Nice Ashes: Cigars and Culture

In this episode, Nate and Mike light up the Romeo y Julieta Medallas de Oro Vintage Toro and pair it with craft brews while diving into a fun, multi-tiered Victorian slang guessing game. They explore the colorful language of Victorian England—from polite society expressions to streetwise slang and criminal cant—testing Mike’s knowledge of old-timey words and phrases. Along the way, they discuss Vi...

In this episode, Nate and Mike dive into the complex world of international fires and land exploitation, exploring cases from Patagonia to Brazil, Australia, Argentina, and Israel. They uncover patterns of state-enabled arson, illegal land grabs by billionaires, and the devastating impact of corporate agribusiness on rainforests, all intertwined with political corruption and global power plays. Al...

In this episode, Nate and Mike enjoy a robust Bolivar Cofradia Robusto cigar while diving into the complicated legacy of H.P. Lovecraft—a pioneering cosmic horror writer whose vivid mythos remains hugely influential despite his overt racism and white supremacist beliefs. They discuss Lovecraft's life, his troubling views, and how his work has been embraced, adapted, and reinterpreted by many creat...

In this episode, Nate and Mike kick things off with a cigar review of the Tatiana Fusion Frenzy, sharing their smoky thoughts and pairing selections before diving into a heavy, multi-part investigation into suspicious and often deliberate large-scale fires around the world. They explore Greece’s troubling wildfire fraud scheme involving arson to clear protected forest lands for development, the al...

In this episode, Nate and Mike light up a Cohiba Blue Robusto and dive into the stories of remarkable but often overlooked historical figures who shaped science, exploration, and technology. From Henrietta Swan Leavitt’s role in cosmology and Rosalind Franklin’s crucial DNA photo to the pioneering work of Oliver Heaviside in electromagnetism and Margaret Hamilton’s Apollo software engineering, the...

In this intense and eye-opening episode, Nate and Mike dive deep into the disturbing reality of missing children in the United States. After a brief and humorous start with a disappointing cigar review of the Primeros, they expose jaw-dropping government statistics revealing hundreds of thousands of children—both American and undocumented—who have disappeared, many reportedly lost in ICE custody o...

In this episode, hosts Nate and Mike enjoy smoking the Cohiba Red Dot cigar while diving into the fascinating yet lesser-known story of Thomas Harriot, a 16th-17th century English mathematician, astronomer, and early scientist. They discuss Harriot’s pioneering contributions—such as his early telescopic moon sketches preceding Galileo, advancements in algebra, and detailed, respectful ethnographic...

In this episode, hosts Mike and Nate begin with a casual cigar tasting of flavored Tatiana cigars, sharing their impressions of cinnamon and vanilla varieties, including nostalgic references and pairing choices. They briefly mention Jordan's Be The Club is now fully launched. The discussion quickly pivots to a detailed and extensive examination of current political issues surrounding First and Sec...

In this kickoff episode for Season 5 of Nice Ashes, Nate and Mike light up a La Gloria Cubana 8th Street Toro to ease back into cigar talk, sharing their honest impressions of its bold spice and flavor journey. Alongside their cigar review, they dive deep into fascinating butterfly effect theories, connecting historical dots in unexpected ways—from the Romanovs’ fall leading to 9/11 and Ellen DeGe...

Season 4 finale of Nice Ashes takes a deep, candid dive into the culture-shaking events of September 11, 2001. Hosts Mike and Nate share their personal memories of that day and examine the official 9/11 Commission Report alongside popular conspiracy theories, balancing skepticism with heartfelt reflection. Over cigars (The Joya Red) and fine Glenlivet 12 whiskey, they explore timelines, government...

In this episode of Nice Ashes , hosts Mike and Nate dive deep into the world of everyday carry (EDC) gear while enjoying cigars (including the notoriously bad Hesitant Pirate) and Oktoberfest beer from a local street festival. They share stories about their personal EDC setups—from minimalist daily essentials to extended gear for travel and outdoor work—highlighting tools, knives, tech gadgets, fi...

In this episode of Nice Ashes , hosts Mike and Nate light up the Ave Maria Reconquista cigar and dive deep into a fascinating piece of Midwest history: the rise and impact of the Nonpartisan League and the Farmer Labor Party. They explore how two farmers’ secret winter meeting in 1915 sparked a progressive political movement that transformed North Dakota and Minnesota with groundbreaking reforms l...

In this episode of Nice Ashes , hosts Mike and Nate dive into the fascinating and mysterious story of John Titor, the alleged time traveler from the year 2036 who posted on internet forums in the early 2000s. They explore the origins of the legend, the technical claims about his time machine, his predictions, and the follow-up narrative of John Titor II. Along the way, they discuss pop culture ref...

In this episode, Mike and Nate dive into the complexities of Minnesota culture—especially the infamous "Minnesota Nice"—and how it impacts Somali immigrant integration. They explore the polite yet passive-aggressive communication style, cultural clashes around social expectations, and the invisible barriers that create challenges for newcomers. The discussion also covers historical immigrant group...

In this episode, Nate and Mike dive into their experience smoking the Tatiana Honey cigar—sharing honest and unfiltered reviews, which aren’t exactly glowing. They’re joined by returning guest Jordan, who introduces his new lifestyle brand “Be The Club,” inspired by golf culture but designed to be universal and fun. Jordan talks about his upcoming product launch, creative apparel ideas, and engagi...

In this episode, Nate and Mike light up the "Warfighter Dumpster Fire" cigar and dive into an in-depth, data-driven discussion about the cultural integration of Somali refugees in Minnesota. They explore the complexities of Somali clan systems, family structures, religious practices, and challenges—like female genital mutilation and social discrimination—while also highlighting signs of successful...

In this episode, Nate and Mike dive into Somali literature as part of their ongoing Somali in Minnesota series. They explore the rich oral tradition, historic and modern poetry, theater, and novels, highlighting themes like nationalism, resistance, love, and cultural identity. They also discuss the compelling memoir Call Me American by Abdi Iftin, which offers a firsthand look at the Somali refuge...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the complex history of U.S. involvement in Somalia, focusing on how American foreign policy has contributed to longstanding instability in the country. They explore the Cold War era alignment shifts, support for military dictatorships, and the consequences of U.S. military withdrawal that coincided with severe droughts and famine. The discussion highlights the ri...

In this episode, the hosts Nate and Mike dive into a unique blend of cigar tasting and intriguing storytelling. They begin by sampling a flavored Robusto cigar, Isla del Sol, noting its sweet and cinnamon flavors, and pairing it with seasonal beers like Oktoberfest and Guinness. The cigar starts strong but loses appeal towards the end, leading to mixed reviews on its overall quality. The main disc...

In this episode, Nate and Mike dive into the fascinating world of Anglo-Saxon medical leech books, with a focus on the 9th-century Bald’s Leech Book. Between smokes of the Quorum Classic cigar (which they agree tastes terrible), the hosts explore historical remedies and medical knowledge from medieval England. They discuss the origins and meaning of “leech book” (where “leech” means doctor), the b...

In this episode, hosts Mike and Nate kick off with a humorous and candid review of the Quorum Shade cigar by JC Newman Cigar Company, describing it as unpleasant with strong notes of acetone and battery acid. Amid technical difficulties with their new podcasting gear, they manage to enjoy the moment pairing the cigar with seasonal beers. The discussion then shifts to a detailed exploration of U.S....

In this episode, hosts Mike and Nate are joined by guest Chris, broadcasting from a remote underground location in North Dakota. They discuss the unique culture of small-town North Dakota, focusing on the concept of "true sons" of North Dakota versus "townies"—locals born and raised who often hold significant social influence but can also exhibit exclusionary and sometimes problematic behaviors. T...

In this episode, hosts Nate and Mike smoke and review the Level Maduro cigar, following up on their previous episode with the Level Connecticut. While the Maduro shows some improvement, both agree it requires a slow, measured pace to avoid unpleasant flavors, and overall, it’s an average cigar for its low price point. The episode then shifts to a deep, data-driven discussion on Somali culture and...

In this episode, hosts Mike and Nate discuss smoking the Level Connecticut Robusto cigar, sharing its flavors and value while pairing it with different drinks. The conversation then shifts to the 2016 incident involving Harambe, the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla who was tragically shot after a child fell into his enclosure. The hosts explore various Harambe-related conspiracy theories, including distract...

In this episode, Nate and Mike kick off by enjoying and reviewing the Powstanie San Andreas Robusto Maduro cigar, generously provided by guest Mike Palmer from the previous episode. The cigar impresses them with its rich, spicy, and full-bodied flavor, earning high praise and a solid rating as a serious cigar lover’s choice. The bulk of the episode centers on an extensive and candid discussion of...