Best Peter Gustafson Podcasts (2025)

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81. Perseverance and Processes with Rhys Andersen 59:12

3d ago59:12

59:12

What would you do if your very first CNC machine didn’t even power on? For most people, that’s where the story would end. But for Rhys Andersen, it was just the beginning. In this episode, I sit down with one of the most determined shop owners I’ve ever interviewed. Rhys is the founder of Method Manufacturing in Austin, Texas — and his journey into…

1
Episode 110: J.B. Zielke 1:06:44

9d ago1:06:44

1:06:44

Cowboy, author, and videographer J.B. Zielke, AKA the Lost Cowboy, tells stories about cowboyin' in Australia, Argentina, Sweden, South Africa, Mexico, and Mongolia. Learn more about J.B. Zielke at www.thelostcowboy.com/ Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads…

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80. 4x Your Money with Machine Shops with Mike Payne 1:01:00

17d ago1:01:00

1:01:00

What if you could double—or even quadruple—the value of a machine shop within just 12 months of buying it? For Mike Payne, this isn’t a hypothetical. It’s a repeatable system he’s refined across five acquisitions (and counting). In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Mike returns to the mic to break down exactly how he transforms tired shops into…

1
Episode 109: Bill Lowman 1:00:11

30d ago1:00:11

1:00:11

Cowboy poet and rancher Bill Lowman talks about growing up ranching in North Dakota, where his cowboy poetry comes from, the very first Elko gathering, being mistaken for Claude Dallas by the FBI, founding the Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and shares the poem that got him invited to Elko. Learn more about Bill Lowman at www.lowmanslodge.com Learn…

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79. The BTM Blueprint: Collaboration, Culture, and Growth 56:54

1M ago56:54

56:54

In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Kyra Tillman, third-generation owner of BTM Industries. When Kyra returned to the family shop, she inherited more than just machines—she inherited decades of “this is how we’ve always done it.” What she’s done since is nothing short of a transformation. With grit, grace, and a serious knack f…

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78. The Power of Being Mission Driven - Court Durkalski of Truline Industries 1:02:56

2M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

Most shop owners I talk to are focused on the usual things: keeping the machines humming, staying profitable, maybe planning for growth or succession. But what if the real unlock for your shop wasn’t more tech or tighter margins—but a completely different way of thinking about why your business exists in the first place? That’s what today’s episode…

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77. Strategy & Execution Wins Customers - Matt Gawlik of 3D Graphite 47:27

2M ago47:27

47:27

What happens when a serial entrepreneur with seven businesses under his belt decides to go all-in on graphite machining—and does it with some of the fastest, most precise equipment on the planet? You get Matt Gawlik, and in this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, he brings the heat. Host Paul Van Metre sits down with Matt to unpack a no-BS journey th…

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The Quiet Cut That's Loudly Threatening Small Manufacturing 35:09

2M ago35:09

35:09

Most small manufacturers don’t realize they’re being quietly supported by one of the most impactful public-private partnerships in the country. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has long been the hidden backbone behind training programs, grant facilitation, process improvements, and critical tech upgrades for shops across the U.S. But r…

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Episode 108: Craig Haythorn 51:00

2M ago51:00

51:00

Fourth generation rancher Craig Haythorn talks about the history of Haythorn Land & Cattle Company, the influence of his father and grandfather, the Nebraska Sandhills, feeding with a team of horses, pulling out the wagon, changes in ranching, and his love for his family. This episode was sponsored by National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, T…

1
76. Inside Secrets of a 200+ Machine Shop 1:03:58

2M ago1:03:58

1:03:58

When I first heard about Screwmatics—a shop with over 200 machines, 110 employees, and 16 buildings—I knew I had to talk to the guy behind it. In this episode, I sit down with Billy Hogge, the second-generation leader of Screwmatics out of Pageland, South Carolina. His story is incredible. His parents started the company 37 years ago with just two …

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75. I’ve Seen It All: From Apprentice to Cars, Rockets, Implants & Robots – Jim Cooney 1:07:11

3M ago1:07:11

1:07:11

How do you go from being the kid who couldn’t sit still in class to leading the machine shop for one of Elon Musk’s most ambitious ventures? In this gripping and often jaw-dropping episode, I sit down with Jim Cooney—Head of the Machine Shop at Neuralink—for a raw and refreshingly honest conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the unconvent…

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Episode 107: Scott Slusher 52:07

3M ago52:07

52:07

Cowboy and fashion photographer Scott Slusher talks about photographing working cowboys, authenticity, staying out of the way, and being in the right place at the right time. Learn more about Scott Slusher at www.scottslusherphotography.com Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads…

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74. From Employee to Employer - Adam Zimmer from Zimmer Design & Manufacturing 52:26

3M ago52:26

52:26

Have you ever thought about what it takes to make the leap from employee to employer in the machining world? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I’m joined by Adam Zimmer, the founder of Zimmer Design & Manufacturing. Adam’s journey is a remarkable one—he went from working as a tool and die maker to owning and growing his own successful machin…

1
73. A Recipe for Winning High-Volume Work - Marvin Rodriguez of True Precision Machining 53:34

4M ago53:34

53:34

What if understanding the true cost of every part you produce could be the key to scaling your machine shop? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul Van Metre is joined by Marvin Rodriguez from True Precision Machining to explore the strategies that have driven the company’s remarkable growth. Marvin shares his journey from starting with litt…

1
72. Tactics for Growth in 2025 1:03:44

4M ago1:03:44

1:03:44

In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Jason Davis, CEO of D&D Enterprises, is back for an insightful conversation on navigating growth and operational expansion in 2025. With nearly 26 years of experience in the machining industry, Jason shares his insights on scaling operations and avoiding the common pitfalls that come with growth. We dig into…

1
71. Why Trust Is Essential for Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing per Kirk Phelps 59:21

5M ago59:21

59:21

Today’s guest is Kirk Phelps from American Precision Partners, a key figure driving the growth and transformation of multiple machine shops. Kirk’s journey into machining began as a teenager in his dad’s shop, where he started on manual machines while attending trade school. After experiencing burnout, Kirk joined the Air Force and served for six y…

1
Episode 106: Ed Ashurst 57:06

5M ago57:06

57:06

Arizona cowboy and writer Ed Ashurst tells stories of working with old-time cowboys Whistle Mills and Bill Howell and talks about his experiences on legendary Arizona outfits including the O RO Ranch, the Babbitt Ranch, and the Diamond A Ranch. Recorded onstage in front of a live audience at the 2nd Annual Ranch Verse. This episode was sponsored by…

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70. How NTL Industries Leverages Social Media to Achieve Growth 52:36

5M ago52:36

52:36

Greg McArthur’s journey in manufacturing began as a child sweeping floors and cleaning mats in his father’s machine shop. Over the years, he gained hands-on experience, evolving from a lathe hand to a skilled CNC machinist, estimator, and engineer. Eventually, Greg took a bold leap, bidding on a machine sight unseen on eBay and figuring out how to …

1
69. Clearing the Path to Growth with David Hegenbarth from Federal Gear & Machine and Guyer Precision 57:30

6M ago57:30

57:30

Dave bought two very different precision machining companies. One makes large gears in small volumes, and the other specializes in high-volume contract Swiss machining and other production machining. As an outsider to the industry, and not a technical shop owner, Dave shows that it’s not only possible, but an advantage not to be able to do programm…

1
68. Be a Sponge & Figure it Out with Steve & Jamie Michon from Zero Tolerance CNC 1:08:39

7M ago1:08:39

1:08:39

Bravery, Grit and Can-Do attitude are in ample supply with Steve and Jamie Michon. They started a machine shop with 3 young boys, very little money, lived in Steve’s parent's basement, and bought a thrashed Fadal that Steve needed to completely rebuild before he could make parts on it. Similarly, Jamie knew nothing about Quickbooks, or the business…

1
Episode 105: Teal Blake 41:49

7M ago41:49

41:49

Cowboy artist Teal Blake talks about his father Buckeye Blake, his western art influences, becoming a member of the Cowboy Artists of America, his artistic process, and his love for the West. Learn more about Teal Blake at www.tealblake.com Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads…

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67. Betting it All on a Dream with Ashley Hunsaker from HTS Coatings 1:05:52

7M ago1:05:52

1:05:52

67. Betting it All on a Dream with Ashley Hunsaker from HTS Coatings Even before Ashley and her husband Jason opened their doors, they nearly had to file for bankruptcy, because an insurance company deemed her more valuable dead than alive - because she was a stay-at-home mom. Thankfully, a wonderful human intervened and saved the business before i…

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66. Passionate Partnership for the Win with Mitch and Brian Olson from OCD 1:14:18

8M ago1:14:18

1:14:18

66. Passionate Partnership for the Win with Mitch and Brian Olson from OCD The Olson brothers, Brian and Mitch learned about winning, losing and grit on the racetrack. When it came time to move on from the dangers of racing, they decided to start a CNC machine shop, having never even turned on a CNC machine in their lives! Those lessons learned in …

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65. 4 Generations of Machining Legacy with Denny Smith from NMC, Inc. 1:01:12

8M ago1:01:12

1:01:12

65. 4 Generations of Machining Legacy with Denny Smith from NMC, Inc. Denny is the 3rd generation owner and President of Northside Machine Company in Dugger Indiana. His son is now working in the business as well making him the 4th generation of Smiths to be involved in the business. This role is one that Denny takes very seriously, and he is deter…

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Episode 104: Carl Lane Johnson 1:23:35

8M ago1:23:35

1:23:35

Third generation New Mexico rancher and author Carl Lane Johnson talks about his family's ranching history, his cowboy idol, breaking colts, treating screwworms, changes in the ranching industry and explains the difference between a cowboy, cowman, cattleman, and rancher. This episode was sponosred by the National Ranching Hertiage Center. Learn mo…

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64. Tribal Knowledge Killed This Shop: A Machine Shop Owner Tells the Story with Jereme Rogers 1:12:28

9M ago1:12:28

1:12:28

64. Tribal Knowledge Killed this Shop: A Machine Shop Owner Tells the Story with Jereme Rogers After a near-death motorcycle accident, Jereme Rogers fell in love with the machining industry and decided that he wanted to own a shop someday. When the owners of TK Machine decided they wanted to retire, Jereme and they eventually came to an agreement t…

1
63. Solving the Puzzle of Strategic Growth with Jason Davis from D&D Enterprises 1:06:49

9M ago1:06:49

1:06:49

63. Solving the Puzzle of Strategic Growth with Jason Davis from D&D Enterprises Jason is the second-generation CEO of D&D Enterprises, an AS9100-certified precision machining company specializing in aerospace and other high-tech industries that was founded by his father and uncle in 1976. When Jason joined the company 25 years ago, he started focu…

1
Episode 103: Wylie Gustafson 58:27

9M ago58:27

58:27

Wylie Gustafson of Wylie & The Wild West talks about the beginning of his musical career, the cowboy folk music of his father, the story of the Yahoo yodel, cutting horses, writing songs with Paul Zarzyski, and the workingman quality of cowboy poetry. Learn more about Wylie Gustafson at www.wyliewebsite.com Learn more about Cowboy Crossrods at www.…

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62. Automating Your Way to Success with Scott Harms from MetalQuest Unlimited 1:10:09

9M ago1:10:09

1:10:09

62. Automating Your Way to Success with Scott Harms from MetalQuest Unlimited Scott Harms knows a thing or two about highly automated CNC machining. Since he started MetalQuest Unlimited at the age of 22, he’s made millions and millions of parts on highly automated machines that he and his team have integrated themselves. Acquiring his first robot …

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61. Growing Well at Massive Scale with Peter Doyle from Hirsh Precision 1:04:40

10M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

61. Growing Well at Massive Scale with Peter Doyle from Hirsh Precision Growing any business 80% over a few years is a major achievement. Doing it with a precision machining organization is nearly unheard of. And doing it well, without too much collateral damage, takes serious skills. Those are skills that Peter Doyle has, although he might not adm…

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60. Running Machines 168 Hours a Week with Jim Goerges from Precision Tool Technologies 1:10:09

10M ago1:10:09

1:10:09

60. Running Machines 168 Hours a Week with Jim Goerges from Precision Tool Technologies Jim is a finance guy with a passion for machining and never giving up on achieving maximum production. Those passions have helped fuel the growth of Precision Tool Technologies and 168 Manufacturing which Jim leads. In this episode we go deep on the concepts, st…

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Episode 102: Martin Black 1:02:44

11M ago1:02:44

1:02:44

Cowboy and horseman Martin Black talks about his family's deep ranching roots, being in cow camp with his brother at eight years old, ranching changes in the Great Basin, the disappearance of the wagon, and the horsemanship philosophy of his mentors Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, and Tom Marvel. Learn more about Martin Black at www.martinblack.net Learn m…

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59. Buying and Growing a Machine Shop Part-time with Gillen Young from Custom Tool 1:04:02

11M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

59. Buying and Growing a Machine Shop Part-time with Gillen Young from Custom Tool Gillen Young and his brother bought Custom Tool in 2010 and have grown it fourfold since, including buying another shop as well. One of the most interesting parts of this story is that Gillen has a regular full-time job and leads Custom Tool as CEO and President part…

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58. How to Find, Buy, & Grow a Shop with Mike Fritz from Quick Tek Machining Part 2 1:09:29

11M ago1:09:29

1:09:29

58. How to Find, Buy, & Grow a Shop with Mike Fritz from Quick Tek Machining Part 2 In this Part 2 episode with Mike Fritz of Quick Tek Machining, we first learn about the factors that make a shop saleable and valuable. Mike then shares his process for deciding what type of shop to buy, where the sources of possible deals are, and which specific sh…

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57. Buying 4 Machine Shops in 2 Years with Mike Fritz from Quick Tek Machining Part 1 1:09:17

12M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

57. Buying 4 Machine Shops in 2 Years with Mike Fritz from Quick Tek Machining Before Mike Fritz bought Quick Tek in 2022, he had been a speaker and consultant on building high-performing teams. He’s taken that skill set and decided to go all-in with the precision machining industry. After buying Quick Tek, he has quickly bought 3 more additional s…

1
56. From Startup to Industry Leader with John Newman from Athena Manufacturing 1:08:58

1y ago1:08:58

1:08:58

56. From Startup to Industry Leader with John Newman from Athena Manufacturing Paul sits down with John Newman from Athena Manufacturing, a 200-person machining and fabrication company in Austin, Texas. John shares his remarkable journey of growing two successful companies in the manufacturing industry. Starting with a small six-person shop in 1995…

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Episode 101: Peter Rowan 55:47

1y ago55:47

55:47

Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan talks about his lifelong fascination with the West, amateur historians, and making the album High Lonesome Cowboy with Don Edwards. Learn more about Peter Rowan at www.peter-rowan.com This episode was sponsored by B2 Trading Company. Learn more about them at www.b2tradingcompany.com Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at…

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55. High Spindle Uptime & Happy Employees with Nathan Byman from Wolfram Manufacturing 1:00:55

1y ago1:00:55

1:00:55

55. High Spindle Uptime & Happy Employees with Nathan Byman from Wolfram Manufacturing Before Nathan Byman started Wolfram Manufacturing in 2011, he learned a lot about what he liked and didn’t like about machining and management, at other businesses. He’s taken the best learnings (and a TON he’s learned since) to make Wolfram into a fast-growing p…

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54. The Virtues of Niche Manufacturing Excellence with Matt Gustafson from Clinkenbeard 1:00:56

1y ago1:00:56

1:00:56

54. The Virtues of Niche Manufacturing Excellence with Matt Gustafson from Clinkenbeard Matt grew up on the shop floor of Clinkenbeard, a business his father bought in the late 70s and he became a pattern maker. He is now the President and leads this incredible AS9100-certified company that specializes in highly complex 5-axis machined parts and hi…

1
Episode 100: Waddie Mitchell 37:25

1y ago37:25

37:25

Waddie Mitchell returns to Cowboy Crossroads to celebrate 100 episodes of the podcast. Waddie talks about making phone calls to Kris Kristofferson and S. Omar Barker, classic cowboy poetry, his recording career, and his favorite original poems. This interview was recorded onstage in front of a live audience at the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering …

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53. Father & Son Fun = Success at Mactech with Joel and Luke Wittenbraker from Mactech 1:14:18

1y ago1:14:18

1:14:18

53. Father & Son Fun = Success at Mactech with Joel and Luke Wittenbraker from Mactech Mactech is a fascinating business that specializes in on-site machining services and equipment. It’s a very different type of business than a traditional machine shop where all work is done in a facility. Their company history is a fascinating one, and a fun one,…

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52. From Founding to Exit with Keith Bernardo from M&K Engineering 1:09:59

1y ago1:09:59

1:09:59

52. From Founding to Exit with Keith Bernardo from M&K Engineering The M&K Engineering story is a fantastic American Dream Story. From immigrant founding parents, to the kids taking over the business, leading to an eventual successful exit to a much larger manufacturer. Keith digs in deep on their story and the decisions and strategies that they em…

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Episode 99: Barbara Van Cleve 1:03:16

1y ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Legendary western photographer Barbara Van Cleve talks about growing up at the end of the horse age, her family's Lazy K Bar Ranch, her father Spike Van Cleve, her collaborations with rodeo poet Paul Zarzyski, and her love for horses, ranching, and photography. Learn more about Barbara Van Cleve at www.barbaravancleve.com This episode was co-sponso…

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51. From Supply Chain to Shop Owner with Mark Heston from Colinear Machine 54:38

1y ago54:38

54:38

51. From Supply Chain to Shop Owner with Mark Heston from Colinear Machine Mark Heston is the President of Colinear Machine in northern New Jersey. Colienear specializes in precision machined components and assemblies for the helicopter and aircraft landing gear industries. Mark and his partners bought the business in 2022 and have engineered huge …

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50. From Tragedy to Rebirth with Ashley Parent from Mills Machine Works 52:53

1y ago52:53

52:53

50. From Tragedy to Rebirth with Ashley Parent of Mills Machine Works When Greg Mills was diagnosed with cancer, he had only a few months to live. His children, Ashley, John and Megan decided they wanted to carry on the family legacy that their dad and mom had started. So they jumped into learning as much about the business as they could, with the …

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49. Origins, Growth, and Lessons from a $60M Machining Company with Matt Wardle from JD Machine 1:12:26

1+ y ago1:12:26

1:12:26

49. Origins, Growth, and Lessons from a $60M Machining Company Matt Wardle is the president and owner of JD Machine, a three generation family-run precision machining business in Ogden Utah with over 200 employees and doing $60M in revenue. Originally founded by his father, and now with Matt’s kids coming up in the business, JD Machine has realized…

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Episode 98: Songs of the Cowboys with Rex Rideout 39:53

1+ y ago39:53

39:53

Old-time musician Rex Rideout discusses the life and times of the first cowboy song collector Jack Thorp. Rex discusses the events that led to Thorp's search for cowboy songs, Thorp's book of Songs of the Cowboys, the story of Little Joe the Wrangler, and Thorp's banjo. Find out more about Rex at http://www.timetravelmusic.com Find out more about C…

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48. From Office Admin to Shop Owner with Allison Giddens from Win-Tech 1:09:10

1+ y ago1:09:10

1:09:10

48. From Office Admin to Shop Owner with Allison Giddens of Win-Tech Allison is the co-owner of Win-Tech in Kennesaw, Georgia. As an early 20-something, Allison took a leap of faith, and a 30% pay cut to work at her neighbor's machine shop, with the hope that someday it would lead to something great. Fast forward 17 years later, and she owns and ru…

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47. Big Vision = Big Success in the Space Industry with Nathan Bourgeois from Oroborous Space & Defense 1:43:39

1+ y ago1:43:39

1:43:39

47. Big Vision = Big Success in the Space Industry with Nathan Bourgeois from Oroborous Space & Defense Nathan Bourgeois is the founder and owner of Oroborous Space & Defense. Nate has an incredible story of success, founded from an audacious goal of building the best hardware that goes into space. That goal has driven him and propelled his company…

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46. Defense Industry Success with Derek Kowalski from LOC Industries 1:05:29

1+ y ago1:05:29

1:05:29

46. Defense Industry Success with Derek Kowalski from LOC Industries Derek Kowalski was the second employee of LOC Industries when he was hired at the age of 19. He’s now the VP and co-owner of the shop that specializes in complex manufactured assemblies for the defense industry. Derek shares his story, which parallels the growth of LOC which focus…

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