Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home

Podcast Atlanta
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Documentary
  • Biweekly Series

A podcast documentary series about building more than walls. Across the United States, families face an urgent crisis: housing costs are rising faster than wages, leaving teachers, first responders, service workers, and retirees without stable places to live. Behind every statistic is a story — of parents choosing between rent and groceries, of kids uprooted again and again, of volunteers lifting hammers to turn hope into something real. Hosted by Mark Deal and Pat Fenner, Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home takes you onto build sites and into living rooms to hear firsthand from homeowners, volunteers, site leaders, and community voices. With immersive sound design, powerful storytelling, and interviews that span from local neighborhoods to international service, this series explores what happens when people come together to build not just houses, but stronger futures. From the urgency of the housing crisis to the joy of dedication day, each episode traces the arc from need to hope, showing how Habitat for Humanity transforms lives, communities, and generations.

Season 1

  1. The Crisis of Need, The Spark of Hope

    Episode 1

    The Crisis of Need, The Spark of Hope

    Millions of families are priced out of stable housing. In our series opener, Mark and Pat lay out what’s at stake... and where hope begins when neighbors, faith communities, companies, and volunteers pick up hammers together. You’ll hear from homeowners, crew leaders, and community partners on the human cost of the crisis, the economics behind it, and why Habitat’s “hand up, not handout” model works. In this episode Why housing costs outpace wages... and how that forces impossible choices for familiesA homeowner’s voice on choosing a mortgage over rising rent to build equity and stabilityThe systemic view: how affordable homes strengthen schools, local economies, and mobilityThe build-site reality: rising material costs, waiting lists, and the urgent need for more handsFaith and community: blessings that turn love into actionA path forward: partnerships that make the “how” of Habitat possible Featured voices Sandra (Homeowner) • Jessica Gill (Operations Consultant, Habitat for Humanity of Georgia) • Tracy Styf (Director, Town Center CID) • Craig Tucker (Site Leader) • John Michael Pinger (Volunteer) • Rev. Richard Burd (Unity North) • Rev. Dr. Ralph Thompson (Bethany UMC) • Rabbi Chase Foster (Temple Kol Emeth) • Dee (Future Homeowner) • Kyle Huhtanen (CEO, NW Metro Atlanta Habitat) • Paula Wilson (Photographer) • David Massey (CFO, Fortune-Johnson; Habitat Board Member) Take action Moved by what you heard? Join the mission. Donate, volunteer, or explore sponsorships: PodcastAtlanta.com/Habitat Credits Hosted by Mark Deal & Pat Fenner • Editing & Sound Design: Pat Fenner • Story & Interviews: Mark Deal This is a Podcast Atlanta production Mentioned in this episode: The Crisis - song

    27 min
  2. Habitat’s Blueprint for Hope

    Episode 2

    Habitat’s Blueprint for Hope

    Millions of families are priced out of stable housing, but behind every Habitat build is a vision for how to change that. In Episode 2 of Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home, Mark Deal and Pat Fenner pull back the curtain on Habitat’s “blueprint for hope,” revealing how unseen heroes. The donors, faith groups, corporate sponsors, and mission partners who turn generosity into foundations. Through voices from the Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition, we see how one house connects to a statewide and even global movement for stability and community. In this episodeHow Habitat’s affiliate model transforms local partnerships into global impactThe role of faith, corporate, and mission sponsors in scaling affordable housingWhy “the hero’s mask” belongs not only to volunteers, but to those who fund and guide the workWhat “mission sponsorship” means and why it’s critical to Habitat’s futureHow advocacy, policy, and partnership expand the blueprint beyond constructionThe deeper meaning of stability and how it changes lives far beyond the walls of a home Featured voicesKyle Huhtanen (CEO, NW Metro Atlanta Habitat) • Jessica Gill (Operations Consultant, Habitat for Humanity of Georgia) • David Massey (CFO, Fortune-Johnson; Habitat Board Member) • Kalia Blake (Community Relationship Manager, NW Metro Atlanta Habitat) • Jerry Ziegler (Faith Leader, Covenant UMC) • Mikala and Lisa (Marietta Police Department Volunteers) • Ryan (Student Volunteer) Take actionBe part of the blueprint. Donate, volunteer, or explore mission sponsorship opportunities at PodcastAtlanta.com/Habitat. CreditsHosted by Mark Deal & Pat Fenner • Editing & Sound Design: Pat Fenner • Story & Interviews: Mark Deal A Podcast Atlanta Production Mentioned in this episode: This Is How We Build musical recap of EP2 This Is How We Build musical recap of EP2

    32 min
  3. Learning to Build, Serving Together

    Episode 3

    Learning to Build, Serving Together

    When volunteers pick up a hammer, they’re not just building homes. They’re building confidence, connection, and community. In Episode 3 of Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home, Mark Deal and Pat Fenner follow new and returning volunteers, especially teens, as they cross thresholds, face fears, and discover the joy of serving together. On the build site, every swing of the hammer becomes a moment of truth, a lesson in teamwork, humility, and hope that shapes both homes and hearts. In this episodeHow first-time volunteers overcome fear and find belongingThe life lessons students learn through hands-on serviceWhy mentorship turns effort into leadershipHow faith, family, and teamwork transform a build site into a classroom for empathyThe ripple effect that turns service into confidence and inspires others to serve Featured voicesCrystal Kidd (Teacher & Crew Leader) • Craig Tucker (Site Leader) • Ryan (HS Senior Volunteer) • Morgan (HS Sophomore Volunteer) • Grayson (HS Freshman Volunteer) Take actionPick up a hammer or help someone else do it. Donate, volunteer, or explore sponsorship opportunities at PodcastAtlanta.com/Habitat. CreditsHosted by Mark Deal & Pat Fenner • Editing & Sound Design: Pat Fenner • Story & Interviews: Mark Deal A Podcast Atlanta Production Mentioned in this episode: ep3 recap song ep3 recap song

    26 min
  4. Guiding the Work, Building the Future

    Episode 4

    Guiding the Work, Building the Future

    When a build day runs smoothly, it looks effortless. But behind every straight wall and safe ladder, there are guides who turn goodwill into good work. In Episode 4 of Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home, Mark Deal and Pat Fenner step behind the scenes to meet the crew leaders, site supervisors, and coalition chairs who quietly hold the whole project together. From early morning safety briefings to patient lessons in nail patterns and paint strokes, we hear how experienced leaders teach, protect, and inspire, while interfaith partners work behind the scenes to fund and plan each build. It is a story of patience, precision, and purpose, told by the people who spend their Saturdays helping others learn how to build hope. In this episode How crew leaders turn nervous first-timers into confident buildersWhy safety talks, jokes, and clear instructions set the tone for the whole dayHow patient teaching, curiosity, and humor become tools as important as hammersThe hidden planning, fundraising, and interfaith partnerships that make every build possibleWhat long-time leaders hope to pass on to the next generation of guidesHow blessings, signatures, and quiet rituals inside the walls create a lasting legacy Featured voices Craig Tucker (Site Leader) • Greg (Crew Leader) • James Hargrett (Crew Leader) • Dale (Crew Leader) • Henry Haney (Co-Chair, Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition) • Paul Wilson (Co-Chair, Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition) Take action Support the people who guide the work, and the families they serve. Donate, volunteer, or explore sponsorship opportunities at PodcastAtlanta.com/Habitat. Credits Hosted by Mark Deal & Pat Fenner • Editing & Sound Design: Pat Fenner • Story & Interviews: Mark Deal A Podcast Atlanta Production Mentioned in this episode: ep4 recap ep4 musical recap

    29 min
  5. Corporate Partnerships, Mission Sponsorships

    Episode 5

    Corporate Partnerships, Mission Sponsorships

    When a company shows up on a Habitat build site, the impact reaches far beyond a single Saturday. It reaches into offices, team meetings, client calls… and into the lives of the families waiting for stability. In Episode 5 of Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home, hosts Mark Deal and Pat Fenner widen the lens to explore the quieter force behind every Habitat project. Featuring the companies, sponsors, and leaders whose decisions help turn rising costs into rising walls. Through candid conversations with corporate partners, financial leaders, and culture builders, we discover how community engagement becomes a strategy for connection, morale, and legacy inside the workplace. This episode follows three leaders whose companies invest more than dollars… they invest themselves. You’ll hear how service transforms teams, why brand values grow stronger through action, and what happens when employees build something real together. With their hands, with their hearts, and with their companies behind them. In this episodeWhy rising construction costs make corporate partnerships more important than everHow companies like Moore Colson use service to strengthen culture and deepen connectionWhat CFOs, partners, and CMOs see when their teams build togetherHow marketing and culture leaders translate mission work into authentic storytellingPractical insight for leaders who want to begin, scale, or strengthen a corporate partnershipThe ripple effects that return to the office on Monday morning with energy, unity, purpose Featured voicesBrunella Reid (Partner & Chief Marketing Officer, Moore Colson) • Steven Bailey (Partner, Moore Colson; Coalition Committee Member) • David Massey (Chief Financial Officer, Fortune-Johnson) Take actionYour company can shape culture, strengthen teams, and help families step into stability. Explore mission sponsorships, corporate build days, or partnership opportunities at PodcastAtlanta.com/Habitat. CreditsHosted by Mark Deal & Pat Fenner • Editing & Sound Design: Pat Fenner • Story, Interviews & Music Design: Mark Deal A Podcast Atlanta Production Mentioned in this episode: EP5 recap AI song recap for EP5

    27 min
  6. Dedication Day: The Mission Made Visible

    Episode 6

    Dedication Day: The Mission Made Visible

    Episode 6 — Dedication Day: The Mission Made VisibleSome moments make the whole story visible at once. In Episode 6 of Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home, hosts Mark Deal and Pat Fenner bring this documentary series to its crescendo on Dedication Day... the day when prayers, sponsorships, sweat equity, and Saturday build hours all gather on a single driveway. Here, the mission is no longer an idea. It is a set of keys. A family standing in front of their home. A community crowding in close to bless the years ahead. Through prayers, litanies, symbols, and stories, we hear how a 25-year interfaith coalition, a local Habitat affiliate, and one determined family come together to mark the start of a new chapter. This is the day when the heart, the hammer, and the home finally stand side by side… and when every listener has a chance to decide what they’ll build next. In this episodeWhat a Habitat dedication day really feels like, from first welcome to final blessingHow Dee and his family reached this moment through sweat equity, classes, and perseveranceThe role of coalition leaders, clergy, and staff in guiding families from application to homeownershipThe meaning behind the Bible, the hammer, and the ceremonial key… and what each symbol representsWhy this 25-year interfaith coalition keeps showing up year after yearHow this single home points to the bigger housing need, and where you can step into the story Featured voicesDee (Future Homeowner) • Kyle Huhtanen (CEO, Northwest Metro Atlanta Habitat for Humanity) • Crystal Cooper (Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries) • Jerry Ziegler (Volunteer & Faith Leader) • Felicia Alingu (Director of Community Impact, Habitat) • Alicia Johnson (Mission Advancement Officer) • Henry Haney (Co-Chair, Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition) • Paul Wilson (Co-Chair, Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition) • David McKay (Coalition Member & Bible Presenter) Take actionIf these stories have moved you, even a little, visit PodcastAtlanta.com/Habitat to donate, explore corporate partnerships, sponsor a build day, or learn how you and your company can help fund the next home. CreditsHosted by Mark Deal & Pat Fenner • Episode Production, Interviews & Story Development: Mark Deal • Editing, Mix & Sound Design: Pat Fenner A Podcast Atlanta Production

    25 min

  7. Season 1 Trailer

    Trailer

    Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home isn’t just about building houses... it’s about building belonging. In the heart of Metro Atlanta, homeownership feels out of reach for far too many families. But with Habitat for Humanity, every wall raised carries a story of hope, hard work, and hundreds of hands working together. Join hosts Mark Deal and Pat Fenner of Podcast Altana as they step onto the build site and into the lives of future homeowners, volunteers, and community leaders. You’ll hear from parents who dreamed of stability for their children, teens learning to swing a hammer for the first time, corporate teams trading laptops for ladders, and neighbors who discover that a safe, affordable home changes everything. This is not charity, it’s partnership. Families invest sweat equity, financial training, and long hours alongside volunteers, proving that when a community comes together, home happens. Through eight documentary style episodes, you’ll follow the journey from the first slab to the final set of keys. Discovering along the way how Habitat builds more than houses. It builds futures, dignity, and a stronger Atlanta for everyone. Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home... because when we raise roofs, we raise communities. Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts.

    3 min

  8. Bonus

    Sounds of Habitat

    A Habitat for Humanity Construction Soundscape This special bonus episode is something a little different. Instead of narration, interviews, or structured storytelling, you’ll hear an uninterrupted soundscape captured on a Habitat for Humanity build site. Hammers striking wood. Voices calling measurements. Ladders shifting. Moments of quiet focus… and moments of shared effort. This audio was recorded during the earliest phase of a build, when momentum is just beginning to take shape. No commentary. No music. Just the natural rhythm of people working together to build something real. If you’ve already listened to Season One of Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home, this episode lets you step inside the atmosphere behind those stories. If you haven’t yet started the series, this is a perfect companion… but we recommend beginning with Episode 1 to hear the people, purpose, and partnerships that give this work its meaning. Many listeners find this kind of audio makes a powerful background for: Focused workWriting or creative projectsReflection or quiet productivitySimply having something grounding on in the background There’s something steady and reassuring about hearing real work happen in real time. And maybe, underneath it all, a quiet reminder… If they can do it… so can you. Please consider supporting our next build at https://PodcastAtlanta.com/donate

    51 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A podcast documentary series about building more than walls. Across the United States, families face an urgent crisis: housing costs are rising faster than wages, leaving teachers, first responders, service workers, and retirees without stable places to live. Behind every statistic is a story — of parents choosing between rent and groceries, of kids uprooted again and again, of volunteers lifting hammers to turn hope into something real. Hosted by Mark Deal and Pat Fenner, Habitat: Heart, Hammer, and Home takes you onto build sites and into living rooms to hear firsthand from homeowners, volunteers, site leaders, and community voices. With immersive sound design, powerful storytelling, and interviews that span from local neighborhoods to international service, this series explores what happens when people come together to build not just houses, but stronger futures. From the urgency of the housing crisis to the joy of dedication day, each episode traces the arc from need to hope, showing how Habitat for Humanity transforms lives, communities, and generations.

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