Raff's Brain #213: Riffin' with Raff feat. Charles Blatz - Yolk & Mortar Chicken Hustle!

Charles Blatz returns to Raff’s Brain for a wide-ranging conversation about DIY home renovation, backyard farming, and the unexpected joys of modern homesteading.After buying a modest fixer-upper outside Cleveland, Charles has spent the past year transforming both the house and his lifestyle. He shares lessons learned from ripping out old plumbing, sanding hardwood floors, and aggressively paying down his mortgage.But the biggest change has been outside. Charles now maintains a growing flock of free-range chickens producing dozens of eggs each week—including rare heritage breeds like the Transylvanian Naked Neck.Rob and Charles explore the economics of backyard egg production, homesteading laws, protein self-sufficiency, and the emotional realities of raising animals.Along the way, the conversation drifts into startup brainstorming—from a Roomba-style robotic floor sander to the idea of creating a chicken farming course for aspiring homesteaders.It’s an episode about independence, experimentation, and the small steps people take toward building a life that’s a little more self-reliant.Call the Raff's Brain Hotline! Pick a topic, make a statement, ask a question!571-408-8058.Podcast OutlineCharles Blatz returns to the showLife updates from Cleveland and the fixer-upper houseDIY renovation lessons from old homesSanding floors and the “Roomba Sander” conceptAccelerating mortgage payoff strategiesBackyard chicken farming expandsRare breeds and breeding experimentsEgg production, preservation, and selling eggs locallyThe realities of farming and animal lossRescue dogs and country livingManufacturing work and AI safety in factoriesStartup ideas: robotic tools and homesteading coursesThe future of Charles’ homestead