Sometimes the best conversations happen when you least expect them. Last Thursday night, eight of our nine-person crew gathered at the social club for what turned into one of those magical evenings that reminded me exactly why we started the Smoke and Steel podcast in the first place.
When a Compliment Changes Everything
Eddie was the last to arrive that evening. As he settled in, Eric mentioned that Eddie had become our “number one fan,” and what happened next gave me chills in the best possible way. Eddie shook my hand and said something that perfectly captured our cigar podcast goals:
“When I put the episodes on in my truck, I listen and feel like I’m right there with you. I catch myself trying to jump into the conversation and probably look like a crazy person talking to myself, not thinking that we’re not there live. I get wrapped up in the conversation and it’s so much fun.”
That moment hit me like lightning. This was exactly what we set out to accomplish with the Smoke and Steel podcast.
The Core Mission: Bottling the Cigar Lounge Experience
Later that night, as I lay in bed unable to sleep, someone had asked about our podcast’s big picture goals. I didn’t have a solid answer then, but by morning, everything crystallized. Our primary mission is simple yet profound: to bottle the authentic cigar lounge experience and share it with fellow enthusiasts who might not have access to that camaraderie.
The Inspiration Behind Our Approach
This vision stems from years of conversations during my Stogie Review days. Countless people reached out, sharing stories about driving 45 minutes to find cigars tucked between cigarettes and lottery tickets—their only local option. They’d tell me how watching our content made them feel part of something bigger, like they were hanging out in an active cigar shop even when they couldn’t physically be there.
When the opportunity arose to create the Smoke and Steel podcast, I knew we had to recreate that feeling. Not the polished, formatted approach you might find elsewhere, but the raw, genuine friendship and ball-busting camaraderie that happens when cigar enthusiasts naturally gather.
Our Unique Take on Cigar Podcast Quality
Don’t get me wrong—there are fantastic, highly produced cigar podcasts out there. They follow structured formats, transition smoothly between cigar reviews and industry news, and wrap everything in a beautifully polished package. Those shows provide tremendous value through entertainment, information, and education.
But that’s not us, and that’s intentional.
The Garage Aesthetic
We record in my garage. There are motorcycles in the background, random stuff everywhere, and the lighting occasionally flickers. The video quality will never be pristine, and I’m completely okay with that. We’re a bunch of friends hanging out in a garage, and that authenticity is part of our charm.
However, there’s one area where I refuse to compromise: audio quality.
The Audio Challenge
When we started, I invested about $500 in a four-channel mixer setup, thinking it would handle our core group of four perfectly. What I didn’t anticipate was our success in creating that inclusive atmosphere Eddie described. Now we regularly have six, seven, or even eight people around the table—our nine-person group chat means there’s always someone rotating in.
This creates a frustrating situation where valuable contributions from people at the far end of the table barely register on the microphones. When Rob shares an interesting perspective and everyone laughs, but you can’t hear what he said, that breaks the immersive experience we’re trying to create.
We’re making incremental improvements—Mark bought rubber mats to reduce table noise, and I’m experimenting with additional recording equipment. Eventually, I’ll need to upgrade to a bigger mixer, but for now, we’re working with what we have while maintaining our commitment to ensuring every voice gets heard clearly.
The Financial Reality of Cigar Content
Nobody likes talking about money, especially me, but transparency matters. I’m not looking to get rich from the Smoke and Steel podcast. My goal is simple: break even and maybe cover the ongoing costs that come with creating content.
The YouTube Challenge
Here’s where cigar content creators face unique obstacles. YouTube’s policies toward tobacco-related content mean we’ll never see ad revenue from our videos, regardless of subscriber count or watch hours. We also can’t promote affiliate cigar purchases directly on the platform.
This makes traditional monetization nearly impossible, leaving us to explore alternative revenue streams like direct sponsorships or working with companies willing to partner with cigar content creators.
How You Can Support Our Mission
If you believe in what we’re doing with the Smoke and Steel podcast and want to help us continue improving, there are genuine ways to support our efforts:
Through Cigar Purchases: When you’re ready to stock up on cigars, consider shopping through our Cigar Page affiliate link. We’ve spent thousands with them over the years and consistently receive excellent service. It costs you nothing extra, but we earn a small commission that helps offset our production costs.
Spread the Word: The most valuable support you can provide is telling fellow cigar enthusiasts about the podcast. Growing our audience allows us to do more and creates a larger community of people who share our passion.
The Revolving Door Philosophy
Our group dynamic reflects the reality of adult friendships—life happens, schedules conflict, and availability changes. What makes our setup special is the revolving door approach. Sometimes it’s our core four, sometimes it’s seven people with cars packed in my driveway like a parking lot.
This organic flow means every episode brings fresh perspectives while maintaining the consistent friendship foundation that makes our cigar podcast goals achievable.
Looking Forward
As I reflect on Eddie’s compliment and our journey so far, I’m energized about what we’re building. We’ve successfully created that cigar lounge atmosphere that makes listeners feel like participants rather than observers. Our audio challenges are solvable, and our mission remains clear.
The Smoke and Steel podcast isn’t about perfect production values or following industry formulas. It’s about genuine friendship, shared passion for cigars, and creating a space where enthusiasts can feel at home, whether they’re listening in their truck or sitting in their own garage.
Watch Episode 3.5 below to hear the full story behind our cigar podcast goals:
Want to support the Smoke and Steel podcast? Consider making your next cigar purchase through our Cigar Page affiliate link, or if you’re feeling generous, buy us a coffee through our Ko-Fi page. Every bit of support helps us continue bringing you authentic cigar conversations.
The Smoke and Steel podcast is brought to you by Stogie Review. New episodes release regularly featuring our rotating cast of cigar enthusiasts sharing honest conversations, reviews, and the kind of camaraderie you’d find in your favorite cigar lounge.
