The Jungle Jim's Podcast

United Dairy Farmers, best known to locals as UDF, is an awesome company based here in Cincinnati who make some incredible ice cream and other treats. They've recently partnered with baseball superstar Elly De La Cruz to make the new Dulce De La Cruz ice cream which is in dip shops now and hitting stores like Jungle Jim's International Market this coming week! It's a delicious caramel ice cream ba...

This week on the Jungle Jim's Podcast, we're getting Phocus'd! We're cracking open cans of Phocus, the sparkling caffeinated water that's trying to change the way people think about energy drinks. With caffeine from tea, added L-theanine, zero sugar, and a lineup of refreshing flavors, Phocus promises clean energy without the crash. We'll dive into the story behind the brand, discuss the rise of f...

This week, I sat down with Spiro Collias of Collias Estates in Crete, Greece to learn everything I could about olive oil. You always hear tons of rumors about the quality of oil and how it's made, where it comes from, and how maybe the cheap stuff you get at chain stores might not even really be pure olive oil. Well, Spiro helps us put so many of those rumors to bed, teaching us how to pick a grea...

Jeremy from Soda Pop Bros came all the way from Canada to the Jungle Jim's International Market Podcast with tons of rare soda samples and some seriously amazing stories from the world of soda. We talked craft soda, Canadian culture, wild international flavors, nostalgic bottles, and a million other fizzy rabbit holes. So now I need to know: if Jeremy and I made a soda together, what flavor should...

There's a HUGE show choir competition in Fairfield happening right next to Jungle Jim's, so I had to go check it out. I met up with some competitors and one of the Choir Dads to talk about what it's really like, then surprised them with a global food guessing challenge!

I'm sure you've seen those incredible cheddar carvings floating around the Jungle Jim's cheese shop, and I'd love to introduce you to the maker. Maybe you've seen her work here, maybe you've seen her carving for the Grammy's, but now we're going to learn all about Sarah's journey into the world of cheese carving. Even cooler? Sarah used to be a member of the Jungle Jim's family - well, she'll alwa...

We're talking all about Survivor's 50th Season Premiere because I got invited to be a part of a Q&A panel for the show tonight with former stars of Survivor! Guess being on Fox's The Floor finally paid off, eh? Huge thanks to Matt Bischoff and Little Miami Brewing for putting this together. I brought in Lucky, as he's the biggest Survivor fan that I know; we talked about the show, we talked a litt...

We're joined by two of our favorites in the snack and soda game, powerful influencers TeamSupernovaFB and SodaSeekers! We tested out the new-ish Cheez-It and Ragu frozen pizzas, as well as a bunch of new beverages from AriZona and so much more - hugely thankful for the guys bringing out some secret treats for us to try. Also thankful we got to review the world's best restrooms together! We're almo...

This week, we're getting a real expert's opinion as we're joined by former star of Jungle Jim's commercials, and future YouTube sensation TheAmbushBugJr to try out some of the weirdest bug candies we have in the store. Is it crazy that I loved the 3 Crickets Chocolate bars a lot? Maybe you haven't had Dirt Soda before, and TheAmbushBugJr is gonna walk you through how to taste it and enjoy it. Jung...

We're joined HOT by Paul Savill of Sir Savill's Ideal Rubs. Paul tells us some wild stories about the world of trucking competitions and America's Road Teams and how the practices and qualities he earned there helped him create a brand of excellent, homemade rubs and spices. In his own words, "I'm a five-time Ohio State Truck Driving Champion, and I once placed 5th at the National Truck Driving Ch...

This week, we're joined by Cody Hefner of the Cincinnati Museum Center, and we're telling Cincinnati secrets and diving into the cool history of the Museum Center and Union Terminal! I even talked Cody into suggesting some fun Jungle Jim's themed exhibits at the museum, and a cool story about the Declaration of Independence and how he'd hide them inside Jungle Jim's! A lot of fun history here in t...

Shelby and Bryce from Eastgate come over with some of their crazy toy and candy picks for this holiday season. We go from classic candies like Chick-O-Sticks, all the way to the latest from Smiski and Funko Pop! Jungle even makes a cameo as he tries to pirate the episode! What are some of the things you're trying to get your hands on this year? Let us know in the comments! And thanks for shopping...

This week, we're trying a few new Korean treats before we're joined by Dr. Jay Wilkins of Bionox. In their words, "At Bionox, we are committed to empowering individuals to feel better, be better, and do more. By combining the highest quality natural ingredients with innovative science, we create delicious, easy-to-use health solutions that enhance wellness and performance. Our mission is to delive...

This week we're joined by Eric Mahoney of the Yellow Springs Film Fest to talk about this exciting film festival happening just a little ways away from the Jungle. We chat about Ohio's rich film history, expanded on by their Rod Serling programming in this year's film festival, working with Kevin Smith to screen his classic movie "Dogma" as part of the film festival, and how important it is to sup...

This week, we're joined by Mark Dirksing of Unrestricted Flavor and Justin Dean of Carriage House Farm and Lost Bridge Beverage company to talk about their upcoming event in support of those with intense food allergies and FODMAP intolerance. Mark tells his heartwrenching story of the difficulties he's faced since developing some of his food intolerances, how it's caused problems in so many spaces...

This week, we're kicking off some of our 50th Anniversary coverage on the show, joined by Chris Cook of Huron Web Printing & Graphics out of Canada. They handle our print media and after spending the afternoon with him and Jungle, I had to capture their experiences and expertise on the Jungle Jim's Podcast. We talk about the changing nature of print media, that tactile feedback you get from engagi...

Lets talk some new snacks, these Mochi Snacks in the tamari teriyaki flavor were great, talked about Responsibly Rain water, these 25 cent chocolate banana cakes in International, then we're dropped in by the guys from High 9ine!! High 9ine is a delta-9 THC canned beverage, crafted for your wellness using coconut water, real juice, organic vitamins, and some even include caffeine! Then Maggie from...

Nutrient dense pita chips is not a phrase I thought i'd say so frequently but here we are. We sat down with Alexander Harik, founder of ZestyZ, to talk all about navigating the CPG space, launching products, tips for other creative types out there, and so much more - this was a great, emotional episode that really unlocks a lot of secrets to many peoples' success in the food industry. I love an in...

Steamed interview questions? They're clearly grilled. We are so thrilled to have had Bill Oakley join us on the show. If you're unfamiliar with Bill and his work, let me share a little more from him directly: Bill Oakley is an Emmy-winning writer and producer best known for his iconic work on The Simpsons, where he co-ran the show during its critically acclaimed seventh and eighth seasons. He co-c...

This week, i'm joined by Pet Department Manager Mike, and we're recapping so many products from the Global Pet Expo. We've got a ton of new stuff in right now from brands like Kona, Canidae, Blue Buffalo, a hilarious collaboration with KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), Sustainably Yours, and a REALLY fun product from Kong Connects where I will be training my animals to become prized boxers. Amazing st...

Tyler from Onima Pantry stops into Jungle Jim's on his tour across America to talk about his product lines. We learn about pigeon languages, the secret behind Onima's name and origin, everything you could want to know about garums (fermented fish sauce that was used as a condiment in the cuisines of Phoenicia, ancient Greece, Rome, Carthage and later Byzantium), and so much more. We really should...

Today we're joined by Barbie of That Dam Jam - she makes all kinds of excellent spiced jams that will absolutely rule your parties this summer. Great for gifts, great for eating, and if you don't try it soon, we'll make sure you have a chance at this year's Weekend of Fire Festival. What you may not know is how many of these brands, especially those launched during COVID, got a huge boost by worki...

This week we're joined by not only Jungle Jim himself, but Matt from Nature Fresh Farms based out of Canada. If you're unfamiliar with Nature Fresh, here's a little more: Nature Fresh Farms® is a pioneer in greenhouse-grown produce, committed to nourishing people and the planet through innovation and sustainability. Based in Leamington, Ontario, with facilities across North America, we're not just...

This week, we're prepping for the Sweets & Snacks Expo, one of the best trade shows in the world. All kinds of huge brands come out and show off their best treats for the next year or so, and we get to try them. Stay tuned to our social media to see some clips! Meanwhile, friend of the show and host of the podcast "Full Spin Club," Dave Stewart, joins us to go through some of the previous year's s...

This week, we dive into all kinds of international products with Rome Ntukogu, creator, designer, jacket-maker, event host, and so many more things. Rome and I explore tons of international treats together, while talking about his career as a creative and how growing up outside of America affected his perspectives in a really cool way. Hey, maybe we'll have to host one of his NiteMkt events here a...