The hosts of The Cigar Guys Podcast are Alexander J. Gonzalez, Jared Burrows, Mark Nikollaj, and Zachary Nikollaj. Alex is a marketing expert, full-time podcaster, cigar broker, and serial entrepreneur. Jared is a software engineer who leads the team’s software and AI advancements. Mark is a construction professional and self-proclaimed cigar band expert known for his unfiltered opinions. Zachary is an aerospace engineer whose practical skills and outgoing personality help power both the studio and the conversation. Together, they bring business experience, technical knowledge, humor, and a shared interest in cigars to the table.
The Cigar Guys began sharing cigar content on TikTok in 2022 before expanding their presence across media platforms. Today, the show combines cigar discussions, industry guests, and lounge culture with conversations that reach into business, technology, and current events. Learn more about the show’s beginnings on The Cigar Guys’ About page.
Alexander J. Gonzalez: Marketing Expert, Cigar Broker, and Entrepreneur
Alexander J. Gonzalez, also known as Alex Gonzalez, brings a marketing and business perspective to The Cigar Guys Podcast. His professional background spans search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and websites—skills he now applies to growing the podcast’s audience and increasing the online visibility of the team’s products and projects.
For Alex, creating content is part of a larger process: understanding what people are searching for, getting their attention, and giving them a reason to return. His experience helps connect the show’s conversations with audiences across search engines and social media.
The podcast’s website also introduces Alex as “Mr. Producer,” reflecting his background in multimedia production and storytelling. That creative experience complements his work on the marketing side of the business. Read Alex’s official bio.
Today, Alex is a full-time podcaster, cigar broker, and serial entrepreneur. Working in the cigar business gives him a professional perspective on the relationships between brands, retailers, and customers. He approaches the industry as both a host discussing it and an entrepreneur working within it.
Outside of cigars, Alex’s interests include U.S. politics, world politics, current events, and modern technology. Those interests help explain why a conversation at The Cigar Guys’ table can move from cigars to business decisions, political debates, or the latest developments in tech.
Jared Burrows: Software Engineer and the Podcast’s Technology Builder
Jared Burrows has been coding since he could use a computer. An experienced software engineer, his professional background includes work with major technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Adobe.
Jared brings that technical experience directly into The Cigar Guys. His contributions include a custom-built website, cigar-related apps, games, and other software projects that extend the brand beyond podcast episodes and social media posts.
His role also reaches into the systems that keep the media operation running. Jared’s expertise in artificial intelligence has helped the team adopt new technology, streamline processes, and modernize how they work. He has been the driving force behind the podcast’s software and AI improvements, applying his engineering skills to practical production and operational needs.
His official host bio highlights his experience building software solutions and his appreciation for the craftsmanship and subtle flavors of cigars. That combination gives him a natural place in conversations about both technology and the details of cigar construction.
Jared’s contribution is especially valuable behind the scenes: he can turn an idea for a digital tool or a better workflow into something the team can actually use. For The Cigar Guys, that means having a software engineer at the table who also understands the needs of the show.
Mark Nikollaj: Unfiltered Co-Host and Self-Proclaimed Cigar Band Expert
Mark Nikollaj brings a direct, outspoken personality to The Cigar Guys Podcast. The show’s self-proclaimed cigar band expert, Mark speaks his mind about cigars and whatever other subjects come up during an episode.
His interest in cigar bands adds another angle to the discussion. Beyond the tobacco itself, bands offer artwork, branding, and a connection to a cigar’s identity. Mark’s official bio emphasizes his interest in collecting bands and exploring the stories and craftsmanship associated with cigars.
On the microphone, Mark is known for sharing unfiltered opinions. Listeners do not have to wonder whether he agrees with something—he is willing to say what he thinks. That directness helps give the show its candid, conversational atmosphere and creates room for disagreement among the hosts.
Outside the podcast, Mark works in construction, helping build out new locations for Starbucks and other companies. His professional experience adds a practical perspective to a table that also includes marketing, software, and aerospace backgrounds.
Away from work and cigars, Mark enjoys being outdoors and exploring new cities. His curiosity about places and experiences gives him plenty to bring into the conversation beyond what the group happens to be smoking.
Zachary Nikollaj: Aerospace Engineer, Studio Builder, and Energetic Conversationalist
Zachary Nikollaj, also known as Zach, is an aerospace engineer and rocket scientist by trade. His official bio identifies advanced propulsion systems as an area of specialization, adding an unusual professional background to a cigar podcast.
Within the group, Zach has earned the description “human Swiss Army knife.” It is a fitting nickname for someone whose broad knowledge and practical abilities make him useful across a wide range of tasks.
Zach single-handedly handled the podcast studio buildout and continues to help advance the hardware and equipment used on the show. His contribution connects engineering knowledge with the practical demands of creating a functioning recording space and keeping its equipment up to date.
He also brings a very different kind of energy once the microphones turn on. The most extroverted member of The Cigar Guys, Zach is outgoing, enthusiastic, and rarely short on something to say. His curiosity helps keep conversations moving, whether the subject is cigars, science, everyday life, or an unexpected tangent.
That combination of technical ability and social energy makes Zach central to both the physical production of the podcast and its personality.
What Each Host Brings to The Cigar Guys Podcast
The Cigar Guys’ chemistry comes from four different professional backgrounds and four distinct personalities. Alex contributes marketing, media, and cigar industry experience. Jared builds software and improves the team’s use of AI. Mark brings construction experience and candid opinions. Zach contributes engineering skills, studio equipment knowledge, and an outgoing presence.
Those differences give the hosts plenty to discuss—and plenty to disagree about. Cigars provide the shared interest, while their experiences help the conversation reach into entrepreneurship, technology, culture, and everyday life.
To meet the hosts on screen or hear their latest conversations, visit The Cigar Guys, where you can find links to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
