The Knife and Tool Sharpening Podcast
The Knife and Tool Sharpening Podcast is a show for knife and tool sharpening professionals, and those curious about the craft, who want to build skill, confidence, and a sustainable sharpening business on their own terms.
Hosted by Matthew Rowell, the podcast features conversations with working sharpeners, shop owners, craftspeople, and industry voices from around the world. Episodes explore real-world sharpening methods, equipment, materials, and edge geometry, alongside the practical realities of running a sharpening business: pricing, marketing, customer service, niches, and designing a business that fits your life.
Rather than chasing trends or gimmicks, this podcast focuses on service-first craftsmanship, continuous learning, and the idea that success looks different for every sharpener. Whether you’re sharpening from a garage, a mobile setup, a retail shop, or considering sharpening as a second career or retirement path, you’ll find honest insight and shared experience here.
The Knife and Tool Sharpening Podcast is made possible by the Guild of Professional Sharpeners, a community of knife and tool sharpening business owners who help each other achieve success — however each individual defines it.
Learn more about the Guild at guildofsharpeners.org.
The Knife and Tool Sharpening Podcast
Latest Episodes
The Real Tools Behind a Successful Sharpening Business
What tools do you REALLY need to start a sharpening business?In this episode of Tool Talk, Matt sits down with Grant Lauinger of Custom Edge Sharpening to discuss sharpening systems, tool philosophy, guided vs freehand sharpening, busine...
From Swiss Army Knives to a Sharpening Business | Ken Lunder’s Journey
In this episode of the Knife and Tool Sharpening Podcast, Matt sits down with Ken Lunders of Maritime Sharpening in Halifax to talk about his lifelong journey with knives and sharpening.Ken’s story starts the way many sharp...
Inside the Guild: How Sharpeners Are Growing Faster Together
What’s actually working in a sharpening business right now?In this update, I’m sharing what we’re seeing inside the Guild of Professional Sharpeners—from charging premium rates and adding high-value services, to building real connections...
Designing a Sharpening Business That Serves Your Life (Not the Other Way Around)
James and I go way back—he was one of the early guys I taught in-person, and his story is a big part of why the Guild exists today.In this episode, James shares how he built (and rebuilt) his sharpening business in a way that supports hi...
Off the Slopes to On the Stones: Building a Knife Shop + Sharpening Business in Breckenridge
In this episode, I’m joined by Steve Harris of Breckenridge Knife & Tool Sharpening, recorded live from his shop in Breckenridge, Colorado.Steve shares how his retail store, Off the Slopes, naturally led him into profes...