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The Engineer Who Made Skyscrapers Possible

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Manage episode 485607020 series 3446548
Content provided by Lia Lamela. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Lia Lamela or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we spotlight the fearless innovators who shaped the trades — and the world.

What if we told you one deaf engineer made skyscrapers possible?

Today, we’re diving into the wild, dramatic story of Elisha Otis — the man who invented the safety elevator and literally changed the shape of cities forever.

💥 Join Lia as she unpacks:

  • The chaotic, dangerous world of elevators before Otis
  • Why skyscrapers were impossible until one invention changed everything
  • Otis’s crazy live demo that went viral before the internet existed
  • What it takes to turn an idea into a life-saving, world-changing product
  • Why elevator mechanics deserve more respect (hint: it’s not all button-pushing)
  • How one man’s guts and grit gave rise to New York’s skyline

This episode has it all — invention, danger, history, and a healthy dose of Sparky sass. If you’ve ever been in an elevator (spoiler: you have), you owe this man a thank-you.

TIMESTAMPS

00:03:16 – Welcome to Sparky Life

00:03:39 – Meet Elijah Otis: Elevator Game-Changer

00:04:43 – Elevators Before Otis: Actual Death Traps

00:05:51 – The Invention That Changed Everything

00:07:03 – Otis’s Safety Brake Explained

00:09:02 – The 1854 Elevator Stunt That Shook NYC

00:11:29 – How Otis Elevators Took Over the World

00:12:55 – Legacy of a Inventor Who Stared Down Gravity

00:14:09 – The Trades That Keep the World Moving

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on SPOTIFY

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on APPLE

👇 WATCH the episodes on YOUTUBE!

SPARKY LIFE on YOUTUBE

📲 Stay Connected:

Instagram: @sparkylifeoflia

TikTok: @sparkylifeoflia

🛠 Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse

Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m

Use code SH5 for 5% off!

Support the show

  continue reading

130 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 485607020 series 3446548
Content provided by Lia Lamela. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Lia Lamela or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we spotlight the fearless innovators who shaped the trades — and the world.

What if we told you one deaf engineer made skyscrapers possible?

Today, we’re diving into the wild, dramatic story of Elisha Otis — the man who invented the safety elevator and literally changed the shape of cities forever.

💥 Join Lia as she unpacks:

  • The chaotic, dangerous world of elevators before Otis
  • Why skyscrapers were impossible until one invention changed everything
  • Otis’s crazy live demo that went viral before the internet existed
  • What it takes to turn an idea into a life-saving, world-changing product
  • Why elevator mechanics deserve more respect (hint: it’s not all button-pushing)
  • How one man’s guts and grit gave rise to New York’s skyline

This episode has it all — invention, danger, history, and a healthy dose of Sparky sass. If you’ve ever been in an elevator (spoiler: you have), you owe this man a thank-you.

TIMESTAMPS

00:03:16 – Welcome to Sparky Life

00:03:39 – Meet Elijah Otis: Elevator Game-Changer

00:04:43 – Elevators Before Otis: Actual Death Traps

00:05:51 – The Invention That Changed Everything

00:07:03 – Otis’s Safety Brake Explained

00:09:02 – The 1854 Elevator Stunt That Shook NYC

00:11:29 – How Otis Elevators Took Over the World

00:12:55 – Legacy of a Inventor Who Stared Down Gravity

00:14:09 – The Trades That Keep the World Moving

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on SPOTIFY

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on APPLE

👇 WATCH the episodes on YOUTUBE!

SPARKY LIFE on YOUTUBE

📲 Stay Connected:

Instagram: @sparkylifeoflia

TikTok: @sparkylifeoflia

🛠 Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse

Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m

Use code SH5 for 5% off!

Support the show

  continue reading

130 episodes

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