The old Taunton crew—Ben, Anissa, and Mike—sits down to discuss some exciting changes happening at Fine Woodworking and what the future holds.A Note From Ben:
For a few years now I have been dreaming about becoming a tech ed teacher. It’s a daunting thing to get into, and I kept hitting the wall that is a lack of a teacher’s certificate. Well, a job came up at local high school—one town over from my house, right down the road from our old office. I took a swing at it, even though I don’t have a certificate, and they bit. They worked with the state to get me a waiver and get me in the classroom. I’ll be taking night classes to get my certificate throughout the next year.
Starting next week, I am a shop teacher (kind of). I’m teaching computer-integrated manufacturing (CAD modeling, CNC, and 3D printing), a basic “fixing stuff” class, and architecture classes. The last one is my wild card, but I’ll figure it out. My small classroom is equipped with a CNC, a small (OK, tiny) mill, an even smaller 5-axis mill, and five 3D printers. It’s going to be a huge change, but I’m ready for it.
The last 10 years at Fine Woodworking have been amazing. The Fine Woodworking team is just about the best group of people I can imagine ever working with, and I’ll miss doing the job dearly. Traveling the country and filming woodworkers that I consider the most talented woodworkers on the planet was amazing. I can’t begin to tell you how much I learned from everyone.
Like Ed Pirnik before me, I have shepherded lots of episodes of Shop Talk Live. It’s been a dream come true for me to have you, the listeners, let me into your shops to yap about woodworking with my buddies. The podcast is in good hands, though, and I know Vic and Bridgid will do an amazing job going forward.
Fine Woodworking.com is in amazing hands with Bridgid taking over the digital reins. She reminds me of myself 10 years ago, but with more talent—both woodworking and digital. If you trusted me, you should trust her.
Thanks for everything, and have fun in the shop.
Mr. Strano
Watch Ben’s first appearance on Shop Talk Live 10 years ago here:
Sign up for Woodworking in America!
7 Questions with Steve Latta
Some Strano Hits:
New England American Craft Tour Announced!
Questions:
From Matt:
I was listening to episode 33 where one of the topics was around helical planer heads. Mike was talking about ordering a Tersa-like system as an upgrade to his machine. The system has many names: Esta/Bruck/Barke. I was wondering if this had a follow-up in any of the future episodes? I tried the search function on the website but no luck.
I’ve got a two-knife machine—DeWalt 1150—and I get great results on straight-grained wood, but it can tear out quite deeply on reversing grain. I’m wondering if the upgrade that Mike was talking about is worthwhile or if it is better to save up for a machine with a helical head.
Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking‘s biweekly podcast. Send your woodworking questions to [email protected] for consideration in the regular broadcast! Our continued existence relies upon listener support. So if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave us a five-star rating and maybe even a nice comment on our iTunes page. Join us on our Discord server here.
Comments
Peppermint Pernick left some big shoes to fill on the pod and you certainly made it your own. Your video on how to navigate the FWW site changed the way I use the mag as a resource. You're going to be a great teacher, Mr. Strano. Congrats on this next chapter.
Congratulations Ben ! 10 years is a great run and good teachers are desperately needed. Hopefully you inspire the kids to do good work.
Congratulations Ben. The quality of production of some of the video workshops after you came in (The NBSS Tool box and the Tim R Desk especially) made some really high price paid for content elsewhere look almost amateur in comparison. Always great podcasts and humility. Good Luck in your new role and hope you end up as a podcast guest in a few years.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in
Facts Only
* Ben Strano is leaving Fine Woodworking after 10 years.
* Ben Strano will become a shop teacher at a local high school.
* Ben Strano does not currently possess a teacher's certificate.
* The high school obtained a state waiver to allow Ben Strano to teach.
* Ben Strano will take night classes over the next year to earn his certificate.
* Teaching assignments include computer-integrated manufacturing, a basic repair class, and architecture.
* Classroom equipment includes one CNC, one small mill, one 5-axis mill, and five 3D printers.
* Bridgid is taking over digital operations for Fine Woodworking.com.
* Vic and Bridgid will manage the Shop Talk Live podcast.
* Matt, a reader, submitted a question regarding helical planer head upgrades for a DeWalt 1150.
Executive Summary
Ben Strano is transitioning from a decade-long tenure at Fine Woodworking to a career in secondary education. He has accepted a position at a local high school teaching architecture and computer-integrated manufacturing, utilizing a suite of digital fabrication tools including CNC mills and 3D printers. Because he lacks a formal teaching credential, he is entering the classroom via a state waiver and will complete the necessary certification through night courses over the coming year.
The transition involves a shift in leadership at Fine Woodworking, with Bridgid assuming control of digital platforms and co-managing the Shop Talk Live podcast alongside Vic. While the departure marks the end of a ten-year period of production and travel for Strano, the operational continuity of the brand's digital and audio presence is maintained through these internal successions. The community response indicates a high valuation of Strano's contributions to video production and resource accessibility.
Full Take
This narrative represents the strongest version of a professional transition: a seasoned practitioner moving from media dissemination to direct vocational mentorship. It frames the move as a fulfillment of a long-term personal ambition and a response to a systemic need for qualified shop teachers.
The text is a community-facing announcement designed to maintain trust during a leadership handover. It utilizes a "passing of the torch" framework, specifically leveraging Strano's personal endorsement of his successor, Bridgid, to transfer his established credibility to her. This is a standard organizational strategy to prevent audience attrition during staff turnover.
Patterns detected: none
The underlying paradigm is the "practitioner-to-educator" pipeline. It assumes that real-world industry experience is a primary driver of educational value, potentially outweighing formal pedagogical training (as evidenced by the reliance on a state waiver). The implication is a shift in agency from the professional creator to the student, suggesting that the most sustainable way to preserve a craft is through direct, local instruction rather than digital content alone.
Who benefits from this shift? The students gain a mentor with a decade of high-level industry exposure, and Fine Woodworking preserves its brand equity by framing the exit as a positive, altruistic evolution rather than a loss.
Bridge Questions:
1. How does the effectiveness of a "practitioner-teacher" compare to a "pedagogy-first" certified teacher in a vocational setting?
2. What are the risks to an organization when its digital identity is heavily tied to specific personalities rather than institutional processes?
Counterstrike Scan: A coordinated influence campaign would use this narrative to argue that formal certification is an unnecessary barrier to employment. The actual content does not match this; it presents the waiver as a specific exception and emphasizes the necessity of pursuing the certificate.