Explore every episode of CRAFTED
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05 Aug 2022 | Introducing: CRAFTED | 00:01:26 | |
CRAFTED explores how things get made, and does so with the remarkable people that insist on making things well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 10 Aug 2022 | New Image Brewing on Constant Experimentation, Inspiration, & Evolution | 01:11:58 | |
Today, we’ve got the very first episode of our latest podcast, CRAFTED. On CRAFTED, we dive deep into the craft world to explore how things get made, and do so with the remarkable people who insist on making things well. We’re kicking off the podcast by talking with Brandon Capps, the founder and owner of New Image Brewing in the Denver area of Colorado. Brandon is not only part of the reason we launched CRAFTED, he’s also someone who is exceptionally good at — and passionate about — discussing the intricacies of brewing, growing a business, and doing things differently. We cover all of that and more, including what other breweries inspire him; coming up with 600+ beer recipes over the years; New Image’s constant production of new one-off beers vs. year-round options; and what truly makes a “Craft” company. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 17 Aug 2022 | A Very Deep Dive on Coffee w/ Sam Higby of First Ascent | 01:17:40 | |
First Ascent Coffee Roasters might be best known for their instant coffee. So in this conversation, FA owner and partner and coffee roaster, Sam Higby discusses the difference between very good and very bad instant coffee; light roasts vs. dark roast; the brewing process; brewing coffee at altitude; how to make great coffee on a budget; and more. TOPICS & TIMES
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| 25 Aug 2022 | The Origins & Ethos of Offset Bier, Park City, Utah | 01:33:44 | |
Offset Bier has quickly established itself as the best brewery in Park City, and one of the very best in the state, making it a must-stop for any true beer aficionado. But Offset is also establishing itself as a community hub for skiers, runners, and bikers. We talk with Offset co-founder, Conor Brown, about the name “Offset Bier”; approachability vs. complexity; brewing in a state with strict liquor laws; their “No Flights, No Whining” policy; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 31 Aug 2022 | What is Natural Wine? Danielle & Katie Nichols of CORK, Stowe, VT | 01:04:12 | |
What is “Natural Wine”? Is it the same as organic wine, or raw wine? For answers, we talk with Danielle and Katie Nichols, the two amazing sisters behind CORK Restaurant & Natural Wine Shop. Danielle and Katie provide a fantastic introduction and overview of natural wine; explain how they got into it; and tell us about “Twinkie Wines” and “Breakfast Wines,” too. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 07 Sep 2022 | John Fellows: Artist, Illustrator, & Graphic Designer | 01:04:01 | |
Today we are talking with John Fellows, one of our favorite artists, whose signature style can be found across the outdoor industry. We discuss John’s background in art; the business of art & graphic design; the development of his trademark style; and we announce our new Blister Artist Series that we are kicking off with John. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 14 Sep 2022 | The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich (Part 1) | 01:22:51 | |
With Heady Topper, John Kimmich created one of the most sought-after beers in the world, and effectively created the profile of the modern IPA. In Part 1 of this tour-de-force of a conversation, we talk to John about his path to opening The Alchemist with his wife, Jen, in 2003; the business — and current landscape — of craft beer; his advice on opening a brewery; and what distinguishes great beer from mediocre beer. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 22 Sep 2022 | The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich (Part 2) | 00:30:53 | |
With Heady Topper, John Kimmich created one of the most sought-after craft beers in the world, and effectively created the profile of the modern IPA. In Part 2 of our conversation, we dive into the evolution of Heady Topper; why making great beer is not enough for John & Jen; & more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 06 Oct 2022 | Amateur Hour: Paul Forward on Traditional Bows | 01:11:04 | |
We talk to Blister reviewer (and medical doctor and lead heli guide), Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows; when and how Paul became fascinated by them; and why we ought to appreciate their rich history and ethos, too. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 12 Oct 2022 | Blue Collar Fine Art: Rob Dickinson of Precise Painting | 00:52:39 | |
Around here, we all think of Rob Dickinson as skiing royalty. But Rob is also the owner of Precise Painting, an interior and exterior paint and finishing company that does extremely fine work, and employs 25+ people in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado. We talk to Rob about the craft of painting and finishing homes; what anyone thinking about building, purchasing, or maintaining a home in mountain towns ought to know about exteriors; how to think about aesthetics vs. price vs. durability; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 19 Oct 2022 | The Alchemist's John & Jen Kimmich on Sustainability, Beer, & the Bigger Picture (Part 3) | 01:15:31 | |
This week Jonathan Ellsworth was back at The Alchemist in Stowe, VT, to sit down with its founders, Jen and John Kimmich, to dive into their philosophy on sustainability — in all of its forms — and to hear how they created a company that is leading the way on a number of these fronts. It’s an impressive story driven by shared principles, and we hope this conversation serves as an inspiration to other companies across many sectors. (And of course, along the way, we also talk a good bit about making great beer and keeping the bar high.) TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 26 Oct 2022 | Barr Hill Distiller, Ryan Christiansen, on Honey, Bees, Gin, & More | 01:43:46 | |
Barr Hill Gin is one of the best products being made in America today. And when paired with the mission of Barr Hill, you’ll understand why the company has such a fanatical following. Last week Jonathan Ellsworth was in Montpelier, Vermont, to spend the day at Barr Hill with Barr Hill president and distiller, Ryan Christiansen, to talk about bees and pollinators; the process of producing exceptional gin; what makes their Barr Hill vodka unique; the impact of their ‘Bees Knees Week’ initiative; their foray into the world of rye whiskey; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 02 Nov 2022 | The Art & Science of Whiskey, with Liz Rhoades, WhistlePig | 01:03:51 | |
We headed back to Shoreham, Vermont, to sit down with the head of whiskey development at WhistlePig, Liz Rhoades, to dive deep into the art and science of distilling, sourcing, yeast strains, specific types of rye, non-alcoholic whiskey, and … WhistlePig’s new bourbon. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 09 Nov 2022 | Amateur Hour: ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, on Knives | 00:52:26 | |
In the ski world, ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, is known for being maniacal about the craft of building skis. But today, we talk with Scott about his other obsession: knives. We discuss how Scott got into knives; knife quivers; patina chasing; price ranges; cutting boards; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 23 Nov 2022 | Gelato: Alberto & Julia Bati of My Sugar Gelato Artigianale, Firenze, Italia | 00:58:36 | |
This past June, Jonathan Ellsworth stumbled across a gelateria in Firenze (Florence) Italy, that basically changed his life. Because after going there every day — usually twice a day — he knew that he would have to come back to Florence and sit down for a CRAFTED conversation with Alberto and Julia Bati, owners of My Sugar Gelato Artigianale, to talk about the craft (and the hard work) of making some of the best gelato in the world. Here is that conversation, fresh from Florence. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 07 Dec 2022 | Art, Gear, & Beer: Blister Artist Series w/ John Fellows & Brandon Capps | 00:33:33 | |
Artist, John Fellows, and New Image Brewing founder & head brewer, Brandon Capps, are back on CRAFTED to discuss our Blister Artist Series collab. John talks about his inspiration for the art and how he produced it; Brandon talks about creating the beer by starting with John’s artwork; Jonathan talks about how he came up with the name of the beer (Ambulation); and we also discuss the difference between an IPA & Double IPA; wabi sabi & kintsugi; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 14 Dec 2022 | CORK: Holiday Edition | 00:39:27 | |
Danielle and Katie Nichols — the sisters behind CORK Natural Wine Shop & Restaurant in Stowe, Vermont — are back on CRAFTED to talk more about “natural wine”; discuss Italy, “priest stranglers,” and Corksicles; offer advice on holiday gift buying; and tell us about the revamped CORK Wine Club. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 21 Dec 2022 | Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 1) | 01:38:03 | |
When Atomic Ski Boots Product Manager, Matt Manser, isn’t nerding out about ski boots … he’s nerding out about Scotch. And in this conversation, Matt and Jonathan discuss butt casks and blood tubs; why cask size matters; barrel-aged ski boots; tea spoons; single malts vs. blends; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 25 Jan 2023 | Amateur Hour: BLISTER founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, on Watches | 01:09:18 | |
Today on CRAFTED, our podcast producer extraordinaire, the Strikingly Handsome Justin Bobb, is talking about watches with Jonathan Ellsworth for our latest edition of Amateur Hour. You’ll hear what caused Jonathan to stop ignoring timepieces and start appreciating the craftsmanship of this category; watches vs. outdoor gear; why he thinks watches are particularly important and interesting today; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 02 Feb 2023 | In Search of the ‘Best’ Coffee Gear, Pt. 1: Andrew Gardner, Coffee "Enthusiast" | 01:00:14 | |
What’s the best way to make coffee? Very strong opinions abound, and Jonathan is currently caught up in trying to figure out the right answer for himself; so he’s recruiting some friends and experts to help. First up is Andrew Gardner. They talk about coffee and life priorities; coffee and cycling culture; how to think about the cost vs the quality of coffee-making equipment; and whether Jonathan should keep or return this new Breville semi-automatic espresso maker that’s sitting in an unopened box at his house. Listen up, then let us know what you think Jonathan should do — and what coffee gear he should get. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 08 Feb 2023 | In Search of the 'Best' Coffee Gear (& Ski Boots), Pt. 2: Sam Higby, First Ascent Coffee Roasters | 01:11:21 | |
Sam Higby, co-owner of First Ascent Coffee Roasters, joins Jonathan to talk pour overs, grinders, brewing at altitude, programmability, and more. Listen up, then let us know what your pick is for the best coffee-making setup out there. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 01 Mar 2023 | Artist Geoff McFetridge on 'Return to Stoner Forest,' Bigfoot, Collabs, & More | 01:09:35 | |
The artist & designer Geoff McFetridge came to CB to pay us a visit, and in this conversation, he & Jonathan discuss his current show in LA, Return to Stoner Forest; culture & commerce; Geoff’s approach to collaborations; the new film, ‘Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life,’ & more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 05 Apr 2023 | Beer Collabs: A Love Story (New Image Brewing x Offset Bier Co) | 01:10:27 | |
Why are there so many collabs in the craft beer world? We talk to Offset Bier co-founder, Conor Brown, and New Image Brewing founder, Brandon Capps, for answers, and also about the new collabs they’ve just released; “New World” or “West Coast” pilsners; snooty bike shops; skiing pow; barley wine; & more. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 12 Apr 2023 | Tea: Origins, Trends, & State of the Union with JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler | 01:06:33 | |
Jonathan talks to JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler, about the origins, production, and culture of tea; “Duckshit” tea; what goes into making an exceptional cup of tea; the pros and cons of coffee vs tea; trends in the tea world, and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Starting JING (5:47) Single Malt & Craft Tea (16:08) Coffee vs Tea (20:25) Caffeine & Flavor (33:10) Milk in Tea? The Debate (39:30) What Makes Great Tea Leaves? (43:47) Trends & State Of The Union (47:51) Brewing Tea (57:43) RELATED LINKS Become a Blister + Spot Member SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 11 May 2023 | Guitars & Guitar Making with Fretboard Journal’s Jason Verlinde | 01:21:18 | |
Today we’re talking all things guitars and guitar making with a fantastic guide to this world, Jason Verlinde, publisher of the Fretboard Journal. Jason and Jonathan discuss how and where guitars are being made; boutique vs. mass market brands; who is pushing innovation; guitar quivers; the greatest guitarists ever; and (much to Jonathan’s delight) Blind Willie McTell. TOPICS & TIMES: Gear Nerdery & Vintage Amps (4:44) Fretboard Journal (6:38) Loving Guitars, but not Guitar Media (8:05) How & When Jason got into Guitars (11:34) Current Interest in Guitars (14:12) How do people get into playing? (17:01) Ukuleles (20:14) Boutique vs Mass Market Brands (25:56) History of Guitar Making (31:27) Rock & Roll Changed Everything (39:09) Craft of Manufacturing (42:12) Performance & Guitar Quivers (44:58) Who is Pushing Innovation & How? (51:04) Prices / Price Ranges (1:00:47) Jason's Guitar Heroes (1:07:38) Best Guitarists Ever (1:10:03) Check out Fretboard Journal (1:18:43) RELATED LINKS SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 May 2023 | Drinking Gold: Coffee Gear, Pt. 3, with ON3P Skis' founder, Scott Andrus | 01:21:15 | |
ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, is back on CRAFTED to go deep into the weeds about the various gear options out there to make great coffee and espresso. We discuss the very inexpensive options; $1000 coffee grinders; Scott’s mind-blowing “Coffee Checklist for Jonathan”; and more. It’s an amazing, slightly terrifying, definitely fun conversation about Drinking Gold and the gear used to make it. TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 24 May 2023 | Adventures in HomeBrewing, Distilling, & Coffee Roasting + the Launch of Calibration Coffee Lab | 01:05:52 | |
Before Alex LeBlanc started Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina, he was a mechanical engineer by trade, a home brewer, a home distiller, and a home coffee roaster. So what led him to leave the world of engineering to start Calibration Coffee Lab, and roast beans for a living? And how did he go about doing it? This conversation is about the process of turning your passion into a business, and the process of creating some very good roasts, too. Want to try some Calibration coffee? Check out the following deals:
TOPICS & TIMES:
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| 31 May 2023 | Bravus Brewing Company: Elevating NA Beer | 00:51:10 | |
Not all beer is created equal, and that certainly goes for NA beer, too. So what’s the secret? Bravus Brewing Company has been making some of the very best NA beer out there, so I headed to Bravus’ headquarters in Anaheim, CA, to meet up with Bravus founder, Philip Brandes. We talked about what led Philip to start a non-alcoholic craft brewery back in 2015; what Philip regards as some of the better - and worse - ways of making craft NA beer; and more. TOPICS & TIMES
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| 14 Jun 2023 | Rum Rules: Montanya Distillers’ Karen Hoskin | 01:14:45 | |
Today we’re discussing the rules of rum with Karen Hoskin, founder of Montanya Distillers, which produces some of the best rum in the country — right here in Crested Butte, Colorado. If you’re someone who hasn’t been all that into rum, this conversation will shed light on why you might have felt that way; explain why Karen doesn’t make Montanya’s rum the way that a lot of mainstream rum is produced; and is a pretty amazing crash course in the history of rum, rum culture, the longstanding tradition of “mountain rum”, and more. As you’ll hear, Karen not only has a lot of conviction about her own rules for rum making, but she has a number of deeply held principles that extend well beyond the craft of exceptional rum-making. TOPICS & TIMES: Turning Point: Dec 23, 1988 (3:25) Rum in the 2000's (8:55) Ways of Making Rum (13:28) Rum & Louisiana Sugar Cane (20:47) Laws for US Sugar Cane (29:42) Why Distill in Colorado? (32:32) Advertising Rum & Environmental Concerns (36:46) Challenges of Making Great Rum (40:31) Montanya’s One-of-a-Kind Stil (44:04) Aging & Barreling (50:46) Montanya’s Staple Rums (58:31) RELATED LINKS Montanya Distillers: Where to Buy SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 21 Jun 2023 | Green Beans, Pendulum Swings, & First Crack w/ Royal Coffee CEO, Max Nicholas-Fulmer | 01:02:14 | |
Last week, Jonathan headed to The Crown in Oakland, California, which is the Coffee Lab and Tasting Room of Royal Coffee. He was there to sample experimental coffee drinks, meet with Royal Coffee CEO, Max Nicholas-Fulmer — whose favorite ski is the Moment Blister Pro — and to discuss the world of specialty “green” (not-yet-roasted) coffee. Max and Jonathan discuss the history of changing coffee preferences; the business of importing green beans; the stages of roasting coffee (do you know about first crack and second crack?); current trends; and how Royal Crown is encouraging home roasting with The Crown Jewel. Royal Coffee is a very impressive operation; The Crown is a place that any coffee lover ought to check out; and this conversation covers fascinating but less-well-known aspects of coffee. TOPICS & TIMES: The BLISTER Pro: Bringing People Together (2:55) Royal Coffee: the Family Business (11:47) Max’s Background (15:12) Green Beans & Dark vs. Light Roasts (16:23) First Crack: Caramelization (26:38) Second Crack: Carbonization (30:55) How Altitude Affects Coffee Beans (32:27) Processing Methods (38:00) Coffee Fermentation & Wet Mills (44:42) Geographic Trends & Geisha (46:55) The Crown Jewel & Home Roasting (52:14 ) RELATED LINKS SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 Jun 2023 | Paradigm Winery’s Marilyn Harris on Napa Valley & the Making of a Modern Wine Mecca | 00:48:28 | |
Today, Napa Valley is home to some of the most respected wineries and coveted wines being produced, but not too long ago, it was a sleepy farm community. So in this conversation, Jonathan talks with Marilyn Harris of Paradigm Winery about how Napa … became Napa. Marilyn and her husband, Ren, own Paradigm Winery in Oakville, CA, and they’ve had a front-row seat — and played a first-hand role — in the evolution of Napa Valley. TOPICS & TIMES: How I met Marilyn & her lifelong history in Napa (2:19) When did winemaking start in Napa? (11:33) Importance of 40-acre lots in Napa (17:03) Zinfandel (18:07) Napa & Cabernet Sauvignon (22:46) Cult Wines & Organic Grapes (24:59) Scale & Growth (27:28) Paradigm’s Paravines Red Wine & Rosé (29:00) Climate Change & Napa Wine (34:20) Pringles (38:22) Monday Morning Calls (40:13) The Business of Paradigm & Where to Find It (42:31) RELATED LINKS SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Jul 2023 | Assessing Greatness: The Art & Craft of Tennis, Great Sports Writing, & Top 5 Lists | 01:04:22 | |
Today’s conversation explores the broader question of how to assess greatness? To get there, Jonathan Ellsworth and Troy Russ discuss the art & craft of tennis (and whether it is the greatest of all sports?); the art & craft of great sports writing (and whether David Foster Wallace’s essay, Roger Federer as Religious Experience is the pinnacle of the form?); and finally, we discuss Troy’s Top 5 All-Time Tennis Players, which leads us back into the big question of how to think about assessing greatness in any sport. TOPICS & TIMES: Troy’s Tennis Background & Playing Andre Agassi (5:59) Tennis — the Greatest Sport? (9:07) David Foster Wallace: Roger Federer as Religious Experience (18:40) Watching Tennis on TV vs In-Person (25:32) Troy’s Top 5 Men’s Tennis Players (29:56) Troy’s Top 5 Women’s Tennis Players (49:55) Plot Twist: Re-Ranking the Top 5 (55:49) RELATED LINKS SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 02 Aug 2023 | Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 2) | 01:22:05 | |
Matt Manser (Atomic Ski Boots), is back to dive into the world of Scotch and independent bottlings. He and Jonathan compare a Bunnahabhain independent bottling against their official 12-year offering; discuss a single cask that cost $19M; debate whether you should add water to your Scotch; learn about the fanciest bottle Matt currently owns; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: What does a ski boot designer do in the summer? (4:10) Recapping our first Scotch conversation (10:08) What’s Your Fanciest & Favorite Bottle You Own? (13:23) Red Cask (16:55) Barrel & Cask Talk — plus a $19M cask (19:34) Time to start sipping! (23:56) Independent Bottlings (26:24) Adding / Not Adding Water to Scotch (30:46) Oban 14 (37:55) Back to Independent Bottlings (41:44) First Sip: Bunnahabhain 12 & the Magic Spoon (51:13) Bandaids & American Oak vs European Oak (55:16) Letting Your Pour Rest (58:50) Production volumes of Various Producers (1:06:25) More on Red Cask (1:11:39) RELATED LINKS CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 1 CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 3 SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 09 Aug 2023 | Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 3) | 01:30:35 | |
How do you define “consistency” — the ability to produce the exact same thing time & time again? Or producing a product that is never exactly the same, but is always of high quality? That question is at the heart of this conversation about official offerings vs independent bottlings, but Matt and Jonathan also find time to talk about Scotch and spit buckets; Matt’s current top-3 ‘hottest’ Scotch brands; the short lifespans of humans vs the long lifespans of craft categories; upcoming ski trips to Japan (Blister members, listen up); and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Peated Scotch & Spit Buckets (3:18) Signatory, Edradour, & Independent Bottling Co’s (6:41) Matt’s Top-3 ‘Hottest’ Scotch Producers (14:22) Country-Specific Offerings: Scotch & Skis (21:38) Blister Members: want to go to Japan? (26:15) “Consistency,” Quality, & “Craft” (29:00) Sherry (43:49) The Short Lives of Humans & Craft Products (49:45) Cheese, Gin, & Maple Syrup (56:22) Fair Warning: Things Get Loose. Stop Listening? (1:01:30) Austrian Food Review (1:01:35) Arran 10, Arran 18, & Tamdhu 15 (1:09:54) Drunken Blister Summit Offer & Ramblings (1:19:52) RELATED LINKS CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 1 CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 2 SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 23 Aug 2023 | Chef Yia Vang on Hmong Cuisine & Culture; 'Run & Gun' Restauranteering; & Spreading Appreciation | 01:09:25 | |
Yia Vang is a multi-nominated James Beard Award chef; the founder & head chef of Union Hmong Kitchen, and he’s carved out time to compete on the Netflix show, “Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend,” host the show, ”Feral” on the Outdoors Channel, host another show, “Stoked” on the Food Network, and host the excellent podcast,“Hmonglish” which focuses on the Hmong people, their culture, representation, and Asian excellence overall. Yia and Jonathan discuss all of the above, plus his ‘run & gun’ approach to running a restaurant; the history of the service and sacrifices made by many Hmong people on behalf of the USA; patriotism; curiosity; football; the art of Hmong cuisine; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Managing Restaurants, Flexibility, & Football (8:29) Current State of Food Culture in the USA (22:16) Being Anti "Fusion" (28:01) Hmong / US History (34:02) Hmong Cuisine & Hmong Clans (46:41) The Craft of Hmong Cuisine (51:46) Past, Current, & Future Projects (56:20) RELATED LINKS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 13 Sep 2023 | Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan, on Building a Premium, Affordable, & Ethical Apparel Manufacturing Company in Chicago | 01:00:09 | |
Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan is a thoughtful guy with some grand ambitions. He’s working on building a big apparel company that ethically manufactures premium products at an affordable price, right in Chicago. Impossible you say? This past Monday, Jonathan Ellsworth met up with Rob at Dearborn Denim’s factory in Chicago to tour the factory with him, then record this conversation where he lays out the blueprint. TOPICS & TIMES: Why Rob started Dearborn Denim (2:47) Profitability vs Mission/Ethics (7:25) Why Chicago for Apparel Manufacturing? (13:38) Misconceptions about US Manufacturing (18:46) ‘Made in the USA’ Debate & Shopping Local (22:11) Cost (28:33) Solving for Fit & Advertising Challenges (33:39) Premium -- but Affordable?? -- Products (38:03) Growth & Scale (41:11) Materials & Fabrics: What Should We Know? (49:46) New Products & Contract Work (56:08) RELATED LINKS SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Nov 2023 | Bag Balm President, Libby Parent, on the Origins & Surprising Evolution of a 125-Year-Old American Company | 01:08:35 | |
Based in Vermont — where they still make their products — Bag Balm is an American company with a 125-year history and one very remarkable story. Bag Balm’s president, Libby Parent, joins us to talk about cow udders, celebrity endorsements, and the countless uses of their products, and you’ll also get a great lesson on how to steward a company with such a rich history into the modern world. TOPICS & TIMES: From Cow Udders to Celebrity Endorsements (2:38) BLISTER & Bag Balm & Strange Uses (20:04) Changes to the Formula (24:34) Made in Vermont (27:36) Marketing Product Uses & Discovering New Ones (31:01) Bar Soap & (Serious) Exfoliation (35:08) Stewarding a 125-Yr-Old Heritage Brand (40:08) Most Common Uses & Emotional Support Chickens (47:36) How Libby’s Background Informs Her Work at Bag Balm (53:33) RELATED LINKS SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 22 Nov 2023 | Amateur Hour: Paul Forward on Arrows | 01:09:24 | |
Last year on CRAFTED, we talked with Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows (episode #8). And this is the companion conversation to that episode, about the art of making arrows. TOPICS & TIMES: Kodiak Island (5:29) Only a Traditional Bow (11:10) Arrows: An Amateur's Take (14:42)r Relating Arrow's to Skis (28:39) Feathers: Weights, Forces, and Angles (34:10) Broadheads (44:17) Price Range (52:07) Summary of arrows (54:49) Arrow Makers (57:54) Beginner arrows vs advanced Arrows (1:00:19) Art and Science of Arrows (1:04:10) RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective CRAFTED ep. 8 on Traditional Bows Blister Pod ep. 287 on Broadening the Outdoor Community SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 20 Dec 2023 | Shaking Up the Wine World: Revelshine founder, Jake Bilbro | 01:10:47 | |
Over 30 billion bottles of wine are consumed each year around the world, and today, we’re talking about why we need to — and can — move away from ‘business as usual’ in the wine world. Our guest is Revelshine founder, Jake Bilbro, and Jake lays out some fascinating, rarely discussed facts about the impacts of the wine industry; his mission to change that; and why the likes of Jeremy Jones, Shane Dorian, Selema Masakala, Michelle Parker, Tanner Gudauskas, Patrick Gudauskas, Dane Gudauskas, Chris Davenport, Emily Harrington, Drew Holcomb, Vasu Sojitra, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Adrian Ballinger have all signed up to push this mission forward. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Join Us! Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Special Offer on Revelshine: (2:43) Jake’s Background in the Wine World (4:30) Limerick Lane & Starting Revelshine (6:30) Assessing Our Impacts on the World (33:25) Other Benefits of Shaking Things Up (40:54) The Juice: Revelshine’s Offerings (48:24) ‘BLISTERSHIP’, Distribution, & purchasing (59:45) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 Dec 2023 | Our Reviewers’ 2023 Craft Obsessions & 2024 Curiosities | 01:25:31 | |
To wrap up the year, we are sharing the craft categories that most captivated our Blister reviewers in 2023, and some of the categories they are most curious about heading into 2024. This is a fun one, and it certainly fills out the picture of the people behind our reviews, videos, articles, podcasts, and Blister Summit events. And over on our Blister Podcast, you’ll also get to hear our team talk about their highlights of 2023, and their resolutions for 2024. Happy New Year! RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: 1: Luke Kopppa (2:11) 2: Dylan Wood (13:49) 3: Simon Stewart (26:17) 4: Kara Williard (36:56) 5: Jonathan Ellsworth (45:33) 6: Eric Freson (56:59) 7: Sascha Anastas (1:10:42) 8: Kristin Sinnott (1:18:28) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 Jan 2024 | WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz, on the Benefits, Culture, & Craft of Saunas | 00:58:36 | |
WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz, aka, the ‘Sauna Shaman’, talks about how Hoji kicked off his obsession with saunas; their numerous benefits; and lays out what it takes (and costs) to build your own sauna. (On our site, you can check out a bunch of photos of the sauna that Matt built. It’s sweet.) RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Defining Terms (8:59) The cold plunge trick (25:15) Heart and inflammation (27:19) hot tub vs sauna (29:42) planning a sauna and costs (31:17) Temperatures (43:14) Sauna Enthusiasm and becoming a Shaman (48:30) Infrared (51:57) Wrap Up (55:02) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 31 Jan 2024 | Cast-Iron Cookware w/ Blister reviewer, Simon Stewart | 00:44:01 | |
Today we are discussing a product that people get very passionate about — and even more opinionated about: cast-iron cookware. Jonathan is joined by Blister senior bike editor, Simon Stewart, who has been using cast-iron cookware for more than twenty years, but is now on a quest to see if the fancier, more expensive options out there are better than their cheaper counterparts. We also discuss the notion of ‘elevating the everyday’; cast-iron cookware as heirlooms; the introduction of new tech; the return of old tech; and more. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Why are we talking about cast iron cookware (2:57) Defining "Nicer" (9:26) Amatuer Hour PA (13:25) Price Ranges (15:28) Rape Seed Oil Sanding (21:20) Why Cast Iron and the Obsession (23:53) Current Landscape of Cast Iron (27:57) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Jun 2024 | JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler, on Tea, Trust, & the Art of Loving Anything | 00:35:40 | |
Jonathan Ellsworth was recently at JING Tea headquarters in London for another CRAFTED conversation with JING founder, Ed Eisler. After a proper tea tasting, they sat down to discuss all things tea (and skis); agriculture as art; and the qualities of a great tea. RELATED LINKS CRAFTED ep. 23 w/ JING’s Ed Eisler Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Coffee, Tea, & Skis (5:12) Curiosity (12:41) Standards (21:47) Buying Local (25:49) Principles & Sourcing Tea (30:26) Going Forward (32:13) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 19 Jun 2024 | Coffee Gear, Pt. 4: “Hero Espresso” & Jonathan’s Current Setup | 01:27:29 | |
After much deliberation, we’re revealing the machine that Jonathan ended up going with on his quest to create daily doses of “hero espresso” — a phrase coined at the end of this conversation. Simon Stewart joins Jonathan for all the glorious, dorky details, and they also discuss decaf coffee & N/A beer; the price of a thing vs. the amount of joy it brings; mtn bikes vs. espresso machines; & more. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Tea?? (4:36) PSA: Great Coffee can be Cheap (6:15) Origins of JE's Obsession (9:57) E61 vs. Saturated Group Head (15:37) JE's La Marzocco Linea Micra (26:38) Beans (31:45) Other Machines JE Considered (36:38) Microfoam, Cortados, & Macchiatos (39:33) Decaf Coffee & N/A Beer (45:16) Manual Machines & Simon’s Quest (52:37) Weighing Beans (1:03:52) Cost & the Economics of this Setup (1:08:39) Florence, Italy (1:15:31) Hero Espresso (1:20:51) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 26 Jun 2024 | La Marzocco Product Designer, Stefano Della Pietra | 00:39:46 | |
La Marzocco is the most iconic espresso-machine maker in the world, and last month, Jonathan went to the La Marzocco Accademia to talk with their head product designer, Stefano Della Pietra, about the history and core principles of the company; how he became the head of product design there; and the task of taking La Marzocco into the future while staying true to the brand’s storied past. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Innovation (5:39) Avoiding Fads (14:12) How Did You Get Your Position? (16:43) Lina Micra & Mini (20:28) Other Areas of Design Inspiration (25:12) Espresso Machines & Watches (27:48) Officine Fratelli Bambi (30:08) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 04 Jul 2024 | Sage Cattabriga-Alosa on Pizza Making & Big-Mountain Skiing | 01:23:15 | |
One of the greatest big-mountain skiers of all time is also seriously passionate about making great pizza. So what’s the story here, and what do pizza and skiing have in common? What has Sage learned about the art of making dough and sauce? And what do you need to know to start making great pizza yourself? We cover all of this, plus Sage’s most recent trip to Alaska. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Blister Pod #41: Sage on Skiing Spines Blister Pod #270: Angel Collinson / Sage’s Pizza TOPICS & TIMES: Pizza & Skiing (5:58) Outdoor Pizza Ovens (15:00) Pizza Team (18:14) Pizza & Espresso (21:08) Outdoor Pizza Ovens, Part 2 (23:25) Angel’s Story of Sage's Pizza (37:31) Sage’s Most Recent Trip to AK (43:15) Pizza 101: Getting Started (54:40) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 10 Jul 2024 | The Vinyl Revival, Records, & Turntables w/ Michael Fremer | 01:19:27 | |
In this episode, we get a crash course on the vinyl revival and why spinning records on a turntable is a more engaging way of listening to music. Our guest, Michael Fremer, is regarded as one of the premier experts in the audio field, and he's extremely passionate about it. Michael and Simon get into how Led Zeppelin II was made, why Howard Stern hates vinyl, how to go about buying your first turntable, the travesty of “smashed” music, turntables that cost as much as a house, and tons more. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Records Just Sound Better (3:11) The Vinyl Revival (7:16) Michael’s Today Show appearance (8:08) What’s A Pressing? (11:11) Record Store Days (14:22) Turntables (21:11) Michael’s First Turntable (24:34) A Turntable As Expensive As A House (25:46) Quincy jones and Michael Jackson (27:34) Turntables Are Vibrations Measuring Devices (30:16) Phono Preamps (33:41) Choosing Records (40:57) “Smashing” Ruins Good Recordings (43:04) Bob Ludwig’s Cut Of Led Zeppelin II (46:52) How To Really Listen To Music (54:04) Current Vinyl Sales (1:06:46) Michael’s Two Records (1:08:09) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 Jul 2024 | How to Design (and Own) a Well-Crafted, Affordable Home, with Zack Giffin | 01:18:45 | |
These days, owning a beautiful home is often prohibitively expensive, while “affordable” housing too often fails to include quality craftsmanship. But there is a solution, and today, Zack Giffin reminds us of this fact and discusses the craft of designing smaller structures that address our true needs. This is a conversation where design and philosophy come together in a big way, as does the art of fostering real communities and constructing vibrant towns. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Blister Podcast Ep.275: Zack Giffin TOPICS & TIMES: Zack’s background (3:48) Why are smaller houses controversial? (9:05) Construction & Craft (21:20) Renting vs Owning + Rules of the Road (32:36) Designing a Tiny Home for Jonathan (37:17) Strangest Build Request? (58:40) Where Should People Find Out More? (1:00:21) Current State of Prohibitions (1:04:18) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 Aug 2024 | Chef Mark Connell on Skiing & High-End Cuisine (Part 1) | 01:46:10 | |
“My whole goal in life was to be a ski bum and a chef.” For Mark Connell, the executive chef at PARC Aspen, we can definitely say: mission accomplished. Mark is a passionate skier and a culinary genius, and we discuss how Mark & Jonathan first met; Mark’s background and his time working at The French Laundry; what punk rock has to do with high-end cuisine; frozen pizza; white wine; celebrity chefs; & more. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: How Mark & Jonathan Met (3:53) Mark’s Background (9:33) Punk Rock & High-End Cuisine? (22:08) The French Laundry (37:50) Italy (40:43) Celebrity Chefs (46:04) Palettes (53:25) Frozen Pizza (1:06:20) Wine (1:11:38) Junk Food & Topics for ‘Part 2’ (1:21:37) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 04 Sep 2024 | Chef Mark Connell on Craft & Trust; Tasting Menus; & Olive Oil Candy (Part 2) | 01:09:25 | |
Mark Connell is the executive chef at PARC Aspen, and he’s back to talk about fine dining and the importance of tasting menus; what he learned at Alinea; the specific tasting menu Jonathan recently had at PARC Aspen (including what Mark put on the plate & why); the difference between striving for consistency vs. striving to be consistently good; and more. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Fine Dining & Tasting Menus (1:58) Alinea: what Mark Learned There (9:46) PARC Aspen (16:42) Tasting Menu: what Jonathan had at PARC Aspen (23:59) Goat Cheese Sorbet & Olive Oil Candy (31:26) Consistency vs Being Consistently Good (47:46) Craft & Trust (56:17) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 16 Oct 2024 | Wayfarer Vans w/ Andy Mullins | 00:43:40 | |
Camper vans seem to be everywhere these days, and for good reason — the level of versatility and convenience they offer is hard to ignore. But starting down the road of ownership can be extremely overwhelming, so in today’s conversation, we sit down with Wayfarer Van’s Andy Mullins to answer some of the common questions people have, and to get an inside look at Wayfarer Van’s unique approach to building camper vans. RELATED LINKS: Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Wayfarer Vans website: https://wayfarervans.com/blisterreview Wayfarer Vans Fans Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/364625700977150 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/wayfarervans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfarervans Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayfarervans TOPICS & TIMES: How Wayfarer Got Started (3:03) Wayfarer Founder is Good at Bikes (4:14) Why Modular? (5:33) Fast Turnarounds (11:09) Good Wood (13:12) Ford vs Ram (18:09) Low Roof or High Roof (22:47) First Steps to First Van (27:23) How Wayfarer KeepsThem Affordable (29:34) To DIY or NOT (34:15) Let’s go Camping (41:31) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 30 Oct 2024 | Diner Coffee, Sour Beers, Well-Done Steaks, Putting Greens, & Brand Building with Alex LeBlanc of Calibration Coffee Lab | 01:00:00 | |
Last year, we talked with Alex LeBlanc about starting Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina (CRAFTED ep #26). Today, Alex is back to update us on how it’s going, what he’s been learning, how his thinking about coffee has evolved, and how he’s going about trying to build a brand that people will love. And if you’d like to check out Alex’s coffee, CRAFTED listeners can get 15% off by using the code BLISTER at calibrationcoffeelab.com RELATED LINKS: Become a BLISTER+ Member Check out the Blister Craft Collective CRAFTED ep #26: Calibration Coffee Lab TOPICS & TIMES: Backstory of Calibration Coffee Lab (2:53) 3rd Wave Coffee (9:32) 1st & 2nd Crack (14:18) Alex’s Philosophy of Roasting (16:46) Espresso (19:30) Roasting Temperature & Airflow (25:47) Catering to Customers’ Tastes (27:06) Coffee, Wine, & Beer Comparisons (33:08) ‘Single Origin’ Coffees vs Blends (35:10) How Long to “Rest” after Roasting (36:53) Natural vs Washed (45:48) Brand Building (51:03) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 06 Nov 2024 | Yu Sasaki on Big-Mountain Skiing, Deep-Powder Skiing, & Running a Successful Food Truck | 00:41:46 | |
What are two of the best things in the world? Deep powder skiing and a great food truck. And today, we’re talking about both with professional skier, Yu Sasaki. We also talk about Yu’s beautiful short film, Home From Home; moving from Hokkaido, Japan, to Revelstoke; the ins-and-outs of running a food truck; and more. RELATED LINKS: Watch Yu’s Film: Home From Home Become a BLISTER+ Member Check out the Blister Craft Collective TOPICS & TIMES: New Film (2:52) Japan Origins (5:49) Food and Canada (7:59) Food Truck (10:21) Planning His Menu (15:08) 2 Food Trucks and Ramen (16:27) Logistics (19:41) He Skis in the Winter, Staff Runs the Trucks (22:19) How to Identify Good Food Trucks (25:24) Ten Minute Timeline (29:23) Favorite Food Trucks (31:00) Craft Obsessions and Freeride Coaching (33:05) Upcoming Ski Season (36:03) Closing (38:21) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 20 Nov 2024 | Studio Shed w/ Mike Koenig | 01:00:49 | |
Studio Shed was started in the Boulder, Colorado backyard of their co-founder Jeremy Nova, a pro mountain biker and Olympian. Jeremy needed a place to store all his bikes and was uninspired by what was available, so he built his own. Today, Studio Sheds are still built in Colorado, and their portfolio now includes studios, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and commercial spaces. Jeremy built that first shed back in 2008, yet today, many of Studio Shed’s designs still look just like the original. Sheds and ADUs are a great way to provide extra room for outdoor gear, remote work offices, or additional living spaces. In today’s conversation, we sit down with Studio Shed’s co-founder Mike Koenig to discuss their unique approach to designing and building prefabricated backyard structures that are well-built, eco-friendly, and stylish. RELATED LINKS: Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Studio Shed website: https://www.studio-shed.com/ TOPICS & TIMES: Riding Bikes and Founding a Company (0:46) Tokyo Joe's MTB Team (3:51) Jeremy’s Homemade Shed (6:24) Panelized Construction (10:25) The Studio Shed Design Process & Steps to Purchasing a Studio Shed (21:58) How to DIY Build a Studio Shed (29:40) Eco-friendly Designs (36:20) Mike’s Bike (51:46) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 11 Dec 2024 | Scott Rao on Quality, Q Ratings, & Coffee | 01:13:50 | |
Scott Rao is one of the most influential people in the world of coffee, coffee roasting, and coffee brewing. Scott is also the owner of Prodigal Coffee (located in Boulder, Colorado), and in this conversation, we dive deep into specific coffee topics and discuss the pursuit of quality in general. RELATED LINKS: Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Scott’s Entry into Coffee (2:43) Quality (8:30) Coffee, Wine, & Tea (16:42) Rating Systems (21:26) How to Store Coffee (26:19) Should You Freeze Beans? (31:37) Light Roasts (34:32) Dark Roasts (37:33) Complexity (39:35) Conscientious Consumerism & Coffee (42:46) Espresso, Whiskey, & Fine Tuning (45:58) Prodigal’s Approach to Quality (52:06) Politics, Coffee, & Quality (58:40) Scott’s Current Coffee Interests (1:06:28) Quality and Perfection (1:08:35) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 01 Jan 2025 | Our Reviewers' 2024 Craft Obsessions & 2025 Curiosities | 01:21:59 | |
Happy New Year! Today, we are sharing the craft categories that most captivated some of our Blister reviewers in 2024, and revealing some of the categories they are most curious about heading into 2025. And over on our Blister Podcast, you’ll also get to hear our team talk about the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned in 2024, plus their resolutions for 2025. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Luke Koppa (1:21) Kristin Sinnott (16:08) Simon Stewart (24:57) Kara Husted (39:29) Zach Henderson (49:28) Justin Bobb & Jonathan Ellsworth (58:26) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 08 Jan 2025 | The Art & Ethics of Eating Well, with Matthew Halteman | 01:22:03 | |
Today, you are going to hear what is essentially an ongoing conversation that Jonathan has been having for about 30 years now with one of his best friends, Matthew Halteman, about food, food systems, sustainability, fine dining, and the ethics of what we eat. Matt is a foodie, a father, a fellow in the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, and a philosophy professor at Calvin University (he received his PhD in philosophy at Notre Dame). Matt is also a brilliant writer, and among other things we’re talking about today is his new book, Hungry, Beautiful Animals. Eating food is, of course, one of the most fundamental activities of human experience, yet many of us could probably stand to further examine our own principles and practices when it comes to food systems, what we eat, and the significance, ethics, and aesthetics of eating. So that is a bit of what Jonathan and Matt are going to be diving into here. RELATED LINKS: Read Hungry, Beautiful Animals Listen to Hungry, Beautiful Animals on Spotify For More re: Nutrition: nutritionfacts.org TOPICS & TIMES: What We’re Talking about Today & Why (0:00) Food & Current Food Production (4:11) Matt’s Background in Food Systems (12:41) How Transformation Actually Happens (24:41) Vegan Fine Dining? (41:28) Excellence & Accessibility (51:47) Jonathan’s Mom's Question about Nutrition (59:48) Filtering Information & Disinformation (1:06:37) Hungry Beautiful Animals (1:09:53) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 15 Jan 2025 | The Current State of Alcohol, with Eli Brown & Jonathan Ellsworth | 01:09:28 | |
Jonathan Ellsworth talks about this very big topic with someone who is in quite a unique position to have this conversation with: Eli Brown, a 26-year-old sommelier who is also certified in mixology and distilled spirits, he has been named a Top 100 Bartender in the U.S., and he is currently working on a project involving N/A and low ABV beer and spirits and wine. Jonathan Ellsworth and Eli Brown delve into the changing landscape of alcohol consumption among younger generations; the trends — and hurdles — of non-alcoholic (NA) and low ABV cocktails; the complexities of wine and the practices of the wine industry that may be acting as a deterrence; the implications of the US Surgeon General's recommendations on alcohol consumption; and predictions for future trends in the craft beverage industry. RELATED LINKS: TOPICS & TIMES: Eli’s Background & Credentials (1:34) The Current State of Alcohol (10:10) US Surgeon General’s Warning (40:16) Blister Craft collective (53:49) White Wines (1:01:55) Predictions: Which Spirits Will Rise & Fall? (1:04:48) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 29 Jan 2025 | Amateur Hour: Kara Williard on Garlic, Growing Garlic, & Vampires | 00:51:55 | |
Jonathan talks with Kara Williard and Eli Brown about one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world: garlic. We discuss hardneck garlic vs softneck garlic; how to grow garlic; its medicinal properties; black garlic; garlic honey; and yes … vampires. RELATED LINKS Check out the Blister Craft Collective TOPICS & TIMES: Kara's Farming Background (4:34) Sunny Sage Farm (6:53) Eli's Love of Garlic (9:20) Medicinal Value of Garlic (11:37) Types of Garlic (15:45) Egyptian Gold? (22:44) Elephant Garlic (24:00) 4 of the 400 varieties (24:31) Black Garlic (31:11) Favorite Dishes with Garlic (33:21) Vampires (43:28) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Feb 2025 | Gold Medal Gastronomy: Inside the High-Stakes World of the Culinary Olympics | 01:06:08 | |
Our guest today is Chef Paul Jensen, who is the executive chef of fine dining at Big Sky Resort, a former restaurant owner, seasoned culinary competitor, and a newly named member of the 2028 U.S. Culinary Olympic team. With over 30 years of competition experience, Paul has represented the U.S. on the global stage, honing his craft through more than 100 contests. His dedication to food, mentorship, and the art of receiving feedback has shaped his journey, culminating in his spot on the Olympic team. In this conversation, we explore his background, the unique world of culinary competition, and what it means to represent the U.S. in one of the most prestigious food contests on earth. RELATED LINKS: Learn More: Culinary Olympics Check out the Blister Craft Collective TOPICS & TIMES: Apprenticeship & Student Chef Competitions (5:38) Classic Culinary Arts (10:25) Competition History (and squid tubes) (18:19) “Everyone Has a Plan Til You Get Punched in the Face” (22:54) Culinary Olympics (29:14) Influence of Olympics on Cuisine (33:23) Trying Out For the Team (44:30) Training Sessions (48:59) Which Countries Dominate? (54:03) Recipe Development (58:00) Why Farm-to-Table Should Not Be a Movement (1:00:49) Follow the Culinary Olympics (1:02:02) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 20 Feb 2025 | Eli Brown & Jonathan Ellsworth: Can We Change a White-Wine Hater’s Mind? | 01:26:14 | |
Jonathan Ellsworth’s preferences for red wines over white wines are well established. But in this conversation and wine tasting, we’re going to see if Eli can change Jonathan’s mind. This past weekend, Jonathan and Eli opened four bottles of white wines and hit the record button. We tried a few different white varietals and blends that Eli believes may appeal to those staunchly in the red-wine camp to see if we can get Jonathan more interested in what certain white wines have to offer. We’ve also included links to the four wines we tasted if you’d like to try any of these for yourself. RELATED LINKS: Check out the Blister Craft Collective The Wines We’re Tasting: TOPICS & TIMES: The White Wine Experience (3:36) JE''s Bottle of White He Likes? (3:36) What Reds Does JE Like? (7:07) Sweet Wines (11:35) White Burgundy Flavor (13:01) Riesling (14:27) Scotch (17:57) Red vs White: the Simple Differences (21:30) Champagne (26:10) Aeration (38:52) Wine Anchoring Memories (44:32) Wine with or w/o Food (47:48) Orange Wine (51:34) Jonathan’s Final Thoughts (1:13:09) Eli's Final Thoughts (1:20:10) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 12 Mar 2025 | Lo-Fi Wine Making with Uffe Deichmann, Poppelvej Wines | 01:13:05 | |
Today’s guest is a sort of pioneer in Australian winemaking; his focus on 'lo-fi' production methods and non-traditional flavors has helped redefine what consumers expect from the land down under. Uffe Deichmann is a Dutch-born winemaker who found love at a music festival in Australia and never looked back — his winery, Poppelvej wines, now produces bottlings that are standard on some of the more groundbreaking menus across the U.S. In this episode we dive deep into the history of the winery, Uffe’s own journey through winemaking, the philosophy that underlies the incredible wine they are producing, and even touch on the topic of native bird species. From underground bunkers to stolen street signs, this conversation has it all. RELATED LINKS: Check out the Blister Craft Collective https://vsimports.com/australia/poppelvej/ TOPICS & TIMES: Current Wine Making (2:33) Origins of Poppelvej (5:49) Finding Australia (15:04) Fruit Selection / Picking Process (21:01) Lo-Fi Wine (23:49) Music’s Influence on Poppelvej (31:44) Poppelvej's Growth & Expansion (35:19) The Wine Making Process (41:36) Australian Terrior (52:39) Wine’s Generational Crises (58:30) Flavor Exploration (1:04:06) The Hand Painted Sign (1:07:56) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 19 Mar 2025 | Hi-Fi Audio: Capturing the Heart & Soul of Music with Heaven 11's Itai Azerad | 01:03:41 | |
There are more ways to listen to music than ever these days, and cheap Bluetooth speakers are everywhere: hanging in your shower, sitting on your kitchen counter, and on tailgates at football games. Unfortunately, these kinds of speakers often cultivate an experience where the music very much takes a backseat to whatever else we're doing. In today's conversation, Heaven 11 Audio’s Itai Azerad offers a different perspective, one that puts a premium on really listening to music and feeling an emotional connection to it — and his company Heaven 11 Audio produces amplifiers to do exactly that. Their Billie amp blends old-school vacuum tubes with cutting-edge class D amplifier technology to capture the heart and soul of music, and with a stunning industrial design, it invites you to just listen to the music, and nothing else. Itai also talks about his inspiration to start an audio company, his unconventional path in industrial design, vacuum tubes, circuit boards, wooden knobs, and a whole lot more. RELATED LINKS: Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Bauhaus (2:45) Itai’s Audio Journey (5:22) Music is a Ritual & the Stereo is the Shrine (8:38) Starting a HiFi Company (10:22) The Billie Amp (12:34) Why use Vacuum Tubes (14:04) Why use a Class D Amplifier (16:55) Chasing Perfect (31:38) Beautiful Design is as Important as Sound (38:12) The New MK3 Billie Amp (40:47) Music Matters (43:00) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
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| 26 Mar 2025 | Mountain Life & Product Design: North Drinkware Co-Founder, Matt Capozzi | 00:58:02 | |
Matt Capozzi has always loved being in the mountains, but he’s also enjoyed an incredible career working in product design for brands like Burton, Nike, Nixon, and Smith. In 2015, Matt had a wild idea to help people ‘bring the mountains home,’ which led to the creation of North Drinkware, which produces beautiful, artisanal products — like handblown glassware — made in Oregon. Today I talk with Matt about how a life spent designing everything from snowboarding bindings, to wearable fitness tech, to watches led him to the improbable (and rather harrowing) launch of North Drinkware. We also get into the art of glass blowing, the science of crafting your favorite mountains into the bottoms of drinkware, why authenticity is everything, and what the future of North looks like. RELATED LINKS: Check out the Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Blister Craft Collective (1:20) What is North Drinkware? (3:12) Matt’s Love of Snow (7:08) Designing for Burton, Nike, Nixon, & More (11:44) The Initial Idea of North (16:05) The Highs & Lows of Launching (21:55) How Their Glasses are Produced Today (38:02) Other Products (41:42) Selecting the Next Mountain? (45:40) How North Thinks about Growth (49:19) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 02 Apr 2025 | Pursuing Excellence in the Service of Others: Jeff Galli, Campione Roman Kitchen | 01:10:40 | |
We talk with Jeff Galli, the General Manager and co-owner of Campione, a roman kitchen that was named to the New York Time’s 50 Best Restaurants in the U.S. list in 2023, and was the first restaurant in the state to receive that sort of national attention. In this episode we explore the philosophy that underpins Jeff’s exceptional approach to hospitality; his background in food and beverage; and the founding of Campione Roman Kitchen, We also discuss restrooms, tile floors, and the yellow bitter conundrum, so this episode has a little something for everyone. RELATED LINKS: Check out the Blister Craft Collective TOPICS & TIMES: Reservations (1:13) Running a Restaurant in Livingston (3:17) Jeff’s Background (4:55) Making the Move to Livingston (10:10) Finding Campione (16:09) In The Service Of Others (25:12) The Importance of Bathrooms (28:14) NYT 50 Best List (33:00) Analog Restaurants (36:42) Yellow Bitter Conundrum (46:37) Redefining the Industry (56:11) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 09 Apr 2025 | Tinctures, Traditions, & Taste: the Bitters Creation Process w/ Bennett Bitters | 01:12:01 | |
Bitters have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and in cocktails for centuries. But they receive far less attention than the spirits in our glass. So today we’re talking with the founders of a bitters company that has taken the craft cocktail scene by storm: Joseph Bennett & Yana Crow of Bennett Bitters. We discuss bitters in general; the complex process they use to produce some of the best bitters currently on the market; the inspiration behind Bennett Bitters; how they got started; and more. RELATED LINKS: Check out the Blister Craft Collective TOPICS & TIMES: How Joseph Got into Bitters (1:32) What are Bitters?? (8:31) How Yana Got into Bitters (11:11) Flavor First (21:23) Flavor Concepts (23:55) How Bitters Work (32:39) Spirits & Proof Levels (37:26) Quantity vs Time (45:27) Blends & Batches (56:04) How One Flavor Profile Informs the Next (1:01:13) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||