Podcast: Simply Stogies Podcast

Episode 110: An Unfiltered Conversation with Brian Desind of Privada Cigar Club

James sits down via Zoom with Brian Desind of Privada Cigar Club. James and Brian discuss the cigar industry and Brian’s place in it. Topics include marketing, the FDA, Privada Cigar Club, the PCA, the CRA, and much more. This was a frank and honest conversation with who many consider to be a “polarizing” figure…

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Episode 109: PCA 2023 Trade Show Part 2

We finish up our coverage of the 2023 PCA Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada with interviews from James and Nick. In this episode you’ll hear from newcomer Kaneda Cigars, the always entertaining Matt Booth of Room 101, Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Cigars, Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, and Nick Melillo of Foundation…

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Episode 108: The 2023 PCA Trade Show Part 1

This episode is made up from some of our favorite interviews from this year’s PCA 2023 Trade Show. For part 1 we start off with Scott Pearce, the Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association as he talks about the trade show and some of what’s in store for next year. We then talk with…

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Episode 107: Luciano Meirelles of Luciano Cigars

Nick and James sit down with Master Blender and owner of Luciano Cigars, Luciano Meirelles. Luciano tells us why the Maria Lucia is so special to him and how it fulfills his promise from the 2022 PCA Trade Show. We talk about what’s real in the cigar industry and how Luciano Cigars is helping mentor…

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Episode 106: Greg Free of Fuerte Y Libre

James and Nick sit down and chat with the owner of Fuerte Y Libre Cigars, Greg Free. We find out how Greg got started in the cigar industry and he has more than a few surprises in store for us. We talk about his karaoke prowess (copyrights prevent me from sharing the footage with all…

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Episode 105: Cigar Coop on Media & the PCA Trade Show

James and Nick welcome William “Cigar Coop” Cooper back to the show. This time we pick Coop’s brain about what exactly constitutes “cigar media” and their role in the industry. We also discuss the upcoming PCA 2023 Trade Show in Las Vegas, Coop tells us what his theme is this year, and he gives Simply…

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Episode 104: Catching Up with Jeremy Casdagli

Our first time on location (using video), and James is at the Humidor of Lisle, in Lisle, Illinois, to sit down with Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars. The pair discuss everything from upcoming releases and cigar reviews, to the Casdagli themed room at the Humidor of Lisle and the FDA. There might be a few…

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Episode 103: My Old Kentucky Herf 2023

James visits the crew of FatAsh Cigar Lounge in Ashland, Kentucky for the third annual My Old Kentucky Herf! James talks with Dwight Adkins, owner of FatAsh Cigar Lounge and founder of MOKH, to discuss what’s new this year. During the event, James speaks with Riste of JSK, Greg Free of Fuerte Y Libre, Oscar…

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Episode 102: Zoom with Zev

Nick and James are joined by Zev Kaminetsky of Toscano Cigars. We get Zev’s take on a litany of cigar issues: brokers, manufacturers, the PCA, the CRA, and cigar media. Zev doesn’t hold back and has hilarious takes on the cigar industry as a whole. We enjoyed his perspective and the conversation; we hope you…

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Episode 101: Dr. Oscar Rodriguez of GTO Cigars

James and Nick are joined by the CEO of GTO Dominican Cigars, Dr. Oscar Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez gives us the history of growing tobacco on the family farm in the Dominican Republic and some family history. He also lets us in on how and why he got into practicing medicine. Dr. Rodriguez talks about why…

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