PODCAST · leisure
Beyond the Burl
by Beyond the Burl
Beyond the Burl is a weekly exploration of pipe culture, craftsmanship, and conversation, hosted by Seb and Josh. From the rituals of tamping and toasting to the strange, smoky corners of history, we delve into the world of briar, blends, and banter. Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or just pipe-curious, pull up a chair, light your bowl, and join us as we go beyond the burl.
Episodes
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Episode 79: Seb's return
Sebastien is back from his travels, and we’re catching up on all the adventures! We kick things off with a lighthearted game of 20 Questions, tackle another trivia challenge, and dive into Seb’s visits to LJ Peretti and the Julius Vesz workshop. Then we light up some Belgian Delight from Smokers...
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Episode 78: A Rose by any other name
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, Sebastien is still away, and Josh is joined by Canadian Pipemaker Nate Rose. Together they stray from the typical format, diving into an unstructured conversation covering topics from what's being worked on behind the scenes, to what we're currently excited…
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Episode 77: Seb's Gettin' Hitched
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, Josh is joined by Mike from Timber & Smoke, as Sebastien is in the midst of final wedding to-dos. Josh and Mike have a wide ranging, casual conversation discussing everything from instagram drama, to turn of the century pipesmiths.
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Episode 76: A better Virginia discussion
In Episode 76, we take another crack at our Virginia discussion, revisiting the leaf, its varieties, and some of the things we may have gotten wrong, or simply left out, the first time around. Then it’s time for another round of tobacco trivia, followed by a completely unhinged Mad Libs adventure...
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Episode 75: We react to episode 1
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we take a trip down memory Lane as we listen back to, and react to and comment on, our very first episode of Beyond the Burl. Grab your favourite pipe, settle in, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
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Episode 74: The future of Beyond the Burl
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we take a look back at our journey through pipe smoking so far, the experiences, discoveries, surprises, and questions that have shaped where we are today. We also put our knowledge to the test with another round of pipe tobacco trivia, before letting ChatGPT...
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Episode 73: Unknown varietals and things taboo
This week on Beyond the Burl, we’re putting our tobacco knowledge to the test with a little game of Tobacco Taboo, followed by another trivia question, which may or may not throw you for a loop. Then things take a turn as ChatGPT tells the tale of Jester and Monk, two castle employees who decide...
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Episode 72: This pipe ain't big enough fer the two of us!
This week on Beyond the Burl, we’re opening the tin on a few curious corners of pipe smoking history! We take a look at tobacco tins, where they came from, how they evolved, and why those little metal containers became such an iconic part of the pipe-smoking world. Then it’s time for another…
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Episode 71: Trials and Trivialations
This week on Beyond the Burl, we have a fun time while Josh gets absolutely destroyed by trivia, before throwing Seb for a loop by having a trivia question prepared for the audience. We also have another ChatGPT story, this time with a little bit of magical nonsense thrown into the mix, before...
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Episode 70: Factory pipes!
Seb is back after sitting out an episode, and we kick things off by talking about some of our preferred pipe factories and what makes them stand out. We then dive into another ChatGPT-generated story that turns out to be a little longer than expected. For the Deep Dive, we take a cursory look at...
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Episode 69: Pipe and Tamper 3.5?
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, Seb is away, and Josh has to scramble to try to fill the void, calling once again upon the unfiltered talent of Jay and Bo of Pipe and Tamper.
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Episode 68: Our Spending Behaviour
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we dive into what actually makes a tobacco blend interesting, whether it’s the blend itself, the way it smokes, or something a little harder to define. We’ve also got another fun bit of pipe tobacco trivia, a great listener-submitted story, and a conversation...
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Episode 67: Pipe making and Tobacco Blending
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we share what our better halves really think about our pipe-smoking hobby, from first impressions to how their opinions have evolved over the years. We also dive into a fantastic listener-submitted story that reminds us that not everything is always as it…
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Episode 66: Controversial Takes
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we're back with a laid-back mix of laughs, conversation, and tobacco. We kick things off with a fun window shopping exercise, imagining what we'd add to our collections if we shopped smokingpipes with a set budget. Then it's time for another round of pipe…
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Episode 65: Joshwith & Sebgarth
This week on Beyond the Burl, we kick things off with a few rounds of Mind Meld, seeing if we can think alike (with varying degrees of success). Then it's time for another ChatGPT adventure, as we hear the legendary tale of Ramblin John. We also take a deep dive into the rich history of Gawith &...
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Episode 64: Capitaland Recap
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we discuss every pipe smoker's bucket list, enjoy a hilarious Seb & Johnny story, and welcome back Johnny from Palmyra Products and Mike from Timber & Smoke to recap our adventures at the Capitaland Pipe Show. We finish the episode by lighting up and reviewing...
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Episode 63: Off to Capitaland
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we take a look back at where it all started, revisiting our pipe collections from Episode 2 and comparing how our tastes, habits, and collections have evolved since those early days. What changed? What stayed the same? We bring back our trivia question, dive…
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Episode 62: The Pipelympics
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we kick things off with a round of the Tobaccolympics, crowning our winners across a variety of tobacco related categories. We follow it up with another round of pipe trivia, challenge ourselves with a spooky chat story, and then dive deep into a conversation...
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Episode 61: Preferences Partialities and Predilections
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we dive deep into details that help make a pipe truly unique, starting with a discussion on pipe stem materials and the history, qualities, and quirks behind everything from classic vulcanite to alternative materials. We keep the tradition alive with another...
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Episode 60: Seb gets cranky then we talk about art
This week on Beyond the Burl, we accidentally discover that Sebastien may have found his true calling: playing 20 Questions. What starts as a simple game quickly turns into a surprisingly competitive battle of deduction, and Seb is having the time of his life. Keeping tradition alive, we follow…
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Episode 59: A chat with Michael Parks
This week, we throw the usual format out the window and sit down with Canadian pipe maker Michael Parks for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey into pipe making, the lessons he's learned along the way, and the craft that continues to inspire him. Along the way, Michael even pitches a...
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Episode 58: Answering The Burning Questions
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we settle in for a laid-back evening of pipe talk, stories, and plenty of laughs. We kick things off by diving into some personal opinion questions that take the conversation in all kinds of unexpected directions, followed by another round of trivia to test our...
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Episode 57: Mold or Gold
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we dive into one of the most debated topics in pipe tobacco culture: mold vs. sugar crystals — how to tell the difference, why it matters, and the panic that erupts when someone opens an old tin and sees something suspicious staring back at them. We’re also…
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Episode 56: Chicago Recap (ft. Jay Furman) and Josh Talks About Gourds
A new episode of Beyond the Burl is here, and this one takes us from the legendary halls of the Chicago Pipe Show to the smoky comfort of a rich evening blend. We kick things off with a brief look into the history and mystique of the iconic Calabash pipe before diving into the chaotic and…
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Episode 55: The Pipes Of Our Homeland
In this episode, we dig into the fascinating world of blends that have evolved over time while keeping the same name, unpacking what’s been lost, gained, and quietly altered along the way. The conversation takes a turn with a chat story that breaks the usual mold—still entertaining, but with a...
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Episode 54: Our visit with Julius Vesz
In this episode, we dive deep into the rich tradition of rope and twist tobaccos, breaking down their history, preparation, and why they still hold a cult following among seasoned pipe smokers. We keep things lively with another round of trivia to test your pipe knowledge, followed by a wild,...
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Episode 53: Pocket Pipes & French mountains
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we kick things off with a lively discussion on the charm and controversy of pocket pipes, those compact, foldable companions that blur the line between practicality and novelty. From there, we roll into another round of pipe and tobacco trivia to test your...
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Episode 52: Here's to another 52
Episode 52 marks a full year of Beyond the Burl, and we celebrate the milestone by reflecting on the journey that brought us here. We kick things off by announcing our arrival on YouTube, opening a new chapter for the show. In honour of reviewing a year’s worth of blends, we take on our most...
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Episode 51: Corn Cobs and Cavendish
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we dive into the fascinating world of Cavendish, exploring both the process behind it and its role as a blending component that shapes some of our favorite tobaccos. Along the way we throw in another fun trivia question to test your pipe knowledge before…
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Episode 50: Spring Is Almost Here
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we kick things off with a lively tier list ranking of several tobaccos we’ve smoked recently, debating which blends deserve the top spots and which fall a little lower on the scale. From there we shift into another fun historical pipe-smoking trivia fact…
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Episode 49: The Language of Taste
In this episode, we explore the idea of a pipe tobacco cellar as a time capsule, discussing the romantic notion of leaving carefully aged blends behind for future generations to discover and enjoy. Along the way, we drop in another fun pipe trivia factoid, followed by a whimsical chat story about...
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Episode 48: March Meerschaum Madness
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we kick things off by unpacking the often-misunderstood world of Scottish blends-what the term actually means in pipe tobacco, and where the definition comes from. From there we drop in another fun pipe trivia factoid before taking our usual detour into the...
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Episode 47: Innovations That Changed Everything
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we kick things off with a challenging blind ranking where each of us attempts to place ten pipe tobaccos in order without knowing what’s coming next—leading to some surprising placements and a few regrets along the way. We continue our weekly trivia segment…
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Episode 46: Achieving Perfection
In this episode, we put ourselves through a surprisingly brutal round of tobacco-themed Would You Rather—the kind of choices that make you question your cellar, your technique, and maybe even your loyalty to certain blends. We also introduced a brand-new short segment, adding a fresh layer to the...
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Episode 45: A Bulky Family Tree
This week’s episode was a full-bodied ride from practical to philosophical and back again. We kicked things off with a Bulk Smash, breaking down the world of bulk tobacco—its undeniable value, wider availability in some cases, the charm of buying by weight, and the reality that some blends exist...
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Episode 44: Clearing the Air
In this latest episode of Beyond the Burl, we tackle a little bit of everything that makes our conversations what they are. We start by answering some of Josh’s latest machinations, unpacking ideas, and putting our brains to the test. From there, we slip back in time to 19th-century Saint-Claude...
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Episode 43: Beyond the Burl LIVE 3!
In this episode, we went fully live on Discord, opening the floor to audience participation from start to finish and letting the conversation unfold in real time. We reflected on the top two tobaccos we tried in 2025, with no restrictions on release date or hype, just the two blends that were...
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Episode 42: The Perfect Beginner Blend
Seb is back in the briar circle this week, and the episode kicks off with the lads catching up on recent pipe and tobacco acquisitions before sliding into a playful round of 20 Questions: Tobacco Edition—equal parts insight and mischief. Things take a mythic turn with a ChatGPT-spun tale of...
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Episode 41: Of Pipe, Pen, and Paper ft. Timber & Smoke
With Seb still away on vacation, Josh is joined this week by Mike of Timber & Smoke for a relaxed, fireside-style conversation that feels both reflective and good-natured. They open the episode by taking stock of both their tobacco cellars and pipe collections—what’s aging beautifully, what’s in...
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Episode 40: BTB x Palmyra
With Sebastien away on vacation, Josh is joined by Johnny of Palmyra Products for a wide-ranging and reflective episode that blends conversation, storytelling, and smoke. They dig into the blends that taught them patience and humility, revisit a tobacco they once disliked before coming to...
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Episode 39: A chat with Jeremy Reeves
In our latest episode, we kick things off by diving into our newest pipe and tobacco acquisitions before settling in for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation with Jeremy Reeves of Cornell & Diehl, talking craft, blending, and the passion behind small-batch tobacco. Along the way, Jeremy throws...
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Episode 38: New year Tobaccolutions
We kicked off the first episode of the year by easing back in with a playful name-association game that set the tone for what's ahead, before diving back into our ongoing noir tale with a tense chapter that edges ever closer to its final instalment. From there, the conversation turned reflective...
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Episode 37: A short one
In this episode, we settle in for a thoughtful and festive smoke as we imagine the ultimate cellar world—a fun exercise where we challenge ourselves to choose just one blend per category if that’s all we could ever cellar. From there, the holiday spirit rolls in with a pipe-smoker’s rendition of…
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Episode 36: A Christmas Special
In this festive Christmas episode, we gathered around the hearth to reflect on the past, present, and future of our pipe journeys, sharing how tradition, taste, and time have shaped our paths in the hobby-and where the road ahead might lead. We continued our ongoing story with a holiday twist, as...
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Episode 35: Off with your nose!
In this episode, we take a look back at 2025-our most-smoked blends, the standout releases, and the moments that shaped our year in the hobby. Our noir saga pushes deeper into the shadows as our heroes infiltrate the infamous Cavendish Club and uncover the full rot behind their schemes. We also...
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Episode 34: Smuggling tobacco across time
In this episode, we kick things off with a reflective chat about "the blend that got away," swapping stories of those missed, ignored, or underestimated tobaccos that still haunt us in the best way. From there, we dive back into our ongoing ChatGPT noir adventure, where our heroes sprint through...
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Episode 33: Psychology of the leaf
In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of pipe tobacco from every angle. We kick things off by uncovering rare and even extinct leaf varieties lost to time, before diving into a Thanksgiving-themed misadventure where Seb and Josh face one travel disaster after another. The drama...
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Episode 32: Tobacpackers guide to the galaxy
In this episode, we kicked things off with a playful destination game, each choosing five cities for the other and pairing them with the tobacco we'd settle in with for a month. From there, we slipped back into our ongoing detective-noir tale, confronting a dangerous cult and going undercover to...
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Episode 31: Beyond the Burl LIVE 2! Curating a myth
In this week’s episode, we took the show live on Discord and invited the community into the conversation. Listeners jumped in to share their experiences on how to keep moving forward in the pipe-journey—everything from refining one’s palate with intention, to building a meaningful cellar rather...
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episode 30: A farmers life for me
In this episode of Beyond the Burl, Seb and Josh kick things off with a fun and fiery guessing game before diving into a captivating short story imagining a world where briar no longer exists. The conversation then turns to the fields with an in-depth discussion on the art and process of tobacco...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Beyond the Burl is a weekly exploration of pipe culture, craftsmanship, and conversation, hosted by Seb and Josh. From the rituals of tamping and toasting to the strange, smoky corners of history, we delve into the world of briar, blends, and banter. Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or just pipe-curious, pull up a chair, light your bowl, and join us as we go beyond the burl.
HOSTED BY
Beyond the Burl
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Beyond the Burl have?
Beyond the Burl currently has 79 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Beyond the Burl about?
Beyond the Burl is a weekly exploration of pipe culture, craftsmanship, and conversation, hosted by Seb and Josh. From the rituals of tamping and toasting to the strange, smoky corners of history, we delve into the world of briar, blends, and banter. Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or just...
How often does Beyond the Burl release new episodes?
Beyond the Burl has 79 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Beyond the Burl?
You can listen to Beyond the Burl on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Beyond the Burl?
Beyond the Burl is created and hosted by Beyond the Burl.
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