What if the trees being cut down in your neighborhood could become the art hanging on your walls or the table your family gathers around? Brian Presnell of Indy Urban Hardwood has been making that vision a reality in Indianapolis since 2016, and his story is one of the most compelling in the urban wood world.
In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, Jennifer Alger sits down with Brian to trace a journey that begins in art school at the Herron School of Art, winds through museum work and public art collaborations, and lands squarely in a sawmill shed in one of America's most tree-rich cities. Brian grew up surrounded by hardwoods in Indianapolis, watched them get hauled off and burned for decades, and decided to do something about it.
Brian breaks down how Indy Urban Hardwood works, from sourcing logs through his firewood rig and local partnerships, to milling, drying, and turning urban hardwoods into furniture, art, and reclaimed wood products that tell the story of the city they came from. He talks candidly about the wastefulness baked into how most cities handle tree removal, and why changing that requires both community education and a business model that makes sustainability actually work at a small scale.
The conversation also goes deep on legacy. Brian shares his vision for what Indy Urban Hardwood could look like in 10 to 20 years, the projects he is most proud of, and why mentorship and community involvement are just as central to his work as the sawmill itself. For Brian, woodworking has always been an extension of his life as an artist, and that perspective gives everything he builds a depth that goes beyond the grain.
Whether you are a woodworker, an urban wood advocate, or a maker trying to build something meaningful in your community, this episode will leave you inspired.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Brian Presnell and Indy Urban Hardwood
01:58 - Art school, mentorship, and the creative foundation behind the business
04:50 - From museum work and public art to urban wood recycling
07:17 - Founding Indy Urban Hardwood in 2016 and the story of the first tree
10:41 - Indianapolis as a tree-rich city and the wastefulness of urban forestry
15:39 - Community partnerships, estate lumber, and local sourcing
18:07 - Products, business model, and the role of art in Brian's woodworking
24:19 - Vision for the next 10 to 20 years and the legacy Brian is building
The Woodpreneur Podcast brings stories of woodworkers, makers, and entrepreneurs turning their passion for wood into successful businesses - from inspiration to education to actionable advice. Hosted by Steve Larosiliere and Jennifer Alger
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The Woodpreneur Podcast
We cover the business and marketing side of the sawmill, tree service, furniture making, Urban Wood, and woodworking industry. If you're a woodworker, sawmill owner, or any other entrepreneur and/or business owner in the wood industry, you need to check out this podcast.
Each week, we interview business owners, large-scale companies, entrepreneurs, makers, and designers while also offering marketing and business advice that will help you grow your business and increase your profits. Tune in every Thursday!
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