SHOW NOTES

(2:30) Biscuits vs. bread pudding

(3:00) Bio 

(4:25) George reminds the audience that he is blind

(5:10) Writing desk project

(5:30) Ten years and now ready to bring the idea to fruition

(7:30) Finding the right desk for the project

(9:30) The dream – collaborating with 100+ blind and deaf-blind craftsmen

(10:00) Donation to a fund established by Helen Keller

(11:25) Residential school for the blind – 200 miles from home

(12:00) Skills, talents and abilities are based on who you are, not on your blindness

(14:00) Being asked to never tune a piano again

(16:00) Losing your vision doesn’t’ mean you’ve lost your knowledge, expertise, and wisdom

(16:40) Teaching artisanship vs. teaching “how to be blind”

(17:15) Using industrial arts as a tool to teach confidence

(18:30) Rebuilding confidence

(19:00) Only accept advice from people who are invested in the advice they are giving

(19:45) Courteous audience members trying to get George’s attention

(20:20) Highland Hardware, a scorp, a recommendation, and an unexpected encounter

(22:15) “Meet the Masters” video series – honored to be a featured guest

(22:45) Prediction from the 1970’s comes true – featured in Fine Woodworking magazine

(23:30) The resilience of young people

(23:55) Blind students and experiments on the school ship – totally capable

(25:00)  Fish species identification

(26:45)  Plankton identification, shell identification and a blind experts on shells

(27:30)  Sometimes we think something is difficult and that turns out not to be true

(28:30)  Using one’s senses to identify wood, including a lesser known method or two

(31:20)  Maple vs. birch, with a nod to black walnut

(33:30)  Safety issues when operating machinery – learning is the key

(35:00)  The table saw blade is not the issue, it’s your hand movements

(36:30)  How to avoid a sudden reaction to “wood failure” – again, learning and experience are key

(39:30)  Moms have great “blindness skills” – being aware of your environment

(40:45)  Great teachers assess learner skills and talents and adjust teaching methods to match student learning

(43:35)  Musicians’ talents translating to woodworking skills

(45:15)  Building Stevie Wonder’s coffee table

(46:15)  Cabinet building school wouldn’t let blind students enroll

(46:30)  Never said “I don’t know how.” Instead, “I can do that.” And then go learn.

(47:30)  Former students - Emilie Gossiaux – a serious artist who stretched George’s teaching skills.

(49:15)  Making the shift from drawing to sculpture (to express ideas)

(51:10)  If you are active in the world, you learn every day

(51:30)  If I know how to do something and you want to learn how, I will teach you

(51:45)  Every person I’ve ever taught to carve wood has ended up a better carver than I am

(52:25) Two ways of looking at how things are put together in the world – reductive vs. cumulative

(54:00)  From skiing for fun to the Paralympic Games to world travel

(55:30)  Sticking with it – finishing in the last spots in a race, but many others dropped out

(58:30)  Persistence, longevity, effort, and adapting to change.

(59:15)  If you are static in your thought processes you will not go very far

(1:01:00)  Cutting a pencil line in half on a bandsaw

(1:02:00)  Mr. Rosnowski – Georges’ idol and role model – a great teacher

(1:03:00)  Find a mentor and spend time with them

(1:03:30) One thousand and one hundred attempts at composite skis that outperform wooden skis

(1:04:30)  Final thoughts: write a book? I’ve done a lot of cool things in my life

(1:05:00)  My picture of success

(1:05:45)  If you want help with woodworking, let me know and I will help you

EPISODE-SPECIFIC LINKS

George Wurtzels’ website - www.gmwurtzel.com

Helen Keller Foundation - https://helenkellerfoundation.org

Subaru TV ad (30 second version) - https://www.ispot.tv/ad/dwTL/subaru-outback-see-the-world

Highland Woodworking, episode #44, “Meet the Masters series”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTZdzPqjHUM

Former student – blind entrepreneur Jason "JJ" Meddaugh - runs a technology access company (for the blind) atguys.com

Former student - artist Emilie Gossiaux <http://www.emiliegossiaux.com/> - struck by a truck while cycling and lost her vision as a result of that collision

Former student - Dr. Josh Miele – read his story here - https://www.rd.com/article/joshua-miele-inspiration-from-an-unthinkable-crime/, and here https://forward.com/news/476159/joshua-miele-went-blind-at-4-now-hes-a-macarthur-genius/

Can You See How I See? Documentary PREVIEW - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeqgeRJnOO8

George’s friend Jeff Thompson – blind podcaster – www.blindabilities.com

Woodworking for the blind – www.ww4b.org and https://www.facebook.com/ww4b.org

Be My Eyes - https://www.bemyeyes.com

Greenville Woodworkers Guild - https://www.greenvillewoodworkers.com

Recurring Links

Music for Lead. Learn. Change. is Sweet Adrenaline by Delicate Beats

Podcast cover art is a view from Brunnkogel (mountaintop) over the mountains of the Salzkammergut in Austria, courtesy of photographer Simon Berger, published on www.unsplash.com.

Professional Association of Georgia Educators:  www.pageinc.org

David’s LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-w-reynolds-5a5b0a36/

Instagram -  lead.learn.change