Cool Tools

Cool Tools
  • 4.5 (60)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

In each episode of the Cool Tools Show, Kevin Kelly and Mark Frauenfelder talk to a guest about some of his or her favorite uncommon and uncommonly good tools they think others should know about.

  1. 12/20/2024

    414: Michael Garfield

    Paleontologist-Futurist Michael Garfield works in mind-jazz across genres to help navigating our world of accelerating weirdness and cultivate the curiosity and play for people to thrived in it. Host of Future Fossils, former Digital Media Strategist for The Santa Fe Institute and host of Complexity Podcast, former Community Manager for The Long Now Foundation and Research Analyst for a stealth Mozilla AI spin out, his latest project Humans On The Loop examines agency in the age of automation through conversation, music, essay, social weaving, and the rearing of bespoke language models. LINKTREE SUBSTACK YOUTUBE TWITTER TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 1:01 – Boss RC-505 mkII Loopstation 16:53 – Brunton Transit pocket compass 25:47 – Black Diamond Storm 500-R headlamp 33:17 – FLUXX by Looney Labs 42:14 – Humans on the Loop Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VdHo_mkIAkc For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/michael-garfield-paleontologist-futurist/ To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

    50 min

  2. 12/13/2024

    413: Doug Burke

    Mr. Burke is a serial entrepreneur. Mr. Burke has over 34 years of enterprise software company management and start-up experience and has worked for 11 software and technology services companies. Mr. Burke is a father of 3 kids and husband to his lovely wife, Irina. WEBSITE TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 0:31 – Leatherman Skeletool 6:13 – Samsung Galaxy Ring 14:26 – Kindle Paperwhite 19:27 – SimpleNote 23:17 – Cognitive Medical Systems For show notes and transcript visit: https://youtu.be/gKYcYmR9Eok To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

    29 min

  3. 12/06/2024

    412: Christina K

    Christina K. is a home organizer based out of metro Vancouver area. She helps the neurodivergent to the neurotypical find space and peace in their home whether virtually or in person. She also in a previous life was a marketing coordinator helping small and big businesses in the tech space find their voice in a loud world. When not working you can find her baking, watching educational YouTube or collecting too many squishmallows. WEBSITE INSTAGRAM TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 0:38 – Snackle Box 4:57 – Finch 9:50 – Buy Nothing Facebook Groups 15:21 – Apple Password Manager Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vy8sEYZLDw8 For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/christina-k-home-organizer/ To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

    30 min

  4. 11/29/2024

    411: Chordophony

    Based in Texas, Chordophony, is a software engineer by day who moonlights as a music technologist and sound explorer. He has developed innovative devices and software to facilitate sonic creation and streamline production workflows. Chordophony is an avid collector and enthusiast of music-related tools and instruments. Social Media Links: Instagram.com/chordophony Twitter.com/chordophony TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 0:45 – Bluetooth MIDI Footpedal 8:18 – iPad Air as musical instrument 13:45 – AUM 20:10 – Custom Hybrid Pedalboards (aka CHyPboards) Watch on YouTube   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/chordophony-music-technologist/   To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

    33 min

  5. 10/25/2024

    410: RJ Andrews

    Data storyteller RJ Andrews is obsessed with data graphics. He helps organizations solve high-stakes problems with visual metaphors and persuasive graphics. He recently produced designs for The White House, Google, and MIT. RJ's newest book is "Info We Trust: How to Create Value with Data Graphics." He is also author of "Florence Nightingale: Mortality and Health Diagrams" and other works. Learn about all publications at Visionary Press. RJ lives/works in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. Links: Newsletter X Profile Bluesky Profile TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 0:47 – Cheap book cradle (airplane neck pillow) 2:30 – Weighted bookmark 9:00 – Bendable neck reading light 12:58 – Giant desktop bookstand 20:43 – Visionary Press 20:43 – Info We Trust Watch on YouTube   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/rj-andrews-data-storyteller/   To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

    35 min
  6. 409: Julian Bleecker

    10/11/2024

    409: Julian Bleecker

    Julian Bleecker, Ph.D., is an accomplished engineer and author with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, an MSEng from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz. He founded Near Future Laboratory in 2005 and OMATA, a one-person innovative hardware product design studio, in 2014, which he sold in 2022. Julian has written It's Time To Imagine Harder and co-authored The Manual of Design Fiction. He also wrote the influential essay, Design Fiction: A Short Essay on Design, Science, Fact and Fiction. His engineering expertise and innovative work in Design Fiction have significantly shaped creative practices worldwide. Near Future Laboratory Podcast LinkedIn Instagram TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 0:34 – Baofeng 5RM Multi-Band Ham Radio 7:43 – Make Playing Cards 17:08 – Sendy.co and Instructions 24:23 – Astro + Netlify Watch on YouTube   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/julian-bleecker-engineer-and-author/ To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

    43 min

  7. 09/13/2024

    408: Mac Moss

    Mac Moss is an Idaho based graphic designer who operates his own one man studio known as mm.s. Heavily inspired by science fiction and the American West, his work has naturally drifted into predominantly the outdoor industry. Outside of work, Mac races competitively at ultra marathon distances.   TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 1:29 – Solar Awareness / Lumos Sun Tracking App 11:27 – Hori Hori Garden Tool 14:41 – Sodastream Hack 21:51 – Quanta Vinyl Streaming 30:11 – Getty Pacific Standard Time exhibit 30:35 – The Ecology Center   LINKS:  Instagram: @macmoss.studio Website: macmoss.studio   Watch on YouTube   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/mac-moss-graphic-designer/   To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

    27 min
  8. 407: David Rager

    09/06/2024

    407: David Rager

    David Rager is an accomplished Creative Director with over two decades of experience in design leadership, brand building, and environmental experiences. As NASA's current Creative Director, he oversees the agency's visual brand and iconic Graphics Standards Manual and is responsible for reintroducing the NASA Logotype (Worm). Previously, Rager led teams at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Disney, the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, and the New Museum, and co-founded Weekends, a design studio operating between Paris and Los Angeles. TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 1:29 – Solar Awareness / Lumos Sun Tracking App 11:27 – Hori Hori Garden Tool 14:41 – Sodastream Hack 21:51 – Quanta Vinyl Streaming 30:11 – Getty Pacific Standard Time exhibit 30:35 – The Ecology Center Watch on YouTube   For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/david-rager-creative-director-at-nasa/   To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

    37 min
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4.5
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

In each episode of the Cool Tools Show, Kevin Kelly and Mark Frauenfelder talk to a guest about some of his or her favorite uncommon and uncommonly good tools they think others should know about.

Information

  • Creator
    Cool Tools
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2024
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Cool Tools