Pyro Unleashed Podcast

In the Season 4 Finale - Tom BetGeorge shares how a passion for music and holiday light shows turned into a globally recognized creative business. The episode explores entrepreneurship, innovation, AI, and the mindset needed to stay ahead in a fast-changing creative world.  He also discusses the role of AI and emerging tech in the future of creative work and why adaptability is essential for long-...

This week, Rob Cima joins Donnie and David to recap SkyWars 2025 and eagerly anticipate SkyWars 2026. Rob shares some of the most memorable moments from previous SkyWars events. Get a sneak peek of what Rob predicts will be the largest SkyWars to date. This season is sponsored by muuxBRD!  More Matches, Less Time muuxBRD.com!! Check out fireTEK Firing Systems, the official firing system of Pyro Un...

This week’s episode is an absolute blast—literally. Donnie and David bring the heat with a powerhouse listener round table stacked with some of the best pyrotechnicians in the country. From behind-the-scenes stories to hard-earned lessons in the field, this one is packed with energy, insight, and a whole lot of firepower. Special guest Tim Jameson from IPC joins the crew to talk all things PyroJam...

This week Donnie and David delve into their scripting preferences, exploring various styles of scripting pyromusical and their inspirations in the pyromusical world. Do you prefer scripting on the beat or vocals? What type of scripting style are you? What effect gives you fatigue? Have you evolved as a show scripter? This season is sponsored by muuxBRD!  More Matches, Less Time muuxBRD.com!! Check...

This week, Donnie and David catch up on recent events and news. David recently returned from Elevate and shared some of his experiences. Meanwhile, Donnie returned from vacation and shared his travel guide to Las Fallas. The guys also discuss the upcoming PGI Competition: Battle in the Sky! This season is sponsored by muuxBRD!  More Matches, Less Time muuxBRD.com!! Check out fireTEK Firing Systems...

This week on Pyro Unleashed, David recounts his first experience at Western Winter Blast, where he witnessed the first ever 100% AI-scripted show. Donnie provides an update on his upcoming vacation to Valencia, Spain, for the annual Las Fallas celebration. Donnie and David also discuss some upcoming events and where they’ll be hanging this spring. This season is sponsored by muuxBRD!  More Matches...

Craig Hetherington, the President of PGI, joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming year. Craig unveils the complete lineup for the 2026 Convention Public Nights. Dan Muzzy also joins us to talk about seminars and the search for a new Seminar Chair for upcoming conventions. If you’re interested in learning more about the requirements for the Seminar Chair position, please contact Dan. We receive c...

The International Fireworks Championship is just two weeks away, and Bruce Tyree, the Founder and CEO of Blast Events, joins Donnie and David to discuss the fourth annual competition and its inaugural year in Las Vegas. Bruce will share insights into the selection process for competitors, the intricacies involved in organizing the shows, and the role of the judges.  Additionally, there will be a M...

This week, Donnie and David dive into their thoughts on last week’s PyroJam announcement. They also discuss the SkyWars 2026 ProAm competitors and the elite lineup for the upcoming event.   This season is sponsored by muuxBRD!  More Matches, Less Time muuxBRD.com!! Check out fireTEK Firing Systems, the official firing system of Pyro Unleashed.  https://firetekfiringsystem.com/ PGI is back for anot...

Tim Jameson joins the podcast to discuss PyroJam 2026. He reveals a major surprise that none of us anticipated. Tune in this week to learn about PyroJam’s future plans for 2026 and beyond. This season is sponsored by muuxBRD!  More Matches, Less Time muuxBRD.com!! Check out fireTEK Firing Systems, the official firing system of Pyro Unleashed.  https://firetekfiringsystem.com/ PGI is back for anoth...

In this week’s episode of Pyro Unleashed, our special guest, John Ehret, takes center stage as the listeners take over the show. John Ehret is a renowned expert in manufacturing commercially available fireworks that are of exceptional quality. His salutes will be exclusively available through Wisely Pyrotechnics. John shares his invaluable experiences and insights into the world of fireworks manuf...

CJ Jurczak, the OG and founder of muuxBRD, joins Donnie and David to discuss all things circuit boards. CJ recounts how his initial order consisted of 1100 slats, which significantly influenced the future of muuxBRD. CJ reveals some of the secrets behind his success and explains how he assembles a substantial portion of his slats in his own garage. Discover his response to the most controversial F...

On this week’s home remodeling tip, Donnie wraps up the drywall installation, while David constructs a new chicken coop. Tune in for your home remodeling ideas. Donnie and David live-watch the Tom BetGeorge choreographed show that was released on December 9th. They discuss pyro news and an update on SkyWars 2026 progress. muuxBRD is offering an extended Black Friday sale. Use the promo code DEC10...

Garrison Risner, co-owner of Pegasus Illuminations, joins the Pyro Unleashed Podcast to discuss his ambitious 2025 New Year Eve show. Garrison aims to launch over 2.5 million shots from roman candles during his 20-minute show, setting a Guinness World Record in the process. The inspiration behind Garrison’s show is the Wounded Warrior Project. If you’d like to donate towards the show or support th...

Donnie and David  are back for a brand new season of the Pyro Unleashed Podcast. Contrary to rumors suggesting the podcast went extinct, Season 4 opens with the duo catching up on their past six months and recounting all the events they’ve attended. This season is sponsored by muuxBRD!  More Matches, Less Time muuxBRD.com !! PGI is back for another season with us.  To become a member go to PGI.org...

As Season 3 comes to end in this final episode, Donnie and David continue their Women in Pyro mini-series. This week, Pyro Katie joins the podcast to discuss her journey in all aspects of pyro. She began her journey in fire dancing and discovered a passion for fireworks along the way. Katie shares her experiences as a woman in the industry and the challenges she has encountered. One of the most si...

In Episode 16 of Season 3, Donnie and David invite listeners to join in and discuss the upcoming fireworks season. Throughout the episode, they reminisce about recent shows they’ve attended and share their plans for the 4th of July season. Listeners can also hear from new voices and regulars in the pyrotechnic community. Pyro New sponsored by Dominator Fireworks:  https://www.kshb.com/news/local-n...

Donnie and David continue their Women in Pyro mini-series for Season 3. This week, Stacy Schneitter, Blake President of NFA and Co-Owner of Schneitters Fireworks in St. Joseph, Missouri, joins the podcast to discuss the family business and its origins. It all began 130 years ago as a sporting goods store that imported firework samples. Interestingly, the fireworks business was the one that took of...

In Episode 14 of Season 3, Donnie and David engage in a conversation with AJ Burns, a multifaceted figure in the pyrotechnics industry. AJ holds various positions, including North Regional Sales Rep for NCI, 1st VP of PGI, APA Board Members, NFA Chairperson for Memberships, and Treasurer of the American Pyrotechnics Safety and Education Foundation. Throughout the episode, they delve into various a...

Brandon Schmidt, also known as @Firecat8 from YouTube, joins Donnie and David to talk about Brandon's journey in pyro.  As with most pyro's, he started as a kid and as he got older the passion grew.  When he started attending demo's he realized there was a market for videos of cakes.  That was the birth of Firecat8.    Brandon also shares more about his camera setup and some tips fo...

Donnie and David returned from Cobra-Con with a fresh perspective on the overall event.  They dive into how the event itself went and go into discussion around all of the shows.  They even talk about some of the issue that came up during the closing show. This week’s cake review sponsored by PGI:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfytOAw8aVc Raccoon - RA500394 - Navy Seals New 1500G Consumer Finale...

Cobra Con 2025 Week is here! In this episode, all three Cobra Con ProAm competitors join the podcast to share their journey and the reasons behind their participation in the inaugural Cobra Con ProAm Competition. Listen in as Michael Karr, JP Hansen, and Nathan Dexter reveal the secrets behind their shows and give you insights into what you may or may not not see in their shows. Join us this week,...

In Episode 10, the Pyro Unleashed Crew talks to the KCAP and MoPyro competitors in this year’s Spirit of 76 Missouri Showdown on April 26th.   Curtis Bertolde from KCAP and David Thompson from MoPyro join the podcast to talk about how they got into pyro and ended up as the representatives from their respective pyro clubs. This week’s cake review sponsored by PGI:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r...

Jonathan McCormick, a prominent figure from Cobra-Con, joins Donnie and David to discuss all aspects of the event. The trio delves into the intricate details of the show, providing a daily breakdown of activities. They cover various sessions and discuss some of the top 5 sessions currently registered for. Additionally, they delve into the new pro-am competition, explaining the rules for each show....

Donnie and David continue their Women in Pyro mini-series for Season 3. This week, Sabrina Nickels, a talented Sales Manager from American Wholesale Fireworks, joins the podcast for our second Women in Pyro episode. Sabrina shares her heartfelt and unapologetic experiences as a woman in this industry. We delve into Sabrina’s journey into the fireworks world and how she secured her dream job at Ame...