Episodes
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Scott Rao is one of the most influential people in the world of coffee, coffee roasting, and coffee brewing. Scott is also the owner of Prodigal Coffee (located in Boulder, Colorado), and in this conversation, we dive deep into specific coffee topics and discuss the pursuit of quality in general.
RELATED LINKS:
Prodigal Coffee
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Scott’s Entry into Coffee (2:43)
Quality (8:30)
Coffee, Wine, & Tea (16:42)
Rating Systems (21:26)
How to Store Coffee (26:19)
Should You Freeze Beans? (31:37)
Light Roasts (34:32)
Dark Roasts (37:33)
Complexity (39:35)
Conscientious Consumerism & Coffee (42:46)
Espresso, Whiskey, & Fine Tuning (45:58)
Prodigal’s Approach to Quality (52:06)
Politics, Coffee, & Quality (58:40)
Scott’s Current Coffee Interests (1:06:28)
Quality and Perfection (1:08:35)
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Studio Shed was started in the Boulder, Colorado backyard of their co-founder Jeremy Nova, a pro mountain biker and Olympian. Jeremy needed a place to store all his bikes and was uninspired by what was available, so he built his own. Today, Studio Sheds are still built in Colorado, and their portfolio now includes studios, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and commercial spaces. Jeremy built that first shed back in 2008, yet today, many of Studio Shed’s designs still look just like the original.
Sheds and ADUs are a great way to provide extra room for outdoor gear, remote work offices, or additional living spaces. In today’s conversation, we sit down with Studio Shed’s co-founder Mike Koenig to discuss their unique approach to designing and building prefabricated backyard structures that are well-built, eco-friendly, and stylish.
RELATED LINKS:
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
Studio Shed website: https://www.studio-shed.com/
TOPICS & TIMES:
Riding Bikes and Founding a Company (0:46)
Tokyo Joe's MTB Team (3:51)
Jeremy’s Homemade Shed (6:24)
Panelized Construction (10:25)
The Studio Shed Design Process & Steps to Purchasing a Studio Shed (21:58)
How to DIY Build a Studio Shed (29:40)
Eco-friendly Designs (36:20)
Mike’s Bike (51:46)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
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Missing episodes?
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What are two of the best things in the world? Deep powder skiing and a great food truck. And today, we’re talking about both with professional skier, Yu Sasaki. We also talk about Yu’s beautiful short film, Home From Home; moving from Hokkaido, Japan, to Revelstoke; the ins-and-outs of running a food truck; and more.
RELATED LINKS:
Watch Yu’s Film: Home From Home
Become a BLISTER+ Member
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
TOPICS & TIMES:
New Film (2:52)
Japan Origins (5:49)
Food and Canada (7:59)
Food Truck (10:21)
Planning His Menu (15:08)
2 Food Trucks and Ramen (16:27)
Logistics (19:41)
He Skis in the Winter, Staff Runs the Trucks (22:19)
How to Identify Good Food Trucks (25:24)
Ten Minute Timeline (29:23)
Favorite Food Trucks (31:00)
Craft Obsessions and Freeride Coaching (33:05)
Upcoming Ski Season (36:03)
Closing (38:21)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Last year, we talked with Alex LeBlanc about starting Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina (CRAFTED ep #26). Today, Alex is back to update us on how it’s going, what he’s been learning, how his thinking about coffee has evolved, and how he’s going about trying to build a brand that people will love.
And if you’d like to check out Alex’s coffee, CRAFTED listeners can get 15% off by using the code BLISTER at calibrationcoffeelab.com
RELATED LINKS:
Become a BLISTER+ Member
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
CRAFTED ep #26: Calibration Coffee Lab
TOPICS & TIMES:
Backstory of Calibration Coffee Lab (2:53)
3rd Wave Coffee (9:32)
1st & 2nd Crack (14:18)
Alex’s Philosophy of Roasting (16:46)
Espresso (19:30)
Roasting Temperature & Airflow (25:47)
Catering to Customers’ Tastes (27:06)
Coffee, Wine, & Beer Comparisons (33:08)
‘Single Origin’ Coffees vs Blends (35:10)
How Long to “Rest” after Roasting (36:53)
Natural vs Washed (45:48)
Brand Building (51:03)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Camper vans seem to be everywhere these days, and for good reason — the level of versatility and convenience they offer is hard to ignore. But starting down the road of ownership can be extremely overwhelming, so in today’s conversation, we sit down with Wayfarer Van’s Andy Mullins to answer some of the common questions people have, and to get an inside look at Wayfarer Van’s unique approach to building camper vans.
RELATED LINKS:
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
Wayfarer Vans website: https://wayfarervans.com/blisterreview
Wayfarer Vans Fans Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/364625700977150
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/wayfarervans
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfarervans
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayfarervans
TOPICS & TIMES:
How Wayfarer Got Started (3:03)
Wayfarer Founder is Good at Bikes (4:14)
Why Modular? (5:33)
Fast Turnarounds (11:09)
Good Wood (13:12)
Ford vs Ram (18:09)
Low Roof or High Roof (22:47)
First Steps to First Van (27:23)
How Wayfarer KeepsThem Affordable (29:34)
To DIY or NOT (34:15)
Let’s go Camping (41:31)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mark Connell is the executive chef at PARC Aspen, and he’s back to talk about fine dining and the importance of tasting menus; what he learned at Alinea; the specific tasting menu Jonathan recently had at PARC Aspen (including what Mark put on the plate & why); the difference between striving for consistency vs. striving to be consistently good; and more.
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Fine Dining & Tasting Menus (1:58)
Alinea: what Mark Learned There (9:46)
PARC Aspen (16:42)
Tasting Menu: what Jonathan had at PARC Aspen (23:59)
Goat Cheese Sorbet & Olive Oil Candy (31:26)
Consistency vs Being Consistently Good (47:46)
Craft & Trust (56:17)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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“My whole goal in life was to be a ski bum and a chef.” For Mark Connell, the executive chef at PARC Aspen, we can definitely say: mission accomplished. Mark is a passionate skier and a culinary genius, and we discuss how Mark & Jonathan first met; Mark’s background and his time working at The French Laundry; what punk rock has to do with high-end cuisine; frozen pizza; white wine; celebrity chefs; & more.
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
How Mark & Jonathan Met (3:53)
Mark’s Background (9:33)
Punk Rock & High-End Cuisine? (22:08)
The French Laundry (37:50)
Italy (40:43)
Celebrity Chefs (46:04)
Palettes (53:25)
Frozen Pizza (1:06:20)
Wine (1:11:38)
Junk Food & Topics for ‘Part 2’ (1:21:37)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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These days, owning a beautiful home is often prohibitively expensive, while “affordable” housing too often fails to include quality craftsmanship. But there is a solution, and today, Zack Giffin reminds us of this fact and discusses the craft of designing smaller structures that address our true needs. This is a conversation where design and philosophy come together in a big way, as does the art of fostering real communities and constructing vibrant towns.
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
Blister Podcast Ep.275: Zack Giffin
TOPICS & TIMES:
Zack’s background (3:48)
Why are smaller houses controversial? (9:05)
Construction & Craft (21:20)
Renting vs Owning + Rules of the Road (32:36)
Designing a Tiny Home for Jonathan (37:17)
Strangest Build Request? (58:40)
Where Should People Find Out More? (1:00:21)
Current State of Prohibitions (1:04:18)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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In this episode, we get a crash course on the vinyl revival and why spinning records on a turntable is a more engaging way of listening to music. Our guest, Michael Fremer, is regarded as one of the premier experts in the audio field, and he's extremely passionate about it. Michael and Simon get into how Led Zeppelin II was made, why Howard Stern hates vinyl, how to go about buying your first turntable, the travesty of “smashed” music, turntables that cost as much as a house, and tons more.
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Records Just Sound Better (3:11)
The Vinyl Revival (7:16)
Michael’s Today Show appearance (8:08)
What’s A Pressing? (11:11)
Record Store Days (14:22)
Turntables (21:11)
Michael’s First Turntable (24:34)
A Turntable As Expensive As A House (25:46)
Quincy jones and Michael Jackson (27:34)
Turntables Are Vibrations Measuring Devices (30:16)
Phono Preamps (33:41)
Choosing Records (40:57)
“Smashing” Ruins Good Recordings (43:04)
Bob Ludwig’s Cut Of Led Zeppelin II (46:52)
How To Really Listen To Music (54:04)
Current Vinyl Sales (1:06:46)
Michael’s Two Records (1:08:09)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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One of the greatest big-mountain skiers of all time is also seriously passionate about making great pizza. So what’s the story here, and what do pizza and skiing have in common? What has Sage learned about the art of making dough and sauce? And what do you need to know to start making great pizza yourself? We cover all of this, plus Sage’s most recent trip to Alaska.
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
Blister Pod #41: Sage on Skiing Spines
Blister Pod #270: Angel Collinson / Sage’s Pizza
TOPICS & TIMES:
Pizza & Skiing (5:58)
Outdoor Pizza Ovens (15:00)
Pizza Team (18:14)
Pizza & Espresso (21:08)
Outdoor Pizza Ovens, Part 2 (23:25)
Angel’s Story of Sage's Pizza (37:31)
Sage’s Most Recent Trip to AK (43:15)
Pizza 101: Getting Started (54:40)
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La Marzocco is the most iconic espresso-machine maker in the world, and last month, Jonathan went to the La Marzocco Accademia to talk with their head product designer, Stefano Della Pietra, about the history and core principles of the company; how he became the head of product design there; and the task of taking La Marzocco into the future while staying true to the brand’s storied past.
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Accademia del Caffe Espresso
Innovation (5:39)
Avoiding Fads (14:12)
How Did You Get Your Position? (16:43)
Lina Micra & Mini (20:28)
Other Areas of Design Inspiration (25:12)
Espresso Machines & Watches (27:48)
Officine Fratelli Bambi (30:08)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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After much deliberation, we’re revealing the machine that Jonathan ended up going with on his quest to create daily doses of “hero espresso” — a phrase coined at the end of this conversation. Simon Stewart joins Jonathan for all the glorious, dorky details, and they also discuss decaf coffee & N/A beer; the price of a thing vs. the amount of joy it brings; mtn bikes vs. espresso machines; & more.
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Tea?? (4:36)
PSA: Great Coffee can be Cheap (6:15)
Origins of JE's Obsession (9:57)
E61 vs. Saturated Group Head (15:37)
JE's La Marzocco Linea Micra (26:38)
Beans (31:45)
Other Machines JE Considered (36:38)
Microfoam, Cortados, & Macchiatos (39:33)
Decaf Coffee & N/A Beer (45:16)
Manual Machines & Simon’s Quest (52:37)
Weighing Beans (1:03:52)
Cost & the Economics of this Setup (1:08:39)
Florence, Italy (1:15:31)
Hero Espresso (1:20:51)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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Jonathan Ellsworth was recently at JING Tea headquarters in London for another CRAFTED conversation with JING founder, Ed Eisler. After a proper tea tasting, they sat down to discuss all things tea (and skis); agriculture as art; and the qualities of a great tea.
RELATED LINKS
CRAFTED ep. 23 w/ JING’s Ed Eisler
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Coffee, Tea, & Skis (5:12)
Curiosity (12:41)
Standards (21:47)
Buying Local (25:49)
Principles & Sourcing Tea (30:26)
Going Forward (32:13)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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Today we are discussing a product that people get very passionate about — and even more opinionated about: cast-iron cookware. Jonathan is joined by Blister senior bike editor, Simon Stewart, who has been using cast-iron cookware for more than twenty years, but is now on a quest to see if the fancier, more expensive options out there are better than their cheaper counterparts. We also discuss the notion of ‘elevating the everyday’; cast-iron cookware as heirlooms; the introduction of new tech; the return of old tech; and more.
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Why are we talking about cast iron cookware (2:57)
Defining "Nicer" (9:26)
Amatuer Hour PA (13:25)
Price Ranges (15:28)
Rape Seed Oil Sanding (21:20)
Why Cast Iron and the Obsession (23:53)
Current Landscape of Cast Iron (27:57)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz, aka, the ‘Sauna Shaman’, talks about how Hoji kicked off his obsession with saunas; their numerous benefits; and lays out what it takes (and costs) to build your own sauna. (On our site, you can check out a bunch of photos of the sauna that Matt built. It’s sweet.)
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Defining Terms (8:59)
The cold plunge trick (25:15)
Heart and inflammation (27:19)
hot tub vs sauna (29:42)
planning a sauna and costs (31:17)
Temperatures (43:14)
Sauna Enthusiasm and becoming a Shaman (48:30)
Infrared (51:57)
Wrap Up (55:02)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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To wrap up the year, we are sharing the craft categories that most captivated our Blister reviewers in 2023, and some of the categories they are most curious about heading into 2024. This is a fun one, and it certainly fills out the picture of the people behind our reviews, videos, articles, podcasts, and Blister Summit events.
And over on our Blister Podcast, you’ll also get to hear our team talk about their highlights of 2023, and their resolutions for 2024. Happy New Year!
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
1: Luke Kopppa (2:11)
2: Dylan Wood (13:49)
3: Simon Stewart (26:17)
4: Kara Williard (36:56)
5: Jonathan Ellsworth (45:33)
6: Eric Freson (56:59)
7: Sascha Anastas (1:10:42)
8: Kristin Sinnott (1:18:28)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Over 30 billion bottles of wine are consumed each year around the world, and today, we’re talking about why we need to — and can — move away from ‘business as usual’ in the wine world. Our guest is Revelshine founder, Jake Bilbro, and Jake lays out some fascinating, rarely discussed facts about the impacts of the wine industry; his mission to change that; and why the likes of Jeremy Jones, Shane Dorian, Selema Masakala, Michelle Parker, Tanner Gudauskas, Patrick Gudauskas, Dane Gudauskas, Chris Davenport, Emily Harrington, Drew Holcomb, Vasu Sojitra, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Adrian Ballinger have all signed up to push this mission forward.
RELATED LINKS
Revelshine Wines
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Join Us! Become a BLISTER+ Member
TOPICS & TIMES:
Special Offer on Revelshine: (2:43)
Jake’s Background in the Wine World (4:30)
Limerick Lane & Starting Revelshine (6:30)
Assessing Our Impacts on the World (33:25)
Other Benefits of Shaking Things Up (40:54)
The Juice: Revelshine’s Offerings (48:24)
‘BLISTERSHIP’, Distribution, & purchasing (59:45)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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Last year on CRAFTED, we talked with Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows (episode #8). And this is the companion conversation to that episode, about the art of making arrows.
TOPICS & TIMES:
Kodiak Island (5:29)
Only a Traditional Bow (11:10)
Arrows: An Amateur's Take (14:42)r
Relating Arrow's to Skis (28:39)
Feathers: Weights, Forces, and Angles (34:10)
Broadheads (44:17)
Price Range (52:07)
Summary of arrows (54:49)
Arrow Makers (57:54)
Beginner arrows vs advanced Arrows (1:00:19)
Art and Science of Arrows (1:04:10)
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
CRAFTED ep. 8 on Traditional Bows
Blister Pod ep. 287 on Broadening the Outdoor Community
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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Based in Vermont — where they still make their products — Bag Balm is an American company with a 125-year history and one very remarkable story. Bag Balm’s president, Libby Parent, joins us to talk about cow udders, celebrity endorsements, and the countless uses of their products, and you’ll also get a great lesson on how to steward a company with such a rich history into the modern world.
TOPICS & TIMES:
From Cow Udders to Celebrity Endorsements (2:38)
BLISTER & Bag Balm & Strange Uses (20:04)
Changes to the Formula (24:34)
Made in Vermont (27:36)
Marketing Product Uses & Discovering New Ones (31:01)
Bar Soap & (Serious) Exfoliation (35:08)
Stewarding a 125-Yr-Old Heritage Brand (40:08)
Most Common Uses & Emotional Support Chickens (47:36)
How Libby’s Background Informs Her Work at Bag Balm (53:33)
RELATED LINKS
Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
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Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan is a thoughtful guy with some grand ambitions. He’s working on building a big apparel company that ethically manufactures premium products at an affordable price, right in Chicago. Impossible you say? This past Monday, Jonathan Ellsworth met up with Rob at Dearborn Denim’s factory in Chicago to tour the factory with him, then record this conversation where he lays out the blueprint.
TOPICS & TIMES:
Why Rob started Dearborn Denim (2:47)
Profitability vs Mission/Ethics (7:25)
Why Chicago for Apparel Manufacturing? (13:38)
Misconceptions about US Manufacturing (18:46)
‘Made in the USA’ Debate & Shopping Local (22:11)
Cost (28:33)
Solving for Fit & Advertising Challenges (33:39)
Premium -- but Affordable?? -- Products (38:03)
Growth & Scale (41:11)
Materials & Fabrics: What Should We Know? (49:46)
New Products & Contract Work (56:08)
RELATED LINKS
Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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