Talking Beards

Episode 35 was an part of a 5 hour recording session Josh and I were having one night to blow off steam and talk things out.  What this episode ended up being was all about television sitcoms that we grew up with.  We covered some late 70's shows through the 80's and into the 90's.

Summer has approached with many new things!!! I talk about some plans for the podcast and how I want to improve it and get more content out to you!!! If you have any comments or suggestions you need to email me at [email protected]. Enjoy your start to the summer and remember to tell your friends all about the podcast!!! We have great things in place for the future. Stay tuned and make sure you are subscribed!

Summer has approached with many new things!!!  I talk about some plans for the podcast and how I want to improve it and get more content out to you!!!

Spring has sprung, unless you are south of The equator! The information you are about to hear can help all of you as we go into Springtime and deal with pollen and allergies. Most people suffer from seasonal allergies and have a hard time getting them under control. Each year is "the worst year" and we deal with it as best as we can. A few years ago my eyes were opened to how my beard may be effecting my allergies, in a bad way-and it was information that many of us beard growers never want to hear…

There are many over the counter and prescription drugs that are available to help alleviate the common symptoms of seasonal allergies. What kind of remedies are there for the "not so common" symptoms, or causes of runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion? Common remedies are antihistamines, nasal steroids, amputation (i kid), and other "synthetic" relief for natures attackers, pollen. There are other remedies available, things more natural and less destructive to the human bodies ecosystem. Ideally we want to use more natural products to help us with any kind of ailment we may have before we introduce some prescription toxins into our system, It is much healthier for our bodies. A proper diet can also have a huge effect on your white blood cell count which in turn can alleviate the adverse effects of histamines entering your system and causing inflammation in your respiratory system.

Allergies are not fun and are tough to control. I asked my friend Emily to join me as I discussed my current allergy situation and with her knowledge of natural products, we tried to come up with some ways to tame the allergy monster. We talked about cleaning your beard and the removal of pollen from it and the best product to help clean it. We also talked about how over cleaning your beard can be very damaging and how some natural oils, mixed with a few essential oils that can combat some allergy symptoms, can be a good remedy for both your sinuses and your beard. We also touched on possible preventive measures one can take to cut down on excessive pollen build up in your beard, this hasn't been tested but was more of a budding idea brought on by our conversation, so make sure you listen in!!!

I hope that you can find some good information that may help you if you also suffer from seasonal allergies, and also have a massive mustache or lengthy beard. We have always been told that our facial hair is a good filter for things going into our bodies. I am here to say that if you have more than just an inch of beard or mustache you could be at risk for pollen build up in your man mane on your face. Proper care and techniques will help you get maximum relief this time of year. I do not profess to be a doctor or allergy specialist and these are just our opinions of what has worked for me, or Emily. If you do find relief from one of our tips please let us know, drop us an email at [email protected] and let us know what worked, or your thoughts or ideas on something we missed! Be sure to share this with all your bearded and mustached friends out there that suffer from allergies… you might just save their life!!!-or make them be able to breath easier!!!

https://youtu.be/wsz2PIuDUt0

music by:

Ben Levin Group

"> French Donkey

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Spring has sprung, unless you are south of The equator!   The information you are about to hear can help all of you as we go into Springtime and deal with pollen and allergies.  Most people suffer from seasonal allergies and have a hard time getting them under control.

How does one get into competitive beard and mustache competitions??? As the great Geauga County Maple Festival is about to kick of in Chardon OH, I reflect upon where I got my start in the beard and mustache culture. It was my first competition many years ago and lead me to many great places and to meet some great people from all over the country. I thought I would ask a couple of other Maple Fest Beard alumni to join me to talk about where they got their start and how it lead to competing in the larger, club style events. Ryan Smith and Stephen Hart join me to talk about how you get into competing and tips for those who maybe afraid to get up on the stage for the first time. Emily Gambrel also joined us to discuss the Maple Festival Beard and Mustache contest and how her and I got together, with Kim Lloyd, to be the organizers of this long running contest. We all got our start at the same place and experienced the same hurdles and went on to excel in larger scale events. Check out episode 31 to hear how we did it and the advice we share to gain confidence!!!

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This past week I was on the Gnarly Beards United show with Jon-Alex Bailey. He interviewed me about The Beardcaster and the Geauga County Maple Festival Beard and Mustache contest that I help organize. Listen to episode 4 below and be sure to check out Gnarly Beards United and subscribe to his podcast by clicking here

How does one get into competitive beard and mustache competitions???  As the great Geauga County Maple Festival is about to kick of in Chardon OH, I reflect upon where I got my start in the beard and mustache culture. It was my first competition many years ago and lead me to many great places and to meet some great people from all over the country.

This past weekend I attended the 10th annual Mustachio Bashio and there was an ocean ofmustaches of all types to be seen! I have attended the past three years and look forward to this event as I have made some great new friends. There were many mustaches of all shapes and sizes on participants as well as some interesting beards thrown into the mix of this celebration of facial hair. Voted on by an esteemed panel of judges, the winners take home a special handmade award and the bragging rights for the year. Last year I interview one of the founders of the event, Mike Laur, and learned about the history of the event and how it has grown and managed great success in raising money for their charity, the JDRF. I wanted to talk to some of the key players that were involved in this years Mustachio and get their take on the event and hear how they were involved in this years gathering. Take a listen to hear what each person had to say about Mustachio Bashio and I hope you enjoy!

ERIC LEISER

The first person I spoke with was Mustachio's long time photographer, Eric Leiser. Everyone in attendance knows who Eric is-he is the guy carrying around the big camera taking thousands of pictures documenting the celebration of the mustache. We talked about his photography and the latest project he had worked on. Eric also gave us a call back to a very famous mustache that inspired the whole thing and the charity involvement. For more information on Eric and his photography, and to also see photos from this years event, visit www.leiserphoto.com

MIKE LAUR

I am joined by Mr. Mike Laur again to talk about what a success Mustachio Bashio has become. I am truly thankful for meeting this man and being able to help spread the message of the event and the charity involved. Mike has a big heart and continues to grow this event as well as grow a fantastic mustache. Thank you Mike for putting on such a great and charitable contest!

EPISODE 8- MUSTACHIO BASHIO'S MIKE LAUR TELLS US HOW IT IS- TRAVELER BEER CO. OYO THE BARLEY HOUSE DIVE BAR BURNING RIVER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

ANNA LEE

Anna Lee of Brutal Beard, from Cleveland Ohio, joins me as my next guess. I can't give enough praise on the Brutal Beard line of products. Anna makes some of the best products that my beard has ever had the luxury of using, simply magnificent!!! Not only does Anna make some world class products but she knows her science behind it all. Listen in to hear her explain a little about the Brutal Beard line of products. Keep your ears peeled for a future episode of The Beardcaster where Anna and I sit and dive into beard care and what is behind oils and their benefits to you and your beard.

BRUTAL BEARD DAVIS SHOEMAKER

Another founder of Mustachio Bashio ions me for a brief talk on his family history of being a cobbler. Davis Shoemaker joins me and this about meeting Mike and the others and how this all came to be. He discussed how they chose the JDRF as the charity and the personal reasons why it was a perfect fit. It took 10 years for Davis to finally achieve his best mustache to date for this event so let us celebrate by listening in to hear his story.

MATT FISH

Bald faced Matt Fish sits down with me and talks beards and mustaches. Matt has been one of the judges, and supporters, of Mustachio Bashio for many years. Matt is best known for his restaurant, Melt Bar and Grilled, which has many locations all across Ohio. We discuss how he judged the event and his reasonings for being a bald faced mortal. Matt is one of the greatest people who I ever met and ironically it was at Mustachio Bashio a few years ago where were first connected and...well the rest is history!!! Listen in to hear our conversation. GO TRIBE!!!

MELT BAR AND GRILLED STEVE PRESSER

My last guest of the night was a man who has lurked in the darkness and been behind one of my favorite toy stores of all-time, Big Fun. Steve Presser was an absolute delight to talk with at this mustache celebration. We discussed his thoughts on being a judge at the event and how he got involved and a quick overview of Big Fun on Coventry. I have grown up with this store and it has given me such great reminders of my childhood. If you haven't yet-be sure to check out the store and take a look around. We encourage you to not steal anything, but to purchase something fun that reminds you of your childhood and helps take you back to that magical time.

BIG FUN TOY STORE music by:

Sindust

French Donkey

Mustachio Bashio 10

What a fun day meandering among some interesting characters and bearded folk! I meet some of the most interesting people at these types of events, I guess that is why I try to go to as many as I can and meet the people! Wizard World Comic Con came to Cleveland March 17th-19th for it's third appearance at the Cleveland Convention Center. There were a ton of comic, sci-fi, role-playing, pop-culture, and bearded fans in attendance-it truly was a sight to see. I went down Saturday afternoon with no expectations of what type of time I was going to have, I just wanted to slowly walk around and take it all in. There was a lot to take in from artists, content creators, costumed role players, comics, celebrities, games, books, toys, and just great people!

Like I said, I wanted to take my time and just slowly take it all in. There is so much to investigate and absorb at an event this large. I wasn't able to take a lot in a few years ago when I went with my friend Bald Faced Josh and his daughter, and The Child. The kids were ready to go after 30 minutes and Josh and I couldn't really check out all the greatness that Wizard World Comic Con had to offer. This time I was going to take advantage of going solo and take my sweet time and check out what I wanted to see!!! I wasn't there to find anything specific, other than interesting bearded or mustached folk to chat with, but I found myself really drawn to the artists and illustrators this year. There were so many great ones on site, so much eye candy and talent. Though I was there to check out everything my main goal was to search out interesting people to converse with. One may ask how I may find someone interesting to talk to just by looking around. I say to them, "I am The Beardcaster, I search for the great beards, and behind those great beards are the interesting people I seek!!!"

The first beard I stumbled upon was my good friend Joshua Jenniges. You may remember him from episode 2 of The Beardcaster. One of the most amazing artists I have ever met, Josh is just one of those kind souls whose red beard pulls you in for friendship. He was there with his fiancé, Lydia, to help find some inspiration for work and for his personal growth. As the two of them walked around Josh ran across an artist by the name Mark Kistler, who had a PBS show called, "The Secret City", when he was a child. Josh told me that he was a real inspiration to him growing up and that he was part of why he became an artist. Make sure you listen to the podcast to hear that whole conversation! EPISODE 2-JOSHUA JENNIGES EXPERIENCE

The next bearded gentleman I ran across was a Alex Demko and his fiancé Bridget. It was good to see this bearded man who I have known for a coons age, as they say. Alex has recently embraced the bearded lifestyle and is currently sporting his longest beard I have ever known him to have. They were there to enjoy the sights and see what was going on in the world of Sci-Fi. Bridget was dressed in a classic Federation dress, which she wore very well! We talked about the different Star Treks that have been around and the re-boot series and which were our favorites. The discussion took a turn when I asked about her favorite bearded Trek character. This lead us into Lando and Chewbacca and their facial hair. She was an interesting one to talk to but it took her bearded man to help me find her fascinating story...

The highlight of my afternoon took place shortly after my discussion with Alex. I was slowly strolling down an isle when my eyes were drawn to something incredable, as if being called synchronistically by a strange force. I couldn't believe what my eyes brought forth, something so magical, so mysterious, so perfect. I almost didn't believe my eyes as they rest upon a table with a comic book laying on it titled Beardo. The magic didn't end there. As I scanned the table and let out an exclamation of shock, our eyes met. I hear the author, Dan Dougherty, say something along the lines of "WOW!" and the next thing you know…we are instantly friends!!!! There were two beards guys standing at a booth with a comic all about a bearded guy and the struggles of his life and how he copes and gets through each day, smiling ear to ear; we found each other. This was honestly a very surreal moment for me as I felt that this was some weird cosmic moment laid in my lap telling me I was on the right path. Dan had such charisma and his nice tight beard had me "Hello". We spoke for awhile as the booth next to his just laughed that we were going nuts over the fact that we "found each other!" and we couldn't believe the coincidence and the fact I have never ran across his comic on-line. We had a great conversation and I purchased a copy of his Beardo comics which he so graciously signed and made a character of The Beardcaster! BEARDOCOMICS.COM @BEARDOCOMICS ON INSTAGRAM UNSHAVEN COMICSHTTP://WWW.UNSHAVENCOMICSONLINE.COM TOUCHING EVIL- HTTP://WWW.BEARDOCOMICS.COM/TOUCHING-EVIL

The next person I ran into was a fella by the name of Steve Goetz. He was an easy grab, his large beard drew my eyes from afar, but as he got closer I knew this was the guys I needed to be talking to! He was wearing a Stranger Things t-shirt and a Machine Head beanie, a favorite show, and a favorite band of mine. I knew we would hit it off and have good conversation just because of his beard, hat , and shirt. We talked about him meeting Millie Bobbie Brown, "Eleven" from the ground breaking Netflix series "Stranger Things" and he showed me the picture he got with her. We speculated if she may have a beard in season two which is slated to premiere this October. Our conversation turned from Wizard World to Machine Head and our thoughts on the band and both our personal interactions. I tried to convince Steve that he needed to find the world of competitive bearding but he seemed a little reluctant. I assured him that he would be a welcome part of our family and he would defiantly bring good nature and possible winnings if he competed! I asked what his inspiration was for growing this great beard. I was caught off guard by his answer, it was an inspiration I had yet to hear from talking to someone when asking about why they grew. I guess you are going to have to listen to the podcast to hear what his answer was!!! ...I'm such a dick!!!

MILLIE BOBBIE BROWN MACHINE HEAD SONS OF ANARCHY CAPTAIN AMERICA

I walked by Andrew Heaths booth a few times before I mustered the confidence to talk to him about his artwork. Intimidating it was for both of us to meet I could tell, his artistic vision and his prints blew me away, something I just don't have! Hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, Andrew has used his skills to make a career as a designer and illustrator and had some great examples of his screen printed art on display. Pulling many ideas from pop-culture there were recognizable images that we all could relate to from Dr. Who to Bob's Burgers and Star Wars to Star Trek. Check out Andrews designs by going to his website-I can almost bet you will find something you would like!

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ANDREW-HEATH.COM CURSES, CRONES AND UNSPEAKABLE THINGS

My last guest this episode is a man named Jerry Milani who works for the Wizard World Comic Con organization. I asked him some questions about how they got this massive monster of a traveling pop-culture convention going. We talked about some of the great celebrity guests they have booked and how they are trying to book more of a variety to expand the draw for these various Wizard World events. He told me about the involvement of Gene Simmons this year and how excited they are to expand this pop-culture fest by incorporating a music element into the mix. Though Jerry is a proud "bald faced" mortal, I had fun talking with him and he was a great source of information about Wizard World Comic Con! To hear more about what he said check out the podcast. Keep your eyes peeled for me at next years Wizard Con, come and find me and we will chat!!!

WIZARD WORLD COMIC CON STRANGER THINGS INCREDIBLE HULK DEAN CAIN BARRY BOSTWICK GENE SIMMONS KATO KAYLEN

This year was by far more magical for me at the Wizard World Comic Con. I was able to see more and experience it like it should be. Take your time to take in the sights and absorb everything that is there. There is something for everyone and it is a place to be something special. It is a place you can be a superhero for the day, a real princess, or a galactic bounty hunter in search of a bearded guy to collect a handsome reward for. Wizard World is more than a traditional comic and pop-culture convention, it is an expression for many and a place to find a "family" and be a part of a community.

UNIVERSAL BEARD APAMA EPISODE 15 -NEO COMICCON 2/TED SIKORA AND APAMA MUSTACHIO-BASHIO EPISODE 8 - MIKE LAUR MUSTACHIO-BASHIO 501ST GARRISON, REBEL LEGION & MANDO MERCS / STAR WARS 0 LIKES