Bonsai Builders Podcast

A Month at Mirai - Ep 62

What happens when you clear your calendar for a month, move to Portland and lock in for a full month of study at Bonsai Mirai? In this reverse-host episode, fellow practi

Inside "The Pruning Grounds": Everything You Need to Know About the 2027 PBE Talent Competition w/ Nick Vila - Ep 62

Want to compete on the big stage at the 2027 Pacific Bonsai Expo? In this exclusive announcement episode, host Addison Galambos sits down with Nick Vila—organizer of the

What Does the Drainage Layer Actually Do? w/ Dr. Scott Barboza - Ep 61

How do geology and fluid mechanics dictate the health of your bonsai bench? In this episode, host Addison Galambos sits down with Dr. Scott Barboza, professional geologis

What Counts as Bonsai in a Global Online Exhibition? w/ Bonsaigers - Ep 60

How is a design-driven Italian bonsai brand building a global marketplace, podcast, and online exhibition? In this episode, host Addison Galambos talks with Loris Diotti,

A Focus on the Fundamentals to Fuel Growth w/ Mike Lane - Ep 59

Can learning traditional rules actually set your creativity free? Where does the English learning framework for traditional bonsai design come from? Mike Lane (@kistunebo

How Do You Apply Design Principles to Bonsai? w/ Ryan Neil - Ep 58

What’s the difference between growing bonsai material and styling a tree and when is raw stock truly ready for its initial design? Addison Galambos and Ryan Neil dig into

Stop Buying, Start Curating and PBE Updates w/ Andrew Robson - Ep 57

In this episode, host Addison Galambos sits down with bonsai artist and Pacific Bonsai Expo organizer Andrew Robson to break down the mindset shift that separates average

Unpacking the Pacific Bonsai Expo’s Major Changes - Ep 56

The Pacific Bonsai Expo just announced sweeping updates for its next show, so I've assembled a panel of interested folks to break down every single point. From relocation

What Is a Bonsai Apprenticeship Really Like? w/ Travis Hendrix - Ep 55

What changes when you move from hobbyist to full-time bonsai apprentice? In this episode we dive deep into Auburn, California to hear from Travis Hendrix who is currently

Balancing Family, Time, and Trees w/ Danny Hart - Ep 54

Most bonsai advice assumes endless time, space, and perfect weather. Danny Hart is proving you can build a serious practice while raising a family and keeping trees alive

Objective Design and Why It's the Key to Improving Quickly w/ Kyle Hansen - Ep 53

Can you go from a bonsai beginner to creating professional looking, refined bonsai designs in under three years? Kyle Hansen—the artist behind Refined Roots—is proving yo

Can You Learn Bonsai Without Owning Any Trees? w/ Nicole Yabut - Ep 52

Do you need a yard full of trees to get good at bonsai? Nicole Yabut spent years leveling up her skills with zero trees of her own. In this episode, host Addison Galambos

How to Build a World-Class Bonsai Curriculum w/ Hugh Grant - Ep 51

How do you adapt traditional Japanese bonsai principles to unique local climates and native species? In this episode, Hugh Grant, owner of Tree Makers Bonsai Studio in Au

Collecting Rare Japanese Maple & Ume Cultivars w/ Derek Delisi - Ep 50

What does it take to run a 12-acre bonsai nursery with tens of thousands of cuttings? In this episode, we sit down with Derek Delisi, the powerhouse behind Canada Bonsai.

What's the Best Way to Build a Digital Community in Bonsai? w/ Dillon Clark - Ep 49

In this episode, four-year bonsai hobbyist Dillon Clark joins the podcast to discuss the fascinating crossover between his day job as a video game community manager and c

What Actually Makes Water "Good" or "Bad" for Bonsai? w/ Eric Schrader and Jonas Dupuich - Ep 48 Part 2

Continuing the conversation with Jonas and Eric, we move on to discussing Water and Fertilizer from the lens of two veteran bonsai growers. We discuss what we got right a

Inside Out, Outside In, and What It Means for Buildin' Bonsai w/ Eric Schrader and Jonas Dupuich - Ep 47 Part 1

In this episode, Addison, Eric Schrader, and Jonas Dupuich team up to discuss the recent Black Pondo episode that covered two new terms, "inside out" and "outside in" in

How to Make it w/ Josheramics - Ep 46

In this episode, Josh Renaud comes on the podcast to talk about getting started making bonsai pottery in the US. We discuss his practice in Bonsai and Ceramics, as well a

The Hardcore Hobbyist's Path w/ Joel Jenkins - Ep 45

In this episode, we get back to the roots of the show, getting the hardcore hobbyists perspective on bonsai. Joel Jenkins joins us from Louisiana where he's caught the bo

Rare Books, Shohin, and US Bonsai History w/ John Romano - Ep 44

In this Episode, I speak with John Romano, an esteemed teacher and certified Shohin instructor based in the Northeastern US. In this refreshing conversation, we cover a w