Behind The Anvil

Behind The Anvil – Season 2, Episode 3 Description: In this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with John C. Thunert for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation that spans continents, generations, and the forge floor. Raised as an Army brat, John shares what it was like growing up across four continents—living in places like Italy, Germany, Ethiopia, Maryland, Virg...

: In this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with James Pockett to talk about a life shaped by hard work, faith, and the courage to take a chance. Born in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, James shares how growing up in a small West Texas town led him straight into the oil and gas industry, stepping onto his first drilling rig at just 19 years old and eventually w...

Behind the Anvil – Season 2, Episode 1 Host: Michael Peterson Season 2 kicks off with a special solo episode as host Michael Peterson steps behind the mic to reflect on the journey of Behind the Anvil so far. In this episode, Michael shares his honest thoughts on how the podcast is going, what he’s learned along the way, and what keeps him inspired to continue telling stories from the forge and be...

Forged in Function: The Art and Engineering of Knife Folders with Joshua Eubanks In Episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael welcomes engraver and knife maker Joshua Eubanks of Rusty Chisel Engraving for an in-depth exploration into the craft, culture, and engineering of knife folders. This episode shines a spotlight on Joshua’s journey, his creative process, and the experiences that shaped his a...

Behind The Anvil with Guest Pat Biggin In this episode, Michael sits down with Wisconsin Tech Ed teacher and bladesmith Pat Biggin to dive deep into the art of Cu-Mai Damascus. Pat breaks down his process for forging copper-and-steel layered billets, shares the story behind his Cu-Mai knife featured in Blade Magazine’s 2025 Annual, and talks about his passion for folders, custom stamps, leatherwor...

Behind The Anvil Podcast with guest Dr. Justin Abbott In this inspiring and deeply personal episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with Dr. Justin Abbott to explore the powerful connection between knife-making, mental health, and faith. Dr. Abbott shares how his love for blades began with a simple Swiss Army knife from his grandmother in the 1980s—and how forging later became...

Episode 22 – Behind The Anvil Podcast: Faith, Forging, and the Supernatural with Pastor Ryan Shaddix In this inspiring and deeply personal episode, host Michael Peterson welcomes Pastor Ryan Shaddix, who moved to Sevier County in 2014 with his wife to plant a church focused on reaching those often overlooked by mainstream religious communities. Together, they explore faith, purpose, and the unseen...

Crafting Beauty in Resin: Emily’s Journey from Bulgaria to the Knife-Making World In this inspiring episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with Emily from CastingCraft, a talented resin artist known for her stunning custom knife handle scales. Emily shares her incredible journey from growing up in socialist-era Bulgaria to immigrating to the United States after winning the gr...

Forging Stories and Steel — with Mark Holt... During An Mike's Damascus Knives knife making class for more go to www.mikesdamascusknives.com... In this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson wraps up a knife-making class with Mark Holt, a programmer and fantasy novelist from Salt Lake City. What started as a simple search for a blacksmithing class turned into a weekend of sparks, steel...

Behind The Anvil Podcast with America Garcia In this inspiring episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson welcomes America Garcia, co-owner of Black Rabbit Tattoo in Richfield, Utah. America shares her remarkable journey from her childhood in Honduras to becoming a respected tattoo artist and entrepreneur in the U.S. — a path shaped by courage, faith, and creativity. America talks about gr...

Episode 18: Forging Freedom with Purpose — Featuring Tim Troyer Behind The Anvil Podcast with Host Michael Peterson In this powerful and inspiring episode, Michael sits down with bladesmith, missionary, and visionary leader Tim Troyer to explore how knife-making and faith can come together to change lives around the world. Tim shares his 24-year journey into knife-making, from being inspired by a...

Episode 16: Finding Purpose Beyond the Uniform with Richard Kaufman In this powerful episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with retired disabled veteran, author, and podcast host Richard Kaufman to explore resilience, purpose, and growth after hardship. Richard opens up about his journey from surviving a devastating Humvee accident that left him nearly blind, to battling add...

Episode 15 – Faith, Forging, and Purpose with John Wigger In this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson reconnects with longtime friend and fellow blacksmith John Wigger. The two catch up on family life, parenting, and the challenges of balancing work with raising kids before diving into John’s inspiring journey. John shares how his path in blacksmithing led to competing on Forged in...

In this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with Deke Parker of Parker Knives. Deke shares his journey into bladesmithing—starting out with nothing more than an angle grinder, an old file, and a backyard forge, quenching blades in his kitchen. Living in the far southwest corner of Kansas, Deke didn’t know any other bladesmiths until he began traveling to shows, where he me...

In this episode of Behind The Anvil, Michael Peterson sits down with the one and only SPICY MIKE!!!—aka Michael Kerley—for a wild and inspiring conversation. We dive deep into the art of knife-making, from stepping outside the box with S-grinds to experimenting with stainless steel cores in san-mai blades—the dos, the don’ts, and everything in between. Spicy Mike shares why he loves crafting chef’...

Episode 12 – Forging Dreams with Cowboy & Ilena of Phenix Knives In this episode of Behind The Anvil, Mike sits down with Cowboy and his amazing wife Ilena of Phenix Knives in Bellville, Texas. Together, they share their incredible 28-year journey in knife-making—starting from a historic blacksmith shop and growing into their brand-new 5,000 sq. ft. shop. From Cowboy’s Forged in Fire experienc...

In this episode of Behind The Anvil, Mike sits down with bladesmith Sam Waterfield of Samsquatch Forge to share his journey into the world of knife making. From the spark that first ignited his passion for the craft, to how one of Mike’s Damascus knives knife-making classes that Sam took that played a role in forging both blades and a lasting friendship, Sam’s story is filled with “one blade—or on...

Episode 10 – Behind The Anvil with Eric Ranks In this episode of Behind The Anvil, Mike sits down with Eric Ranks, CEO and founder of 22 Salute Vodka & Coffee, a brand with a powerful purpose: supporting veterans and first responders through mental health programs and community initiatives. Eric shares the story of how 22 Salute was born, the charities it uplifts, and the deeper motivation tha...

Episode 9 | Behind The Anvil Podcast In this episode, host Michael Peterson sits down with Shawn Shropshire to dive into the highlights of his bladesmithing journey. From traveling the world and sipping champagne at 1 a.m. in Italy while listening to country music, to crafting folding knives and bringing the Wandering Bladesmith idea to life—Shawn’s story is anything but ordinary. We talk about hi...

Episode 8 – Behind The Anvil Podcast In this episode, Mike sits down with Forged in Fire champion and Brother of the Blade, Nate Summer. They dive into the realities of maker burnout and how to push through those tough seasons while keeping the fire alive. Nate also shares plenty of laughs with a few classic dad jokes, and stories of his journey— from crafting his very first knife to selling that...

In this episode of Behind the Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with host of Double B Creates Kevin Beck and Brad Caughey to reflect on recent tragic events, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and how they’ve impacted their lives and communities. Together, they discuss the importance of dialogue over hatred, personal freedom, and accountability, while also diving into topics like fa...

Forging Strength: Cheyenne Brown’s Journey In this powerful episode, Mike sits down with bladesmith, blacksmith, and skull carver Cheyenne Brown. She shares her inspiring journey of breaking into the world of metalwork while overcoming the darkness of an abusive marriage. With two special needs children, Cheyenne forged not only blades but also a better life for her family. Listen as she opens up...

In Episode 6 of Behind The Anvil, host Mike Peterson sits down with Jose Roberto Alaniz Jr., owner of 3rd Day Coffee Seguin and a devoted servant of Jesus Christ our Lord. Jose shares his powerful testimony of feeling the Lord’s call—how at first he resisted, and how God turned up the heat to forge him into the man he is today. From personal trials to divine guidance, Jose reveals how his faith an...

In this moving episode, host Mike sits down with Justin Mellor, the founder of United We March / Gut Check—a powerful charity challenge that raises awareness and support for veterans and first responders. Justin opens up with striking honesty about his personal battle with drug addiction and the pivotal moment that transformed his life: participating in the Bataan Memorial Death March at White San...

Episode 4 – Behind The Anvil In this episode, bladesmith Dustin Rhodes — Forged in Fire competitor, Master of Arms, and owner of Axes on Main / Forge a Memorie — shares his journey into bladesmithing and blacksmithing. We talk about his passion for teaching the craft, inspiring the next generation, and passing on wisdom for anyone pursuing the trades or other artisan paths.