Pyro Talk

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

  1. 4D AGO

    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
  2. 12/15/2025

    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
  3. 12/09/2025

    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
  4. 12/01/2025

    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
  5. 11/24/2025

    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
  6. 11/17/2025

    S9:E7- Conversations of Opportunity: Going From Wet Behind the Ears to Industry Insider

    In this reflective solo episode, I trace the unlikely path from my first day as a completely green 1.3G crew member—wet behind the ears, overwhelmed, and instantly hooked—to becoming a podcaster trusted by voices from every corner of the fireworks world. What started as lugging racks and learning safety basics became a journey fueled by curiosity, connection, and the simple power of saying “yes” when opportunities appeared. You’ll hear how conversations on show sites turned into friendships, how friendships turned into interviews, and how those interviews opened doors I never imagined I’d walk through. From mentors and industry legends to innovators, hobbyists, and regulators, every person I met became a guidepost on the road from rookie to insider. This episode is a reminder that in fireworks—and in life—the biggest sparks often come from the smallest conversations. And sometimes, all it takes is being willing to listen, ask questions, and step into the opportunities that find you. Check out Russ Koehler's store: https://platteriverfireworks.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

    40 min
  7. 11/10/2025

    S:9E6- Regulate or Eliminate? The Future of 1.4g Professional Use Only

    This week on Pyro Talk, we dig deep into the debate surrounding 1.4g “Professional Use Only” fireworks. What’s the real difference between a code and a law, and how does legislation like this actually move from an idea to enforcement? Jason breaks down who should have access to 1.4g pro-use materials, what it truly means to be a “professional” in the fireworks industry, and why training and certification matter more than ever. Plus, a timely shoutout to the Edmund Fitzgerald—because some things deserve to be remembered with respect and a spark of reflection. If you care about the future of the fireworks hobby and profession, this episode is another must-listen. 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

    34 min
  8. 11/03/2025

    S9:E5 The Ohio Problem-1.4g Professional Use Under Attack

    In this episode of Pyro Talk, host Jason Rude sits down with Tony Kilgore from the Northeast Ohio Pyrotechnics Group (NEOPG) to break down the latest — and extremely controversial — change to Ohio’s fireworks code. A new rule threatens to severely restrict access to 1.4G “Professional Use Only” fireworks, impacting hobbyists, professionals, and small display operators across the state. Jason and Tony unpack what happened, why it matters, and how these changes could ripple through the pyrotechnics community. More importantly, they share what you can do right now to make your voice heard and protect the future of the craft. If you care about the freedom to light up the sky — this is one episode you can’t afford to miss. 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

    36 min

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

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