Hardware Podcasts

136: Let's Try Out Some Broccoli

Embedded.fm · 28 Jan 2016 · 59m

What this episode covers

Simone Giertz, an inventor and YouTuber known for building 'shitty robots,' discusses her process of creating humorous, often dangerous devices like a vegetable chopping machine and a wake-up alarm that hits her with a rubber arm. She explains that her non-engineering background allows her to learn through enthusiastic, idea-driven prototyping using Arduino, embracing failure as a key part of the process. Giertz also touches on her experience working at Punch Through, the challenges of filming and editing solo content, and how she uses comedy to make electronics accessible to a broader audience.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Punch Through, iRobot
Products
Light Blue Bean, Roomba
Chips
Arduino

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 10m

    An Interview with Simone Giertz

    Simone Giertz, CEO of Artificial Stupidity and host at Tested, discusses her transition from a Maker in Residence at Punch Through to building 'shitty robots' for entertainment. She explains how combining comedy with hardware engineering helped her reach a mass audience, contrasting her approach with traditional educational content from companies like Adafruit and SparkFun. Giertz also details her experiences at CES, her struggles with mechanical engineering and sourcing parts for potential maker kits, and her philosophy on 'beginner's mind' in learning new skills like welding and 3D modeling.

    Prototyping & iterationIndustrial & consumer product design
    6 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 13m

    Episode 188: Robots that will kill you

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Diresta's mechanical zombie spear, Clagett's fake neon sign using EL Wire, and Picciuto's go-kart trophy. The conversation shifts to the definition of an artist, exploring how makers, engineers, and even surgeons can be considered artists, and the importance of pursuing creative urges regardless of professional background. They also share recommendations for YouTube channels like Machine Thinking and Pneumatic Addict, and discuss the accessibility of making through technology.

    Industrial & consumer product designFabrication & craft
    9 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 05m

    Product Design with Simone Giertz

    Simone Giertz, an inventor and product designer, discusses her transition from YouTube content creation to launching the Yetge store, where she sells products like the Everyday Calendar, Scissor Lamp, and screwdriver rings. She details the challenges of manufacturing, including dealing with factory quality issues, supply chain delays, and the high costs of small-batch production. Giertz explains her strategy of starting with small pre-production runs to mitigate risk and her decision to maintain full ownership of her brand to preserve creative control and avoid the pitfalls of scaling too aggressively.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIManufacturing partners & offshoring
    10 chapters

  • Hackaday Podcast · 55m

    Ep 153:A 555 Teardown to Die For, Tetrabyte is Not a Typo, DIY Injection Molding, and Using All the Parts of the Trash Printer

    Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi discuss a variety of hardware hacks, including a DIY injection molding machine by Action Box, a 4-byte USB drive by Glenn Atkins, and a teardown of the 555 timer by Ken Shirriff. They also cover a K40 laser cutter Z-axis upgrade by Timo, a repurposed printer front panel by NYC Resistor, and the Gabuino web-based IDE for microcontrollers. The episode concludes with commentary on floating solar farms and esoteric programming languages.

    Prototyping & iterationMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

  • Hackaday Podcast · 56m

    Ep072: Robo Golf Clubs, Plastic Speedboats, No-Juice Flipdots, and Super Soakers

    Hackaday editors Dan Maloney and Elliot Williams review a week of hardware hacks, including Shane Whiten’s servo-actuated robotic golf club, Paul Elkins’ coroplast speedboat, and Johann’s electronics-free flip-dot water level indicator. They also discuss Norbert Heinz’s inkjet printer hack, Linus Tech Tips’ overclocked TI-84 calculator, and a profile of Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson. The episode concludes with a debate on the relevance of the 80-character code line limit in modern development.

    Prototyping & iterationMechanical engineering
    9 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Embedded.fm. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.