THE BUILD GUILD PODCAST · SEARCY, ARKANSAS
A local maker podcast from Searcy, Arkansas.
The Build Guild Podcast brings together makers, artists, woodworkers, fabricators, small-business owners, and creators from Searcy and the surrounding Central Arkansas area for conversations about tools, projects, creative work, business, and the realities of making things.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
The Build Guild Podcast
Browse episodes and listen without leaving Myers Woodshop.
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FULL PODCAST ARCHIVE
Every episode. All 22.
The complete Build Guild Podcast archive, newest to oldest.
Force Ghost
Failure Is Ok
The Wood Sorcerer
Jack Of One Trade
My Life Is Optional
Spaceships
Social Distancing
WorkbenchCon
Piano Man
Man Glitter
The One That Turned Us Down
Iron & Fire
Overspray
Bears, Beets, And Freakin' Laser Beams
Citizen Of The Day
John Godwin Of Duck Dynasty
Make. Do.
King Of The Castle
The Family Business
Look Ma, I'm On TV
Intros
MADE IN SEARCY, ARKANSAS
A Searcy, Arkansas podcast built around the local maker community.
The Build Guild was recorded in Ben Myers' workshop in Searcy, Arkansas, about an hour northeast of Little Rock. The show grew from a simple idea: there were a lot of talented makers in and around Searcy, and their stories were better told together, in person, around the same table.
Episodes feature the people and skills that make up the Central Arkansas maker community, including woodworking, CNC, 3D printing, art, furniture making, masonry, contracting, small business, content creation, and more. That local Searcy perspective is a big part of what made The Build Guild different.
MEET THE BUILD GUILD
Ben, Brian, Peter, and Coty.
The Build Guild brought together four makers from the Searcy and Central Arkansas community, each with a different background, skill set, and point of view.
MYERS WOODSHOP
Ben Myers
Ben is the owner of Myers Woodshop, a third-generation, self-taught woodworker and technology enthusiast who blends traditional making with CNC, laser, and 3D printing. He became known for CNC work with machines including Shapeoko and Onefinity, along with widely shared colored-pencil and LEGO resin projects, and brought a content-creator's perspective to the show.
FIERY SQUIRREL ART
Brian Hickey
Brian is an Arkansas artist whose work spans illustration, painting, woodworking, props, and digital design. At the time of the show he was a middle-school art teacher, and he created much of The Build Guild's original artwork and branding. Brian and Ben are also brothers-in-law — they married sisters.
ROWDY ROMAN
Peter “Pete” Romano
Peter first appeared on The Build Guild as a guest before becoming a co-host. He taught history and worked in school counseling, and he co-owned a masonry company with his brother and father before eventually moving full time into 3D printing and maker products, including CNC and laser accessories.
ARGANIC WOODWORK
Coty Skinner
Coty is an Army veteran and maker who built Arganic Woodwork around custom furniture and supporting the local foster-care community. When Searcy won Season 4 of Small Business Revolution, Coty became one of the six featured finalists, and that TV journey overlapped with the early days of The Build Guild. He later moved into real estate.
And plenty of guests. The show regularly brought in makers from the area, including blacksmiths, artists, painters, crafters, woodworkers, masons, contractors, seamstresses, and other hands-on creators from the local community.
BUILD GUILD FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
A few details about how The Build Guild Podcast was made, where it was recorded, and the people behind it.
What kind of podcast was The Build Guild?
A maker podcast built around friends who worked across woodworking, painting, 3D printing, CNC, resin, DIY, furniture, art, and other hands-on creative work. The conversations mixed making, small business, tools, projects, and everyday life.
Where was The Build Guild located?
The show was based in Searcy, Arkansas, in Central Arkansas about an hour northeast of Little Rock.
Where did you record the podcast?
Most episodes were recorded in Ben Myers' workshop in Searcy, usually with everyone sitting together in person rather than recording remotely.
What hardware did you use to record?
The original setup used the show's memorable gold microphones, a gaming laptop, and a four-microphone soundboard setup.
What software did you use?
The podcast was recorded and edited in Audacity. The show originally used Anchor for podcast hosting and distribution.
How did you find guest hosts?
The local maker community supplied most of the connections. Guests were generally people from Searcy and the surrounding area, and the show favored in-person conversations with local makers rather than remote interviews.
Can I be a guest on the podcast?
The original show focused on local, in-person guests. If The Build Guild becomes active again or you have a guest idea, use the Myers Woodshop contact page to reach out.
Did The Build Guild make money?
The show was primarily a labor of love. It eventually generated a little advertising revenue through its podcast host, but the original project was built much more around the maker community than around profit.
Who created the podcast artwork?
Brian Hickey of Fiery Squirrel Art created the original Build Guild artwork and branding using tools including Adobe Illustrator and Procreate.
Was the podcast sponsored?
The original show was not built around a traditional sponsor. For current partnership or collaboration inquiries, use the contact page.
Where can I listen to all of the episodes?
The full 22-episode archive is available above on this page, with links to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts, and Overcast.