Hot Ashes Podcast

The Hot Ashes Podcast is where cigars, conversation, and camaraderie come together. Hosted by veterans and longtime friends, the show blends sharp humor, real talk, and storytelling straight from the cigar lounge. One week it’s swapping war stories, the next it’s debating music, movies, leadership, or life’s big questions—no script, no filters, just unfiltered conversation and good bourbon. Whether you’re lighting up a cigar or just looking for a seat at the table, Hot Ashes delivers laughs, insight, and the kind of banter you’d expect from a crew that’s seen a little of everything.

Hot Ashes Podcast is a leisure podcast hosted by Lee and TK, with 46 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Lee and TK hosts Hot Ashes Podcast, a leisure show with 46 episodes published.

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  Hot Ashes Podcast

  Episode 48 (Ultramarathons, First cars, Belgium)

  Aug 19, 20262h 24m

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Hot Ashes Podcast, Lee and TK are back in the lounge with cigars, craft beer, and two special guests: Cody and Jim Roche, a retired Navy Seabee commander and bona fide ultra marathoner. We kick things off with our usual cigar and drink rundown, then drift into: Hilarious stories about first cars, driver’s ed, and sketchy road tests Life as a Seabee and how Jim escaped a miserable Gulfport tour for four years in Belgium Deep dive into the world of ultra running – from 50Ks to 100‑mile races, Western States, C&O Canal 100, Umstead, aid stations, pacers, puking, mountain lions, and what it really takes to keep going for 24+ hours How aging, training, and pace change over time – including Jim qualifying for the Boston Marathon and Cody just missing the cutoff The Ironman refund rant, beard competitions, strip‑club cigarette machines, and way more side quests than we can count If you’re into running, military stories, beers, cigars, and long-form storytelling, this one’s for you. Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome back to Hot Ashes + cigars & beers of the night 1:30 – Introducing Jim and Cody + nootropic pouches & quitting nicotine 4:10 – Beard competition update: trims, weddings, and first-time beards 6:45 – “If you woke up in 1996…” time-travel thought experiment 8:30 – First cars: Broncos, T‑Birds, Escorts, Ares, and sketchy driver’s tests 12:00 – Driver’s ed horror stories, bench seats, and imaginary brakes 17:00 – Manual vs automatic, Jeeps, tractors, and learning clutches 21:00 – Jim’s Navy Seabee career, Gulfport misery, and landing in Belgium 26:30 – Life in Belgium: languages, rural living, and serious Trappist beer 32:30 – What is an ultra marathon? Jim’s 50Ks and 100‑mile races explained 35:30 – Western States 100: heat, river crossings, shoe mistakes, and the brutal climbs 40:30 – Night running, mountain lions, and doctors cutting your wristband 48:00 – Calories, hydration, and the buffet-style aid stations 52:30 – C&O Canal 100, pizza at aid stations, and community around ultras 58:00 – Boston Marathon qualifying story + age group math and perfect conditions 1:06:00 – Training talk: speed work, fartleks, aging, and realistic pacing 1:14:00 – Pre-race rituals (pizza, pancakes, tequila shots) & post-race war stories Hashtags: #HotAshesPodcast #Podcast #RunningPodcast #UltraRunning #MarathonTraining #NavySeabees #MilitaryLife #BelgianBeer #CigarsAndWhiskey #FirstCars #WesternStates100 #TrailRunning #EnduranceAthlete #BostonMarathon Support the show

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  Hot Ashes Podcast

  Episode 47 (Euro Trip, Travel Hacks, Ricky Business)

  Aug 12, 20262h 22m

  Send us Fan Mail In Episode 47 of the Hot Ashes Podcast, Lee and TK welcome back Solange for a wild recap of her six-week Europe adventure . From surviving a record-breaking Paris heat wave and dancing at a masquerade ball to hitchhiking in Costa Rica , staying with strangers, and floating through Champagne caves at Veuve Clicquot , this one is stacked with stories. We also get into Syrian home cooking in the Netherlands , Turkish baths , paragliding in Switzerland , and TK’s humbling rip current surf scare that turns into a deeper chat about aging, fear, and respecting nature. If you like travel stories, cigars, beer talk, and real conversations about risk and adventure , this episode is for you. 00:00 Intro, cigars, drinks & Hot Ashes banter 03:50 Solange returns & six countries in six weeks 11:50 Paris heat wave, French stereotypes & language quirks 18:30 Food across Europe: Syrian feasts, German potato salad & street food 27:30 Travel style: hitchhiking, staying with strangers & vibe-checking safety 39:30 Berlin, history in person & Checkpoint Charlie 50:00 Fear of flying, skydiving & getting older with risk 56:00 TK’s surf scare: currents, panic control & respecting the ocean 1:06:30 Swiss paragliding, Turkish baths & big experience travel 1:15:30 Champagne region, Veuve Clicquot caves & the masquerade ball 1:24:00 Travel tips: eSIMs, money exchange, hostels & lost bags Hot Ashes Podcast – cigars, good drinks, and better stories. #HotAshesPodcast #TravelStories #EuropeTravel #MasqueradeBall #ChampagneTour #ParisHeatwave #BackpackingEurope #Hitchhiking #SurfingStory #TurkishBath #Paragliding #CigarPodcast #CigarsAndConversation #BeerTalk #StorytellingPodcast #TravelTips Support the show

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  Episode #46

  Episode 46 (Teeth, Time, Tying the Knot)

  Aug 5, 20262h 8mS1

  Send us Fan Mail Hot Ashes Podcast – “Teeth, Time, and Tying the Knot” In this episode of the Hot Ashes Podcast, Lee, TK, Cody, and friends go full story-time on three big themes: dental horror/comedy, a beautiful Carolina wedding, and pushing the limits with endurance sports, skydiving, and diving. We kick things off with an announcement: new episode drop day is moving from Monday to Wednesday so the guys can reclaim their weekends. From there, it’s chaos in the best way: Wisdom teeth & surgery stories – TK’s first time going under for all four wisdom teeth, anesthesia hitting in seconds, pain meds not kicking in fast enough, and the paranoia of dry sockets and rotting teeth. Cody and Lee add their own surgery tales, colonoscopy wake‑up, torus reduction, cracked molars, and debating gas vs. IV vs. local. Edward & Kim’s wedding recap – A full breakdown of a picture‑perfect day at the coastal country club: buried Blanton’s bottle tradition, emotional father‑daughter dance, “longest‑married couple” dance, foot‑washing ceremony, cigars at sunset, and a DJ that actually knew how to run a wedding. Family, faith, and future grandkids (“Lolly & Pop”) all come into the mix. Running, ultras & adrenaline – Marathon war stories, chasing Boston qualifying times, half‑marathons at Emerald Isle and Marine Corps, hitting “the wall,” free beer at mile 24, ultras and 50‑milers, plus skydiving (backflips out of a Cessna), scuba diving with sharks, and Carl training to ride horses through Mongolia on a Genghis Khan‑style adventure. If you like cigars, craft beer, off‑the‑rails storytelling, and hearing Marines, dads, and degenerates talk about pain, love, and doing hard things on purpose, this one’s for you. Stick around for: Real talk on dental fear and anesthesia How much work actually goes into a “perfect” wedding Why runners keep signing up for punishment Skydiving, sharks, and why adventures are better before you have to be responsible New episodes now drop on WEDNESDAYS – hit Subscribe and don’t miss the next one. #HotAshesPodcast #CigarsAndStories #WisdomTeeth #DentalHorrorStories #Anesthesia #WeddingStories #CountryClubWedding #FootWashing #Blantons #CigarLife #CraftBeer #MarathonTraining #HalfMarathon #Ultramarathon #EnduranceSports #RunningPodcast #Skydiving #ScubaDiving #AdventureTravel #VeteranStories #PodcastLife #Storytime [ 00:00:30 ] – Episode intro & schedule change Hot Ashes podcast kicks off, Lee announces moving episode drops from Monday to Wednesday. [ 00:05:16 ] – “First Hot Ashes with only one smoker” Roll call on what everyone’s smoking/drinking; TK explains why he’s not smoking after wisdom teeth surgery. [ 00:05:45 – 00:14:30 ] – TK’s wisdom teeth surgery story TK’s first time going under, IV anesthesia hitting hard, waking up, recovery, pain meds delay, and fear of dry sockets. [ 00:36:07 – 00:40:10 ] – Edward & Kim’s wedding recap (setup & ceremony) Ed (Speaker 3) walks through the venue, flowers, cross, seating chart wall, and the unique foot‑washing ceremony. [ 00:38:56 – 00:39:56 ] – Blanton’s bottle tradition & cigar circle Digging up the buried bottle of Blanton’s, perfect weather “confirmed,” and a big cigar hangout at sunset. [ 00:40:03 – 00:46:08 ] – Emotional stuff: dances, family, and future grandkids Married‑couples dance, almost‑rigged win for Ed’s parents’ 60 years, father‑daughter dance feels, “Lolly & Pop” grandparent names. [ 00:52:13 – 00:59:04 ] – Racing & half‑marathons (EI & Marine Corps) Cody on canceling Ironman, Marine Corps / Emerald Isle halves, Adela & Evan training, and Lee/Cody pitching TK on running a half. [ 01:02:22 – 01:07:21 ] – Marathon war stories & hitting the wall Their Shamrock / Huntington Beach marathon, running in wigs, beer at mile 24, strawberry milk bliss, and grinding to the finish. Support the show

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  Hot Ashes Podcast

  Episode 45 (Leadership, Cody's Truck, Beards)

  Jul 28, 20262h 13m

  Send us Fan Mail Hot Ashes Podcast Ep. 45 – Marine Corps Stories, Duramax Builds & Cigar Shop Banter We’re back on the patio at George’s Cigar Shop in Swansboro, North Carolina for Episode 45 of the Hot Ashes Podcast. It’s a hot, humid day, the ash is falling, and the stories are flowing. In this episode, Lee , TK , Cody , and Chris dive into: Cigars, drinks & shop talk What we’re smoking: George’s box‑pressed torpedo, George’s Big Boy Robusto, Fat Bottom Betty What we’re drinking: pernicious, Coors Banquet “Yellow Jacket,” high‑quality H₂O, and a “10mg can of fun” Behind-the-scenes of recording at a cigar shop and upgrading the camera/AI setup Cody’s ’03 Duramax build & wrenching life Blown head gasket, injectors, cups, fresh ECM and tune The disappointment of “only” ~450 hp with a stock transmission Father–son wrench time with Chance and what’s left to finish the truck Future plans: building a motor from a bare block and dreaming about a dedicated project truck Lee’s 1960 T‑Bird sitting in the driveway and what it would take to bring it back to life Beards, shaving & Marine regs Growing beards after retirement vs. daily razor life in the Marine Corps Beard oils, balms, and terrible scents (“dirt,” overpowering sandalwood, patchouli) Is it ever “too hot” for a beard? Marine Corps life, leadership & war stories Cody getting medically extended instead of cleanly retiring because of his bicep injury Letting go of the uniform, rank, and identity after you retire Toxic staff NCOs, NJPs, court‑martial stories, and Marines finally standing up to bad leadership Writing honest reenlistment and character recommendations instead of rubber‑stamping Being a det daddy on a MEU, running maintenance control for four birds and 58 Marines Hitting 100% flight completion with zero liberty incidents by focusing on communication, trust, and accountability Ship life & aviation maintenance stories Life aboard the Kearsarge and other ships: bad seas, “fun meters,” and nasty non‑skid Working on CH‑53s: transition sections, tight spaces, dropped hardware, FOD walks Night operations, NVGs, HSTs, and how dangerous decks and ramps really are Falling, head‑smacking, and getting beat up by the aircraft and the ship Boot camp, drill instructors & recruit mayhem Paris Island vs. San Diego culture Getting bird‑bombed in formation, shitting your pants, and unfortunate…morning situations Team week, working the chow hall/targets, and catching quick meals while never breaking the “angry DI” illusion How boot camp habits (like inhaling chow) never quite leave you Rank, identity & what we miss Why sergeant and gunny feel like the best ranks in the Corps How master sergeant/master guns and first sergeant/sergeant major pull you away from the Marines you love leading Regrets about not doing drill field, and why some of those “chest candy” quals feel hollow The difference between officers who truly lean on their SNCOs vs. those who don’t Trust, humility, and how crew‑served aircraft (pilots + enlisted crew) tighten the officer–enlisted bond Timestamps (approx.) 0:00 – Mic checks, cigars, drinks, and kicking off at George’s Cigar Shop 3:30 – Cody’s Duramax, Father’s Day bicep tear, and wrenching with Chance 6:00 – Beards, shaving rituals, and surviving summer with facial hair 10:50 – Cody’s medical extension & the weird limbo before retirement 17:20 – Toxic staff NCO, charges, and leadership finally doing the right thing 24:20 – Subscriptions, AI tools, and gear for running the podcast 29:20 – Horsepower disappointment and dreams of a full build & the 1960 T‑Bird 32:20 – Lost bolts, oil change nightmares, and DIY satisfaction 43:20 – Ship deployments, fun meters, seasickness, and non‑skid injuries 51:00 – Det daddy stories, 100% mission success, and leadership roundtables 59:30 – Crew resource management, AOs, crew chiefs, and trust in the air 1:20:00 – Boot camp, drill instructors, bird‑shit stories, and Warriors’ breakfast 1:25:00 – Chow hall, eating in 15 seconds, and laughing your buddies into the pit 1:10:00–end – Rank, regrets, what we’d do again, and what we’d change #HotAshesPodcast #Podcast #VeteranPodcast #CigarPodcast #MilitaryPodcast #USMC #MarineCorps #Marines #MilitaryLife #VeteranStories #MilitaryLeadership #BootCamp #DrillInstructor #MEU #HelicopterMaintenance #Duramax #DieselTruck #TruckBuild #TruckLife #MechanicLife #CarProjects #ClassicCars #Cigars #CigarLife #CigarLounge #GeorgesCigarShop #NorthCarolina #Swansboro #BeardLife #BeardCare #VeteranLife #BlueCollar Support the show

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  Episode #44

  Episode 44 (Frank Tursi's Book, Baseball Evolution, Frank's Journalism Career)

  Jul 20, 20262h 4mS1

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Hot Ashes Podcast, Lee and TK sit down with Frank Tursi —four‑time published author, longtime journalist, and former Swansboro commissioner—to talk about his new book Tar Heel Boys of Summer , a deep dive into North Carolina’s Major League Baseball history . Frank shares how the book began as a COVID project and grew into a comprehensive look at the 501 North Carolinians who made the majors , including often-overlooked Negro League players . He tells rich stories about legends like Catfish Hunter, Buck Leonard, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle , and Tom Alston, weaving in themes of free agency, money, race, alcohol, and how baseball mirrored American society across the 20th century. We also get into Frank’s decades in journalism—covering cops, sports, and the environment—how working on deadline kills “writer’s block,” and how those skills carried into his environmental work and time as a local elected official. Grab a cigar, pour a drink, and settle in for a conversation that’s as much about America and North Carolina as it is about baseball. Get Frank’s book “Tar Heel Boys of Summer” here: https://a.co/d/03KuJ9Tx #HotAshesPodcast #FrankTursi #TarHeelBoysOfSummer #BaseballHistory #NorthCarolinaBaseball #NegroLeagues #MLBHistory #CatfishHunter #BuckLeonard #MickeyMantle #BabeRuth #SportsHistory #CigarPodcast #CigarLoungeTalk #NorthCarolina #Journalism #LongformStorytelling #BaseballBooks #PodcastEpisode Support the show

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