Pacific Time: The "What if...?" of West Coast Independence

What if the solution to America’s housing crisis isn’t just about building more, but smaller — smarter homes that restore freedom, affordability, and balance?

Zack Giffin — professional skier, builder, and co-host of Tiny House Nation — joins Pacific Time to explain how 400 square feet could help fix housing affordability, mental health, and climate resilience across the West Coast.

At a time when America faces a shortage of 4–5 million homes, we also have more square footage per person than ever before. Zack Giffin believes this paradox reveals a deeper truth: our housing crisis isn’t just about supply, it’s about efficiency.

From his early days as a ski bum living out of a rebuilt RV to hosting Tiny House Nation on Netflix, Giffin has become one of the most thoughtful voices in the movement for small-scale living. He argues that “tiny homes” aren’t about sacrifice — they’re about moderation, dignity, and freedom. In this episode, he and Greg explore how wheels, design, and policy innovation could open the door to new forms of ownership, family care, and sustainable living.

Giffin also discusses the obstacles standing in the way: outdated building codes, zoning restrictions, and the slow-moving bureaucracy of national standards. But he’s hopeful that West Coast states can lead — creating gentle density, new pathways to ownership, and a cultural shift toward living better with less.

Zack Giffin is a professional skier, builder, and co-host of Tiny House Nation on Netflix. Over six seasons and 80+ episodes, he helped design and construct some of the most creative small-scale homes ever built, inspiring millions to reimagine the American Dream. Giffin’s advocacy for housing innovation has influenced state and national discussions on building codes, affordability, and sustainable design. His latest project, Tiny House Revisited on YouTube, continues his mission to show that living smaller can mean living better.