Josh grew up in Lincoln, Montana on the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. At the age of 11 Josh’s baseball coach, Rick Dunkerley, began teaching him how to make knives. In the very beginning, Josh would go to Rick’s shop where he learned to remove stock blades under the guidance of Rick.

About a year later, Josh began putting a shop together at his home. Josh’s Dad gave him room to work in his equipment shop, and at the age of 12 Josh joined the American Bladesmith Society. Over the next few years Josh began forging and honing his craft. Josh turned 14 at the Eugene Oregon knife show where he met other incredible knife makers, all too willing to share their talents and knowledge with Josh.

At 15 years old, Josh passed the Journeyman bladesmith test in Atlanta, Georgia at the Blade Show. Josh became the youngest bladesmith to ever pass this test. The Journeyman test is a two part process. A test blade must be forged and heat treated with the capabilities to chop a 1” rope in half, 2- 2x4’s in half and then still shave hair. Once the cutting tests are done the blade must be able to bend 90 degrees in a vise without breaking. After passing the performance test the maker must present 5 knives to a panel of Mastersmith Judges. Each knife is examined closely to ensure the knife is made to the highest standard of craftsmanship. At the Journeyman level a maker is not expected to show perfection but is expected to show a sufficient level of craftsmanship expected from a professional bladesmith.

Josh continued to work on his craft and at the age of 19 he earned his Master Smith rating from the American Bladesmith Society. Josh was the youngest bladesmith to ever pass the Master Smith test.

In 2002 Josh moved to Frenchtown, Montana where he now calls home. Josh and his wife Jessica live on a beautiful piece of property near the Clark Fork river. They have 3 daughters and 1 son that are active in sports. Josh coaches the youth tackle football team and a youth girls basketball team. The Smith kids raise cattle and hogs in 4H in addition to their sports. Jessica is the customer service and fulfillment manager for MKC.

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1. The complex aftermath of escaping an abusive relationship, highlighting the ongoing struggle with PTSD and trauma. How do you support loved ones through their healing journey and address the challenges of co-parenting with an ex-partner?

2. Tattoos and their significance within the SEAL community.

3. Advice to a young SEAL officer embarking on his first deployment, drawing parallels between military and civilian life.

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Jimmy Watson served 17 years on active duty, splitting time between the Marine Corps, Blackwater, and finally as a Navy SEAL. He completed 2 deployments as a Marine before transitioning to Blackwater and working his way to the role of Team Leader. While in this role the Nisour Square Massacre occurred, an event that would draw FBI attention later, but by that time he was already serving at an SDV command in Hawaii as a SEAL.

I don't know the best word to describe Jimm'ys life, it has taken twists and turns that most can likely not fathom. From leaving school at 13 to a suicide attempt in a mental hospital while fighting to stay in the military, to working from John McAfee to being on the run from the FBI, to finding redemption in faith.

Strap in for a journey, we talked about it all.

Fear the belt sander....

Please check out Jimmy's online community here: https://www.jimmywatson.co

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We are back again with a role reversal, turning the microphone towards the man usually behind the scenes – show producer, Michael Shelton. I never know where these conversations are going to lead, since I am turning the questions over to Michael, a man with an internet search history that has likely landed him on a variety of watchlists.

There was absolutely no structure to this episode, where we covered everything from the controversial topic of soaking, flat earth pioneers who die in their own homemade rockets, social uprisings on college campuses, pride in being an American, and people lighting themselves on fire in protest.

It is always a wild journey, I hope you enjoy it.

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Don Edwards is a retired US Army Special Operations veteran with over two decades of service in the 75th Ranger Regiment and 20th Special Forces Group, including a combat jump into Operation Just Cause and combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We discuss the critical lessons learned during his deployments in high-stakes environments like Iraq and Afghanistan, and how these experiences shaped his approach to tactical training and leadership. Don's post-military includes roles as the Use of Force training manager at the ATF National Academy and his ongoing contributions as a tactical advisor to the Department of Defense.

Join us for lessons learned from the front lines, the transition from military to civilian tactical education, and how these experiences have shaped his approach at Green Line Tactical.

https://www.greenlinetactical.com/

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Today we are diving straight into the heart of current events, focusing on the ongoing protests at Columbia University. We are going to talk about the complexities of patriotism, personal purpose, and crisis response.

1. The emotional challenge of anti-American sentiment, seeking advice on how to engage constructively with divisive issues in a country we love.

2. How to support a partner in search of new beginnings and a meaningful life mission, particularly when life's path leads us through unexpected twists and turns.

3. Personal safety, with a discussion on effective tactics to respond to public threats, such as the recent tragic knife attack in Sydney.

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Brian and Fred were members of the Canadian Armed Forces and both suffered profound impact from the COVID-19 vaccine mandates on their military careers and personal lives. Brian, an Iraq war veteran and former special forces assaulter hopeful, began having physical and medical complications after his second mandatory dosage, ultimately leading to the end of his military service. Fred declined the vaccine, leading to extraordinary and unusual treatment as a result of refusal. Accompanying them is their lawyer, Catherine Christiansen from Valour Law, who provides legal insights into the mass tort lawsuit against the Canadian Forces, addressing claims of abuse of power and the broader ramifications for Canadian civil liberties, from high-stakes intelligence analysis to covert government surveillance during public protests.

https://valourlegalactioncentre.org/

https://www.tps.ca/organizational-chart/communities-neighbourhoods-command/field-services/community-partnerships-engagement-unit/military-veterans-wellness-program/

Two questions today that explore both individual challenges and broader societal concerns. First, a listener from California shares his mental and physical health struggles, along with an intense desire to confront danger head-on, stemming from recent upticks in violence. Next, we hear from a newly appointed police officer grappling with the heartbreak of a recent breakup while starting his dream job in a new city.

To close out the episode we are going with a "Food for Thought" segment, where an email from a listener details troubling developments in Nicaragua's border policies and the potential ramifications for U.S. border security.

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