

Making Problems to Solve
David Bauer
Exploring the problem-solving process of makers, artist, and all creative people. From welding to knitting, and woodworking to ceramics, finding out the background behind the confidence of curiosity.
Podcast Instagram: @makingproblemstosolve https://www.instagram.com/makingproblemstosolve/
Find me at @davebauerart https://www.instagram.com/davebauerart/ or https://davebauer.art
Podcast Instagram: @makingproblemstosolve https://www.instagram.com/makingproblemstosolve/
Find me at @davebauerart https://www.instagram.com/davebauerart/ or https://davebauer.art
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 11, 2023 • 1h 9min
Bandsaw Cowboys: Beckner/Diresta
This week I talked to Shawn Beckner and Jimmy Diresta about their bandsaw history. Along the way we covered paint robots, video editing, and race cars.
Follow Shawn on Instagram @shawnvbeckner and of course @jimmydiresta everywhere.
Mentions in this episode:
Laura Adenin
Shane Mooney
Jeremy Specce
Ralf or Rayk, both is right
Keith Drennan
Tony Woodland
Working Hands Podcast
Patrick Reynolds
Dusty Lumber Co
Bernie Solo
Makers Central
Lucas
Dre
Colin Furze
Eric the Car Guy
Lindsay Zuelich
Eric at No Bad Tides

May 4, 2023 • 1h 7min
Chris Faroe - Creative Mapping - Designing a Creative Life and Career
I had the great pleasure of chatting with Chris Faroe about his path through creativity from music to permaculture to spoon carving and his development of the Creative Mapping Project. We talked about anti-mentors, who push you away from the wrong thing, even if they're not quite sure what the right thing might be.
Learn more about what Chris is up to creatively @faeroplane on Instagram and his work @creativemappingproject and learn more about Creative Mapping on his web site https://www.creativemappingproject.com/linkinbio
Photo credit: Chris Bauer
Mentions in this episode
Keith Decent

Apr 27, 2023 • 56min
Michelle Chandra - Generative Art, Waves, Math, and Nature
Michelle Chandra is a generative artist using programming, waveforms, and mathematical curves to create unique designs using an Axidraw pen plotter. Her work explores repeating patterns, sometimes along with layering colors to geometric designs that sometimes evoke images of nature. We chat about the possibilities of art through programming as well as how exploring the outdoors, especially the Southwest of the United States can inspire exploring patterns. We cover the ongoing theme of creative community from art school to online including the @penplotart Instagram account and the Plot Part week-long online art challenge.
Find Michelle's work on Instagram @dirtalleydesign and her web site dirtalleydesign.com
Mentions in this episode
The Coding Train
Bryce Canyon

Apr 20, 2023 • 1h 13min
Keith Mitchell - Shipwright, Toolmaker, Illustrator
You might know Keith Mitchell from his woodworking, tool making, and boat building, or from his illustration work with Lost Art Press, or have met him at the Total Boat tent at Maker Camp. We had a great conversation about making, art and learning. We talked about learning the trades and passing on the knowledge, though mentorship or apprenticeship, sharing what you know with the maker community online, or teaching in person at your shop or at a maker event.
Follow Keith @shipwrightskills on Instagram or Youtube or go old school and check out his website and blog and maybe pickup an awesome tool.
Mentioned in this episode:
Anne of All Trades
Jimmy Diresta
Caleb James
Jesse Savage
Carrie Savage
John Erianne
Cliff Dufton
Geoff Feder
Lost Art Press
Jim Tolpin
George Walker
Pat Quinn

Apr 13, 2023 • 1h 8min
Grant Alexander - Writing Instructions is Harder than You Think
This time I talked with Grant Alexander about his earliest maker memory and steps along his path to content creator. We explore a bit about education, teaching, and giving instructions, and making maker friends. Grant is one of the hosts of the CLAMP Podcast, where they talk about everything related to creating, living, and making projects.
Check out Grant's work on Instagram and YouTube.
Mentioned in this episode:
Chris Powell
Adam Mackey
Jessy Ratfink
Ethan Carter
Tim Kness
Camp Arrowhead
Matthias Wandel
Shawn James
Jimmy Diresta
Pat Lap
Bear Mountain Boats

Apr 6, 2023 • 58min
Mark Adams - Discovering Community through Portraits and Conversation
Mark Adams is a photographer most well-known in the maker community for putting folks at ease, even if they normally don't enjoy having their picture taken. If you have been to an event where Mark is present, you know getting your picture taken, probably multiple times, possibly in multiple outfits with friends, is almost mandatory. Mark is also a motorcycle enthusiast, and his time at Skidmark Garage in Cleveland is where he discovered the maker community. In this episode we chat about art, creativity, the usual, and we get to know the maker behind the lens, a little bit.
Check out Mark's work on Instagram @markadamspictures and his web site markadamspictures.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Skidmark Garage
Motogo
Portland Ironworks
Jimmy Diresta
Patrick Reynolds
Catskill Mountain Maker Camp

Mar 30, 2023 • 58min
Brandy Aubé - Welder, Fabricator, Metal Artist
This week I talked to Brandy Aubé, a welder, fabricator, metal artist, maker, and singer in Classic Rock band from Louisiana. We discussed her history of metal working, including product design of her metal hoop frames, and the Voz. We also covered her history as an art teacher, teaching at Maker Camp, meeting makers at Workbench Con and the excitement of being a tool tech at Make 48 events.
Check out Brandy's work on Instagram and her web site studio-aube.com.
Mentions in this episode:
April Wilkerson
Ethan Carter
Katie Freeman
Jimmy Diresta
Make48
Lincoln Electric
Justin Mabie

Mar 23, 2023 • 1h 12min
Laura Kampf and Jimmy Direstra: Every Imperfection Gets Affection
This week I was joined by Laura Kampf and Jimmy Diresta, two of my biggest influences in how to think about creativity, to talk about embracing imperfections and the way defects can help to tell the story behind an object. We cover everything from ants to automatic knives, and using the mistakes we make to show the personality behind the project. Laura discovers a new metaphor for problem-solving.
Mentions in this episode:
Andy Birkey
David Waelder
Grant Alexander
Austin Handel and the Catskill Mountain Maker Camp

Mar 16, 2023 • 55min
Justin Mabie: Making Maker Documentaries
From his start filming for the music industry in LA, to capturing the nuance of Paul Jackman, Justin Mabie has developed a compelling documentary style that finds story behind the maker. We talked about creating the story in the edit and discover of new fields of navigating humans, or social problem solving, making your subject comfortable and getting them to tell a good story. As has become typical, we talk about building your maker community, from national maker events, to your local maker meetup.
Mentions in this episode:
Paul Jackman
April Wilkerson
Total Boat
Erin Longgellow
Jimmy Diresta
Austin Handel and the Catskill Mountain Maker Camp
WorkbenchCon
Calavera Tool Works
Jason Hibbs
Sam Raimondi

Mar 9, 2023 • 57min
Shane Mooney - Making and a Love of Vintage Cast Iron
Shane Mooney is woodworker, exploring the artistic side of making, with a love for wildlife, nature, and vintage cast iron. From leatherwork, to welding table bases, to band saw magic, Shane is always learning something new.
Find Shane on Instagram.
Photo credit Mark Adams
Mentions in this episode:
Jimmy Diresta
Kathrina Nellis
Tracey Cheuvront
Fernando
Gary LaGuardia
Make Something
Steve Ramsey
I Like to Make Stuff