Episodes

  • Can AI Replace Your Shop’s Smartest Machinist?, with Riley Hutchinson-EP 242

    Can AI Replace Your Shop’s Smartest Machinist?, with Riley Hutchinson-EP 242
    May 6 2025
    Lately, I’ve been kind of on an AI bender using chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude daily. Whether I like it or not, AI is transforming the way I write, the way I search the Internet, maybe even the way I think. My guest on today’s show, Riley Hutchinson, is bringing that transformation into CNC machine [...]
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    40 mins
  • Should I Buy the Expensive or Cheaper CNC Machine? With Justin Tauber–Ep. 159

    Should I Buy the Expensive or Cheaper CNC Machine? With Justin Tauber–Ep. 159
    Apr 29 2025
    When you’re shopping for machines do you find yourself wondering if the more expensive option for a machine is the better one? Does a taiwanese brand perform worse than a German brand? Will one machine last longer than another? Are some machines pretty similar between certain brands? The truth is, paying more money for a [...]
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    41 mins
  • How to Sell a Commodity with Soul, with Mike Pelham–EP 241

    How to Sell a Commodity with Soul, with Mike Pelham–EP 241
    Apr 22 2025
    I met today’s guest, Mike Pelham, completely by chance — over breakfast at the hotel bar during PMTS in Cleveland. He knew who I was from the podcast. But I didn’t know him. Kind of strange when that happens — but it’s really cool. After we talked for five minutes, I started thinking he could [...]
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    33 mins
  • Escaping Your Comfort Zone with Lean Manufacturing, Matthew Rassi-EP 216

    Escaping Your Comfort Zone with Lean Manufacturing, Matthew Rassi-EP 216
    Apr 15 2025
    Working in the machining industry I hear the term “lean manufacturing” mentioned a lot. But what does the word “lean” really mean in this context? And how do you implement it in your company? To help me clarify these questions, I interviewed Matthew Rassi, founder of Twenty Helping Hands. He’s a lean manufacturing consultant who [...]
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    56 mins
  • Tai Chi, Machine Tools, and ALS, with Greg Knight-EP 240

    Tai Chi, Machine Tools, and ALS, with Greg Knight-EP 240
    Apr 8 2025
    Born with no intention of becoming a machinist, Greg Knight says he was drafted into “indentured servitude” at age 16 when his father started a Brown & Sharpe machine shop in their garage. Despite his initial distaste for manual labor, fate had other plans for the psychology, philosophy, religion, and sociology major. I ran into [...]
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Manufacturing Watches is Complicated and Spiritual, with Josh Hacko – EP 195

    Manufacturing Watches is Complicated and Spiritual, with Josh Hacko – EP 195
    Apr 1 2025
    Josh Hacko is a fourth generation watchmaker. He says he was born into his vocation, but in reality his work is truly his own. Josh is Technical Director of two sister companies, NH Micro and Nicholas Hacko Watchmaker, which manufactures high-end wrist watches in Sydney, Australia, that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The [...]
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • How to Sell to a Generation that Won’t Answer Your Calls, with Damon Pistulka-EP 239

    How to Sell to a Generation that Won’t Answer Your Calls, with Damon Pistulka-EP 239
    Mar 25 2025
    On today’s show I’m bringing back one of my favorite past guests on the podcast—Damon Pistulka. The first time Damon was on the show he talked about his company Exit Your Way, which helps businesses level up for successful acquisitions. Today he is going to talk about his other venture, B2BTail, which advises small manufacturing [...]
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    50 mins
  • Supplying Medical Parts Directly to Hospitals, with Thadd Mellott-EP 213

    Supplying Medical Parts Directly to Hospitals, with Thadd Mellott-EP 213
    Mar 17 2025
    My guest on today’s show, Thadd Mellott, called us at Graff-Pinkert because he needed a Star SB20 CNC Swiss machine. His company, Circle M Spring, in Warsaw, Indiana, produces medical parts, including implantable orthopedic components. Circle M Spring is currently merging with a medical component design company that specializes in sports medicine. Thadd is incredibly [...]
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    44 mins