The Maker and The Merchant

The moment nobody was hoping for, and perhaps feared most of all...this winter, only on a hosting site near you comes a podcast so irrelevant that almost nobody has noticed its existence. Fergus and Lee are finally reunited and continue their efforts to provide a stream of wine related nonsense.   It's been some time since our valiant cohosts recorded together, mainly as Ferg was so exhausted afte...

"The worst deception is self deception. Plato" Mike Boyne. Dear listener, be under no illusion that we at TM&TM Towers do not deceive ourselves. We know that nobody is asking for more episodes or content. But we play by our own rules, not yours, and we just keep on going. Well, some of us do. On the latest episode of TM&TM, the pod's favourite host, as voted for by the TM&TM hosts, Ber...

After a week’s delay that we’re sure no one noticed, the pod that just won’t go away returns with more deep insights, rational thought, and nuanced discussion. No, wait, it’s very much the opposite of that. Many would argue that the first 20 minutes of this episode are hard going.  What is the difference between a scarf and a cravat? What exactly defines Disney as opposed to Pixar? And just how ra...

In a first for The Maker And The Merchant, the name of the episode appears in the audiogram. What more could a pod hope to achieve? We start with Lee dropping a bomb about one of the UK’s favourite beers; he attempts to recover the situation by talking up St. Austell’s delicious Mena Dhu stout. Whilst in the Cornwallshire he visits FotP (Friend of the Pod innit) Bin Two. Was he welcomed or politel...

We have a TM&TM Super Magnificent Incredible Special for you. Due to our powerful connections (by which we means Ferg's phone book) we have managed to convince wine writer extraordinaire Henry Jeffreys to join us.    From his days in the wine trade drinking top notch Rioja with Oddbins to becoming a fully fleded wine writer via the medium of publishing, we uncover a little of Herny's back stor...

THE MAKER & THE MERCHANT: TRIBUTE  Hugely aware that TM&TM isn’t the greatest and best podcast in the world, Ferg and Lee start by discussing what happened when Descartes and Sartre walked into a bar, margins on mugs, and non-linear jazz wine tastings. Talking of tastings, Lee highlights the upcoming Grapest Hits event coming up soon involving North South Wines, Condor Wines, and Hayward B...

In this episode Ferg discovers that Lee isn’t actually there. But was he ever? Stepping into the huge shoes left by Lee we have the infinitely talented and knowledgeable Janina Doyle. Already a podcaster in her own right on the excellent East,Sleep, Wine, Repeat. Janina talks us through her start in wine, those Damascene Moments, her celebrity crush, and explains why she's always Russian...especia...

Here at TM&TM Towers we're not frightened to try something new...unless it involves ignorance, heights, or hazlenuts as we're terrified of all 3. For the first time Fergus and Lee left the confines of The Towers and were allowed to venture into the wild. To The People's Republic Of Islington they were welcomed, and with huge thanks to The Sampler, allowed to record in situ.   In front of a liv...

As the show that nobody asked to return returns for yet another episode, Ferg and Lee cover some vital ground: just how many Bruce Springsteen puns are appropriate? How is Ferg's car insurance debacle playing out? What makes a good Alien film?   We explore the tricky world of Rondo briefly and think we've discovered those who have figured out the true nature of this divisive variety. Shouts outs g...

We're celebrating at TM&TM Towers. Our valiant leader, who is both the brains and the looks of the pod, returns triumphantly from a trip to Portugal. Hear all about Ferg's adventures involving copious amounts of Port and seafood. Lee, who has been manning the fort, is overjoyed. In this week's thrilling episode we go in depth on the new exciting releases from Balfour and learn a little more about...

The Maker And The Merchant: Ecclesiastical Court   Things have gone haywire; Fergus has gone AWOL, which leaves Lee in charge. Despite the potential for catastrophe, we have been saved at the 11th hour by the fabulous Jack Merrylees. Marketing & PR Director at Balfour, Jack has extensive experience running marketing and PR in the industry, having been the head of such things at Majestic.   Jack ta...

TM&TM returns with a...some kind of noise. Not a really loud one, just one that's disturbing enough you had to reread the opening line of the Decanter feature you were starting. In this episode Ferg & Lee face some big questions such as: Does Ferg's mum control an army of AI Bots? Just how fast is your bottling line? and should Lee return to making those terrible guitar videos? If he does, what so...

THE MAKER AND THE MERCHANT RETURN!   Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the podcasts, TM&TM are back to spoil things, like a shark's fin in the ocean.   Ferg & Lee spend their time promoting other podcasts such as Wine Blast, Wine Flight, Eat Sleep Wine Repeat and Kermode And Mayo's take before covering off just what is being planted in Ferg's garden*. While Fergus enjoys some Sloveni...

A TM&TM Christmas: Fromage a Trois   Continuing our theme of bringing great names down to our level, and reducing their street cred to zero, we are joined by uber-special guest Libby Brodie.   We share 3 very special bottles of wine, which includes Ferg finally working out why he blind-tasted Ken Forrester's FMC when that wasn't what Bin Two sent him. Libby works her way through Karim Mussi's Alan...

Who's tasted sparkling English rosé going back nearly 20 years? Ferg has; listen as he talks through the retrospective of Balfour Brut Rosé going back to 2004.   Are Ferg and Lee any good at blind tasting? Obviously, no. But are they any good at working answers out based on evidence on knowledge? Also no.   Listen as Ferg fails to open a wine sent by Mike at Bin Two, instead opting to open somethi...

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you a special wine and cheese episode, featuring the magnificent Jessica Summer A.K.A Mouse And Grape.   Mouse and Grape is a luxury online cheese and wine business that specialises in paired hampers, a cheese and wine subscription service, and corporate and private tasting events.    Using all her knowledge, tasting experience and qualifications, Jessica carefu...

By now you all should know about The Online Wine Tasting Club, but how much do you know about the presenters and their stories? In this episode, we ask Alex Taylor and Jamie Smith the big questions:   What is Alex's favourite cereal? Just how long is Jamie's list of accomplishments? What does a brand new packaging machine look like?   Listen in to learn the answers to these questions, and more, on...

Who puts the sexy into sexy? What links the wines of Australia to England's smallest vineyard and winery? Does Bum Bum yeast really exist?   We have a our first guest to answer all these questions, and more; Mike 'Bin Two' Boyne has sacrificed his not inconsiderable street cred by spending an hour talking to TM&TM. From running one of the UK's best independent wine merchants to producing ridiculou...

Is big better? Why are people from the wine industry inviting Lee to stuff? How many tonnes of fruit is too many in a day? why has fergs hair moved from his head to his face and what has a plough got to do with anything? All this and more in episode 3 (please someone make this podcast end).     

  What do winemakers eat during harvest? How good is good ordinary claret? Why has this podcast been allowed to reach episode two? Will there actually be any serious dialogue at any stage? Answers to all this and more may or may not be in episode two of The Maker & The Merchant. Only one way to find out.

Well, we’ve listened to the advice...and ignored it. We’ve heard your warnings, but we’re both brave and foolhardy... The inaugural episode of the podcast that literally no-one asked for is here! In episode 1 the boys discuss themselves (naturally), wine, and living in the wine world.  They also review a Pinot Noir from an underdiscussed region and (surprise surprise) a Malbec from Argentina.

A little trailer for the least anticipated podcast this week.    The Maker & The Merchant out very soon, wherever you listen to your podcasts