The dynamic duo discuss current trends in the firewood industry and wax nostalgic of... today???  Huh???  Could TODAY be the golden age of our industry?  It just may be the case with the exciting machines being produced and the traction firewood is gaining on social media.

Dan and Joe discuss current events in the world of YouTube influencers involving lawsuits and hurt feelings.  A YouTuber was sued for a critical review and another had his professional license challenged for critical videos.  Where will the madness end?  

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials

The 2024 Midwest Firewood Frenzy was held on June 22, 2024 in Eau Claire Wisconsin and brought together a number of firewood fans and YouTube channels for the day.  The event was held at the Wolfe Ridge MFG factory which had their entire lineup of log splitters, grapples, and firepits on display.  Dan was in attendance and gave us a summary of the day.  Hilarity ensues!  

Dan and Joe discuss some of the scary things they encounter while messing around with a pile of firewood. All of the creepy crawleys, ferocious animals, and slithering snakes are lurking within. 

Today Dan and Joe discuss tipping and if it belongs in firewood delivery.  It seems lately in the USA a growing number of businesses are asking for tips, much to the chagrin of the customer.  It used to be servers in restaurants, hair stylists, bell hops and the like were tipped, now we are seeing it in fast food restaurants, drive thrus, and retail locations.  Where will the madness end?

Today the Wood Hounds talk about Joe's recent, and EXCITING, firewood delivery to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio!  One thing for sure the only way Joe's business was ever found by the Rock Hall was because of his company website.  Really, if you are in ANY business you should have a website but if you are selling firewood it is a necessity!!!

Roadside Firewood stands have become a popular way to earn extra dollars for aspiring firewood professionals and hobbyists.  But do these roadside stands run afoul of local zoning laws, ordinances, or annoyed neighbors?  Dan and Joe dive into the topic and do their best to stay in their own comfort zone for the entire episode!  

Wow!!  What a weekend!  The international firewood industry and community descended on Cortland, Ohio for the International Firewood Expo 2024 and EVERYONE was in good spirits.  What is even more impressive is the weather cooperated which is no small feat in northeast Ohio in the spring.  Dan and Joe reminisce on their experience and share their favorite moments.  Alas, the question is asked...will there be another Expo in 2025?

ALL roads lead to Ohio for the May 18th International Firewood Expo.  Dan and Joe discuss the work going into the big event and list all the things causing them stress in the set up.  Firewood, food trucks, and T-shirts galore.  Where else would you rather be?  

Dan and Joe discuss current trends in the economy relating to machines, computers, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).  AI is growing in popularity but will it ever find its place in firewood?   Is there a future for AI with firewood production and sales?  Can AI make things better for everyone or will ilt lead to the end of the world!?!?

Dan and Joe ramble on today about a number of things on their minds.  They also reflect on their recent interview with Paul Grenier of iDry Kilns and list a number of items they wish they would have thought of to ask.  Lastly, they speak of the kind and giving nature of the firewood community on social media.  

What is the big deal about kilns?  Are we missing something??  Well, today we begin our official deep-dive into the subject matter and speak with Paul Grenier of iDry Systems LLC. iDry is a kiln manufacturer from Barre Vermont.  We will do our best to ask the burning questions and turn up the heat to learn as much as we can about kilns and a new product brought to market by iDry! 

To learn more about iDry kilns please check out their website https://idrywood.com/   For specific inquiries for iDry please contact Paul at his email paul@idrysystems.com

Dan and Joe share some of their past customer service experiences and relate them to their own business endeavors. Also this week begins the one month countdown to the Paul Bunyan Timber show in Cambridge, Ohio. 

Dan and Joe spend time discussing a recent Facebook post that garnered widespread angst from the firewood community.  Can't we all just get along?  The duo follows up that discussion by answering questions posed in a very nice email written by a loyal listener. 

Today Dan and Joe talk about how life could be much easier and their business much more profitable if they would actually hire help.  Really?  Wouldn't this just cause more headaches?  Really?     No, seriously.  Really?

Dan and Joe really go off the reservation in today's discussion about the many ways people create their own problems by not controlling their emotions.  In most instances the things in life we all want are attainable if only we could remain focused on our goals and identify exactly what we want.

Dan and Joe revisit their previous episode involving an interview with Laurel Downs of The Nature Conservancy and their national Don't Move Firewood campaign.  The discuss some things that are still "bugging" them about invasive species and how firewood can be an unwitting contributor.  Hilarity ensues!    Please visit www.dontmovefirewood.org for more information and to check out invasive species in your state.  

In this episode, Dan and Joe interview Laurel Downs of The Nature Conservancy and their national educational outreach program, Don't Move Firewood.  Laurel teaches us about harmful bugs and invasive species and how they can hitchhike on firewood and damage healthy forests.  This is a topic near and dear to everyone who camps and who appreciates our forests.   Please visit their website www.dontmovefirewood.org   If you have specific questions please email Laurel at laurel.downs@TNC.org

Today the dynamic duo discuss a new product that Dan created and is now selling on the internet...Mini Firewood.  If you haven't noticed there is a growing trend in mini fire pits that are small enough to sit on a table top.  These new fire pits are a big hit by apartment dwellers and city folk looking for a wood burning experience but cannot have a large open fire.  Dan saw this as an opportunity to bring a new product to market and, with it, demonstrates how creative thinking can bring new opportunities to an old industry.     Here is Dan's website for mini firewood.  www.back40minifirewood.com 

Dan and Joe both have something in common...they both work from home.  While working from home is an excellent way to live a low-stress life there are still some down-sides to the practice.  One thing for sure, the 1 hour daily commute is much better spent sleeping in bed.

Now that is a roof you can look up to!  How can a major expense like a 12 foot roof ever pay for itself?  Probably never but today Dan and Joe discuss spending money to improve your area of operation despite not making total, financial sense.  The bottom line is, it is nice under a roof, and perhaps that is priceless!

Today Dan and Joe discuss an email they received about cherry firewood and possible poisons in the smoke. After a day of internet searches and phone calls to dietitians the duo are ready to disclose their findings.

Dan and Joe take time to celebrate their 100th episode of The Wood Hounds Podcast!  There were questions if a podcast about firewood could ever succeed and after a modest goal of four episodes was surpassed the podcast was well on its way!  Dan and Joe discuss their favorite past episodes, discuss their biggest failures, and talk about future ideas for the next 100 episodes.  

Dan and Joe take a shallow dive into the world of science to help them better understand a better method of seasoning firewood...not that any exists but that's beside the point!

Dan and Joe sit down with Richard Heby, the owner of Woodbourne Boys Firewood from Brooklyn New York.   Richard gives a fascinating peek into how he operates his firewood delivery service in and around NYC.  Richard shows how, when he is not sitting in traffic, he procures his inventory and how he delivers kiln dried firewood to the many pizza ovens and townhomes in the largest city in the country.     You can learn more about Richard's firewood delivery service by visiting his company's website at https://woodbourneboys.com/

Today, Dan and Joe discuss relationships and how peoples feelings for each other can evolve over time.  There is a special connection subscribers can have with a social media personality and sometimes these relationships can face a rocky road.  Can a happy medium be found?  Can everyone just get along?  Stay tuned to find out!

Dan and Joe sit down with Bob Nelson of the Wolfe Ridge MFG log splitter company.   Bob has created a name for himself in the firewood industry as one of the early pioneers in utilizing social media to market and drive sales.  Bob had his start at Metsa Machines where his actions positioned the Japa firewood processors as one of the best selling machines in the USA.  Can Bob have the same success at Wolfe Ridge?  Listen in and draw your own conclusions.  Word to the wise, don't bet against Bob!  

Dan and Joe dive into the world of YouTube monetization and discuss the ups and downs of trying to run a profitable channel.  They both conclude there are A LOT of things out of a YouTuber's control but the best thing to do is to keep at it!

You may think you own the biggest, meanest log splitter in the world but can it split (mythical wood species)?  Yeah your chainsaw really did a good job cutting up that rotten balsa wood!   Today Dan and Joe discuss various firewood machines and how rating their performance on what they "CAN" do vs what they "CAN'T" do may be the better way to look at them. 

Dan and Joe begin 2024 with an exciting episode discussing two separate emails from listeners.  It seems that firewood production creates a lot of mess that has to be dealt with eventually. Our favorite Wood Hounds discuss their waste problems and how they deal with it.   Maybe a New Year's Resolution is in order?

Dan and Joe spend some time looking back upon 2023 and how their endeavors from the year led them to their current situations.  Both are passionate firewooders and have successful YouTube channels but they take different approaches to their craft.  One of the great things about firewood is you can be a major producer or a small hobbyist (cue the music) and still find common bonds that bring us all together.  

Dan and Joe enter the 2023 holiday season by revealing their "wood yard wish lists" for the coming year.  What will Santa bring?  Would they rather have a new truck?  Log splitter?  Chainsaw?  It's hard to guess but one thing for sure they will enjoy the discussion.

Dan reviews Joe's recent trip to Leadville, Colorado to discover the VEPAK Firewood Packaging Machine.  Joe spent the week in Colorado visiting MK High Country Firewood and their use of the VEPAK machine for their bagged firewood operation.  Joe had to battle through the mountain roads, snow storms and altitude sickness to bring the store for all of us to enjoy.  Get your aspirins and oxygen and enjoy the episode!

Dan and Joe received an email from an international subscriber seeking advice on starting a firewood business.  Of course they heaped encouragement on this young teenager but also offered up one of the most important skills when seeking advice.  You will have to listen to the episode to learn what that is!!!

Dan and Joe have figured out that what you wear to work isn't only important to the person wearing the outfit.   In industries like firewood your personal attire can play a role in protecting you from injury but ALSO can help protect the fragile feelings of those around you!  Oh yeah, jewelry is a problem too.

What is the true value of firewood?  Is it simply based on the physical sticks of firewood or should the price be based also upon the delivery service?  Dan and Joe try to dig into the true value of firewood and what other factors are involved in determining what a customer should pay for their season's stash!

Dan and Joe take a break from their usual format to discuss the coming Thanksgiving Holiday.  Where will they go?  How far will they travel?  Will they eat too much?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Dan and Joe talk about their outdoor wood boilers...or furnaces...whatever you want to call them!  These boilers are very effective but not very efficient in their use of wood.  There is a lifestyle that should be understood before you purchase one but, if you do, a warm house and hot shower awaits!

Dan and Joe sit down and discuss recent firewood user-group discussions on Facebook.  Both notice a negative, sour mood amongst the many comments on Facebook and recognize the folly of seeking help from forums such as these.

Today Dan describes his recent event that was cancelled due to record rainfalls in his area of Wisconsin.  Seems that rain and firewood don't mix!  But not all was lost as an alternative event, at a different location, was created to salvage the weekend.  Why does rain always seem to ruin a Wood Hound's big plans?  I guess we will never know! 

A very popular sales technique in the firewood industry is to offer discounts to close a deal.  Dan and Joe discuss this topic and offer their insight to its practice.  Do discounts do more harm than good?  Do they damage your brand?  Are they just a way for the seller to lose money?  Listen in to find out!

Today Dan and Joe have a discussion about firewood bundles and Joe's new wrapping machine made by Go Fast Mfg. A friendly debate ensues if bagging is faster than wrapping. Who knows? Does it matter?

Dan and Joe found the strength to relive the past weekend at the Paul Bunyan show in Cambridge Ohio.  They try their best to relive the sights and sounds of such an incredible event and all the festivities attended leading up to the big show.  Hilarity ensues.  

The first week of October is a special time in Ohio and for the timber, firewood industry. Dan and Joe discuss their plans for attending the 2023 Paul Bunyan show in Cambridge OH Oct. 6th, 7th, & 8th. 

Send your comments, feedback, and questions to TheWoodHounds@gmail.com 

Dan and Joe received a very nice and helpful email from a listener who offered advice on making the podcast even better than what it is.  While they both agree with the email's recommendations what will they ultimately decide?  Will they take the advice of the listener or will they stay the course?

If you want to protect your assets, maybe installing a camera system is the way to go?  Or maybe not.  Dan and Joe discuss using cameras in the wood yard and both determine their usefulness is most likely something other than preventing thievery. 

Dan and Joe both concluded that mid-September is a good time to get busy, kick themselves in gear, and start getting their firewood ready for the winter.  While the temps are still up, their internal clocks are telling them to get busy!

What an impressive streak!!! The Back40 Firewood Friday Night Live Stream has become an institution for members of the YouTube firewood community and last week Dan celebrated his 200th consecutive episode!  Dan and Joe discuss how this livestream has become a weekend staple on YouTube and spend time reminiscing about past episodes and what could possibly be next.     Thanks for supporting The Wood Hounds Podcast and helping us  become the #1 firewood podcast in the world!  Please send us an email to let us know how we are doing to TheWoodHounds@gmail.com

The annoying reality of many consumer purchases these days are the extra fees added onto your bill.  What gives?  Seriously?  Dan and Joe talk about these "fees" and how they could relate to the firewood industry.  Hilarity ensues!     During this particular podcast there are many references to the "previous episode" detailing a popular online firewood fraud.  You can listen to this episode by clicking here! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-9hw4x-1491b34    Thanks for supporting The Wood Hounds Podcast and please send us your comments to our email at thewoodhounds@gmail.com .  You never know...your email may just be read on the air!  

Dan and Joe discuss a recent firewood scam they were made aware of.  These types of scams are nothing new and continue to spread in the firewood community.  Along with discussing how these scams are carried out the duo provide tips to avoid being ripped off.