Vapor Digest #3 The Trade Publication For The Vapor Products Industry
Issue link: http://vapordigest.epubxp.com/i/442928
26 The Theologian of Vapor: Patrick V* Butson, Founder and Publisher, Vapor Digest & Vapor Lives Magazines. Where There is Vapor, There is a Magazine or Two. The Mr. Magazine Interview Professor Patrick V* Butson *(the V stands for Vaper) "Although I had my degree from Harvard Divinity School and had written many theological things, albeit not necessarily published; I've been a printer for 25 years. Printing is what I do and so I think the reason I chose print is because I person- ally would rather have a really nice maga- zine in my hand." Patrick V* Butson As the Founder and Publisher of Vapor Digest and Vapor Lives Magazines, Patrick Butson's mission is to help the e-cigarette industry gain legitimacy by education and awareness. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, the theologian – turned vaping visionary vows to set the record straight when it comes to vaping and the industry of e-Cigs in general. He is convinced that vaping is the answer to many smokers' prayers and that the part he plays in educating the public is divinely- inspired and validated. I reached out to Patrick recently and we talked about his early days in divinity school, his calling to do something on a grand scale for God and his vision when it came to the print magazines he created, devoted to vaping and the e-Cig industry. The conversation was sincere and open, revealing a man who truly and passionately believes in his magazines and his mission, but doesn't discount the toll it has taken on his personal life. So sit back and enjoy this most unique conversation with a man who is genuinely unique in his own way, set apart perhaps by a spirit that is made so by a predestined future – the Mr. Magazine interview with Patrick Butson, Founder and Publisher, Vapor Digest & Vapor Lives Magazines. But first the sound-bites… On why he started the vaping mission: To be honest with you, I don't think that I've used the gifts that I've been given to their fullest potential. On whether or not vaping has anything to do with his theological calling: Yes, it gave me this sense of calling again and I under- stand that sometimes when you're looking for gold, everything you see is shiny. On the two magazines: one trade, one lifestyle: My real intention when I started was to be more like the lifestyle magazines, but when I realized that what was needed was more of an investigative-type of magazine first, that's why I did them both. On the advertised emphasis of his theol- ogy degree: I did that because I believe it sets me a little apart, because what I do is try to focus on the vision of what it could be and let it lead me like the North Star. On what's in it for him: What's in it for me most importantly is that I matter. I think that if I keep saying perceptive things and keep getting them right and keep giving out the information, along with the stories that people want to read, then I think I'll have an influence. On his ultimate goal for the magazines: My ultimate goal for Vapor Lives Magazine would be for us to be a combination of Rolling Stone and Cigar Aficionado. I want it to be that important about a new social trend like Rolling Stone was. On the major stumbling block that may prevent his goals: I think the main thing for me because I'm boot-strapping it and I don't have the financing and the backing of some of the existing magazines that might want to get into the space. On whether a year from now he sees himself surrounded by competitors and copycats: I do, yes I do. It's already happen- ing a bit. The tobacco industry's trade publi- cations have a couple of them that have com- bined with a vapor publication. On why he decided on a print format for his magazines: Printing is what I do and so I think the reason I chose print is because I personally would rather have a really nice magazine in my hand. On what keeps him up at night: The fact that in doing this, it's taken a lot of work and a toll, not only on me physically, but it's really taken a toll on my relationship with my family. And now the lightly edited transcript of the Mr. Magazine interview with Patrick Butson, Founder and Publisher, Vapor Digest & Vapor Lives Magazines… Samir Husni: After I read about all that you're doing, it seems that you're a one-man crusade. You've started the two magazines and the organization. You're doing the testing and everything. Why? Patrick Butson: I wrote in my book why. To be honest with you, I don't think that I've used the gifts that I've been given to their fullest potential. When I was a young man, for some reason, I really always thought that God was going to do something special through me and I was somehow going to be inspirational or something; I don't know exactly, but I found myself at Harvard Divinity School which confirmed that I was being led in that direction. And then I got married and when my wife and I got preg- nant, I kind of panicked or got nervous; I'm not sure how to explain it perfectly, it was like me having this nebulous calling to do some- thing great was fine for me as a single man. Although my wife was pretty cool with it, September 26, 2014 Patrick V* Interviewed by Mr. Magazine In September of this year, I was interviewed by Dr. Samir "Mr. Magazine" Husni. Below is the interview. as published in the Mr. Magazine newsletter