The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 322

Kevin Godbee
Thank you for joining us for The Pipes Magazine Radio Show—the only radio talk show for pipe smokers and collectors. We broadcast weekly, every Tuesday at 8 pm eastern USA time and are available on nearly all podcast sites and apps. Listen on your computer, tablet, phone and even in the car! Tonight’s featured interview is with Mark Johnson. Mark is a pipe smoker, and has worked in tobacco retail, in the tobacco fields, and is a retired college professor. He is currently self-employed as a novelist with his latest book titled, "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Undead Client". In Pipe Parts, Brian will continue the series of the quintessential pipes. Sit back, relax with your pipe, and enjoy The Pipes Magazine Radio Show!

Tonight’s show is sponsored by SmokingPipes.com, Cornell & Diehl, Missouri Meerschaum, and Savinelli Pipes and Tobaccos. Please give them some consideration when making your next pipe or tobacco purchase.

We hope you enjoy our 1-hour show produced just for you—the pipe smoker and collector. The following link will launch a pop-up player. Alternatively, you can download the show in iTunes and other podcast sites and apps after the initial broadcast is complete here.

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Mark Johnson




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6 Responses

  • Real good show tonite. I agree that for most folks estates are the way to go. I think Brad Pohlmann would be an excellent carver to get a pipe from. He’s underappreciated but he makes a pipe that will have your tobacco talking to you.
    Loved the interview with Mark Johnson. I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes and was going to order the book until you mentioned zombies. I literally can’t stand zombie stories. Now I’ll have to wait until the reviews start coming in.

  • The Mark Johnson interview solved two great mysteries in my life, and for that I will be eternally grateful (or until I forget again!). I did most of my graduate studies in Louisville back in the 80s, and a major part of the curriculum was smoking my pipe. But I have no memory of where I got my tobacco, etc. The second mystery is a bent billiard that predates my memory, but has been in my regular rotation for as long as I remember. The brand name on the pipe is “Sir Calabash.” While its a fabulous smoker, it is clearly basket pipe quality, or possibly one step above.
    After he mentioned the Sir Calabash store, a flood of memories came back to me. Bashford Manor was a really cool mall and we would go out there quite often to window shop and let the little munchkin stretch his legs outside the apartment. I got my tobacco at Sir Calabash. I couldn’t afford tinned tobaccos but their house blends were really good! And the pipe is no doubt an in-house brand. (Prior to this I’ve never been able to find any information on a Sir Calabash branded pipe.)
    Thanks for clearing up a black hole in my memory and flooding me with fond thoughts of writing brilliant essays for unappreciative professors while smoking my pipe.

  • Piberyger,
    I am delighted to have nudgedf open that door in your memory! I often think of that old Sir Calabash shop and wish that it existed in some form, still. I’ve been in many better shops, worked in one or two, as I stated, but there was something magical about that place. I’m afraid my only Sir Calabash house pipe, a small author shape, incidently, disappeared long ago, but I still have the Ben Wade freehand and a GBD African Meer that I bought from Al’s shop. Thanks for responding and happy smokes! MJ

  • Good show. Great interview. I am always hesitant when people wish to add to the Doyle canon, but Mark’s description of the research and copyright tell me that he has at least tried to honor the material. Very interesting, I am looking forward to the release.

  • Hi Brian,
    I always enjoy the shows. Thanks for keeping me company as I prune vines here in Burgundy, France. I have the show on loudspeaker so my French buddies have the chance to enjoy it – well they have no choice :-).
    Next time you drink a bottle of Chassagne-Montrachet, or Puligny-Montrachet, or Santenay, or Saint-Aubin, if you notice a waft of pipe tobacco it may be *me* puffing away while listening to your show.
    Cheers!

  • Just wanted to say hello to everybody at the magazine and all of the members glad to be part of this club and wonderful industry/hobby.Best regards to all Paul W.

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