Arguably one of America’s best bladesmiths, Salem Straub of Promethian Knives, didn’t have it easy. The journey towards the man he is today came through personal growth during turbulent times where it was difficult to see a very positive future. Victory came though hard work, focus and the kindness of others. Salem is synonymous with forging very tight Damascus knives that feel flawless. Salem’s damascus patterns is evocative of what you see through a kaleidoscope and has the perfect repetitions...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 42
Onur Caglar AKA “The Scarborough Ripper”, “Chopper”, “Little Evil” and of course @diesineveryfilm was a soldier, is a professional MMA fighter and has transitioned into a successful knife maker, Youtuber and family man. He is one of the most fun people to watch on social media especially his stories on Instagram. The physical consequences of not trusting techniques learned to prepare him for war and fighting in the cage were life threatening. The unconscious ability to trust technique and soak i...
Mar 05, 2021•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 41
Brian House is a busy guy: Bee keeper, charter boat captain, Voiceover guy Entrepreneur, Maker, Youtuber, Podcast host?! I can’t believe he had the time to do this podcast. Brian is a fascinating guy who I have had the privilege to talk to and its always good. What makes him tick? Where will he go from here? You’ll have to find out out! Go follow Brian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/house__work/ Visit his website for his Grinder Kit: https://housemade.us/ Listen to his podcast on The Ma...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 40
Mareko Maumasi is one of the best bladesmiths in the world. Renowned for his mosaic damascus, his integral chef knives and attention to detail Mareko is in rarified air. But how did he get where he is? This episode dives into what happened in his life and the journey to get him where he is. This is a very introspective and honest conversation with someone I have grown to know and I appreciate very much as a friend. Go follow Mareko on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maumasifirearts/ Visit h...
Feb 19, 2021•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 39
Will Stelter is a talented and driven Bladesmith I’ve known for a few years. We come from different backgrounds and find common ground to create a great friendship. Will is currently building his shop in Montana with his new dog Marty. We had a fun time talking about how I blew him off the first time I met him…(whoops my bad…) Teddy Roosevelt, the trials and tribulations of YouTube fame and how he really felt after dropping the power hammer he spent years rebuilding! This was a fun ramble and Wi...
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 38
Pat Quinn is the Executive Director of The Center for Metal Arts in Johnstown PA. This in-depth interview is a journey of growth, where crucial lessons were learned at each stop and influenced Pat’s work as well his personal direction. I don’t remember an episode that was so complete in the story of a guest. The interesting thing it feels like just a rest stop in the development of one of the very few people who to me exemplifies the question I’ve had for years: “What is the role of the Modern D...
Feb 05, 2021•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 37
John Erianne (@sunsetforgeNJ)returns to bail me out in an emergency schedule change episode. We talked about the perils of the Art world, Bad investments, Useless critiques and other uplifting things. Then I presented a case for John to render judgement. It was a fun episode and I can’t thank John enough for making the effort and jumping through so many hoops. You’re the man Sunset! Go follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsetforgenj/ Buy his hammers and other forged items: http...
Jan 29, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 36
After years of looking for direction, Noah Vachon found it and gained happiness. From a young man in a band, to guitar building, and a degree in industrial design Noah came into knife making later in life and everything clicked. You can clearly see how his experiences formed the way he makes his beautiful culinary knives. It was great talking with him and he’ll definitely be back. Follow Noah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vachon_knives/ Check out his website: https://www.vachonknives.c...
Jan 22, 2021•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 35
Keith Johnson is a custom woodworker, Youtube sensation and podcaster. I met Keith a few years ago and we became fast friends. Talented, funny and engaging. So much so, we thought about doing a podcast together a little over a year ago.I had my chance and I blew it..He’s now on the widely popular Shop Sounds Podcast. This episode was so fun, we talked about our love of radio, this-and-that and absolutely nothing. One of my favorites. Follow Keith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjsawdust...
Jan 15, 2021•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 34
Jessie Uyeda returns to catch up on what she’s been up to in Joshua Tree. We talked about famous visitors, the role of content makers and new opportunities in the pandemic. Talking with Jessie is always fun and we had a great time on this episode. Follow Jessie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ijessup/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Jan 08, 2021•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 33
Niko Tavernise joins me for another installment of The Downward Spiral Podcast; a podcast we resurrected after 10 years. We talked about what it's like working on a film set with Covid-19 preventions. First hand reactions to the Vaccine, then we went into some weird news about butts and Genital defense classes. Perfect Downward Spiral to end 2020: totally unnecessary. Follow Niko on Instagram: @NikoTavernise And the podcast at: @thefullblastpodcast Here’s to a great 2021. Thank you to all for th...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 32
If Buckingham Palace calls will Alec Steele answer the call? Fresh off a trip back to the UK - Alec Steele joins the show and gives some insight on where his incredible drive comes from. From the early days leaving school to learn blacksmithing to starting a super successful Youtube channel with over 2.28 Million youtube subscribers Alec has done it all; even creating Alec Steele Co. a maker centric resource of tools, equipment and apparel based in Montana. We had a great chat and Alec shed some...
Dec 25, 2020•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 31
How a huge Child became a Giant Bladesmith Nick Anger (pronounced 'On-Jay) is my favorite bladesmith. His construction, composition and contrast is backed up by strong philosophic understanding of what he is doing and what he wants to do. His technical understanding is so engrained, that he transcends the execution of the build and allows himself the ability to be spontaneous like a sculptor. Letting the raw materials dictate the final form makes him the shepherd as he guides his sheep to the pa...
Dec 18, 2020•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 30
Mert Tansu started as a college Basketball player who switched gears to the surprise of his family and started a career as a chef in fine dining. His passion for cooking brought him from Turkey to the US and on to his final destination in Australia. The natural progression from cooking to knifemaking made him one of the most respected knifemakers among his peers. It was a great talk and we covered a lot of ground in a shortened podcast. Follow Mert Tansu on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 29
Emiliano Carrillo is the Bladesmiths' Bladesmith. Respectful, mindful and determined to learn. Emiliano is bright, charming and very conscious of history and his own intention. As a young child playing with clay he was looking for anatomical accuracy and his completion of truth. As he grew he gained the skills to make what his mind wanted including pursuing his fascination with swords. From incorporating Bladesmithing into his college major, to smelting iron in Iceland, Emiliano has packed it in...
Dec 04, 2020•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 28
Jonathan Porter & Ben Snure Join the podcast to tell Cowboy stories and and horse around. This Black Friday Special has been in the works for months and we prevailed against technical issues and rescheduling to bring you Ben Snure and Jonathan Porter! Both working Cowboys who two told stories about all the real things that Cowboys do. I sat back and asked normal questions a city person would ask clearly. Fun stories, and emotion revolving around the love and care for animals. Find out how Be...
Nov 27, 2020•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 27
Leah Aripotch: Mother of Monsters brings the heat and complexity to a complicated world. Leah Aripotch is an extraordinarily talented Sculptor. Her detailed work in steel allows the viewer to shed the shackles of the craft and dive head first into the narrative. Her hyper-realistic depiction of the nature being punished by humanity begs the question: 'who is the real monster'. This was a fun episode where we covered the despicable art world, labor intensity, and growing up on the weird peninsula...
Nov 20, 2020•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 26
Andreas Kalani has had a harrowing voyage to be such a positive spirit in the knife making community. Born in Tehan after The Iranian Revolution, Andreas Kalani made his way to The United States to become an extraordinary Knife Maker, Artist and American Citizen. This episode covers a lot of ground including the Golden Kalani, and fleshes out my good friend who never gives up and has one of the most positive spirits in the knife making community. follow Andreas on Instagram: https://www.instagra...
Nov 13, 2020•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 25
Don Nguyen is one of the most well regarded knife makers in the United States. The lines, style and execution defines Don's very recognizable work. We talk about his love of car design and his time in Engineering school on a formula 1 student race club where he became the project manager for the team. How did his time there inform his current direction and methodology to become a knife maker to grace the cover of industry magazines? We cover his love of food, his Jaguar heap and scurry through t...
Nov 06, 2020•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 24
Set Photographer to the Stars and my old podcast partner arrives to bring me to tears and set me straight! Niko Tavernise is the Hollywood Set Photographer who has taken the still shots on films like: Joker, the John Wick movies, Spiderman 2, The Irishman, The Post, Moonrise K ingdom and Black Swan to name a few. Before his rocket ship career took off he and I had a dopey podcast about 10 years ago called "The Downward Spiral", where we would show up to each others backyards with beer, talk abou...
Oct 30, 2020•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 23
Tyler Bell is a unique young man who works for an Aerospace company as a problem solver-and in his spare time is a Youtuber where his focus is split between trying to solve a problem of a direct nature, like how to put toothpaste back in a tube, and designing furniture. His enthusiasm is infectious and his methods are approachable. Based on the materials & techniques he uses you can see he's learned a few tricks working on Airplanes. Great guy fun conversation. I hope his parents let him hav...
Oct 23, 2020•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 22
In this episode, I’m all alone after losing John & Cliff’s audio! I recount the funny crazed cook-off with one of the best chef’s in America: Charlie Palmer! Plus my self-sabotage and wriggling out of humiliation when real perspective hits. Don’t worry- I know what I’m doing. I’m also doing a giveaway with this week’s sponsor Isotunes! Listen to the episode for details! Follow: @chefcharliepalmer on Instagram @isotunes on Instagram @thefullblastpodcast on Instagram Advertising Inquiries: htt...
Oct 16, 2020•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 21
Adam Balkovic has had a life of self-determination. One foot in front of the other, Adam made choices that led him to be the Owner & Head Knifemaker at BiltSharp MFG with his Awesome wife Jackie. He is one of the most talented people in Knifemaking whose knives combine elegance of form, contrast of color and excellence of execution. It wasn't easy in the beginning....just ask Sister Edward Marie.....that was a spicy meatball. Follow Biltsharp on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biltsharp...
Oct 09, 2020•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 20
The early days leading up to Alex Pole being one of the United Kingdom's premier blacksmiths was turbulent to say the least. From a child watching his mother make jewelry in the kitchen, to traveling the world as blacksmith and metalworker, Alex packed in a life or two. Now he runs a successful forge specializing in Kitchen utensils, classes and sometimes an Axe or 2. I had a great time listening to his adventures, making some connections, and hearing his Eureka moment. Theres an exclusive annou...
Oct 02, 2020•2 hr•Ep. 19
Brett Mcafee (@skullandspade13 on instagram) has had an adventurous life so far. From his upbringing in Kansas to his first circle of Hell in Las Vegas and on to a 4 month circle of Hell filming a reality show traveling through the southern hemisphere- Brett has made it through with plenty of more circles of Hell to go! He embodies an adventurous hero joining crews, seeing the world and giving it his best. I very much enjoyed hearing his wild stories and most of them made me nervous while I list...
Sep 25, 2020•2 hr•Ep. 18
Jeremy Spake (@jspake on instagram) is a great friend I met a few years ago at The Blade Show in Atlanta. He has become someone I admire for his purity of focus and execution. Everything his does he is very deliberate, calculated and held under the scrutiny of his own high expectations. As with most makers, it all comes from somewhere and Jeremy's story is filled with rock bands, Hollywood animation studios and fabrication studios. Check out his work at: https://www.spakeknife.com/ and his imdb:...
Sep 18, 2020•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 17
Chris Cash's first 18 years of of life was moving from one military base to another with no roots, limited childhood memories or possessions. He is building an empire with his two hands, a smile on his face and the determination for success. A blacksmith and sculptor he's building a huge facility for hammer-ins & meet ups, creating ties with the best in the field, and talks to most of them on them on The Axe and Iron Podcast with Roy Scott (@vintageaxeworks on Instagram) Chris Cash (@MT_PHIL...
Sep 11, 2020•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 16
Steven House AKA @Moonshinemetalworks is a Blacksmith and podcaster on the international sensation called "Fools with Tools" (@Fwtpodcast on Instagram) He joins the show and tells his tale of being a miserable IT worker who found a new life as a blacksmith working for Alex Pole, the UK's best Blacksmith shop (@Alexpoleironwork). They discuss the Hospitality business, world weirdness and mind control. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com...
Sep 04, 2020•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 15
Cliff Dufton (@cjdufton on Instagram) is an accomplished welder, fabricator, blacksmith and toolmaker that has a unique history. We talk about his youth and growing up with an engineer father who cant sit still, his multiple day jobs and his drive to constantly innovate and evolve his work. Never totally satisfied Cliff does have a couple hours a week for "Dick Around Time" with the the great and wise Mahatma Johndi. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: http...
Aug 28, 2020•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 14
Jonathan Porter (@doghouseforge on Instagram) is one of my heroes in business and is a great friend. A Boy Scout from Florida led out west to work a cattle and horse ranch, JP learned how find satisfaction from hard work and how to help the welfare of horses, their owners and possibly himself. Visit DogHouse Forge https://www.doghouseforge.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Aug 21, 2020•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 13
