I recently started doing some of these episodes with a cold open, however, this episode commands a bit of a backstory.

Many of you are familiar with Matt Bain as he is certainly one of the original Vintage watch dealers in the world still working today. He has sourced some of the finest pieces the community has ever seen and he’s widely known among the top collectors in the world.

For me, however, it was back in 2009 when I first met Matt. I was working at James Perse in Malibu, when in walks this gentleman who I could tell was not a local resident. As I began to ask him questions to get to know him a little bit, he told me he sold watches. For example, Ralph Lauren, and more specifically, the RRL store around the corner was one of his accounts. I had seen the odd vintage Rolex submariner in their case lines before, but I guess I just didn’t realize it was being sourced by someone outside of the company. This was around the same time that I started reading Hodinkee as well as writing my own fashion & lifestyle blog, Screaming Mouth.

Matt told me he went by “Watch Commander,” so I continued to check his website off and on for years to come. I didn’t see Matt again until last year in Miami when I attended the Antique Show for my first time. I walked up to his booth, re-introduced myself, basically explaining to him that there’s no way he would remember me, but we had met some 15+ years ago. Matt actually said that he indeed recalled that meeting, and we started chatting immediately. I kindly requested that he come on the show, and here we are roughly a year later. As many of you know, I returned to Miami a few weeks ago, and fresh off of my red eye flight, I took an Uber over to Matt‘s office where we recorded this conversation.

Matt has amazing taste not only in watches but in cars as well. I was beyond excited to sit down with him as he’s been someone I’ve looked up to from afar for over a decade, so this was a special one for me.

Matt and I talk about his early days as a dealer, his affinity for Art, the best investment he ever made, as well as his furniture business, which I’m not sure many of you know about, and course we touch on his car journey as well.

This one was a long time coming, so I hope you enjoy it.

Pit Stop Episodes are here to offer insights into STANDARD H, production information, product releases, updates, and any other behind the scenes information about the brand. These are recorded on Instagram Live where real-time questions can/will be answered. Thanks for watching!

I want to welcome photographer, traveler, cyclist, fashion aficionado, watch enthusiast, a podcast host, and a former podcast guest only to return, and really, an international man of mystery, Zach Piña. Please join me in welcoming him back to the show!

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

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.

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Massena Lab

https://massenalab.com/

@therealmassena

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Chris Evans

https://www.chrisjevans.com/

@chrisjevansphoto

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Modernica

https://modernica.net/

@modernica

@modernica_la

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Collective Horology

https://collectivehorology.com/

@CollectiveHorology

Asher Rapkin

@horologicallyinclined

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Black Badger

@blackbadger

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Matt Farah / The Smoking Tire

https://thesmokingtire.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmokingTire

@thesmokingtire

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Armin Strom

https://arminstrom.com/

@arminstrom

Claude Greisler

@claudegreisler

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Gary Striewski

@kimchipapi

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

As an added bonus, Nic and I got our heads together for a special made to order golf bag for STANDARD H. NOW AVAILABLE, the hand-crafted, lightweight carry bag style is primarily made from a durable waxed canvas that’s ready for any weather. The bag hosts an 8” opening, a large one-pocket design which holds everything you need and nothing you don’t. On the outside of the pocket you’ll find custom red and white leather racing stripes, whereas on the inside of the pocket you’ll find the same GTI Tartan Plaid used inside the STANDARD H Targa Florio Jacket. The base is a split White and Black leather bottom which features the Shift Logo embroidered large and proud. Think of this carry bag as the vintage 911 you dreamed about as a kid as opposed to a new GT3 RS. There’s certainly a place for both. CLICK HERE for more information and of course photos.

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

MacKenzie Golf Bags

https://www.mackenziegolfbags.com/

@mackenziegolfbags

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Desert Ice

https://www.desert-ice.com/

@desert.ice.zion

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

Steve and I have become friends through watches, which must come as a shock, I’m sure. Steve holds an instrumental place within the Mil Sub community as you’ll soon understand in this episode.I’ve gotten to know Steve through NAABS, an annual meetup of watch collectors which changes locations each year. But this episode is a story, of sorts, about a particular watch that is more or less a sequence of events spanning over a decade. This conversation technically started in person in a restaurant bar in Manhattan several weekends ago. I then said, “We need to hit pause on this so we can record it.” So here we are.I bring you my conversation with Steve Moore also known as @moorewatches on the gram.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Ad Patina

https://www.adpatina.com/

@adpatina

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Metalwood Studio

@metalwoodstudio

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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!

Links:

Worn & Wound Podcast Featuring Wesley

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Blake Buettner

@blake_buettner

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-worn-wound-podcast/id1214052645

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

George Esquivel

https://georgeesquivel.com/

@georgeesquivel

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Erik Anders Lang

@erikanderslang

Random Golf Club

https://randomgolfclub.com/

@randomgolfclub

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

VJ Geronimo / Oris

https://www.oris.ch/

@oris

@vj.geronimo

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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!

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Andrew Maness

@andrewmaness

@themotoringjournal

https://www.themotoringjournal.com/

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Andy Green / OT The Podcast

https://www.andygreenlive.com/

@andygreenlive

https://otpodcast.libsyn.com/

@ot.podcast

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Justin Hast

http://www.justinhast.com/

@justinhast

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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!

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Seen Through Glass

https://www.youtube.com/c/seenthroughglass

@seenthroughglass

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

Blake and I chat about Brazil, and mostly Las Vegas and the DQ of both McLaren cars. We get into some watch talk including a brief coverage of Dubai Watch Week and a wrist check at the end of the show. Hope you enjoy it!

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Brett King Design

https://brettkingdesign.com/

@brettkingdesign

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

James Lamdin / Analog Shift

https://www.analogshift.com/

@analogshift

@jameslamdin

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Max Busser / MB&F

https://www.mbandf.com/en

@mbandf

@maxbusser

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Jonathan Segal Architect

https://www.jonathansegalarchitect.com/

@jonathansegalfaia

@jonathan.segal

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Atom Moore

https://www.atommoore.com/

@atommoore

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Morton Street Partners

https://www.mortonstreetpartners.com/

@mortonstreetpartners

Ben Tarlow

@midcenturymotoring

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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...

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Trophy Brewing

https://www.trophybrewing.com/

@trophybrewing

Chris Powers

@powershour

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Jonathan Ferrer 

https://www.brew-watches.com/

@brewwatches

@johnferrer

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Charles Stanley

https://www.therotorsupply.com/

@cstanman

@therotorsupply

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Wanna Buy a Watch

https://wannabuyawatch.com/

@wannabuyawatch

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

Pit Stop - 11.18.2025
- Events
- STANDARD H YouTube channel
- Audrain interviews
- Please share the STANDARD H Podcast with friends/family
- Taupe Straps are back 
- Mugello Suede Jacket PreSale
- Production Delayed
- Photography Coming
- Collaborations Coming

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

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.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Retail Pride

https://www.retailpride.com/

@retailpride

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

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!

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Like many of you, I’ve ridden my bike more and more during the Pandemic as gyms were closed. Like many of you, my time spent on YouTube has also ramped up during the Pandemic, and it was in the early stages of lockdown, I came across Francis Cade’s channel - think of it somewhat like an automotive enthusiast channel but for cycling - and today’s guest has been featured countless times in Francis’s videos. James Thomas is the co-owner of Bicycle Limited - a boutique bike shop with a long history of being in the neighborhood, but it wasn’t until recently he was asked to join as the captain of the ship leading a charge in the complex process bike fitting. If you’re a cyclist, getting the right fit is essential, and James subscribes to the philosophy of “Fit First, Buy Later” when it comes to new bike purchases, and I’m here for it. Francis has graciously hosted James whose expertise and knowledge can be seen and learned worldwide thanks to the Internet. I was further drawn to James as I kept noticing his watches in the videos. He and I sat down for this conversation over Zoom to get a closer look into the growth of his career, the importance of feeling valued and certainly the evolution of Bicycle. As a former dive instructor, James has a tool watch proclivity and quite a bit of exposure to some extremely nice cars throughout his life, so I definitely recommend you stick around. I guess you could say he’s one of us.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

James Thomas / Bicycle Ltd.

https://www.bicyclerichmond.co.uk/

@bicycle.ltd

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

Ryan Babenzien is only the second person I've brought on for another go, and I guarantee you will think about your shower differently after this conversation. More importantly, you will think about water differently after hearing Ryan speak about his new venture, Jolie Skin Co. I was so excited to have Ryan back on the show, he’s become a good friend, and certainly serves as an inspiration to me. He and made time during my last trip to New York City not only to catch up, but record this shorter pod to spread the word that it’s high time you consider how you’re treating your body’s largest organ.

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Ryan Babenzien

https://jolieskinco.com/

@jolieskinco

@ryanbbabenzien

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

Ashley Reed has been a good friend of mine since I moved to California in 2007. In fact we moved within several weeks of one another. I moved from Raleigh whereas she moved from New York City and shared an apartment with former STANDARD H Podcast guest Jensen Reed, who happens to be her brother. We all became fast friends, and the past 14+ years have been an amazing ride for Ashley. She’s one of the smartest, most articulate people I know, she’s had one heck of a career working her way up through some of the largest players in their respective space. I’m talking about companies like the NBA, Major League Soccer, iHeart Media and then a little company called Amazon. She speaks multiple languages, has traveled all over the world, and most recently, Ashley launched her business focused on Transformational Teaching focused on High Performers. I love what she’s doing which a major component involves turning your needs into your wants to get better, feel better and be a better you. Check it out!

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Ashley Reed

https://ashleyreed.com/

@ashleyreedofficial

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

His older friends know him as DQ, but Dan Quigley has deeply evolved from his tagging days of two-letter graffiti. I met him 3 years ago where he was working at the Duane street location of The Armoury, however, you will now find him managing the newest location uptown on Madison Avenue. We talk about Dan’s youth in what was a crime-ridden Brooklyn, creating art while his father was trying to stop it - though not Dan’s - he was actually proud of Dan’s. We get into some music chat by way of his experience playing bass and the bands he’ll always love. And of course we talk about what brought us together as friends, which is our mutual appreciation for the retail industry. We dip a toe into Dan’s relationship with depression and how he’s manifested a grateful life full of optimism, love and compassion (my words not his because this is how I see & know Dan) and also the wonderful second coming of his art career…because it’s far outstretched the characterization of “Hobby.” I absolutely love what he’s doing. In fact I recently purchased my first pieces from him and I can’t wait to receive it. This one was an absolute pleasure.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Dan Quigley

@danquigley_art

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

Mark Greene and I have a ton in common. We have ties to San Diego - he was born here whereas I relocated here, we’re both Porsche fanatics, we both have sales and retail blood running through our veins, and we both host podcasts. In fact, Mark was kind enough to host me on his podcast, Cars Yeah, as his 1,899th guest. Clearly Mark’s been at the podcast game a lot longer than I have, so I certainly appreciate his professionalism, but it was his upbringing and his career that led me to want to return the favor. Mark shares how important family is as well as some really wonderful insights on how to keep one’s family together and at peace…something never really explored on this podcast before. We chat about guitars & music, how he scraped together the money to buy his first Schwinn bicycle, and of course we chat about Porsche - Mark has in fact owned 12 throughout his automotive journey. We wrap things up with what would be his ideal road trip, so stay tuned for that.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Cars Yeah Podcast / Mark Greene

https://carsyeah.com/

@carsyeah

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

I meant to meet today’s guest during my trip to Denver for Outdoor Retailer in August, but sadly, I ran out of time. But the lack of that face to face meeting fortunately didn’t prevent us from connecting for this episode as one of her sales associates kindly made the introduction. Kelli Jones is the founder and owner of NOSO Patches, a Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based business comprised of adhesive patches that assist in the repair of rips and tears in your outerwear. What started out as simply a better-looking alternative to duct tape, NOSO has grown to a staff of 5 in-house and 15 outside sales reps while annually moving tens of thousands of units in just 5 short years. I was excited to hear her story, but I honestly wasn’t anticipating her absolutely infectious joyful nature. She’s a dirt bike rider, mountain biker, wake boarder, hiker, back country skier, and all around bad ass. I really hope to make it back to Jackson where we will certainly be sharing some whiskey. For now, it’s time to share Kelli’s stoke with all of you…

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

NOSO Patches / Kelli Jones

https://nosopatches.com/

@nosopatches

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

Brian de Groodt is the founder of Colorado-based Dispatch Custom Cycling Components - a line of bike accessories primarily comprised of anodized headset caps. Those of you who are fans of the STANDARD H Cycle Squad will now know our headset stem caps were produced by Dispatch. I found Dispatch by way of its Instagram marketing strategy, which Brian and I discuss later in this chat. Needless to say the quality of the product is wonderful and I was stoked to partner with him. During my recent trip to Denver, I met up with Brian just before he left town to close the deal on a home purchase in none other than my home state of North Carolina. We discuss Brian’s affinity of the word “why”, his short-lived experience as a guitar player, how Dispatch got it’s start, the unique importance of personalizing your bike, and how it’s recent acquisition of financial partners are contributing towards the growth of this e-commerce-based business. I sincerely appreciate Brian’s insights and candor, and I’m confident you will, too.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Dispatch Custom Cycling Components

https://dispatch.bike/

@dispatch.bike

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

Chances are good if you’re listening to this you also listen to The Grey Nato podcast which today’s guest co-hosts alongside friend and former guest, James Stacey. He’s also a longtime contributor for Hodinkee, a Gear Patrol alum, and officially the first Hodinkee editor to be featured on Talking Watches. Of course I’m talking about Mr. Jason Heaton. I’m such a fan of his pragmatic approach to life and all of the above only support my admiration. This conversation was a fun one. We of course talk watches and gear, but we delve into the reasons why we enjoy what we like, and even to my surprise, we take several minutes going deep on the manufacturing process of Oreo cookies. Yes, Oreo cookies. Jason truly is “more than meets the eye” and I was excited to get a peek behind the curtain of his book, “Depth Charge” a fiction novel released 4 months ago and available through his website & the Hodinkee shop. Needless to say, I was thrilled to have Jason on the show and we wrap things up with a tiny bit of travel advice and a shout out segment to his wife Gishani who is awesome in her own right.

Link:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Jason Heaton

https://www.depthchargenovel.com/

@jasonheaton

Grey Nato Podcast

Episodes Here

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

This one is for the Lange fans. Saying Anthony de Haas is an incredibly important part of my personal watch journey would most definitely be an understatement. As the Director of Product Development for A. Lange & Söhne, he has had his hands in creating what happen to be some of my favorite watches ever produced. We kick off the conversation talking about his hobby playing drums, the equipment he prefers, which leads us into the watch talk. A standout aspect of this conversation is his humility and clear appreciation for his team. We really get a peek behind the curtain on what the development of these watches is like - it almost feels like an audible tour of the factory in a sense, which I thoroughly appreciate, and I hope you do, too. We talk about the inspirations behind the Zeitwerk, the various tactile experiences with watch functions, we geek out on fonts, and why he considered the Odysseus to be their hardest project. Please enjoy my conversation with Tony.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

A. Lange & Söhne

https://www.alange-soehne.com/

Everyone’s entrepreneurial journey is different, and to me, that’s what’s so fascinating about the experience. It’s also part of the reason I started this podcast because I knew no two stories would be alike. Taking this into account one might argue that Dan Mirth’s business started like many others in that he created products he wanted himself only to find out others were willing to buy them. However, this is also where his story differs. You see, Dan built a desk and then his wife Sarah found a product competition to submit it for…and they won second place. Then they submitted the design to another competition and in a week, they branded the business Artifox, built the brand’s website, even shot a video - all in a week! Oh, and then wound up being selected as one of the winners. If that isn’t efficiency at its finest I don’t know what is. I recall a Venn diagram where the three circles were comprised of Awesome Brand, Quality Product, and Cheap (or) Discounted, and the middle where the three intersect stated THIS DOESNT EXIST. Well, I’m here to tell you: Artifox is about as close as it comes to that brand existing. It’s tasteful, it’s cool, it’s very well-designed, it’s functional, it’s timeless, all while being affordable considering the industry in which it exists. We explore Dan’s beginnings including the Thanksgiving soccer matches that occur in his sister’s basement - you read that right - in her basement, and how Dan was meant to be an engineer but decided to apply his understanding of how things function and couple it with his creative outlet of design. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation getting to know Dan and hear what could be described as an ethics-based approach to running his business, who incidentally happens to be a cyclist, as well, but I’ll let him tell it…

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Artifox

https://theartifox.com/

@theartifox

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

This week we’re talking beer! And it’s another example of me having the good fortune of sitting down with an awesome friend and having a conversation about their burgeoning business. Often the feedback from these episodes involves some version of, “I love these podcasts because I feel like I’m right there with you, drinking a beer with you guys.” Well, good news: Matt DelVecchio and I did just that as we discuss the origin story and the ins and outs of his company, Duckfoot Brewery which is based right here in San Diego. Matt starts by schooling us on the different scales that define beer and where Hazy IPA’s fall on those scales, and how a particular wedding gift changed his life. Matt is actually my former neighbor in the Leucadia area of Encinitas, California - I moved; he didn’t - and I’ve had the pleasure of literally tasting his success as his beer business has grown over the last 6 years. We talk about his New York beginnings, his move to San Diego to start the brewery, the creativity behind the brand and Matt makes a solid case for leaving your surfboard at home and taking a hand plane instead. We wrap things up with some insight into Matt’s participation in a Phish cover band and a heart-felt story about a family-owned Jeep Cherokee, which I was super excited to hear.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Duckfoot Brewing

https://duckfootbeer.com/

@duckfootbeer

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime

I could easily talk to most guests on the podcast for far longer than these episodes allow, and no one sits in the category more than Adrian Barker, and that’s exactly why he is the first guest to be on the show for a second time. The first part of this episode was truly just us catching up and I wasn’t going to leave it in, but when editing our conversation, I felt there was a very honest sense of vulnerability that inspired me to include it in the post. Given the fact neither of us are natural self-promoters in this age of “Look at me”, I wanted to share it as I hope it will help others know they’re not alone in their hesitations. We have an incredible amount of overlap when it comes to the ways we view the world of business and as you’ll find in this episode, the ways we view the world on a personal level, as well. Happiness is something we all strive for, and Adrian and I discuss the process of finding it. We take it a step further by identifying how happiness relates to luxury watches, and things that are otherwise characterized as materialistic. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know Adrian more and more, and it’s fairly obvious given the amount of laughter in this episode, and it was really great to swap stories and experiences as we dive deeper into his Ecommerce business and his overall growth as a content creator. Adrian’s just as real as it gets, and this is exactly why I know we could’ve easily made this episode 3 hours. But a condensed round 2 will have to do for now.

Links:

STANDARD H

https://standard-h.com/

@standardh_

@standardh_podcast

Adrian Barker

https://barkandjack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvIIb5YF8sUnm1D62jCvVVw

@barkandjack

@iambarks

Passion Fine Jewelry

https://passionfinejewelry.com/

@passionfinejewelry

Independent in Time

https://www.independentintime.com/

@independentintime