The Textile Nerd Podcast

In a world flooded with information, how do you zero in on quality industry-vetted fabric content and education? One solution is textile trade organizations, and more specifically, Advanced Textiles Association. On this episode of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan sit down with ATA Director of Content and Member Programs Jonathan Sweet, a former journalist, to examine initiatives designed to inform, enlighten, and boost the industry.

Meet Russ Hubbard, an Army veteran whose experiences during military training and in the sands of Middle East battlefields spotlighted a lifesaving fabric opportunity. On this edition of The Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will explore the origin story of Polar Skin™, a rapid-cooling system that is made here in the U.S. – from fiber to finished product – and achieves stringent Berry compliance standards, while portably and accessibly cooling overheated soldiers, athletes, and more.

What better place to answer the question "why do trade shows matter" than the floor of one of the most well-known textile trade shows around? Lori and Dan talk with Robert Hinsch from podcast row at Advanced Textiles Expo 2025 in Indianapolis. Robert is an esteemed colleague and vice president of business development at TVF with more than 40 years of industry experience and he weighs in on the evolution of attending and showcasing fabrics at tradeshows.

Some 5 million tons of medical fabric waste is created globally every year. That number sounds daunting, but brilliant minds in health care and textiles are focusing every day on solutions. Lori and Dan will welcome back Dr. Holly Morris to the Textile Nerd Podcast, a surgeon, educator, and medical textile waste researcher who will discuss the helpers, the hinderers, and the hope to curb this growing issue.

Fabric is all around us in both the physical sense and in pop culture and the entertainment we consume. This edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast will go off the beaten path and cover a few of Lori and Dan's favorite moments in TV and movies (Seinfeld, anyone?) where fabric is the focus. Did we miss any of your favorites?

Tradeshow season is whipping into a frenzy, and we're in the middle of all the action. On this edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will talk with two stars of the TVF Print Media Sales Team, Danny Jimenez and Leif Kristensen, about what they're looking forward to on the show floors and what's hot among the printshops and manufacturers making booths sparkle. Join us for a live broadcast of the podcast from the show floor of the Advanced Textiles Association Expo 2025 in Indianapolis.

The world of medical textiles is vast and exacting. From the safety and efficacy demands to the evolving needs and technologies, opportunities for advancements are ripe for the picking with the right knowledge. On this edition of the Textile Nerd Podcast, Lori and Dan will explore the myriad of medical textile uses -- some seen, some unseen -- with TVF colleague Travis Conlon, a voracious learner with experience in the medical device, healthcare, and textile fields.

We adore natural fiber fabrics for their imperfect perfection. The factors that get them from field to finished product are numerous. Lori and Dan wanted to hear more, so they brought TVF Apparel & Home Décor Program Director Brian Vieweg on to the Textile Nerd Podcast to give us a taste of what he's learned about cottons, lines, and more in his over 30-year career that includes dyeing, finishing, product development, and executive leadership experience.