Canal Street Dreams — Episode Summary
Podcast: Canal Street Dreams
Hosts: Eddie Huang & Natashia Perrotti
Guest: Adrian "Dizza" Deucemanian
Date: October 24, 2025
Episode Title: DZA on the Holy Fantasy League Group Chat, Collecting the Illest Watches & GOAT of All Beverages
Episode Overview
In this highly anticipated episode, Eddie and Natashia are joined by their most-requested guest, Adrian “Dizza” Deucemanian—a legend in Miami’s creative scene, co-founder of Andrew Skate Shop, founder of the influential vintage watch dealer Versus, and infamous commissioner of their inner-circle’s fantasy league. The episode dives deep into the nostalgia, hilarity, and traditions rooted in their group chats and fantasy leagues, Dizza’s journey into premium watch collecting, and, of course, heated debates about the world’s greatest beverage. The conversation is equal parts playful, insightful, and steeped in the hosts’ and guest’s signature blend of candor and inside jokes.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
I. The Legend of Dizza and the Holy Fantasy League Chat
[00:00 – 12:55]
- Epic Introduction: Eddie hypes Dizza as the guest listeners have been "waiting for," noting his myriad titles in the community, including the mysterious reveal as the original "bot" in their league and eventual coup as commissioner ([00:00]).
- Inside Jokes & Group Dynamics: Much banter about league roles, member “alliances” (Miami, Asian, NY), and the emotionally charged nature of fantasy basketball (“People ran off. It went from a 12 team league to a 10 team league.” — Eddie, [03:02]).
- Role of the Commissioner: Dizza outlines his main duties—primarily to keep trades fair and stop members like Eric Duncan from “flagrant trades.”
“My job as commission in this league is more so to just make sure that Eric Duncan isn’t doing some flagrant trades.” — Dizza, [03:56]
- The Power of Group Chats: Group chat banter is described as the glue of lifelong friendships, giving a peek into the playful but “humbling” nature of male camaraderie versus the more supportive chats of their partners.
“Anytime I’m eating food, the first thought is, wow, I could really—a Coke would go amazing with this.” — Natashia, [41:34]
II. Fantasy League Ethics, Alliances, and Life Lessons
[06:54 – 13:02]
- Ethics of the Game: The crew runs through the unwritten rules—set your lineups, keep it ethical, no “funny trades,” and don’t trade real-life favors for better players.
“If you’re not setting your lineups, like, you’re wasting our time—like, just die, you know, ruining the game for us.” — Dizza, [07:24]
- Integration Stories: Eddie recounts being the “outsider” in Miami’s football league, only to be hazed and then accepted, reflecting on the bond such leagues can foster even among “grown-ass” adults.
“It’s beautiful to be in this league… some of them have been friends literally since they were like three or four.” — Dizza, [10:04]
III. Versus Watches: From DJing to Boutique Collecting
[13:03 – 21:45]
- Origins of a Watch Business: Dizza shares his journey from DJing in Miami, saving for his first cheap Rolex, and gradually deepening his appreciation for the nuances of vintage watches. He highlights the importance of authenticity and mentorship (notably Juan, his now-partner) in learning what matters in collectible timepieces.
“I had never really thought about that in that way, and that, like, opened my eyes to, like, oh, I can’t just be buying, you know, something that costs thousands of dollars and not really, like, care about the details.” — Dizza, [15:32]
- Transition from Streetwear to Watches: The team muses about streetwear’s influence on contemporary men's fashion and how Versus Watches is bringing a streetwise aesthetic and customer POV to a space long dominated by “gatekeepers.”
“You are finding the watches that a guy like me from the culture we’re from would like that doesn’t even know it exists.” — Eddie, [24:40]
IV. Redefining Collectible Value & Inclusive Curation
[21:45 – 27:22]
- Breaking Traditional Norms: Dizza talks about making watch collecting accessible and fun for new audiences, arguing for the coolness of non-traditional pieces—like quartz and jewelry watches—not typically valued by classic collectors.
“There’s also space for people who just, like, want to collect a watch because it’s sick.” — Dizza, [21:04]
- Experience Over Elitism: Versus seeks to undo the gatekeeping around vintage watches, making the buying process more enjoyable and inclusive, echoing parallels to the art world’s intimidation factor.
“You guys offering that to just such a large group of people now, I think is really nice and invites more people into buy a watch that maybe were, like, intimidated.” — Natashia, [21:59]
V. Watch Talk: Holy Grails, Best Picks, and the Personal Touch
[27:22 – 35:53]
- Creating New Demand: Versus is credited for creating hype around overlooked models, bringing fresh customers to forgotten watches, and facilitating community among like-minded collectors.
- Personal Holy Grails: Dizza’s dream watch is the vintage SARU GMT with full diamond trim (“...like, factory diamond everything. I’ve never looked at a watch and been like, wow, this is like the most insane watch...”) ([28:28]). Both hosts and guest discuss “Prezi vs. Daytona guys” and their own first major watch milestones.
- Thoughtful Curation: Dizza sometimes buys watches knowing exactly which friend they’re right for—a personal touch that the crew appreciates.
“I like that almost more than buying a watch for our stock or for myself, because I think it’s just like... hunting for people and being right is very rewarding.” — Dizza, [33:40]
VI. Rapid Fire: Food, Loyalty, and the GOAT of Beverages
[35:56 – 44:14]
Watches
- Current Favorite: “The one I have on, which is this platinum Day-Date. 1-801–18206 reference.” — Dizza, [35:56]
Food
- French vs. Lebanese Cuisine:
“French food is superior. It just is mad butter. Who doesn’t like butter?... The problem with Lebanese food... when it misses, it fucking misses.” — Dizza, [36:50]
- Shout-outs: Both Walrus Rodeo (his own restaurant) and Boia De get love for Miami food, with special mention in Eddie’s upcoming novel ([38:45]).
Miami Sports Icons
- Mary/Kill Game: Alonzo Mourning ("Mary"), Ronnie Cycley ("Lebanese, salute"), Harold Miner ("Kill") ([39:15]).
GOAT of Beverages
- Coca-Cola Above All:
“There’s only one good drink on earth, and it’s a Coca Cola…Every other drink in the world is just trying to catch up to that drink.” — Dizza, [40:10]
The crew fondly debates the merits of Coke vs. Gatorade, with Natashia powerfully aligning herself with the fridge-cold Coke as the world’s most versatile and satisfying beverage.
“Anytime I’m eating food, the first thought is, wow, I could really—a Coke would go amazing with this Chinese food.” — Natashia, [41:34]
Hillstone Rant
- An extended (and hilarious) critique of Hillstone Restaurant’s strict “no hats, no strollers” policy accompanies memories of its great food and hostile dining atmosphere.
“It’s just crazy to have, like, no hats, no jerseys policy in 2025. This is insane.” — Dizza, [42:36]
Memorable Quotes & Moments
-
On Group Chats:
“It’s just 10 years of inside jokes and, like, it doesn’t even make sense unless you’re, like, living in this chat.” — Eddie, [05:36] -
On Community:
“It’s cool though because like everyone in that league, like we’ve all known each other since teenagers and pretty much all of us have kind of like in our own past gone on to like do things. So it’s like we’ve actually all just grown up together.” — Dizza, [10:04] -
On Collecting:
“There’s also space for people who just, like, want to collect a watch because it’s sick.” — Dizza, [21:04] -
On Personalization:
“I like that almost more than buying a watch for our stock or for myself, because I think it’s just like... hunting for people and being right is very rewarding.” — Dizza, [33:40] -
On Friendship & Nostalgia:
“Damn. This really knows me. Damn. The love is real.” — Eddie, [34:53]
"Message to men. Never open up to your homies. What happens?" — Eddie, [41:41] -
On Coca-Cola:
“When you sit outside at a restaurant and they bring you a Coca Cola with ice and a lemon. Yeah. There’s no better drink on earth.” — Dizza, [40:14]
Timestamps by Topic
- [00:00 – 12:55] Group chat/fantasy league dynamics & inside jokes
- [13:03 – 21:45] Dizza’s watch journey & founding Versus
- [21:45 – 27:22] The cultural POV in watch collecting; making it accessible
- [27:22 – 35:53] Dream watches, ‘Prezi vs. Daytona’, and personal gifting
- [35:56 – 44:14] Rapid fire segment: favorite watch, food, restaurants, Miami legends, and bevs
- [41:55 – 44:14] The Cola vs. Gatorade debate & Hillstone critique
Tone & Style
Effortlessly conversational, irreverent, and rich with real-life friendship and mutual ribbing. The episode is packed with nostalgia, rapid banter, and culture critiques—all delivered in the unfiltered, affectionate tone typical of close friends who aren’t afraid to call each other out and reflect on their shared journey.
For New Listeners
This episode is a perfect entry-point into the Canal Street Dreams universe: it’s an inside look at creative success, deep-rooted friendships, and the comedic, sometimes esoteric rituals that make up the backbone of a real creative community. Whether you care about watches, group chats, or just passionate arguments about the GOAT beverage, this episode is a clear distillation of Canal Street’s unique blend of wisdom, wit, and warmth.
