Matt Paxton and his team of experts — Jaime Ebanks, Avi Hopkins and Mike Kelleher — are back for an all-new season of the two-time Emmy-nominated series Legacy List with Matt Paxton, premiering on public television in January 2024 (check local listings); episodes will also stream on pbs.org and MyLegacyList.com.
In Season 5, Matt and the team travel from Brooklyn to Massachusetts, Michigan to Virginia, and more to meet fascinating people at a crossroads in their lives. While some are faced with the overwhelming task of downsizing their parents’ home after serving as caretakers, others need help bringing a longtime family home back to life for the next generation, while others must downsize in order to make room in their lives for a new adventure.
“This season’s stories are more personal and emotional than ever,” said host Matt Paxton, “perhaps because we are around the same age as many of our participants, and they’re facing struggles that we share. As more and more people from our parents’ generation choose to age in place, many of us are becoming caregivers. It’s inspiring to see people taking on these responsibilities with love and joy and an honor to get to know these awesome people and share their stories.”
Praised as “a combination of Antiques Roadshow and Finding Your Roots, with a touch of the sparking joy of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” by The Washington Post, each episode of Legacy List follows an individual or family’s emotional journey as Matt and his team of experts help them sort through a house full of memories. As a first step, Matt asks them to create a legacy list of essential, must-have items that are missing or about which they’d like to learn more. Through heartfelt conversations, Matt uncovers the story behind each item, spotlighting America’s rich and diverse legacy. Much more than just a how-to show about downsizing, Legacy List with Matt Paxton explores the struggle between holding on to the past and embracing the future and stresses the importance of sharing family stories above holding on to objects.
Below is a list of episodes descriptions for Season 5:
Episode 1 – “This Land is Our Land”
Two sisters are determined to clear the clutter out of a Virginia farmhouse that’s been in their family for over a hundred years. Purchased when few African Americans could buy homes, the house is filled with artifacts celebrating their family’s proud legacy. Their dream is to fix up the farmhouse so that future generations can continue to enjoy it.
Episode 2 – “A House Full of History”
Matt travels to Western Virginia to help a woman downsize a home filled with family treasures. Among the things they’re hoping to find are mementos from her great uncle’s days working for the Secret Service guarding Eleanor Roosevelt and home movie footage of Jackie Kennedy horseback riding on the property.
Episode 3 – “You Gotta Have Art”
A daughter needs Matt’s help organizing her parents’ suburban New York home filled with thousands of pieces of art. Her father is a prolific illustrator and artist, but health issues have kept him from fully curating his collection. Matt and the team roll up their sleeves and help the family separate the treasure from the trash.
Episode 4 – “Home at Last”
After spending years caring for her family, an Alexandria, Virginia, woman finally gets the chance to move into a dream home of her own. The problem is she has only a week to move. While she packs, Matt searches the old house for cherished family heirlooms that remind her of the loved ones she took care of for so long.
Episode 5 – “Pillars of the Community”
A Brooklyn couple who has spent over 50 years living in their three-story Clinton Hill brownstone need help clearing out a basement full of memories. The couple has deep roots in the community, and the house is filled with items that not only tell their story but the story of the neighborhood they love.
Episode 6 – “Lights, Camera, Downsize”
A retired entertainment executive in rural Massachusetts needs Matt’s help clearing out a basement full of cherished showbiz memorabilia. His priceless collection includes autographs, posters and his uncle’s photo album containing rare pictures of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Episode 7 – “Mom’s Moving Story”
An Evanston, Illinois, man has some tough decisions to make when he’s forced to downsize the family home after his mom moves into a care facility. Emotions run high as Matt helps him clear out the clutter and find cherished mementos that remind him of the woman who raised him.
Episode 8 – “No Country for Old Things”
A Michigan woman about to retire must clear out her entire house before beginning her new dream life in France. Matt helps with the downsize and keeps an eye out for a handful of items she won’t leave home without. These include a music box given to her by her dad and a ticket to a memorable Elvis Presley concert.
Legacy List with Matt Paxton is produced by MY Entertainment and Shipyard Entertainment in association with VPM, Virginia’s home for public media, and distributed by American Public Television (APT). The Executive Producers are Joe Townley, Michael Yudin and Neil J. Patel. Visit MyLegacyList.com for more information about Legacy List with Matt Paxton, tips about downsizing and decluttering and to apply to be featured on a future episode.
About the Legacy List Team
Matt Paxton is a leading downsizing and decluttering expert. He started cleaning houses after his father, stepfather and both grandfathers died in the same year, leaving him with several estates to settle at once. Ever since, Matt and his network of experts have been working with families struggling with settling estates and cleanouts for almost 20 years. He has been an expert featured during 15 seasons of the hit A&E TV show Hoarders. Matt is the author of Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, created in collaboration with AARP and featuring his signature steps to downsizing and decluttering your home. He appears regularly as a public speaker and guest on TV and radio shows helping families find the upside of downsizing. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and seven kids. Yes, seven kids.
Jaime Ebanks is a Virginian who grew up in New York City. Life in New York ignited an adventurous spirit that led her to cross-country trend-hunting trips as a buyer for a fashion business, globetrotting volunteer work to support communities in need and working as a teacher on a small Caribbean island. Jaime is a Realtor and certified Senior Move Manager. She works with all different types of clients transitioning to the next phase of their lives through the buying and selling process. Jaime and her husband live in Richmond, Virginia, at least until the next adventure beckons.
Avi Hopkins was a multi-sport athlete in high school and earned a football scholarship at the prestigious Virginia Military Institute (VMI), where he studied history, the military, leadership and religion. This background has made Avi an expert in religious and military collectibles. He lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife TaNisha and three children.
Mike Kelleher is a Virginia native and ardent student of collecting and collections. His main interest is in pop culture items like vinyl records and music memorabilia, as well as items and collectibles from films, toys, video games, stereo equipment and more. Mike works as an estate cleanout and collectibles expert who has helped hundreds of families needing cleanouts, decluttering and item appraisals.