Oak and Steel Podcast

Oak and Steel
  • 5.0 (9)
  • HOBBIES

Matt and Michael talk about their experiences working in woodworking and metal fabrication. Join in and talk a little shop.

  1. 4D AGO

    Firehouse, Fabrication, and Fresh Roasts

    POWERED BY: Mounds View Roasters First Due Construction and Millworks Tami at Step Into Adventure Back in the shop, projects are moving — from CNC learning curves and custom builds to welding frames and figuring out how to actually document the process along the way. There’s also a Make What You Fear update (including a dog-approved… or not-so-approved… build), plus some deep dives into materials, techniques, and lessons learned. It’s a mix of shop talk, life updates, and the kind of conversations that happen when you’re balancing careers, creativity, and whatever comes next. Get a mug and hang out.

    1h 3m

  2. MAR 11

    Back in the Shop: Promotions, Machines, and Making It Work

    After a short break, Oak and Steel is back. In this episode, Michael and Matt catch up on everything that’s happened behind the scenes — including Matt’s promotion to Battalion Chief in the fire service and what that new role means for life on shift and beyond. They talk about the realities of leadership, transitioning from doing the work to directing the work, and how careers evolve over time. Meanwhile, back at the shop, the projects keep stacking up. From building coffee packaging machines to new equipment in the shop and ideas for future builds, there’s plenty going on. They also dive into balancing side businesses, shop life, and the constant juggle of wearing too many hats when you're running a small operation. It’s a laid-back episode full of shop talk, career updates, and a look at what’s next for both the firehouse and the shop.

    1 hr

  3. JAN 19

    No Intro Need - Catching Up on Coffee, Projects, and What 2026 Might Bring

    This episode brought to you by: First Due Construction and Millworks Mounds View Roasters Tami at Step Into Adventure In this episode of Oak & Steel, Michael and Matt kick off 2026 with a wide-ranging catch-up. From shipping out a K-Cup machine in high winds and diving headfirst into 3D printing, to farm projects on pause, uncertain work schedules, and creative plans that may (or may not) come together this year. They talk coffee (of course), shop organization, CNC machines, Make What You Fear, home projects, fire service realities, and the constant balancing act between work, creativity, and real life. No big announcements — just two friends checking in, sharing what’s working, what’s stuck, and what might be coming next.

    37 min

  4. 12/15/2025

    2025 - The Year That Got Away

    POWERED BY: First Due Construction & Millworks Mounds View Roasters Tami at Step Into Adventure In the final Oak and Steel episode of the year, Michael and Matt reflect on what they call “the year that got away.” From finally getting the band saw mill running and wrapping up long-term shop projects to building machines, writing manuals, and juggling too many irons at once, the guys talk honestly about progress, burnout, and unfinished lists. Along the way, they cover coffee, tools, shop organization, winter resets, Christmas food traditions, and what it means to slow down before turning the page to a new year. A laid-back, reflective sendoff — sawdust, steel, and perspective.

    1h 4m

  5. 11/26/2025

    LAST EPISODE EVER? Big Bucks, Big Logs & Bad Airline Etiquette

    After a long hiatus, Michael and Matt return to Oak & Steel with a life update–filled episode that swings from sawdust to roller coasters to the deer woods. Michael kicks things off with turning 40, grinding through K-cup machine manuals, and a couples getaway to Universal (complete with questionable airplane neighbors). Matt dives into a busy season of firefighter promotions, winter prep on the farm, and the growing operation behind his log-milling side hustle—including the story of a homeowner who wanted to mill right alongside him. The guys dig into tree care, timber framing plans, prepping for winter machines, and reflect on why the podcast is more than just “maker talk”—it’s two friends catching up on life as they barrel toward 40. And of course, Matt shares the full play-by-play of harvesting his first-ever buck on opening morning—plus the family banter and farm history that came with it. It’s a laid-back, honest, season-shifting episode full of woodworking, wildlife, theme parks, and the joys (and pains) of getting older.

    1h 13m

  6. 10/09/2025

    Type A Meets Type B: Coffee, Chaos, and the Road to Canada

    POWERED BY: Mounds View Roasters First Due Construction & Millworks Tami - Step Into Adventure Michael and Matt dive into the great shop debate — clean and organized or functional chaos? Between prepping for a Canadian hunting trip, wrapping up the milling season, and tackling new shop builds, the guys cover it all. From Trailside coffee and sunflower seeds to K-Cup machines and sawdust, this episode proves that every maker’s rhythm is a little different — and that’s what makes it work.

    1h 1m

  7. 09/25/2025

    Mountains, Coffee, and Culver’s: A Yellowstone Adventure

    POWERED BY: Mounds View Roasters First Due Construction & Millworks Tami @ Step Into Adventure This week, the guys recap Matt's whirlwind trip through Yellowstone—complete with grizzly country hikes, wolf watching at sunrise, and a bison traffic jam or two. Michael and Matt swap stories about bad hotel coffee, Culver’s butter burgers, and fresh grinds from Mounds View Roasters. They also dive into shop updates, fundraiser plans, and the chaos of balancing business, family, and fall projects.

    1h 4m

  8. 09/09/2025

    Logs, Mills, and Midwest Surprises

    POWERED BY: First Due Construction and Millworks Mounds View Roasters Tami @ Step Into Adventure This week on Oak and Steel, Matt celebrates finally cutting his first slab with the Granberg mill, complete with a surprise Budweiser can hidden inside the log. The guys dig into welding log levelers, shop projects, and what it takes to stack lumber right. Michael talks about the scramble of finishing up an old Bosch packaging machine and a few too many crickets in the shop. Along the way, they share laughs about apple orchards, Bloody Mary's, and the quirks of Wisconsin life.

    1h 2m
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Matt and Michael talk about their experiences working in woodworking and metal fabrication. Join in and talk a little shop.

Information

  • Creator
    Oak and Steel
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Oak and Steel
  • Show Website
    Oak and Steel Podcast

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