Pyro Talk

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

  1. 5D AGO

    S10:E6 Passing the Torch: Fireworks Through Young Eyes

    In this episode of Pyro Talk, I’m joined by a very special guest—my son—for a conversation about what it’s like growing up around fireworks and developing a passion for pyrotechnics at a young age. We talk about how that interest starts, what draws kids to the art and science of fireworks, and the difference between curiosity and responsibility in a hobby that demands respect. From early memories and first experiences to learning safety, mentorship, and what it really means to “do it the right way,” this episode is about the future of pyro and the importance of guiding the next generation. If you’ve ever wondered how pyros are made—or how to help young enthusiasts find their path safely—this one’s for you. #son #BringEmUpRight #hardwork #PassTheTorch #BringTheBoom #PaintTheSky 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

    37 min
  2. FEB 9

    S10:E5 The Road to Sky Wars Begins

    Sky Wars season is officially underway. In this early-cycle conversation, we’re joined by Nathan Dexter, Jacob Pierce, and Chad Flanders, the three shooters selected for the Pro-Am competition, to talk about what it means to get the call and what’s already got them fired up. This isn’t about predictions or pressure—yet. It’s about first reactions, excitement, expectations, and the mindset that comes with knowing your name is on the list. We dig into what they’re looking forward to most, how they’re approaching the opportunity, and why the Pro-Am matters long before the first shell ever leaves the tube. A quick heads-up: we’re aware of some recording issues in the first segment. Stick with it—the conversation settles in, and the road to Sky Wars officially begins here. 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
  3. FEB 2

    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
  4. JAN 26

    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
  5. JAN 19

    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
  6. JAN 12

    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
  7. 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
  8. 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

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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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