Best Tim Swanson Podcasts (2025)

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Bjorn Ryan-Gorman: Coming Out as Gay in the Snowboarding World and Reclaiming Masculinity on Your Own Terms 45:23

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7m ago45:23

45:23

Bjorn Ryan-Gorman, professional snowskater and LGBTQ+ advocate, shares his journey from hiding his sexuality behind aggressive board sports to building a life of authenticity in Portland. Growing up in Montana as a sponsored snow athlete, Ryan-Gorman used snowboarding and skateboarding as outlets for self-hatred and denial, pushing himself to dange…

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David Epstein: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World 51:45

15m ago51:45

51:45

David Epstein, author of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, dismantles the myth that early specialization is the only path to excellence. Drawing from research on elite athletes, musicians, and scientists, David reveals how individual variability in learning means there is no one-size-fits-all approach to skill development. He r…

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Ayelet Fishbach: The Science of Motivation, Why Fantasies Fail, and Balancing Abstract Goals with Concrete Plans 1:07:21

1d ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Ayelet Fishbach, motivation researcher at University of Chicago, dismantles the fantasy-driven approach to New Year's resolutions and goal-setting. Drawing from data spanning multiple years, she reveals that while temporal landmarks like New Year work for initiating goals, only 20% of people still pursue them by November—the difference comes down t…

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Daniel Stillman: The Architecture of Conversations and Why Every Interface Shapes What We Say 1:18:27

23m ago1:18:27

1:18:27

Daniel Stillman, author of Good Talk: How to Design Conversations That Matter, reveals how conversations are designed—whether we realize it or not. Drawing from his background in design thinking and facilitation, Daniel breaks down the components of conversational architecture: openings, turns, power dynamics, and interfaces. He explains why physic…

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Dandapani: Mastering Your Mind as an Operating System, Sexual Energy Transmutation, and the Monastic Path to Unwavering Focus 1:07:07

38m ago1:07:07

1:07:07

Dandapani, former Hindu monk who lived monastically for 10 years, shares teachings from his guru on treating the mind as an operating system that must be understood before it can be mastered. He explains the critical distinction between a focused life (giving undivided attention to whoever/whatever you're engaged with) and a purpose-focused life (w…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 403 (Veterans, Valor & The Warhead Returns) 1:32:09

5h ago1:32:09

1:32:09

This week on Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re celebrating the heroes who’ve made our freedoms possible — the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. With Veterans Day upon us, tonight’s show is all about honoring their courage, sharing stories, and enjoying the sense of brotherhood that cigars bring to every lounge across America. We’re also firing up some…

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Cal Newport: Slow Productivity, Escaping Pseudo Productivity, and the Three Principles for Sustainable Knowledge Work 1:40:53

14m ago1:40:53

1:40:53

Cal Newport unpacks his framework for Slow Productivity, built on three core principles: doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality. He introduces "pseudo productivity"—the toxic heuristic that emerged in mid-20th century knowledge work when visible activity became a proxy for useful effort because traditional product…

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Alan Stein Jr: The Performance Gap Between Knowing and Doing, and What Elite Athletes Teach Us About Execution 1:05:31

15m ago1:05:31

1:05:31

Alan Stein Jr, former basketball performance coach to Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and other NBA superstars, reveals why knowledge without execution is worthless and how the world's highest performers bridge the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Drawing from decades working with elite athletes, Stein explains that performance gaps…

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Christy Tennery-Spalding: Building Political Homes and Redefining Self-Care Beyond Capitalism 48:12

7d ago48:12

48:12

Christy Tennery-Spalding, activist and organizer, shares how growing up near Washington D.C. shaped her oppositional stance to power structures and led her to find a “political home” in San Francisco’s activist community. She introduces the concept of informed consent in organizing—ensuring participants feel safe, informed, and empowered rather tha…

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Andrew Yang: Universal Basic Income and the Automation Crisis Remaking America 44:31

4d ago44:31

44:31

Andrew Yang traces his path from failed entrepreneur to 2020 presidential candidate driven by a single realization: automation has already destroyed millions of American jobs, and the next wave will be exponentially worse. Through his work with Venture for America, he witnessed firsthand the economic devastation in Detroit, Ohio, and the Midwest—wh…

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Andrew Bustamante: Inside the Mind of a Spy — Tradecraft, Trust, and the Cost of Secrecy 1:10:20

1d ago1:10:20

1:10:20

Former CIA field operative Andrew Bustamante pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to recruit spies, run intelligence operations, and navigate a life built on secrecy, loyalty, and manipulation. In this riveting and wide-ranging conversation, Bustamante shares stories from his military training at the Air Force Academy, his time at “The Fa…

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Chris Fussell: Systems, Mindset, and Leading at the Edge 56:27

7d ago56:27

56:27

Former Navy SEAL and leadership strategist Chris Fussell reveals how elite teams operate under pressure—and how those principles can be applied far beyond the battlefield. Drawing from years of operational experience and his work with General Stanley McChrystal, Fussell explains how systems thinking, decentralized decision-making, and shared consci…

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Carlos Adell: From Drug Dealer to Industrial Engineer to Finding True Success Through Strategic Environment Design 52:37

2d ago52:37

52:37

Carlos Adell shares his unconventional path from growing up in a small Spanish town with limited resources to running a six-figure drug dealing business while simultaneously working as a DJ and industrial engineer. After nearly dying from a heart attack at 29 while working in corporate, Adell discovered that he had been living other people’s dreams…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 402 (Breaking The Law with Davidoff's Working Class Wonder) 1:39:24

3d ago1:39:24

1:39:24

You all know who's the law around these parts! Normally, it's your Cigars Daily LIVE team but tonight, we're breaking the law… but not just any law. We have Law Ream in the studio. He's been traveling the country in the name of Davidoff's Zino Nicaragua. We're all going to work together to see if we can break Law in, Cigars Daily style.…

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Alison Shcraeger: The Economics of Risk and What a Las Vegas Brothel Taught Me About Uncertainty 45:46

6d ago45:46

45:46

Alison Shcraeger, economist and author of An Economist Walks Into a Brothel, explains how risk really works and why most people misunderstand it. From studying sex workers in Nevada to analyzing probability theory, Alison reveals that humans are not naturally wired to process probabilities—but we can learn. She introduces the concept of natural fre…

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John Epstein: Testing Acast Sync and Update Functionality 51:45

12d ago51:45

51:45

This is a test episode to verify that our Acast sync system works correctly. We will upload this episode with a far-future publish date, then update the midroll timestamp to confirm that the PATCH endpoint successfully syncs changes from our local index to Acast without re-uploading the audio file. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in…

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Akshay Nanavati: Finding Bliss Through Suffering, Silence, and the Edge of Human Endurance 49:36

9d ago49:36

49:36

Akshay Nanavati is not your typical adventurer — he’s a former Marine, a survivor of war-induced PTSD, and a seeker of what he calls the “crucible of suffering.” In this deeply introspective and intensely raw conversation, Akshay explores how pain, guilt, and darkness became vehicles for transcendence in his life. From confronting suicidal despair …

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Cigars Daily LIVE 401 (The Secret To The Rarest Leaf On Earth) 1:24:51

10d ago1:24:51

1:24:51

What makes a cigar truly rare? In this episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re diving into the world of exclusive blends and the rarest leaf on Earth. From hard-to-grow varietals to limited harvests that only happen once every few years, we’ll unpack what “rare” really means when it comes to cigars — and whether that rarity actually makes them better. …

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David Brooks: Seeing People Deeply in a World of Shallow Interactions 56:45

16d ago56:45

56:45

New York Times columnist and bestselling author **David Brooks** joins Srini Rao to unpack what it really means to know and see another person — and how our ability to connect deeply has deteriorated in a world dominated by distraction, paradigmatic thinking, and judgment. Drawing from his latest book *How to Know a Person*, Brooks explores emotion…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 400 (Living LARGE With Sun, Smoke, & Island Vibes) 1:33:55

17d ago1:33:55

1:33:55

It’s time to kick back, light up, and live large. In this special 400th episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re bringing the island life straight to the studio with good friends, good conversation, and a tropical twist. Tonight’s show is all about the laid-back luxury that cigars naturally bring — that moment when the world slows down, the sun feels wa…

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Damon Centola: Why Change Spreads from the Edges—Not the Influencers 56:51

17d ago56:51

56:51

Damon Centola, sociologist and author of *Change: How to Make Big Things Happen*, dismantles the myth of the influencer and introduces a radically different model of how ideas and behaviors actually spread. In this thought-provoking conversation, Centola explains why change doesn’t come from social media stars with massive followings—but from dense…

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Jennifer Wallace: Raising Resilient Kids in a Culture That Says They're Never Enough 51:53

20d ago51:53

51:53

Jennifer Wallace is a journalist, researcher, and mother of three who set out to answer one of the most pressing questions in modern parenting: *Why do our kids feel like they're never enough — and what can we do about it?* Drawing on insights from her book *Never Enough* and years of reporting, Wallace explains how achievement culture, status anxi…

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Laura Huang: Creating an Edge in a World That Won’t Hand You One 1:05:42

21d ago1:05:42

1:05:42

In this powerful and perspective-shifting episode, Harvard Business School professor and author **Laura Huang** shares a deeply human and practical roadmap for transforming disadvantage into advantage. Drawing from her book *Edge*, she breaks down the four-part EDGE framework—Enrich, Delight, Guide, and Effort—showing how each of us can flip bias, …

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Emily Fletcher: The Science and Simplicity of Unlocking Human Potential Through Meditation 46:52

25d ago46:52

46:52

Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation and a former Broadway performer, shares how her journey from the stage to spiritual leadership reshaped her understanding of success, fulfillment, and mental resilience. In this candid and practical conversation, Emily explains the science behind stress, its impact on performance, and how meditation can tr…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 399 (How Columbus Accidentally Invented The Cigar) 1:33:04

1M ago1:33:04

1:33:04

In this week’s episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re rolling back the clock more than 600 years to uncover how a few curious explorers, a sacred island ritual, and one very unlucky Spaniard gave birth to the modern cigar. Join Me, Amber, Terrence, and Billy for a hilarious, history-packed, game-show-style story time that covers it all — from the Taín…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 398 (A Blend For The END! The Last Cigar In My Humidor Will Be) 1:30:34

1M ago1:30:34

1:30:34

By Tim Swanson

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Courtney Harding: Building the Future of Human Connection Through XR, Education, and Digital Agency 50:29

1M ago50:29

50:29

Courtney Harding, founder of Friends with Holograms and a leading voice in spatial computing, joins Srini to discuss the real-world applications and philosophical implications of immersive technologies like VR and AR. Drawing from her background in music journalism, activism, and public policy, she unpacks how virtual experiences are reshaping educ…

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Daniel Lieberman: Dopamine, Desire, and Why Enough is Never Enough 51:43

1M ago51:43

51:43

In this mind-expanding conversation, psychiatrist and author Daniel Lieberman unpacks the role of dopamine — the brain's molecule of motivation — and how it shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, from love and ambition to addiction and impulsive behavior. Drawing from his bestselling book *The Molecule of More*, Lieberman explains why we’re wired…

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Annie Duke: Why Knowing When to Quit Is a Superpower 1:10:48

1M ago1:10:48

1:10:48

In this powerful third appearance, bestselling author and decision strategist Annie Duke dismantles the myth that grit is always good — and makes the case for why strategic quitting is essential for success. Drawing from cognitive science, personal experience, and examples like Muhammad Ali, Dave Chappelle, and Stuart Butterfield (Slack), Duke illu…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 397 (FAIL! Tim's Worst Mistake Plus More Industry Mishaps) 1:34:21

1M ago1:34:21

1:34:21

They say that failure is part of success… if that's true, then I'm about to be the most successful person in the industry because I biffed it… BAD! During this episode, we're going to talk about exactly what I did, and exactly how bad it is. Now, I certainly don't have total command over mistakes and mishaps in the cigar industry. There have been m…

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The Science of Mastery: Anders Ericsson on Deliberate Practice 45:52

1M ago45:52

45:52

Psychologist Anders Ericsson, the originator of the concept of deliberate practice, shares the foundational principles behind how experts are made—not born. Drawing on decades of empirical research, he explains how world-class performance emerges through structured effort, targeted feedback, and the development of mental models over time.Ericsson c…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 396 (The Most Explosive Limited Edition Blends of 2025) 1:05:55

2M ago1:05:55

1:05:55

Limited edition cigars are where brands really cut loose — bold blends, wild packaging, and the kind of creativity that gets cigar lovers talking. I also COMPLAIN non-stop about them… mostly because if one really leaves an impression then it’s more than likely it’ll be tough or impossible to find again. In this episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re c…

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The Operating System of Transformation: Salim Ismail on Exponential Thinking, Leadership, and Inner Engineering 57:33

2M ago57:33

57:33

In this episode, Salim Ismail — founding executive director of Singularity University and author of *Exponential Organizations* — maps out what it takes to adapt, lead, and build in a world defined by accelerating change.He unpacks the frameworks behind exponential growth, the future of learning, and the architecture of modern organizations. But th…

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Dennis Xu: Designing Tools That Think Like We Do 47:01

2M ago47:01

47:01

Dennis Xu, co-founder of Mem, unpacks the future of personal knowledge and how it’s being reshaped by networked thinking, cognitive design, and human-centered AI. Drawing on his Stanford background, founder journey, and product philosophy, Dennis challenges the folder-based paradigms of information management — replacing them with malleable, graph-…

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The Science of Focus: Gloria Mark on Attention Rhythms, Flow Myths, and Digital Control 52:12

2M ago52:12

52:12

Cognitive scientist Gloria Mark explains why modern knowledge work sabotages attention — and how to fight back. Drawing from her decades of research, she breaks down internal vs. external distraction, meta-awareness, cognitive rhythms, and the misunderstood nature of flow states. This episode delivers practical insights for reclaiming agency over y…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 395 (That's IT! We're Going SCORCHED Earth) 1:37:25

2M ago1:37:25

1:37:25

That’s it — we’re going scorched earth. In this episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re diving into the latest release from Oscar Valladares: the Scorched Earth Daily Edition Maduro. If you’ve followed Oscar’s growing lineup, you already know about the Earth by Oscar and the box-pressed Flat Earth — both Corojo-wrapped fan favorites. Now the family get…

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Sonkhe Ahrens: Building a Thinking System That Generates Insight, Not Noise 46:13

2M ago46:13

46:13

Sonkhe Ahrens shares how traditional approaches to knowledge — highlighting, tagging, collecting — fail to support actual thinking. Drawing from Niklas Luhmann’s Zettelkasten method, Ahrens explains why insight isn’t something you plan for, but something you engineer into existence by connecting information deliberately over time. The conversation …

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Cigars Daily LIVE 394 (Blockbuster Blends! Cigars That Blow The Roof Off The Cigar World) 49:22

2M ago49:22

49:22

Fair warning- we only got this episode going after some insane technical issues, so if you want to hear Cigars Daily LIVE come off the rails, this is your episode. Most cigars come into the industry quietly. They get a soft, smooth, easy going launch into the industry. Others are more like the latest Avengers movie on opening day (I realize my movi…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 393 + AfterParty (HUMIDOR WARS! Battle For the Best Home For Cigars) 1:36:23

2M ago1:36:23

1:36:23

Cigars can only live in one place - a humidor. It's the one place where cigars can survive and potentially age into fine tools for celebrating life's special moments. But a good humidor isn't always easy to come by. Today the world is plagued by poorly informed information about how to create a place to accurately store cigars. And it can cause cig…

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Kevin Surace — Building Smarter, Leading Better, and Adapting to AI 1:10:56

2M ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Kevin Surace breaks down how AI is reshaping the future of work — not by eliminating jobs, but by replacing repetitive tasks and redefining what humans are actually needed for. He explains why productivity, not headcount, will determine company growth in a labor-constrained world. Drawing from decades of applied AI experience, Surace outlines the e…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 392 (Cigar Makers Need to STOP Doing This One Thing NOW) 1:39:28

3M ago1:39:28

1:39:28

Cigar Makers do some AMAZING things. Their art is one of the most logistically dense and complicated processes I’ve seen in my entire life. I admire my cigar making friends as much as I feel for the tremendous challenges they face on a daily basis. That being said, they don’t always get it right. Cigar Makers have simultaneously done some of the mo…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 391 (The WEIRD New Era Of Cigar Swag w/ The Forgekeeper Statue) 1:31:54

3M ago1:31:54

1:31:54

Cigar Swag is a longstanding tradition in the cigar industry. For a very long time, cigar makers have dedicated themselves to crafting useful cigar swag. Items that cigar lovers use everyday, that sport the branding of their favorite makers. But these days, the industry has taken a turn… but is it a turn for the better? I've learned a lot about thi…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 390 (When Pipes & Cigars Hook Up… The Great Aromatic Affair) 1:34:30

3M ago1:34:30

1:34:30

Over the last few years, cigars have been having a rather steamy love affair with pipes… well, pipe leaf to be exact. There have been more and more projects that dawn the title 'aromatic' (essentially one step shy of being pipe leaf). Some projects even use leaf that's specifically crafted for pipes inside the wrapper, binder, filler blend. The big…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 389 (Top Community Picks 2025: The Cigars YOU Can’t Stop Talking About) 1:33:59

3M ago1:33:59

1:33:59

The TOP cigars aren’t the ones that are mentioned in magazines, or Top 25 lists. They’re not the ones that reviewers go gaga over. They’re not even the ones that get all the hype online. The world’s top cigars are the ones that win hearts and palates over with exceptional experiences. And those are the cigars we are chatting about on this episode. …

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Cigars Daily LIVE 388 (Are Aged Cigars Worth The Wait?) 1:34:39

4M ago1:34:39

1:34:39

Aged cigars have a reputation for being a special and elite treat for aficionados. But are they really worth the wait? Serious collectors claim that as little as 4 months all the way up to decades long aging processes will create an extra level of smooth, refined, clean, clear flavor. But how does it really work? Is there a point where cigars can a…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 387 (Exposing the Cigar Industry with Oliva Nick) 1:31:54

4M ago1:31:54

1:31:54

The cigar industry has some secrets, and tonight we're exposing all of them! For this episode, we'll be joined by Oliva Nick, an industry insider who knows where all the skeletons are kept. Together, we'll be grilling him with questions to peel back the curtain on every little thing that's hiding. Join us as we dive into the darkest parts of the wo…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 386 (Underrated: Cigars That Deserve Way MORE Hype) 1:38:14

4M ago1:38:14

1:38:14

It's amazing. Often, the best cigars are NOT the most popular ones. The world is filled with cigars from cigar makers who really know what they're doing. But for one reason or another people never hear about their cigars. The average cigar lover ends up pursuing projects that are better marketed or already have a large following. During this episod…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 385 (How to Spot Over-Hyped Cigars IMMEDIATELY) 1:37:12

4M ago1:37:12

1:37:12

WATCH OUT! That next cigar might just be completely over-hyped! The world is filled with more new and limited edition releases than ever before. Some are bold projects it exotic leaf varietals that truly offer something different. Others are just another blend that's over-hyped and over-valued. So how do you tell the difference? These days it can b…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 384 (The NEW King of Cigars Has Arrived) 1:32:36

5M ago1:32:36

1:32:36

If a cigar is a king, we call it El Rey. And for a long time around the Cigars Daily LIVE crew, there was only one Rey… until now. Introducing the Don Pepin Garcia E.R.H — the El Rey Del Los Habanos, or King of the Habanos. This bold new My Father blend is making a serious claim. With so many modern blends using Habano wrappers, what makes this one…

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Cigars Daily LIVE 383 (The Legacy of Nick Perdomo & The Future of Cigars) 1:32:18

5M ago1:32:18

1:32:18

The world of cigars is all about legacy. Cigar making families are constantly working to fine tune their craft, and raise up new generations who can carry the flame. On this week's episode, we're joined by Nicholas Perdomo III. When it comes to Perdomo Cigars, Nicholas is THE guy for the job. After decades of his Dad building one of America's most …