2 min readSince 1902, Popular Mechanics has been the authority on how your world works. We bring our audience the latest news on innovations and inventions across the automotive, DIY, science, technology, and outdoor spaces. We also serve our readers with the knowledge they need to get the most out of life, whether that's how to change a tire, how to build a farmhouse table, how to find your lost phone, or how to hike the Appalachian Trail. Popular Mechanics is about wonder, about being curious about the world around you, and it's about getting your hands dirty, too.
When it was founded, our magazine used the tagline "Written so you can understand it," and today, we still follow that ethos. Whether we're explaining the last technology news or demonstrating how to install a light switch, Popular Mechanics explains the world in an easy-to-understand, jargon-free way while also offering readers the depth of information they need to succeed.
Andrew Daniels
Andrew Daniels is the Director of News for Popular Mechanics, Runner's World, Bicycling, Best Products, and Biography. In a past life, he was a senior editor at Men’s Health and wrote for Playboy, among lots of other publications that have since deleted his work. He’s also the author of The Barstool Book of Sports: Stats, Stories, and Other Stuff for Drunken Debate, which one Amazon reviewer called “the perfect book for the crapper,” and another called “moronic.” He lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania with his wife and dog, Draper.
Michael Natale
Michale Natale is a News Editor for the Hearst Enthusiast Group. As a writer and researcher, he has produced written and audio-visual content for more than fifteen years, spanning historical periods from the dawn of early man to the Golden Age of Hollywood. His stories for the Enthusiast Group have involved coordinating with organizations like the National Parks Service and the Secret Service, and travelling to notable historical sites and archaeological digs, from excavations of America’ earliest colonies to the former homes of Edgar Allan Poe.
Connor Lagore
Connor Lagore has been a news editor for Popular Mechanics since July 2024 after spending five years in the newspaper business as an award-winning features reporter. He graduated in 2019 from the University of Missouri, where he learned to correct your grammar. He is usually at the movie theater or watching basketball. His dog, Charlie, handles his finances.
Jackie Appel
Jackie (she/her) is a writer and editor from Pennsylvania with a background in astrophysics and a deep love of storytelling. She's especially fond of writing about space and physics, and loves sharing the weird wonders of the universe with anyone who wants to listen (and a few people who don’t). You can also find her on the Popular Mechanics TikTok page, where she uses her voice instead of her keyboard to talk about even more science-y stories.
Matt Crisara
Matt Crisara is a native Austinite who has an unbridled passion for cars and motorsports, both foreign and domestic. He was previously a contributing writer for Motor1 following internships at Circuit Of The Americas F1 Track and Speed City, an Austin radio broadcaster focused on the world of motor racing. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona School of Journalism, where he raced mountain bikes with the University Club Team. When he isn’t working, he enjoys sim-racing, FPV drones, and the great outdoors.
Courtney Linder
Before joining Pop Mech, Courtney was the technology reporter at her hometown newspaper, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied English and economics. Her favorite topics include, but are not limited to: the giant squid, punk rock, and robotics. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, her black cat, and towers upon towers of books.
Manasee Wagh
Before joining Popular Mechanics in 2022, Manasee Wagh worked as a science journalist, a newspaper reporter, a technical writer, and an engineer. She has a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and a master’s degree in journalism. Her favorite stories are about the discoveries that unearth even deeper mysteries, and she enjoys helping people understand the science behind the remarkable world we live in. She lives in the Northeast with her two favorite people and one curious, feisty feline, but always seeks to combine her love of food, nature, and travel into memorable journeys away from home.
Will Egensteiner
Will Egensteiner has been reviewing products for 10 years, testing and writing about everything from climbing gear to video game consoles to cars. He began his career as an intern at Popular Mechanics, then worked as an editor at Outside, spearheading the magazine's gear coverage and biannual Buyer's Guide. Now that he's back, he leads product reviews for PopMech, as well as Runner's World, Best Products, and Biography. His favorite stuff to review is still outdoors equipment, and he can tell you from memory what ePTFE stands for.
Jeff Dengate
Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner’s World and the director of product testing. He has tested and reviewed running shoes, GPS watches, headphones, apparel, and more for nearly two decades. He regularly tests more than 100 pairs of shoes each year, and once had a 257-day streak running in different models. Jeff can usually be found on the roads, racing anything from the mile to a marathon, but he also enjoys racing up mountains and on snowshoes. When he’s not running, you’ll probably find him hanging from a ladder making repairs and renovations to his house (he’s also director of product testing for Popular Mechanics).
Colin Aylesworth
Colin Aylesworth is Deputy Editor with the Gear team at Popular Mechanics and Runner’s World, joining Hearst in 2022 after 11 years on the autos team at U.S. News & World Report. A former club rower, he’s an avid runner and devoted charcoal griller—still cooking on the Weber kettle he bought in 2012. He also repairs and restores gas lawn mowers and enjoys testing electric and zero-turn models for PM.
Rachel Klein
Rachel is the Deputy Editor of Reviews for Hearst's Enthusiast and Wellness Group where she supports Popular Mechanics, Runner's World, and Best Products. Her background is in service journalism and earlier in her career she worked as a daily newspaper reporter and book editor. She spent more than a decade as a staff editor and writer at TripAdvisor and Penguin Random House and her byline has appeared in Time Out New York, the New York Daily News, and New York Magazine. Outside of work, Rachel can be found planning her next trip, visiting museums and galleries, and walking her wirehaired dachshund Leopold in Central Park.
Mike Epstein
Mike Epstein is a Senior Commerce Editor at Hearst Enthusiast Group, producing reviews for buying guides Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Best Products. Prior to joining Hearst, he was a video game and technology critic for over 10 years, with bylines at IGN, Gamespot, Variety, Lifehacker, Kotaku, GamesRadar, Flavorwire and Digital Trends, among others. Now, he’s a jack of all trades, helping reviewers share everything they know about all kinds of technical gear, from snowblowers, to running shoes and bicycles, and every kind of gadget imaginable.
John Gilpatrick
John Gilpatrick is a freelance writer and film critic from the Lehigh Valley, PA. He loves movies about space and movies about oil drillers (especially when they go together). He also thinks the Star Wars prequels are mostly OK and that Ivan Reitman's Draft Day is a low-key masterpiece. He is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS). You can read more of his reviews and columns at JohnLikesMovies.com.
Jamie Sorcher
Jamie, Senior Editor of Expert Reviews, joined the Hearst Enthusiast Group in 2021. She has covered technology and consumer lifestyle gadgets since 1995—and shared her expertise in print, digital, and in broadcast originating the role of The Gizmo Girl for ESPN’s Cold Pizza. She has written about, tested, and reviewed everything from turkey fryers to high-definition TVs. Her byline has appeared in TWICE, Sound & Vision, Consumer Reports, and many others. In her free time, Jamie is in a yoga class, searching for the perfect matcha latte, or walking the boards.
Stefan Vazharov
Stefan is an award-winning consumer technology editor with over a decade of experience in reviewing gadgets, particularly smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, desktop and laptop computers across multiple form factors and platforms, as well as accessories for them. He also covers televisions and audio equipment, including headphones, earbuds, wireless speakers, and soundbars. Since joining Hearst in 2015, Stefan has contributed to BestProducts, Popular Mechanics, and numerous other publications. Prior to his current role, he served as the US Editor for GSMArena.com.
Bradley Ford
Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.
Paul Smith
Paul Russell Smith is a former NYC ironworker turned screenwriter (Grace Point) and home renovation specialist. He lives in a crooked old farmhouse in Stockton, NJ, where he’s just as likely to be clearing a clogged pipe as rewriting a third act. When he’s not working, he enjoys hiking, pedestrian beer, and cooking over a live fire. His self-proclaimed spirit animal is the English Bulldog.
Tom Price
Tom Price is a reviews editor for Popular Mechanics while also contributing to Runner's World, Best Products, and Bicycling. Here at Popular Mechanics, Tom loves testing out home appliances, smart tech, gear for city life and outdoor adventures, small gadgets like watches and multitools, and anything else you can find piled up at his hoarder's nest of a desk.
Amber Joglar
Amber is a Reviews Editor with bylines on Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Best Products sites. Specializing in kitchen gadgets, small appliances, lifestyle, and consumer tech, she brings hands-on testing and a detail-oriented approach to every review. In her free time you can likely find her trading trinkets at an EDM festival, searching for hidden gems at thrift stores, or cuddling with her two cats.
Danny Perez
Danny Perez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.
Sarah Connor
Sarah Connor is a Reviews Editor for Popular Mechanics. She also contributes to Runner’s World, Bicycling, Best Products, and Biography.com. Before joining the Hearst Magazines team, Sarah was a National Content Editor for Hearst Television. She holds a master's in Journalism from Syracuse University and a dual bachelor's in English and Communications from the University of Pittsburgh. When she isn’t writing up a review of the newest gadgets, you can find her heading to the nearest rink for a figure skating session or enjoying the outdoors with her beloved Australian Shepherd, Rosie.
David Dritsas
David is a Reviews Editor for Hearst’s Enthusiast Group, contributing to Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Best Products, and Biography. He has over 25 years of experience writing about and reviewing consumer electronics, kitchen appliances, DIY products, outdoor gear, and more. He also spent years covering the ever-changing world of online retail. To relax, he loves experimenting with new recipes, tweaking his smart home setup, and spending time outdoors on his bike or camping.
Tim Kohut
Tim Kohut is the Deals and Trends Editor for Popular Mechanics, Men’s Health, and Best Products. He has extensive product review and gear coverage expertise, particularly in tech, home, auto, and health. Tim was previously the Deputy Commerce Editor of The Drive and a Commerce Editor at BGR. He’s also overseen gear coverage and strategy at Popular Science, Bob Vila, Outdoor Life, and Field and Stream. He has a strong affinity for cats, Batman, and early 90’s Nicolas Cage films, in that order.
CONTRIBUTORS
News and Service
Darren Orf
Tim Newcomb
Elizabet Rayne
Emma Frederickson
Caroline Delbert
Reviews
Brandon Russell
Alex Rennie
Tony Carrick
CONTENT STRATEGY
Christine Anderson VP, Growth & Strategy
Erica Murphy Executive Director, Content Strategy
David White Senior Manager, Membership & News Content Strategy
Sean Abrams Senior Manager, Commerce Content Strategy
Nora Hughes Content Strategy Manager
DESIGN + PHOTO
Jesse Southerland Creative Director
Colin McSherry Senior Art Director
Alyse Markel Art Director
Eleni Arpino Senior Designer
Bridget Clegg Senior Digital Art Director
Tom Messina, Hunter Young Digital Designers
John Hamilton Photo Director
Trevor Raab Senior Photographer
Thomas Hengge Photographer
Jaime Livingood Photo Editor
Dustin Fenstermacher Commerce Photo Editor
Saba Ahmed Assistant Commerce Photo Editor
Barry Knoblach Producer
FEATURES
Leah Flickinger Executive Features Director
Louis Mazzante Senior Features Director
Courtney Linder Deputy Features Editor
Pavlína Cerná Senior Editor
Manasee Wagh, Tanya Basu Features Editors
NEWS
Andrew Daniels Director of News Content
Aly Ellis Director of Hype Content
Dan Beck, Deputy Editor, Service and News
Michael Natale, Connor Lagore News Editors
Matt Crisara Service Editor
Jackie Appel Associate News Editor
Julia D’Apolito Associate Social Media Editor
Taylor Vasilik Video Producer
Quintin George Associate Multimedia Editor
OPERATIONS
Jennifer Sherry Director of Editorial Operations
Bridget Hughes Editorial Business Manager
Trevor Czak Editorial Business Assistant
Michael McDonough Editorial Assistant
Brooke Hennessy Administrative Assistant
GEAR
Will Egensteiner Director of Product Content
Jeff Dengate Director of Product Testing
Colin Aylesworth, Rachel Klein Deputy Editors, Reviews
Eunice Lucero-Lee, Deputy Editor, Deals & Trends
Jamie Sorcher, Mike Epstein, Cat Bowen, Stefan Vazharov Senior Editors, Reviews
Tom Price, Amber Joglar, David Dritsas Editors, Reviews
Bradley Ford, Paul Smith Test Editors
Josiah Soto Digital Content Producer
SERVICE
Brian Dalek Director of Service Content
VIDEO
Josh Wolff Video Director
Jimmy Cavalieri Production Manager
Pat Heine-Holmberg, David Monk Senior Video Producers
Ken Kawada, Laura Chiarella Video Producers
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Bill Strickland
