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Why do we fear FAILURE when it is the primary way we LEARN and IMPROVE?  What is failure, and how do YOU define failure for yourself?  Is it when something doesn't work out according to plan or is it when you give up all together?  What are some of your biggest failures, and did they become learning moments?  How is our self-confidence and ego wrapped up in all of this?  Does failure make us feel ashamed and embarrased because we have a certain inflated idea of who we are?  Do we emerge from failure more confident, emboldened, and more experienced? We tackle this VERY difficult but illuminating topics with the help of two of the finest, most thoughtful, and most experienced makers in our field, Jimmy Diresta and Bob Clagett.  This is an episode you won't want to miss. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467)

What is a house to you?  An investement?  A place that offers shelter to keep your belongings while you figure out where to move next?  or is it something MORE?  A symbol of family, a collection of rooms and objects where entire lives of family members have been lived, objects that have been with us through some of the best time and also our worst.  Today we take on the question of WHAT IS A HOME REALLY, and how does that impact how we fix it and work to improve the home.  Do we do it ourselves or do we hire out the work? What about the quality of materials we use for it?To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467)  

Why do so many of us LIMIT what we’re capable of ? How many of these limitations are self-imposed vs. the result of economic pressure to make a living? Do we get more hesitant to explore as we get older? We often describe ourselves as one thing; I’m a woodworker, I’m a painter, I’m metal worker, etc.  However back in the renaissance, it was COOL to know poetry, have a deep understanding of math and science, to paint, draw, sculp, act, to dive into philosophy, what we now refer to today a “Renaissance Man or Woman". In today’s episode, we have on a true renaissance man Jeff Hein, who you may know as an incredibly skilled and famous portrait artist painter, however it goes much deeper than that. Jeff also pursues textiles and costume design, woodworking, metal working, engraving, leather working, and leads us through a fascinating discussion on this topic of why we pigeonhole ourselves vs. branching out and exploring. Jeff has his own amazing podcast here (The Undraped Artist): https://www.youtube.com/@theundrapedartist Jeff’s Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jeff_hein_art To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467)

Today we'll discuss the INCREDIBLE story that Evergreens have played throughout human history! We have a very special episode with Scientist, Author, and Professor, Dr. Trent Preszler, who takes us through the fascinating story of the Evergreen tree, published in his new book “Evergreen”. From its role in oxygenating Earth's early atmosphere during the Devonian period , to contributing to the fall of the Roman Empire, to becoming a beloved symbol of holiday tradition, you will be stunned by how vitally important Evergreen trees have been in almost every chapter of human histpory.  BUY THE BOOK HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1643756702?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apan_dp_0H06W9HBFCZZNMMCDVJJ_2&bestFormat=true To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) 

You start your own business or side hustle full of hope, excitement, and anticipation. However, after a few years, you realize running your own business is MUCH harder than you anticipated, taking EVERYTHING from you rather than giving you the flexible rewarding lifestyle you imagined. DO YOU KEEP GRINDING, thinking that maybe NEXT YEAR will bring success?  Or DO YOU CALL IT QUITS, realizing you've always sacrificed enough and might be MUCH HAPPIER working for someone else, or doing something else entirely. In this episode, our two guests (Brent Biglow and Freddy Roman) share their experiences with us on this exact question having chosen DIFFERENT PATHS; One is still grinding it out and the other closed up shop.  This conversation is brutally honest, introspective and vulnerable, and absolutely fascinating. Brent's Products & Work: https://biglowwoodcraft.com/Brent's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biglowwoodcraft/Freddy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periodcraftsmen/ To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Oh boy, do we have a spicy one tonight. For the first time ever, we have the "Agent of Chaos" Eric Curtis, the "Sexiest Voice in Podcasting" Jack, and the plane-making legend Konrad Sauer all in the same episode at the same time. We are revisiting one of our most controversial early topics—Art vs. Craft—but this time, we’re tearing down the binary. Konrad argues that we missed a crucial piece of the puzzle: Design. What follows is a philosophical free-for-all about the hats we wear as makers, the tension between feeling and engineering, and why a 1.7-million-year-old hand axe proves we’ve always been obsessed with "getting our faces sat on" (metaphorically... mostly). From the empathy required to build a chair to the enduring legacy of cave paintings, we break down what it actually means to make "objects of desire" and why the labels might not matter as much as the joy of making. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

WHO ARE YOU and WHAT DO YOU REALLY VALUE at your very core? What are your DEEPEST CONVICTIONS and are they clear to you in your life and art? Have you compromised them before? and for what? Money? Fame? Have you stayed true to yourself or have you SOLD OUT? Today's episode is a TOTAL BANGER with special guests Sean Cheetham & Kate Zambrano, both phenomenal portrait artists who help us dissect and understand this important topic. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467 Find Sean at: https://www.seancheethamfineart.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/seancheetham/ Find Kate at: https://www.katezambrano.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/katezambrano/

What happens when two friends sit down and discuss life’s biggest questions? In this episode, Erik wrestles with a very difficult personal challenge and wonders how much of it to divulge publicly, while Paul is processing the passing of one of his best friends. In full transparency, this is a tough episode. Join us for an honest, unscripted conversation that just might shift how you see the world—and yourself. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Every post, every like, every notification — it’s all built to manipulate our brain chemistry, often without notice. In this episode, Paul and Erik team up with psychologist Dr. Sherry Pagoto to reveal the brain chemistry behind social media — the dopamine hits that keep you hooked, the algorithms that play you, and the rare moments that still make us feel genuinely connected as human.  We explore how the platforms learned to hijack our emotions, and what it actually takes for us to take back control with BALANCE.  Equal parts science, confession, and reality check — this episode may change the way you see social media. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Why aren’t the things we buy made to last anymore? From furniture to everyday items, repairability has been quietly designed out of our lives—replaced by disposable culture and fast consumption. In this episode, we explore how we got here, why it matters, and what it will take to bring repair back to the center of craft. We’ll dive into the lost art of making things REPAIRABLE  again, the hidden costs of throwaway design, and the growing movement to create objects meant to be fixed, not discarded. Join us as we imagine a future where repair isn’t an afterthought, but a defining part of craftsmanship. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

This is a special LIVE RECORDING of the Woodworking is Bullsh*t podcast with Jimmy Diresta, Derek from Malden, and Justine Silva. Recorded at the Celebration of the 500th episode of the Making It Podcast, we cover some of our GREATEST HITS, meaning questions that we find particularly compelling such as 1) What to do when the creative well runs dry? 2) Dealing with Imposter Syndrome, and 3) Perfectionism: friend or foe?. Does Jimmy Diresta ever feel like an imposter despite a lifetime of making and over 900 youtube videos?  Tune in to find out! To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

What happens when two friends sit down and wrestle with life’s biggest questions? In this episode, we take on 10 profound and thought-provoking statements/questions about meaning, purpose, and the human experience. From the nature of happiness to the weight of mortality, we dive deep, challenge each other, and sometimes laugh at the absurdity of it all. Join us for an honest, unscripted conversation that just might shift how you see the world—and yourself. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

What is social media really for—are we here to be entertained, to learn, or to create something lasting? In this episode, we dig beneath the endless scroll to ask what role social platforms truly play in our lives and culture. Is TikTok just a modern-day circus, or a classroom in disguise? Is Instagram a gallery of crafted identities, or a studio where real artistry takes shape? Join us as we question the meaning of our digital habits and uncover whether social media is simply a pastime—or a profound part of human expression. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Is your current career path not working out as you had hoped despite years of effort?  Are you wondering if you should pivot toward something new?  This type of career change can be SCARY and land you in UNCERTAIN WATERS for a time.  However, you may find an even more rewarding and fulfilling career on the other side.  In today's episode, Michael Alm (Almfab on Youtube and IG) tells us his inspiring story of how he reinvented himself and his career from struggling studio artist/sculptor to content creator, finding both creative fulfillment and financial stability along the way. To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

You know THAT person, the one who philosophizes from their living room chair, has ALL THE ANSWERS, but never really accomplishes anything.  Yup, all theory, zero practical experience.  You probably also know THAT OTHER person who launches head first into endeavors without knowing what they're doing, without doing any preparation, only to find they wasted time and money and are in WAYYY over their head.  Yes sireee, zero theory and only practical experience, learning by jumping directly into the deep end and sometimes swimming and other times drowning.  WHICH TYPE OF PERSON ARE YOU?  Today we get into a fascinating discussion into the tension between theory and practice and discuss which is more important for success.To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467