Oak and Steel Podcast

The boys are back, and there's plenty to catch up on!Michael and Matt kick things off with an update from the shop, including laser welding, K-Cup machine builds, and a few projects that have been waiting for some attention.Then it's time for baseball. Michael shares his experience traveling to Florida with his dad and brother for the Milwaukee Brewers' World Series run, while Matt recounts the ticket-buying chaos, watching playoff baseball from hunting camp, and celebrating back home in Milwaukee.But the real question is: How does a 40-year-old cowboy walk into a barbershop for a cleanup and leave with a nearly $100 fade?Matt also shares his experience officiating a friend's wedding before the conversation turns to woodworking, reorganizing a crowded shop, tackling a growing project backlog, and figuring out what to do with years of digital photos and videos.Throw in a little wallet talk, Black Friday shopping, and the characters of Facebook Marketplace, and you've got another classic episode of Oak and Steel.Grab a coffee, head out to the shop, and enjoy the conversation with Michael and Matt!

POWERED BY: Mounds View RoastersFirst Due Construction and MillworksTami at Step Into Adventure Matt has a new side gig—and apparently he's a laser welder now. The guys talk through his first days in the shop, learning stainless fabrication, welding and polishing, and how woodworking skills translate surprisingly well to metalwork.They also catch up on the finished patio, coffee roaster maintenance, upcoming woodworking projects, 2.6 terabytes of barn-build footage, and somehow end up discussing Squirrel's Nut Butter.Just another hour of Oak and Steel.

POWERED BY:Mounds View RoastersFirst Due Construction and MillworksTami at Step Into AdventureMatt recaps his trip out West, including the Tetons, Jackson Hole, and some airline troubles before diving into the latest on his backyard patio and newfound obsession with keeping his sod alive.Michael shares updates from a recent coffee equipment install and a growing list of machines, projects, and potential hires. The guys also catch up on sawmilling, woodworking, lawn care, travel plans, and the usual assortment of side conversations.Another classic Oak and Steel catch-up—plenty going on and never quite enough time to get it all done.

POWERED BY:Mounds View RoastersFirst Due Construction and MillworksTami at Step Into AdventureThis week we're catching up after a busy stretch of travel, work, and family life. Matt shares stories from another Canadian fishing trip, including over 1,500 fish caught, another boat repair headache, and plans for a backyard patio. Mike talks about a whirlwind installation trip to North Carolina, another family visit to Disneyland, and his fascination with robot lawnmowers.Along the way, the conversation turns to AI, social media burnout, and how both of us are realizing that not every hobby has to become a side business. Sometimes it's okay to let projects sit, focus on home, and embrace the season of life you're in.It's one of those episodes that feels less like an interview and more like two friends catching up over coffee—and we think you'll relate.

POWERED BY:Mounds View RoastersFirst Due Construction LLCTami at Step Into AdventureAfter a bit of a break, Michael and Matt are back behind the microphones catching up on everything that’s been happening.Matt shares an update on his latest CNC project, the challenges of learning new software, and how adding automation to the shop is changing the way he approaches custom work. From laser integration to walnut plaques and troubleshooting G-code, it’s a deep dive into the realities of learning new tools while keeping projects moving.Meanwhile, Michael has been busy getting ready for coffee season at Mounds View Roasters. Between cleaning and reorganizing the roastery, preparing thousands of giveaway coffee bags for local events, and planning shop upgrades, there’s no shortage of projects happening on his side either.Grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair in the shop, and join us for another episode of Oak & Steel.

POWERED BY:Mounds View RoastersFirst Due Construction and MillworksTami at Step Into AdventureBack 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.

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.

This episode brought to you by:First Due Construction and MillworksMounds View RoastersTami at Step Into AdventureIn 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.

POWERED BY:First Due Construction & MillworksMounds View RoastersTami at Step Into AdventureIn 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.

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.