Cool Tools

Luke Stein is a financial economist and professor at Babson College. He does research at the intersection of corporate finance and labor economics, and is an award-winning teacher, including as the 2022 “Professor of the Year” as chosen by Babson’s graduate students. You can find him on Twitter and YouTube @lukestein and at lukestein.com.   TOOLS:  0:00 - Intro 0:41 - Wurkkos-brand flashlights (and modern, rechargeable flashlights more generally): https://geni.us/uD1esdS 11:31 - stagetimer.io: https://stagetimer.io 18:16 - Segway Max electric scooter: https://geni.us/QtDJ 30:09 - Concert sized ukulele (in general, or specifically a Donner solid-top): https://geni.us/GaCrVt   Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/ryi2-qgHl9U   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/luke-stein-financial-economist/

Nabhan Islam is a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) in the biotech industry, based in beautiful Vancouver, BC. As a perennial traveller and outdoor gear nut, Nabhan always has an eye for durable, well-designed gear that makes his life easier and more enjoyable.   TOOLS:  0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Victorinox Cadet Swiss Army Knife: https://www.victorinox.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Cadet-Alox/p/0.2601.26 6:14 - MSR reactor stove system: https://www.msrgear.com/ca/stoves/stove-systems/reactor-stove-systems/reactor-stove-systems.html 17:03 - Helinox Chair Zero: https://helinox.com/products/chair-zero?variant=16664192286790 23:53 - Fjallraven backpack: https://www.fjallraven.com/us/en-us/bags-gear/backpacks-bags/daypacks/high-coast-rolltop-26   Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gSmKDOkODsM For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/nabhan-islam-medical-science-liaison/ To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

Linda Tapp works in her “day job” as an occupational safety consultant, author, and speaker. Evenings and weekends, she writes and publishes Dabble, a Substack newsletter dedicated to encouraging others to try new things along with summaries of what she has “dabbled” in during the previous week and suggestions for getting started with the activities. She has 3 children, 2 dogs, and 1 husband who she has been married to for 32 years.   Dabble: https://dabblenews.substack.com/   TOOLS:  0:00 - Intro 1:07 - Center Cam webcam: https://thecentercam.com 4:37 - PETBABA Double Dog Leash: https://geni.us/BWRM 7:00 - Amazon Echo frames: https://geni.us/NSLqRr 14:11 - TriPole USB Desk Fan: https://geni.us/BWodaa   Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Mm3poolqc7s   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/linda-tapp-occupational-safety-consultant/   To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7  

Ryan is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area who has spent his career helping companies get the most out of enterprise software systems. In his life outside of work he is an outdoors enthusiast who has hiked, biked, and backpacked all over California and beyond. You can find on Twitter @RyanHelft.   TOOLS:  0:00 - Intro  0:56 - Cocoon Air-Core Hood/Camp Pillow https://www.rei.com/product/205187/cocoon-air-core-hoodcamp-pillow 4:52 - FITCO 16-in-1 Bike Multi Tool Kit https://geni.us/U49AMg 9:13 - SONGMICS Bike Repair Stand Rack: https://geni.us/5Elr 15:12 - Mountainsmith K9 Dog Pack: https://geni.us/Z9Bb4ay   Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4vqrwzlTDQw For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/ryan-helft-outdoors-enthusiast/

William Osman is a mechanical engineer turned YouTuber. Since 2016 he's been making science and engineer videos that have been viewed by hundreds of millions of times. Notable projects include electrifying carpet to keep his upstairs roommate from walking loudly, a bicycle built entirely out of wood, and inventing and manufacturing a PCB blood squib in 3 weeks for a 3 million dollar YouTube production. His recent endeavor is founding a STEM event called Open Sauce happening this July 15-16 in San Francisco. Open Sauce is a celebration of weird inventions and scrappy engineering. You can find him on YouTube @WilliamOsman2.   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/william-osman-mechanical-engineer-and-youtuber/

Adam Grosser is an engineer and an entrepreneur with a love of craft. His passion is building things in and around mobility, like cars, motorcycles, and hydrofoils.    For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/adam-grosser-engineer/   If you're enjoying the Cool Tools podcast, check out our paperback book Four Favorite Tools: Fantastic tools by 150 notable creators, available in both Color or B&W on Amazon: https://geni.us/fourfavoritetools      

Josiah Martens is a builder in Eugene, Oregon where he makes music, analog video art, and custom woodwork. As often as he can, Josiah crews on tallships and canoe-camps the rivers of the Northwest.   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/josiah-martens-builder/  

Mike Basista is a prop builder and general maker. He's willing to try building or making just about anything. He currently lives in Pittsburgh after stops in Michigan and Southern California. You can find him on Instagram @evilgeniusprops and on YouTube @mikeandsheilamakestuff.    For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/michael-basista-prop-builder/

Chris Zukowski is a game marketing consultant who helps small indie game developers understand their audience and communicate with them in a more personal way so they can share their art with the world. Website: http://howtomarketagame.com/free For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/chris-zukowski-game-marketing-consultant/

Joel Rosenberg is part of the Special Projects team at Rewiring America. He is an educator and entrepreneur focused on helping solve the climate crisis for his elementary-age daughter, his amazing partner, and the future of everyone on the planet. He has worked on science and engineering education — especially how to teach about energy systems — at the Museum of Science, Boston; the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany; the Lawrence Hall of Science at U.C. Berkeley; Maker Media; and Otherlab. He is also the co-founder of 3D Fab Light, an industrial laser cutter company. Joel has a mechanical engineering degree from MIT, and a master’s from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism.    Website: rewiringamerica.org Twitter: @learngineer   TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro  1:02 - Portable inverter-driven heat pump: https://geni.us/q93npBK 10:45 - Portable induction cooktop: https://geni.us/PfMedBB 17:12 - Community solar: https://neighborhoodsun.solar/ 22:53 - Bookfinder: https://www.bookfinder.com/ 29:52 - Electrify

Patrik Reizinger is a Ph.D. student in machine learning at the University of Tübingen and part of the ELLIS and IMPRS-IS doctoral programs. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in electrical engineering from the Budapest University of Technology, where he specialized in control engineering and intelligent systems. His main research interests include designing AI that can understand cause-effect relationships. In his free time, he tries to decrypt sustainable strategies for earning a Ph.D., which he summarizes in his newsletter, The Path to PhD.   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/patrik-reizinger-doctoral-researcher-in-machine-learning/   If you're enjoying the Cool Tools podcast, check out our paperback book Four Favorite Tools: Fantastic tools by 150 notable creators, available in both Color or B&W on Amazon: https://geni.us/fourfavoritetools

Talent agent and internationally recognized voiceover authority Erik Sheppard is a 30 year industry veteran with extensive experience as an actor, coach and mentor. He currently owns and operates The Sheppard Agency, a premier talent agency representing an elite roster of union and non-union voice talent from around the globe.   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/erik-sheppard-voiceover-expert/      

Robert Edwards is an inventor, landlord, and avid renovator of historic properties. When he's not busy trying to tame his three young boys, you can find him in his workshop, tinkering away on his latest inventions. He has experience in wastewater treatment, mining, CNC machining, welding, and mold making/casting. Whether he's creating a new tool, or breathing new life into an old building, Robert is a true maker at heart. You can find Robert on Instagram @drone.pirate.robert.   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/robert-edwards-inventor/   If you're enjoying the Cool Tools podcast, check out our paperback book Four Favorite Tools: Fantastic tools by 150 notable creators, available in both Color or B&W on Amazon: https://geni.us/fourfavoritetools  

Tristan Duke is transdisciplinary artist known for synthesizing methodologies from disparate fields to create startling inventions, sublime aesthetic experiences, and new modes of inquiry. He is the inventor of the hologram vinyl record ¬and has created original hologram artwork for albums and soundtrack releases ranging from Jack White and Guns ‘n Roses to Star Wars. He is Co-founder of the Optics Division a collective devoted to recontextualizing photography as a land-based medium and social practice. He has lectured widely, including at the MIT Media Lab, Getty Museum, the de Young Museum, the Exploratorium, and others. His work has been exhibited internationally including: The 59th Venice Biennale Collateral Exhibition; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); The Exploratorium, DePaul Art Museum, The George Eastman Museum; Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA); Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MoCAD); Les Rencontres d'Arles; and the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum. You can find Tristan on

Tristan Duke is transdisciplinary artist known for synthesizing methodologies from disparate fields to create startling inventions, sublime aesthetic experiences, and new modes of inquiry. He is the inventor of the hologram vinyl record ¬and has created original hologram artwork for albums and soundtrack releases ranging from Jack White and Guns ‘n Roses to Star Wars. He is Co-founder of the Optics Division a collective devoted to recontextualizing photography as a land-based medium and social practice. He has lectured widely, including at the MIT Media Lab, Getty Museum, the de Young Museum, the Exploratorium, and others. His work has been exhibited internationally including: The 59th Venice Biennale Collateral Exhibition; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); The Exploratorium, DePaul Art Museum, The George Eastman Museum; Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA); Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MoCAD); Les Rencontres d'Arles; and the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum. You can find Tristan on

John O’Brien is a maker, tinkerer, and father of two. He and his wife founded Revolution Makerspace in 2022. Website: revolutionmakerspace.com   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/john-obrien-revolution-makerspace/   If you're enjoying the Cool Tools podcast, check out our paperback book Four Favorite Tools: Fantastic tools by 150 notable creators, available in both Color or B&W on Amazon: https://geni.us/fourfavoritetools  

A Maine educator for more than 33 years, Keith Kelley is currently teaching Integrated Technology. Having taught Language Arts, Social Studies and serving as the School Librarian, he is now teaching IT at Nokomis Regional Middle School. His students make Robots, Skateboards, 3D print, and build Guitars. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Education at UMaine. He has coached soccer, track and various tech camps. In his free time he enjoys riding around in his classic mustang with his wife and dogs.   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/keith-kelley-integrated-technology-teacher/   If you're enjoying the Cool Tools podcast, check out our paperback book Four Favorite Tools: Fantastic tools by 150 notable creators, available in both Color or B&W on Amazon: https://geni.us/fourfavoritetools  

Matt Candler has been scaling companies and coaching people who lead them for 25 years. In 2010, he launched an organization called 4.0 to help entrepreneurs build better learning spaces and tools. More than 1,500 4.0 alumni now serve millions of families across the US. Matt’s been into electrification for 17 years. He started building electric motorcycles in 2006, mostly as a scheme to justify buying new tools; his bikes have been on TV shows like Ride with Norman Reedus and in books on the future of transport like The Current. In 2019, he began serving as an an advisor to B2U Storage Solutions, operator of the largest second-life electric car battery power plant in the USA. In 2021, he helped start one of the largest micro-grid projects in the US, Together New Orleans’ Community Lighthouse, where 85 houses of faith and non-profits will be equipped with solar and energy storage. Matt helps people switch to electric vehicles and appliances at My Next Electric.  For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk

Sam McDonald is a tech enthusiast. Originally from Ireland he has lived in Berlin for almost a decade now. In that time he has worked at a range of startups and currently works as a Technical Writer. An amateur coder, Sam always has multiple projects on the backburner. You can find Sam on Twitter @wsmcd.  For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/sam-mcdonald-technical-writer/   If you're enjoying the Cool Tools podcast, check out our paperback book Four Favorite Tools: Fantastic tools by 150 notable creators, available in both Color or B&W on Amazon: https://geni.us/fourfavoritetools

As one of the writers of The Carbon Almanac, Paige NeJame wrote the "climate change for rookies" section as well as the free kid's book "Generation Carbon it's time to start." Her motto is "the right tool makes work a dream." She blogs about small business at Paigespage.net and has been a small business owner for 26 years.   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/paige-nejame-writer/   If you're enjoying the Cool Tools podcast, check out our paperback book Four Favorite Tools: Fantastic tools by 150 notable creators, available in both Color or B&W on Amazon: https://geni.us/fourfavoritetools