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In this episode of the Hot Ashes Podcast, the crew settles in at the cigar table for a wide‑ranging hang that hits all the best parts of cigar‑shop life.

We kick things off talking cigars and drinks – what everyone’s smoking, from Camacho Broadleaf to Deadwood Sweet Jane to rum‑flavored Gurkhas – plus beer pairings, flavor notes, and why shop conversations are half the fun.

From there we dive into Valentine’s Day and the flower game. Ed breaks down how Valentine’s is the “Super Bowl” for florists, what it’s like ramping up Blue Men in Swansboro (thousands of roses, Teleflora, quality vs. grocery‑store flowers), and we debate whether Valentine’s is a Hallmark cash grab or a chance to actually show up for your people.

In the back half, Ed makes a big announcement: he’s officially committing to a Half Ironman. We talk training, age, aches and pains, accountability, and how chasing a massive goal can change how you feel about yourself, your health, and your day‑to‑day life.

Along the way you’ll also hear:

• Rants about AI art, labels, and deepfake‑ish media
• Cigar pet peeves (bad draws, busted wrappers, resin bombs)
• Gratitude, discipline, and our accountability challenge

If you love cigars, small business stories, and real talk about getting your life together (one smoke and one rep at a time), you’re in the right place.

Timestamps (rough):

• 0:00 – Intro, cigars, and drinks of the night
• 11:40 – Valentine’s Day, flower shop “Super Bowl,” business talk
• 42:30 – Ed’s Half Ironman decision & training mindset
• 1:04:00 – Accountability, habits, and getting older without giving up

👉 Subscribe if you vibe with cigar‑table conversations and want to help us push this thing to 1,000 subs.

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