Pyro Talk

HistoryBridge Productions

A podcast made by pyros, for pyros. We’ll discuss fireworks best practices, safety, history, and much more!

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    S10:E4 The Rules We Break

    In this episode of Pyro Talk, we take an honest look at the rules we’re taught, the best practices we preach, and the safety standards we quietly let slide once show day pressure kicks in. From hazard mitigation shortcuts to “it’ll be fine” decisions, we break down the big rules everyone knows—and why they’re the first ones to get bent when timelines get tight, crews get tired, and experience starts replacing procedure. This isn’t about calling people out. It’s about calling ourselves in. We talk through common safety compromises, how small deviations stack into real risk, and why best practices only matter if we actually follow them. If you’ve ever said “just this once,” this episode is for you. Because in fireworks, the rules we break don’t usually bite right away—but they always remember. DEALS 10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠ Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pyrotool.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ PTALKPOD for 10% off! Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD Link to trainings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

    41 min
  2. 26 JAN

    S10:Ep3 Precision Over Power: The Art of Explosive Demolition

    What does it take to drop a massive bridge safely, cleanly, and exactly the way you planned it? In this episode of Pyro Talk, I’m joined by Ryan Olson and Shannon North from Veit USA for a behind-the-scenes conversation on the explosive demolition of the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing. We break down what goes into a successful bridge blast—from planning, engineering, and timing, to coordination with agencies, safety zones, and the real-world pressure of getting it right on the first try. We also dive into the explosive demolition industry as a whole, including how crews approach different structures, what the public doesn’t see on demo day, and why the best demolition work isn’t about the biggest boom—it’s about precision over power. DEALS 10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. https://muuxBRD.com/ Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines! ⁠⁠⁠Pyrotool.com⁠⁠⁠ PTALKPOD for 10% off! Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD Link to trainings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

    50 min
  3. 19 JAN

    S10:E2 Precision Over Power: Coordinating an Explosive Bridge Demolition

    Precision Over Power: Coordinating an Explosive Bridge Demolition The explosive demolition of the Black Hawk Bridge wasn’t about spectacle—it was about precision, planning, and coordination on a massive scale. In this episode, we’re joined by Clayton Burke, the DOT project lead, to take listeners inside what it really takes to bring down a major river crossing safely and successfully. We touch briefly on the use of explosives—what role they played and why controlled demolition was the right tool for the job—but the heart of the conversation is everything that happens before the blast. From coordinating multiple state agencies across Iowa and Wisconsin to aligning engineers, demolition crews, environmental regulators, river traffic authorities, emergency services, and the public, this was a project where timing, communication, and trust mattered as much as the charges themselves. Clayton walks us through the months (and years) of planning, the sequencing decisions, safety considerations, and contingency planning that ensured the demolition went exactly as intended. It’s a rare behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale explosive work is managed when there is no margin for error. If you think explosive demolition is about raw power, this episode shows why it’s really about discipline, coordination, and precision—and why the biggest boom is only possible because of the quiet work done long before the countdown starts. Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Pyrotool.com⁠⁠⁠ PTALKPOD for 10% off! Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD Link to trainings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

    42 min
  4. 12 JAN

    S10:E1 Why Everyone’s Talking About Elevate 2026 w/ the Cobra Crew!

    Everyone’s talking about Elevate Expo 2026, and for good reason. This episode of Pyro Talk sits down with Scott Smith, Cobra Zach, and Jonathan McCormick to break down what’s coming next—and why Elevate is quickly becoming a must-attend event in the fireworks and special effects world. We dig into the name change from Cobra Con to Elevate, what that shift really means, and how the show has expanded with new elements, more hands-on experiences, and a stronger industry-wide focus. The crew also talks about year two of the Elevate competition, what they learned from year one, and how it’s evolving to better challenge and showcase shooters, designers, and technicians. Plus, we get into some tech talk—including an update about what’s coming with the 18R3 remote and how it fits into the broader vision for firing systems and show control moving forward. If you’re wondering why everyone’s talking about Elevate 2026, this episode lays it all out—straight from the people building it. Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠ ⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pyrotool.com⁠⁠ PTALKPOD for 10% off! Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD Link to trainings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

    42 min
  5. 15/12/2025

    S9:E11 - Building Smarter Shows: Inside the Pyro Vault Platform

    Fireworks design has come a long way from notebooks, guesswork, and scattered video files—and Pyro Vault is pushing the industry into its next era. In this episode, Jason sits down with Ty Kvasnicka, the creator of Pyro Vault, a powerful new platform built specifically for fireworks professionals. Pyro Vault brings everything into one place: on-demand fireworks video for testing and timing, full show planning and scripting tools, inventory management, and a smarter way to organize and execute displays from start to finish. Ty breaks down why Pyro Vault was needed, how it was built by listening to real-world pain points from pyros, and how it’s already changing the way shows are designed, sold, and shot. Whether you’re a one-truck operation or a large-scale company managing multiple crews and shows, this platform is designed to save time, reduce mistakes, and help you build better, more confident displays. Special offer for Pyro Talk listeners:Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—and the first 100 users get 50% off full access, making this the best time to jump in. Learn more and explore the platform at https://pyrovaultapp.com 🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss future conversations shaping the fireworks industry. LuxeSFX.com⁠ ⁠Pyrotool.com⁠ Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD Link to trainings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

    27 min
  6. 09/12/2025

    S9:E10 Changing Everything: LuxeSFX Is Here!!

    In this milestone episode, Victor Diaz joins Jason to unveil LuxeSFX—a brand-new force in the American effects market that’s about to change how shows are built, lit, and experienced. From LuxeStix and fully RF-synced wearables, to cold spark machines, DMX lighting, and more, Victor lays out the incredible lineup arriving just in time for show season. But that's not all—this episode also breaks two major announcements for the pyro community:• The upcoming DB25 slat for COBRA, bringing new levels of flexibility and power to your firing system.• A brand-new sequencer coming soon from Pyrotool.com, built to streamline your workflow and elevate your creative control. Whether you're planning your next display or hunting for the perfect pyro-themed Christmas gifts, this episode is packed with can’t-miss info, surprises, and innovation. Get ready—LuxeSFX is here, and it’s changing everything. LuxeSFX.com Pyrotool.com Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD Link to trainings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

    42 min
  7. 01/12/2025

    S9:E9 Your Agent in China: Terry Winkle on Fireworks Past, Present, and Next

    Jason sits down with one of the industry’s most fascinating behind-the-scenes figures: Terry Winkle. From his unforgettable role in the making of Passfire to his hands-on work shaping the evolution of consumer fireworks, Terry has seen—and influenced—it all. Together, they dig into how innovations like 9-on-a-boards came to life, how new colors made their way into the U.S. market, and how international manufacturing has shifted over the years. Terry shares candid insights, hard-earned lessons, and some absolutely incredible stories from his decades working directly inside China’s fireworks industry. If you love fireworks, filmmaking, or the people who quietly push the entire hobby forward, this episode is packed with can’t-miss history, humor, and insider perspective. Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD Link to trainings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

    58 min
  8. 24/11/2025

    S9:E8 Rogoz Unfiltered: The Truth About 1.4G Pro Use

    In this episode Jason sits down with one of the most knowledgeable — and candid — voices in the pyrotechnics world: Peter Rogoz. Together, they dig deep into the origins of 1.4G Professional Use Only fireworks, tracing how a niche category born from the 1984 Consumer Fireworks Protection Act evolved into a vital tool for today’s display operators, small companies, and passionate hobbyists. Peter sheds light on the industry shifts, fire code changes, and political forces that shaped access to 1.4G devices — and he doesn’t hold back. From the early days of pro-line shells to the rise of pyromusicals, from regulatory battles to the current challenges facing operators in states like Ohio, this conversation cuts through rumor and gets straight to the facts. But most importantly, Jason and Peter look forward. What will the future of 1.4G Professional Use Only look like? Should it be regulated more, protected fiercely, or reinvented entirely? How do we safeguard the category without shutting out the next generation of shooters? Unfiltered, honest, and absolutely packed with insight. 76proline.com Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPOD Link to trainings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠

    48 min

About

A podcast made by pyros, for pyros. We’ll discuss fireworks best practices, safety, history, and much more!