PODCAST · arts
Why Make? Podcast
by Why Make? Podcast
monthly conversations with makers exploring creativity and why they make
Episodes
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Why Make? Episode 80: Forensic Art with Joyce Lin
See Joyce’s work at joyce-lin.com
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Why Make? Episode 79: Tom Haney
Welcome to the world of Automata, a form of sculpture this episodes guest Tom Haney specializes in. What is Automata? It is kinetic figurative sculpture that tells a story. And the figures are powered by an equally artful system of handmade gears, and springs that resembles a watch movement. An...
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Why Make? Episode 78: Vivian Chiu
I have always been amazed by detailed meticulous objects because I know I am not capable of such work myself. I do not have the attention span or patience to manufacture and assemble hundreds of pieces of anything into a detailed mosaic of an idea no matter how compelling that idea might be. But…
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Why Make? Episode 77: Cyanotype
This episode is the story of two artists, two very different approaches and a almost two hundred year old photographic process called Cyanotype or blue printing. Join us as we journey to take a look at an exhibition at the Visions of Museum of Textile Art in San Diego California called Cyanotype...
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Why Make? Episode 76: Haystack at 75 - An Experiment in Community and Education
Haystack at 75 An Experiment in Community and Education Why Make Today we’re sharing a piece we are calling “Haystack at 75 - An Experiment in Community and Education” in celebration of the school's 75th year. A conversation with Haystack executive director Perry Price. We talk about the history…
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Why Make? Episode 75: Emma and the Art of Collaboration
There are four unattributed voices in the podcast that I would also like to mention and they are in order of appearance, Adam John Manley of San Diego CA, Lisa Geertsen Seattle WA, Jason Nemec Charlton NY and M Craig Campbell of Ness Creek SK Again my many thanks the Emma board of directors for...
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Why Make? Episode 74: Turning the Tables
In Episode 74, my sister Johanna Zorn turns the tables and interviews me about the podcast. This should be a familiar name to those who listen to the credits at the end of our episodes. She has helped edit many of the episodes we have released in the last two years and was in the background…
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Why Make? Episode 21Reissue: Sylvie Rosenthal In Memoriam
In 2009 I attended the Furniture Society conference in Boone North Carolina and sat in on an artist presentation by three young amazing makers whose work left a lasting impression. Sylvie Rosenthal, Katie Hudnall and Yuri Kobayashi. Sadly Sylvie passed away on October 14th and that bright shining...
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Why Make? Episode 73: Smile Honey
In Episode 73 of the podcast we talk with Teresa Audet an artist and educator based in Pittsburgh PA. Her journey as an artist took it’s first turn in college when switched from being a painting major to spending all her time in the wood shop. She then spent the 10 years after graduating making...
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Why Make? Episode 72: The 2025 Fiberart International
In this episode of Why make we are going to literally talk about something close home, both my childhood home of Pittsburgh and my mom who was a fiber artist. That is the 2025 Fiberarts International produced by the Pittsburgh Fiber Arts Guild, of which my mom was a longtime member, Contemporary...
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Why Make? Episode 71: Sit Like A Girl
Fully automated, remote controlled fighting tables that compete for ultimate supremacy, seems to be a good place to start any conversation. Especially when that conversation is with artist ,woodworker, educator and humorist Annie Evelyn. From fighting tables we move onto the merely absurd, like...
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Why Make? Episode 70: Seating Assignment
This is the story of how a seed of an idea sowed years ago becomes a ground breaking exhibition of women chair makers. The exhibition entitled Seating Assignment happened in March of 2024 at the Sawtooth School for Visual Art in Winston Salem NC. It’s chief instigator was the then artist in...
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Why Make? Episode 69:How Do You Measure Your Worth - A Remembrance of Paul Sasso
How Do You Measure Your Worth is a metaphorical question Paul Sasso posed in a 1990 sculpture of the same name. Paul passed on to that great measuring tape beyond in March of 2025. So here are some previously unpublished thoughts Paul had on the topic and many more from a conversation we had in...
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Why Make? Episode 68: What a Ferris Wheel Ride it has Been with Miranda Jones
This episode of Why Make? is brought to you by Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.Thanks to Haystack to becoming our first sponsor and partner. Haystack currently has open spaces in select Square ONE Workshops for beginners and Summer 2025 Workshops! Spaces in workshops and housing are limited…
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Why Make? Episode 67: What If with Michael Hosulak
In this episode the last episode of 2024 a special treat, the first of our many recorded interviews from the Emma International Collaboration which took place in August of 2024. This conversation is with Michael Hosulak the brainchild behind Emma though he takes no credit for being founder. We…
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Why Make? Episode 66: Making Basket Casket with Ellie Richards
In this episode, we are returning to our “Mind of a Maker” mini series with furniture maker and sculptor Ellie Richards This story starts with an idea that was brewing for years before Ellie began making the piece we talk about in this episode, and that idea was a fascination with the fantasy...
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Why Make? Episode 65: Bonding with Jack Larimore
In this episode of why make I talk with sculptor, furniture maker and educator Jack Larimore about how his background in landscape architecture. What led him down the path to discovering a love of design and eventually making furniture. Furthermore how a lack of a formal education In the arts...
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Why Make? Episode 64: Percussionist Jim Roberts
On this episode of Why Make we have Jim Roberts a percussionist, producer, artist and educator who resides in Chapel Hill NC. Jim plays the drum set, djembe, congas, and has many recordings under his belt. He has just finished a 17 year teaching stint at Elon University where he taught percussion...
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Why Make? Episode 63: Impressions of Emma
In this episode my first impressions of the of the Emma International collaboration, which took placeJuly 31 to August 8 in Big River Saskatchewan. I you need a little more background on Emma take a listen to episode 59 of the podcast “What is Emma” When I returned from Why Makes great adventure…
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Why Make? Episode 62: I Want to Paint the Moon with Steve Fishman
In this episode we introduce the first in our Mind of Maker series inside of the Why Make Podcast. With our guest Steve Fishman. Steve is a printmaker and a painter in many mediums, as well as being skilled with pen and ink and the mighty pencil. He is also a teacher and someone who really knows...
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Why Make? Episode 61: Jonathan Byrd, Part 2
Episode 61 of Why Make? is the conclusion of our conversation with Carrboro, NC musician Jonathan Byrd, who, along with being an award winning song writer is also a story teller, a poet, a photographer, a painter, a teacher and now a student in Physics at North Carolina State University. Enjoy…
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Why Make? Episode 60: Jonathan Byrd, Part 1
On Episode 60 of Why Make? our guest is Jonathan Byrd a Carrboro, NC musician, who, along with being award winning song writer, is also a story teller extraordinaire, a poet, a photographer, a painter, a teacher and now a student in Physics. Erik has known Jonathan for a long time and has watched...
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Why Make? Episode 59: What is Emma
As Why Make prepares for it'e journey to the Emma International Collaboration in Northern Canada. We talk with Emma board member Brian Gladwell to find out about the history of this event and to humbly ask for your help for our travel expenses .
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Why Make? Episode 58: High Caliber Art with Boris Bally
As mentioned in the podcast here is a link to excellent book of images and essays from the Imagine Peace Now exhibition https://imaginepeacenow.org/supportus/product/i-m-a-g-i-n-e-peace-now-publication/
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Why Make? Episode 57: Brad Reed Nelson
On Episode 57 of Why Make? we talk with Brad Reed Nelson, a Glenwood Springs, Colorado woodworker, furniture maker and product designer creating magical pieces made from metal and wood. Brad, aka BRN, and his better half Ann, run Board By Design, a functional design company making such brightly...
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Why Make? Episode 56: Boris Bally
Episode 56 of Why Make? is a conversation 50 years in the making! Erik sits down sit with his childhood friend, the amazing metalsmith, jeweler, sculptor and teacher Boris Bally. Erik last saw Boris sometime in 1974 when they were 12 years old. Originally, like Erik, from Pittsburgh, Boris now...
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Why Make? Episode 55: Mia Hall
In Episode 55 of the Why Make? podcast we talk with Mia Hall, a maker, former educator and current executive director of the Penland School of Craft, one of the oldest and most prestigious craft schools in America. After growing up in Sweden Mia moved to northern California at the age of 18 and...
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Why Make? Episode 54: Bob Ebendorf
Retired educator, jeweler and metalsmith extraordinaire Bob Ebendorf joins us on episode 54 of the Why Make podcast. Originally from Topeka Kansas, Bob was a star football player and wrestler in high school who had the choice of a big time college athletic scholarship or attending art school.…
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Why Make? Episode 53: Robert F. Lyon
Welcome to Episode 53 of Why Make? On this episode we talk with Robert Lyon, a woodturner, artist and educator who lives and works in the Columbia, SC area. Literally climbing the walls with handmade ladders as a small child, the sky was the limit, as Robert explored model rockets and building...
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Why Make? Episode 52: Katie Thompson
In Episode 52 of Why Make? we talk with Katie Thompson, an artist, writer, creative consultant and instructor based in the Low Country outside of Charleston, SC. Katie wears many hats including being a disabled mother of two, and wife and partner to fine furniture maker Joseph Thompson. Katie has…
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Why Make? Episode 51: Aspen Golann
The long awaited conversation on Why Make? Podcast with artist and maker Aspen Golaan.
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Why Make? Episode 50: Kimberly Winkle
On this episode of Why Make? we talk with Kim Winkle, an arts administrator full time teacher and artist. Kim is a Professor of Art and the Director of the School of Art, Craft & Design at Tennessee Technological University’s Appalachian Center for Craft. A native of Oklahoma Kim holds a Bachelor...
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Why Make? Episode 49: Wendy Maruyama Part II
Why Make Podcast, Wendy Maruyama Episode Part II Transcript Time Code 00:00 Robb Helmkamp Hello and welcome to Why Make, where we talk to makers from different disciplines about what inspires them to make.With your hosts Robb Helmkamp and. Erik Wolken Erik Wolken. If you would like to learn more...
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Why Make? Episode 48: Wendy Maruyama Part 1
Why Make Podcast, Wendy Maruyama Episode Part 1 Transcript Time Code 00:00 Robb Helmkamp Hello and welcome to Why Make, where we talk to makers from different disciplines about what inspires them to make.With your hosts Robb Helmkamp and, Erik Wolken Erik Wolken. If you would like to learn more...
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Why Make? Episode 47: James McNabb
On this episode of Why Make we talk with James McNabb a woodworker and artist who grew up in Montville, NJ overlooking New York City. James grew up in a family that was very supportive of his creative endeavors, his mother being a teacher and father a carpenter. Early experiences taking…
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Why Make? Episode 46, Part 2: Melanie Falick
On this episode of Why Make? we resume our conversation with Melanie Falick an independent writer, editor, creative consultant and lifelong maker who lives in the Hudson Valley in New York. We continue talking about the creation of her book Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life...
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Why Make? Episode 46, Part 1: Melanie Falick
Why Make Episode 46, Part 1. a podcast conversation with Melanie Falick, an independent writer, editor, creative consultant and lifelong maker . You can find out more about Melanie at melaniefalick.com and on her Instagram or pick up a copy of Making a Life at great retailers like Indiebound...
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Why Make? Episode 45: Bonus Make! with Zeke Leonard
In this Bonus Make with Zeke Leonard we get into the nitty gritty of the relationship between making objects and musical instruments and being a musician or just making wonderful noises.
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Why Make? Episode 44: Zeke Leonard
On this episode we talk with Zeke Leonard, a Syracuse, NY based educator, designer, musician and maker. Born in Charleston, SC Zeke started out early, getting involved in community theater while growing up in Winston Salem, NC. His interest in acting and set design & construction led him to a...
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Why Make? Episode 43: Bonus Make! Tom on Tommy
Episode 43 of Why Make? is a Bonus make? We talk with Tom Loeser about the time he spent with Tommy Simpson in 1981 during a 10 day chair making workshop at the now defunct Boston University Program in Artisanry. Tom talks about Tommy’s ability to tell a story through a narrative and his...
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Why Make? Episode 42: Tom Loeser
Episode 42: Tom Loeser Why Make? Download On Episode 42 of Why Make? we talk with Tom Loeser, an educator, furniture maker, and box maker who recently retired as the head of the Furniture Design and Woodworking program at UW-Madison where he has taught since 1991. Tom designs and builds...
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Why Make? Episode 41: Christopher Schwarz
On Episode 41 of Why Make? we talk with Christopher Schwarz, a furniture maker, educator, writer and publisher who lives and works from a storefront in Covington, KY. Schwarz is one of the founders and the editor of Lost Art Press, which publishes numerous, high quality books, including the...
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Why Make? Episode 40: Mark Del Guidice
Building sandcastles on the beaches of Massachusetts is the perfect way to start a life long love with making which Mark Del Guidice continues to this day. In Episode 40 of Why Make? we talk with Mark about growing up in a working class family which may have been short on experiences in the arts,...
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The Tommy Simpson Documentary Update
A brief update on our progress on the Tommy project
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Why Make? Episode 39: Karen Ernst
This episode is a special edition of sorts where we actually talk about the process of making instead of getting all existential like we usually do… and although this is definitely not a “tool talk” it is more of a How Make! than a Why Make? this time around! On Episode 39 of Why Make? we talk…
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Why Make? Episode 38: Tommy Simpson
Welcome to the 2021 holiday episode of Why Make. For the end of our third season we have something extra special in store for you… a conversation with one of the groundbreaking artists of the modern studio furniture movement, Tommy Simpson. Tommy’s work has a whimsical bent, but that belies a...
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Why Make? Episode 37: Bonus Make! with Ellie Richards
In this episode of Bonus Make! we continue our conversation with Ellie Richards, a furniture designer, sculptor and teacher who is currently a resident artist at the Penland School of Crafts. We talk with Ellie about her project “The Highboy’s Understory: Deconstructing the Icon” in which she...
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Why Make? Episode 36: Ellie Richards
In Episode 36 Why Make? we talk with furniture designer, sculptor and teacher Ellie Richards who is currently a resident artist at the Penland School of Crafts in the mountains of Western North Carolina. After growing up in Pittsburgh, PA she attended the wood & furniture design programs at San...
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Why Make? Episode35: Bonus Make with Katie Hudnall
In this episode of Bonus Make we talk with Katie Hudnall, about that most important of any artists tools, the sketchbook. As a tool for organizing your thoughts, a visual expression of your daily experiences or just a place to write down a shopping list next to a cool idea for a Rube Goldberg...
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Why Make? Episode 34: Katie Hudnall
In Episode 34 of Why Make we talk with artist, woodworker and educator Katie Hudnall, currently living in Madison Wisconsin she is an assistant professor of art at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Katie began in the arts as someone who loved to draw and was able to morph her drawing language...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
monthly conversations with makers exploring creativity and why they make
HOSTED BY
Why Make? Podcast
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How many episodes does Why Make? Podcast have?
Why Make? Podcast currently has 84 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Why Make? Podcast about?
monthly conversations with makers exploring creativity and why they make
How often does Why Make? Podcast release new episodes?
Why Make? Podcast has 84 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Who hosts Why Make? Podcast?
Why Make? Podcast is created and hosted by Why Make? Podcast.
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