Appelboom Bites

In this milestone episode, Joost Appelboom is joined by co-host Douglas Rathbun and special guest Raymond Yu of Ferris Wheel Press for an unforgettable conversation filled with drama, insight, and exciting news from the world of fountain pens. We kick things off by addressing the shocking theft of a Namiki Emperor Chinkin Peony fountain pen at the German Pen Fest the weekend before the recording....

Step inside the world of fine writing in this engaging episode hosted by Joost Appelboom , with Douglas Rathbun as co-host and a very special guest, Nino Marino —CEO of Delta, Maiora, Nettuno, and Signature by Nino Marino . Nino gives an inside look at the philosophy behind each brand, explaining what sets them apart and how they coexist within a modern landscape of Italian pen craftsmanship. Duri...

Welcome to a new episode of the podcast with host Joost Appelboom and co-host Douglas Rathbun, featuring a special guest: Marius Visser, CEO and founder of Ashera. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of luxury fountain pens, design, and craftsmanship as Marius shares the story behind Ashera and his design philosophy of treating pens as true design objects. We discuss the Ashera Aeon fount...

Step into the world of fine writing instruments with this festive Christmas edition of the Appelboom Bites Podcast , recorded just days before the holidays and streamed live on YouTube. Hosted by Joost Appelboom , with co-host Douglas Rathbun (Inkquiringminds) , this special episode is a must-watch for fountain pen collectors, stationery lovers, and anyone passionate about craftsmanship and herita...

Welcome to a new episode of Appelboom Bites, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of fine writing instruments! ✒️ In this episode, we’re joined by Douglas Rathbun as co-host and special guest Frank Zhang, CEO of Nahvalur Fountain Pens. Together, we explore what makes Nahvalur such a standout brand in the fountain pen community. We discuss Nahvalur fountain pens in general, why they offer...

In this episode, we sit down with Ian Schon , owner and designer behind Schon DSGN , and Azizah (GourmetPens) for a deep dive into innovation, craftsmanship, and the world of boutique fountain pens. We explore the highly anticipated MONOC nib and the upgraded MONOC EVO , with Ian sharing the design thinking, engineering challenges, and performance improvements behind both models. Azizah adds her e...

In this exciting episode of the Appelboom Podcast, host Joost Appelboom is joined by Azizah from GourmetPens and special guest Kate from BENU Pens! We celebrate Fountain Pen Day and dive deep into the brand-new BENU collection for 2025. Kate gives us an exclusive first look at the stunning new Haute Collection release, and we explore the latest updates on the Tessera and Pixie pens. Joost also int...

In this special episode, we sit down with Francesco Poggesi, CEO of Visconti, and Azizah from GourmetPens to explore the exciting Visconti fountain pen releases of 2025 — a lineup that blends Italian artistry, innovation, and timeless design. Thanks to the incredible contributions and questions from our YouTube audience, this conversation goes even deeper into what makes these unique writing instr...

In this episode of our Appelboom Writing Podcast, we dive deep into the world of Sheaffer with a very special guest — Nikhil Ranjan, CEO of Sheaffer. Co-hosted by Azizah (GourmetPens), this conversation explores the rich history, timeless legacy, and exciting future of one of the most iconic writing brands in the world. We discuss the revival and relaunch of the Sheaffer Legacy fountain pen, shedd...

🎙️ The Appelboom Bites Podcast is Back! After a long summer break (since mid-June), host Joost Appelboom returns with co-host Azizah from GourmetPens and special guest Salvatore Matrone , CEO of Leonardo Officina Italiana , for a brand new episode filled with exciting pen talk! We kick things off with a brief recap of the DC Pen Show , then dive into the world of Leonardo fountain pens —including...

In this vibrant episode of the Appelboom Bites Podcast , host Joost Appelboom and co-host Clare Coco welcome the always-insightful Sue Beck for an engaging conversation about craftsmanship, design, and artistic expression in the world of fine writing instruments. Sue shares her favorite David Oscarson fountain pen , and the discussion flows into the fascinating world of Japanese art forms on pens...

In this exclusive episode of the Appelboom Bites Podcast , host Joost Appelboom is joined by co-host Clare Coco and very special guest David Oscarson , the founder of the renowned luxury pen brand David Oscarson . David takes us deep into the world of high-end writing instruments, sharing the fascinating story behind his brand and what makes David Oscarson pens so extraordinary. From the intricate...

In this special episode of our pen enthusiast podcast, Joost Appelboom and co-host Clare Coco dive into the highlights of the Dutch Pen Show 2025 in Utrecht, joined by special guest Darla van de Riet , President of the Netherlands Pen Club . Although Clare couldn’t attend in person, she was there in spirit as Joost and Darla shared their experiences from the show floor—exploring rare finds, exciti...

In this episode of Appelboom Bites , host Joost Appelboom and co-host Clare Coco welcome special guest Michal Kulka , master artisan and owner of Tamenuri Studio . Renowned for his breathtaking Urushi and Tamenuri lacquer work on fountain pens, Michal shares insights into his creative process and previews what he’ll be bringing to the upcoming Dutch Pen Show 2025 , taking place the weekend of May...

In this episode of Appelboom Bites , Joost Appelboom and co-host Clare Coco sit down with a true legend of the fountain pen world: Michael Gutberlet , CEO of Kaweco , now fondly known as the OBG – Old But Gold . We dive into Kaweco’s latest innovations, including the ingenious Mini Foldable Converter and the hugely successful Piston Sport —with exciting news from Michael about more colors joining...

In this special episode, we’re joined by Kate Dmitrieva, CEO of BENU Pens, for a lively and insightful conversation about all things BENU. Co-hosted by Alexandra Richardson—making her final appearance on the show—we kick things off with a pen check that, to our surprise, featured an all-BENU lineup! Kate shares the inspiring story behind her journey and the creative influences that fuel her design...

In this episode, co-host Alexandra Richardson shares her behind-the-scenes experience helping out at the Chicago Pen Show , from meeting fellow pen enthusiasts to navigating the buzzing event floor. We’re then joined by Tom Gyr , the creative force behind Tom’s Studio , who reveals his grail pen and joins us for our weekly pen check . Tom dives into the origin story of Tom’s Studio , starting with...

In this episode, we sit down with Anuj Poddar , the visionary founder and owner of AP Limited Editions — one of the most exclusive and luxurious fountain pen brands in the world. Known for their extraordinary craftsmanship and artistic excellence, AP Limited Editions pens are created using time-honored techniques such as Maki-E, Urushi, and Russian Lacquer Art . From the origins of his passion for...

In this episode, we sit down with Mathias Ringeard, CEO of Diplomat, alongside our co-host Alexandra Richardson, to discuss the incredible success of the Diplomat Viper releases in 2024. We also dive into three exciting upcoming models from Diplomat: the classic-styled Aero Rhomb, the vibrant and colorful Aero Funky, and the sleek new Diplomat Xo – a limited edition cigar-shaped fountain pen with...

In this exciting episode, we welcome Mareike Mert (@my_and_my_happydesk) as our guest, with Alexandra (@alexandrasartinsanity) co-hosting! Mareike, known for her creative workshops, shares all the details about the two incredible journaling workshops she will be leading at the upcoming Dutch Pen Show on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 . These workshops, Travel Journaling and Coffee Journaling...

In this week's episode of the Appelboom Bites Podcast , we’re thrilled to welcome Nadia , the Head of Marketing from the British-based brand Wingback . Wingback is renowned for its meticulously crafted writing instruments made from solid metals like brass, stainless steel , and titanium , as well as their sleek and stylish pen sleeves. Our wonderful co-host Vanessa Langton joins the show this...

Welcome to the Appelboom Bites Podcast , where we bring you the latest in fountain pens, stationery, and exclusive collaborations! In this special episode, we’re thrilled to have Helen Wang , the owner of TheCoffeeMonsterzCo , a renowned stationery brand known for its creative artwork on stickers, washi tapes, and more. Helen talks about her exciting new collaboration with Esterbrook , creating th...

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Salvatore Matrone, CEO of Leonardo Fountain Pens, about their latest release, The Power of Flower collection. This stunning new collection features three vibrant colors: Dalia Eveline, Sakura, and Fiordalisso Blue, all crafted from unique materials provided by Jonathon Brooks of the Carolina Pen Company. Salvatore shared insights into the stron...

In this exciting episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Jilliano from Wancher Pens , a renowned Japanese pen brand known for their exquisite Ebonite and Urushi fountain pens. Jilliano is responsible for photo and video content and plays a key role in sales in the Philippines and global marketing . We dive deep into the world of Wancher Pens , which has made a name for itself with stunning p...

In this episode of the Appelboom Podcast, we’re excited to sit down with Lori Tata and Luke from Papa J Woodworks to dive into the fascinating world of custom-made pens. From humble beginnings during the Covid era, Papa J Woodworks has quickly become a leading name in the industry. Discover the story behind this remarkable brand, founded by Luke and his wife, Peanuts, who is the mastermind behind...