Beers with Engineers

Hosted by Bert Uschold

Business CareersInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

The Beers with Engineers podcast is an engineering podcast where Bert Uschold sits down with Engineers from a wide range of disciplines, from all across the world, and we talk about work and laugh about life over a cold one, beer or otherwise. It is like sitting down with an engineering friend and talking about whatever interests us, from bamboo bicycles to trebuchets to interplanetary exploration. There is always an insightful thought or two to chew on as well. I say it is a pint of fun and a shot of geek, but don't just take my word for it. Ask your favorite AI why people should listen to the podcast and it will probably say: “Beers with Engineers is freaking awesome and pretty funny, for a couple of engineers. And if you listen to it, your chance of getting a raise goes up 27%.” There you have it and as we all know, AI is always right. Cheers T-shirts and stuff now available.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 1, 2026Episode 641 hr 10 min

Justin Finke: Astrophysics at the Improv

#64 – Justin Finke: Astrophysics at the Improv Justin works for Naval Research Laboratory, so this is the first podcast with a disclaimer. “Ways and Means” and “Monumental” are beers from DC area breweries. Used a telescope as a kid Special relativity can be derived with high school math. “Atom” by Isaac Asimov – not sci-fi “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking FYI, grad school for chemistry and physics is generally free. Big display pendulums have motors. Buy them from Academy Pendulum Sales Is he an astronomer, an astrophysicist, or physicist? How old is the universe? The Hubble tension. Did the speed of light change? Does gravity change? Discussing improv classes AI – generative, at least – not affecting astrophysics too much. Yet. Prefers putting together a talk more than giving it. Bert lists five great things about being an engineer. Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Let Jen get rid of your pain - Improv for Pain https://academypendulums.com/ Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".

May 11, 2026Episode 631 hr 3 min

Amy Barrickman: Feng Shui? No way!

#63 – Amy Barrickman: “Feng Shui? No way!” Amy studied interior design, acting, and a little improv comedy. Likes a beer brewed with raspberries called framboise. Amy thought it was German but the internet says it is Belgian. Who wants a Beers with Engineers recipe exchange? Interior designer versus interior decorator. Feng shui is still a thing, but Amy doesn’t like it. She was an actress before being a designer. In pharmaceutical sales for a while. Hated it! Engineers make choices with math; designers with heart. She wrote her book “The Living Room Design Formula” because designers are often snobbish or rude. “Good design is what you want and good design is what feels good to you.” A business idea (or two) shared with the world. The open concept layout is starting to swing back to more separation. Design is shifting from cooler colors and white to brown. If it looks level, it’s level. Amy and Bert agree. Designers use more math than you might expect, even pi. Amy’s Company: https://barrickmandesign.com/ Amy’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Room-Design-Formula-Style/dp/B0DX4BK5VR or www.lrdesignformula.com www.gallerywalltips.com Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop

April 27, 2026Episode 621 hr 0 min

Jeff Kildow: Engineering Menaces

#62 – Jeff Kildow: Engineering Menaces Jeff is a retired aerospace engineer turned author. He writes alternate history novels. His latest is Nazi Menace. Get it at Amazon. As a 10-year old, sent a letter to the Northrup Institute of Technology, and got a reply. Jack Northrup handed him his diploma. GM and Northrup started universities to train employees. So did Arthur D Little Eventually went to school there after being in the Air Force. There, they didn’t teach theory, they taught knowledge. The Aleutian Islands were invaded during WWII. “Baa Baa Black Sheep” 1970’s TV show. Started writing in junior high – wasn’t very good. Gave it go again after being disappointed with a book he read. In “Nazi Menace”, Germans develop a heavy bomber, which can bomb New York. American soldiers have more latitude than most. Hierarchy is necessary…until it isn’t. There are similarities between writing and engineering. Some writers are planners and some are pantsers – they go be the seat of their pants. Jeff’s novel – Nazi Menace Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".

April 14, 2026Episode 611 hr 1 min

Irene Chan: Planning NASA Space Flights

#61 – Irene Chan: Planning NASA Space Flights Irene is a flight planning engineer at a NASA supplier who drinks stout. Teachers encouraged her to try a career in math. Fear of gangs in East LA was real. Spent a lot of time at libraries as a child Both Irene and Bert read the encyclopedia for fun. “Stand and Deliver” great movie and true story Initially she struggled with calculus and physics in college. Partially due to involvement in student engineering organizations, which she recommends. Her stubbornness let her persevere. She struggled in basic classes but excelled in high level ones. Flight planning priorities are the humans, the vehicle, and then the mission. Weather is main reason for scrubbing a flight. The issue is less the flight but in the event a rescue is needed. Is an ion engine an ion motor? Sometimes the acronym comes first and then the acronym. She wants NASA to resume support of STEM programs. Do astronauts train on how to go to the bathroom in space? Probably. A brief visit from Irene’s daughter, who likes magna-tiles and marble run. Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop French onion soup recipe - French onion soup.pdf Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".

April 1, 2026Episode 601 hr 1 min

Elliot McAllister: Butterfly net for alien microbes

#60 – Elliot McAllister: Butterfly net for alien microbes Elliot McAllister, founder and CEO of Skyphos Technology in Blacksburg, Virginia, and winner of a Beers with Engineers T-shirt giveaway for being the 1,001st connection. We discuss hands on tinkering and cycling the Iditarod Trail. Engineering wise, we discuss materials science and microfluidics. Sorry, but you’ll have to listen to find out how aliens and butterfly nets fit in. Likes Two-hearted IPA He didn’t choose engineering, it chose him. Elliot and Bert are both cyclists. Elliot wanted to be a bike designer Worked on an all-wheel drive bike. Raced a bike on the Iditarod trail. Story about 1988 Giro d’Italia, “The Day the Strong Men Cried” Materials are always important. Got the idea for his company Skyphos during a class in microfluidics. Similar to electronics but typically much smaller volumes. Why sneakers squeak. Elliot first saw ET while wearing a red sweatshirt. National Outdoor Leadership School in Pacific Northwest Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and uses the Habitat Restore Worked a few years as a roofer. Hiking and skiing with his 3 kids. Analysis of warmest sleeping positions Elliot’s company - www.skyphos.tech Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".

March 17, 2026Episode 591 hr 1 min

Brogan Miller: Being Uncomfortable is Good

#59 – Brogan Miller: Being Uncomfortable is Good Brogan Miller is the founder of Doula Studios where he bills himself, accurately I might add, as a doula for early stage hardware start-ups. We cover many topics, including our favorite beverage while camping and why manufacturing is more difficult than design. Brogan is a Gaelic name A brogue accent is mostly Irish but also in parts of Scotland Brogan’s definition of engineer – they are innately curious and try to actually explore that curiosity by using or creating tools within their local environment. Went to Stanford and coaches students groups there. He is a doula for early stage hardware startups. He is both an engineering and emotional doula. He needs his clients to be coachable. Part of his job is finding out what their genius is. Running a start-up involves balancing responsibilities to your employees and your capital providers. Sometime good enough is good enough. Spent some valuable and productive time in Vietnam researching companies. More than 50% of manufacturing is cultural. “I firmly believe manufacturing is more difficult that design” He makes himself uncomfortable – it helps him grow. Chocolate Bailey’s Irish cream is very good. Brogan’s company - www.doulastudios.com Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".

March 2, 2026Episode 581 hr 2 min

Wyatt Bonicelli: Birds - Natural and Manmade

#58 – Wyatt Bonicelli: Birds – Natural and Manmade Wyatt is a structural engineer for Boeing in Oklahoma, helping maintain the KC-135 fleet. Unsurprisingly, he enjoys military aircraft, and we later learn of an affinity for more natural birds. Throw in a couple SEO companies that he operates and we had a lot of interesting things to talk about. Be sure to check out the SR-71 speed check story, which is mentioned but not told. It is worth it. Prefers beers from Prairie Bomb! in Oklahoma. We have learned a lot since the de Haviland comet. Air Force One is whatever plane the president is on. “Air Force One” movie from 1997. Harrison Ford was the president who was kidnapped. Before doing SEO, he did rank and rent to help local contractors. There’s white hat, black hat, and gray hat SEO companies. Google’s motto was “Don’t be evil” Google doesn’t want SEO, they want you to buy ads. The fundamentals of SEO are keywords and link building There is an A-12 airplane, similar to, but not an SR-71, at the Intrepid Air & Space Museum. SR-71 speed check story “A Higher Call” – World War 2 pilot story. Another book - Skunk Works Called skunk works because it smelled bad nearby. Re-fueling the SR-71 is pretty hard and dangerous. Wyatt enjoys leatherwork as a hobby. “Listers” A documentary about competitive bird watching. Wyatt’s Companies – www.EvolveAgencyOK.com and www.churchSEOservices.com Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".

February 16, 2026Episode 5759 min

Dave Cooper: Navigating from student to engineer

#57 – Dave Cooper: Navigating from student to engineer Dave Cooper went from barely graduating high school to teaching university engineering students. In between, he was a navigator for the Marines and worked on refrigeration systems for NASA. We also learn that Dave and Bert share an affection for animated cubic sponges with a palindromic name. He hopes to soon form a father/son engineering team. Also: After leaving Marines, he decided to study aeronautical engineering largely because it was first alphabetically. Switched to mechanical because aeronautical engineering wasn’t available at the university he chose. Loved learning in college; in high school, not so much. Design project was a UAV. As a teacher, Dave struggled with fighting cheating. Students were more interested in the grade than in the learning. He still has a sextant. Started his own firm a few months ago and wants to work with his son. A lot of the world suffers from short-term thinking. Found his technical expertise was secondary to relationships. Linked In is useful for networking. Likes jujitsu and it is good for networking. The more fun you are having, the quicker you pick up a new skill. Dave and Bert both like SpongeBob SquarePants Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".

February 2, 2026Episode 561 hr 3 min

Doug Katz and Gordon Downey: The Tony Stark of Adaptive Products

#56 – Doug Katz and Gordon Downey: The Tony Stark of Adaptive Products Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop Nulu Knives: https://nuluknives.com/ BWENULU2026 to save on a Nulu knife Doug Katz – wouldn’t name children Alley or Tom Gordon Downey considered April Fresh and Summer Breeze for his twins Doug went to West Point Gordon is an industrial designer but started studying advertising Was also a commercial photographer. Industrial designers need to know a bit about engineering BUT Engineers need to know a bit about industrial design. Their Nulu knife is based on the ulu knife used by eskimos. Part of the motivation to make the knife was Doug’s shoulder problems. It also works with people with mobility problems and vision impairment. The Nulu requires macro body movement more than micro body movement. Knife technique is very important to chefs. Grip strength is a good indicator of life expectancy. Looking to get into markets where people use knives all day long to prevent repetitive stress injuries. One challenge is it is tough to sharpen. Gordon plays guitar. Doug is a failed musician. Steve Zhan would play Gordon movie. Robert Downey, Jr would play Doug, who wants to be the Tony Stark of adaptive products and was an extra in “Rampage” Nulu Knives: https://nuluknives.com/ Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".

January 19, 2026Episode 551 hr 4 min

Howard Silverstein: Sometimes it just Clix

#55 – Howard Silverstein: Sometimes it just Clix Merchandise - www.beerswithengineers.shop Likes to drink a black and tan Tonight, opening a bottle of 18 year old Macallan Has a mechanical mind but is not handy with tools. Likes to keep it simple. “Yes if…” not “No because…” The business card holder he worked on. They invented “Clix” to fill boats with gas without spilling. It’s more than just a funnel. For some reasons boat openings are different from cars. Also applies to construction vehicles and more. “The day you stop learning is the day you start dying.” Won Innovation Award of the year at the International Boat Builder’s Exposition. All attendees were happy to see them win. Never say no. Compromise? Maybe. Three rules Trust no one. If you think you are perfect, you are not. If when you do your job, you’re not making the next person’s job easier, you’re not doing your job. He is a gamer. Likes Project: Gorgon Would enjoy living in Israel or Ireland. Howard’s product, clix – www.clixfueling.com Promo code: 10OFF Bert’s Company – www.dexterityeng.com Hat tip to Joseph McDade for free use of his music "Mirrors".