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Richard “Dick” Proenneke and the One Man’s Wilderness Journals
Today On the Dogwatch it is a tremendous pleasure to be able to talk with John Branson, who was a longtime friend of Richard “Dick” Proenneke, and the one who edited and published his journals over five volumes. John lives in Alaska just a five-minute walk from the Lake Clark visitor center for the National Park Service. The…
A MIRROR Made in the USA?
When my brother packed up Uncle George’s WWI signal mirror in its archival biscuit tin and took it to Chicago, I knew that I wanted to make a new set of mirrors. Just having George’s mirror in my hand, feeling its gravity and smooth surface, and seeing its beautiful patina was inspiring. The object is…
The Origin of the Dogwatch Signal Mirror, and the Inheritance from Uncle George
The Cookie Tin and Signal Mirror. My dad brought the original signal mirror to a family gathering in an old cookie tin. Given what was inside, it is not surprising that the tin looked like it had been through a war. It was April, 2022, and Dad said he would bring the papers and photographs…
What is a Dogwatch, Anyway? dogwatch, n.
dogwatch, n. Nautical. A short watch of two hours’ duration instead of the usual four, from 4.00–6.00 p.m. or 6.00–8.00 p.m., that enables the turn of the night watch to be changed every twenty-four hours From 1657 We espied four and thirty ships more, under a Convoye, all coming from Brasil in the first of…
Ep 1: Evolution of Puppy Dog Eyes
In this episode we talk with Juliane Kaminski, a researcher who studies human sociality and social cognition, but who also studies dogs. In the conversation, we discuss the nature of cognition and what we know about how humans interact with dogs, how the familiar “puppy dog eyes” came to be, and what our dogs are…
Ep 57: Screen Printing Selvedge Bandanas
A bandana is a useful item. It can serve as a napkin, rag, bandage, drain plug, motorcycle repair tool, headwear, blindfold, flag, mask, pouch, or a stylish scarf. But not all bandanas are created equal. Many to most are stiff, paisley-printed and inked with plastisol to create a cheap and ultimately unsatisfying object. Today On…
Ep 55: What the Dog’s Nose Knows
Today On the Dogwatch we have the rare opportunity to talk with Nathan Hall, head of the Canine Olfaction Lab at Texas Tech. Nathan is not only a dog owner, but is also someone who studies dog behavior, has a vast knowledge of the canine literature, and does research on their behavior and olfactory abilities in…
Ep 49: The Kala Pocket Sundial
Today On the Dogwatch we have the opportunity to learn about the Kala Pocket Sundial, and to get to know its purveyor, Matt Kala. We go the distance on this episode, and along with learning a bit about Graz and the beauties of Austria, hear the story of how the pocket sundial was inspired by a…
Ep 56: Notebooks and Paper for the Field
When you head to the field with your notebook and pen in your hand–to either record the natural world or your thoughts while there–you want materials that will hold up to a wicked squall, a blizzard, or any combination of dirt, dung, misplaced hooves and paws, and even spilled coffee. Today we have the opportunity…
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What is a Dogwatch, Anyway? dogwatch, n.
dogwatch, n. Nautical. A short watch of two hours’ duration instead of the usual four, from 4.00–6.00 p.m. or 6.00–8.00 p.m., that enables the turn of the night watch to be changed every twenty-four hours From 1657 We espied four and thirty ships more, under a Convoye, all coming from Brasil in the first of…
Ep 2: SIGNAL Coffee Roasters and Cafes
On today’s episode we talk with Brendan Doherty from Signal Coffee Roasters. Signal has several cafes now, with two on Alameda Island and one in Berkeley, CA. In our conversation, Brendan helps us understand how beans are chosen, the overall process of roasting, and how recent advances in analytics help you get your favorite beans…
Ep 1: Evolution of Puppy Dog Eyes
In this episode we talk with Juliane Kaminski, a researcher who studies human sociality and social cognition, but who also studies dogs. In the conversation, we discuss the nature of cognition and what we know about how humans interact with dogs, how the familiar “puppy dog eyes” came to be, and what our dogs are…
Ep 57: Screen Printing Selvedge Bandanas
A bandana is a useful item. It can serve as a napkin, rag, bandage, drain plug, motorcycle repair tool, headwear, blindfold, flag, mask, pouch, or a stylish scarf. But not all bandanas are created equal. Many to most are stiff, paisley-printed and inked with plastisol to create a cheap and ultimately unsatisfying object. Today On…
Ep 55: What the Dog’s Nose Knows
Today On the Dogwatch we have the rare opportunity to talk with Nathan Hall, head of the Canine Olfaction Lab at Texas Tech. Nathan is not only a dog owner, but is also someone who studies dog behavior, has a vast knowledge of the canine literature, and does research on their behavior and olfactory abilities in…
Ep. 62: The Chelsea Clock Co. A Thing of Beauty
If I’m not mistaken, it was John Keats who said “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.” That pretty much sums up Chelsea Clocks. This company is the oldest functioning clock company in the United States, and they make clocks at the highest levels of refinement and luxury. They still make mechanical clocks with…
Ep 42: Alex Crane. Stylish and Sustainable Clothing
A well-cut linen shirt, an organic cotton chore coat, or an extra soft merino wool sweater and cap are perfect to wear on any Dogwatch, which makes it even more of a special opportunity that we are joined today by Alex Crane. Alex is the founder and designer of his own clothing brand, Alex Crane, that provides garments intended to…
Ep 38: Shackleton. The Brand that Prepares, Equips, and Inspires
The Brand that Prepares, Equips, and Inspires, Taking Cues From the Boss Himself. On top of the stack of the world’s expedition narratives, survival stories, and inspiring but hard-to-believe-they-are-true adventure books, sits Ernest Shackleton. The tale of the Endurance and Shackleton has become so legendary not only because of what he and his men did, but…
Ep 37: Outdoor Style From London to the Lake District
There is plenty to learn from the British in terms of classic style, especially for those who are interested in the outdoors. On this episode of the Dogwatch, we speak with David Evans, the man behind the Grey Fox Blog, one of the early style blogs and a mainstay of classic British lifestyle commentary. David is…
Ep 40: Worn & Wound, Watches, Windup, and Zach Weiss
It turns out that this episode of the Dogwatch is brought to you by the letter “W,” a show that can be described with an alliterative string on watches starting with our guest, Zach Weiss of Worn & Wound. Being one of the co-founders of Worn & Wound, Zach describes how the business grew from an inauspicious blog…
Ep 41: Is the Casio F-91W the Best Navigation Watch?
Navigation, Watches, and the Starpath School, with David Burch. If we were all actually on a dogwatch today, on a boat in the middle of the ocean, our guest for this episode is literally the first person I would choose to bring along. His name is David Burch, and he is not only the founder…
Ep 47: Formex Watches
Formex Watches Exhibit Beauty, Complexity, and Thoughtful Design, Like Ants. What happens when a couple of Swiss guys take over a mostly dormant watch brand, and reinvigorate, reinvest, and then engineer it back into one of the leading independent brands? One outcome is that when you see these watches you immediately know that they are…
Ep 36: Then There Was the Belgica
Before Shackleton and the Endurance There Was the Belgica Most listeners of this podcast will be familiar with the epic adventure of Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance. However, the Endurance does not have a monopoly on being stuck in Antarctic ice, nor does it have precedence. Before the Endurance, Belgian captain Adrien de…
Ep 49: The Kala Pocket Sundial
Today On the Dogwatch we have the opportunity to learn about the Kala Pocket Sundial, and to get to know its purveyor, Matt Kala. We go the distance on this episode, and along with learning a bit about Graz and the beauties of Austria, hear the story of how the pocket sundial was inspired by a…
Ep 56: Notebooks and Paper for the Field
When you head to the field with your notebook and pen in your hand–to either record the natural world or your thoughts while there–you want materials that will hold up to a wicked squall, a blizzard, or any combination of dirt, dung, misplaced hooves and paws, and even spilled coffee. Today we have the opportunity…
Ep 29: Why Is Keeping Time Important to Humans?
On this episode of the Dogwatch we visit with horologist, museum curator, and author David Rooney. We have the opportunity to talk with David about how he learned about clocks and watches from his parents, his path to becoming a museum curator at several prestigious institutions in England, and some of the most interesting timekeeping devices he…
Ep 57: Screen Printing Selvedge Bandanas
A bandana is a useful item. It can serve as a napkin, rag, bandage, drain plug, motorcycle repair tool, headwear, blindfold, flag, mask, pouch, or a stylish scarf. But not all bandanas are created equal. Many to most are stiff, paisley-printed and inked with plastisol to create a cheap and ultimately unsatisfying object. Today On…
Ep 50: James Cox and the Rolex Daytona
James Cox, the Rolex Daytona, and What Good You Can Do with $18 Million What better way to celebrate the 50th episode of the On the Dogwatch podcast than to have a conversation with someone who has provided steadfast support and positive energy, and has become the de facto patron saint of the podcast, James…
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