Artisan Crafts in the Age of AI with Host Briana Ottoboni

Episode notes

Host Briana Ottoboni introduces season two of The Trades Show, filmed on location with artisans in San Francisco, and explains why the rise of AI and the return to analog craftsmanship are happening at the same time. She shares her Bay Area background, her first encounter with shoe cobbling that sparked her passion for artisan trades, and her concern about who carries these crafts forward as older generations retire. Briana defines artisan trades as the intersection of fine arts and skilled trades — uniting creativity, aesthetic rigor, technique, and tradition — and recounts how a window of “creative spaciousness” led her to create a high-production “show,” with season one serving as a 10-episode pilot. She outlines a city-by-city vision, season two’s biweekly Thursday release schedule, and the broader ecosystem she’s building, including The Corral artisan jobs board that uses technology and AI to make artisan work more visible, viable, and valued.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Briana’s intro into the artisan trades and shoe cobbling
• The Why behind The Trades Show
• Why now, in the age of AI, is the perfect time to revive the artisan trades
• Her vision for the show
• What you can expect for Season 2 and beyond

The Trades Show is an interview series on location with modern artisans exploring what it means to be human: the ability to create with our hands.

Credits

Host & Creator — Briana Ottoboni. Creative Direction, Filming & Editing — Briana Ottoboni. Original Theme Music — Federico Wanzo, Skane Music.