POPULUXE

Thomaï Serdari
  • 4.5 (8)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Populuxe is a podcast, written and hosted by Thomaï Serdari. It explores stories of desire through objects bought, made, found, shared, and cherished. Made in New York City, Populuxe considers the link between desire and luxury based on conversations with a variety of inspired guests.

  1. 07/10/2025

    For All Time and Eternity: ROLEX with Pierre-Yves Donzé

    Whether you are a collector, hopeful first-time buyer, or simply curious wishing to crack the mystery of ROLEX's success open, you have an ally. Prolific author and business historian Pierre-Yves Donzé released his latest book titled, The Making of a Status Symbol: A Business History of Rolex, published in June 2025 by Manchester University Press. It is expertly researched, accessibly written, and, easily, the definitive historical account of how ROLEX came to be ROLEX. As the minds behind the iconic watch brand have maintained, "if you have already created perfection, why would you strive to innovate?" Pierre-Yves Donzé is a professor of business history at the University of Osaka, Japan, and a visiting professor at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. His work focuses on the dynamics of creative industries (watchmaking, luxury and fashion) and the business history of multinational enterprises. His last books include The Making of a Status Symbol: business history of Rolex (Manchester University Press, 2025) and Capitalism’s Favorite Child: Global Fashion Business since 1850 (co-authored with Ben Wubs, Bloomsbury, forthcoming in 2026). ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time. You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to luxury and the creative industries. If you retain one thing, please remember this: I made this podcast for you and everyone who considers beauty an action word that helps spread kindness. Love, Thomaï

    43 min

  2. 03/06/2025

    Made of Dreams with James Ferragamo

    Every legacy brand has an ideology, James Ferragamo tells us. He is talking of course about his family business, the legendary luxury brand started by his grandfather, Salvatore Ferragamo, the shoemaker. Or was it dream maker? That ideology keeps the brand in place so that nothing ever changes--and yet, James makes sure that everything changes. As the Chief Transformation Officer, he oversees and executes on the evolution of the brand so that it continues to deliver dreams that are relevant, beautiful, and magical. James Ferragamo is the grandson of Salvatore Ferragamo and a key figure in the family’s luxury brand. With a background in international business and retail, he has played a crucial role in shaping Ferragamo’s product strategy and innovation. As the Chief Transformation Officer, he continues to uphold the brand’s legacy of craftsmanship and elegance. He lives in Florence with his family. ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time. You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to luxury and the creative industries. If you retain one thing, please remember this: I made this podcast for you and everyone who considers beauty an action word that helps spread kindness. Love, Thomaï

    40 min

  3. 01/02/2025

    Rick's Romance with Urban Life and a Colombo V12 with Rick Cook

    Founding partner of CookFox, Rick Cook visited Populuxe recently to share his "object of desire" with our listeners. As it happens, Rick's training, practice as well as his own curious and empathic constitution create the perfect backdrop against which  a nuanced discussion about luxury unfolded. From a Ferrari V12 engine to a sunlit café in Florence to the new Armani tower in New York City, Rick has a lot to add to the discussion of luxury and desire. Rick Cook is a Founding Partner of COOKFOX Architects. He has built a reputation for innovative, award-winning architectural design. In 2003, Rick joined with Bob Fox to form COOKFOX Architects based on a transformative vision: beautiful design guided by high standards of sustainability, and a commitment to excellence enriched by the collaborative process. ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time. You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to luxury and the creative industries. If you retain one thing, please remember this: I made this podcast for you and everyone who considers beauty an action word that helps spread kindness. Love, Thomaï

    41 min

  4. 12/26/2024

    A Little Bit From Here A Little Bit From There with Monte Packham

    Writing in verses comes easily to Monte Packham, author of children's books, who started his career as an art critic. His work evolved into the deliciously playful rhymes that he puts together for young audiences after first having taken a detour into art historical writing. Whether documents of art or illustrated childrens' books, Monte's work is for the committed. His words fall into place as if the story they tell had always existed. Such is the timelessness of his wordsmithing that it inspired an animated conversation about reading and luxury. Monte Packham is the author of books including Rooms for Dessert, The Blueberry Machine, Rhyme Time, ABC Photography, Concentric Circles as well as Living with Matisse, Picasso and Christo: Theodor Ahrenberg and His Collections (2018), Book of the Year at the 2019 Collector's Awards, and Photo Adventures (2019). Born in Sydney in 1981, he holds degrees in art history and law from the University of Sydney.  ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time. You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to luxury and the creative industries. If you retain one thing, please remember this: I made this podcast for you and everyone who considers beauty an action word that helps spread kindness. Love, Thomaï

    54 min

  5. 02/15/2024

    From Vogue to Rogue with Negar Mohammadi

    Dates, almond oil, persimmon, pomegranate... These recipe ingredients that have given Persian women their legendary beauty from the inside out are also the core pillars of hair brand 14th Night, founded by Negar Mohammadi. Sun-kissed, athletic, and curious, Negar mastered the technical aspects of business as a young professional working for a major consulting firm in Paris--yes, like Emily in Paris but with real work involved.  Armed with fluency in French and a sense of true luxury, Negar returned to New York and rose up the corporate ladder in the city's competitive fashion industry. Her last corporate post was with VOGUE. Listen to her story to get all the sensorial details that define Negar's journey in hair beauty and learn how she  bottled them all in a series of divine natural formulas that are good for the hair and, mainly, for the soul. ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time. You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to luxury and the creative industries. If you retain one thing, please remember this: I made this podcast for you and everyone who considers beauty an action word that helps spread kindness. Love, Thomaï

    42 min

  6. 01/11/2024

    Bonus episode with Thomaï Serdari

    Get ready for a new year filled with exciting conversations and inspiring guests.  Season Four coming soon! ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time. You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to luxury and the creative industries. If you retain one thing, please remember this: I made this podcast for you and everyone who considers beauty an action word that helps spread kindness. Love, Thomaï

    4 min

  7. 12/28/2023

    The Right to Roam with Håvard Utheim

    A passionate explorer of nature, a committed adventurer, a tech entrepreneur whose mission is to create a sustainable and equitable travel industry for all, Håvard Utheim moves from idea to idea and from start-up to start-up. He is the type who has vision, sets the mission, and culls the right people to populate the new business. In doing so, he is also working on ensuring that the beneficiaries are many as opposed to the usual select few. Listen to this episode to find out what his connection to Succession is. Håvard Utheim is an entrepreneur. He founded several companies, including: The Transparency Company, a database and a practical tool to manage, document and communicate social and environmental responsibility; Travelopment, a company that provides education for those in the travel industry; Re-Treats, a system of mobile high-end hotel rooms built with used materials; and Nanook,  a company that matches travelers with more sustainable travel options. ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time. You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to luxury and the creative industries. If you retain one thing, please remember this: I made this podcast for you and everyone who considers beauty an action word that helps spread kindness. Love, Thomaï

    31 min

  8. 12/14/2023

    Metallic, She Said with Diane D'Amato

    Her impeccable foresight and vision of market trends, along with her passion for haute couture and luxury leather goods make Diane D’Amato a true force in the luxury market. She is as sharp in business as she is warm and empathetic in her relationships.  In charge of the luxury accessories categories at Heritage Auctions, Diane brings unique pieces to auction and regularly buys and sells entire collections privately. She is the pulse of the luxury world.   ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? Consider subscribing to this podcast! It offers unique stories driven by our desire for meaningful objects and brings to life individual accounts of personal luxuries. The guests, accomplished creatives from across ages, cultures, and professions, relate to one object of desire at a time. You can find more information about the podcast on its website. You can also follow me, your host, Thomaï Serdari for additional content and insights relating to luxury and the creative industries. If you retain one thing, please remember this: I made this podcast for you and everyone who considers beauty an action word that helps spread kindness. Love, Thomaï

    29 min
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Trailer

4.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Populuxe is a podcast, written and hosted by Thomaï Serdari. It explores stories of desire through objects bought, made, found, shared, and cherished. Made in New York City, Populuxe considers the link between desire and luxury based on conversations with a variety of inspired guests.

Information

  • Creator
    Thomaï Serdari
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 POPULUXE
  • Show Website
    POPULUXE