Welcome to this watch live hi I'm Lydia winters and I'm. Vu Bui for the 200th time. Why are you still here? What are you doing? Actually, technically for me it is the 199th. Time. Oh no. One episode. Mindy was on it as my Co host so. You are here for the 200th. Time. Yes, this is 200 episodes and we were thinking about a look back because wow. Because wow. Because wow. I mean 200 episodes all within a
year. Yes, I should start by saying the 100 episode club cards will someday be delivered, but I am hand making them so it's just it is it? Is handmade production at its finest, I will say, and Lydia really has poured over this design for for a long time. And so it's, it's wonderful that everyone is being very, very patient. Yes, they will come out before we get to 300. That's my. Is that your? Promise.
So we're going to talk about things we learned about ourselves, things we learned about the industry, about watches, about the watch community and also our listeners for a big like 200 episode roundup. Yeah. What did you learn about yourself? Whoa, That's where we're starting with what did we learn? I think, OK, one of the things that surprises me because I wouldn't say we put a lot of thought into starting a daily watch pad cast.
No 3 days. You pitched it two or three days before we actually started it, but it turns out we really love watches. We love watch designs, We love watch brands, We love watch enthusiasts. Not every single one of them, of course, but in general. And even though, you know, I know we had a rough patch of putting out episodes, like my interest in watches has never
waned. And we've talked about watches almost every single day for this whole year at length, not just like little mentions, like we've spent 15 to 20 minutes a day Monday through Friday for most of this. Year. Occasionally I'm like, Oh no, watches again. Can we talk about cats? Really. No, I mean, The thing is, it really has been whenever I say, Oh yeah, we have a daily podcast or now a three time a week podcast, everyone is just like,
but how do you know? How do you have enough to talk about including watch people, Which I think is funny because most of us talk about watches quite a lot with our friends and sometime our family. We maybe. That's. That's talking at them like anyone who will listen. And so there's just I, I, I do agree it really has like kept my interest in watches going even stronger. Yeah, and you know, we reduced to only three episodes a week, but not because we have a lack
of content. Yeah, that's true. So just a lack of time A. Lack of ability, yes. But. Another thing that I think we learned about ourselves is that we really thrive when we overdo a challenge. Yes, that's true. We love a good like look. My mom has always, since I'm a child, my mom has always said it's not done until it's overdone. And I think for most of our projects, we need to be in the overdone.
The ones that we've done the best, like self-portrait projects once a day for a year now, we've never made it a year. But but still I did it like 130. Days. That's over 100 days. I've done 90 days before. Like, you know, it's that daily thing. It's different, difficult, but it also drives you. Yeah. And and yeah, so I, I don't know, I'm still. Proud that we got to 180 episodes without missing any. I think that's a huge feat. That yeah, 180 without ever missing a day.
And we restarted, which is also for us probably I don't have bigger feat that's actually bigger, yeah. Link Think of the number of times we said we would restart our YouTube channel. Oh no, it still says September 23, so I don't know, 2023. Does it, does it have the year on it? Yeah. I think I wrote everything very specifically. Yeah, September 2000. 23. OK.
So then I was thinking about what content we've made and I decided to outsource this so that I did not have to look through 200 episodes or try to think. And so I just asked. I just asked AI. OK. You asked AI about us. Yes, about this watch life podcast. Like what topics do they cover? OK, OK, OK, now I'm very.
Curious Watch releases, new watch models and collections from various brands yes, we have done many of those industry news updates on the watchmaking industry including mergers, acquisitions and major announcements I was we have done a few yes some LVMH, you know stuff before I. Don't know about mergers. Brand histories, stories and histories of different watch brands. Something I'd like to do more of because there's so many cool watch brands, so that's definitely on my more of list.
Watch culture Discussions on the culture and community surrounding watches Watch events yes I like they're saying coverage of watch fairs, exhibitions and events more like. We go. There and then, we discuss. Here's what happened. Personal Experiences Lydia and Vu share their personal watch related experiences and stories. OK, that is true.
I'm. Impressed with? This and the last one said technical insights, deep dives into watch movements, complications and technical aspects of watchmaking, which we also did some of Wow. Yeah. That's amazing. It also I have to say it says Widdy and fun banter. You added that. No, it says. The podcast is known for its witty and fun banter, making it both entertaining and informative. Wow, Yeah. Is it? Did it look at review? Are there reviews of our podcast? There are some reviews.
Well, there are on the platform. Yeah, it's a good time to ask. If you haven't reviewed us and you would like to review us positively, please do. If you haven't reviewed us and you want to do it negatively, please don't. No, then just send us an e-mail and tell us what you don't like. Someone one day sent an e-mail and said the volume's too low, raise it, and I worked to. Raise it you.
Worked really hard. So if you have any constructive criticism, send it directly through on e-mail and we will file that. Approval. OK, So what have you learned about the industry? Yeah, watchmaking industry, because that's a more interesting one. It's. True, and it was the thing that we were the least I, I would say we were the least in touch with previously as watch enthusiasts.
Like I think it's been interesting to learn more about the watch industry and part of that is just for researching things for our episodes. But also we've been to more events, we've met more people, we've heard more stories, we've even heard a little gossip here and there. And we've just been exposed to more of the watch industry. And like one of the biggest things I've learned, it's like it's just pretty much like Ebony out of their industry.
Right, it's. Got the same challenges, same problem, same all same kind of issues that that are trying to be solved like we've worked in games for for over a decade. And I think the watch watch industry is like a a slightly lower tech, maybe older and slower version of the games industry, but has a lot of similarities. So it's it's making obviously much more expensive products than the gaming industry, but it's like still very male dominated. But I do think that's something
that is being improved. And there are there are individuals and organizations that are pushing to make this better every day, right? I think it's still mostly ruled by money, Like money is a primary driver for a lot of what's happening in the industry. But then on the other side, it's like constant delight and surprise by creativity and the joy that comes out of like so many of the people in the companies and what they're doing
in the industry. And also a lot of people in companies big and small, but especially all of these smaller independent brands were like, hey, I'm I was missing something. And so I'm making it. I think that innovation and it is very exciting, yeah. You can have niche products because there are niche brands to make them, and that's really cool. And of course, just like most other industries, it's still very much runs on status and on the stars of the industry.
But I also think on the flip side of that, it's also very much fueled by passion. And you see that whether it's a big company or a small company, you see a lot of passion in what people are doing. And that is a huge driver for a lot of things because like when it comes to watches, I don't think there's the same need for innovation, right? Like these are luxury products. So yes, many people want innovation, and there are certain companies who are known
for innovation. But in general, I wouldn't say that luxury products move forward based on innovation. Yeah, that's. True, right. So when you think about what these biggest brands especially have been pushing forward on, it's not innovation, it's actually heritage, it's history, it's craft. It's those are the things that are drivers for why they're worth the money that they are less so innovation. Except except a few different brands, right?
You have the, the, the MBNFS and the Richard meals. Yeah, I am simplifying, but that passion is still there. But it I, I, yeah, it it's still a luxury industry though, so that makes it very different from something like games, very other things. It's a lot slower. It's. Slower, but it's also much more volatile, right? Because when economies like, if you look at where the economy is, like, let's save the world economy. This is a celebration episode, but. It is, but you said what have we
learned? And I think that, you know, we've learned that the watch industry being part of luxury is, is, is much more affected than other industries when things change in the world, right? So I think that's that's an interesting part of it because it also changes how you interact with those things. So what have you learned about watches or like even your watch collecting? I've learned that I shouldn't have never gotten into watches and watch collection.
OK, Yeah. We say that all the time. I we don't mean it. You're like buy one watch. I've started daily watch podcast. That's the. Progression. That is the. Progression when you're an all in person like the two of us. So, OK, one of the great things about talking about watches every day is that like, like the way we do it, we don't just wing it, right?
So that means that every day, well, you know, sometimes we do the research parts and batches, but like we're constantly researching and learning new things for our episodes. So like we're just this year we've gotten so much more knowledgeable about watches. Yes, Even you have learned all of this technical knowledge that you didn't even want to learn. No, because you always say that you're not interested in the technical side. No. But I, that's not really true. Yeah, it's not really true.
Watches. I I, I am interested in it. And I think it's been you're not It's yes, I have in the past that I'm not. But it is more about finding the things that I'm most interested in. Yeah. You know.
I mean, one of the, the biggest things you've told me that that you have learned about watches and I think it has affected not necessarily how I think about it, but I think I had a realization that I am more like you than I thought is that you've said that the watches, like in the abstract on their own are less interesting than they are with the people who make them and the people who wear them. Like, that story is what makes watches more interesting to you.
Whereas a watch on its own, just by itself in a, you know, on a glass shelf like is is less interesting. Yeah, I've definitely, that is something that I've learned over this year, both in talking about watches and going to more events and seeing things as as like seeing a watch, even if it's
something very amazing. Yeah. It's. I'm detached from it unless it's like the person, if there's a person there telling me what they love about it, I instantly have a more of a connection to it. But if it's just like looking at different watches and models, I find that that that's where I sort of disconnect and like kind of turn off a bit. Yeah. And that's different for
everybody. Like I obviously have more of an enjoyment of the purely technical side of watches, but even I am not fully on that side where there are people who are like, well, I don't care about the personal story like. Which? I care about the technical achievements. Which the nice part is that both are totally fine. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you. Do in my own watch collecting, you do you in my own watch collecting. I do think this year has changed
a lot. It's the year in the past last few years that I've bought the least number of watches, even though I've had this year and I. The least number of watches, but you bought some really amazing. Yeah. And also probably the most, yeah, the most expensive year
least number. But I do think that that also goes towards, you know, kind of when you talk about this all the time and you're thinking about different philosophies or like we were reading, you know, talking about Mark Cho's philosophies and we're asking people and you're just talking more about sort of culture of collecting and how to do it and why you do it. I for me, I think that has made some like a little bit of a dent in my just like buy everything
mentality. Yeah. I mean, I wasn't really buying everything, but you know what I mean? You know what? I mean, you've slowed down, become more discerning and I think everyone goes through. They don't need to do a daily watch podcast. No, I don't think that's the way forward for anyone. OK, so about the watch community, what would you say you've learned about the watch community? Yeah, I mean, before we started the podcast, we already were part of the watch community on
on Instagram and in real life. It's going to. A lot of people, many, many, many, many communities. And you can kind of call it one thing, but it's actually many communities. But for me, I think when I think of like the people who have listened to the podcast, it's just like this deep passion, like a share weird passion for horology, like the artistry, the craftsmanship, like how we create these timepieces and then also the stories around them.
I think it's been amazing to see all of the knowledge sharing and like the the kindness of knowledge sharing for you know, anyone who listens to this watch life who's like, hey, that isn't really right. And I, I think it's just super nice because it's, if it's done in that way, I think that's amazing. That. And like you said, is with watches, there's always something new to learn and that really makes for fascinating hobbies because you're like, oh, I'm never done.
Yeah, I never like, oh, I learned it all. Now I'm done. There's no, there's no end game. As you said, I. Still want to do the water resistance mega episode? OK, I I I've been talking to Ken Arkin and. You. Want to do? This. I wanted to but it's not a 20 minute episode. I think we may need 2 hours for this. OK, that's a special episode that I'm not.
Part of you, you should be a part of it I. Think you should be a part of it, but then I mean it really has been such a sense of community. You know, so many of you just sharing this love for watches, but sharing stories and like talking about, you know, we have a, a couple who both were listening to the podcast and they, you know, he said that that like they didn't know that they had this shared love of watches. And so he started listening and then they listened together.
And like, to me, that's so nice because it's that like sense of community and also just being supportive in this environment where it's just like fun, where like people offering tips and tricks and here's what you should do and encouragement, always encouragement. Buy it, buy it. That's the best, worst kind of encouragement.
And and also, I think just the variety of interest, I've been very impressed and like we, we obviously have tried to do different episodes, like of all different, you know, caliber of watches. I don't want to say caliber because that's. Were you trying to be punny?
Yeah, I was, but I don't like it because of all different price points and types of watches because it is so fun to have listeners who have such a variety of interests and like also feeling like there's a lot of inclusive discussions that we can talk about high end luxury brands, micro brands, you know, but hopefully in an inclusive and respectful way. And I've only seen that from our audience too, from all of. You. Yes, I agree to. Share in that which has been really nice, so.
OK, I pulled up some stats. Now we host our podcast on Spotify, but then it also goes out to all these other places. And so these stats are based on Spotify, but Spotify makes up 45% of our audience, right? Apple podcast is just over that. So this is, I think fairly representative and, and we just thought we'd share because it's something we think a lot about. Like who are our listeners? Who do we want our listeners to be? Who do we want?
Well, we want everyone to feel welcome, but like, who do we want to encourage to listen to our podcast? So we'll start with gender. Like as of now, we're at 84.2% male, 13.4% female, 1.7% non specified, and 0.8% non binary. And so you know that like, I mean, there's nothing to complain about here. But obviously I would love for us to find ways to be more open, to bring more diversity into our listenership and make people feel really welcome and want to
be here. Yeah, our age on is fun because I think we have .4% zero to 17, which you know what, young youngsters are welcome here. They are yeah 17 and under .4. Percent. Then it's a really, it's a very, you know, bell curve. Yeah, yeah, basically, for sure with a large portion of the audience being in the 28 to 59 range. Then you have my parents list years in that 2.5% sixty plus yes. And there's a point 1% unknown age. So. Who knows?
No one knows. But obviously the biggest chunk is 35 to 44, and that makes sense for a number of reasons. That's. 40% and also that I am in that age range, yes. Yes, and I oh, I just left on. No, you just left. It but our average age is within there. OK, Yes, that's true. Geographic locations, I mean we talked about it long ago, but an amazing number of countries listening top is US, second is UK, third is Sweden, which way to go Sweden because I mean that's.
Population. Population that's that's. I'm really impressed that Sweden's at 9%, yeah. Then we have Canada, we have Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Norway. That's impressive for Norway, too. Norway, percent of our listeners
like yeah. And but I mean, the thing that like those stats are fun, but the thing that has impressed me the most about this amazing community of people who are listening are just that we have watch collectors who have huge collections, people who are just getting into watches. Yes, we have industry professionals like founders of watch brands, yeah, that we love. We have watch makers. And we even have people who are not into watches. Yes, Deirdre and Jeremy, my
brother, thank you. You too. There might be more, but those are the ones we know. About but just the fact that like casual enthusiasts all the way to people who are. Incredibly, who are? Working on it every day and to me, whenever someone says like, oh, I've I listen to the podcast or I listen to an episode, I just feel so amazing and and thankful and kind of blown away that some amazing person is listening. So the biggest thank you to all of to all of you for sticking
with us and for. 200 episodes. Listening for so, so long. Thank you. Thank you. Thank. You maybe we'll do 2 100 more. I I can't say that. I can't say that, but. We'll be back on Monday. So yeah, we're waiting a goodbye. It just. Wasn't thank you. It's. Just appreciation, yes. Oh, but actually it is a bye 'cause it's a Friday, Is it? It is, yeah. OK. Bye bye, bye, bye bye, bye, bye. Bye. Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye.
Bye bye, bye, bye, bye. Bye bye, bye, bye, bye bye. Bye bye, bye bye, bye. Bye. Bye bye, bye bye bye, bye, bye bye. Bye, bye, bye. Bye bye, bye, bye, bye.