ACHP Episode 439 Stop Wasting Time
Transcript
Welcome.
I'm Mike Palmer, and this is
episode 439 of the Cigar Hustler
Podcast.
Today is Wednesday, December
31st, 2025, New Year's Eve.
Hello, Alan Rubin.
With me.
Off the jump, sorry.
With me today in engineering is
boots.
I made a cigar in 2025.
Hippelhauser.
Yes.
And it's my Co host, a man
barely alive.
And your shadow is formal self.
Mikey, I want to go back to bed.
Devon Kevich, we appreciate you
being here today.
I'm good to go buddy.
Appreciate, good to go.
On today's show, we have a new
pandemic.
A former heavyweight champion
gets in a Nigerian auto accident
on Christmas Eve.
A teen goes missing in Texas and
it scares the shit out of
Palmer.
A new grand opening in Orlando,
and thanks to Coop, we have one
more cigar story for 2025.
Oh, he's great, isn't he?
Then a mini game of what's the
score and we end the year with a
recap of the biggest stories of
2025.
All this and some stupid bad for
the industry.
Comments and information on this
final episode of 2025 A Cigar
Hustler Podcast.
Bing bong.
But before we start Michael,
wake up and tell us how to get
some of that chapter pod swag
like this lovely chapter pod
black out murder hootie I'm
wearing today.
Well, that's pretty much sold
out.
We only have one size left of
that so.
That will be tagged in the
video.
Perfect So what you want to do
is check out chapter pod.com for
all of our swag.
If you buy one and get the 2nd
140% off, spend $100 or more,
you're going to get free
shipping.
I did try and do a make a beanie
today and that was a disaster
so.
So do we have a melted beanie to
go with the melted hat now?
I don't know.
No, it's like it stretched out
the hoodie.
I don't like the boots.
Will wear it.
Boots will love it.
He'll be fine with it.
People like our one offs.
But make sure you like and
subscribe to every wherever
you're watching, wherever you're
listening, please like and
subscribe.
Oh, and for the Patreon today we
are doing.
What are we smoking on the
Patreon, Michael?
The la estancia, How's that la?
You can't see it.
It's gold.
La Estancia, I think you're
holding alongside.
Is that just, I think it's a
solid gold side.
You're just holding out.
No.
He said no, for God's sakes.
That's what I said.
Kind of still gold It's.
A mirapella estancia.
Estancia.
Estancia I.
Have a scale here so.
Oh, it's right here.
It's over there in his desk.
I didn't know we were doing
those today.
You want me to weigh mine?
Sure.
I don't know how to do that, but
I'm going to try to throw.
That scale.
I can throw it.
Yeah.
All right.
Ready. 123 go.
Oh, I just.
Want to know?
That was really hard.
It was solid black.
Yeah.
There was nothing.
Solid black thrown from black
into the light.
Perfect.
OK, and you know, we got we have
Alan Rubengate to cover on the
Patreon, so.
Perfect.
So we're going to smoke this
Italian cigar and then. 11.7g.
11 and it's robusto.
Yeah, Sir.
All right, now I'm with the
news.
Oh, here we go.
And our ongoing research, the
disease sweeping across America,
measles, is again in the news.
Are you still talking about
this?
This is a new measle outbreak
now.
Is it in Florida yet?
It's.
Getting close.
Oh God.
Measles case confirmed in East
Bay, California.
Oh, it's super.
Close.
It's going the other way.
Well, but it was in the middle
in in Iowa, Idaho, and then it
went to New Jersey.
Now it's in California.
It's going to, it's going to be
the new pandemic.
Now you know what?
Yes, now that it's in
California, what's his name
going to get rid of it?
Gavin Newsom.
No, no, no.
The guy who who has the
headphones.
No.
Who's the Bill Smith?
Zuckerberg.
No.
Who's the Amazon guy?
Jeff Bezos.
He lives in California.
Doesn't.
He he might have started it, who
knows?
Yeah, this is his breakthrough
to get over Elon Musk.
Oh yeah, Yeah, this is it.
All right, possible exposure at
a shopping mall, health
officials warn Location of
possible measles exposure in
Contra County, California, on
the opposite coast.
According to the health
officials, A measles case was
confirmed on December 24th in
Contra Costa County, California.
Officials said the person was
contagious between December 17th
and December 24th.
Contra County Health people say
may may have been exposed to the
measles.
The following locations.
It's a bunch of shopping plazas.
And then apparently they went to
the doctor and they went to an
Apple Store and then they went
to the hospital.
Can we get the age and the
origin of this person?
No, but I do have information
though how we, the three of us,
could possibly get it.
Go to California or New Jersey.
Even after we've had shots.
There's a flaw with the shots.
People were at these locations
during the days listed above.
Maybe risk of developing
measles, especially if
unvaccinated, pregnant or immune
compromised.
Oh, we're not any of those.
No but so if you're those
locations confirm with the earth
cover bladder bladder bladder
bladder bladder bladder bladder.
OK measles are respiratory
virus.
It can stay in the air and
surfaces for over an hour and
contagious person leaves the
area symptoms of the virus.
We've been over this before.
OK.
You're generally considered
immune if you've had two
documented MMR doses.
Do you know if you've actually
had two?
Yes.
I have no idea.
Exactly.
Or you were born before 1957 so
the the vaccine was better
earlier really because you would
die from it back then.
Well, I think to go to school
back then you had to have a A2
series shot of MMR. Right, well,
you.
Bumps, measles, and whatever the
R is.
Was before 1957.
OK, no, I I mean, I know what
you're saying.
Oh you can get the measles if
you were incompletely
vaccinated.
So none of us know except him
apparently that we had two.
Many older adults received only
one dose.
Especially if you were
vaccinated before the late 1980s
which is me primary vaccine
failure cause some of the
vaccines were bad back then.
Really.
And you, you don't.
I mean they, they, you don't
know.
I feel like you're worried about
this.
I couldn't.
I could get measles now small
percentage of people never
developed full immunity over
after vaccination you.
Were born before 57, weren't
you?
No, but I was born before 198457
that would make me in my 70s
almost.
Certain medical conditions to
treatments can reduce immunity.
Very intense exposure, close
prolonged contact like airports,
planes, hospitals can overwhelm
partial immunity.
OK.
Well, I know I definitely have
it.
No, I have the vaccine because
when I was little, I, my dad was
in the Air Force.
We went and lived in England and
I had to get shots to go over
there and you have to get that
one.
Well, you're also a military
guy, so they give you
everything.
Yeah.
They shoot you up.
Oh.
Yeah.
So we're probably an extra.
Yeah, yeah.
When I got in, it was like a gun
show.
Yeah.
So, all right.
So you're obviously concerned
about this 'cause you continue
to talk about?
Well, it's in the news everyday.
Yeah, I mean.
It's something that hasn't been
around since the the middle
1900s and now it's everywhere.
Right, Palmer, I would think you
would have yours if you were
going over to China so much.
No, I never had to get any shots
to go to China.
No, not a one.
Not even for.
You not nothing.
You just come.
You just come, it's fine.
No new, no, no yellow fever, no
nothing all.
Right, well, I want to pivot off
this briefly.
OK, well I'm already on to the
next.
Story OK, so anyways, this is
our New Year's Eve episode.
Yes.
Do you want to count down and
all KISS or something?
No, Oh no, I don't.
Darn it.
That's weird.
I do want to talk about 2025,
though.
I want to reflect a little bit
briefly.
Well, at the very end of the
show, I'm doing the top news
stories of 2025.
Yeah.
You want to save it for that?
No.
I want to talk about it right?
Now after you talk about it, I
have something to tell you to.
OK, he's gay.
He's gay and that's OK.
We it's.
OK, we don't mind.
We knew.
Yeah, it doesn't bother.
Us at all.
It doesn't bother us at all.
You sit way over.
There I have plenty of good
friends that are gay and I love
them.
Yeah, so I love the look on his
face.
Is this the?
Is this the retaliation for the
57 joke?
What 57?
01957.
He thought I was born in 1957.
No, I knew that was coming.
I had more.
So are you happy with 2025?
Let me ask you that.
Like as a person or as a show?
All of it.
All of it.
Yeah, I'm not disappointed with
2020. 525 went well for you?
Nothing really bad happened.
Except for the measles, Albert.
Yeah, except for the measles.
Albert is going to kill me.
Yeah, and the show wise.
I'd like us to be making money,
obviously with the show.
I mean, we work hard on this.
You know, it's the same thing
every year with.
Me, we're selling shirts and
stuff.
We got the swagger.
Yeah, I understand.
I understand things are moving
more in a positive direction
than they have in the past.
But you know, like, I didn't
expect us to be apparel moguls.
I thought we'd make money off
the show.
Apparel moguls.
Now we're, you know, clothing,
you know, a small percentage of
the cigar community.
OK.
All right.
What about you?
Are you happy with 2025?
Ditto what?
Palmer said.
Ditto.
Nothing bad happened.
And you, Michael, are you happy
with 2025?
I, I, I guess it was a dilemma.
I think this year was a lot of,
it was a lot of hard work.
This was more hard work than any
other year before.
Not only that, but it was a lot
of hard work just to kind of
keep the numbers where you
wanted them to be, not even to
accelerate past or anything like
that.
It took, it took a lot in every
Ave. retail, online, wholesale
podcast.
Like it was a it was a lot.
It was a lot of work.
So am I happy with the outcome?
I would say I'm satisfied with
the outcome.
I think that I I still think
that there's a lot of room to
grow.
So.
Oh, certainly, yeah.
You don't grow, you die.
Yeah.
Yeah, you got to evolve
constantly.
I think that this upcoming PCA
show 2026 is going to be the
biggest one for Postana ever.
Like by a landslide.
So good.
I'm looking forward to that for
sure.
I always look forward to the
show.
Do you?
I enjoy it.
Now I've got one under my belt
as sales.
It'll be more fun, yeah.
All the jitters are out.
Right.
Yeah, you know, and now you know
what to expect and it's you've
got one behind you, so.
OK.
All right, go ahead.
Carry on with your next news
article.
Sir, that was it.
Oh, I have some.
I have some for.
You there's an announcement
about his homosexuality.
Yeah, no, this is the only time
I get you 2 together.
OK, right.
And, you know, we've, we've been
friends for a while and.
Well, you and I have been
friends.
You don't like Palmer?
Yeah, you don't like me?
Well, me and Palmer were friends
first.
Remember that.
Yeah, yeah, we were.
And then he broke up with them.
Well, after we got super drunk
at his house, that was kind of
the downslide.
That was the end, huh?
That was, yeah.
That was the we'll we'll always
have pineapple or whatever.
We'll have apple pie moonshine,
Boo.
I wonder, I wonder what you said
that night.
I have.
No idea, I don't.
Know neither of us remember I
got to.
Stay away from this guy.
Let's remember what we talked.
About We had a great time.
I got to stay away from.
It apparently he called for
help.
So I'm not all.
Right, so so so anyways, I'm
having a baby boy in July.
What?
Oh, wow.
Congratulations.
Fucking awesome.
It's good for you.
Congratulations.
I I wanted to tell you 2 guys
together.
So wow, dude, no, no, July.
July is a good month.
That's my month.
Yeah, but it's a hot.
Summer, July 12th is the due
date.
Hot summer for a pregnant lady
extra cranky.
Yeah, it is hot.
Well, it starts to get hot.
Yeah, well, it's true.
It is Florida.
It starts to get hot in July.
Yeah, That's awesome, dude.
That's great.
Congratulations.
Thanks Files.
So you can't do the show on July
12th?
Is that what you're trying to?
Tell us on July 12th.
Yeah, I'll be.
We're gonna.
You're gonna have to live stream
it in.
Yeah.
Alright, perfect.
And I'm in the hospital.
Here we go.
Push, honey, push.
That's dude, that is, that's
great.
Congratulations.
Very excited for you.
Appreciate it fellas.
Kids are amazing.
My kids today, son of a bitch.
So I was, I was sick.
I was, you know, I obviously had
the flu or whatever.
So I went home after we did the
podcast yesterday and I slept
like I died on the couch.
I slept there for three or four
hours and then eventually my
Brittany says you need to go in
the bed.
So I went into the bedroom and I
slept.
I saw my I saw justice this
morning.
And he says to me, you didn't
wish me goodnight.
You didn't tell me goodnight
last.
Night I didn't.
Tell me goodnight last night,
Chase.
I was like, dude, I died.
I was I was sorry.
I was sleeping the entire time.
I was like and like, and that's
your number one concern of all,
like I have been sick.
You didn't say, hey, how are you
Dad are how are things going?
Anything.
Anything like that and his
cousins are over at the house
right now.
He goes, OK, well, the Solomons
are here.
I'm like, you just blew over
what I was just trying to tell
you, like what's going on here?
Well, he was looking for an
apology, but you didn't give it
to him, so he just moved.
On Yeah, that's pretty much what
happened.
That's pretty much what
happened.
Like, OK, I'm very sorry.
I'll do better next time, son.
Kids, man.
Wild.
I'm very excited for you, man.
That's awesome as well.
OK.
All right, ACHP Sports Former
world heavyweight champion
Anthony Joshua is stable after
two died in a car accident in
Nigeria.
I saw I saw the clip of this.
Oh Lagos, Nigeria Anthony
Joshua, the two time former
world heavyweight champion from
Britain, was in a stable
condition in the hospital Monday
after being involved in a car
crash in Nigeria that killed two
people who were close friends
and team members, his promoter
said.
Oh shit.
Eddie Hearns, Matchroom Boxing,
said on X that Joshua sustained
injuries injuries in the
accident and was taken to the
hospital for checks and
treatments.
He will he will remain there for
observation.
It named Sina Gami and Latif
Adiuella as the two passengers
who had tragically passed away.
Photos on social media show
Joshua being extradited from the
wrecked vehicle while he was
wincing in pain.
Following through clinical
evaluations, Medical
professionals have confirmed
that both patients hospitalized
after the accident are stable
and do not require any emergency
medical intervention at this
time, a joint statement by Lagos
and Ogun State government said.
The Lagos State Commissioner for
Information, Gabadinga Omatuso,
confirmed the accident imposed
on X, adding that the government
had sent ambulances to the crash
site.
The crash occurred on a major
thoroughfare, the Lagos Ilban
Expressway, which links Ogun
State to Lagos, the country's
economic capital, at about 11:00
AM local time.
Nigeria is a homeland of
Joshua's parents.
Ogun State Police earlier said
that statement that the vehicle
conveying Mr. Joshua Lexus SUV,
was involved in the accident
under circumstances that are
currently being investigated.
Joshua, seated in the rear of
the vehicle, sustained minor
injuries and received medical
attention with another injured
person.
According to Oguzun Ogabamide,
spokesperson for the federal
spokesperson for the Federal Rd.
Safety Corporation.
Preliminary investigation
indicate the vehicle was
traveling beyond the legal
prescribed speed limit on the
corridor, lost control during an
overtaken maneuver and crashed
into a stationary truck.
Oh wow.
Which was parked on the side of
the road and the Ogun State
government said the preliminary
report indicate that the 2 male
foreign nationals died instantly
on the spot.
No seat belt.
They were in the front.
Yep.
So how good is that car?
The two guys in the front died.
Did the guys in the back
nothing.
Well, how fast were they going?
Faster than posted speed.
Right, 31 faster than 31.
I don't know exactly what the
speed limit is on the Ogunda
International test way in
Nigeria.
Like, I honestly don't know much
about Nigeria, but I will tell
you this, you know, speeding
outside of the United States
always sounds like a problem.
I don't, you know well.
Yeah, the roads are horrible.
Yeah, everything's horrible.
Dude, I can tell you, you know,
I mean driving to Esther Lee.
Oh.
God, at times when skips
driving, you know, you just,
you're, you're prepared to die.
You're just, it's like, you
know?
Yeah, in other countries the
posted speed limit and anything
else is more of a suggestion
than something everybody follow.
I've had guys in China all of a
sudden just go to the other side
of the road with oncoming
traffic.
Without a problem.
Without a problem and then just
cut back over, you know, go up
to a red light, everybody stop,
they just go around.
Dude and but and if you get into
an accident in China, I would
assume just like the same in in
Nicaragua like.
There ain't nobody coming, no.
One's yeah.
So I I could imagine that.
Yeah.
You died in Nigeria.
It it's, you know.
Right.
Well, in China, there's a law.
If you're the first one on the
scene, you're responsible for
that person, right?
So nobody stops, right?
I've seen dead children.
Oh God.
I mean, terrible, yeah.
You go by an on a wax and people
just lay there in the road.
Nobody wants to stomp.
Everybody just goes around.
That's terrible.
I wonder if it's the same law in
the cargo because I definitely
saw two people die while I was
there.
Did you?
Yeah, it's terrible.
Did you see the the did you see
the big scandal that's happening
in Minnesota?
What's going on in Minnesota?
Measles.
No, no, there's like, I'm going
to totally bash the screw this
up because I just saw it on like
social media, but like
apparently there's this whole
thing going on where hold on,
let me, let me get this right,
Let me let's screw this up.
Like these early, early learning
centers are getting like
government subsidies and hold
on.
It's like they're they were
doing something.
Dude, I'm totally going to bash
this.
It's totally wrong.
But they, it was like they're
these, they're these group of
people that have pretty much
taken over in specific spots of
Minnesota.
Like a whole culture's there.
And it's been, they've been
granted these, these grants for
opening these learning centers,
but there's no kids there.
So they're getting millions and
millions of dollars or whatever.
Yeah, it's and apparently, you
know, they're not even helping
any kids.
So Hard Rock has moved into
Minnesota.
No, so the, the money's going
going back to these other
countries or whatever to support
their families and stuff.
Oh, OK.
Oh, yeah.
It's so bad.
And when like the and when like
the Minnesota governor, whatever
Tim Waltz or whatever his name
was asked about it, he starts
talking about like white men or
criminals or something.
I just, I couldn't stop
laughing.
It was hilarious.
I've often thought about looking
to see there's got to be some
type of grant or something for
podcasting.
You think I'm?
Sure there is.
I'm.
Sure there is.
Yeah, we can get some upgraded
equipment or something.
You know we can get paid for our
time a few 1,000,000 bucks.
Oh, maybe not millions, but you
know, maybe like a 5 or $10,000
grant or something.
Or espinosa gram or.
Espinosa Espinosa $6000 gram.
Espinosa can support down to
her.
Then we get a percentage if if
they sponsor us, we get all.
Of it, we're not doing that.
Well, Mikey doesn't like that,
Yeah.
We're not doing that.
So do you think Anthony Joshua
was targeted after he got
93,000,000 'cause this is
shortly after his?
Targeted in a car crash.
Well, maybe there was somebody
going after him.
Oh, he was being chased, you
think?
So wait, so wait, so this is the
guy that that fought Jake Paul?
Oh, is it?
I didn't know that that was not
mentioned in the article.
Yeah.
This is Anthony Joshua.
Oh yeah, that is him.
Yeah.
The Nigerian president, Bola
Tenubu called Joshua in the
hospital.
I spoke with AJ on the phone to
personally convey my condolences
over the death of his two
associates, The president said
on X And very apparently Nigeria
uses XA lot.
A lot.
I think a lot of countries use
X, yeah.
I wish him a full and speedy
recovery and prayed with him.
AJ assured me he is receiving
the best possible care.
I also spoke with his mother and
prayed for her.
She was deeply appreciated for
the call.
I don't know how Nigerian
healthcare stacks up but.
Me neither.
Probably not as good from.
I don't picture it being top
notch.
For some reason, yeah, I don't
know, I'm sure it's not in, it's
not in the conversation.
Yeah, I'm sure once he's stable
enough he'll probably go back to
London.
Top five Let's.
Well, I mean, he's hardly heard
it at all, apparently.
He was in the back seat.
He was in the back seat with his
with his friend.
Yeah, well, he's in the hospital
though.
Well, just for observation,
Well, no emergency procedures
were needed.
I feel like it was targeted.
That's just me.
I mean, you could, you know, you
could go down that rabbit hole
for top tier medical treatment.
Countries consistently praised
for excellent, well developed
systems include Japan, South
Korea, Taiwan, Singapore,
Switzerland, Germany, Australia
and the Netherlands.
Not Nigeria.
Not Nigeria.
Not listed in the top five, huh?
Nope, not even in the top 8.
I'll tell you what, it is listed
in the top 100.
Canada apparently is is up
there.
Too, The only interaction I have
with Lagos is the the movie that
Lagos.
Yeah, the I can't think of the
name of the movie.
It was Barack no Jumanji who's
the guy that says, all right,
all right, all right.
Matthew McConaughey was in the
movie Sahara.
Sahara.
Sahara, Sahara.
That's the only information I
have from Lagos.
That was in Nigeria, yeah.
It was in Lagos.
That's where they started the
that's where they took the boat
to a.
Movie called Sahara.
Yes, and they ended up in the.
Desert.
That's correct.
Oh, I've never seen the movie.
I would think it'd be in the
desert.
No, it is part of it, but part
of it is on the water.
Oh, it's not in the desert.
They poisoned the water supply.
Yeah, in the desert.
From their solar panels.
Yes, OK.
Oh, wow.
You know that sucks.
Sucks to hear that people died.
Yes, it's terrible.
And our thoughts and prayers
we're a lot of.
Funny names in it though.
So yeah, that's crazy dude.
96,000,000 Now that you just
lost two of your best friends.
Right.
Well, they said they were on the
team.
They didn't say best friends.
Dude, if you're rolling with
somebody and boxing and training
with them and you're seeing them
every, I'm sure they were good
for every day.
You know, I'm sure that they're
pretty close, right?
Moving on, a Texas teen went
missing on Christmas Eve.
Authorities believe she could be
in imminent danger.
Authorities in Texas are
searching for a teenage girl who
went missing on Christmas Eve,
warning that she may be in
imminent danger and asking the
public for immediate help.
Law enforcement officials say
the teen was last seen on
December 24th and has not been
heard from since.
Due to circumstances surrounding
her disappearance, investigators
believe her safety could be at
risk.
Specific details about where she
was last seen and what she was
wearing have been shared by the
regional agencies have have
search teams but have not been
released publicly.
An alert has been issued as
authorities expand their search
efforts across multiple
jurisdictions.
Officers are reviewing
surveillance footage,
interviewing potential witnesses
and working closely with the
teen's family to piece together
the last known movements.
Now this doesn't really pertain
to us, but the reason this
worries me is I mean we don't
have wives.
Obviously my wife does not pay
attention when she's out.
She could easily get snatched
up.
But that's not a wife, that's a
kid.
No, no, it was a teenager, but
she went out to her car, out in
front of the house.
They had the Ring footage of
that.
She stuck her head in the car,
the Ring camera went off because
it was no movement, and then
they never saw her again.
Well, they said that she goes
for walks every morning.
Well, she was dressed in her
pajamas according to the video
footage they saw.
So I don't know if she goes for
pajama, you know, for walking
her pajamas.
I don't know I this is a bizarre
story.
I have seen this story.
Really.
Yeah.
They're they're, they have
something they're not releasing
that they may.
That's why they think there's
imminent danger.
There's some information they're
not releasing to the public.
Now they are talking possible
suicide.
But yeah, but.
They would have definitely found
a body by now, yeah.
Yeah, you would think you don't
usually hide yourself when you
commit, when you commit so.
It's not true.
They're really grid, they're
really gridding the whole area.
I mean, when I saw it, they had
the dogs out.
They had all the neighbors were
out, all the police were out.
I mean, they had a lot of
people, yeah, searching the
area.
Now they said that this search
is going to continue into
Mexico.
So they're close to Mexico?
Oh see, that's even worse.
Right.
So.
So this could be a a a a human.
Trafficking right or?
Something like that.
And she was a she's a very
pretty.
Girl, she was a very pretty
girl, Yeah.
Or is I guess.
Or yeah, she's not.
You ever see the, the YouTube
clips or the Instagram clips
from Tim Tebow talking about
like, human trafficking and
stuff?
No, dude, it'll scare the shit
out of you.
Yeah, I, I was watching some of
these.
I'm like, Oh my God.
Like, you know, the average, the
average age of a person that
gets abducted is like between 12
and 14.
I would have never guessed that.
I would have thought they were
younger.
He's a he's a huge advocate,
Yeah, in that world.
Disturbing.
Yeah.
Disturbing stuff.
My wife and her friend, I mean
this is a couple years ago, they
went out to the beach and and
ended up at a bar and had a
couple of drinks and then
luckily they left.
But the both of them got deathly
ill when they got home and
started throwing up and stuff
and passed out.
So I mean, somebody must have
put something in their drink or
something.
To try and get a hold of them.
Who knows?
I mean, you don't know anymore.
Yeah, it's crazy.
Yeah.
She's talking about going to
Australia this summer to go
visit Sunny, our exchange
student that lives there.
I don't know, It's a long, it's
a foreign country.
I know it's Australia,
Australia, it's not Lagos, but
still.
I don't know.
I think Australia is, is
extremely, is extremely messed
up, but they're they, I can't
imagine them not being safe.
I'd be more scared of the human,
of the tall human bats that are
there or whatever.
The tall human bats well.
They're like as tall as humans.
There's bats that are as big as
people.
Yeah, bro are.
They are they vampires.
The ones that hang upside down,
You haven't seen these things.
Look at all all bats hang upside
down, Yeah.
Look it up bro, look up these
huge bats.
All bats hang upside down.
Don't they tall?
Tall human sized bats Australia.
I mean, everything in Australia
tries to kill you.
They're huge.
The tallest or largest bats in
Australia are the Gray headed
flying foxes, which are big
fruit bats with impressive
wingspans up to 1m / 3 feet. 3
feet.
No, that's just like, not that
big, not that big.
They can't pick.
Does it show a picture of it?
Yeah, it doesn't look big they.
Can't pick up a person?
Look kind of cute.
I don't know, I'm used to the
little baby.
Bats have one as a pet.
Like they come out of Batman's
cave.
Yeah, I learned, I learned this
weekend that there's a
difference between grey
Kangaroos and red Kangaroos.
Well, yeah, ones Gray, ones red.
Well, the red ones are the are
the ones that are aggressive.
Oh, is that what it is?
Yeah.
Oh, those are the boxers.
Yeah, so.
Yeah, profiling the Kangaroos
now.
Yeah, the grey Kangaroos are
really nice.
Oh, they're racially profiling?
They're racially profiling
Kangaroos.
Yeah, watch out for the red
ones.
Yeah, we call them Cyans.
They just came up with these
names, by the way.
Science of color of red.
Sorry, I understand.
I have to talk down for you
guys.
We weren't born in 57, so we
don't know.
If you could if you could dump
it down like you're talking to a
5 year old for me, I'd greatly
appreciate.
The problem?
OK, they call them the red ones.
How's that?
There you go.
There you go.
OK, perfect.
All right, on the cigar news, Oh
Cigars International Orlando is
having a grand opening.
Cigars International is pleased
to announce the opening of the
15th Cigars International
Superstore located nationwide.
The newest addition to the
Cigars International growing US
brick and mortar footprint is
located in Orlando, FL Cigars
International will hold its
Orlando Grand Open on January
10th, 2026.
We should go.
We should go.
We should go yes cigars it's
weekend cause the 7th is like a
Wednesday.
OK.
Cigars International looks
forward to welcoming the cigar
community of Orlando to its new
9900 square foot store.
Positioned in the heart over
Orlando's Millennia District and
slightly larger to the other
Cigar International Superstores.
The new location features a
interior lounge in humidor
spanning 8700 square feet with a
large outdoor patio.
The Cigars International Orlando
Superstore will be equipped with
a full service bar,
state-of-the-art ventilation
system, over 600 brands and
plenty of seating to sit back,
relax and enjoy some premium
handmade cigars.
Heath Zedan, Vice President of
Marketing online and retail,
says the new location is our
exciting addition to our growing
brick and mortar presence.
We invite the Orlando cigar
community to step inside,
connect with our products staff
and experience our brand first
hand.
Cigars International Orlando is
located at 4158 Conroy Rd.,
Orlando, FL 32839.
That's exciting.
There's only two cigar stories
today.
So I know, I know somebody who
went to the soft opening of
this.
Yeah, yes.
And how'd it go?
And what was your review?
He said that he did not like how
the TV's were positioned with
the chairs, 'cause I guess the
chairs are positioned to where
they're facing each other, but
you have to turn your head to
the left every time you want to
watch the TV.
Well, you have two friends, so
I'm assuming that this is
Carlos.
No, this is Dave Revis.
Oh, Dave.
Revis 2 Friends, yeah.
Wow.
Well, who's your third friend,
Ginger?
Ginger now he's got three.
Yeah, he's got three.
I was thinking Carlos.
Carlos Yeah.
Dave I would have never threw
him.
Dave.
There's two of you here.
Yeah, but we already determined
that you're not friends with
Palmer, right?
Whatever you don't like him.
You don't like me?
It's.
OK, that's all right.
And Mikey you only see one day a
week apparently, so how close
can he be?
He didn't.
He didn't get invited to the
parties this year either.
You know, yeah, I didn't.
I didn't get a Christmas way.
Out Christmas event.
Did Greg get invited?
I think Greg gets him.
Greg always gets invited, yeah.
Yeah, but he didn't come because
he's dying now.
Yeah.
Well, he's got a brain thing.
You have to excuse him.
He forgets stuff.
He.
Forgets stuff OK, so the so the
I mean Dave is is very critical
when it comes to stuff like that
so so the TV's are an issue the
way that it's the way the.
So he's sitting like this.
You have to do that to watch TV.
Yeah, that's stupid.
Can't he move the chair?
I don't, I don't know, he didn't
say.
No.
Probably not in a place like
that.
I'd move the chair.
They probably don't want you to
move the chairs.
Move the chair.
Well, we should go.
We should try and go.
January 10th.
Yeah, it's a Saturday.
It's a Saturday.
January 10th I'm in.
Now the problem is that that's
also like the weekend of my
wife's birthday.
You can't go, honey.
Guess where we're going for your
birthday?
Cigars International.
Cigars International.
It's a party.
They're having a part just for
you.
Ashley just for.
You, oh Ted, tell her the grand
opening is a party for her.
You know the shitty part about?
She still watch the show.
Like, yeah, sometimes the cheesy
part about Christmas and and New
Year's is like, that's this is
the one time that I have like
downtime where I can focus on
other things for the businesses
and stuff.
And then of course I get sick.
Oh yeah.
Like, duh.
You know, when I can put 100%
into it, it's like, and no,
you're not going to do anything.
You're just going to lay down.
You're.
Going to take two days and just
die, yeah.
Like, thanks so much.
Yeah, this is the recoup stage,
yeah.
So, yeah, I mean, I'm excited
for the CI thing.
I'm glad that they're there.
I like where it's going to be.
You know, I think that look, if
you go around and and you
oppress other small retailers,
you're just going to create a
vacuum where a big dog is going
to come in.
And that's pretty much what.
Happened.
What happened?
Yeah, so there's always a bigger
fish.
Right.
So there you go.
They have come to town.
And now they're here.
They're here.
Dum dum dum.
Dumb, dumb.
However, you can't buy post on
it from them so.
Still got to come here.
Or, well, there are other good
retailers in the area.
Cigars on the Ave.
Old times.
Old times.
You know, OK.
Growing numbers.
Growing numbers.
All right, now a story from
Information.
Now a story from Information
found on Cigar Coupe, but I
rewrote it and expanded it
because his story was very short
and it's a slow news.
Thing.
Of course it was.
Don Emmanuel Cigars has
announced a major new milestone
in its global growth, officially
expanding into South Africa.
Way better so far, keep going.
I know it's amazing.
This move marks the brand's
first entry into the African
market and represents another
significant step in its
international expansion
strategy.
Well, isn't Lagos in Africa too?
So this is only like a themed,
Yeah, like a theme show.
I guess so.
Distribution in South Africa
will be handled by Amano Cigars,
a well established importer and
distributor of premium cigars in
the region.
Amano is also known for
operating the Pedro Portilla
Cigar and Champagne Lounge, 1 of
South Africa's premier
destinations for cigar and
luxury lifestyle enthusiasts.
The partnership ensures Don
Emanuel Cigars will be
represented by a team deeply
rooted in the country's growing
premium cigar culture.
This announcement follows the
brand's recent expansion across
the Caribbean and Latin America,
building on momentum gained from
the earlier entries into the US
and neighboring markets.
Each new region reflects Don
Emanuel's focus on reaching
smokers who value craftsmanship,
balance and authenticity.
Expanding into these markets is
a very meaningful moment for us,
said Don Emanuel, founder and
creator of the brand.
Each of these regions has a rich
cigar culture and deep
appreciation for craftsmanship.
Bringing our vision, our blends
and our philosophy to more
smokers reinforces what we
believe in cigars to celebrate
energy, balance and connection.
One of the brand stand out
offerings is the Anuki was Co
blendable engineering cigar
maker Aladio Diaz alongside Don
Emanuel himself.
With established distribution
now spanning the United States,
the Caribbean, Latin America and
South Africa, Excuse me, Don
Emanuel Cigars continues to
position itself in a truly
global premium cigar brand.
OK.
So you're excited about those?
No, but I needed another story.
No, but you needed another
story.
I needed at least two cigar
stores.
There was only one name, well I
guess 2 names.
Coop was one that I knew in this
whole story.
Latio.
Diaz Yeah, I friend Aladio.
Aladio.
All right, now what's the score?
Mini game?
Well.
Before you get into that.
Oh, sorry, you have.
More you know, what's really
kind of interesting is we
received these opus and there's
no news on them whatsoever.
No, not at all.
I did see a couple other shops
got them yesterday too because
they showed up in their social
media today right?
What opus are they?
They're called Templo de Oros.
Yeah, the golden something.
Golden Temple.
Yeah.
Yeah.
There's no news about them
online anywhere.
The age of gold.
Alright, wasn't there like an
Opus story a little while back
where they said there was going
to be like some secret cigar?
Well, that wasn't Opus.
That was a difference.
But why?
Like how does, how did half will
not cover that?
That's what's kind of
interesting to me.
How did coop not?
Cover.
Well, I mean if they didn't put
out a story about it, not they
they being Toro Fuente.
Yeah, well, let's ask Charlie,
see if he gets back to us and
say what the hell are these?
Oh, maybe it'll tell us on the
Patreon.
You have no info on them?
OK, well we asked Charlie, so
maybe he gets back to us by.
The time that'd be nice and we
have the information.
Yeah, OK.
All right, ready to play.
What score he didn't do?
It I did do it.
Oh, Charlie instantly responds.
Oh fuck you, I don't care.
It's a story of my life, I said.
What the hell are these?
You have no info on them.
It's a story of my life.
All right.
Perfect.
Well, there it is.
That's it.
No, no story of his.
Oh, there it is.
There it is.
Do you have it right from
halfway itself?
And you heard it here first on
Cigar Hustler's podcast.
That's right.
All right, the cigars from
December 28th, 2025 Charlie
Minato is the tell them we're
doing one his cigars.
Oh OK.
The Dunbarton tobacco and trust
limited edition review of the
overseas #1 you want.
Me to go first?
Yeah, 88. 87.
This is the overseas #1 it's
from Nicaragua, Fabrica de
tobacco, Hoya de Nicaragua
rappers, Ecuadorian Habano
binders, Mexican San Andreas,
Negro filler, Nicaraguan and USA
Pennsylvania 6 by 502950A cigar
for the Bombardon tobacco and
Truss. 295029 really love that
one.
No fancy sticker.
Number of cigars released.
Regular production doesn't say
Smoke 3.
This is the international
release, not available in
America.
So got it.
You spend $100. 3690 No
Dunbarton sends out samples.
Well, he doesn't pay.
I don't.
No, normally half.
Wheel oh half wheel pays for.
This they buy all their stuff.
Oh, how do they buy them in
overseas?
They.
Probably bought it from the
retailer overseas.
Yeah.
Oh.
That makes sense.
Yeah, 88 Charlie's easy for me.
89.
You're just going to hover
around me?
Clue #1 The cigars deliver a
consistently smooth, savory
profile, though much of the
smoke with medium full flavor
and strength kept in check.
The first two samples show solid
complexity, especially in the
retro hail, offering layered
notes of leather, dry soil,
nuttiness, and subtle sweetness
that evolve without becoming
harsh.
I'm.
Going to stick here at 88.
Watch you dance around me.
We'll go back to 87.
There it is.
Construction is generally strong
on the 1st 2 cigars with
manageable draws and well
developed combustion for most of
the experience.
The cold draw aromas and early
flavor develop, including cocoa,
caramel, corn and roasted
elements suggest a thoughtfully
blended, approachable Nicaraguan
profile.
Thoughtfully blended.
Thoughtfully blended.
I mean, he sounds like he likes
it. 89. 88.
Up and down, up and down, up and
down.
The third cigar struggle
struggles significantly,
becoming overly bitter and
excessively dry in the final
third, with frequent burn issues
requiring repeated touch ups.
The bitterness overwhelms any
remaining nuance, making the
overall experience uneven and
dragging down consistency across
the samples. 87 now.
What do you do?
I mean, this was the, this was
the first issue for Charlie,
yeah.
And the last one, I mean,
there's an entire review here.
I just pick out three comments.
He's talking about like
smoothness but he didn't.
He said that it he liked the
flavour profile at 1st and then
he said that it got bitter and
construction.
In the last third, right?
In the last cigar.
Oh, last cigar.
When you get a fever, do you
ever have like a like a song
that just sticks in your head
and it just plays over and over
and over and over and over
again?
Because of the fever.
I would assume that it's because
of the fever.
No.
That doesn't happen to you.
No, No.
Yeah.
OK.
Well, I'm just.
What is the song?
Tracy Chapman.
Give me one reason to stay here.
Give me one reason to stay here.
That just plays through your
head the whole day.
It played, it's played in my
head for like 8 hours.
Next time you're sick, I'm going
to try to influence a song.
It's getting hot in here.
Nope, not that one.
No, Nelly.
No Nelly 86.
All right.
Final thought, after smoking two
of the overseas number ones, I
was thoroughly impressed.
Well, not the greatest Dunbarton
tobacco and trust cigars I've
smoked.
They were very good and much
more interestingly very
different from the rest of the
company's portfolio.
The cigars tasted like they were
purposely designed to be a
milder cigar, though more medium
in practice, perhaps
intentionally done under the
very elementary idea that
because non American markets
have been long dominated by
Cuban cigars generally milder
than their non Cuban
counterparts, that would be what
the intended customer base would
want to smoke.
Fortunately, the third cigar was
not as good.
For the first half it was
noticeably worse, but still
enjoyable.
But the second-half provided
mediocre flavor and
construction.
Giving Dunbarton Tobacco and
Trust 10 year track record, I'm
inclined to believe that the
third cigar was simply a miss.
Oh, so he gave it a pass.
Yes, he eliminated the third
cigar, it sounds like.
Son of a bitch, are you allowed
to do that?
He can do what he wants.
He's Charlie Minato.
It's.
The story of his life.
King of half wheel.
King of Half Wheel 88. 87. 88.
Boom boom boom boom.
Give me one reason to stay here.
No.
More.
No more.
We'll get a violation.
You get a violation.
We'll get a violation.
Stop taking.
Stop taking.
You lose again.
We already got 2 strikes, one
more, we're out.
No, we're not.
We're not 2.
Strikes.
No, we have one.
That was like from five years
ago.
They still counted.
I don't want.
To they don't reset it.
No, never resets.
It's we do better on Rumble
anyway.
Now, a 2025 recap.
All right, light em up, pour
something brown, and let's talk
about the absolute circus that
was 2025.
Because if you thought this year
felt unhinged, congratulations,
you were paying attention.
And the economy, Let's start
with the economy.
Back in April, President Trump
walked into the Rose Garden,
holds up a chart like he's doing
a PowerPoint at Cigar Hustler,
and announces tariffs on damn
near everybody.
Allies, rivals, countries We
trade with countries we don't
at.
At one point I'm pretty sure the
Penguins got hit.
Trump says this brings
manufacturing back, fixes trade.
Everyone else says cool, so
prices are going up, market
loses their mind, stocks are
bouncing like a bad crypto
chart, and then nothing.
No boom, no crash.
Just pure chaos and vibes.
Oh, and the Supreme Court is
still deciding if the president
was even allowed to do that in
the first place.
Yeah, they don't know.
They don't know.
They haven't even decided yet.
The year's over and they still
don't know.
All right, that one Washington.
Now let's talk about the most
awkward breakup of the year.
Elon Musk spends 250 million
helping Trump get elected, is
basically living at the White
House.
Tesla's are on the lawn, Oval
Office selfies running the
Department of Government
efficiency, which already sounds
pretty fake.
Then mid year boom, must comes
out against Trump's tax and
spending plan, starts beefing
publicity, hints at launching
his own political party, and
then just disappears.
No apology to her, no reunion,
just two dudes pretending they
never liked each other in the
first place.
OK.
California fires out West.
California had the most
expensive wildfire U.S. history.
Pacific Palisades and eaten fire
eaten.
Fires ripped through
neighborhoods, 180,000 people
displaced, homes gone, life
flipped upside down.
Almost a year later, one house
finally gets cleared to be
occupied and it's basically a
developer flex.
Not a family moving, not a
family moving, home rebuilding.
Slow, painful and expensive.
Yep, I don't know why anybody
lives in Cali.
I don't know why you want to be
there, I have no idea.
No comment.
All right, an Oval Office
moment, Zelensky, when we got
one of the wildest Oval Office
moments ever.
Ukraine President Olinsky comes
to DC.
DC expected a meeting and
instead gets publicly dressed
down by Trump and JD Vance on
camera.
Haven't really heard much about
that war.
Lately, you don't hear much
about it anymore.
No, it's sort of cycled out of
the news.
Nobody really cares anymore.
It's it's taking too long.
That's pretty sad.
Right.
You guys finish it out over
there.
We don't care.
Hughes is not being grateful
enough.
Visit gets cut short, world
goes.
Did that really just happen?
They patched it up later, but
tensions flared again over a
peace plan that would give
Russia territory back to Russia,
which, yeah, that went over
about how you'd expect.
So I don't know, maybe they
didn't want our peace plan so
they went but done.
Didn't we start giving them
stuff or whatever?
I thought there was one point
like veterans were going over to
help fight or something too.
But you know, hey, I get a
flight as close as I can.
Then I just walk over and go,
hey, I'm here, give me a gun.
Hey, I'm here.
Give me a gun.
I'm an American veteran.
I know what I'm doing.
Wow, Palmer, that's pretty cool.
Well, thanks, Mike.
You know what else is cool about
all this?
What could be cooler than
sitting here doing a podcast
with you?
People ask why I'm cool.
It's not because I'm loud.
It's not because I'm trying to
be anything, it's because I'm
comfortable being exactly who I
am.
I show up when it matters.
I keep my word.
I build things At last, while
most people are chasing
attention, I'm focused on
progress.
Cool isn't a look, it's a
mindset.
It's knowing when to speak and
when to listen.
It's confidence without
arrogance, discipline without
drama.
I don't rush.
I don't follow waves.
I move in my own pace, on my own
path.
I respect the grind that people
and the process.
So no, I don't chase cool.
I live with intention.
And when you do that long
enough, Mikey, cool just
follows.
So be yourself, man.
Find your own place, find your
own thing.
Don't try to be like me, just be
like you.
Thanks man.
Just want to say thank you for
the support, the time and the
trust.
I love you when it.
Doesn't go unnoticed, and it
means more than you know.
Don't interrupt.
Not because I'm fragile, but
because I'm focused.
When you interrupt, you don't
just break a sentence, you break
momentum.
Listening.
His respect Let people finish
their.
Start get excited when you talk.
I know you do.
I mean like really excited
you're.
Going to have to calm down, I
can't handle this.
You are my hero, not because
you're perfect, but because you
show up.
You stand tall when it's hard
and you keep going when quitting
would be easier.
You lead by example, even when
no one's watching.
Come on man, you're
embarrassing.
That strength, that consistency.
Stop it already.
That's why you're my hero.
I'm not saying it's not true,
I'm just saying it's hard to
hear.
You deserve all the praise I can
give you.
Before we wrap things up, we
want to say thank you from all
three of us.
This podcast wouldn't be what it
is without you.
Every listen, every share, every
message, every bit of support
truly mattered.
We showed up as ourselves.
Real conversations, real
opinions, real moments.
Sometimes smooth, sometimes
chaotic, but always honest.
And you stuck with us through it
all.
It's never been about hyper
numbers.
It's been about connection.
It's been about building
something authentic that you
want to come back to.
So from the Ogs, thank you for
trusting us with your time.
We're grateful for an incredible
year and we can't wait to see
you next year.
This Christmas Cigar Hustler is
giving away a massive 85 inch 4K
LED Insignia Fire TV.
Make $100 in store purchase and
get one raffle ticket.
Spend $150.00 in one visit.
Get 3 raffle tickets in store
purchases only.
The drawing happens after
January 1st and the winner must
pick up at the shop.
Don't miss your chance at this
ultimate holiday upgrade.
Show Notes
On Todays show we have a new Pandemic! A former Heavy Weight Champions gets in a Nigerian Auto Accident, On Christmas Eve A teen goes missing in Texas and it scares the shit out of Palmer! A new Grand Opening in Orlando and thanks to COOP we have one more cigar story for 2025……then a Mini Game of what’s the score and we end the year with a recap of the biggest stories of 2025! All this and some stupid bad for the industry comments and information on this final 2025 episode of A Cigar Hustlers Podcast!