I'm No Expert

Jason rocked the LED flashlight world a year and a half ago when he announced the acquisition of the Foursevens brand. Since then he's released updated versions of the Preon and Mini flashlights, and now he's finally launched the newest version of the Foursevens flagship flashlight: the Quark MKIII. We get into all the details about the new light and the process of iterating a legendary product.

See the new Quark MKIII

Maker Minute: Kickstarter

Death and taxes, right? Jason and Ben talk strategies to increase life expectancy AND improve the quality of those extra years, the biggest killers you can avoid, and immortal jellyfish. Ready to face the unknown?

Maker Minute: Cixin Liu

Jason grew up in Montana where lifetime hunting licenses are issued at birth (jk) and Ben lives in Vermont where half the bars are Hunters Only (also jk). They go full choke at first kills, breaking down hunting types, and why everyone should know their way around a firearm.

Maker Minute: Adam Greentree

More than 50% of Americans (including Jason & Ben) either work for or own a small business. So everybody: how's it going for you? The future of our country's economy depends on you listening to this episode. Don't let us down.

Maker Minute: (just you wait and see).

Where would we be without it? There'd be no podcast, for starters. No Prometheus Lights? Is there any great achievement in life that wasn't powered by coffee?

No surprise here: Jason took a scientific approach to determine the perfect brew, which he shares in this episode. It's an exploration in grind fineness, time in contact, filter properties, and, of course, personal taste.

We also briefly investigate a Department of Defense initiative aimed at discovering the optimal amount of coffee to drink – and when to drink it.

K-cups and dead turtles? Oh yeah, we go there.

Maker Minute: Mokhtar Alkhanshali

With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world. – Dalai Lama

And yet who among us hasn't suffered a crisis of confidence at some point in their lives? In this episode Jason & Ben explore self esteem & self confidence – how to define them, ways to manufacture the latter, and real-world examples that can inspire you to find yours.

Maker Minute: The Dawn Wall

Jason took a few driving courses so that basically makes him an expert. Both Ben and Jason recount their brushes with death behind the wheel, and Jason issues a sobering PSA to all you listeners who think "I can probably get another season out of these tires."

Maker Minute: Corey Hosford

Jason knows too well the negative impact knock offs can have on a small business. Unfortunately the small guy has little recourse when up against a big company or a manufacturer in China.

We dive into one of the more famous examples of a knock off – the Emeco Navy Chair, explore some of Jason's experience with Prometheus Lights and Beta knock offs, and offer a few ways (both practical and impractical) to fight back.

Maker Minute: The Emeco Navy Chair

From the good ole days of smoking sections and free meals to the modern day cattle cars with wings – this one's got it all. But we'll have to charge extra for most of it.

Tips to minimize travel stress, must-have travel carries, plus a billion dollar flight-related app idea that one lucky listener will surely rush off to develop.

If you are, are going to be, never will be, or might be (you know who you are) a parent, this is the Last Parenting Podcast Episode You'll Ever Need.

An optimist and a pessimist distill their combined decade+ experiences as parents into a de facto guidebook for the modern mom & dad.

Also, Nature Wins.

Also, stop judging other parents.

Also, cut yourself some slack.

Maker Minute: [You'll have to listen to this one to find out.]