The George Hahn Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, I lend my perspective on the cost of clothing and our often unreasonable expectations about it. To me, the expectation of the cost of a very simple garment like a t-shirt or a pair of jeans should be quite different from that of a suit or a blazer (especially the custom variety), which has a markedly more complicated and intricate construction and is much more difficult to make. And, hopefully, the garment in question is a quality garment, made with high construction standards. Essentially, a market where we want increasingly more for increasingly less is unsustainable. As a non-millionaire who appreciates quality and craftsmanship, I'm willing to pay a fair (and even more than fair) price for a handsome garment that is made well under fair labor practice. Anything less is a thoughtless pursuit that feeds a gluttonous "fast fashion" monster that pukes more and more crap onto a growing heap of cheap, disposable, trash clothing.

Inspired by an email I got today regarding the sentiment of "it's not whether you win or lose…" I was reminded of David Lee Roth's now famous quote from an awards show sometime in the 1980s: "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how good you look." The reminder sent me down a rabbit hole, starting with the gems produced a Google image search of "david lee roth," coupled with listening to old Van Halen albums in the process. What did I learn? David Lee Roth was a really fun rock star with an inimitable style. In this episode of the podcast, I also discuss the onslaught of comments produced by a piece I wrote about riding a bicycle without a helmet ("So I Don't Wear a Helmet. Get Off My Ass," May 30, 2013). Along with some great comments on the piece, both agreeing and disagreeing with my point of view, my approach to this hot-button issue apparently inspires some really low-grade, badly-spelled and poorly punctuated vitriol. I'm fine with all opinions that differ from my own or those of my readers. But I draw the line when commenters use internet anonymity as a license to be an asshole. Disrespectful, lack of civility and simple bad manners goes unrewarded in my house. While the internet at large is a wonderful and democratic medium, georgehahn.com is not a democracy: any disrespect or simple bad manners aimed at me or, most importantly, my readers goes unpublished and deleted. Aside from that… I'm loving the summer season so far, and I hope you all are, too. G

In my decade-long career as a web designer, I've never been able to get used to the sheer lack of efficiency in the corporate process when building a project. From gathering assets, to upholding schedule milestones, to meeting deadlines, to making decisions, to arriving at consensus and to completing payment… it's a process that gets irredeemably stuck in the rusty cogs of a bloated machine that has grown too fat to function, at least not with any level of reasonable efficiency. As a decisive one-man band who keeps it lean and works fast, it makes my head spin, leaving me amazed that anything actually gets done. I come from a show business background, where opening night is opening night, no matter how many more rehearsals you wish you had. For my own purposes, I work by a credo I heard from the TV sketch comedy deity Lorne Michaels, who said this about Saturday Night Live: "We don't go on because we're ready. We go on because it's 11:30."

Having accepted that I don't have a movie star-sized head, I've realized that I can't really wear wide ties if the proportions of the tie, shirt collar and jacket lapel are going to look right on me. Narrower is the game for a monkey with my narrow head. (Same goes for my jacket lapels.) The maximum tie width for me is around 2.5 inches. Also in this episode is my spiel on shaving... which is the same how-to spiel you'd get anywhere else. The truth is that - no matter what you read - there is no new ground to be broken in the "art of shaving." It's well-tread ground on a firmly-established grooming ritual.

After a witchy winter, spring has sprung, including a little flirtation with 80º F earlier in the week. With the warmer weather come shorts and flip-flops, about which I have some definite feelings I express in this episode. And though I did enjoy the time with my partner-in-crime at this year's New York International Auto Show, I discuss the vanilla experience of the show overall, which exhibited fleets of boring-looking luxury cars, stripped of all character and sex appeal and in desperate need of design CPR. Also on my mind, and on the radar of media/entertainment reporters lately, is Aereo, a brilliant (and affordable) service that provides live broadcast television over the internet to computers, iPads, iPhones, and the Roku. It's a beautiful disruption to the stale broadcast and cable subscription models that has networks and cable providers really pissed. And finally… just when you think you're going to learn something new in a magazine or on a blog about getting the perfect shave, just remember: you're not. It's all been said before, and there is nothing new to say or learn. (But it won't stop me from writing my own "definitive" piece on getting the perfect shave. Stay tuned for that.) Thanks for listening! Featured music: "Love's Theme" by Barry White & The Love Unlimited Orchestra - iTunes | Amazon

In the wake of a mind-blowing episode of Downton Abbey and with the coming premiere of House of Cards, an original Netflix series, we can't have the same "water cooler" conversations about shows the way we used to because the way we watch TV is changing. In this episode, I talk about how I get my content without cable. I also introduce a new podcast feature: Hidden Treasures on Netflix. This week's hidden Netflix treasure: Dirty Money, aka Un Flic (1972), the final film of French New Wave pioneer Jean-Pierre Melville.

If I had to start my entire wardrobe over, I would start with shoes - the part of many men’s wardrobes that doesn’t get appropriate attention. In this podcast, I talk about starting at the foundation of a good wardrobe with smart, handsome, classic oxfords that will work in any setting and in any year, from business to casual, with suits or jeans. I also talk about my shoe care rules that will ensure that your shoes will last longer than you.

The two-hour Season 3 premiere of Downton Abbey was all about the threat of a changing 1920s world outside of the snow globe that is Downton. The unstoppable changes in the way people lived forced people to adapt or become extinct. Do I need a valet to dress me? Do we need an extra maid? Do we need this house??? There is also a clinging to prestige, making me wonder why it is that we still cling to a desire or aspiration to appear like people of privilege. What does it say about us? Why is it so important still?

This episode comes with Fall, my favorite season in New York City. With this season on the city comes comfortable sidewalk dining, the ability to wear clothes I like and a new venture as Contributor-at-Large for the Brooklyn Cruiser blog (http://www.brooklyncruiser.com/blog). For my latest piece for Brooklyn Cruiser, I took a bike ride over the George Washington Bridge, one of the most spectacular viewpoints of my favorite city. Featured Music: "Street Life" by The Crusaders feat. Randy Crawford - Buy from iTunes

As a frugal consumer and creator of content that advocates living well and looking good without being a millionaire, I got called out by a follower on Instagram when I posted a picture of a new pair of Alden Chukka Boots. With a price tag of nearly $700, Alden Chukka boots aren't cheap, and my follower had a point... to a point. In this episode, I make the argument for when a splurge is justified. It's all about value and what a particular item means to you. As my friend Glenn Gissler eloquently put it: value is quality over time. Thanks for listening! Music excerpt: "Harvest Moon" by Poolside

I recently attended the wedding of my two good friends David and Scott. The week approaching the wedding, I had a dilemma: I needed a suit... fast. For the ceremony, where I was also serving as an usher, I was hoping to wear a new custom suit that was being made for me, but it wasn't ready. I wanted to honor my friends by showing up and putting forth my best. And with a little help from a quick suit from Uniqlo, I was able to do just that with a little extra confidence. Featured Music: "Chapel of Love" by Bette Midler - Amazon | iTunes "Wedding Bell Blues" by The Fifth Dimension - Amazon | iTunes

We're now living in a culture where jeans have become a premium item, and sneakers have become the norm. The result is a new breed of uber-casual adult man - the non-athlete wearing athletic footwear and over-specialized patterns of denim that - really not that long ago - would have been considered ladies jeans. This is where we are. Featured music: "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand - iTunes | Amazon "No You Girls" by Franz Ferdinand - iTunes | Amazon

In our digital age, there is unprecedented expectation and pressure to be always "on." Armed with smartphones, we're expected to be available for text messages and emails at any time - even calls, if you're part of the dwindling population that still uses the phone… as a phone. When I got my first iPhone years ago, I went through the expected honeymoon period with it. I loved all of this handheld accessibility. I still do; I'd be lost without it. My iPhone is a vital, convenient and fun tool for my personal and professional life. But, in my experience, this unbridled connectivity has a hidden price.

At a time when so many seem strapped for cash, legions of us still go out for coffee, drop off our laundry, send our shirts out, have our shoes shined and hire a housecleaner... complaining about how broke we are in the process. There are several ways we can cut costs, come out looking smart and be the master of our own domains. In this episode, I talk about five simple ways we can do just that. Featured Music: "Money, Money, Money" by ABBA iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/money-money-money/id405512028?i=405512130

An introduction to The George Hahn Podcast : Refinements for the Modern Man, where I'll be discussing goods and services, ideas and solutions and original content for men who aren't millionaires, but who like to live well and look good. Featured music: "The Magnificent Seven" by The Clash iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-magnificent-seven/id192976881?i=192978749 Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/The-Magnificent-Seven/dp/B00137MMY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1327018801&sr=1-1 "I Wonder Who We Are" - The Clientele iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-wonder-who-we-are/id331588522?i=331588549 Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/I-Wonder-Who-We-Are/dp/B002PZAPQW