Thomas Bender shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Thomas , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Easy. Watching my 5-year-old problem solve.
Most parents—whether they admit it or not—hope their kids enjoy the things they enjoy. For some, it’s football or birdwatching. For me, it’s building things. I love the process: thinking through the details, tweaking as I go, and feeling that momentary high when something is finished—just before I’m already wondering what we’ll build next.
My son showed an early interest in Legos, which couldn’t have made me happier. Our process is pretty consistent: he opens the box, we sort the pieces, I hand them to him one by one, and he follows the instructions. Usually, there’s a moment where something gets assembled wrong, and things stop making sense. That’s when I step in—we talk it through, figure out what went sideways, and get back on track.
But recently, something different happened. He hit one of those usual roadblocks, but instead of pushing through or getting stuck, he paused. I watched him study the manual, then glance back at what he’d built. He flipped back a page, carefully took the pieces apart, and corrected the mistake—all on his own.
I could see the wheels turning in his head. It was one of the most fascinating and rewarding things I’ve ever witnessed.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Happy to, this is slightly revised from my Linked In Bio. I don’t know that I can recreate it in a way that I feel is better than it.
Hi, I’m Thomas Bender. I’m a creative+ based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I’m a widower of 4.5 years, and Dad to Wolfe (my son), Echo (a dog I emotionally support), and Bear (a dog that emotionally supports me). I’m a designer by trade, visionary and dreamer in spirit, a (former) athlete in body, and a mental health advocate and forever optimist in mind. The work I pursue is creative, versatile, and deeply personal.
I currently own and operate ACME Overland Limited Co., where we design and build highly functional, long-distance expedition vehicles for travel across continents. Our work balances function and form, and while words fall short of describing our builds, the visuals speak volumes → www.acmeoverland.com
Beyond ACME, I’ve founded several other brands rooted in design and intention:
– FLINT Design Studio, a product design firm
– Blue Bear Outside, an apparel and accessories company
– Goods by ACE, a cleverly designed wallet and accessories line
– FLINT Studio Tools, a Kickstarter-backed line of beautiful tools for creatives
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I don’t have enough vocabulary to describe how these moments have shaped me. The Best: August 10, 2020 the birth of our son and The Worst: October 24, 2020. the loss of my better half and my boys mother.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There hasn’t been a single day in the past five years—since my wife passed—that I haven’t thought about giving up. Not in a dramatic way, but in the quiet moments: wanting to throw my hands up, walk away from everything, and slip back under the covers.
Before that, I never really gave giving up much thought. Life was hard, sure—but you just put your head down and worked harder. That was the equation. What I didn’t realize then was the quiet balance my wife gave me. The support I didn’t know I was leaning on until it was gone.
Will I give up? No way.
I’ve got my son, my dogs, and a business that count on me. And slowly, I’m learning that they’ve become my new balance.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Its starting to be more real, more open, less scared. I still would rather hide in the shadows but I’m learning its okay to say hello once in a while.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I would answer this question by saying “grief”— but not because I understand it. I wish I did.
In truth, it’s quite the opposite. Every person will eventually lose someone they love, and every person will grieve differently. Just saying that stirs up a full range of emotions in me.
I’d rather throw the question back to anyone reading this:
What has grief been like for you?
Has it softened over time? Stayed just as present? Grown heavier?
How have you learned to feel it—and, in turn, live with it?
What have you done with that feeling?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.acmeoverland.com
- Instagram: @acme_overland
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasjeffreybender/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acmeoverland
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ACME_OVERLAND
