S6E41 James Davis | Living in Ukraine for $12/Day to Become An Engineer

Being an Engineer

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James Davis, widely recognized as FluxBench, has built a following by making electronics approachable, fun, and practical. With a mission to “keep the magic smoke inside the components where it belongs,” James is passionate about teaching engineers, makers, and hobbyists how to move beyond simple projects and start creating production-ready designs.

On his YouTube channel, FluxBench, James shares tutorials and experiments ranging from ESP32-driven LED displays to embedded development strategies and Proxmox-based Flux Node setups. His videos blend clear explanations with hands-on demonstrations, making them accessible to beginners while still offering technical depth for experienced engineers. Whether it’s wiring up microcontrollers, troubleshooting circuits, or scaling a one-off build into something robust, James shows how to translate curiosity into capability.

With a background in embedded systems and a gift for teaching, James Davis represents the spirit of engineering as both an art and a craft. His work encourages others not just to build projects but to create real products that solve problems, delight users, and push the boundaries of what’s possible with accessible electronics.

Guest website: Flux Bench

Aaron Moncur, host

About Being An Engineer

The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community.

The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Chapters

1. Introduction and Guest Introduction (00:00:00)

2. The Magic Smoke Explained (00:00:54)

3. Journey to Becoming an Engineer (00:02:01)

4. Bridging the Gap Between DIY and Professional Engineering (00:04:29)

5. Starting a YouTube Channel (00:08:26)

6. Community Feedback and CNC Projects (00:14:22)

7. The Importance of Practical Learning (00:25:40)

8. Volunteering at Lowell Observatory (00:32:56)

9. Engaging Tour Guide Experiences (00:33:22)

10. Transition to Electronics (00:35:28)

11. Challenging Projects and Learning Programming (00:36:25)

12. Adventures in Eastern Europe (00:38:00)

13. Applying Programming Skills (00:40:58)

14. Advice for Aspiring Engineers (00:45:10)

15. Getting Started in Electronic (00:50:14)

16. Easy Motion and Automation (00:55:10)

17. Conclusion and Contact Information (00:59:07)

331 episodes

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