Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks (private feed for jamey@jameyb.com) cover art

Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks (private feed for jamey@jameyb.com)

Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks (private feed for jamey@jameyb.com)

By: Jamey Bennett
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BBS is a podcast hosted by Jamey Bennett, also known as Chunjay of positive hip-hop crew, Royal Ruckus, about music and culture, faith and doubt, beers and beards, and the shipwrecks in life.

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Episodes
  • Ep. 76: The Return of the Mics: Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks is Back (And Yes, I Smell Like Beef)

    Ep. 76: The Return of the Mics: Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks is Back (And Yes, I Smell Like Beef)
    May 10 2026
    It’s been a minute. Okay, it’s been more than a minute. July 2025 was the last time we actually dropped a proper episode of Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks. But the mics are hot again, the recording light is blinking, and I’m back with my man Nomadik Vagabond to catch up on everything we’ve missed.We didn’t just sit around twiddling our thumbs during the hiatus. Life happened. And as we have a tendency to do on this show, we grabbed our drinks, fired up some cigars, and ping-ponged back and forth on the shipwrecks and successes of recent memory.Here’s a taste of what went down.The Brews & The BeardsYou can’t have a show called Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks without checking in on the essentials. Nomadik was sipping a Rodenbach Classic—a sweet-tart Flanders Ale that he described as “refreshing... low ABV and super digestible.” He specifically didn’t want that American IPA vibe where you drink one and feel like you “just ate a loaf of bread.”I’ve been sticking to my Athletic Brewing Company beers lately. I was sipping on their Free Wave, an non-alcoholic hazy IPA that hits the spot without the hangover. Nomadik brought up the genius of non-alcoholic coffee stouts. He reminded me of a brilliant morning routine: “I’ve done that before... in the morning, I had a cigar and one of those non-alcoholic coffee stouts, and it was fantastic. It’s like a cold brew [coffee], but just fizzy.”Note to self: Buy more NA coffee stouts.As for the beards? Nomadik is out here smelling like Church. He threw in some shea butter and frankincense oil, making him smell like he just walked out of a Paschal (Easter) liturgy.Me? Well, I recently broke my beard oil bottle and haven’t replaced it. So, naturally, I reached for the tallow skin cream. It warms up nicely in the hands and goes into the beard great, but as I confessed on the show: “For the first few minutes of the day, I smell a little beefy. There is a slight beefy odor.”Nomadik’s immediate response? “Is that Lenten?” (It was not).Flavor Fest 25: A Christian Hip-Hop Family ReunionI finally made it out to Tampa for Flavor Fest, hosted by Urban D and Crossover Church. It was the 25th anniversary of the Christian hip-hop conference, and 12-year-old Jamey would have peed himself.There were absolute legends in the building. PID. Mike Peace. KJ-52. Watching PID rock the mic was incredible. They aren’t just coasting on nostalgia; they proved they still have the bars and the energy to move a crowd.But another real highlight was the networking. I met Urban D (Tommy Kyllonen) for the first time. As an Orthodox guy walking into a hip-hop church, I felt a little out of my element at first. But in a wild twist, I found out Urban D has a Greek Orthodox background in his family tree. (I totally failed to mention I was Orthodox at the time—opportunity missed!)I was also down there promoting the new Royal Ruckus record, Let’s Be Together Today. It was a stark reminder of how the industry has changed. I didn’t have CDs of the new album to hand out. I brought old CDs and T-shirts, but telling people to “go stream it” just feels different. As Nomadik pointed out, “For me, half the thing I love going to concerts is getting the concert merch... if I go to a show now and there’s no merch, I’m like, what’s going on?”Fatherhood, Fitness, and Dropping 60 PoundsNomadik and I are at opposite ends of the parenting spectrum right now. He’s navigating life with a 21-year-old and a 19-year-old, trying to balance guiding young adults who are working and navigating college. Meanwhile, the Bennett family expanded two months ago with a new baby girl.The sleep deprivation is real. My coffee is stronger, my beard is wilder, and the perspective shift is real. Which brings me to my health update.Over the last six months, I dropped 60 pounds. It wasn’t just about aesthetics this time. I had some health scares, some hospital visits, and some new medicines that forced the issue. As I put it on the show, my motivation changed: “I’m about to have two children under five. I know what it’s like to lose a dad when you’re little, and I don’t want to create a situation if I can help it.”I’m lifting heavy, skipping the marathon training (which weirdly made me gain weight), and feeling better than I have in a long time.The Locust and The FutureNomadik dropped some heat of his own. He’s stepping into a new space job-wise, and on the music front, the Shadow of the Locust crew is grinding on Mighty Army Cometh Volume 3. It’s about 75% done, featuring the whole squad, plus a new member, Ilmerillion.I’m actually featured on a Locust track for the first time ever, and I got to record it in the studio with Jeremiah Dirt producing me on the vocals.As we look ahead, we’re planning to bring Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks back more consistently. We want more guests, more stories, and more insights into living well.Until next time: Keep your glass ...
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    59 mins
  • Ep. 75: Jamey Bennett: Summer of the Cicadas Revisit on Indie Music Live with Chunjay

    Ep. 75: Jamey Bennett: Summer of the Cicadas Revisit on Indie Music Live with Chunjay
    Jul 31 2025

    Greetings y'all!


    On this episode we are running an interview Chunjay did on a podcast called Indie Music Live! They discuss the Summer of the Cicadas album and play a few songs as well. This gives Chunjay a chance to talk about the writing process of the album as well as the history of Royal Ruckus. This was originally 2 episodes of Indie Live but we smashed it into to one dope Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks episode. For those not familiar with the Summer of the Cicadas album, this is a time to get familiar. For those who are, this is a time to get reacquainted with a trust fantastic piece of art. If you like what you hear make sure to like and subscribe as well as share any and all episodes you found impactful to you.



    Follow us on IG:


    @brewbeards


    @nomadikvagabond


    @royalruckusofficial


    @justjamey


    and be sure to check out IndieMusicLive on IG @indiemusicplus


    Also make sure to check out summerofthecicadas.com the cat caught up on anything Cicadas related as well as royalruckus.bandcamp.com and buymeacoffee.com/royalruckus to help support the recording of the new EP's. Thanks for tuning in!!


    Nomadik Vagabond



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    23 mins
  • Ep. 74: Q-Unique: Brooklyn Bars, Arsonist Anthems, and Spiritual Rhymes

    Ep. 74: Q-Unique: Brooklyn Bars, Arsonist Anthems, and Spiritual Rhymes
    Jul 7 2025

    On this episode of BBS Podcast, we link up with Q-Unique, a true underground hip-hop legend straight outta Brooklyn. From his days rippin mics with the Arsonists to droppin solo joints and exploring spiritual vibes, Q’s story is a masterclass in staying rooted while branching out. We dig into his journey through the gritty Brooklyn scene, his evolution as an artist, and how faith and family keep his bars grounded. With a nod to his genre-bending style and collabs with heavyweights like Ill Bill, this episode’s got that raw, unfiltered energy you don’t wanna miss.


    Q-Unique takes us back to his Bed-Stuy beginnings, where the pulse of Brooklyn’s hip-hop history—think Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, and the Beastie Boys—shaped his flow. He drops knowledge on the Arsonists rise, talking about their organic blend of breakdance, graffiti, and lyricism that set them apart in the ‘90s golden era.


    From 12-inch singles to European tours, Q breaks down how the crew carved their lane. We also get into his solo hustle, the rebrand with the “Legacy Series,” and how personal tracks like “Father’s Day” still hit hard. Plus, Q opens up about weavin’ spirituality into his music, from “Come to Jesus” to his rock ventures with Stillwell, and what’s next with new tracks and a heavier sound. Q also lets us peek behind the curtain on what's going on with Stillwell, his other rock projects, as well some tracks with Sonny from P.O.D.


    Tune in for a convo that’s straight-up Brooklyn—raw, real, and layered with wisdom. Whether you’re bumpin this for the bars or the bigger picture, Q-Unique’s got the mic, and we’re riding the beat with him.



    This one’s for the heads who love real hip-hop and real talk—don’t sleep on Q-Unique’s story.


    Connect:


    Plug in and vibe with us on http://instagram.com/brewsbeards or at http://brewsbeards.com.


    Follow Q-Unique on @mr_q_unique on the socials as well as q-unique.com for the latest on his music and moves. Hit us up on @brewsbeards to chop it up about the episode!


    Thank you for tuning in!!



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    1 hr and 6 mins
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