On the show today, Alex and I talked about how she, as a 22-year-old and a hectic work-life with nursing school & night shifts, was able to teach herself and build up to massive DIY projects in her home. Alex touches on her first ever DIY project where she had zero tools at the time and completely failed, but turned her mistakes into lessons learned and has come out the other side stronger and better. Any excuse NOT to start, Alex has it. As a young homeowner with zero experience and a crazy work-life, she refused to quit and is a true inspiration to any DIYer that’s looking to start or take on bigger projects. Give Alex a follow @diybydna!
On the show today, Alex and I talked about how she, as a 22-year-old and a hectic work-life with nursing school & night shifts, was able to teach herself and build up to massive DIY projects in her home. Alex touches on her first ever DIY project where she had zero tools at the time and completely failed, but turned her mistakes into lessons learned and has come out the other side stronger and better. Any excuse NOT to start, Alex has it. As a young homeowner with zero experience and a crazy work-life, she refused to quit and is a true inspiration to any DIYer that’s looking to start or take on bigger projects. Give Alex a follow @diybydna!
Hey, what's going on. I'm your host, Alex Dalessio and welcome to the real life renovation podcast. If you're looking to get your hands dirty and do it yourself in your home, then this is the go-to DIY and home renovation community. Just for you. I invite you to join us each week as I chat with some of your favorite DIY critters, discuss all that goes into their DIY journey and the renovation projects that they've accomplished in their home and how you can achieve similar results in your. If you have zero experience like I did when I started, then there's no better community for you to gain the knowledge, confidence, and inspiration to release your inner bad-ass upon every corner of your home. So let's pick up that hammer, have some fun. And nail your home renovations together. Welcome to the real life renovation podcast. This is the official episode six and today I'm with Alex, not me, Alex, a new Alex. I know you guys are tired of listening to me. Yeah. Uh, you may know her by, at DIY, by DNA, on Instagram and Tik TOK. And Alex bought room in 20 Swanee during peak quarantine, uh, with a boyfriend and began a DIY while in nursing school and working night shifts. So something that was probably pretty relatable, a hectic schedule, still getting it done. Um, and she actually started her DIY journey with an entry table that she admits to throwing away for her blog. Um, and has now taken that. The mistakes, the failures and all the combinations and lessons she's learned along the way to tackle huge projects like an entire bathroom. And she actually has a surprise for her biggest project yet that I'll let her talk about shortly. Um, and lastly Alex's mantra, which I think we can all relate to is if you can't buy it, DIY, I love that so much. So with the first question, as we always started off with, um, Alex, if you were sitting down with HGTV producers, right? To pitch a show for them to do a show on you, what would you call the show and why?
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:So I know I've been thinking about this all day because I'm not, I haven't really thought about it before. So my question is just somebody. Um, so as far as like what I would pull it, I'd probably call it something along the lines with my needle, like doing DIY with DNA or to the III with DNA, something like that. Um, Because usually HGTV people go in and do stuff forever people. And don't really like doing stuff for other people. Like no shade. I just like having my own creative freedom. So working for someone else is just like, not my thing. Um, so I think I would like to put like a little twist on it and the plot would be like a game show. So like think top chef. But DIY version. So like good contestants would get, like, that would be setting out of material then like tools and maybe I'm brewing a random tool and you got to figure out how to use a fork. I don't know. Um, and then they didn't have like a set timeline to build something and then we'd see, can we do best? So I think that would be much,
Alex D'Alessio:we should pitch it to HGTV right now. I might have to it in the VMs right after this. Cause
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:I would be so. Yeah, we might need to do it before this goes lion curls. They're going to steal it because it's pretty,
Alex D'Alessio:we're going to have to, I don't know if you can patent it or whatever the term would be. You can't definitely can't patent attorney, but the idea of Russia, but we will copyright it, whatever the terms we need to do, we're going to talk to lawyers immediately, but, uh, so that's awesome. I think that's so cool. So I wanted to dive into your, your name a little bit. Does the DNA stand for like something specific? Or is it like DIA DLI DNA is a mic in your blood, like it's in your blood because I know you've mentioned, um, in the past about like how your mom, uh, DIY a lot growing up and kind of how it, that you, so is that the reason for the name or is it something deeper that I missed or, yeah,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:so honestly when I'm decided and started by page, apparently like started on a limb a little bit when we were doing our pastor. Um, and I'm just like thinking of names. And the first thing that came to my mind was DOI by DNA, simply for the reason DJ and Alex like deejaying and Alex. Um, but since then, it's time to evolve to being more than that, as I've found my passion in DIY and I've truly found. My polling, I feel like, so that's kind of like evolved and grown with me. So I really love my . So yeah, it's a little bit of a double meaning and
Alex D'Alessio:yeah, I would love to. So I read like all your blog and your about me. Like I was like, I need to know more. Um, cause it's so interesting. Your whole story. I just wanted to know everything about it and I. Laughing my ass off. When I read the thing about your mom, I don't want it. Like, I'll let you tell this story, but I think you probably know what I'm talking about, about the closet.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Oh, okay. At first I was like Lucy talking about, okay. I remember it now, but, um, I, my model has always been like up to something like I would get home from school and she would like rearrange everything in the pantry or my bedroom would be completely rearranged. So. Coming home from school and DNA. And my mom, like her car was there. I didn't find her. I was like, mom, where are you? And I tear her like faintly kind of being like Allie. And I was like looking for her. I walked into her closet and. Her legs were hanging from the ceiling. She was doing something in the attic that day and altitude and ceiling. So that was interesting. I was pretty young then. So I don't really remember like what happened after that? All I was like that stuck with me. This woman is crazy. Not really. I love her. She's she's the best, but she, mine, my dad never knew what to come home to and we slowly learn or quickly learned that we, we couldn't know we were, we don't know what to expect to and getting home. So
Alex D'Alessio:is that where you think the creative juices.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Oh, yeah, that the Lindy, um, my family's pretty creative. Uh, my dad really liked photography and my mom was always crafting something. She was always crafting with us. She didn't really do like huge projects like I have done. Um, but she has an interest in it. Like she would love to do stuff like that if she had time. So that's definitely where I get it from.
Alex D'Alessio:Um, that's so cool. And so it led into like originally, so I know you, you said you started with an entryway table, so is that, how did that come about? Um, it's up to dogs in the background. This is real life renovation podcast. This is real life. Um, no worries at all. Uh, but, um, so much. Yes. So the entryway table. So can you talk about that? Cause I thought that was so relatable because it's such a project that feels like, at least for like when you're first starting very attainable, very doable without the scariness of messing something up in your house. And then I know, um, at least from what I saw, you had actually ended up like tossing it out or throwing it away or getting rid of it. So how did you go from starting that, to that failure to then be. Oh, this is what I want to keep on doing, even though I just failed.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah. So when I decided to do that, like that project was like out of a need for a entryway table. Um, it's like very small area, so I can never really find something that, um, would fit in. I don't know. I just try to build something like campy that already you're just putting with together. Well, I didn't know that lands existed and like, things like that, like that was before I realized like Anna White was thing, uh, into your Greenville area that like, she has like a ton of plans, but, um, I just like, I Dougald like a few things. Not very much, DJ is like the Google rule. Like he will Google everything, you know, weirdest facts. I am just like fly by the seat in my opinion. So I was like going to home Depot. Like once I get an idea in my head, I just have to execute it. Um, even if that does. Like this situation did it. Um, so I was like, I'm going home Depot. I have no tools. I think all I had was like a drill. So I got some lit of course, I'm going to look like the cheapest thing. How do you think I use furring strips? Which I don't know if you are familiar with that, but they're like the cheapest one by twos. Like they're not straight at all. Horrible. I think I got like maybe two, one or two of those green strips and then like a nice piece of top. And I had an home Depot cut every day, actually. No, I think they had them cut the Poplar and I didn't have the Jade saw like a really old jigsaw that my dad had never used this all before. And I just like trying to put something together and I'm like, okay, I don't start with like a square. And it was so labile lately, there was like, I used the crappiest stuff. Like there was no fixing it, it was spring shirts. I think at the time they were.$3 each. Uh, I don't know what the price of those are anymore, but yeah, probably it it's just not the, there was no fixing it. I think I did like repurpose the Poplar cause it was nice. Um, but yeah, I, I feel like failure is inevitable. Like no matter what you're doing in life, you're always going to fail and failure is one of the best ways to learn. Um, so I definitely wasn't discouraged, um, when that whole situation happened, I kinda think it gave me like a little bit the adrenaline, it gave me a little bit like a pledge to really figure out how to deal with this. Um, at that time I started crawling other people on Instagram. I was like, they're doing it and can do it too. And I was also working the night shift, um, as a tech at that point. So I've had a little bit of free time on my night shifts and I would do. Google I attend DJs advice. I Googled stuff, founding await. Um, and then after that table, I was like, you know what? I am building outdoor soap. I'm like, we're going from like zero to a hundred and SOPA link two years later, it is still perfect. So just show us, like, if you put your mind to it, you can definitely do like huge things.
Alex D'Alessio:There's so much that we're running into a problem and Googling or YouTubing. Helped me. And not only in that instance, but like down the road, you carry that stuff with you forever. Uh, I know for instance, I, my first DIY really was my coffee table and a white, by the way. So shout outs and, you know, just bought like a table, saw, bought a couple of things and I didn't really realize, uh, someone had told me or Google this in their YouTube, something, they said the difference between your grandma's furniture and Ikea is. And I like didn't understand that before I was like, thinking like I can just use screws and everything will be good. And it'll like, it just made sense in my head, like screws would be better than glue actually. And then I came to realize when I finished it, that it wasn't that sturdy and whatnot. And as I did my research, they were like, yeah, that's the reason like Ikea furniture is pretty shitty as well. It's like, it doesn't use any of the wood glue, which is. Way stronger than screwed and stuff. And when you're building furniture, it's so important. Um, and that's just like a Testament to, like, I didn't know that until I ran into that problem and Googled it. And it was like, oh, that's why.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah. You didn't find a lot of helpful information on the internet. And I don't know why didn't have the private to lay. I had too much pride to just like Google it the first time. But you know, that sign here
Alex D'Alessio:a hundred percent. So, so touch on. You just touched on it, but, uh, so you were in nursing school and so nursing school and night shift or nursing school was your night shift. Yeah,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:so I like this time of my life is like such a blur. I don't know how well I manage it. Um, but I was in nursing school and getting, um, part-time as a tech on nights. Um, so I was working two days a week and nursing school at that point, it was like peak COVID and a lot of it was on. So that's kind of how I like was able to balance my time because I didn't have to commute just for anything. Um, but yeah, I would do school. Didn't fleet blah for my night shifts and just like DIY and admit to the, at all, it was crazy. Um, yeah. Night shift is internal animal and I'm gonna be that I'm night since.
Alex D'Alessio:Uh, so do you see, do you see like the DIY part of it as more investment part or more creative outlet or a little bit of both? So I know for me, it's, it's a little bit of both. Yeah.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:It's definitely a little bit. A little bit of both. Um, at this point I think we probably priced her house out of the neighborhood. So it's still, it's more of a creative outlet because we're not going to get a return for what we're doing to our place. Um, it just is like my therapy. I love it.
Alex D'Alessio:No, a hundred percent. And I don't think everyone, you know, wants to say like, oh, like you're not helping your house's value and stuff at the end of the day. Like if it makes you happy. And it doesn't even need to be a forever home. Like people get so wrapped up around about that. Very few people find their forever home. And when they do, it's probably like, you know, we're far down the road from where me and you arrive at. So like, I just don't like when people come at you and say those types of things, like, well, I like this color or I like this tile and that's all that matters at the end of the day. Um, yeah. Resale value come into play for sure. Like, I'm not gonna, if I liked pink tiles, I probably wouldn't put up pink tiles for that reason. But, um, it's such a big thing. It's it's your home at the end of the day, you know?
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah, for sure. And we're, we're young. This is the time of our life where we can learn how to do these things when we're like, I mean, not saying that older people can't do it, but. Later in life. You're just busy. Me and DJ. We don't have kids currently. We're we're young and this is the time to buy in new copies and learn how to do these around your home. Being a home owner is a crazy responsibility and knowing how to do some of these things gives you such a huge
Alex D'Alessio:advantage. I agree to a hundred percent. I don't know about you, but I've received so many comments that are on both ends of the spectrum. Wow. Look at this, uh, like younger, like, I don't know, I'm 26. So they're like, look at this keto or whatever, uh, LA looking to learn how to do this stuff. This is so great for the new generation. And then the other half is like, ah, this kid doesn't know what he's doing. Like, just leave it to the people with experience. Like, well, how did you get experienced in the first way? You gotta, obviously I had to start somewhere
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:for sure.
Alex D'Alessio:And it's so funny. One of your followers, actually, I think, um, asked you a question. How are you so mature?
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:I saw that. I know. Um,
Alex D'Alessio:yeah. So,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:um, yeah, I do feel like I'm pretty mature for my age. How old do you know? I'm not that all day.
Alex D'Alessio:I don't, I feel terrible.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Okay. So I'm 22. Um, and clearly like a lot of 22 year olds, aren't like, I'm so grateful for where I am in life. And just like, I don't know a lot has been attributed to that, but how did I get so mature? Like people at 22, even like later twenties, they want a party I've never been into that really? Whoa, that kind of contributes to it. I also have a younger brother. I'm the only girl in my family. But I'm the only girl child in my family. And I definitely just like mom, Tim, a little too hard. I also think that's like the nurse coming out of me. Um, I've just always been super responsible.
Alex D'Alessio:Yeah. That's so funny you say that. Cause Kylie and my wife's the same way. Like we have been our 10 year anniversary is coming up in June. Um, we high school sweethearts. It's so funny you say that, um, like the whole sister, like older sister part, cause she's the older sister to a younger sister and then more so like a seven year old difference, younger brother. And it is so, and she's a second grade teacher. So like very similar, like she's already got like the profession, like that goes into that as well. But she's ever since I've known her has always been like his second mom and just has been very mom oriented from the second year. Um, so it's funny you say that, but then she also, uh, gets after it a little bit on the weekend, but the kids are under that. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. People think you have to be on one end of the spectrum. And so not the case. Um, but I, one thing I did want to really touch on was your announcement. I wanted to give the floor to, cause you have a really.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah. So, um, we are replacing all the floors and our knobs, which is a crazy project, and you're absolutely insane really tackling this project with everything going, oh, then earliest. Cause I've just started a new job and yeah, we had all the floors that our mounts ripped out last week and we're starting the process of laying new ones. So it's going to be a crazy transformation and I feel like. Flooring. It is such a huge decision in your house and it's going to completely transform our space. Um, so I'm really excited about that.
Alex D'Alessio:So. Cool. Um, so what is the company was a Collie, I
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:think is what I say company.
Alex D'Alessio:Nice. So how does, so did you have to get rid of like all of your furniture not get rid of, but move all your furniture out of your house? Or you're just moving it into separate rooms one by one.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Um, so we actually have a storage unit and our perimeter isn't there. Um, some furniture is in our garage and we didn't want to move our couch or like big, heavy stuff, DJ, and has like a huge aquarium. And that thing weighs like thousands of pounds. So that's like been floating around and, uh, everything else lives in storage units. So we're just going to tackle like the rooms as we can get to them with the. And then we'll like slowly move stuff in right now, our mattress is in our living room on the floor. And that is how we've been living for the past week.
Alex D'Alessio:What's your timeline looking like? Cause I have no concept whatsoever of how long flooring should take.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah. So we're using LVP and it's a super beginner friendly product. Um, it's like the click and launch stuff so easy and. Yeah, it's super beginner friendly. So that's what we're using. If we had like time, we're kind of just doing it as we have time. So like, if I have a weekend off for late, sometime in June, and that's what I'm like setting aside to do it. Um, but I'm definitely going to take it slow. Um, Recording flying tent, actually doing DIY. It all takes so much time. So like all of that factor into it. I'm not putting any parse deadlines for this project because I want it to be good.
Alex D'Alessio:Know some brands are like, I need it done by this time. And it it's like, I also have a life outside of this and it also takes awhile to record the content. Like I think I've talked about it in like every pocket content is not easy and people do not. The amount of effort that goes into even like a 15, second funny video that you might post on Tik TOK or reel, and it might've taken you an hour to nail down that voiceover of that funny trend. And like, and then when you bring in the actual DIY aspect of it, you're trying to get all these different angles, especially when it's a brand post, because that's when you really want to like put your best foot forward, um, and get a lot of cool angles, high quality videos. The lighting needs to be perfect because, um, You know, you want, you want to do well for the brand so that you can hopefully work with them again or other cool brands as well.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah, it's definitely, um, it's a full-time job. And as I've started my new nursing job, um, I am realizing like I need to pump the brakes a little bit and really figure out what I need to prioritize on and just how I'm going to manage it all. So. It's going to be interesting. I'm giving myself some grace and definitely not trying to be too hard on myself about,
Alex D'Alessio:yeah. So how has your, your comment or your creator kind of DIY crater journey started? Like how did you get, where do you, where you are now? I know I've can't remember if one of my father's or your fathers mentioned this question, but someone asked, how did you grow your following so fast, um, and get to where.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah. And so link, I mentioned earlier, we started her account. Um, yes, it was in 2020, uh, when we were working on her bathroom and I was like, I just want to share this process, whoever sees it. Cool. I didn't really have any like super big intentions of reading, um, the community of what it is now. Um, I'm so grateful for how it's for now and it's definitely become a huge passion of mine. Um, over time. Sorry. I think you're fine. No, I think your video cut out or something.
Alex D'Alessio:Okay. Fine. Fine. Understandable.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Okay. So over time I realized that this could be something bigger than what I was doing. I was sending to Jeanette. Flying by and to see it in my PN sharing things. As I had them, I wasn't super consistent. And when I realized that this was something I really wanted to pursue, I took it more seriously. And I started posting more consistently. I tried to land hunting ahead until I can word I'm headed to run if I could manage that. Uh, and really what grew my calling so fast was like strictly reels over. I think in November, I probably had like 15,000, 17,000 around there, um, followers. And then December, I had a real blow up and I got two 50 that's in, which was insane. It's been like, it's still like, I'm still can't believe at all. Um, so that's really where the bulk of it came from the other 17,000. I would say those are like my. Like honestly, all I'm like what I'm doing. I'll say when it fall on me, but,
Alex D'Alessio:um,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:the other, yeah, the other G 17,000, they like, they just stuck with me and they're like, my writer dies. I'm still like building relationships with everyone else. But how on earth have you built relationships without being same? Um, yeah. That's really like the O G 17,000. I built group just consistency and sharing my projects. Um, but real is, are like huge big thing now. So that is what
Alex D'Alessio:happened. The reels is like recently has done really well for me and kind of got. I want to say, like around two 30, I had 2000 at the beginning of January and now like, it just shot up to like 30 through like my basement renovation reels. Like it wasn't one specific, but just kind of like, just cause reels is, you know, as, you know, people don't need to follow you to see your content, which is completely different than most Instagram was before. Just because no, one's going to see your story or in-feed posts. If they don't follow you for the most.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:And when I told DJ, then I was going on a pod pass. He's like, who are you going on a podcast with? And I was like, Amex. And he was like, who's that? Is that a couple of different friends that are named Alex in the DIY space? Well, I guess you, and then be inbuilt. I don't follow her about, I
Alex D'Alessio:love
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Florida. Okay. Yeah. And I need her and want to meet like all my DIY friends, but anyways, I was like, this is who I'm chatting with. The way I watch his videos all the time and he showed me your profile and was like, is it this guy? I'm like, yeah. And he didn't really, you I'm like TJ, all of him.
Alex D'Alessio:He's like,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:yeah. He's like, I don't want to be weird. I'm like, that's the point of Instagram you follow?
Alex D'Alessio:That is so funny. Yeah. Uh, obviously what's up DJ for listening. Uh, but, uh, yeah. It's the us, I have like my OG 2000, I guess it's way different than your 17,000. But so every time I see their messages, like I almost always stop what I'm doing and show them love and get back to them. Whereas everyone else, I will try my best to do it within an hour or so, as best as I can. But the OGs, like there was nothing like it. Cause you're like you were here when.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:I know I've put up poles sometimes and I'm like, Rheem here when I did this, then of course, like most people work, but it's like so crazy. Just like, be like, wow, that was two years ago. And you're still following me. Like, I must be doing something right. I haven't scared you away yet. Which is always a huge achievement. Yeah.
Alex D'Alessio:It's so cool. Just having, uh, a community that really rallies around you. Um, and I'll ask.'cause, you know, I've noticed that recently. Um, just with like one, I did a brand post for heart tools, maybe two, two and a half weeks ago. And they let me get away with like a pretty funny one. I was, I was literally twerking in the post. Oh my gosh. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know how I got away with actually I had a call with them, uh, today about hopefully we're going together time. Uh, I know, and we were, we were laughing. I was like, did you show that to, uh, like your upper ups or whatever? He was like, wait, we sent them the link. And I don't know if they clicked her on up, but we took their signs. That's a good, good for like good to go. And we thought it was hilarious. I was like, cool, here's the heck away? So I was like, okay. But I had, anyways, I have so many people, uh, literally almost comment and then DME right away and was like, Just watched a cool video and just commented just to like show you love and hoping the best for you. Like hoping, you know, I love the fact that what you do for us and, you know, cause you know, for the most part, the follower is not paying anything to watch your content. Right. Um, so it's really nice to the ones that are really supportive. And I kind of understand that dynamic, like I will show up every day for you for free. Like you literally owe me nothing. And you didn't do it. You don't have a like, or comment at all, like no hard feelings, but like, if you do have that 10, 15 seconds out of your day to do it, uh, those are just like the real ones. And like, you appreciate them so much. And it's crazy that there's strangers out there that are just like rooting for you sometimes more than your own friends, which is like insane.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah. They're like truly invested in land. We're doing, I feel like a lot of my friends in real life don't really understand, like how. Important like, or comment like how appreciated those things are, but it's truly like your report card on Instagram, um, to impress brands. And it's a huge part of what keeps us as . We like, you cannot do this for free. Like, I love doing this, but it, during the. And see if you're creating content at the level that you are, you're constantly pumping out projects. Like it's not sustainable unless you're getting paid in some way, which sucks that it's like that, but it it's, I know it's your job. Um, so it's appreciated when your audience posts through
Alex D'Alessio:oh, a hundred percent and there's just so much that goes into it. That's just. Um, and I think I have you in it, but I basically started like a close friend story where I share kind of behind the scenes of stuff that I wouldn't. Cause some people have say most people are just, they just want to see the DIY stuff, which all the power to them. Like I respect that, which is why I've made the close friend story. So some people really are interested in kind of knowing more of the personal level and uh, behind the scenes negotiating brands, how I set up the podcast, things like. Um, that I'm able to share with them and kind of give them deeper nuggets into what it's really like, because it is more, more than a full-time job. I work so much more than I did before in my nine to five. It's not even funny. And it follows you because you know how like Kylie gets mad at me sometimes. Can you just like, get off the phone? I'm like, I feel like I want to respond to this message. Like, this is one of my OGs, like, and she's like, it's eight o'clock on a Tuesday night. Like, or Monday night, I want to watch the bachelor. We watched the bachelor together, but, uh,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:yeah, it, it never turns off. It really, there's always something you're always thinking of something it's yeah, it's crazy. And when I was just getting started, um, I did not know, like I said, really her, like, I didn't know what this. And once I started learning what I could become open so many doors for me. So I feel like you sharing that information, your close friends, I've been spirit too of it just opens the doors for so many people. It's, they're interested in doing this because I am like a firm believer that anyone can do this. Um, if you have that drive or passion to do it. So it was awesome that you're sharing, um, those little tidbit. So you gotta start somewhere.
Alex D'Alessio:Yeah. And it's, it's pretty consistent. And across any niche, like I've had people message me, asking me how to do video editing and stuff. And they're like, I, I enjoy your DIY content, but, uh, I think one of them mentioned, he was like in the automotive, like car niche. And he was like, how do you do your edit? So, you know, I sent him a whole like personalized video. Used the app called InShot and all the little things that I think about. Um, and I've picked up along the way, but it's so funny how the content performs differently across different different platforms?
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah, pretty sure. I'm definitely experienced like a little bit of that. Like I totally prefer Instagram every tick tock, tick tock, but I cannot figure out chink talk to save my life. Like I've had a few. Good waves over there, but like, I know I do not have blood over there
Alex D'Alessio:out, like your trend ones are so funny.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah. I just don't have time to like, sometimes I'd be like, yeah, I'm doing TIG top this week. I'm going to do like three of that. And that lasts like two weeks and then I'm like that too. Okay. I'm just focusing on my Instagram because that's what I'm more passionate
Alex D'Alessio:about. It's hard because the burnout. Um, especially when you don't see the immediate gratification and Tik TOK, their algorithm is impossible to figure out. Um, and it can be incredibly frustrating, uh, whereas, and you just have all the trolls on there. Whereas Instagram, like I would say 95% of the people are in your corner, um, and rooting for you. Whereas tick-tock, it seems like people try to find reasons not to like you. So the high part does not, is not ideal either. Um, kind of talking on that one question that, uh, a follower had for you is, um, if there's one thing you could change about the DIY space slash community, what would it be?
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Hello? This one is really hard because like I said, I'm really loved. And so you're in community. I feel like. Everyone is super supportive of like what you're doing and have like, yeah, like just everything you're doing, they're going to show up for you. It's you have like an ad or a project. Like, I just love that about Instagram. Um, I wish that people would like, like you mentioned about patrols, I kind of wish they would maybe. Do a little research before they like come at you because I don't know. I can't remember one comment I had. Oh yeah, there was this one person that it was on Instagram actually, which is rare, very rare for me to get hate on like Instagram reels, but then some reason the video ended up on our own side of Instagram. And this person was like, she's lying. She's not doing this. Like he thought it had this like elaborate scene of where, like I was hiring somebody to do all of this DIY and I was just reporting it and acting like I was like, do you know how big of like a, like, that would be more work than actually just do that? Like, do you not watch any of my stuff? Like that would be such an elaborate scheme. I don't know how any that off patrols. They don't get it
Alex D'Alessio:and they'll never go away, but I always tell people, people will message me kind a messages, and I'll literally send them like a personalized video, uh, back in her sauce would be like your message, like the other one. I want them to know like your message made my day made my morning. Uh, especially when I post I'll like post some of the main comments that I get and I'll get like a few messages from that saying like, oh, don't worry about them. Like you're doing. So I messaged her back and I'm like, you guys outweigh the negative people times a million. Um, so like thank you for being here. And it really does go a long way. Like I would like the positive people, um, kind of shine through all the negativity and make it,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:um,
Alex D'Alessio:but yeah, it's a struggle.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah, that's interesting that you say you video chat people. I love using audio messages and I'm always afraid that I'm going to like mirrored someone out if I see it. And so that's very cool. They do video, but
Alex D'Alessio:I just think so when I kind of started blowing up and then I got a bunch of influx of the AMS and stuff, um, Messaging back. And then my fingers started really hurting. So then I started doing audio messages because then my thumbs won't hurt as much. And it was just quicker and people were literally messaged back like, oh my God, one, I wasn't expecting your response. And to like, you know, I was expecting like, just like a heart or like a thank you. And like the fact that you spent 45 seconds to like go into detail. And then once I got a bunch of bad feedback, I was like, you know, I'm going to take this a step further. And when people ask me questions, I would literally, you know, send them videos back. And I just think it's a great way to kind of, you know, show everyone that you actually care about them because there's so many creators, at least judging from the responses I get that just blow off the people that are kind enough to spend time out of their day to message you.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:It's definitely a much more personal experience. If you're like ashy, sending them a voice message and it makes you feel. Just another real person, because I feel like sometimes like I'm sending audio messages and people are like, oh my gosh, if you believe you can just like, Boysen them up. Be like, they think I'm like famous. I'm like, ah, literally just like a normal person.
Alex D'Alessio:I've gotten similar responses. Like don't gas me up, please. Like, I'm one of you, I appreciate you being here. And they're like, thank me. I'm like, I'm thinking you like this, this is the wrong way. Like I appreciate you being.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:And you're the reason that I've gone this far. So I can't. Thank you enough. I think.
Alex D'Alessio:Exactly. Exactly. I did have one more question for you before we run into the quick fire. Sure. I wanted to ask and I think I, might've not asked mommy last time. I can't remember, but I want to keep this as a theme. Um, Oh, I'd love to know, uh, any tips or resources you would give to a newbie cause I think there's so many out there that follow me that probably for sure. Follow you and listen to his podcast that maybe are afraid to kind of dive in because of so many obstacles that are seemingly obstacles that are in their way. Um, and maybe they're afraid to kind of just take the leap of faith. So what would you have in terms of advice for anyone looking to get.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah, I would say like, just get started, do your research, uh, figure out what you need to really get started and just start, like I said earlier, like you can't really learn things unless you try and you make those mistakes. Most everything in DIY is accessible. Like you can put a hole in your wall and you can fix it. It's no big. So knowing that you can fix it turn and can put some, give you some peace of mind. Um, as far as like resources, when I started, I mentioned that I got like my would kinda at home Depot. Um, I use like the army down tools, things like that says you have a neighbor, maybe they have some tools. Uh, I'm sure you have people in your community, community. That would be it. Maybe they would even like show you how you use it or supervise law. You're giving it a C a home Depot. Get your wood cut there. It's a great resource. Um, you can also like grant tools, which is really awesome. Like I don't own a table saw, but, and I don't think I would really have it but if I did, at one point I'd probably would just try to rent one because I don't want people to store it. Yeah. I think renting tools is like, awesome. And now if it's something you're going to use, like a billion times, We did our master bathroom and our laundry route. And we actually borrowed a wet saw from a friend, but I'm like, I'm sure we just thought lung because we have like an other tile project that we want to do. And I just like, really think about what you're going. I know it's hard when you're getting started. That's why, what you're just seeing started to kind of recommend just getting starter clean. It may be like from heart, they have a great set that thumbs. Like all the basic things that you might need, just getting started, something like that, where you're not investing a whole lot of meat, but it's going to get you places that makes sense.
Alex D'Alessio:A hundred percent, the camo kit, super clutch. That's really Allie. What 99% of people start with. Um, it's what I started with. And then it's funny you say the wet saw. When we went to go do like our first ever shit project, like a room transformation in our laundry room, we had to cut 12 by 24 inch porcelain tiles. So, um, it wasn't, we weren't able to like score and snap it because it was hard porcelain and whatnot and large format. And we went to go, we thought about renting a tile saw, and then I compare the price. I was like, we can get rent this one for like 60 a day. Or I can buy a cheap one for $99. Let's say even the cheap one, doesn't get me. It gets me through one project. I still think it'll be cheaper in the long run because I don't think I'm going to fish this one day and I'll spend at least 120 rent. Yeah,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:yeah, exactly. That's the only problem about renting. You really need to be strategic with highly has your time, like the duration of your rental. Uh, so that's what I suggest borrowing tools. If you have friends that just around. We borrowed, we borrowed somebodies, uh, like score and snap title cutter. And like, while we were using it, it broke. So then it's like, Logan could have just bought are all on it. And cause we had repeated that for like the broken tool, you know, every, you just need to buy around stuff on it.
Alex D'Alessio:I've heard. I can't remember if I saw it on Tik TOK or what, but I saw. Video hack where, cause you know, you can rent, let's say a tile soft for four hours and then it Tums people charge you per hour after that or something like that. You can rent it by day. But, um, say this one hack was like, if you rent a tool like four hours before they close or right under four hours before they close, then you get it for free. That next night, the whole. And then you just have to bring it back. So like your, you can have it from 6:00 PM till like 7:00 AM and only be charged for the four hours, even though you've been grinding called height.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Interesting.
Alex D'Alessio:I know. So I'll have to whip that out, but that will conclude our normal questions. I want to hit you with the quick fire round. So very easy questions. So the first one's always the same Lowe's or home Depot home Depot. Okay. Favorite POV to
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:elaborate, or,
Alex D'Alessio:and if you got, if you have something, it seems like you got
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:no, I just didn't know if I was supposed to, it had a lot, like for science anyways. Oh yeah. Home Depot and go to book places. But home Depot is four minutes with love home Depot. I just liked the way it's organized. Well, this doesn't make sense to me.
Alex D'Alessio:I'm finding out that it's very regional, like specific to each store. Cause it's such the opposite for me across several across like I live within five, 15 minutes of three separate Lowe's and probably three separate home depots because I live in a city. So, um, so I've had all three lows or like pristine condition, awesome workers and the home depots are the exact opposite. So that's funny. Um, okay. Favorite pain brand?
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Bear
Alex D'Alessio:tag is a pineapple, a good pizza topping.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:I just liked needs
Alex D'Alessio:so no, to have things just straight
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:to you and just, she is sometimes black olives or like, Bazell it she'll consider that a topic, but yeah, just
Alex D'Alessio:fair. Okay. Keep it simple, uh, most rewarding project you've done so far.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:That is hard. I would probably, they are laundry room, even though like our or backroom was like such a huge project. I really like learned and grew so much as a DIY or by dinner. Cause I did it pretty much all myself, um, whereas, or a bathroom really tired on the plummy, stuff like that. So the laundry.
Alex D'Alessio:I love it. It looks amazing. I was Fung along, very intent. Killed it. Um, let's see. Biggest DIY failure.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:I'm just trying to think about this, cause I wasn't sure if that was a question. Um, so I have like a silly one and then like the big one, but the big line I was, we were working on our bathroom. Um, I was framing out a window. So like at me, like the craftsman style, bring me to this model and I had a one by eight propped up against the wall next to the window. And then like the plumbing for the vanity is like right there is going, um, the one buddy and just like silver piddly and it not, I'm supposed to plumbing for Libyan and. And it burst and it went everywhere thing. Goodness. I knew there were water should all blends. Um, because I would've flooded her entire house. It was a disaster. I'm kinda like I knew where the large house was, but it was really hard for me to turn it normally the in ground water too though. So I like flagged some guy. That was driving down the side of the road to like, help me turn it off. And he didn't speak a word of English. He probably thought I was the most insane person because I was like frantic, but we got it off. I like shot and renovated a little up or loses a disaster, but nothing misstatement though. It was a win, but a huge.
Alex D'Alessio:I mean, it could definitely be worse, like in terms of DIY failures. Like if, if there was no damage done, I would consider that.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Yeah. So this, this silly Deandra have a sake. Was I, one of the first projects I did was a 10 gallon olden, this new cabinet and a pen and made like basically a niche where the medicine cabinet was. And I did this with like hammer nails. So before I had like my nails. Uh, and it was like, as we were nailing it in feel, I feel sticking very well, but we just tend to earn with that and turns out like the wall behind a medicine cabinet. It was literally just like she knew drywall. So the nails were going through the dremmel into the room, that store. So there were like nails. 12 nails sticking out of the little inner bedroom. And that was probably a year and a half ago. I just took my little time to pat them.
Alex D'Alessio:So they've been staying out for that long. Yeah.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:I had a picture of Greenville over and just hung up, pray mom, the nails. And it was
Alex D'Alessio:the biggest DIY, like the high wire thing I've ever heard. And I would have totally St. Cloud. I love that so much. Just figuring out something to hide it and then figure it out later and lie to yourself that you'll do it. Exactly. And my last question for you, um, is the number one, excuse people tell themselves and why they can't start.
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:Uh, probably because they just don't think they're capable of whether they don't have the materials they need, or they just don't think that they could do it. Um, I think you have like a mental block that you're the one that's stopping you from pursuing some of those things. And once you get asked that it you're like the opportunities and possibilities are endless, you can do whatever you put your mind to. Literally, I could never imagine, like the things that I have done. Like if you told me. Two years ago that I would be like trialing things myself. I would think you were insane because when we bought our house, I was like, I not a brand new house I don't want to do. And I'm so very reading into that because we would've spent so much more money and I wouldn't have had as much fun.
Alex D'Alessio:Yeah. 100% and great people are way more capable than they think. And I think a lot of people, when I get messages, I have this, uh, thought that I came from a family that knew how to do this stuff, or my job correlated with it. Or I just had someone teaching me. I was like, nah, just YouTube. And a lot of fail slash mistakes, turned into lessons learned. And then as long as you're not burning down your house, Then it's a success. Well, that's probably been
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:totally recommend having a fire extinguisher. Like if you're going to do any projects, have a fire extinguisher, nowhere your water shut off is like, how do those safety precautions? Like, I'm not saying I'm not sure, but like, you got him, you got, and you never know. You never know it's the nurse in the.
Alex D'Alessio:I love it. Well, this has been, uh, amazing. I am just super thankful that you would spend your time chatting with us today. Uh, and yeah. Did you have anything before we jump?
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:None of this has been, it's so much fun here, and it's been great to get to know you. I like we haven't talked to a whole lot, they personally, so this is awesome. You a little bit, I'm just shouting, um, it's super vine or chatting with like like-minded people and sharing my
Alex D'Alessio:a hundred percent. I totally agree. I appreciate this so much. This was a lot of fun and I'm sure the listeners enjoyed it as. So two from one Alex to another, uh, thank you from the bottom I hired for being here. Uh, and until next time,
Alex Campolo - @diybydna:yes. Thank you.
Alex D'Alessio:Another great conversation and the books with another million creator, I gotta be honest. The one takeaway it had is alleys caught me. So off guard when she asked me, uh, how old I thought she was and I'm 26. Right. So I feel like I'm fairly young for the DIY. So. The fact that she said she was 22, just blew my mind. Not in a bad way, but in like the most positive way ever, because it just goes to show you that you don't need all this crazy experience, whether it's life experience, DLI experience, tools, experience, to do these amazing things in your home. I feel like so many people get tripped up on that. You really don't need it. You. Have a mindset that you want to tackle something in your home within reason, of course you can work your way up to it. I think Alex is just such a Testament to that. Starting out on our entryway table, failing where most people would probably fail in most in, or when they fail. In most instances they would quit. Um, and she just took that mindset to a whole new level and was passionate about something and wanting. Turner home into something that she loved more, even more. Uh, and it just goes to show you that you can do this stuff too. Um, I preach it all the time that I am not special. Most of my craters, uh, aren't anything special in terms of like crazy experience or parents showing them the ropes or, you know, things like that. So, I'm just here to, to, to show you some normal people like myself, uh, that are doing amazing things in their homes. And hopefully it inspires you to start tackling projects in your home. If you haven't already started or maybe inspire you to tackle even bigger projects. Um, so yeah, that was awesome. Um, I just loved that conversation so much, so many amazing takeaways and yeah. Uh, thank you for the bottom of my heart as always for being here for episode six. If you're able to, um, support the podcast, the easiest way to do it is honestly just, uh, leaving a nice kind review. Um, and a comment review means the world. Uh, it basically shows the podcast software that, uh, you guys enjoy this. So, um, Thank you for another great episode. Two Alex, thank you to another great episode to the lit listeners. Excuse me. Thank you for being here. And, uh, until episode seven,