Baseball, Apple Pie and Pipe Smoking
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Tonight on The Pipes Magazine Radio Show, we welcome longtime pipe smoker and collector Mark Berman. Mark began smoking a pipe in the late 1960s while studying engineering at Kansas State University, starting—as many did—with aromatic tobaccos before moving on to Virginias, VaPers, and classic English blends. His first brand-name pipe was a Savinelli, followed by a Dunhill, and by 1999–2000 he attended his first pipe show. Today, Mark owns an extraordinary collection of roughly 1,500 pipes, focusing primarily on American makers. His collection is so impressive that he has exhibited pipes at shows simply to share them, not sell them. At the top of the show we’ll have an Ask the Pipemaker segment with renowned pipe artisan Jeff Gracik.
Our featured guest tonight is Jon David Cole. Jon David is the Owner/Tobacconist at The Country Squire in Jackson, MS, and the accompanying online store. Brian and Jon David will talk about their favorite customer interactions, and after 55 years, The Country Squire is moving to a new location that will include a full cocktail lounge. This is a colossal undertaking that is quite interesting to hear about. They will be expanding their shipping, blending, and smoking lounge. They are moving into a standalone building which will ensure against complaints of smoking from neighbors. The soft opening is expected in February 2026.
Our featured guest tonight is longstanding pipe collector Tom Pfaeffle. Tom is a long-time member of the pipe collecting community and enthusiast whose experience spans decades of engagement with briar pipes, tobacco culture, and pipe show attendance. His great-grandfather smoked a corncob pipe, and he started smoking and collecting pipes in the 1970s. Pipe shows were quite different then with few to no pipe makers, and lots of hobbyist showing their collections that weren’t for sale. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will discuss what are referred to as “magic pipes”. This is in response to a question sent in by one of our listeners.
Our featured guest tonight is Austrian pipe maker Chris Ruetz. He is an artisan pipe maker from Tyrol, Austria, who discovered his love for pipes at 16 and later crafted his first one from cherrywood on his living room table, sparking a lifelong dedication to the craft. Since 2021 he has been a full-time maker under the name Ruetz Pipes. His work is known for its organic forms, and creative surface combinations, making each piece a unique smoking experience and artistic expression. At the top of the show we will have an Ask the Tobacco Blender segment with Jeremy Reeves. Jeremy is the Head Blender at Cornell & Diehl, which is one of the most popular boutique pipe tobacco companies in the USA, and one of the only pipe tobacco producers making product in the US.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 691. On tonight’s show Rick Newcombe reminisces about Danish pipe making legend Jess Chonowitsch. Jess passed away on November 28, 2025. The impact he had on artisan pipe making is immeasurable. Rick is likely one of the first American pipe collectors to meet Jess going back to the year 1995. He has also been one of the biggest promoters of Jess’s work over several decades and has tons of great stories to celebrate the life of this “Great Dane” pipe artisan. Chuck Stanion does a great job of telling Jess Chonowitsch’s story on SmokingPipes.com. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will discuss the pipes he acquired this past year.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 690. Our featured guest on tonight’s show is artisan pipe maker JD Wolf. JD just started smoking pipes a little over a year ago, and he started making them at about the same time. His impetus for becoming a pipe maker came from the problem that his preferences in artistic handmade pipes were out the reach of his budget. He strives to make precise smoking instruments that are also a handcrafted piece of art that the “average workingman” can afford. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will have a holiday gift giving guide for pipe smokers.
