The Jungle Jim's Podcast

There's a HUGE show choir competition in Fairfield happening right next to Jungle Jim's, so I had to go check it out. I met up with some competitors and one of the Choir Dads to talk about what it's really like, then surprised them with a global food guessing challenge!

I'm sure you've seen those incredible cheddar carvings floating around the Jungle Jim's cheese shop, and I'd love to introduce you to the maker. Maybe you've seen her work here, maybe you've seen her carving for the Grammy's, but now we're going to learn all about Sarah's journey into the world of cheese carving. Even cooler? Sarah used to be a member of the Jungle Jim's family - well, she'll always be family to us, but she is out all over the world making art out of everyone's favorite dairy product!

We're talking all about Survivor's 50th Season Premiere because I got invited to be a part of a Q&A panel for the show tonight with former stars of Survivor! Guess being on Fox's The Floor finally paid off, eh? Huge thanks to Matt Bischoff and Little Miami Brewing for putting this together. I brought in Lucky, as he's the biggest Survivor fan that I know; we talked about the show, we talked a little strategy, but we REALLY talked about all kinds of fun international fruits that we tried here. Turns out, we should learn a little more about picking ripe fruit before the show starts! Along the way, we get off on some delightful tangents leading into me giving one of my classic passionate speeches about media criticism framed around great games and movies like Red Dead Redemption 2, and the original Ninja Turtles franchise. I can't stop looking at my dog Morison, who is a DEAD RINGER for Master Splinter, and saying "All fathers care for their sons." Anyway, it's another fun one from us, it's silly, and we tried a lot of fruit. "This is the wettest the podcast has ever been, and you can quote me on that" - Mark Borison

We're joined by two of our favorites in the snack and soda game, powerful influencers TeamSupernovaFB and SodaSeekers! We tested out the new-ish Cheez-It and Ragu frozen pizzas, as well as a bunch of new beverages from AriZona and so much more - hugely thankful for the guys bringing out some secret treats for us to try. Also thankful we got to review the world's best restrooms together! We're almost to our 200th episode!!!

This week, we're getting a real expert's opinion as we're joined by former star of Jungle Jim's commercials, and future YouTube sensation TheAmbushBugJr to try out some of the weirdest bug candies we have in the store. Is it crazy that I loved the 3 Crickets Chocolate bars a lot? Maybe you haven't had Dirt Soda before, and TheAmbushBugJr is gonna walk you through how to taste it and enjoy it. Jungle Jim's has all the most fun and strangest items in the store and you better come in and visit next!

We're joined HOT by Paul Savill of Sir Savill's Ideal Rubs. Paul tells us some wild stories about the world of trucking competitions and America's Road Teams and how the practices and qualities he earned there helped him create a brand of excellent, homemade rubs and spices. In his own words, "I'm a five-time Ohio State Truck Driving Champion, and I once placed 5th at the National Truck Driving Championships. One of my greatest honors was being selected for the America's Road Team, a national safety and outreach program led by the American Trucking Associations. As a Road Team Captain, I was called on about once a month to travel the country—sometimes flying to events, other times driving one of the program's dedicated trucks. At each stop, we taught the Share the Road program, helping new drivers and the public understand blind spots and truck safety. But those events weren't just about education—they were about connecting over food, stories, and the flavors of America. From school events in Montana to outreach in Boston, I've tasted the country—one plate at a time." I want to go to one of these trucking competitions!

This week, we're joined by Cody Hefner of the Cincinnati Museum Center, and we're telling Cincinnati secrets and diving into the cool history of the Museum Center and Union Terminal! I even talked Cody into suggesting some fun Jungle Jim's themed exhibits at the museum, and a cool story about the Declaration of Independence and how he'd hide them inside Jungle Jim's! A lot of fun history here in town!

Shelby and Bryce from Eastgate come over with some of their crazy toy and candy picks for this holiday season. We go from classic candies like Chick-O-Sticks, all the way to the latest from Smiski and Funko Pop! Jungle even makes a cameo as he tries to pirate the episode! What are some of the things you're trying to get your hands on this year? Let us know in the comments! And thanks for shopping at Jungle Jim's!

This week, we're trying a few new Korean treats before we're joined by Dr. Jay Wilkins of Bionox. In their words, "At Bionox, we are committed to empowering individuals to feel better, be better, and do more. By combining the highest quality natural ingredients with innovative science, we create delicious, easy-to-use health solutions that enhance wellness and performance. Our mission is to deliver peace of mind and vitality to our customers, ensuring every product is as enjoyable as it is effective. Whether you're seeking improved energy, natural performance, or overall wellness, Bionox stands as your partner in achieving a vibrant, healthy lifestyle." I've been using their CardioGO line and I've had an excellent experience - and who couldn't use a little extra heart health? Later, the studio gets accosted by local musician Alex Salazar, who we force to sing a song as penance. It's beautiful.

This week we're joined by Eric Mahoney of the Yellow Springs Film Fest to talk about this exciting film festival happening just a little ways away from the Jungle. We chat about Ohio's rich film history, expanded on by their Rod Serling programming in this year's film festival, working with Kevin Smith to screen his classic movie "Dogma" as part of the film festival, and how important it is to support local creatives! In the meantime, a bunch of the Jungle family is in Japan, and we're setting up for Horrorhound Festival as we speak - come say hi at the Jungle Jim's booth!!!

This week, we're joined by Mark Dirksing of Unrestricted Flavor and Justin Dean of Carriage House Farm and Lost Bridge Beverage company to talk about their upcoming event in support of those with intense food allergies and FODMAP intolerance. Mark tells his heartwrenching story of the difficulties he's faced since developing some of his food intolerances, how it's caused problems in so many spaces of his life, and his struggles to overcome this. Stay tuned, as we'll update the info here when they launch their official event date. In the meantime, follow along with Mark and Justin here: YouTube https://youtube.com/@unrestrictedflavor?si=-25i2DUfAoT2Tfsc Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/618825987420680/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT LBBC https://lostbridgebeverage.com/ Also, don't forget to try these delicious limited edition chips from Cape Cod, Malt Vinegar flavor. Incredible.

This week, we're kicking off some of our 50th Anniversary coverage on the show, joined by Chris Cook of Huron Web Printing & Graphics out of Canada. They handle our print media and after spending the afternoon with him and Jungle, I had to capture their experiences and expertise on the Jungle Jim's Podcast. We talk about the changing nature of print media, that tactile feedback you get from engaging with physical media compared to digital, and all of the ups and downs in the marketing industry over the 34 years Huron has been in business. Another fascinating interview where an expert helps "give up the game," so to speak. Thankful for their time! Don't forget to visit JungleJims.com/50 to sign up to win the Jungle Jim's LEGO set!

Lets talk some new snacks, these Mochi Snacks in the tamari teriyaki flavor were great, talked about Responsibly Rain water, these 25 cent chocolate banana cakes in International, then we're dropped in by the guys from High 9ine!! High 9ine is a delta-9 THC canned beverage, crafted for your wellness using coconut water, real juice, organic vitamins, and some even include caffeine! Then Maggie from Rollhouse right here in Fairfield, and Aubry Woods of the Jovante Woods Foundation come into to talk to us about their upcoming fundraiser. If you're unfamiliar, The Jovante Woods Foundation's goal is to try and prevent the tragic loss of a loved one due to an Asthma attack or the lack of education during an Asthma attack. You can learn more about the organization and their events by visiting www.jovantewoodsfoundation.org - and don't forget to check out TheRollhouse.com to learn more about what they've got going on too!

Nutrient dense pita chips is not a phrase I thought i'd say so frequently but here we are. We sat down with Alexander Harik, founder of ZestyZ, to talk all about navigating the CPG space, launching products, tips for other creative types out there, and so much more - this was a great, emotional episode that really unlocks a lot of secrets to many peoples' success in the food industry. I love an inspiring episode full of hope, which is why I love having people like Alex on the show! ZestyZ is NOW AVAILABLE at Jungle Jim's, too! How awesome is that!?

Steamed interview questions? They're clearly grilled. We are so thrilled to have had Bill Oakley join us on the show. If you're unfamiliar with Bill and his work, let me share a little more from him directly: Bill Oakley is an Emmy-winning writer and producer best known for his iconic work on The Simpsons, where he co-ran the show during its critically acclaimed seventh and eighth seasons. He co-created the cult classic animated series Mission Hill and has contributed to other beloved shows like Futurama and Portlandia. Bill's cultural impact extends beyond television—he wrote the "Steamed Hams" scene, a segment from The Simpsons that evolved into a viral meme, earning the title of Meme of the Year in 2018 from Know Your Meme. In recent years, Bill has transitioned from showrunning to the culinary world, where his sharp humor and love for American food have made him a sought-after voice in the industry. A regular contributor to the History Channel's The Food That Built America and a guest on Afternoon Live, Bill combines storytelling with culinary expertise. His collaborations with prominent chefs like Robert Irvine and J. Kenji López-Alt have further solidified his voice as a notable comic voice in American food culture. Bill and I dove deep into his transition to the world of food, as well as getting an upclose look at the creation of the famous Steamed Hams scene and so much more. Thank you so so much for joining me, Bill!

This week, i'm joined by Pet Department Manager Mike, and we're recapping so many products from the Global Pet Expo. We've got a ton of new stuff in right now from brands like Kona, Canidae, Blue Buffalo, a hilarious collaboration with KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), Sustainably Yours, and a REALLY fun product from Kong Connects where I will be training my animals to become prized boxers. Amazing stuff. Then we're joined by friend of the show Johnny Catalano to promote the premiere of Corinthian Campbell's first feature film, "Pastime." The film is premiering on June 14th at the Air Force Museum Theatre up near Dayton, OH. You can get tickets and more info at http://www.pastimefilm.com! Changes coming to the Jungle Jim's Podcast soon - it's going to be awesome!

Tyler from Onima Pantry stops into Jungle Jim's on his tour across America to talk about his product lines. We learn about pigeon languages, the secret behind Onima's name and origin, everything you could want to know about garums (fermented fish sauce that was used as a condiment in the cuisines of Phoenicia, ancient Greece, Rome, Carthage and later Byzantium), and so much more. We really should try to make a garum here in the studio, shouldn't we? Anyway, keep fermenting on that just like Onima Pantry's delicious sauces!

Today we're joined by Barbie of That Dam Jam - she makes all kinds of excellent spiced jams that will absolutely rule your parties this summer. Great for gifts, great for eating, and if you don't try it soon, we'll make sure you have a chance at this year's Weekend of Fire Festival. What you may not know is how many of these brands, especially those launched during COVID, got a huge boost by working with Jungle Jim's. We here at the Jungle LOVE finding about new products, so make sure you let us know - we'd love to help you branch out!