHome Bankruptcy 00:07:59 Home Assistant Isometric Animated Picture Card 00:10:54 Viewer Feedback and Streaming Issues 00:21:37 AI Integration in Home Assistant 00:29:10 Introduction to LLM Vision 00:29:22 LLM Vision Features 00:31:38 Voice Processing Improvements 00:32:53 UI Changes in 2025.8 00:33:29 Matter Support Updates 00:34:22 PiHole API and Data Breach 00:37:53 Home Assistant Integrations 00:43:04 WiFi Presence Detection Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:50:23

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Jürgen Pansy, co-founder of Nuki

7/22/2025
Phil and Rohan sit down with Jürgen, co-founder of Nuki - a smart lock provider from Europe who has just joined the Works with Home Assistant program. Jürgen shares insights into Nuki's vision, emphasizing their commitment to user-friendly solutions that integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant. Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha195 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:00 Jürgen's Background and Nuki’s Vision 00:02:06 The Inception of Nuki and Product Development 00:04:31 Kickstarter Success and Market Entry 00:05:11 Product Differences between Europe and US 00:06:40 Product Evolution and New Features 00:12:29 Software and Firmware Updates 00:16:29 Integration with Home Assistant 00:20:30 Matter and Thread Implementation 00:23:43 Parallel API Use and Customer Choice 00:27:48 Entering the US Market 00:28:19 Product Design Considerations 00:29:10 Tariffs and Manufacturing Challenges 00:30:20 Security and Privacy Concerns 00:36:21 First Steps in Smart Home Development 00:37:44 Design and Hardware Integration 00:41:38 Sounds of Nuki 00:45:24 Collaboration with Home Assistant 00:52:20 Future Prospects for Smart Locks 00:55:46 Introduction of NFC and Ultra-Wideband Lockdown 00:56:18 Exploration of Biometric Technology 00:58:04 Challenges with Current Access Technologies 00:58:44 User Experience and Feature Preferences 00:59:53 Discussion on Simplifying Smart Locks 01:01:39 Nuki Product Overview and Availability 01:03:27 Home Assistant and Collaboration Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com ExpressVPN ExpressVPN Creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet - so that 12 year old with Raspberry Pi can’t steal your sensitive data. Get four months extra FREE when you use our code expressvpn.com/hasspodcast Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:04:27

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Paul thinks Home Assistant is "Better Than Fixing Cars"

7/15/2025
Join us as Paul Riley, an engineer with a background in rocket fuel systems, shares his journey into smart home automation. Discover how he leverages Home Assistant to tackle practical "little things" like a demisting mirror and even automate his boat. Paul also discusses his passion for ESPHome, exploring local AI applications, and fostering the next generation of tinkerers in electronics. Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha194 Chapters 00:00:14 Guest Introduction: Paul 00:01:39 Paul's Background in Electronics 00:06:05 Career Highlights 00:08:41 Home Automation and Rockets 00:13:57 Current Work and Tech Advancements 00:18:35 Paul's Personal Home Automation Projects 00:27:21 Introduction to Smart Gadgets 00:28:32 Home Automation Innovations 00:31:00 Gadget Enthusiast's Collection 00:39:00 AI in Daily Life 00:41:33 AI and Automation 00:47:36 Smart Home Automations 00:52:05 Challenges of Automation on a Boat 00:53:15 Voltage Converter Setup 00:53:46 Pros and Cons of Thermostats 00:55:41 Voice Control Devices 00:57:05 Cloud Systems and Security 00:59:06 Getting Started: Electronics & Home Assistant Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:04:32

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Home Assistant, 3D Printing & Tuya Escapes — With Mark Watt Tech

7/8/2025
We sit down with Mark Watt from Mark Watt Tech — the high-fiving hero of Home Assistant tutorials — to chat all things smart home, AI, and turning 3D printing into a side hustle. We dive into how AI is reshaping home automation, the evolution of the Home Assistant project, and Mark’s creative journey from software tinkerer to YouTuber… to running a 3D printing business with his wife! Whether you're deep into ESPHome or just wondering why your Tuya plug still needs the internet, there's something here for every smart home enthusiast. Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha193 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:13 Meet our Guest - Mark Watt Tech 00:01:43 Creator Calls 00:02:41 Getting Started with YouTube 00:06:02 Home Automation Journey 00:08:18 Home Assistant and Technology 00:11:02 Opinions on Matter 00:17:24 Favorite Home Automation Setups 00:26:50 Piracy and Services 00:28:18 Voice Models and Annoyance 00:29:20 Self-hosting AI 00:30:32 Voice Automation Challenges 00:35:52 YouTube Channel and Personal Projects 00:40:22 Home Automation Advice 00:43:15 Innovative Home Automation Hacks 00:45:21 Creating Content on YouTube 00:47:00 Music Assistant and Voice Assistants 00:51:50 Upcoming Plans and Projects 00:53:38 Introduction and Jealousy 00:53:52 Smart Home Creation 00:54:09 YouTube Break and 3D Printing 00:54:17 3D Printing Business 00:54:44 New YouTube Channel Plans 00:55:11 Waiting for New Printer 00:55:34 Video Content Ideation 00:57:01 Security and AI in Video Feeds 00:58:02 OpenAI Image Processing 00:58:53 YAML Integration Plans 00:59:31 Conclusion and Thanks Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:00:05

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Home Assistant 2025.7 has a question for you

7/1/2025
Home Assistant 2025.7 is here, with a much-requested feature, the ability for Voice PE to ask you questions. Rohan and Phil discuss the possibilities and break down some other new features that have been packed into this release Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha192 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:08 Home Assistant Voice Chapter 10 00:04:25 Community Feedback 00:05:56 Smoke Detector Options 00:11:21 Home Assistant 2025.7 Updates 00:21:29 Integration Subentities 00:25:35 UI Improvements and Features 00:29:01 Home Assistant Configuration 00:30:20 AI and OpenAI Discussions 00:32:08 API Integrations and Experiments 00:34:08 Samsung and Smart Home Integrations 00:38:24 New Integrations and Features 00:41:03 Breaking Changes 00:42:03 Plex Media Server Discussion 00:46:33 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:47:15

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Justin and Trevor from Apollo Automation

6/24/2025
Justin and Trevor from Apollo Automation stop by to share their journey of turning a hobby project into a thriving customer-focussed home automation manufacturer Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha191 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:02 Apollo Automation's Origin 00:02:02 Company Growth and Operations 00:02:23 In-house Manufacturing and Distribution 00:02:55 Community-driven Development 00:03:11 Unique Product Insights and Development 00:04:03 Branding and Logo Evolution 00:05:51 Interactive Community Engagement 00:10:21 Working with Home Assistant Program 00:12:35 Product Line and Hardware Design 00:20:13 Current and Upcoming Products 00:23:20 Favorite Products and Future Plans 00:26:21 Introduction to Integration Protocols 00:26:48 ESP Chip and Compatibility 00:27:41 Challenges with Matter and Future Plans 00:30:42 Open Source Sustainability and Modularity 00:35:10 Home Automation Personal Experiences 00:38:51 Tariffs and Manufacturing Challenges 00:44:00 3D Printing and Product Evolution 00:52:59 Ozone Sensor Features 00:53:12 3D Printing Options and Accessibility 00:53:30 Meeting at CES 00:54:00 Passion and Dedication of Founders 00:54:40 Home Assistant's Growth and Significance 00:55:32 Self-Hosting and Privacy Advocacy 00:55:48 Open Source Contributions 01:01:34 Future Product Development Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com ExpressVPN ExpressVPN Creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet - so that 12 year old with Raspberry Pi can’t steal your sensitive data. Get four months extra FREE when you use our code expressvpn.com/hasspodcast Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Our Sponsors: * Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:03:28

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Andrej’s smart home journey and designing PokyPow

6/17/2025
Rohan and Phil chat with Andrej, a passionate Home Assistant user with some truly creative automations—from a relationship point system to a cat doorbell! He’s also developing PokyPow, an ESP-based device that lets you control your PC with Home Assistant. Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha190 Chapters 00:00:35 Guest Introduction: Andrej 00:00:47 Andrej's Journey with Home Assistant 00:01:34 Introducing PokyPow 00:02:27 Building and Challenges of PokyPow 00:03:18 Prototype to Production 00:04:30 Launching on Crowd Supply 00:21:30 Smart Home Experiences 00:26:10 Voice Control and Automations 00:31:22 Home Assistant Automation 00:36:20 CO2 Monitoring and Air Quality 00:43:20 Automation with Scale 00:47:40 Home Automation Future Plans Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Our Sponsors: * Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:56:01

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Trying to convince Pete the DIY Smart Home Guy to embrace Home Assistant

6/10/2025
Pete Borchers is one-third of the Technical Difficulties Podcast, host of the DIY Smart Home Guy YouTube channel, and he doesn’t think Home Assistant is the bees-knees. Rohan and Phil try to see Pete’s point-of-view and to point him towards to right path Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha189 Chapters 00:01:02 Guest Introduction: Pete 00:02:10 Discussion on Smart Home Devices 00:04:12 Content Creation and YouTube Journey 00:07:25 Smart Locks Discussion 00:16:19 Home Assistant Experience 00:24:59 Video Concepts Introduction 00:26:01 Automation with Node-RED 00:27:08 Comparing Hubitat, Homey Pro, and Home Assistant 00:27:48 Homey Pro Preferences 00:28:33 Community in Home Automation 00:29:38 Z-Wave and Wi-Fi Devices 00:33:12 Proprietary Systems and Acquisitions 00:34:27 LG's Investment and Integration 00:38:45 Matter Protocol and Interoperability 00:39:15 Future of Streaming Services 00:42:44 AI in Home Automation 00:45:33 Smart Home Stories 00:49:44 Project Introduction 00:49:46 Water Valve Project 00:50:08 Automated Door Opener 00:50:40 Pico Remote and Automation 00:51:34 Govi Lights and Sync 00:52:18 Motion and Vibration Sensors 00:54:35 Smart Homes and AI 00:56:21 Technical Difficulties 00:57:30 Conclusion Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Our Sponsors: * Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:58:59

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2025.6 delayed, IKEA and Sonos respectfully breakup

6/3/2025
While the Home Assistant core team are off to Dublin for the Open Home Foundation summit, Rohan and Phil are breaking down the 2025.6 release that will ship a week later. Meanwhile we discuss some self-hosted apps we love, and the IKEA and Sonos breakup. Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha188 Chapters 00:00:04 Introduction 00:01:00 Open Home Summit 2025 00:01:56 Community Day Recap 00:03:07 Mailbag 00:05:07 Podcast Feedback 00:06:15 Sonos and IKEA Collaboration Ends 00:10:11 Home Assistant Installation Updates 00:14:18 Bluetooth and ZigBee Updates 00:17:44 Ikea Desk and Automation Discussion 00:22:25 Home Assistant 2025.6 Updates 00:23:53 Customization and Sidebar Features 00:25:59 Sonos Multizone Playback 00:26:29 ESPHome 00:28:49 Improved Shelly Devices 00:29:13 Smart Things & Integration Updates 00:32:42 Amazon Device Integration 00:36:23 Image App Integration 00:45:21 Breaking Changes Changes 00:46:38 2025.6 Release Recap Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Our Sponsors: * Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:00:46:53

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The evolution of Zooz with Agnes Lorenz

5/27/2025
We’re back with another vendors episode, this time talking with Agnes from Zooz about the evolution of Zooz, and the challenges being a smart home company Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha187 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:15 Background and Evolution of Zooz 00:03:49 Certifications and Challenges in Manufacturing 00:06:43 Z-Wave Standards and Certification 00:13:11 International Support and Market Strategy 00:18:23 Impact of Tariffs and Supply Chain Considerations 00:22:45 Upcoming Products and Innovations 00:26:56 Integration with Home Assistant 00:30:03 Partnerships and Works With Program 00:31:05 Integration Challenges and Improvements 00:35:43 Smart Home Technology and Personal Insights 00:42:24 AI and Smart Home Automation 00:48:21 Design Process and Matter Discussion 00:57:41 Introduction to Quality Integration 00:57:46 Ring Alarm App Features 00:58:14 Importance of Z-Wave Standardization 00:58:39 Alarm.com Integration 00:58:59 Focus on User Experience 00:59:53 Home Assistant's Reach 01:00:36 Benefits of Z-Wave Long Range 01:02:02 Tips for Z-Wave Beginners 01:04:03 Understanding Z-Wave Security 01:06:10 Firmware Updates in Z-Wave Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Our Sponsors: * Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:09:22

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How Alfredo, Developer Relations at Google uses and teaches Home Assistant

5/20/2025
Alfredo shares his journey into home automation, explaining how his exploration aligned with his personal values of privacy, choice, and sustainability, which he found mirrored in Home Assistant's philosophy Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha186 Chapters 00:00:51 Alfredo's Journey into Home Automation 00:01:59 Building the Ultimate Smart Home 00:02:10 Challenges in Home Automation with Electricians 00:06:27 Teaching and Sharing Home Assistant 00:13:15 Building a Home Lab and Home Assistant Philosophy 00:17:27 Importance of Privacy and Data Control 00:20:09 Home Automation Hardware and Setup 00:26:46 AI and the Future of Home Automation 00:26:59 Automation with Google Meet and Home Assistant 00:32:24 Challenges of Interoperability 00:33:04 VLAN Setup for Network Security 00:41:30 Resilience in Smart Home Automations 00:50:22 Technology Challenges: Zigbee vs Wi-Fi 00:55:37 Designing User-Friendly Dashboards 00:56:04 Adapting Dashboards for Family Needs 00:59:32 Default Dashboard Blueprints 01:01:03 Automation Philosophy 01:03:45 Accessibility in Smart Homes 01:05:50 Future of Home Automation with AI 01:11:59 Educating the Community About Home Assistant Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:20:11

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Talking with Jimmy Hawkins from Automated House

5/13/2025
We’re kicking off our new Vendor series of episodes, and first up are Connor and Tez who are making a business of installing Home Assistant for their customers Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha185 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:48 Jimmy's Journey into Digital Creation 00:01:43 Discussion on CES and Content Creation 00:02:25 The Beginnings of Smart Home Adventures 00:04:00 Jimmy's Transition from TikTok to YouTube 00:13:23 Jimmy's Smart Home Evolution and Insights 00:16:42 Discussion on Home Assistant and Smart Home Platforms 00:26:32 ESPHome Devices 00:26:50 Home Assistant Yellow Upgrade Process 00:27:45 Challenges with CM5 and NVMe Drive 00:29:59 Silicon Labs Multi-Protocol Mode Issues 00:32:40 Voice Assistants and Home Automation 00:40:34 Home Assistant Community and Features 00:42:38 User-Friendly Requests and Improvements 00:49:52 Recommending Home Assistant to Beginners 01:06:24 Wrap-up Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:07:27

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Paulus joins us to break down 2025.5 and the State of the Open Home

5/6/2025
A new Areas dashboard type lands in 2024.5. Meanwhile we’ve got some announcements about the podcast to share Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha184 Chapters 00:02:18 Open Home Foundation Transition 00:05:17 Leadership and Organizational Changes 00:06:52 Non-profit Status and Challenges 00:11:41 Commercial Partnerships and Growth 00:22:35 Community Survey Insights 00:26:43 Z-Wave Certification and Bug Fixing 00:27:07 Building Relationships with Big Brands 00:27:34 Home Assistant Certification and Reliability 00:28:25 Community Interaction and Automation 00:29:20 Device Database and AI Utilization 00:32:51 Importance of Open Standards 00:33:12 Matter and Local Device Integration 00:35:34 Benefits of Localized Smart Products 00:36:18 Community Day Announcement 00:37:19 Listener Feedback and Parenting Automation Tips 00:44:13 Home Assistant Backup and Update Features 00:47:32 New Text-to-Speech Variants 00:49:17 Entity Picker Overhaul 00:52:54 UI and YAML Integration 00:54:25 Direct YAML Pasting 00:55:45 Network Discovery Tools 00:57:31 Z-Wave Smart Start and Long Range 01:02:55 HomeKit and AI Features 01:05:57 New Integrations 01:07:35 Breaking Changes and Theming Updates Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:13:50

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From music theatre to Home Assistant installers with Connor and Tez

4/21/2025
We’re kicking off our new Vendor series of episodes, and first up are Connor and Tez who are making a business of installing Home Assistant for their customers Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha183 Chapters 00:01:05 Background and Challenges 00:02:02 Finding Home Assistant 00:03:53 Development and Expansion 00:13:47 Client Onboarding and Integration 00:23:11 Practical Challenges and Aesthetic Considerations 00:24:36 Smart Home Technologies and Sensors 00:32:00 Client Consultations 00:34:45 Hardware Recommendations and Remote Support 00:48:19 Managing Updates and Customization 00:55:54 Client Practices and Smart Home Installations 01:06:55 Security and Automation in Smart Homes 01:10:43 Product Recommendations and Home Automation Introduction 01:11:04 System Integrations and Favorite Automations 01:18:15 Presence Detection and Backup Strategies 01:22:33 Design Practices and Final Thoughts Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Notion Notion combines your notes, docs, and projects into one space that’s simple and beautifully designed. Try Notion for free when you go to notion.com/homeassistant Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:25:36

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How Bob automates an RV and a smart home with Home Assistant

4/15/2025
We talk with Bob who is using Home Assistant to automate and secure his RV, as well as helping his disabled son Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha182 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:54 Bob's Journey with Home Assistant 00:01:40 Efficient Home Automation for Families 00:24:43 Exploring Advanced Automation Systems 00:25:50 Safety in Home Automation 00:33:35 RV Home Automation Challenges 00:50:12 Integrating Node-RED with OpenHAB and MQTT 00:50:32 Lighting Solutions with WLED 00:54:08 Innovation with 3D Printing 00:55:12 Home Automation Projects Discussion 01:18:58 Conclusion and Community Insights Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Our Sponsors: * Visit kinsta.com to get your first month free when you sign up today! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:19:48

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Catching up with Travis aka digiblurDIY to talk Home Assistant

4/8/2025
We’re kicking off our new creators special episodes by talking to one of the best out there, Travis from the YouTube channel digiblurDIY. Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha181 digiblurDIY on YouTube digiblur.com Chapters 00:00:00 Guest Introduction: Travis aka DigiBlur 00:01:32 Travis' Journey into Home Automation 00:03:10 Challenges and Achievements 00:04:05 ESPHome and Tasmota 00:08:54 Sponsorships and Content Creation 00:19:45 Family Involvement and Outro Stories 00:20:51 Inspiration and Content Creation Approach 00:22:23 Design Ethos in Home Automation 00:22:52 Origin of DigiBlur 00:25:13 Introduction to Unraid and Docker 00:25:28 Accidental Discovery of Home Assistant 00:26:04 Exploring Smart Home Automation Options 00:26:46 Home Assistant Setup and Features 00:27:41 Transition from SmartThings to Home Assistant 00:28:43 Challenges and Evolution of Home Assistant Setup 00:34:55 Smart Home Setup Discussion 00:42:44 Scene Controllers and Automation 00:47:43 Managing Node-RED for Home Automation 00:49:16 Home Automation Discussion 00:50:29 AI in Home Automation 01:01:27 Speaker and Audio Quality 01:05:32 Advice for New Creators 01:08:30 Community Engagement 01:09:34 Conclusion Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Our Sponsors: * Visit kinsta.com to get your first month free when you sign up today! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Duration:01:10:38