Community Is Key w/ Steve Van Plew, Van Plew Co. | Beyond the Workbench #27

Most people think they need an audience. What they actually need is a community.

Steve Van Plew, a TV editor turned leatherworker and host of the Leathercraft Community Podcast Show, joins Odin and Magnus to talk about why he built his show around community instead of audience, and what that distinction actually changes: storytelling that builds trust, vulnerability that makes people relate, and a genuine investment in the people watching. The conversation moves into batch recording, pitching sponsors, and racing to capture the stories of the industry's older makers before they're gone. Steve also shares how a dog collar for his mini pinscher turned into a full leathercraft obsession.

Featuring Steve Van Plew of Van Plew Co.:
https://www.instagram.com/vanplewco/

TIMESTAMPS:
00:01 - Welcoming Steve Van Plew
01:22 - How the Podcast Began
05:58 - Storytelling Builds Trust With Audiences
12:04 - Racing to Capture Elder Stories
20:44 - The Batch Recording Secret Explained
25:28 - Pitching and Pricing Sponsorship Deals
38:13 - How a Dog Collar Started
44:41 - Attention as the New Currency
48:16 - From TV and UFC to Leather
56:00 - Where to Find Steve Online

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1boT5ABgRjIDEGyi7bEbjd
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-workbench/id1816987809
YouTube: https://youtu.be/kQWifxu3s8A
All Platforms: https://www.beyondtheworkbench.com/

FOLLOW BEYOND THE WORKBENCH:
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondtheworkbench
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Beyond-the-Workbench-61576775047322/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

HOSTS:
Odin Clack - https://www.instagram.com/odinleather
Michael Magnus - https://www.instagram.com/magnusopus

Beyond the Workbench casually dives into the world of leathercraft, entrepreneurship, and modern maker life. Hosted by Odin Clack (full-time leatherworker and retail owner) and Michael Magnus (leather marketing expert and founder of www.learnleathercraft.com), we explore everything from personal project updates to marketing strategies, retail challenges, and the business side of making.

New episodes are released twice a month on Thursdays.

Enjoying the podcast? Please share it with someone who you think would find value in the conversations. If these conversations have helped your business and you're interested in supporting the show, visit our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

Edited and produced by Instrumental Media: https://instrumental.media/

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