Woodworking is BULLSHIT!

What happens when two friends sit down and wrestle withlife’s biggest questions? In this episode we unveil a new segment called 40,000 ft: What is something that has happened to you recently and what did you learn from it in a global sense? (i.e. when you zoom out to 40,000 ft.) Erik shares that people avoid going near his dog Teddybecause they see he's part pitbull, and that gets him thinking abo...

INCREDIBLE Sculptor Spencer Schubert drops in to make the case that good taste is exactly what's stopping you from starting. Your early work is going to suck — that's not a warning, that's a promise. Spencer, Paul, and Erik dig into why the creative struggle never actually gets easier, how to build systems that work on the days your willpower doesn't, and whether gatekeeping is protecting craft or...

What kind of person are you? Emotionally Stable? Neurotic and Exciteable?  Open to new ideas? Have you ever taken a personality test before? We all know some elements of our personality but have you had them formally measured and then thought about how those traits might affect what you make, how you make, or how you approach making art in general? Today with the help of TWO Ph. D. psychologi...

When you say something is BEAUTIFUL, what do you actually mean?  Why do you think it's beautiful?  Is beauty genetically programmed witihin humans, or is it culturally learned, or Is it a divine gift from god?  We take on this fascinating topic with our amazing friend Jeff Hein (an absolutely INCREDIBLE painter and maker), who raised this question in the first place and WHAT A FUN D...

In today's episode of the Master Series, we discuss the visionary American artist and furniture designer Wharton Esherick, celebrated as the father of the Studio Furniture Movement.  Esherick believed furniture and sculpture were one and the same — that a chair, a table, or a staircase could be as emotionally resonant as any painting or bronze. His most iconic pieces pulse with organic, twist...

Just as grammar underlies good writing, today we're learning about the hidden grammar behind good visual art: The ELEMENTS OF ART AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN. Today, we go BACK TO SCHOOL w/ Art professor Jack Thomas leading us through the basics, while Erik translates them through a real-world maker lens. These funadmentals are TIMELESS and are applicable to almost every form of art.  Strap in f...

Are you the kind of person who enjoys the predictable routines of life?  Or are you someone who feels the excitement of something wholly novel and new?  This preference is largely determined by our brain chemistry and risk tolerance.  Evolutionarily, a bit of BOTH is likely best as we need to lean into what is dependable and safe, but at the same time opening ourselves up to new thi...

What do you think of when you hear ADHD ? Do you think you might have it or know someone who does?  We all took a an ADHD screener test before this show and announce the scores live on air!  Regardless of the answer, the learnings from this episode on the BRAIN APPLY TO ALL OF US, whether you're neurotypical or neurodivergent.  Join us for an amazing episode into brain structure and...

What happens when two friends sit down and wrestle with life’s biggest questions? In this episode: Erik asks what VALUE does social media actually bring us? Paul grapples with INSPIRATION during the LONG winter (seasonal affective disorder anyone?). We also discuss food science and bacteria, as well as some strategies for staying in a positive head space in a chaotic world.  Join us for an ho...

Many of us have been told things about woodworking – or any craft – that simply aren’t true.  Why are so many myths perpetuated across so many fields?  What does it say about us as humans, that we believe these things and repeat them?  Today, with the help of our most experienced, authentic, and amazing friend and colleague, Vic Tesolin, we dig deep into some of the biggest myths in...

We’re told the art world is a supportive community, but behind the scenes, is it really?  This episode strips away everything to get at the question of openness vs territorialism and defensiveness in the arts, and we have both our perennial favorite Keith Johnson, who makes a living sharing his knowledge, and his brother-in-law, Jet Tamburri, an exceptionally talented and experienced tattoo a...

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?  D...

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 qu...

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 ma...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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—...

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 ex...

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 hid...

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) Perfect...

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 conversati...

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 ques...

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)...