Episode 8 - Phil Broder

This month I’m sitting down with kite maker, kite artist, purveyor of kite parts and 2025 Steve Edeiken Kiteflier of the Year Award recipient Phil Broder. We’re digging into Phil’s history; how he got into kites, how his building style evolved, and how his business, Fly Market, grew out of a professional setback and more. Phil shares the story behind his most recognizable designs, the practical realities of running a kite parts business, and why he keeps pushing himself to try unusual ideas instead of repeating the same formulas. Phil’s path from sport kites to single line work, the influence of workshops and other builders, and the tradeoffs between artistic ambition, available materials, and the realities of time and budget are all on the table plus a quick sneak peek at his entry for the 2026 American Kitefliers Association Kite Maker Challenge. So, pull up a chair and join us.   00:00 - Introductions01:36 - Discovering sport kites03:55 – Event organizing04:48 - Learning to build07:47 - “Dare to be stupid”10:50 - Learning from masters13:57 - Why Fly Market started15:47 - Finding useful parts18:02 - Why some colors disappear18:39 - Drones, LARPing, theater, and other unexpected customers20:15 - A sneaky rainbow idea24:06 - The Soul Trian31:34 - The challenge of visible graphics33:46 - Pictorial applique and negative space39:32 - 3D printing, innovation, and the risks of knockoff parts47:33 - A Princess Bride payoff49:18 - The Jose Sainz kite bag story51:41 - Trading shirts