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Making It

Three makers discuss their experiences making things, running businesses, and their personal journeys in the maker world.

540 episodes · 572 hours · since 2014

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Making It is filed under design, mechanical and sales & marketing. Its most recent episode published on , so it is still actively publishing. Listeners have left 1,680 ratings on Apple Podcasts, averaging 4.8 out of 5.

Latest episodes

The 10 newest episodes of Making It, each with a summary and chapters.

  • · 1h 11m

    541: Heating The Neighborhood

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Diresta's preparation for Maker Camp with a boat and a restored 1969 Myers Manx doom buggy, Clagett's laser-etched ice pick poster and lamp sculpture, and Picciuto's acrylic card game boxes. The hosts also explore the value of viewer feedback, sharing stories where audience comments corrected design choices or improved security, and discuss the balance between creating functional shop infrastructure and artistic output in their maker businesses.

    Fabrication & craftCreator business
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 02m

    540: Painful Consequences

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the painful consequences of decision-making in their respective trades. Jimmy details a near-disaster building 16-foot floating shelves where a table saw error forced him to rip apart a glued-up assembly, and Bob recounts reinforcing a bar shelf after realizing it couldn't hold heavy vodka jugs. David shares his stress from overlapping video deadlines and a structural issue with a mini garage build, while the group analyzes the risks of mechanical failures versus design compromises.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIScaling production
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 14m

    539: My Ai Powered Ergonomic Chair

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the decline of physical controls in modern electronics, citing the Slate Truck's analog design and the annoyance of touchscreens in cars. They debate the impact of AI on maker education, with Diresta warning that bypassing learning CAD and coding creates long-term skill gaps, while Clagett argues for maintaining deep tool mastery. Picciuto shares his experience building 11 steel boxes for Carhartt under a tight deadline and reflects on how AI tools like auto-generated CNC paths bypass the learning of feeds and speeds.

    Industrial & consumer product designAI & machine learning
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 01m

    538: Brad Pitt's Phone Number

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the challenges of managing sponsorships with Chinese manufacturers, dealing with Facebook's demonetization algorithms, and the psychological tendency to procrastinate on difficult tasks. They share specific project updates, including Diresta's restoration of a wooden boat using Flex Seal and Picciuto's visit to a goalpost factory, while reflecting on the instability of building businesses on third-party platforms like Meta and YouTube.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    8 chapters

  • · 57m

    537: Sneeze Session

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the creative challenges of making content, including attribution, project pile-up, and the tension between personal interest and YouTube performance. Bob shares his experience with a new 5-axis CNC machine and the Zigzag table, while David reveals his fear of accidentally copying designs and his struggle with accumulating tools and finished projects. Jimmy reflects on his own 'project pile-up,' the difficulty of finding new problems to solve after fixing his house, and the importance of storytelling in maker videos.

    Creator businessIndustrial & consumer product design
    6 chapters

  • · 1h 00m

    536: What Would Diresta Do?

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Diresta's large-format 3D printing of an aquarium stand, Clagett's CNC milling of knives and MDF tables, and Picciuto's work with box joints and serving trays. They explore the concept of 'What Would [Person] Do?' to spark creativity, referencing artists like David Cho and designers like Charles Eames, and brainstorm interactive trade show installations using Arduino boards and sand-drawing mechanics. The conversation highlights the transition from hobbyist prototyping to small-batch production, touching on the challenges of scaling CNC operations and the creative process of combining dissimilar materials and technologies.

    Prototyping & iterationMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    10 chapters

  • · 1h 07m

    535: Not Invented Here

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the psychological barrier of 'Not Invented Here' syndrome, where creators reject ideas from others because they didn't originate them. The hosts share personal anecdotes about complicating simple projects for video content, such as David's laser-cut marquetry serving tray and Jimmy's over-engineered aquarium stand. They also touch on the challenges of receiving unsolicited advice, the importance of control in the creative process, and the value of constraints in design.

    Industrial & consumer product designPrototyping & iteration
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 11m

    534: A Mummy Has a Lot of Air In It

    Hosts Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Jimmy encasing a mummified cat in resin and Bob building an epoxy pouring station, while sharing technical tips on managing heat and layering. The conversation shifts to David’s experience with a delayed Infamaker prototype and Bob’s logistical struggles with sourcing materials for large woodworking projects. The episode concludes with a deep dive into the psychological challenges of comparison in the maker community, emphasizing the importance of contentment and health over external validation.

    Materials & manufacturing processesMaker community & events
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 06m

    533: Little Tickle in My Knee

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including David's use of a desktop 5-axis CNC mill to make brass hammers and Bob's creation of wooden climbing holds and a solar-powered mini-split AC system. The conversation shifts to the physical realities of aging, with Jimmy detailing a sudden knee injury and the group sharing strategies for managing pain and avoiding injury while working with heavy materials. They also touch on the business of media, with Jimmy clarifying that there is no new season of 'Making Fun' and dismissing show pitches from listeners.

    Mechanical engineeringMaterials & manufacturing processes
    7 chapters

  • · 1h 02m

    532: Attacked with Ideas

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their recent activities, ranging from David setting up a new shop and Jimmy preparing for a bowling event, to Bob's summer break and recovery from a slump. The core of the episode is a deep dive into creativity, where they analyze how deadlines, pressure, and 'pattern interruptions' help overcome writer's block and the filters that stifle idea generation. They reference James Webb Young's book 'A Technique for Producing Ideas' and discuss the importance of routine, practice, and allowing the subconscious mind to process problems.

    Founder wellbeingAI & machine learning
    6 chapters

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