Smart tools ,dumb days

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Chris and Onur have started a new podcast. Check it out. Hammers and Hot takes

The Final Episode – A Relatively Short Farewell

Why Fire & Steel Is Coming to an End This episode marks the end of the Fire & Steel Podcast. What started nearlyfive years ago as a solo project, with Toby interviewing guests from across theworlds of blacksmithing, craft, and beyond, gradually evolved over time.Eventually Onur joined the show, and later Chris came on board as well,creating a three-person format that allowed the conversation to flow morenaturally and made it easier to keep episodes going even when one personcouldn’t make it. The podcast changed shape a few times, as many long-running shows do. Like mostindependent podcasts, it was always something done alongside work, life, andeverything else, which sometimes made schedules difficult and episodes harderto keep consistent. About ten weeks ago weattempted a bit of a relaunch — aiming to make the show more structured andintentionally positive, with the goal of putting something constructive outinto the world rather than simply reacting to whatever was happening in the newscycle. But despite thatintention, the conversations often drifted back toward the same place:discussing the problems and negativity that seem to dominate so much of publicdiscourse. For Toby inparticular, that raised a bigger question about what the podcast wascontributing to the world. A big personal goal is to create things thatultimately honour God and bring something positive into people’s lives. When itbecame clear that the podcast was continuing to lean toward discussing thenegative side of things, it started to feel like the right time to step awayrather than continue down that road. So after five years,this will be the final episode of Fire & Steel. Thank you to everyonewho has listened along the way — from all of us, and very much from mepersonally. Through the podcast I’ve had the chance to speak with so manyinteresting and thoughtful people, and I’ve been fortunate enough to turn manyof those conversations into genuine friendships. I’m incredibly grateful forthe kindness people have shown me over the years, the things people have donefor me, and the opportunities I’ve had to help others as well. While I can’tname everyone, it’s been an absolute privilege to connect with so many peoplethrough this show, and I’ll always be thankful for that. A huge thank you aswell to the Patreon supporters who backed the show and helped keep it going.Some of you have been supporting us for years, and we’re incredibly gratefulfor that support. In particular, thank you to: Alex Greenaway, WorkingHands Podcast, Keith Colby (Knifematerial.at), Refined by James,KraftyMan Forge, Fingal, Mike Nigh, Tim Kingsford, Timfrom TurgWorks, AJ (Ajmal Inayat Khan Afridi), Donny Dulevich,Sharman Knives, Coppertop Customs, OnlyFans@BenCuttsKnifeworks, Triple-T Podcast, Brigham Kindell, NorthernIron Forge, Joey Atilano, Ginger – Team Onur, Bob Gore –Metalstorm Forge, Hobby Hawk Knives, and Bryan Hunt (Hidden RoseForge). Your support genuinelymeant a lot to us. And of course, aspecial thank you to Chris and Onur. Not just for being part of the podcast,but for their friendship as well. P.S. If you’ve already ordered shirts or stickerpacks, don’t worry — they haven’t been forgotten. We will still be having themprinted and posting them out. And if anyone would still like to grab one, youcan do so through the links over the next week. After that, we’ll be closing itdown and that will be the final run.     Support us at Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/fireandsteelpodcast [https://www.patreon.com/fireandsteelpodcast] or buy our merch tshirts [https://www.diesineveryfilm.com/shop/p/y3wc4fpnt4aozombojxcwee19g9tt8] stickers [https://www.diesineveryfilm.com/shop/p/aulqbwgohoa743zz5b5zu8l9xl9nc2]   Find us at https://www.instagram.com/fireandsteelpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/fireandsteelpodcast/] https://www.instagram.com/murrillforge/           www.murrillforge.com [http://www.murrillforge.com]  Email info@murrillforge.co.uk [info@murrillforge.co.uk] Onur  https://www.instagram.com/diesineveryfilm/ [https://www.instagram.com/diesineveryfilm/] YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/user/Diesineveryfilm [https://www.youtube.com/user/Diesineveryfilm] Chris https://www.instagram.com/full_steam_designs/ [https://www.instagram.com/full_steam_designs/] Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/chrispowellfsd [https://www.youtube.com/chrispowellfsd]

AI, Algorithms & American Noise

Episode 11 This week on the Fire & Steel Podcast we ended up going somewhere we didn’t expect — as usual. We talk about: * The rise of AI and where it’s genuinely useful (and where it’s just hype) * How social media is changing — again * Meta’s shifting tools, ad options, subscriptions, verification, and what it all actually means * The balance between building audience and selling your soul to the algorithm * The state of politics in America and how it influences global conversation * Media narratives, outrage cycles, and digital tribalism We also wrestle with bigger questions: * Is AI empowering creators or replacing them? * Are platforms helping small businesses — or trapping them? * Has social media made politics louder but less thoughtful? * And where does personal responsibility sit in all of it? It’s not a rant. It’s not a manifesto. Just three blokes trying to think clearly in a noisy world. Support us at Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/fireandsteelpodcast [https://www.patreon.com/fireandsteelpodcast] or buy our merch tshirts [https://www.diesineveryfilm.com/shop/p/y3wc4fpnt4aozombojxcwee19g9tt8] stickers [https://www.diesineveryfilm.com/shop/p/aulqbwgohoa743zz5b5zu8l9xl9nc2]   Find us at https://www.instagram.com/fireandsteelpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/fireandsteelpodcast/] https://www.instagram.com/murrillforge/           www.murrillforge.com [http://www.murrillforge.com]  Email info@murrillforge.co.uk [info@murrillforge.co.uk] Onur  https://www.instagram.com/diesineveryfilm/ [https://www.instagram.com/diesineveryfilm/] YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/user/Diesineveryfilm [https://www.youtube.com/user/Diesineveryfilm] Chris https://www.instagram.com/full_steam_designs/ [https://www.instagram.com/full_steam_designs/] Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/chrispowellfsd [https://www.youtube.com/chrispowellfsd]

Smart tools ,dumb days

Episode 10 🔥 Fire & Steel Podcast — This Week’s Episode This week on the Fire& Steel Podcast, it’s a loose, honest, very real catch-up episode — thekind that happens when makers sit down, hit record, and let the conversation gowhere it wants. We start by ventingabout modern software that’s powerful on paper but maddening in practice.LightBurn, Photoshop, Premiere Pro — all incredible tools, all capable ofcompletely derailing your day when they decide not to behave. If you’ve everfelt like software is actively gaslighting you, you’ll feel seen. Chris talks throughordering parts for his various project vehicles, including using ChatGPT towork out gearing ratios — one of those moments where AI can genuinely beincredibly helpful, saving time and brainpower when the maths gets a bit heavy. That naturally leadsinto a wider conversation about AI and ChatGPT more generally: when it’sgenuinely brilliant at problem-solving, and when it’s very confidently wrong.Toby shares a recent experience where ChatGPT absolutely stitched him up whiletrying to solve a Premiere Pro issue, confidently making things up and turninga simple problem into a deeply frustrating one — and why blind trust in AItools can sometimes make things worse rather than better. We also dip into thejoys of phone providers, network issues, and delivery companies, including anespecially painful run-in with UPS, and how systems designed for “efficiency”often seem engineered to remove any actual human logic from the process. There’s no rigidstructure this week — just an unfiltered conversation about tech, tools, AI,projects, and the everyday frustrations of running businesses and buildingthings in an increasingly automated world. Expect rants, laughs,honesty, and the reassurance that it’s not just you losing your mind.     Support us at Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/fireandsteelpodcast [https://www.patreon.com/fireandsteelpodcast] or buy our merch tshirts [https://www.diesineveryfilm.com/shop/p/y3wc4fpnt4aozombojxcwee19g9tt8] stickers [https://www.diesineveryfilm.com/shop/p/aulqbwgohoa743zz5b5zu8l9xl9nc2]   Find us at https://www.instagram.com/fireandsteelpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/fireandsteelpodcast/] https://www.instagram.com/murrillforge/           www.murrillforge.com [http://www.murrillforge.com]  Email info@murrillforge.co.uk [info@murrillforge.co.uk] Onur  https://www.instagram.com/diesineveryfilm/ [https://www.instagram.com/diesineveryfilm/] YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/user/Diesineveryfilm [https://www.youtube.com/user/Diesineveryfilm] Chris https://www.instagram.com/full_steam_designs/ [https://www.instagram.com/full_steam_designs/] Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/chrispowellfsd [https://www.youtube.com/chrispowellfsd]

Masters of the universe

Episode 9 Onur is back in thehot seat this week, joining Toby and Chris for a wide-ranging conversation thatmanages to be both educational and unintentionally entertaining. As always, the episodekicks off with some honest talk about social media — how we’re using it, howit’s evolving, and the ongoing challenge of balancing real craftsmanship withthe modern expectation to document everything. Toby shares detailsabout several exciting commissions currently on the horizon, including a numberof knives and the potential for an upcoming sword build. The discussionexplores what goes into projects at that level, the responsibility behindcommissioned work, and why these builds are rarely as straightforward as peoplemight assume. Chris talks us throughhis laser welder — what drove the decision to invest in one, how he’s gettingon with it so far, and how tools like this are beginning to reshape workflowsfor modern makers. Meanwhile, in what maybe one of the more “Onur” moments to date, we hear the story of his landlordunexpectedly catching him half-naked in the workshop… a reminder that no matterhow professional we try to be, workshop life rarely goes entirely to plan. Despite the occasionalchaos, this episode is packed with practical insight, thoughtful conversation,and a genuine look behind the curtain at what life is really like for workingmakers.   Support us at Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/fireandsteelpodcast [https://www.patreon.com/fireandsteelpodcast] or buy our merch tshirts [https://www.diesineveryfilm.com/shop/p/y3wc4fpnt4aozombojxcwee19g9tt8] stickers [https://www.diesineveryfilm.com/shop/p/aulqbwgohoa743zz5b5zu8l9xl9nc2]   Find us at https://www.instagram.com/fireandsteelpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/fireandsteelpodcast/] https://www.instagram.com/murrillforge/           www.murrillforge.com [http://www.murrillforge.com]  Email info@murrillforge.co.uk [info@murrillforge.co.uk] Onur  https://www.instagram.com/diesineveryfilm/ [https://www.instagram.com/diesineveryfilm/] YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/user/Diesineveryfilm [https://www.youtube.com/user/Diesineveryfilm] Chris https://www.instagram.com/full_steam_designs/ [https://www.instagram.com/full_steam_designs/] Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/chrispowellfsd [https://www.youtube.com/chrispowellfsd]