We Are Makers Podcast

In this episode of the We Are Makers Podcast we sit down with Derek Melton, a talented blacksmith and bladesmith from Clinton, Mississippi. Derek has been working with metal since 1999, and his passion for crafting beautiful and functional items is evident in everything he makes. He has won the title of "Forged in Fire Champion" on the hit History Channel show, and currently serves as th...

In this episode of the We Are Makers podcast, we sit down with Ben Geisler, owner of Trail's End Saddle Shop. Ben grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, surrounded by cowboy culture and spent much of his childhood making horn wraps, saddle pads, rawhide burners, and lariat ropes. Despite sustaining life-changing injuries in a motorcycle accident, Ben went on to serve in the US Army as a Field Artille...

Welcome to our latest podcast featuring Yellowhammer Creative, a design and print studio based in Birmingham, Alabama. In this episode, we sit down with founders Brett Forsyth and Brandon Watkins to discuss their journey from making concert posters to building a successful business with a wide range of services. From their early days of designing and printing posters, Brett and Brandon have built...

Welcome to our latest podcast featuring Brad Henderson and Sarah Humphries, the Owner Operator and Education Director, respectively, of Old School Farm Pottery. In this episode, we delve into the world of ceramics and learn about the unique services that Old School Farm Pottery provides. Old School Farm Pottery is a community-based organization that offers a space for artists and makers to explore...

We got to meet the lovely Ben white in Columbia TN at his workshop. White Wood Co designs and builds custom pieces for residential and commercial spaces in and around Nashville, TN. Ben's work specializes in tables, built-ins, closet/laundry room organization, accent walls, CNC customizations and other creative carpentry. He also runs another businesses alongside his wife 'Willow and Pin...

Lindsay Sheets is an accomplished entrepreneur and artist, based in Nashville, Tennessee. As the founder of Red Rock Tiles, Lindsay combines her love for interior design and ceramics to create stunning handmade tiles that bring beauty and functionality to any space. Her work has been featured in various publications and has gained a loyal following of customers who appreciate the uniqueness and qu...

Jack and I had a wonderful conversation with Ross and Dru from Honeytree Meadery in Nashville. We had never tasted mead before, so it was amazing to learn more about this craft. We highly recommended you go and try it if you are ever visiting Nashville! We were able to do a podcast in their brewery/bar - it was a fun set up. Honeytree Meadery is Nashville’s premier craft meadery. Economy + Ecology...

We had a wonderful chat with the owner of The Russell Hotel & The Gallatin Hotel, Micah Lacher.  The story behind this hotel is amazing and we are so glad we got the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of this business and what it provides for the community.  “Where every stay helps someone experiencing homelessness in Nashville through our rooms for rooms programme”  If you stay here th...

We got the chance to meet with Bill and Shannen from Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods in Blue Ridge, GA.  “Offering custom bamboo fly rods hand engraved by Bill Oyster, bamboo rod making classes, a complete assortment of traditionally styled fly-fishing reels and a fabulous gift collection.  Oyster Bamboo Fine Fly Rods since 1998.” This was a particularly enjoyable podcast for Kate and I as we walked away w...

Jack and I visited the wonderful Scott Stewart in Knoxville, Tennessee. We are so thankful that Scott reached out to us and wanted to share his story! Scott creates the most AMAZING cookies from scratch and with a whole lot of love! We got to try some cookies in this podcast and we can tell you that these were the best cookies we've ever tried! Thank you Scott for making us some and spending...

Jack and I met the lovely Tyler Rogers on our trip! Tyler is from Chattanooga, Tennessee and makes beautiful wooden chairs, the old-style way with hand tools. It was great to meet and get the opportunity to share his story. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: https://wearemakers.shop Tyler Rogers Instagram: @tr.chairmaker Nomono Insta: @nomono.sound Website: https://nomono.co/ Youtube: @No...

We visited the lovely Melissa in Duluth, Atlanta, GA. Melissa makes handmade small batch ceramics - Ocean inspired, shark tooth and fossil themed pieces. We enjoyed finding out more about her story! We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: https://wearemakers.shop Melissa Bee Pottey  Insta: @Melissabeeppttery Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/melissabeepottery Nomono Insta: @nomono.sound Website:...

Jack and I started our American trip in Atlanta, where we stayed with the amazing power couple Tim & Tracy. We were so thankful to have had the opportunity to stay with Tim and Tracy and get to know them. We really appreciate their support!  Tim is a custom fountain pen-maker and hand engraver living in Canton, Georgia, USA. Everything that he makes is made entirely by hand, using hand tools o...

Jack and I took a trip to meet the Awesome Bill Wuyek in Norcross, Altlanta, Georgia. The owner of District Supply leather. The mission of District Leather Supply is to provide rare, exceptional, and/or hard to obtain products in reasonable quantities for reasonable prices to the community of makers and crafters. This mission is backed by Bill's time as a maker and artisan. We Are Makers Inst...

Jack and I took a trip to meet the incredible Paul Hamler in Blairsville, North Georgia. Paul is a machinist, replicator, inventor, and an all round pleasure to spend time with.  We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: https://wearemakers.shop Hamler Tools  Insta: @hamlertools69 Nomono Insta: @nomono.sound Website: https://nomono.co/ Like this podcast and want to watch it? Subscribe to our You...

Our first podcast of our USA trip with Ryan Krusac using the Nomono Sound Capsule. Ryan has been making pens since 2008, using natural materials like wood, antler and stone to make writing a beautiful, nature-inspired experience. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: https://wearemakers.shop RKS PENS Insta: @ryankrusac Website: https://rkspens.com/ Nomono Insta: @nomono.sound Website: https:...

TURNING TRASH INTO TREASURE We headed back to meet Siobhan Mckenna, founder of ReJean Denim to hear about her collaboration with Christopher McEvoy, award-winning couture weaver. Our setting for our podcast was at Christopher's Mill in Glasgow. STUDIO FLOOR aims to inspire fellow fashion designers to find ways to keep unwanted clothing out of landfill, helping to tackle the UK fashion industr...

We travelled to meet Jack Coe in his workshop in Aviemore, Scotland. His small business is Timber + Stitch, which he co-owns with his wife, Colleen. Jack started Advantures before #vanlife took social media by storm, building and renting camper vans, later selling the rental side to focus solely on build-to-sell campers. He is one of the original van builders in the UK and has likely forgotten mor...

We travelled to meet Rebecca and Craig of Struthers Watches in their workshop in Leek, England.  We featured their story in Edition Two of our biannual publication; We Are Makers. It was great to catch up two years later to finally meet and have a more in-depth conversation about them and their journey.    Recently Rebecca has written her own book. Written by Rebecca Struthers and illustrated by C...

We travelled to meet Geordie Hunter who is owner and maker at Maverick Piping in Glasgow, Scotland. Geordie handcrafts beautiful practice chanters from scratch using the finest European hard words. “No attention to detail is missed when turning these true works of art. From the glass-like finish to the polished bores each and every chanter is meticulously checked to ensure that only the highest qu...

We flew to Montegenvere, France to meet Andy Carr of Spoon Customs. This is the place it all started for him. "I ran away to France, initially thinking I’d just go for a couple of months and get some head space. But once I got there, I started driving a transfer bus for a friend’s company, and I would pass all these landmarks from some of the world’s top pro-cycling events. I had found myself...

We visited Siobhan Mckenna at her studio in Rogart Street Campus in Glasgow, UK. "Each ReJean piece is completely one of kind, hand crafted using discarded denim which we deconstruct and reimagine into something new. Our sustainable denim jackets, inspired by traditional workwear, are designed to be unique, ethical wardrobe staples for all, because style has no gender or size limit. Shopping...

We took at trip over to Knock which is located in the county of Banffshire, UK to meet Gordon Bruce at Knockdhu Distillery, home of anCnoc Whisky. "We make whisky. I manage a very small, very traditional distillery in North East Scotland. The emphasis is very much on having people take care of production rather than rely on technology and computers and modern-fangled things like that. The 21s...

We took at trip over to Belgium to meet Bart Deseyn at his home and to see his workshop and work. “I first built a kayak about 15 years ago. I have a young son, Emiel – well, he’s not so young anymore – but he wanted to go kayaking with me when he was young. We started out on little lakes and canals and when he was aged six or seven, he said that he wanted to go with me on the trips I do. I though...

We took at trip over to the Netherlands to meet Wilco Lindner in his home and to see his workshop and work. “I began making my functional art around two or three years back but couldn’t put all my time into it as I was still running a CrossFit gym then. Building things with my hands was giving me a really good feeling, so I quit the gym about a year ago to focus fully on this. I started working on...