STANDARD H Podcast

Kat Shoulders has been someone who I’ve been meaning to host for quite some time. I’m so happy we finally recorded, and as someone I have loved seeing at events, it was so nice to have a discussion away from crowds. We chat about her go-to camera gear in various situations, how you can get the Leica look for less, and we reflect on her podcast, Tenn & Two, which of course gets us into her watc...

If you’ve worked in retail and subscribed to enough magazines as I have for as long as I have there are several names in the apparel industry that are evergreen and one of them is Justin Berkowitz. As a long-time contributor to several magazines - Details having been one of the main fixtures on my bookshelf for years - Justin has been a fashion mainstay behind the scenes of some of America’s major...

It's been a while, so I thought it would be a good time to update everyone with what I've been up to. Please enjoy the latest edition of Pit Stop! Click HERE to listen & I hope you are all doing great! STANDARD H www.standard-h.com @standardh_ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit standardh.substack.com/sub...

Cameron Steiner is a Collector with a capital C. He kindly hosted me on his podcast, Collector’s Gene Radio, several weeks back, so this conversation was an effortless progression of our budding friendship. In a now-rare in-person recording, Cam and I discuss how he began collecting, why he collects, and some of the answers to some his own questions. Cameron has exceptional taste honed by his gran...

It’s fair to say the Porsche community is a robust and passionate one. Given my proclivity for the brand, I almost feel lucky there are so many great events which showcase the cars and today’s guest, Adam Kern, is in the mix. Checkeditout is a Chicago-based event showcasing Porsches for enthusiasts once a year, and I’m thrilled to say STANDARD H will have a booth at this year’s event happening Aug...

You may be familiar with today’s guest, Bryan Braddy for a few different reasons: perhaps you heard the extended length Pit Stop last month where Bryan interviewed me, but you probably know him from his art which is under the label Bad Art Nice Watch. If you happened to be at the Grand Opening of the new IWC Boutique on Madison Avenue, perhaps you met Bryan there as he painted live. Regardless, yo...

In the watch world, you have huge brands, big brands, independent brands, small brands, and even micro brands. But today’s episode with Wes Kwok of Nodus Watches highlights some big moves. From starting with nothing, to reinvesting in his company with his partner, Cullen, only to begin producing parts for others, the journey has been no small task. Further, Wes and Nodus have led the charge for a...

Neall Brick and I met through WindUp a couple years ago and immediately hit it off. He was shooting with a Q2 and I was selling a jacket he wanted. Funny how these things can happen. With very limited research, I quickly found out Neall and I had even more in common - namely a history working within the apparel industry, so I was excited to invite him on the show. In this conversation, we explore...

I first learned about Katrina Vrakas through one of her pieces of jewelry worn by none other than her brother, Justin. I met him at my booth at WindUp Chicago nearly two years ago, and I find myself developing something with Katrina as we speak. Her jewelry is unlike most, which is why I’m drawn to it, and it was wonderful to learn more about her background, how & why she got into jewelry, as...

Growing up in North Carolina, in order to be as enthused about snowboarding as I was living in Raleigh, one resorted to VHS & DVD’s to get stoked. Some of you may be very familiar with this approach and even perhaps with some of the production companies such as Standard Films and Mack Dawg Productions. Well, those were great, but it was a small crew which made up Robot Food that absolutely had...

Mechanics. So many have the reputation that seamlessly dovetail into similar conversations about used car salesmen. Well, I can assure you today’s guest’s reputation precedes him, as I heard how amazing of a human Marco Gerace was prior to ever meeting him. Over the last several months, we began an Instagram DM dialogue, and have chatted at a few meetups where I took a chance on him coming on the...

This edition of Pit Stop welcomes Bryan from Bad Art Nice Watch. Bryan told me he wanted to interview me many moons ago. I told him I'd be more than happy to do it, and though it took several months, I'm glad we were able to make it happen. This interview took place only a day before posting and on the heels of his return from New York City where he was plucked to create some art at none o...

John Reardon is someone I’ve long wanted to meet, and even though it’s often I meet people in person prior to hosting them on the show, there are certainly episodes with folks I’ve never met. John is such an incredibly friendly and approachable person that this didn’t feel like a first meeting - it’s one of those situations where you’ve followed someone’s content long enough to where you almost fe...

Wes Wynne and I met through mutual friends back in October in NYC. We share a lot of the same passions including cars, watches and music, so it was only natural that we’d hit it off. With the growing number of watch dealers, I was excited to host Wes, who launched Collectors Corner New York only a few years ago after a career in the music business, which I was unaware of. Today, Wes focuses on the...

Today, Blake Buettner returns to the show to chat watches, F1, and his new business,  The Deep Track . I’m excited to share everything he has in store for his new project, the processes for his approach to writing and video, and we even delve into parenthood. Please enjoy my fun catch-up with Blake Buettner. STANDARD H https://standard-h.com/ @standardh_ The Deep Track https://thedeeptrack.com/ @t...

Today I welcome Matt Hranek back to the podcast. You’ll know him primarily for his books, A Man and His Watch, A Man and His Car, perhaps you subscribe to his magazine, W M Brown…Chatting with Matt is the epitome of effortless as you’ll soon understand. We jump around, subject to subject, we chat style, travel, his latest book, A Man and His Kitchen, there’s some watch talk, and of course some car...

Today’s episode is a bit of a special one for me. Not to sound trite, but my “watch journey” has involved a ton of trial and error. I feel like this is true for all of us. When asked about potential regrets, John Mayer famously said “the first 10 to 12 watches when you think you’re amassing a collection…” Though the numbers aren’t the exact same sentiment, buying and experiencing various straps ca...

Paul Sweetenham and I first met in 2022 in New York City at wind up. We were introduced by former podcast guest Carter Mclean who told me how much of a car guy Paul was, so I was excited to chat. This conversation certainly ping-pongs back-and-forth between automotive talk and of course his watch brand, Farer. I was excited to also get Paul’s take on some Formula 1 news, only confirming Carter was...

Many of you listening have probably either heard of, or actually bought a watch strap from Strap Habit. I first connected with Nick Lehner, the brand’s one man band through Instagram and finally got some face time at WindUp this past Fall. Since then, we’ve chatted more about business and growth strategy only for me to then cut conversations short for reasons he’s on the show today. Nick’s one of...

It’s been a WHILE! Here’s what I’ve been up to, what I have in the works as well as the overall mindset as of late! Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for the time! STANDARD H https://standard-h.com/ @standardh_ @standardh_podcast This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit standardh.substack.com/subscribe

If there’s such thing as a player’s coach within the world of watches, it’s Adam Golden. He’s straight-forward, honest, and he can either chop it up with you or get straight to business, which I really appreciate. We chat about everything from his recent pieces bought to sell, his approach to selling them, and he’s very candid about his margins and processes which shouldn’t be taken for granted. T...

Doug DeMuro needs very little introduction if any at all, and I was thrilled to host him on the show. We chat Countach ownership, the early days of his career, starting Cars & Bids, and I ask what his advice would be for collectors, what his favorite Quirks are, as well as a few of his interests not many know about. Please enjoy my conversation with Doug DeMuro. STANDARD H https://standard-h.c...

RT Custer started Vortic Watches right around the time I started STANDARD H, and the better part of the last decade has been an adventure for him to say the least. He started a company, was in a 6-year lawsuit with Swatch, had two kids, and then decided to start a second business alongside everything else. He’s been BUSY. Per usual, this conversation wanders and I wouldn’t have it any other way, s...

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 o...

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 ind...