Best Kaffe Podcasts (2024)

1
Annie MacHale, Inkle Artist 53:55

6d ago53:55

53:55

The call of complexity draws some weavers to more shafts, more structures, more hand-manipulated techniques. For Annie MacHale, refining the techniques and celebrating the artistry of very simple bands has been a lifelong fascination. Starting when she first picked up a shuttle and inkle loom in her teens, Annie has worked in wool, cotton, and hemp…

1
Alissa Allen, Mycopigments 54:31

20d ago54:31

54:31

“Rule number one: Never drink the dye bath.” Indigo and cochineal may be the most widely recognized natural dyes for many fiber artists, and there’s little temptation of sampling an indigo vat or pot of ground insects. But a simmering kettle of dye mushrooms or lichens? That might smell delicious, but if you’re in a class with Alissa Allen, it’s no…

1
Sally Fox, Colored Cotton Breeder 57:41

1M ago57:41

57:41

In a period when agriculture moved toward chemicals, genetic engineering, and monoculture, Sally Fox decided to explore what could happen if she collaborated with nature instead of fighting it. With an academic background in entomology, she studied ways to minimize the amount of pesticides needed to grow crops, and the more she saw the effects of t…

1
Spotlight Episode: Yarn Barn of Kansas 59:37

1M ago59:37

59:37

When Susan Bateman first opened Yarn Barn of Kansas in 1971, a woman starting a small business couldn’t get a credit card in her own name. Weavers like her had a hard time finding yarns, tools, and other supplies, some of which were only available from overseas, and she thought there must be an opportunity to bring fiber artists more of what they n…

1
Rebecca Mezoff (classic) 38:00

2M ago38:00

38:00

There may be no other type of textile that is more art and craft at the same time than tapestry weaving. Tapestry allows the weaver to create images with simple tools, but the skills and materials in tapestry are generally hard-wearing. You might find a tapestry on the floor as a rug as often as on a wall as a piece of art. Rebecca Mezoff became a …

1
Hannah Thiessen Howard, Slow Knitting 56:11

2M ago56:11

56:11

For Hannah Thiessen Howard, slow knitting isn’t about the speed of making stitches or finishing projects. Swift and leisurely knitters alike can embrace the purpose and experience of knitting and how it connects crafter to community. Selecting materials, choosing projects, and approaching your work with an open mind all contribute to a meaningful k…

1
Keisha Cameron, High Hog Farm 49:26

3M ago49:26

49:26

Although she grew up in the freezing winters of New York, Keisha Cameron and her husband decided to move their young family to a peri-urban spot outside Atlanta, Georgia, to set down roots and rebuild their connection to the land. They began with raising what their family needed for food and other daily necessities, but over the past decade, High H…

1
Justin Squizzero, The Burroughs Garret 42:08

3M ago42:08

42:08

Justin Squizzero loves exploring the frontiers of technology, seeing how he can tune a piece of equipment to produce a complex textile. The technology that fascinates him reached its peak before the 20th century. Weaving on an old loom doesn’t mean trying to turn back time, though—it means choosing the most refined technology to create the handwove…

1
Kaffe Fassett, Artist & Color Master 35:43

3M ago35:43

35:43

Kaffe Fassett doesn’t play favorites in his work—he doesn’t have a favorite medium, and he definitely doesn’t have a favorite color. What he has is a powerful delight in combining the simple elements of color, line, and image, and a passion for helping other people share in that joy. For someone whose career is inextricably linked to stitching, his…

1
Stephany Wilkes, Shearer, Wool Classer & Author 50:42

4M ago50:42

50:42

Between the sheep in the field and the lovely yarn in your hands lies the complex network of the wool industry. Fiber must be scoured, spun, and maybe dyed, and it all starts with shearing. Attending a Fibershed symposium in 2012, Stephany Wilkes was surprised to learn that one of the barriers to local fiber production was a lack of trained shearer…

1
Lisa Chamoff, Indie Untangled 56:42

4M ago56:42

56:42

What do you get when a crafter who loves colorful hand-dyed yarns (and hates stalking shop updates) crosses paths with a fresh, new yarn producer? Like many of her knitter friends in 2013, Lisa Chamoff was enchanted by the artful and expressive work of the independent dyers whose skeins were cropping up around the yarn world. Shoppers found new fav…

1
Spotlight Episode: Suri Network 50:44

5M ago50:44

50:44

[Sponsored Content] If you’ve been weaving, knitting, or playing with fiber for long—or if you’ve passed some fiber animals in a field—you probably think you know what an alpaca looks like: a fluffy creature with a long neck and spade-shaped ears. But you may not know that there’s a different kind of alpaca, one whose coat grows in long, silky ring…

1
Sarah Neubert, Fiber Art & Radical Repair 44:31

5M ago44:31

44:31

The scale of Sarah Neubert’s work varies from miniature to monumental, from small pieces such as earrings to room-sized installations. She dreams of creating entire woven environments that are sensory and tactile, like cocoons or sanctuaries of fiber. Working on a large scale allows her to explore new techniques and push the boundaries of her art. …

1
Jane Cooper, The Lost Flock 1:13:51

5M ago1:13:51

1:13:51

The picture of a flock of primitive-breed sheep, the last of their kind, living on an island off the northeast coast of Scotland, has a certain romance to it. Plenty of knitters, spinners, fiber artists, and citizens of the modern world might idly dream of living on such an island and tending such a flock. With no background as a farmer and only a …

1
A Crazy Week for College Football and in the NFL! Spotlight: Jack Nicklaus was Tiger Woods Before Tiger Woods 44:31

6M ago44:31

44:31

This week, we talk about the crazy College Football games this week. We also dive into some marquee NFL games that you will want to watch. Bill has the spotlight this week on Jack Nicklaus. All this and more on The Generations Sports Podcast!By KAFF Sports

1
Felicia Lo, Unapologetic Colorist 43:59

6M ago43:59

43:59

Felicia Lo spent most of her college years wearing a lot of black. The bright, happy color combinations that she loved as a child—lime green and hot pink, pink and yellow—didn’t fit other people’s idea of what colors went together, so she avoided wearing colors altogether. It took years to begin introducing color into her wardrobe again. As handdye…

1
Why Do You Hate LeBron James? - plus Bob Knight, Key NFL Games & more 46:38

6M ago46:38

46:38

This week we discuss the World Series Champs, Bob Knight, college football, "Stump the Unk", 3 Key NFL Games, Local Sports w/ Dave's "Sports Around the Mountain", Sports Through the Ages spotlight: LeBron James, and crunch time.By KAFF Sports

1
Dave and The Diamondbacks Make it to The World Series, Spotlight: ESPN The Ocho 1:00:05

6M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

This week on the Generations Sports Podcast, Dave gets the last laugh as the Diamondbacks make it to the World Series. But, who do we think is going to take it all? Listen to find out. We also dig into college and professional football. Dave has the Sports Through the Ages Spotlight this week and it is on ESPN De Ocho.…

1
Mary Jeanne Packer, Battenkill Fibers Carding & Spinning Mill 50:12

6M ago50:12

50:12

In 2009, Mary Jeanne Packer founded Battenkill Fibers Carding & Spinning Mill to work with small farms, yarn companies, and even individual handspinners who wanted great yarn. The partnerships built around the mill are helping revitalize the regional wool economy and sustain shepherds and shops alike. We are far from the days when 13 water-powered …

1
MLB Playoffs, College Football, NFL Key Games, Spotlight: NBA Draft Busts 1:00:42

6M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

This week we look at the MLB Playoffs, College Football, NFL Key Games, "Sports Through the Ages" spotlight: NBA Draft Busts, and "Sports Around the Mountain" - Local N. AZ Sports, & more. "Stump the Unk" and "Betting with Bill" The Generations Sports Podcast with Jeff Kennedy, Dave Zorn, Bill Unkovich, and Casey Everett. Produced By Casey Everett.…

1
Dave & his D-backs are in the NLCS, Jeff Gets Roasted, Spotlight: Baseball Playoff Moments That Take Your Breath Away 1:03:27

7M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

This week we take a look at the MLB Playoffs series, we dig into the NFL - Colts vs Jaguars, Cowboys vs Chargers, Lions vs Buccaneers - Who is most likely to go undefeated Eagles or 49ers? "Sports Through the Ages" Spotlight: Baseball Playoff Moments That Take Your Breath Away Betting With Bill Sports Around the Mountain - Local Sports Updates and …

1
Deb Essen, Weaving Omnivore 58:17

7M ago58:17

58:17

Many weavers find their inspiration by asking, “What if...” Since she first sat down at a loom, Deb Essen has pushed the limits of her weaving by asking, “Why can’t I?” Deb has followed that question since childhood, right through her career as a weaving teacher and author. Since she first neglected her table-clearing duties to watch a weaving demo…

1
We thought we knew baseball, guess not... Spotlight: Wilt Chamberlain; was he a real person? 52:18

7M ago52:18

52:18

We thought we knew baseball, guess not... Sports Through the Ages Spotlight: Wilt Chamberlain, was he a real person?By KAFF Sports

1
Wildcard Standings in MLB, College Football, NFL, Spotlight: Mascots! 55:12

7M ago55:12

55:12

This week we dig into MLB Wildcard Standings, College Footballs, "Stump the Unk", "Sports Through the Ages" spotlight: MASCOTS!, "Betting with Bill", and "Sports Around the Mountain" - Local N. AZ Sports, & more. The Generations Sports Podcast with Jeff Kennedy, Dave Zorn, Bill Unkovich, and Casey Everett. Produced By Casey Everett. Intro by Jeff S…

1
Allan Brown, The Nettle Dress 56:01

7M ago56:01

56:01

Most of us avoid nettles, thinking of them as weeds whose little stinging hairs can inject a painful toxin into the unexpecting walker. But strolling through the woods near his home in England, Allan Brown was captivated by the tall native plants. Knowing that textile cultures across the world have produced cloth from nettles, he wanted to learn mo…

1
MLB Wildcard Standings, NFL Bouncebacks, Spotlight: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 54:49

7M ago54:49

54:49

This week we dig into MLB Wildcard Standings, Shohei Ohtani, "Stump the Unk", NFL Bouncebacks, "Sports Through the Ages" spotlight: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., "Betting with Bill", and "Sports Around the Mountain" - Local N. AZ Sports, & more. The Generations Sports Podcast with Jeff Kennedy, Dave Zorn, Bill Unkovich, and Casey Everett. Produced By Case…

1
Impact Rookies, NFL Surprises, Spotlight: Oscar De La Hoya 1:02:16

8M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

This week we dig into Impact Rookies in Major League Baseball - Playoff Update, "Stump the Unk", NFL Week 1 surprises, College Football, "Sports Through the Ages" spotlight: Oscar De La Hoya, "Betting with Bill", and "Sports Around the Mountain" - Local N. AZ Sports, & more. The Generations Sports Podcast with Jeff Kennedy, Dave Zorn, Bill Unkovich…

1
Kristin Nicholas: Knitter, Artist, Farmer, Author 56:15

8M ago56:15

56:15

Kristin Nicholas lives in an idyllic historic New England home at the end of a dirt road, the interior handpainted in whimsical, vivid motifs. In neighboring fields, her family's hundreds of sheep graze in historic pastures. “From the outside looking in, it looks like a very romantic life,” she says. “But it is a ton of work. Most sane people would…

1
Baseball's Final Month, College Football's First Week, Spotlight: 'NIL' Money 1:04:21

8M ago1:04:21

1:04:21

This week we dig into an MLB Final Mont, the start of College Football, "Stump the Unk", NFL, spotlight: 'NIL' - "should college athletes be getting paid to play?", "Betting with Bill", and "Sports Around the Mountain" - Local N. AZ Sports, & more. The Generations Sports Podcast with Jeff Kennedy, Dave Zorn, Bill Unkovich, and Casey Everett. Produc…

1
MLB Division Leaders, NFL Preview - NFC, Spotlight: Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins 1:01:27

8M ago1:01:27

1:01:27

This week we dig into an MLB Temp Check - Who's Hot & Who's Not, "Stump the Unk", NFL Preview - NFC, "Sports Through the Ages" spotlight on the Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins, "Betting with Bill", and "Sports Around the Mountain" - Local N. AZ Sports, & more. The Generations Sports Podcast with Jeff Kennedy, Dave Zorn, Bill Unkovich, and Casey Everett. …

1
Anita Luvera Mayer, Weaver of Creative Coverings (classic) 1:04:08

8M ago1:04:08

1:04:08

When she married her husband, "polyester kid" Anita Luvera Mayer received an extraordinary wedding gift from her mother-in-law: a loom and weaving lessons. A weaving store owner, Marcelle Mayer gave the same gift to each of her daughters-in-law. The others didn't take to it, but for Anita it was the beginning of a whole new life. Although she prefe…

1
MLB Temp Check, NFL Preview - AFC, Spotlight: Washington Nationals 1:03:41

8M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

This week we discuss the Little League World Series, MLB Temp Check - Who's Hot & Who's Not, "Stump the Unk", NFL Preview - AFC, "Sports Through the Ages" spotlight on the Washington Nationals, "Betting with Bill", and "Sports Around the Mountain" - Local N. AZ Sports, & more. The Generations Sports Podcast with Jeff Kennedy, Dave Zorn, Bill Unkovi…

1
MLB Power Rankings, Farewell Pac-12, Spotlight: Dave "Smoke" Stewart 48:52

9M ago48:52

48:52

This week we discuss MLB Power Rankings, College Football - Division Shake-up (farewell, Pac-12), "Stump the Unk", "Sports Through the Ages" spotlight on Former Oakland Athletics Pitcher Dave "Smoke" Stewart, "Betting with Bill", and "Sports Around the Mountain" - Local N. AZ Sports, & more. The Generations Sports Podcast with Jeff Kennedy, Dave Zo…

1
073: Do We Need Product Managers? 43:23

9M ago43:23

43:23

In our last episode of season 4, we ask ourselves: do we need product managers? Can people in other disciplines, like designers and engineers, do product management, or is it essential that there is a dedicated PM on every team? When does it make sense to have PMs and when does it not?

1
Susan Druding, Straw into Gold (classic) 54:57

9M ago54:57

54:57

Susan Druding was a graduate student at the University of California-Berkeley when she first learned to spin and weave. In the Bay Area of the 1960s, fiber interest and social tensions both ran high. Without a business plan but with a lease on a small storefront, Susan and a business partner opened Straw Into Gold, a store devoted mostly to spinnin…

1
072: Speed of Delivery, at All Costs 50:48

9M ago50:48

50:48

This week we're talking about delivery speed and the fine balance to find with delivering quality. We explore why it matters, the impact delivery speed can have on the quality of the team's outputs and how we as designers can face this challenge.

1
Daryl Lancaster, Fearless Weaver 1:12:38

9M ago1:12:38

1:12:38

After you finish weaving fabric that you love and are proud of, cutting it up can be an unappealing thought. What if it falls apart? What if you make the wrong cut? What if the finished piece doesn't turn out like you picture it? For Daryl Lancaster, the challenges of transforming a handwoven fabric into a wearable garment are the real pleasure—and…

1
PieceWork Turns 30 44:47

10M ago44:47

44:47

"All This by Hand"—that's the promise of PieceWork magazine, which was first published in 1993 to honor the handwork created through the ages, mostly by women, mostly with little fanfare. "Handwork reflects peoples history, daily lives, and cultures. In this issue's stories, handwork means physical survival, personal hope, and cultural identity," s…

1
Sarah Swett, Fiber Artist & Adventurer 1:05:22

10M ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Don't try to put Sarah Swett in a box—if you do, she might just weave a bag on it. Growing up on the East Coast, Sarah found herself more enchanted with knitting sweaters from farm yarn than the traditional college track. She spent her young adulthood as a ranch hand and cook in Montana and Idaho, where she brought her yarn in by pack mule. She fel…

1
071: Money as Designers 1:10:24

10M ago1:10:24

1:10:24

We talk about money. How transparent should we be about salaries with our peers, recruiters, and companies? How should salary negotiations be handled or not handled? What about raises and promotions? Follow us on Twitter @designkaffe and check out our website designkaffe.com.

1
070: Discrimination in the Workplace 58:06

10M ago58:06

58:06

We're back this week with a heavy topic on discrimination. We're trying to unpack how being discriminated feels like, what discrimination looks like and why it occurs in the workplace. We also explore how we can be better allies and improve our work environments. Follow us on Twitter @designkaffe and check out our website designkaffe.com.…

1
Clara Parkes, Bestselling Author and Wool Promoter 48:58

11M ago48:58

48:58

Clara Parkes became many knitters' guiding light and best friend when she launched Knitter's Review in 2000. One of the early standouts in the early online knitting landscape, the site developed a devoted following for its in-depth, objective yarn reviews and lively forums. Several years after the site's inception, she began writing books, starting…

1
Lisa Mitchell Lives a Fiber Life—with Guanacos 45:50

11M ago45:50

45:50

After decades as an art therapist in suburban Sacramento, Lisa Mitchell and her husband, Greg Hudson, were ready for a radical life change. In her rewarding but exhausting career, Lisa spent her days harnessing the power of art and handwork to heal others, but she had little time to do it herself. Their concrete-jungle surroundings felt stifling. I…

1
069: Nepotism & Other Toxic Workplace Signs 46:58

11M ago46:58

46:58

We talk about nepotism and other signs of toxicity in the workplace. We discuss why it’s so damaging to individuals and teams when there’s systemic toxicity at work, and share thoughts on what to do when you find yourself in these situations. Follow us on Twitter @designkaffe and check out our website designkaffe.com. New episode every other Friday…

1
Rangina Hamidi, Kandahar Treasure 1:18:29

11M ago1:18:29

1:18:29

Wanting to help the women in her native country called Rangina Hamidi back to Afghanistan. Through the khamak embroidery they have practiced for generations, Kandahar Treasure supports women making a living with their needles. Rangina Hamidi's parents and sisters left Afghanistan whe she was a child in the early 1980s, during the war with the Sovie…

1
068: Stigmas of Taking Time Off for Mental Health 43:16

12M ago43:16

43:16

We explore the challenges and difficult feelings of taking time off from work due to mental health. We discuss why it is tricky to be honest and upfront about it, and fears we may have about the perception others have of us and our reliability at work. Follow us on Twitter ⁠@designkaffe⁠ and check out our website ⁠designkaffe.com⁠. New episode ever…

1
Josefin Waltin: Swedish Spinning Revival 38:41

12M ago38:41

38:41

Venturing to a frozen lake in mid-winter, Josefin Waltin does something remarkable: She breaks the ice with a hatchet and climbs into the frigid water. And unlike an ice-bucket-challenge or polar bear dip, she does this every morning. With her head, feet, and hands covered in handspun wool knitwear, she looks pretty happy doing it, too. Although no…

1
067: Tiia Meuronen & Tom Kerwin on Redundancy & Pay Cuts 55:52

12M ago55:52

55:52

This week Tiia Meuronen and Tom Kerwin guest our podcast to share their experiences with redundancies and having their hours and pay cut. We talk about how you can look after yourself while going through such challenging experiences, how companies handle redundancies and pay cuts well and not so well, and what the wider design community can do to l…

1
Mary Zicafoose, Ikat Fiber Artist 47:16

1y ago47:16

47:16

The resist-dye technique known as ikat involves wrapping individual threads in careful patterns, dyeing them, and then using the dyed threads as warp, weft, or both. With care and what Mary Zicafoose describes as a lot of fussing, the woven fabric displays a pre-planned design—geometric or figurative, crisp or feathery, multicolored or two-tone. Th…

1
066: Poorly Delivered Feedback 53:58

1y ago53:58

53:58

Today we’re discussing feedback and how it can sometimes be delivered poorly. We explore in what contexts or situations poor feedback tends to occur and how we can best react to it. Follow us on Twitter @designkaffe and check out our website designkaffe.com. New episode every two weeks on Friday

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