Woodworking is BULLSHIT! Episode 55 - Making, FAILING, and Becoming (w/ Jimmy Diresta & Bob Clagett)
Feb 3, 2026
Bob Clagett, maker and entrepreneur known for prototyping and thoughtful process insights. Jimmy DiResta, tool‑savvy builder and prolific creator with candid failure stories. They discuss why failure is essential to learning. They compare small shop mistakes to public and business failures. They explore stakes, feedback loops, iteration, shame, risk tolerance, and how identity shapes making.
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Good Failures Are Hypothesis-Driven
- Intelligent failure is the productive kind of failure where you explore new territory with a hypothesis-driven approach.
- Keep experiments small and learn quickly so you don't waste large resources.
A Near-Miss That Became Teaching Material
- Jimmy described cutting his pinky nearly off and getting it sewn back on, which embarrassed him initially.
- He later used the experience to teach safety publicly and normalize accidents as learning moments.
Quitting, Not Failing, Is Failure
- Failure is when you exit the feedback loop and stop trying to improve or reach your goal.
- Persisting in iterative loops transforms setbacks into progress; quitting is the true failure.
