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.