Interviews Archives - Page 11 of 25

Vaping Diaries #266: The Mad Carpenter Brandyn Young Interview (Vapecon USA)

The Mad Carpenter has been making gorgeous hand-crafted wood vape stands for years. Recently, the company introduced a hand-crafted wood box mod called the Curve V1. With the same quality as its renowned stands, The Mad Carpenter Curve V1 is one of the most beautiful box mods you’ll ever see. There are several variations of the Curve V1, since dozens of different woods are used throughout the line. All models feature an ergonomic shape that allows you to get a good grip with either hand, as well as a unique thumb-slide door that ensures that your batteries will never be exposed accidentally.

In the Vapecon USA 2014 interview above, The Mad Carpenter owner and craftsman Brandyn Young talks about his background in wood furniture and transitioning from making great vape stands to making a great box mod. Brandyn talks about several unique features of the Curve V1 and teases his upcoming DNA40 box mod based on the same design language.

Companies like The Mad Carpenter make my happy. It’s an American company that serves up unique made-in-the-USA vaping goods of impeccable quality. Check out the clip above and you’ll see what makes The Mad Carpenter so special.

Vaping Diaries #265: Good Vibes Kuya Ray Interview (Vapecon USA)

If there’s a vaping event in Southern California, Good Vibes E-Liquid creator Kuya Ray is more than likely to be there. I’m pretty sure there are at least three of him, because dude is everywhere. Ever the hustler, Kuya Ray has been netting a ton of attention with Good Vibes’ juices. A lot of my friends are hooked on Lei’d and LA Lovin’. In the Vapecon USA 2014 interview above, Kuya Ray talks about those flavors, the Morning Wood and First Kiss juices, and a couple of upcoming additions. There’s also a tangent about how one of our pervy friends from Cloud Kicker Society helped come up with a clever juice name. There’s also talk of an upcoming e-liquid that may or may not be called Golden Showers. Ha!

Vaping Diaries #264: MVPZ Cindy Kaminaka Interview (Vapecon USA)

Mom’s Vape Protectorz (MVPZ) owner Cindy Kaminaka is a fixture in the SoCal vape scene. She’s a mother figure or big-sister type for so many SoCal vapers. Her company also makes some of the best mod protectors in the business. MVPZ mod protectors are made primarily from neoprene, which is soft, cushioned, and stretchable. The company offers models that can accommodate eGo-style e-cigs, 18xxx mods, 26650 mods, and box mods. Several MVPZ models are also available with horizontal or vertical velcro straps, allowing them to be attached to a backpack strap or belt. With their great protection, versatility, and good looks, MVPZ mod protectors are my favorite mod holders.

In the interview above, Cindy talks about how the company got started, the various mod protectors she has available, what’s coming next, and how our friend from Convict Vapors uses his MVPZ to vape while on his motorcycle.

Vaping Diaries #263: Beefcake the Mighty GWAR Talks Vaping

In addition to being a ruthlessly rocking bassist and one of the most powerful denizens on planet Earth, GWAR’s Beefcake the Mighty is an avid vaper. He even has a juice named after him (German Chocolate Beefcake) in Mt. Baker Vapor’s line of GWAR Fluids. Minutes before he took the stage and conquered the crowd, I had a brief chat with Beefcake the Mighty to learn more about his vaping habits and how the relationship with Mt. Baker Vapor came about. The answer to the latter was simple, as Beefcake boisterously exclaimed, “They came to me on their knees!!!” As for the type of vaping gear the GWAR bass-playing badass likes to use, Beefcake favors simple devices. Check out the video above for one of the zaniest interviews I’ve ever conducted.

As for the show itself, it was a total blast. It took place at The Observatory in Santa Ana — an intimate venue where the crowd could really connect with the band. It was my first GWAR show and it was entertaining on several levels. The music and show were enjoyable on their own, but what I really loved was the utter lack of pretense. You can tell that the band is serious about entertaining their fans, but don’t take themselves seriously at all. It was such a refreshing contrast to most “artists” out there. The show itself was great, but the unique vibe is what will stay with me — a very particular and very pure type of fun.

For many GWAR fans in attendance, this was the first time seeing the band since original frontman Oderus Urungus passed away. The tour’s plot revolved around using a time machine to (mistakenly) order pizza and grab Oderus from the past. Several portions of the show were a tribute to the GWAR mastermind and you could feel the love the fans have for him. If you’re interested in furthering Oderus Urungus’ efforts on Earth, please check out the outstanding Dave Brockie Fund.

Anyway, please watch the video above when you have a chance. It was definitely fun for me to conduct and edit, but it was also very challenging. Both my feet are wrecked and I was on crutches for the entire interview. I was pretty close to keeling over towards the end. Ha!

Special thanks to my excellent friend Justin Leeper for setting up this interview and to Convict Vapors for a nice gift for Beefcake the Mighty.

Vaping Diaries #262: Vapetilly Allen Seiden Interview

Vapetilly is a social network for vapers with Android or iOS devices. It combines elements of Instagram, Yelp, Tinder, and more. Vapetilly is all about connecting vapers, whether it’s vaper to vaper, retailer to vaper, mod maker to vaper, etc. In the interview above, Vapetilly founder Allen Seiden goes over the app’s current features and talks about upcoming additions.

In addition to an Instagram-style feed, Vapetilly has some nice features for vapers looking to pick up new goods. The app makes it easy to find vape shops and the feed can be used to buy or sell goods privately. The social aspects of the app are unique; users can locate nearby vapers and chat with them in order to set up vape sessions. Some of my friends find this feature fun, while others find it a bit stalker-y.

While Vapetilly has a lot going on right now, there are even more features planned for future updates. Video will be a big part of the app’s future, with video posts and video chat coming soon. On top of video chat, voice chat will be available as well. For vapers that are on multiple social networks, Vapetilly will have cross-posting capabilities, allowing users to enter a single post that hits multiple social networks.

As a vaper-specific social network, I’m glad that Vapetilly exists. It’s good for the community and the social network has great potential. Some users like the broad array of features that the app offers, but some feel that it’s too ambitious and somewhat unfocused. While I’ve used Vapetilly a bit, I haven’t used it enough to form a strong opinion one way or another. Certainly it hasn’t replaced Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ for me, but I’m intrigued by its potential. While the feature set is broad, I like that the community is ultra-focused. Plus, I’m hoping that it will help me find the vampire-vaper-cheerleader stalker that I’ve been dreaming about.

Vaping Diaries #261: True North Tonics Pedro Benito Interview

This interview with True North Tonics owner Pedro Benito is longer than my usual chats with e-liquid makers, but it’s also more interesting. Pedro talks about moving from a touring indie-rock musician with The Jealous Sound and Sunday’s Best to composing music for film and television to crafting e-liquids. True North Tonics offers some of the cleanest e-liquids out there, with several unique and complex flavors. In my opinion, the company is one of the most underrated in the vaping business.

There are several things that help True North Tonics stand out in the highly competitive field of e-liquids. Pedro’s wife is a biochemist, allowing True North Tonics to offer pure flavors with an emphasis on safety. It was fun learning how heating up different ingredients to different temperatures results in various flavor combinations. It was interesting to learn that these juices are made in a laboratory-style fashion, so that each bottle’s individual components can be traced back to the exact ingredient bottle used on the day it was made. On the outside, True North Tonic uses glass vials for its 15ml bottles and wine labels instead of common stickers.

As for the flavors themselves, Pedro talked about three of the e-liquids he launched with and some of his newest flavors. The new flavors are really tasty. As a fan of dessert vapes, I’m really high on the Bavarian cream-inspired Captain’s Daughter. The day this interview was filmed, Pedro had a new raspberry-lychee blend that he was testing. I may or may not have finished what was left of his bottle. (I did…and it was frickin’ delicious!)

Please check out my True North Tonics interview when you have a chance. I’m sure that many of you will learn more about what goes into making e-liquids by listening to Pedro. He was, perhaps, a bit too forthcoming. Ha!

Special thanks to Monster Vape Lounge for letting me film and hang out!

Vaping Diaries #260: V4Vape Jay O’Brien Interview

In addition to heading up Nirvana Vapor and being a partner in True Leaf Vapor, Jay O’Brien has launched a new line of vaping dessert e-liquids called V4Vape. Aimed towards vapers that enjoy sweet and savory e-liquids, V4Vape stands out with some unique and complex blends. In the interview above, Jay talks about the company’s four launch flavors and the future of the line.

Going down the menu alphabetically, Valentine is a mix of condensed milk, rose essence, and nutty flavors. Surprisingly, this one has been a hit with vapers that enjoy tobacco e-liquids. Valhalla is a caramel flan juice with hints of hazelnut. Vendetta is a white chocolate custard with a touch of peppermint. Lastly is V4Vape’s most popular juice to date, Virtue. This e-liquid blends toasted almond macaroon with brown sugar and cream.

As a fan of dessert e-liquids, complexity, and atypical blends, I’m really looking forward to vaping some V4Vape juices. Stay tuned for a review in the near future. For now, be sure to check out what Jay has to say about his V4Vape line.

Vaping Diaries #259: Tobh Mods Jay-Bo Talks Indestructible Atty and More (ECC 2014)

I saved my favorite ECC 2014 interview for last — a fun chat with the excellent owner of Tobh Mods, Jay-Bo. Following the immense success of the Tobh Atomizer, Jay-Bo has a lot going on to cap off 2014. First are a bunch of accessories for the Tobh Atomizer, including brass caps, copper caps, and the slam cap featuring a built in drip tip. The brass and copper caps are unique in that the inside of the cap is stainless steel, which should mollify vapers concerned with their juice touching brass or copper. Jay-Bo now has his own logo, separate from the Tobh Mods brand. The first product under the Jay-Bo brand is the Indestructible Atty, which will be released by Surefire Vapor. Jay-Bo also has a rebuildable tank atomizer in the works, which is fantastic news for vapers that want Tobh Mods innovation in a vaping solution with capacity. As a coffee nerd, I had to ask Jay-Bo about his latest espresso adventures and see how his professional barista skills are holding up.

This is one of those interviews where I kind of forgot I was conducting an interview. Jay-Bo is such a friendly and fascinating guy that it’s so easy to enjoy having a conversation with him and forget to make cogent points. Thankfully, he has a lot going on and delivered information on his newest products in an entertaining way. Yeah, Jay-Bo totally did the job for me in this clip. Ha!

Vaping Diaries #258: Fallout Mods Brian Nashick Interview (ECC 2014)

As a huge fan of made-in-the-USA vaping products, I love Fallout Mods’ attitude. The company is very proud that its products are, “made by us in the USA using materials sourced from the USA.” I love that the company’s 22mm mod is called that “7 Eights” and that it has a t-shirt that boldly states, “7 Eights Not 22mm Because This is America.” Ha! Attitude aside, Fallout Mods makes some fantastic mechanical mods that offer unique features and top-notch craftsmanship. They’re the kind of products that make you want to shout, “Murica!!!”

At ECC 2014, I caught up with Fallout Mods owner Brian Nashick. He spoke about some special edition 7 Eights and Mutant mods the company was selling at the show (California edition, ECC edition, STD edition, etc.). He also revealed some information about future Fallout Mods products, including hybrid drippers, several box mods, and mods that use exotic metals.

Check out my interview with Brian to see what’s going on with this great American vaping company.

Vaping Diaries #257: Los Angeles Vapor Company Eric Trotter Interview (ECC 2014)

It’s always a pleasure hanging out with The Force Vapors CEO Eric Trotter. He’s a fun dude and one of my favorite people in the business to hang with at vape meets. Last time I chatted with Eric on camera, he told me all about The Force Vapors and some of the company’s popular e-liquids. At ECC 2014, he told me about the most recent addition to The Force Vapors — Padme’s Nectar — and his brand new line called Los Angeles Vapor Company.

As a lifelong Angeleno, Eric’s new line of juices is inspired by the city where he was born and raised. Los Angeles Vapor Company is launching with four flavors — Iced T, The Beach, Valley Girl, and Westside. In the video above, Eric details the flavor profiles of each juice and talks about why he started a separate line.

On a side note, as much as I enjoy hanging out with Eric, interviewing him always makes my arm tired. He’s tall. I’m short. You do the math. Next time we film together, I’m going to make him sit down.