The Drinking Partners start the episode with a request: They’re looking for a new beer collaboration to create “The blackest shit we’ve ever done.” Their requirements are many, but all hilarious. Shortly after, they welcome Knowledge Hudson, fellow Epicast podcaster with his Ten Minutes of Knowledge podcast. What follows is an esoteric and philosophical conversation that explores religion and self-identity and individual and community evolution. But also looks into the necessity of siestas! Listen in as the Drinking Partners and Knowledge examine concepts not usually talked about in the studio. A thoughtful and wise listen. To hear more from Knowledge Hudson, check out his podcast, Ten Minutes with Knowledge.
Ed starts this special-release episode with an attempt to sing – again. This boisterous interview with Bill Oates of Three Rivers Underground Brewing owes much of its laughs to Mr. Oates, who gifted the Drinking Partners with a large selection of beer. He stops by the studio to discuss Brewing Up a Cure 2018, which has raised over $300,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is one of Pittsburgh’s longest running beer festivals. Over 75 homebrews will be featured at the event, as well as some of Pittsburgh’s favorite local cider, mead, spirits, and beer. Day grows impatient as he waits for Bill to open the first of four beers that he has brought. He is not disappointed as he tastes a German Dunkel, a dark lager, or, as Ed calls it, “What Jon Snow drank.” That should clue in listeners to what sort of craziness will transpire in this latest release, one that combines detailed conversation centering on brewing and beer with more hilarious tangents than anyone will be able to count. To buy tickets or make a donation to Brewing Up the Cure, please visit: http://brewingupacure.org.
The Drinking Partners welcome Tamara Whiting, founder of SisterFriend Inc, a non-profit organization, “by women for women dedicated to sustaining feminine health.” Founded in 2015, SisterFriend, Inc has distributed over 10000 menstrual health supplies and works with numerous community initiatives to ensure that their products will reach those who need them most. The interview examines the necessity of SisterFriend and its aim to make “menstrual equity” happen while eliminating the stigma around discussing feminine hygiene health. Ed and Day, and Ms. Whiting herself, pepper the interview with jokes and stories, and the Drinking Partners experience a few epiphanies related women’s health in the latter minutes. To support this important organization, please visit to learn where you can donate: http://www.sisterfriend.org.
The Drinking Partners buzz with cheery energy and chatter as they welcome The Olga Watkins Band into the studio. Vocalist Olga Watkins, guitarist Jay Weaver, and drummer/percussionist Subha Das open the interview with the band’s backstory. What started as a jazz trio evolved into a funk/soul/r & b/blues band, and the group’s opportunities blossomed as a result. A particularly dynamic conversation develops around the band’s interactions and communication through music and rhythm as they perform which transitions into the similarities between comedy and music. From bad sets to professional influences, the group explores those similarities with depth and authenticity. The history of music in Pittsburgh rounds out the rest of the interview, but stayed tuned until the end to hear the band perform live in the studio. You will not want to miss it! To catch up with and listen to the Olga Watkins Band, check out their website: http://www.olgawatkinsband.com.
In this celebratory episode live from Fresh Fest Beer Fest, the Drinking Partners welcome Harlem Brewing owner and brewer Celeste Beatty, who Day praises as the “Beyonce of beer,” before asking if she has a lemonade brew. With such a fun and fast start, the energetic and vocal crowd readies for the Drinking Partners experience that delightfully develops and continues as Black Frog Brewery’s Chris Harris joins in. Both Ms. Beatty and Mr. Harris share stories of the innovative, yet difficult journeys involved in opening their breweries, with Ed and Day (unsurprisingly) interrupting with often-hilarious results. Midway through the interview, the panel examines the themes central to Fresh Fest and the connections and collaborations that can come about from sharing different culture’s brewing traditions. The episode concludes with a question and answer segment, one that highlights the knowledge and passion of the live audience. Inquiries range from the history of ancient brewing – Ms. Beatty is currently exploring recipes found on Egyptian papyruses – to community engagement. The interview only ends so that the festival can begin – a fitting transition after all that was discussed.