Hardware Podcasts

An Interview with Scotty Allen (Strangeparts)

The Amp Hour · 6 Nov 2018 · 1h 55m · Episode 414

What this episode covers

Scotty Allen, founder of Strange Parts, discusses his journey from a software engineer at Google to a full-time content creator documenting technology and manufacturing in China. He details his famous iPhone headphone jack hack, explaining the engineering challenges and the 'engineer's journey' narrative structure he uses for his videos. Allen also explores the Shenzhen ecosystem, highlighting how small, specialized CNC and PCB shops collaborate to enable low-volume production, and outlines his plans to expand his team and produce more factory tour content.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Strange Parts, Google, JLCPCB, Rev Robotics, Alibaba, AliExpress
Products
iPhone
Also
Shenzhen, Yiwu, WePay

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Being an Engineer · 58m

    S2E41 The Hacksmith | James Hobson

    James Hobson, founder of Hacksmith Industries, explains how he transitioned from a mechanical engineering student to running a YouTube channel that builds functional prototypes of fictional items like the Iron Man helmet and Tesla Cybertruck. He details the company's growth from a solo hobbyist project to a 23-person team operating out of a 13,000-square-foot facility, highlighting the role of viral hits like the Captain America shield in driving sponsorship revenue. Hobson also discusses the technical challenges of building the Alien Power Loader, the importance of in-house manufacturing tools like fiber lasers, and his philosophy on self-taught engineering.

    Prototyping & iterationScaling production
    11 chapters

  • Just Gonna Send It · 50m

    Sam Holland (Co-Founder, Informal)

    Sam Holland, co-founder of Informal, explains how his company connects hardware founders with a network of over 500 contractors to navigate the gap between prototype and production. He details his career trajectory from MakerBot to Mevo, highlighting the critical importance of hands-on experience, prototyping with tools like 3D printers, and the cultural differences in manufacturing between the US and China. Holland emphasizes that successful product development requires balancing speed with rigorous testing, using specific examples like a burrito holder and a toilet camera to illustrate the complexities of industrial design and engineering.

    Prototyping & iterationManufacturing partners & offshoring
    7 chapters

  • Predictable Designs Podcast · 47m

    Concept to Market in One Year with Allen Walton of SpyGuy.com [Part 2]

    Allen Walton, founder of SpyGuy.com, explains how he brought his product, the Scout, to market in under a year by partnering with Nick Frank at Connective. Walton details his journey from struggling to find an engineer to using online sourcing platforms like Novieland and Sourceify, and finally settling on a full-service manufacturer. He discusses specific challenges including non-standard battery sizes in China, the decision to avoid Amazon due to copycat risks, and design changes like replacing a real pinhole camera with a cheaper fake one to reduce costs.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    7 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 10m

    Episode 112: Not even wearing pants…

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss Jimmy's recent move, his visit to a decommissioned ammunition factory where he salvaged industrial fixtures, and the story behind his viral AK-47 guitar. The hosts also answer viewer questions about platform dependency, the importance of authenticity in content creation, and how to handle the accumulation of made items, before sharing recommendations for other podcasts and YouTube channels.

    Creator businessMaterials & manufacturing processes
    7 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 04m

    Episode 255: AND WE’RE LIVE!!!

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto host a live episode of their podcast 'Making It' to discuss their recent content shifts, remote work challenges, and personal projects during the pandemic. They cover David’s go-kart build, Bob’s new Bridgeport milling machine and DRO considerations, and Jimmy’s suspended pants line due to supply chain issues. The group also reflects on how they met, the origin of their podcast name, and shares recommendations for other creators.

    Scaling productionCreator business
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.