Cigars and Crypto Podcast

It's been a super long time since I've put out a podcast.  I've been working on building my own brand.  But I bumped into Lee at an event in Cigar Sessions in Middletown, Delaware.  That 15 minute conversation led to me dusting off my mic and getting back into the swing of things.  In Episode 183, Lee and I discussed how he get into cigars.  We talked about his blending method, factory tours, the core line offerings from Stolen Throne, and limited editions.  Make sure you visit their social media accounts and keep up with them.

I learned a lot from Sam and Sonny about NFT's and the HolyVerse project.

I had an awesome chat with the Crypto Coral Tribe about their NFT project.  Visit them at https://cryptocoraltribe.io or follow them on twitter @coraltribenft

Started in Crypto in 2013 while working at Oracle. While listening to a TedTalk, he had an epiphany. He and his partner saw that there needed to be a payroll processor that provided Bitcoin payroll services. Quit his job in June 2014 to cofound BitWage. To learn more, visit us online at www.cigarsandcrypto.com

Had a great discussion with Jack Kruse.  This episode was sponsored by Cigar Recon Cigars.  You can use crypto to buy your cigars today at www.cigarrecon.com

Also known as "Principle Z", Nadav was formally a Software engineer.  Introduced Podcasting to his school as a way to engage student learners.  The blockchain advocate moved from SW engineering because he wanted to really make a difference and decided to move to education as a Physics and Robotics teacher.  He wants to use Blockchain to change education. Blockchains are a ledger of account that the transcript can be imported to. You could decentralize the high school transcript and have their progress follow them all through their education. It incentivizes a shift to project-based learning instead of test-based learning.  In this episode we discussed his love of Bitcoin and his book: Follow Nadav on Twitter: @nzeimer S/O to @nftylab for their work on NFT's Support Nadav by buying his book Education in the Digital Age: How we get there https://amzn.to/3oLarsB

Damion Lupo Serial Entrepreneur First business at 11 selling Nintendo games Started 50 companies The importance of having purpose How he lost 25 million dollar loss and made it all back Self-awareness and taking ownership of failures is how you recover from losses His First experience with crypto at a coffee shop in Prague. Reinvented Life - Book Financial Underdogs Podcast Special Shoutout to Buckminster Fuller www.damionlupo.com Twitter: @damionlupo

I had an excellent discussion with this brother of the leaf.  Ray is truly an interesting and humble dude.  I really think you'll enjoy this episode.  We discussed how he got into cigar smoking, why he can't say he has a favorite cigar, the importance of environment to the smoking experience, unique pairings, and his work setting up cigar events in Europe and abroad.  Make sure you follow him on social media @rayprodanoff

Had a great discussion with Luke about how he got into crypto, what drew him to Decred, and how it's different from Bitcoin.  Find and follow him on Twitter at 

Cigar smoker for 8 years |  2018 - Founded Charm City Cigars |  Her belief that cigar smokers need products that are built just for us. She knew there had to be a way to take better care of our skin and get rid of the smokey cigar smell as well |  What really excites her about tobacco and cigars. |  Family background in tobacco farming. |  Her constant curiosity motivates her to learn everyday and build a unique brand. Make sure you visit her online at www.charmcitycigars.com or on IG/Twitter at @charmcitycigars

My monthly discussion with the NoirCoin team

I had an amazing lesson and discussion Hannah Rosenberg of Velis Commerce on the Lightning Network.  In this episode we discussed: Studied Econ at UIC Chicago - Monetary Theory |  2011 got into the space after listening to a podcast |  Pitfalls and dangers of the crypto journey |  All roads lead to ₿TC |  A very high-level overview of the Lightning network |  It’s a 2nd layer solution that doesn’t rely on publishing every transaction to the base-layer network (Local Knowledge) |  All lightning nodes need to be connected to a Bitcoin node. (Full or pruned) |  Ease of use of the BTCPayserver |  Phoenix and Moon as easy to use phone wallets |  Detailed discussion on Liquidity and its use on the Lightning network |  The future of Bitcoin, the Lightning Network, and blockchain tech.  Follow her on Twitter at @hmichellerose or visit her online at velascommerce.com

In Episode 171 we discussed: Upgrading the privacy protocol - Will they implement ZKSnarks or Lalantis security protocol. The importance of privacy in the crypto space. They are now preparing for the swap - but are considering implementing this without the privacy protocol first. How will exchanges deal with the new coin; will they drag their feet? How exchanges are greedy AF and kill small projects with exchange fees. Pro’s and Con’s of decentralized exchanges. @noircoin https://www.noirofficial.org

Fintech expert 2014 Owner - Planet Krypton Educator Wanted to fill a gap for those who need an intro to crypto Pre-recorded courses 1 on 1 coaching www.planetkrypton.io @linkgreen_thekhemist

Worked in infrastructure; unified communications. Decided to start a business and the pandemic hit. So she and her team decided it was time to start investing and trading in crypto. They are working to solve the problem of different types of sensors and the inability to work with them all Working on a framework for using Augmented Reality to interact with iOT devices and store that data on distributed ledgers. You’ll be able to launch a response from the AR interface to work remotely. They’ve finished the 1.0 version of the project and they are pushing forward to V2. The project will be blockchain agnostic; you can use this framework on any blockchain that the user chooses. Functions as an interoperable layer 2 solution. They are currently seeking more developers to build on top of it. They are also considering launching a token to reward developers for building on top of the application. Website: www.dappar.io Project Twitter @dapp_ar LinkedIn: Wolfberry LLC

This was my monthly chat with the members of the Noir Coin team.  This month I had an opportunity to speak with Flo, the lead dev.  We discussed their progress on the chain swap and future development that the team has in store.  I love this project and encourage you to listen and learn.   www.noirofficial.org

Crowned Heads Started late 2010 with the hopes of not being a regular cigar company. They chose to be an aspirational brand. Headley Grange Black Lab - Riff off of Headly Grange. 2nd release in 2012. Wanted the cigar to taste like the drum riff from the Led Zeppelin song, When the Levy Breaks. The drums were the inspiration for Headley Grange. A different wrapper was added and called the Black Lab after a black Labrador retriever at that same house. Juarez - 2017 Jon got samples at a trade show. Loved the samples he received and wanted to see if they could mass produce the same flavor. After a number of people passed at the blend, Jon decided to release it on his own. A riff on Jericho Hill, this cigar is amazing and deeply complex. How he’s inspired and motivated to make unique blends Artwork for the Las Calaveras band. Worked on it with Jaime Garcia and My Father Cigars. How his favorite Las Calaveras is the 2015….or is it the 2019? The only way to find out is to listen to the episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @thecrownedheads www.crownedheads.com

This by far was one of my favorite discussions.  In Episode 166 we discussed: His inspiration for creating Room 101 Brand | How Room 101 started as a Bespoke jewelry brand | How Room 101 is a collection of all things important to Matt | Creative Collaboration - He relates cigar making like the creation of music | His absolute love of the craft | His favorite Room 101 cigar past and present | The reemergence of the Namakubi | Will the Chief Cool arrow come back | And a whole lot more! Please make sure you visit the brand online at: https://room101brand.com/ Also follow him on social media at @room101brand It's Boofy baby!!!

I had an excellent discussion with Anarchy in this episode.  We discussed: Got into Cigars at a company retreat and have been in love with cigars ever since. |  Her time in Washington, DC |  What it is about cigar smoking that really appeals to her. |  Matches and her affinity with them, especially with Cuban cigars. |  The cigar smoking rituals I observed while visiting Cuba |  Our mutual love of Boutique cigars |  Definitely loves full bodied cigars |  Pairings are dependent upon her mood. When smoking full-body, she likes a rich red wine and sometimes bourbon. |  Cincoro Repesado and the perfect cigar for her.

This is the second part of the 2 part series of NoirCoin's chain swap.  

This was another amazing discussion with my friend, NotAWiz4rd of the Noir Coin team.  We discussed the status of the chain swap.  This is part one of a two part series.  The next one will drop tomorrow, 5/30/2021

I always enjoy talking to my brother of the coin and my brother of the leaf, Deshawn.  This was our usual monthly get together to discuss everything crypto and even cigars.  I recorded this episode at the end of April but the opinions are timely.  Shout out to @mansa_godson, @bitcoinzay, and @arithepoet. Check out Crypto Commandments at www.cryptocomm.io or follow Deshawn at @commcrypto

I had an amazing discuss with this brother.  In addition to being a content creator, he has an amazing backstory.  In this episode, we discussed: His work at an AI company How he fell down the Bitcoin and Ethereum rabbit holes. The importance of effective communication. How you don't need to be a developer to find a role in cryptocurrency companies. A lot more. Make sure you follow Richard on Twitter at @RichardCarthon or his show Crypto Current on Twitter at @_cryptocurrent_

I had an awesome discussion with the brother, Shawn aka KryptoApproved from Twitter.  In this podcast, we discussed: His entrance into Crypto. Him being a certified Risk and Portfolio Manager. Cool cars he posts on IG and his need for speed. How he became an avid cyclist and runner. Bitcoin Maximalism

I had an amazing discussion with the brother, JHill.   Stuntman, Martial Artist, Trader, and traveler.  You'll enjoy episode 157!!!

SOTL - Danielle @soulfullydani on Instagram From Chicago - Rojos Cigar Lounge in Chicago Heights, IL Smoking for 6 years Her favorite cigar is The Davidoff Late Hour  We talked about the uniqueness of the journey for each person to reach the cigar lifestyle How to bring women into the cigar lifestyle and make them comfortable. Upcoming Event - The Sexy Tea Lounge only in London     May 22, 2021  Casa De Puros  7410 Madison Street Forrest Park, IL $45 Includes 4 cigars with food and drinks.   Organization: Relax - The Relax Cigar Network for Women Started January 28, 2020.  Grew to 350 ladies. Business branding and networking group. IG: @soulfullydani

I had a great chat this month with the members of the NoirCoin team.  In this episode we discussed the progress being made on the coin swap to a fresh chain.  We also discussed awesome quotes in 100 year old books!  I think you'll really enjoy this episode.

Episode 152 was quite fun!  I had a chance to speak with Brandi, aka @hercigarcloset from IG.  In this episode, we discussed: Avo Heritage Old Forrester 1920 Prohibition Style Mombacho Liga Maestro CAO Amazon Basin How she got into cigars 7 years ago. ChiTown Cigar Experience Her eBook for new women smokers Make sure you follow her on IG at @hercigarcloset or on Twitter at @PrettiGirlsPour

I was truly honored and pleased to be joined by Jimmy Song in this episode.  Jimmy is a super Bitcoin OG and also a humble educator.  In this episode we discussed: How he got into Bitcoin in 2011 The path that leads to Bitcoin Maximalism Ways to onboard people to Bitcoin The inspiration behind three of his books The future of Bitcoin If you enjoyed this episode, please consider buying Jimmy's books.  I recently purchased all three and look forward to learning all that I can about this amazing technology.  I've added the links below. Programming Bitcoin: https://amzn.to/2OolUA1 The Little Bitcoin Book: https://amzn.to/3qgSYaj Thank God for Bitcoin: https://amzn.to/3uUNIg5

I always enjoy our monthly discussions.  We discussed cigars and crypto events!!!

I had an awesome discussion with Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker of the State of Delaware.  We discussed black issues in the State as a part of Black History Month.  I saved this episode until 3/1 because she is a part of Black History.  She is the first Black woman to be elected to the 3rd district here in the First State.  We discussed initiatives spearheaded by the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus.  I took a moment to discuss Bitcoin and how we can get the ball rolling on acceptance in the First State.  This was an eye-opening interview and the perfect way to end Black History Month and to begin Women's History Month. 

I had a good discussion with Damon Johnson, author of Deep Into the Bitcoin Rabbit hole.  You can buy his book on Amazon by clicking here or visit his website and pay in Bitcoin. https://bitcoin-rabbit-hole-book.myshopify.com/

I had an awesome discussion with NotAWiz4rd and Flo of the Noircoin team.  We discussed the challenges behind a chain swap, how difficult it is working with exchanges sometimes, and the future of the NoirCoin project.  I really appreciated the deep-dive we took this episode and I learned a lot from a quality Core Developer.  

I had an awesome discussion with Mitchell Orchant, Managing Director of Cigars Ltd. in the U.K. We discussed how he selects blends worthy of the Seleccion Orchant brand, how he started the first online retailer for premium cigars in the U.K., the new lounge opened in Central London, and what his favorite wrappers are.  This is an awesome gentleman with an amazing story.  Make sure you follow him on Twitter: @cgarsltd or visit them online at: https://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/

In episode 145 of Cigars and Crypto, I had a chance to speak with Douglas Tuman.  Douglas is a self-professed Monero Maximalist.  We had a chance to discuss how he initially got into crypto. We discussed how the lack of privacy in Bitcoin transactions drove him to his love of Monero. Furthermore, we vigorously debated fungibility and if Bitcoin is indeed fungible.  We were able to agree that value is determined by the people who view the currency as valuable.  We discussed the delisting of Monero on exchanges and the bright future ahead he sees for Monero.  Not only that, but we also discussed his run for Congress during the 2020 election cycle.  Make sure you follow Douglas at @douglastuman on Twitter.   Thanks so much for listening to our show.  If you like what you hear, please give us a 5-star rating on your podcast platform of choice. 

Had another great discussion with NotAWiz4d of the NoirCoin team to end the month. In this episode, we discussed the upcoming coin swap, his love of Hi Fidelity audio, the importance of reoccurring payments, their new android wallet, and a lot more.  

This was the first of many monthly episodes with my friend Smoke of the Smoke World Podcast.  In this episode we discussed: How to get and present cigar reviews and content The political climate in America and the events at the Capitol The need for civil discourse and how cigar smoking encourages that Cigar Aficionados list of their top 25 cigars. This week we smoked the Crook of the Crown by Stolen Throne Cigars and the Liga Maestro by Mombacho Cigars. Shout out to my friends!  They were mentioned in the show this week.  Blake and the #HerfSociety

SuperWorld is an Augumented, Virtual, and Super reality app co-founders by HrishLotlikar and Max Woon.  It adds digital information to the real world kind of like Pokemon Go. The app breaks up the physical earth into 64 Billion parts that are each represented by NFT's or non-fungible tokens.  These tokens are rich media enabled; meaning I can upload my podcast into SuperWorld and you can view it there through the app virtually or when physically standing in a location where I am the owner of that digital real estate. I really enjoyed my discussion with Hrish and I encourage you to visit SuperWorldApp.com today.

This was the flagship episode announcing my partnership with the Crypto Commandments brand.  In this episode, we introduced Crypto Commandments to my listeners.  We talked about how he got started in crypto, how he came up with the idea for Crypto Commandments, how he's seeking to onboard new users of crypto via 30 minute personal weekly sessions, and a lot more.  Make sure you follow him online and on Twitter: Twitter: @commcrypto URL: www.cryptocomm.io Phone: 513-549-5030

This was an awesome change of pace.  I had a chance to speak with Brian Lesher of the No Beer Left Behind podcast. We talked about how to make home brew beer, the necessity to keep a clean workspace, the No Beer Left Behind Podcast, cigar pairings, and a lot more.  I really enjoyed this discussion and look forward to having him back on the show.  Shout out to my friend @lostwonderbeer for giving me exposure to the beer brewing process.  Make sure you check out the podcast on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Follow them on twitter at @nblbbeer and @nobeerleftbehindcast.

Check out this episode of Cigars and Crypto with James Gillingham, found of Finxflo.  Learn more about this unique exchange, his work ethic, and how he got into crypto.  Make sure you visit www.cigarsandcrypto.com for advertising specials.

Dr. Damon Bryant and Dr. Larry Davis of XChainZ.io Follow them online: Twitter: @XChainZ1          @DrLarryDavis  Digital Certifications and Assessment technology

I had an excellent discussion with Reuben Yap of the Firo team.  Firo is a re-brand of zcoin.  We discussed the re-brand, future innovation for the project, and the future of privacy in the cryptocurrency space.  It was another lively discussion with my friend.   If you like this episode, please share it and give us a 5-star review on your platform of choice.  If you'd like to support our show, please consider visiting www.5under20.com for your next cigar purchase.  

I really enjoy producing cigar content for my crypto family.  In this episode, I spoke my real life friend, Smoke World.  He is the producer of the Smoke World podcast and provides all kinds of content for cigar lovers.  In this episode, we discussed: Uncle Nearest Bourbon is which one we like best; 1884 or the 1856 Francisco Almonte of DBL Cigars the HVC 500th Anniversary I paired with bourbon The importance of the Stoney Price range for cigars ($5-$12) Thanks so much for joining me bro.  If you like this episode, please consider giving us a 5-star rating on your podcast platform of choice.  If you'd like to support the show, visit www.5under20.com to pick up your cigar 5-pack today.

I had an awesome discussion with Chris Groshong of @coinstructive.  We discussed: How he got into crypto, Crypto forensics and analysis, The future of cryptocurrency and blockchain tech in the next 3-5 years, and How he got the name DJ Kinkle. This was a really fun episode with an awesome guy.  To find out more about Chris and Coinstructive, follow their Twitter handles. @djkinkle and @coinstructive or visit https://coinstructive.com/

I always enjoy speaking with my friend.  I learn something new every time we speak.  In this episode we discussed the Noircoin Chain Swap vote, why projects do it, hot old and new video games, politics and self-custody wallets and legislation.

Episode 133 was very enlightening for me.  We discussed: How Rodolfo got into crypto How he was interested in digital money before the invention of Bitcoin How he sold Bitcoins dot com to Mt. Gox The state of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in Latin America The future of Bitcoin in the next 3 to 5 years LABITCONF is one of the oldest Bitcoin conferences in existence.  It caters to teach Argentinians and Latin American audiences.  It was started to educate people to the benefits of digital currencies and how they can be used in day to day commerce.  Over the years, they have had a number of OG's participate as speakers and help shape the current cryptocurrency environment in Latin America.  I really enjoyed my discussion with Rodolfo and I know you will too.  Be certain to follow him on Twitter @RodolfoBits and follow the LABITCONF conference Twitter handle at @laBITconf.  The conference this year will be held December 7th-12th 2020.  Make sure you sign up to attend. www.labitcoinf.com

I had a great discussion with the founder of the Token Metrics team, Ian Balina.  In this episode, we discussed what Token Metrics is and how they offer real value to new entrants to the cryptocurrency space.  As a learning and data platform, Token Metrics employs AI technology to assist new people to crypto in making sound decisions in investing and trading.  Their 1 year anniversary just past on Black Friday.  Make sure you check out this awesome platform by visiting them on Twitter: @tokenmetricsinc or online: www.tokenmetrics.com

Another fantastic discussion on Cigars And Crypto.  This week I chat with Jomari Peterson.  He's the founder of Finite Games. We discuss: How he got into crypto His background in cryptography His new projects Future of Crypto Please make sure you smash the like button if you like this episode.  If you'd like to support the show, please visit www.5Under20.com to purchase cigars or donate Bitcoin to us here: 14eM5h4aJSMbwnZVpRqoiuAHGfuKARbQaz

Another great discussion with my friend @notawiz4rd of the @noircoin team.  In this episode we discussed: Bachelors Thesis Bitcoin's current increase in price and why this bull run may be different Sound money and the types of people who invest in it Belief systems around cryptocurrency Make sure you like and share this episode with all of your friends.  It would be greatly appreciated.  Visit us at https://www.5Under20.com for all of your cigar purchases.  It helps to keep this show up and running without having to beg for support.