But Paxton resisted the temptation to go the “Pawn Stars” route and master the market place value of no matter what collectible he could be centered on.

“I just want to collect the tales driving the things,” Paxton mentioned. “And persons who check out the present relate to these tales. They consider about their possess parents and grandparents in practically every situation.”

“Legacy List” airs in Atlanta on Georgia Community Broadcasting on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and can be considered on desire at mylegacylist.com. It is currently airing in about 18 of the major 25 PBS markets and 250 of 350 PBS stations nationwide.

“I see it as a cross of ‘Finding Your Roots’ and ‘Antiques Roadshow,’” mentioned Steve Humble, chief content material officer of Richmond, Virginia-based VPM Media Corp., which provides “Legacy Checklist.” “Matt leans into the emotional aspects of these items. It is genuinely persuasive and has become a well-known present.”

Matt Paxton's PBS show "Legacy List" airs on GPB Saturdays at 9 a.m. PBS

Matt Paxton’s PBS clearly show “Legacy List” airs on GPB Saturdays at 9 a.m. PBS

Credit score: PBS

Credit score: PBS

Paxton is also a new Ga resident. Close to the time he got divorced in 2019, he achieved his present fiancée Zoë Kim at a Ted Converse he was web hosting and they began courting. Kim, a decluttering expert herself and writer of the e book “Minimalism for People,” had moved to Suwanee and was developing her aspiration residence around downtown, a location she imagined she’d be with her four youngsters for a long time.

Kim moved into the 2,700-square-foot modern, contemporary farmhouse-style residence past April in the course of the pandemic. As she and Paxton turned a really serious few, they debated where by to stay: Richmond or Atlanta.

In the long run, Kim and Sarah Paxton, Matt’s ex-wife, came to an agreement in which Sarah would move to Suwanee with their three children. Sarah now lives 3 blocks away.

Paxton and his ex-wife are on excellent terms. “We never dislike just about every other,” he said. “We have to get care of the young ones.”

He recently had to go as a result of his have form of downsizing, going to Kim’s smaller sized home in November. He dug by bins and boxes of his individual household things, choosing what to preserve and what to toss.

When both of those families are together, there are up to nine people in the house such as six boys and one particular lady, ages ranging from 6 to 14. But despite the possible for chaos, Kim’s property stays structured although preserving an air of heat and no shortage of natural light.

“I’m happier,” Paxton stated. “I dropped 1,000 sq. feet and I received five folks. And it’s in no way monotonous.”

In actuality, obtaining less matters usually means considerably fewer cleaning, Kim reported. And she in fact likes to transfer furnishings about on a normal basis so a trimmed-down way of living can make that so substantially less complicated. Just one nook, for illustration, has been used above the months as a video studio, arts-and-crafts storage, a sitting down space and house for the Xmas tree.

Paxton, when bringing his things to Kim’s property, experienced to apply what he preaches on “Legacy List” by only preserving things that had a fantastic story at the rear of them. And to make sure all those tales are not neglected, he frequently tells them to his 3 sons. The young kinds, he admits, don’t treatment far too considerably. But his 11-12 months-previous is buying up an appreciation for his family’s history.

Paxton, a mathematician and economist out of university, fell into the entire world of decluttering by incident. In his early 20s, he became a gambling addict and dropped anything. Then his father, Ed, who was just 52, along with his stepdad and his grandfather all died in a two-calendar year interval. “Emotionally, that was a huge drain for me,” he explained.

Following hitting rock bottom, Paxton gained remedy and grief counseling. Cleaning out his dad’s residence was distressing but oddly cathartic. “My grandfather had advised me, if something sucks, do it as a position due to the fact men and women will pay you to do it,” he explained. So in 2006, he started a enterprise known as Litter Cleaner and started assisting seniors pare down possessions collected in excess of a life span.

When A&E producers were hunting for topics to spotlight for a new demonstrate in 2009 known as “Hoarders,” they sought his guidance. When he had no preliminary aspirations to be on Television set, they appreciated him and he became a normal cleaner on the show.

He was the only a single on the display who was not a professional organizer or a doctor. He was simply good at coaxing hoarders to cleanse up their properties and, by extension, their life. “I am just a normal dude that screwed up,” he explained.

Matt Paxton on the set of "Hoarders" in Memphis. His new show, on PBS, is called "Legacy List." Courtesy of Matt Paxton

Matt Paxton on the set of “Hoarders” in Memphis. His new display, on PBS, is termed “Legacy Checklist.” Courtesy of Matt Paxton

Credit score: The Washington Submit

Credit history: The Washington Submit

Right after 7 decades on “Hoarders,” Paxton quit in 2017 and started out his possess generation company hoping to promote much more constructive principles, but did not shut a offer until PBS signed on to “Legacy List.” And with a few youngsters to increase, he claimed he wanted the hard cash so he returned to do some spot “Hoarders” episodes, like a few this coming time.

Paxton admits he has struggled with function-lifetime harmony over the several years. The pandemic has served him keep off the highway, much better appreciate lifetime with his spouse and children and be present.

“I want to be that male telling the tales when I’m outdated,” he mentioned. “I really don’t want to be the lifeless person they’re telling funny stories about. Persons really do not miss out on things. They pass up the persons at the rear of the stuff.”

Matt Paxton’s individual “Legacy List”

Matt Paxton, a former expert on “Hoarders” shows off a Caesar’s chip, one of his personal legacy items. Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com

Matt Paxton, a previous qualified on “Hoarders” reveals off a Caesar’s chip, one of his personal legacy objects. Curtis Compton / [email protected]

Credit score: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit score: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

A Caesar’s $5 on line casino chip: “At one place, I had gambled all my cash away and this was my final chip. I missing everything at age 25 suitable in advance of my dad died. I informed the cabbie who constantly drove me dwelling that I had very little. I started strolling dwelling. He mentioned, ‘Get in the car or truck. You got to cease gambling!’ It was a rock-bottom second. I later on observed this $5 chip in my pocket. I take it with me as just a reminder.”

Matt Paxton, a former expert on “Hoarders,” shows off two of his personal legacy items, the family cookbook of his mother Lynn Clayton and the Tiffany’s gold ring of his father Ed Paxton. Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com

Matt Paxton, a previous professional on “Hoarders,” reveals off two of his individual legacy products, the family cookbook of his mother Lynn Clayton and the Tiffany’s gold ring of his father Ed Paxton. Curtis Compton / [email protected]

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit history: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

His father’s ring, which he wears all the time, and his mom’s cookbook: “He was in advertising. It was feast or famine. 1 12 months, he’d lose every thing. He’d have to sell his vehicle and the dwelling. Then in three many years, he’d be loaded. He confident the jeweler Tiffany’s to enable him do a magazine. He did the whole issue in his eating area. When he was meant to get compensated, he explained he liked that Tiffany’s gold ring and got that in its place.” He also retained a personalised reserve of recipes from his mom.

A 1969 oil painting by his father Ed Paxton is one of the few wall hangings in the home of Matt Paxton and minimalist expert Zoe Kim, seen here relaxing in their kitchen in Suwanee. Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com

A 1969 oil painting by his father Ed Paxton is one of the several wall hangings in the household of Matt Paxton and minimalist specialist Zoe Kim, witnessed right here calming in their kitchen in Suwanee. Curtis Compton / [email protected]

Credit score: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit score: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

His dad’s portray from his school days: “Painting was his senior groove at Oklahoma Baptist University. He loved portray and that was the farm he grew up on. They had been hay farmers. It was in my dad’s house for years. Then it was buried in my attic in Richmond for good.”

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“Legacy List”

9 a.m. Saturday

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