In this episode of "Holy Smokes," host Steve Reiter interviews Jim Lavelle, delving into his diverse career journey from the mortgage industry through financial services to tech and finally establishing a pizzeria in Colorado Springs recognized among the top Neapolitan spots in the U.S. Jim opens up about overcoming significant financial hurdles du…

In this episode of Holy Smokes, host Steve Reiter talks with guest Harley Tessman, exploring Tessman's transformative journey through military service, mental health battles, and his current life on the road. Tessman shares his profound spiritual experiences and faith struggles during his deployments, punctuated by near-death encounters and the war…

Host Steve engage in a conversation with guest Devin Christensen, exploring his journey from farm life to a vibrant spiritual path. Devin recalls his introduction to cigars and his appreciation for the Holy Smokes community, his spiritual transformation through deliverance and repentance, and the significant impact of dreams and divine guidance on …

Matt Heard chats with Steve Reiter. Welcome back to Holy Smokes, the podcast where we discuss faith, friendship, fine tobacco, and drink. I'm your host, Steve Reiter, and in this episode, we have a special guest joining us, Matt Heard. Matt emphasizes the importance of engaging in biblical community and shares personal stories highlighting communio…

Mikes Mears chats with Steve Reiter, a long-awaited guest on the show for three years. Mike, who has quite the journey from a political campaign to faith engagement at the Republican National Committee. Mike is smoking a nica rustica cigar, and despite not being a cigar aficionado, he brings a wealth of experience and intriguing stories to share. F…

Bradley Chaddick chats with Steve Reiter. He opens up about navigating grief and supporting his wife through their journey, finding purpose and involvement in the church after a tragic loss, and the positive transformation they've experienced. Tune in to hear about Bradley's journey to finding authentic community and fellowship, including his invol…

Welcome to the Holy Smokes podcast. In this emotional episode of Holy Smokes, our host, Steve Reiter, sits down with guest Mark Bendorf for a profound and heartfelt conversation. Mark shares his experiences with cigars, his love for family, and his challenges. From growing up near Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin, to serving in the Marine Corps a…

Welcome to Holy Smokes, the podcast where faith, friendship, tobacco, and drinks come together in meaningful and thought-provoking conversations. In this episode, our host, Steve Reiter, sits down with the inspiring Dave Bechtold and the engaging Mark Bendorf. Together, they delve into a wide range of topics, from childhood memories and personal gr…

Welcome to Holy Smokes, where we delve into the compelling stories of faith, community, and personal growth. In this episode, we feature Dave Bechtold and Mark Bendorf, who share their experiences in Madison, Wisconsin, organizing events such as Holy Grounds and "Burgers and the Bible" with a mission to spread joy, hospitality, and the message of J…

Welcome to a sizzling new episode of Holy Smokes! In this electrifying installment, we're joined by the illustrious Tobin Arthur, who regales us with riveting tales from his high school baseball triumphs to his dynamic career in business and healthcare. Grab your favorite Crossfire cigar and a piping hot cup of coffee as we delve into Tobin's journ…

Welcome to another exciting episode of Holy Smokes with Steve Reiter and Mitch Smith! Mitch shares his journey from resigning from his job to starting his own business and finding success in the learning management platform industry. He discusses his experiences, including meeting influential individuals, building strong client relationships, and t…

Welcome to Holy Smokes, a gathering place where faith, friendship, excellent tobacco, and good drink collide to spark meaningful conversations. Caleb Allen, a preacher from Denison, Kansas, joins host Steve Reiter on this episode. They delve deeply into Caleb's personal path, from being a conscientious youngster to his atypical career goals and spi…

Welcome to another episode of Holy Smokes. In this episode, our host, Steve Reiter, sits down with a very special guest, Steve Van Diest. Steve opens up about his journey from ministry to joining a missional order called Project Revive. He shares the challenges he faced when 60% of his donors left him after making the shift. He tells us how he infu…

Welcome back to another episode of Holy Smokes! In today's episode, a very special guest is joining us - the incredible Jimmy Graham. Jimmy opens up about his admiration for George Washington's leadership, thoughts on Jordan Peterson's impact, and the importance of setting boundaries for his children. He shares his vision of creating a safe space t…

Welcome back to another episode of Holy Smokes! I'm your host, Steve Reiter, and today, we have a very special guest joining us: Ashley Early. In this episode, Ashley shares their personal journey of making a significant life change, one that involved leaving their job and moving back to their hometown. They open up about the emotional process of m…

Welcome to another exciting episode of Holy Smokes! Welcome back to another episode of Holy Smokes! In today's episode, titled "Seattle Chapter," we dive into the captivating and life-changing stories of new people joining our sacred circle. Host Steve Reiter, along with guests Zack, Buzz Leonard, and Jim Canfield, share their personal experiences …

Welcome to another episode of Holy Smokes. In this week's episode our host, Steve Reiter, sits down with a special guest, Jim Canfield, to discuss a wide range of captivating stories and experiences. During the episode, Jim takes us on an adventurous journey, starting with his experience of buying a house through a short sale. From panicking about …

In todays Holy Smokes episode guest Stan Wallace shares his journey of deepening his understanding and grounding in his faith while navigating the challenges of academia. Stan discusses the importance of Christians engaging in philosophy, history, literature, and neuroscience, and bringing biblical principles into the conversation. He highlights th…

In today's episode, host Steve Reiter is joined by the passionate and experienced fisherman, Sam Vandervalk. Get ready to dive into the captivating world of fishing as Sam shares his insights on changing fishing conditions, the joy of creating memorable experiences for guests, and the power of connecting with others through the sport. Tune in as th…

On this episode of Holy Smokes, host Steve Reiter welcomes guest Brett Clemmer, who shares a personal journey of faith, marriage, and professional growth. Brett recounts the challenges he and his wife faced in their first year of marriage and their subsequent return to faith. He discusses their experiences working at a homeless shelter, starting a …

In this episode of Holy Smokes, Steve Reiter is joined by guest Travis Bowman as they dive into the fascinating story of Peter Francisco, an American Revolutionary War hero. Travis, who is a descendant of Peter Francisco, shares his journey of discovering his ancestor's impactful legacy and his determination to bring his story to life through a boo…

In this episode of Holy Smokes, host Steve Reiter and guest Andrew Lawson dive into the world of cigars, sharing their experiences exploring different cigar shops and discovering hidden gems in the Central Florida area. They discuss the Corona Cigar family, particularly Jeff Borsoitz and his impressive farm, as well as other favorite spots like Exe…

Eric Reinhold made a pier lounge at his place in the Orlando-area, and Steve sits down to talk about the conception and construction of his hangout. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode, and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal: https://paypal.me/…

Steve Reiter sits down with Eric Reinhold to talk about his writing, financial career, and personal life. Eric created a fictional town, Mount Dora, which was featured in his book and popular with the Chamber of Commerce. He also talks about his financial career and launching his own business with his children involved. Eric talks about his approac…

Steve sits down with guest Joe Dalton to discuss his journey from struggling with addiction to owning a thriving cigar lounge. Joe shares his story of hitting rock bottom and the importance of taking things one day at a time. He also talks about his admiration for his grandfather's wisdom and commitment to his family. In addition to his business ve…

Reuben Ndjerareou is relatively new to the Holy Smokes community, but he's an active member, and when Steve kept being told by a handful of 2022 Conclave participants that he NEEDED to interview him, he jumped at the opportunity. Hear Reuben's story of splitting his childhood between his home country of Chad and the US and his heart for his African…

At the recent 2022 Holy Smokes Conclave, a member that Steve has wanted to interview since the beginning of the podcast relented ... but he expressed a desire for his episode to not be in the main feed. Here's Steve's summary of that episode and why you should consider supporting this show. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favori…

Brian Olson has proven to not only be a Holy Smokes leader in the Tampa Bay area but also in our worldwide group. Hear about Brian's career in auto sales and his recent retirement, but also how he and Scott Smith have helped turn the Tampa Bay chapter into one of our fastest-growing groups!! —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favor…

At the recent Conclave '22 (our annual Colorado get-together), more than a handful of people came up to Steve and said, "You GOTTA interview Tom Kakadelis." Hear about Tom's years as a pastor, owning some cigar lounges throughout the Carolinas, brokering, and even spending a couple of hours with the GOAT, Michael Jordan, over cigars!!! ————————————…

If you're in the Facebook group, you've undoubtedly seen Scott Smith posting. He's one of the leaders of the Tampa Bay chapter and a pillar in the Holy Smokes community. Hear about Scott's story, what drives him, and how Christ fundamentally changed his life. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss…

Matt Hammitt seemed to be crushing life as the lead singer of Sanctus Real, but the road life was wearing on him and his family, so he stepped out of the boat and moved into a solo career, as well as other interests and opportunities. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode, and please s…

Darren Tyler moved to the Nashville area and started managing musicians until he felt God's call to be a pastor. Steve really enjoyed getting to know Darren, talking music, and cigars. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode, and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible dona…

David Ask moved to the Nashville area to be in the music industry, but he's found his success through an invention he created. He's found big business & mindset breakthroughs through being involved in some mastermind groups over the years. Hear David's story, what a mastermind is, and of course, Rapid Fire Questions! —————————————— Be sure to click…

Ever since our founder moved to Franklin (TN) earlier this year, he's been getting to know the community out there. Jamie Slingerland is one of the really good guys to get to know if you're planning on visiting. Steve recently had a chance to sit down with him at his large backyard patio that's nearly completed. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Sub…

Harold "Max" Maxwell has one of the craziest stories Steve has ever featured. The guy has lived a full life, from raising big cats to becoming Santa ... he has a heart of gold. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via…

Charles Robinson founded Atsiniki Cigars to help fund his ministry to Native American tribes across the western United States and Canada. Hear his story. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal: https://paypal…

Holy Smokes Founder Kay Hiramine recently sat down with Steve to talk about some foundational Holy Smokes pillars. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal: https://paypal.me/holysmokesclub Or become a regular …

Holy Smokes Founder Kay Hiramine recently sat down with Steve to talk about some foundational Holy Smokes pillars. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal: https://paypal.me/holysmokesclub Or become a regular …

Holy Smokes Founder Kay Hiramine recently sat down with Steve to talk about some foundational Holy Smokes pillars. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal: https://paypal.me/holysmokesclub Or become a regular …

Jimmy Dodd was a pastor in the Kansas City area when he hit a crisis moment that changed the trajectory of his life. Now he’s serving pastors in his role as the CEO of PastorServe (a ministry for pastors). Steve had a chance to sit down with him recently and get his full story. This is a ministry for your pastor. https://pastorserve.org ———————————…

Holy Smokes Founder Kay Hiramine recently sat down with Steve to talk about some foundational Holy Smokes pillars. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal: https://paypal.me/holysmokesclub Or become a regular …

Kay was in town recently (getting his family's belongings in a moving truck for Franklin, TN) and sat down with Steve to update everyone. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal: https://paypal.me/holysmokescl…

Neil MacKinnon is a staple in the Holy Smokes Castle Rock (CO) group. After hanging out with him, Steve KNEW he needed to bring his wisdom to the audience. Hear about Neil losing his dad in early adulthood, how he stepped up with his younger brother Allan (who will be featured in a future episode), his move into business, and what he's doing now. —…

Have you ever thought about making a home, garage, or shed lounge? Steve sat down with Demetrius Gianopolous, Neil MacKinnon, and Derek Fullmer to talk about their work together on building some lounges over the last few years. What's worked? What would they do differently? What should you look out for? What kind of ventilation do they recommend? A…

Dr. Abid Husain is a cardiologist turned functional medicine doctor and is one of Steve's doctors. He's into some cutting-edge stuff that's going to help us live healthier longer ... and maybe even live longer. Hear Steve talk with Dr. Husain about his story, as well as combatting fatigue, improving cardiovascular health, increasing brain energy & …

Daniel Ritchie was born without arms and while he grew up in a loving home, bullying and insecurities wore him down ... until God started to get a hold of him. Listen to this inspiring story! —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductib…

Sabastian Huynh (pronounced Win) came to the US from Vietnam as a young child, but when his mom left his stepfather, that hole in his life started him on a journey into crime. Steve recently had the chance to sit down with Sabastian at his new garage lounge, The Leadership Lab (aka The Lab). —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favor…

Sadly, this episode is going to be a Patreon-Only episode per the request of the guest ... Steve explains more. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss an episode and please share this with someone. Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal: https://paypal.me/holysmokesclub Or become a regular mon…

For years, Sam Voorhies worked at World Vision, until God called him to Palm Beach Atlantic University ... now, he's taking a sabbatical to figure out what God has for him next. Listen to this powerful story that Steve recently recorded at Lion's Den in Monument, CO. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on your favorite podcast app, so you d…

Dr. Mark Humphries is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the Colorado Springs area and so Steve sat down with him to get his story, his foray into fundraising/friend-raising, his journey back into therapy, the importance of community for men, and the importance of therapy when it's needed. —————————————— Be sure to click 'Subscribe' on you…