In this episode of Pyro Talk, we take you inside the show.

No guest this time—just a straight-up look at what’s happening behind the scenes, where Pyro Talk is headed, and how you can be part of it. We break down upcoming events, travel plans, and where you’ll be able to find us next as we hit the road and connect with the pyro community across the country.

We also talk sponsorships—what’s available, who we’re looking to partner with, and why Pyro Talk continues to be a powerful platform for brands in the fireworks and special effects space. If you’ve ever thought about getting your company in front of a highly engaged pyro audience, this is the episode to listen to.

Plus, a preview of what’s coming up: future guests, upcoming episodes, and some exciting plans we’ve been working on behind the curtain.

Whether you’re a longtime listener, a first-time viewer, or someone interested in working with the show, this episode gives you a full look at what’s next for Pyro Talk.

DEALS

For Discounted PGI show tickets (not convention registration) use code PYROTALK.

pgi.org/tickets

10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Link to trainings

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Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

The Pyrotechnics Guild International Convention is headed to Kaukauna, Wisconsin this August, and the Midwest pyro community is getting ready to Ignite the Sky. In this episode of Pyro Talk, I sit down with PGI leadership to talk about what makes the PGI convention one of the most unique events in the fireworks world—and why 2026 is the year Midwest pyros have no excuse not to go.

We break down what attendees can expect at Ignite the Sky in Kaukauna: massive night shows, open shooting opportunities, competitions, seminars, hands-on learning, and a full week surrounded by thousands of people who love fireworks as much as you do. Whether you're a professional shooter, a passionate hobbyist, or someone who simply wants to see some of the best fireworks in the world, PGI offers experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

We also talk about why Kaukauna is such a great host city and why pyros from Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, and across the Midwest should start planning their road trip now.

Thinking about attending? PGI is offering a special discount for Pyro Talk listeners. Head to PGI.org/tickets and use the code PYROTALK when you register to save on your tickets.

So load up the shells, hook up the trailer, and get ready—we’re going to PGI.

DEALS

For Discounted PGI show tickets (not convention registration) use code PYROTALK.

pgi.org/tickets

10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Link to trainings

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Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

What does it really take to run a professional fireworks show in the modern era? In this episode of Pyro Talk, host Jason Rude sits down with CJ Jurczak to go behind the fire button and explore the technology, planning, and people that make today’s fireworks displays possible.

CJ shares insights from the professional side of the pyrotechnics industry, including what it’s like working large-scale fireworks shows, coordinating crews, and managing the complex logistics that go into delivering safe and spectacular displays. The conversation dives deep into modern fireworks firing systems, discussing how wireless firing technology, modules, and software have transformed the way professional pyrotechnicians design and execute shows.

Jason and CJ also talk about MuuxBRD, Elevate Expo, and the evolving pyro community, highlighting how innovation, collaboration, and new technology are shaping the future of fireworks. Along the way, they swap stories about the people who make the industry what it is—from the technicians in the field to the engineers building the next generation of firing systems.

If you're interested in fireworks technology, professional pyrotechnics, firing systems, and what really happens behind the scenes of a fireworks show, this episode pulls back the curtain.

DEALS

10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines!

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Link to trainings

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Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Daehler at the Iowa Pyrotechnics Association meeting for a deep dive into the fundamentals of pyrotechnics. We break down how black powder is made, how rockets are built, and why these core elements still matter in modern fireworks.

To close out the episode, I share an important industry update on the Supreme Court striking down the tariffs—what it means for fireworks professionals, suppliers, and the future of pyro in the U.S.

If you love understanding how fireworks actually work and want to stay informed on the issues shaping our industry, this one’s for you.

DEALS

10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines!

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Link to trainings

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

In this episode of Pyro Talk, I’m joined by a very special guest—my son—for a conversation about what it’s like growing up around fireworks and developing a passion for pyrotechnics at a young age. We talk about how that interest starts, what draws kids to the art and science of fireworks, and the difference between curiosity and responsibility in a hobby that demands respect. From early memories and first experiences to learning safety, mentorship, and what it really means to “do it the right way,” this episode is about the future of pyro and the importance of guiding the next generation. If you’ve ever wondered how pyros are made—or how to help young enthusiasts find their path safely—this one’s for you.

#son #BringEmUpRight #hardwork #PassTheTorch #BringTheBoom #PaintTheSky

DEALS

10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠⁠⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠⁠⁠

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines!

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Link to trainings

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

Sky Wars season is officially underway. In this early-cycle conversation, we’re joined by Nathan Dexter, Jacob Pierce, and Chad Flanders, the three shooters selected for the Pro-Am competition, to talk about what it means to get the call and what’s already got them fired up.

This isn’t about predictions or pressure—yet. It’s about first reactions, excitement, expectations, and the mindset that comes with knowing your name is on the list. We dig into what they’re looking forward to most, how they’re approaching the opportunity, and why the Pro-Am matters long before the first shell ever leaves the tube.

A quick heads-up: we’re aware of some recording issues in the first segment. Stick with it—the conversation settles in, and the road to Sky Wars officially begins here.

DEALS

10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠⁠

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines!

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Link to trainings

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

In this episode of Pyro Talk, we take an honest look at the rules we’re taught, the best practices we preach, and the safety standards we quietly let slide once show day pressure kicks in.

From hazard mitigation shortcuts to “it’ll be fine” decisions, we break down the big rules everyone knows—and why they’re the first ones to get bent when timelines get tight, crews get tired, and experience starts replacing procedure.

This isn’t about calling people out. It’s about calling ourselves in.

We talk through common safety compromises, how small deviations stack into real risk, and why best practices only matter if we actually follow them. If you’ve ever said “just this once,” this episode is for you.

Because in fireworks, the rules we break don’t usually bite right away—but they always remember.

DEALS

10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines!

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Link to trainings

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

What does it take to drop a massive bridge safely, cleanly, and exactly the way you planned it?

In this episode of Pyro Talk, I’m joined by Ryan Olson and Shannon North from Veit USA for a behind-the-scenes conversation on the explosive demolition of the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing. We break down what goes into a successful bridge blast—from planning, engineering, and timing, to coordination with agencies, safety zones, and the real-world pressure of getting it right on the first try.

We also dive into the explosive demolition industry as a whole, including how crews approach different structures, what the public doesn’t see on demo day, and why the best demolition work isn’t about the biggest boom—it’s about precision over power.

DEALS

10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. https://muuxBRD.com/

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines!

⁠⁠⁠Pyrotool.com⁠⁠⁠ PTALKPOD for 10% off!

Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD

Link to trainings

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

Precision Over Power: Coordinating an Explosive Bridge Demolition

The explosive demolition of the Black Hawk Bridge wasn’t about spectacle—it was about precision, planning, and coordination on a massive scale. In this episode, we’re joined by Clayton Burke, the DOT project lead, to take listeners inside what it really takes to bring down a major river crossing safely and successfully.

We touch briefly on the use of explosives—what role they played and why controlled demolition was the right tool for the job—but the heart of the conversation is everything that happens before the blast. From coordinating multiple state agencies across Iowa and Wisconsin to aligning engineers, demolition crews, environmental regulators, river traffic authorities, emergency services, and the public, this was a project where timing, communication, and trust mattered as much as the charges themselves.

Clayton walks us through the months (and years) of planning, the sequencing decisions, safety considerations, and contingency planning that ensured the demolition went exactly as intended. It’s a rare behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale explosive work is managed when there is no margin for error.

If you think explosive demolition is about raw power, this episode shows why it’s really about discipline, coordination, and precision—and why the biggest boom is only possible because of the quiet work done long before the countdown starts.

Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠

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Link to trainings

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠