# 517: A Direct, Sensible Podcast

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2026-01-02
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 517
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/517

## Summary

Elecia White and Christopher White are joined by Nathan Jones and Chris Svec to review the Embedded.fm podcast's 2025 performance, discussing survey results that highlight listener appreciation for the show's diverse, underrepresented guests and its mission to foster STEM community. The group discusses specific episodes like the 'Giraffe butt birds' interview, the hosts' book 'Embedded Systems Programming', and the Foldscope microscope, while sharing personal engineering failures and lessons learned. They emphasize the value of the Slack community and the importance of maintaining a sustainable, human-centric approach to content creation.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast#t=6) Introduction: Nathan Jones and Chris Svec Performance Review
- [3:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast#t=180) Elevate Tutoring and Charity Fundraising
- [8:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast#t=501) Survey Methodology and Fictional Robot Discussion
- [13:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast#t=799) Favorite Episodes and Podcast Mission
- [23:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast#t=1381) Listener Feedback on Show Content and Diversity
- [33:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast#t=2015) Book Editions and Foldscope Microscope
- [43:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast#t=2619) Engineering Failures and Learning Opportunities
- [50:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast#t=3014) Community Value and Slack Engagement

## Topics

- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Insulet (company)
- iRobot (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- Elevate Tutoring (other)
- Foldscope (product)
- If I Only Changed the Software, Why is the Phone on Fire? (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [037 - 2020 Survey Results](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-08-04-037-2020-survey-results) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Is This A Show?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-02-is-this-a-show) (The Amp Hour)
- [500: Making It Live in Boston](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-10-03-500-making-it-live-in-boston) (Making It)
- [A word from the hosts: we've changed our podcast process for the better](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2024-08-07-a-word-from-the-hosts-weve-changed-our-podcast-process-for-the-better) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Podcasts for Podcast-Lovers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-12-13-podcasts-for-podcast-lovers) (Oxide and Friends)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-01-02-517-a-direct-sensible-podcast. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.