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 faith, parenting, education, and the role of critical thinking in today’s world. With honesty and respect, the conversation explores how to find hope, unity, and positivity in challenging times.

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 met other makers and eventually competed—and won—on Forged in Fire. From there, Deke forged lasting friendships in the blacksmithing community and pursued his American Bladesmith Society journeyman smith stamp. But chasing production deadlines led him to step back from knife-making as a business, returning to it as a hobby so he could focus on pushing his skills and creating true art. After a trip to Blade Show in Atlanta with Shawn Shropshire, the idea of The Wandering Bladesmith was born. Deke also leaves us with some words of wisdom… BUT Deke's phone dies. As Paul Harvey would say—“stay tuned for the rest of the story” in Part 2!

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 experience to launching the Texas Select Knife Show, they open up about the lessons learned in running a business, how to stay fluid and pivot when challenges come, and the dedication it took to bring Cowboy’s dream of a bigger shop to life. They also talk about how the knife show has opened doors, built lasting friendships with makers across the USA, and what it means to be part of a growing bladesmithing community. This episode is packed with inspiration, resilience, and the spirit of forging more than just blades—it’s about forging dreams and connections.