Nice Ashes: Cigars and Culture – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Mike and Nate enjoy smoking the Nest Maduro Toro cigar while diving into an extensive, candid review of the 2025 Disney live-action remake of Snow White. They discuss their expectations, the film’s heavy emphasis on modern, feel-good messaging over traditional storytelling, and its notable departures from the original animated classic. They critique the overly polished visuals, questionable costume design, excessive and mostly forgettable songs, and the diluted characterization—particularly of the Evil Queen, who comes off as far less menacing than expected. The hosts also analyze casting choices, with Rachel Zegler’s performance deemed adequate but not standout, and question Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen due to her youthful appearance.

Mike and Nate humorously unpack plot inconsistencies, such as the convenience of major events, the underwhelming “evil” actions of the Queen, and the surreal but lifeless tone that blurs the line between realism and fantasy. They poke fun at the politically correct changes, like the renaming of dwarves to “miners” or “they/thems,” the sanitized depiction of the forest and castle life, and the consensual “non-kiss” scene replacing the iconic true love’s kiss.

Despite numerous criticisms—from uneven pacing to uninspired magic effects—the duo ultimately finds the film “serviceable” and not the disaster many online claim it to be, giving it a middling rating. They recommend viewers stick to the original animated Snow White for a better experience but admit this remake can be passably entertaining if approached with low expectations. The episode ends with a note on comparable recent films, reflections on casting diversity, and candid thoughts on modern Hollywood storytelling trends.

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In this experimental episode, Mike and Nate light up a unique Dominican Sumatra cigar and chat about their flavor notes before diving into a lively discussion on classic movies getting re-released in theaters in 2025. They cover the enduring cult status and legal battles surrounding Kevin Smith’s Dogma, share personal takes on films like The Sound of Music, Brokeback Mountain, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Jaws, and Rocky Horror Picture Show, and reflect on changes in movie-going experiences and home theater setups. Tune in for cigar tasting, movie nostalgia, and offbeat insights on film, literature, and more.

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In this episode of "Nice Ashes," Mike and Nate discuss their experiences smoking the Chillin' Moose cigar while diving into the controversial documentaries by Matt Walsh, "What is a Woman?" and "Am I Racist?" Mike is skeptical about the Chillin' Moose cigar, describing it as having an odd flavor but adequate for an everyday smoke.

The conversation quickly shifts to the documentaries, where Mike, having watched "What is a Woman?", shares that Walsh's film addresses the complexities of gender identity through interviews with various experts, highlighting the evasive nature of some individuals when faced with straightforward questions. Nate, on the other hand, watched "Am I Racist?" and critiques Walsh’s abrasive style and comedic approach, suggesting that it often detracted from meaningful discourse. He expresses disappointment with Walsh's tendency to interject, arguing that the people he interviewed often presented irrational viewpoints that would have been more effective to let stand on their own without interruption.

Both hosts reflect on the nature of Walsh's film-making, comparing it to Michael Moore's style, characterized by an overt political agenda. They ultimately find both films lacking in terms of balance and insight, criticizing Walsh for not allowing authentic conversations to unfold while nonetheless acknowledging that they contain moments of significant commentary on societal issues. In the end, they both agree that there are better cigars to enjoy and more effective documentaries to watch.

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Mike and Nate smoke a CAO Black and talk about tattoos, piercings, age restrictions, professional dress, tanning beds, Nebraska's gender affirming surgery ban for minors, transtrending, plastic surgery, military recruiting, bullying, social media, Gifts From The Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow, writing systems, oral traditions, Star Wars, and camping.

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Mike and Nate smoke a Macanudo Inspirado Black and talk about the movies they've been watching, including Women Talking, Tar, Harvey Weinstein, Brendan Fraser, Avatar The Way of Water, The Mandalorian, Marvel, Book of Boba Fett, Cocaine Bear, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On, South Park, Good Burger, Rings of Power, television writers, the writers strike, Commando, The Barbarians, anime, Tokyo Godfathers, Ghost in the Shell, Your Name, A Silent Voice, Hustle, You People, Brokeback Mountain, and Russia downing a drone.

Mike and Nate smoke a CAO Italia for a Mike Knows episode about the Amish.

Mike and Nate smoke a CAO Brazilia and get heated about Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mandalorian, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ahsoka, train jumping, Rogue One, James Bond, modern writing, Lord of the Rings Victorian novels, and OH MY GOD HOW MUCH DOES MIKE LOVE AHSOKA?!?!?!

Mike and Nate smoke a CAO America and talk about Surly Brewing, tools, hand staplers, and a "Mike Knows" topic about the Manson family.

Mike and Nate smoke a Kristoff Connecticut and talk about Christmas, friends, The Case for Christ, The Case Against the Case for Christ, the origins of religion, Tammy Faye, mega-churches, fetishes, gay conversion, Egypt's sunken city, faith stories and snowmobilers.

Mike and Nate smoke a 5 Vegas Cask Strength, battle tech issues and talk about snow blowers, taxes, Marjorie Taylor Greene, national divorce, secession, moving for work, Britain's 4-day workweek trial, remote work productivity, artificial intelligence, Russian hackers, small towns, light beer, bowling, and technical issues.