When Kamron Khannakhjavani started in the beer industry, he was assisting with one-barrel brew days and helping run the homebrew-supply store at his family’s nanobrewery. That was 2010. Since then, the business has grown considerably, as has his role within it. He is now Director of Marketing for Mother Earth Brew Co. (MEBC), one of the larger brewing outfits by production volume, not just in San Diego County but the entire country (in 2024, the company ranked 76th out of well over 9,000 U.S. craft breweries). He’s learned a lot of lessons in the past decade-and-a-half, while forging many lasting relationships with industry peers. Now, he’s drawing on both as the host of a new podcast called The Craft Equation. Launched in August, the cast (which is available on YouTube and Apple Podcasts) covers succinct beer-industry-related topics, bringing on a different guest each episode. While Khannakhjavani (pictured below, at right) has had MEBC’s director of brewing operations on the show, all of his other guests were culled from his personal Rolodex versus his company’s personnel files. He says those individuals are selected as much for their expertise on the subject matter du jour as their relatability and authenticity. Frankness is at the center of The Craft Equation. Khannakhjavani wants listeners to easily understand the conversations shared on the cast so they can take something useful away, and in the case of beer-industry colleagues, employ tips and lessons within their own organizations. We caught up with him while he was prepping for his fifth episode, so we could find out the inspiration for The Craft Equation and how things have been going so far.
What inspired you to start a podcast and why was this the right time?
We have conversations every week – on brew days, in our taprooms, at festivals – that never make it past the brewhouse door. The Craft Equation is our way of opening that circle. It felt like the right time because the craft community is asking bigger questions about quality, sustainability, legislation, design and culture, and podcasts let us cover those topics with nuance instead of sound bites. We also wanted a format where our team and guests can teach, challenge and humanize the industry we all love.
What is the purpose and audience for The Craft Equation?
The purpose is to connect brewing, business and culture, so professionals and fans can both learn something useful and enjoy the listen. Format-wise, it’s a guided conversation anchored by a clear topic. We bring in subject-matter experts – brewers, sensory pros, policy voices, artists, chefs, whomever – then go deeper than headlines, leaving listeners with practical takeaways. In terms of the audience, it’s a variety that includes brewing and beer professionals looking for ideas or guidance, and craft-beer fans who want to level up their understanding or gain insider info. Listeners can look forward to hearing credible guests, clear explanations (no jargon for jargon’s sake) and show notes that point to further learning. Moving forward, expect more live taproom recordings, occasional roundtables, and timely policy and science explainers.
What topics have you covered in your early episodes?
Our first episode was called “The Art of the Collab Brew”. It was about why collaborations matter beyond hype: creative alignment, brand fit and distribution strategy, plus lessons learned from successes and near-misses. Episode two was “Beer Tasting Demystified” and was recorded live at our Vista taproom with Master Cicerone Daniel Imdieke. It included a practical sensory walkthrough illustrating how pros evaluate aroma, flavor and mouthfeel, along with simple techniques any drinker can use to taste with confidence. Next came “PFAs in Beer: Facts Over Fear” with MEBC’s Director of Brewing Operations Chris Baker, a calm, science-forward explainer on “forever chemicals” in water and beer, covering what PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) are, what current research and the EPA say, and what breweries can actually do, all minus the panic. And most recently, we released “License to Pour: Alcohol Control States Explained” with attorney Jeremy Pisca (pictured above, at left), a look at why control states exist, how they work today, and what that means for breweries, retailers and consumers.
What are some interesting things you’ve learned since launching the podcast?
There are always specific learnings from each episode, but overall I’ve found there is always more to every story once you start peeling back the layers of the onion. One thing I’ve learned is how small adjustments can completely change the way people experience beer. Sensory science isn’t about snobbery, it’s about giving people tools that can make every pint more enjoyable. I’ve also discovered that collaborations, when done right, are more about strategy than novelty. PFAs, a hot topic lately, is another great example. Presence doesn’t always equal panic, and putting science into perspective helps everyone. And with control states, they were built with goals like public health and fairness in mind, and many of them are evolving.
How do you decide what topics to tackle?
This is a community project. We want people to reach out with topics they’d like to have covered or expertise they’d like to share. And while we aim to put out episodes on a steady cadence, our promise is to prioritize quality over quantity. We’d rather release fewer episodes that really move the needle than rush something out just to fill a slot.