Sunday Afternoon Smokes

Chris sits down with Michelle Getz, brand strategist and potter from the Upstate South Carolina area, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually means to build a brand — and why most business owners are doing it backwards. Michelle breaks down the difference between branding and marketing, explains why so many entrepreneurs struggle to articulate what makes them different, and shares h...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, I sit down with Matt Bradford, co-owner and operator of Matty’s Pattys in Anderson, South Carolina, for a laid-back but thoughtful conversation about cigars, food, and the realities of building a small business. We start, as always, with cigars — talking about what Matt’s been smoking lately, how he got into the hobby, and how cigars have become a way to...

A Very Merry Christmas In this special solo episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, I slow things down for the Christmas season and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Walking through Luke 2:1–18, I share a casual, thoughtful look at the birth of Christ and what it reveals about the love and grace of God—what real love is, what it isn’t, and why the Christmas story still matters today. I also op...

In this episode of Sunday Afternoon Smokes, I sit down with my longtime friend Keith Bowling, a seasoned Upstate South Carolina realtor who recently launched Key Renter Upstate, a property management company built around one goal: helping property owners create passive income without the stress. We kick things off the way we always do—talking cigars—and then dive into Keith’s transition from real...

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Chris reflects on the meaning of gratitude through both an American and Biblical lens. He opens with a brief overview of the history of Thanksgiving in the United States before sharing four personal reasons he’s especially thankful this year. From the blessing of being born in a prosperous nation and in a time where the gospel is freely accessible, to the spir...

**this episode suffers from some sound quality issues. I don't know why. I'm not a pro, but here it is!** Joining Chris for ep. 46 of SAS is Cory Rutland, co-owner and operator of Local Pie. It's not a pizza truck, they're so serious and good at it, it's really a mobile pizzeria. Chris and Cory both light up a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur, talk cigars for a little bit, and then they dive into the w...

Jonboy Ellis, owner of Blackwater Roasters, and Stephanie Harmon, coffee shop manager, sit down with Chris to discuss all things coffee. Jonby and Chris, light up cigars and they jump into the world of cigars. It doesn't take long to get the conversation onto the topic of coffee. One of the few roasters in the Upstate, Jonboy and Stephanie walk us through what goes on at Blackwater from roasting,...

Bethany Haile, Founder and owner of Bethany's Wildflowers Salon and co-owner of Upstate College of Cosmetology joins sits down with Chris to explore the world of hair and beauty. Due to poor weather, they are unable to smoke, but a fair amount of cigar talk ensues. After discussing cigars and coffee, the two move on to how she launched her business in Central, SC, moved to Clemson, and then chose...

Scott Matt, owner of Mack Home Inspections comes on Sunday Afternoon Smokes. Chris and Matt both light up a Crazy Alice by Drew Estate and pour a little bit of Elijah Craig bourbon. Chris educates Matt on cigars, who considers himself a novice. Then the conversation turns to Matt's specialty, home inspections. He clues us in on what a home inspection is, walks us through the process, and even take...

Justin McComas and Mike Malloy, owners of Natureline Curbing, join Chris for episode 42 of SAS. Chris lights up an Artista Ambar Puro, Justin enjoys a La Gloria Cubana Serie R, and Mike goes light with the Torano Dominico. The trio cover Justin's in home smoking room, a good discussion on cigars, and then they jump into the business they founded, Natureline Cubing which aims to help your landscapi...

Founder and owner of Sante Vie Wellness, Rebekah Fedrowitz, joins Chris for episode 41. Sante Vie Wellness is a functional wellness practice in Greenville, SC that guides their clients with realistic, strategic steps to improve how they feel and function. As a Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Rebekah founded Sante Vie from her own struggles with health. The conversation revolves around what...

Chris sits down with Marty Van Dam and Lucas de Affonseca for an important conversation about stroke recovery, brain injury rehabilitation, and the long road of rebuilding life after a hemorrhagic stroke. Marty, a speech pathologist and manager of the Outpatient Brain Injury and Young Stroke Program at Roger C. Peace, brings the clinical perspective, while Lucas shares his firsthand experience as...

Chris sits down with Martine Helou-Allen, founder and executive director of RIZE Prevention, for a wide-ranging conversation about youth substance abuse prevention, addiction, trauma, faith, and the search for identity and belonging. Martine shares her personal story and the mission behind RIZE Prevention, an organization working to inspire and equip young people to rise above the influence of dru...

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....