This week, ahead of the season 2 launch of "Filthy Fortunes" (airing on Discovery Feb 15th),we get to hear from Matt Paxton, widely recognized as the "OG" of downsizing.

1. The "Hoarding vs. Hunting" Pivot

Q: For years on Hoarders, you focused on the mental health struggle of letting go. Now on Filthy Fortunes, you’re specifically looking for the 'gold' in the garbage. Has this change in focus made you look at a pile of clutter differently, or do you still see the person’s story before you see the potential profit?

Matt: "I've been doing this for 25 years, so i'm always looking for the personal story of the person before I look at profit. We always look for mental health before we look for gold, but the reality is, you can't look for the gold until you have dealt with the mental health part first. At Clutter Cleaner, we started focusing on more of inherited hoards and less about helping the hoarder who is still living in the home. Every home has "gold" and treasures in them, but some homes aren't ready to be cleaned because of mental health challenges. The homes you see me cleaning on Filthy Fortunes are primarily inherited, so the family is looking for speed. They are sad, but also relieved that the home can get cleaned quickly, items sold, the house cleaned and then sold. I would say 75% of the homes I clean now are to be listed and sold, compared to 20 years ago when 100% of the homes were cleaned in order to keep the hoarder in. So, I always put the hoarder first when they are in the home, but our business shift has enabled us to put the family members first now."

2. The $20,000 Theory

Q: You’ve famously said that almost every American home is sitting on about $20,000 worth of hidden value. For someone living in a standard, non-hoarded home, what are the three most likely places they’re overlooking that 'hidden' money right now?

Matt: "I believe EVERY home has $8,000 in it, but the average home has $20,000. Best places to look: 1) grandma's jewelry collection. Gold, gold and silver, need I say more. Keep the one's you want and sell the rest. Less value on the diamonds and jewels and higher value on the gold and silver. 2) The attic has some amazing old furniture, baseball cards, starwars, and other collectibles that no one has looked at in 20+ years. If it wasn't temperature controlled, expect the records to be ruined. 3) The garage. Grandpa's old tools have some value and an old car will still get you some great money. Bonus: Grandma's old vintage clothes. The surprise room that has the LEAST value: the dining room."

3. The Minimalist vs. The "King of Hoards"

Q: You ironically married a minimalist, and you’ve mentioned that your own home follows a strict '10 plates, 10 forks' rule to keep the peace with seven kids. How do you flip the switch from being a 'treasure hunter' all day to being a 'purger' at home? Do you ever find yourself wanting to keep the cool stuff you find?

Matt: "I absolutely want to keep LOTS of the cool things we find. What keeps my house clear is our space boundaries. We only have X amount of space for anything we bring in. So if I bring in a really cool item that is 2 ft by 2 ft, I have to let go of something the same size. Equal In, Equal out. Also, with 7 kids, I am constantly looking at my budget, so until all the kids are done with school, my budget actually keeps me focused on what I can and can't buy. But I do collect flat pennies. If I find a vintage flat peny, you know I'm buying it. I actually have one from 1839."

4. The "Orange Shoebox" Moment

Q: You’ve found everything from stolen Monets to $1 million in gold bars inside an old Nike shoebox. Beyond the dollar value, what is the single weirdest or most 'un-sellable' item you’ve ever found that you personally found impossible to throw away?

Matt: "I found a collection of "presidential hair" in a home. It was certified by Christie's and it was a collection of hair from Abraham Lincoln, John F Kennedy, George Washington, all the way up to Jimmy Carter. We were able to sell it all, expect Nixon. No one wanted Nixon's, so it's in my personal collection. It was just so weird, how do you get rid of that."

5. The Legacy Question

Q: On Legacy List, you emphasize that the 'museum' is in the home. If your kids were to film an episode of Legacy List about your life 30 years from now, what are the three items you hope they find in your 'attic' that tell the true story of Matt Paxton?"

Matt: "This is a great question. For me, Legacy is about what mattered to your family that keeps your story alive after you are gone. I want my kids to keep whatever makes them love their time with me and tell their kids and grand kids about me. The items I hope they keep are:

1. My dad's 1956 Eames Chair. It was my dads and then I got it and it became our "reading chair." The kids would read the last chapter of any book they were reading in that chair and we would all stand around them and clap. Cheesy, but awesome family space.
2. The dollar I got from selling one of my employees a truck. He was in prison for 20 years, came to work for me and then I sold him the truck when I left town for $1. He still has the truck and has created a great life for him and his family. That truck gave him the foundation to provide for his family (it did the same for me). I still have the $1. I want my kids to remember to give people a second chance, but not a 3rd. Be empathetic and open, but always focus on hard work. I love that $1 bill.
3. My Emmy Award. I haven't won it yet, but I will. And when I do, I want my kids to remember how hard I worked for it and that fully embracing the gifts god gave you pays off. Maybe not immediately, but if you honor who you truly are and work harder than everyone else in the room, it always pays off."