You start your own business or side hustle full of hope, excitement, and anticipation. However, after a few years, you realize running your own business is MUCH harder than you anticipated, taking EVERYTHING from you rather than giving you the flexible rewarding lifestyle you imagined. DO YOU KEEP GRINDING, thinking that maybe NEXT YEAR will bring success?  Or DO YOU CALL IT QUITS, realizing you've always sacrificed enough and might be MUCH HAPPIER working for someone else, or doing something else entirely.

In this episode, our two guests (Brent Biglow and Freddy Roman) share their experiences with us on this exact question having chosen DIFFERENT PATHS; One is still grinding it out and the other closed up shop.  This conversation is brutally honest, introspective and vulnerable, and absolutely fascinating.

Brent's Products & Work: https://biglowwoodcraft.com/
Brent's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biglowwoodcraft/
Freddy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periodcraftsmen/

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Episode 51 - The TOUGHEST DECISION (w/ Brent Biglow & Freddy Roman)

Oh boy, do we have a spicy one tonight. For the first time ever, we have the "Agent of Chaos" Eric Curtis, the "Sexiest Voice in Podcasting" Jack, and the plane-making legend Konrad Sauer all in the same episode at the same time.

We are revisiting one of our most controversial early topics—Art vs. Craft—but this time, we’re tearing down the binary. Konrad argues that we missed a crucial piece of the puzzle: Design. What follows is a philosophical free-for-all about the hats we wear as makers, the tension between feeling and engineering, and why a 1.7-million-year-old hand axe proves we’ve always been obsessed with "getting our faces sat on" (metaphorically... mostly).

From the empathy required to build a chair to the enduring legacy of cave paintings, we break down what it actually means to make "objects of desire" and why the labels might not matter as much as the joy of making.

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Episode 50 - Art vs. Craft vs. Design ROUND 2: The Rumble in the Jungle (feat. BOTH Konrad & Jack)

WHO ARE YOU and WHAT DO YOU REALLY VALUE at your very core? What are your DEEPEST CONVICTIONS and are they clear to you in your life and art? Have you compromised them before? and for what? Money? Fame? Have you stayed true to yourself or have you SOLD OUT?

Today's episode is a TOTAL BANGER with special guests Sean Cheetham & Kate Zambrano, both phenomenal portrait artists who help us dissect and understand this important topic.

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Find Sean at: https://www.seancheethamfineart.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/seancheetham/

Find Kate at: https://www.katezambrano.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/katezambrano/

Episode 49 - SELLING OUT vs. Staying True to Yourself (w/ Sean Cheetham & Kate Zambrano)

What happens when two friends sit down and discuss life’s biggest questions? In this episode, Erik wrestles with a very difficult personal challenge and wonders how much of it to divulge publicly, while Paul is processing the passing of one of his best friends. In full transparency, this is a tough episode.

Join us for an honest, unscripted conversation that just might shift how you see the world—and yourself.

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Episode 48 - Barstool Confessions #4: Heartbreak, Loss, & Sensitivity

Every post, every like, every notification — it’s all built to manipulate our brain chemistry, often without notice. In this episode, Paul and Erik team up with psychologist Dr. Sherry Pagoto to reveal the brain chemistry behind social media — the dopamine hits that keep you hooked, the algorithms that play you, and the rare moments that still make us feel genuinely connected as human.  We explore how the platforms learned to hijack our emotions, and what it actually takes for us to take back control with BALANCE.  Equal parts science, confession, and reality check — this episode may change the way you see social media.

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Episode 47 - How Social Media Rewires Your Brain & How to Rewire It Back (w/ Dr. Sherry Pagoto)

Why aren’t the things we buy made to last anymore? From furniture to everyday items, repairability has been quietly designed out of our lives—replaced by disposable culture and fast consumption. In this episode, we explore how we got here, why it matters, and what it will take to bring repair back to the center of craft. We’ll dive into the lost art of making things REPAIRABLE  again, the hidden costs of throwaway design, and the growing movement to create objects meant to be fixed, not discarded. Join us as we imagine a future where repair isn’t an afterthought, but a defining part of craftsmanship.

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467



Episode 46 - Built to Break: Rethinking REPAIR  in a Disposable World

This is a special LIVE RECORDING of the Woodworking is Bullsh*t podcast with Jimmy Diresta, Derek from Malden, and Justine Silva. Recorded at the Celebration of the 500th episode of the Making It Podcast, we cover some of our GREATEST HITS, meaning questions that we find particularly compelling such as 1) What to do when the creative well runs dry? 2) Dealing with Imposter Syndrome, and 3) Perfectionism: friend or foe?. Does Jimmy Diresta ever feel like an imposter despite a lifetime of making and over 900 youtube videos?  Tune in to find out!

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Episode 45 - WIB GREATEST HITS @ Making It 500 LIVE EVENT

What happens when two friends sit down and wrestle with life’s biggest questions? In this episode, we take on 10 profound and thought-provoking statements/questions about meaning, purpose, and the human experience. From the nature of happiness to the weight of mortality, we dive deep, challenge each other, and sometimes laugh at the absurdity of it all. Join us for an honest, unscripted conversation that just might shift how you see the world—and yourself.

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Episode 44 - Barstool Confessions #3:  10 Difficult TRUTHS about life

What is social media really for—are we here to be entertained, to learn, or to create something lasting? In this episode, we dig beneath the endless scroll to ask what role social platforms truly play in our lives and culture. Is TikTok just a modern-day circus, or a classroom in disguise? Is Instagram a gallery of crafted identities, or a studio where real artistry takes shape? Join us as we question the meaning of our digital habits and uncover whether social media is simply a pastime—or a profound part of human expression.

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Episode 43 - What Is Social Media, Really?: Entertainment, Education, or Craft???

Is your current career path not working out as you had hoped despite years of effort?  Are you wondering if you should pivot toward something new?  This type of career change can be SCARY and land you in UNCERTAIN WATERS for a time.  However, you may find an even more rewarding and fulfilling career on the other side.  In today's episode, Michael Alm (Almfab on Youtube and IG) tells us his inspiring story of how he reinvented himself and his career from struggling studio artist/sculptor to content creator, finding both creative fulfillment and financial stability along the way.

To watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO of this episode and the irreverent & somewhat unpredictable AFTERSHOW, subscribe to our Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467) ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/user?u=91688467

Episode 42 - It's never too late to REINVENT YOURSELF & YOUR CAREER (w/ Michael Alm)

A podcast centered around design, creativity, and the search for authentic inspiration in woodworking and beyond, hosted by Paul Jasper, Erik Curtis, and Mary Tsai.

Join our Patreon for a VIDEO FEED of the show on YOUTUBE, and the ever lively AFTERSHOW:

https://patreon.com/user?u=91688467&utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

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