The Black Pondo Podcast

In this episode of the Black Pondo Podcast, I sit down with Sean Smith, an exceptionally talented craftsman whose work in bonsai display stands, root stands, and suiseki daiza carving is among the best in the field. Sean shares insights gained from years of studying a wide range of bonsai-related disciplines in Japan under some of the country’s most respected professionals. We get into his approach to craftsmanship, the process and considerations behind making bonsai stands and root stands, and the art of carving daiza. We also spend time discussing tokonoma display, exploring the thought and knowledge that go into creating thoughtful and compelling displays. In more recent years, Sean has taken on another incredible project: building his own bonsai studio. I was particularly impressed by the tokonoma he incorporated into the space, and we talk through the entire process, from bringing in Amish craftsmen to construct the exterior to Sean’s own work designing and building the interior. It’s a fun, engaging conversation filled with craftsmanship, experience, and plenty of insight into some of the finer details of bonsai and its related arts. I really enjoyed this one, and I think there’s a lot here for anyone interested in bonsai display, woodworking, and the artistry behind it all. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and the root stand origin story(00:03:24) - Root stands in Japan vs. imports from Southeast Asia(00:04:36) - Dwindling Japanese craftsmen and bonsai club statistics(00:08:58) - Overview of topics and root stand making process(00:12:31) - Creativity in root stands vs. traditional tables(00:14:58) - Finding and making large root stands(00:18:08) - Childhood, father's influence, and discovering bonsai in Berlin(00:23:23) - Learning bonsai and meeting Jim Doyle(00:25:12) - First bonsai tables and selling through Jim Doyle(00:31:57) - Meeting Bill Valvanis and starting the table business(00:35:57) - Going part-time and building the table-making career(00:41:03) - Workshops, teaching, and the joy of root stand carving(00:48:05) - Favorite woods and carving hardwood vs softwood(00:55:43) - History of Japanese bonsai tables and craftsmanship(01:02:30) - Famous table makers and value of antique tables(01:06:03) - Matching stand color and style to trees and seasons(01:11:29) - Philosophy of tokonoma display and common sense(01:14:54) - Wabi-sabi, wear, and the hierarchy of tree, pot, table(01:25:03) - Experience, exposure, and the reality of Japanese bonsai quality(01:29:27) - Studying under Mori Mai and the Kato study group(01:43:39) - Mr. Negishi and the meaning behind suiseki stones(01:48:01) - Learning daiza carving from Kuji Suzuki(01:54:05) - What separates quality daiza craftsmanship(02:01:17) - Teaching an apprentice and running workshops(02:04:38) - Building the bonsai studio and tokonoma space(02:10:13) - Touring the studio and closing thoughts

In this episode, I sit down with the two founders of Bonsaigers to hear their stories, learn about their backgrounds, and discover how they built the successful Bonsaigers company and virtual bonsai exhibition. We focus on Bonsaigers X 2026, an innovative online bonsai competition that continues to grow year after year, bringing together bonsai enthusiasts from around the world. Participants submit photos of their trees and compete in a bracket-style tournament, with trees eliminated round by round until a champion is crowned. With some really cool prizes up for grabs, this unique format makes bonsai competition fun, accessible, and engaging for the global bonsai community. It was awesome hearing how the founders' vision has grown into such a successful event and learning more about the people behind it! Learn more at Bonsaigers.com, and check out the Bonsaigers X 2026 competition using the link below! Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and greetings(00:01:55) - What is Bonsaigers and the origin of the name(00:04:16) - How the founders met(00:06:21) - Starting Bonsaigers during COVID(00:09:54) - Building the Instagram community and inspiration(00:13:15) - Deeper meaning: bonsai and connecting with nature(00:15:16) - Products, services, courses and team building(00:20:01) - Shoutout to designs and early merch success(00:21:58) - DJing side passion(00:25:47) - Future vision for Bonsaigers(00:28:44) - Climate awareness and bonsai's role(00:30:40) - Orticolario fair experience and hands-on courses(00:34:19) - Engaging new generations into bonsai(00:37:32) - Tradsman inspiration and Japan comparisons(00:40:21) - Bonsai heritage project for artists' collections(00:46:49) - Switching to the Bonsaiger X competition(00:47:00) - What the virtual exhibition is about(00:52:49) - Breaking traditional exhibition norms(00:55:58) - Submission dates and bracket tournament format(00:59:15) - Judging system and community voting(01:00:48) - New best in show weekly categories(01:03:24) - Importance of participation and education(01:10:35) - Photo rules and authenticity concerns(01:14:58) - Selecting this year's judges(01:17:51) - Idea for judge commentary on trees(01:21:14) - Prizes and trophy reveal(01:24:03) - Idea of a future champions showdown(01:25:08) - Community, positivity and growing bonsai culture(01:27:02) - Final call to submit trees(01:29:53) - Closing thoughts and thanks

In this episode, Jeremiah Lee sits down with Sergio of M5 Bonsai Works for a wide-ranging conversation about bonsai, art, garden design, and the journey of becoming a serious practitioner. Sergio shares how his early fascination with plants eventually developed into a lifelong practice, how he taught himself bonsai through books, magazines, online resources, and working alongside other American bonsai artists, and how his background in art continues to influence his approach. They dive into Sergio’s personal style, designing and building his bonsai garden, creating a dedicated studio, managing light and shade, working with local stone, rock plantings, root grafting, and selecting Japanese maple cultivars that are well suited for bonsai. The conversation also explores the challenges and failures that come with experimentation, the difference between being a plant collector and a bonsai practitioner, developing trees for the long term, and knowing when it’s time to let a tree go. Jeremiah and Sergio also discuss the future of American bonsai, the importance of regional shows, display standards, workshops, and Sergio’s involvement with Bonsai Central. A thoughtful conversation about craft, creativity, horticulture, and what it takes to keep pushing bonsai forward in the U.S. ️ Featuring Sergio of M5 Bonsai Works Bonsai • Garden Design • Rock Plantings • Root Grafting • Japanese Maples • American Bonsai Chapters (00:00:00) - Bonsai Central Expo Sponsor Intro(00:02:06) - Meeting Sergio and Talk of National Shows(00:04:47) - Sergio's Early Life and Discovery of Bonsai(00:08:51) - Learning Bonsai the Hard Way and First Real Tree(00:10:48) - Becoming a Serious Bonsai Practitioner(00:14:56) - Self-Teaching Through YouTube and Modern Resources(00:17:51) - Japan Apprenticeship vs Learning in the US(00:20:43) - Going Full-Time and the Meaning Behind M5 Bonsai(00:23:53) - Describing His Bonsai Style(00:26:37) - 2026 Business Growth and Type of Work Taken On(00:31:05) - Building His New Bonsai Studio(00:34:18) - Designing His Bonsai Display Garden(00:38:50) - Sourcing Materials and Garden Design Philosophy(00:45:27) - Technical Tips for Building a Bonsai Garden(00:52:34) - Shade Cloth System and Garden Tinkering(00:56:03) - Long-Term Bonsai Goals and Collection Philosophy(00:59:16) - The Story of the Sentinel Cork Bark Elm(01:03:07) - Selling the Sentinel to Longwood Gardens(01:12:56) - Reflections on Losing the Sentinel Tree(01:15:56) - Approach to Rock Plantings and Stone Selection(01:21:56) - Specific Rock Planting Compositions and Collaborations(01:28:15) - Philosophy on Stone-Tree Composition Sustainability(01:32:27) - Multi-Species Plantings and Watering Challenges(01:35:05) - Root Grafting Techniques and Success Rates(01:39:05) - Choosing the Right Japanese Maple Cultivars(01:46:26) - Bonsai Central Lineup and Regional Shows' Importance(01:52:28) - Workshop Material and Bonsai Central Details(01:55:39) - Raising the Bar for American Bonsai vs Europe(02:00:48) - Closing Thoughts and Farewell

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with a professional bonsai artist—and what that client/professional relationship actually looks like? For Episode 46 of The Black Pondo Podcast, I sat down with bonsai professional Julian Tsai his client, Geoff Martin, a high-level bonsai collector and enthusiast from Southern California. We talked about the benefits of working with a professional, things to consider, favorite trees in our collections, and plenty more. An interesting conversation about bonsai, collecting, and the relationships that help us grow as artists and enthusiasts.  Episode 46 — now available!  Julian Tsai- Instagram: bontsai_ Geoff Martin- Instagram: geoff_martin_ Chapters (00:00:00) - To Baby Trees(00:01:04) - Teaching Bonsai to the Professional(00:02:55) - Julian and his fiancee talk trees(00:05:46) - Julian's Bonsai Collection(00:11:30) - Bonsai and the saltwater aquarium hobby(00:12:26) - Bonsai Is For Real(00:14:32) - Jeff Stern and Julian Bonsai(00:17:03) - What are your goals in bonsai?(00:19:28) - A message from Julian Bonsai(00:21:38) - Julian Oakley's role in Southern California bonsai(00:22:24) - Bonsai Clubs(00:32:01) - Julian's Bonsai Club(00:40:34) - The Working Relationship of Julian Bonsai(00:49:54) - Julian and the(00:54:26) - Jeff and Julian's Tree Selection(01:02:04) - Julian's 2019 PBE(01:08:27) - My Top 3 Trees(01:11:38) - How to fulfill a bonsai client professional relationship(01:19:04) - The Best Trees For Your Property(01:22:00) - How To Rank Your Bonsai Trees(01:27:34) - The 3 Best Trees in Your Collection(01:29:43) - Do Chinese Quinces Bonsai Well?(01:34:23) - How to grow a deciduous bonsai tree(01:42:33) - How to grow a Bonsai with clean water(01:51:45) - How to Prevent Juvenile Growth(01:58:49) - How to Supplement Your Trees(02:09:44) - The garden as a guinea pig(02:11:36) - How to care for juniper trees--(02:20:29) - Jeff's rocky mountain juniper(02:21:49) - Rocky Mountain Juniper Grow in Southern California(02:25:47) - John Naka Memorial Bonsai Exhibit(02:30:13) - Jefferey At The Trees 2016(02:31:55) - Interviewing Julian and Jeff(02:32:47) - I'm Not 100% Honest With Clients

After a quick bathroom break, Jeremiah and Peter return to a deep-dive Q&A that shifts from practical bonsai technique into the bigger picture of the craft. Peter answers listener questions on ramification, branch structure, cut paste, and grafting, while also sharing his broader philosophy on patience, refinement, and the long game of developing trees. A major focus of the conversation is apprenticeship: Peter compares the apprenticeship model in the United States and Japan, reflects on the value of learning from skilled professionals, and talks candidly about his own apprentice Travis. He also shares that he is open to taking on a second apprentice, making this second half both highly educational and especially relevant for anyone serious about bonsai as a craft or career. Chapters (00:00:00) - Black Pondo: Auburn Water(00:00:45) - Your Bathroom Is The Best Bathroom In The World(00:02:40) - QUESTIONS FOR THE ACTIVITY(00:03:05) - US Bonsai Apprenticeships vs Japanese ones(00:07:34) - Would You Take Another Apprentice?(00:12:03) - Looking for a Bonsai apprenticeship(00:15:17) - How to Up Your Bonsai Game Most efficiently(00:20:19) - Bonsai Teacher Peter Sink on His Hobbies(00:22:44) - Should Age Be Included on the Rubric for Bonsai?(00:30:47) - What is the marker of age in bonsai?(00:34:10) - Peter Bonsai's(00:35:01) - What's the most satisfying thing you've done in life?(00:38:56) - Do Japanese Bonsai Pros Get Criticism in the US?(00:44:35) - American football fan on Japanese culture(00:48:52) - Inventing Bonsai: A Personal Style(00:54:20) - Zen and Japanese bonsai(00:59:16) - Bonsai: Worst Advice Ever Heard(01:01:42) - Cut Paste vs. Bonsai Healing Wounds(01:05:57) - How to Heal a Wound(01:08:44) - What's the Worst Advice You've Ever Heard?(01:12:41) - What is a technique that you use in your bonsai?(01:15:24) - Thread graft, approach graft, and scion graft(01:21:35) - Grafting Scion graphs(01:26:08) - Thread Gardening: Approach Graph and Thread Graph(01:30:35) - Do you defoliate the whole tree for a thread graph?(01:35:15) - Q&A With(01:35:27) - Peter the Pie Maker