# STL350: Texas Edition

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2025-09-19
- Length: 46m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl350-texas-edition

## Summary

Frank Strazza and Eric Yoakam, furniture makers and educators in the Texas woodworking community, discuss their backgrounds and the collaborative spirit of the Texas Woodworking Festival. Strazza details his study of Renaissance marquetry in Italy and his teaching at the Austin School of Furniture, while Yoakam shares his transition from corporate life to woodworking and his current focus on improving his sketching skills. The conversation highlights the importance of continuous learning, community mentorship, and the unique culture of hand-tool woodworking in Austin.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition#t=6) Introduction: Texas Woodworking Festival and Community
- [1:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition#t=119) Frank Strazza: Apprenticeship and Teaching Career
- [5:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition#t=329) Eric Yoakam: From Marine Corps to Furniture Making
- [16:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition#t=972) Strazza's Italian Marquetry Study and Teaching Schedule
- [22:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition#t=1355) Yoakam's Sketch Class and Learning Mindset
- [31:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition#t=1917) Smooth Moves: Finishing Mistakes and Gauge Errors
- [38:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition#t=2333) Festival Networking and Community Connections

## Topics

- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Texas Woodworking Festival (other)
- Austin School of Furniture (other)
- Osmo (other)
- Lee Nielsen (other)
- Billy Nielsen (other)
- Silas Kopf (other)
- Demetrius Clitossis (other)
- Andre Boule (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)
- [528: Grippy Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-06-05-528-grippy-bits) (Making It)
- [Episode 075: Interviewing each other](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-06-17-episode-075-interviewing-each-other) (Making It)
- [Episode 239: We have the best horses ever…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-11-29-episode-239-we-have-the-best-horses-ever) (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/2025-09-19-stl350-texas-edition. 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.