STANDARD H Podcast

Spencer Reynolds is an artist I met at the US open of surfing in Huntington Beach, California, roughly 10 years ago. His art struck me by way of its trippy, surrealist approach to landscapes and ocean scenes.This conversation certainly took some turns I didn’t expect, including his time working in the wakeboarding industry, as well as some time, spent chatting about his meditation practice, and overall things in conjunction with mental health. I can’t thank Spencer enough for his candor, and without further ado, let’s jump into this episode.

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Josh Shapiro and I met through an event with the guys from The Collective this past summer. We’d been exchanging emails about getting together for a while, but hadn’t yet met face to face, so it was a treat to meet him out and about as well as among some watches!Josh has a fascinating background in the educational system - he was a Principal, in fact - so he wasn’t exactly born into the Watch industry. However, as you’ll learn, he was kind of primed for it in his own way. Today, his company, J. N. Shapiro, produces some of the most beautiful watch dials on the planet, and Josh has officially set out to restore watch manufacturing here in the United States.He’s a baseball fan, and talk about a big swing…and he’s certainly kept his eye on the ball, and has seemingly made solid contact. Here’s my conversation with Josh Shapiro.

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Today’s guest has been on my short list for literally years at this point. He’s one of my favorite car journalists living today, and his cool, calm, and collected approach to enthusiasm is really unique in the automotive space. Of course I’m talking about Henry Catchpole.Henry and I have several mutual friends, notably the gentlemen over at The Grey Nato, while we also share a love for cycling and golf. Needless to say, Henry was primed for this podcast!I’m always excited to chat cars on here and who better to do it with than one of the GOATS. I hope you enjoy it.

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Morgan King probably needs no introduction. He’s a double-wristing watch aficionado, affectionately known as a Magical Man of Mystery, a NY native and an LA resident…he’s also one of my favorite people to hang out with, full stop.I’m thrilled Morgan took the time to come on the show, because his energy is simply unmatched. 

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I first met Michael Pearson at a Bremont event in Los Angeles in 2018. Reacquainted in Chicago last year at WindUp, he now serves as the Global Director of Zodiac Watches, and man he’s crushing it. We start off with some sales and management chatter which weaves in and out of the entire conversation, really, and Mike shares the story of a horrific car accident that he was involved in which certainly gave him a new lease on life. We then discuss his time working on cruise ships and we later get into some Landrover Defender talk. Mike is definitely one of my favorite people in the watch industry, which goes for many others as well, and I can’t thank him enough for all of his insights into Zodiac and the watch world at large.

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Needless to say my first WindUp was a fruitful trip for this podcast. I feel incredibly fortunate to have met so many wonderful people behind the companies exhibiting that we all love. Wyatt Gilmore is no exception. We had booths adjacent from one another, and though I had no idea our paths would cross, I’m certainly stoked they did. We saw one another again in San Francisco this Spring and I made sure to let him know I was interested in hosting him…thankfully he accepted. Grant Stone is his Michigan-based footwear business bringing great-looking, timeless style that is primarily Direct to Consumer, and given my affinity for shoes and boots, I was excited to chat. There are certainly some additional nuggets that surprised me about Wyatt involving two wheels so stay tuned for that.

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Carter McLean is a drummer I have followed for years online. When he walked past my booth at WindUp last year in NYC I had to introduce myself. We quickly started talking drums and watches and he even walked me over to the Farer booth to introduce me to Paul, a fellow car enthusiast. I was thrilled when Carter agreed to come on the podcast, and here we talk more about all of the above as well as drumming technique. Carter shares how John Mayer helped him secure a very special watch, and an incredible story of a letter he wrote himself at a young age. Full disclosure, I geeked out a bit on this one and Carter’s answers to my questions only substantiate why he’s become one of my favorite drummers playing today. I mean, we even talk about the humidity levels in his studio. Even if you’re not into drumming, please give him a follow, because his video content is really wonderful, especially if you appreciate anyone who’s insanely good at what they do. It truly is a pleasure to watch.

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Sharing thoughts, ideas, inspiration, travel, cars, watches, and anything else. This is Pit Stop.

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Within the world of this podcast, most of you will know Gabe Reilly as co-founder of Collective Horology, the community of watch collectors and purveyors of some of the finest collaborative designs with some of the best watch brands of today. Gabe and I officially met last summer in Chicago at WindUp, and since Asher flew home to California before he and I did, I invited Gabe to dinner with some friends. We had a blast and a friendship was born. Gabe and I often exchange texts about baseball and hat hatchbacks, so I was excited to host him on the show. I’ve always gotten along well with native New Yorkers, and conversations with Gabe always feel too short, so alas, here’s our recent exchange. I hope you enjoy it.

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Rob Caplan is just one of those people with a reputation you aspire to have. It’s one of those, “You know Rob Caplan? Yeah! Love Rob!!” kind of things. He’s great.Perhaps the most notable characteristics Rob possesses are his approachability and his sense of humor. He has a way of keeping things light, not making you feel like you’re an idiot all while dropping some serious knowledge.We met in person just before WindUp San Francisco when I dropped by somewhat as a Cold Call to introduce myself, say hello, and ask if he’d ever be interested in being on the show. As fate would have it, here we are. So without further ado, here’s our conversation.

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I was actually able to export the audio, so here it is in fact as a podcast episode after all!

Pit Stop is a time to take a minute from the action, reflect, share my thoughts, things I’ve been checking out, inspired by, watches, cars, etc.

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This episode brings us to # 110. I know…where does the time go? I ask myself the same borderline daily. As for today’s guest, Zach Piña, I’ll side step the close circles and just say this: I’m a fan. A big fan. His photography is rad, he loves bikes, watches, and well, apparently we share an appreciation for things like John Mayer-watch-specific Instagram accounts.Zach and I finally met in person at WindUp San Francisco this year and though it was a short chat, I was confident we would get together for an episode to get to know him right along with you all. I’m about to head out on a significant road trip and I’m stoked to meet up with Zach to grab a coffee along the way. For now, my conversation which includes notes on “Crusader Man Jewelry” with Mr. Piña himself. I hope you enjoy it.

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Today’s guest, Neil Ferrier and I share many mutual friends and acquaintances, and we’ve exchanged several DM’s, yet we’d somehow never met prior to this recording. Early during COVID I reached out to Neil, and though it took 2+ years, I was thrilled we made this happen. We chat about his Industrial Design firm, Discommon, as well as his watch brand, Blok, let alone so much of his insights he has as a founder and entrepreneur. I often thank guests for their candor, and this chat is no exception. As I edited this, I honestly got lost in the conversation as though I was hearing it for the first time and felt lucky, quite frankly, to be hearing and understanding the depths of what Neil has to say. Not to be greedy, but I really hope to have a round two later down the line, even though I’m thoroughly excited to share this conversation. 

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Patrick Parrish and I met through Instagram only to find out we had far more in common than we realized. As an art gallery owner, Patrick & I discuss how real estate plays a role in his business, the artists he represents, the items he sells. which not only consists of art, but furniture as well as watches from within his Secret Watch Shop that’s certainly meant to be found. We chat about art versus design which was wonderful and our love of Asheville, North Carolina even though he’s based in New York City.

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A time to take a minute from the action, reflect, share my thoughts, things I’ve been checking out, inspired by, watches, cars, etc.

Linden Lazarus is someone I’d highly characterize as someone who’s more than meets the eye. He’s young, yes, and I really try not to harp on this fact, however, his taste and affinity for watches has been something incredibly gratifying to witness as his business continues to grow.We were introduced by a mutual friend and have become fast friends, and coincidentally we share a love for IWC, and Linden shares the story of his first watch - not a bad year to be mentioning it, no less.Linden graciously hosted me inside the showroom of his LA-based vintage watch dealership, Oliver & Clarke, and the conversation felt like a whirlwind. It was so fun to speak with him about his watch journey both on wrist and in his business pursuits, as well as another passion of his which is cars of course. I hope you enjoy this one because I sure did.

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Stephen and I connected through…you guessed it…watches. Frankly, I believe it may have been previous podcast guest Nick Roberts. We talk about his collecting philosophies and approach to buying watches, especially now that he’s no longer working in the specific Watch space exclusively. We chat about how he became interested in story telling, we dive deep into the nuts and bolts of his photography journey, and we even discuss the origin story of his last name. This conversation wanders as these often do, and I of course did my best to ask questions others haven’t, so I hope you enjoy it.

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Like many of you, I’m sure, William Massena first came up on my radar from his 2015 episode on HODINKEE’s Talking Watches. Hard to believe that’s already been nearly 8 years ago, and I actually didn’t meet William in person until this past October when he walked by the STANDARD H booth at WindUp in New York City.I politely introduced myself, told him I enjoyed his episode, and then we proceeded to talk about our shared love of the same sunglasses company, Jacques Marie Mage. It’s very much a cult brand, so any time someone wearing them gets called out, it inevitably solicits a smile and a surprised response, not unlike spotting a rare watch, for example.This episode follows a podcast first where William accidentally slept through our initial podcast Zoom recording - i found this to be hilarious and he was clearly jet lagged, so I kept that part of the discussion in the mix. William, please don’t be embarrassed - it was too funny to leave out!Needless to say, William and I have a really fun conversation. I certainly learned a ton about his background and path into watches, and he does a great job offering advice on leaning into the idea of acquiring your grails.

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Today’s podcast began roughly four years ago in a roundabout way. I got married in May 2019, and today’s guest, Chris Evans, was booked to be our wedding photographer. At the time, neither my wife or I had met him before, we simply chose him based on his portfolio and a few reviews we’d read online. I had no idea what he looked like, but when the day came, he walked in, dark suit, sunglasses, and a lot of positive energy. His Gucci belt provoked me to share that I once worked for the company only to realize we shared a mutual friend still at the company, and we further connected while discussing surfing, and even photography in general. Chris is a guitar player, a watch enthusiast, he has one of the more interesting first car stories I’ve ever heard, and much like my wedding day, he still comes to us with the positive energy. We talk about collecting, the one-in-one-out philosophies - Chris’s reason brought a smile to my face - and of course: why he’s a wedding photographer. This recording was unique because we actually conducted this chat while sitting on the back bumper of his X5 with the tailgate open by the Malibu Lagoon. I really enjoy listening to Chris discuss the importance of relationships which is inevitably how and why we remain in touch. So without further ado, here’s my conversation with my wedding photographer, and friend, Chris Evans.

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Five years ago, I heard about an event called Luftgekuhlt and for its third annual car show, it was held at the Midcentury design manufacturing facility for a brand called Modernica. If you’re an astute follower of architecture, or perhaps more specifically, the fiberglass Eames chairs, you’re probably familiar with the LA-based company. I’ve been a fan for years, in fact, I lucked out and won a chair through a silent auction held by Jonathan Ward at Icon 4x4’s GO Campaign event several years ago. But it wasn’t until this past December when I was getting some holiday shopping done at Modernica’s Los Angeles showroom when I met a gentleman wearing one of the more unique-looking Seiko’s I’d ever seen. Of course I had to ask about it only to later find out I was speaking to today’s guest, Jay Novak, owner of Modernica. Jay is incredibly hospitable and when I politely asked if he’d be interested in being on the podcast, he offered to have me come by the manufacturing plant, show me around & then record. I quickly replied, “Say no more!” And here we are. Jay offers stories from his childhood, the early days of Modernica, the growth of Luftgekuhlt & of course that watch on his wrist. I hope you enjoy this one as I can’t thank Jay enough for his warm welcome and of course for the personal tour. It was truly special.

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Asher Rapkin and I met through a mutual friend in the watch space. Our good friend Brandon actually sold me my first IWC, and he’s sold Asher an independent or two from none other than Passion Fine Jewelry. Long story short, Asher and I were connected via text and the conversations started flowing. As an IWC fan, I was immediately obsessed with the C.03 from Collective Horology - Asher’s limited edition collaborative Watch business he co-founded and runs with his childhood best friend, Gabe Reilly. Sadly, I missed out on the C.03 on its release, however I was able to pick one up second hand and I absolutely love it. What I love most about Collective is the fact their designs alongside the wonderful companies and watchmakers with whom they work never feel like Design by Committee even though the results derive from several opinions involved. Asher is from NYC so we spend a fair amount of time discussing his upbringing, his career in marketing at the likes of Mtv & Facebook and a band called Phish. I’m always interested in what Asher has to say, because everything he says is so well-considered and often thought-provoking which makes me feel very fortunate to call him a friend.

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This episode welcomes Black Badger aka James Thompson. You’ve perhaps seen one of the rings he makes - notably a ceramic one worn by McLaren F1 driver, Lando Norris, or maybe you’ve seen an Arconaut, his recently-released watch brand hosting a Fordite dial - those photos are certainly making their rounds around the interwebs. James is one of those people I love to talk to. We met in New York last October, and not only is his sense of humor disarming and a joy to experience, he can get into the weeds with regards to details and his approach to design which is why it was inevitable that I’d want to host him on this show. We get into design, philosophy, and of course the creation of Fordite. Frankly, I feel like we really hit the ground running with this one, and we really didn’t let off the gas, so I wanted to keep this intro short. I really hope you enjoy the episode.

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If you’re an automotive enthusiast I’m sure you’ve heard of today’s guest Matt Farah. I’m confident in saying his channel The Smoking Tire inspired countless people to make car videos for YouTube, and though he didn’t invent the business model for Car Storage, he’s certainly made a name for himself in the space. It was at his offices within Westside Collector Car Storage where Matt welcomed and hosted me so we could record this episode. The level of hospitality is immediately felt when entering the building, and given the fact Matt’s father held several seats in the C Suites of some of the largest luxury brands on the planet, it doesn’t take long to understand why. We chat about Matt’s upbringing, his cars - both that he owns and those he’s sold. On top of that, Matt’s been a watch collector for the better part of a decade, so of course we explore his relationships within the space of Horology, as well. This was a fun one, and to boot, Matt extended the invitation to use his equipment and film the show! I can’t thank Matt enough for the hospitality and the time, it was truly a pleasure. If you’d like to watch this interview, it’s available on the STANDARD H YouTube channel, as well as on the STANDARD H website. As always thank you for the support, and I hope you enjoy this episode.

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I met today’s guest, Claude Greisler at a dinner party in New York City during WindUp Watch Fair only to realize we shared a few things in common: watches, cars, and an affinity for one former pro free-skier, Jon Olsson. Claude is one of the two men behind the boutique watch brand, Armin Strom, which manufactures only around 250 pieces per year, like their watches, Claude is full of exciting details. Much like the Alps where Claude lives, Armin Strom’s design language is somewhat arresting in the greatest way possible. What I love about Armin Strom is their display of technical prowess often on display on both the dial side and through their case back. As I chat with Claude, I soon realize he has his own technical prowess often on display in the mountains as someone who enjoys all aspects of alpinism. We discuss the ins and outs of the company which coincidentally gained its 30th employee the day we recorded. Further, Armin Strom is among one of the very few companies producing 98% of their movements in-house, which is fascinating, and when it comes to sourcing anything else, rest assured they’re using some of the best in the business. Claude walks us through nearly everything that goes into what ends up on your wrist, and it’s no joke when it comes to his education and technical capabilities as a Watch maker - you know, making tourbillons, minute repeaters, things like that. I loved hearing about how Claude and his business partner Serge took over Armin Strom, hearing his lineage of Watch makers - his grandparents even made stop watches for Heuer! My experience with watches couldn’t be more different from Claude’s, and that’s part of the reason I love this hobby, and hearing how his business has evolved and grown just makes me even more happy in and around the industry. Claude happens to have some incredible cars, and has the stories to back them up, so stay tuned for those, because it’s a healthy portion of this episode which is great.

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If you’re active on social media and happened to be a sports fanatic, you may be familiar with today’s guest, Gary Striewski. As the host of SportsCenter on SnapChat, Gary is one of my favorite follows simply based on his antics around the ESPN studios and everything surrounding his day to day, including his documented bromances with his co-hosts. Gary knew he’d host SportsCenter ever since the 6th grade when he’d give the school announcements. However, school wasn’t always a smooth sail for Gary as he describes his college experience. We do a deep dive into underrated & GOAT-status anchors from behind the desks there in Bristol followed by an exploration in Gary’s time making $20,000 a year to working at ESPN and what he feels played a role in getting him there. We of course chat watches, which I guess I should add: Gary and I met through former guest VJ Geronimo. We chat about how wonderful the community is and what his first big watch purchase was like. Gary’s also a big F1 fan so of course we touch on his favorite driver and why he enjoys a villain. Then we wrap up chatting about his real estate ventures, which is especially fun for me as it’s something I’ve been looking forward to getting more involved in. Gary has such a wonderful energy and I’m grateful for the conversation as I am with all of the guests, and I’m really looking forward to getting together will him soon. I think you will enjoy this one.

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Nic Mulflur and I met mainly due to me being a golf nut. I knew about MacKenzie golf bags, the old school-looking leather bags most similar to a modern day “Sunday Bag” or pencil bag meant for carrying while walking a course. I didn’t know a ton about the history of the company so I did what I often do, and I cold-called the company via email and asked if they’d be interested in being on the podcast. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, ammiright?! Sure enough, Nic agreed after replying asking to have an introductory phone chat which served as perhaps a more appropriate meet-and-greet. I remember that phone conversation very well, because I was on one of my drives to Los Angeles for some product meetings and I noted how young this CEO sounded. Not to speak for Nic, but we got on like a house on fire and I’m super stoked to now have him in my list of contacts. I had a blast during this conversation where I learned a much more detailed version of Mackenzie’s origin story & their approach to some of the coolest golf bags money can buy. I thoroughly enjoy the fact his Dad was so enthusiastic about the brand and I love that Nic is so heavily involved with the product including the custom bags made. We do a deep dive and nerd out on leather as we explore the various materials Mackenzie uses, and because Nic’s hiring stemmed from some rough times at MacKenzie, Nic’s story is an incredibly unique one and I’m so thrilled to share it. We chat at length about the various struggles and strategies of growing a small business, the role of Instagram, and how hiring help was the hardest, and best, decision he’s ever made. As I’ve said, this was incredibly fun for me, so I hope it is for you as well.

Not too long ago, my wife and I took a trip to Zion National Park in Utah. Those of you who follow STANDARD H on Instagram will have seen photos from the trip. Zion has some of the best hiking trails I've ever done in my life, and it was during that trip I learned Zion also has some of the best Italian Ice I've ever had in my life.When I sat down to speak with today's guest, Xander Rizzello, co-founder of Desert Ice, a deliciously cool treat served up out of a food truck, I honestly thought the business had been around longer than it has. Xander and his partner, Annie, had only started Desert Ice just this past Summer, however, like most businesses, the timeline extends far beyond what actually brought it to market. It was super fun getting to know Xander, who originally hails from Philadelphia, only to learn about his outdoor experience with Outward Bound and his affinity for compact SUVs. Now knowing Xander is a golfer as well, I certainly look forward to teeing it up with him sometime in the near future. If you find yourself in Zion National Park, it's an absolute must to stop by the Desert Ice food truck parked just outside of the National Park entrance.

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Nick Federowicz has a role within the Watch community that is unlike any other. If you’re not familiar with him as a person, perhaps you’ve heard of his company, Ad Patina. That’s right, Nick doesn’t sell watches, or watch straps, or even watch pouches. He sells vintage magazine ads which highlight some of the most iconic watches ever produced. I think it’s fair to say the watch industry (along with the car industry) has produced some of the most whimsical & thought-provoking, if not provocative, ads over the last 50+ years, and Nick has brought them to offices around the world…framed and beautifully-displayed. When I attended Windup Watch Fair in Chicago, Nick and I decided to meet before one of the show days to record since it would be the first time for both of us not only meeting in person, but also exhibiting at a show. I’ve bought from Nick, as perhaps have many of you, because he treasure hunts to find old ads and present them as art, which is something I’ve enjoyed buying to pair with the pieces in my own collection. I wanted learn more about Nick and how he goes about his operation of Ad Patina, and since I had never heard him on another podcast, I wanted to share his story with you. I really love his perspective, how he got into collecting ads, how he sets his prices, and how he embraces the challenges of running his business. I hope you enjoy it.

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Cole Young has done a lot in a very short time frame. This was even more apparent when I learned he is 5 years younger than I even thought. What he’s building with his golf-inspired apparel brand, Metalwood Studio, has already far-surpassed the point of being “impressive” to me. We planned a golf outing not far from his hometown of Carlsbad, California at none other than Torrey Pines & more specifically the South Course for those of you scoring at home. Like many guests on this show, Cole and I met through Instagram. I heard him on the Erik Anders Lang podcast & immediately reached out. There were so many parallels in our lives I was dying to talk to Cole. Prior to teeing it up, we discussed his introduction to golf, his experience playing in college followed by what brands he was enthralled with as a Marketing major. We certainly share a strong value of community - something Cole took note of growing up surrounded by skate culture. We discuss our shared distaste for gatekeeping and how hype culture somewhat occurs on its own. As it happens, Cole is one of the more connected dudes I’ve ever met. If you were to name someone in the apparel industry doing things of note, Cole probably knows them. If you were to name a professional skateboarder in and around LA who happens to play golf, Cole has probably already played with them. His network blows my mind and I love to see it. I could go on but I don’t feel like making this intro any longer. Brass tax: hanging with Cole is the perfect elixir of humor and knowledge and I can’t wait to get together again soon. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

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Blake Buettner and I connected originally in conjunction with the Worn & Wound Podcast, which he graciously hosted me on back in the Spring. If you haven’t heard that episode, there’s a link to it in the show notes, as well as in the Press section in the footer of the STANDARD H Website. That conversation comprised of all things STANDARD H, watches and Formula 1, which paved the way to the friendship Blake and I would now have. As a result, we marked our calendars for the weekend of the WindUp Watch Fair in Chicago to sit down and reverse the roles so I could interview him. Blake was an early HODINKEE employee, he worked at StockX, he’s a great writer & editor, an incredibly friendly guy, and he is a man with a ton of F1 passion, so I was excited for this one. Blake is a consummate professional since he hosts the podcast for Worn & Wound. This is effectively an uncut conversation which was delightful. More than likely, a Part 2 will take shape in the future, I’m sure especially as the world of watches continues to grow, things in racing maintain their spicy nature, and not to be overlooked: our next meet-up - the WindUp Watch Fair in New York City October 21st through the 23rd. Be sure to come find us both and say hello as well as check out the latest from STANDARD H live and in person! For now, my conversation with Blake Buettner!

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The story of George Esquivel feels like it could be a movie script. From an uneasy childhood kicking his dad out of his house to starting his own shoe business, the successes & the pitfalls - most pitfalls were mere bumps in the road due to things outside of George’s control such as investors backing out and the effects of COVID for example - it’s been a roller coaster and it’s all worthy of the big screen in my opinion. I first came across George’s work in and around 2009/2010 when I was writing my lifestyle blog, Screaming Mouth. I’d seen him in some magazines as well as some stores around Los Angeles where I was living at the time. Though I wanted to interview him back then, the timing never worked out. Funny enough, while I was in Chicago at the Windup Watch Fair, the brand “Esquivel” came up in conversation with George from Everest Bands. As fate and sheer coincidence would have it, two days later I received an email from Esquivel’s marketing department about perhaps being a candidate for a podcast interview…little did they know my awareness of the brand from 10 years before. It’s so crazy how the world shrinks sometimes. I can’t believe it’s been a decade since I first learned about Esquivel which is also a testament to George's staying power. I just love his aesthetic and unique style of his product assortment, which I feel he does a great job describing even without a visual component of this show. So if you’re into shoes and/or want to learn all about how they’re made, etc. this show’s for you. So rather than summarize the conversation too much, I figured it’s best to just jump in, because George has had one hell of a ride.

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Golf. It exists in many ways for many reasons for a ton of people. It's social...and it's escapism. It's a game...and it's difficult. It's gratifying...and it's penalizing. And it's different for nearly everyone that takes up the activity. It can be an obsession for many and quite literally an addiction for some. But I don't think anyone gives golf more thought than Erik Anders Lang. As founder of Random Golf Club and the host of Adventures in Golf, Erik is one of the most dynamic personalities in the game. I've been a longtime fan and have admired what he's built as a company and a brand which is why it's such a pleasure to have him on the show. I enjoy his enthusiasm, his curious nature, and his overall vibe! We kick things off with some car talk - Erik happens to own my favorite 911 - a 993. He eloquently explains how his Porsche enthusiasm began, and it wasn't a poster, or a movie. In fact, it might just be the most organic appreciation I've ever heard, which doesn't surprise me. If you follow Erik, you may be like me where you feel like, "This dude's just got it!" As a creator, his content is absolutely Art. In this episode, Erik shares one major thing he wishes he'd done differently as well as gives us a glimpse into his time working with David LaChapelle - one of my favorite creators of all time. Erik explains why growing the game of golf isn't what he's set out to do and why collaboration is important. Hand in hand, I ask Erik about the genesis and the contribution of his executive coaches. I can't thank Erik enough for his time - I'm such a fan of his and his team's work. They're, hands down, making the best golf content available. I really hope we can do a Part 2 since I had so much more to talk about, but for now, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Erik Anders Lang.

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VJ Geronimo is the North American CEO of Oris, a watch brand no doubt near and dear to many of you listening. I connected with VJ originally through previous STANDARD H Podcast guest, Josh Shanks, only to further hear what a wonderful guy VJ is from Oris collaborator, Cole Pennington. Well, the VJ rumors are absolutely true, as you’ll hear in this episode. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation getting to know VJ, who even turned the tables on me towards the end. I knew I liked Oris watches, but as VJ shares insight into their efforts both ecologically as well as ethically, my affection for the brand only grew. We dive fairly deep into the history of Oris as well as VJ’s role within the company hosting not one, but three CEO’s. When you hear all that VJ’s accomplished in his career, it only makes sense as to why he is where he is. We also spend a few minutes discussing baseball as well as the Oris Bear which is fun. It’s times like these when I truly feel fortunate to be even a peripheral participant within this wonderful community of watch folks, and I’m sure you’ll understand why upon hearing the thoughtful responses from VJ. I’m confident you’ll enjoy this one.

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Andrew Maness and I met through a mutual friend over the common interest of cars and watches, so it was only natural to host him on this show. Andrew is the founder and editor in chief of The Motoring Journal, an eclectic, quarterly magazine now in its second year of publication. As a snowboarder from Vermont, it turns out Andrew and I had even more in common than we thought as we reminisce over 90’s US Opens and how close he was to the action. We chat about his time in the northeast, and of course his history within the automotive space. There’s plenty of car and watch talk in this one so I hope you enjoy it!

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Many of you perhaps listen to today’s guest’s show, as well. Andy Green is far more than the co-host of Australia’s OT Podcast, and with as many cookie jars he has his hand in, I was delighted to find out how close he keeps all of his worlds of interest. We discuss the country music scene and what makes it so popular, including Australia’s Yute scene which hosts models costing 200 & 300,000 dollars! Andy and I are both fans of the GTI, and he gives us a glimpse into his latest automotive purchase, and then takes us through his early days of watches, including the bridge from G Shocks to purchasing his first micro brand powered by an automatic movement. It was soon after that Andy was seated next to none other than Time & Tide’s Andrew McUtchen on a flight which opened the door to Andy’s journalism career. The OT Podcast was born from weekly conversations Andy had with his then co-worker and friend, Felix Scholz. Now co-hosts, the podcast is now a money-making show surrounding the world of watches. They’ve had some heavy hitters, and some smaller guests such as yours truly, which I’m certainly grateful for. Andy has managed to still maintain his day job working in Marketing for an electronics company, so needless to say, the man’s full of hustle. We discuss pizza fairly in-depth, as well as Andy’s switch to a plant-based diet. We wrap things up, naturally, with some more watch talk - both OT’s anOrdain Special Editions as well as the current state of the market. I hope you enjoy this episode with one of the nicest guys in the game.

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Justin Hast and I connected over Instagram - I know, big surprise isn’t it?! He and I would share the occasional DM but nothing too in-depth. I kindly asked if he’d be interested in being a guest and if you follow Justin, he responded exactly the way you’d think: with a ton of enthusiasm and appreciation…not unlike his approach to his content creation. And as two enthusiastic individuals, I can assure you this conversation jumps around like none before and I had an absolute blast. As a result, it ran longer than many, as well, which is nothing more than a testament to perhaps how much longer this chat could’ve been! We talk about Justin’s approach to story telling, his approach to watches, and well, really his approach to life. His optimism is infectious and I couldn’t wait to be reassured that it’s all honest and real - and Justin does not let us down! We talk golf and end up discussing a watch that’s due to arrive soon - a glimpse behind the curtain he typically doesn’t allow. In fact, we dig deep on watch ownership and what it’s like to “break up” with a watch. I was incredibly grateful to host Justin, and perhaps needless to say, I’m excited to share this one with you. I hope you enjoy it half as much as I did.

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Prior to the Pandemic, I came across what would soon become one of my favorite YouTube channels. I was brought in by this UK-based car vlog and its host, Sam, mainly due to his energy, enthusiasm, and really what felt like uninhibited honesty. Seen Through Glass gained my subscription very quickly when Sam launched his adventure called Drive the World - literally a trek around the world where he drives a Porsche 911T while documenting every step of the way. It was incredible. To say this conversation is heavy on the car talk would be a drastic understatement, and as I often say about many of these episodes, it could’ve gone on for much longer had we not had a time constraint. It was a ton of fun to hear all about Sam’s process, how he films, and what he finds to be the best way to produce content. He even opens up about something never really talked about that was lurking behind the scenes when filming Drive the World. Sam’s automotive influence came from an arguably unexpected source and another fun insight arrived when we began discussing watches and what role they’ve played in his life. Turns out, his father is someone famous in his own right within the world of horology, so stay tuned for that. When Sam posted a video asking for support for his trip to Mille Miglia, I couldn’t email him fast enough. After following Sam and his automotive journey for several years at this point, partnering with him has been somewhat of a long term goal of mine for STANDARD H. Well, he happened to see my outreach and after a couple of Zoom calls and a couple headaches provided by our friends at UPS, we got some product sorted and in Sam’s hands for his trip to Italy. His first of two videos documenting his trip just released this past Sunday, so be sure to give it a watch, and stay tuned for the second one due out this Sunday!

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Brett King and I met roughly 6 years ago through golf in a roundabout way. I used to manage the Scotty Cameron Gallery in Encinitas, California and Brett was a customer. Funny, I have met so many wonderful people working retail and many of my best friends to this day have come into my life the same way Brett did. After chatting about putters and accessories, I later found out Brett designed helmets for race car drivers - something that intrigued me given I was about a year into starting STANDARD H as a side hustle. We immediately clicked and much like STANDARD H, Brett’s path has taken some twists and turns. We start our conversation somewhat existentially, and Brett allows a glimpse into his art background and how he maintains his artistry within an industry that’s beginning to use more and more technology as opposed to his handmade approach to helmet graphics. Brett and I had actually recorded during the Pandemic, but we encountered some audio issues - twice, in fact - so it was only fair for me to make my way to his current home town of Las Vegas where we recorded. Making things even more fun, we got out for a round of golf earlier that afternoon with his awesome wife, Tiffany, and my buddy Jonathan. We had a blast and I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, and I think you will, too.

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I can’t stress how wonderful the world of watches has been and the people I’ve met through the hobby. Todays guest has become a great friend over the years and I love any opportunity I can get to hang out with him and at the very least: talk to him. James Lamdin is a big personality usually comprised of a big smile, fun energy and never short of an opinion and I absolutely adore this about him. We share a love for Aloha shirts, so it’s always great knowing I have a botanical brother from another mother on the east coast. The Watch Journey is something many of you are familiar with, but I’d like to explore people’s car journeys as well! A couple of months ago, I reached out to James and asked if he’d want to come back on the show and just talk about cars. He quickly replied with an emphatic yes and, well, here we are! Today’s episode is nothing more than a fun catch-up session with a wander through the list of cars James has owned as well as the ones he still garages today. And if you lived in the 80’s, be prepared for some significant standouts from television. I’m so thankful for his friendship, and if you haven’t heard episode # 8, check that out after this, as I’m confident you’ll enjoy it. For now, here’s the most recent conversation I’ve had with James which also includes his latest Doxa release.

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As a watch enthusiast, it's tough not to utterly admire what Max Busser has brought to the industry. Not just his products, but his approach to business and collaboration as a whole. He and I certainly share the mindset of such platitudes of "A rising tide lifts all ships" and knowing it "takes a village" so to speak. And it is his love of community that originally sparked my interest in his company, MB&F (Max Busser & Friends). There's some interesting background on him naming his company, as well. Max's professional journey is fascinating, and though he warned me that he tends to ramble, his talking really only exposed how much about him I didn't already know. He has a wonderful way of articulating why his company is the way it is, and so much so, he often answered questions before I even asked them! I'm proud to share this as I haven't heard Max speak this openly about his company, including the advantage of being scared and welcoming competition. I think you're really going to appreciate what he has to say. When we wrap things up bringing cars into the mix, Max shares his passion for hand-built cars. Though I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, it's also not every day one discusses the likes of TVR Griffiths & Wiesmans. This conversation was such a pleasure to take part in, and I couldn't be thankful for Max and his time. We actually chatted for about 15 minutes after ending the podcast portion where Max asked me questions about STANDARD H - clearly illustrating his openly caring nature. I may be biased, but I feel like the world needs more creative, outside-the-box, thought-provoking business owners who actually care about others and aren't so insular and selfish in their thinking. In other words, more people like Max.

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Jonathan Segal is someone I’ve wanted to interview for years. When STANDARD H launched I had called his firm to see if they would mind me hosting an image of theirs on my website as the home served as an inspiration to the brand. They politely agreed and even though the website no longer hosts that image, this conversation will be present instead. Jonathan has designed some of the most recognizable buildings in and around San Diego. Primarily characterized as Brutalist architecture, his buildings’ façades clad in concrete often house people as well as businesses - labeled as “mixed use” - the approach has been quite popular over the last couple of decades. However, not many are as aesthetically pleasing to me as Jonathan’s creations. A funny thing about Jonathan is there may be several of you listening who already now of him for an entirely different reason, and that’s his incredible car collection. He has shown at the Quail, and has won several awards over the years. When we recorded this conversation, he had driven a ‘73 911 RS in chartreuse to work which looks incredible - so you’ll have to check out the Instagram post for photos. Needless to say we dive into architecture, his cars and even talk watches. I really love the analogy Jonathan comes up with comparing buildings to blue jeans, so I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

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Atom Moore and I met several years ago during my first visit to Analog Shift when they were still in their WeWork space. I didn’t realize we hadn’t seen one another since until we connected for this podcast. Strange how time flies. Atom and I are of a similar age, so naturally, we share a lot of the same memories of growing up as teenagers in the 90s. We both devoted a ton of time and energy to the early days of the mountain biking as well as shared an affinity for bands like Metallica. Today, Atom is a professional photographer, primarily acting as a freelancer for Watch brands and companies within the Watch industry. He’s gained quite the following and admiration due to his incredible macro photography of some of the most sought after time pieces many of us adore. I certainly encourage you to check out Atom’s work as he often partners with the likes of Vacheron, Grand Seiko, and a couple of former brands hosted right here in Autodromo and Brew Watches. However, alongside the stills of close-up content, Atom also shoots video and gives us a wonderful explanation why. This was a fun conversation as Atom takes us down the road of how he grew his appreciation for the medium of photography and walks us through his approach to some his more abstract horological art pieces. We wrap things up of course with some car talk and Atom shared stories of his latest acquisition featuring its own Instagram account so stay tuned for that.

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Ben Tarlow has a history with vintage cars unlike most who’ve been on this podcast. He and I were introduced by friend of the show, Kyle Snarr, and we hit it off immediately. We were less than 5 minutes in, when I learned about Ben’s family business - one I’ve been familiar with, as well as a big fan of for decades! Ben decided to go in a different direction, professionally, however, and began his vintage car import business. Primarily dealing with Alfa Romeos in the greater New York area for several years, it wasn’t until the Pandemic that he formed Morton Street Partners alongside two friends. Located in NYC’s West Village, Ben and his partners have created something rather unique that blends cars, art and commerce like I’ve never seen before, and at the root of the operation lies inclusion and growing collector communities which I find to be really inspiring. This was a super fun, and fairly concise conversation, so I’m excited not only to share it with you, but also for the prospect of following up with the guys at MSP very soon.

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Back in the Fall, I made my way back to my home state of North Carolina which is where I met up with today’s guest, Chris Powers. Much in the way of previous guest, David Weiss, Chris and I realized we’d met before at the store I had been working at right after college. Today, Chris owns Trophy Brewing, one of my favorite Breweries in North Carolina. Having worked for large companies as well as some more local establishments, Chris took his expertise into a fairly casual conversation with a friend about starting their own thing, and well, they certainly made that happen. Trophy has grown somewhat exponentially since they started, and it was not only fun to learn a bit about the beer world of Raleigh, but also to get into the weeds of how to start such a business. Chris was incredibly open regarding sharing information about their 4-person partnership, the acquisitions of real estate and how Trophy plans to keep reaching the tastebuds of those in & around the Southeast. We also discuss their new distillery and later touch on Chris’s history with cars, being a dad, and automotive-inspired pizza? You’ll hear about it...

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I first learned about Brew Watches through HODINKEE as many of you may have. Former podcast guest James Stacey always seems to know how to get my attention through his words and photos and his features of Jonathan Ferrer’s espresso machine-inspired chronograph was no exception. A chronograph that times an espresso shot, now that’s something you don’t see every day. And same goes for the TV set shape of the Brew Metric’s case. Definitely drawing from the 60’s & 70’s this $395 chronograph and it’s vintage radio-inspired color palette is also nothing if not attention-grabbing. And all of this coming the gentleman I’m speaking to as he sits in the driver seat of his 2019 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Jonathan is my kind of guy. He’s an east coaster with a history of riding bikes, listening to the likes of Nirvana & early 2000’s pop punk, and he’s been the one man band behind Brew Watches…that is, up until a week before recording this podcast. I’m excited to share his story and certainly appreciate his candor when it comes to his approach to design and decision making. I think you’ll enjoy this one.

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Charles Stanley is one of the more energetic, positive people I know. He and I first connected over Instagram to later meet in person for the first time, where else than Luftgekuhlt. Charles and I quickly bonded over our love of cars as well as cycling. We both used to race mountain bikes in the 90’s - he at a much higher level than I ever did, and we still chat about bikes and riding through our DMs and text which is always fun. What I love about doing these podcasts with friends is they inevitably unearth information I didn’t know previously. Such is the case when Charles began talking about his younger days rock climbing in the New River Gorge and then opening an outdoor store! His first car was a good one, and from a lineage standpoint, a perfect compliment to what he currently drives on the rallies he organizes called Targa Carolina. That car, a backdated 911 occupies several minutes, as Charles is effectively associated with his car and vice versa, so it was great to explore the car’s history and details. Charles and I, of course, get into some watch talk which opens the door to discuss his company, Rotor Supply. This episode almost couldn’t be more on par with what STANDARD H stands for, so this was incredibly fun.

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Today’s guest is the founder of a company many of you watch fans have heard of time and again, and my history with Ken Jacobs spans the better part of 10 or so years. So this conversation was a fun version of memory lane to take a stroll down, which we do just that out of the gate. The recording of this episode also happened to fall on the day I took delivery of my 5513 Submariner - a watch I consider to be my grail Sub. Ken does not come from a watch background, in fact, he had an entirely different career prior to starting Wanna Buy a Watch. More on that in the chat, and it was fun to dive deep into his history with time pieces, and how he became one of the preeminent dealers of pre-owned and vintage watches selling to many of the watch collectors with whom you and I are surely quite familiar. Something that seems to run in the Wanna Buy A Watch Family is a sense of humor. The store is a warm embrace, and as we sat in the living room-like section in the front, a lot of laughing took place and Ken was nothing shy of a great host. Needless to say, we take some twists and turns, including some neon clock discussion. Ken offers a wonderful glimpse into his life and I can’t thank him enough for his candor. As a result I didn’t edit much at all out of this conversation - mainly because I feel it really gives you a sense of who Ken is and his delivery which I love. At the end of the day, he just wants to get great watches into the hands of great people, and I think that’s why we keep coming back. If you haven’t visited Ken and his team there on Melrose, I highly recommend it.

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Today hosts Ron Thurston: a career retail professional who recently released his first book, Retail Pride. I know that we first connected via LinkedIn but I have no idea how that happened if I’m honest. Regardless I chalk it up to be under the umbrella of what’s meant to be will be as Ron and I have become fast friends. Ron’s retail knowledge actually began in his youth when he started learning the ins and outs of Leading with empathy from his grandfather who built grocery stores and later became the CEO of Safeway. Ron and I chat about the misconception that many retail workers are underachievers when in fact they’re the opposite, and how great leadership is most often orchestrated through personal connection as opposed to a relationship with what’s being sold. We later discuss Ron’s incredible journey with a litany of industry leading & industry changing brands and how they’re different, but that isn’t before we discuss his learning to drive manual in a truck and his attendance of Ford V8 conventions. He quite literally learned to drive stick on a STANDARD H! I thoroughly enjoyed learning about his experience, expertise, and sharing the idea that you don’t need to change just because the product does. This one’s for all you retail heads out there, and do stay tuned for Ron’s tour he embarks on very soon. Be sure to pick up Retail Pride wherever books are sold, and as always, thank you so much for listening.

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Many moons ago, previous podcast guest Damon Jones asked if he could interview me for my own podcast. It was fun to discuss the why’s behind STANDARD H, and though this is a first for the podcast, I’m excited for you to hear more of the brand’s story. I hope you enjoy it and if you’d like more content like this, I’d love to know. I hope you all have a happy and safe new year and thank you so much for listening!

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