In this episode of The Paul Kirtley Podcast, I’m joined by Joe Flowers, a knife designer, outdoor guide, zoologist, entomologist, and long-time student of traditional wilderness skills.

Joe is perhaps best known in the outdoor world for his prolific knife designs, having created blades for a number of well-known manufacturers. Alongside this, he runs expeditions into the Amazon through his company Bushcraft Global, working with local communities and helping participants experience some of the most biologically diverse environments on Earth. His interests span everything from natural history and ethnobotany to tool design, traditional skills, and wilderness travel.

In our conversation, Joe shares how an early fascination with Crocodile Dundee, knives, wildlife, and the outdoors developed into a career that combines adventure, natural history, and creativity. We discuss the evolution of bushcraft knives, the influence of figures such as Mors Kochanski, Ray Mears and Horace Kephart, and the process of designing tools for real-world use.

In our conversation we discuss:

• Joe’s background in zoology and entomology, and how this shaped his interests and career;
• Growing up with a fascination for knives, survival skills, and the natural world;
• The evolution of bushcraft knife design and the enduring appeal of simple, practical tools;
• How Joe approaches designing knives for a range of manufacturers and users;
• The influence of historical and traditional blade designs from around the world;
• Lessons learned from guiding expeditions in the Amazon and working in remote environments;
• Traditional tools and technologies, and how different cultures solve similar practical problems;
• The importance of curiosity, experimentation, and continual learning in developing wilderness skills.

Joe brings a unique combination of enthusiasm, creativity, and field experience to everything he does. Whether discussing knives, insects, jungle travel, or traditional technologies, his fascination with the natural world is infectious, making for a wide-ranging and engaging conversation.

Our conversation forms Episode 63 of the Paul Kirtley Podcast…

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Transcript

Click on the following link to read or download the transcript of Paul Kirtley Podcast 63.

Some of the Blades Discussed

Books and Publications Mentioned In This Podcast

Lofty Wiseman’s SAS Survival Handbook
The Outdoor Survival Handbook by Ray Mears
Knife Engineering by Dr Larrin Thomas
The Art of Fire by Dan Hume
Shelters, Shacks and Shanties by D. C. Beard
Survival Weaponry and Techniques magazine
Combat and Survival Magazine
Boys’ Life magazine
Survival Aids catalogue

People Mentioned In This Podcast

Ray Mears
Mors Kochanski
Richard Cleveland
Tom Brown Jr.
Steve Watts
Horace Kephart

Links to Other Resources Mentioned

FREE Paul Kirtley Fire Fundamentals Course
Global Bushcraft Symposium presentation videos
Global Bushcraft Symposium
ESEE
Tops Knives
Condor Tool & Knife
Thornwood Forge Axes
Kalthoff Axes
Tuatahi Axes
Online Elementary Wilderness Bushcraft Course

Connect with Joe Flowers on the Interwebs:

Joe Flowers on Instagram
Joe Flowers on LinkedIn
Joe Flowers on X
Joe Flowers on YouTube
Bushcraft GLobal

Thanks For Listening!

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