Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 681
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Kevin Godbee - Sep 30, 2025
- 1 min read
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 681. Our featured interview tonight is with pipe maker Jerry Nelson. His brand of pipes is Nelson Pipes by Jerry. Jerry was originally influenced to try pipe smoking by last week’s guest, Jay Furman. They met in an online forum where Jay was posting some pipes, but it wasn’t a pipe forum. The next step, with Jerry being a carpenter, was to make pipes. He has been making them for five years now. At the top of the show, in our Pipe Parts segment, Brian will have a tobacco review of Cornell & Diehl’s Happy Hour.
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The Pipes Magazine Radio Show features interviews with pipe makers, tobacco blenders, pipe and tobacco aficionados, collectors, and more. Episodes air every Tuesday.
Our show is sponsored by SmokingPipes.com, Cornell & Diehl, Missouri Meerschaum, Savinelli Pipes and Tobaccos, Peterson Pipes and TinBids. 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.
Written by Kevin Godbee
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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.
This may seem out of character for Pundit, but I am truly captivated by the Ser Jacopo Insanus. Years ago, I purchased an enormous, barn-sized pipe and tucked it away, only to forget about it. Recently, the urge to hold it resurfaced, prompting a frantic search through my collection until I found my prized Insanus. It’s an impressive, beautifully rusticated paneled bowl with bamboo shank extension—possibly weighing just over five ounces. I love it! To clarify, “insanus” in Latin can mean “incredible.” I must admit, I learned this not from my distant high school Latin but from consulting a dictionary. Okay, a few pipe makers go for heavy-duty pipes, of course. But the Ser Jacopo brand has not been shy about creating, well, great ol’ big ‘uns, and a few that defy the imagination. Some of the Ser Jacopo creations seemingly belong in a museum of art. Which makes sense when you look at the name’s origins. 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A nicely detailed review of C&D’s Happy Hour. Thanks.
It’s always fun when you interview newer pipe makers, especially those coming from a carpentry background. Interesting how one technique informs the other. I enjoyed Jerry’s backstory and his early journey into the community.
The live version of “Working Man” by Rush was terrific. Listeners should watch the video on YouTube, it’s equally terrific.
There will come a day, my dear friend, when you’ll need a nap after having breakfast and reading the morning newspaper. Trust me.
Thanks for another, always entertaining, show.
Dino
Brian!
Sorry I’m going a few weeks back on this comment to the episode with JDC.
Two things. Please refrain from trying to get someone hired for The Country Squire. I texted Jon David a week or so ago and we’re in the process of getting me hired on as a, as he put it, “remote tobacconist”. The position has been filled by me and me alone.
Just kidding! Though we did joke about it. That part actually happened. Apply away people!
Also, in regards to Quinn leaving, I wanted to share a little anecdote about him. Back at the Kill the Squire party, shortly after I think their Whale Song blend dropped, Eric Karloski, may God rest his soul, told me to go up to Quinn and ask him what a whale sounded like. Since Quinn was nearby, I decided there was no time like the present and so I asked Quinn, hey, can you imitate a whale sound? He proudly stuck out his chest and did a pretty good impression of a whale. Eric immediately starts cackling, and goes “HEY QUINN, NICE WHALE SONG.” It was priceless. Quinn’s face dawned understanding at that moment because he just rolled his eyes and walked away. Of course it was all in good fun, but Eric practically died right then and there from laughing so hard. It was a priceless moment that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life probably. Sorry Quinn, I still laugh about it.
Anyway, Quinn’s selflessness and unique humor will be missed in Jackson MS, but I have no doubt he’s going to do great things wherever the Lord takes him.