Sunday Afternoon Smokes

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down with Lauren Villano, founder of Branded by Yaya, to talk about what branding really means for small businesses—and why it’s much more than just a logo. If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or creative trying to stand out, this conversation breaks down how to build a brand that actually connects with people. Lauren shares her approac...

Sitting down with Chris for episode 37 is Rory Tyer, owner of South Pleasantburg Nursery in Greenville, SC. Rory lights up a H. Upmann Anejados and Chris smokes an Espinosa Laranja. A little bit of cigar talk, but otherwise a very business heavy episode. Rory talks about purchasing SPN, what it looks like for someone to purchase a business, and he breaks down for us what a business coach is and is...

In this conversation, I sit down with David Lyles, pastor of Connection Fellowship Church in Powdersville, SC, to talk about faith—not in theory, but in real life. We cover everything from Christian marriage and leadership to personal struggles, doubt, and what it actually looks like to trust God in difficult seasons. This is an honest, grounded conversation about: What biblical leadership and mar...

Brian Stearns, Founder and CEO of Ringo Fire, a multimedia advertising agency in Greenville, SC, sits down with Chris for a cigar and chat. Brian fires up a Torano Dominico and Chris opts for a E. P. Carillo New Wave Connecticut. They smoke and talk about cigars, Brian's entrance into marketing, helping companies tell their stories, and his various enterprises: Campfire, LaunchPadX, and Millie Lew...

Bob McCoy, owner of JXB Media and creator of The Glorious Beard Podcast, records a remote podcast with SAS. Chris lights up the new Notorious by Connor McGregor while Bob misses out on a smoke due to inclement weather. They kick off the podcast with some of Bob's personal history in music, how he got sucked into a cult, and then things turn to cigars and a pretty good dive into the world of pipe s...

SAS Ep 33 features Chris Haile, Franchise Business Coach with Garage Living. Chris lights up an Alec Bradley Chunk Maduro, and your podcast host (also Chris) fires up a CAO Nicaragua. Right out the gate they dive into family life, and navigate the topics of marriage, divorce and remarriage. Eventually they get into some cigar talk, and finish up the pod with his role at Garage Living, a business t...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris sits down with Cam Hill, Executive Director of Lead Collective, to talk about faith, mentorship, and the work being done to transform the lives of at-risk youth in Greenville, South Carolina. Cam shares the story behind Lead Collective and its ministries—GOAT (Great Outdoor Adventure Trips), Elias, and Reach—which are working to break cycles of pov...

Jake Henderson, owner of Hendo Strength Systems and Head of Carolina Barbell Club, sits down with Chris for an ep of SAS. They both light up a Montecristo by AJ Fernandez, and they dive into the world of cigars, strength training, strong man competitions, and what Jake and CBBC are offering to the Upstate of South Carolina.

Executive chefs and co-owners of Larkin's Restaurants, Adam Hayes and Kristina Murphhy join Chris for Episode 30 of Sunday Afternoon Smokes. They each light a cigar and dive into the world cigar smoking, the Larkin's Restaurants brand here in the Upstate of SC, chef life, the cost of doing business, and how they each wound up at the executive level of the restaurant business. https://larkinsgvl.co...

Matt and Amy Buxbaum of Greenville Firepit Nights sit down with Chris for an episode of SAS. Chris lights up a La Aurora Corojo, and Matt fires up an Artista Buffalo Ten. Matt and Amy detail their journey from Ohio to Greenville, SC, their artistic and engineering background that culminated in their business of crafting, renting and selling firepits for events in the Upstate, and they wrap up the...

Leslie Barto, head of Mamre Missions, and her husband Paul have a sit down for a chat on Sunday Afternoon Smokes. As always, cigars are first on the docket, and then they move into the help that Mamre Missions provides to families struggling to afford food, providing students with lunches during the summer, the partnerships that make this possible, and the ins and outs of homeschooling. https://ww...

Jeff Pence of Magic Rooster Tattoo in Mauldin, SC, and his apprecntice, Dave Dill, join Chris for an episode of SAS. They each light up a cigar and discuss the cigar life, tattoos, tattoo culture, Jeff's love to give back to the community, music and more. https://www.gofundme.com/support-jennifer-stewarts-medical-recovery https://www.instagram.com/magicroostertattoo https://www.magicroostertattoo....

In this special solo bonus episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris shares a deeply personal update following a medical emergency that changed his family’s life overnight. Just days earlier, Chris’s wife Jennifer suffered a massive brain aneurysm that led to a stroke during emergency surgery. In this episode, Chris opens up about what happened, the uncertainty that followed, and how he is process...

Mark Thoennes, luxury custom home builder, and Richard Cox, Broker in Charge of CDJ BHHS Augusta St Office, sit down with Chris for a cigar and a chat. Chris and Richard fire up a Crowned Heads Mil Dias Robusto, with Mark opts for a YR Cigar Connecticut Robusto. They discuss cigars, the ins and outs of building a luxury home from the ground up, revitalizing distressed neighborhoods in Greenville,...

Chris lights up a Henry Clay War Hawk Robusto by Altadis USA. He highlights the blend, talks about tobacco from Honduras, and coaches cigar smokers through the technique of retrohaling. https://www.mobilecigarbox.com https://thecigarbox.printful.me https://x.com/mobilecigarbox https://www.instagram.com/mobilecigarbox https://www.instagram.com/sundayafternoonsmokes https://www.youtube.com/@SundayAf...

Episode 25 of SAS features Kevin Dobbins, a mortgage lender with Homeside Financial. No cigars due to inclement weather, Chris and Kevin pour up some bourbon and discuss cigars, give some serious eductation about the home buying process, taking care of your credit, and get into beards, Christianity, the importance of scheduling and living a goal oriented life kdobbins@homeside.com https://www.home...

Chris lights up the Jake Wyatt Icarus Robusto and discusses the blend, the issues with tunneling and canoeing, as well as the upcoming Southern Roots BBQ Festival happening tomorrow in Traveler's Rest, SC. https://jakewyattcigars.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jakewyattcigars/ https://x.com/JakeWyattCigars https://www.mobilecigarbox.com https://thecigarbox.printful.me https://x.com/mobilecigarbox...

Andrew Rodriguez of Blue Ridge Cabinet & Design in Easley, SC joins Chris for an episode of SAS. They each light up an Artista Art 56 Maduro cigar and discuss the beginning of Andrew's cigar journey, entrepreneurship, and the launch of Blue Ridge Cabinet. To wrap up the show they discuss Andrew's immigrant father, BBQ Brisket, religion and Christianity, and Elon's desire to get to Mars.

The Mayor of Easley, SC, Lisa Talbert, sits down with Chris for Episode 23 of Sunday Afternoon Smokes. A smokeless episode as they're recording in the Mayor's office, Chris and the Mayor discuss issues surrounding tobacco in the US, individual freedom, the current status of the City of Easley, as well as the healthcare industry.

Cigar smoking mates, Chris and Keith, are back for another cigar smoking episode. Chris opts for the YR San Andres by YR Cigar, while Keith reaches for a Camacho Pre-Embargo. They talk shop about their smoke, dive into the world of cigar reps which takes a turn into the art of salesmanship. @sundayafternoonsmokes - Instagram @mobilecigarbox - Instagram @smokeybeardsc - Instagram www.yrcigars1991.c...

In this bonus episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, Chris is joined by Cigar Show Tim & Kyle of Smoke and Revelry. Both of these guests are in cigar media: reviews of cigars, and cigar accountrements. All 3 light up and discuss the cigar smoking, cigar media, as well as the accidental happenings of entrepreneurship. You can find everything they do at the links below. CIGAR SHOW TIM @cigarshowtim on...

Chris sits down with pocket knife maker, Daniel Keown of Keown Fine Folders. Daniel smokes his first cigar, a Montecristo half Corona, while Chris lights up an AJ Fernandez Nicaraguan Series Rothschild. Spirits, coffee, cigars, knife making, comedy and psychadelics are on the docket for episode 22.

Chris lights up the Aladino Corojo, which is billed as a cigar that embodies the classic, old-school Cuban style experience. Grown in the Jamastran Valley of Honduras, this cigar is comprised of 100% Honduran grown Corojo tobacco.

Dan Eastland of Dogwood Custom Knives sits down with Chris for Episode 21. A smokeless show due to inclement weather, but it's not light on topcis. Knife making, military, Haiti, rugby, trips to the Amazon, and the combination of manhood and fatherhood are all on deck!

Chris lights up a Fratello Arelquin Connecticut with a cup of coffee. He talks about Fratello Cigars, the blend of the CT in particular, and takes a few minutes to go in depth about the issues behind tunneling and canoeing.