Shows
Beers with EngineersDoug Katz and Gordon Downey: The Tony Stark of Adaptive Products56 – Doug Katz and Gordon Downey: The Tony Stark of Adaptive Products
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Nulu Knives: https://nuluknives.com/ BWENULU2026 to save on a Nulu knife
Doug Katz – wouldn’t name children Alley or Tom
Gordon Downey considered April Fresh and Summer Breeze for his twins
Doug went to West Point
Gordon is an industrial designer but started studying advertising
Was also a commercial photographer.
Industrial designers need to know a bit about engineering BUT
Engineers need to know a bit about industrial design.
Their Nulu knife is based on the ulu knife us...
2026-02-021h 03Beers with EngineersHoward Silverstein: Sometimes it just Clix#55 – Howard Silverstein: Sometimes it just Clix
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Likes to drink a black and tan
Tonight, opening a bottle of 18 year old Macallan
Has a mechanical mind but is not handy with tools.
Likes to keep it simple.
“Yes if…” not “No because…”
The business card holder he worked on.
They invented “Clix” to fill boats with gas without spilling.
It’s more than just a funnel.
For some reasons boat openings are different from cars.
Also applies to construction vehicles and more.
“The day you stop learning is the day you start dying.”
Won Innovation...
2026-01-191h 04Beers with EngineersNaeem Turner-Bandele: His Plan is Electrifying#54 – Naeem Turner-Bandele: His plan is electrifying
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Likes to drink Ginjinha, a Portuguese cherry liqueur
Wanted to be a professional soccer player.
Moved to Brazil and discovered power outages were frequent.
Then he got a serious concussion and pivoted to wanting to start an energy technology company.
From no interest in engineering to getting a PhD.
He is known for being a man with a plan
Dissertation topic was integrating renewables into the electric grid
His company, Latimer Enterprise, is named for Lewis Howard Latimer
About lights bulbs not lasting a long tim...
2026-01-051h 07Beers with EngineersJosh Weaver: Engineers/Christmas#B5 – Josh Weaver: Engineers/Christmas
Josh is Bert’s nephew for this Christmas themed podcast
Josh is drinking a Bell’s Lighthearted IPA.
Bert is enjoying a Bailey’s Irish Cream.
One semester as a computer science major.
A few years as a commercial painter but did not see it as a long term thing.
Started working for his step-father’s manufacturing company.
Forgive the dog sneaky toy in the background.
Josh “sequestered” the dog and the toy.
Works for Oster Manufacturing.
They make pipe threading equipment, not toasters.
Josh helped out a woman who sent them her can opener.
He...
2025-12-221h 03Beers with EngineersStan Leong: Engineering Your Finances#53 – Stan Leong: Engineering Your Finances
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Stan is a Buffalo Bills fan, like Bert.
Electrical engineer from Cornell
Likes how the simple things of electronics build into complex things.
Was laid off the week after he bought his first house.
Saw a financial job on Monster.com (remember that?)
Got all his clients through cold calling
So miserable his wife handing out resumes to engineering companies. 15:00
After a rough start, he now loves his career- and is still using his engineering skills.
Engineers are good with numbers, unless there is a dollar sig...
2025-12-151h 02Beers with EngineersTherese Miclot: The Engineer Whisperer#52 – Therese Miclot: The Engineer Whisperer
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Drinking a Spotted Cow, available only in Wisconsin.
Observed her mom who struggled with pad bosses.
Got intrigued by the psychology of work.
First job at a heavy engineering company – Rockwell
Found leadership and communication skills lacking in engineers.
But both are important even if you don’t want to go into management.
“The Trusted Advisor” by Maister, Green, and Galford
Engineer should look at changing habits as expanding their range.
Dual career path options still exist for engineers.
Business cards aren’t dead yet.
Openness to receive fe...
2025-11-301h 03Beers with EngineersJames Kell: Seven continents without tryingShow Notes
#51 – James Kell: Seven continents without trying
James lives on the beach in Bondi, Australia
He could be a wedding crasher without making up occupations
Likes to do fasting 36 – 72 hours
Studied engineering in Germany but went into construction
He eats Vegemite and teaches the secret of eating it.
Australians also check to see if water swirls the other direction in the toilet when crossing the equator.
Won an Australian Shark Tank contest.
His construction company built Apple stores
Scratchie app makes safety about reward and punishment
McDonald’s stores in Australia are using it.
He has be...
2025-11-171h 03Beers with EngineersYear 2 Jokes - Funny strange or funny ha ha?Bonus Episode #4: Year 2 Jokes
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In this bonus episode all of the jokes from the second year of the podcast are compiled in one place. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
Enjoy!
Bert's company - www.dexterityeng.com
Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".
2025-11-1016 minBeers with EngineersCharles Gillis, P.E.: Engineering and Art#50 – Charles Gillis, P.E.: Engineering and art
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Drinking a Start Line IPA in honor of his hometown, Hopkinton, where the Boston Marathon starts.
His mom knew he would be an engineer long before he did.
Has an interest in art, but isn’t an artist
Artist and engineers both combine existing things in new and interesting ways.
Worked controllable pitch propellors
First job at Gillette.
Everything is fascinating if you look at it close enough
Bert gets corrected - Nypro was assembling Gillette, not Bic shavers.
The mystery of razor blade profi...
2025-11-031h 05Beers with EngineersScott Bruneau: A traditional non-traditional engineer#49 – Scott Bruneau: A traditional non-traditional engineer
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an engineer is somebody who makes precise guesswork based on unreliable data provided by people with questionable knowledge.
Studied nuclear engineering in high school. Yes, high school.
Buuuut, got his engineering degree late in life.
An early position was in quality – to get to know the parts – because that group knows them best.
Worked on drill rigs – building and using.
Buying Delaware metals was a legacy decision, not a financial one.
AeroGrowth has helped his business grow.
Ownership will give you humility.
Quoting production jobs was a big l...
2025-10-2058 minBeers with EngineersBob Bouthillier: Innovation Requires Disobedience#48– Bob Bouthillier: Innovation Requires Disobedience
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Like father, like son. His father was an electrical engineer.
But started college as a pharmacist
Did quality inspection of guns – including a Howizter cannon.
He can assemble guns fast – not quite as fast as Forrest Gump.
Inspecting ball bearings – stains vs pits.
His podcast summarizes books on innovation.
Just as generals are well prepared for the last war, CEOs operate in a similar way.
You don’t get real innovation without disobedience.
Treat AI like an intern.
Gell-Mann amnesia Effect – be careful trusting AI.
His AI prompts ar...
2025-10-061h 02Beers with EngineersJordan Poots:He’s good at maths.#47 – Jordan Poots: He’s good at maths.
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Mechanical engineer from Northern Ireland
Who quickly went into software.
Maths or math? Well, it is mathematicS.
UK still has a mix of English and metric
He was into AI before it was cool.
Studied vehicle on-ramp merging
Can change the car from altruistic to individualistic behavior
Still interested in mechanical engineering, such as FEA.
One use of AI for engineers is as a chatbot for help with software.
AI makes arithmetic mistakes – it is know to struggle with it
Evolutionary algori...
2025-09-2256 minBeers with EngineersNoel LaFlamme: Hammer and Forge Metallurgist#46 – Noel LaFlamme: Hammer and Forge Metallurgist
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Always interested in how things work and making it better.
Which led to blacksmithing - by way of archery
Made arrowheads out of rebar.
Which (of course) led to a sword.
Rules of thumb for temperature of steel.
Blacksmithing is a hobby that makes a few bucks.
Specialty is chef’s knives
Good knives are tapered from spine to edge and from bast to tip.
YouTube videos on knife making are a mixed-bag.
1st job out of college was at a venture capi...
2025-09-081h 00Beers with EngineersDan Schreiber: Beer Flavored Ice Cream#45 – Dan Schreiber: Beer Flavored Ice Cream
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Dan is an architect in Green Bay but had always wanted to be a farmer.
Stroh’s was the local macro-brewery when Dan and Bert went to college.
They made ice cream, then and still do today.
Do corn farmers put feed corn around the perimeter of their field?
Bert and Dan rode a mechanical bull in Kentucky
Felt like an architect on his second job.
Dan thinks architects adopted CAD at about the same rate as engineers
If he was born ten...
2025-08-251h 01Beers with EngineersCaitlin Vaillancourt - How to avoid breaking chips. The edible ones.#44 – Caitlin Vaillincourt: How to avoid braking chip. The edible ones.
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Pros and cons of longer or shorter college terms
Played basketball in college and traveled abroad
Part of global leadership development program at Avery Dennison and loved the experience.
Interned at Frito-Lay reducing potato chip breakage.
For now, she is happy with project management but misses working with customers.
The 8D quality approach is eight disciplines, not eight things that start with D. https://asq.org/quality-resources/eight-disciplines-8d
It seems easy to make a cable tie but ma...
2025-08-111h 02Beers with EngineersJosh Tarbutton: Accidentally Awesome#43 – Josh Tarbutton: Accidentally Awesome
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Likes Sugar Creek Brewery in Charlotte, NC.
They have a master cicerone (you’ll have to listen to find out)
Started working at age 12.
Got GED and went to Georgia Tech.
PhD dissertation was on CNC machining software
In the Army reserve in Iraq, he was a fuel specialist who actually knew about fuel.
Bravo team name is partially from the SEAL team and partially from Italian Bravo!
You do and learn a lot at product development firms.
B-players in an A-system yields success.
Engi...
2025-07-2859 minBeers with EngineersGretchen Gagel: Leaving the world a better place.#42 – Gretchen Gagel: Leaving the world a better place.
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Likes beer from Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City
In Australia, the living room is the lounge room.
Went to SMU and saw Eric Dickerson play.
Dad sold construction equipment and she played with Tonka trucks.
Built Baltimore Ravens Stadium and many other things.
Very little manufacturing in Australia, therefore most construction is infrastructure.
Most construction job in Australia are 6 days a week. No wonder it is tough to hire.
Some evidence shows same output in 4 days as in 5.
Get the ri...
2025-07-151h 00Beers with EngineersWes Schwie - Porsches, patents, problems, and pigs.#41 – Wes Schwie: Porsches, patents, problems, and pigs.
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Became an engineer to be like his brother.
Became a patent attorney because his friend’s uncle drove a nice Porsche.
He learned writing patents and claims as mostly on the job training.
First job as an inside sales engineer – wasn’t that good at it.
Firm’s name of Gallium Law was proposed by a friend.
Gallium (the element, not the law firm) has anti-bacterial properties.
Favorite accomplishment is starting Gallium Law.
Worked for Innovelis that makes mounts for various electronic...
2025-07-021h 00Beers with EngineersJohn Clarke: Don’t be a cow on ice#40 – John Clarke: Don’t be a cow on ice
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Found morel mushrooms in his yard and ate them. And ventured into others.
Hunting wild berries
Drinking Little Willow beer – tired it because his daughter is Willow.
Tried numerous manual labor jobs in high school – which convinced him to go to college.
Manager to engineer to manager.
Worked at a high tech textile company
A great project that was awful.
A crazy way to remove tatoos. Maybe.
Nitinol tubing in a medical device
Lack of documentation really annoys him.
Feeling...
2025-05-201h 04Beers with EngineersKyle Smith: Engineering knowledge and wisdom#39 – Kyle Smith: Engineering knowledge and wisdom
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Kyle saved Bert’s butt by modifying parts overnight
You tend to repeat small mistakes, but not big ones.
Another engineer who started with Legos
Self-taught on an early computer animation program – Maya.
Which led into SolidWorks
Got a mill for cheap and converted to CNC
Kyle and Bert both use Send Cut Send – not sure how they make money.
Company name is Sparrow Hawk Design – small and agile.
Industrial designers need to interact with engineers.
Two excellent books
Manufacturing Processes for Design Pro...
2025-04-281h 02Beers with EngineersSeth Greenwald: Engineers are storytellers, too.#38 – Seth Greenwald: Engineers are storytellers, too.
A teller of “good” stories
Active in toastmasters
Soul Brewing Company
Attended Cooper Union to be an architect, but….
First job was as a furniture designer.
“Serious Creativity” by Edward DeBono – lateral thinking
You need to know when to be logical and when to be lateral
Divergent thinking before convergent thinking
Toastmasters help you to speak and to lead
Gives workshops on storytelling
MOTH – a storytelling organization
Six words stories
The Power of Storytelling for Project Professionals or mycpe.com
Plans to hike the Appalachian Trail
Speaking in Louisville on May 13 about generative AI.
B...
2025-04-141h 00Beers with EngineersLarry Bridge: Sustainability is good business#37 – Larry Bridge: Sustainability is good business
Built the pedestrian bridge over Sycamore St in Cincinnati.
Bert wants to use nitinol someday. It is super-elastic and has shape memory.
Larry’s dad was called Mr. Steel and his uncle worked on submarine propellors.
Thought about being an actuary
Quickly moved into project management – lots of capital products
HVAC in an R&D building is huge expense
Kosher surfactants are a thing
A big problem with waste is transporting it.
Cincinnati is building an anaerobic digester, P&G is a big “supplier”
Kentucky’s water is key to horses and bourbon.
Doe...
2025-03-311h 02Beers with EngineersPete Rezac - The Ritual Engineer#36 – Pete Rezac: The Ritual Engineer
First job out of college was at a startup working on hydrogen energy.
Pete was unschooled (not homeschooled) through 7th
Didn’t believe his Mom when she tried to teach him the rules of English.
For math he was mostly self-taught and discovered the distributive property
Often school erodes children’s natural inquisitiveness.
Many smart kids were troublemakers because they were bored.
Decision on whether to homeschool his kids was not what you would expect.
Our brains have learning windows that close.
Science is discovering ways to open them back up.
The Anxious Genera...
2025-03-171h 01Beers with EngineersDavid Elentukh: Not An EIT, A DIT – Doctor in Training#35 – David Elentukh: Not An EIT, A DIT – Doctor in Training
Drinking kombucha but is a sour beer fan.
12 cylinder rotary engines?
Why do we make the decisions we do?
“Paycheck” with Ben Affleck and other movies inspired him to engineering. (but not “Falling Down”)
Isaac Asimov did not believe in character development, especially in the “Foundation” series.
Knows why he loves engineering, but less why he became one.
Every day is a new challenge.
Really good designs are often not wildly creative but well implemented.
Challenging the idea of a biomedical engineering degree.
Which is better for college, quarters or seme...
2025-03-031h 05Beers with EngineersTim Johnson: Axe throwing, Ninja engineer#34 – Tim Johnson: Axe throwing, Ninja engineer
Owns a Parkour/ninja gym and Axe-Throwing Bar
The town council raised an eyebrow at the second one.
Tinker toys and old broken toys can be used for prototypes
In college, president of the Demiurgical Engineering club.
Worked on the Segway and Rockband drumkit.
Tried to quit but his boss wouldn’t let him.
Has been doing martial arts since he was a child
so he started his own gym.
but thinks it has been a bit wimpified a bit.
Once an engineer, always an engineer
When starting a company, better to do i...
2025-02-1758 minBeers with EngineersChris Costa: He always has enough time for people.#33 – Chris Costa: He always has enough time for people.
Chris is enjoying his favorite beer, Sam Adams Octoberfest
Chris placed engineers and now sells SolidWorks
Crashed three planes when in high school
Some recruiters suggest jobs that are a terrible fit.
It seems like an easy job, but it isn’t. It requires lots of contacts.
Learn from his father: “You always have enough time for people”
How many things could you do with this brick?
Drafter and mechanical designer jobs have all but disappeared.
Mechanical engineers wear a lot of hats.
Engineers get too much blame and not enou...
2025-02-0358 minBeers with EngineersSteve Drake: Speakers in your suspension?#32 – Steve Drake: Speakers in your suspension?
Beers with engineers or wine-ing and designing?
Steve worked at Bose – the Soundlink and the Wave CD radio.
As a kid, he jumped off a roof with a trash bag as a parachute.
Elsewhere, worked in electro-optics system group.
Always been interested in acoustics and Bose was very close to home.
Bose was a great place to work; high caliber people.
Bose worked on car suspension.
They also worked on suspension seats for trucks.
Bose – big rich sound in a really small package
Steve likes Klipsch speakers
Helped unify different groups at Olympu...
2025-01-2358 minBeers with EngineersTodd Mansfield: Culture is what you do.#31 – Todd Mansfield: Culture is what you do.
Lots of microbreweries in Boise, Idaho.
Todd grew up on a farm north of Boise.
He became an aircraft mechanic and is also a pilot
He did fly the planes he worked on.
Later involved in building materials and electromechanical devices.
Worked on kit airplanes
9V batteries contain 6 AAAA batteries
His company, OneIPM, co-founded by Bill Dahl, who co-founded Solidworks PDM Works.
Their tool is fully integrated into Onshape
Bert used and liked Trello years ago.
One IPM and Trello both use kanban boards
OneIPM is good for project management and as...
2025-01-081h 00Beers with EngineersJosh Hoy: Robots and a dollar store trebuchet#30 – Josh Hoy: Robots and a dollar store trebuchet
Josh wanted to work on robots since 4th
You learn the fastest by making mistakes and teaching other people about them.
Robotics program is like three minors
You work both below and above your pay grade.
Bamboo bicycles are a thing; bamboo lacrosse sticks, too.
Wooden shoes complicated forming the EU.
Things look done way before they are done.
A few SolidWorks tips.
Josh is a big OnShape fan
Did you know dollar stores sell pallets?
A specific career plan is not required, but a guiding thought is.
Bert’s Co...
2024-12-231h 09Beers with EngineersAnnie Green: Artificial Intelligence, consider both value and values.#29 – Annie Green: Artificial Intelligence, consider both value and values.
Among other things, Annie is an instructor at George Washington University.
She originally wanted to be a pediatrician but decided against it.
Working with blood analyzers was part of her shift to engineering.
Artificial intelligence is the emulation of man.
Our brains use the past and the present to predict the future.
Structured vs unstructured artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence vs augmented intelligence
ChatGPT, et al are augmented intelligence.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Laziness is the father.
She feels we need to stop or pause and th...
2024-12-051h 01Beers with EngineersBeers with Engineers Trailer, 2.0This trailer gives you a quick overview of the podcast. Your host, Bert Uschold, talks to other engineers about their careers, engineering, and whatever else that interests us. It is a pint of fun and a shot of geek.
If you want to find out more about Bert, below is a link to a short bio and a bit of work history. https://dexterityeng.com/about
2024-12-0301 minBeers with EngineersTim Coonahan: Not team building, building a team#28 – Tim Coonahan: Not team building, building a team
Tim is Director, Design and Development at Medica Corporation
Drinking engineering appropriately named beer – “Ripping Through Dimensions” and “Memory Bias”.
An anti-phonetic (not semaphore) alphabet “A” as in are, “y” as in you, “E” as in eye.
Went to RPI – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, oldest non-military technical school in the US.
Started as biomedical, ended as mechanical
Learn as much as you possibly can
From a family of engineers – steel and railroads
Organic chemistry as an elective?
Is vertical integration coming back?
A Machine Design cover story got him into product development con...
2024-11-211h 01Beers with EngineersBONUS 3: Just the jokes, ma'am.Bonus Episode #3
In this bonus episode all of the jokes from the first year of the podcast are compiled in one place. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. One duplicate was removed and another you could argue is a duplicate but got left in.
Unlike many compilations, there is no extra narration between clips stretching it out. A bit of the original conversations before and after is included to make it flow a little better.
Enjoy!
Bert's company - www.dex...
2024-11-1419 minBeers with EngineersBert Uschold - On the other side of the mike.#27 – Bert Uschold: On the other side of the mike.
Bert owns his own engineering consulting firm, Dexterity Engineering, LLC and regular host of this podcast.
Doug wants to be like Bert
Doug has bought over half the beers Bert has ever consumed.
He could have been a lumberjack or an architect
A night light was his first invention.
A quart of random loose change is about $100.
Bert is more design engineer than mechanical engineer
Or even better, full stack product development engineer.
Bert figured out how to determine process capability for true position dimensions.
And Doug’s co...
2024-11-071h 03Beers with EngineersDoug Tyger - What makes an engineer?#26 – Doug Tyger – When is an engineer not an engineer?
Doug is the owner of Integral Manufacturing, between Cincinnati and Dayton.
Chose engineering because it paid well
Chose material science because materials are important to all other engineering disciplines.
We were coops at Procter and Gamble.
Helped fix a broken Pringles line
He saw more options at a steel company, whose president was a metallurgical engineer.
Supported auto industry.
They crashed a lot of cars during development back then
Material Science Engineering degree – isn’t something either science or engineering?
He worked with guys who could design alloys i...
2024-10-251h 01Beers with EngineersMurat Islam - He's a Turk, Definitely not a Turkey.#25 – Murat Islam: He’s a Turk, Definitely not a Turkey.
Murat is a Lead Engineer at John Crane Couplings
Fellow of the IMechE, like the ASME
We call it A-S-M-E, they call it as-me.
Growing up in Turkey, he and brothers made their own toys.
Turkey’s college entrance exam is different from the US and UK.
It helps direct you into your best subject
SAT and other tests are not the best, but they are what we have
Some of his engineering classes were in English.
Earned a master’s degree in UK.
Received patent for inst...
2024-10-1459 min2024-10-1400 minBeers with EngineersLuis Figarella - The Fourth F is for Figarella#24 – Luis Figarella: The Fourth F is for Figarella
Luis is patent agent in Massachusetts, originally from Puerto Rico and enjoying a Puerto Rican beer.
Wanted to be a fighter pilot but stopped by bad eyes.
Became an electrical engineer instead.
Remember when resumes were actually mailed?
In late 80s, worked for UPS on automated truck loading.
Early in his career, he didn’t even know what a patent was.
Learned his first patent had issued because he received an offer to make a plaque of it.
Patent descriptions are like painting by numbers.
It is an impo...
2024-09-201h 11Beers with EngineersClay Williams - Supply chains are like fractals#23 - Clay Williams: Supply chains are like fractals
Clay is an account executive for Jiga.
Clay is from Tennessee and has actually been to my town, Leominster, MA.
Degree in Supply Chain Management
Video of Roman Army on the march
Jiga – cross between digital manufacturing and local machine shop
Full automation is really tough?
Hadrian Automation – Manufacturing the future.
Seem to be following The Goal or Theory of Constraints, both by Eli Goldratt
Supply chain strategy often base on manufacturing concepts.
Supply chains are internal and external
Not “The Origin of Stuff”, but “The Story of Stuff” Ann...
2024-08-301h 01Beers with EngineersMatt De Remer - Every Product is Important#22 - Matt De Remer: Every Product is Important
Matt has his own engineering consulting firm, engineered. (Updated since released)
In high school, bought an RC car instead of a real car.
He chose engineering over art.
UMass Amherst had a program to help choose which branch of engineering.
Mechanical engineering degrees can go into a wide variety of fields.
In college, engineers need to problem solve and then keep learning.
Small development firms – some formal training but lots of on-the-job training.
Specialization vs generalization.
Entrepreneurism is in our families.
Matt learned from his father’s example.
Virt...
2024-08-161h 02Beers with EngineersBONUS 2: Kevin Kildea - Cooking with GeeksBONUS #2 - Kevin Kildea: Cooking with Geeks
Kevin teaches high school math in the Detroit area.
Math major, teaching certificate, minor in radio and production
Likes a beer called “Final Absolution”
Joke about mathematicians and sheep
Bert blew up Michael Jackson in college.
Editing vs. splicing. Tape vs film. Audio vs. video.
Math homework is easier to grade than history or English.
“Don’t teach your students what they can look up on Google.”
Teach students how to think, how to find answers, and how to problem solve.
Fighting AI doing homework.
The student body has changed –...
2024-08-091h 01Beers with EngineersChris King - Engineering Songs (verb, not adjective)#21 – Chris King: Engineering Songs (verb, not adjective)
Chris is Program Engineer at Church & Dwight
Chris was drinking a Sedlec 12° from Human robot brewery in Philadelphia.
His house had a slate roof. You could see light through it but it didn’t leak.
On drinking 151 rum – after burning off the alcohol.
Loves the creative problem solving of engineering.
3D printers are great to have but it is tough to make money on them.
Re-built an MG Midget. Restoration vs re-build.
Enjoyed creating a product lifecycle management system and the training part of the rollout.
Microphones and guitars as secu...
2024-08-0156 minBeers with EngineersDave Guertin - The Nuts of Software#19 - Dave Guertin: The Nuts of Software
Dave is a Senior Programmer Director at Meditech.
Not a Beer drinker – Sangria or Bailey’s
Software engineers have a sense of humor, too.
His high school had AutoCAD in 1985(ish).
He learned it and sort of taught the class.
Software engineering hasn’t changed, yet it is completely different.
Programming has been commoditized –
But it depends how you define it.
Does everyone need to know how to code?
No but, they all need to learn to use a computer.
Both mechanical engineers and software engineers use many off the shel...
2024-07-191h 01Beers with EngineersDanielle YoungSmith - From Outer Space to Inner Space#20 - Danielle YoungSmith: From Outer Space to Inner Space
Danielle is an astrobiologist turned software engineer turned Purpose Clarity Coach.
Homebrewing is safe and delicious, but occasionally messy.
She wanted to be an astronaut
She is a full stack engineer – she can do the back and front end of your software product.
Astrobiology – more than studying aliens
More people would take organic chemistry if they talked about aliens.
She went to Mars (OK, it was really Utah) Mars Desert Research Station
How do plants grow in space? In circles.
AI – a little overhyped, but depends on the fie...
2024-07-191h 01Beers with EngineersBONUS 1: Jen Uschold - She can engineer your pain awayBONUS #1 - Jen Uschold: She can engineer your pain away
Jen is my sister and an awesome physical therapist
Jen is a physical therapist – let’s call it a body engineer.
She is an “engineer” because she fixes problems you didn’t know you had using methods you don’t understand.
Psychotic pain and being sedimentary?
Jen knows a lot about pain science.
It is very complex
Some is mechanical, some is “software”
It is 1/3 biology. 1/3 psychology, and 1/3 sociology
Pain is normal and sometimes good.
You need to understand it to treat it.
Jen and I overanalyze what...
2024-07-121h 01Beers with EngineersSummer Update - Keep Cool and Listen OnA quick update for the summer.
More episodes coming.
Bonus episodes coming.
Working on process capability for true position paper.
LinkedIn version here.
Get your alt-code card here.
www.dexterityeng.com
2024-06-2803 minBeers with EngineersDave Honan - Engineers are dogs, designers are cats.#18 - Dave Honan: Engineers are dogs, designers are cats
Dave is an industrial designer for Technimark, LLC
Like the title says, engineers are like dogs and designers are like cats
Dave was very detailed in the models he made as a kid. He still is.
IDSA is Industrial Designers Society of America.
Have the rookies design your next product
Many design firms are under molders instead of being independent.
Making the customer and the manufacturing guys happy
Highs and lows of product development
Avoid the “not invented here syndrome”, be open to new things
Don’t take d...
2024-06-2158 minBeers with EngineersHeidi Mehrzad - Human Factors is Applied Psychology#17 - Heidi Mehrzad
Fun with hashtags
Her favorite beer is Bitburger, from her hometown in Bitburg, Germany.
The thing about German lightbulbs...
Heidi is autistic and ADHD.
Her work uses her creative and analytical side
Investment banker to software engineering to pilot to aeronautical engineer to human factors scientist (with a stint as an EMT)
Redesigning a cockpit layout a lot of fun.
Human factors is not just about design, it is applied psychology.
To develop something new, you must define what is wrong with the old.
Heidi’s company - HFUX Research. Same services as other companies bu...
2024-06-101h 00Beers with EngineersMike Warznie - When in Germany, Be Like Mike#16 - Mike Warznie: When in Germany, Be Like Mike
Mike is an engineer for Nissan outside of Detroit.
Mike is right 95% of the time
He became an engineer to be cool.
Decided he liked engineering only three years ago.
Fatigue failures – find your own k factor and are tough to solve
Don’t trust your memory – write everything down.
Evaluating silicone seals can be unexpected.
Doing lab reports in college is actually a useful skill
Physics doesn’t lie
Working in the shop is great experience
Rockets, salts, and airbags – all at one company
Everything is more comple...
2024-05-2459 minBeers with EngineersTom Kenney - He makes jet engines cool. Literally.#15 - Tom Kenney - He makes jet engines cool. Literally.
Tom is an engineer at GE Aerospace
Vocational schools aren't what they used to be.
From Porsche 911 dreams to Miata reality to Bughatti dreams. Or maybe just an MG.
Jet engineer or rocket scientist? You decide.
Jet engines are hot, Tom makes them cool.
Material science and better cooling have made jets are way more efficient than they used to be.
Solving problems is AWESOME!
If you are a young engineer, don’t be afraid to open your mouth and make a suggestion. It might not be...
2024-05-1059 minBeers with EngineersRobert Kropiniewicz - You can't drill holes from the inside out#14 - Robert Kropiniewicz: You can't drill holes from the inside out
First guest outside of US.
Before becoming an engineer, he was going to go into religious life.
Started in engineering in quality but didn’t want to wear safety shoes.
In Solidworks, just because you can do it one way, doesn’t mean you should.
It is critical to design the part for the process.
Also, build the part to convey design intent.
For the engineer, the drawing is your finished product.
Tap into the knowledge of the guys on the shop floor.
Don’t be proud.
Engine...
2024-04-2658 minBeers with EngineersCherie Duddridge - Retirement and ROUSs#13 - Cherie Duddridge: Retirement and ROUSs
Cherie is retired after many years at BP.
Topics of Conversation:
Oil companies are not all bad. - they invest a lot in green technology in various ways.
Bert’s crazy solution to recycling.
Cherie’s experience with autism and neurodiversity.
Any individual is neither unique or universal
Benefits on including non-experts
Your local chamber of commerce can help you in your business.
Yoga is good for fitness – physical and mental
Be careful saying “Do you have a minute to talk?”
Movies - “Reservoir Dogs”- bad. “Princess Bride” – good
Ini...
2024-04-1249 minBeers with EngineersDave Smith - He plays games and asks questions.#12 - Dave Smith: He plays games and asks questions.
Dave is a manufacturing engineer that I worked with at Avery Dennison. We talk about:
How those little things that hold the tag to your clothes are made (by Avery Dennison) It is pretty cool and the reason Dave still works there.
Manufacturing is hard.
Book reference - “Zero Marginal Cost Society” and 3D printing tractors
Space Exploration by self-replicating probes or worm holes.
Board games – Settlers of Cataan changed everything.
Complex games vs simple games and sports
The game Bohnanza – Dave’s rules are better
Some stuff is fu...
2024-03-2957 minBeers with EngineersRafael Diana - Wait a minute? He's an engineer?#11 - Rafael Diana: Wait a minute? He's an engineer?
Sorry, no joke this time.
Learn by doing and helping others
Land the little fish before the big fish.
New projects and interviews are like a first date.
Read a lot and learn from many different sources.
Mentoring - it’s important and worth it to take the time teach people.
Mentoring – people at all levels need it.
Loss aversion and the strange psychology of buying things from friends.
Risk analysis and confidence.
Humility is a good thing.
Three E’s – efficiency, effectiveness, and education.
Engineers aren’t cheap – th...
2024-03-1558 minBeers with EngineersCharlie Sears - Are some engineers becoming a commodity?#10 - Charlie Sears: Are some engineers becoming a commodity?
CAD – from the beginning
Scotch in bourbon barrels
3D printing – from the beginning
Medical Device approval
Concurrent engineering and FDA approval
Rise and fall(?) of product development firms.
Engineering vs software development
Being good at CAD vs being a good engineer.
Design Engineer vs mechanical engineer.
Don’t get cute designing– you’ll regret it.
Looking done well before you are done.
Vacationing in the Caribbean
Home ice rinks
Engineer’s Toolbox is a useful website.
Sneezing at the sun.
Advice for new engineers, especially in consulting world
Be a sel...
2024-03-011h 01Beers with EngineersFrank Uschold - An engineer or an intellectual rapper?#9 - Frank Uschold: An engineer or an intellectual rapper?
Today's guest is my nephew, a recent graduate of Clarkson University.
Some of our topics include:
Double engineering major and a minor in history.
Why do it and how to accomplish it.
Working on intellectual rap
What he looks for in a job
Skillshare as a music teacher
The Colorado River
The Great Wall of China
How to ruin eggnog
Can a chemical engineer cook?
Rick Beato is the music YouTuber I mentioned. Here is his channel.
Bert's website - Dexterity Engineering, L...
2024-02-1636 minBeers with EngineersMike Marcoux - Buying your wife auto parts. For Christmas.#8 - Mike Marcoux: Buying your wife auto parts. For Christmas.
Today's guest is Mike Marcoux, Director of Engineering at Boston Engineering.
(As of 4/2024, he is a senior engineer at Physik Instrumente)
Here is a couple of links to videos of the robotic tuna, link 1 and link 2.
We also talk about a robotic pterodactyl. Here is a video, but maybe not the one we discussed.
Mike's career advice:
If you can't find something you love, find something you like.
If you can't find something you like, find something you t...
2024-02-0455 minBeers with EngineersMike Marcoux - Buying your wife auto parts for ChristmasToday's guest is Mike Marcoux, Director of Engineering at Boston Engineering.
Here is a couple of link to videos of the robotic tuna, link 1 and link 2.
We also talk about a robotic pterodactyl. Here is a video, but maybe not the one we discussed.
Mike's career advice:
If you can't find something you love, find something you like.
If you can't find something you like, find something you tolerate.
Try autocross with your wife if you want to buy her auto parts next Christmas.
Bert's company, Dexterity Engineering, LLC.
2024-02-0255 minBeers with EngineersJeff Turk - We can’t all be engineers.#7 - Jeff Turk: We can’t all be engineers
Today’s guest is an engineer but he is a recruiter who helps engineers get jobs.
Recruiters are sometimes like lawyers or salesman. They can be annoying until you need one, but when you need one, you want a good one.
Jeff is one of the good ones.
Our conversation covers:
Recruiters: good one vs bad ones.
Are recruiters working for the worker or the company?
Some of Bert’s interview experiences – good and bad.
Interview tips:
Be Friendly
Be confi...
2024-01-1855 minBeers with EngineersBrian Smith - Agility and character: for work and for play.#6 - Brian Smith: Agility and character: for work and for play.
Brian coaches agility development for BigBear.ai. Our conversation starts in Guam, includes the Wright brothers, and ends with family karate. We also discuss:
- managing vs coaching
- listening to and learning from your employees
- efficient employees vs. high value employees
- the cost (and benefit?) of standing by your principles
- decisions from long ago that affect decisions we make today
- The Goal by Eli Goldratt (two thumbs up)
2024-01-1053 minBeers with EngineersNate Rollins - His network is his most valuable resource#5 - Nate Rollins: his network is his most valuable resource.
Nate is a design engineer and independent contractor. Among our topics are:
- his motto – “my network is my most valuable resource”
- 3D printed sugar snacks
- buying cyanoacrylate by the gallon
- the end of mechanical designers
- having your coop employer pay for college
- design engineer vs mechanical engineer
- why his company is still just one man
- comparing ourselves to Richard Branson and Elon Musk
...
2023-12-2258 minBeers with EngineersJay Julian - Did he say ramen spectroscopy?#2 - Jay Julian: Did hew say ramen spectroscopy?
Today's guest, Jay Julian, is founder of Accelerate Design in Charlton, MA.
Out topics include:
specialist vs. generalist, remote teams, mentoring, rock and ice climbing, big vs small company employment, and race cars.
Here is a link to Jay's company, Accelerate Design.
Here is a link to Bert's company, Dexterity Engineering, LLC.
While I am getting no payment, here is a link to the brewery Jay mentioned, Treehouse. If you are in Massachusetts, you have probably heard of them. If...
2023-12-1555 minBeers with EngineersKen Stuber - When engineers go camping.#4 - Ken Stuber: When engineers go camping.
My guest today is Ken Stuber, a friend I met when I lived in Kentucky. He worked for a few years as an engineer for RCA but most of his career was at a non-profit called the Christian Appalachian Project where he did home repair.
We talk about some of the things we built while camping, how his job and Kentucky have changed during his career, and different methods of positioning large wooden beams.
Here is a link to the trebuchet business card.
Here is...
2023-12-0452 minBeers with EngineersRalph Thibodeau - This one is for Moose.#3 - Ralph Thibodeau: This one is for moose.
Ralph is a program manager at Jabil Healthcare in Clinton, MA.
We discussed
some similarities between our colleges and how we decided what kind of engineer to be.
advantages of trial by fire and doing a little of everything as a young engineer
learning from everyone you work with
big salaries can have bad consequences
companies and cultures can change
Finally, we discuss Ralph’s son Josh, aka Moose, and the foundation in his name that provides AED to numerous organizations in central Massachusetts. If yo...
2023-11-1451 minBeers with EngineersJoe Paraschac - I am glad I didn’t kill him.#1 - Joe Paraschac: I am glad I didn't kill him.
The first Beers with Engineers podcast talks with Joe Paraschac, a very experienced medical device engineer that I have known for over thirty years. Among our topics are:
- the importance of design
- serving customers
- knowing when to say when at a job
- second chances in engineering
- changes in engineering management
- a little about playing ukuleles. Yes, ukuleles.
Fortunately, we just barely mention the time I almost killed...
2023-10-2444 min