Cool Tools

Latest Episodes:

394: Casper Kelly Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Casper Kelly is a writer/director of weird TV and movies including the viral short Too Many Cooks and the 2023 horror movie Adult Swim Yule Log. His website is casperkelly.com and he's on Twitter and Instagram @heycasperkelly. TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:43 - Chromadepth glasses: https://geni.us/cbvJf 4:53 - Mage.space: https://www.mage.space 21:51 - Tiny Habits; https://bjfogg.typeform.com/to/QXc0WJ? 25:04 - Focusmate: https://www.focusmate.com/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mQ-ynOLZNgg For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/casper-kelly-writer-director/ To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

393: Marc Payne Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

Marc Payne is an IT specialist working for the Federal Government. My passion is flipping items via thrift stores, yard sales and retail arbitrage on Ebay and Amazon. You can find Marc on Twitter @houseofpayne. TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 2:24- Index cards: https://geni.us/Jc1f7 7:54 - Box resizer: https://geni.us/xGGHI 12:34 - Scotty peelers: https://geni.us/qUEr9Dy 17:12 - 3" packing tape dispenser: https://geni.us/fBjclC6 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uVCwU78XimE For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/marc-payne-it-specialist/

392: Theodore Gray Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

Theodore Gray is a co-founder of Wolfram Research and creator of the Notebook user interface (since lovingly copied by Jupyter Notebooks). He is the author of several books and iPad apps including the NYTs best-seller The Elements, and writer/director of Disney Animated (BAFTA award winner and Apple's iPad App of the Year 2013). His latest book is TOOLS, which is all about his favorite tools. Website: https://theodoregray.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k2eZ4W7VgYs For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/theodore-gray-co-founder-of-wolfram-research-3/ To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

391: Tom Robertson Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

EDITOR NOTE: Due to technical audio issues, this episode might sound better for those listening at 1.5x or 2x speed. Tom Robertson is an IT professional, currently leading IT at FreshBooks out of Toronto, Canada. Tom has a background in theatre, and has written and produced several shows in the Toronto area. In his spare time, he enjoys computer related hobbies, and has built a retro arcade cabinet, a kitchen display, and during Covid wrote an automated newsletter summarizing Covid numbers for his home province of Ontario. His website is tommertron.com. TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 1:40 - Ryobi Inflator: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ryobi-18v-one-high-volume-power-inflator-tool-only-/1001063829 7:43 - Partake Non-Alcoholic IPA: https://drinkpartake.com/collections/beers/products/ipa-ca?variant=40002665611469 11:16 - Anker GAN Prime Charger: https://www.anker.com/products/a2148?ref=ganprime_top_itemlist&discount=WS7D5ZM242 15:26 - Dakboard: https://dakboard.com/site Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uw1vvpwFeHI For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/tom-robertson-it-professional To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

390: Miles Hunter Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

Miles Hunter is a UX researcher, based out of Seattle but originally a Brit. Learning to woodwork. I enjoy restoring things, everything from old tools to video and photos. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mileshunter/ TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - Evaporust rust remover: https://www.evapo-rust.com/evapo-rust-remover/ 5:29 - Incogni - personal information removal service: https://incogni.com/ 10:17 - Japanese 'paper clam' for clipping together papers more securely than a paperclip: https://geni.us/siEAg0 14:34 - Topaz Video AI - video enhancement tool for slow resolution video: https://www.topazlabs.com/topaz-video-ai 22:35 - Miles Hunter's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/aboutmiles Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XpUiFkeUGCY For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/miles-hunter-ux-researcher/

389: Will Walker Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

Will Walker is a lead human interface designer at Google, working on wearables, digital assistants, generative AI and conversational controls. His design career has spanned across interfaces for hybrid digital maps, 3d printers and volumetric scanners to leading the design of exotic running shoes. He paints, hikes, plants and rennovates a victorian with his daughter, partner and shiba in San Francisco and sunny Oakland CA. You can find him on Instagram @wr_walker and on Twitter @walkerwill. Website: www.willwalker.design TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 2:00 - Supercritical dryer for making aerogels: https://www.tousimis.com/critical_point_dryers/MEMS_drying_system.html 13:40 - Paint shaver pro for historic plaster restoration: https://paintshaver.com/paintshaver-pro/ 23:18 - Abacus for finite element analysis for design of structural gels or foams: https://www.3ds.com/products-services/simulia/products/abaqus/ 32:49 - Form 3 resin printer for biohacking or making ceramic slip cast molds: https://formlabs.com/store/refurbished-3d-printers/refurbished-form-3-package/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MitjxPvqF6s For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/will-walker-lead-designer-at-google/ To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

387: David Buxton Oct 21, 2023

Show notes

David Buxton is a tech founder based in London, UK. He loves making stuff, especially with software. He's also a qualified pilot and a pretty good cook. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmrbuxton/ Website: https://hrharriet.com TOOLS: 0:45 - Workflowy: https://workflowy.com 12:54 - Tern GSD e-bicycle: https://www.ternbicycles.com/uk/bikes/472/gsd 19:47 - Langchain (LLM dev framework): https://python.langchain.com/docs/get_started/introduction.html 27:29 - Leuchtturm Line a Day journal: https://geni.us/v0B7C5k 35:43 - Harriet AI HR assistant: https://hrharriet.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dp4IcBImx-U For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/david-buxton-tech-founder/

387: Asa Hillis Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

Asa Hillis is a furniture maker who lives in Silicon Valley. He is known for creating pieces of furniture that have a timeless quality. Asa combines traditional and modern techniques, including CNCs and 3D printers, to craft his furniture from wood and metal. He is currently managing Behind The Tech Labs in Los Gatos, CA. When he is not working in the shop, Asa enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and standard poodle. Website: asahillis.com Instagram: @asahillis TOOLS: 1:00 - Wixey digital angle gauge: https://geni.us/f20Hgi 6:42 - Surge leatherman: https://geni.us/a7sz91 14:49 - Festool domino: https://www.festoolusa.com/products/domino-joining-system/domino-joining-machines/576419---df-500-q-plus-us#Overview 25:44 - Shaper Origin: https://www.shapertools.com/en-us/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MOH98lczKFM For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/asa-hillis-furniture-maker/

386: Natalie Buda Smith Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

Natalie Buda Smith is Director of Digital Strategy at the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world. Her career spans three decades in design, technology, and culture. The Library of Congress serves millions daily in their pursuit of researching our rich cultural archives, understanding U.S. legislation, and serving our nation's creative communities through Copyright. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliebuda/ TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 1:09 - Newspaper Navigator: https://news-navigator.labs.loc.gov 6:55 - Citizen DJ: https://citizen-dj.labs.loc.gov 11:44 - Library of Congress photo library: https://loc.gov/free-to-use 16:39 - Lib guides: https://guides.loc.gov Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NAShjOghAWo For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/natalie-buda-smith-digital-strategy-director-at-library-of-congress/

385: Arun Venkatesan Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Arun is a product designer, engineer, photographer, and writer. Most recently, he was co-founder and product designer at Carrot Fertility. He writes at arun.is. TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:49 - BMI 40b x4 tape measure: http://www.bmitools.com/ads/products/categories/steeltapemeasures/window-tape.html 6:26 - BMI Inklinat level: https://www.bmi.de/en/products-spirit-levels-682-inklinat.php 10:00 - Merco packing tape dispenser: https://mercotape.com/products/merco-dtn 15:00 - Pinecil soldering iron: https://www.pine64.org/pinecil/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Mu8HC75K78M For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/arun-venkatesan-product-designer/

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected