Making It · 25 Aug 2017 · 1h 07m
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss how to manage 'cognitive bottlenecks' by identifying and resolving the single most critical task that blocks all other progress, such as finishing an office before tackling home renovations. They then address the unique challenges of being public figures, sharing anecdotes about unexpected recognition in private settings and the ethical considerations of sharing family life and personal struggles on social media. The hosts also highlight upcoming maker events like Maker Fair New York and BenchCon, while sharing recommendations for YouTube creators and music.
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Hosts Elecia White and Chris White discuss personal projects and burnout, with Chris detailing his experience using CircuitPython and the MIKROE 8800 board to run Conway's Game of Life, and Elecia sharing her paper engineering class. They explore the psychology of creativity, the desire for obscurity versus recognition, and the operational strain of maintaining a weekly podcast schedule, announcing a potential reduction in frequency.
Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the production delays and fulfillment struggles of their Mark 2 pen, citing supply chain bottlenecks as a major hurdle. Myke Hurley reviews the Mark 2, praising its dense build quality while noting its specific design choices make it less ideal for pocket carry. The hosts then engage in their 'Tech Corners,' debating the merits of Fahrenheit versus Celsius temperature scales and analyzing rumors about the iPhone 14's camera bump and the plateauing of smartphone photography quality.
Aaron Moncur, founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering, outlines a time management system for engineers that begins with establishing long-term goals to guide weekly SMART goals and operational tasks. He recommends using tools like Airtable to capture a running to-do list and scheduling specific calendar blocks for each task, prioritizing high-cognitive work in the morning. The episode emphasizes minimizing distractions by silencing notifications and leaving buffer time in the schedule for unforeseen issues.
Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the psychological and logistical challenges of the 'time in-between'—the period after product decisions are made but before launch. They share specific pain points from past launches like the Cosmonaut and Neat Ice Kit, highlighting the frustration of long manufacturing lead times, ocean freight delays, and the anxiety of competitors beating them to market. Mike Curley contrasts this with his podcasting business, discussing pre-announcements, sponsorship cycles, and the difficulty of refining audio quality under pressure.
Elecia White and Christopher White discuss recent personal and professional projects, including Christopher's band 12AX7's Kickstarter campaign for their new album and Elecia's upcoming conference talks on memory maps and origami. They reflect on the challenges of self-promotion for creative works and the difficulty of breaking through digital noise without a live performance component. The episode also serves as a call for community contributions, specifically asking listeners to submit cat videos for a music video.
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