People see success and say “must be nice.” They don’t see the years it took. Or the cost of building something real. Episode 107 of The Wild Chaos Podcast features Josh Smith, founder of @MontanaKnifeCompany and the youngest Master Bladesmith in the world. What looks like overnight success is anything but. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Meeting MKC In Montana 3:20 A Small Town Start 6:50 Earning Bladesmith Credentials Young 17:49 The Mentorship Spark That Matters 21:02 Why Real Learning Beats YouTube 24:33 Making A Living As An Artist 31:37 When The Economy Flips The Plan 35:20 The Trailer Explosion And Rebuild 41:28 Local Banks And Big Leaps 52:17 Winter Strong Support Then COVID 59:29 Quitting The Lineman Job 1:02:06 Trades As A Future-Proof Path 1:18:33 From First Drop To Real Scale 1:23:40 Partnership And Hiring Without Ego 1:29:48 Building Culture Through Shared Wins 1:38:06 Made In Montana And The Real Costs 1:47:49 Parenting For Work Ethic And Freedom 1:59:42 Gratitude And Closing Thoughts We break down the real journey behind building a Made in USA company — from a small logging town in Montana to scaling a business that now employs over 100 people. Josh shares the moments that shaped him, from mentorship as a kid to the grind of earning bladesmith credentials and surviving the 2008 financial crash. This conversation dives into: • Entrepreneurship and scaling a business • American manufacturing and supply chains • Skilled trades and craftsmanship • Leadership, hiring, and building culture • The reality behind “overnight success” • Risk, failure, and rebuilding If you’re building something, leading a team, or trying to create a life through hard work and discipline, this episode is for you. 👉 Share this with someone who’s building something. Subscribe for more real conversations. And tell us: what part of this journey would be the hardest for you? Please visit our website to get more information: https://wildchaosshow.com/ 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@wildchaospod/?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Stay Connected With Us. Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/TheWildChaosPodcast Instagram (The Wild Chaos Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcast/ Instagram (Bam): https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaospodcast Website: https://wildchaosshow.com/ 📩 For business inquiries: bam@sempersocial.com ============================= 🎬Suggested videos for you: ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c7ESGgxVoY ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Syc0LbBInE ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtLt0DwADdY ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl0O3SxMbwk ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkTCGW16jhI ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYarovSE9y8 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF5Ika3F_II ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1jmUyN5rZk ================================= ✅ About The Wild Chaos Podcast. Welcome to The Wild Chaos Podcast, where real, raw, and remarkable stories are shared. Hosted by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bam Marshall, this podcast gives a voice to extraordinary people who’ve faced chaos and come out stronger. From Navy SEALs battling addiction and law enforcement officers surviving near-death shootouts, to everyday people who’ve fought their way back from tough situations, each episode is packed with truth, resilience, and inspiration. Every Monday, new episodes dive deep into these powerful stories, showing you that no matter how wild or chaotic life gets, you can rise above it all. For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: bam@sempersocial.com 🔔 Want to hear from real survivors? Subscribe now and get inspired by remarkable stories of strength and resilience! https://www.youtube.com/@wildchaospod/?sub_confirmation=1 ================================= Montana Knife Company Josh Smith bladesmith entrepreneurship podcast Made in USA manufacturing American manufacturing business skilled trades success bladesmith story how to scale a business startup to manufacturing company leadership and hiring blue collar entrepreneurship small town success story craftsmanship business building a brand from scratch Wild Chaos Podcast #Entrepreneurship #MadeInUSA #AmericanManufacturing #SkilledTrades #Leadership #SmallBusiness #WildChaosPodcast #BlueCollar #BusinessGrowth #StartupLife What It Really Takes to Build a Made in USA Brand | Ep. 107 Montana Knife Company Josh Smith: The Youngest Master Bladesmith’s Story | Ep. 107 Montana Knife Company The Rise of Montana Knife Company w/Josh Smith | EP. 107