The Erasable Podcast

Happy October! This very autumnal episode is a short one — just some fresh points and tools of the trade. Johnny’s playing too much Mario Kart World, Andy regales us with his trip to New York City, and Tim is designing a thuper thecret  notebook. Plus: we talk about some new Field Notes and feel very old because of the new Blackwing Eras.

We’ve got a special episode today. Tyler McCall, co-owner of Chicago stationery shop Pencil & Paper, joins us to talk about the havoc caused by the Trump administration’s chaotic tariff policies. These policies aren’t just hurting small businesses like Tyler’s — they’re also driving up costs and creating disruptions for everyday consumers in ways you might not expect. This conversation is for anyone who cares about supporting local shops, stationery or otherwise. And if you’re in Chicago, be sure to stop by Tyler’s store in Andersonville.

Happy International Workers Day, everyone! If you get a long weekend, we really hope you make the most of it. (Andy’s going to the SF Pen Show, for example!) Before we go off and celebrate, we’re coming atcha with some new Fresh Points, including some new Blackwings, a cool film camera, and the question that plagues our minds, “why is loose leaf paper so terrible?”. Show Notes and LinksErasable PatreonErasable Podcast Discord inviteAEnima by ToolIn Case You Were Napping by PusciferTrue Writer Killarney fountain pen Automatic Noodle by Annalee NewitzLessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane AndersSlow HorsesMission Impossible Final ReckoningSnipe Hunter by Tyler ChildersBlackwing Volume 292Kodak EtkarNahvalur TriadBlackwing x Fender San Francisco Pen ShowMonoc Evo by Schon DesignYour HostsJohnny GamberPencil RevolutionAndy Welfleandy.wtfTim Wasem

We have a very special episode for you today, folks. We’re joined by Allison King, a novelist who recently published The Phoenix Pencil Company, a multi-generational story about Chinese-American women, data privacy, surveillance, LGBT love, and… pencils! We read the book and loved it, and Allison is here to answer some questions. If you want a copy for yourself, you can buy it at this link, or preferably at your local bookstore.Warning: this episode contains spoilers! If you’re reading, or intending to read this book, you might want to wait until you finish it to listen to this episode.For this episode, we recorded video, available to Patreon subscribers! If you’re a patron, head over to see our faces and visual examples of many of the things we discuss. And if you’re not a patron, join us at any level and you can see this and other supplemental content at any time!Show Notes and LinksLast Boat Out of ShanghaiA Tale for the Time BeingEmpire of AIOur GuestAllison KingAllison's Website@allisonkingwrites on InstagramYour HostsJohnny GamberPencil Revolution@pencilutionAndy WelfleWoodclinched@awelfleTim Wasem@TimWasem