Behind The Anvil

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.

In Episode 3 of Behind The Anvil, Michael Peterson sits down with J. Lyn Christiansen — a devoted single mother of three, full-time professional, and self-published author of The Flame of God. Together, they dive into the world of writing, going down the rabbit hole of juggling real life and the creative process of putting pen to paper. J. Lyn shares her journey as an author, her creative process,...

Episode 2 – Behind The Anvil In this episode, host Michael Peterson sits down with Bradley Caughey, owner of BC Custom Rod LLC, to talk about the craft and passion behind building one-of-a-kind fishing rods. From bringing a customer’s dream rod to life, to facing life-changing challenges like back surgery and the difficult recovery process, Bradley opens up about the journey — including what it’s...

Episode 1 – Welcome to Behind The Anvil In this very first episode, host Michael Peterson, owner of Mike’s Damascus Knives LLC, steps up to the mic to introduce himself and the brand-new Behind The Anvil podcast. Michael shares a bit about his background in bladesmithing and what listeners can expect from the show — from in-depth interviews with bladesmiths and knife-makers to behind-the-scenes sh...