He Hacked a Kmart Lamp…Then Went Viral

Todays Guest:  @TheStockPot-AU  

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Today we’re joined by Dillan from The Stockpot, one of the fastest-growing DIY smart-home and maker channels on YouTube. If you’ve seen his viral videos—like “Kmart Lied to Me So I Hacked Their Lamp” or his insane robot lawn mower airlock—you already know he builds some of the most creative (and sometimes unhinged) projects on the platform.

In this episode, we dive into:
🛠️ How Dillan exploded onto YouTube in just six months
🌡️ His DIY zoning system for heating/cooling with ESPHome
🚪 The legendary mower airlock that confused the neighbors
💡 Why 24-hour Australian Kmart is still a thing
🎥 How he scripts, films, and edits his high-quality videos
📦 What brands REALLY look for in creators
🐶 The story of his dog trying (and failing) to attack the mower
🎮 His next project: converting a mini-PC into a retro gaming console
🏠 The challenges of building a smart home in Australia
✨ And why sometimes you need to build things twice just to film them

Whether you’re into Home Assistant, ESPHome, 3D printing, DIY automation, PCB design, robot mowers, WLED, or creator workflow, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and genuinely clever ideas.

🔗 Check Out Dillan’s Work

The Stockpot YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStockPot

The Saucepan (tutorial + long-form): https://www.youtube.com/@thesaucepan

Project blog + kits: https://thestockpot.net