#152 "I Make", Take and Collaborate with Jimmy DiResta

Jimmy DiResta has spent decades building things other people only imagine. Furniture. TV shows. A life that doesn't sit still. In this episode, we get past the shop tour and into what actually shaped him.

We talk New York, the city that built his eye for craft and his tolerance for hustle. We talk Hollywood, and what it's like to make things for an industry built on illusion. We talk about how he approaches a problem, any problem, whether it's a broken hinge or a broken plan. And we get into the parts of his life that don't show up in a highlight reel: his hobbies, friends, family, and picking up pottery as a beginner all over again.

This one isn't about tools. It's about how a maker keeps making, decade after decade, without losing the parts of himself that got him here. Most people stop learning new crafts once they've mastered one. Jimmy hasn't. This conversation is a case study in staying a beginner on purpose.

What we get into

• Growing up in and around New York, and how the city and early years shaped his work ethic
• Hollywood: building for the screen, and what the industry taught him about craft
• His approach to problem-solving, on set and in the shop
• Starting pottery as a total beginner, and what it's like to be bad at something new again

00:00 Introduction to Jimmy DiResta

02:34 The Art of Making and Teaching

04:52 Crafts and Changing Times

07:40 Timeless Design Elements

10:32 Manufacturing History and Local Craftsmanship

13:21 Reflections on High School and Early Influences

19:14 From High School to Making Toys

22:04 From Art School to Graphic Design

23:03 Early Experiences in Advertising

23:28 Learning the Craft from Family

24:27 Transitioning to Toy Design

25:47 The Evolution of Problem Solving

28:01 Understanding the Nature of Props and Products

29:59 The Balance of Temporary and Permanent Creations

31:46 The Pressure of Client Work

33:46 Confidence in Problem Solving

37:00 The Joy of Troubleshooting

38:48 Memorable Moments with Howard Stern

41:20 Maker Style F-Marry-Kill

43:31 Collaboration in the Maker Community

46:16 Exploring Pottery as a New Medium

47:22 Embracing Mistakes in Craftsmanship

51:05 The Zen of Pottery and Creative Space

53:23 Gifts from You, Gifts to Me

54:17 The Value of Content as a Legacy

58:16 Interacting with Fans and Community Influence

01:07:24 Parting Thoughts on Positivity and Gratitude

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Connect with our guest: Jimmy DiResta

https://www.youtube.com/user/jimmydiresta/

https://www.instagram.com/jimmydiresta/

https://www.instagram.com/makingfunshow/

https://www.joinmakersmob.com/diresta/

https://jimmydiresta.com/

https://imakeny.com/

https://direstaedc.com/

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