Ep 4 - Chris Emproto

On this episode of the Minsanity Podcast, we will talk to well-known mineral show promoter, collector, and philanthropist Martin Zinn III. Mr. Zinn, better known as “Marty”, is a fixture of the mineral collecting world and his mineral shows, which spanned over three decades, nurtured and promoted the hobby to an untold number of people. Growing up in Dallas, TX, Marty was inspired by his mother’s serious interest in minerals, and eventually began collecting on his own. In addition to having built several large, diverse, and superb private collections, Marty is well-known for his philanthropy towards mineral museums and other non-profit institutions. Now in his eighth decade, Marty continues to be extremely active in the mineral collecting community, and his specimens grace private and public collections around the world. Join us as we learn the fascinating story of how Marty was “drafted” into the mineral show promoter world, and why he just can’t get enough of the hobby after over fifty years of collecting!

Episode 6: On this episode of the Minsanity Podcast, we will talk to geology professor, collector, and educator Dr. Geoff Cook. Geoff turned a childhood fascination with minerals into a career as a volcanologist and petrologist, studying the earth and the processes that led to what we see today. After obtaining a PhD in geology from Washington State University, he ended up at the University of California San Diego, where he is currently a teaching professor, inspiring the next generation of geoscientists to get into the field. His childhood obsession with mineral has not gone away, and today he finds ways to use his collection not only as a personal hobby but as a teaching tool, along with his wife who also teaches university level geology courses. The recipient of numerous awards for outstanding instruction and teaching, Geoff loves nothing more than using minerals and geology as tools to inspire the next generation of scientists. Join us as we delve into Geoff’s origin story as a mineral collector and geologist, and why his students give him hope for the future!*Recorded in Tucson, AZ February 2024

Episode 5: On this episode of the Minsanity Podcast, we will talk to legendary mineral dealers and collectors Don and Gloria Olson. Don and Gloria, both originally from the Midwest United States, have been seriously involved in the mineral collecting community since the 1960’s. Don’s interest in minerals began as an eight-year-old collecting at the famous Himalaya and Little 3 mines in southern California. Gloria, who also began collecting minerals at a young age at quarries in the Midwest USA, later obtained MS and PhD in mineralogy and geology from Ohio State University and co-owned a series of successful mineral stores in malls and shopping centers around the central USA called “What on Earth.” Her and Don would later found DK Olson & Associates, a successful mineral dealership known for high-quality “classic” minerals, fair pricing, and expertise. Now in his eighth decade, Don along with Gloria reflect on the journey of over 50 years selling and collecting minerals, and their experiences traveling the US and the world in pursuit of the “next great rock.” Join us as we have a fascinating conversation with two true legends of our mineral collecting world. * Recorded in Tucson, AZ February 2024

*Recorded in Denver September 2023

Episode 3: On this episode of the Minsanity Podcast, we will talk to mineral photographer, curator, and collector Mark Mauthner of Graz, Austria. Mark grew up in Vancouver, Canada and discovered minerals at an early age, leading to several geology degrees and a career in mineral museum curation at institutions such as the Pacific Museum of Earth & Science in Vancouver and the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Texas. An artistic eye helped lead him into the field of mineral and gemstone photography, where his works have been widely exhibited and acclaimed across the collecting world. Having worked in everything from museum curation to gem and mineral specimen mining and sales to fine mineral photography, Mark has “seen it all”, and his easygoing manner and willingness to share are well-known in the mineral community. Join us as we learn more about Mark’s background, his travels around the world for minerals, and what he is up to these days in Europe. * Filmed during the Denver mineral shows in September 2023

Episode 2: On this episode of the Minsanity Podcast, we will talk to mineral scientist, collector, and curator Dr. John Rakovan. John is known as someone who bridges different aspects of our mineral world, including mineral science, the collector scene, and the curatorial world. After obtaining a PhD in mineralogy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he taught at Miami University in Ohio for many years, advising students and conducting research in the fields of mineralogy and geochemistry. Recently, he was appointed mineral museum curator and state mineralogist at the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology in Socorro, New Mexico. John’s enthusiasm for science, teaching, and collecting are well-known and he is a frequent public speaker and author in numerous mineralogy venues and publications. Join us as we discover the roots of John’s mineral obsession, and hear about some of the plans he has for the future in his new position in New Mexico. * Filmed during the Denver mineral shows in September 2023

Episode 1: On this episode of the Minsanity Podcast, we will talk to veteran mineral dealer and all-around good guy Jasun MacAvoy. As the “mineral man” behind well-known eBay seller Mineralman999, Jasun needs little introduction to many collectors. While he has been offering weekly auctions of unique, rare, and aesthetic minerals from around the world for over twenty years on eBay, few people know that he left a career in finance and a decided to follow his childhood passion for minerals full-time in the early 2000’s in a surprising turn of events. Today Jasun and his wife Mandy run a successful and well-respected mineral dealership with customers all over the world, and Jasun’s connoisseurship when it comes to rare minerals and mineral history is “second to none.” Join as for an enjoyable conversation with Jasun as we discover where he has come from and where he is going in the mineral world! * Filmed during the Denver mineral shows in September 2023

Howdy and welcome to the Minsanity Podcast! I’m your host Phil Persson. Ever wanted to know the real story behind your favorite dealers, collectors, and curators that make up our mineral collecting world? Each episode we bring you fresh, unfiltered and unscripted conversations with some of the biggest movers and shakers in mineral collecting. Tune in for a look into the incredible people that make our mineral world what it is, from elite-level private collectors to down and dirty diggers and everything in between. On this show, I will dive into the concept of rules, and talk to the people who make and break them in the mineral world. Meet the folks who run museums, high-end mineral galleries, part-time businesses, full-time collecting obsessions, and more. On the Minsanity Podcast we will question traditional notions, ask tough questions, and have a ton of fun while doing it!