DIY Network’s, Kayleen McCabe talks women in carpentry and power tools with MyFixitUpLife.
Mark: If you’re inside MyFixItUpLife, we’re at the Stanley Utility Mat booth at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. We’re not wasting a second because we’re here with our friend Kayleen McCabe DIY Network.
Let’s hear it.
Let’s hear it. Let’s hear a little love from out there. Are you kidding me? (Applause)
Theresa: You would go with the whole Stanley Utility Mat like you’re-
Mark: Oh my God, you do.
Kayleen: Somebody asked me questions earlier I’m like you’re in the most comfortable booth around.
Mark: Actually, technically, I can’t see you right now. How long have you been sitting there?
Kayleen: Yeah, exactly. Ah, surprise guys. (Laughing)
Theresa: Oh my God, she’s right there, Mark, the whole time.
Mark: We’ve been talking about her behind her back.
Kayleen: It’s so awkward for us all.
Theresa: Kayleen McCabe is such a tool girl that she has a toolbox inside of her toolbox. She’s carrying like a little-
Mark: Can we just-
Theresa: -mini lunchbox which is like a toolbox with the toolbox inside.
Mark: You’ve got the Biker Toolbox that’s mangled-
Theresa: Yes.
Mark: -and then you have a box-
Theresa: That’s hardcore. That’s serious.
Kayleen: My business cards. They were signed and got scattered inside of the lunchbox.
Mark: Can I have your card?
Theresa: Can I have a business card?
Kayleen: Oh sure. They’re made out of wood too. If you get lost, you can break it down and start kindling and-
Mark: May I have a card? Would you like a card? Hi, how are you doing? Mark Clement-MyFixitUpLife.
Theresa: There are three of you. Are there really three of you?
Kayleen: Sometimes I wish. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Theresa: Are there two of you behind us?
Kayleen: They’re dressed in something else back there too.
Theresa: Kayleen has got two doppelgangers.
Mark: Is that enhanced reality we were talking about before?
Theresa: Kind of like that.
Mark: Oh, that is fantastic.
Theresa: But we’re excited to see you. This is very comfortable.
Kayleen: It is. I want to have all my conversations with these. I’ll drag one around and start talking to people.
Theresa: You could take this little one with you and just lay it down when you go into a booth and talk to people.
Kayleen: Exactly.
Theresa: Sit cross legged. It’s going to be very a very “oh moment” for the rest of the day.
Mark: It wouldn’t make anyone at all uncomfortable if you brought several of them and lie down.
Kayleen: I’m just going to nap here for a second. You guys enjoy yourselves.
Mark: Could you show me that compressor?
Theresa: I want to talk to Kayleen about something that is really important, Mark.
Mark: Oh boy. I’ll just be over here.
Theresa: It’s about girl power. I want to talk to you because I get questions all of the time about girls and tools and girls going into carpentry. A lot of girlfriends are like, “Oh, I can’t do that because I don’t know how to do that.”
Kayleen: “Because society said I maybe shouldn’t be doing it and I’m nervous.”
Theresa: We were actually doing a project recently and I think you turned on a circular saw and there was this woman standing next to me and she jumped.
Mark: She jumped out of her skin.
Theresa: She thought it was coming at her, like dangerous. I just adore all the stuff that you do and who you are. I’m wondering if you can share some inspiration, motivation on how to get started in carpentry as a woman.
Kayleen: I believe I can saw.
Theresa: Yes!
Mark: I want you to know that I like you, but I’m not here right now. I stopped listening about 30 seconds ago.
Kayleen: It’s such a good question and I think right now that is a hot topic. How do you get females involved in construction and inspire to do this? I think it does start down with school, math. Getting people involved and excited about math and breaking down that barrier because construction is 90% math, 10% art, but it’s heavy on that side. That’s not necessarily a strong suit in schools for females, but then also opening up the doors.
I’m so happy with my show that I can show other females you can use power tools. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s scary the first time you hear something go off. A framing nailer sounds like a gun and so that does shock people because it’s not a familiar sound anymore. I think once people are educated and I like to demystify it, let’s take away all the barriers and what was supposed to be and say, “We can do this.” That’s why I like hanging out with you because then we can come together and be like yeah, it’s girl power.
Theresa: Yes.
Kayleen: Let’s inspire other people and rock out.
Theresa: Yes. You can do it.
Mark: By the way, I built my entire public persona around the myths of guys being able to do stuff in loud noises. “I know what I’m doing. I got to shoot the thing in the wall.”
Theresa: He just puts a lot of tools all over. I’m kind of like-
Kayleen: Magnet man.
Theresa: He’s like the Burt character of Mary Poppins but with tools. He’s just like drills and saws are going off. He’s going through the park, trying to be very masculine.
Mark: I think what you’re talking about is good advice for anybody. It’s just good advice for anybody because lots of people don’t- they’re afraid of a table saw and they should be.
Kayleen: Always, forever, yes.
People should be exposed to it too. How do people see how a power tool is used now? Where are the shot glasses at? It’s nice to have these shows so people can tune it and educate themselves.
Mark, you’re a superstar. I’ve seen stuff you do like oh my gosh. I saw a picture of you holding a Douglas hammer and I was like, “Two hammers.”
Theresa: How would you see something like that? I know girlfriends of mine when they see a guy that’s like, “Oh yeah,” they’re like, “Oh, I can’t do that because I’m over here trying to be pretty.”
Kayleen: You can be pretty and tough at the same time.
Theresa: Yes, that’s why I love you.
Kayleen: Thank you. Sometimes you have a little bit of sawdust in the hair, but I like to think that adds texture.
Theresa: Yes. It’s like pixie dust.
Kayleen: It is.
Theresa: It’s like magic dust.
Kayleen: It is.
Theresa: Yes. It gives you magical powers of like you can do things.
Kayleen: If you’re ever in town or your girlfriends are, my shop is always open so I encourage my friends to come over and learn stuff. Come over and play with the power tools.
Theresa: Not you.
Mark: Challenge accepted.
Theresa: She said girls. She said girls.
Mark: We want to work with you on DIY Network Rescue Renovation.
Theresa: Follow Kayleen.
Mark: Follow her on Twitter. Follow her on Facebook. We’ll be back.
Theresa: Follow her around in general.
Mark: With more on MyFixItUpLife.
