# STL 261: Russ Filbeck

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2022-03-11
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-261-russ-filbeck

## Summary

Russ Filbeck, a San Diego-based chair maker and former Palomar College instructor, discusses his journey from a troubled youth at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch to a career in the Navy and woodworking. He details his philanthropic work with former President Jimmy Carter, creating custom furniture and tools that have raised significant funds for the Carter Center through Sotheby's auctions. Filbeck also describes his current efforts teaching woodworking to at-risk boys at the ranch, using projects like shaker boxes to teach gratitude and practical skills.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck#t=6) Introduction and Early Life
- [3:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck#t=191) Family History and First Chair
- [8:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck#t=530) Navy Service and Woodworking Beginnings
- [15:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck#t=900) Education and Teaching Career
- [22:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck#t=1328) Writing the Chair Book and Meeting Carter
- [26:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck#t=1561) Philanthropy and Carter Center Auctions
- [36:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck#t=2218) Teaching at Good Samaritan Boys Ranch

## Topics

- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Palomar College (company)
- Inca (tool)
- Woodsmith (other)
- Sotheby's (company)
- Carter Center (company)
- Good Samaritan Boys Ranch (company)
- Habitat for Humanity (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [528: Grippy Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-06-05-528-grippy-bits) (Making It)
- [393: Digging Into The Cemetery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-03-31-393-digging-into-the-cemetery) (Making It)
- [Episode 234: The party outside the window](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-10-25-episode-234-the-party-outside-the-window) (Making It)
- [370: The Gizmocity Factor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-09-16-370-the-gizmocity-factor) (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/2022-03-11-stl-261-russ-filbeck. 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.