Before we dive into your podcast, I’d love to hear about how you became passionate about collecting. What is the “collectors gene”? Did you inherit it from someone?

I've found that a lot of people who collect things grew up around collectors or collected items when they were kids. That's certainly the case for me. I collected everything from baseball cards and sports cards to Hot Wheels cars and even rocks when I was younger–those weird little things that fascinated me at the moment. A lot of people lose it, you know, as they get older, but I've never lost that spark. For me, collecting has been something I've inherently maintained. My family played a significant role in nurturing this interest. One of my grandmothers, who is still around today, is a collector of glass, crystal decanters, and other interesting items. My mom had an incredible taste for collecting vintage clothes, bags, and shoes. My family is also in the luxury automotive industry, so through that I was able to meet more and more collectors and learn about what fueled their niche interests. Primarily though, it was my grandmother and my mom who were the most significant influences in my collecting journey.

We love the history of exceptional items. Can you tell us about an exceptional piece you’ve sourced that’s lived an interesting life? 

I have been in love with Hermes as a brand for a long time. Most people don’t know their history past Birkin Bags & Kelly’s (which are beautiful in their own right). But they really started by making leather goods for horses and noblemen. And in the 1960’s they were producing some of the most incredible objects. From catchalls and tastevin’s, to corkscrews and wine coasters. A lot of them were made by Ravinet d’Enfert. I’ve had a few lucky snags from dealers and at auction grabbing some of these pieces. Recently I got a horse head catch all and a cordage wine coaster. I use them every week.

How does collecting incorporate itself into your daily life? Do you have any vintage pieces that get daily use?

For me, collecting is about truly living with pieces. "Use" might be a light word—some things simply sit on a shelf—but I mean that I integrate these items into my daily life. I never want anything tucked away or hidden. My approach is to carefully choose pieces that I can interact with, whether that means actively using them or simply appreciating them in my space. Take my vintage English tureen, for example. It came directly from England—a piece originally designed for sauces and soups. Now, it sits on our fireplace mantle like a trophy. I love the art of repurposing things, finding ways to live with them that make sense for our lifestyle. Each piece has a history, and I want to honor that by giving it a meaningful place in our home.

Collectors Gene is more than just a place to find exceptional vintage pieces, but also a space to hear from industry experts. Can you share how your platform came to be?

I started Collectors Gene by following other collectors on social media, engaging with people and places I found interesting. My goal wasn't to uncover the rarest pieces in their collections, but to explore their genuine passion and the excitement of collecting. I wanted to create a platform where tastemakers and experts could share the stories behind their finds and bond over the thrill of the hunt. I began developing a guest list of people I wanted to interview, and the project gradually evolved over the past few years into something wonderfully organic. As I wanted to share more about my own collections, I decided to bring the concept to social media. I think as much as people enjoy the guests on the show, the idea of seeing what I am adding to my collections, what I am gifting to collectors, and what advice I have to offer has seemed to have struck a nerve.

Is there anyone you’ve had on the podcast that you’d like to give a shoutout to? What about their story made an impact?

Kevin O’Leary aka Mr. Wonderful from Shark Tank was a guest on the show and we had so much fun sitting down with each other talking about all things watches, wine, guitars, and collecting as a hobby and community.

Definitely Doug Bihlmaier—the head of vintage for Ralph Lauren and now a consultant for the brand on all things vintage. He's a guy from a small town in Kansas who fell in love with the things surrounding him. His dad and grandfather wore great denim, which sparked his journey into retail. He was introduced to Ralph at the very beginning of the brand and became a prominent figure in fashion and menswear. I pursued him for two years before he finally agreed to come on the show. I flew out to his house in East Hampton, New York, and we spent a whole day together. What many people don't know is that Doug is really responsible for RRL and a lot of the vintage items you would see in Ralph Lauren stores—and that's actually playing down his role, as he did extensive merchandising as well. He’s a true genius and it was special to watch the praise for him pour in after we released the interview.

I've been fortunate to interview some truly remarkable people. Nate Burkus, the award-winning interior designer, always serves as my first source of inspiration when I need fresh ideas about styling and design. Nadine Ghosn, a jeweler, is another remarkable guest. She's gone far beyond what everyone told her she couldn't do, becoming one of the top jewelers and designers of our time.

Mr. Chow is another incredible guest—at about 86 years old and still running the show with incredible energy. His story is absolutely fascinating. His father was one of the most famous actors of the Beijing Opera, from a wealthy, well-known family so respected that there's even a day in China celebrating his dad. As a child, Mr. Chow had to leave the country and evacuate, never seeing his father again. He moved to London and started the now-famous Mr. Chow restaurant. He became friends with art legends like Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring—artists would flock to his restaurant and, in exchange for food, create paintings for him. Only now do we understand the incredible value of those one-off pieces.

The Hirshleifer girls, both Lori and her niece Marci are previous guests on the show and true collectors and tastemakers. People around the world have embraced their maximalist style.

Mario Andretti was an extremely special guest. He is a racing legend across all categories and has won every trophy, been gifted every watch, etc. He doesn’t necessarily collect. But we related his tenacity as a world champion racing driver to that of a collector and it served as a really special episode.

The truth is that I truly enjoy every episode and the incredible stories from each of my guests. They are all equally as special.

Who are your dream podcast guests?

Martha Stewart, Jay-Z, and Ralph himself.

What does the rest of 2025 have in store for Collectors Gene?

I think the core focus for me this year is expanding brand partnerships. My aim is to collaborate with brands that I genuinely love and believe others would appreciate. The podcast and antique selling have never been about generating substantial income, but rather serving as a strategic marketing and branding platform. So this year's goal is to cultivate meaningful partnerships with brands, creating revenue streams that align with the project's authentic spirit.

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