In this episode of Beyond the Burl, Seb and Josh explore the craft of building a custom pipe tobacco blend from the ground up, share a listener-suggested ChatGPT tale of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s contemplative pipe habits, and reflect on the nature of small-batch tobaccos. Plus, a review of Star of the East Flake, and your weekly recommendations. Pull up a chair—this one’s layered.

In this fifth episode of Beyond the Burl, Josh and Seb explore how where and what you smoke changes everything. They dig into the culture of house blends and local tobacconists, sharing stories of iconic shops, forgotten mixtures, and what we gain when we shop local.

In the deeper dive, they reflect on place — cars, forest trails, chicken coops — and how the right setting can elevate even a humble blend. Along the way, they share stories, including a hidden gem from a listener and a ChatGPT story about beloved author C.S. Lewis.

This week on Beyond the Burl, Josh and Seb explore the materials that shape a pipe — from briar and meerschaum to cobs and clay — and how each one changes the experience in the bowl. They share tips and stories about hunting for estate pipes and antique market treasures, and review a rare 2003 sample of Dunhill’s My Mixture 965. Plus, a listener story from the Shire, and reflections on memory, ritual, and the ghosts that live in old grain.

In this third installment of Beyond the Burl, Josh and Seb discuss a new release from GL Pease—Ellipsis Flake.

They tackle the bold legacy of Latakia in a segment that asks: is it the heart of English blends or just a smoky bully? Then, it’s off to the wild west with a "listener" tale about selling a pipe to none other than Lee Van Cleef—and spotting it later on the silver screen.

The conversation moves into the digital realm with a thoughtful look at how the online pipe community is shaping the modern hobby—for better and worse. And finally, they crack a tin of C&D’s “The Beast” and see if it lives up to the legend.

This week on Beyond the Burl, Seb and Josh spark up something special with a review of a new blend, dive into the mystique and madness of tobacco cellaring, and ask whether the pipe community is becoming more niche—or more welcoming than ever. Plus, a "listener" shares a moment from the ember, and the hosts offer reflections, recs, and rituals for the week ahead.

In the debut episode of Beyond the Burl, Seb and Josh light their first bowls and set the tone for the journey ahead. They introduce the show, share the pipes and tobaccos they’re enjoying, and dive into the sweet complexities (and challenges) of Virginia blends. Along the way, they read a listener’s first-pipe story and reflect on why pipe smoking feels so different from cigars or cigarettes.

They wrap it all up with weekly recommendations including blends, pipes, tools, books, media, or pairings to explore.