Q: What inspired you to start making video
reviews?
I got oral cancer about eight years ago.
After surgery I still had a hard time quitting
cigarettes. Vaping ended up being the
only thing to help me quit long term and I
got really passionate about it. Plus, I love
gadgets.
Q: Which device sold you on the efficacy
of vaping?
I first tried cigalikes which couldn’t cut it at
the time. I was able to quit with a pro tank/
ego battery setup and then shortly after got
an Innokin MVP kit.
Q: When did vaping become a full-time job
for you?
I believe it was end of 2014. I was making
videos and also released an e-liquid line.
Q: What was your motivation for getting
involved with product design?
I love hardware. Liquid is great, but the
hardware and innovation side of this
industry is the fun stuff. I always had ideas
rolling around in my head and decided to
start making them.
Q: What were the key challenges of your
first hardware project?
When you partner with other designers and
companies, you don’t always get your way
on everything. My first project was a collab
and I had to get used to working with other
people.
Q: Has the experience of designing your
own products changed the way you
approach reviews?
Yes somewhat. I’ve learned more about the
technical side of devices. It’s not as simple
as some may think to design vape gear.
Q: Over the years, you have steadily
increased your focus on advocacy,
primarily through Twitter and live streams
on your YouTube channel. What’s the best
way for the average consumer to help
advocacy efforts?
Being educated. It’s awesome to be active
and vocal on advocacy, but you also need
to understand how this all works. Read
about government. Read the pro and antivaping
science. Get a well-rounded idea of
what you’re fighting. Also, don’t go too far
down the conspiracy rabbit hole.
Q: The Cog RTA is your first MTL-oriented
product, what made you go down this
route?
I love MTL vaping and wanted to come
up with a unique and easy way to adjust
the airflow closer to the coil. This is very
important for MTL vaping products.
Q: Was developing the Cog a more
challenging process than previous
hardware projects?
There was definitely trial and error. This one
took longer than most.
Q: Now that you have established the Cog
system, can we expect to see more RTAs
utilising it?
There’s a chance. We have been talking
about making a direct lung version and
implementing it in other devices.
Q: AIOs are clearly the zeitgeist for
mainstream vaping so far this year, what
other trends do you predict we’ll see
during the rest of 2020?
I don’t think AIOs and pods are going away
any time soon. Convenience tends to win
and that is what we are seeing. I would love
to see more of the newer crowd get into
rebuildable devices but we shall see. This
year, I think the innovations will come on
the AIOs, but we aren’t getting away from
AIOs.
Q: Both yourself and your partner Vanessa
are vapers, does this change your
perspective on reviews?
Not really. She’s not a big hobbyist like I am.
She just finds what she likes and vapes it.
Q: What does an average working day look
like at SMM HQ?
I have been waking up really early lately.
Checking the stock market while drinking
coffee. Check emails, messages, news,
etc., and if none of that derails me, I go film
a video. After that I edit and upload. Then
house stuff, kid stuff, dinner, TV, and finally
bed.
Q: You’ve been part of the industry for over
six years, what are the biggest changes to
business and consumer culture in that
time?
It has less of an underground feel now. Lots
of old faces have gone but I am always
meeting new ones. I’m definitely nostalgic
about the old days though.
Q: What are your personal ambitions
within the vaping industry going forward?
Tough one. I may get more involved in
advocacy work and the political side of it.
We shall see. So much is up in the air right
now.
Q: Finally, can you give us any hints about
projects that you are currently working
on?
Well, I have been working on a dual 21700
mod for quite some time. I am not sure if
it will see the light of day yet but I hope so.
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