A Cigar Hustler's Podcast: 650 Episodes and Still Going
A Cigar Hustler's Podcast (CHPOD) is one of the longest-running cigar podcasts in the world. What started as a passion project in 2008 has grown into 650+ episodes, a worldwide community, and a top-5% global ranking. This is the story of how it happened.
2008: where it all began
Long before "cigar podcast" was a crowded category, Mike Palmer lit one up, hit record, and started talking. The mission was simple and it hasn't changed: honest reviews, real conversations, and a community built around premium cigars. Episode 1 laid it out — and the show has been compounding ever since.
The milestones
- Episode 100 (2016) — the first big milestone; proof the show had found its voice and its audience.
- Episode 300 (2020) — a worldwide community forming around the show.
- Episode 500 (2023) — half a thousand episodes and a place among the most consistent cigar shows anywhere.
- Episode 650+ (today) — still weekly, still honest, still growing.
Very few podcasts in any category reach these numbers. In cigars, it puts CHPOD in rare company.
Why it became one of the top cigar podcasts
Three things drove the growth. First, consistency — showing up week after week for over a decade builds trust nothing else can. Second, credibility — the hosts aren't hobbyists; they've spent years deep in the cigar world, so they speak about blending, sourcing, and the industry with real authority. Third, honesty — the reviews tell you the truth, which is the entire point of the format.
A worldwide community
The audience is the real story. Listeners from around the world tune in, trade recommendations, and turn out for the milestones. That community pushed the show into the top 5% of podcasts globally — a ranking earned one honest episode at a time.
What's next
More episodes, more reviews, more conversations with the people who make the cigars — plus the CHPOD merch store and live auctions for one-of-a-kind items from the show. The mission from 2008 still holds: honest cigar talk and a community worth being part of.
Start listening and join in at chpod.com. Browse official merch or bid on live auctions to be part of the next 650 episodes.