​

ABOUT THE GOLDEN ROSE

A portable invitation to better conversation.

​

The Golden Rose is a Waco-born conversation project hosted by Brodysseus. It's signature object is a hand-forged steel rose—reborn in gold and fitted with a microphone—carried into markets, sidewalks, gatherings, and the ordinary places where people cross paths.

​

Some questions are playful. Some ask for reflection. A few invite real depth. The person answering always chooses how far the conversation goes. The point is not to catch someone off guard or pull a confession from a stranger. It is to offer a question worth receiving—and enough presence to hear the answer.

​

The Rose may draw the eye, but the person holding the answer remains the center of the encounter. At its best, The Golden Rose lets people appear as they are: wise, funny, surprising, unfinished, and worth knowing.

​

Born in Waco. Made for good company.

​

​

THE ORIGIN OF THE ROSE 

​I entered the forge with a sword. I left with a rose.

​

The iconic golden rose that I use as the microphone prop was originally forged by my hand in the summer 2021, during a spontaneous apprenticeship under my mentor and world renowned master blacksmith, “Skip Ralls”, at his studio, “Mindscape Metal Works” here in Waco,TX.

 

I met Skip at an exclusive Artistian kick back he hosted at his studio that summer, a mutual friend invited me.
Skip quickly became one of the most interesting and peculiar characters I have ever met (and I’ve met a lot of interesting folks). To paint a picture of Skip’s vibe; imagine Socrates as a blacksmith, Archimedes as an artist, Aristotle as a swashbuckling pirate, and Plato as a samurai- all fused into one archetype… that’s how I would characterize Skip. Don’t even get me started on his sense of humor, it just as distinct. He’s a character… honestly, he’s among one of the most exceptional men I have ever met. I consider myself blessed to have befriend him.
 

On the night we met at his studio, after exploring his work and getting to know him, I had a burning desire to learn how to Forge. Specifically, I had a sword I wanted to work on. Fortunately, I always had it with me in my van! An heirloom sword passed through generations, it was very special. It was also beaten to shit… I had gotten into so many sword fights since inheriting it. There were so many chinks in the blade from all the sword contact points that it looked like saw blade teeth! It desperately needed the TLC of a skilled blacksmith.

 

When I humbly presented my blade to Skip, asking if he may help me restore this sacred sword… he held it, quietly inspected it, and returned it to my hand and said, “Bring it by the studio sometime” and left it at that. Days passed, I returned to Skip’s Studio with my sword, ready and excited to work on it. He said “put that down over there” and then threw a steel rose into my now open hand. It was beautiful, organic, a masterfully crafted steel rose… “First, you’re going to make that”… I was so confused, I came here to work on my sword! Now I’m going to forge a steel rose from scratch… “You must learn the ways of the forge before attempting to work on such a sword. Connect with the metal, the fire, the hammer, the anvil, and the patience… You will take this steel and give it life, give it beauty and form. Through this journey, you might eventually become worthy to forge.” The rose was to serve as my initiation with The Forge. A few simple pieces of steel, 2 thousand degrees of heat and about that many hammer strikes. After welding the pieces together and hours of shaping metal, an organic looking rose began to take form.

 

Never did I ever imagine I would enter the forge with a sword and leave with a rose…

 

It became my greatest artistic achievement, the most beautiful creation my hands have crafted. Guided by one of the greatest mentors I’ve ever had. The Rose has since traveled far and wide with me. It has been admired and desired by past lovers, friends and strangers have tempted me with offers to buy it, it has endured many seasons of my life. I cherish it.

 

As I committed to the vision of the Golden Rose (summer of 2026), I knew I needed to make some changes to it. For it to evolve as the Golden Rose, the petals has to “bloom” and open wider for the mic to fit. The stem also had to be suitable to for me to hold comfortably. 5 years later, it returns to Skip’s Forge, to prepared for its new life. I shared my vision of the Golden Rose with Skip, he kindly obliged his forge once again. He helped me shape the Rose and give it new life. In just a short time, it evolved perfectly… After reshaping it, cleaning it, and turning it into gold… it’s reborn. Greater and more beautiful than I could've imagined. Ready to behold the beauty & wisdom of the world, of Waco...

one interview at a time.

​

Forged by Brody Gamble under the guidance of master blacksmith Skip Ralls at Mindscape Metal Works in Waco, Texas, in 2021. Reshaped for its new purpose in 2026.

 

​

​

MEET THE HOST

A curious Waco local with a very unusual microphone.

​

Brody Gamble—known as Brodysseus—is a Waco-area founder, builder, and student of people. He created The Golden Rose to practice a simple conviction: almost anyone becomes interesting when approached with respect and asked something worth answering.

​

His role is not to win the conversation. It is to notice the person in front of him, ask well, listen closely, and give the answer room to become what it wants to become.

​

When the Rose is doing its work, Brodysseus is not the center of the scene. He is the bridge between a good question and the person who gives it life.

​

Meet Brodysseus

​

For longer conversations and earned wisdom, explore Walk With the Wise.

Explore Walk With the Wise