Forging Brains Podcast

Hosted by Gavine Cooper

Business Entrepreneurship

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Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Gavine Cooper @pacific.northwest.farrier.show & Riley Kirkpatrick @kirkpatrickforge Diving into the Greatest Minds of Hard Working Tradesmen- Telling Their Story’s thru Podcasts!🎙🔥🔨

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60 recent

May 7, 2026Episode 912 hr 7 min

Tool Time #2! The Tools We Use Everyday in Horseshoeing as Farriers

We heard you guys enjoyed the first "tool time" episode we did so we did another episode talking about the tools we use in our everyday horseshoeing careers. There's lot of chatter about what tools are the best and what tools are the cheapest, blah blah bahh... But we broke down the tools we choose to use and what makes them special to us. Also got into the anatomy of these tools about how to use them and their purposes. So we broke down every tool we keep in our tool carts that earn us a living! Most of these tools can be purchased online at www.wellshod.com or www.yukonforge.com or www.salcitoknives.com or www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com. Hope you guys enjoy hearing us breakdown different forging tools!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

April 21, 2026Episode 901 hr 52 min

Tool Time! Tool Anatomy-Talking About the Tools We Use and Why

The dynamic duo is back with both of us talking about what tools we like to use, why we use them and also breaking down the anatomy of different tools and their different characteristics. It was also a great catch up episode to talk about what we've been up to the past month since the Winter Clinic. Hope you guys enjoy hearing us breakdown different forging tools!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

March 11, 2026Episode 891 hr 43 min

Toby Pedley- All I've Ever Wanted To Do Is Be a Farrier! Now First Time Being On England Farrier Team

Was great to jump on with another guest from across the pond, Toby Pedley! Toby comes from a multi-generational farrier family and from an early age he grew up watching his dad shoe horses so he grew quite an interest in the trade and started learning as early as 11 years old. Granted, there's rules and regulations over in England so he couldn't actually shoe any horses until he was licensed but was immersed in the trade with his mentor Gary Harlow who lived just down the road. Since then, it has been a goal of Toby's to earn a spot on the England Farrier Team and this year he qualified, earning his spot on the team! This was a fun conversation with Toby and hope you enjoy it too.Thanks to Steven Beane for getting us set up with a mic over in the UK and help show your support by checking out his tool line at www.beanietools.co.uk if you're across the world or www.wellshod.com if you're in the US!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

March 4, 2026Episode 881 hr 33 min

Brian Strelow- New Approach to Farrier Education. Straydog Forge Fundamental Farrier Training Course

Farrier training and education in the United States can be a touchy subject amongst people in our trade. Whether or not 6-8 weeks is long enough for someone to be able to successfully learn all the skills needed to become a successful farrier or if attending a school that has a large amount of students at that time if you're going to be able to get enough attention from the instructor to learn the valuable skills needed. This episode isn't about dogging on the current farrier schools we have in the US. This episode is about the farrier school that Brian Strelow has developed to be more hands on and attentive from the instructor to give you the best possible options of becoming a successful farrier. Brian developed a 6 month curriculum for two students at a time to attend where they can gain so much exposure and education in that amount of time without feeling left out or possibly missed. The biggest thing i learned someone can gain from his school is the amount of exposure one will get by enrolling in Brian's school. Check out wis website- www.straydogforge.com to find out more details about how to enroll or if you know someone who is thinking about attending a farrier school.Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

February 19, 2026Episode 871 hr 18 min

Brian Buckner- Perseverance Pays Off By Never Giving Up No Matter What Life Throws At You!

This was a great conversation we had with Brian Buckner! We learned a lot from him how even when life can dang near cripple you... literally! That through faith, dedication, community and hard work you can pick yourself up and still accomplish and achieve life long goals you've set out for yourself. There's a bunch of inspiring moments Brian shared with us that I think people will like to hear and apply to their lives. There's also a big part of joining the AFA that helped Brian become the successful farrier that he is today that resonated with me when he told us his story. Coming together with a group of like minded individuals is a great way to achieve things in life that you set out for yourself.Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

February 5, 2026Episode 861 hr 57 min

Marshall Illes-The Chief Steward for Calgary Back in the Day

While we were at Well-Shod for the WCB Winter Clinic, we were fortunate to sit down with someone who knows a lot of history about competing at Calgary when it was held at the Stampede grounds, Marshall Illes! There were some stories i was surprised to hear in this episode. Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

January 13, 2026Episode 851 hr 23 min

New Year Wrap Up with Troy Wood! And our Winter Clinic Demo Announced

First episode for the new year of 2026! We were at Riley's shop last week and discussed what we have done over the past year with Troy Wood. Troy was Reserve World Champion in 2025 but also wrapped up and won the 2025 National Championship this winter in Ft Worth, Texas hosted by the World Championship Blacksmiths. Jam packed year with Troy and myself qualifying for the 2026 WCB Team along with teammates Stan Mullen and Mason Mileski. We talk a little about what that dynamic is going to be like in this episode. And we announce what Riley and Gavine's demo is going to be at the Winter Clinic this week on thursday! Looking forward to seeing you all there and meeting some new folks at the WCB Winter Clinic hosted at Well-Shod in Amarillo, Texas!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

December 24, 2025Episode 842 hr 22 min

Steven Beane- Six Time World Champ!

Our first "across the pond" episode! This week's guest is none other than the now 6-time World Champ, Steven Beane. It was great to hear how Steven got into this trade and learn about the ambition he has had since a young age. Carving his own spot in history as one of the most decorated farriers in our industry. In this episode you'll hear how Steven prepped himself to win his first world championship up until his most recent, the 6th title, this past September at Spruce Meadows in 2025. Something i thought to be incredible is amongst all the competing Steven has done throughout the years, he maintains a full book of horses regularly and told us that number is 800 horses! Unbelievable. Thanks to Steven for getting us set up with a mic over in the UK and help show your support by checking out his tool line at www.beanietools.co.uk if you're across the world or www.wellshod.com if you're in the US!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

November 5, 2025Episode 832 hr 54 min

Travis Koons-Master Koonzagi Is Back for Part 2!

Travis Koons is back! Our first episode with Travis wasn't long enough so we wanted him back to continue sharing more of what Master Koonzagi has to offer! We talked a little bit about what Travis has been up to since we last spoke to him and also the business side of shoeing, shoeing horses with concave and the many benefits and side effects flat wide shoeing affects a horse's limb/hoof, and vet to farrier communications how we can be more professional as a whole amongst each other. So buckle up and enjoy this great conversation we had with Travis Koons!Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

October 21, 2025Episode 821 hr 38 min

Learn From Your Failures To Earn Success. Winning & Losing Are Both Humbling Moments

We've had a month to reflect on what has happened in the past 30 days ish.. And I was able to compete at 3 different contests in that time, the Blacksmith World Championships at Spruce Meadows, Farriers of Washington State Fall Conference, and the Virginia State Fair World Championship Blacksmiths competition. We talked about what happened at those contests, the highs and the lows, and what was learned through those events. Riley had guest, Andrew Neilson, out to his place for an elk hunt and was able to go hunt rams in Texas as well. All in all it was a busy month and we broke down what happened as to why we haven't had a podcast out for you in a hot minute. Also, let us know who you think would be a great line-up for our 100th episode! And we've also got a cool deal that we'll post about in the near future about a "forging kit giveaway" by purchasing a Forging Brains T-shirt. So stay tuned for details about that soon.Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!