The Tiki Talk Show

Interview and podcast show discussing the tiki revival of the last 40 years with all the people who brought tiki back

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31 episodes
Updated July 18

Episodes31

Newest first

July 18 · 1 hr 42 min
Ep 32 - Martin and Rebecca Cate
Welcome back to another episode of The Tiki Talk Show. This week, Ellie and Ryley sit down with Martin and Rebecca Cate, proprietors of several award winning tiki bars and authors of the James Beard award winning cocktail book, Smuggler’s Cove. Martin first got into tiki in Washington DC when a coworker invited him out to drinks at Trader Vic’s. After moving back to the Bay Area, Martin and Rebecca’s interest in tiki grew through the late 90s and early 00s spurred on by themed home parties, Tiki Central, and local tiki establishments like Trader Vic’s in Emeryville. Eventually, at a crossroads in his life, Martin decided to enter the bar business in Alameda by opening Forbidden Island with successful business partners. Martin and Rebecca went on to open their first bar independently in San Francisco, Smuggler’s Cove. This bar not only focuses on well made tiki cocktails but appreciating Rum as a complex spirit. Smuggler’s Cove boasts the largest public collection of Rum in America. Martin and Rebecca went on to write their award winning cocktail book, Smuggler’s Cove, which not only lists cocktail recipes but also a narrative history of rum, tiki, and the tiki revival. The duo are also advisors and collaborators on several other award winning tiki bars across the country: Hale Pele in Portland, False Idol in San Diego, and Max’s South Seas in Grand Rapids. Each of these locations brings their own unique twist carefully tailored to the community they serve. From elaborately themed restaurants and bars to fantastic twists on tiki cocktails and elevating the reputation and appreciation of Rum, Martin and Rebecca have contributed a lot to the tiki revival. You can find Martin and Rebecca on Instagram @smugglerscovesf to check up on their new rum and cocktail offerings, guest appearances, and celebrations for the 10th anniversary of their cocktail book. You can find Smuggler’s Cove at smugglerscovesf.com to buy their book, view their drink menu and plan your trip to view their flagship bar. If you’re not in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out the bars they’re involved with in San Diego, Portland, and Grand Rapids. Thank you for joining us on this episode. We are excited to see you all in San Diego in a few weeks at Tiki Oasis. Ryley will be giving a seminar at Tiki Oasis all about the history of the tiki revival. Tickets are still available at tikioasis.com/friday-seminars-26 for his Friday seminar from 1:30-2:30. Check out our Instagram to see our new shirts and send us a DM to order one of your own! $20/shirt and $7 for shipping. They will be available after Ryley’s seminar at Tiki Oasis if you want to save on shipping! If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s been good talking to you, and until next time… Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
July 3 · 1 hr 52 min
Bosko - Episode 31
This week on The Tiki Talk Show, Ryley and Ellie talked with Bosko Hrjnak, one of the first artists to revive tiki art from just appreciation to application. Bosko got his start in the mid-80s as the first artist to sculpt full size tikis after the art had faded from popularity and the public eye when tiki fell out of fashion. Ever since, Bosko has been using his creativity to carve and sculpt 3D tikis, ceramic tiki mugs, and wall decor for the Polynesian Pop enthusiast. He draws clear inspiration from William Westenhaver of Witco Designs and Rolly Crump, the Disney Imagineer, but Bosko’s designs are truly one of a kind. In the interview we talk about his work creating art, designing his home tiki bar, and the work he has done on several commercial bars. You can find Bosko at tikibosko.com to purchase his art, mugs, and more; or commission a custom work of your own. You can find his on Instagram @tikibosko. And be sure to check out his documentary Bosko and the Rebirth of Tiki if you haven’t seen it yet! Thank you for joining us on this episode. We have a few more episodes planned for this summer series leading up to Tiki Oasis. Ryley will be giving a seminar at Tiki Oasis all about the history of the tiki revival. Tickets are still available at tikioasis.com/friday-seminars-26 for his Friday seminar from 1:30-2:30. Check out our Instagram to see our new shirts and send us a DM to order one of your own! $20/shirt and $7 for shipping. They will be available after Ryley’s seminar at Tiki Oasis if you want to save on shipping! If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s been good talking to you, and until next time… Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
June 19 · 1 hr 10 min
Bamboo Ben - Episode Thirty
Welcome back to another episode of The Tiki Talk Show. Ryley and Ellie sat down with the tiki revival’s most renowned bar builder, Bamboo Ben. As the grandson of the Original Beachcomber, Eli Hedley, tiki was in Ben’s blood. Having always been artistic, Ben took his experience building custom furniture and started building tiki bars for backyard parties in the 90s. Living in Southern California, these front yard leftovers after last night’s ragers were quickly procured by interested passersby. Ben realized there was a market for the faux Polynesian and fell back in love with the tiki memories of his childhood. These party bars slowly turned into custom requests throughout Southern California and eventually beyond, thanks to Tiki Central. Slowly, Bamboo Ben became known as the tiki bar guy and was hired to refurbish or renovate run-down tiki bars of old. These efforts culminated in the first Tiki Oasis and the rescue and revival of the Caliente Tropics. Restoration wasn’t the only business Ben was in. As the tiki fever started ramping up, there was a market for opening new tiki bars, and a need for someone to design and decorate them. Ben has had a widely successful career of commercial and private home bars, and in 2017, he brought his son, Blake, into the family business, officially making it Bamboo Ben & Son. You can find Bamboo Ben on Instagram @bamboo_ben_ or on Facebook at Bamboo Ben. If you’re interested in having this legend design your home or commercial bar space, reach out on social media or on his email at bambooben@aol.com Thank you for joining us on this episode. We have a few more episodes planned for this summer series leading up to Tiki Oasis. Ryley will be giving a seminar at Tiki Oasis all about the history of the tiki revival. Tickets are still available at tikioasis.com/friday-seminars-26 for his Friday seminar from 1:30-2:30. We raffled off 2 standard tickets for Tiki Oasis over on Instagram, and the winner is announced at the end of this video. It’ll be announced on Instagram tomorrow. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s been good talking to you, and until next time… Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
June 5 · 1 hr 29 min
Jeff "Beachbum" Berry - Episode Twenty-Nine
Welcome back to The Tiki Talk Show! Following our brief hiatus, Ryley and Ellie sat down with a true member of the Mount Rushmore of the Tiki Revival, Jeff, Beachbum, Berry. Jeff first discovered Polynesian Pop as a child in the fleeting glimpses he caught of Ah Fong’s restaurant bar in the San Fernando Valley. The intricate escapism always lingered in the back of Jeff’s mind, but it wasn’t until he reached drinking age that Tiki began to creep back into his life. Berry was searching Los Angeles for a decent drink at a time when he recalls even the Old Fashioned’s came blended. He found respite in the small, Hollywood staple, The Tiki Ti. These tropical cocktails served by one of Donn the Beachcomber’s original bartenders was a welcome change, but when he asked Mr. Buhen what he was putting in his drinks, Berry was met with a generic answer preserving closely guarded secrets. That moment hurtled Berry into the world of tropical cocktails and rum rhapsodies that were being lost to time. Decades of research, interviews, writing, and storytelling later, Beachbum Berry has saved these drinks from extinction and made them widely available to tiki lovers and craft cocktail aficionados the world over. The Bum has published seven books containing not only cocktail and food recipes but the history of their creation, the places that served them, and the people who created and served beverages that captured the public’s attention for decades. Now, Jeff and wife Annene own Latitude 29, their own cocktail bar in New Orleans, Louisiana, where locals and travelers alike and quench their thirst for a quality tiki cocktail and revel in the gorgeous theming and decor. Go to https://beachbumberry.com to find Jeff’s books, the link to purchase his Total Tiki cocktail app, information on his restaurant, rums, syrups, and so much more. You can also find him on Instagram @official_beachbumberry and @latitude29nola. Thank you for joining us for this episode. It’s so good to be back talking to revival heroes and sharing that information with all of you. We are looking forward to a few more episodes coming out this summer, Tiki Oasis in August, and our move overseas at the end of summer. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s been good talking to you, and until next time… Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
April 17 · 21 min
Episode Twenty-Eight - It's Been a Pleasure but Until Then...
It's been a great year for Ellie and Ryley! Not just in tiki, but in so many amazing experiences. This episodes serves as a great transition note for us all. We hate to tell you, but The Tiki Talk Show you've known, is over. But fear not! This is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for all of us. We are moving to the United Kingdom! Yes, you read that right, England! This was as unexpected for us as it is for you all, but it's something that we are looking forward to. We want to be clear though, other than scheduling, nothing will change! We will always bring stories from the revival but scheduling is a real consideration. Listen on to hear how The Tiki Talk Show will be moving forward! Thank you all for all you've done over the last year! -Ryley and Ellie Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date when new episodes are released.
April 3 · 49 min
Episode Twenty-Seven - First Wave Tiki
This week on The Tiki Talk Show, Ryley sits down with William and Kelly of First Wave Tiki. This husband and wife, artistic duo take first-wave tiki treasures and reimagine them into works of art for the modern tiki-phile. They first got into tiki around 2020 in Los Angeles. An antiquities dealer by trade, Will ran into tiki artifacts naturally; the first wave treasures were coming up for sale in auctions and estate sales where their uniqueness, exoticism, and beauty piqued his interest. Getting started into selling tiki antiques, Kelly lent her creativity to the business by refreshing worn down pieces and repurposing older treasures into modern works of art. Besides refreshing older "antikis" as they call them, First Wave Tiki also offers custom carving and building decor. They love working with individuals to help their tiki visions come to life. Stepping into an established tiki community can be intimidating, but as Will and Kelly have continued vending over time, they have shaken off feeling shackled to their booth and been able to express their true love and enthusiasm for this hobby and all of the people who make it so great. Check out their website to see their current showpieces and let them know if they can help purvey that item that's been on your wishlist for far too long. Keep up with them on social media to see where they'll be vending next so you can meet these lovely people and take home an "antiki" treasure of your own. You can find Will and Kelly at their website firstwavetiki.com or on Instagram or Facebook @firstwavetiki. Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you.Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
March 6 · 25 min
Episode Twenty-Six - The Donn of Tiki
This week, Ryley and Ellie get back to the interviews by welcoming Max Well, co-producer of The Donn of Tiki, to the show. Max and fellow co-producer Alex Lamb got interested in tiki in 2020. As filmmakers, they were interested in highlighting L.A.’s tiki bar culture before they fell down the rabbit hole of tiki history and the legend that is Donn the Beachcomber. The Donn of Tiki tells the story of Donn, born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gant, as he formed the legendary character and bar brand that brought rum-based cocktails and exotic escapism to the forefront of American culture. Listen to Max explain the creative process behind the project, the fun diving into the differences between the Donn Beach the man and the myth, and what’s coming up next for wider distribution. Several of our previous guests were contributors for this film including Tim Glazner, Adrian Eustaquio, Marie King, Sven Kirsten, Otto, and Baby Doe von Stroheim. For more about Donn the Beachcomber listen to our interviews with Tim Glazner and Marie King linked below. Follow along with The Donn of Tiki team on their website thedonnoftiki.com and on Instagram @thedonnoftiki to stay tuned about physical and streaming releases. https://youtu.be/iE1bs4YU0Vs?si=1lgf8vUwicDKTRN4 Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
February 20 · 33 min
Episode Twenty-Five - A Trip to the Mai Kai
This week on The Tiki Talk Show, Ryley and Ellie recap their recent trip to the crown jewel of North American Tiki establishments, The Mai-Kai. First opened in 1956, The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been serving delicious food, great drinks, and a fantastic experience for decades. Ryley and Ellie headed south for a few days to get away from Maryland’s cold and snowy weather, and south Florida did not disappoint. Visiting The Mai-Kai was the center-point of this great trip, and they had the best tour guide to show them around. They met up with Hurricane Hayward, author of The Atomic Grog blog, who you’ll remember from Episode 16. Hurricane has devoted years, and many many words to capturing The Mai-Kai’s greatness first by detailing their extensive cocktail program through to their renovation and revival of the property. Ryley and Ellie were very fortunate to have his expertise and discerning eye as they meandered the gorgeous property and took in every little detail. Be sure to check out Hurricane Haywards blog for more Mai Kai greatness at www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/. Also featured in this episode is Tim “Swanky” Glazner’s amazing book on the Mai Kai which you can find at many major retailers across the world. Thank you so much to the Mai Kai and the amazing staff for the great hospitality. We loved every second, and can’t wait to be back! Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you and we’re looking forward to a great new year with you! Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
February 6 · 19 min
Episode Twenty-Four - The Future of The Tiki Talk Show
Ladies and gentlemen, we are back! After a brief hiatus, we are slowly getting back up to speed and bringing you more great interviews. We wanted to record a quick episode to let you know what we have going on. Throughout January, we were ran ragged and we are still recovering so no interview this week. We have a lot in store here in the next few months and a lot of very exciting announcements coming up. Until we are fully back up to speed, you have to deal with a quick episode with just Ryley. Thank you all for your continued support, we really appreciate it! We hope to talk to you all soon!
January 9 · 1 hr 42 min
Episode Twenty-Three - Josh and Babz Collins
Happy New Year Tiki Talk Show family! Ryley and Ellie kick off 2026 with a chat spanning 10,000 miles. We were joined by Australia’s resident tiki power couple, Josh & Babz Collins. Originally from London, U.K., these two have left an indelible mark on tiki and vintage subcultures wherever they’ve gone. Music drew both Josh and Babz to the wide world of vintage, mod, tiki, and more, and it has certainly been an integral part of their passion and recipe for success ever since. What started out as regularly hosting bands and club nights at some of London’s best underground clubs and venues eventually led to multi-day music festivals to highlight garage, surf, rockabilly, mod, ska, and more. These events not only promised amazing music but intricate decor, costuming, and theming thanks to Josh’s background in theatrical production and Babz’s passion for vintage fashion. Eventually, the Collinses were looking to spread their wings and make a change, a decision that would take them half-way around the world. A journey through several of the South Pacific’s islands provided a deeper insight and appreciation for all things tiki, tropical, and exotic. It also provided several great carvings and other genuine artifacts that the couple still holds dear. That journey around the pacific culminated in their move to the west coast of Australia. Here, they let their imaginations run wild with dreams of a theme park, The Zombie Zoo, which unfortunately never saw the light of day. However, they did open the Hula Bula Bar, a tropical paradise in an area unaccustomed to such intricate, escapist surroundings. From there, the Devilles Pad brought forth images of a 1960s Las Vegas cocktail bar, owned by the devil himself. Lastly, their bar, The LuWow, highlighted a technicolor, exotic dreamscape introducing tropical cocktails to a new audience. Beyond the bars, Josh and Babz also make “camp & colorful trash cinema” reminiscent of B-movies from the 50s and 60s. Josh & Babz truly understand the two most important parts of the tiki revival period: how to be artistic and build something new, and how to bring people together to have a great time. Their influence on the international tiki revival scene has been instrumental. You can find Josh and Babz on Instagram @theluwow or at theluwow.com and thezombiezoo.com. And here’s a link to buy their book, The Lore of the LuWow: https://a.co/d/6OAP9e1 Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you and we’re looking forward to a great new year with you! Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Dec 26, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Episode Twenty-Two - Charles Phoenix
Merry Christmas! This week, Ellie and Ryley sat down with the king of cool, Charles Phoenix, for a post-Christmas chat. Charles Phoenix is a mid-century expert, professional presenter, and writer who has written a number of books on the mid-century style we all love. Charles Phoenix is best known for his slide shows displaying mid-century Kodachrome photos, but he’s also an avid car enthusiast and a chef who’s known for the coolest kitchen creations. Charles Phoenix got a foundation of his love of style while going to his father’s car lot and seeing cars of the 1950s and 1960s. The chrome, fins, and dramatic changes between years drew a young Charles Phoenix into the mid-century style. By the 1980s, Charles was a thrift store connoisseur finding hosts of vintage clothes and forgotten treasures from years past. At this point, there was no term called “mid-century modern” or Googie, but Charles enjoyed driving around the San Fernando Valley finding old restaurants, coffee shops, bowling alleys, and anywhere else he could find mid-century eye candy. While he was doing this, he never let his love of cars fall out of sight so he regularly owned cars that he grew up idolizing. By the mid-1990s, Charles had collected a vast amount of vintage Kodachrome film slides depicting life in yesteryear. As his collection grew, he felt that he needed to share these photos with others so he could keep the spirit of post-war America alive. At first, he encountered mixed reviews from those who didn’t believe people would be interested in seeing these photos, but boy did he prove them wrong. His slide shows took off and eventually spread into a LA-based driving tour, visiting remaining Googie monuments. The attraction kept growing and eventually he began working of a number of books that he released throughout the late 90s and early-2000s. Never one to shy away from a new way to spread the mid-century style, he began using social media platforms to share his passion for the topic. Now, Charles does live presentations of his various slideshows across the country where you can watch his passion for uniqueness, creativity, and color feed the flames of nostalgia growing in your soul. But, if you can’t make it to the live shows, recorded versions of the presentations are available to watch on his website or YouTube. You can find Charles Phoenix on Instagram at @_charlesphoenix, on his website at charlesphoenix.com, or on his YouTube at www.youtube.com/@_charlesphoenix. Thank you for joining us for The Tiki Talk Show’s last episode in 2025. We’re looking forward to 2026 and all of the amazing things that will come with the new year. Be sure to check out our other show, Tiki Today, to see what’s going on now in the tiki space, made possible by all of the revival efforts of the past. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you, and we’ll see you in 2026! Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Dec 12, 2025 · 1 hr 35 min
Episode Twenty-One - Otto and Baby Doe Part Two
This week on The Tiki Talk Show Ellie and Ryley chat with Otto and Baby Doe von Stroheim for a second time. That’s right, it’s the first ever 2 part series for this show, though it’s sure not to be the last. If you haven’t seen part 1 yet, where we talk about the 80s-2001 be sure to check that out. Last time, we left off in 2001, where Tiki News had released its final (published) issue and come to an unofficial end. At the same time, the now renowned event, Tiki Oasis, was just beginning. We hear the stories about the first Tiki Oasis, how the event grew, changed, and developed over the years as well as the introduction of Tiki Oasis Arizona. But Otto and Baby Doe have been involved in so much more than this iconic celebration of the Polynesian Pop. We talk about Baby Doe’s involvement in the burlesque community and the Tease-O-Rama events, art and museum exhibitions, the Tiki Art Now! books, and more. We had a fantastic time listening to their passion and love for tiki and the community it draws together for a second time, and we hope you do too. You can find Otto on Instagram @ottovs, Baby Doe @xoxobabydoe, and be sure to follow @tikioasis for all the fun and exciting updates and news. Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. Stay tuned for part 2, coming out December 13. Be sure to check out our other show, Tiki Today, to see what’s going on now in the tiki space, made possible by all of the revival efforts of the past. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Nov 28, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
Episode Twenty - Otto and Baby Doe
This week, Ellie and Ryley have the first of a two-part series with Otto and Baby Doe von Stroheim, a Bay Area based tiki power couple. Best known for their world-renowned tiki weekender, Tiki Oasis, Otto and Baby Doe have poured so much time, love, passion, and effort into the tiki scene beyond this iconic event. This first part covers their beginnings in tiki, through the nineties, up to the first Tiki Oasis in 2001. Stayed tuned for part two to hear about the 2000s, 2010s, to now. Otto first dipped his toes into tiki in the late 80s when he started hosting yearly backyard luaus with his roommates in Southern California. His tiki interest and involvement developed from associated music sub-genres like lounge and swing. Thrift store finds like aloha shirts and tiki mugs fueled these great gatherings that became more and more popular and grand year after year. Those backyard parties were just a glimpse into the future of event hosting and bringing people together to enjoy music, art, great company, and fun drinks. Baby Doe had a website in the 90s where she talked about anything and everything she found interesting, including anything midcentury and other people’s collections. Eventually, tiki piqued her interest and Baby Doe became one of the first “tiki” websites out there, sharing what she knew and found with anyone that had a computer and internet access. Otto started Tiki News, a tiki fanzine (fan-created magazine), in 1995 and began spreading tiki interest and intrigue from coast to coast and beyond. For just a couple dollars, a Xerox copied, hand stapled, treasure trove of ads and information could connect a budding tiki revivalist to a whole wide world. At the end of that year, he hosted Exoticon at the Park Plaza Hotel as a tiki and lounge event that sold out and brought together people from across the subculture scenes at the time. From there, Otto moved up to the Bay Area to be with Baby Doe and combine their passion, creativity, and love of the midcentury. With DJ gigs, concerts, events, continuing Tiki News, and finding other ventures, Otto and Baby Doe became a big part of the Bay Area tiki revival scene. As Otto and Baby Doe make clear, it’s important to them to bring people together. We end this episode at the event that has brought so many of us together year after year; Tiki Oasis. Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. Stay tuned for part 2, coming out December 13. Be sure to check out our other show, Tiki Today, to see what’s going on now in the tiki space, made possible by all of the revival efforts of the past. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Oct 31, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
Episode Eighteen - Behind the Curtain
This Halloween episode brings more treats than tricks as Ellie and Ryley share a peak behind the curtain into their research process. We walk through books, websites, music, movies, and other podcasts that have given us a jumping off point for the Tiki Revival period and the guests that we interview on this show. By no means is this an exhaustive list into tiki research materials, but hopefully it gives you a place to start if you’re looking. Feel free to share your favorite tiki resources in the comments below. List of resources mentioned: Books: -Grog Log by Jeff Berry -The Book of Tiki by Sven Kirsten -Tiki Roadtrip by James Teitelbaum -Ninety Years of Classic San Diego Tiki by Martin Lindsey Websites: -tikicentral.com -slammie.com/atomicgrog -swankpad.org -ultimatemaitai.com -digitiki.com Music: -Lahaina Sunset by Mark Riddle -Creepxotica by Creepxotica -Forbidden Isle of Demos by Combustible Edisons Movies: -Plastic Paradise: A Swingin’ Trip Through America’s Polynesian Obsession -The DVD of Tiki Vol. 1: Paradise Lost Podcast: -Inside the Desert Oasis Room Podcast by Adrian Eustaquio Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. Be sure to check out our other show, Tiki Today, to see what’s going on now in the tiki space, made possible by all of the revival efforts of the past. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Oct 17, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
Episode Seventeen - Swanky Glazner
This week, in continuation with a month of Mai-Kai love and appreciation, Ryley and Ellie host Tim “Swanky” Glazner on the podcast. Tim is a co-founder of the East Coast’s original tiki weekender, the Hukilau, historian for the Mai-Kai, and a Donn the Beachcomber expert. His interest in tiki comes from an appreciation for mid-century design, style, culture, and nostalgia. When the Hukilau found its home at the Mai-Kai, Swanky became entranced with the tiki palace of an era he had long admired. As he became closer with the Mai-Kai family he found himself asking questions, hearing stories, and incidentally, collecting an oral history of this iconic Florida tiki bar. Eventually, that quest for stories became intentional, and he sought out those who had been part of the Mai-Kai’s story, past or present, to preserve their stories for the future. In 2016, he compiled all of these stories and his knowledge of the Mai-Kai into a book. The Mai-Kai’s rich history is forever intertwined with that of Donn the Beachcomber. As Tim was researching the Mai-Kai and capturing its stories, he found himself fascinated with the tales of tiki’s mystic and mythical founder. After his first book, Glazner pivoted to collected stories and oral histories of Donn Beach before the people who knew him best were lost to the sands of time. Tim’s steady pursuit to separate fact from fiction on tiki’s man of mystery has led him to author another book, this one on the life of Donn the Beachcomber. He’s also been an associate producer on a recent film about Donn called The Donn of Tiki. His book is set to release early next year, and we are so excited to keep an eye out and jump on the pre-release wagon when it comes around. You can find Tim on Instagram @swankpad and online at swankpad.org. You can find his Mai-Kai book and more at maikaihistory.com. Check out Donn-beach.com to keep up with Swanky’s research into this iconic tiki figure and keep an eye on his book release. Visit thedonnoftiki.com to find showtimes, tickets, merch and more for the Donn Beach documentary that Tim helped produce. Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. Be sure to check out our other show, Tiki Today, to see what’s going on now in the tiki space, made possible by all of the revival efforts of the past. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Oct 3, 2025 · 59 min
Episode Sixteen - Jim "Hurricane" Hayward
This week, Ryley and Ellie chat with Jim “Hurricane” Hayward, author of The Atomic Grog blog and a fixture in the South Florida tiki scene. Hurricane Hayward has been into Midcentury culture and design for quite a while, but it was the Hukilau and the magic of the Mai Kai that launched his passion for all things Polynesian Pop. A few years later, he’s combining his professional work of journalism with his love for tiki. Hurricane Hayward’s blog, The Atomic Grog, features cocktails, events, art, music, and culture throughout the tiki scene. His events calendar is a comprehensive guide to any tiki, surf, or related gathering coming up. His cocktail guide includes authentic historical recipes, great new libations, and his tributes to the originals. Not to mention, his documentation of the Mai Kai’s history, sale, and restoration are some of the most detailed and complete. Outside of his entertaining and informative blog, Hurricane has been a presenter at several tiki events. We talk about his upcoming presentation at Inuhele which focuses on the tiki revival which is clearly near and dear to our hearts. Be sure to get tickets to the event and Atlanta to see Hurricane Hayward, and we will be there as well. Ryley and I are hoping to make it down to Florida soon to see the Mai Kai, and based on everything this video showed, we may have to move that timetable up. We had a fantastic time chatting with Jim “Hurricane” Hayward, and we appreciate his time and stories. You can find Hurricane on his website theatomicgrog.com. And be sure to show the Mai Kai some love! You can find them at Maikai.com. Thanks for joining us on this week’s episode. You can find us on Instagram @thetikitalkshow or @konacove_hometikibar. Be sure to click the link below to open our Linktree to find the show, connect with us on Facebook or Instagram, or join our postcard mailing list. Find Ryley’s second show on YouTube @tikitoday to see our summer recap. As always, it’s been great talking to you. -Ryley and Ellie Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow
Sep 19, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
Episode Fifteen - Adrian Eustaquio
This week on The Tiki Talk Show, Ellie and Ryley talk to a legend in the tiki community and one of the OG tiki podcasters, Adrian Eustaquio, host of Inside the Desert Oasis Room Podcast. Adrian’s love for tiki dates back to the late 1980s when a family member renewed their vows at Don the Beachcombers in Southern California. Entranced by the eternal twilight, young Adrian had a chance to walk around the near empty restaurant that was once a vibrant establishment. Adrian caught the bug, and from then on, he was collecting bits and pieces from thrift stores over the next few years. In the mid-90s, a lot fell into place for Adrian to find his new passion. He discovered Oceanic Arts, met many new friends, and started getting involved. Over the last 30 years, Adrian has been at countless tiki events, collaborated on so many projects, and has been one of the most consistent advocates for the authentic, mid-century tiki style. His contributions to the tiki scene range far beyond his podcast (which has inspired our own) to include advising roles for a few movies and commercial bars. Adrian is an amazing person to talk to and an asset to the tiki community! You can find Adrian on Instagram and YouTube @polynesianpop and wherever you get your podcasts as Inside the Desert Oasis Room. Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. Be sure to check out our other show, Tiki Today, to see what’s going on now in the tiki space, made possible by all of the revival efforts of the past. If you’re interested in being interviewed, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Sep 5, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Episode Fourteen - The Kon-Tigo Tiki Bar
This week, Ellie and Ryley are joined by Gregorio Pantoja, owner of the Kon-tigo Tiki Bar, co-author of the new book Fassionola, professor, and historian. What began as a home tiki bar in Southern California has transformed into a preservation project for one of Tiki’s lesser known heroes. Most know the stories of Donn the Beachcomber, Trader Vic, and even Stephen Crane, but Harry Yee is a less frequently mentioned, yet just as influential figure from the Golden Age of Tiki. His contributions to the tiki world include Hawaiian cocktails, tropical drink garnishes, and a legacy at the Hawaiian Village. Gregorio was inspired by Harry Yee’s amazing contributions and sought to make them more widely known. He draws inspiration from the illustrations on Hawaiian Village’s vintage menu and brings those iconic mugs into the 21st century. He’s also resurrected hanging Chinese lantern drink garnishes and makes them widely available on his Etsy. Beyond his Harry Yee tribute projects, Gregorio has also co-authored a book on Fassionola, or as the original was known, Passionola. The book details the history of this cocktail ingredient, and offers the truth of its original flavor profile and color. Along with the book, Gregorio and co-author Martin Lindsey offer the Passionola product for purchase, so you too can get a taste of history. Beyond all of this, Gregorio is dedicated to giving back to Polynesian and Asian American communities and charities. You can learn more about his charitable contributions on his Kon-Tigo Tiki website. You can find Gregorio on Instagram @thekontigotikibar and @p.fassionola, on his website https://thekontigotikibar.com or on Etsy to purchase his products at https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheKonTigoTikiBar. You can learn more about Passionola, as well as purchase the book and syrup at https://passionola.com. As mentioned at the end of this episode, we are no longer going to be doing artist spotlights at the end of our full-length episodes here on The Tiki Talk Show. When we started this show, we knew that focusing on the stories on the revival was our main mission, but Ryley and I have such a passion for art and artists that we wanted to use this new platform to highlight them as well. However, as we’ve grown over the last five months, we want to refocus the goal of this series back on the revival stories. Also, we want to offer artists the respect of having their own highlight not following a main interview. Enter Ryley’s new YouTube only series, Tiki Today. This visual platform will give artists the opportunity to show off their amazing creations and get the highlight attention they deserve. It will also allow those artists who have had an impact on the early-mid tiki revival period to talk about their experiences and history in a longer style interview here on this show. We hope you understand our reasoning behind splitting up these two segments of the show, and we want to emphasize again that the Artist Spotlight is not going away; it’s just moving homes. Most importantly, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of the artists we have interviewed over these last months! You all are amazing and we love and value you! Let us know what you think of this change. You can comment on this show wherever you’re listening, message us on Instagram or Facebook, or send us an email. Thank you for joining us on this week’s episode of The Tiki Talk Show. If you’re interested in being interviewed about your revival stories and experiences, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. Keep an eye out for Ryley’s new show Tiki Today on YouTube, and you can also find him on Instagram @tikitoday. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Aug 22, 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
Episode Thirteen - Community Episode Number 1
Unlucky 13 has no such hold on The Tiki Talk Show because we are fortunate to have our amazing listeners, friends, and tiki family participate in this community episode! Ryley and Ellie were busy at Tiki Oasis seeing our friends, making new ones, and partying to our hearts content. For those who couldn’t make it in person, they sent in videos to share their tiki history and experiences. Grab your drink of choice and enjoy this relaxed episode with our tiki family and friends. Ellie and Ryley are definitely kicking their feet up and enjoying a bit of relaxation after all the fun in San Diego and San Francisco. Our guests on this episode can be found at: -Seth: @hamo_tiki on Instagram -Kara Pleshe: @inbloom.photos on Instagram -Woody Miller: @woodyworld on Instagram and Woodymillerart.com -Abby Normal Hangings: @abbynormalhangings on Instagram and abbynormalhangings.com -Enchanting Innovations: @enchantinginnovationsllc -John Humphrey: @humphreyshideout -Edward Burke: Host of Tiki North with Exotic Ed at www.bigheavyworld.com/stream. Instagram at @rumflutedj -Kristen Gruber: @tikicruiser on Instagram We will be back to our regular interviews that you know and love next time, but for now we want to say thank you again to our community! If you are interested in being interviewed or highlighted as our artist spotlight, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie
Aug 8, 2025 · 1 hr 32 min
Episode Twelve - Spike
This week, Ellie and Ryley sit down with Spike Marble, photographer, videographer, graphic artist, and musician. He’s best well known for his YouTube shows Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour, his new show Tiki Cocktails with Spike, and his band The Hula Girls. Spike grew up with tiki just behind his shoulder, growing up in Southern California. When Spike was in college, his professor introduced him into the world of tiki. Spike first go into tiki from the Rockabilly and Punk music scenes. From there, Spike wandered out into the wide world of tiki and hasn’t looked back since. Since the beginning of his journey, Spike contributed to Tiki Central, hosted concerts, and was the house band for a legendary bar. Spike has been a constant force in the scene since at least 2003. During the COVID pandemic Spike decided to combine two passions—videography and sharing tiki love. Thus, Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour was born. Since then, Spike has garnered tens of thousands of views, spawned his own cruise line event, and even found a full time job in tiki. Spike is a full time tiki lover and shares his passion on social media. You can find Spike on YouTube by searching “Spike’s breezeway cocktail hour”, his website at https://www.breezewaycocktailhour.com or you can purchase his records from Hi-Tide recordings at https://hitiderecordings.com/collections/the-hula-girls. On Instagram you can find him @thehulagirls @tiki.cocktails and @spikeandthecamera Thank you for joining us on The Tiki Talk Show. We’re so excited to be here at Tiki Oasis with you all! Be sure to come say hi and grab some stickers and postcards. If you are interested in being interviewed or highlighted as our artist spotlight, send us an email at thetikitalkshow@gmail.com. Click the link below to see our link tree and find us on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also fill out our Google Form to get on our postcard mailing list. It’s been good talking to you. Linktr.ee/thetikitalkshow -Ryley and Ellie