The Black Pondo Podcast
Episodes
#38 Seth Nelson
14 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Episode #38 – Seth Nelson is a Nippon Bonsai Association Certified bonsai professional currently located in Birmingham, Alabama USA. In Episode 3...
#37 Peter Tea- Part 2 - Deciduous Bonsai
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The legendary César Ordóñez of Cen Cal Bonsai once shared a simple but powerful truth: “It sucks to buy a tree and cut off all the branches, but ...
#36 Peter Tea - Part 1
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
#35 Randy Knight
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this engaging episode, Jeremiah Lee interviews Randy Knight, a renowned bonsai collector, about his journey into the world of bonsai, the evolution...
#34 Michael McTeague & Seth Nelson
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seth and Michael chat with Jeremiah about their paths in the bonsai world and what life’s been like since finishing their apprenticeships. They talk...
#33 PBE Companion w/ Peter Tea, Eric Schrader and Cesar Ordonez
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pacific Bonsai Expo Companion Follow along in your 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo book with Peter Tea, Eric Schrader, Cesar Ordonez, and Jeremiah Lee as t...
#32 Austin Heitzman
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Black Pondo Podcast, I sit down with Austin Heitzman—bonsai table and furniture maker based in Portland, OR. I consider Austi...
#31 Julian Tsai, Cesar Ordoñez and Adam Toth
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I hang out with: Julian Tsai – @bontsai Cesar Ordoñez – @cencalbonsai Adam Toth – @adam.jp.bon We catch up on what’s new in ...
#30 Bob Ricker and Julian Tsai at the Naka Memorial Exhibit
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Bob Ricker and Julian Tsai at the John Naka Memorial Exhibit in Southern California—a tru...
#29 Catching up with Mike Pistello of MVP Bonsai
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Mike Pistello of MVP Bonsai-a longtime practioner, Joshua Roth talent contest winner and PBE award recipient. We c...
#28 Travis Hendrix - California Bonsai Apprentice
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In late May of this year I spent three days working on trees at Peter Tea's studio and workshop. On one of those days, I got to sit down and chat wi...
#27 Peter Tea - Juniper Bonsai
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I got to sit down and chat with my teacher, friend and mentor Peter Tea after a long but very fun day of working on trees. Peter is ...
#26 Jacob Michaels- Dogwood Studios Apprentice
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the last day of 2024, I got to chat with Jacob Michaels, an East Coast Bonsai and Ju Jitsu practioner. While we've messaged back and forth a few ...
#25 Sam Tan
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I got the chance to chat it up with the talented Sam Tan. Sam is a Bonsai practioner based in the Bay area of CA who developed a hig...
#24 Nao Tokutake of Tokutake Bonsai
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I caught up with Nao Tokutake, a Bonsai practitioner and container maker based in Portland, OR. Nao has been one of my favorite Bo...
#23 Andrew Robson of Rakuyo Bonsai
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I caught up with the one and only Andrew Robson, a Bonsai pro and organizer of the Pacific Bonsai Expo based in the Portland Oregon a...
Episode #22 Aarin Packard & The Pacific Bonsai Museum
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Black Pondo Podcast, we’re taking you on a journey to the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way, Washington! I had the amazin...
Episode #21 Pacific Bonsai Expo Interviews Part 2-Adam Toth, Richard Kearney, Bob Pressler, Matt Walker, Will Kerns and Jose Gonzalez
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Interviews from the 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo Part 2 Adam Toth Timestamp: 0:30 sec Instagram: adam.jp.bon Adam Toth is a Bonsai professional located ...
Episode #20 Pacific Bonsai Expo Interviews Part 1- Jeff Stern, Sam Tan, Mike-o Macasio, John Kim
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Stern Time Stamp, interview starts at: 0:40 secs Find out more about Jeff at Star Bonsai on Facebook Winner of 3 awards at the 2024 Pacific Bonsa...
Episode #19 Vince Lee - Satoyama Bonsai
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last Wednesday I went into the forest to a secret location to meet a wise Monk and check out his Yamadori collection. He taught me about finding hap...
Episode #18 Catching up w/ Jonas Dupuich about the Pacific Bonsai Expo
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I got to catch up with Jonas Dupuich, a friend I originally met through the Bay Island Bonsai club around 2010. Jonas is a Bonsai teac...
Episode #17 Sierra Juniper Journal Session #2
10 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Journal session on Sierra Juniper- Juniperus Grandis
Bonsai Journal Session 1 Episode #16
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, it's just me-Jeremiah Lee. I thought i'd take a stab at something a bit differnt and experiment with recording a couple Bonsai jour...
Akagitsune Bonsai - Isaiah Gray - Episode #15
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I spoke with Isaiah Gray of Akagitsune Bonsai who has quickly put together a truly phenomenal collection of North American Native Con...
Episode #14 Peter Tea
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I got to sit down with and Interview my Bonsai teacher Peter Tea. Peter studied with Boon Manakativipart, before leaving for a full ...
Episode #13 Backcountry Bonsai
23 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 13 I got to talk with Dan Wiederrecht and Steve Varland from Backcountry Bonsai a couple considered amongst the best Yamadori collectors...
Episode #12 Matt Ouwinga of Kaede Bonsai
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I had the privlege of chatting with Matt Ouwinga of Kaede Bonsai. Matt told me the story of following his passion for Bonsai and tra...
Episode #11 Seth Nelson Bonsai Part 2
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 episode 11 we catch up with the original Heartthrob-Seth Nelson, as he talks to us from the Tea Room at AichiEn Bonsai Nursery. Originally...
Episode #10 Seth Nelson Bonsai
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 1 episode 10 we catch up with the original Heartthrob-Seth Nelson, as he talks to us from the Tea Room at AichiEn Bonsai Nursery. Originally...
Episode #9 Bonsai on a Budget Part 2 w/ Julian Tsai
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of this episode, Jeremiah Lee and Julian Tsai talk about quality bonsai on a budget. They discuss their experiences starting out in Bonsai...
Episode #8 Part: 1 Quality Bonsai on a Budget? with Julian Tsai
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 1 of this episode, Jeremiah Lee and Julian Tsai talk about quality bonsai on a budget. They discuss their experiences starting out in Bonsai...
Episode #7 Andrew Robson of Rakuyo Bonsai
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I got the opportunity to catch up with Andrew Robson of Rakuyo Bonsai. I got to find out what he's been up to lately and ask questio...
Episode #6 Eric Schrader
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I got to sit down with Eric Schrader a Bonsai professional, YouTuber, founder of Bonsaify.com and co-creator of The Pacific Bonsai Exp...
Episode #5 Matt Spinniken
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I chat with Matt Spinniken @michigan_yamadori on Instagram about collecting, garden design, White Cedar, Larch and his healthy obsessi...
Episode #4 Kaya Mooney
21 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I catch up with Kaya Mooney, former apprentice under Boon Manakitivipart in the US and current apprentice at Fujikawa Kouka-en in Osak...
Episode #3 Adam Toth
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Interview with Adam Toth of the Bay Area, CA who recently returned from a 3+ year Bonsai apprenticeship at Taisho-En Bonsai nursery in Japan. Adam i...
Episode #1 Bob Shimon
22 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Interview with Bob Shimon of Mendocino Bonsai. MCBonsai.com
Episode #2 Julian Tsai
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I Interview Julian Tsai who's a Bonsai professional located in Sothern California. Julian is a previous apprentice at Fujikawa Kouka...