Forging Hope – Dragon City, Mission Phoenix & the Fight for Veterans

Forging Hope – Dragon City, Mission Phoenix & the Fight for Veterans

On this episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with Mandy Thomas of Dragon City Resort and Mission Phoenix, along with Mission Phoenix founder Josh Gagne, for a powerful conversation about serving those who have served our nation. Mandy shares the incredible journey of acquiring Dragon City Resort along Tennessee's famous Tail of the Dragon and transforming it into more than just a destination for motor enthusiasts. What started as a resort has grown into a vision for helping veterans through community, purpose, and housing initiatives designed to support those struggling with PTSD, homelessness, and the challenges of transitioning back into civilian life. Josh opens up about the personal tragedy that inspired him to create Mission Phoenix after losing his father to undiagnosed post-traumatic stress. He discusses the organization's mission to combat veteran suicide, the development of the Invictus Initiative that trains law enforcement officers to better understand and assist veterans in crisis, and the lives that have already been saved through the program. Together, Mandy and Josh discuss the challenges veterans face after service, including PTSD, homelessness, broken relationships, and the stigma surrounding mental health. They share how Mission Phoenix and the upcoming Bunker 22 housing project aim to provide temporary housing, counseling, job readiness, networking opportunities, and a supportive veteran community to help veterans rebuild their lives. The conversation also explores the therapeutic benefits of craftsmanship, community connections, peer-to-peer support, and innovative ideas such as a future veteran networking app designed to connect veterans with others who understand their struggles. This episode is an inspiring look at what happens when people refuse to stand by and instead dedicate themselves to helping veterans find purpose, healing, and hope. Learn more about Dragon City Resort: https://dragoncityresort.com [https://dragoncityresort.com] Learn more about Mission Phoenix: https://missionphoenix.org [https://missionphoenix.org]

From Navy Flight Engineer to Changing Lives: Rebecca Dawn & T14P

.From Navy Flight Engineer to Changing Lives: Rebecca Dawn & T14P In this inspiring episode of Behind The Anvil Podcast, host Michael Peterson sits down with Rebecca Dawn, founder of T14P, a Sevier County-based nonprofit dedicated to helping women battling breast cancer regain a sense of normalcy through custom-fitted, medical-grade wigs. Rebecca shares the incredible story behind T14P, explaining how she and her sister launched the organization after discovering that many hair donation programs still charged recipients for wigs. What began as a passion project has grown into a mission-driven nonprofit that uses donated human hair to create high-quality wigs for cancer patients at no cost. Beyond her nonprofit work, Rebecca discusses her unique journey from growing up in northern Idaho to serving as a U.S. Navy in-flight engineer aboard Boeing 747 aircraft. She shares stories from detachments around the world, including experiences in Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Wake Island. Michael and Rebecca dive into the realities of running a nonprofit, overcoming self-doubt, fundraising challenges, and the overwhelming generosity of local communities. Rebecca also highlights T14P's upcoming motorcycle poker run fundraiser in Joseph, Utah, where every dollar raised goes directly toward providing wigs for women undergoing cancer treatment. The conversation also explores Rebecca's passion for motorcycles, lessons learned from solo rides through Death Valley, future charity ride plans across the country, and an exciting discussion about designing custom knives specifically for female riders. This episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference in someone's fight against cancer. Follow and support T14P on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CNxsKJw8X/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/1CNxsKJw8X/]

From Fishing Lures to 3D Printing: Building Custom Creations with Spicy Mike

From Fishing Lures to 3D Printing: Building Custom Creations with Spicy Mike In Season 2 Episode 23 of Behind The Anvil Podcast, Host Michael Peterson sits down with Michael “Spicy Mike” Kerley for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from custom fishing lures and boat restoration to 3D printing technology and entrepreneurship. Spicy Mike shares how he got into designing and manufacturing custom fishing lures using 3D printing and plastisol injection molding, including his innovative “rattle rocket” system designed to protect and replace fragile glass rattles inside soft plastic baits. The two dive deep into the world of mold design, engineering filaments, and the growing accessibility of 3D printing for makers and small businesses. The conversation also explores restoring old boats, building aftermarket parts for hard-to-find equipment, and how modern technology can breathe new life into vintage machines and custom projects. Michael and Spicy discuss the challenges of running creative businesses in today’s economy, the future of custom manufacturing, and how 3D printing is opening doors for a new generation of entrepreneurs. Along the way, the episode covers fishing stories from Illinois, custom boat modifications, Gunpla models, Star Trek collectibles, knife making, live knife auctions, camping, internet struggles in rural areas, and the endless possibilities of combining craftsmanship with modern technology. If you’re into knife making, 3D printing, fishing, fabrication, or creative problem-solving, this episode is packed with insight, humor, and inspiration from two makers passionate about building things their own way.

Forged Minds & Damascus Dreams with RJ “Hitman” Goble

Forged Minds & Damascus Dreams with RJ “Hitman” Goble Host Michael Peterson sits down with RJ “Hitman” Goble of Hitman Customz for an in-depth conversation covering everything from Damascus steel and heat treating to mental health, entrepreneurship, and the paranormal. RJ shares his return to full-time bladesmithing after nearly two years away from the forge and discusses the passion behind Hitman Customz, known for Damascus steel work, custom handles, mosaics, and intricate pattern development. Michael and RJ dive deep into steel annealing techniques, discussing everything from thermal cycling and grain structure to unconventional annealing mixtures using perlite, vermiculite, and wood ash. The episode also explores blade heat treatment philosophies, edge quenching versus full quenching, spring steels like 5160 and ADCRV2, and the challenges of working with difficult steels in Damascus billets. The two makers swap shop knowledge, sanding and etching techniques, and discuss the tools and abrasives they trust most in their shops. Beyond bladesmithing, Michael and RJ open up about ADHD, autism, perfectionism, and how forging helps provide focus and purpose. They also discuss the realities of social media restrictions affecting knife makers, the future of their businesses, and ambitions for larger collaborations within the knife community. The conversation takes an unexpected turn into discussions about psychedelic therapies, spirituality, paranormal experiences, Bigfoot, UFOs, and the search for truth beyond mainstream narratives — making this one of the most wide-ranging and thought-provoking episodes yet. Whether you're a bladesmith, knife enthusiast, maker, or just someone fascinated by the forging lifestyle, this episode delivers shop talk, life lessons, and raw conversations from behind the anvil. Follow Hitman Customz: https://www.instagram.com/hitman_customz/ [https://www.instagram.com/hitman_customz/] Sponsored By: Combat Abrasives https://combatabrasives.com/ [https://combatabrasives.com/] Phoenix Abrasives https://phoenixabrasives.com/ [https://phoenixabrasives.com/]

How God Used Forged in Fire to Forge Redeemed Steel

S2 E21 — How God Used Forged in Fire to Forge Redeemed Steel In this powerful episode of Behind The Anvil, host Michael Peterson sits down with bladesmith Billy from Yellow Rose Forge and Redeemed Steel to discuss how a passion for blacksmithing became a worldwide ministry impacting lives across five continents. Billy shares the incredible story of how Yellow Rose Forge began as simple summer projects with his son before growing into a full-time knife-making business and the foundation for Redeemed Steel — a volunteer-driven ministry formed by Christian contestants from Forged in Fire. What started as a small group of craftsmen connecting through faith has expanded into a movement of more than 700 members across multiple countries, using blacksmithing and craftsmanship to serve communities, share the gospel, build homes, dig wells, and create opportunities through trade education. Michael and Billy dive deep into the realities of making a living as a bladesmith, the challenges of burnout in today’s knife-making industry, and the calling that pushed Billy to leave teaching and pursue ministry through craftsmanship full time. The conversation also explores upcoming Redeemed Steel events, including the annual Redeemed Steel Hammer-In in North Carolina and the Blood, Sweat & Steel Weekend in Montana — a four-day men’s retreat centered around forging knives, brotherhood, and spiritual growth. Billy also discusses the future vocational training school in Guatemala that will provide welding, sewing, and leatherworking education alongside biblical discipleship programs designed to help young people build both practical skills and strong foundations for life. This episode is packed with stories of faith, perseverance, knife making, ministry, and the power of using craftsmanship to change lives around the world. Listen now on YouTube and all major podcast platforms every Monday. Redeemed Steel: redeemedsteel.org [http://redeemedsteel.org] Yellow Rose Forge: yellowroseforge.com [http://yellowroseforge.com]