I love exploring the world of things.

Where do they come from? What’s inside? How do they fall into disrepair, and what do people do about it? Our planet is impacted by consumption to a degree that no one expected and few understand. I’m trying to get a handle on it.

Along the way, I’ve raised a bit of a ruckus. My work with Right to Repair has inspired legislation enshrining consumer rights around the world. I’m also the CEO of iFixit, the free repair manual.

Forbes

Makiko Lizuka and Forbes Japan spent an issue covering people who are creating the rules for the future.

EFF Awardee

I was honored to receive an award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the preeminent digital rights advocacy organization.

Cal Poly Distinguished Alumni

My alma mater awarded me with the highest honor bestowed upon Cal Poly alumni.

Talks

Melbourne: Wheeler Center Keynote

I was invited to Australia to tell the story of iFixit and our hopes for the circular economy. We were joined by a guest fixer.

London FixFest: Discussion with Allison Powell

A lively discussion at the London School of Economics about IoT, cybersecurity, and the successes of the Right to Repair campaign.

Repair 2.0

Our vision for iFixit has stayed remarkably consistent over the years. Includes some e-waste footage from my travels in Ghana.

Sustainable Innovation: Samsung’s Note7 Screwup

Make do and mend: why repair is necessary for resource efficiency, and how Samsung isn’t moving in the right direction.

Writing

The Atlantic: Fix Things, Never Force It: Lessons From Grandpa

Remembering a tinkerer in an age of silicon and code.

Wired: We Can’t Let John Deere Destroy the Very Idea of Ownership

It’s official: John Deere and General Motors want to eviscerate the notion of ownership.

Scientific American: The Right to Repair Should be Protected by Law

It's high time Congress fixes copyright law.

iFixit: iPhone 15 Teardown Reveals Software Lockdown

Deep dive into the technology making the iPhone 15 work.

Wired: We Should Be Allowed to Unlock Everything We Own

The line between hardware and software, physical and digital has blurred.

Harvard Business Review: I Won't Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here's Why.

Your company is only as good as your writing.

Photography

Mining catastrophe: Bento Rodrigues

The largest environmental disaster in Brazil’s history.

Now, Bento Rodrigues is off limits to humans

Villagers want to rebuild but the repaired dam isn’t safe yet.

Akihabara radio town

Some repair components never go out of style.

Fixing a hair straightener

Generational exchange of know-how at the Restart Project.

Aurora borealis

Clear night in the highlands of Iceland.

Water from rock

Layered rock traps meltwater until it doesn’t.