Maker Jimmy DiResta On Childlike Curiosity and Stepping Out of Comfort Zones

Creative Space with Jennifer Logue

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On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with Jimmy DiResta, a New York-based designer, builder, and maker who’s often referred to by fans as the “Maker Godfather.” A virtuoso craftsman, Jimmy has been working with tools from a very young age and followed that passion to study and later teach at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City.
His creative journey has taken him from the classroom to toy making (remember Gurglin’ Gutz?) to two decades in television, after successfully pitching his first show with his brother, “Trash to Cash.” (His latest TV show, “Making Fun,” is currently available on Netflix and we cover the origin story for that as well.)
Today, he inspires his two million YouTube followers to make and create for themselves, with behind-the-scenes footage of his day-to-day work.
Apart from getting a glimpse into Jimmy’s life before television and YouTube, we cover so much ground, including the impact of technology on creativity, Jimmy’s process when it comes to creating content for social media, and the importance of maintaining a childlike curiosity in creativity and in life.
For more on Jimmy, visit: jimmydiresta.com and follow him on YouTube at jimmydiresta.
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SHOW NOTES:
0:00—Introduction
2:45—Jimmy’s literal creative spaces in his life so far
6:53—Growing up in Woodmere, NY
8:10—When Jimmy first started working with tools
9:52—The influence of his dad with carpentry and technology
11:40—Creating content before the digital revolution
13:47—”I want to inspire my audience to make and create.”
15:30—Stepping out of your comfort zone
19:45—Studying (and later teaching) at SVA
28:35—The success of the toy, Gurgling Gutz
32:00—Consistency is the only way you develop an audience.
34:00—Jimmy’s definition of creativity
38:00—Why art is important
40:45—The 3 artists he’d listen to on a deserted island
41:42—What drives Jimmy as a maker?
43:00—His thoughts on the impact of technology on creativity
46:39—On developing content for YouTube
50:00—Sam Jones shoutout
51:15—What’s a typical day like?
55:40—On buying a house with a graveyard
58:15—How the ‘Making Fun’ TV show came about
1:02:00—Jimmy’s first TV show and collaborating with his brother
1:04:00—On starting his YouTube channel in 2011
1:09:00—What’s next for Jimmy?
1:11:00—His advice for creatives

Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Jimmy’s literal creative spaces in his life so far (00:02:45)

3. Growing up in Woodmere, NY (00:06:53)

4. When Jimmy first started working with tools (00:08:10)

5. The influence of his dad with carpentry and technology (00:09:52)

6. Creating content before the digital revolution (00:11:40)

7. ”I want to inspire my audience to make and create.” (00:13:47)

8. Stepping out of your comfort zone (00:15:30)

9. Studying (and later teaching) at SVA (00:19:45)

10. The success of the toy, Gurgling Gutz (00:28:35)

11. Consistency is the only way you develop an audience. (00:32:00)

12. Jimmy’s definition of creativity (00:34:00)

13. Why art is important (00:38:00)

14. The 3 artists he’d listen to on a deserted island (00:40:45)

15. What drives Jimmy as a maker? (00:41:42)

16. His thoughts on the impact of technology on creativity (00:43:00)

17. On developing content for YouTube (00:46:39)

18. Sam Jones shoutout (00:50:00)

19. What’s a typical day like? (00:51:15)

20. On buying a house with a graveyard (00:55:40)

21. How the ‘Making Fun’ TV show came about (00:58:15)

22. Jimmy’s first TV show and collaborating with his brother (01:02:00)

23. On starting his YouTube channel in 2011 (01:04:00)

24. What’s next for Jimmy? (01:09:00)

25. His advice for creatives (01:11:00)