In "Between Two Humidors" Episode 008, Jonathan Ruggles, Host, and Bryan Snyder, Guest, discuss his experiences with their current cigars. Ruggles is smoking the Luciano Dreamer, and Snyder is smoking Maria Luchia. The conversation shifts to Snyder's work at the Bomarito Automotive Group in St. Louis, where they use Reynolds and Reynolds software instead of CDK Global. Snyder shares concerns about CDK's recent cyber attack, which has affected over 15,000 dealerships, causing significant impacts such as the inability to report sales to manufacturers and financial results to franchises. Moving on, Snyder shares how he came to own and operate a cigar lounge in St. Louis, MO.. He had long desired to open such a business and seized the opportunity when the owners expressed their intent to sell. The biggest surprise in the five years since has been the community support and sanctuary the lounge provides patrons. The lounge attracts an equal number of men and women, making it a unique and couple-friendly environment. Snyder also discusses the unexpected successes and challenges of his cigar lounge business. He attributes their success to having a strong team, including his son, the general manager. The conversation then shifts to Snyder's partnership with Luchiana Cigars, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Snyder described Luchano, the founder of the cigar brand, as genuine and supportive. Snyder also discusses the unique camaraderie among cigar lounges in St. Louis and the importance of good relationships among competitors. He expresses concerns about the upcoming opening of a Cigars International store near his business, but remains optimistic about the growth of the cigar industry and culture. Throughout the video, Snyder emphasizes the importance of relationships in business and shares personal stories about his experiences in the automotive and cigar industries. He believes that cigar lounges are one of the few places where different cultures and socio-economic groups come together and interact as one.Guest LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-snyder-6854324/ Website: https://www.litstl.com/ X: https://x.com/getlitstl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litcigarloungestl/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/litcigarloungestl TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lit.cigar.lounge?_t=8nYGqN5ioYM&_r=1 Thank you to our SponsorsThe Cigar Chapel - Bend, OregonDisclaimerhttps://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

A seasoned vacation rental marketing expert, Ms. Alex Husner has played a key role as CMO in two enterprise vacation rental management companies in the United States for the past 14 years. In early 2024, Alex decided to pursue her own entrepreneurial initiatives as CEO/Founder of Directly Alex LLC, a consultancy firm specializing in direct bookings and business growth strategies for vacation rental management companies. During her 13-year tenure as CMO with Condo-World, Alex spearheaded the growth of the company from 150 to 500 condos under management, driving $25M in annual revenue of which 95% came through direct marketing efforts. Alex served as Chairman of the Board of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB in 2022 and as a Board Member from 2015 - 2023, and has also served on VRMA Board of Directors and North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce & CVB Board of Directors.SummaryIn the "Between Two Humidors" Episode 007, Host Jonathan Ruggles & Guest Alex Husner discuss her career journey in advertising, influenced by her father's creativity and experience. She shares how she faced challenges in the industry during the economic downturn but gained valuable experience and strong client relationships. Husner then talks about her proprietary strategic process for consulting in the vacation rental space, emphasizing the importance of understanding businesses and creating persuasive content. She also highlights the significance of marketing for hospitality businesses, the impact of digital resources, and the importance of building strong partnerships. Husner shares a client story about poor hospitality in a short-term rental and the importance of hospitality in the industry. Additionally, she discusses the influence of Airbnb on the vacation rental industry and the need for hospitality and relationships in the business. YouTube Video Linkhttps://youtu.be/GDGohB94jjY Guest Linkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-o-husner-1844306/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/alexandanniepodcast/ https://www.alexandanniepodcast.com/ Thank you to our SponsorsThe Cigar Chapel - Bend, OregonDisclaimerhttps://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In the "BTH Episode 006 Conversation after the Pod" with Michael J. Goldrich, Host Jonathan Ruggles and Goldrich explored the future development of technology, with a focus on Apple's intelligence capabilities and the potential for devices to serve as trusted confidants. Goldrich envisioned a future where people would become overly reliant on their phones, which would know everything about them, raising concerns about privacy, critical thinking skills, and the impact on younger generations. They also discussed the integration of advanced technology like neuralink into phones, enabling more advanced interaction and understanding of users. The conversation shifted towards the importance of passing down knowledge and experience to the younger generation, with Goldrich sharing an experience of giving advice to his son about the value of human involvement in technology. He emphasized the need for resonance and proof to make the advice effective, while touching on the use of AI to generate short videos and podcasts.YouTube Video Linkhttps://youtu.be/l9p7viNwsSw Guest Linkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoldrich/ https://vivanderadvisors.com/ Thank you to our SponsorsThe Cigar Chapel -Bend, OregonDisclaimerhttps://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

SummaryIn the latest Episode 005 of Between Two Humidors, hosted by Jonathan Ruggles, special guest Michael J Goldrich shares his journey from becoming fascinated with the internet and technology as a PhD student at Northwestern in the late 1990s to his current exploration of artificial intelligence (AI). Goldrich discusses his experience working with Anderson Consulting during the early days of the internet and how he transitioned from a literature major to a tech team member. He also talks about his recent interest in AI and the potential it holds for automating tasks and generating content. Goldrich emphasizes the importance of adapting to new technologies, such as AI, and encourages individuals to embrace change rather than resist it. He also shares his teaching approach to introducing people to generative AI technology and discusses the integration of AI in the hospitality industry. Additionally, Goldrich touches on the challenges and potential negative consequences of relying too heavily on AI technology and the importance of critical thinking and human oversight.YouTube Video Linkhttps://youtu.be/rDDn-4OiSnAGuest Linkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoldrich/https://vivanderadvisors.com/Thank you to our SponsorsThe Cigar Chapel -Bend, OregonDisclaimerhttps://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In "Episode 004, Jeremy McDonald - Conversation After the Pod", Jeremy McDonald (Wildfire Cigars) and Jonathan Ruggles (Host) discuss the contrasting nature of AI and the cigar industry. While AI demands human creativity and innovation, cigar production is an old-world craft with unique nuances that cannot be learned from the internet. McDonald shares his appreciation for cigars and the human experiences they provide, using an anecdote about introducing a friend to new cigars as an example. He contrasts this experience with artificial intelligence, acknowledging its potential as a creative tool but emphasizing the importance of the human experience, including the environment, company, and personal moments that make life memorable. McDonald believes these experiences cannot be replicated by AI and are essential aspects of the human condition.Guest Links https://wildfirecigars.com/ & http://www.instagram.com/wildfirecigarsThank you to our Sponsor: The Cigar Chapel -Bend, OregonDisclaimer https://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In Episode 003 of Between Two Humidors, Host Jonathan Ruggles has a conversation with Jeremy McDonald, Founder of Wildfire Cigar Company. They discuss his cigar line, and his shared appreciation for unconventional offerings. McDonald expresses surprise at the popularity of his Wildfire Cigars, which he created as part of an experiment. They reminisce about McDonald's unexpected win for Best in Show Small Booth at the PCA 2023 trade show and his plans for PCA 2025 with a camping theme. McDonald shares his personal story of discovering cigars at 18, despite his parents' disapproval, and how he started working at a local cigar shop to fund his passion.They also discuss McDonald's experiences with tobacco use in the context of his religious background and his journey in the cigar industry, including working for various brands and starting his own, Wildfire. McDonald emphasizes his creative process and the importance of authenticity, even if it's not mass-market appealing.They also discuss his design collaboration with the extremely talented Ms. Jacqueline Sears, a woman who has made significant contributions to the cigar industry behind the scenes, and McDonald's collaborative approach to working with creative individuals.He introduces the third Le series release and a new core line of regular production cigars, completing his portfolio with four different cigars as flagships. McDonald describes the “Breakdown”, a new offering, as a full-bodied special occasion cigar, ideal for smoking after a night out.The conversation then shifts to artificial intelligence (AI), with McDonald expressing concerns about its impact on industries like music and art, questioning whether AI can truly create emotional and soulful content. The episode also explores the use of AI in generating creative language and the importance of well-crafted expressions. McDonald emphasizes the need for metaphors, idioms, and collaboration when using AI, concluding with sharing his social media handles and Wildfire Cigars website details.We hope you enjoyed our insightful conversation with Jeremy McDonald of Wildfire Cigar Company. From his unconventional cigar creations to his thoughts on AI's impact on creativity, McDonald’s passion and authenticity shine through. Join us next time for more engaging discussions. Don’t forget to follow Wildfire Cigars and stay connected with us on social media. Until then, keep exploring and enjoying the world of cigars.Guest Linkshttps://wildfirecigars.com/http://www.instagram.com/wildfirecigarsThank you to our SponsorsThe Cigar Chapel -Bend, OregonDisclaimerhttps://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In Episode 002 BTH Juan Lugo, Juan shares his background, including growing up as a first-generation American in Washington Heights, Manhattan, and his experiences in the military and Silicon Valley. He also discusses his fascination with cigars, which began during his military deployment to Iraq and deepened as he learned more about his family history in the Dominican Republic's cigar industry. Lugo started a cigar company named after his grandfather, Don Doroteo, and shares his unique approach to promoting the brand by bringing homemade mamana and andulo tobacco to shows. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to his family legacy and honoring his grandfather by growing tobacco and selling it exclusively to La Aurora Cigars. Lugo also discusses his experiences transitioning from the military to college and his introduction to Bitcoin in 2017. Throughout the video, Lugo shares his motivations, challenges, and inspirations, providing insight into his personal and professional journey.YouTube Video Episodehttps://youtu.be/GABY8PfUj-4?si=3Qly5C7uDkvQ3inQ Guest Linkshttps://dondoroteo.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefittechie/ https://www.instagram.com/dondoroteocigars/ Thank you to our SponsorsThe Cigar Chapel -Bend, OregonDisclaimerhttps://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/

In the first episode of Between Two Humidors, Host Jonathan Ruggles visits with Scott van Hartesveld, they discussed various topics including the evolution of data usage in marketing, particularly in the travel industry, and the challenges faced by hotels in the digital age. Van Hartesveld shared his experiences with marketing strategies, such as Dollywood's successful approach to building a brand community and creating a Founders Club for a hotel. He emphasized the importance of fundamental marketing principles like scarcity, exclusivity, and access, and the need for hotels to leverage first-party data to build long-term relationships with their customers. They also touched upon the role of storytelling and strategy in marketing for bed and breakfast businesses and the importance of hotel direct bookings. Van Hartesveld expressed concern over the overuse of AI for transactional messages and the need for a strategist to develop a longer-term strategy. He encouraged independent hotel brands to compete effectively by utilizing democratized AI tools and focusing on providing a simple, frictionless booking experience for customers.YouTube Video Podcasthttps://youtu.be/rfUkBPLL2vU?si=8er8dn4IjPNkN4oP Guest Linkshttps://www.gcommercesolutions.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottvanhartesvelt/ Thank you to our SponsorsThe Cigar Chapel -Bend, OregonDisclaimerhttps://www.betweentwohumidors.com/legal/