# STL373: Big Changes for the Fine Woodworking Staff

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2026-08-20
- Length: 1h 11m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff

## Summary

Ben Strano, a longtime host and editor at Fine Woodworking, announces his departure from the magazine to become a tech ed teacher, while editors Anissa and Mike discuss the future of the podcast with incoming hosts Vic Anosov and Bridget Dinkle. The group reflects on the show's evolution, the technical nuances of planer cutter heads like Tersa and helical systems, and the obsessive culture at Fine Woodworking. They also share personal woodworking anecdotes, including Anissa's 'smooth move' mishap and tool recommendations.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff#t=6) Introduction and Planer Cutter Head Debate
- [3:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff#t=225) Tersa vs. Helical Heads and Mike's Planer Resentment
- [13:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff#t=787) Ben Strano's Departure and Teaching Career
- [25:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff#t=1539) The Obsessive Culture at Fine Woodworking
- [43:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff#t=2621) Tool Talk: Bolt Cutters, Pry Bars, and Speed Squares
- [51:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff#t=3094) Smooth Moves: Anissa's Dust Collector Mishap
- [56:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff#t=3375) Future of Shop Talk Live with Vic and Bridget

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Fine Woodworking (company)
- Shop Talk Live (product)
- Tersa (product)
- DeWalt (product)
- Inca (product)
- Delta (product)
- Sutherland Wells (company)
- Gorilla Wood Glue (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [242: Sometimes you make art…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-01-03-242-sometimes-you-make-art) (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)
- [466: This is My Workshop Trumpet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-12-19-466-this-is-my-workshop-trumpet) (Making It)
- [Making It #010: If it looks straight….](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-02-26-making-it-010-if-it-looks-straight) (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/2026-08-20-stl373-big-changes-for-the-fine-woodworking-staff. 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.