300 Episodes of The Grey NATO

Today is a special day for a podcast that holds a special place in my heart. The Grey NATO is hitting a milestone that deserves celebration and admiration - Jason and James have published their 300th episode!

Nenad Pantelic • September 19, 2024

The Grey NATO is a weekly podcast hosted by Jason Heaton and James Stacey, and simply put: it goes far beyond just watches. By definition it is a loose discussion about travel, adventure, diving, driving, gear, and most certainly watches.

But this is not just any podcast to me. For almost eight years TGN has been a source of new ideas and fresh perspectives, a place to learn, and a catalyst for personal growth. TGN inspired me to chase my passions, and in many areas of life it even inspired me to challenge myself.

From Inspiration...

Like many other TGN listeners, I initially followed Jason and James' lead, even going so far as to directly copy their approach.

Yes, I have an Alpaka zip pouch, yes, I have a bund strap, yes, I modded a watch with a 12-hour bezel insert, and yes, I became a fan of Bremont, Scurfa, Halios, Doxa, Aqualand...

A titanium watch, anyone? Maybe a CWC quartz? How about a Kill Hubris Pocket T-Shirt?

But over time, I developed my own approach, taking inspiration from their ideas that worked for me and my lifestyle.

As mentioned, TGN was a place of learning and inspiration for me. I can confidently say that this site, StrapHunter, wouldn't have come to life without the influence of this podcast. Jason and James played a role in introducing me to the watch strap culture and expanding my views.

They put so many incredible brands on my radar: Barton, Erika's, GasGasBones, Everest, Postale, Artem, ZuluAlpha, Phonenix, Substation, Haveston, Rover Haven, CincyStrapsCo to name a few.

... To An Awesome Community

One of the coolest, most unexpected things about the podcast was how it organically built a community, eventually leading to listeners connecting on Slack.

Today it is a lively community gathered around dozens of Slack channels that have... you know, a loose discussions about travel, adventure, diving, driving, gear, and most certainly watches.

Thank You

I am writing this early Thursday morning, before TGN 300 even comes out. No clue what it is about, but honestly, it doesn't matter. I am just looking forward to another great episode.

To Jason and James: I want to say a genuine thank you 🙏

Thank you for your dedication, your creativity, and your commitment to creating a podcast that truly matters. You have built a community of listeners who are grateful for your work and who are inspired by your example.

Congratulations on this incredible achievement!