The Accutron Show

The power of an imaginary friend with Jay Ellis.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Jay Ellis, David Graver, Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 07:00:00 +0000

To conclude this season of The Accutron Show, our hosts David Graver and Indrani talk to actor, writer and philanthropist Jay Ellis. Together they talk about Jay's book called "Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)? ", a testament to the importance of invention, trusting oneself, and making space for creativity;It is a memoir of a kid who confided in his imaginary sidekick to navigate parallel pop culture universes (like watching Fresh Prince alongside John Hughes movies or listening to Ja Rule and Dave Matthews) to a lifetime of birthday disappointment (being a Christmas-season Capricorn will do that to you) and hoop dreams gone bad. Jay has also starred in the HBO hit series "Insecure" and in the blockbuster movie "Top Gun: Maverick". Join us for one last time for this season and use your imagination until we return to you.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

7:00 I grew up in the 80s and 90s, I moved around quite a bit. I went to 12 schools in 13 years. So I had an imaginary friend, his name was Mikey and he was a mix of Dwayne Wayne from "A Different World" and Fresh Prince from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air".

21:17 The movie industry is an industry of "runs''. People go on runs; sometimes they last for years, some times are also gone for years. One thing I always try to remember is that it's all a journey.

26:00 To be able to work on a documentary about Sue Bird was one of the most incredible projects I worked on in my life. We received so many "no's" for this project but we made it and it was great, especially to see it screened at Sundance.

Two rising stars in Accutron space with Alyssa Carson and Zara Rutherford.

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 07:00:00 +0000

To celebrate Space Exploration Day, here is a special episode of The Accutron Show that features a conversation between two young and brilliant women that are building careers in aviation and space travel, Accutron ambassador Zara Rutherford and Alyssa Carson. Zara Rutherford s a Belgian-British aviator who, at age 19, became the youngest female pilot to fly solo around the world and the first person to complete a circumnavigation in a microlight aircraft after a five-month journey. Alyssa Carson is an American student with the goal of training to become an astronaut and to be selected for future human spaceflight to Mars. She attended U.S. Space Camp in 2008 and has also attended other space camps in Canada and Turkey. In 2013, NASA invited Alyssa to be on the MER 10 panel in Washington DC to discuss future missions to Mars live on NASA TV. Join the conversation between these two young women and dream big and fly high.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

2:16 Alyssa: Since I was a kid, I was obsessed with the idea of going to space. No one in my family had a science or space background. So when I was 7, I went to space camp in Huntsville, Alabama - that was my version of Disneyworld. Everything I wanted to know as a kid was right there. Then watching a show on Nickelodeon, that's the first time I heard the word "Mars".

20:44 Zara: My trip around the world lasted 5 months. That's also because I was stuck in Alaska for a month, in the middle of winter, waiting for the weather to improve. The temperature dropped down to -30 degrees celsius; I was really worried since the plane had not been tested under those conditions.

30:31 Alyssa: I love meeting young kids, I love opening their eyes to the possibility of becoming an astronaut. Kids are used to hearing about becoming doctors, lawyers, etc. and not so much about joining a space program.

The many flavors of an American dream with Chef Angie Mar.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Angie Mar, Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, David Graver) — Tue, 2 Jul 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts David and Indrani welcome Executive Chef and Proprietor of The Beatrice Inn in New York City, Angie Mar, renowned for her vision and unequivocally modern interpretation of classic fine dining. Mar is the niece of the legendary restaurateur and politician Ruby Chow, who was widely known in the Seattle community for her tireless work in Civil rights, equal opportunity for Asian Americans, women of color, and theLGBTQ community. Ruby was an integral figure in Mar’s early life, teaching her the values of community involvement, advancement of underrepresented groups, and charity work. Hallmark of Mar’s cuisine, are both refinement and elegance, and yet familiar. Combining the flavors of Mar’s Asian heritage with French technique, the food remains firmly stanced in Americana, with an undeniably global perspective. Tune in and savor this very interesting episode of The Accutron Show.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

5:52 Yes, the New York dining scene is extremely competitive. However when we talk about fine dining and the chefs that are really changing the game and leading the way, it is tremendously supportive and wonderful. I have been very lucky to have the support of incredible chefs.

13:59 At the beginning of my career, when I go back to the interviews I did, I used to say that there were no issues related to being a woman in my industry. But as my career progressed, it became distinctively harder because I am a woman.

40:00 For me, to be the daughter of immigrants, to be in New York, an Asian woman cooking French cuisine, this is the most American thing that could happen to me.

Into the 'popsical' world of Chloe Flower.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Citizen Watch America) — Tue, 4 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Chloe Flower is one of today's most relevant artists bridging the gap between classical and pop with her self-created genre — 'popsical'. Born in Pennsylvania, Chloe first reached for piano keys at the age of two. By twelve, she was studying at the Manhattan School of Music followed by London’s Royal Academy of Music. This multi-hyphenate star has become music and fashion’s go-to creator as she intertwines her personal couture style and unique sound into something the industry has never seen or heard before. Over the years Chloe has grown into a musical powerhouse — from her show-stopping 2019 GRAMMY® Awards performance with Cardi B to her featured performance with Lil Baby on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Aside from her own music, Chloe has co-produced and composed for Céline Dion, Johnny Mathis, 2 Chainz, Swae Lee, NAS, Babyface, and more. Chloe is also an ardent advocate of anti-human trafficking and a champion of music education and therapy. Tune in and let the music take you away in this episode of The Accutron Show.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

3:40 The idea of 'popsical' for me was to popularize instrumental music in general, since it's so unique. It can be baroque sounding, it can be film sounding, it can be classical, blues, jazz. There is no such thing as new, it's all an idea of an idea and with social media it's become so easy to bend a genre.

11:55 I started piano lessons at 2 years old, but then I played 3 instruments. In all of the years until I graduated I was never given a piece of music that was not written by a white man specifically. That is why Ryuichi Sakamoto was such an inspiring artist for me. He experimented with electronic music, classical music, with the way he dressed... he stepped out of the box.

24:04 Beethoven and Mozart were rock stars during their times. Their music was really popular. In order for us to have the Beethovens or Mozarts of this time, we have to prioritize music education. Until we see excitement about music education, kids lining up to learn to use an instrument, we are going to miss out on those musical geniuses.

Mechanics of the spirit with Eugene Brave Rock.

Tue, 7 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of The Accutron Show, hosts David Graver and Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri sit down with Eugene Brave Rock. Actor and stuntman, Eugene has garnered acclaim for his compelling performances in AMC's "Dark Winds" and as "The Chief" in the blockbuster film "Wonder Woman," where he proudly brings on the silver screen his culture and language. A member of the Blood Tribe of Siksikaissksahkoi, or Blackfoot Country, Brave Rock was raised by his grandmother Florence on the Blood Indian Creek Reservoir in southern Alberta, Canada. Today Eugene is passionately dedicated to preserving and promoting the Blackfoot language, which he considers vital to his identity and the future generations. Tune in, subscribe and join the conversation!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

8:00 I had the opportunity to act in the major movie Wonder Woman and to speak my language. It was the first time our language was heard on such large scale.

17:23 When I was young I remember watching a TV show and seeing an indigenous man on a horse. That inspired me so much to bring my culture to a big audience. I'm taking steps very few of my people have taken before me.

22:23 I never saw myself as an actor. I am a storyteller and storytelling is our oldest tradition. I am happy to carry that on in a contemporary way.

Talking Nuclear with Nobel Prize Laureate Beatrice Fihn.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Citizen Watch America) — Tue, 2 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The Accutron Show is delighted to talk to Beatrice Fihn, former executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). In October 2017, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize honor was given to ICAN "for its efforts to raise awareness of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons use and for pioneering efforts to achieve a treaty-based ban on nuclear weapons". Our hosts David and Indrani discuss with Beatrice the importance of knowledge, correct information and awareness about the subject of nuclear weapons, today ever so relevant. Listed by Bloomberg Media as one of 50 innovators who "changed the global landscape", Beatrice is one to listen to and to follow.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

10:00 With everything going on in the world from a political point of view, the subject of nuclear weapons is relevant again. The movie "Oppenhemer" also contributed to make this issue one to discuss and learn more about.

14:00 All our problems right now are global. We have seen it with Covid, climate change, migration issues etc. No country can solve these issues on their own. But at the same time, as these problems become global, countries' leaders retract to become more nationalistic.

20:00 When we won the Nobel Prize, we were a small project and no one really paid attention to us. We went overnight to get a lot of attention. I remember signing the Laureate book as asked by the committee and seeing all the signatures of these incredible individuals like Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu, Malala... My hand was shaking, I was so nervous!

From Sicily to the Stars with Fausto Puglisi.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Fausto Puglisi, David Graver, Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri) — Tue, 5 Mar 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Taylor Swift, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez are just some of the stars that Sicily-born Fausto Puglisi has dressed with his designs. Known for his bold, vivid creations and intricate craftsmanship that often draws inspiration from classical art and Sicilian culture, in 2020 Puglisi became creative director of the iconic fashion house Cavalli. Mixing modern glamor, baroque motifs, and vibrant patterns, Fausto Puglisi always had a sense that he'd end up in fashion. The evidence is in his childhood journals, which outline his real estate dreams for future stores, down to the street numbers. But what made him enamored with the craft wasn't so much the traditional runway. It was the pop culture he was obsessed with from a young age, which inspired him to move to New York by himself, to try to make his dreams come true. Join us in this new episode of The Accutron Show, to soar into the fantastic universe of celebrity culture.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

9:35 When I was a kid in Sicily, I used to dream of going to America. It was the 80s, a time when Italian fashion was led by iconic names such as Versace, Valentino, Armani, Gianfranco Ferré. And in the city where I was born, there was a shop where I would go to see women wearing these amazing designers. This tension between the love of my roots and the desire to escape are at the base of my creations.

22:00 Though being 100% Italian, Roberto Cavalli was very fascinated with American culture too. He started creating jeans that were masterpieces, deconstructing them and reassembling them in completely creative ways. At the same time he was fascinated with animal skin, which he brought into this fascination of Americana. He created a very unique style that is still considered iconic.

35:00 We need to go back to the artisanal aspect of fashion and design. I also fight for quality and for beauty. Today we are saturated with clothes, objects etc. We need to bring that back to the craftsmanship.

Into the rhythm of change with Madame Gandhi.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Madame Gandhi, David Graver, Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri) — Tue, 6 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

The guest of this episode of The Accutron Show is the incredible Madame Gandhi, award-winning artist and activist known for her uplifting, percussive electronic music and positive message about gender liberation and personal power. She has been listed as Forbes 30 Under 30 in Music and BBC 100 Women, and her mainstage TED Talk about conscious music consumption has been viewed over a million times. Madame Gandhi’s mission is to use music as a medium for a message about positivity, personal expression and human thriving. “Waiting For Me,” shot in Mumbai, India, which focuses on radical expressions of joy, color and freedom won the Music Video Jury Award at SXSW Film Festival in 2021. In June of 2022, Gandhi completed a Masters in Music Science & Technology at Stanford University's CCRMA where she spent time in Antarctica sampling the sounds of glaciers melting to create empathy and awareness around climate change.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

5:20 The activism came from a very young age. We were always encouraged by our parents to give back, to volunteer and to be mindful of others. And because music gives me such effortless joy, when you combine joy with an opportunity to give back, I think you are fueled for life.

18:40 During the pandemic I spent a lot of time recording sounds in nature, because that's the only place we could go. I learned how to build underwater microphones. When I was invited to Antarctica, I started recording the sound of glaciers melting in the South Pole.

27:40 We need adults to believe in their own magic so we can make the world a better place. Music has the power to soften certain feelings, it gets them moving, brings people back into that childlike purity.

Sitting on the shoulders of giants with Francis Ford Coppola.

Tue, 2 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Accutron is honored to have Francis Ford Coppola as one of the featured guests of the podcast. The renowned American film director is celebrated for his contributions to the New Hollywood movement. His most notable achievements include directing the critically acclaimed "The Godfather" series, which earned him consecutive Academy Awards for Best Director. Coppola also made a significant impact with the war epic "Apocalypse Now." With a prolific and influential career, he remains a key figure in shaping the landscape of modern cinema. On The Accutron Show he speaks about his new movie 'Megalopolis," his opinion on the future of the world as well as a special revelation about the Accutron watch. Tune in and enjoy this incredible ride!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

14:15 I am extremely positive about the future. I am sure we will understand that we are in this together and that we are capable of solving the very difficult problems in the world today.

26:27 Everyone is one to a million shot. The fact that your mother and your father came together to produce you, means that the odds of you existing are a million to one. Since you are so unique, your work should be personal and hence unique.

44:05 Did you know that the Accutron watch was responsible for wireless sync sound in movies? In the past they used to have the camera and the sound unit connected by a wire. A filmmaker had the idea that instead of having audio and video connected with a wire, if each one would get its pulse from an Accutron watch then they would be in sync.

Saving the Amazon with Nobel Laureate Carlos Nobre.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Carlos Nobre, Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, David Graver) — Tue, 5 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode of The Accutron Show, we are proud to talk to Carlos Nobre, an Earth system scientist from Brazil, author of several Intergovernmental Panels on Climate Change reports, including the 2007 report that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Nobre is mainly highlighted in global warming-related studies; he spearheaded the multi-disciplinary, multinational Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia, a program noted to have revolutionized the understanding of the Amazon rainforest and its role in the Earth system. During his conversation with our hosts Indrani and David, he underlines the critical conditions of the Amazon forest and hence of our planet. Tune in, it's time to act.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

5:00 I was a happy kid. My father was a professional soccer player in Brazil, he taught me how to play soccer and I was quite good. He was also a poet, writing poems about nature. He used to take me to the Atlantic forest, which is where I think I fell in love with nature.

18:00 We are currently working on an experiment to prove the importance for forest restoration. And if we succeed in doing that, together with zero deforestation, degradation and fires, it may be possible to save the Amazon.

28:00 We have to trust that the younger generation will have a different attitude than my generation. The scientists of my generation saw the issues, but did not do much to change the situation. Young people have no other option than to be optimistic, they have to work hard to save our planet.

Robots and microbiomes with David Ewing Duncan.

Tue, 7 Nov 2023 08:00:00 +0000

During Climate Week in New York City, our hosts David and Indrani had the chance to talk to award-winning journalist and best-selling author David Ewing Ducan to discuss the launch of his new book "The Voyage Of The Sorcerer II". Frequent contributor to Vanity Fair, Wired, MIT Technology Review, The New York Times, Atlantic, and others, David is a former commentator for NPR's Morning Edition, and a special correspondent and producer for ABC’s Nightline. In his new book, an epic science and adventure story of famed geneticist Craig Venter’s voyages from 2003-2018 in a 100-foot sailing and research vessel that collected microbes all over the world, David reflects on how we view this tiny, invisible world. Tune in!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

13:38 The microbiomes of the oceans especially, we are drowning them in carbon right now. There is something called phytoplankton that lives on the surface of the ocean, they are bacteria, algae etc. They produce 60 to 80% of the oxygen that we breathe in the atmosphere. And we are drowning them in carbon and changing that balance.

20:42 Every discovery is kind of neutral until used. Take the discovery of fire, I am sure at that time there were pro-fire and anti-fire people; you could choose to cook and nourish your body or destroy. This is a key aspect to the evolution of our species.

28:31 Back in the 50s when they came up with the term 'artificial intelligence', AI - a lot of people saw it as 'augmented intelligence'. I prefer the idea of augmented intelligence. There are a lot of things that machines can do better than we will ever do, but there are also things humans do better than any machine.

Celebrating Kool & The Accutron with Robert "Kool" Bell.

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Celebrate good times, it's Accutron's birthday! For this special episode, our hosts Indrani and David talk to Robert "Kool" Bell, Co-founder of the legendary disco soul band Kool & The Gang. Together they discuss Robert's Le Kool Champagne project, the special collaboration with Accutron and the First Lady Rosé inspired timepiece available now on Accutronwatch.com. Seven-time Grammy Award Winner, American Music Award Winner, Multi-platinum selling, and the most sampled band of all time, Kool & The Gang has sold over 80 million albums worldwide and influenced the music of generations with 25 Top Ten R&B hits, 9 Top Ten Pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums. Tune in for a sparkling chat with this music icon.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

9:54 The thing that kept us going during the darker times was the wish and want to be successful. We made it through the 60s, the 70s and the 80s with great hit songs. Then we asked ourselves "What are we going to do now?" We decided then to tour around the world and go into markets that we usually wouldn't travel to.

15:00 About 10 years ago, while we were touring in France, our promoter mentioned he was working on a champagne inspired by Barry White and and one for the Bee Gees and asked me if I was interested. I first said no, because I wasn't sure if our fans would buy a bottle of champagne at our concerts. What I wanted to do was to be on the shelves, together with Dom Perignon, Cristal, Veuve Cliquot, etc.

22:30 The inspiration behind the song "Ladies Night" came from watching people walk in New York. The sound of their steps inspired its famous baseline and I came up with the concept and title by going out to clubs in those times.

Dancing through time with Julian MacKay.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Julian MacKay, Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, David Graver) — Tue, 3 Oct 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Our hosts David Graver and Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri are delighted to chat with the brilliant Julian MacKay, the first American to graduate from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy with a full Russian Diploma having completed both the upper and lower school, and Principal Dancer at The Bayerisches Staatsballett. Graduating in the top of his class, he was hailed as "Apollo" and the next Nureyev by Russian dance critics. In this episode of The Accutron Show, Julian talks about his experience, upbringing and the challenges (as well as successes) to keep ballet interesting. He also discusses engaging with young audiences in today's world that is dominated by technology. Tune in and dance this episode away with us.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

11:00 The approach and perceptions on the classical arts is changing. My goal is to make sure that someone my age is excited about the ballet experience. It has a lot to do with the stories we tell, the way we tell them, the people that are represented on stage and who those people are marketed and shown to.

22:43 The beauty and challenge of ballet today is how to bring into modern times characters and stories that were written and conceived centuries ago. As a dancer, I have to understand the original character and how that character would behave today. For example Cinderella, if I am to play the prince, I have to ask myself how would a prince treat a woman today?

29:40 When you take a different approach, rather than the doom and gloom and you put in something beautiful and say "Hey, we are going to create hope and inspire a generation to sort this out," it can lead to something that is unexpected. Because dance and ballet communicate in a way that is even more powerful than words sometimes.

Collecting watches and life stories with RedBar Group.

Tue, 5 Sep 2023 07:00:00 +0000

To celebrate the start of a new seaon of The Accutron Show, our host David Graver and new co-host philanthropist and filmmaker Indrani Pal-Choudhuri meet with the founders of RedBar Group, Adam Craniotes and Kathleen McGivney. RedBar Group is the official organization for an international collective of watch collectors with the goals that include fostering the growth of existing collector communities around the globe, helping fellow enthusiasts start new meetups in their local areas, and encouraging collectors to give back to the local communities where gatherings take place. In addition, Adam and Kathleen talk about an exciting watch collaboration with Accutron launching on September 21st. Set your time to Accutron time and enjoy the show!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

15:27 My passion for collecting watches is connected to storytelling; that is what speaks to me, specifically around brands that are either doing something unique like Accutron or independent brands. I love to hear origin stories, why they got into watches. There is something about that personal connection that is really important to me. (Kathleen)

28:00 When we started working together with Acctron on this collaboration, I already new about what a groundbreaking timepiece and brand this was, a milestone in the development of the wristwatch, bridging the gap between the mechanical watch and the quarz revolution. I loved the idea of the Spaceview that were supposed to be demo pieces, for people to see the "space" in the dial - to me that was revolutionary. (Adam)

38:39 Watch communities are a really good way for young people to start collecting watches. A lot of people that are there are passionate about watches and want to share their knowledge about them. If you are a college kid and walk into a watch boutique, that can be quite intimidating; the watch community takes away that "pressure" factor and you can be free to ask any question. (Kathleen)

Dressing up for the future with Todd Snyder.

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

This third season of The Accutron Show ends with a very special guest, American menswear designer Todd Snyder. Defined by GQ as "the most influential menswear designer of his generation," Todd joins us to discuss his career, the current status of the fashion industry and what "wearing a label" means today. From his experiences with Ralph Lauren, The Gap and J. Crew, to his eclectic collaborations with sportswear brand Champion, music producer Moby, footwear brands Vans and New Balance, Todd talks about his personal and professional evolution in the fashion industry. Dress up and join us for the season finale of The Accutron Show.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

7:40 I grew up in Iowa, I came from farming families and I always liked clothes. I was the black sheep of the family as I liked to spend all my summer money on clothes as I believed they would get girls' attention.

20:35 Twenty years ago there were a handful of names recognized as labels. Today it's changed, there are many more options, especially with startup brands that are growing quickly. It's very healthy for the business as it keeps the industry fresh with new ideas.

32:00 I am very hopeful for the future of the fashion industry. It's always renewing itself; whenever you think "Ah, I've seen it" there is something new that comes along. And these new ideas influence everybody, including me.

Saving the planet is the game to play with Henk Rogers

Wed, 5 Jul 2023 14:09:18 +0000

What is going on with the planet? How much damage are we bringing to the environment? Most importantly, what can we do to save it? For this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts meet with Henk Rogers, entrepreneur and video game designer. Henk is known for producing Japan's first major turn-based role-playing video game 'The Black Onyx' and securing the rights to distribute the Russian puzzle Tetris on video game consoles, which served as the inspiration for one of Apple's latest movie hits. Today Henk is focused on his Blue Planet Foundation to raise awareness and foster action for clean energy in Hawaii, a mission he realized following a near death experience. Tune in to discover more!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

6:40 My "aha" moment came when I was in the back of an ambulance on the way to a hospital in Hawaii. I had a heart attack. I had just sold my company, I was looking at the ceiling and I remember thinking, "Are you kidding me? I haven't spent any of the money yet!"

19:00 It's not the United Nations that will change the situation. Their ambitions are not high enough and for those ambitions nobody's on track. We have to accept that. It's the united people that are going to get this done. We as individuals need to take action in our own lives.

31:10 My real claim to fame is that I was the first to bring role play games to Japan in 1983. So I started traveling the world looking for more role games to play in Japan and I found Tetris at a consumer electronics show right when the Gameboy was coming out.

Time for ladies to keep with Barbara Palumbo

Tue, 6 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Our three hosts have the pleasure to talk to Barbara Palumbo, editor, writer and founder of the platform “Whats On Her Wrist." The Philadelphia native twenty-seven-year veteran of the watch and jewelry industry, Barbara talks about the changing figure of women both as consumers and as watchmakers through history and how she uses humor as a vehicle to expand the appeal for watches to various demographics and audiences. Ms. Palumbo has been nominated twice in her career in the category of Excellence in Editorial Media by the Women's Jewelry Association and has written for worldwide publications such as Vanity Fair On Time, Revolution Magazine, Luxury Daily, Modern Luxury, Watchonista, and others. Sit back and tune into this new episode of The Accutron Show.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

11:45 My project started as a way of making fun of how seriously we take the watch world. Because you have the savants already but you want a greater appeal, you want to turn on a middle aged woman like me, or a 30-year-old woman, or a 25-year-old gay man, or more people of color. So I thought humor was the best way to do it.

23:26 The watch world, mainly the men of the watch world, the CEO, designer, etc. were thinking 'women like this.' No, women like everything. The way I have friends, colleagues, or boyfriends from all walks of life. And my watch collection reflects that.

39:38 The new generation of watch buyers are hard to put in a box, they all want something different. It's tough to write anything about what Gen Z likes, because they don't want to be compartmentalized. Some of them are interested in what the celebrity is wearing, others are into microbrands.

Cooking up a childhood dream with Chef Juanma Barrientos.

Tue, 2 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts cook up an interesting conversation with Colombian chef, entrepreneur and speaker, Juanma Barrientos. With more than twelve restaurants, bars and clubs, Juanma is the creator and founder of restaurant chain Elcielo (Medellín, Bogotá, Miami). He was invited by former President Barack Obama to the World Entrepreneurship Summit and started his own foundation to teach the art of cooking to soldiers wounded in combat, ex-guerrillas and indigenous people. Juanma joins us to talk about his business, his dreams and also a very special event taking place in Miami with Italian maestro chef, Massimo Bottura. Bon appetit!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

4:21 When I was a kid, I loved fire. I lit up fires in the countryside so we could hang with my family and friends and watch the stars. One day I took some potatoes, cut them, put them in a pot and I put the pot on the fire. They were a disaster of course, but I managed to "sell" them to my family - though nobody ate. It is a nice memory since I think of it as the start of my entrepreneurial skills.

12:00 The core concept behind what I do is bringing traditional Colombian cuisine into fine dining through creativity. We take inspiration from dishes, preparations, traditions, landscapes, stories and ingredients and create a fine dining experience.

26: 00 My parents never taught us any religion; they taught us yoga, meditation and social work. So when I started my venture with Elcielo, I also set out to help people in need; and especially soldiers that were mutilated by land mines. I help them by teaching them the art of cooking.

Who's afraid of Artificial Intelligence? With Marco Rossi

Tue, 4 Apr 2023 10:09:10 +0000

On this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts dive into the ever-evolving discussion about Artificial Intelligence with Marco Rossi, Principal Data Scientist at Microsoft Research. AI is here and already changing the world and how humans operate; many are expressing fears and concerns that computers will replace humans in the most important roles and tasks. According to Rossi, fear is not the way to approach AI, rather, it needs to be used as a tool to allow humans to excel in many fields where they have been limited so far. What is your take on this subject? Join the conversation with Bill, David, and Scott for this episode of The Accutron Show podcast.

Episode Highlights

5:55 I am an optimist, right now AI should not be approached with fear. It needs to be considered a tool that is created by humans and that should help humans to solve big equations. If we give competence to AI, humans may lose that competence but at the same time gain "free" time and intelligence to develop other competencies.

23:00 Intelligence is the ability to learn, strategize, and solve a problem. So we are not dealing simply with machines, but with an entity that is able to learn and strategize. However, the responsibility of how to use such knowledge lies in the user.

29:00 To the people that ask me "Is it okay for my child to have AI write their school papers?" I answer, "If for you it's more available that your child spends time developing or working on other skills, rather than spending hours and days writing the paper, then go for it."

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Mixing it all up: the many lives of Alex Ott.

Tue, 7 Mar 2023 08:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Accutron Show, Bill, David and Scott meet with an eclectic and fascinating personality, Alex Ott. Biochemist, author, molecular biologist, flavor scientist and healer, Alex has traveled the world and has been consulting and inventing for health science and biotech companies in the fields of phytology, biochemistry, and olfactory neuroscience in food & beverage projects, revolutionizing a whole new field in plant science-based product developments. After surviving a harrowing plane crash that killed 101 people, Alex gained a new sense of life and dedicated himself to multiple professions. Tune in to discover the incredible life journey of Alex Ott.

Episode Highlights

9:00 Preparing drinks in bars made me the "shrink" of Manhattan, trying to help clients with their problems without having anything to do with mixology. I simply applied flavor chemistry and olfactory neuroscience to drinks and added vitamins to it the natural way. That caught on to people.

31:00 I was a lucky guy that switched the ticket with another guy to get on an earlier flight. I was living in Thailand working on storyboarding for a movie; I was dating an actress that was working on that movie. We broke up, so I bought a ticket for the following day, and the flight I was on crashed. That experience changed my life again.

35:36 On May 5th I will be part of the "Once Upon a Kitchen" event in Miami with Chef, Massimo Bottura. In the previous edition, I set up a little rain forest on the rooftop of The New World Symphony in Miami where people were picking herbs that went into special drinks I crafted for them and for their mood.

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An astronaut's journey into the world of art with Michael Kagan

Tue, 7 Feb 2023 11:00:00 +0000

To celebrate the launch of the new Accutron Astronaut timepiece, The Accutron Show hosts Brooklyn-based artist Michael Kagan. Together with our hosts, Michael talks about his astronaut paintings that have garnered him mass attention from media, galleries, and collectors, all interested in his exploration of the physical and emotional journey that accompanies explorers. Michael's special projects also include two apparel collaborations with Pharrell Williams for his brand "Boys Billionaire Club," and album cover artwork for The White Lies album Big TV, which won an Art Vinyl Award for Best Art Vinyl in 2013. Jump on this episode of our podcast and travel with us into art and space.

Episode Highlights

8:00 What fascinates me about the figure of the astronaut is that when they are out there in space, they are alone. There is no audience, the audience is from photos or from people watching them on TV. They are on their own, in death-defining moments. I like to represent those moments in big snapshots.

16:36 After my first solo show, Pharrell Williams reached out to do a collaboration. He was intrigued by the image of the astronaut, so we ended up doing two collaborations for his brand 'Billionaire Boys Club.'

28:00 I have a special connection to Accutron. On the day I got married my dad gave me his Accutron watch, which he had received from his mother-in-law when he got married.

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A salsa affair, made in Hong Kong with Gia Fu.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Bill McCuddy, David Graver, Scott Alexander, Gia Fu) — Tue, 3 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000

This episode of The Accutron Show features DJ sensation Gia Fu, the first Asian woman to produce a salsa record. Gia and our hosts discuss the art of collecting vinyl records, how her love for salsa came to be as a kid living in Hong Kong and her mission to bring forgotten music from the 70s and 80s to the younger generations. During the pandemic Gia teamed up with producer, Angel Meléndez, to create one of the most talked about salsa albums of 2021. Get your favorite dancing shoes ready and tune in to this fun episode of The Accutron Show.

Episode Highlights

5:07 My fascination with salsa music started in Hong Kong when I was 15. I had been dancing since very little. One day I went to see a dance competition with my friends and some of the dance teams used salsa music. We were so mesmerized because even though we didn't know the lyrics, everyone was taken by the beat. In that moment I realized the power of music that can bring together people with many different backgrounds.

18:12 During the pandemic I was looking for a song, I had been looking for it for months. I sent it to my mentor who is based in Chicago and it turned out that he was friends with the artist, Angel Melendez. So I met him over Zoom and spoke about my passion for old salsa music. The conversation led to having him propose to do a record together.

26:00 We initially started with two songs only which were very well received from the community, we ended up recording an album. We first released it on CD, but today people are buying more and more records so we pressed on vinyl.

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Redefining the purpose of architecture with Charles Renfro.

Tue, 6 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

This episode of The Accutron Show features the multi-talented Charles Renfro, a Partner at Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), a design studio whose practice spans the fields of architecture, urban design, installation art, multi-media performance, digital media, and print. With a focus on cultural and civic projects, DS+R’s work includes the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and the transformation of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts 16-acre campus in New York. Together with our hosts, Charles talks about some of the most incredible projects he has worked on, including the High Line in New York and Zaryadye Park in Moscow. Can good design save the world? What's the role of architecture in the metaverse? These are some of the topics discussed during this episode of The Accutron Show. Tune in!

Episode Highlights

14:38 We are asked to work on Brown University, which was the first university that allowed its students to pick their own major. So we wanted to make a building that suggested infinite spacial possibilities, that looked like infinite spatial possibilities, and that actually allowed infinite possibilities so that it could be an image as well as a facilitator, a tool.

21:00 I think good design, actually good public design can make us better human beings, more empathetic, more respectful. more caring, more communicative, and maybe more demonstrative. The Highline in NYC is an example of that.

25:00 I have been approached by several people, from several different angles, to build in the metaverse. I have spent my life working to defeat gravity. And doing so, architecture is magical. Because gravity is something we all understand, when you see something that defies it, you instinctively realize you are in front of something special. In the metaverse, the notion of gravity disappears, so for me, that throws the design challenge all up in the air.

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Flying solo around the world with Zara Rutherford.

Tue, 1 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts are excited to interview Zara Rutherford who, at the age of 19, became the youngest female pilot to fly solo around the world and the first person to complete a circumnavigation in a microlight aircraft after a five-month journey. Her adventure began in Kortrijk, Belgium, on August 18th, 2021 and ended on January 20th, 2022. Zara shares some of the most thrilling moments from her adventure and the behind-the-scenes preparation it took to turn her dream into reality. Buckle up and join us on a trip around the world with Accutron!

Episode Highlights

12:30 Mentally, there was a lot of stress involved especially when the weather was not so great, or when flying over water - which meant if anything went wrong or the engine quit, I had no option than ditch in the water or even pull the parachute..

18:05 Growing up I was striving to find female role models in aviation. People mention Amelia Earhart which has done something incredible. I had satellite communication, accurate weather forecast, a GPS, reliable technology. She had none of this, she went out with only a map and a compass.

22:00 The biggest thing for me mentally was Siberia. If I had to do a forced landing, I would have been so far away from civilization, it would have taken days to reach me.

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Happy 62nd birthday Accutron with Nile Rodgers.

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000

To celebrate Accutron's 62nd birthday, a true music icon joins the conversation, the one, and only Nile Rodgers. As the co-founder of CHIC and the Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like "Le Freak," (the biggest-selling single in the history of Atlantic Records) and sparked the advent of hip-hop with "Good Times." Nile's work in the CHIC Organization and his productions for artists like David Bowie, Diana Ross, and Madonna have sold over 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide while his trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Avicii, Keith Urban, Disclosure, Sam Smith and Lady Gaga reflect the vanguard of contemporary music. Join us for a journey into the life of a living legend that has changed the face of music.

Episode Highlights

6:36 I grew up in an era where the album was the film and the singles were the trailer. You had to make a hit single so people would be interested in listening and purchasing the album. In today's world the consumption of music is the reflection of society, a headline oriented society.

14:35 My parents were heroin addicts and I was constantly on the move, I don't remember going to the same school for more than a few weeks. But all schools had standardized music education, they all had school orchestras and each school assigned to me a different instrument I had to learn to play. By the time I grew up I became a self-contained band, doing all my orchestration, writing every part of every instrument myself.

26:44 I remember being in Central Park in NYC, watching a moon landing and remember seeing the Bulova logo here. When a few years ago we created a watch together for the We Are Family Foundation, it felt truly magical to me.

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Alliances in Accutron green with Sam Phillips, Brendan O'Rourke and Nate Gana.

Tue, 4 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000

What do Hudson Whiskey, La Palina Cigars and website Single Malt Daily have in common? A special connection colored in Accutron green. To celebrate Accutron's birthday month, our hosts chat with Brendan O' Rourke, Site Leader at Tuthilltown Spirits producers of Hudson Whiskey, Sam Phillips, President and Co-owner of La Palina Cigars and Nate Gana, Founder of Bevridge and Owner of Whisky Live USA and Canada. Together they discuss the links between the whiskey and cigar worlds as well as the special Accutron items about to come out. So fill up your glass with your best whiskey, light up a cigar and tune in this new episode of the Accutron Show!

Episode Highlights

9:38 The first project we worked on with Accutron for its 60th anniversary was a single barrel release. We wanted to showcase what rye can do. For this next project, we wanted to create something completely unique, so we created a blend specifically for Accutron which is something that Hudson does not do on the market.

20:30 At the moment scotch/whiskey is in a very tough position versus bourbon or rye. For scotch/whiskey a lot of brands have relied on their name and taken down the quality of what they produced by adding water. With bourbon and rye, it would be hard to find a company that would want to cut down the ABV.

27:00 I have been working with tobacco for so long, and tobacco or cigars are the opposite of what they are trying to accomplish with whisky. The cigar has to change, it has to keep you interested. There's got to be a level of complexity and that's what we strive for year after year.

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The Renaissance is NOW: a bright new chapter for the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem with Kamilah Forbes.

Tue, 6 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The third season of The Accutron Show opens its curtains on one of the most legendary theaters in the world, The Apollo. More than just a mere venue, The Apollo Theater is the "soul of American culture," the symbol of the transformative power of the arts through time, a major player in the emergence of jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, and soul since the beginning. In this episode, our hosts have the pleasure to talk to Kamilah Forbes, Executive Producer of the Apollo and award-winning Director and Producer for film and television. Together they discuss the legacy and future of The Apollo and why "the Renaissance is NOW." Tune into the conversation with Accutron.

Episode Highlights

6:06 We cannot think of The Apollo Theater as a museum. That is the kiss of death of any living and breathing institution. We did an exercise with our ourselves and asked "What is the type of breeding ground that an artist like Stevie Wonder would have needed back in 1971, before he came out with 'Songs In the Keys Of Life'?" What was the kind of place he needed to support his work? That's where we take a stance. Who are those artists to whom we are going to be talking to 30, 40, 50 years from now.

35:20 There are several generations that now reside inside hip-hop culture. It started as a culture for youth, young people of color, to find a voice all of their own that was not controlled by any other system, to be seen, to be heard. And now we see many different generations that are still able to find their place, their voice inside this culture.

40:00 Chad and I went to college together, wrote plays together, we collaborated, but most of all we were friends. For the release of "Black Panther" we hosted a panel at The Apollo Theater. I remember there was a young boy dressed like Black Panther and as soon as he entered the theater, Chad brought him to the stage, signed his little costume and gave him a hug. I think about how significant that moment was.

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Special Episode: An eclectic universe of design with Isaac Mizrahi

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The special and last episode of this second season of The Accutron Show is dedicated to design and its multilayered expressions. To speak about it, a real master of transformation and Renaissance man, Isaac Mizrahi. From his career beginning to his business choices, Mizrahi has constantly changed and redefined the meaning and role of a "designer," blending various forms of art within his creations, such as comedy, music, and theater. Tune into this fun, colorful, and entertaining season finale and enjoy the summer break. We will be back soon!

Episode Highlights

4:09 Design for me is something inborn, I never had to think too much about it, it's always been this kind of obsession. I started in show business, doing female impersonations when I was 8 years old.

19:00 When I started my company in 1987 it was meteoric; I had been in business a year and then I had my first show, everybody came and it was all over the magazines. I remember at the same time there I was offered a role in a small play, by a small experimental theater group downtown. I was so torn, I wanted to throw everything away and do the play.

27:55 I have a different take on what integrity means. When I closed the doors in 1998, I thought my products were reaching the wrong end-user. I made the decision that integrity meant something different for me, so I decided to do this collection with Target and create things that could reach everyone with smaller things that everyone could like.

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David Graver: Instagram / Twitter

The storytelling power of virtual reality with Shari Frilot

Tue, 7 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Technology advancement can often make our life better, but what role does it play in art and film? In this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts talk to Shari Frilot, artist, filmmaker, and chief curator of the New Frontier program at the Sundance Film Festival. Shari plays a key role in discovering new art forms that use technology as a tool to tell stories. Together they discuss the importance of values in a time where everything is controlled by technology, the meaning of the word "bio-digital" and much more. They also talk about the "spaceship" at Sundace, the physical and virtual space where everyone can hang out, socialize and experience art. Tune in and project yourself into cyber space.

Episode Highlights

25:03 What gets us into trouble is not technology, what gets us into trouble are our values, what we feel is important to do with our lives.

36:04 What artists are doing with these technologies is really incredible. What may be a prototype today, may well become a whole industry a year later. And we have seen this happen already.

39:37 This technology is powerful and very compelling. It makes you feel, it's revelatory, it's connected to a very powerful, very lucrative network technology called, cell phone. So it's very compelling to put money into this. It's healthy to see this enthusiasm and investment, we just have to be very careful of where our values go, so that this technology is working for humanity and not against it.

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The future of space exploration with Andrew Chaikin

Tue, 3 May 2022 07:00:00 +0000

For this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts go back into space to discuss the future of exploration. They do it with award-winning science journalist and space historian Andrew Chaikin who has authored books and articles about space exploration and astronomy for more than three decades. Writer-director and explorer James Cameron (Titanic, Aliens of the Deep) called him “our best historian of the space age.” Chaikin is best known as the author of A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts, widely regarded as the definitive account of the moon missions. Come fly with us.

Episode Highlights

12:20 I spoke at great length with everyone that has been on the moon and I thought "What must it be like looking at the moon and knowing that you've been there?" But what I didn't take into consideration was that these men went to the moon as professionals, they were there to do a job with the prestige of their country at stake.

22:40 Nobody's been back to the moon since Apollo. When you think of going to Mars, that is Mount Everest for the human species. We have got to solve so many problems in order to be able to send people to Mars without killing them.

30:00 What's different in today's astronauts is the diversity of intellects. They get better and better, smarter and smarter as time goes on.

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Into the metaverse with Brycent and Joey Brander

Tue, 5 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Every day we are overwhelmed by words like metaverse, cryptocurrency, web3, and much more that have to do with a whole alternate reality, with its own ecosystem. Our hosts talk to Brycent, recognized as the most notable NFT gamer in the world, content creator and Co-Founder and CEO of Loot Squad, a web3 gaming organization; and Joey Brander, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of First Serve Partners, a venture capital firm with a focus on emerging industries and emerging generations. Together they explore the complex world of cryptocurrency, gaming, and the multiverse. Tune in and let your avatar be the star.

Episode Highlights

6:40 A lot of people fail to realize that the real infrastructural play here is the introduction of finance to a ton of gamers who for the most part are not really keen to understand financial intelligence, saving, and investing. When you play these web3 video games, of course, there is the ability to earn, but when I jumped on this last Apri I learned things I never touched on before like staking, risk management, the importance of APR; you create your own wallet, which means creating your own banking system for the centralized world.

22:30 Now gamers are valuing their time, their attention, their energy, and their input over just the entertainment aspect, and entertainment in every gaming industry will come anyway.

28:00 I would consider Twitter as the new oratory cycle of the metaverse where you connect socially. And even though they are derived from web2, they focus a lot of their energy on building a lot of web3 features and capabilities.

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Brycent: Instagram / Twitter

Special Episode: History and time through the lens of twelve clocks with David Rooney

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

In this special episode dedicated to history, our hosts talk to writer, historian, and lifelong clock enthusiast, David Rooney, about how the meaning, perception, and use of time have changed since its creation. Together they also discuss Rooney's latest book About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks, captivating, surprising history of timekeeping and how it has shaped our world.

Episode Highlights

8:22 There is something about the devices that move, which act as replicas of the moving planets, the heavenly bodies and the human body. Maybe I’m being too romantic about that; some think that there is something about mechanical watches that makes them alive.

25:40 A British house builder in 1905 had the moral urge to get people out of bed early in the morning; the way to solve the problem for him was to change the hands of clocks and watches for a quarter of the population of Earth, which we still do today twice a year.

27:45 Every clock or watch is important to somebody. There are some of course which the wold finds important; but what about those cheap clocks bought in the 30’s? Each have a story that is powerful for the people that owned them.

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Streaming into the future of moviemaking with Alessandro Nivola

Tue, 1 Mar 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Award-winning actor Alessandro Nivola, star of the HBO production "The Many Saints of Newark" is the featured guest of this episode of The Accutron Show. Together with our hosts, Alessandro talks about his career, his experience in shooting in pandemic times and the future of the movie industry. Will we keep going to the movie theaters? What makes really a difference in movies and/or TV series today? Alessandro gives his point of view based on his impressive experience that is only going to get brighter. Tune in and enjoy the show.

Episode Highlights

16:00 Some people think that the pandemic sped up the process of people not going to the movies. Watching movies at home has become the new normal. To be the bigger question is not the format of where you are watching it, how these things are made.

25:00 I never had a breakthrough role, something that defined my career and that's can be a blessing or a curse. There is a huge variety in my career by nothing that would make a person recognize me.

33:00 In the 60s and 70s, there was a messy aesthetic, it was all very rough around the edges, there was a feeling in the way movies were made and the way stories were told that were very realistic. Now there are teams of people removing digital blemishes on actors' faces, which makes everything look not real.

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Alessandro Nivola: Instagram / Twitter

Jazzin' it up with Verve Records, James Krents

Tue, 1 Feb 2022 12:11:47 +0000

When impresario Norman Granz launched Verve Records in late 1955, he couldn’t have come up with a better word connoting vigor, spirit and enthusiasm in the jazz world. By launching the careers of artists such as, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, and Oscar Peterson, among others the groundbreaking Verve Records has brought “The Jazz Of America” into millions of homes around the world. In this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts talk to James Krents, Executive Vice President of Verve Records about the "meaning" and evolution of jazz from its roots until today.

Episode HIghlights

5:58 Music is being consumed more than ever. For the younger generations, music is a bit periferal, they listen to it while they are doing other things. While in the past, listening to music was a primary activity, where you could also read the liner notes.

22:40 This year and a half, its been very hard for jazz musicians to make a living. Without the live side, most of the artists cannot live off of the sale of their music.

31:15 There are some many sites that explore the style of jazz iconic personalities like Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and many more. These artists gave a lot of importance to their look and style.

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Going there: a conversation about life and journalism with Katie Couric

Tue, 4 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000

The Accutron Show welcomes the one and only, Katie Couric, to talk about her life, career, and controversial new memoir Going There. Katie and our hosts discuss how the role of the journalist and media has changed over the years with the progress of technology. From the fun anecdotes of the early days of her career to her personal and professional challenges, Katie takes us on a ride into her amazing life.

8:51 I'm still so surprised that people seem to be so astounded by the honesty of this book. Any memoir I've read, unless it's some sort of sanitized version of someone's life and more of a vanity project, is raw and is real and it talks about real things, real emotions, real challenges.

27:35 What I tried to illustrate in the book is the evolution that I went through regarding a lot of individuals and this reckoning we had with the "Me Too" movement.

42:07 We live in an era of alternative facts and it's not a good thing. I am interested in the so-called "cancel culture." Maybe I am naive to believe that a little grace can change people's minds.

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Special Episode: Space talk with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In this special episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts talk about space with one of the most famous astrophysicists in the world, Neil deGrasse Tyson. What does the future look like for space exploration programs? What's the truth about UFOs? And most importantly, what happened to Pluto? Neil talks about his new book Welcome To The Universe, in which he deep dives into some of the most puzzling questions about the universe. Tune in and journey into space with Accutron.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

7:00 We are still looking for other life forms. There are mainly two branches of exploration. Search for life at all, with rovers on Mars, the study of icy moons, etc. The other branch focuses on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

23:34 In the past 25 years a lot has happened in my life. I didn't seek fame or popularity. When I told people I was an astrophysicist, they used to ask me all these questions and I liked to monitor their reaction to the things I was relating to them.

35:00 A new book has come out, a collaboration with two Princeton colleagues of mine, a pocket textbook that contains all of the things you want to know about space: Earth, time travel, multiverses, and much more.

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Scoring high on gender equality in sports with Hope Solo

Tue, 7 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000

For this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts talk to a true champion, Hope Solo, former goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team from 2000 to 2016, World Cup champion, and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Hope talks about the challenges of being a goalkeeper, the women's soccer scene in the U.S. today, and her charitable projects. She is regarded as one of the top female goalkeepers of all time and currently holds the U.S. record for most career 'clean sheets.' In this podcast, Hope's kind and determined spirit shines through the airwaves.

Episode Highlights

6:25 The World Cup is the biggest cup you can possibily win in your sport. The Olympics you feel like you are representing America, you feel so patriotic and you play for your country.

19:44 I was the first athlete to file against my employer, the U.S. Soccer Federation under the Equal Pay Right in Title VII and to this day I am the only athlete that has an ongoing case in Federal Court. I wish I did it earlier. I didn't know my rights. That's why educating ourselves is the key.

29:00 My father was homeless growing up, he lived on the streets of Seattle. To see the work of Street Soccer USA was inspiring, it changes lives, so I committed to it since the very moment I relalized how important it is what they are doing.

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The ever-changing figure of the influencer with Leo Chan.

Tue, 2 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Influencers have been redefining the way brands connect with their audience. However, their job is becoming more and more complex as social media platforms multiply and people's attention span shrinks to a few frames of a second. In this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts meet with Leo Chan, lifestyle and travel influencer, and Creative Director of Levitate Style. Leo discusses how his personal experience and what it means to be influential today. From his past career in finance to his future project, tune in to learn more about this talented young man.

Episode Highlights

8:50 Before becoming an influencer, I was working in finance. My girfriend and I noticed the growth in popularity for travel and style accounts on Instagram and saw an opportunity for us. We already loved traveling and fashion; it was a hobby before turning it into a career.

23:55 As an influencer, you want to stay true to your audience. At times, I have had to turn down brands as they were not reflecting my personal style; I refused to work with a tobacco company as I don't want to promote smoking, and also a tourism board from a country that is against LGBTQ rights. So if I work with them what does it say about me as a person?

36:00 I like to reflect my personal style on my social media platform. I want to be real. I work with luxury brands, but also with very accessible ones, as fashion is for everyone

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch:

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Instagram / Twitter
Leo Chan: Instagram / Facebook / Facebook Alt

Crafting the soul of watches with Jean-Claude Biver.

Tue, 5 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Watchmaking legend Jean-Claude Biver, the wizard and mastermind behind the success of brands like Blancpain, Omega, and Hublot, joins this episode of The Accutron Show. Together with our hosts, Jean-Claude revisits key moments of his career and reveals how to give life to the soul of a watch. In a world dominated by rationality and technology, Jean-Claude Biver underlines the importance of dreams, spirituality, and love to make a difference in the luxury industry and in life. Tune into the journey with us.

Episode Highlights

11:00 I have always tried to put a soul into a product. Soul cannot come from a machine. The only way to infuse a soul into a product is through your hands, through your fingers and only human beings can give birth to something that has a soul. This also connects more with the person that wears the watch, it reminds us to dream.

33:28 A few times, I would take my people at night to the village cemetery, to visit the hundreds of people that have dedicated their love, their passion, and parts of their life to the brand. Love leaves a trace, love never disappears.

39:00 If God gave me the chance to have a second life, I would accept only if he gave me 100% the same life that I have lived. Otherwise, I would not accept the offer.

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch:

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Instagram / Twitter
Jean-Claude Biver: Instagram / Twitter

Special Episode: Mastering the Art of Innovation with Chef Daniel Boulud.

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 07:00:00 +0000

The first special episode of this season of The Accutron Show is dedicated to innovation, one of four brand pillars together with space, design, and history of the Accutron brand. For the occasion, our hosts meet with world-renowned Chef and Restaurateur, Daniel Boulud, one of America's leading culinary authorities, to discuss how innovation is the key to continuing tradition in the future. Daniel recounts the turning points of his career and how he implements innovation into traditional French cuisine to craft a modern and unique experience. Sit at our table and join the conversation with one of the greatest chefs in the world.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

13:37 There are too many "best meals" in a person's life to choose only one. Many are memorable; to me a memorable meal is a memorable moment. A communion with friends and people you love.

26:24 Innovation is a very flexible word. Not everyone sees it in the same way. For me, innovation is the evolution of tradition. When we create a new recipe I want to make sure that we have a foundation, and that foundation is traditional flavor, traditional technique; we create a code and from that code we build."

39:20 The idea of "Le Pavillion" started 4 years ago, before the pandemic. The name pays homage to the French Pavillion of the 1939 World Fair; the restaurant defined fine dining in America until it closed in the early '70s. For me the name is synonymous with New York, French cuisine, and my background, it represents how much I know about the present and how much I know about the past.

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Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Instagram / Twitter
Daniel Boulud: Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

Redefining the rules of art curation. With Antwaun Sargent.

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (Bill McCuddy, Antwaun Sargent, David Graver) — Tue, 7 Sep 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Writer, editor and curator, Antwaun Sargent, joins our hosts for this episode of The Accutron Show. Together they discuss the fabric of his role as Director of the iconic Gagosian Gallery and redefining the rules of art curation today. For most of his career, Antwaun has written about and curated exhibitions devoted to Black artists. His 2019 book titled, The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion, which examined growing Black representation in fashion photography, was met with acclaim. Tune in to learn more.

Episode Highlights:

7:30 I am always after works that have certain originality, tension, and uniqueness. You have to examine each artist and artwork within the context that's being produced.

19:40 At the moment we are featuring an installation of Theaster Gates, steward of the Frankie Knuckles record collection who is engaging with the late DJ and musician’s archive of records, playing and digitizing them live at the gallery.

47:09 The book and exhibition The New Black Vanguard explores a group of Black photographers around the world that created a community centered around their work, publishing it only on Instagram and not in museums or galleries.

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch:

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Instagram / Twitter
Antwaun Sargent: Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

The many faces of a creative force of nature. With Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri.

Tue, 3 Aug 2021 07:00:00 +0000

On this episode, our hosts meet with the incredibly talented Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, celebrity photographer, filmmaker, and social justice advocate. Together they talk about Indrani's career, her childhood experience with Mother Theresa, her iconic work with David Bowie, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga, and her active involvement in social justice issues. Can art bring change to modern society? How can artists contribute to make the world a better place?

Episode Highlights:

12:07 Starting my charitable organization is the best work I have ever done. It's where my greatest joy is. Seeing these children and women whose life can be transformed so quickly is very rewarding.

14:09 We got a call at the studio one day and it was David Bowie. He was the Creative Director for Iman's retrospective book and was looking for someone new to work with. They had seen my work in an underground magazine and decided to give it a try.

23:45 One of my very first events at the United Nations, where I had an important role, was the "World Fashion Forum." I was so excited about the potential of bringing together luxury brands around some of the issues they could do much better with such as labor chain issues, slavery, living wages, and pollution issues.

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch:

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Instagram / Twitter
Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri: Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

The Return Of Broadway!

Tue, 6 Jul 2021 07:00:00 +0000

After being shut down for more than 15 months, the lights of Broadway are coming back on! To share the excitement, our hosts meet with Frank DiLella, Emmy Award-winning host of “On Stage” on Spectrum News NY1, the news channel's weekly half-hour theater program. Together they discuss the most anticipated shows of the season, the future of Broadway, and if things will ever be the same again. The episode inaugurates the second season of The Accutron Show, now also available on video. Quiet now... it's our opening night!

Episode Highlights:

16:43 Everyone was texting me saying Broadway was shutting down for 2 weeks, or 4 weeks. Then one of my co-anchors and dear friend of mine told me, "Frankie baby, this is going to be for a long time!"

26:11 There is no formula for a Broadway show to be a hit. Word of mouth is the strongest thing for a musical to be successful.

39:45 In order for Broadway to succeed right now, new yorkers really need to show up. This is something that is part of our heritage. I have missed it, I have been craving it, I intend to support it but without our tourists, we need to be there and make these shows work.

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch:

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Instagram

A Spaceview over Accutron and The Citizen Watch Group

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts welcome to the studio Jeffrey Cohen, President of Citizen Watches America, and Michael Benavente, Managing Director of Bulova and Accutron. Together they go "behind the scenes" on the relaunch of the iconic Accutron brand, discussing the strategy, the collections and the celebration of Accutron's 60th Anniversary.

This episode concludes the first season of The Accutron Show. We are not going anywhere, simply stay tuned!

Episode Highlights:

12:20 - Everything is driven by data. Everything is about listening to the consumer and using it as a barometer for all activations. We have to be consumer-centric.

13:45 - There is no brand loyalty anymore today. The baby boomer generation were more brand loyalists but Millennials and Generation Z decide almost day-to-day what to buy and which brands to follow. You have to be relevant to them.

19:31 - My number one job is to think about legacy. With Citizen we wanted to be the true democratic watch, the watch for all citizens, and with Bulova we have the ultimate legacy of America and NYC.

48:35 - We are all about stories. So really my job is to connect to the consumer through emotional storytelling.

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch:

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

The eternal art of tattoo with Bruno Levy

Tue, 9 Feb 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Bruno Levy is a multi-disciplinary artist who works in diverse mediums that range between tattooing, video, photography, music, painting and drawing. He has performed and shown works internationally at institutions and festivals ranging from the Guggenheim, the SFMOMA, the MCA in Chicago, the Bronx Museum, the Jumbotron in Times Square and many more. Bruno has become and established tattoo artist with a unique approach to design and philosophy behind this form of art. Discover more in this episode of The Accutron Show.

Episode Highlights:

8:55 - My work gets inspiration from pre-consumerist structure that exist within the tattoo world of today; a lot of it is based on nostalgic longing ideas of travel and home, missed love and romance... a memory of sorts.

10:38 - For me art is the moment when I get lost in the process, forgetting my self, forgetting the sense of time, a very therapeutic way to live in this world. I learned tattooing in Nepal and it was something that fell into my lap rather than seeking it.

13:00 - I deal with the idea of permanence from the perspective of a design that can last beyond trends and time. I keep this in mind when I create a design and tattoo. I am creating something that hopefully won’t feel passé in years to come.

Learn more about our guests:

Bruno Levy:

Instagram: @brunolevytattoo and @bandit_studio
Facebook

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Talking backyard magic with James DeSantis

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Have you ever suffered from... "Backyard Envy"? In this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts interview James DeSantis, co-founder of landscaping company Menscapers and Bravo TV personality. James has helped create green spaces for Diane von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein and Sies Marjan. Tune in and be green.

Episode Highlights:

13:30 - We use the personality of our clients to design their outdoor spaces. We are always looking at what happens in the interior. We come up with a percentage diagram to figure out the usage and look of the outdoor space itself.

28:49 - The challenge right now for New York clients is to extend the time spent in their outdoor spaces while in lock down and not being able to fly to other places.

34:10 - It’s a very masculine driven field and we had to fight that a lot. We implement taste and design in carpeting and landscaping, that’s what’s has given us our edge.

Learn more about our guests:

James DeSantis:

Manscapers NY:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Art and war on the big screen with Rod Lurie

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Our hosts have a powerful conversation with director, screenwriter and former film critic Rod Lurie. Together they discuss the state of Hollywood movie productions today and the incredible making of Lurie's latest film "The Outpost".

Episode Highlights:

19:55 - When I was prepping for the film I received a phone call saying that my son Hunter had had a cardiac arrest in Michigan. I was in Bulgaria and I got on a plane while asking my wife and daughter to please keep talking to him, to keep him alive.

28:30 - Every actor has a different motivation. For example when I was filming "Resurrecting The Champ" I had Samuel Jackson and Josh Hartnett with two completely opposite acting philosophies.

Learn more about our guests:

Rod Lurie:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

From Warhol to Instagram with Jeannette Montgomery Barron

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Jeanette Montgomery Barron is an established photographer that became known for her portraits of the New York art world in the 1980s. Some of the iconic personalities she has photographed include Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe and Cindy Sherman. Together with our hosts, they discuss the evolution of art from photography from film to Instagram.

Episode Highlights:

12:50 - One of the scariest things for an artist to do is to photograph another artist. It happened when I photographed Robert Mapplethorpe, I was very nervous but he made me feel very comfortable and was very sweet.

14:25 - The first time I photographed Warhol, he didn’t give much time. It was in the lobby of The Factory that was on Union Square. He gave me 5 minutes! Then he got to know me and got to give me 20/30 minutes at the end.

23:50 - I think Instagram is great. It doesn’t change the role of a professional photographer. It’s used as a tool to get response from other photographer, creatives, and people looking for certain images.

Learn more about our guests:

Jeannette Montgomery Barron:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

The future of the luxury watch retail business with Scott Meller

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 05:00:00 +0000

The guest featured in this episode is Scott Meller, President of multigenerational family-owned company, Feldmar Watches, in Los Angeles. As a fourth generation family member, Scott’s forward-thinking business acumen has placed Feldmar on the cutting edge of the luxury timepiece market. Scott discusses the future of "brick and mortar" in the watch industry and speaks about how business is going during the worldwide pandemic era.

Episode Highlights:

8:45 - Thanks to the relationship between Jack Heuer and Scott's grandfather, Feldmar reached out to the prop master at a film studio and was able to give a Tag Heuer Monaco to Steve McQueen, making that watch become iconic.

14:20 - He cannot confirm or deny that the famous ‘60 Minutes’ stopwatch, which opens every show, may have been provided by Feldmar to CBS.

25:30 - Millennials are falling in love with wristwatches and it may be the "fault" of the Apple watch, which millennials are still still buying; but now they also want a real watch. The trend in this generation is helping both sales of vintage and new watches at his store.

Learn more about our guests:

Feldmar Watch:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Behind the curtain of the fashion world with Kate Betts

Tue, 1 Dec 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode, our hosts talk to American fashion journalist Kate Betts who has been covering the world of style for 25 years, first as a reporter in the Paris bureau of Women’s Wear Daily and later as an editor at Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Time magazine. Together they discuss the world of fashion today and the future of the industry.

Episode Highlights:

18:39 - To survive fashion brands must learn to stand for something. It will not be enough to create a great dress or suit, they really need to be engaged in the world and not only in their atelier.

27:23 - I loved writing my book on Michelle Obama‘s fashion. She liked fashion but did not want to be controlled by it. She dressed to be the first hostess of America and she did a great job that way.

35:10 - For the inauguration I hope the First Lady will wear something white or blue. Those are the colors that represent hope, a new beginning.

Learn more about our guests:

Kate Betts:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Sustainability or sustainababble? with Susan Rockefeller

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 14:47:43 +0000

Award-winning documentary filmmaker, artist, and conservationist, Susan Rockefeller, joins our hosts to discuss the meaning and actions behind the word 'sustainability.' Susan is also a designer of inspirational jewelry. She sits on the Program Committee of The Stone Barns for Sustainable Agriculture, the Global Leadership Council for NRDC, the Audubon’s Women in Conservation, and is Chairwoman of Oceana’s Ocean Council.

Episode Highlights:

10:30 - Sustainability at times can be sustainababble. The term is overused. What I try to think about right now is how I can do less harm to the Earth. We need to look at what we are purchasing and consuming and especially look back at the simplicity of how people used to lived. Real sustainability is very vital and it should be taught throughout our lives beginning in school and through everyday life.

14:00 - 'Kiss the Ground' is one of our latest projects on Netflix. The biggest takeaways is that soil is one of the key solutions to climate change. We need to regenerate it with far less chemical and fertilizer inputs. We should combine building a healthy soil ecosystem and eating more protective foods such as legumes and fruits.

38:00 - Social media: we need more design and media literacy. Who is designing these social media programs and how are they affecting us and our children? If you are not paying for it, then you are the product from which the techs mine our data.

Learn more about our guests:

Susan Rockefeller:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Pleasantly Tormented by a Puzzle with Steve Richardson

Tue, 3 Nov 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Our hosts are quite.. puzzled by the story of this episode's guest, Steve Richardson, Founder of the iconic Stave Puzzles. Together they discuss how this very successful company came to life, the mechanics behind its jigsaw puzzles, and why Steve calls himself a tormentor! Discover which well known couple gets very competitive when it comes to finishing a puzzle and why the book "The Happy Hooker" has anything to do with it all.

Episode Highlights:

10:56 - "Sir, how much were you paying these two guys in New York for these fancy puzzles?" He said, "300 dollars!" Well, back in 1974 that was a lot of money, so I said to my partner "Dave, all we have to do is sell two puzzles a month to get both of our mortgages covered!"

21:25 - Bill and Melinda Gates have been customers for over 30 years. They are very good. They buy identical puzzles and compete against each other!

29:30 - In this COVID era, we have been doing really well; we cannot keep up with the demand. People are hooked and won't take a step down to a laser cut puzzle.

Learn more about our guests:

Stave Puzzles:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Building by Feelings with Suchi Reddy

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, our hosts meet with Suchi Reddy founder of Reddymade, a firm with a human-centric approach to design, dedicated to celebrating diversity and equality, as well as addressing the economic, social, environmental and cultural impacts of its work on both the user and the planet. They discuss neuroaesthetics as well as the future of architecture and design.

Episode Highlights:

16:25 - I design from the “inside”. In fact the mantra of my practice is this idea that ‘form follows feelings’; from that moment when I knew that my house actually made me feel and become a certain way, I always wanted to design form the inside out.

18:05 - I’m a micro-apartment liver. 375 square feet and I practice as living as large as I can in that space, which includes (in the days when I could) having dinner parties for 10 people and a big stand up cocktail party for 40 people. And we had great a time!

19:40- It’s always been a huge interest of mine to melt the arts and the sciences; the minute I found that neuroscience and architecture could be put together, I started getting interested on who was working in this field. So I came across this field called neuroaesthetics.

Learn more about our guests:

Reddymade:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Walking into Sneaker Culture with Jonathan Riley

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, our hosts meet with Jonathan Riley, CEO of Portland-based agency Better, that operates within multiple industries and networks in order to empower under-served communities and people of color with awareness, access and opportunity. They discuss the many facets of the sneaker industry and how it has become the global and cultural phenomenon it is today.

Episode Highlights:

12:35 - The music culture is the driver now; and I think that was the biggest problem at Nike, which was focusing mainly on athletes.

19:06 - Top collectable sneakers are Jordans, The Chuck Taylors ,and the Red Octobers - plus anything signed by the designer of the sneakers.

26:17 - To start collecting, look at YouTube – incredible videos of people who talk about their process and criteria to collect sneakers.

Learn more about our guests: Jonathan Riley on Instagram

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

A Unique Car Ride with Elliot Cuker

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Renaissance man, actor, car aficionado and art collector, Elliot Cuker, is the guest of this episode of The Accutron Show. Together with our hosts, Elliot shares some of the most memorable moments of his career and talks about the beauty of classic cars and how the modern automotive industry is evolving the concept of luxury and beauty. If you want to learn how Elliot began the tradition of getting married in a Rolls Royce limousine (and much more), tune in and ride along.

Episode Highlights:

11:40 - I am actually a pioneer in the West Village. I had the first big deal in real estate. I had a company called "Cooper Rolls Royce Limousine Service" offering the service of getting married in a Rolls Royce in New York; that was me, I created that in the United States.

15:20 - I had one of my cars stolen in front of Studio 54. We found it two blocks away, on 52nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue, in the middle of the street. Luckily, the thief had no idea how to drive it.

36:32 - In the 50's, that's where we were at, that was our mentality. We looked at things black and white back then, we wanted strength, we wanted power. The design of cars were sculptures. Today's car designs are dry, there is no romanticism.

Learn more about our guests:

Cooper Classics:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

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Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Inside The Barrel with Ralph Erenzo

Tue, 6 Oct 2020 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we discuss the rise of niche distilleries in America. Our hosts meet Ralph Erenzo, founder of Tuthilltown Spirits Farm Distillery, New York’s first whiskey distillery since prohibition that creates some of America’s most prized spirits in the Hudson Valley. Ralph shared with us some great stories about the distillery, the secrets behind the multiple award-winning Hudson Whiskey line, and their special collaboration with Accutron watches.

Episode Highlights:

23:38 - A variety of happy accidents made us discover how to make great whiskey. We did not have a device to separate solids and liquids and in a funny way it all just worked out.

24:09 - Our distillery business is a cross between a craft, which is functional and art, which is subjective and irrational. The result is Hudson Whiskey.

30:15 - We had a fire in 2007 that almost destroyed our distillery. Many of our barrels were charred, but the whiskey came out amazing. They are now a collector's item.

Learn more about our guests:

Hudson Whiskey:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Fashionably on Time with Timo Weiland

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 04:00:09 +0000

Timo Weiland is an American fashion designer, DJ, and entrepreneur, as well as the co-founder and creative director of the Timo Weiland brand. Timo started his career designing bowties and went on developing one of the most interesting and relevant fashion labels today. An eclectic and multifaceted personality in the studio, Timo discusses the status and future of fashion with our hosts.

Episode Highlights:

7:06 - How did Timo go from designing bowties to creating such an epic fashion label?

14:16 - Fast-forwarding from 2008 to today, would a DJ with a tie line be able to follow the same entrepreneurial path? Or is everything different now?

26:38 - With designers being tasked with so many collections and collaborations per year, is that sustainable today?

Learn more about our guests:

Timo Weiland:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

O Sister, Where Art Thou? with Maria Brito

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 04:00:26 +0000

Maria Brito is an award-winning New York-based contemporary art advisor, author, and curator. A Harvard graduate, originally from Venezuela, her first monograph “Out There” published by Pointed Leaf Press in 2013, was the recipient of the USA Best Book Awards in both the Art and Design Categories. In this episode our hosts talk to Maria about art, artists, galleries and curators in America today and where this massive industry is heading.

Episode Highlights:

8:41 - Art can be an entry point for education and for very challenging conversations without having to get to a contentious point. I think all that is left in the world is human beings and their souls.

17:55 - In the past 5 years, a lot of collectors and galleries have been paying more attention to black artists; some people were not happy with the results of the election and started paying attention to opposing views.

25:55 - You mentioned the art world is still in New York - are the artists still here? Has the internet done anything to the flatten the geography of where artists create and work?

Learn more about our guests:

Maria Brito:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Pens In The Digital Age with Ryan Sirignano

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 04:00:05 +0000

What is the meaning of handwriting in the heart of the digital age? What is the passion (or obsession) behind the art of collecting expensive pens? This podcast features guest Ryan Sirignano, National Director of Sales for Esterbrook Pens, a company founded in 1858. Esterbrook pens were used by U.S. Presidents Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson to sign legislation; by Disney artist Carl Banks to bring Donald Duck to life and by Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz for all his comics.

Episode Highlights:

16:22 - Pens are collectible items and can go for over 2 million dollars. The value is a combination of their history, the materials (gold, marble and with diamonds) and complicated mechanisms.

18:00 - Esterbrook history is incredible – in 1970 we produced over 3 million pens. The pen has had illustrious owners like JFK and Lincoln and was used by top illustrators. Charlie Brown and Donald Duck were drawn exclusively with Esterbrook pens.

31:30 - "The most important document I signed is the deed to my house but if you ask my wife and I don’t say our wedding documents. She will be very upset…"

Learn more about our guests:

Esterbrook Pen Company:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Time Travel with Jack Forster

Tue, 8 Sep 2020 04:00:07 +0000

This episode features watch connoisseur royalty, Jack Forster, Editor in Chief of Hodinkee.com. Jack discusses with our hosts the origins of his renowned digital platform, the future of print media and the book he wrote to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Accutron. How successful can a digital platform be when it jumps into print media? What was the process of writing a book about Accutron? Tune in to find out more.

Episode Highlights:

15:40 - The Accutron book is a pretty decent technical and sociologial history of the timepiece, past, present and future. Jack mentions it was great to get access to the Accutron archives and learn more incredible details about the watch and the brand.

23:11 - Back in the 60s, time accuracy was a very important selling point; it is what inspired Accutron to develop the tuning fork technology; especially in a time when quartz timekeeping technology was not as popular as it is today.

Learn more about our guests:

Jack Forster:

Hodinkee:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

The Art Of Coffee Table Books with Prosper Assouline

Tue, 1 Sep 2020 04:00:09 +0000

Assouline Publishing is considered to be the first luxury brand devoted to culture. In this episode of The Accutron Show, our hosts meet its founder, Prosper Assouline, and discuss with him, how culture and design come together to give life to their visually unique books and their meaning in the digital era we live in.

Episode Highlights:

9:33 - Prosper Assouline promises that in 20 years, printed books will still be around. He's not sure about the iPhone but books, for sure.

14:54 - Our hosts ask Prosper about the origins of Assouline Publishing. From his experience working for a magazine, to his first book created with his wife about their favorite hotel, Prosper talks about the experiences that brought him to found the iconic publishing house.

19:25 - What is the role of Assouline's brick and mortar store? Prosper sees the store as his private library, a place that make you fall in love with the book.

Learn more about our guests:

Assouline Publishing:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear new episodes as soon as they're released.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Cocktail Culture with David Powell

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:00:10 +0000

What kind of cocktail are you? Together with our guest David Powell, brand ambassador of Hudson Whiskey, we discuss his career and the art behind making and choosing a cocktail. From the latest cocktail trends to the best bars in America, fill up your glass and join us for a journey through the pleasure of sipping your favorite drinks.

Episode Highlights:

19:00 - How much originality is in the cocktail market right now? Are people bringing anything innovating to the market?

22:50 - How to tell a good bartender from a bad one? Just ask for a daiquiri or an old fashioned. Those recipes have been around for 150 years, so good bartenders have had plenty of time to perfect them.

25:21 - What's the most expensive drink you ever tasted? Was Is worth it?

Learn more about our guests:

David Powell:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Mirror Mirror On The Wall with Carol Alt

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 04:00:06 +0000

In this episode of the Accutron Show, our hosts interview iconic American supermodel, actress and author, Carol Alt, to talk about the evolution and meaning of modeling in the era of Instagram and TikTok. Carol takes us through the journey of her incredible career; from her simple beginning as a restaurant waitress to being defined as "The Most Beautiful Woman In The World" by Playboy Magazine. She has been featured on the cover of more than 300 magazines and has been the face of numerous iconic advertising campaigns including those for Lancome, Pepsi, Cover Girl, Hanes and more. She is simply a joy to listen to.

Episode Highlights:

14:55 - We are out of the age of the supermodel and way into the age of the influencer. You have made this transition; what does social media mean to Carol Alt?

17:50 - Carol discusses the series of fortuitous events that led to start of her incredible career, from restaurant waitress to world famous supermodel.

31:30 - Carol talks about the way she faced difficult situations that later sparked the #MeToo movement.

Learn more about our guests:

Carol Alt:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

It's A Gadget Kind Of World with Jack Rico

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 04:00:20 +0000

What is the ultimate gadget to own today? Do gadgets make our life more comfortable or just more complicated? Our hosts give a call to Jack Rico, host of Emmy nominated NBC show Consumer 101, where he explores the surprisingly intricate science used to test every kind of product -- from the obscure to the fascinating to the everyday. Tune in to find out what is the most essential gadget you need to own today.

Episode Highlights:

16:17 - What is the biggest fail in the gadget world out there right now? What just simply doesn't work?

18:56 - The Zoom phenomenon is not a fad, it's really taken off and people using it every day need better lighting.

26:00 - The evolution of home theatres, especially when people are being urged to spend more time at home.

Learn more about our guests:

Jack Rico:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

Wine Around The World with Mika Bulmash

Tue, 4 Aug 2020 04:00:03 +0000

Our hosts talk about one of their favorite subjects, wine! Our special guest is Mika Bulmash, founder of Wines For the World, specializing in artisanal, responsibly produced wines made by top producers from rising star regions. The episode explores the history of wine production in the United States, helps us navigate throughout the various labels (organic, biodynamic, natural...) and highlights the stories behind countries and regions around the world that are producing extraordinary wine.

Episode Highlights:

12:11 - What do the words "natural, biodynamic, organic..." mean in the world of wines?

17:28 - How do you break people's habits and inspire consumers to try more adventurous wines from other countries?

25:50 - A lot of people are afraid of letting their own palates do the talking; at the end of the day, the only purpose of the fancy terms is to guide you as a consumer towards the things that you like.

Learn more about our guests:

Wine for the World:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter

The Value of Collecting with Reginald Brack

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 04:00:09 +0000

What is value and the passion that triggers the wish to collect watches - or anything else? Where do you start if you want to start collecting watches? The episode's featured guest is Reginald Brack, Industry Analyst for Watches and Jewelry at the NPD Group. Reginald and our hosts talk about the current and future trends in the watch world, the importance of heritage and storytelling and the value that time adds to... time.

Episode Highlights:

15:08 - Smart watches are bringing new users into the category but are cannibalizing especially fashion watches priced at $500-600.

19:37 - Military reissues are particularly on trend these day.

21:30 - New watch collectors are being born but they are mainly in the over $5,000 category; luxury is still flourishing with new millennial watch owners.

Learn more about our guests:

NPD Group:

Reginald Brack:

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Twitter

The Ritual of Cigar Smoking with Sam Phillips

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 04:00:09 +0000

La Palina Cigars, is the ultra-premium handmade cigars that offer a meritage of the finest aged tobacco leaves selected and blended by master artisans. Founded in 1896 by Samuel Paley, the brand was relaunched in 2010 by Sam’s grandson, Bill, the son of CBS founder William S. Paley and socialite/fashion icon Barbara “Babe” Paley. In this episode, our hosts meet with Sam Phillips, president of La Palina Cigars to discuss the ritual of cigar smoking, the craftsmanship behind their premium products and the special collaboration with Accutron.

Episode Highlights:

12:28 - The Paley family owned La Palina since 1856 and, in a way, thanks to La Palina they bought their network of radio and TV stations including CBS. How ironic!

14:50 - Who do you think are the new cigar smoking ambassadors today?

28:35 - Most cigars are rolled by women who have lighter hands and generally better touch.

Learn more about our guests:

La Palina Cigars:

Sam Phillips:

Instagram

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Twitter

Introducing The Accutron Show

AccutronPodcast@gmail.com (David Graver, Scott Alexander, Bill McCuddy) — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 04:00:22 +0000

Introducing our three hosts that will take you through the journey of The Accutron Show: entertainment reporter Bill McCuddy, journalist David Graver (Cool Hunting, New York, Times, Vogue) and Editor Scott Alexander (GQ, Playboy).

The Accutron Show's first episodes premiere Tuesday, July 28th, with a new episode published every week.

Learn more about the Accutron watch here, and follow @AccutronWatch on Instagram.

Follow our hosts on social media:

Bill McCuddy: Facebook / Twitter
David Graver: Twitter