Mezcal is having a global moment, but who gets heard, who gets paid, and who gets left out?

In this episode of Shots Fired and Poured, we sit down with Fabiola Santiago Hernandez, founder of Mi Oaxaca, to talk about mezcal beyond the bottle. Born in Oaxaca and raised in California, Fabiola shares her family’s migration story, the realities of living undocumented, and how that journey shaped her fight for cultural preservation, economic equity, and respect for Indigenous Oaxacan traditions.

We dig into the misinformation surrounding mezcal, the damage caused by cultural appropriation, the pressures of tourism and global demand, and why small family producers are often excluded from the value they created. This is a conversation about land, labor, legacy, and what it means to protect culture before profiting from it.

If you care about mezcal, agave, foodways, migration, or the future of heritage spirits, this episode is for you.

On this episode of Shots Fired and Poured hosts JJ and Jeff welcome vodka expert Tatyana "Tat" Petrikova to unpack vodka's history, myths and modern revival. Tat explains vodka's origin as "aqua vita," the role of terroir and raw ingredients (wheat, rye, barley, potato, corn, grapes), and how water, fermentation and still design shape flavor.

They discuss pot versus column distillation, proof and labelling myths, tasting approaches, and practical tips for choosing and exploring vodkas—encouraging listeners to try local and comparative tastings to discover real diversity in the category.

Welcome to Shots Fired and Poured — where combat grit meets the world’s boldest bottles.

Alcohol is legal, social, and everywhere… but the science of how it affects the brain (especially as we age) is widely misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. David Nutt — one of the world’s leading neuropsychopharmacologists — breaks down what alcohol is actually doing in your brain, why “drink less” isn’t a real guideline, and how quality, price, and policy shape harm more than most people realize.

We’re not here to shame anyone. We’re here to give adults better tools to make more informed choices.

In this episode:

What people assume about “alcohol researchers” — and what they get wrong

The difference between reducing harm vs being “anti-alcohol”

Why limits matter (and why “drink less” can be too vague)

Why alcohol can hit harder as you age (and what brain scans show)

Sugar + alcohol: why industrial “flavored” spirits can drive consumption

Why some people get mellow… and others get loud, reckless, or aggressive

Social anxiety + drinking: when alcohol becomes a confidence crutch

The truth behind hangovers, adrenaline, and why exercise can feel like it “helps” Should alcohol have mandatory ingredient and nutrition labels?

Can you get the relaxation without ethanol?

Dr. Nutt explains what he built with Sentia Spirits One line that sums it up: “Alcohol is to be enjoyed, not consumed.”

Drop your question for Dr. Nutt in the comments: If you’ve already decided to drink — what are your personal non-negotiables that keep it from turning into harm?

Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of culture + craft + science.

Shots Fired and Poured with JJ Jackson & Jeff Bradford. Thanks for Listening!