Podcast Summary: Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby
Episode: Turn Trash Water into Drinking Water ft. Kurt Avery
Date: November 21, 2025
Host: Joseph Shalaby
Guest: Kurt Avery, Founder of Sawyer
Episode Overview
This episode features a deeply insightful conversation between Joseph Shalaby and Kurt Avery, founder of Sawyer—a company renowned for revolutionizing outdoor and humanitarian products, especially in water filtration. The discussion revolves around Sawyer’s journey from early product innovations to its global impact on the water crisis. Avery shares his entrepreneurial philosophy, technical and social game-changers, and the critical role faith and mission play in guiding the company.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Origin Story and Entrepreneurial Shift
Timestamps: 00:24–03:00
- Kurt’s motivation to start Sawyer: Disillusionment with corporate culture and desire for direct impact.
- Early product innovation:
- Began with the bee sting snake bite kit (still sold after 41 years).
- Defined by “technological change” over incremental improvement.
- Emphasis on listening to customers’ core problems, not just their stated wants.
- Notable Quote:
- “Like Henry Ford said, don’t ask them what they want...no, you gotta go back past that and say, what problem are you having? And how can we solve it in an innovative way?”
—Kurt Avery (01:25)
- “Like Henry Ford said, don’t ask them what they want...no, you gotta go back past that and say, what problem are you having? And how can we solve it in an innovative way?”
2. Evolution: From First Aid to Clean Water
Timestamps: 02:15–07:39
- Product progression:
- First aid kits designed for real emergencies in remote areas (not just “boxes of Band-Aids”).
- Pioneered safer, more effective insect repellents (introduced picaridin, permethrin for clothes; now used universally, including by the U.S. military).
- Breakthrough in water filtration using kidney dialysis hollow fiber membranes—resulting in light, durable, and affordable filters.
- Disrupting the market:
- Overcame retailer resistance by demonstrating mass affordability and superior technology.
- Example: Filters now can last 10+ years, cost as little as 30 cents per person for a decade of clean water.
- Human impact:
- Filters eradicate waterborne illness in villages, enable women to reclaim hours daily, and boost local economies and education.
- Notable Quote:
- “How do we not make this available to the world? It’s life changing...we can for one time investment of $0.30, give somebody 10 years of clean water.”
—Kurt Avery (06:25)
- “How do we not make this available to the world? It’s life changing...we can for one time investment of $0.30, give somebody 10 years of clean water.”
3. Sawyer’s Global Humanitarian Mission
Timestamps: 07:39–14:59
- Giving back as a core mission:
- Sawyer profits from domestic/outdoor markets support wide-scale donation programs worldwide.
- Structure allows for above-the-line donations (pre-tax), maximizing impact.
- Sawyer Foundation (501c3) channels resources directly to international projects—no administrative overhead taken from donations.
- Response to global crises:
- Sawyer is often first in disaster zones, delivering filters after hurricanes, earthquakes, cyclones (e.g., Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, cyclones in the Philippines).
- Recent pilot: Fitting lifetime filters onto taps in Latin American schools, with no need for electricity or infrastructure.
- Systems for scale:
- Programs engaging schools, teachers, and local communities; water stations in urban areas for free public access.
- Global partnerships: 140+ NGOs including World Vision, FEMA, Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse.
- Notable Quote:
- “With the tap filter, we can be right in the cities. Their water’s not safe…but with ours, you don’t have to boil it or clean it.”
—Kurt Avery (12:24)
- “With the tap filter, we can be right in the cities. Their water’s not safe…but with ours, you don’t have to boil it or clean it.”
4. The Science Behind Sawyer Filters
Timestamps: 22:12–24:35
- How the filters work:
- “Little hoses” (hollow fibers) that trap all pathogens >0.1 micron, with three-phase testing per filter for reliability.
- Technology prevents filter degradation—even after repeated backflushing—making them essentially lifelong.
- Key differentiators:
- Only Sawyer can claim this level of filtration durability and effectiveness.
- Filters require no infrastructure, making them uniquely suited to the most challenging environments.
- Notable Quote:
- “At 0.1 micron, there’s nothing that’s going to make you sick smaller than 0.1, except viruses—but viruses aren’t really in the water. The key is the holes are so small nothing can get through. The second key is our hoses are so much thicker...you can backflush them, forever.”
—Kurt Avery (22:54)
- “At 0.1 micron, there’s nothing that’s going to make you sick smaller than 0.1, except viruses—but viruses aren’t really in the water. The key is the holes are so small nothing can get through. The second key is our hoses are so much thicker...you can backflush them, forever.”
5. Human Stories & Impact
Timestamps: 24:35–26:40
- Personal stories that motivate the mission:
- A grandmother in a remote village mourns a grandchild lost two weeks before filters arrived.
- “If you were here two weeks ago, my grandkid would still be alive.” (24:57)
- Example: In Kibera, Nairobi—Sawyer’s intervention led to dramatic public health and social transformation, including a reduction in crime and violence, and contraction of clinics due to lack of patients.
- A grandmother in a remote village mourns a grandchild lost two weeks before filters arrived.
- Notable Quote:
- “After three years, nobody’s sick. They’re consolidating the medical clinics because there’s not enough customers left. The violence went away…because there’s not what’s called water scarcity and water security. Everybody’s got water, they’re not fighting over it.”
—Kurt Avery (26:09)
- “After three years, nobody’s sick. They’re consolidating the medical clinics because there’s not enough customers left. The violence went away…because there’s not what’s called water scarcity and water security. Everybody’s got water, they’re not fighting over it.”
6. Faith as a Motivator
Timestamps: 17:52–20:46, 28:57–30:07
- Spiritual worldview drives company culture and mission:
- Deep Christian faith, “God has had His hand on this company so much.”
- Guiding principle: “There’s no U-hauls in heaven, so... give it away. God entrusted us with a huge solution to world health.”
- Living humbly, prioritizing service and legacy over material accumulation.
- Memorable Exchanges:
- “Think about it—our filters are right up there with the invention of vaccines or antibiotics. You can go into any place and wipe out sickness in two weeks. What else can do that?”
—Kurt Avery (19:56) - “You can’t take anything with you to heaven, except one thing—those who became believers because of what you did, you’re taking them with you.”
—Kurt Avery (35:36)
- “Think about it—our filters are right up there with the invention of vaccines or antibiotics. You can go into any place and wipe out sickness in two weeks. What else can do that?”
7. Business Philosophy and Advice for Entrepreneurs
Timestamps: 30:25–32:12
- Strategic foresight:
- “Always try to be three to five years ahead.”
- Advocates for the “decision matrix” method—listing ten or more variables before making choices to avoid unintended consequences and guide robust decisions.
- Advice to founders:
- “Never lose your integrity. You don’t get that back. Secondly, know what you know and know what you don’t know. And don’t pretend you know what you don’t know…get people that will help you figure that out.”
- Hiring approach:
- Delegation and empowering top talent, including family (“I’m a delegator, so I’m just a visionary. I’m not the detail person.” (33:27))
- Notable Quote:
- “If you start doing some of that with some of the tools in the book, you’ll be successful. You’ll avoid the problems coming down the road that you didn’t think of when you should have thought of them ahead of time.”
—Kurt Avery (32:45)
- “If you start doing some of that with some of the tools in the book, you’ll be successful. You’ll avoid the problems coming down the road that you didn’t think of when you should have thought of them ahead of time.”
8. Family, Succession, and Legacy
Timestamps: 33:07–35:43
- Family as part of the mission:
- Four children, all brought into the company through merit; son-in-laws also now involved.
- One daughter runs the foundation; another manages social media; others contribute where needed.
- Personal goals:
- Stay intellectually sharp; the company is built to endure beyond his own leadership.
- “This is fun. How much fun can you have?”
- Approach to parenting: “Never answered their questions; made them learn to think, made them learn to solve problems.”
9. Continuing the Mission: How to Get Involved
Timestamps: 36:01–38:00
- Call to action:
- “The beauty of all this is, we’re just getting started. We haven’t even come close to doing what we’re capable of doing.”
- Sawyer.com for general info and contact; SawyerFoundation.com for donations (tax-deductible, 100% to projects).
- Direct donor requests to allocate where their gift goes.
- Active on all major social media as “Sawyer Products”.
Most Memorable Quotes
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 01:25 | Kurt Avery | “Like Henry Ford said, don’t ask them what they want...no, you gotta go back past that and say, what problem are you having? And how can we solve it in an innovative way?” | | 06:25 | Kurt Avery | “How do we not make this available to the world? ...for one time investment of $0.30, give somebody 10 years of clean water.” | | 19:56 | Kurt Avery | “Think about it—our filters are right up there with the invention of vaccines or antibiotics. You can go into any place and wipe out sickness in two weeks. What else can do that?” | | 22:54 | Kurt Avery | “At 0.1 micron, there’s nothing that’s going to make you sick smaller than 0.1, except viruses—but viruses aren’t really in the water...The key is the holes are so small nothing can get through.” | | 26:09 | Kurt Avery | “After three years, nobody’s sick...They’re consolidating the medical clinics because there’s not enough customers left. The violence went away… there’s not what’s called water scarcity and water security.” | | 32:45 | Kurt Avery | “If you start doing some of that with some of the tools in the book, you’ll be successful. You’ll avoid the problems coming down the road that you didn’t think of when you should have thought of them ahead of time.” | | 35:36 | Kurt Avery | “You can’t take anything with you to heaven, except one thing—those who became believers because of what you did, you’re taking them with you.” |
Key Takeaways
- Mission at the Core: Sawyer’s humanitarian focus is not an afterthought but the engine powering its growth and innovation.
- Technology for Good: The application of kidney dialysis technology in affordable, robust filters is transformative for both developed and developing worlds.
- Radical Impact: Effects of clean water ripple throughout communities, eradicating disease, empowering women, fostering education, and even reducing violence.
- Ethics & Faith: Faith, humility, and stewardship deeply inform company decisions, creating a culture of giving and purpose-driven leadership.
- Scalable Model: Sawyer’s self-sustaining business model, with built-in giving and strategic partnerships, means every purchase in the outdoor market supports global good.
- Invitation for Collective Action: Sawyer is open to collaboration, partnership, and support from individuals and organizations; even small donations yield massive, measurable change.
Get Involved
- Sawyer Website: sawyer.com
- Sawyer Foundation: sawyerfoundation.com
- Social Media: @SawyerProducts on all platforms
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, philanthropist, or someone inspired by mission-driven business, this episode delivers both practical wisdom and emotional resonance—reminding listeners that innovation, service, and integrity can indeed change the world.