Inside the Desert Oasis Room

255 Clive Farrington of When in Rome

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:08:01 -0700

Today we chat with Clive Farrington, original founder, member, writer and lead singer of the 80's new wave band, When in Rome! Join me and our friend Shaun Moffett to learn about his start in music, stories from the When in Rome heyday and what he's doing today!

On the web: @wheninrome.uk

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254 Francesca Po and Makanalani

Fri, 29 May 2026 18:36:29 -0700

Today we chat with Lady Layrite, Francesca Po along with Justin and Malia Lawrence of Makanalani, makers of fine Aloha wear!

On the web: @fancy_po and @aloha.makanalani www.shopmakanalani.com
Use code "20polynesianpop" to save 20% site wide until September 1, 2026 (Not combinable with any other discounts).

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253 Erica Luera and Boris Hamilton

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:12:00 -0700

Today we chat with Erica Luera and Boris Hamilton. Erica is a lead bartender at Strongwater, a craft cocktail bar in Anaheim, Ca and we are joined by our friend Boris Hamilton to talk about cocktails, funny and sexy bar stories and more!

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252 Josh Agle and Brandon McBurney

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:16:57 -0700

Today we are welcomed into The Shag House in Palm Springs, CA to visit with Josh Agle aka The Artist Shag and Brandon McBurney owner of The Shag House! Learn aboudt Shag's art background and how he and Brandon approached the design and build of The Shag House!

On the web: @theartistshag www.shag.com @theshaghouse www.theshaghouse.com

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251 Tiki Teddy Angeles

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:47:05 -0700

Today we stop by Tiki Teddy's LA Art Studio to chat with Alex Angeles aka "Tiki Teddy!" Teddy is a talented artist and sign painter who's work harkens back to the golden age of artistic hand painted signs. Hear about how he got started, what the hand-painted sign making world looks like in the midst of AI and much, much more!

On the web: @teddystiki www.tikiteddy.com

250 One Year Anniversary of the LA Fires

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:12:43 -0800

Today we are joined by Nick Petty, Shaun Moffett and Nick Papadakis to reflect on the LA Fires that ravaged the Pacific Palisades and Alta Dena neighborhoods in January of 2025. Hear experiences from 3 different perspectives: An Alta Dena resident who lost his home, a first responder who helped with the fire-fighting and recovery effort and a volunteer who helped with managing donations and aid from and for the communities affected the most.

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249 Cast and Director of the Movie "Namaka"

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:15:21 -0800

Today we are joined Ash Tsai, Jason Markoff and Frank Merle, the lead actors and director of the new movie Namaka! We chat about the making of the movie, our interpretations of the story and more! Warning: Spoilers ahead! From IMDb: "A musician on a tropical vacation meets an extraordinary young woman who may be much more than she appears."

For information on where to watch the film, go to www.namakamovie.com

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248 The OC Bash 2025 Royal Court

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:12:02 -0800

On this episode we are joined by The Bash Royal Court including Lyric Reverie (Queen of the Bash), Sweet Darlin' Marie (Princess of the Bash), Siren (Lady of The Bash), along with the pageant producer and reigning Lady Layrite, Francesca Po!

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247 Disneyland Jungle Cruise Skippers

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:59:39 -0800

Today we chat with Mitchell Yee, Michael Gall and Eddie Agin, all of them former skippers from the Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California! Hear some fun behind the scenes stories of their time on the Jungle Cruise as well as Indiana Jones Adventure and the Enchanted Tiki Room!

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246 Martin Tummino

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:08:58 -0700

On this episode we chat with author, bartender and cocktail historian, Martin Tummino! Learn about his path to cocktailing and becoming a multi-published author of cocktail books in Latin America!

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245 Susana Vestige

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:15:18 -0700

On this episode we chat with glamour photographer Susana Vestige about her new book, 20 Years of Modern Pinup!

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244 Steve and Grace Ewald of Kavahol

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 11:20:33 -0800

Today we chat with Steve and Grace Ewald, the founders and proprietors of spirits brand, Kavahol! Kavahol is a zero proof kava based spirit that works equally well in any tropical cocktail as many of their spirited counterparts. Hear Steve and Grace's journey to creating Kavahol and how Kavahol fills a new market niche in the zero spirits cocktail scene!

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243 Henrik Van Ryzin (Vantiki) from Tiki in Waikiki

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 14:30:32 -0800

Today we bring you Henrik Van Ryzin aka VanTiki from his "Made in Hawaii" symposium at this year's Tiki in Waikiki Weekender in Oahu, Hawaii. This is the audio piece from his fun and fascinating symposium, telling the story of his upbringing on the island of Oahu and how his art journey ultimately led to him making custom tiki mugs from the mainland state of Oregon!

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242 Elle Festin (Spiritual Journey Tattoo)

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:49:43 -0700

On this episode, we are joined by Elle Festin, tattoo artist, cultural revivalist and founder of Spiritual Journey Tattoo. We chat about traditional Filipino tattooing methods and hear stories from his journey to the village of Buscalan, high in the Philippine mountains to meet with the legendary Whang Od; at 107, the oldest tattoo artist in the world and last traditional tattoo artist of the Kalinga tribe.

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241 The Dirty Lowdown

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:21:27 -0700

Today we chat with Sweet Lou Montague and Harry Le Djangles of the iconic Southern California party band The Dirty Lowdown! Hear their origin story and learn about both of their platinum level award winning musical backgrounds, ranging from hip-hop's Cypress Hill to Latin boy band sensations Mermelada!

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240 Skull and Crown Pop-up from Donn's Tribute Treehouse

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:44:53 -0700

On this episode, we come to you live from Tiki in Waikiki during Skull and Crown's pop-up from Don the Beachcomber's Tribute Treehouse at the International Marketplace in Waikiki Beach for what may very well be the first full length podcast recorded from this historic banyan tree!

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239 Francesca Po and Kristine Angeles

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:07:12 -0700

On this episode, we are joined by Francesca Po, PhD in Religious Studies and Kristine Angeles, apprentice at Spiritual Journey Tattoo to chat about traditional Filipino tattooing methods, history, practices and more!

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238 Cocomama Tiki Room

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 18:10:03 -0700

On this episode, we chat with our friends Maria Cabrero and Israel Orellana from Cocomama Tiki Room in Cozumel, Mexico! And joining us is Kim Brandi owner and founder of Deadhead Rum! We talk about tiki culture in Mexico, the similarities between Polynesian and Mayan art and culture, and little tease about their upcoming festival, Creepy Tiki, happening at the end of October!

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237 Fini (Cabali Movie)

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:23:24 -0700

On this episode, we chat with our friend Fini! Fini is the producer of the upcoming documentary "Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession" a movie about tiki mugs, mug making and collecting. We chat about how the movie came to fruition and how he got started on his own tiki mug obsession!

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236 Skip Heller

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 11:01:22 -0700

On this episode, we chat with Skip Heller. Skip is an exotica musician and the front man of Skip Heller's Voodoo 5. We chat about his musical roots dating back to his youth in Philadelphia, his thoughts, origin and philosophy on exotica music, and the future of his band Voodoo 5!

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235 Mark Riddle (aka Marty Lush)

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 14:48:55 -0700

On this episode, we chat with Mark Riddle. You might better know Mark under his stage pseudonym, Marty Lush! On this episode we chat about his musical background, his journey into exotica music and how he got started playing the vibes, his radio show and podcast The Quiet Village and his new album, Lahaina Sunset!

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234 David Gambale

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:38:35 -0700

On this episode, we chat with artist David Gambale. You might have seen David's work at Tiki Kon or other tiki events but his most prolific piece was the album cover for Licensed to Ill for the Beastie Boys. Learn about David's journey from art school through today and hear the fascinating story of how he got hired to paint the Licensed to Ill album cover and what became of the art after the album became one of hip-hop's most iconic releases!

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233 Jayme Lynn Blaschke

Sat, 25 May 2024 12:59:01 -0700

Today we chat with Jayme Lynn Blaschke! Jayme is a tiki enthusiast and YouTuber out of New Braunfels, Texas who makes instructional videos on lamp building, cocktails, tiki carving and more. We talk about how he got started in tiki and YouTube, his building and production process, and what's in store for his channel!

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232 Bossanova Life

Tue, 14 May 2024 15:25:56 -0700

Today we chat with Duke and Lola Bossanova of the YouTube Channel, Bossanova Life! If you've ever thought about getting started in content creation, this episode is for you! We talk about what it's like to start, develop and maintain a YouTube channel, our favorite fellow YouTubers, we share our experiences in content creation, as well as lessons we learned the hard way (over the years)!

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231 Nick Petty (Echo Island Tiki)

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:12:55 -0700

Today we chat with Nick Petty aka Echo Island Tiki and talk about building home tiki bars, our favorite defunct watering holes, thrifting vintage glassware and barware, his approach to cocktails, and much, much more!

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230 Inland Empire Tiki Crew

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 10:37:00 -0700

On this episode we record a podcast during our Inland Empire Home Tiki Bar Crawl right here Inside the Desert Oasis Room for the upcoming documentary film, Talking Tiki. Join us from an impromptu session with The River Kai, The Chi Chi Lounge, Artist Brad Ableson, Echo Island Tiki, the Deep Sea Divers and much, much more!

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229 Fugu Lounge and Flashblend Tiki

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 18:06:15 -0700

Today we chat with the team behind the Fugu Lounge. Our friends Steve and Dana of the Fugu Lounge talk about their use of EVA foam to create south seas inspired works of art that mimic raw, natural materials. Learn about their motivation for thinking outside the box to bring these unique and creative pieces to life! And joining us is our friend and Tiki-Ti regular, Flashblend Tiki, jumping in with his own variations of Tiki-Ti's tropical cocktails!

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228 Robert Miller Jr

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 15:13:34 -0700

Today we chat with tiki collector and craftsman, Robert Miller. Robert is the builder, owner and proprietor of The River Kai, a hidden, tropical paradise he built himself in the wilds of Riverside. We chat about what it took to build The River Kai, home tiki bar projects, home bartending and much, much more!

On Social Media: @theriverkai
Watch a walkthrough of The River Kai: https://youtu.be/ROkvI4CyEnw

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227 Victor Hernandez

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:17:45 -0800

Today we chat with artist and carver Vic Hernandez at his art ranch in Pinion Hills, California! Vic is most notably known for his large, detailed tiki carvings, having carved the tikis and moldings in the recently remodeled Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach. Learn about his upbringing and background in art, his art inspirations, the future tiki bar projects he's working on, and how you too can get some of his amazing art!

On Social Media: @_vics_art_
Watch the vlog we recorded: https://youtu.be/gEWvGP5x-lQ?si=Uk6qlTiQibjDEja7

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226 Miss Spent Youth and Jessabelle Thunder

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:43:05 -0800

Today we chat with burlesque performers Miss Spent Youth and Jessabelle Thunder! Both of which, will be performing at this year's Hollywood Burlesque Festival! Get to know them on a deeper level as we play a round-robin game of questions along with a special guest cameo by our friend Gustavo Rojas of Frogtown Brewery! And get all the details for the upcoming Hollywood Burlesque Festival as we play this game!

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225 Talking Tiki Film Crew

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 13:18:58 -0800

Today we chat with Asali Echols, Casey Beck, Chris Wooten and Alex Nisnevich, the team behind the upcoming documentary film, "Talking Tiki!" Learn about what's in store with this exciting film, what they've learned about the tiki subculture on this journey, how it's changed who they and hear some behind the scenes info about when this film gets released!

On the web: www.talkingtikifilm.com @talkingtikifilm

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224 Bryan Inman

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 11:38:51 -0800

Today we chat with Bryan Inman. You might know Bryan by his pseudonym, The Rum Champion, a rum enthusiast and educator who runs The Rum Curious Club, a monthly meetup where he hosts rum tastings at various bars across Southern California! On this episode, we share our very candid and sometimes controversial opinions on rum, cocktails, spirits snobbery and more!

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223 Jeremy Floyd and Alex Lamb

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:24:45 -0800

Today we chat with Jeremy Floyd and Alex Lamb. Jeremy is the voice, producer and historian behind Distinguished Spirits a channel that deep-dives into classic and obscure cocktails, and Alex is the co-director of The Donn of Tiki, a documentary about the Godfather of Tiki, Ernest Gannt aka Don the Beachcomber!

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222 Chad Yoho

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 19:15:13 -0800

On this episode we chat with Chad Yoho! Chad is Southern California face of Kuleana Rumworks, makers of world class spirits from estate-grown heirloom sugarcane on the big island of Hawaii. Learn about Chad's path to Kuleana from working hospitality in Northern California to working summers in Maui and finding his way back to the mainland!

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221 David & Jessica Badgerow of ”Cocktail Fridays”

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:13:44 -0700

Today we welcome our friend David Badgerow for a return visit Inside the Desert Oasis Room, and with a cameo by his partner Jess! David is the host and producer of the fun and always entertaining "Cocktail Fridays" channel on YouTube so on this episode, we naturally chat about all things rum and cocktails!

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220 Justin Peterson

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 21:32:13 -0700

On this episode we chat with Justin Peterson, Art Director of 23 Restaurants. Recorded on location from Tiki Oasis in San Diego, we sit down with Justin to recap our sold out Don the Beachcomber panel for those that couldn't attend. Get all the details of the upcoming Don the Beachcomber brand of restaurants from its upcoming locations to its future plans!

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219 Kent Thompson and Boris Hamilton

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 22:08:13 -0700

On this episode we chat with Kent Thompson! Kent has influenced and created cocktails for some of the best spots in the LA area, including Tasting Kitchen, Grain, Here's Looking at You and currently runs the bar program at Isla in Santa Monica. And joining us for this session is our old friend Boris Hamilton, a fan-favorite of the show and our first ever guest on the podcast!

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218 Ken and Heather Pleasant

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:37:19 -0700

On this episode we are joined by Ken & Heather Pleasant. Heather is the granddaughter of the famous furniture manufacturer William Westenhaver of Witco fame and Ken, her husband, was trained by Wil himself and has been manufacturing and restoring furniture and art in that same style for the last 2 decades. We chat about all things Witco, including the history, legacy and future of the business and even give you tips on how to authenticate that Witco piece you stumble upon!

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217 Brandon & Kim Grilc (The Kazan Room)

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:41:27 -0700

Today we join our friends Brandon & Kim Grilc, owners of The Kazan Room, Kobe Japan's first and only tiki bar! Hear what brought them from Portland, Oregon to Kobe, Japan and what it took to open their bar, what the cocktail scene is like, the differences in culture, palates and ingredients, and where you can see and possibly sample more from the Kazan Room right here in the United States!

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216 Marie King

Sat, 04 Mar 2023 09:47:49 -0800

On this episode we chat with Marie King! Join us as we learn about her ecclectic background, her start as a hostess at Jolly Roger to the moment where she almost left hospitality altogether to join the medical industry and the full circle story to her becoming the new Director of Beverage for the upcoming launch of the iconic, Don the Beachcomber brand and their new chain of restaurants!

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215 Tomas De Los Reyes & Ben Rojo

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 18:59:38 -0800

Today we welcome the boys from Don Papa Rum- Tomas De Los Reyes and Ben Rojo! Tomas is a bartender, artist and DJ, and one of the founders of Jeepney in New York City. And also from New York comes Ben Rojo, mixologist extraordinaire and founder of Black Emperor Bar. Both, extremely talented cocktailians both, instrumental in the current Filipino food movement and both, representing the iconic Filipino rum brand Don Papa!

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214 Miss Spent Youth & Veronica Voss

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:01:24 -0800

Today we are joined by burlesque performers, Miss Spent Youth and Veronica Voss! Learn about the history of burlesque, their backgrouunds in burlesque, and get details on their upcoming Hollywood Burlesque Festival, coming March 17, 18 and 19 in Hollywood, California!

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212 Addie Alonzo & Crystal Mendoza

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 19:17:31 -0800

It's ladies night inside the Desert Oasis Room as we are joined by Addie Alonzo from Bamboo Club and Crystal Mendoza from Roxanne's and The Exhibition Room! On this episode we chat about their dynamic backgrounds in mixology, their creative processes, their approach to competitive bartending, share travel stories and more!

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211 Sonny Esponda

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 15:16:59 -0800

Today we chat with bartender mixologist Sonny Esponda! Sonny is the winner of the first ever Tropical Shakedown cocktail competition which earned him a trip to this year's Tiki Oasis. On this episode we chat on all topics cocktails, mixology, the hospitality and service industry and more!

Watch the cocktail tutorial we recorded here:
https://youtu.be/CVCwwPCJvok

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210 Evan Reiner

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 16:45:18 -0800

Today we chat with Evan Reiner! Evan is the owner and founder of Droogies Ultra Dog, manufacturers of Southern California's newest gourmet hot dogs! As a 3rd generation butcher, Evan is a master at delicious meat blends and combinations. We chat about the art of the butcher and the nuances of this profession as well as industry secrets in the underground food scene, unscrupulous restaurant practices and more!

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209 Los Pakalolos

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 14:10:01 -0800

On this episode we chat with our friends Los Pakalolos! Los Pakalolos is a surf music band from right here in the inland empire that have just released their new album Lolo-a-Gogo! Hear about how they started during the pandemic, their song writing process, musical influences and more!

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208 Noa Laporga (Live from Frogtown Brewery)

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 12:24:07 -0700

Today we come to you live from Frogtown Brewery, and chat with our friend Noa Laporga. Noa, along with his partner Angelina, are the founders of Skull & Crown Trading Company on the island of Oahu. They also produce and run the largest event in all of Hawaii, known as Haunted Plantation. Learn about what it took to open Skull & Crown and hear stories about Haunted Plantation and what we are partnering on for a mainland event coming this Halloween season!

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207 Stefan Immke

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 17:28:51 -0700

Today we chat with Stefan Immke, Executive Producer of Squeezed Up - Tales of Polynesian Pop and Kustom Kulture! Squeezed Up documents an unforgettable road trip across Southern California, combining Hot Rodding, Polynesian Pop, Tiki Culture, and Kustom Kulture! On this episode, Stefan talks about traditional hot-rodding, rattlesnake breeding, tiki in Europe and more!

On social media: @stefan_immke @squeezedupmovie
On the Web: http://www.squeezed-up.com

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206 Sam Schwall of The Deep Sea Divers

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 16:35:10 -0700

Today we chat with Sam Schwall, founding member of the Hawaiian musical trio, The Deep Sea Divers! Hear about Sam's start in Tiki, how he formed his band, his musical influences and, listen to tracks from their live performance at the legendary Mai Kai!

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205 The Donn of Tiki & Frogtown Brewery Collab

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 17:45:54 -0700

Today we chat with our friends Alex Lamb and Gustavo Rojas! You might know Alex as co-director of the upcoming documentary film, "The Donn of Tiki," a biographical story of the life of Donn Beach aka Don the Beachcomber. And joining us is our friend Gustavo, partner of our favorite brewery in LA, Frogtown Brewery! On this episode we chat about the origins of Frogtown Brewery, our recent Don the Beachcomber inspired beer collaboration, how we approached and made the beer and what's in store for the big release event when it's debuted to the beer & tiki community, including information on our tie-in with the Oceanic Arts farewell events!

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204 Joseph Corzo

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 21:09:13 -0800

On this episode we chat with actor, comedian Joe Corzo! You might know Joe from Acceleration, Burning Little Lies, Antidote or NCIS, or maybe you've caught one of his stand up comedy acts. Joe talks to us about his journey from Northern California to Southern California to pursue his dream of making it in Hollywood, how he survived production droughts during the pandemic and his cheat code to success!

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203 The Trademark Brewing Dream Team

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 12:56:05 -0800

Today we chat with the crew from Trademark Brewing! Owner and founder Sterling Steffen and brewers Valerie Adee and Danny Jimenez join us to chat about the origins of Trademark Brewing, their backgrounds in beer and hospitality, what goes into the creation and production of their products and the inside scoop on how we collaborated on the Mango Smash beer we just recently launched together!

On social media: @trademarkbrewing @trademarkbrew
On the web: http://www.trademarkbrewing.com

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

202 Ed Hamilton

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 18:32:04 -0800

Today we are joined by Ed Hamilton! Ed is an author, importer and world reknowned authority on the spirit of rum. He's also the founder of the Ministry of Rum and the Hamilton brand of fine rums, made in distilleries all over the Caribbean. Learn about how he went from being a mechanical engineer making actuators for airplanes to becoming one of the world's foremost experts on island spirits, his collaboration with Jeff Berry, the Florida Rum Society and more! This episodes starts with Ed's symposium from this months Orange County USBG Tiki Night at Tiki Farm and from there we transition to a personal one-on-one where Ed gives us a deep dive on rum, his thoughts on the future of rum and what's in store for his Hamilton brand of products in 2022!

Follow Ed Hamilton on Instagram at @edrumguy
On the Web: www.ministryofrum.com
Learn about his products at: www.caribbean-spirits.com

Ed Hamilton's Ti Punch
The juice of 1 cut lime edge (not wedge)
1/4 bar spoon syrup Petite Canne Martinique Sugar Cane Syrup
1.5 oz 100 Proof Neisson Rhum Agricole Blanc
Lightly swizzle with ice

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

201 ”Mount Rushmore” with The Tiki Boss

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 12:34:23 -0800

On this episode we chat with Ross the "Tiki Boss" Aliotti about our "Mount Rushmores!" What do we mean by Mount Rushmore? It's our Top 4 lists, basically Top 3 + 1 extra! Find out what our Mount Rushmore is in horror movies, cocktails, food choices, comedians and more!

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

200 Sylvia Flores (Chichironiz)

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 13:02:22 -0700

For episode 200 we come to you LIVE from Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs, California to chat with our dear friend Sylvia Flores! Sylvia is a California native who found her way to Honolulu, Hawaii and tells us about her eclectic background, her transition from the mainland to the islands, and as a burlesque dancer, talks about her alter ego "Chichironiz" and what took her down the path of pursuing the classic art of burlesque performance!

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

199 Esteban Ricardo De Luna

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 19:04:06 -0700

Today we chat with Esteban Ricardo De Luna! Esteban is a former chef, craft cocktail bartender and mixologist, and the newest face behind the bar at the World Famous Tiki-Ti in Los Angeles, California! Learn about Esteban's background and how he found his way to making Ray's Mistakes, Uga Boogas, Puka Punches and more!

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

198 Adam Demerath

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 08:01:04 -0700

Today we chat with Adam Demerath! Adam is a premier craft cocktail bartender and mixologist from New York City! On this episode, we chat about his upbringing right here in the Inland Empire of Southern California, his background in theater, how he found his way to New York and learn about his philosophies on craft cocktailing and mixology!

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

197 Greg Bansuelo

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:39:34 -0700

Today we chat with Greg Bansuelo, bartender at the world famous Tiki-Ti! Greg comes from a long line of mixologists, including his uncle Lou Cruz, owner of The Outrigger as well as his father John "JB" Bansuelo, who bartended alongside Ray Buhen at all the old school polynesian bars like the China Trader, Seven Seas and the Luau. Learn what life was like for these old school Filipino bartenders and what was contained in their personal recipe books, the coveted "black books!" Joining us on this session are our friends Boris Hamilton and Alex Lamb from the upcoming documentary, The Donn of Tiki!

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

196 Harry Yee Tribute with the Kontigo Collective

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 10:05:57 -0700

Join the Kontigo Collective, Gregorio, Anna, Trader Sampson, Phoenix Ablaze and myself, chat about the history and contributions of Harry Yee from the Hawaiian Village! Harry Yee was a pioneer in tropical cocktails including the creation of the Blue Hawaii, Tapa Punch, Tropical Itch and Hawaiian Eye. And, he was the first bartender to garnish cocktails with umbrellas, lanterns and orchids!

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

195 Summers in Hawaii (Chris and Lis Summers)

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 11:44:05 -0700

Today we chat with Chris and Lis Summers! Chris and Lis are recent former residents of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. How many of you have dreamt of picking up your current life and moving it to Hawaii? Well, Chris and Lis did just that when they left California for a new life in Hawaii. After a couple years living as island locals, they're back in California and in this episode, they tell us all about the ups, downs and everything in between (including the Covid pandemic) from this life changing experience!

To watch the video we made for our YouTube channel, click here:
https://youtu.be/mUBTNvzjIyI

194 Dottie Deville and Matt Koken of Til Two Club

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 09:19:56 -0700

On this episode we make our way down to San Diego, California to chat with Dottie Deville and Matt Koken, owners of the legendary Til Two Club! Hear the story about how they landed this legendary San Diego landmark, what they've learned about it's history since they've acquired it, what's in store for it's future and if you enjoy some good ghost stories, find out who's haunting the bar!

To watch the video we made for our YouTube channel, click here:
https://youtu.be/-NY5027YzK0

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

193 Garret Richard

Tue, 25 May 2021 09:39:23 -0700

Today we chat with Garret Richard! Garret is a craft cocktail bartender and mixologist who is on the forefront of the modern day craft cocktail movement. Hear about Garret's background, how he went from radio production to mixology, his philosophy on cocktailing and learn some useful tips on how to make your cocktails better!

To watch the video we made for our YouTube channel, click here:
https://youtu.be/QFQVQxbOkrM

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

192 Alex Lamb and Max Well from The Donn of Tiki

Tue, 18 May 2021 12:38:39 -0700

Today we chat with Alex Lamb and Max Well from Surf Monkey Films about their latest project The Donn of Tiki, a documentary about the Godfather of Tiki, Donn Beach aka Don the Beachcomber! Learn about their backgrounds, how they decided to create a documentary about Donn Beach, what they've learned along the way and what the future of their project holds. And exclusive to this podcast, Alex and Max share an audio recording of Donn Beach himself! Hear him tell a funny story about one of his good friends, Marlene Dietrich!

On the web: http://www.thedonnoftiki.com
Social Media: @thedonnoftiki

Support their Kickstarter here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thedonnoftiki/the-donn-of-tiki

Watch a preview of The Donn of Tiki documentary here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEbAUDou1Ls&t=61s

Watch us compare Donn's QB Cooler to Vic's Mai Tai here:
https://youtu.be/5uOGKJPjyco

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

191 Odd Rodney (from Arizona Tiki Oasis 2021)

Tue, 04 May 2021 09:51:56 -0700

Our adventure from Tiki Oasis continues at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona as we welcome lowbrow and tiki artist Odd Rodney. On this episode, recorded from the grounds of Arizona Tiki Oasis, we chat with Rodney about his lowbrow background, his philosophy in art, what inspires him creatively and so much more!

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

190 Live from Tiki Oasis Arizona 2021

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 20:40:32 -0700

Join us from the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona from the Tiki AZ booth at Tiki Oasis! On this episode we chat with our friends Ross "Tiki Boss" Aliotti, Tom "Big Toe" Laura, the one and only Fabio and from the island of Maui, the talented mug makers, Scott "Tikipop" Taylor and Rob "Tikirob" Hawes!

Watch our field trip outing video here: https://youtu.be/OL9DHihCa38

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to: http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

189 Mike Buhen Jr and Greg Bansuelo

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 16:11:07 -0700

Today we are joined by the boys from the Tiki-Ti! Bartender and co-owner Mike Buhen Jr and bartender Greg Bansuelo stop by the Desert Oasis Room to mix drinks, make cocktail videos and record this episode of the podcast. As a long time patron and regular of the Tiki-Ti, I hit the guys with questions that most others have never asked before to bring you uncommonly known facts and tidbits from their colorful backgrounds. For example, did you know that Ray Buhen's wife is the reason the Tiki-Ti opened in the first place? She is also the reason they stopped serving beer decades ago! And did you know that Greg's father was one of the old school Filipino mixologists that worked alongside Ray at all the same iconic tiki and tropical themed bars like The Luau, The China Trader, The Seven Seas and more! And if you'd like to make sure you don't miss any of the cocktail tutorials they recorded with us Inside the Desert Oasis Room, subscribe to our YouTube channel now at youtube.com/polynesianpop

Watch the cocktail tutorials we made with Mike and Greg at our YouTube channel. We'll be loading them up one at a time over the next couple of weeks. Subscribe to the channel now so you don't miss any of them! https://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

188 McBiff, Rick Miller and Dan Watson

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 08:38:27 -0700

Today we chat with the Gentlemen of Leisure! The artist McBiff, Rick Miller and Dan Watson! On this belated St Paddy's episode, we chat about our respective roots, the history and legacy every person leaves for future generations, and other thought provoking, emotionally stimulating topics!

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

187 David Badgerow

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 08:24:16 -0800

Today we chat with David Badgerow! David is an animator, mixologist and Drooling Bastard who dropped by the Desert Oasis Room to do a video swapcast with us for our respective YouTube channels and while he was here, we decided to turn the mics on and record the session you are about to hear now!

To watch the video we, click here:
https://youtu.be/CqDT6bsNwoM

To follow our adventures, subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polynesianpop
To listen to our archive, go to http://polynesianpop.podbean.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

186 Bob Van Oosting and Leroy Schmaltz REWIND from 01-2017

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:19:03 -0800

On this first episode of 2021 we go back in time to this exact week 4 years ago when we chatted with Bob Van Oosting and Leroy Schmaltz, founders of the world famous Oceanic Arts in Whittier, California. Considering that Covid has affected so many small businesses over the past year, I thought I'd reload this episode to not only give them a boost but to also revisit their amazing journey to becoming the world's premier supplier and builder of some of the most legendary tropical, nautical and island inspired themed builds from yesteryear!

Social Media: @oceanicarts56
On the Web: www.oceanicarts.net

185 Randy Tarlow and Robbie Gregg

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 12:48:10 -0800

On this episode we chat with Randy Tarlow, founder of Liquid Alchemist, makers of premium cocktail products! Learn about Randy's path from bartending in Europe and Australia to founding and operating his very own brand of premium craft cocktail syrups. And, joining us with a cameo is Liquid Alchemist's very own Captain Pineapples, alter ego of hospitality veteran Robbie Gregg!

Social Media: @liquidalchemist
On the Web: www.liquid-alchemist.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

184 Sven Kirsten - Book of Tiki 20th Anniversary

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 08:04:37 -0800

On this episode we celebrate 20 years of The Book of Tiki! Join us Inside the Desert Oasis Room as we chat with historian and urban archaeologist Sven Kirsten, author of the Book of Tiki, Tiki Modern and Tiki Pop. Hear the stories behind creating The Book of Tiki, the early days of the modern day tiki revival, his thoughts on tiki culture today and learn about the exciting book projects he currently has in progress!

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

183 Will Penny

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 19:06:35 -0800

Today we are joined by Will Penny! I've been wanting to have Will on the podcast for a while now so when I saw him at Bamboo Club's Hardcore Markteplace I sat down with him for a short chat. Will has an interesting background - he's an attorney by day and artist by night, similarly living the alter ego lifestyle of the comic book characters that inspire his art and books! On this episode, we learn about his artistic origin, what inspires his creativity and what's in store for the future of his work!

Social Media: @sexandmonsters
On the Web: www.sexandmonsters.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

182 Ross Aliotti and Jared Allen

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 10:34:24 -0800

On this episode we chat with one of our Desert Oasis Room regulars, Ross the "Tiki Boss" Aliotti and our new friend Jared Allen! This was recorded on Halloween weekend and so we intended to record an episode filled with ghost stories but as the way many conversations go, we ended up wandering into other fun topics instead. Never the less, we bring you along for the chaos!

Social Media: @thetikiboss @jsarizona2000
On the Web: www.jsazlaw.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

This episode is also sponsored by the Law Office of Jared Allen, specialist in DUI defense and more. To request a free consultation contact them today at jsazlaw.com or call them directly at 602-456-1982.

181 Kat Reeder

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:00:40 -0700

Today we chat with artist Kat Reeder! Kat is a native Peruvian transplanted in Hawaii by way of Miami and creates some of the most beautiful, island inspired pieces of art directly from the island of Oahu! Learn about how she got started as an artist, her transition from Peru to Miami, how she ultimately planned her move to the Hawaiian island of Oahu and what's in store for the future of her art!

Social Media: @katreederart @katreederportraits
On the Web: www.katreeder.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

180 Kontigo Tiki Bar

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 20:15:18 -0700

Today we welcome Gregorio and Anna from Kontigo Tiki Bar! On this episode, we sidle up to the bar Inside the Desert Oasis Room and talk about a wide variety of topics including craft cocktails, craft spirits, vintage San Diego, random moments in history, the butterfly effect and more, including what it took to recreate the vintage paper hanging lantern, a fun cocktail garnish from yesteryear!

Social Media: @kontigotikibar
On the Web: www.chineselanternpick.com

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

179 Bryan Azorsky and Brandon Cummins

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 15:40:40 -0700

On this sponsor spotlight edition, we are joined by Bryan Azorsky, founder of Tiki Bar T-shirt Club along with Brandon Cummins from Altamar Brands, distiller and importer of fine spirits including Four Square and Probitas Rum! Today we chat about their respective brands, how the Covid pandemic has affected their lives and their local businesses (like Tiki Cat), their thoughts about the future of the hospitality industry and also dive into some other fun and lively topics including the Marvel Universe, Kansas City BBQ and more!

Watch the follow up video after listening to this episode here: https://youtu.be/Jl4U7tsZeD0

On the Web: www.tikibartshirtclub.com and www.altarmarbrands.com
Social Media: @tiki_bar_tshirt_club and @brandon.altamar
On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8IMGVuuhfJTl2VnskZzAuQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIrOgoxh1wY

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

178 Cristian Diaz

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 19:11:01 -0700

Today we chat with Cristian Diaz! You might know him better as Skipper Cristian, bartender at Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar located at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. On this episode Cristian chats about his start at a Brazilian restaurant in Fresno, his background in culinary school and his journey to Trader Sam's. We also chat about his new YouTube venture Adventures with Alchemy and what's in store for future episodes!

Social Media: @skippercristian and @adventures_with_alchemy
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJiQKb39E5PJ9Eydyibx54Q

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

177 Fritz Costa (Lowbrow Literati)

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:32:42 -0700

Today we chat with Fritz Costa, author, professor and scientist. Learn about Fritz's scientific background, his former life in academia and hear how he went from being a college professor to becoming a blogger and author telling the stories of Shag, Tim Biskup, Derek Yaniger, Miles Thompson and Brandi Milne in his new book The Lives of Lowbrow Artists!

Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Lives-Lowbrow-Artists-1-ebook/dp/B08D8NWC13/
On the Web: http://www.lowbrowliterati.com
Social Media: @lowbrow_literati

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

176 Par Avion

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 09:54:54 -0700

On this episode we chat with Bernard Yin and Rebecca Ramirez, the surf instrumentalist duo better known as Par Avion! Learn about their musical backgrounds, influences, song writing process and hear about their latest collaboration with Mexican cumbia musicians Perro Agradecido and how a chance meet up led to their latest project, Perro Avion!

Get new release here: http://bit.ly/perroavionspotcalifornia
Bandcamp: https://paravionmusic.bandcamp.com
On the Web: http://www.vivaparavion.com
Social Media: @vivaparavion

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

175 Tiki Diablo

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 15:15:05 -0700

On this episode we chat with artist, carver and builder Danny Gallardo aka Tiki Diablo! Tiki Diablo is a world reknown tiki carver, mug maker and thematic builder having created some of the most iconic collectibles and tiki themed spaces of the modern era. If you're a tiki enthusiast, odds are you've got one or more of his tiki mugs in your collection or you've visited a bar he's built! I've known Danny for about 2 decades and so, on this episode we chat about the early days of tiki when we first met, what and who inspires his work, his thoughts on the current state of tiki and learn a little bit more about his background and origin story!

On the Web: www.tikidiablo.com
Social Media: @tikidiablo

As always, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did bringing it to you. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider helping us with your support during this challenging time. Stop by DesertOasisRoom.com to check out our merch or leave us a tip. We've got tiki mugs, t-shirts and pendants available right now! Any purchase or donation, no matter the size, is totally appreciated and helps keep this podcast coming to you every week!

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade, Tiki-Ti and Skull & Crown Trading Co. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

174 Starr Kalahiki, Mark Tanouye and Kit Ebersbach of Don Tiki

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 15:39:00 -0700

On this episode we chat with 2 time Na Hoku Hano Hano award winner Starr Kalahiki, bassist Mark Tanouye and musician, producer and song-writer Kit Ebersbach, co-founder of the iconic jazz exotica band Don Tiki! This broadcast is a replay of the live session we conducted with them on our Instagram page. We chat about their musical backgrounds, their residency at Skull & Crown Trading Company, life on the islands and are even treated to a couple of live performances! If you'd like to watch our video of this session go to our Instagram page @polynesianpop and click on the IGTV tab!

On the Web: https://www.facebook.com/starr.kalahiki/ and http://www.dontiki.com
Social Media: @singerstarr and @dontiki808

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

173 Long Beach Dub Allstars

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 13:18:44 -0700

Today we chat with Opie Ortiz and Marshall Goodman aka Ras MG from the Long Beach Dub Allstars! Opie and Ras MG are part of the original line up from the iconic punk/ska/reggae band Sublime. On this episode we chat about their origins with Sublime, the history of their band the Long Beach Dub Allstars and how their pedigrees are connected. We also talk about their song writing and production process and what's in store for the future of their band and their music!

On the Web: www.lbdamusic.com
Social Media: @longbeachduballstars

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

172 The Covid Chronicles - Noa Laporga

Thu, 28 May 2020 20:41:02 -0700

On this final installment of our series the Covid Chronicles, we chat with Noa Laporga! Noa along with his partner Angelina are the founders of Hawaii's newest tiki bar known as Skull & Crown Trading Company. We learn about Noa's eceletic background, his upbringing on Oahu and how it culminated into him opening Skull & Crown. And as the world slowly reopens, we discuss what's next for this venture including collectors mugs, a book, an album with Don Tiki and the upcoming Skull & Crown Traders Club!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

171 The Covid Chronicles - Randy Wong

Thu, 14 May 2020 16:33:57 -0700

On this installment of the Covid Chronicles we chat with Randy Wong! Randy is the Co-founder, Band Leader and Music Director of the modern exotica band, Waitiki! On this episode, we briefly touch on the current state of affairs on the Hawaiian islands regarding the covid pandemic however, for the bulk of our chat we talk about his and his band members roots in Exotica music. Learn about Waitiki's newest projects and find out how they, as professional musicians, have been persevering artistically through this pandemic!

On the Web: waitiki.bandcamp.com
Social Media: @waitiki
YouTube Channel: TheWAITIKI7

170 The Covid Chronicles - Josh Hermsmeier

Fri, 01 May 2020 13:15:31 -0700

On this installment of the Covid Chronicles we chat with Josh Hermsmeier! Josh hails from San Diego, California and if you're an active member in the tiki community and local to Southern California you'll probably know him best as drummer for Jason Lee and RIP-tides. In March of 2020, Josh and his immediate family were positively diagnosed as having been infected with the Covid-19 virus. On this special episode, Josh shares what this emotional and very personal experience was like for him and his family, what his thoughts are about continued quarantining, isolation, social distancing and what happens now as a recovering Covid-19 survivor!

169 The Covid Chronicles - Jim "Hurricane" Hayward

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 11:48:24 -0700

On this installment of the Covid Chronicles we chat with writer and rum aficionado of The Atomic Grog, Jim "Hurricane" Hayward! We recorded this episode just a little over a week ago before some beaches were re-opened in Florida and before The Hukilau had announced the way they were adapting to this year's changes of their annual event. It's crazy how much and how quickly things change in the world we live in these days! We still have a great chat though about cocktails, tiki and of course, the Mai Kai and their Gallons To-Go program in which local residents are able to purchase pre-made Molokai Bar level cocktails to enjoy in their own homes!

On the web: www.atomicgrog.com www.theatomicgrog.com
Social Media: @theatomicgrog

As always, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did bringing it to you. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider helping us with your support during this challenging time. Stop by DesertOasisRoom.com to check out our merch or leave us a tip. We've still got a small handful of Monkeypod Ku tiki mugs and Talking Head tiki pendants available right now! Any purchase or donation, no matter the size, is totally appreciated and helps keep this show on the air!

168 The Covid Chronicles - The Volcanics

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 17:56:14 -0700

On this installment of the Covid Chronicles we chat with surf music impressarios, The Volcanics! Frankie, Ben and Jarrod join us to discuss the process of writing and recording their newly released EP "Freakout!" We also chat about how the virus and its resulting quarantine has affected their shows and what it's like to release and promote a new EP during a world wide pandemic!

On the web: www.thevolcanics.com
Social Media: @thevolcanics

167 The Covid Chronicles - Keir Whitcher

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 10:43:37 -0700

On this episode of the Covid Chronicles we chat with mid-century, tiki and classic car enthusiast Keir Whitcher! Keir hails from the land down under, just outside of Melbourne, Australia. We talk about how the corona virus has found it's way to his part of the world and how they're doing their part to flatten the curve and even explore a little bit about what the tiki scene is like in his part of Australia!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

166 The Covid Chronicles - Rina Bambina

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 10:02:47 -0700

On this installment of the Covid Chronicles we chat with pinup, model and doctor! Rina Bambina! Rina recently traveled to California and within about a day of her arrival, Los Angeles was put on limited lockdown and all bars, restaurants, public gatherings and other similar places of business or events were shut down or restricted to take out service only. Rina chats about this experience and the challenge she faced working her way back home to Germany and as a doctor of psychiatry, offers tips to those who might be struggling with this crisis.

On the web: www.rina-bambina.com
Social Media: @bambina_rina @drkatharinastenger

As always, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did bringing it to you. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider helping us with your support during this challenging time. Stop by DesertOasisRoom.com to check out our merch or leave us a tip. Any purchase or donation, no matter the size, is totally appreciated and helps keep this show on the air!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

165 The Covid Chronicles - Jason Lee

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 12:05:31 -0700

On this edition of the Covid Chronicles we chat with musician, composer and industry professional, Jason Lee of Jason Lee and the RIP-tides! Jason chats with us about how he's adjusted to the new reality we are all experiencing and how the corona virus has affected the live music scene and his industry as a whole!

On the web: www.jasonleeguitar.com
Social Media: @tikiguitarplayer @jasonleeandtheriptides

As always, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did bringing it to you. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider helping us with your support during this challenging time. Stop by DesertOasisRoom.com to check out our merch or leave us a tip. Any purchase or donation, no matter the size, is totally appreciated and helps keep this show on the air!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

164 The Covid Chronicles - Medusirena Marina and Kari Hendler

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 10:05:07 -0700

On our third installment of the Covid Chronicles we chat with Kari Hendler along with Marina the fire eating mermaid! This episode was recorded exactly one week ago today and it's amazing how much things have changed since then. Between then and now, beaches in both California and Florida have since been closed and some of our favorite tiki centric events have since been rescheduled. We have a fun and spirited chat about what's happening on both coasts and what we've challenged ourselves with our new found time during this quarantine!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

163 The Covid Chronicles - Ross "Tiki Boss" Aliotti

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 14:27:36 -0700

On this second episode of the Covid Chronicles we chat with Ross the "Tiki Boss" Aliotti! Ross recently returned from a visit to the Hawaiian Islands. While most of our lives were normal as he boarded the plane, things quickly turned south right after he left for the islands and when his vacation was over he returned to a very different world. We chat about how quickly things changed on the mainland during his short time away and what his island experience was like as the Covid-19 pandemic became more serious during his trip!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

162 The Covid Chronicles - Deejay Clulow and Chanel Herren

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 20:15:34 -0700

Today we start a new series of episodes we are calling The Covid Chronicles! At the moment I'm not really sure how many of these episodes we'll be recording but as long as social distancing is being practiced to slow down the spread of Covid-19 we'll be interviewing our guests by phone from inside the Desert Oasis Room. On this episode we chat with Deejay Clulow and Chanel Herren. Deejay and Chanel relocated somewhat recently from Las Vegas, Nevada to Pacifica, California and so we are able to get their perspective as both Nevadians and Californians as we discuss this weird time we are all going through with quarantining, self isolation and social distancing!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

161 Squeezed Up Throwback Thursday

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 12:54:03 -0700

On this special Throwback Thursday edition, we revisit our session with the crew from the newly released documentary, Squeezed Up! Join us inside the Desert Oasis Room as we chat with the director, Dirk Behlau, executive producer, Stefan Immke and the rest of their crew also known as "The Wild Bunch", including Shane Bagnall, Andy Schmidt, Thorsten Leisenberg and Matze Heiden. The episode you are about to hear is the some of the same footage you'll see in the film and if you like tiki, hot rods, lowbrow art or kustom kulture, this film is a feast for your eyes! You're going to enjoy seeing many of our friends featured there including Jason Lee, the Hula Girls, McBiff Art, Tiki Tony, Michael Grider, Mimi Le Meaux, Matt "Tikiman" Willis and much, much more! This episode was recorded back in October 2018 on the podcast's 2-year anniversary during the filming of this documentary, which is available now!

On the Web: www.squeezed-up.com
Social Media: @squeezedupmovie

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

160 Kirrah Amosa

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 14:24:01 -0800

Today we are joined by singer and songwriter, Kirrah Amosa! Kirrah recently relocated to Los Angeles, California from Canberra, Australia and is the latest addition to the Island Block Radio family. We chat about her songwriting process, musical influences and are treated to a very special acoustic performance of her latest single, "Island Way" available at all media outlets beginning on February 28th!

On the Web: www.kirrahamosa.au
Social Media: @kirrahamosa

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

32 Mike Buhen Jr & Sr of Tiki-Ti

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 17:12:31 -0800

On this episode we speak with Mike & Mike, Jr & Sr, owners of the legendary Tiki-Ti in Los Angeles, California. I first started going to Tiki-Ti somewhere around 1995 or so. It was a great place to grab a strong and tasty tropical drink on my way out to a night of "clubbing" in Hollywood. Back then Ray Buhen was still bartending, the mixology legend who opened it back in 1961. Ray was one of the original bartenders at Don the Beachcomber, documented as the very first tiki bar opening in 1934 just after prohibition was lifted in the US, which was largely credited for creating many popular tropical cocktails. After getting his start there, he found his way to such notable locations as the 7 Seas, the Luau, Christian's Hut, the Palms, the Dresden and many more eventually settling at his own bar, the Tiki-Ti. Today the Tiki-Ti is run by his son and grandson, Mike Buhen Jr & Sr, who we talk to in this episode.

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, the world's largest rum producer and winner of over 170 international medals in the past 4 decades. Check out their webpage at tanduayUSA.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram @TanduayUSA.

20 Leroy Schmaltz & Bob Van Oosting of Oceanic Arts

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 17:09:56 -0800

On this episode of Inside the Desert Oasis Room I make a field trip to Oceanic Arts in Whittier, California and chat with the founders and living legends Leroy Schmaltz and Bob Van Oosting. They share many never-before-heard stories related to creating, building and influencing the South Seas aesthetic during the Polynesian Pop era and beyond. It was such an honor, pleasure and treat to get a sneak peek and walk-thru of their massive, private collection; soon to be compiled for a book!

31 Jordan T from House of Blues Anaheim

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 16:58:31 -0800

I've been a big fan of Jordan T since his first hit single "Sunset Tonight" on Island Radio back in 2014 and started following him on Instagram and eventually became Facebook friends with him. Over the years, I saw several of his shows here on the mainland, which eventually lead up to this day. I reached out to him for an interview and he graciously opened up some time for me and we recorded this from his green room at the House of Blues in Anaheim. Jordan was gracious, friendly and accommodating and I really enjoyed hanging out with him.

He recently released a new single entitled, "Bridges with the Vibes" which can be found on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/album/id1229778595

For more of his great music stop by JordanTmusic.com and be sure to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter: @jordantmusic Lastly, he'll be playing another show with Sammy J at The Roxy in Hollywood, California this coming Saturday, May 13th. Come down and check it out -- I'll be there too!

This episode is sponsored in part by Tanduay Rum, the world's largest rum producer and winner of over 170 international medals in the past 4 decades. Check out their webpage at tanduayUS.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram @TanduayUSA.

159 "Q" from Island Block Radio

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 14:01:18 -0800

Today we are joined by my friend "Q", Producer and On Air Personality for Island Block Radio and Island Block TV. Q talks to us about how he got his start in radio, his thoughts on the future of radio, island music, guilty pleasures, bucket lists and much, much more!

To listen to Island Block Radio, click here:
https://onlineradiobox.com/us/dashislandblock/

To follow Island Block Radio on social media @islandblockradio here:
https://www.facebook.com/IslandBlockRadio/
https://www.instagram.com/islandblockradio/

Outro Music: "The Wrong Time" by Silent Partner

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

158 John Philbin Returns

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 10:55:14 -0800

Today we welcome John Philbin back to the podcast! You might know John from his various movie characters over the past 3 decades including Turtle in North Shore, Nathaniel in Point Break, Tom McLaury in Tombstone, Chuck in Return of the Living Dead, Amos in Children of the Corn and more! On this episode we chat about what's happened in his life since our last chat along with his current film projects including "White Wolves", "Ghost Babe" and "Undateable John" now playing on Amazon Prime!

To watch Undateable John on Amazon Prime, click here:
https://www.amazon.com/Undateable-John-Estella-Warren/dp/B07YBJ457K/

To listen to the last time John was on the podcast, click here:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/polynesianpop/episodes/2018-08-06T09_36_44-07_00

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

157 Devon Devereaux

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 08:33:00 -0800

Join us as we chat with artist Devon Devereaux on how he got his start in the world of pop surrealism, his influences, his creative process and what's in store for 2020!

Check out his websites at http://www.devondevereaux.com or http://www.creepytiki.com Get his stuff at Hot Topic! https://www.hottopic.com/creators/artist/devon-devereaux

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

156 Hanford Lemoore and 20 Years of Tiki Central

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 12:19:00 -0800

On this episode we celebrate 20 years of Tiki Central! Join us at the Tonga Hut in North Hollwood, California and listen in on the festivities along with stories by Tiki Central members new and old, all followed by an exclusive chat with founder Hanford Lemoore!

Check out Tiki Central at www.tikicentral.com

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

154 The Holiday Episode 2019

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:04:00 -0800

On this episode we have our friends share a fun or memorable Christmas or New Years Eve story. For this last episode of 2019, we'd like to thank our sponsors Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Tiki-Ti and Steadfast Pomade for their continued support as well as all of our listeners who tune in every week. Thank you all for making Inside the Desert Oasis Room possible!

153 San Francisco Tiki Bar Review

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:22:00 -0800

On this episode I road trip up to the San Francisco bay with our friend Boris Hamilton. We visit and review our experiences at R&G Lounge, Pagan Idol, Zombie Village, The Buena Vista, Scoma's, California Gold, Marin Joe's and Bon Voyage. Special thanks to Buz Deadwax for hosting our stay at the Alta Vista Tiki Room, the giant morning lattes and the bottomless Buz Tais!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

152 Kiddie Cocktails with Stuart Sadler

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 13:49:00 -0800

For this holiday season, we thought it would be fun to flashback to Tiki Oasis 2019 and listen in on Stuart Sandler's symposium entitled Kiddie Cocktails. Stuart is a font designer and publisher, graphic designer and author of the book, Kiddie Cocktails. Hear Stuart's story and learn about the difference between kiddie cocktails and mocktails, how to set up your own kiddie cocktail bar and more! There's a little cameo with Derek Yaniger in there too!

Get the Kiddie Cocktails book by Stuart Sadler here:
https://www.misterretro.com/merchandise/books/kiddie-cocktails-book
https://www.amazon.com/Kiddie-Cocktails-Stuart-Sandler/dp/0957664915/

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

151 Mai Tai Mafia

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:51:00 -0800

This episode is part 2 of our visit to the 2nd Annual OCUSBG Tiki Night at Tiki Farm! On this episode we are joined by the Mai Tai Mafia and listen in on their club presentation of what makes up this fun and unique collaboration with Nathan Hazard from Real McCoy Rum, Alexandre Chaigne from Combier USA and Joe Carlin from Liquid Alchemist!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

150 2nd Annual OCUSBG TIki Night at Tiki Farm

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 16:10:00 -0800

Today we record live from the 2nd Annual Orange County United States Bartenders Guild's Tiki Meeting hosted by Tiki Farm, the world's largest manufacturer of tiki mugs and chat with our friend Benny, the OCUSBG founder and president along with Holden Westland, founder and president of Tiki Farm. Also joining us on this episode are skippers Cristian Diaz, Roy Hanzal and Ash Nalbadayan from Trader Sam's followed by the Mai Tai Mafia; Nathan Hazard from Real McCoy Rum, Alexandre Chaigne from Combier USA and Joe Carlin from Liquid Alchemist!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

149 Jerry Berta (the Rainbow Professor) and Mike Souriolle (Gecko)

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 21:15:00 -0800

Today we go into Max's South Seas Hideway's private ceramics studio to chat with their in-house sculptor, artist and ceramicist, Jerry Berta to learn about their kiln to table concept in which all tiki mugs, volcano bowls, pupu platters and more are custom made in house for Max's South Seas Hideaway. Also joining us for this episode is our old friend Gecko from South Sea Arts of Hawaii for a historic event - the first pouring, molding and pressing of his Ward Warehouse tiki mugs, the first artist made house mug for Max's, the probable first proper tiki bar to ever exist in Grand Rapids, Michigan!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

148 Max's South Seas Hideaway with Mark Sellers & Martin Cate

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 10:32:00 -0700

Today we chat with Mark Sellers and Martin Cate to learn all about Max's South Seas Hideaway. Max's is unlike any Tiki or Polynesian bar or restaurant that's opened in the last 5 decades. It harkens back to the days when a Polynesian bar or restaurant was a grand space, similar to the Polynesian palaces of yesteryear like the Kahiki, the Mai Kai or the Kona Kai. Hear about what it took to bring this venture to life and what the future holds for this spectacular space!

For more information or reservations go to http://www.maxstiki.com

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

147 Hale (@listentohale)

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 19:12:00 -0700

Today we chat with musical artist Hale! also known as singer, songwriter and guitarist, Peter Cruz. The last time I chatted with Peter was when he was lead guitarist for island reggae band, Tribal Theory. We recorded this episode on the release of his new solo debut single "Feel That" and sit down for a candid chat about his creative growth, how it has changed and fueled his musical career, and what's in store for the future of Hale Music.

New single "Feel That" available at all digital outlets! For more information: www.listentohale.com
Social Media: @listentohale

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

146 Frank Bui

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 09:33:00 -0700

On this episode we chat with Frank Bui! I first met Frank at the inaugural Mahalo Monday monthly tiki night at the prohibition era themed speakeasy, the Blind Rabbit, hidden in the bowels of the Anaheim Packing House. Hear his story of how he went from a decade long career in designing product packaging to becoming one of Orange County's premiere craft cocktail bartenders!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

145 Frogtown Brewery

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 10:28:00 -0700

Today we sit down with the crew from Frogtown Brewery and chat with their brewers and beertenders about their new Tiki Series of specialty beers and how they are being developed! Learn about the process behind their popular tiki inspired Painkiller Milkshake IPA and hear a sneak peek of some of exciting upcoming collaborations!

On the Web: www.frogtownbrewery.com
Social Media: @frogtownbeer

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

144 Xavier Junqueras of Viva Tiki

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 10:28:00 -0700

Xavier is one of the producers and partners of a new documentary currently in the works, coming out of Barcelona, Spain called Viva Tiki. This documentary explores the stories and history behind the tiki movement in Spain, who the players were, how it got started, the mugs, the cocktails and more!

On the Web: www.facebook.com/viva.tiki
Social Media: @viva.tiki

This episode is sponsored by Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

143 Matt Pietrek

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 13:56:00 -0700

Matt Pietrek is the rum and cocktail enthusiast, author and personality behind the popular spirits blog, Cocktail Wonk. He joins the podcast to chat about his new book, Minimalist Tiki. Learn about the concept behind Minimalist Tiki and hear the story of his journey from full time tech writer to full time rum writer!

On the Web: www.cocktailwonk.com
Social Media: @cocktailwonk

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

142 Matthew Locey

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 20:43:00 -0700

Matthew Locey was born in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii and lived most of his life in Kaneohe, Oahu. Hear stories from his decades long career in television and film from projects he's worked on including Magnum PI, Baywatch Hawaii, Hawaii 5-0 and most recently, South Seas Cinema. With his masters degree in Polynesian studies we also chat about the sensitive topic of cultural appropriation as well as hear his stories about what life was like growing up on the islands!

For more information on South Seas Cinema: www.southseascinema.org

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

141 Ixtahuele

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 16:06:00 -0700

Ixtahuele is a premiere exotica band from Sweden comprised of musicians that are formally trained instrumentalists in classical and jazz music genres. Today we chat with members Mattias, Johan, Wictor and Henrik about their musical backgrounds, what it's like to perform Exotica music in Sweden and learn about their latest project, the Dharmaland Sessions with special guest Brian Chidester, co-director of the upcoming documentary, "As the Wind" a biography of exotica performer Eden Ahbez.

For more information on Ixtahuele:
Website: www.ixtahuele.com
Social Media: @ixtahuele

For more information on the Dharmaland Sessions:
https://www.edenahbez.com/
https://bcxists.wordpress.com/2019/07/30/news-dharmaland-is-coming/

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

140 Tiki Art & Polynesian Pop in American Culture from Comic Con 2019

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 10:02:00 -0700

On this episode we podcast live from San Diego Comic-Con 2019 and bring to you the "Tiki Art & Polynesian Pop in American Culture" panel, moderated by James Wasser. I was privileged to not only document but also participate in this panel along with other luminaries in the current tiki movement, including artists Josh "Shag" Agle, Bosko Hrnjak, Tom "Big Toe" Laura, Suzy "AtomiKitty" Mosher, Devon Devereaux, author Martin S. Lindsay and mug makers Brandon Giraldez & Holden Westland. We chat about each panelists respective contributions, observations and personal perspectives in the modern day tiki movement from the largest Comic, Art and Pop Culture convention in the world, the San Diego Comic-Con!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

139 The Volcanics

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 13:28:00 -0700

On this episode we podcast live from the Painkiller IPA Tiki Party at Frogtown Brewery and joining us is legendary LA surf music band, The Volcanics! We chat about their origins, musical influences, guilty pleasures and more!

Check out their webpage and get their new CD here: http://www.thevolcanics.com
Social Media: @thevolcanics

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Quiet Village Exotic Tiki Bazaar, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

138 Rums of the Mai-Kai Symposium

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 11:43:00 -0700

Today we go into the Mai Kai's main dining room to join Jim "Hurricane" Hayward and special guest Matt Pietrek for their "Rums of the Mai-Kai" symposium direct from The Hukilau! Go on a virtual journey to the Caribbean to learn about the key rums and styles that have dominated The Mai-Kai’s acclaimed cocktails for more than 60 years!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

137 Randy Avon and Nani Maka

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 16:47:00 -0700

Hosted by Tim "Swanky" Glazner, author of Mai Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant, we recorded this episode from The Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For this session we are joined by Randy Avon, son of Pualani Mossman, the "Face of Hawaii" in the 1930's who modeled for Matson's Navigation Company, starred in "Song of the Islands" and was the inspiration for the song "Lovely Hula Hands." And joining us on this episode is Nani Maka, one of the Mai Kai's original Mystery Girls, the lead dancer at Yankee Clipper's Polynesian Room, star of "Pagan Island" and model for Bunny Yeager. Hear their iconic and historic stories of the early days of the Mai Kai, Hawaii and the height of the Hapa Haole era including the time that Randy witnessed Elvis Presley being taught how to sing the Hawaiian Wedding Song for the movie Blue Hawaii!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Heartland Hemp & Supply Co, The Magic Zombie Glass, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Tonga Hut, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

136 Ruby Champagne

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:32:00 -0700

The Mexican Spitfire of Burlesque, Ruby Champagne is an award winning burlesque performer, dancer and pin-up model whose accolades include Miss Viva Las Vegas in 2010, Best Soloist at A-BurlyQ in 2012, Queen of Burlesque at the San Antonio Burlesque Festival in 2014 and most recently crowned as Miss Tiki Oasis in 2018. On this episode we chat with Ruby at her local tiki bar, The Bamboo Club in Long Beach, California. Hear how she got her start in burlesque, how it's changed over her 13 year career and who we think would best portray her if a movie were to be made about her life!

Website: http://www.rubychampagne.com
Social Media: @rubychampagne

135 Nick Camara and Ken

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 12:32:00 -0700

Welcome to a special episode of Inside the Desert Oasis Room as we are joined by two titans in the tiki publishing game! Nick Camara, the founder of Tiki Magazine and Ken Holewczynski, the founder of Exotica Moderne, sit down together for a monumental meeting of the magazine minds to chat about their backgrounds, experiences and challenges of printing their respective magazines based around the tiki culture!

134 Holden Westland

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 16:47:00 -0700

If you're a tiki fanatic like me and you've got a tiki mug collection of some sort, you most likely have something that's passed through the hands of Holden Westland. Holden is the founder, owner and CEO of Tiki Farm, the world's largest manufacturer of tiki mugs, bowls, bar products and more. On this episode we chat about the origins of Tiki Farm, how the mug business has changed over the years and what the future holds for his iconic brand!

133 Analea Brown

Tue, 28 May 2019 16:15:00 -0700

Island Empire's first Tongan female Artist, Analea grew up in a big musical family. In fact, she's even cousins with the The Jets! On this episode we stop by her green room before a sold out show at the House of Blues to chat about her musical background, her song writing process and the meaning and motivation behind her new album, Queendom!

On the Web: http://www.analeabrown.com
FB/IG/Twitter: @analeabrown

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

132 Rina Bambina

Mon, 13 May 2019 14:28:00 -0700

Rina Bambina is a pin-up and retro model from Germany who's traveled all around the world! I met Rina at the world famous Tiki-Ti and two weeks later, we recorded this episode after a photo shoot with pin-up photographer Mitzi & Co inside the Desert Oasis Room. Hear how Rina got her start in pin-up and more interestingly, learn about what she does outside the world of pin-up; it's sure to surprise (and impress) you!

On the Web: www.rina-bambina.com
FB/IG/Twitter: @bambina_rina
Cover Photo: @mitziandco www.mitziandco.com

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

131 Drew Brophy

Fri, 03 May 2019 21:46:00 -0700

Drew Brophy is a world reknown lifelong surfer and traveler who's career exploded in the late 1990's when he began painting surfboards using techniques he developed with water based paint pens. On this episode, we join Drew in his gallery and studio to chat about how he got his start as an artist, some fun stories of his travel adventures, his philosophies on life, and how his art has evolved and continues to evolve in this ever changing world.

On the Web: www.drewbrophy.com
FB/IG/Twitter: @drewbrophy @brophyartgallery

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

130 Swapcast with Jonah Raydio

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:19:00 -0700

On this episode we record a swapcast with the crew from Jonah Raydio! You might know Jonah Ray from such projects as Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, or as former co-host of The Nerdist Podcast. Along with Jonah, we chat with is own co-hosts on Jonah Raydio, Neil Mahoney and Cash Hartzell and of course, we are accompanied by our old friend Boris Hamilton! Join us for a couple rounds of cocktails as we record this episode live from the legendary Tiki-Ti on Sunset Boulevard!

Instagram and Twitter: @jonahraydio https://jonahraydio.libsyn.com/

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

129 Bamboo Ben and The Bamboo Club

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 08:24:00 -0700

On this episode we come to you live from The Bamboo Club in Long Beach, California to hang out with Bamboo Ben at his "No Tiki Drama" mug release event. And joining us is one of the owners of the newly opened Bamboo Club, Brett Gallow, who details to us the history, background and future of Southern California's newest tiki bar!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

128 Iakopo

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 13:10:00 -0700

On this episode we chat with international recording artist, Iakopo! Iakopo is a culturally wise, island reggae artist that's lived all over the world! He was born in Orange County, California and after a difficult childhood, was eventually adopted and raised by a local Samoan family on the South Pacific island of Upolu Samoa, where he lived an island lifestyle in a small village with no refrigerators, no beds, no TVs, or modern amenities where villagers all survived on fishing and farming and family disputes were solved by the "Fa'amatai"system, comprised of benevolent and wise village chiefs. Today we chat with Iakopo about his unique, global upbringing, how this started and affected his music, his creative influences and his perspective on the world and what the future holds for his music!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

127 Mike Siegel and Boris Hamilton

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 17:31:00 -0700

On this episode we chat with comedian, actor and host, Mike Siegel! You might know Mike from HGTV's "If Walls Could Talk" or Fine Living network's "What You Get for the Money." You might have even seen him performing stand up comedy on numerous shows like "Last Comic Standing", "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" or even recognized him in roles he's played in TV shows like "JAG", "Prison Break" or "Mike & Molly" but on this episode we chat about our common passion of traveling. Mike has traveled all over the world from Europe to Africa and more; he's even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro! Hear about his numerous advetures near and far. And of course, we simply couldn't do this episode without being joined by our old friend Boris Hamilton!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

126 Maoli

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 07:11:00 -0700

Today we go backstage with Maoli! Since forming in 2007, Maoli has taken the Hawaiian Music Charts by storm having released 6 albums with countless hits along the way such as "No One," "Blew It," "Rock Me Sober" and more! They recently dropped a new single, "Sunshine" available now on all outlets including Amazon and iTunes. On this this episode, we chat backstage before a sold out crowd at The Aging Room in Long Beach, Ca for a fun talk to learn more about their background, what inspires their music and what the future holds for their band!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

125 "A Rum Story" Crew

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:18:00 -0800

Recently I was privileged with a part in A Rum Story, a docuseries that follows the adventures of Ed Gamester, master of The Guild, as he travels the world in a quest for knowledge about the origins, history and progression of Rum! Join us as we chat with the crew behind this project; Kevin Marcus, the producer, Keith Lancaster, the director and of course, Ed Gamester, the host of the series!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

124 Aloha Friday from Inside the Desert Oasis Room

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 07:54:00 -0800

On this episode we welcome back the Tiki Boss and the Tiki Addicts! Join us Inside the Desert Oasis Room in another one of our fun hangout episodes on an Aloha Friday night as we chat with the Tiki Boss and the Tiki Addicts! We talk about scary movies, singles at Disneyland, real stuff vs fake stuff, travel tales, Texas BBQ and more!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

123 Miss Mooneyes aka Deedee Cupcake

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 11:26:00 -0800

On this episode we chat with Miss Mooneyes aka Deedee Cupcake! I'd been wanting to have Miss Deedee Cupcake on the podcast for quite some time now because she's got such an interesting background. Raised in Chicago and having lived in Las Vegas and now Los Angeles, she's been a mid-westerner, a desert dweller and now a Southern California Angelino. She competed on Food Network's Cupcake Wars (hence the name Deedee Cupcake), performed stand up comedy and most recently won the title of Miss Mooneyes! We thought it would be fun to do a Cupcakes & Cocktails episode and for that this episode was born!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

122 Coco Cruz

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 08:31:00 -0800

On this episode we hang out with Coco Cruz! Join us Inside the Desert Oasis Room with our friend Coco Cruz! Coco is someone I met from the Hawaiian Reggae Music scene, namely a local show with CRSB when they were performing at Bruddah's Bar & Grill here in Southern California. We mix up 4 rounds of rum and whiskey based cocktails and are even joined with a cameo appearance by Chris Ramos from CRSB!

This episode is sponsored by the Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

121 Jaymee Mandeville & Boris Hamilton

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 18:27:00 -0800

Today we chat with Jaymee Mandeville & Boris Hamilton! Jaymee Mandeville is a former career mixologist and current Senior Brand Ambassador for Bacardi USA and joining us for our chat is our old friend Boris Hamilton. We recorded this episode live and direct from DAMA, located in the fashion district of Los Angeles, California. Learn about Bacardi's lineage, their rich history, their product portfolio and what the future holds for their aged spirits!

This episode is sponsored by the Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

120 Repeal Day & Prohibition

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 07:41:00 -0800

On this episode with are joined by the Tiki Boss and the Tiki Addicts! Our friends, Ross Aliotti, Randall Wilson and Sarah May joined us to record this special episode a few weeks ago on Repeal Day. We chat about the history of Prohibition in the United States historically and currently and the cultures and sub-cultures it created then and now. We even mix and share the recipes to a couple of tasty prohibition era cocktails!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Sapporo Beer, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

119 Zombie Village VIP Sneak Peek

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 21:11:00 -0800

On this episode, we travel to San Francisco, California to attend the Zombie Village VIP Sneak Peek Soft Opening Party. Zombie Village is California's newest tiki bar and lounge curated by Daniel "Doc" Parks built in conjuction with Bamboo Ben, Crazy Al, Bosko Hrnjak, Ivan Mora, Woody Miller and Mikel Parton. We start the episode in the middle of our journey to Northern California, joined by Tim Walters of Tanduay Rum followed by a chat with Doc Parks about his vision for Zombie Village and what it took to bring it to life!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Sapporo Beer, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

118 Mandatory Mug Monday from False Idol

Sun, 30 Dec 2018 20:55:00 -0800

On this episode we recorded LIVE from False Idol in San Diego, California at their Mandatory Mug Monday holiday party! We wrap up 2018 with our last episode of the season from Mandatory Mug Monday with a pair of Martins - Martin Cate (of Smuggler's Cove, Hale Pele, False Idol and more) and Martin S Lindsay (historian, author and curator of ClassicSanDiego.com) in addition, we are joined by our friends from the local San Diego tiki scene and organizers of Mandatory Mug Monday, Dottie Deville and Matt Koken!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Sapporo Beer, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

117 Tiki Wonderland 13 at the Tonga Hut

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 15:22:00 -0800

Mele Kalikimaka! For this holiday season we are back at the Tonga Hut's Tiki Wonderland holiday event and on this episode we chat with an allstar lineup about spirits and beer! First up we are joined by Sven Kirsten (author of the Book of Tiki, Tiki Modern, Tiki Pop and The Art of Tiki), Jeff "Beachbum" Berry (Owner/Founder of Latitude 29 and author of the Grog Log, Intoxica, Sippin' Safari, Potions of the Carribean and more), Greg Bansuelo (career bartender and historic first employee of the world famous Tiki-Ti) and Kevin Murphy (Owner/Partner of the Tonga Hut in both North Hollywood and Palm Springs). We chat about craft cocktails in the modern day tiki movement, the process of finding a lost drink recipe and other fun stories from the frontlines of the tiki bar, old and new. Following this, we chat with Philip Marte, Director of National Accounts for Sapporo Beer, our newest sponsor, to learn about the history of beer in Japan, the process of brewing a world class beer, his thoughts on today's craft beer movement and it's influence on the modern beer drinker!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Sapporo Beer, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

116 Phoenix Speakeasy Bar Crawl

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 23:47:00 -0800

So a couple weekends ago, Boris Hamilton and I drove out to Phoenix, Arizona to crawl some of their craft cocktail and speakeasy bars. We were joined by our friends Ross "Tiki Boss" Aliotti, Odd Rodney McLellan and Southern California transplant Brian Schaub to tackle 7 bars in the span of one night. We recorded this episode on the road trip out, leading up to the crawl, followed by a recap of each spot we visited. Find out which bar we liked best and hear about some odd things that happened along the way!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Sapporo Beer, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

115 Desert Oasis Room Hot Wings Challenge

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 08:25:00 -0800

Today we host our first ever food challenge inside the Desert Oasis Room! As fans of spicy foods and the show Hot Ones by First We Feast, we thought it would be fun to try a hot wings challenge of our own and so we threw out the challenge on our social media pages and welcomed a group of brave souls to run the gauntlet with us. Starting from a mild Frank's Red Hot at 2,000 scovilles to the insane Last Dab at over 2,000,000 scovilles, listen and hear what it was like as each wing went from, "mmmm that's good" to, "holy hell that's f*ckn' HOT" and learn who threw in the towel and who made it all the way through to the end!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

114 Squeezed Up Movie Crew

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 09:26:00 -0800

On this episode we chat with the team behind the upcoming hot rodding documentary, "Squeezed Up!" Join us inside the Desert Oasis Room as we chat with the director, Dirk Behlau, executive producer, Stefan Immke and the rest of their crew including Andy Schmidt, Shane Bagnall and more. To check out a sneak preview of their project, follow them on Instagram @squeezedupmovie or go to www.squeezed-up.com. This episode was recorded on the podcast's 2-year anniversary and it was an honor having these guys over to celebrate our anniversary with us!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

113 Tonga Hut 60th Anniversary

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 13:04:00 -0800

In 1958 a little bar in North Hollywood opened on Victory Blvd named "Tonga Hut." Back then, a gallon of gas was a quarter, the average cost of a new house was $12,000, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the United States and The Beatles hadn't even formed yet. Since the Tonga Hut has been open, the Berlin Wall was raised (and demolished), Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, television went from black and white to color to high-definition digital, reggae was born, disco was born, hip-hop was born, new wave was born, grunge was born and the United States has had 11 different presidents. And all that time, the Tonga Hut had it's doors open, welcoming visitors from near and close, far and wide. On this episode we chat with drunken revelers, fans and supporters from the Tonga Hut's back lot as we fondly celebrate 60 years of Tonga Hut good-ness!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

112 Orange County US Bartenders Guild - part 2 of 2

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 18:33:00 -0800

Today we return with part 2 of the Orange County US Bartenders Guild's Tiki Night! As I mentioned in part 1 of this series, a couple weeks ago I was graciously invited by Amin Benny to attend the Orange County US Bartenders Guild's "Tiki Night" being held at Tiki Farm. The event was sponsored by Plantation Rum with a Hawaiian BBQ Buffet and cocktails crafted by the Blind Rabbit. This episode is the second segment in this 2 part series and in this segment we chat with the team from The Blind Rabbit themselves about what it takes to run an award winning bar followed by a presentation on Polynesian Pop and the birth of Tiki Style on mainland America by the one and only Sven Kirsten!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

111 Orange County US Bartenders Guild - part 1 of 2

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 11:47:00 -0800

So a couple weeks ago I was graciously invited by Amin Benny to attend the Orange County US Bartenders Guild's "Tiki Night" being held at Tiki Farm. The event was sponsored by Plantation Rum with a Hawaiian BBQ Buffet and cocktails crafted by the Blind Rabbit. This episode is the first segment in a 2 part series and in this segment we chat with Amin Benny and his counterpart Mariah Tatham to learn what USBG is all about followed by a detailed symposium on Plantation Rum by Larry Steitz, their Western US Regional Manager!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Jason's Tiki Adventures, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

110 Lea Love

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 16:40:00 -0800

Today we chat with musical guest Lea Love! Lea Love is a Southern California born and raised, singer-songwriter with a rich Hawaiian, Japanese and Samoan heritage. Lea graciously joins me over a cup of coffee to chat about her performance background and the future of her music. Check out her new single, "No Feels" on all music platforms and give her a follow on Facebook or Instagram @lealovemusic!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Jason's Tiki Adventures, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

109 Jason Lee's Fright Factory

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 09:17:00 -0700

Today we go behind the scenes during the making for Jason Lee and the RIP-Tides new video, Fright Factory! Inside the Desert Oasis Room got the honor of being involved with this production and so we brought my mics and recorder along to chat with the players involved with making and bringing this video to life!

Director: Jason Lee, Director of Photography: Arak Bernal, Art Director: Matt Reese, Production Assistant: David Nelms.
If you haven't seen the video yet, click here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm8mE1m0wfo

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Jason's Tiki Adventures, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

108 Sammy Johnson (Sammy J)

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 07:00:00 -0700

Sammy J is a born and raised Maori from New Zealand who found his way into the Island Reggae pop charts quite by accident. He's since performed venues all over the world from The Roxy and House of Blues to even sold out stadiums to crowds as large as 25,000 or more! We talk about how he got his start in music, his song writing process and his upcoming Sleepwalker Tour beginning next month. As a huge fan of his work, this session was a real treat. He even shared loads of new material with me after the microphones were off and let me tell you, I think each one is a future hit single!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Jason's Tiki Adventures, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!

107 Jan & Dean's Tiki Lounge

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:06:00 -0700

Today we are joined by Dean Torrence, Doug Cavanaugh and Bamboo Ben from the private debut of Jan & Dean's Tiki Lounge in Huntington Beach, California. Jan & Dean's Tiki Lounge is a fun tiki and surf themed dining space located in Ruby's Diner at the end of the Huntington Beach Pier built by our friend, Bamboo Ben. We chat with Ben about the build of this special space along with Doug Cavanaugh, the son of Ruby herself and of course, Dean Torrence from the iconic musical group Jan & Dean, from which the room is named!

This episode is sponsored by Tanduay Rum, Tonga Hut, Tiki Bar T-Shirt Club, Jason's Tiki Adventures, Steadfast Pomade and Tiki-Ti. Stop by their FB and IG pages and give them a like!