Behind The Anvil

Behind the Anvil – Join bladesmith Michael Peterson, with over 30 years of experience, as he takes you inside the world of bladesmithing, knife-making, and the craft behind Mike’s Damascus Knives LLC. From insights on the American Bladesmith YouTube series to shop talk, interviews, and wherever the conversation leads, Behind the Anvil is your forge-side seat to the art and stories of the blade.

Behind The Anvil is a business podcast hosted by Michael Peterson, with 64 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Michael Peterson hosts Behind The Anvil, a business show with 64 episodes published.

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  Episode #8

  The Episode We Forgot to Record | Michael Peterson & Brad Well… oops

  Sep 28, 20261h 36mS3

  Behind The Anvil — The Episode We Forgot to Record | Michael Peterson & Brad Well… oops. In this episode of Behind The Anvil, Michael Peterson and Brad sit down for another one of their wide-ranging conversations covering everything from hunting, food, preparedness, technology, space, nuclear energy, workplace security, and some good old-fashioned rabbit trails. There’s just one problem… Mike forgot to hit record after coming back from the break. So what you’re hearing is only part of the conversation. Rather than throw everything away, Michael and Brad decided to release what was actually recorded — and continue the conversation next week. In the recorded portion, Michael and Brad talk about: Michael's crazy work schedule, lack of sleep, exercise, and his plans for steak tacos Star Trek: Picard and Discovery Brad's recent antelope hunt and plans for taxidermy Swan hunting, eating wild game, and how the taxidermy process works Hunting trophies, museums, and unusual historical artifacts Housing, mortgages, and the cost of living Michael's book-writing progress and a new scene he's working on for The Walk Food storage, preparedness, and why you should actually store food you know how to use Beans on toast and Michael's research into how the dish became popular in Britain Michael's idea for an American-style beans-on-toast video using tacos or fajitas AI, engineering, technology, chip manufacturing, and Starlink Workplace security and the dangers of sharing too much information online Home security cameras and keeping kids safe around ATVs and other equipment How Michael got the nickname "Chainsaw" Hunting, kayaking, boat motors, wildlife, and outdoor safety Fuel prices, energy production, energy policy, and nuclear technology Valor Technologies and its plans involving advanced nuclear reactors Historical nuclear accidents and some controversial theories surrounding major historical events And, of course, plenty of the random conversations and rabbit trails you've come to expect from Behind The Anvil And just when the conversation was really getting rolling… We realized we weren't recording. Yep. That's one of those podcast moments you can't make up. So consider this Part 1 of the conversation. Michael and Brad will pick things back up next week and continue where they left off. Because on Behind The Anvil, you never really know where the conversation is going to go — even when Mike forgets to hit record. Thanks for listening and supporting Behind The Anvil! Hosted by Michael Peterson #BehindTheAnvil #MichaelPeterson #Brad #Podcast #Hunting #Preparedness #Bladesmith #KnifeMaking #OutdoorLife #Technology #NuclearEnergy #SmallBusiness #TheWalk #Oops #PodcastFail

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  Episode #4

  From Combat Zones to Open Roads: The Story of John Dunn

  Aug 31, 20261h 15mS3

  From Combat Zones to Open Roads: The Story of John Dunn In this episode of Behind The Anvil Podcast, Michael Peterson sits down with John Dunn for a wide-ranging conversation about military service, aviation, deployments, motorcycles, trucking, and the challenges veterans face when transitioning back to civilian life. John shares stories from his time in the U.S. Air Force, beginning at just 17 years old in 1988. He talks about working with experimental weapons at Eglin Air Force Base, including the Bunker Buster and stealth weapons, before serving at a NORAD alert site in Alaska where F-15s stood ready to respond to potential threats. John also takes us into the extreme conditions of Alaska, where temperatures could reach 90 degrees below zero, making ordinary maintenance work a serious challenge. He shares stories about aircraft maintenance, ordnance, protective equipment, and the realities of working around military aircraft and weapons systems. The conversation continues with John's time in the Army National Guard, including his deployment to Iraq from 2009–2010, where he supervised maintenance on OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters. John discusses the realities of tactical aviation, life in a combat zone, equipment restrictions, and the experiences that stayed with him after returning home. Michael and John also talk about the difficult transition many veterans face after leaving military service, including the loss of fellow service members, depression, and finding the courage to ask for help. John shares resources and personal experiences that may help veterans who are struggling. Then the conversation takes a turn toward motorcycles, including John's journey from a Buell Blast to BMW adventure bikes and his experiences riding The Tail of the Dragon, one of America's most famous—and dangerous—motorcycle roads. From military aviation and frozen Alaskan runways to Iraq, trucking, motorcycles, veterans' struggles, and life after the military, this episode is packed with stories, opinions, and experiences you won't want to miss. Behind The Anvil Podcast — where we talk to the people behind the craft, the stories, and the life experiences that shape us.

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  Episode #3

  Behind The Anvil Podcast — Michael Peterson Sits Down With Well..... Himself

  Aug 24, 20261h 1mS3

  Behind The Anvil Podcast — Michael Peterson Sits Down With Himself In this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with himself for a personal update on the knife business, his return to driving truck, and what’s ahead for the podcast. Michael talks about pausing custom knife orders and knife-making classes for the foreseeable future while he focuses on personal projects and driving truck. He also looks ahead to getting back into knife making later this year, including Christmas orders and some new mosaic Damascus projects. From there, the conversation moves into Michael’s experience as a coal hauler, his thoughts on coal, nuclear power, and America’s energy future, and why reliable energy matters more than ever. Michael also talks about his plans for a new studio, paying down debt, and ways listeners can support Behind The Anvil as the show continues to grow. Then the conversation turns to the American beef herd. Michael discusses how cattle numbers are now comparable to levels seen decades ago, despite the U.S. population being roughly three times larger. He looks at drought, fuel costs, cattle prices, and the difficult choices ranchers are facing. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about knives, trucking, energy, agriculture, and the American economy — with Michael doing what he does best: sharing his thoughts and encouraging listeners to do their own research. Listen and support Behind The Anvil: Behind The Anvil on RSS.com Check out Mike’s Damascus Knives LLC: Mike’s Damascus Knives LLC Subscribe, share, and follow Behind The Anvil on social media. Stay Sharp! And the episode of King Trout On the Screwworms problem and why it' back https://youtu.be/fQGVTJ7zFhs?si=8IGc2wCHIlEIr9kl

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  Episode #2

  From Forged in Fire to the Forge: Pablo Martinez’s Bladesmithing Journey

  Aug 17, 20261h 31mS3

  From Forged in Fire to the Forge: Pablo Martinez’s Bladesmithing Journey On this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with Arizona bladesmith and instructor Pablo Martinez to talk about his journey from discovering blacksmithing through Forged in Fire to stepping into the forge himself—and eventually becoming an instructor at Desert Metalcraft. Pablo’s journey began in 2019 when he took a six-week course at Desert Metalcraft. Just a few years later, he found himself competing on Forged in Fire, taking on the challenge of forging a George Washington Battlesword under the intense pressure of television competition. Pablo opens up about the adrenaline, lack of sleep, COVID-era filming restrictions, mistakes in the forge, and the lessons he took away from the experience. Michael and Pablo also dive deep into the realities of building a bladesmithing business out of a garage in Arizona, repurposing broken axe heads, making knives and jewelry, upgrading equipment, and learning how to properly price handmade work. But this conversation goes far beyond steel and fire. Pablo talks about his career in social services, the burnout that can come from working with at-risk youth and helping people transition back into the community, and how blacksmithing, jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai have become important outlets for managing that stress. The two also discuss faith, safety, teaching the next generation, traditional crafts, Damascus steel, social media, AI, cybersecurity, and the importance of the blacksmithing community sharing knowledge instead of keeping techniques secret. From a first railroad-spike knife to competing on national television and eventually teaching others, Pablo's story is a great reminder that skill is built through perseverance, mistakes, hard work, and the willingness to keep learning. Whether you're a bladesmith, blacksmith, Forged in Fire fan, or simply someone interested in hearing how a person turns a passion into a craft, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Listen in as Michael and Pablo get Behind The Anvil! Connect with Pablo Martinez Instagram: @3sonsdesertforge on Instagram Learn More & Train at Desert Metalcraft Desert Metalcraft: Desert Metalcraft School

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  Episode #1

  One Year at the Anvil: The Craftsman’s Curse, Damascus & the Road Ahead

  Aug 10, 20261h 48mS3

  The Craftsman’s Curse, Damascus & the Road Ahead Behind the Anvil Podcast — Season 3, Episode 1 We’re kicking off Season 3 of Behind the Anvil with a special one-year anniversary episode! Host Michael Peterson sits down with fellow bladesmiths Nate Summers and Ryan Wolf for a wide-ranging conversation about the realities of life as a craftsman, the challenges of running a small creative business, and what it really takes to keep moving forward. Michael opens up about returning to truck driving after experiencing burnout from running his knife business, while Nate talks about the seasonal nature of bladesmithing and how weather, markets, and timing can have a major impact on a craftsman’s livelihood. The conversation dives deep into what they call “the craftsman’s curse” — that constant feeling that a finished piece could always be better. Nate and Michael discuss learning when to stop chasing perfection, finish the project, and move on. Sometimes the finished work becomes more valuable as a record of how far you've come than as a perfect representation of where you are today. The guys also talk about the challenges of working from home while raising a family, balancing customer demands with parenting, and trying to keep a one-person operation running when you're simultaneously the maker, maintenance guy, administrator, marketer, and customer service department. Then things get seriously interesting as the conversation turns to Damascus steel. Ryan Wolf shares his innovative approach to Damascus pattern development, including his unique cubist-inspired Damascus pattern, his collaboration with Nate, and the technical challenges involved in producing complex mosaic designs. The discussion covers titanium Damascus, carbon Damascus, canister forging, argon protection, TIG welding, forging temperatures, soaking times, and the equipment required to bring ambitious Damascus patterns to life. Ryan also takes the conversation in an unexpected direction by discussing his background in glassblowing, showing Michael and Nate some of the tools he created years ago and explaining how working with molten glass influenced his approach to forging and Damascus. The conversation also touches on meteorite Damascus, the realities of selling high-end custom knives, chef knife design, steel loss during mosaic construction, and the years of practice and experimentation required to truly master a craft. From the shop floor to the business side of bladesmithing, this episode is packed with knowledge, stories, failures, lessons, and plenty of discussion about what it means to keep pushing yourself creatively. After one year of Behind the Anvil, Michael looks back at the journey and looks ahead to what's next. Welcome to Season 3. The fire is still burning. Follow Nate Summers Website: https://natetheblademaker.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natetheblademaker/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@natetheblademaker Follow Ryan Wolf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19F4imc372/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rywolf85/ Behind the Anvil Podcast Hosted by Michael Peterson Subscribe, follow, and share the podcast with someone who appreciates bladesmithing, craftsmanship, creativity, and the stories behind the people who make things with their hands. Thanks for helping us celebrate ONE YEAR of Behind the Anvil!

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