STANDARD H Podcast

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