# STL339: The Woodshop is a Play Room

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2025-04-18
- Length: 1h 11m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-playroom

## Summary

Robby Simon, a Black woodworker and designer from Atlanta, Georgia, shares his journey from a corporate career at Mailchimp to becoming a professional furniture maker. He discusses his apprenticeship with mentor Rebel Awaka, the influence of his WWII veteran grandfather, and how he integrates his cultural background into a unique design language. Simon explains his philosophy that woodworking is 'magic' rather than science, emphasizing accessibility and the importance of maker spaces for underrepresented communities.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room#t=6) Introduction and Design Philosophy
- [6:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room#t=379) Woodworking as Magic and Skateboarding
- [14:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room#t=861) Apprenticeship with Rebel Awaka
- [23:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room#t=1404) Pandemic Pivot and Corporate Support
- [41:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room#t=2491) Family Legacy and Grandfather's History
- [48:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room#t=2915) Design Voice and Cultural Influences
- [1:01:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room#t=3678) Creativity Manifesto and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mailchimp (company)
- Rebel Awaka (other)
- Kendrick Anderson (other)
- George Nakashima (other)
- Hans Wegner (other)
- Tori Sotas (other)
- Modern Builds (other)
- Chris Alimonis (other)
- Jonathan Katz-Moses (other)
- April Wilkerson (other)
- Diablo (other)
- Ryobi (other)
- Mass Collective (other)
- Yewtree (other)
- Tyler Perry (other)
- Soledad O'Brien (other)

## 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)
- [Episode 034: WAELDER](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-28-episode-034-waelder) (Making It)
- [528: Grippy Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-06-05-528-grippy-bits) (Making It)
- [Episode 286: Did he look like this? Are the eyebrows right?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-11-29-episode-286-did-he-look-like-this-are-the-eyebrows-right) (Making It)
- [Episode 085: Sometimes I’m really into the laser.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-08-26-episode-085-sometimes-im-really-into-the-laser) (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/2025-04-18-stl339-the-woodshop-is-a-play-room. 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.