Oregon, as we all know, is full of makers, crafters, and creators. And if you’ve been watching NBC’s Making It, now in its third season, you may have recognized a few familiar faces—or maybe even one very recognizable beard.

That’s right—Waldport’s own Gary Herd, also known as the Bearded Woodworker to his some 9,000 subscribers on YouTube, made the cut for season three of the goofily good-hearted crafting competition reality show. Hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman of Parks and Rec, contestants compete in challenges ranging from making an interactive toy that reflects their personalities to transforming a closet into a tiny-yet-meaningful nook for a friend or family member.

In this week’s episode of Footnotes, Portland Monthly news editor Julia Silverman sits down with the Bearded Woodworker himself, Gary Herd, to talk about what it was like filming the show during COVID, how Making It offers a kindler, gentler approach to an often cutthroat genre of reality TV, and how Oregon inspires Herd’s craft.

Guest 

• Gary Herd, the Bearded Woodworker

About Footnotes

Every Friday we break down our most important stories with the writers, contributors, and editors who crafted them. Hosted by Portland Monthly associate editor Gabriel Granillo, Footnotes provides clarity on complex stories with intimate and informative interviews.

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