Simply Stogies

James and Jimmy sit down with Vance Taylor of Stoic Cigars. We catch up with Vance and find out how his first two yeas in the cigar industry have gone and what lessons he's learned in that time. We then turn our attention to the "dark side" of Stoicism. What does Stoicism and Nihilism have in common? Can James not road rage? How do Stoics look at tragedy. It is a high level conversation over different philosophies and how to approach life and business.

New host of Clear the Air, Jimmy D, brings James and Tim back to the microphone to discuss the latest interview with Tim Ozgener of  Oz Family Cigars. The trio discuss the trust manufacturers put in the retailers (and vice versa), the relationship aspect of the business (manufacturers and factories, and retailers and manufacturers), how cigar sizes affect sales, and cigar events. The trio dive into Tim Ozgener's relationship with his father and the lessons he's learned both in his time in the cigar industry and away from it.

James and Jimmy sit down with Tim Ozgener of Oz Family Cigars at The Drawing Room in Davenport, Iowa. The trio discuss Tim's creativity, his history in the cigar industry, and the impact his father had on him. From his days with CAO to coming back to the industry, Tim dives into what lessons he learned, what his father taught him, his family, and working with retailers.

In this after-show of Simply Stogies Podcast, hosts Tim, James, and Jimmy sit down to recap their recent interview with Mo Malley of Patina Cigars. The guys dive deep into the nuances of cigar blending, reviewer objectivity, and the rapidly shifting dynamics of the cigar economy.

James and Jimmy sit down with Mo Maalu of Patina Cigars. The trio discuss a wide range of topics. The conversation begins with the Red Pill and the difference in the vitolas and how they smoke and moves in to cigar revies. What's the right score? Do reviewers know the difference between a bad cigar and a cigar that just isn't for them? We ask Mo about keeping a positive attitude and why he is so well liked in the industry, before diving into the current state of the economy in America. What is usury? Why is it the enemy of humanity? Will it change? Can it change? A thought provoking discussion that we hope you enjoy.

Clear the Air turns this after-show into a relentless, unfiltered battlefield as the hosts drag rival commentators for launching cowardly, passive-aggressive attacks against an independent lounge owner and manufacturer. Instead of focusing primarily on the last episode of Simply Stogies Podcast, the conversation exposes the toxic gatekeeping and fragile egos of self-proclaimed industry authorities who hide behind their microphones. One host (bet you can't guess who) unleashes a fiery, zero-tolerance rant, declaring war on these media hacks and promising continuous public humiliation until they issue a public apology for their bullying. While the target of the mockery takes the high road, this episode draws a line in the sand: you either respect the people in this hustle or get run over by those who do.

With Jimmy out sick, James sits down with Aaron Paoletta of LaVega Cigars. The two discuss how Aaron and LaVega got involved with Dogs Inc. and the LaVega Il Cane cigar. This leads to a larger discussion on why you shouldn't "f*ck people over" in the cigar industry. Aaron shares his thoughts on making and keeping commitments, follow-through, and why it matters. The two discuss Aaron's recent appearance on KMA Talk Radio and the incident that brought that about. Aaron clears the air about a few things and the duo talk about cigar media, Aaron's thoughts, and what's next for LaVega Cigars. 

This week, hosts Tim, James, and Jimmy break down the latest episode of Simply Stogies Podcast interview with Rob Blumenthal from Tradecraft Cigars. They discuss Rob's deep family history in the cigar world and how that experience helps him build his own brand. The guys also debate the pros and cons of traditional twenty-count cigar boxes versus modern space-saving designs. Finally, they share their honest opinions on the current state of the industry, including the trend of Limited Edition releases and the frustration of backorders

James and Jimmy sit down with one of the owners and founder of Tradecraft Cigars, Rob Blumenthal. Rob talks about his family's five generation in the tobacco business, something that started during the Civil War era with his family selling tobacco and cigars. The trio discuss what Rob has learned from owning a cigar company, how he approaches events, choosing to grow organically, and much more. Rob's family also owns the Tinder Box, which gives Rob a unique perspective on the cigar industry. We found the conversation fascinating, and we hope you do too!

This week, Tim, James, and Jimmy are back at the microphones to dissect their recent interview with Vince McGlone of Vicente Blends. The audience feedback has been a total mixed bag, and the crew isn't holding back on why Vince's engineering background, low-volume production mindset, and luxury $60 price tags are polarizing the cigar community.

From debating the definition of a true "industry disruptor" to exposing the smoke and mirrors of factory blends, the guys clear the air on how the demographics of premium tobacco are shifting in 2026.