Meet The Smoking Barrel Tavern

We recently connected with The Smoking Barrel Tavern and have shared our conversation below.

The Smoking Barrel Tavern, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
We have always found that we enjoy helping people see how important they are. During the seclusion of the pandemic, a lot of people, including ourselves, found solace in social media. It was a place to turn to when we couldn’t leave our own homes. However, we discovered that most social media apps harbored toxicity and false hope. They spotlighted the negativity and only showcased the “best moments” of people’s lives, omitting the honesty behind the scenes. We felt there was truly no safe space on social media apps, so we decided to create our own. Drawing from life lessons and our own experiences, we aimed to provide messages of hope and positivity, all while fostering an environment of fantasy. As we began posting and received large volumes of engagement, we realized that this was something we needed to continue doing.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

The Smoking Barrel Tavern was created to make a difference in the world. In many stories, a tavern is a refuge for all to gather. We found that tavernkeepers are a source of wisdom and knowledge. This best reflects how we can share our messages universally. We love to entertain and aid others, and this tavern is just the beginning of what we aim to do.

A lot of our inspiration comes from our love for Tabletop Roleplaying Games, such as Dungeons and Dragons. With that, we have used our platform to help raise money for non-profit organizations, conventions, and local businesses. We even had the chance to contribute to the world’s largest D&D game.

We make our content fun and silly, but most times, we impart uplifting words to help others through the day. We believe that people can grow and become better versions of themselves but sometimes just need the tools to do so. Recently, we’ve been working on a special project to provide that bit of help. It’s a quest deck for people to use daily prompts, aiding in their own “character development.” We’re thrilled to announce that our Kickstarter will be launching in the next few months.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
We have learned so many things on this journey thus far but there were a few things that really helped us. Our passion for uplifting others has always been something that the two of us hunger for. We also have a genuine love for storytelling, and speaking with analogies. Lastly, the trials we have faced and overcome have become a beacon for us to share.

The best advice we give many of our followers is to: Fail forward. Find happiness and gratitude in even the smallest of accomplishments. Then of course, allow your life story to unfold, one page at a time.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
We have each other, and we lift each other up. We’ve been together for 18 years. In that time, we’ve learned how to listen, acknowledge, support, understand, and uplift each other. It’s taken many years of trial and error, but we’ve learned how to collaborate effectively. COMMUNICATION is KEY. Together, we’ve delved into self-improvement and selfless growth, sharing what we’ve learned. We believe this has been one of the biggest contributors to our “success.”

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made