It’s saddening to watch a good thing go down in flames. The latest change is that Ben is no longer hosting the show. I wonder if the new owners are going to axe him too, or if it is a personal choice that he is leaving. Either way, I would bet they are related occurrences. The show has really gone downhill since the acquisition, and it’s a shame.

I enjoy the show every week (I listen in the iOS app, usually). The different perspectives and personalities of the hosts create an hour that is full of superb content, but is also encouraging, relaxing, and gently funny. Speaking of funny, I applaud the addition of Vic Tesolin, whose energy and quick brain are a match for his humor (should I say “humour? I mean, he’s Canadian…). This week, however, having just the “old gang” of Ben, Mike P., and Anissa, was near-perfect. Anissa, who is warm, genial, direct-while-self-effacing, might be my favorite, but the contributions of all the hosts work together to make a show that is both a pleasure to listen to, and instructionally serious about woodworking. [edit] I want to add that it is due to this show that I’ve become aware of the many women woodworkers out there who contribute so much to this hobby/profession. I’m aware, because you give them visibility.

Great collection of experts discussing the rich details that make all our work more meaningful.

Good luck in the future corporate shakeout. I enjoy your podcast and tuned up my bandsaw based on your recommendations. It’s running much better now! Thanks !!

A go-to listen, am happy to see each new episode. Whether listening in the shop or while on my Friday commute, these folks bring the smiles.

Im new ish to pod cast but I m total hook on shop talk. Very informative 👍 keep up the great work

Hey all, love this podcast for the practical no bull discussions. I appreciate everyone talking about the craft and how it takes place in all kinds of settings and how much variation there is in execution in the shop. I also really like the sidebar discussions that are wood related and some not. This is at the top of my list of favorite podcasts. Thanks to everyone who shares their expertise openly as well as the creative processes they use or don’t use. If anyone listens from the person who hasn’t touched a tool yet to the master craftsman, I think they would thoroughly enjoy listening. Also a big thumbs up the the group for doing a session on hearing protection. This is great stuff and something we all should be actively doing in our shops. Another area where there seems to be a lack of knowledge is in protecting our lungs. It would be great to have some experts and industry folks represented to have that discussion. MSA serves a large industrial base and they have some very knowledgeable folks who can give you the details of a good breathing protection program for the professionals and hobbyist. 3M is another good one. Thanks for pouring into the wood working community. PS - I love listening to music while working in the shop. It sounds best while making sawdust. Jeff Underwood Seminole, FL

I’ve listened to this podcast for years - through multiple host changes, on trips to buy hardwood for a new project, laughing at corny jokes on flights halfway across the Atlantic Ocean. These are my woodworking nerd buddies when I get some alone time - to think about woodworking, or how woodworking affects other things in my life. In the business world, the best quality a product can have is if customers would be sad if the product went away. I’d be very, very sad if this podcast went away. Keep up the great work!

The chair geeks did a great job answering my question. The discussion was entertaining and informative. I look forward to hearing more from Kelly and Aspen.

Ben and crew keep it light and are a welcome listen every two weeks. I burned through the back catalogue in less than a year and have learned a lot as I delve into woodworking as a beginner. Highly recommend subscribing to this podcast but also FWW unlimited.

Thank you to everyone who makes Shop Talk Live possible! You have been my stalwart companions on many a road trip. Special thanks to Ben and his spoons. About 40 years ago my grandfather planted Bradford pears in his yard. They have now run their course and I’m drying several pieces for future turning projects. In preparing them I spotted a small piece near a knot and realized it had a spoon in it. I can now say I have carved my first spoon and did so from my grandfather’s tree. I owe this sentimental piece to your inspiration!

I have been a fan and listening for years. Thank you!

Started listening to this podcast a few weeks ago and really, it’s turned into a a total binge listening thing. Ben is a great host and I’m learning lots while enjoying the chemistry and good humored discussion of all things woodworking. Keep up the excellent work!

I subscribed to the first edition and the first year of Fine Woodworking Magazine in 1975. Almost 50 years later, I continue to enjoy and learn from top-notch woodworkers, but now via multiple platforms. I understand the wide discrepancy in the various reviews; partly that’s the nature of podcasts. For my tastes, I would like Ben to tone it down a bit. I enjoy his humor and casual approach, but as moderator, often wish he would move over and let the guests speak without being interrupted by his opinions and off-topic insertions. As he stated on the latest podcast, “I have no filter,” and as moderator that’s not always good. I respect and learn from him, but for my taste he tends to take up too much of the oxygen in the studio. I think it’s possible to retain Ben’s best qualities while adding a little more purposeful discipline to the format that better serves the primary purpose of the podcast.

Love love Ben and crew who put this one on. Not pretentious at all and they are great at answering listeners questions without taking themselves too seriously.

Tell Ben to stop telling me I am a bad parent because I don’t want the public school system to talk to my 7 year old about trans people. I will have that discussion in my own home that we are all different and should be respected. I want more Mike P giving us real advice and inspiration on woodworking.

Accomplished woodworker Mario Rodriguez teaches Carving the Ball and Claw foot by using clay. His approach is that the first day, the students “build up” the foot from clay, then, when they begin to carve, they have a more complete understanding of what the foot is meant to look like.

Kick rocks with your “shame culture” “uneven power dynamic” speech. How about we focus on guests that are actually talented, and keep the uniformed lectures to yourselves. Ben is, hands down, the worst interviewer I’ve had the misfortune of listening to. I’m barley hanging on to my FW Unlimited membership. I want to love this so bad but FW is dropping the ball.

First off I would like to point out that all of the low ratings on this podcast somehow mention that the the quality of this show has dropped and that/or because there aren’t “accomplished” or respectable, or etc etc woodworkers hosting this show. That’s complete hogwash. If you feel that way, start your own podcast, or buzz off (you probably already have or threatened to). I’ve listened to just about every single episode over the past three years, and many several times from the early days to recent episodes. Every member of the cast on this podcast, past and present, has said something or suggested something, or described, etc etc in a way I haven’t thought of at some point.

I have been loving this podcast for a while, and I have been going back through the many previous episodes for a while now. The information, tips and tricks have been so helpful in my own woodworking, and the hosts are always as entertaining as they are knowledgeable. I recently took a long road trip, about twelve hours each way, and in hour ten of the return trip I came across “Think like a hand plane”. If you haven’t gotten to that yet, then you haven’t yet lived.

I love listening to the FWW Podcast while I’m working. It’s like having friends in the shop who give me great tips. Hearing their “smooth moves” helps you realize that even accomplished woodworkers with decades of experience are humans and make silly mistakes now and then.

There are a lot of good woodworking podcasts out there and I’ve learned a great deal from them. This one is different because the cast changes and questions get answered but somebody that really knows the answer (most of the time). The thing I really like is the easy flow of conversation. Just good friends talking shop and discussing answers. The laughter and banter are real. The knowledge is very real. And yes, I signed up for Unlimited! Money well spent! Keep doing what nobody else does as well. Dallas Wilkinson

I started from the beginning and have listened to every show. Then i went looking for another show and have not found one that even comes close. Keep up the great work.

If you’re a woodworker, or even just like to learn about woodworking (don’t roll your eyes, my wife fits into the latter category), this is the show for you. I’ve been a woodworker for 45 years, and I just can’t wait for each new episode of STL to be released. There’s ALWAYS some new technique or tip on this show that I haven’t heard before, and the in-depth discussions are very informative. Because, as they are fond of pointing out on STL, there are always multiple ways to do any operation in the wood shop, so even if you think you already know how to do something, you’ll find yourself learning something new. What really keeps this podcast so entertaining is the banter between the guests (usually 2 or 3 per show). Ben and friends just have the perfect sensibility for how much talk makes the show entertaining, without the dreaded type of drivel you hear on some podcasts that makes you wish they’d just get back on topic. One piece of advice if you’re a more novice woodworker though: you’d probably be better off watching the STL videos on YouTube rather than listening to the podcast, since if you’re not familiar with the tool or technique they’re discussing it’s sometimes challenging to follow along without seeing it. Usually this isn’t a problem for me, but as a country person without access to broadband internet, I occasionally find myself wishing (briefly) that I lived in a city. Thanks, Ben and friends, for the fantastic show.

Really enjoy this podcast. The hosts are knowledgeable, honest and informative. Good banter but really keep it moving along. Thanks for the podcast and keep up the good work!

Honestly, this is just solid pod. It’s like a magazine, but talking. Like a talking magazine. Like a magazine where they have photos and words, but spoken. Also, Mike freaking Pekovich. For real, it’s my favorite podcast hands down. If you like to tell your friends you are a woodworker, you should check out this podcast.

The “witty” non woodworking banter has gotten really old, and quite frankly unlistenable. Sorry. Past episodes were good when actual woodworking was discussed by actual accomplished woodworkers. It’s tough listening to the IT guy give his 2 cents on woodworking. I cancelled my subscription awhile ago. Nothing more off putting than paying for a service and then being inundated with ads. Articles are repetitive and seem only to follow trends.

I tuned in to the first shop talk live and then tuned out after the first few episodes due to the incessant use of sound effects. I came back recently and thought that things had really improved, except for the rampant lutherism from Ben Strano. I wondered where FWW’s voice of reason,Mike Pekovich, was when they hired this guy? Perhaps Mike was on a well deserved sabbatical, with Dr. Kenney, when they hired Ben Strano. I’ve just listened to Ben’s interview with Garrett Wade founder Garry Chinn and learned that Ben is a fan on Inca machines, so he can’t be all bad. Seriously, this is a great podcast that I enjoy tremendously, but remember lutherism is a lot like cow bell, a little goes a long way.

Ben and company, I have dived into the wood working realm the last 2-3 years. I found your gem of a poscast and have been binge listening all the time. Your rapport with each other is funny, informative and engaging. Your guests are intriguing and the content captavating. Recently i listened to The Dave Fisher interview and was blown away realizing he is literally in my backyard. A scant 12 miles away which was unbelievable that I had not heard of him locally. Please keep it up and thank you for giving me a reason to anticipate Fridays new episodes. Eric Weller

The is generally a woodworking pod cast, but it can veer off into side insights, and from time to time, they are in my opinion just plain wrong. At least for the way I work, and the methods I use. But it always entertaining. And, I download every episode to listen too while I drive around the great black hole, (The Frank Church Wilderness, the largest dark spot on a night satellite image of the Continental USA.).

These are wonderful! Having spent 30 years (20 years ago) in the Rock & Roll Indie/new wave/ college rock, music scene I avoided listening because I was expecting the same weird ego-centric baloney. . . Like I dealt with back then - great talent, but wow was it hard to be around. Boy was I wrong! I am a fan- finding myself laughing aloud from the stories. . . and realizing I could enjoy being around the towering talent in this craft. My favorite line up: Anissa, Ben and Mike.

Hi, I only listen to the pod, no need for video for me. Love the pod, especially guest episodes. Have you ever had jack forsberg on the show (@jackenglishmachines) the man deserves a pod an article and a cover ASAP. Thanks for all your good work!

What a great podcast! I’m a relative beginner to woodworking and I couldn’t have asked for a better podcast. It really is a gem. The Smooth Moves segment is a stroke of brilliance because now when I inevitably mess up in the shop, I see it as an amusing learning opportunity instead of proof I have no future in woodworking and should just give up. I can feel solidarity with those who are much more skilled than I am even when I make dumb mistakes. Thanks guys! The hosts are also fantastic. This is not a know-it-all bro’s show, like some others tend to be. They all bring something unique in addition to their woodworking knowledge. Ben is great as a moderator, Mike manages to give off vibes of extreme skillfullness while being genuinely humble and helpful, Anissa is relatable and refreshing, and Barry is hilarious, witty and quirky in a good way. I’ve become a subscriber and an unlimited member since finding this podcast and it’s helped me in so many ways take my woodworking to the next level and expand what I can see myself achieving in the future.

I am a subscriber to the magazine, a South Philly basement woodworker and this podcast completes the trifecta! I only use hand tools - row home neighbors appreciate it - and your in depth discussion on techniques, maintenance, etc. is incredible. Thank you for this great work!!!

Dudes (and sometimes Anissa) talking shop. The best pod for woodworking. Viva la Pekovich!

Great folks and great information, but somehow Ben got promoted from recording tech to host and he’s loud, annoying, overly confident, and often has no idea what he’s talking about. Mike is too kind to set him straight. The best episodes these days are when mike has a guest.

Listened to the podcast in order from oldest to newest and am finally to current. Love episodes where Ben, mike and anissa are on together, as it seems to be a great combo and wealths of knowledge! Thank you all for what you all do. Truly inspiring and motivating for those of us that need that push to get out into the shop in the evenings after long day at the day job! Thanks for thank. Keep it up

It’s always a good day when the notice that a new Shop Talk Live show has arrived. Informative, fun and hosted by some truly good guys. You’ll learn a bunch and have a good time doing it!

I love listening to the show and always learn something. Appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and the laughs. Fun show to listen to. Keep up the good work.

Love the show. Receive good information in a relaxed format.

Mis-information in this podcast Polystyrene is not a polycarbonate. The two materials are very different. Polystyrene is not a undefined generic name. It is a very specific chemical.

Long time listener, I had to comment after hearing Mike Pekovitch frown upon dovetail saw guides to help hand cutting dovetails... Especially because on every video that I see he uses special tablesaw blades ground for dovetails and uses the bandsaw to cut his waste and uses a morticing machine and basically every other way except by hand... Love ya Mike but...cmon man

I found myself getting into this craft just this spring after finishing a custom speaker project my late uncle left behind. I knew there was better ways of joinery than the pocket screws everyone uses on YouTube. With my father recently passing I had nowhere else to turn than looking for a podcast. I happened across this one, gave it a whirl and was hooked. That was April 3rd. It is now July 7th and I have listened to every episode, listened Nick Offermans book on their recommendation, received the usb magazine catalog for Father’s Day, refurbished my dads old Record and Stanley planes and completed my first piece of furniture this weekend, a bookcase from the magazine for my daughter! To say I’m hooked is an understatement. This podcast has helped me in ways unimaginable. The banter between the hosts is natural and engaging. The segments are informative and entertaining. The chemistry between all the hosts is outstanding and leaves me wanting more. Outstanding job. 1 suggestion, bring back Ed’s sound effects.

Working my way backwards through your catalog of podcasts I had to laugh when Ben made a joke about STL being what people would be stuck with when Wood Talk announced they were calling it quits, and that’s exactly how I came to find this podcast. While I was happy when Wood Talk cafe back them quitting was the best thing to happen because STL has become my favorite podcast. The typical mix of Ben, Mike, and Anissa have a great chemistry, and the less frequent hosts are an equal pleasure to listen to along with the guest Wood woodworkers. My favorite segment is smooth move. It’s my bi-weekly affirmation that I’m not the only one making dumb ass mistakes in my shop. Keep up the good work!!!

I found this podcast while looking for apron recommendations and after listening to them nerd-out about aprons and pencils for half an hour, I’m hooked! Now I’m downloading episode 1 and I’ll listen to them all.

Ease up people. Every podcast someone wants the podcast to be a weekly podcast. One of the benefits of quarantine, we get the podcast weekly. Ben gives us the warning in the opener, and people still complain. (They must have skipped over the opener) Still ten times more informative than the average woodworking podcast. Keep up the good work.

What’s happening to this podcast? It used to be the best around. I’m a long time subscriber to the magazine as well as this podcast, however, I believe both are in decline. I’m sure glad you’re not the only game in town. Much better listening material out there when it comes to woodworking. I won’t name names but your new talent is well...not talented. Go back to what made me appreciate the content. FINE woodworkers with real ideas, real talent and real advice.

Another great show, thanks for the extra effort with the weekly episodes. Love the recommendations at the end. Anissa, you have a wonderfully eclectic taste in music, but I will never, ever stop for gas anywhere near your neck of the woods!!

I have listened to all of the podcasts, even though the cast has changed over time the information is always valuable. I wish it was weekly but I understand the time it takes to put together. Maybe the week in between podcasts a 30 minute episode with a pro or feature topic would be great.

Unfortunately this pod falls very short in several ways. Up to about the hundredth episode, the host was charming, had extraordinary communication styles, and was fairly well knowledgeable of the craft. The segments stayed fresh, and the content quality improved. After the new host took over, the magic seems to have been dissolved. • The questions chosen to answer and their resulting conversations have become more like WOOD Magazine or TWW Friday Live: repetitive beginner questions about tools and introductory techniques, juxtaposing the magazine’s delve into the world of masters who share their approaches. We know what a helical cutter is and which direction to feed straight knived jointers. • Ben is not a master woodworker. That’s fine—that’s not a job requisite. We are all learning. But as a novice he guides the conversations back to himself and his limited experiences consistently. The cohosts are often contradicted or countered by Ben when they speak from their learning. Contrarianism is not the same as curiosity. Ego is not the same as passion for the craft. Poor humility and communication style. • The audio is passable at best. I have never heard another podcast outside amateur home-brew that dared to pan guests. Listening to a stereo podcast is absolutely nauseating, and not in a trailblazing way. It’s dialogue, not a 1980s tom rack. You don’t need to wrap around the listener’s head. Sum it to mono. Second, there is very, very little compression. The dynamic range is not limited enough to allow for a commute without riding the volume knob the whole time. I’m not talking about coughs. Riding the pots as a sentence trails off is rote. This is the sound engineer’s job if they are unsure how to use a compressor. Jeff is a good man, but Ben tried his hand at mixing at one point, and even he should have noticed this by now. I’m not being anally retentive because the rest of the pods I listen to have perfect compression. Third, there does not seem to be an appreciable high pass. Playback on any system is too boomy without at least a low shelf. Again, compression would solve this problem as well. Spotify is the a great service for offering “normalization”, summing to mono, and EQ for pods. This burden is not placed on the listener for any other funded podcast. These are gripes I lived with for a hundred or more episodes, thinking the new host would start to care about improving the show. The guests and topics are continually interesting, but the foundation is just not at the magazine’s echelon. Thankful it still exists, but hopeful it improves.