The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 2
- Homepage
- Radio Talk Show
- The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 2
- Kevin Godbee
- Sep 27, 2012
- 0 min read
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.
- Brian Levine Podcast, Difference between Artisan Pipe and High Grade Pipe, Free audio books and podcasts pipes and tobacco, Free radio pipe podcast, Free radio tobacco podcast, Michael Parks Interview, Pipe podcasts and downloads, Pipe tobacco podcasts, Pipes & Tobacco podcast, Pipes & Tobacco Radio Talk Show, Pipes free audio podcast, Pipes Magazine Podcast, Pipes Magazine podcast feeds, Pipes Magazine Radio Station, Pipes podcasts, Pipes Radio Talk Show, Podcasts from Pipes Magazine, Tobacco free audio podcast, Tobacco podcasts and downloads
Written by Kevin Godbee
View all posts by: Kevin Godbee
More Pipes and Tobaccos Articles
28 Responses
Smokingpipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a WeekSite Sponsors
Recent Posts
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 619. Our featured interview tonight is with Corey Hays. Corey is a 26-year old pipe smoker that is part of our ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. He is from Mississippi and has never lived more than 20-minutes away from The Country Squire Tobacconist. He was influenced to smoke a pipe by reading J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and 20th Century American History. He has been smoking pipes for three years. At the top of the show, Brian will have a tobacco review of a special tobacco that you could only get a pipe show.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 618. Our featured interview tonight is with AJ Khaled. AJ is a 22-year old pipe smoker that is part of our ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. Interestingly, he wasn’t initially inspired to take up the pipe by The Lord of the Rings, but more so by the author Tolkien himself while he was reading some of his other works. AJ has some really unique custom made pipes where he gave design specifics to and had them made by pipe makers Chris Askwith and Arcangelo Ambrosi. At the top of the show, we’ll have an “Ask the Pipemaker” segment with pipe artisan Jeff Gracik.
The other day, I was having a conversation with a friend about tobacco moisture. He tends to believe that a freshly opened tin presents the blender’s notion of the ideal moisture content for that tobacco, and that’s how it should be smoked. He’s not wrong, but as with so many things in our wacky world, it’s a little more complicated than that. When thinking about ideal moisture content for any specific tobacco, there are criteria for determining “correct” levels that can sometimes be at odds with one another. The proper moisture content for packaging tobacco, for instance, may not be the ideal moisture for smoking it. By way of background, let’s have a very brief and simplified look at the life of our beloved leaves once they’ve left the curing barns. Whole leaves or strips, the lamina of the leaves with the midrib removed, are boxed or baled quite dry for storage and transport. Before the tobacco can be worked, it has to be conditioned to a moisture level that allows it to be handled without shattering. There are various ways to accomplish this, but the end result is leaf that is pliable and easily manipulated without breaking. It can then be pressed into soft cakes that are cut into ribbons, or blended in stacks destined to be turned into plugs or flakes. At this point, it’s too moist to be considered “finished,” and has to go through a redrying stage. Since all of these steps may take place over a matter of months, or even years, tobacco can go through several conditioning/redrying cycles before it becomes the finished product. When it’s time to package a blend, the moisture level of the tobacco may have to be adjusted once again. If it’s too damp, there’s an increased risk of mold blooms, either within the sealed tin, or when spores are introduced after the tin is opened. This is never a good thing, so there’s a fairly hard upper limit to how much moisture is acceptable at this stage. If the leaf is too dry, on the other hand, things get troublesome in a different way. Dry, fragile tobacco can break into small fragments, even to the point of some of the leaf turning to dust during handling when packing the tins, and when those tins are jostled about during transport. This, again, is not ideal, establishing a lower limit for moisture content. Then, there’s the tobacco’s potential for aging to be considered. In order for these biological and chemical changes to take place, there has to be enough moisture to support the metabolic processes of the microorganisms involved in the various stages of fermentation that begin once the tin is sealed, and to allow for equilibration of various volatile byproducts of those processes. Finally, within the relatively wide window of upper- and lower-boundary conditions, there’s the moisture level for best smokability to be considered. That’s where things can get a little tricky. Different smokers have different preferences, and this is confounded by the fact that different types of tobaccos behave differently when their relative moisture content changes. To my palate, mixtures containing high percentages of latakia or oriental tobaccos generally tend to smoke and taste their best when on the dry side, while blends that predominantly comprise Virginia tobaccos like a bit more moisture to bring out their sweetness. But, this is a very general guideline, and I often find exceptions. Sometimes the same tobacco can be quite mercurial in its presentation depending on how damp or dry it is. The other day, I had a bowl of a latakia and Virginia-rich flake, fresh out of the tin with no drying time, and it was delightful, with the sweetness of the virginias taking center stage. A subsequent bowl, after a bit of drying time, rendered the orientals more forward, softened the sweetness, and polished the sharper edges of the latakia’s flavor profile. Same tobacco; two very different experiences. Additionally, things like ambient air temperature and relative humidity can play a significant role in the way any tobacco burns, but more importantly, how it tastes. (When it’s hot and humid, I generally abandon my latakia mixtures in favor of VAs and VA/perique blends.) If you haven’t experimented with this, it’s a fun thing to play with. Take enough tobacco out to fill your next bowl, and let it sit out for a while – anything from a few minutes to an hour or two, depending on the climate. (For those in tropical zones, this might actually have the opposite result. Yes, there really are people in some parts of the world who keep their tins sealed to keep moisture from getting in, not out.) See how it tastes in comparison to fresh from the tin. When tobacco is on the dry side, a gentle hand when packing is advised. What about when we rediscover an opened, long-forgotten tin whose contents have become all but desiccated? Can it be brought back to life? While the tobacco won’t return 100% to its best form, as some of the volatile components from aging will be lost to the ether, it can certainly be made smokeable again, and might yield some pleasant surprises. Of course, first give it a try as is, and see what it’s like. There are a couple of good ways to bring the moisture level up, and some not so good ways. I don’t recommend spraying it with water, putting apple or potato slices in the tin, or any other drastic measures. Tobacco takes up moisture much more slowly than loses it, and it will take time for all the strands to reach equilibrium, so a gentle approach is advised. My favorite is to put the leaf in a small bowl, cover the bowl with a damp cloth or paper towel, and set a plate on top. Keep an eye on it over a day or two, checking the progress periodically and ensuring the cloth remains damp. This also works […]
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 617. 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 what’s new at the store and in the business in general, including Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s acquisition of Mac Baren. At the top of the show, Brian will discuss pipe shows, pipe show organizing, and the Las Vegas International Pipe Show.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 616. Our featured interview tonight is with Gabe Hall. Gabe is a 23-year old conservative Californian from Bakersfield that is involved in politics part time. He is part of our newer ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. Both his story of starting pipe smoking, and his smoking routine are a little bit different than the usual story. 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.
Ok, the old Pundit is gonna say this only once. Well, maybe twice: It’s beach time! Some of my happiest pipe-smoking memories were created on the back deck of an original Pawleys Island, S.C., beach house. Listening to the waves dash and flop were pure music, highlighted by the squealing laughter of children frolicking along the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. Now, before you go bellowing about shark attacks, Pundit has his No. 1 Rule about sharks and warning flags, even if no flags are flying on an empty stretch of coastline. Having fished the surf many a day and evening, and even occasionally on a high pier resting on mighty shell-encrusted pilings and stretching out over the aqua-tinted waters, it became apparent that predators with large, sharp teeth prowled menacingly close to splashing bathers So, Pundit Beach Rule No. 1, ankle-deep wading and strolling, only. Make quick swims if it is not too windy, and never if menacing fins are seen cutting the water like the bow of a battleship. Rule adjustments might be needed for kiddies and exuberant beach paddlers in the family. Another necessary adjustment in the rule is no swimming alone. OK, beach lesson over. You don’t have to take Pundit’s word. Check out sea-going pipe-smoking experts: Herman Melville, who knew a thing or two about ferocious whales, and Sir Ernes Henry Shackleton, a famed adventurer who took on frozen seas. No sharks, but the message loudly proclaims oceans harbor many a menace, some large in body with huge teeth and some just frozen solid mountains of floating ice. And while checking up on Pundit, you might enjoy Chuck Stanion’s Herman Melville’s Literary Pipes February 4, 2022, in Pipe Line and his masterful story on the Shipwreck of Shackleford’s Endurance, also in Pipe Line. Now back to Pundit’s time on the beach, in a chair at sunrise on a screened-in deck, seas dancing, pipe in hand. Vacations today seem to be all hurly-burly, hurry, scurry, and worry. Back when a seaside deck beckoned, I packed not only fishing equipment, and some clothes, but also a shoulder bag full of pipes and enough tobacco to survive a voyage with Sir Shackleton. Each morning, noon, and night watch was accompanied by different pipes and different blends. Pipes ranged from Dunhills, Cavicchis, Ser Jacopos, Ashtons, Petersons, and Savinellis. Blends tended to be simple: aromatics and English containing various additives, of course. On rare occasions, I made a Pundit blend, which combined English with Latakia and aros with Virginia. Pundit blends were meh, but there were Cornell & Diehl, Capstan, Samuel Gawith, Three Nuns, Wessex, and the late lamented McClelland, plus a couple of others to save the rare moments. Pundit beach time was also a time for testing THESIS (taste, heat, enjoyment, strength, issues, satisfaction). There is but one way to do this properly and that is to employ a new cob pipe. Cobs give a good overall THESIS, sort of the cheaper version of precious sea-borne meerschaums. Cobs are, in a way, landlocked meers, and provide an excellent idea of how a particular blend will emerge. Ok, enough of experimentation. We are on a beach vacation, right? Observing the sun rising over an orange-lit horizon with a pipe and a cup of coffee is simply put, enchanting. Sun and ocean seem to merge for a brief moment in a blur of beauty. You can find yourself at the beach, leaning back in a chair, letting the morning-salted breeze sweep over you whilst you puff gently in between sips. Ahh, that’s a morning on the beach. There is nothing quite like it in the Pundit’s mind. And now for a couple of thoughts from real experts on sea adventures: Herman Melville is an American author, poet, and novelist best known for “Moby Dick.” But let us not forget Cornell & Diehl’s Melville at Sea tobacco series of blends: Billy Budd, Redburn, and John Marr, other noted works from Melville’s pen as well. It is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation. He who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great. Failure is the true test of greatness—Herman Melville. Then there is Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton. Pipes, as mentioned by Chuck in his excellent piece on the great explorer, who relied on his pipe when the going got rough. Through endurance we conquer― Ernest H. Shackleton And finally, a Pipe Smoker of the Past cannot go without mentioning: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born May 22, May 1859, and died July 7, 1930. If you are struggling to identify Sir Doyle in your mind, then you might be too young to be reading this. Of course, he is the prodigious author of the great detective Sherlock Holmes novels. Holmes and his drama are must-reads on any pipe-smoker’s novel list. ‘Nuff said! It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
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.”