

Making Problems to Solve
Dave Bauer
Exploring the unique paths of creative weirdos through the connections of curiosity, creativity, and problem solving.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 19, 2025 • 49min
Leather crafting with Jacob Griffin
Jacob Griffin is a maker and leather craft artist. We talked about how he discovered leather craft, cosplay, his path into architecture, and quite a bit about his experience in the maker community. Checkout Jacob on Instagram.

Feb 13, 2025 • 1h
Blaze Miskulin - Sharing Knowledge - Woodworking and Cooking Skills
This week I talk to Blaze Miskulin, Jack of All Trades, lately sharing cooking skills on his YouTube channelColloquial Kitchen. We chat about his history in theater scene building, including teaching woodworking in high school theater shops, and how he learned critical thinking and problem solving from his dad. We learn about his experience teaching English and a series of interesting jobs in China.Thanks to the Xyla Foxlin supporter community over on Discord for introducing me to Blaze and his work.

Jan 30, 2025 • 56min
Chelsea VanVoorhis - Veneer Artist
Chelsea is an designer, maker, and veneer artist. We chatted about her recent feature in Fine Woodworking magazine, teaching and community work with Dykes with Drills at Community Workshop NOLA. We also discussed some of her great veneer and furniture projects including some coopering.
Learn more about Chelsea's work on Instagram and her web site.
Mentions this episode Albert Kleine, Kim McIntyre

Jan 23, 2025 • 49min
Sarah McAnulty - Squid Scientist - Artist - Science Communicatior
Sarah McAnulty is a squid biologist, an artist and the founder of Skype a Scientist which connects classrooms with scientists. We chat about Sarah's involvement in public art projects Squid Facts, and #Nearbynature which encourages folks to create and share art about their local wildlife.
Keep up with Sarah on Instagram and Bluesky.
Check out Skype a Scientist.

Jan 16, 2025 • 1h 6min
Furniture and Wooden Artifacts with Shane Orion Wiechnik
Shane and I have a great conversation about conservation and restoration of furniture and other wooden artifacts. Shane is working on a series about the various materials and techniques of wood finishing called "Finished: The Art and Science of Wooden Surfaces". Please note we mention a number that should be 476,000 instead of 4.5 million but the point is consistent. We discuss the importance of sharing and passing on knowledge, and there's a fun bit about dairy products as well.
Follow Shane on Instagram to keep up on the news of the video series "Finished"

Jan 9, 2025 • 42min
Mark and Nick Don't Repeat Themselves That Much
Woops, uploaded the wrong file! Here's the real one.
Mark and Nick and I chat about the joy of working with contractors, volume printing, content creation, and potential motorcycle adventures.
Mark at @markadamspictures
Nick at @designisblank

Jan 1, 2025 • 49min
We're back, Mark and Nick - Part 1
Looking back a little bit, looking ahead a little more. Then we chat about books a little bit. We went all over the place, this is just the first half. We'll back back next week as well.
Check out my guests
Mark Adams on Instagram
Nick Toga on Instagram

Nov 27, 2024 • 50min
Erin Winick Anthony - Sewing, Space, and Pinball
Erin Winick Anthony is the founder of science communication company STEAM Power Media which works to share the creativity in science and engineering, and help others tell their science stories. We talked about her beginnings from sewing and journalism with her high school newspaper to engineering school to reporting for the MIT Technology Review and science communication and outreach for the International Space Station. We discussed starting a 3D printed jewelry company and her interest in competitive pinball!
Follow Erin on Instagram and check out her web site.

8 snips
Nov 21, 2024 • 59min
Xyla Foxlin - Seeing Things From a Different Perspective
Xyla Foxlin is an innovative engineer and artist celebrated for her creative projects like an LED-powered kayak and an electric violin. In this discussion, she shares insights on how curiosity fuels creativity and the importance of boredom in sparking innovation. Xyla explores the fusion of art and engineering, emphasizing the need to bridge these fields in education. She reflects on the mental rejuvenation offered by nature and the surprising connection between boredom and creative breakthroughs, reminding us that creativity thrives in diverse environments.

Nov 14, 2024 • 1h 14min
The Camera Gentlemen Capture Makers
Justin Mabie and Mark Adams chat about their motivation and creative process is recording makers at Maker Camp or in their own shop environment from a split second to a 50 minute epic story.
Follow Justin's Maker Documentaries on Youtube.
Check out Mark on Instagram.
Cover Art thanks to Ryan Smith


