It’s a pleasure to bring you the 2nd episode of the Pipes Magazine Radio Show starring Brian Levine. This second show will have our first interview. We’ve already had requests for pipe maker interviews, so we decided to fulfill those requests by making the first interview with Canadian pipe maker Michael Parks. Brian also discusses the differences in factory pipes, artisan pipes, and high grades. Just what is the difference between an artisan pipe and a high grade? Listen to the show to find out.
In this episode, you’ll also find out how a Britney Spears song can be transformed into something that is actually cool and not too bad to listen to.
Finally, Brian ranks on Ikea, but also discovers a fun new place to smoke a pipe and be entertained.
We hope you enjoy our 45-minute show produced just for you—the pipe smoker and collector. The following link will launch a pop-up player (it works in Internet Explorer now). Alternatively, you can download the show in iTunes after the initial broadcast is complete here.
Publisher & Founder of PipesMagazine.com
Certified Master Tobacconist (CMT) #1858 from TobacconistUniversity.org
My grandfather didn't smoke a pipe, but my uncle and some of my elementary school teachers did. In 1998, my neighbor Sam invited me out, and we ended up back at his place where there was a cigar humidor, and pipe rack on the coffee table. I had my first cigar, and then decided to try pipes too. I love the elegance and relaxation of smoking a pipe. In 2002, I started learning how to make websites, do SEO, and create content. I had a cigar content site and forums from 2005-2008 when it was bought out. In 2009, I launched PipesMagazine.com, which is now the largest, busiest community forums, and article content site for pipe and tobacco enthusiasts. We have one of the longest running pipe and tobacco focused podcasts since 2012 with lifetime industry veteran, Brian Levine.
If you can’t afford it, it’s a High Grade Pipe! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!
Artisan or high grade,doesn’t matter I can’t afford either.
I like factory pipes – Dunhill, Stanwell, & Comoys.
My ranking scheme would be a bit different:
low end: basket pipes, lesser factory pipes
mid end: some mid-range factory pipes, lesser artisan pipe makers
high end: high end factory pipes and higher end artisans
Ultra High end: The creme-de-la-creme
I have or had pipes in all the categories. However, you can have a great smoking pipe in any of the categories and a real stinker in any of the categories. The probability of a great pipe goes up with the category and the probably of a stinker goes up as you go down in category. The great thing about pipes is that you never know how a pipe will turn out.
I love the show. The interview with Michael Parks was great. I commissioned his first hawkbill pipe from him many years ago and still have it in my collection.
Keep up the good work Brian.
John, I didn’t know you liked Hawkbill pipes!?
Great job again, Brian, and Michael Parks is the very definition of “high grade.”
I thought it was a good show. It would be cool to hear from a meerschaum pipe maker but it might be hard as they are all in turkey. The cowboy ice cream commercial didn’t offend me. I am a firm believer in free speech and against censorship.
Thanks Kevin, Brian, and Michael Parks.
Entertaining! It was interesting to hear a pipemaker’s thoughts about the craft. I think I would enjoy hearing more of those sort of things. The ranking of pipes was an interesting subject as well, though that may be a subjective matter. I would have thought that the briar quality used would have some degree of influence on whether the pipe were a high grade or not. Maybe I slept through that part? No doubt about what makes an artisan grade pipe, however. Thanks for the show!
Great, innovative show, and nice music!
Waiting for the rest….
JW
Great Show! I was busy last night and it was good to catch the show this morning in the office. Boy that 45 minutes went quick! I wouldn’t be opposed to a Howard Stern-esque 4 hour format.
More pipe maker interviews for sure, That was very interesting.
Much better show than the first. The interview with Parks was really good. The rant on IKEA was amusing.
I think to the answer to the trivia question is Tsarina Catherine the Great, but in all likelihood it is an apocryphal answer.
Last nights show was OK but I think the 1st show was better, sorry that’s just my take on it. I for sure will keep tuning in you have a good thing going.
Love the first two shows. Keep ’em coming!
Subscribed. ‘Nuff said.
Simon
Great show and very entertaining. Thanks Brian and Kevin for providing us with some great content. No other pipe site on the net compares to this one for content, activity and just plain fun.
I like the program. Keep it up.
Cigar band: Queen Victoria. Great show, thanks!
I was definitely taken aback with the “number one rated…with the last name ‘Levine’.” I wondered: How the heck do you program the audio clip to call me by name. A couple seconds later, I found out that I’m not the only Levine around here.
To rich for my blood, although i buy Castellos and Ashtons, but slightly used, save a lot of money that way, but great show..
Artisan or high grade, price and/or classification are never indicative of how well a pipe smokes. As seilerjp pointed out “you can have a great smoking pipe in any of the categories and a real stinker in any of the categories”.
Allow me to share an advice that Alex Florov gave my friend once: “You can make a pipe that will look like [and probable sell for] a million bucks. However, if it is not “engineered” properly, it is worth S%#T (you guys can figure the word out)!” The pipe will not smoke properly. It will be useless. It may very well, to use Brian’s own phrase, serve as bookends, or as Michael pointed out, serve as a projectile.
However, I will agree with Rick that Michael Parks does turn out some of the very best high end pipes.
Brian, this is a great show, great format. Would love to hear more from pipe makers, tobacco manufacturers, different pipe clubs – their activities, etc.
Great show guys. Michael Parks is a class act. Commended by JT Cooke no less. I listened to the interview smoking my commissioned Michael Parks blast billiard. Star of the East. Keep up the great work, guys.
sf1
Finally! A podcast for the pipe smoker! GREAT show! Keep it up Brian!!!
Can’t be Queen Victoria as she was a staunch non-smoker.
Great Show-I’ve been a pipe-smoker for over 50 yrs-enjoy hearing about pipemakers.I’m lucky to belong to The Capitol District Pipe Club -we meet monthly and are fortunate to have as our leader Russ Oulette (Master Blender). I’m most interested in hearing about Estate pipes-(Most popular- best buys-most collectible.)I favor English and Italian pipes but have started interest in American artists as well. Keep up the good shows!!!
I am looking forward to Radio Live Show #3. I have my pipe and Merlot wine glass ready 2 go! Oh….now I just need a bottle of Merlot. Happy Thursday listening Radio & Pipe friends. Best regards, Your Pipe Pal Patty
Enjoyed the show. The reason I listened was that you were going to explain the difference between artisan and high grade. When the time came, you said you didn’t know. How about defining it better, maybe by giving the names of the high grade makers. By the way, I am listening to this interview as I write this. I want to know details. How do you select briar? How do you cure it? What stains do you use? Are they tasteless (the stains)? Must the draft hole have to be at the exact bottom of the chamber? Do you use a flexible shaft rasp to shape between the shank and bowl? Stuff like that. Thanks.
Amazing! Your questions to your guest were pertinent and probing! I look forward to your future shows.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 663. Our featured guest tonight is Austin Bourdo of Pathfinder Pipes. He is an Army Veteran having the highly specialized role of Pathfinder. (Find out what that is on the show. It’s super badass cool.) Austin is a father and husband living in his native Wisconsin. He does social work full time and makes pipes part time. It all started when he found his grandfather’s pipes, started smoking, and he already had a lathe for bowl turning, so making pipes was a natural progression. At the top of the show in the Pipe Parts segment, we will continue the virtual tour of Brian’s pipe collection with two estate Comoy’s pipes that have a great background story.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 662. Our featured guest tonight is Jon David Cole. JD is the Owner/Tobacconist at The Country Squire in Jackson, MS, and the accompanying online store. We’ll have JD and Brian talking about their experiences and Jon David’s purchases at the Chicago pipe show. There is also news on the Country Squire’s bulk tobacco / custom blends program that was impacted by the closure of Sutliff Tobacco Co. In our opening Pipe Parts segment we will get caught up on a mailbag backlog with four great questions from listeners.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 661. Our featured interview on tonight’s show is with Fernando Keops. Fernando is a renowned sleight-of-hand magician, particularly known for his work with cards and gambling effects. He is celebrated for his performances that blend magic, sleight of hand, and a poetic style. He is of course, also a pipe smoker and he attended the Las Vegas International Pipe Show in 2024. Already a full time magician, he started smoking a pipe when he was 22-years old. Another magician that he was working with that was a pipe smoker, and 82-years old at the time, bought him his first pipe. At the top of the show in our Pipe Parts segment, Brian will have a tobacco review of Cornell & Diehl’s Opening Night.
Bigger. Better. More Pipe. This year’s Chicago Pipe Show was a larger event with an expanded smoking tent and the addition of the special events section at the back of it, and the show boasted way more attendees than previous years. While we didn’t have the most interesting man of the year at the show this year, there was an actor sighting at our hotel of Brian O’Halloran (better known as Dante from Clerks). It is unknown if he came into the show itself or was just there at the hotel, and sadly, I didn’t find any pictures of him there, just the rumors. Stay tuned on that one. Tim Garrity (Chicago Pipe Club President) shared with me some numbers this year; there were over 950ish in attendance. For those of you playing the home game, they reported to me that in 2024, a little over 400 attended (after checking with Tim this was just the attendees not including vendors it was around 800 with everyone). That’s more than double for 2025. “We had an increase in carvers and tobacianna makers. A large international presence with vendors coming from China, Brazil, Italy, France, Denmark, the UK, Austria, Germany, Turkey, Cuba, Cyprus, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada, and a few others as well…. I really want to highlight two pieces that stick out to me. As mentioned before, the international showing. Our guests came from all around the world. While it rained outdoors, only friendship and fellowship reigned in our tent. Our community continues to bring me joy, for in divisive times, we are coming together. Pipes over politics, personalities, and persuasions,” said Tim. The line to enter stretched almost outside this year. Below are a handful of pictures to give you a general idea. Upon first entry into the ballroom, vendors and carvers were stacked in with more tables than in the past couple of years, as Tim discussed. To the newcomer, this can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many pipes, but do yourself a favor and do the “Brian Levine” advice and walk the whole floor looking before coming back to settle on some pipes. New Tobaccos Coming out from C&D and Per Georg Jensen I ran into Per Jensen this year at breakfast and ended up heading out to the smoking tent with him before the show opened, and we sampled several blends that he’s working on in collaboration with Jeremy Reeves (newly minted Doctor of Pipes) at C&D. Per: In a collaboration with C&D. One week ago I was playing ping-pong with Jeremy at the C&D factory. Two tobacco-interested people who came into talks and discussions and decided to collaborate. So I’m coming out with four blends under the name Legacy Collection, where I honor my father and his job. The first four will be with sailor motifs because he was onboard the royal yacht Dannebrog. Per: Every summer, the King and Queen travel around Denmark visiting the different cities. This was a tradition that goes back to the Vikings because at that time they didn’t have any facebook or Instagram so a lot of people didn’t know how the king looked. So they had to travel around to all the cities to show his face. He didn’t have a castle. This tradition is taken over by the present kings as well. Per: The crew onboard the yacht are selected from the regular navy, and conscripts are hand-picked and sent onboard the royal ship to work for the summer. Officers were always assigned to the ship, but every summer a different crew. The ship he started on was the paddle boat steamer, and then in 1932, a new ship was built, and that is the same ship we use today, almost a hundred years old. When are we going to see these blends come out? Per: If everything goes as we would like, it will be the beginning of July. I’ve got two blends ready, and I’m smoking the new ones now. They are: 100% Virginia (Red and Bright) Virginia Dark Fired Kentucky Burley Dominant Blend One more Virginia blend. (Red and Bright) For all of them, they are going to be so natural, that means a little bit casing, no top note (with the exception of the burley). The goal, Per says, is to have balance in the flavors and no tongue bite. Kings Watch is a 50/50 blend of red and bright virginias. Interesting note: Per said, each tobacco company calls variations of Virginia something different. MacBaren, for instance, would call it bright Virginia because it had a higher sugar content. The red Virginia has all the flavor, so the more red, the more intense the taste. When sampling this, the flavor profiles are citrus fruit, mellow cream, and a slight floral note. Tasting the Burley heavy blend, which is ready to go as well, is smooth, nutty, and cocoa-flavored. With that nougat taste, I’m reminded of a Toblerone candy bar, but don’t go assuming it’s full-on aromatic. It’s subtle. Another commented that it was like a truffle. The Burley forward blend does have a hint of Virginia in it as well, but just a hint. The Dark-Fired Kentucky and Virginia blend has that expected BBQ smell/note. The room note is more mellow. Per says they are still tweaking the two other blends, and they don’t have names for them yet, other than being under the Legacy Collection banner. Stay tuned! Battle of the Briar This year’s Battle of the Briar featured Ping Zhan, Silver Gray, and Nathan Davis as the carver competitors. Once again, our Master of Ceremonies was Steve “Pipestud” Fallon, with Jeff Gracik providing the play-by-play. Missouri Meerschaum was a sponsor this year and also did a live stream of the event; you can go back and watch here. I’ll expand a bit on that video with things you didn’t know, with a couple of comments from the carvers and Judges, so strap in. I chatted with Jeff […]
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 660. Our featured interview on tonight’s show is with Kevin Godbee. Kevin is the owner and founder of PipesMagazine.com, which launched in 2009 as a resource site for pipe smokers and pipe and tobacco collectors. The site has numerous articles from well-known pipe authorities as well as the largest and most active community discussion forums, and of course this podcast. This is an extended interview where Brian and Kevin will talk about the Chicago pipe shows from the past as well as the current show that just took place this past weekend.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 659. Our featured interview on tonight’s show is with Rick Newcombe. Rick is a well-known author of several pipe books, and he is a prominent collector of Danish pipes, and vintage tobaccos. We catch up with him and see what he’s looking forward to at the Chicago pipe show this coming weekend. Rick was in Chicago when the show was first conceived of, and provides quite an interesting early days look at the show. Later, he chats with us about alternative sources of nicotine. At the top of the show in our Pipe Parts segment, Brian relays a quite interesting and nostalgic history and background on small batch and/or limited edition tobaccos.
If you can’t afford it, it’s a High Grade Pipe! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!
Artisan or high grade,doesn’t matter I can’t afford either.
I like factory pipes – Dunhill, Stanwell, & Comoys.
My ranking scheme would be a bit different:
low end: basket pipes, lesser factory pipes
mid end: some mid-range factory pipes, lesser artisan pipe makers
high end: high end factory pipes and higher end artisans
Ultra High end: The creme-de-la-creme
I have or had pipes in all the categories. However, you can have a great smoking pipe in any of the categories and a real stinker in any of the categories. The probability of a great pipe goes up with the category and the probably of a stinker goes up as you go down in category. The great thing about pipes is that you never know how a pipe will turn out.
I love the show. The interview with Michael Parks was great. I commissioned his first hawkbill pipe from him many years ago and still have it in my collection.
Keep up the good work Brian.
John, I didn’t know you liked Hawkbill pipes!?
Great job again, Brian, and Michael Parks is the very definition of “high grade.”
I thought it was a good show. It would be cool to hear from a meerschaum pipe maker but it might be hard as they are all in turkey. The cowboy ice cream commercial didn’t offend me. I am a firm believer in free speech and against censorship.
Thanks Kevin, Brian, and Michael Parks.
Entertaining! It was interesting to hear a pipemaker’s thoughts about the craft. I think I would enjoy hearing more of those sort of things. The ranking of pipes was an interesting subject as well, though that may be a subjective matter. I would have thought that the briar quality used would have some degree of influence on whether the pipe were a high grade or not. Maybe I slept through that part? No doubt about what makes an artisan grade pipe, however. Thanks for the show!
Great, innovative show, and nice music!
Waiting for the rest….
JW
Great Show! I was busy last night and it was good to catch the show this morning in the office. Boy that 45 minutes went quick! I wouldn’t be opposed to a Howard Stern-esque 4 hour format.
More pipe maker interviews for sure, That was very interesting.
Much better show than the first. The interview with Parks was really good. The rant on IKEA was amusing.
I think to the answer to the trivia question is Tsarina Catherine the Great, but in all likelihood it is an apocryphal answer.
Last nights show was OK but I think the 1st show was better, sorry that’s just my take on it. I for sure will keep tuning in you have a good thing going.
Love the first two shows. Keep ’em coming!
Subscribed. ‘Nuff said.
Simon
Great show and very entertaining. Thanks Brian and Kevin for providing us with some great content. No other pipe site on the net compares to this one for content, activity and just plain fun.
I like the program. Keep it up.
Cigar band: Queen Victoria. Great show, thanks!
I was definitely taken aback with the “number one rated…with the last name ‘Levine’.” I wondered: How the heck do you program the audio clip to call me by name. A couple seconds later, I found out that I’m not the only Levine around here.
To rich for my blood, although i buy Castellos and Ashtons, but slightly used, save a lot of money that way, but great show..
Artisan or high grade, price and/or classification are never indicative of how well a pipe smokes. As seilerjp pointed out “you can have a great smoking pipe in any of the categories and a real stinker in any of the categories”.
Allow me to share an advice that Alex Florov gave my friend once: “You can make a pipe that will look like [and probable sell for] a million bucks. However, if it is not “engineered” properly, it is worth S%#T (you guys can figure the word out)!” The pipe will not smoke properly. It will be useless. It may very well, to use Brian’s own phrase, serve as bookends, or as Michael pointed out, serve as a projectile.
However, I will agree with Rick that Michael Parks does turn out some of the very best high end pipes.
Brian, this is a great show, great format. Would love to hear more from pipe makers, tobacco manufacturers, different pipe clubs – their activities, etc.
Great show guys. Michael Parks is a class act. Commended by JT Cooke no less. I listened to the interview smoking my commissioned Michael Parks blast billiard. Star of the East. Keep up the great work, guys.
sf1
Finally! A podcast for the pipe smoker! GREAT show! Keep it up Brian!!!
Can’t be Queen Victoria as she was a staunch non-smoker.
Great Show-I’ve been a pipe-smoker for over 50 yrs-enjoy hearing about pipemakers.I’m lucky to belong to The Capitol District Pipe Club -we meet monthly and are fortunate to have as our leader Russ Oulette (Master Blender). I’m most interested in hearing about Estate pipes-(Most popular- best buys-most collectible.)I favor English and Italian pipes but have started interest in American artists as well. Keep up the good shows!!!
I am looking forward to Radio Live Show #3. I have my pipe and Merlot wine glass ready 2 go! Oh….now I just need a bottle of Merlot. Happy Thursday listening Radio & Pipe friends. Best regards, Your Pipe Pal Patty
Enjoyed the show. The reason I listened was that you were going to explain the difference between artisan and high grade. When the time came, you said you didn’t know. How about defining it better, maybe by giving the names of the high grade makers. By the way, I am listening to this interview as I write this. I want to know details. How do you select briar? How do you cure it? What stains do you use? Are they tasteless (the stains)? Must the draft hole have to be at the exact bottom of the chamber? Do you use a flexible shaft rasp to shape between the shank and bowl? Stuff like that. Thanks.
Amazing! Your questions to your guest were pertinent and probing! I look forward to your future shows.
“Patronize that lonely, last facility.”