# STL Profile: Erika Torres

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2021-08-20
- Length: 23m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-08-20-stl-profile-erika-torres
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-profile-erika-torres

## Summary

Erika Torres, a woodworker known as Madeira by Erica, shares her journey from a traditional life path to becoming a professional woodworker after completing Gary Rogowski's mastery program at the Northwest School of Woodworking. She discusses the financial and logistical challenges of balancing intensive study with raising three young children, including a pregnancy during the program, and the pivotal role her husband played in supporting her career change. Torres highlights the intimidation of being the only woman in her class and how the program provided the foundational hand-tool skills necessary for her subsequent professional success, such as building tables for SawStop.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-08-20-stl-profile-erika-torres#t=7) Introduction: Erika Torres and Madeira by Erica
- [1:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-08-20-stl-profile-erika-torres#t=85) Early Life and the Decision to Pursue Woodworking
- [6:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-08-20-stl-profile-erika-torres#t=361) Finding Gary Rogowski's Mastery Program
- [9:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-08-20-stl-profile-erika-torres#t=587) Navigating Pregnancy and Motherhood in School
- [14:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-08-20-stl-profile-erika-torres#t=887) The Structure of the Program and Hand Tools
- [17:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-08-20-stl-profile-erika-torres#t=1034) Advice for Aspiring Woodworkers and Mental Health

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Madeira by Erica (product)
- Gary Rogowski (other)
- Northwest School of Woodworking (other)
- SawStop (company)
- Woodcraft (company)
- Fine Woodworking (company)
- CFC (other)
- Connecticut Valley (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 034: WAELDER](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-28-episode-034-waelder) (Making It)
- [503: It’s Made Me a More Fearless Maker](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-10-31-503-its-made-me-a-more-fearless-maker) (Making It)
- [Episode 033: More listener questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-21-episode-033-more-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [393: Digging Into The Cemetery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-03-31-393-digging-into-the-cemetery) (Making It)
- [Making It #013: Be Curious](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-03-19-making-it-013-be-curious) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-08-20-stl-profile-erika-torres. 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 Shop Talk Live.