Brews & Cruise Podcast

What started as a simple custom soap idea in 2018 has turned into a full-scale family business. In this episode of the Brews & Cruise Podcast , host Chris Jacobson sits down in the Speakeasy Studio with husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Aaron and Missy Brooks , founders of 1924 Custom Soapery in Sparta, Wisconsin. Over the past seven years, Aaron and Missy have grown their brand far beyond bars o...

In this episode of the Brews & Cruise Podcast, Max Ruff and Brandon Emmons join me in the Speakeasy Studio for an honest conversation about addiction, sobriety, and rebuilding life after rock bottom. Max shares his journey through addiction and what it’s taken to maintain over a decade of sobriety, while Brandon opens up about navigating recovery in his first year clean. Together, they reflect...

From Sobriety to the Kitchen: Building Average Dad Cooking In this end-of-year episode of the Brews & Cruise Podcast, Brandon Osburn of the Average Dad Cooking Channel joins the Speakeasy Studio for an honest and inspiring conversation about rebuilding life one day—and one meal—at a time. Brandon shares his journey through sobriety and fitness, how cooking became an outlet for creativity and h...

What does it really take to launch a marketing campaign that captures attention — and what happens when it suddenly takes on a life of its own? On this episode of the Brews & Cruise Podcast, Cynthya Porter joins the Speakeasy Studio for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about marketing strategy, storytelling, and the pressure that comes with viral success. Cynthya shares her journey in...

This week, Dan Wilson joins me in the Speakeasy Studio for a timely conversation about the future of housing in Winona, Minnesota. We dive into the real challenges facing our local housing market — from affordability and availability to zoning and long-term community growth. Dan shares his perspective on what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change to ensure Winona remains a place people c...

In this week’s episode, Paul Ebner joins me to break down everything surrounding John Cena’s final WWE match and the end of one of the most iconic careers in wrestling history. We dive deep into Cena’s upcoming retirement match, the latest WWE rumors, and our predictions for who will become John Cena’s final opponent in the ring. Paul and I also reveal our Top 5 John Cena moments of all time, high...

Buckle up, because this week’s episode is a wild ride from the casino floor to the car lot and everywhere in between! Joey Terhune joins me inside the Speakeasy Studio to share his journey—from dealing cards in Waterloo, Iowa, to selling cars in Colorado, to becoming a finance manager in the Dahl Auto organization right here in the Midwest. Joey breaks down just how intricate and skill-heavy it is...

One year after his first appearance, Andre Klonecki returns to share the incredible story of losing the Blackhorse to a devastating fire—and the determination it took to rebuild from nothing. Andre opens up about the emotional journey, the behind-the-scenes challenges, community support, and the work that’s bringing the Blackhorse back stronger than ever. He also addresses circulating rumors and s...

In this week’s episode of The Brews & Cruise Podcast, we’re joined virtually by the one and only MTGJedi—content creator, gamer, and now board-game designer! He takes us on a journey from his early days as a school teacher to competing in Magic: The Gathering tournaments, to building a thriving YouTube presence around the games he loves. MTGJedi also gives us an inside look at his brand-new bo...

In this week’s episode, Amanda and Cody Allen join me for an honest, eye opening conversation about life with spina bifida, the condition their young daughter lives with. They share what day to day care looks like, the extra steps they take to support her health, and the bright, surprising joys that come with raising a child whose needs are a little different. We also talk about their baking compa...

This week on The Speakeasy Studio, we sit down with Michael Otomo, whose journey is anything but ordinary. From his days as a Division I collegiate wrestler to launching a six-figure business straight out of his dorm room, Michael shares the grit, strategy, and mindset that fueled his success. Now, he’s taking that same competitive drive into the insurance game, revealing insider insights on how t...

🎉 Episode 100: A Milestone Celebration! 🚗 🍻 We’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Brews & Cruise Podcast! This week, my dad Ritch Jacobson joins me for a nostalgic ride through his cars from the ’50s to the 2000s — and I share the stories behind my own collection too. But this episode isn’t just about the stories — it’s a visual experience! 🎥 After listening, head over to our YouTube chann...

This week on the Brews & Cruise Podcast, we’re hanging out (virtually) with Rob​⁠ Noerr from Pennsylvania — a master of debate and a voice that’s never afraid to speak his mind. Rob dives into how he got hooked on debating back in college, what pulled him into the world of online political discussions, and the hot topics he’s willing to go head-to-head on. Agree with him or not, one thing’s gu...

This week, we’ve got Nikos Cortez in the building — and he’s not just talking business, he’s living it. Pull up a chair, crack open a Tree Huggers THC drink, and get ready for a raw, unfiltered convo about grind, music, and making moves. Nikos is a straight-up multi-hustler — from throwing legendary concerts in Winona (yep, including bringing Aaron Carter to town 👑) to producing music videos, run...

This week in the Speakeasy Studio, I’m joined by the remarkable Taylor Connery for a powerful and deeply personal conversation. Taylor opens up about her journey with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) — a rare and severe pregnancy complication that affects fewer than 3% of women, yet can turn what’s often portrayed as a “glowing” time into a fight for survival. Taylor courageously shares what it was lik...

This week, I’m joined by my dear friends Dave and Danielle Todd as they open up about their recent miscarriage. In this heartfelt conversation, they share the pain of loss, the steps they’ve taken toward healing, and the ways they discovered hope at the end of a very dark tunnel. Their story is raw, real, and ultimately filled with resilience — offering comfort to anyone who has walked a similar p...

Step back in time with musician Jack Norton! In this episode, we dive into his love for music from the 1920s–40s, the adventures he’s had performing around the globe, and the stories that shaped his journey. Plus—Jack plays two incredible songs live at the end that you won’t want to miss. Hit that like button if you enjoy timeless tunes! Drink: Bourbon Jack Norton Music https://jacknortonmusic.com...

This week, things get a little unusual — my co-host is none other than Gigi Plastique, a mannequin with a talent for asking the tough (and sometimes very strange) questions. She’s gathered queries straight from listeners, and I’ll be answering them all: the serious, the silly, and everything in between. Expect plenty of banter, a few surprises, and maybe even some life advice you didn’t know you n...

This week, I open up about the life of our beloved mastiff, Jake — a gentle giant whose time with us was tragically shortened by liver cancer. In this heartfelt episode, I share stories from the day we first brought him home to his final week with us, along with the challenges we faced navigating his health issues. It’s one of the most personal and difficult episodes I’ve ever recorded, but also o...

This week we’re closing out our wild Sturgis adventure with Brett Hurley and Justin Edwards, and trust us, there’s a lot to cover. From the epic rides that had us grinning like kids on Christmas morning, to the food stops that hit the spot (and a couple that really didn’t), we’re laying it all out. We’ll talk about the moments that made the trip unforgettable, the ones that tested our patience, an...

Day 5 of our Sturgis adventure was packed with incredible sights and stops. We kicked off the day with lunch at the iconic Boar’s Nest restaurant before setting out on a stunning ride through Spearfish Canyon. From there, we crossed into Wyoming to visit Devils Tower—the nation’s very first national monument and an awe-inspiring landmark. After taking in the tower, we followed WY-24 for what turne...

Welcome to Day Four of our Sturgis trip, which also happened to be Chris’s birthday—making it an extra special one! Today was a little less about riding and a lot more about soaking up the atmosphere in Sturgis and Deadwood. We kicked things off by cruising down the legendary Main Street in Sturgis, weaving through rows of motorcycles lined up for the rally. From there, we explored the Harley shop...

Welcome to Day Three of our Sturgis adventure! 🎉 We’ve made it to our weekend destination in Lead, South Dakota, and the journey has already been unforgettable. Today was all about exploring the breathtaking Black Hills, and we packed in some incredible rides. We cruised through the twists and turns of Iron Mountain Road and the dramatic spires of the Needles Highway, stood in awe at the iconic M...

Day 2 of our Sturgis adventure was nothing short of epic! 🚴‍♂️✨ While we spent a little less time on the bikes, the scenery more than made up for it. We rolled out of Winner, SD and cruised straight into the jaw-dropping Badlands—those views were unreal! 🏜️ From there, we made a pit stop at the legendary Wall Drug (and yes, hit up our very first Harley store of the trip 🏍️). Next up, we pointed...

On day one of our Sturgis trip, the three of us set out on an epic ride to Sturgis, with our first stop landing us halfway in Winner, South Dakota. Justin hit the road a day earlier, rolling out of Dubuque, Iowa, while Brett and Chris fired up their bikes in Winona, Minnesota. The crew finally linked up in Stewartville, Minnesota, and from there the adventure was officially on. Day one was all abo...