Today on Fire & Flavor I sit down with Michael and Erica from Jack’s Pepper Heist, one of the most exciting small batch hot sauce brands rising in 2025. Their story starts with Jack, a pepper stealing dog with big personality, and it leads into a deep passion for Latin inspired cooking, clean ingredients, and handcrafted heat.

In this episode we take a full look at their brand, their cultural roots, and the creative process behind their sauces. We taste two of their most popular flavors: Tomate de Arbol and Tomatillo Serrano. Both highlight bold Latin flavor, clean ingredients, and a balance of heat that feels handmade and intentional.If you are interested in craft hot sauce, Latin inspired food, small batch makers, or discovering the next big brand in the spicy world, this episode is packed with value. Michael and Erica talk about their heritage, their festival experiences, the community that helped them grow, and the way they stay true to real ingredients without additives or preservatives.

IG 📸: jackspepperheist

Web 🌐: https://jackspepperheist.com

Today on Fire & Flavor Podcast we sit down with Emily, the creator of Female Rage Hot Sauce, a craft brand known for its feminist mission, bold flavors, and small batch creativity. We taste three of her standout sauces including Honey Garlic Carrot, Brown Sugar Peach, and Tangy Crimson Apple while discussing the inspiration, passion, and purpose behind her growing company.

Emily shares how Female Rage Hot Sauce started from a spark of emotion and evolved into a brand focused on activism, women’s empowerment, and flavor innovation. She explains how she balances heat with sweetness, how each recipe comes to life, and why her line resonates with fans who love artisan hot sauce, unique flavor profiles, and mission driven food brands.

In this episode we explore her creative process, her community support efforts, the emotional roots of her business, and how she channels passion into every bottle. If you enjoy learning about small batch sauces, feminist food brands, creative culinary storytelling, and honest maker interviews, this conversation is for you.

IG 📸: femaleragehotsauce

Web 🌐: https://femaleragehotsauce.com

In this episode of The Fire & Flavor Podcast, Matt sits down with the team behind TorchBearer Sauces, the creators of some of the boldest and most beloved hot sauces in the game, including Habanero Evil, Garlic Habanero, Danny Wood’s Guac Sizzle, and Cranberry Jalapeño, along with a couple extra bonus tastings. From humble beginnings at local festivals to becoming a national name, TorchBearer shares their story of flavor-first sauce making, creative branding, and fan-fueled growth.

We taste, laugh, and learn how they balance heat and flavor, what goes into developing unique blends, and why they live by the motto Accidentally Healthy. Intentionally Delicious.

🔥 Topics Covered:
🌶️ The origins of TorchBearer Sauces and how it all began
🧄 Secrets behind their most famous flavors
🥕 What makes their sauces extract free and all natural
🥑 Collaborations like Danny Wood’s Guac Sizzle
🎨 How humor, art, and passion fuel their brand identity
🍗 Tips for pairing sauces with meals

🎧 Watch or listen for a mix of spicy storytelling, culinary creativity, and true craft hot sauce culture.

IG 📸: torchbearersaucesWeb 🌐: https://torchbearersauces.com

A cast iron pan is never just a pan. For Cast Iron Kyle (Kyle Seip), it's a piece of American history, a family heirloom, and a story waiting to be restored. In this episode, Kyle takes us from his grandfather's kitchen to the flea markets where he built his craft, sharing the "ah-ha" moment that turned a passion for restoration into a full-blown mission.

But this isn't just a history lesson. We put Kyle's palate to the test, pairing his love for forged metal with fire from our friends at White House Station Sauces. We get his expert breakdown of the Aji Rocoto Miso and White Peach Habanero, and then see how his food philosophy handles the legendary heat of their Carolina Reaper sauce.

This episode is a masterclass for anyone who has ever felt intimidated by cast iron or inherited a pan they're too afraid to use.

IG 📸: castiron_kyle

Web 🌐: https://castironkyle.com

I sat down in Salem, Massachusetts with Thomas Vallor, guide of the Satanic Salem Walking Tours, and his dog named Satan to talk about witchcraft, Halloween, and the truth about Satanism while climbing the TorchBearer hot sauce heat ladder.

From the myths of the witch trials to the philosophy of The Satanic Temple, we dig into what Salem really stands for beyond superstition.

🔥 Featuring TorchBearer’s Smokey Horseradish, Son of Zombie, and Garlic Reaper sauces.

🎃 New episodes of Fire & Flavor every week. Subscribe and stay spicy.

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Sauces Featured

IG 📸: @torchbearersauces

Web 🌐: https://torchbearersauces.com

On this episode of Fire & Flavor, we go straight to the source! Ever wonder where the intense, smoky heat in your favorite craft hot sauce REALLY comes from? We visit Roots in Reverie in Lee, NH, the secret weapon behind Cousin Dean's Hot Sauce, to uncover the incredible journey of the Chocolate Habanero pepper.

Join us as we talk with farmers Josh and Miranda and Cousin Dean's founders, Dean and Alex, about the challenges of growing specialty peppers in New Hampshire, how a community-focused partnership creates sauces with unbelievable flavor, and the true meaning of "seed-to-bottle."

This video features a deep dive into local agriculture, small business collaboration, and the craft of making gourmet hot sauce and other pepper products. Learn about pepper farming, sustainable agriculture in New England, and the value of supporting local food makers in NH and beyond.

👇 SUPPORT THE MAKERS 👇

IG 📸: @cousindeans_hotsauce / @rootsinreverie

Web 🌐: https://cousindeans.com /

https://www.rootsinreverie.com/----Follow on IG 📸: fire.and.flavor

Join me as I sit down with Tinkertown Provisions, a small-batch hot sauce maker from the Western Catskills creating bold flavors and creative storytelling. In this episode we dive into their brand philosophy, community mission, and unique media projects before tasting two standout sauces: Rain and Haze.

I give my first impressions straight from the spoon. Along the way we talk about their inspirations, the role of the Catskills in their craft, and what’s next for their growing lineup of sauces.

If you’re into artisan hot sauces, storytelling, and discovering the makers behind the bottles, this one’s for you.

IG 📸: tinkertownprovisions

Web 🌐: https://tinkertownprovisions

Join me on Fire & Flavor as I sit down with Rugged Jack Hot Sauce to explore their adventurous journey into the craft hot sauce world 🌶️. We dive into the origin of the brand, the early sauce experiments, and what sets Rugged Jack apart. Along the way, I taste two of their standout flavors: the tropical kick of Pineapple Mango and the bold sweet-heat twist of Habanana 🍍🍌.

When I talked to Jack, he even showed me the farm where he grows all of the peppers for these sauces, which makes this story even more special. From the roots of the brand to future flavor ideas, this episode is packed with spicy conversation, unique sauce pairings, and plenty of laughs. Whether you’re a hot sauce lover, foodie, or craft maker fan, this one is for you.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more artisan hot sauce interviews, and tastings!

IG 📸: ruggedjackshotsauce

Web 🌐: https://ruggedjacks.com