Leigh Northrup talks about the impact of JessI Combs in the Maker Community during Episode 4 of Create and Connect Podcast. Check it out!

In this episode of Create and Connect, Tom sits down with Leigh Northrup, better known to many in the maker world as The Tinker Teacher on Instagram. Leigh is a lifelong educator, woodworker, and cohost of Storyteller Tavern, where he brings people together through laughter, history, and creativity.

Leigh shares how his journey began in his grandfather’s woodshop, where he learned the importance of patience, curiosity, and craft. Those lessons stuck with him—and today, he passes them on to his middle school students, encouraging the next generation of makers to think critically, build boldly, and never stop tinkering.

From the smell of fresh-cut wood to the spark of an idea in a classroom, Leigh’s story is about connection across generations—how the act of making binds us together through shared experience, storytelling, and a love of learning.

Pat Reynolds is a staple of the Maker Camp scene and a mainstay in East Durham, New York. He’s a guy who greets you with a smile, remembers your name, and is as comfortable wiring an airport as he is talking shop around a campfire.

For over 40 years, Pat worked as a master electrician in New York City, installing power, lighting, and infrastructure in everything from museums and airports to high-rise buildings and industrial plants. Now, in retirement, he’s channeling all of that experience into a new kind of project: teaching. Online and in person, Pat is committed to helping the maker community learn what he knows—sharing his knowledge in ways that are simple, approachable, and empowering.

But beyond all that? Pat is a connector. He’s a mentor, a dad, a husband, and a guy who lights up every room he walks into—literally and figuratively!

Today we’ll talk about his journey, his teaching philosophy, and how he’s building bridges between trades and makers of every kind.

My guest today is Kurt Blum, the sole proprietor of Three Goose Shoppe based in Rhode Island. Kurt has a unique view of the world—and of his work. He often says he specializes in learning how to correct mistakes, and honestly, that’s part of what makes his craft so honest and so human.

Kurt has lived many lives—first in the Pacific Northwest, then in Los Angeles, and now in the Northeast. Along the way, he’s carved out a life that’s as rooted in family as it is in making. When he’s not working on a commissioned piece or fixing up his home and garden, he’s fully present as a husband, father, and son.

Welcome to the very first episode of Create and Connect, the podcast that brings you into the world of makers—woodworkers, metal fabricators, leather craftsmen, and artists of all kinds—people who don’t just make things, they make meaning.

I’m your host, Tom Breslin, the face behind The Phoenix Woodshop. I create custom CNC-machined flags to honor the service of firefighters, police officers, and military service members. Each flag is a one-of-a-kind tribute, made to connect with the individual receiving it. I consider it a privilege to tell their stories through wood and craftsmanship.

This show is about stories like that—about creators who use their hands and hearts to build something bigger than themselves.

Today, I couldn’t be more excited to kick off the show with a powerhouse in the leather working world—Dennis Forrester of 21 Grams, all the way from California.

Dennis is a former tattoo artist who found new life in leather, blending his eye for bold design with a passion for craft. He’s the creator of the Leather Tattooing Machine, distributed exclusively by Weaver Leather Supply, and his work brings the soul of traditional tattooing to the timeless medium of leather.

But there’s more to Dennis than tools and talent—his story is one of personal growth, transformation, and connection.