CHRIS STRATHY #LIVEBYTHEAXE

Welcome to the first interview in our series of the #LIVEBYTHEAXE campaign. This series will feature some of the men involved with the brand and how they became a part of the Mad Viking Beard Team. We'll travel into their world and get to know them a little better and see what gets them passionate about life and what products they use to grow the best beard possible. If you want to know more about #LIVEBYTHEAXE and what it means check out our ARTICLE HERE on the subject.

So, without further suspense, we give you Chris Strathy! Chris is a master creative carpenter and burgeoning beardsman. It has been very awesome getting to know Chris and following his YouTube Channel "The Capable Carpenter Official"

SO, CHRIS TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?

I am a carpenter who builds alternative, tiny, and nomadic homes. I get to have a blast building vans, busses, shipping containers and constructing all types of fun, minimal structures like treehouses and tiny homes. Most of my work is in remote locations where I get to drag the doghouse (my mobile workshop) and live off-grid for the duration of the build… not sure how I got this lucky. My family recently purchased 13 acres where we are living fully off-grid and plan to start renovating a 100-year-old tobacco barn for home! After finding my niche I decided to start sharing tours of my work and homestead updates on YouTube! It’s been a fun journey and I am humbled about the jobs I have coming up!

WHAT GOT YOU INTO CARPENTRY AND WHAT KEEPS YOU THERE?

I became interested Carpentry at a young age. I would spend summers with my grandfather and uncles watching them use their hands to create, fix and modify their land, homes, and vehicles. I couldn’t image doing anything other than working with my hands and jumped directly into trades after HS.
The relational side of what I do keeps me loving what I do. There’s nothing like helping one build their dream.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED INTO THAT AND WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE GROWING IT?

After refining my niche and passion for alternative and tiny homes, I was getting lots of great feedback on social media and decide to start my YouTube channel. I’ve been blessed to have some mentors with experience in that game, but technology is not my gifting! I enjoy editing fun videos of my work, but I still struggle with the technical side and maximizing exposure!

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT GOING ON! PLUS, YOU ARE LIVING OFF OF THE GRID AND BUILDING A HOUSE OUT OF AN OLD TOBACCO BARN? THAT SEEMS PRETTY EXCITING AND DAUNTING AT THE SAME. SO HOW IS THAT COMING AND DO YOU HAVE A PROJECTED FINISH DATE?

I am breaking ground this week on our restoration project. The permits are being pulled and I start digging the new foundation this week. I’m hoping to have the barn dismantled, moved and reassembled by January 1 2022 and completed by June 1 2022. I love restoring and am really excited about this project!

HOW DID YOU FIND MAD VIKING?

A few years back I was given some samples of Mad Viking products by a friend from Pennsylvania. He told me to investigate the company and see what they were about. After sampling and looking into the company and some of the charity driven clubs, I reached out and told them how impressed I was with their brand and products. I received a surprise “Live by the Axe, Die by the Axe” Tee shirt in the mail...That phrase speaks to me… it was over. I was a Mad Viking for life. After a few years of building my business and my mustache, I was invited to join the Mad Viking Beard Team…. HUGE HONOR and I rep without ceasing…. It truly is the best beard care out there.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT MAD VIKING OTHER THAN THE PRODUCTS?

The brotherhood and networks I’ve seen blossom from Mad Viking has been so cool to watch. I've seen beard club chapters do some amazing philanthropy work, raise some serious loot in the name of whiskers all while building a brotherhood. All good stuff!

MAY WE ASK YOUR FAVORITE MAD VIKING SCENT PROFILES AND WHAT PRODUCTS YOU USE?

Valhalla and Fjord are my go-to scents. I use the mustache wax daily and rotate between the beard balm, beard butter and beard oil depending on how my beard is doing. My line of work is rough on a beard, but MVBC has a great product for every need. Plus, I love yall's soaps. like all of them. I tend to order a few bars of different scents on each order, and I wear the hoodies daily and I don’t go anywhere without the beanie.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US INTO YOUR WORLD AND BEING A PART OF YOUR JOURNEY BROTHER. IT MEANS A LOT TO US AND WE CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR REPPING MAD VIKING AND BEING A PART OF THE BEARD TEAM. THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART IN THIS INTERVIEW. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU AND I HOPE WE GET TO WORK ON OTHER PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE.

WHERE CAN EVERYONE CHECK YOU OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

Everyone can catch up with me on social media or watch and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

YOUTUBE - "The Capable Carpenter Official"
FACEBOOK: "The Capable Carpenter"
INSTAGRAM:  @thecapablecarpenter