# STL357: Rob Spiece's Show and Tell

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2026-01-09
- Length: 49m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell

## Summary

Rob Spiece, who teaches at Berea College and Pinecroft Woods School, discusses the unique work-college model where students learn woodworking through production roles. He details the design and iteration of the 'dulcematic' instrument and the 'Boone Tavern' tables, highlighting how student craft studios support the college financially. Spiece also shares his philosophy on teaching, emphasizing that failure and frustration are essential parts of the learning process for both students and professional woodworkers.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=6) Introduction: Rob Spiece and Berea College
- [1:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=106) Berea College History and Student Craft Model
- [8:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=527) Production Workflow and Selling Student Craft Products
- [11:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=688) Student Success Stories and Katie's Rocking Chair
- [16:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=1010) Designing the Dulcematic Instrument and Jigs
- [23:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=1428) Boone Tavern Tables and New Bench Brush Design
- [28:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=1700) Cross-Disciplinary Crafts: Ceramics and Photography
- [35:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=2109) Teaching Philosophy: Embracing Failure and Frustration
- [40:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell#t=2450) Bird Feeders and All-Time Favorite Tools

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Berea College (company)
- Pinecroft Woods School (company)
- Student Craft (company)
- Boone Tavern (company)
- dulcematic (product)
- Renwick (other)
- Mod Birdseed (other)
- travisher (tool)
- domino (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [528: Grippy Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-06-05-528-grippy-bits) (Making It)
- [Making It #019: Learning to teach](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-04-29-making-it-019-learning-to-teach) (Making It)
- [352: I was in the ER last night…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-04-22-352-i-was-in-the-er-last-night) (Making It)
- [370: The Gizmocity Factor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-09-16-370-the-gizmocity-factor) (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)

## 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/2026-01-09-stl357-rob-spieces-show-and-tell. 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.