The first segment of our episode focused on how and why manufacturers intentionally design products into obsolescence. From hobbyists to environmentalists, a rising movement fights for the right to repair and modify their purchases, extending the life of their belongings. In Part II, Jorden and Kimberly consider how, despite corporate resistance, RTR advocates persist with community initiatives and a push for government intervention.

Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:


Why "smart" appliances should be dumber

How the increasing shortage of skilled repair labor benefits MNCs

Why MNCs hate iFixit

How community initiatives promote repair culture

Why ‘you fix it’ equals ‘you break it’ for warranties

How the economic pressures and unexpected free time of COVID renewed interest in DIY repairs

Just how big the gap is between consumer needs and manufacturer support


Recommended Resources


About RTR 

Stats on the lack of skilled labor for repair work

Just how long Sweden’s been ahead in the RTR game

The EU’s RTR Directive

The US on RTR

Interesting findings revealing the surprising costs of RTR

Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post

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