PODCAST · arts
Making Problems to Solve
by Dave Bauer
Exploring the unique paths of creative weirdos through the connections of curiosity, creativity, and problem solving.
Episodes
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Sarah Windisch - Printmaking, Music, Libraries
Sarah Windisch is a printmaker and former music teacher, making art to bring folks joy. We chat about how she went from elementary music teacher to printmaker, and how her work was featured on a billboard promoting the local library. Along the way we cover robots, analog coding and quilting.…
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More is Not Better with Mark and Nick
Mark Adams and Nick Toga are back and we go all over the place. We talk about how AI is affecting artists, and chat about historic ways artists have negotiated making their way through the world as artists inspired by the Mason Currey book “Making Art and Making a Living”. This inspires topics…
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Olivia Van Oot - Quilt Patterned Wood
Olivia Van Oot is a woodworker exploring quilt patterns in wood veneer. We learn about why craft schools are so important, how she discovered woodworking, and combined her experience with fabric to making quilt-inspired wood projects, lamps, furniture, and a wood dress. Check out Olivia’s work on...
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Aesthetic over arithmetic - Group Forge with Trevor and Patti
Trevor is back with Patti Gilstrap to recap and chat about our experience at the Maker Camp Group Forge. The group forge event is a collaborative learning experience where a bunch of folks of varying levels of experience work together to bring a vision into reality over a weekend. This year’s...
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Trevor Higgins - Quick or Craft?
Trevor Higgins, blacksmith, and obsessive skill sharer is back to discuss the quick win verses deliberate craft. How do we decide what level of perfection we are working towards? When is it about the results and when is it the process. We preview the Blackthorne Resort Maker Camp Group Forge…
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Brittani Locke - Soft Asylum - Hand Marbled Silk Scarves
This week I talked to Brittani Locke from the Soft Asylum. Brittani is a marbling artist making beautifully patterned silk scarves. She shares her introduction to marbling and later rediscovery of the art as well as how she shares the art through teaching and her demonstrations at the Catskill...
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Leah Aripotch - Metal Sculpting Monsters
Leah Aripotch is a metal scultptor focusing on organic monstrous forms inspired by nature. We discuss the connections between observing nature, curiosity, and the creative process. We follow her journey from being a kid out in nature, to painting, jewelry making and metal sculpture. Check out...
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Derek Weston - Sculpter and Fabricator
The podcast is back with Derek Weston, a sculptor and fabricator from Philadelphia. We go over his journey from curious creative kid to college where he tried industrial design, but ultimately discovered sculpture. Learning to make things with tools lead him on the path to working as a fabricator...
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REPLAY Graz Makes - Still Making Fun
John Graziano, Graz, is a good friend still, if you haven’t heard this one in a while, here is a repeat presentation of my chat way back from Episode 3 back in 2022. This time I talked with John Graziano, aka GrazMakes on your usual platforms, about curiosity and a constant desire to modify…
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Maya Buffett-Davis: Books are Machines
Maya Buffett Davis is a sculptor currently pursuing an MFA in Ceramics at Colorado University Boulder. For the next couple of days you can view her show “Books are Machines” at the Bemis Public Library in Littleton, CO until February 14, 2026. Books Are Machines was made possible thanks to the...
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Sarah - Soul Bound Leather
This week I talk to Sarah from Soul Bound Leather about how she discovered leatherwork, got connected with the knife making community, giving stories to her work, and where her work is taking her next. Check out Sarah’s work on Instagram and soulboundleather.com
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Andy Piper - Computer Art and Building Community
Andy Piper is a computer artist and currently Head of Communications at Mastodon. We chat about, what exactly computer art is, pen plotters, creativity, following your curiosity, paying attention and of course, building online and in-person communities. Check out Andy's work at AndyPiper.me
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Eric Brokvist - Rooted in the Past Woodworking
Eric Brokvist is a great supporter of the maker community, and we talk about his unique creative journey! This includes a dad who explored many creative skills and techniques, and Eric has just continued on that path. Along the way we visit music and theater. drawing and the outdoors, including a...
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Computer Art - Keith Peters
This week I chatted with Keith Peters, often known as bit-101 on the web. Keith has been creating and sharing computer art on his web site since the Flash days of the 2000s. He's still out there making art and recently made some prints available on his store. We talked about his ongoing…
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Shop Talk with Trevor
In this episode I have a year-end catch up chat with my friend Trevor Higgins, know as @dustysqueak on Instagram. We chat about belt buckles furniture, sewing, leather and 3D printing. Along the way we imagine building an envelope stuffing machine. I am sure with all those skills we could figure…
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3-String Guitars and Digital Fabrication with Dean Makes
My guest is Dean from @dean_makes on Instagram. We chat about his history in making, including working in a secondary school wood shop, working is music stores and learning the skills of a guitar tech, to guitar building and digital fabrication. Of course, along the way we discuss Dean's…
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Telling Stories and Hurdles with Mark and Nick
Mark and Nick are back, and we chat about getting back to business after a break due to the natural cycles of life. Hear us chat about why YouTube sucks, marketing, telling your story, how to identify and manage distractions, and ADHD. We actually did some recommendations, I recommended the...
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Kelli Anderson - Alphabet in Motion
My guest is Kelli Anderson, the artist, designer, and tinkerer behind interactive books like This Book is a Camera. Kelli's latest book, Alphabet in Motion, is a pop-up book that explores the history of how letterforms got their shapes. We chat about how she discovered the craft of paper...
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Seeing Patterns with Jack Thomas
This week I talk to artist, educator, and learning designer Jack Thomas about seeing patterns, making art, and the scientific side of art and printmaking, and doing and getting lost in the process. Along the way we end up talking about Paul from the Woodworking is Bullshit podcast and his…
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Jamie Seel - Leather Handbag Designer
This week I talked to Jamie Seel of Seel Made about her creative journey from learning fashion design to creating her unique line of leather handbags. We chat about her experience teaching and demonstrating at the Catskill Mountain Maker Camp and her mobile pop-up store . Check out Seel Made on...
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Kathy Ceceri - Paper Inventions and STEAM Education
My guest this week is Kathy Ceceri, a maker, writer, and educator who focuses on history, science, technology, and art. We talked about her latest book published by Make:Community Paper Inventions Second Edition, along with her path to STEAM education through home schooling and curiosity. We...
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I'm Back with Tom from The Phoenix Woodshop
After work travel and technical difficulties, here's a great conversation with Tom Breslin from The Phoenix Woodshop! We talk about his start making signs in the garage with just a 1965 Craftsman router, to his rediscovery of sign making with a CNC Router. Along the way we discuss the value of...
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Paul Meyette - Making Community
If you've been around the online maker community, you may have run into Paul Meyette, one of the best supporters of the community around. I was lucky to meet Paul at northeast maker events several years ago and he's definitely supported my work as well. We chatted about how he got started making...
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Briony Morrow-Cribbs - Printmaker
Briony Morrow-Cribbs currently lives & works in the hills of rural Vermont as a printmaker, illustrator, graphic designer and maker of little things. We discussed her creative family, and work, specifically copper plate etching. This includes nature-inspired prints, book covers and illustrations....
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Rasmus Loen - Blacksmithing and Business
Rasmus Loen is a blacksmith, as described on the podcast he co-hosts, from Norway! We talk about learning and teaching blacksmithing, Zelda, and of course the making and selling of forged objects. You won't be surpised to hear we mention community a bit in there somewhere. Check out Rasmus as...
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Liz - Blitz City DIY
This week I talked to Liz from Blitz City DIY. She makes a lot of music and electronics related projects. We discuss how she went from a music major to experimenting with Arduino to creating DIY YouTube videos and guides for Adafruit. We discover why patterned plywood might be related to quilting...
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Gary Oshust - Sculpter and Artist
Gary Oshust went from a career in IT to taking a sculpture class and beyond. We talk about his interest in minature art, as well as his time managing a maker space, interest in aviation and keeping the "A" in STEAM. Check out Gary on Instagram. Photo credit to Mark Adams.
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Michele Banks - Art and Science Overlap
Michele Banks makes biology and science inspired art exploring the patterns we find in nature from viruses and bacteria to animal and plant cells and even neuroscience. We talked about how you don't need to be a kid who was good at drawing to become a working artist, inspiration from science...
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Mark and Nick are Back - Crashing the Harvey Party
Mark Adams and Nick Toga are back and we discuss upcoming events, catch up on recent events, and widely range across maker topics. Highlights include Making it 500, AWFS Fair in Vegas, Texas Woodworking Festival, the Fitchburg Forge-in and of course, Catskill Mountain Maker Camp! Along the way we...
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Fitchburg Forge-in, Maker Camp, and some B.S.
A solo episode, Fitchburg Forge-in announcement. a preview of just some of the awesome stuff to see at the Catskill Mountain Maker Camp, and my take on the "What is Social Media?" question posed by the Woodworking is Bullshit podcast!
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Shane Bowman - Making for Makers
Shane Bowman is my guest this week. We chat about discovering printing and graphic design, and accidentally finding a career in industrial design make point-of-purchase product displays. He wanted to make a case for a favorite pen and to his surprise that started his love of leather craft. Next…
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Chelsea Witt - Woodworking, Education
Chelsea Witt has recently been appointed the Executive Director of The Chairmaker's Toolbox whose mission is "Increasing access and equity in the field of chairmaking. Founded by & for under-represented woodworkers & chair nerds". We chat about Chelsea's journey from and interest in art, and…
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Kellan Moss - Science Illustrator
Kellan Moss from @dirtmossart shares how she discovered the field of medical and scientific illustration and the interesting places it has taken her, including a geology research ship. From geological cores we move on to why making art is good for you, and the value of bad art. Learn more about...
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The best blacksmith handle with Steve from Haybudden
Steve from @haybudden is here and we cover how he got the amazing username "Haybudden" and how he discovered his love of blacksmithing and making things with metal. We chat a bunch about how the New England Blacksmiths fit into the maker community and also a bit about how great Pat Quinn and the...
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Single Take - Curiosity
In which I record a single take stream of consciousness this time on the subject of curiosity. What is it? Are scientists studying it, and what does it mean for our band of creative weirdos. I don't answer these questions, but I sort of talk about the subject around it. Inspired by Keith Sawyer…
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Ms. Caitlin's School of Blacksmithing
Caitlin was drawn to the ornamental ironwork as a kid and re-ignited that passion as an adult searching for a hobby. From there she discovered the joy of blacksmithing and the idea of sharing the craft with a school was born! It took some time, but now Caitlin created a school and has been…
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Dan Peterson - Quilting Irrationally
Dan Peterson is making quilts, with a little math. We go over Dan's journey to quilting, and I try to remember what an irrational number is, so I can pick my favorite one! Along the way we cover tetris, sudoku, lava lamp security, and a lot, a real lot of squares. There's an interesting bit on…
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Just Dave - The Independent Web - Fixed!
Want to know what I have been going on about regarding the independent web? Here's some thoughts! Check out Own Your Web Painting with the Web Introducing the FediVerse Design is Blank on Patreon
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Margaret Janiczek - Printmaking and Biostatistics
Margaret Janiczek is a biostatistician artist and printmaker, currently focused on copperplate etching. We go over her start in creating cozy watercolor robots, and discovery of printmaking at First Proof Press. Along the way we find out about community life drawing, philosophy and theater, and...
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Graz Returns - With a Letterpress
Graz Makes, knives, and whatever. We chat about what he's up to lately, his new shop mates, and creative problem solving new rollers for his desktop printing press. We promote some stuff including artist Bianca Santos Silva and the Working Hands Podcast Maker Swap coming up for this year's Maker...
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Mark and Nick: Making Art is a Verb
Mark and Nick are back, and we return to the topic of real human creativity versus the void of Generative AI. Does AI make more artists, or keep people from the true experience of making something? We explore these topics, and at least make an attempt to find a path forward. Mark Adams at Mark...
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Leah Spencer - Graphic Design for TV and Film
Leah Spencer is a graphic designer, creating designs for props and background art needed to make a set come to life in TV and film productions. We go over her path from marketing to working as a designer in the entertainment industry, and more traditional maker projects around her house. Leah...
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Jason Fig - A Metal Story
Jason from Dark State Forge loves metal working. We trace his path from discovery of metal to continually learning, and finally teaching blacksmithing techniques. Of course we cover the Maker Camp blacksmithing tent, the Blackthorne Group Forge projects, and the New England Blacksmiiths! Check…
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Dan Chiaccio - First Proof Press
This week I talked to Dan Chiaccio founder of First Proof Press, a community print studio in Brattleboro Vermont. We learn about Dan's discovery of printmaking, and how he decided that starting a print shop was the right way to go. Check out Dan and First Proof Press on Instagram and their web site.
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Sean Farbolin - Don't Stress About the Destination
Sean Farbolin - Maker on the Move - has since settled down. He has a maker journey that goes from animation, takes a historical detour into spiral ham and inventing, to freelance set and prop building. We learn about the Fix It Fair, meeting local makers, and what Sean is exploring these days....
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Lindsay Liboiron - Fantasy Illustrations
Linsday Liboiron creates fantasy landscapes with creatures that combine elements that make them part of the landscape. Imagine if I tree pulled up its roots and explored the forest, or if a the ground cover combined to become a deer. With color palettes that draw you in, the paintings invite you…
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Angela and the Maker Community Quilt
This week I talk to Angela a sewer and knitter (among other creative pursuits) about the story of her Maker Community Quilt from a simple project to use up scraps to a global collaboration. Along the way we talk about community, creativity, and the value of learning from making mistakes. Follow...
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Leah Houghtaling - No Scrap Left Behind
This week I chat with Leah Houghtaling, a woodworker from the Finger Lakes region of New York State. We discuss her philosophy of using every scrap as much as possible, out of respect for nature. Leah loves the process of figuring things out and learning from mistakes and sharing what she has...
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Morley Kert - Making Videos Is Supposed to Be Fun
This week's I talk to 3 time returning guest Morley Kert about making YouTube videos, and keeping it fun. Morley makes creative projects and focuses on storytelling through the process in his videos. It's all about experimenting and learning by doing. Check Morley out on YouTube and Instagram.…
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David Picciuto - About Creativity
This week is a great conversation with David Picciuto of Makesomething.tv on YouTube, who is all about exploring creativity. We chatted about his recent video with some more creative tips for honing your own personal creativity. We talk about where his creative journey started and a bit about…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Exploring the unique paths of creative weirdos through the connections of curiosity, creativity, and problem solving.
HOSTED BY
Dave Bauer
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Making Problems to Solve have?
Making Problems to Solve currently has 184 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Making Problems to Solve about?
Exploring the unique paths of creative weirdos through the connections of curiosity, creativity, and problem solving.
How often does Making Problems to Solve release new episodes?
Making Problems to Solve is no longer actively publishing new episodes, but the existing catalog remains available.
Where can I listen to Making Problems to Solve?
You can listen to Making Problems to Solve on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening.
Who hosts Making Problems to Solve?
Making Problems to Solve is created and hosted by Dave Bauer.
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