Hey everyone, it's me, James Stacy, but this is all you're going to get of my voice for this episode.

Instead of my usual rambling, the next hour or so features a chat between Ben and one Michael Friedman.

For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of meeting

Michael you're in for a real treat as he is Ottomar Pige's head of

complications and was previously the brand's in-house historian. Michael, like

Ben, is a die-hard enthusiast, a legit watchard, and a truly delightful personality.

Oh, and he's name dropped in full on the new Kendrick Lamar album.

It's wild stuff. Listen for it in the track, Rich Spirit. While I'm sad that I couldn't be in the room for this chat,

I am thrilled to have it as an episode for Hood and Key Radio. So thanks as always for listening,

and here's Ben and Michael. So we are here with a man named Michael Friedman.

Michael is the head of complications for Automarmire Brigade, which is a brand I think some of you have heard of, I think.

And Michael and I have known each other for going on at least 10 years

through a few different kind of iterations of personal and professional development will say and so super pleased to be here with you right now just to kind of talk about AP

50th anniversary Royal Oak a P house which is opening very soon here in New York

etc etc. etc. Man I'm so happy to be here Ben this is my first trip

back to New York since before COVID.

No kidding. It's the first trip back. It's been that long. It's been that long and as you know, my family

have a long history here in New York. So it feels really good to be back and to be spending time with you. As you said, it's been over 10 years. I think we're, I think it was 2011. We first cross paths. That sounds right. And it's so good to see you, man. And just to give a visual picture for everyone out there,

we met on the street and we gave a big bear hug.

Yes, we did in fact hug in the middle of,

or on the middle of 57th Street.

And I held you maybe a couple seconds too long.

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