Carleton Convo with Spike Carlsen | February 27, 2026

Spike Carlsen — writer, editor, and woodworker — delivered Carleton convocation on Friday, February 27, from 10:50 to 11:50 a.m. in Skinner Chapel. His talk was titled, “Writing with Dirt Under your Fingernails… in a Well-Manicured AI World.”  Carlsen has been writing about the world and how it works for the past 30 years. He was an editor with the home improvement division of Readers’ Digest for 15 years, where he wrote hundreds of articles and oversaw the books division. He’s written for The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health, The Daily Beast, The Minnesota Star Tribune, Mother Earth News, and numerous other magazines. He’s the author of several books, including the award-winning A Splintered History of Wood (2008). Carlsen’s other long-form work includes A Walk Around the Block (2020), Building Unique and Useful Kid’s Furniture (2018), Cabin Lessons (2015), The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects (2014), Ridiculously Simple Furniture Projects (2011), and Woodworking FAQ: The Workshop Companion (2012). Carlson has also showcased his woodworking and storytelling expertise on NBC’s Today Show, Modern Marvels, HGTV, The CBS Early Show, and more. Prior to picking up a pen, he swung a hammer for 15 years and taught elementary school. In his free time, Carlsen enjoys biking, playing guitar, woodworking, and working on refugee resettlement through Refugee Housing Minnesota, an organization he co-founded. He and his wife, Kat, live in Stillwater, Minnesota, in close proximity to their five kids and eight granddaughters. Learn more about Carleton Convos at go.carleton.edu/convocations