In episode 13 of "Between Two Humidors," Jonathan Ruggles interviews Mel, owner of Fame Wine and Cigars in Palm Springs and founder of MBombay Tobac. They discussed Palm Springs' unique vibe, flavor profiles in cigars, and stories from Mel's lounge. Mel shared how Fame evolved, emphasizing its international clientele and relaxed atmosphere where cigar enthusiasts feel welcome. He transitioned from the dot-com industry to cigars, opening Fame in 2001 and adding a curated selection of Belgian beers and wine. They explored Mel's journey into creating his cigar brand, MBombay Tobac, underscoring the importance of flavor and customer interaction. They also spoke about PCA and the overall cigar industry and its future.

YouTube Video Episode

https://youtu.be/_LUEmhUhDzU

Guest Links

https://www.famelounge-ps.com/

https://www.bombaytobak.com/

https://www.instagram.com/famewinelounge/

https://www.instagram.com/mbombay_cigars/

Thank you to our Sponsors

The Cigar Chapel -Bend, Oregon

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This episode of the Between Two Humidors podcast features Mr. John Pugh, owner of the Cigar Chapel in Bend, Oregon.

John shares cigar lounge etiquette tips: refrain from asking for illegal Cubans, avoid excessively licking cigars before using shared cutters, and purchase from the lounge before smoking personal cigars.

John discusses the Cigar Chapel's history, revealing that he took over the business from Specialty Cigars and chose the name. He recounts bringing in La Barba and Caldwell as the first new brands, transitioning from heritage cigars to boutique options.

John also announces his upcoming expansion plans, driven by the need for more space due to the Chapel's success. He expresses cautious optimism about the future of the cigar market. The conversation concludes with John discussing his distinctive beard and the anticipation surrounding Matt Booth's upcoming 15th-anniversary cigar release.

Guest Links

Website: https://thecigarchapel.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecigarchapel/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecigarchapel

Thank you to our Sponsors

The Cigar Chapel -Bend, Oregon

Disclaimer

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Robert Caldwell, founder of Caldwell Cigar Company, joins the Between Two Humidors podcast to discuss his life and career. Despite finding social interaction draining, he thrived in the cigar industry, attributing his success to a unique branding approach influenced by an artist friend who opened his eyes to the importance of aesthetics and attention to detail. He describes his approach to sourcing rare and high-quality tobacco, focusing on smaller, experimental crops and well-aged leaves.

While he's stepped back from day-to-day management since selling his company, he remains passionate about product development, branding, and marketing. The conversation takes a philosophical turn with discussions about Elon Musk's unconventional path and the merits of travel as a form of education, advocating for genuine cultural immersion over tourist traps.

Caldwell concludes by sharing his unique perspective on branding, urging aspiring entrepreneurs to observe why certain aesthetics resonate with them and emphasizing that a captivating presentation is key to attracting initial interest.

Episode Description

This is a wide-ranging conversation between two old friends, with Jonathan Ruggles, Host starting a podcast called "Between Two Humidors." The bulk of the discussion focuses on the career of Jason Atkinson: his early years as a ski instructor, his subsequent 14 year career in Oregon politics, including a run for governor, and his pivotal leadership in negotiating the largest restoration project in American history in the Klamath Basin. Learn more about that project at www.ariverbetweenus.com

The conversation then shifts to Atkinson’s current work running a non-profit that provides fly-fishing trips for pastors, reflecting his view that pastors are essential community leaders who are often undervalued and overworked. The two conclude with a discussion of current events, like our 2nd Amendment, MAGA as a Monarchy, and offering a somewhat pessimistic view of American political discourse while still expressing optimism about the country's future.

Guest Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonaatkinson/

Website: https://www.jasonaatkinson.com/

Pastors Monday: https://www.pastorsmonday.com/

Documentary > “A River Between Us”

Short Film > “Man Out”

Thank you to our Sponsor

The Cigar Chapel -Bend, Oregon

Disclaimer

https://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In Episode 009 of "Between Two Humidors", host Jonathan Ruggles and Guests Brandon Oveson and Kendrick Woolstenhulme discuss the origins and growth of their cigar brand, Apostate. Oveson and Woolstenhulme met in Utah, where they both used to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Oveson, inspired by his desire to work in the cigar industry, was hired by Woolstenhulme and eventually became the manager of his shop. During the pandemic in 2020, they created a super premium house blend cigar and turned it into a brand, naming it "Apostate" after the concept of someone who rejects or rebels against a certain set of beliefs. They quickly relied on an old friend and manufacturer Jochy Blanco in the Dominican Republic due to their shared philosophy. The brand's logo and names are inspired by Mormon mythology, and their unique approach to naming their blends has provided them with a deep well of inspiration for marketing purposes. They have experienced growth, with new retailers and continued orders from existing ones. With light criticism and fallout from leaving their religious community, they have been able to continue lasting friendships and emphasize the importance of building a new community based on the foundation of their old one. They share stories about their first experiences with cigars and discuss the success of their cigar events, which provide a safe space for human connection.

Guest Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-oveson-a56586283/ /

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostatecigars/

Website: https://www.apostatecigars.com/

Thank you to our Sponsors - Special OFFER for Listeners in this episode!

The Cigar Chapel - Bend, Oregon

Apostate Cigars - Salt Lake City, Utah

Disclaimer

https://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In "Between Two Humidors" Episode 008, Jonathan Ruggles, Host, and Bryan Snyder, Guest, discuss his experiences with their current cigars. Ruggles is smoking the Luciano Dreamer, and Snyder is smoking Maria Luchia. The conversation shifts to Snyder's work at the Bomarito Automotive Group in St. Louis, where they use Reynolds and Reynolds software instead of CDK Global. Snyder shares concerns about CDK's recent cyber attack, which has affected over 15,000 dealerships, causing significant impacts such as the inability to report sales to manufacturers and financial results to franchises. Moving on, Snyder shares how he came to own and operate a cigar lounge in St. Louis, MO.. He had long desired to open such a business and seized the opportunity when the owners expressed their intent to sell. The biggest surprise in the five years since has been the community support and sanctuary the lounge provides patrons. The lounge attracts an equal number of men and women, making it a unique and couple-friendly environment. Snyder also discusses the unexpected successes and challenges of his cigar lounge business. He attributes their success to having a strong team, including his son, the general manager. The conversation then shifts to Snyder's partnership with Luchiana Cigars, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Snyder described Luchano, the founder of the cigar brand, as genuine and supportive. Snyder also discusses the unique camaraderie among cigar lounges in St. Louis and the importance of good relationships among competitors. He expresses concerns about the upcoming opening of a Cigars International store near his business, but remains optimistic about the growth of the cigar industry and culture. Throughout the video, Snyder emphasizes the importance of relationships in business and shares personal stories about his experiences in the automotive and cigar industries. He believes that cigar lounges are one of the few places where different cultures and socio-economic groups come together and interact as one.

Guest Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-snyder-6854324/

Website: https://www.litstl.com/

X: https://x.com/getlitstl

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litcigarloungestl/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/litcigarloungestl

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lit.cigar.lounge?_t=8nYGqN5ioYM&_r=1

Thank you to our Sponsors

The Cigar Chapel - Bend, Oregon

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A seasoned vacation rental marketing expert, Ms. Alex Husner has played a key role as CMO in two enterprise vacation rental management companies in the United States for the past 14 years. In early 2024, Alex decided to pursue her own entrepreneurial initiatives as CEO/Founder of Directly Alex LLC, a consultancy firm specializing in direct bookings and business growth strategies for vacation rental management companies. During her 13-year tenure as CMO with Condo-World, Alex spearheaded the growth of the company from 150 to 500 condos under management, driving $25M in annual revenue of which 95% came through direct marketing efforts. Alex served as Chairman of the Board of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB in 2022 and as a Board Member from 2015 - 2023, and has also served on VRMA Board of Directors and North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce & CVB Board of Directors.

Summary

In the "Between Two Humidors" Episode 007, Host Jonathan Ruggles & Guest Alex Husner discuss her career journey in advertising, influenced by her father's creativity and experience. She shares how she faced challenges in the industry during the economic downturn but gained valuable experience and strong client relationships. Husner then talks about her proprietary strategic process for consulting in the vacation rental space, emphasizing the importance of understanding businesses and creating persuasive content. She also highlights the significance of marketing for hospitality businesses, the impact of digital resources, and the importance of building strong partnerships. Husner shares a client story about poor hospitality in a short-term rental and the importance of hospitality in the industry. Additionally, she discusses the influence of Airbnb on the vacation rental industry and the need for hospitality and relationships in the business.

YouTube Video Link

https://youtu.be/GDGohB94jjY

Guest Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-o-husner-1844306/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/alexandanniepodcast/

https://www.alexandanniepodcast.com/

Thank you to our Sponsors

The Cigar Chapel - Bend, Oregon

Disclaimer

https://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In the "BTH Episode 006 Conversation after the Pod" with Michael J. Goldrich, Host Jonathan Ruggles and Goldrich explored the future development of technology, with a focus on Apple's intelligence capabilities and the potential for devices to serve as trusted confidants. Goldrich envisioned a future where people would become overly reliant on their phones, which would know everything about them, raising concerns about privacy, critical thinking skills, and the impact on younger generations. They also discussed the integration of advanced technology like neuralink into phones, enabling more advanced interaction and understanding of users. The conversation shifted towards the importance of passing down knowledge and experience to the younger generation, with Goldrich sharing an experience of giving advice to his son about the value of human involvement in technology. He emphasized the need for resonance and proof to make the advice effective, while touching on the use of AI to generate short videos and podcasts.

YouTube Video Link

https://youtu.be/l9p7viNwsSw

Guest Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoldrich/

https://vivanderadvisors.com/

Thank you to our Sponsors

The Cigar Chapel -Bend, Oregon

Disclaimer

https://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

Summary

In the latest Episode 005 of Between Two Humidors, hosted by Jonathan Ruggles, special guest Michael J Goldrich shares his journey from becoming fascinated with the internet and technology as a PhD student at Northwestern in the late 1990s to his current exploration of artificial intelligence (AI). Goldrich discusses his experience working with Anderson Consulting during the early days of the internet and how he transitioned from a literature major to a tech team member. He also talks about his recent interest in AI and the potential it holds for automating tasks and generating content. Goldrich emphasizes the importance of adapting to new technologies, such as AI, and encourages individuals to embrace change rather than resist it. He also shares his teaching approach to introducing people to generative AI technology and discusses the integration of AI in the hospitality industry. Additionally, Goldrich touches on the challenges and potential negative consequences of relying too heavily on AI technology and the importance of critical thinking and human oversight.

YouTube Video Link

https://youtu.be/rDDn-4OiSnA

Guest Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoldrich/

https://vivanderadvisors.com/

Thank you to our Sponsors

The Cigar Chapel -Bend, Oregon

Disclaimer

https://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In "Episode 004, Jeremy McDonald - Conversation After the Pod", Jeremy McDonald (Wildfire Cigars) and Jonathan Ruggles (Host) discuss the contrasting nature of AI and the cigar industry. While AI demands human creativity and innovation, cigar production is an old-world craft with unique nuances that cannot be learned from the internet. McDonald shares his appreciation for cigars and the human experiences they provide, using an anecdote about introducing a friend to new cigars as an example. He contrasts this experience with artificial intelligence, acknowledging its potential as a creative tool but emphasizing the importance of the human experience, including the environment, company, and personal moments that make life memorable. McDonald believes these experiences cannot be replicated by AI and are essential aspects of the human condition.

Guest Links https://wildfirecigars.com/ & http://www.instagram.com/wildfirecigars

Thank you to our Sponsor: The Cigar Chapel -Bend, Oregon

Disclaimer https://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/