Cigar Dude’s Podcast
A weekly live panel show where a trio of hosts has casual, unfiltered conversations with boutique cigar brand owners.
This is a live, weekly roundtable discussion hosted by a panel of cigar industry insiders and brand owners. They interview founders of primarily boutique and independent cigar companies, exploring their origin stories, new products, and business philosophies in a relaxed, lounge-style conversation. The show is heavily integrated with its sponsors, many of whom are fellow boutique brands and past or future guests.
“Unlike polished interview shows, Cigar Dudes has a raw, live-stream feel, complete with occasional technical glitches and free-flowing banter between multiple hosts and guests. Its focus on a tight-knit community of boutique brands, who are often also sponsors, gives it an insider, "friends-and-family" vibe.”
Who hosts this show
Cigar Dudes Podcast is a weekly live video show hosted by a panel of cigar industry insiders: Randy Wheeler, owner of the LEO-owned Ironclad Cigar Company; Ismael “Ish” Rodríguez Oliván, a Spanish Army veteran and owner of BAMF Cigars; and “Poppa John,” a retired corrections officer. The show's motto is "where ash meets attitude," focusing on unfiltered conversations about cigar culture, the business of boutique brands, and the lifestyle from a lounge-style perspective. The hosts and their guests, often fellow brand owners, create a collaborative, community-focused atmosphere.
Credentials & credits
- Randy Wheeler: Owner, Ironclad Cigar Company.
- Randy Wheeler: Active Law Enforcement Officer.
- Ismael “Ish” Rodríguez Oliván: Owner, BAMF Cigars & Rodriguez Olivan Cigar Factory.
- Ismael “Ish” Rodríguez Oliván: Spanish Army Veteran.
- Poppa John: Retired 30-year career in corrections.
Other ventures
- Ironclad Cigar Company (Randy Wheeler).
- BAMF Cigars (Ismael Rodríguez Oliván).
- Rodriguez Olivan Cigar Factory (Ismael Rodríguez Oliván).
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Cigar Dudes Live: Tabacalera Torres de Nicaragua | June 23 at 7 PM CSTJun 24, 2026 · 2h 24m
- 02Cigar Dudes Host Jim Spens of Turnbull Cigars | LIVE Tuesday Night Smoke Session!Jun 10, 2026 · 2h 07m
- 03Cigar Dudes Host The Cigar Clowns | LIVE Tuesday June 2 @ 7PM CSTJun 3, 2026 · 1h 58m
- 04Cigar Dudes Host Puro Y Tacón Podcast ROUND 2 | Majela & Anaylis Canizares LIVE!May 27, 2026 · 2h 21m
- 05
- 06Cigar Dudes LIVE Tonight | Hosting Haze Gray Cigars | 7PM CSTMay 13, 2026 · 1h 52m
- 07Cigar Dudes x Infinity Cigars — Live Tuesday 7PM CSTMay 6, 2026 · 1h 48m
- 08Cigar Dudes Host Dr. O | GTO Cigars Live Tonight at 7PM CSTApr 29, 2026 · 2h 12m
Notable episodes
- 01Cigar Dudes Live: Tabacalera Torres de Nicaragua
In this episode, host Poppa John announces his retirement from his 30-year career in corrections, and the guests share the unique history of their 'Jerez Legacy 1492' cigar.
- 02Cigar Dudes Host Jim Spens of Turnbull Cigars
A memorable episode defined by persistent, comical technical difficulties that the hosts and guest navigate with good humor and patience.
- 03Cigar Dudes Host The Cigar Clowns
The hosts and guests reveal the 'Goodfellas'-inspired origin of the Cigar Clowns brand name and discuss a founder's commitment in getting a hand tattoo before the trademark was approved.
What you'll be asked on this show
The interview begins with a broad, open-ended prompt like "What's been going on with you?" or "Where do you want to start your story?", allowing the guest to steer the initial narrative. The hosts—Randy, Poppa John, and Ish—act as a friendly panel, building rapport by sharing their own related anecdotes and experiences. They probe by asking for clarifications on brand names, the stories behind specific products, or personal history, rather than through pushback or challenging questions. The conversation often includes other guests and incorporates live chat questions, making it a dynamic group discussion rather than a rigid one-on-one interview. There isn't a signature closing; the show ends as casually as it runs.
The show is a three-host panel interview conducted live on Tuesday nights. The tone is extremely informal and conversational, often feeling like a virtual cigar lounge session. The hosts frequently integrate questions and comments from the live chat, and episodes open with a long, high-energy intro sequence showcasing a large roster of sponsors and affiliates.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
9 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“Where do you want to start with your story?”
This is a common opening move to let the guest guide the narrative from the beginning.
business
1- Q.01
“What the hell's been going on with [your brand]?”
Used as a casual, open-ended way to get a general update on a guest's business and recent activities.
personal
3- Q.01
“What got you into smoking cigars?”
A standard question to uncover the guest's personal journey and entry into the cigar world.
- Q.02
“How early on did you commit to the brand, like getting the logo tattooed?”
This surfaces stories of extreme personal commitment and belief in the brand's vision.
- Q.03
“Have you always lived in [location]?”
Used to learn more about a guest's personal background and connection to their factory's location.
process
1- Q.01
“What's the proper way to pronounce the brand/cigar name?”
Frequently asked to clarify product and brand names for the audience, especially for non-English names.
craft
2- Q.01
“What's the story or significance behind the [cigar name]?”
This question is used to dive deeper into the narrative and inspiration behind a specific product.
- Q.02
“What do you like to taste when you're blending a cigar?”
Aimed at master blenders to understand their personal palate and philosophy.
community
1- Q.01
“Do you guys ever do events in the [city/state] area?”
Often relayed from the live chat, this question connects the brand directly with the audience's location.
Signature segments
- · Long, highly-produced intro sequence with sponsor roll call
- · Live chat question integration
- · Weekly Tuesday Night Smoke Session
- · Panel of hosts (Randy, Poppa John, Ish)
- · Cycling animated sponsor banners
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show almost exclusively books the founders and owners of boutique or independent cigar companies. Guests are often part of the hosts' extended network within the cigar community and may also be sponsors of the podcast.
- Shirley & Daniel Torres (Torres de Nicaragua)on Cigar Dudes Live: Tabacalera Torres de Nicaragua | June 23 at 7 PM CST
- Jim Spens (Turnbull Cigars)on Cigar Dudes Host Jim Spens of Turnbull Cigars | LIVE Tuesday Night Smoke Session!
- Joe & Ray (The Cigar Clowns)on Cigar Dudes Host The Cigar Clowns | LIVE Tuesday June 2 @ 7PM CST
- Majela & Anaylis Canizares (Puro Y Tacón Podcast)on Cigar Dudes Host Puro Y Tacón Podcast ROUND 2 | Majela & Anaylis Canizares LIVE!
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is heavily sponsored by a large, rotating roster of boutique cigar companies, accessory brands, and lifestyle products. Many sponsors are also past or future guests, creating a deeply integrated ecosystem that appears to be a core part of the show's community and business strategy.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of Cigar Dudes Podcast?
- The show is hosted by a panel, primarily featuring Randy Wheeler of Ironclad Cigars, Ismael “Ish” Rodríguez Oliván of BAMF Cigars, and Poppa John.
- What is the format of the show?
- It's a weekly live-streamed video podcast where the hosts have a casual, long-form conversation with a guest, who is typically a cigar brand owner.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, it's an active podcast that streams live weekly on Tuesday nights.
- How can I pitch a guest for the show?
- The show's description provides an email for business, collaborations, or sponsorships: [email — gated].
- Where can I watch the podcast?
- The show is streamed live on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, and Instagram.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Cigar Dude's Podcast - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [02]Ironclad Cigar Company Official Websiteironcladcigarcompany.com
- [03]Why BAMF Cigars? - Fathom and Fury Cigarsfathomandfury.com
- [04]Banda By Ironclad Cigars - Whiskey Networkwhiskeynetwork.net
- [05]BAMF Cigars: Veteran Vices - Recoil Magazinerecoilweb.com
- [06]2025 Cigar Of The Year: Marvel By BAMF Cigars - Whiskey Networkwhiskeynetwork.net
- [07]Ironclad Cigar Company | Linktreelinktr.ee
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