The Storyteller's Tavern

As podcast hosts, we've come to love the feeling of being completely blown away by unexpected stories, and this one is definitely up there: it's a story of innovation, persistence, and entrepreneurship, about a banker who's invented an industry-disrupting tool for a field in which she had virtually no experience. Friend of the pod Leah introduced us to Channon, the creator of the Morgan Square, who shared with us how she went from banking to inventing a tool that’s now taking the woodworking and construction industries by storm.

If you've ever wondered how a conversation with a friend can spark a life-changing invention, this episode is for you. From patent searches to trade shows, from skepticism to success—Channon’s journey is an inspiring lesson in believing in your ideas and taking action.

Mush, Leigh, and Channon talk about how a conversation about a late friend’s struggles led Channon to create something meaningful, the Challenges of Being an Unexpected Innovator, and what it's been like navigating an industry that didn’t expect a Black woman from banking to invent one of its most innovative new tools.

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While the official kickoff of Workbench Conference happens Thursday Night, the first big all-community learning experience happens during the Friday morning Keynote, where this year Ryan Drapela, the mastermind behind Cutting It Close, spoke. Ryan who has built a thriving woodworking business from the ground up—literally. His journey started as a teenager in his parents’ barn, working with a $75 miter saw and scraps of free wood. Now, he’s running a high-tech, CNC-driven woodworking operation, helping more people bring their creative ideas to life.

Ryan is a maker, entrepreneur, and relentless problem solver, known for his no-nonsense approach to business, his love for the craft, and his drive to keep learning and growing. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bootstrap a business, take smart risks, and push yourself to new heights, this episode is for you.

We talk about Ryan’s journey from a $75 miter saw to a shop with over $840,000 in equipment; convincing his girlfriend’s parents to co-sign on his first CNC purchase—and making it pay off; the “Figure It Out” mentality and why Ryan believes failure only happens when you quit; and what it looks like to pass it on: teaching his son to be creative, why imagination is the most valuable skill, and how to ensure the next generation keeps building.

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Colton Hagler's (@coltcrit) path has taken him through unexpected viral success, hard-earned business lessons, and now, a furniture repair career with his sights set on ownership. He's also a host of the woodworking and goodtimes podcast Beat Around the Bench.

Brendan Pozsgai (@varnishandgarnish) blends woodworking with barware, creating custom charcuterie boards, bottle openers, and other home goods with a nod to craftsmanship and hospitality. He’s also balancing real estate, marathons, and a corporate IT career, proving that the maker hustle can take many forms.

We talk about accidentally selling $60K of product overnight; what happens when demand outpaces production and the reality of running a small business sets in; Building a Side Hustle with Purpose; and How WorkbenchCon, Maker Camp, and finding the right mentors have shaped their careers.

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One of the best parts of getting to meet new folks in the Maker Community is hearing stories of makers who’ve taken the leap into full-time creativity. This time, we’re sitting down with Yesi, a woodworker and DIY enthusiast, introduced to us by our good friend and friend of the pod Jpaul.

Yesi’s story is one of transformation—what started as home projects turned into a career shift from the legal field to full-time woodworking. From learning the trade out of necessity to turning it into a thriving business, Yesi embodies the heart of the maker movement. And, of course, we’ve got JPaul along for the ride, making sure we don’t miss a great story.

The three of us talk about how Yesi transitioned from a 20-year legal career to woodworking full-time, the Power of Learning by Doing, the story of Yesi’s dad’s hammer and how family legacy shaped her path; and how now Yesi’s daughter is getting involved in the shop (for the right price!).

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Mush and Leigh sit down to recap Maker Camp 2024, and to get excited about what's next (spoiler alert: it's Workbench Conference!!).

This is it—the final episode of Maker Camp 2024. The bonfires are burning low, the Maker Swap is done, and we’re winding down one of the best weekends of the year with a conversation that I think covers what this community is all about: mentorship, legacy, and the joy of passing skills forward.

It’s Sunday at Maker Camp, and before the weekend ends, we're getting to hang out with Sam (DIY Huntress) and Danie (DIY Danie)—two incredible makers who prove that DIY is about way more than just building things. It’s about confidence, creativity, and fully embracing your weird.

Sam, aka DIY Huntress, is a powerhouse in the world of woodworking, home renovation, and making things ridiculously fun and accessible. She’s spent the past few years renovating her home, building custom furniture, and now, she’s diving into a new adventure—converting a Ford Transit into a full-blown camper van (which, yes, she’s bringing to Maker Camp next year). She started DIY Huntress while balancing a PhD in Psychology (nbd), and now she’s making woodworking approachable and empowering, especially for women who might feel intimidated picking up power tools.

Danie, aka DIY Danie, is a self-proclaimed curious creative and DIY oddball who thrives on experimentation and storytelling through making. From building out a three-tiered dream studio to tackling full-blown home renovations, she’s all about helping people build confidence through creativity—whether that’s in their homes, their projects, or just how they carry themselves. Oh, and she’s currently crafting cosplay weapons for her D&D character, because why not? Her philosophy? “Love your magic.” Your magic is your creativity—so own it, embrace it, and don’t be afraid to be a little weird.

In this episode, we get into how Sam’s PhD in Psychology unexpectedly shaped her approach to making; Danie’s journey from Lord of the Rings superfan to full-time creator; the Craigslist ad that kickstarted Sam’s woodworking career; why showing mistakes on social media matters more than getting things perfect; and how finding your people in the maker community changes everything.

It's the end of night two of Maker Camp, and over at the Total Boat tent, the glow sticks are flying and the cyberpunk glasses are glowing. In the Martini Bar (commandeered this weekend as the Storyteller's Tavern), we’re sitting down with Justin “Call Me Mabie” Mabie and Larissa Huff, two makers whose paths took unexpected turns into woodworking, filmmaking, and teaching.

Justin is a documentary filmmaker who specializes in short-form films about makers—woodworkers, metalworkers, and anyone who crafts with their hands. You may have seen his work on YouTube, Roku, or even Amazon, but tonight, we get to dig into the stories behind his storytelling.

Larissa, on the other hand, started as a math teacher but took a leap into woodworking after answering a Craigslist ad for an apprenticeship. That decision led to 13 years of furniture-making, a thriving career, and a passion for teaching hands-on skills in craft schools across the country.

In this episode, we talk about why applied math is the secret ingredient behind great woodworking, the growing presence of women in woodworking and why representation matters, and the unexpected magic of bar crawls leading to lifelong collaborations.

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Day one of Maker Camp 2024 is winding down, and what a day it’s been—rocket launches, axe crafting, welding, forging—everything that makes Maker Camp, well, Maker Camp. The sun was shining, things were made, and now, we get to wind down with some incredible conversations.

In this episode, we’re joined by two truly inspiring guests: Tamara Robertson and Kelly Combs. You might know Tamara from MythBusters, but here at Maker Camp, she’s leading the charge with Makers for Jessi, carrying on the mission of Jessi Combs—a force of nature who believed fiercely in breaking barriers and getting more women into the trades. And alongside her, we have Kelly Combs—Jessi’s brother—who’s here for his first Maker Camp, seeing firsthand the incredible community his sister helped shape.

Over the past five years, the Jessi Combs Foundation has awarded nearly a quarter-million dollars in scholarships to help young women enter the trades. But more than that, it’s been building a movement, a legacy, and a support system that lifts everyone up.

This conversation is packed with stories—about Jessi, about the impact she had, and about the future we’re all trying to build. Please enjoy it’s a special one.

More from this episode

Leigh and I had lunch with the dynamic duo of Lindsay and Eric - married makers with amazing stories to tell. From her energizer bunny enthusiasm to his calm, collected wisdom, their partnership is proof that opposites not just attract, but thrive. As we mention in this episode, Lindsay was our first guest in the Tavern lo some many years ago, and it was so great to not just sit down again with her, but for Eric to join as well.

Stories include what happens when you want to surf but need to be able to be paged, the cool parts of working with your spouse, and Jarvis Boards. LOTs of Jarvis Boards.

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For our first story, we had the pleasure of sitting down once again with the incredible Jimmy DiResta and, for the first time, the talented Derek from Malden.

Jimmy’s influence on the Maker Community is nothing short of legendary. His dedication and passion have shaped the culture and inspired countless people to create and grow.

Derek, a craftsman and content creator, is known for his beautifully crafted furniture, signs, and other handmade treasures.

Both of them are part of the team behind the Netflix series Making Fun, and it’s clear from their dynamic that their friendship is as genuine as it is entertaining.

We recorded our conversation upstairs in Jimmy's Leather Shop, which at the time, had just been sided and was still a huge, beautiful, open space - you can hear just how big it is in the recording. You can even hear the Total Boat crew sneak in and say hi at one point.

We talk about How a Drunken Afternoon Sparked a Maker Movement, Trash to Cash and the Power of Friendship, and The Case for Welding Over College.

There is a minor hiccup in the middle of the episode where I had to splice two tracks together. Hopefully, it’s seamless enough that it doesn’t take away from your experience.

Just as a heads up: there are some swears in this episode.

More Jimmy

WORKBENCHCon weekend, as with all weekends, had to eventually draw to a close, but Leigh and I were so fortunate to be able to get to sit down with Xyla Foxlin, who has (among other fantastic things) created a YouTube channel to showcase her love of engineering challenges, problem solving, and teaching. The three of us got a chance to talk more about Xyla's move from making strictly educational tutorials borrowing friends' proverbial hats; the value of learning from your peers and community; and the importance of representation and role models in STEM fields, or put another way, the burden and blessing of becoming a superhero.

Episode Trivia Minigam! Can you name the actors who played Dr. Dana Scully, Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, and Angela Montenegro?

Notable Quotes:

• "We can solve the pipeline problem with 3 bags of Swedish fish."
• "Learning from your peers is the best the best way to learn."

More Xyla:

There are some faces you see when you go to a Maker Event as a newbie and you just know are the ones who will welcome you in. Alma of Pink Soul Studios and Steph of Uncommon Outpost are two of those people who we had seen all over the place but had never gotten the pleasure and privilege of getting to know - until this year's WORKBENCHCon. Leigh and Mush got to sit down with them and catch up on their take on the magic and the purpose of WORKBENCHCon from their roles as advisory board members. As Leigh puts it in this episode: "if somebody wants to know why they should come to workbench con, they should just listen to this episode."

We weren't able to do our regular intro in this episode, as we were talking a mile a minute pretty much as soon as we sat down. We found a good place to fade in on our conversation, so we jumped in from there!

Tom Bodett (@tombodett1123), an iconic voice and beloved spokesperson, is a treasured figure in American culture, and woodworker of thirty plus years. Leigh and Mush had a wonderful experience of learning more about Tom, his history, and how he's ended up serving the community of Brattleboro, Vermont by co-founding Hatchspace (@hatchspacevt), plus how he came to be hitchhiking to and living in Alaska, as well as how hands-on making serves kids and adults alike.

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Hadeel and Firas from Four Rivers Studio are a husband and wife duo based out of Chicago's west suburbs. By day, Firas is a historian and Hadeel is a nurse, and together they started a woodworking business out of their garage.

Leigh and Mush talked with them right before they presented their second session at WORKBENCHcon this year, and got a chance to speak about empowering diversity in Makerspaces; ways that they infuse past intellectual traditions with contemporary craft; and the overlap between academia, nursing, and woodworking.

If you're listening to this close to when it was released, Hadeel and Firas just had the baby that gets mentioned in this episode - congratulations!

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JPaulTheCarpenter (@JPaulTheCarpenter) is a singer/songwriter turned builder, raised in the hustling streets of Dallas TX, who then moved to the creative hub of ATL.

Leigh and Mush talked with JPaul at WORKBENCHcon (@workbenchconference) about his journey from working on military aircraft to getting nominated for Grammys; the mentors who first believed in and thereby empowered him, and how that guides what he does today; and about focusing the power of the Maker Community into a Swarm of positive impact.

More JPaulTheCarpenter:

Mike Marazzo, or MarazzoWoodworking, is an avid DIY-er and woodworker, often specializing in custom wood flags based out of Elgin, IL. Brandon Silveira, aka Full House Woodworking, is a maker based in Hollister, CA. Both Mike and Brandon are police officers, Mike having recently retired, and together they host the Handcuffs and Sawdust podcast.

Leigh and I sat down with them both, kicking off WorkbenchCON by highlighting the reunion of the Maker Family, overcoming imposter syndrome, and some of the influence our parents had on us.

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Brooke and Michael, from Maker's Workshop, got their start via a serendipitous confluence of artistic burnout and budding makerspace potential. Based just outside of Boston, they run the Maker's Workshop, both as a physical shop, and as the name of their presences online.

Patrick Gensel (@patrickgensel), from Pennsylvania, will tell you that he is a "maker of things," which can clearly be seen through the items he sells on Etsy as Pine and Print. From there, he began sharing his process on Instagram, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The group talks at length the crossroads of tradition and technology, whether that’s by what’s involved in creating their own maker spaces, 3D printing your own nostalgia and turning your projects loose on the world, or CNCing gingerbread.

Just a heads up: there’s a surprise appearance by Red the Shop Dog (@redtheshopdog) via some barking right around the ten minute mark.

Maker's Workshop

Andrew Stanfield is a freelance media producer and Student Success Coach based in Albany, Oregon, who also dabbles in making stuff.

Mark Adams, whose gorgeous black and white photos you've Definitely Seen, is a freelance photographer, splitting time between Cleveland OH and Portland OR. Mark loves photographing people and motorcycles, but loves being able to hear everyone's the most.

Leigh, Andrew, Mark and I talked about the balance and responsibility of social media; feeling seen; and what makes "doing," whether that's making or photography, not feel like "work."

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Emmett Newsome, or Deadrise Woodcraft as he's known online, is based out of Pittsburgh, and is a self taught wood turner and life long maker - you may recognize his turned treescapes, which Ethan praises at length during this episode.

Speaking of Ethan, Ethan Carter, or Ethan Carter Designs, is known for his innovative approach to leather working and woodworking. His journey from tinkering to #unnecessaryleather speaks to his unique blend of traditional skills and modern creativity.

Leigh and Leah got a chance to sit down at the grownup AND kid table to talk to Emmett and Ethan about finally meeting in person, rekindling childhood hobbies, and the wonderful lack of boundaries when it comes to entering the Maker Community.

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Leigh and Leah met up with Priscilla and Luke Smith, a married couple based out of upstate NY with a wide breadth of work. While they started their creative journey together with woodworking, they've transitioned to mainly sculptural blacksmithing, metal fabrication, and 3D modeling for different CNC projects. You may also recognize the hashtag #mayformakers or the instagram account @andtheymake, both of which are parts of the online maker community that they've started.

Tales in the tavern today include Priscilla and Luke's long and interwoven history, from high school to college and everything since; their role in helping grow and share Maker Camp (especially in the time of COVID); and we do a little bit of a teacher deep dive, talking about growth mindset, and the story of Gail Glagola, who ostensibly set them on the path that led them to where they are today.

Leigh and Leah connected with Trevor Higgins and Matt O'Connell on Day 2 of Maker Camp. Trevor is based out of a small forest shop in Maryland and practices making across skill sets so that he can show others, of any age, how much fun it is. Matt is also from Maryland, where he has spent two decades in the fields of architectural stainless steel, industrial water filtration, and conveyor manufacturing and installation, but enjoys the challenge of working in other materials as well.

The group talks about the importance of being bad at something; generosity with knowledge, and a story about one time when that didn't happen; messing with math teachers; sock puppets; and the self-perpetuating cycle of creating an inclusive Maker Community.

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In this episode, Leigh and Leah sit down with Dean Duplantis and The Grant Alexander.

Dean is a hobbyist maker in Houston, TX, who has always enjoyed taking things apart and trying to get them back together, and now does so in the comfort of his backyard workshop. He's also one of the hosts of the Making Our Way podcast.

Returning guest Grant hails from Canada's Capital (Ottawa), and makes also as a hobby, which lets him enjoy being able to solve problems and bring his ideas to life. Grant is one of the cohosts of the CLAMP podcast.

Among other things, the group gets a chance to dig into some shop talk about podcasting and the inspiration for CLAMP & Making Our Way. Through this, they talk about how to approach telling a great story, the communities that were born of and survived COVID, and why sharing is more important than the fear of theft.

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As all magic must, WORKBENCHcon had to come to a close. As the booths started coming down and folks made their way to closing ceremonies, we were honored to get to sit down with Kristin Stockdale.

Kristin is the owner and host of WORKBENCHcon along with being a full-time event manager.As she tells it, she brings WORKBENCHcon to life in order to ignite creatives by giving them connections, education, and inspiration to live a life they love by doing what they love.We got a chance to thank Kristin in person for everything that she and her team does to support this community year after year at WORKBENCHcon and beyond. We also got to talk about the genesis of WORKBENCHcon, the growth and reconnection of the Maker Family and its focus on Community over Competition, and about being Bold and Fearless.

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The sun was literally and figuratively setting on the last real day of Workbench Con, and the stars aligned such that we were able to connect with Luke Gelman and Justin Bailey.

Whenever there's a gathering of makers, for some time now you can be all but sure that there will be some Epoxy People in the crowd repping TotalBoat… and whenever there's TotalBoat out in the wild, you're all but guaranteed to see Mike and Kristin. Workbench Con was no exception!

Jess Crow is a teacher, epoxy artist, and maker from Fairbanks, Alaska. When we showed up at our first Maker Camp, one of the first people we met was Jess, who physically ushered us into the Total Boat tent and culturally ushered us into the Maker Community at large. This warm, effortless welcome had a huge impact on us, and we were not just absolutely delighted to reunite with her at this year’s Workbench Con for the first time since we saw her at Maker Camp, but also very grateful to sit down and hear her stories.

This is a heavier episode than normal here at the Tavern: abuse, drugs, alcohol, and addiction all come up, so if those are topics with which you are uncomfortable, you might consider skipping this one.

That said, we heard some powerful stories about Jess’s transformation from a maker on the outside of the fray to welcoming new makers to the inside of it, persevering through the good and the ugly, what happens when you don't ask a question, and how to teach how to take risks.

Some stand-out quotes from this episode:"When you don't ask a question, you rob someone of the ability to educate you""Niche Down On Your Weird"

More Jess:

As the first Full Day of WBC came to a close, we ran into our new friend Rex Krueger: a writer, content creator and furniture builder in Cleveland, Ohio, who builds Early American furniture (mostly) by hand, makes videos on YouTube, and writes books. His most recent book is Everyday Woodworking: A Beginner's Guide to Woodcraft with 12 Hand Tools.

Rex tells us the story of leaving the classroom and entering the woodshop…and leaving the woodshop; yins and yangs, and the impact of outsiders on an industry; his secret supplier of grandpa's tools; and his favorite childhood cartoon.

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One of the best parts parts about attending Workbench Con was seeing familiar faces, and we got a chance to do just that when we reconnected with Chris Giffrow and Justin Dietrich. Chris is a self taught woodworker and Japanese Tool Enthusiast, and Justin is a high school woodshop instructor at Lincoln Community HS in Illinois. The two have joined forces in the past to lead major timber-in projects at Maker Camp and were on the team that built on the Gong Stand at this year's Workbench Con.

We told stories about Making the world a better place, in and out of the workshop; the therapeutic applications of a lathe; whether a clarinet is a clarinet, a guitar is a guitar, or a saw is a saw; and he story that a chisel, a slick, or a fork can tell.

More Chris:

As we explored more of Workbench Con, we found ourselves suddenly in what felt like someone's living room - replete with comfortable chairs, tables with treats strewn about, and what looked like a homemade bookshelf full of books on the wall. Before we fully understood where we were, we were being welcomed into House of Esperanza, and started learning about the journey and the community building that Monica Chavez, Erinn Bagnaschi, and the rest of their crew are sharing.

Monica, the CEO and Creative Force behind House of Esperanza shares educational, entertaining, and inspiring stories, and Erinn spends her days juggling parenthood, projects and everything in between. We sat down and heard stories from them about rediscovering identity, influence vs Impact, and finding & filling cups with our communities online

More Monica & House of Esperanza:

Char Miller-King is a professional woodworking teacher at the Decatur Makers makerspace in Atlanta, GA. She has shared her teaching and woodworking skills across the country as well as online for folks like This Old House, Magnolia, Rockler, Home Depot, and Power Pro. We met Char unofficially as part of our Newbie Welcome to Workbench con, and got a chance to talk more in depth the first night. What started as a nomal couple minute "hi nice to meet you" chat quickly turned into a half hour conversation about our shared passions, histories, and aspirations. Needless to say, we were tremendously excited to continue the conversation to share. Char tells us stories about how she comes from a family of makers, with shout-outs to dad and Uncle Greg, using a table saw to grow confidence, and the responsibilities both of being a role model in a makerspace and being true to yourself online.

More Char:

Mush and Leigh recap Chapter 2: Queen City Makers and preview Chapter 3: Workbench Conference.

Another mighty, heartfelt thank you to all of our storytellers and friends new and old from Chapter 2:

Joel Bonasera (@makingthingsclt)

David Taylor (@fablabdtaylor)

Jacob Daugherty (@otherdogdesign)

Madison Dunaway (@mk_dunaway)

Super Daft Bros (@superdaftbros)

Andrew Thiessen (@branchandfoundry)

Jbird the Vandal (@jbird.the.vandal)

Grant Maginnis (@maginnismade)

In our final episode of this chapter, we talk with Grant Maginnis a woodworker and maker in Concord, NC. Perhaps more than any other guest we've had in the Tavern so far, Grant helps drive home the importance and power of the stories behind making, in this case, in the stories of the wood he uses in his pieces. As we talk, you can hear in his voice the love for the materials, and respect for their past lives. We also talk about the magic of tables, Cheerwine, and what to do with the wood from a 176 year old oak tree.

More Grant:

We were introduced to Jbird the Vandal through Joel, another Queen City Maker who you may remember opened this whole chapter up. Joel described Jbird as a tinkerer, and indeed, his Instagram profile starts simply and all-inclusively with "I make things." Jbird has street art, murals, and graffiti all over Charlotte, and stories and skillsets that have taken him much further than just our city.
We hear from Jbird about ignoring the instructions; being content with Wheel of Fortune; and the Wilderness Survival, Streetlights, Taco Shops, and other experiences that mark his journey so far.

More Jbird the Vandal:

This episode is a little different than normal: Later this week Leigh and I are headed to Atlanta for WorkbenchCon 2023, the fifth gathering of its kind for makers and content creators. So to get maybe our only chance to talk with her in advance of the craziness of the weekend, we zoomed with Tiff Marchand, aka nightcarverdesigns, to hear about her story, and to get a sneak peak of what to expect while we're at WorkbenchCon. We got the opportunity to hear about her journey into, out of, and back into art; what it's like to find and celebrate members of the Maker Community; and what to look forward to this year's WorkbenchCon.

More Tiff Marchand:

Madison Dunaway (she/her) is an artist, leader, and self-professed ambiguity lover. She grew up in Charlotte and has created and run makerspaces for nearly a decade, most currently at Boston College. On top of all this, she is an official #friendofthepod.

Normally we meander through a number of different themes in these stories, but our overarching topic this time around focused around the self-reflective journeys of finding and growing communities, and importance of representation in every space - especially makerspaces.

This is a great episode to listen to if you want to start to learn about the experiences Madison, Leigh, and Mush have had in starting their respective makerspaces.

More Madison:

David Taylor is a middle school Engineering and Computer Science teacher and Fab Lab instructor at Charlotte Latin School, where he's passionate about student-led design and developing an environment where students can learn through making and prototyping.

We talked with David about the critical element of vulnerability in learning how to learn, and being OK with not knowing; the Kevin Baconing of the Maker Community; and the challenge and responsibility of enabling failure.

You can find David at

Our guest in the tavern today is Joel Bonasera. He, like all our storytellers this chapter, is a maker based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. After spending over a decade in science and technology education, Joel turned his focus to digital fabrication to make things. Now, he spends his time on e-commerce sales, commissioned work, and ongoing support for educators and institutions interested in learning the basics of 3D printing and design.
Joel shares with us about the good and the challenging of what the pandemic did to Making in Charlotte, how to make science fiction aspirations a Maker Reality, and his meandering road to Making.

You can find Joel at