The Textile Nerd Podcast

Dan McGowan and Lori Atone

The Textile Nerd Podcast: Exploring textile curiosities without wasting your time. Featuring industry insights, intriguing backstories, innovations, history, interesting interviews, and more. If fabric is the focus, Lori Atone, Dan McGowan, and our cast of subject matter experts will nerd out about it.

Play

Open in

22 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 12 min
English

Episodes 22

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S1 · E60
Thursday · 13 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Blake Theademan's Journey
Where do textile careers begin? They almost never take a linear path. In the inspirational case of Blake Theademan's journey, it's revolved around finding solutions while doing what's best for his family. Lori and Dan welcome the TVF sales consultant to the Textile Nerd Podcast to find out what has taken him from the warehouse floor to closing deals with some stops in-between.
S1 · E59
September 17 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: CORDURA®
The fabric world doesn't have too many brand names that immediately speak for themself, but CORDURA® is in a class by itself. On this episode of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan take a deep dive into the history and mystique of this rugged and ready fabric whose roots date back decades for its military uses and now as a mainstay for bags and gear that can hold up to the most challenging conditions.
S1 · E58
September 9 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Shade and Awning Fabrics
Shade and awning fabrics create a visual welcome, a branding opportunity, an architectural flourish, and so much more. For manufacturers of shades and awnings, a few well-considered questions before you select fabric for your next project can ensure a much better outcome. On this edition of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will explore some of the important questions and considerations manufacturers should make when selecting a fabric for business, agriculture, home, or recreational uses with TVF Vice President of Business Development Robert Hinsch.
S1 · E57
August 19 · 10 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Color Management
Fabric prints that pop require more than the right ink and a little luck. Color management is the key to taking a job -- whether it be direct-to-fabric, direct-to-garment, or any other method -- over the top. In the second edition of a two-part series on printing to textiles, Lori and Dan talk about this critical skill with Kornit Digital Presales Applications Manager Matthew Meany. Kornit is a world leader in on-demand printing, and Matthew has spent some three decades helping print service providers and manufacturers get the most out of their work.
S1 · E56
August 5 · 12 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Finer Points of Fabric Printing
The finer points of fabric printing are everchanging and often incredibly complex. An incorrect printer setting, misaligned tension, fouled up fixation step, or any other miscue along the way can spell disaster for a print run. Kornit Digital, a global leader in fabric printing and ink, has been developing technology and methods throughout the years designed to cut out complications and deliver brilliant, consistent prints on-demand. Lori and Dan welcome Kornit Digital Presales Applications Manager Matthew Meany to The Textile Nerd Podcast.
S1 · E55
July 22 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Printing Education
Advances and availability of textile printing technology must go hand-in-hand with first-rate printing education. PRINTING United Alliance, the premier trade association for printing professionals, is answering the call with rigorous course work and certifications through its iLEARNING+ platform to get novices up to speed and bolster the skills of industry veterans. Lori and Dan chat with Ray Weiss, director of digital print programs whose carries tremendous experiential chops, about relevant and responsive training for print media professionals in the textile world.
S1 · E54
July 8 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Proactive Questions
Proactive questions are like insurance for a successful textile project. Ask the right ones (even if you think you're asking too many), and you'll save yourself a serious amount of effort, headaches, and funds later on. What are some of the right questions to ask? Lori and Dan welcome back TVF Vice President of Business Development Robert Hinsch to detail projects that were loaded with lessons -- the good kind and the tough kind -- to help keep fabric decisions on-track. He discussed these proactive questions during a recent Advanced Textiles Association webinar.
S1 · E53
June 17 · 13 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Fabric Content and Education
In a world flooded with information, how do you zero in on quality industry-vetted fabric content and education? One solution is textile trade organizations, and more specifically, Advanced Textiles Association. On this episode of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan sit down with ATA Director of Content and Member Programs Jonathan Sweet, a former journalist, to examine initiatives designed to inform, enlighten, and boost the industry.
S1 · E52
June 3 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Onshoring, Nearshoring, Reshoring
With international markets in a near constant state of flux, textile companies in the United States are investigating options like onshoring, nearshoring, and reshoring to keep their edge. Sounds great, but how feasible? Lori and Dan convene a panel of supply chain experts that includes TVF Supply Chain leaders Stephanie Shrader, Tabitha Green, and Jamie Sullivan, as well as well-traveled global textile executive and AATCC Chair Courtney Williams to sound off on the challenges and possibilities of a more American-made textile industry.
S1 · E51
May 20 · 12 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Lifesaving Fabric
Meet Russ Hubbard, an Army veteran whose experiences during military training and in the sands of Middle East battlefields spotlighted a lifesaving fabric opportunity. On this edition of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will explore the origin story of Polar Skin™, a rapid-cooling system that is made here in the U.S. – from fiber to finished product – and achieves stringent Berry compliance standards, while portably and accessibly cooling overheated soldiers, athletes, and more.
S1 · E50
May 6 · 9 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: The Nerdies 2026
And the winner is… all of us nerds! On this special edition, Lori and Dan will present the first-ever "Nerdies" to the top guests, topics, and moments of the inaugural 50 episodes of The Textile Nerd Podcast. It's been a great ride of sharing knowledge and exploring textile curiosities so far. Here's to the next 50 episodes!
S1 · E47
April 16 · 12 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Supply Chain Roundtable
The global logistics, sourcing, and shipping environment might be the most talked about – and kvetched over – corner of the textile universe today. Lori and Dan convene a supply chain roundtable to discuss challenges that go beyond the "t-word" (tariffs) and impact companies large and small, domestic and international. TVF Supply Chain Director Stephanie Shrader, Senior Sourcing Manager Tabitha Green, and Sourcing Manager Jamie Sullivan weigh in.
S1 · E48
April 1 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Logistics
Logistics is the lifeblood of textiles. As with so many corners of the industry we love, the journey leading professionals to choose logistics is not linear. Lori and Dan will introduce you to TVF Global Trade and Logistics Manager Laura Martin – who once worked on a season of The Real World – to talk about challenges and opportunities she and the textile universe face.
S1 · E46
March 18 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Fabric Welding
Which methods come to mind when joining fabric pieces? Sewing? Adhesives? How about fabric WELDING? Miller Weldmaster is a global fabric welding powerhouse based in rural Ohio that has been on the forefront of welding technology for decades. Lori and Dan will explore the depths and future of this process with Jason Damis, North American sales manager at Miller Weldmaster.
S1 · E45
March 4 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Resource Center
At the intersection of textile nerdery, industry-tested information, and accessible learning lies a free tool we're proud to be part of: the TVF Resource Center. On this edition of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan talk about how the Resource Center was born, how Lori helped build it, and how it provides a solid, easy-to-digest foundation for learning more about fabric in all forms.
S1 · E44
February 18 · 12 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: The Practical Printer
Timothy Mitchell has a gift. The Practical Printer, as he's known, is renowned for making complex printing processes and terminology more easy to understand. On this edition of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will discuss the skill and learning abilities necessary to bring clarity to printing.
S1 · E43
February 4 · 14 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: High-Performance Fabric
More than four decades working with textiles coupled with even more time adventuring on trails, skies, tracks, and slopes helps Robert Hinsch understand high-performance fabrics on a deeper level than almost anyone. Lori and Dan will comprehensively examine the durable and adversity-tested characteristics built into the fabrics relied upon by the fierce, fit, and fearless.
S1 · E42
January 21 · 13 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Zoë Hong
In a world full of influential fashion figures, be more like Zoë Hong. That's one impression Lori and Dan came away with during this wide-ranging discussion with one of YouTube's most engaging fashion educators and innovators. Zoë Hong has dedicated her career to all facets of fashion, instructing, and learning, and she'll share her journey, wit, and wisdom.
S1 · E41
January 7 · 11 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Gray Back Fabric
What is a gray back fabric in the print media world? The answer lies in the intersection between printability and sustainability, and the result is a European-borne innovation. Lori and Dan sit down with Georg+Otto Friedrich Digital Printing Business Unit Director Hendrik Igler to discuss the market demands and the development story of these fabrics that are crisply-printable and recyclable after their first life.
S1 · E40
Dec 3, 2025 · 12 min
Textile Nerd Podcast: Lexus Bows
The pantheon of memorable holiday commercials is extensive, and one car company's ad campaign still stands out year-after-year: Lexus bows. But what's the story behind the elegant accoutrement? Turns out, an innovative print services provider in Los Angeles has been bringing the bows to life for years. Lori and Dan will take you behind the scenes with A3 Visual Director of Operations Mario Soto.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes