The Origin of Happy Making

Building Circuit Boards and Community with Richard Hawthorn

Rich went from tinkering as a kid to designing hundreds of circuit boards and helping launch makerspaces in both Boston and the UK. In this episode, he opens up about what drives him, what he’s learned from a lifetime of making, and why community matters just as much as the projects. Links https://www.instagram.com/100pcbs/ [https://www.instagram.com/100pcbs/] https://www.traintrackr.io/ [https://www.traintrackr.io/]

The Origin of Happy Making

In the first episode of Happy Making, host Travis Bumgarner shares the story behind the podcast and the community that inspired it. After years spent at a Boston makerspace surrounded by people building everything from furniture to circuits, Travis reflects on what those Tuesday nights taught him about creativity, curiosity, and connection. He also introduces the guiding principles behind the show: this isn’t a how-to manual but an invitation to explore; curiosity should always be encouraged, never stifled; and the door to creativity should stay wide open, no gatekeeping allowed. Happy Making is a podcast about the joy of creating and the people who can’t help but make things.