Drinking Partners

The Drinking Partners welcome Jerry Dickinson, a constitutional law and property professor at the University of Pittsburgh and candidate for the Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District. Both Ed and Day are smitten with Professor Dickinson from the opening introduction and offer a ringing endorsement: he has an “electable face.” Speaking on the importance of defending democracy and being a champion for the people, Mr. Dickinson shares his own personal story, one that began in the Pittsburgh foster care system. Now, he seeks to be a “transformational leader,” one who will not accept corporate PAC money and supports grassroot movements. Listen in for a real conversation about policy and plans and a comprehensive discussion on how Mr. Dickinson wants to make certain that no residents of the 18th District are left behind. Stay tuned until the closing minutes to hear his 30-second elevator pitch and his favorite form of potato. To learn more about Jerry Dickinson, visit his website: www.jerrydickinson.com.

Nate Kresge of GK Visual joins the Drinking Partners and talks about his award-winning documentary, Poured in Pennsylvania, which explores the state’s beer-centric history. The full-length film goes deeper than just breweries and beer and examines the stories and people behind the surging craft beer industry across Pennsylvania. Nearly seventy breweries are featured throughout the documentary, and, with more stories to tell, the production company is now working on a regular series. Midway through, Ed and Day lead Nate off-topic as the group talks sneakers, with some hilarious results, before discussing current trends: barrel-aged stouts, low ABV beers, and brewery-made seltzers. Listen in for a preview of what stories to expect to see during the film, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and find out more: http://www.pouredinpa.com.

What started off in old school bus purchased in Philadelphia has now grown into a soon-to-be-open restaurant in the North Side as The Coop Chicken & Waffles takes flight. Justin Fitzgerald, co-owner and a Texas native, joins the Drinking Partners to talk about his transition to Pittsburgh living and the family recipes that have made their food truck so popular in and around the city. Mr. Fitzgerald offers an inside look into the switch from operating a food truck to opening a storefront and the ups and downs that go along with that change. Both Ed and Day are thrilled when Justin offers to co-host in exchange for chicken. Listen in for clues about what makes their chicken so special (14 ingredients!) and why they insist upon a fresh, made to order, and customer first approach. Keep up with The Coop Chicken & Waffles: www.thecooppgh.com and @thecooppgh across social media.

The Drinking Partners invite Gary Olden and Andy Kwiatkowski of Hitchhiker Brewing back to the podcast, which Ed predicts will be a fun interview, as the paired names of Gary and Andy “sounds like a good time.” The owner/brewer duo stop by to discuss their newest venture: a new Downtown location that will be both a taproom and espresso bar. They celebrate by sipping on Usual Chaos, or as Day puts it, “an 80’s band in a glass,” a kettle sour with blackberries and raspberries. Andy gets specific about current beer trends and how that affects his brewing choices. Midway though, the laughs come as Ed quizzes Andy and Gary about who is the more passive aggressive partner. Next, they sample a blended hop beer, or as Ed calls it, “a mystery spin on Mario Cart.” Listen in as they discuss their goals as a brewery, from national recognition to making their beer better. In the latter half, Gary shares their goals for the newest venture, “Coffee during the day, beer at night.” A must listen episode for beer lovers, espec

The Drinking Partners welcome hip hop artist/speaker/activist Brittney Chantele, who introduces Ed and Day to her distinctive style of mixing music and visual art. Her mixed genre approach gets explained as she examines Pittsburgh’s music scene while reflecting on her own story, one that is just as dynamic as the music and art she creates. Listen in as Brittney talks about both the artistic and business side of collaborations and how she chooses which projects to develop and what shows to take. Midway through, Ms. Chantele offers an intimate analysis of her upcoming album (release date: 2/17/2020), “The Golden Opportunity,” and how her military experience impacted it. Listen in for an important discussion that centers on topics raised during that conversation. A fast, fierce, and frank interview that is both enjoyable and valuable. Brittney Chantele’s album release party for “The Golden Opportunity” will be held at the Thunderbird Café on February 22 at 8pm, or find more information about her music, art, and

Live from Fresh Fest 2019, the Drinking Partners enthusiastically welcome Brooklyn Brewery’s brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, or as Ed calls him, “Mr. Renaissance.” With an audience as excited as both Ed and Day watching, Mr. Oliver gets right into what he sees as the recovery of the American food industry, one that was deceptive for decades. He effortlessly teaches history to those listening by exploring the rich, multi-cultural history of American cuisine, one that was replaced by “food facsimiles.” The trio then examines how to expand the perimeters of the craft beer scene to allow it to be more inclusive and approachable, a shared goal of everyone on the panel and the purpose behind the Fresh Fest Beer Fest. There’s beer drinking, too, to be sure as Ed and Day taste a smooth 9% Belgian strong golden that was heavily influenced by a Belgian brewer who came to New York to teach Mr. Oliver the re-fermentation process. The story also highlights what can happen when people share their keys. In the latter minutes of

Cue Perry, artist and entrepreneur, visits with the Drinking Partners in the latest podcast release. As an artist who wants his work to “speak to the wild, creative, open minds who dare to express themselves,” CB Perry is known for pushing boundaries, from body painting to deconstructing pop culture with a humorous touch. In the early minutes, he talks about how to move from artist to businessman and how to monetize your passion, which he has done successfully as a full-time artist for the last year by focusing on peer-to-peer mentoring, marketing and sales, pricing, and time management. Aside from his business approach, Cue also shares his artistic approach, which Ed and Day take in their own strange (and NSFW) direction. You’ll be left shaking your head after that body-centric conversation. Ed and day settle down to discuss other artsy things, such as when Cue knows a piece of his work is finished and how he values them. Listeners might enjoy his explanation of how his work is interpreted and what control h

As the Drinking Partners start the new year with a call for feedback as they head into year 6, they also institute some new rules of their own, like warning their guests of the “dangerous 9” they are sipping from Allagash Brewing. After coming up with a creative name for such a strong beer, Ed and Day introduce Keven, Jesse, and Ben from Los Vampiros Amarillos, a Pittsburgh-based rock band with a blues-infused sound who talk about the band’s equally-creative name, one that they adopted after their original name no longer worked (listen in for why). Their advice for new bands: Decide what you don’t want to sound like, which all three discuss as they share how they blended their individual musical sounds into a unified one. Another important tip centers on when and why to say no to gigs. The similarities between stand-up comedy and live music are compared and contrasted before the interview wraps up with more talk about beer and potatoes. Some things won’t change for 2020, including the Drinking Partner’s obses

Ed and Day try to convince their latest guest to embrace her superhero-like name: Captain Battle. Listen in to find out what comedienne Leslie Battle thinks of their antics before she schools them both with the experience that has come from her years as a woman and as a veteran. Now, as a comic, she explores life as a “mother, soldier, divorcee, and performer.” The interview expands well beyond that scope as Ms. Battle discusses her life as a Black woman; at times, the conversation is analytical and thoughtful before shifting to humorous fun, in the way that comics do best. At all times, the interview is a fast-paced and compelling listen as the stage-loving trio playfully competes for airtime. Stay tuned until the closing segment to hear why Leslie chose stand-up comedy and how it has been therapeutic for her. And listen especially close as Day asks, “What’s the cougar scene looking like?” You’ll find the Drinking Partners in their true habitat during the last twenty minutes as it gets rowdy and hilarious. T

Long-time listeners will be relieved to hear from Jennifer Dickquist, founding partner of JD Law, the official law firm of the Drinking Partners. Ms. Dickquist offers legal advice from the opening segment, sharing real tips to Ed, Day, and everyone tuning in. Curious about the oddest legal situation that the Drinking Partners have found themselves in? For Day, it was jaywalking, and for Ed, it was for waiting for a friend outside a club. Their playful admissions lead to a serious conversation about the racial inequalities prevalent throughout the judicial system. More, Attorney Dickquist offers tips on how best to navigate through to ensure the best outcome. Around the midway point, Ed and Day let the jokes loose, sharing tales of criminality in hilarious ways. For her part, Ms. Dickquist shares her own stories of some of her more memorable cases. An important, information-filled interview that shines a light on the legal system. Find Jennifer Dickquist at www.jdlawpa.com and learn more about her law practice

Clara Kent, a multidimensional artist, joins Ed and Day in the newest Drinking Partners podcast release. This soul-filled musician reflects on her newest collaboration project Tribe Eternal, a musical collective that aims to have a “rippling effect through our community and the world.” Proving her versatility, Ms. Kent explores her sounds, both as an individual and within Tribe Eternal. Or, as Ed says, Ms. Kent can “go from the r & b to the wobblety wobble.” From a thoughtful discussion of Ms. Kent’s voice and range to an examination of the influences in her solo project Aura, all avenues are explored with depth, truth, and lots of humor. From impromptu beats to the trio’s playful roasting of current musicians, the interview has something for everyone as Ms. Kent adds a natural and genuine vibe to the Drinking Partners mood. The closing minutes delve even deeper into music, both the industry and the r & b genre. Listen until the end to hear Ms. Kent (and Ed) freestyle. To hear more from Clara Kent, vi

Friend and guest host of the Drinking Partners, Dan Dongilli, revisits the studio to talk about his newest endeavor: Cloud Cryotherapy. As the name suggests, this new business in the Strip District offers Pittsburgh’s only cryotherapy treatment, which Ed and Day can’t seem to understand. Dan explains the anti-inflammatory results of the three-minute, -200 degrees session, combining the science behind the therapy in a way that listeners will be able make more sense of than the Drinking Partners, whose imaginations get the best of them when trying to picture the cryotherapy experience. Dan does a great job explaining how the treatment is beneficial for everyone, not just athletes, which makes Ed and Day examine their own health choices. What began as an alternative for auto-immune disorders and inflammation has expanded to include a range of treatments in a non-invasive and pharmaceutical-free way. True to themselves, Ed and Day interrupt with their own takes on cryotherapy, from requesting extra nitrogen to wo

The Drinking Partners don’t wait long to get into their verbal shenanigans in the newest podcast release. As only Ed and Day can manage, they make a debate about work “etiquette” definitely NSFW. By the time that Becky Zajdel and Adam Longwill of HackPittsburgh join the fun, the Drinking Partners are admittedly drunk. As Pittsburgh’s oldest maker space, HackPittsburgh offers a cooperative environment for members to come together and combine talents and skills in an educational, collaborative way, in addition to hosting events for the public. By sharing tools, skills, and ideas, the group offers a fully unique opportunity for its members to grow and learn in this exceptional DIY + community approach. From sewing and crafts to CPR certification and welding to electronics and woodworking (and many deviations in between), HackPittsburgh can expand anyone’s skillset, as Ed and Day learn. However, Ed is concerned what skill he can offer before it is suggested that he might be able to master the “soft arts.” This la

In this special episode, the Drinking Partners are live and hyped up from City Theatre with members of the cast and the director of One Night in Miami, a breakout play from Kemp Powers. Ed and Day are joined by director Reginald L. Douglas and actors Quincy Chad and Thomas Walker Booker in this energetic and triumphant interview live from the City Theatre’s lobby. Coming a short time after the masterful performance, the podcast carries on the vibe that the play invokes: one in which Black men are celebrated and their friendships honored. Based on a fictionalized evening in which friends Cassius Clay, Sam Cooke, Malcolm X, and Jim Brown gather in a hotel in Miami and muse about their lives as successful Black men and the varying stages of their careers, the play emphasizes their deep connections to one another while hinting at their futures. For the after-show interview, the Drinking Partners draw on this same connection as they investigate how the actors prepared for the roles and how Mr. Douglas allowed the

In the newest Drinking Partners podcast, Ed and Day welcome a trio of Pittsburgh Beer Ladies – Debbie, Amy, and Danielle. With 1800 members, the group prides itself on welcoming any “beer-loving lady who wants to drink beer with other beer-loving ladies.” With a large selection of beer before them, the group samples and speaks on each sip, from a barrel-aged sour from Noble Creature to the triple-hopped Stained Glass Ceiling from Dancing Gnome. As they explore the variety of beer, listeners will enjoy a refreshing listen with new and informed voices adding a much-needed angle to the craft beer industry. Of particular note is the discussion that focuses on what breweries can do to welcome more women (hint: less pink t-shirts) and the community atmosphere central to the vibe. As they uncork Eleventh Hour’s Double Nocturnal Rainbow, a dark coffee milk stout, the Pittsburgh Beer Ladies turn the tables on the Drinking Partners and ask them their own set of questions as they look to welcome more members, especially

Ed rates himself an 8.5 on the “segue scale” as he introduces Hannah Ferguson as a queen and one of America’s few Black female brewers. After an initial start in brewing wine, Ms. Ferguson shifted toward craft beer as the scene exploded and began working with Modern Methods Brewing Company in Warren, Ohio. The opening segments allow her to explain the differences between brewing wine and beer, and how she had to abandon the patience required for winemaking, only to be replaced by the anxiety that comes with brewing beer. The first beer that the group samples is an ESB, or English Style Bitter before they move onto The Percolator, a coffee lager created in collaboration with Youngstown Coffee Company. Want to learn what an “equatorial twerk” is? Listen for Day and Ed’s discussion midway through, although you might not fully understand even after their attempts to explain. Ed and Day can’t hide their excitement for the smoked chipotle imperial stout that Ms. Ferguson introduces next, a collaboration with Cockey

The Drinking Partners continue highlighting Pittsburgh’s vibrant entertainment scene by welcoming rapper livefromthecity and DJ Aesthetics. Ed starts off the interview by explaining his first time hearing of livefromthecity – from the rapper’s mom who might be his best promoter. Listen in as Ed continues to tease both guests, especially once he finds out how their relationship began. Next up, it’s DJ Aesthetics’ turn to talk about how she got her start and her own style, which leads to an interesting observation from livefromthecity, “Women are 100% the tastemakers of entertainment.” Why is Day examining duels and contemplating slapping someone with a glove to initiate one? You’ll find out around midway through the podcast. In the closing minutes, the discussion shifts to a more serious tone, from accountability for entertainers who commit crimes to the overall livability for Black women, which leads to livefromthecity speaking on what role consciousness plays in his music. To hear him and find out where he w

In the latest Drinking Partners release, Ed and Day welcome DJ Femi, an up-and-coming Pittsburgh deejay, who stops by to discuss her quick rise and how being a woman influences her career. There’s rarely a pause in the interview as the group enthusiastically chats about a collection of thoughts, from how to play a room to how Pittsburgh affects DJ Femi’s vibe. Of particular note might be when DJ Femi speaks on her future, which will involve a number of touring opportunities and an album release. Before the interview wraps up, the group talks on how important it is to support local artists and musicians. A highly energetic and fast-paced listen. Find DJ Femi all over social media as @djfemi412.

Khamil Scantling, founder of Cocoapreneur Pgh, which focuses on community development through economic growth and entrepreneurship, visits the Drinking Partners to highlight her newest project: Greenwood Week (October 27– November 2). Named in honAor of Black Wall Street, a thriving Black community in Tulsa, OK that was destroyed by race riots, the minority-focused business conference hopes to provide, “a guided path to running a successful business or brand.” Ms. Scantling explains the ideas behind Greenwood Week and what attendees can expect: networking events to classes on mental and financial health to budgeting, funding, and business plan development. Ed offers an interesting financial comparison of his own and promises listeners that they won’t miss the cost of the ticket price for Greenwood Week before the group gets back on topic and looks into how small investments lead to large possibilities. Midway through, Ms. Scantling gives detailed instructions on what to expect from the experts who will host G

In the newest Drinking Partners podcast release, Ed and Day are joined by Akita Donald and Brian Rossi, from AD99 Solutions, a Pittsburgh-based foundation that aims to “holistically prepare Pittsburgh’s underprivileged youth for life-long success.” To that end, AD99 focuses on academic, athletic, and social achievements and offers tutoring and mentoring, in addition to a wide-ranging support system. After some verbal shenanigans from Day, Ms. Donald explains the AD99 approach, from which communities they seek to assist to how they are trying to reduce the life-changing effects of systemic racism. Ed discusses how he is doing his part as well – by passing on his used sneakers to his nephews. In between a serious conversation about sport culture and how AD99 provides extended support, Ed and Day drop lots of amusing stories and pepper the interview with their usual Drinking Partners asides. Keep listening until the end to hear Ms. Donald’s advice on how to make positive changes, on a non-profit level and on a p