The guys sit down with Tommy Marquez to discuss how being down to his last dime and having to fight for a $26 benefit check from the VA changed the entire trajectory of his life. The native of Brawley, California really opens up about us experiences as a member of the US Navy and how the fight for his own benefits has led him to helping thousands of other veterans and their families. Now a rep for Payne Mason Cigars, Marquez explains why he chose to work with the brand and what it’s like to make cigars for some of the most famous people in the country. Marquez also takes a look back at the impact that his mom and his wife have had on his life and what he would have told himself five years ago.

Cuff and Mo open up the lab to Glynn Loope and Josh Habursky of The PCA in a truly informative and introspective episode about everything related to the cigar industry and government regulations. The guys open up about their introduction to the association and how things have changed for them as they’ve grown in the organization. They also address what some of their day to day duties are as high ranking officials and what it’s like to actually sit with politicians who are on the opposing side of things that are imperative to retailers and consumers of cigars.

The guys make the trip over here on Blue Smoke of Dallas to sit down with Jay Davis in a wide ranging conversation about wins, losses, the PCA and of course, cigars. The Chicago native talks about his extensive background in the finance industry and how a random round of golf with a business partner got him started on the road to smoking cigars and eventually owning his own establishment. Davis really opens up about how experience has been his best teacher and what it means to really look for solutions when your feel like things are looking the worst. As a part of the PCA, Davis explains his involvement in the organization and the value he sees in it. The interview closes out with him giving some pretty interesting answers when it comes to who would be at his imaginary round table.

Cuff and Mo welcome Christina Rounds into the lab for a soul bearing conversation about pain, trauma and what it really means to overcome adversity. The San Diego resident really explains the process she’s gone through as a person to overcome some really traumatic childhood experiences and what it means to really make yourself whole again. As a survivor of rape and a divorcee, Rounds explains the event she recently put on her in her community to honor the men in her life and how she continues to grow both personally and professionally.

In the first Behind The Dollar episode of 2022, Cuff and Mo sit down with Mike Cook, the Chief Investment Officer of MCB Capital. The guys examine the different points of entry into the real estate industry and the financial lessons that Cook has learned over the last 20 years. Cook also explains the thought process that lead him to start his own private equity fund and his opinion regarding just trying to make a quick dollar versus taking equity in a project. The show wraps up with the guys naming some of the books that potential entrepreneurs should get their hands on as the new year kicks off.

Cuff and Mo start the new year off by welcoming the beautiful Anya Ramirez into the Lab. The Dominican Republic native opens up about her childhood and some of the influences that ultimately led her to develop her own line of cigars, Don Fausto Cigars. Anya details some of the battles she’s had to fight as a woman in the industry and some of the lessons that she’s learned along the way from other women in the industry like Karen Berger. Ramirez gives the guys her thoughts on some of the different events she will be at in 2022 and what some of the goals she has set for the expansion of her cigar line.

Cuff and Mo sit down with Derrick Williams and Dionte Matthews, the authors of the recently released book, Greedy Intentions. The guys open the show by taking a look at the rough circumstances that led to Williams and Matthews meeting each other while being locked up. Despite the 17 year age gap between the two, they were able to learn from one another and make a plan for the future. The conversation then turns to the inspiration behind the book Greedy Intentions and the unconventional journey it took for the book to finally come to life. The two businessmen explain what they’ve learned about themselves along their journey and how their mindsets have completely changed throughout this process. The conversation wraps up with a look to Greedy Intentions 2 and their plans for putting it on the silver screen.

-Cuff and Mo sit down with Yvette and Loni Lane, the owners Cigar Palace and Bar in Allen, Tx. The conversation starts with Yvette recounting some of her world travels and how those experiences helped to serve as the motivation for opening a lounge. The owners then break down what it was like to open up and then get derailed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. After explaining how they pivoted and worked through the pandemic, Yvette and Loni explain what makes their lounge different from others and how she remains steadfast on the certain tenets that distinguish their lounge from others. The topic of hard work and perseverance come up and as the ladies look to the future of the business, the give some pretty refreshing answers to the people they would have at their imaginary round table.

The guys make a trip to Farmer Branch to sit down with Wendell Washington, the GM of House of Cigars. A lawyer by trade, Wendell explains to the guys the passion he has for cigars and how he actually became the GM of the shop. The conversation takes a turn to Washington’s thoughts on the word VISION and what it means to him to overcome adversity. The conversation wraps up Washington thoughts on the guests at his imaginary round table and what he’s looking forward to doing in 2022.