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Ep. 7: Jonathan Ward (ICON, TLC4x4)

Release Date: 08/18/2021

Sweep the Floor

On today's Sweep the Floor, we talk to Matt (Codina Leather) about his love for vintage belts and guitar straps, the unlikely acting debut - playing Scotty Moore in Heartbreak Hotel - that he landed thanks to his Instagram feed, and learn how that job ended up giving him the stability he needed to become a full-time leatherworker. Codina is currently based in Las Vegas, where he handcrafts vintage-inspired leather goods including belts, guitar wraps, and guitar straps.

Ep. 9: David Harto

Sweep the Floor

On this week's Sweep the Floor, we meet Washington State-based artist/fabricator/car enthusiast David Harto, who races at Bonneville on a bike powered by a 1952 Cushman Eagle scooter motor. He walks us through the minutiae of salt flat racing; describes the neverending evolution of his very artistic creation; and explains how a guy who doesn't even consider himself a motorcyclist ended up racing on two wheels, trying to break the ton (a.k.a. go 100 mph).

Ep. 8: Matt Wehling

Sweep the Floor

When violin bow maker Matt Wehling offered to be a guest on Sweep the Floor, I couldn't resist. Violin bows look so simple - a long strip of wood, some horsehair, and something called a "frog" - yet they can command five or even six figures. How much work actually goes into them?

Ep. 7: Jonathan Ward (ICON, TLC4x4)

Sweep the Floor

After a long hiatus, Sweep the Floor is back with special guest, Jonathan Ward (ICON, TLC4x4). Jonathan is an automotive fanatic, Land Cruiser guru, designer, maker, and a tireless learner.

Ep. 6: David Tracy

Sweep the Floor

David Tracy, Senior Technical Editor for Jalopnik, joins us this week for an inspiring and hilarious talk about his Jeep obsession, finding mentors and bringing long-gone cars back from the dead.

Ep. 5: Trent Preszler

Sweep the Floor

When Trent Preszler inherited his father's old toolbox, he decided to put it to use by building a wooden canoe. It took him a year, but Trent (who had no prior woodworking experience) built the boat, learned some valuable life lessons and wrote a memoir about the process, Little and Often. Trent now builds similar, handcrafted wooden canoes that sell for $100,000. It's a wild, powerful tale about a lot more than just woodworking.

Ep. 4: Josh Martin

Sweep the Floor

Surfboard shaper Josh Martin is perfecting the art of upcycling from his Southern California workshop.

Ep. 3: Richard Sachs

Sweep the Floor

Acclaimed bicycle framebuilder Richard Sachs joins Jason this week for an unfiltered talk about bikes, inspiration, and staying independent.

Ep. 2: Jeff Pensiero of Baldface Lodge

Sweep the Floor

This week's Sweep the Floor features a candid and hilarious talk with Jeff Pensiero, the founder of Nelson, British Columbia's Baldface Lodge. It's a story about finding true love, overcoming obstacles, making something from scratch and some truly creative accounting.

Ep. 1: Linda Manzer

Sweep the Floor

The debut episode of Sweep Floor featuring Linda Manzer, one of the greatest guitarmakers alive today. She pushes the boundaries of instrument-making and engineering with each of her creations and has a cult-like following among both collectors and world-class players like Pat Metheny, Julian Lage and Bruce Cockburn.

More Episodes

After a long hiatus, Sweep the Floor is back with a guest who is particularly close to my heart, Jonathan Ward. Jonathan is an automotive fanatic, Land Cruiser guru, designer, maker, and a tireless learner.

Over the years, he's built vehicles for celebrities like Joe Rogan and, as he discloses in this interview for the first time, he recently served as a consultant on the relaunch of the Ford Bronco. Truth be told, when I thought of doing a maker podcast, Jonathan was the first person I dreamed of having as a guest. I'm honored to have him on the show.

His story is pretty unique: A former child actor, Jonathan took his love for the Toyota Land Cruiser to extremes, launching TLC4x4, one of the nation's premier repair and restoration shops for these cult classics, and eventually creating ICON, a thriving business where state-of-the-art vehicles are housed inside the shells of vintage Toyotas, Ford Broncos or whatever else he and his clients can dream up. ICONs aren't cheap, but they aren't meant to sit in garages, either. These are works of art that you can daily drive or take to the furthest reaches of the globe.

https://www.icon4x4.com

At his request, I was able to do this interview in-person at ICON's expansive Chatsworth, California facility and, to be honest, I was unexpectedly moved by seeing these cars up-close. Though I love old Land Cruisers, I'm far from an exotic car enthusiast. But these were different. Every curve, every bolt, every dial, wiring harness, and swatch of upholstery that Jonathan uses is chosen not for profit, but functionality. There were no corners cut, anywhere. I will never be an automotive designer, but it made me contemplate the attention to details I put (or don't put) into my own business and how I could be even better at what I do.

During our chat, we covered a lot of ground: His background, his love for craft, Land Cruisers, the cars that he thinks will be the next coveted next and why he's not jumping on the electric drivetrain bandwagon just yet. Plus a lot more.

Sweep the Floor's next episode will be out on September 1. Until then, please share this episode - and our former ones - on social media with friends. Share the podcast with your favorite brands who may love it, too. And don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes.

Sweep the Floor is a new podcast where we celebrate the stories behind the best makers in the world, including woodworkers, brewers, bootmakers, mechanics, designers and all points in-between.

Listener suggestions or sponsorship inquiries welcomed at [email protected].

Host: Jason Verlinde

Music: Paul Rigby

A Fretboard Journal Podcast production.

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