The Tiki Talk Show

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...

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...

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...

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’...

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 becam...

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 H...

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 w...

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 inf...

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 ...

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 ...

This week Ryley and Ellie are joined by The King— King Kukulele that is— famed musician, improv stand-up comedian, and the Emcee for a variety of notable tiki events. Our artist spotlight for the week is Furious Jim, an Arizona based creative that expresses himself through a variety of mediums.

Denny Moynahan aka King Kukulele is an L.A. native with a musical background. He started out playing the trumpet and other instruments ...

This week Ellie and Ryley are celebrating a small milestone by hitting episode 10! We celebrate this achievement by sitting down with Sheryl Schroeder, one of the original tiki artists. Sheryl was so much fun to talk to, and with her years of experience in the tiki scene, she’s done it all. Our Artist Spotlight this week is Johnny and Shanna Lowe of Rita’s Lost Weekend. Not only do they have one of the coolest home bars around, the...

This week Ellie and Ryley had the pleasure to talk with a man of many names— Mark Riddle, Marty Lush, or maybe you know him as Digitiki. Mark is a musician who got his start playing piano before being recruited to play the vibraphone for The Tikiyaki Orchestra. Now, he’s making names with his own independent musical career. This week’s artist spotlight is Robert Gonzalez aka Tiki Gonzo. His wood carvings including the shelves and b...

This week on The Tiki Talk Show, Ryley and Ellie talk to Ed Hamilton, Administer of Rum, the man who brought Rhum Agricole to the US palate, and the legend behind the famed Hamilton Rums. This week’s artist spotlight is Matt Strickland aka Tikis by Savage Matt. His tiki lamps, wood carvings, and jewelry creations are all handmade in his home in Michigan.

Ed Hamilton is a man for whom Adventure is a way of life. When life expecte...

This week, Ellie and Ryley talk to Sven Kirsten, the famed author, urban archeologist, and tiki fanatic. People rarely know they’re making history as they’re making it; Sven is no exception. Sven’s contributions to the tiki community can’t be contained in just one interview. Sven, along with a band of fellow tiki fans, brought this subculture back from being wrapped in midcentury kitsch to being the respected art form that it is to...

This week on The Tiki Talk Show, Ryley and Ellie talk to Jayme Blaschke of Lagoon of Mystery, a Texan who took his desire to build an at-home tiki bar on a budget and created a video record to share with others. This week’s artist spotlight is Dawn Fraiser, one of the OG tiki artists who does a variety of mediums out of her home in west Seattle. 

Jayme Blaschke has had an appreciation for Hawaiiana and Polynesian Pop for a while, bu...

What’s in a name? That which we call a Mai Tai by any other name tastes just as sweet. Or should it? These are the questions Ryley and Ellie get into with this week’s guest, Kevin Crossman, Mai Tai connoisseur and author of In Search of the Ultimate Mai Tai. This week’s artist spotlight features Will Fugate from Tiki Classics and Katiki Mugs.

Kevin Crossman’s interest in tiki spans nearly three decades beginning in the 90s when the ...

This week, Ryley and Ellie interview Jason Alexander, owner/operator of two bars in Tacoma, Devil’s Reef and Gilman House Room 428, about the process of opening a new commercial tiki bar, his unique original cocktails, and the trends he sees with tiki bars patrons over the last few years. This episode’s artist spotlight features Sam of Low Tiki, a ceramics sculptor who designs original tiki mugs and other functional art pieces. 

Jas...

This week, Ryley and Ellie interview Christie White also known as Tiki Kiliki about her introduction into tiki, how the tiki revival evolved with the connection brought about by the internet, and her part in starting the Hulikau, as well as her current and future tiki endeavors. This episode’s artist spotlight features Zack and Mahalia from Zahiki Tiki and how their background in community theatre has lead to the creation of dramat...