Let’s be honest, half of this episode is just us battling the machines.Eric finally figures out why his gigabit internet is crawling (spoiler: mesh networks are liars), and Zac drops some serious cash on a Wi-Fi 7 router only to realize it sounds like last Thanksgivings turkey in the dryer on perma-press. We also dive deep into the current state of AI—from how “tokens” actually work to why chatbots confidently overlook some Apple products and how MacBook Pros that smell like rotten eggs, are to be expected.

We help Zac workshop a name for his upcoming console modding course, Eric drops some hard truths on the absolute racket that is email marketing, and Deric tears his living room apart looking for that thumb drive he lost because he refuses to network his editing computers.Deric installed shop lights so bright his cat thinks she’s being abducted.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 - We skip the ads (You're welcome)

08:00 - Eric’s Mesh Network Betrayal & The 2.4GHz Bottleneck

16:40 - Zac’s Screaming Wi-Fi 7 Router Modification

18:34 - Using AI to Talk You Out of $500 Purchases

21:50 - What the Hell are AI "Tokens" Anyway?

28:54 - AI Hallucinations: AirPods Pro 3 & Egg-Scented MacBooks

36:00 - Workshopping Zac's Console Modding Course Name

48:20 - The Extortion Bracket of Email Marketing

55:10 - Deric Loses His Mind (And His Thumb Drive)

01:02:04 - Blinding the Cat with New Shop Lights

01:06:50 - Why Burglars Don't Want Your TV Anymore

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We are back for Episode 210, and despite the technical gremlins trying to take down the live stream early on, we made it through. This week, Deric is back from Hawaii with a harsh reality check about trying to edit video on an airplane. Zac is deep in the trenches of filming his new console modding courses and discovering that recording voiceovers might actually be a form of physical torture. Meanwhile, Eric is buried in work and debating the ultimate woodworker's dilemma: do you build the custom dressers, or do you just swallow your pride and buy them?

We also dive into a viewer follow-up about the origins of green beer , debate whether the AI industry is conspiring to eat all the SD cards , and try to solve Eric's "chicken and egg" home renovation nightmare regarding rose gold trim.

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• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

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Eric and Zac try to hold down the fort while Deric is soaking up the sun in Hawaii , and predictably, it ends with Eric's internet dying and a desperate pivot to the aftershow.

Before the total system failure, the guys actually covered a lot of ground. Zac breaks down the absolute necessity of negotiating everything from your Adobe subscription to a root canal. Eric shares his nightmare week ruining a walnut desk finish and the agonizing awkwardness of sitting half-naked in a dermatologist's office. Plus, we discuss Airbnb pricing hacks , the death of WorkbenchCon , and why Staples is entering its "Blockbuster phase."

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• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

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We challenged Deric to keep up an Irish accent for the whole show, he didn't even last three seconds. We kick things off with a reality check on the recent windstorms that turned our backyards into obstacle courses and honest landscapers into price gouging armies.

Zac gets brutally honest about his latest project: XPS foam panel speakers. After being bought into the YouTube hype, he discovered that without a subwoofer and a $200 microphone, they sound less like high-fidelity audio and more like a musical birthday card.

Meanwhile, Deric shares how he turned Gemini AI into a high-functioning shop assistant by uploading photos of burnt-out capacitors. Fixing a "dead" motor for 13 bucks and balancing water chemistry without the usual guesswork.

In this episode, we also discuss:

• The Arborist "Opportunity": Why a split branch in the neighborhood suddenly costs $2,500 when demand is high.

• The Honda Fit "Clunk": Why Eric decided to "lube the bejesus" out of a strut mount bearing rather than spend $1,000 on a 16-year-old car.

• Dealerships vs. Online Buyers: Why online services often offer more for your trade-in than the local dealer ever will.

• Woodshop Cat: Deric’s solution for a cat that decided the house rugs are its new litter box.

Got questions? Email us at offthecutpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

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Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

• Zac: @ZacBuilds

• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

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We are bleeding money this week. Eric accidentally spends over $600 on just three sheets of walnut plywood after dealing with a breathless customer service rep. We also dive into Eric's new standing desk build, Zac’s genius idea to 3D print cages for power bricks, and why a $1,000 office chair might actually be worth it. Zac reveals the 3-point suspension system for his "Invisible Foam Speakers" and his plan to package the 3D printed jigs into a mini-course. Plus, we debate the physics of powering a gaming PC by pedaling a bike and share the only acceptable way to sand drywall without ruining your shop.

Got questions? Email us at offthecutpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

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Follow the Hosts:

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• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

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We are investigating a potential crime ring in our own Patreon after the same person wins the giveaway... again. Are we rigging it? (Legally: No. Comically: Maybe). Zac explains why he is gluing foam insulation to his wall to create "Invisible Speakers" and why Fusion 360 thinks every piece of wood weighs 2,000 pounds. Deric opens up about the anxiety of a video release and shares the painful stats behind a 1.2% Click-Through Rate disaster. Plus, we debate vocabulary on social media, why sanding dust feels like it gets into your soul, and the absolute nightmare of installing 175-pound rolls of rubber flooring alone.

Got questions? Email us at offthecutpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

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Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

• Zac: @ZacBuilds

• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By:

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WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

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We are kicking off this week with a massive confession: Eric accidentally stained... you know what, you'll have to listen to find out, it's just too good.

We also debate the legal ethics of telling your lawyer you are actually guilty of jaywalking, pitch the concept of the "YouTube Olympics" to see which influencers can actually back up their skills live, and discover the terrifying reality that Olympic Curling is self-refereed. Zac shares his ultimate crispy baked potato hack, Deric talks about his emotional next build video, a toy chest for his new niece, and we break down the exact pipeline you should be using to test your short-form clips (Facebook before anywhere else).

Got questions? Email us at offthecutpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

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Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

• Zac: @ZacBuilds

• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By:

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WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

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We get deep in the weeds of YouTube strategy this week, debating whether ThumbnailTest.com is actually better than YouTube's native A/B testing tool, and why creating "composite" thumbnails is the ultimate creator hack (even if they look ridiculous up close). We roast the lazy corporate use of AI—from terrible automated meeting recaps to unsolicited "improved" thumbnails that magically add fake tool walls to our shops. Plus, we discuss a $10,000 Roomba-style air purifier, the great AI data center RAM shortage that is turning PC building outrageously expensive, and Zac’s secret to recording voiceovers: giving a private TED Talk in your office.

Got questions? Email us at offthecutpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

• Zac: @ZacBuilds

• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By:

KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)

WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking