How did The Burn Down start, and did you ever imagine reaching more than 325 episodes?
The Burn Down really started as we like to say "before everyone and their mother had a podcast" and also after our first two cigar business ideas didn’t work out. In 2018 we tried launching a cigar subscription service, but once we crunched the numbers — especially being in New York, a very tobacco unfriendly state — it just wasn’t viable. Our second idea was a cigar magazine to compete with Cigar Aficionado. We’d been taking cigar photos and writing reviews on Instagram since 2017, and we thought we could create a magazine with real content instead of pages of ads. But at the end of the day, magazines make money from advertising, and in today’s world starting a new print magazine just didn’t make sense.
Then one day I came home (Eric) from work and saw my younger brothers glued to YouTube — Joe Rogan, Tom Segura, Theo Von — all these long form conversations. I asked what it was, and they said, ‘A podcast.’ That was the lightbulb moment. Justin and I were already having those same types of conversations in cigar lounges with people from all walks of life, so why not record it? I knew Justin had video editing experience, pitched him the idea, and he was immediately in. Within a few days we turned his pool house into a studio, and The Burn Down Podcast was born.
Seven years later, we never imagined we’d still be doing this — over 325 episodes and more than 100 guest interviews. We bring people together over a cigar! We’ve sat down with Hall of Fame athletes like Ed Reed, Erik Coleman, and John Starks; entertainers like members of The Sopranos Cast and William DeMeo; musicians and comedians like Ruben Studdard, Mason Musso, and Rocky Dale Davis; figures from organized crime like Billy Cutolo Jr. and Chris Colombo; cigar industry leaders like Robert Caldwell and Tony Gomez; and even military veterans like Ray ‘Cash’ Care. It’s been an unbelievable journey from two failed business ideas to a platform that’s reached millions
What does a typical recording session look like, and what is always in your hand?
A typical recording session today looks very different from when we first started. We launched in July 2019, and a few months later COVID hit — so for the first two and a half years, every interview was on Zoom. Preparation back then was simple: have our questions ready and pray for a stable internet connection.
Once COVID passed and we moved into more in‑person studio interviews, we realized nothing compares to the energy and connection you get sitting across from someone. So now, almost all of our interviews are done in person.
Today a session starts with prepping the studio — setting up the mixer, mics, cameras, and making sure everything is dialed in. Then we welcome the guest, chat for a few minutes to break the ice, offer water, coffee, or bourbon, and once everyone’s comfortable, we sit down and hit record.
And as always, we all have a cigar in hand. Our mantra is ‘bringing people together over a cigar,’ so Justin, myself, and our guest always light up. It’s the connection piece — the thing that sets the tone for every conversation we have.
You also launched BD Cigar Company. How did the podcast lead to making your own cigars?
Honestly, it still feels surreal that BD Cigar Company exists. From day one we always joked about having our own cigar, but we never imagined it would happen so quickly — and definitely not in the traditional ‘how you get into the cigar industry’ way.
It all started when we met Jonas Santana, the CEO of Blackbird Cigars. We connected with him on Long Island at Matador Cigars in Hauppauge back in 2019, right as we were launching The Burn Down and he was launching Blackbird. We clicked immediately, respected each other’s vision, and Jonas actually became our second guest on the podcast.
About a year later, Jonas approached us with an opportunity of a lifetime. He believed in what we were doing, the social media presence, the podcast, the fresh energy we were bringing to an industry that can be pretty old‑school. He wanted to help us break into the cigar world. Jonas took us under his wing and guided us through the entire process of creating our own cigars.
That’s how The Blueprint was born in 2021, followed by The Diligent in 2024. We couldn’t be more grateful for Jonas’s support and for the incredible reception BD Cigar Company has received. It’s one of those moments where you look back and think, "This all happened because of the podcast."
Who has been your favorite guest, and what did they teach you?
That’s like asking who your favorite kid is. We’ve had so many memorable guests. Sitting down with Ed Reed and John Starks — two athletes we grew up watching — and sharing a cigar while talking for hours are moments we’ll never forget. Interviews with Bill Cutolo Jr. and Chris Colombo were incredible too, hearing firsthand stories from that era of organized crime. We’re genuinely humbled by every guest who’s given us their time.
One guest who really left a mark was Ray ‘Cash’ Care, former U.S. Navy SEAL. We’ve had him on twice, and he taught us something we still carry today: in life there are ‘W’s and L’s — Wins and Lessons, not losses. Anything you fail at or fall short on is only a loss if you choose to make it one. Otherwise, it’s a lesson. That mindset has stuck with us
What is the most common question listeners ask you?
We get a handful of recurring questions from listeners. The most common ones are: ‘I want to start a podcast what should I do?’ and ‘Do you make any money from the podcast?’ The other big one we hear all the time is, ‘Who’s been your favorite guest?’ People are always curious about how to get started, how the business side works.
What is your go-to cigar and whisky pairing, and why does it work?
Well, asking two guys who have their own cigar company might sound biased — but our go‑to pairing is The Blueprint. It’s a medium‑to‑full cigar with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and fillers from Nicaragua (Estelí), Pennsylvania, Corojo, and Criollo ’98. It pairs perfectly with a glass of Angel’s Envy.
But as much as we love a good cigar‑and‑bourbon combo, our absolute favorite pairing is a cigar and coffee. Why? Because ‘what grows together, goes together.’ Tobacco and coffee beans are grown in the same soils near the equator, and the flavors complement each other naturally. There’s nothing better
How has cigar culture changed since you started the show?
Cigar culture has changed a lot since 2019. When we first started, the industry was still pretty traditional — brick‑and‑mortar lounges, print magazines, and word‑of‑mouth. COVID completely shifted things. People couldn’t go to lounges, so the culture moved online. Social media, YouTube, and podcasts became the new cigar lounge, and a whole wave of younger cigar enthusiasts started engaging with the lifestyle digitally.
Since then, the culture has become more open, more community‑driven, and way more content‑focused. Brands are embracing social media, collaborations, and storytelling. You’re seeing more diversity, more women in the cigar space, and more people treating cigars as a lifestyle rather than just a hobby.
Overall, cigar culture has evolved from old‑school and niche to modern, accessible, and connected and we’re grateful The Burn Down has been part of that shift.”
Millennials and Gen Z are finding cigars through podcasts and social media. What do they get right, and what do they get wrong?
Millennials and Gen Z are changing the cigar culture in a big way, what they get right is the community aspect, they’re bringing new energy, creativity, and a willingness to learn. They’re not afraid to ask questions, try new blends, support boutique brands, and share their experiences online. They’ve made cigars more accessible and helped the culture grow beyond the traditional lounge setting.
What they sometimes get wrong is rushing the process. Cigar culture has always been about slowing down, respecting the craft, and understanding the tradition behind it. Some younger cigar enthusiast jump in fast, chase trends, or focus more on the ‘content’ than the actual cigar experience. But that’s just part of learning. Over time, most of them start to appreciate the patience, etiquette, and history that make cigars special.
Overall, they’re bringing a lot more good than bad and they’re a big reason the culture is evolving in such a positive way
What makes a great cigar lounge in your eyes?
A great cigar lounge isn’t defined by the TVs on the wall or how big the humidor is — it’s the atmosphere and the people inside. To me, the perfect lounge is one where you walk in and immediately feel welcomed, whether it’s your first visit or your thousandth.
I love stepping through the door and being greeted by the tobacconist, not in a salesy way, but in that genuine ‘good to see you, need any help?’ kind of way. You should feel like you can strike up a meaningful conversation with anyone in the room, whether you know them or not. At the same time, a great lounge also gives you the space to sit quietly, enjoy your cigar, and not be bothered if that’s the kind of day you’re having.
In my eyes, a great cigar lounge feels like a living room you share with good people - warm, welcoming, easygoing, and respectful of everyone’s experience. That’s the magic.
What is the funniest or strangest thing that has happened on air?
Two moments come to mind immediately. The first was when Eric accidentally dropped my Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 straight into my coffee mid‑episode. Total meltdown. Justin still laughs about it.
The second was during a storm while we were recording in the studio. Lightning struck the roof, scared the hell out of us, and knocked out all the power — everything went dark except the camera. Our reactions were caught perfectly on film. It was chaos, but hilarious once we realized what happened.
If someone could only listen to one episode, which should it be?
If someone could only listen to one episode, it’s tough to choose — we’ve got over 325 episodes and a lot of great conversations. But if we stick to the last year, here are five that really capture what The Burn Down is all about:
Shaping NYC Since 1954 — Frank Narciso, Contractors Sheet Metal (Ep. 324)
Cigars & Sales: Bridging the Gap Between People & Business — Walter Crosby (Ep. 323)
Union Trained, Self‑Made — Mike Lelia, Lelia Electric Corp (Ep. 318)
Custom Suits & Cigars — Seth Stahlmann, Tweeds (Ep. 317)
He Was Michael Jordan’s Cuban Cigar Connect! — Scott Anthony (Ep. 311)
Each one has a different vibe — business, construction, fashion, and high‑stakes stories — but they all represent what we do best: real conversations with interesting people, all brought together over a cigar.
What's next for The Burn Down and BD Cigar Company?
What’s next for The Burn Down Podcast is simple, continuing to grow the community by bringing people together over a cigar while spreading awareness of the cigar culture. On the BD Cigar side, we currently have two blends, The Blueprint and The Diligent, and we will be working on a third blend to complete our ‘BDP’ sampler. Once that’s done, we each want to create our own personal blends and start offering our cigars in different sizes. One box, one episode, one conversation at a time!
