In this episode of The Black Pondo Podcast, I sit down with Austin Heitzman—bonsai table and furniture maker based in Portland, OR. I consider Austin one of the true national treasures of American bonsai, and in this conversation, we dive deep into the world of bonsai display tables.

We explore how he got started, how his unique style has evolved over time, and where he sees his work heading in the future. Austin shares his insights on pairing stands with trees, his preferences between total creative freedom and guided commissions, and his thoughtful, innovative approach to wood selection.

We also talk about where he finds inspiration, the balance between classic and modern design, and what makes a great patron when commissioning a custom stand. It's a fun and thoughtful conversation for anyone who appreciates the finer details that elevate bonsai display to an art form.

Check out Austin’s incredible work at:
www.austinheitzmanfurniture.com
Instagram: @austinheitzmanfurniture

In this episode, I hang out with:

Julian Tsai – @bontsai
Cesar Ordoñez – @cencalbonsai
Adam Toth – @adam.jp.bon

We catch up on what’s new in their lives and dive into a wide-ranging discussion on bonsai, with a strong focus on aesthetics and appreciation. It’s always a blast connecting with these guys—hope you enjoy the conversation!

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Bob Ricker and Julian Tsai at the John Naka Memorial Exhibit in Southern California—a truly inspiring gathering for bonsai enthusiasts.

Bob Ricker is a dedicated student of Peter Tea and currently serves as Vice President of the American Bonsai Association in Sacramento. His passion and craftsmanship are evident in every tree he touches. You can follow his journey on Instagram: @bonsai_bob_

Julian Tsai is a Los Angeles-based bonsai professional whose vision and leadership brought the Naka Memorial Exhibit to life. His work continues to elevate the art form and build community around it. Find him on Instagram: @bontsai_

Episode Picture-Hinoki on display at the Naka Memorial Exhibit, from the Jeff Stern collection, brought by Peter Tea. 

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Pistello of MVP Bonsai-a longtime practioner, Joshua Roth talent contest winner and PBE award recipient.  We cover a wide array of bonsai topics, from technique and design philosophy to the state of the art today.  

You can see Mike's work on his Instagram at mvpbonsai 

In late May of this year I spent three days working on trees at Peter Tea's studio and workshop.  On one of those days, I got to sit down and chat with Peter's full time apprentice Travis Hendrix.  We covered a wide range of topics including what his apprenticship has been like so far, why Travis picked Peter Tea, his future goals, CA natives, Japanese gardening, collecting, growing trunks and a lot more.  I always enjoy getting to hang out with Travis and am excited to see big things from him in the future. 

You can follow along with Travis's Bonsai Journey here-

Instagram:

californiabonsaiapprentice 

In this episode I got to sit down and chat with my teacher, friend and mentor Peter Tea after a long but very fun day of working on trees.  Peter is currently a top tier Bonsai professional based in Auburn California who previously apprenticed at Aichi-En Bonsai nursery in Nagoya Japan.  Our conversation was primarily on the subject of Juniper Bonsai, but we explored a few other interesting rabit holes as well.  Peter's knowlege and insight regarding Juniper Bonsai is truly exceptional and he drops some absolute gems during this chat.  This is one of my personal favorite episodes  and I really hope you enjoy hearing from Peter as much as I did.  Thanks for listening!  

More from Peter Tea Bonsai:

www.ptbonsai.com 

Instagram: peterteabonsai 

On the last day of 2024, I got to chat with Jacob Michaels, an East Coast Bonsai and Ju Jitsu practioner.  While we've messaged back and forth a few times, it was my first time actually talking to him.  I really enjoyed getting to know Jacob and hear about his Bonsai journey which most recently led him to becoming a full time Bonsai apprentice under NC based Bonsai Professional Tyler Sherrod of Dogwood Studios.  In addition to studying with Tyler, I also got to hear about Jacobs previous stay in Japan learning under Koji Hiramatsu and many of his thoughts on a myriad of Bonsai topics.  I really loved chatting with Jacob and hope you will enjoy it too. 

Instagram: 

dogwoodapprentice 

Bonsai of Jacob Michaels  

In this episode I got the chance to chat it up with the talented Sam Tan.  Sam is a Bonsai practioner based in the Bay area of CA who developed a high level of technical Bonsai skill relatively quickly.  We talked about his love for CA natives, designing his newer Bonsai garden, displaying natives, his trip to Bob Shimon's and a whole lot more.  I really enjoyed sitting down w/ Sam and thank you for listening!   

Sam Tan Bonsai: 

Instagram: samtanbonsai

In this episode I caught up with Nao Tokutake, a Bonsai practitioner and container maker based in Portland, OR.  Nao has been one of my favorite Bonsai pot makers in the US for a while now.  However, after getting the opportunity to pick his brain about his Bonsai pot making process and philosophy I'm even more of a fan of his work!  His dedication and passion to improve his craft seem second to none.  I really enjoyed hearing how he is studying the classic Chinese and Japanese potters while adapting and innovating in his own studio here in the States.  

Instagram: Tokutakebonsai 

ebsite: www.tokutakebonsai.com 

In this episode, I caught up with the one and only Andrew Robson, a Bonsai pro and organizer of the Pacific Bonsai Expo based in the Portland Oregon area who specializes in Deciduous Bonsai. We dive into topics, like when deadwood is appropriate, container colors, and the magic of native deciduous species. We talk about collecting versus container growing trunks and Andrew shares some expert tips on and his love for Beeches. I ask Andrew who he thinks is the Deciduous GOAT, what’s on the horizon for his Bonsai plans in 2025 and a whole lot more. 

Instagram: @rakuyo_bonsai

Website: rakuyobonsai.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/rakuyobonsai