The Mortise & Tenon Podcast

In this episode, Joshua again sits down with Kenneth Kortemeier of Maine Coast Craft School to discuss Bill Coperthwaite’s final chapter in A Handmade Life titled “Life Work.” Bill leaves us with a call to pursue a whole life of adventure, rather than one of occasional escape. He wants us to engage deeply with making and living with others. Kortemeier brings breadth a experience leading people through hard experiences in Outward Bound expeditions, boat building, and other handcrafts. This episode may just steer you away from the life of “sitting alone in your room, alone, watching the TV set and waiting for the end.” Bill hoped instead to “encourage people everywhere to get involved.”

In this episode, Joshua sits down with Kenneth Kortemeier of Maine Coast Craft School to discuss Bill Coperthwaite’s chapter on “Simplicity.” Because Kenneth was a close friend of Bill’s, he brings a fascinating (and surprising) perspective to Bill’s words and life. This man’s “experiment in living” has inspired many to carefully consider their own life choices, in an endless pursuit of the most beautiful and elegant solutions.

In this episode, the guys discussion their latest book: Tools for Engagement: Reclaiming Craft in an Age of Technology. This has been in the works for several years, and it is unlike any other craft book out there. Bringing together rich discussion about the value of skilled hand work with a plethora of woodworking projects, Tools for Engagement is designed to make an impact on woodworkers today. In an era that prizes ease and “frictionless” life, it is critical that we respond with personal engagement. Roll up your sleeves. Take up tools. Stay human.

In this new episode, the guys work their way through Bill’s chapter on the true meaning of “wealth.” Rather than think of wealth merely in terms of monetary accumulation, Bill suggests we think of real enrichment as sharing things that benefit others, such as teaching skills, telling stories, or sharing a meal. In such times, no one goes without so that others can gain – all are better off for having participated. That is true wealth. Joshua and Mike highlight such topics as keeping your possessions to an amount you can personally manage and care for, building your own home over years, and designing “democratic chairs” anyone could build with a little effort. This is, as you’ve surely come to expect, a lofty and “enriching” discussion. Bill’s book is always worth engaging, and this chapter is no exception.

In this episode, Joshua and Mike interact with Bill Coperthwaite’s vision for how handcraft might better reflect a compassionate view of the world. Rather than seeking to dominate or impose our wills on our world, we would do better to “cultivate a reverence for all things” – to work with the nature of our materials, instead of against it. And what if the design could somehow reflect our values? What does the design of our homes “say” about what we value? What chair designs might make woodworking accessible to everyone? How is the notion of “living by ideals” in need of recovery? Listen in on this episode to see what the guys have to say about Bill’s chapter.

In this episode, the guys tackle Bill Coperthwaite’s discussions about education – the kind that stifles us, and the kind that is conducive to a fulfilling life of engagement. Bill, as he is won’t to do, seeks to breaks down barriers and facilitate cooperation in his vision for a “handmade life.” Joshua and Mike appreciated so much in his take even if he seems to overreach at times. As a counter, the guys agreed that mentorship is important and that sometimes we don’t have the oomph to follow through on hard things. In times such as those, our souls need a spanking. Cultivating self-discipline is an important part of education. Listen in on Joshua and Mike interacting with Bill’s musings.

In this episode, the guys discuss Bill Coperthwaite’s chapter on labor: the goodness of it, the exploitation of it, and some of his ideas about how it can be improved. This is an idealistic vision that Joshua and Mike both resonate with and critique. Prepare to have your hackles raised. No matter where you’re coming from, you are sure to be offended by at least a few things in this episode.

In this episode, Joshua and Mike tackle Bill Coperthwaite’s discussion of beauty. The focus of this chapter is relatively narrow, zeroing in on the intangible aspects of beauty such as the production context: Who made this? Under what circumstances was it made? Etc. Coperthwaite argues that the process of deepening your knowledge of a thing enriches your sense of its beauty (or ugliness, as the case may be). When we fill our lives with things that are truly beautiful instead of only superficially so, the stuff we use on a daily basis becomes that much more meaningful. So meaningful, that we might even find ourselves apologizing to a broken teacup.

In this episode, Joshua and Mike pick up their discussion of Bill Coperthwaite’s first chapter in A Handmade Life. The discussion meanders through questions of the value of expertise, being an apprentice who is preparing to one day be a master, and blending the best of human cultures.

In this episode, Joshua and Mike tackle the first chapter in Bill Coperthwaite’s A Handmade Life: “Society by Design / Design by Society.” This chapter is worked through section by section, explaining and interacting with Bill’s relentless call to deliberately reorient our lives toward the best and most beautiful ends. This “democratic” call is for everyone to participate in self-reflection and purposeful action. The guys made it through the first half of the chapter, which ends with an intriguing critique of electric can openers, of which Bill said he “can’t think of anything more ridiculous.” This is technology criticism in action.