In this episode, I talk about the discussions and pushback about Complex’s Sneaker of the Year list. I’m also joined by Hass from My First Kicks to discuss what it’s like attending ComplexCon and does going to ComplexCon count as being outside? Later we talk about his sneaker podcast journey, networking and becoming undeniable.

Listen to My First Kicks

Twitter: https://x.com/MyFirstKicksPod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MyFirstKicksPod

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

01:13 - My Thoughts on Complex's Sneaker of the Year List

03:10 - A Sneaker Has to Resell or Be Notable to Make the List

05:12 - Do They Reward Friends? Probably Not

05:54 - Is There Payola? Or Just Favours?

08:37 - Who Really Makes the List? 

10:05 - Defensive of the List: It's Really Hard

13:21 - That's ShowBiz!

15:28 - What's It Like Attending ComplexCon?

35:05 - Does Going to ComplexCon Count as Being Outside?

40:26 - Sneaker of the Year Panel

49:24 - Making My First Kicks Undeniable 

Episode also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YLzQkYZbpOs

In this episode, I talk about Cool Kicks, train robberies and stolen sneakers (allegedly) and ask why did they allegedly have stolen sneakers when it was obvious for the last 2 years that the feds were closing in? I also examine why the Jordan 11 was protected for so long. I also talk about content creators feuding with Complex and share the lessons I've learned if you follow this path. Plus news, recent releases and a ton more on this special radio edition of The Sockjig Sneaker Podcast.

00:00 - Intro

02:51 - Hired Goons Inc: We'll Settle Your Online Beefs For You

03:48 - Mr. Brightside - Infinite Archives Jordan 17 Look Like Yellow Teeth

05:05 - Adidas Jellyfish Looks like Toddler Shoes in Small Sizes and Boat Anchors in Large Sizes

07:32 - Did You Celebrate Banned Day?

08:20 - Doernbecher Freestyle Collection Cannot Be Criticized Without Looking Like an Asshole

09:36 - Salehe Turned Down Nike to Make More Money Selling Sponge Bob Sneakers

12:46 - Tyshawn Jones and Supreme Lawsuit

13:58 - Mowalola Jordan Collab: Why?

16:03 - Sagman, Bennett, Robbins, Oppenheim & Taft Injury Lawyers

16:42 - YouTube Comments Upset with New Complex Host

20:14 - Complex SOTY Panel and Why Feuding with Complex is Not Worth It

24:46 - Virgil Abloh The Codes Exhibit

28:47 - Why Jordan 11s Were Protected For So Long

37:49 - Sagman, Bennett, Robbins, Oppenheim and Taft Sneaker Law Firm

38:30 - Cool Kicks and The Sneaker Train Robbery 

47:14 - Outro

In this episode, I talk about how a there's a shift happening in companies where they are focusing more and more on the affluent portion of their customer base. There's been a cultural shift in recent years and now it's happening in many industries, including sneakers.

I also cover the Tom Sachs Mars Yard release and how Sachs may have used his bullying superpowers on Nike. Plus a ton more:

00:00 - Cold Open

00:13 - Intro

03:18 - On Feet: Jordan 1 Lows

03:54 - Pickups: CPFM Swamp Sponge Gold

04:51 - CPFM Sneakers: Wear Right Away

05:15 - Pickups: Adidas x Brain Dead x Brody King

06:35 - Skips: Paying Resell for Undefeated 4s

07:19 - Supreme Dunk SBs: Too Many Generic Collabs Lately

08:26 - HAL Studios / HSDT and an Unnecessary Rebrand

10:01 - Ja 3 for the Children

11:15 - Yu-Gi-Oh Air Max 95: Not Available For Preorder

12:55 - Tomo Asics Gel Cumulus 16: Adult Men Made a Sneaker About Mood Rings

15:28 - Vans Souvenirs a Future GR?

16:27 - Grazie: Vans x Mattias Gollin

17:52 - SoleFly Jordan 3: Rollout of the Year?

21:19 - Costco Kirkland Dunk SB and the Rise of Dad Culture

24:53 - Nike Settles Lawsuit with StockX, No Longer Cares About Authentication

26:09  - Nike Suing Retailers Over Unpaid Bills

28:22 - Market Has No Aura So Chinatown Market Wants Its Name Back

30:47 - Ann Freeman Named President of Foot Locker North America

34:53 - GOAT Shutting Down Facilities in UK and Asia: US De Minimus to Blame

37:26 - Tom Sachs Used His Bullying Superpowers on Nike

49:51 - Sachs on Complex and the Loser Shoe

52:38 - SSense Files For Bankruptcy Protection

55:37 - The End of Big Multi-Brand Retail is Looming

56:55 - Give People a Reason to Visit Your Store

58:31 - Brands with Two Tiers of Customers 

1:01:30 - A Shift to the Affluent in Many Industries

1:02:39 - Riyadh Season

1:04:43 - Nike Shifting to a Two Tier System

1:05:27 - GR Sneaker of the Year Will Always be an Affordable Sneaker

1:07:26 - Who are Nike's Affluent Customers? Runners and Sneakerheads

1:10:11 - A Bespoke Only Nike 21 Mercer Would Do Well Today

1:12:02 - A Shift in Culture

Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gPakEPG-Jgg

Cover art originally by Jeffrey Deitch, digitally altered by me for entertainment purposes only.

In this episode, I recap the recent Undefeated 4 that heavily featured EQL. I also recap the Awake 5 release and talk through some of the conspiracy theories about numbered pairs and backdooring. I also do a deep dive into the Anatomy of a Sneaker Scam using the recent Awake 5 FNF link scam as the example. Finally I discuss my part in a heated Twitter Space about this scam. 

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

04:31 - On Feet

05:38 - Pickups: None, Misses: A Lot

09:28 - Recent Releases

09:41 - Vans Stimmy

10:43 - Cheap YZY Slides

11:35 - Delta Airlines AF1

12:43 - Air Max 1000

14:03 - Upcoming Releases: Kith x adidas x Clarks

14:48 - Yu-Gi-Oh! Air Max 95, a Worthwhile Collab

16:31 - JaeTips x StockX Popup

18:59 - Tom Sachs and the Aesthetics of Discipline

23:22 - Undefeated 4 Release Recap

35:11 - What if a Canadian Got Scammed for an Awake 5 FNF Link?

37:32 - Awake Jordan 5 Release

40:54 - Anatomy of a Sneaker Scam

41:41 - The Setup

47:09 - The Bait

48:27 - The Hook

52:54 - The Aftermath

54:50 - Twitter Spaces

01:11:54 - Statement from Sneaker Phetish Kari

01:16:09 - Outro

In this episode, I talk about if the Tom Sachs Mars Yard 3.0 in-app challenge release was made exclusively for the unemployed. I also talk a lot about recent sneaker releases and give an update on 2JsKicks having champagne wishes and caviar dreams at Nobu. I also warn sneakerheads to be wary whenever a company declares itself a “sneaker culture company”. Finally I talk about some recent sneaker content creator blues, and if you’ve been providing enough value for the brands lately (no, you have not, straighten up will ya). A lot of show, a lot of fun, all killer, no filler!

New socks are also available in very limited quantities: https://shop.sockjig.com/

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

02:41 New Sockjig Socks Available Now

04:17 On Feet: Off White Presto

05:32 Pickups: adidas Orion Terry Fox 45th Anniversary

07:23 Patta Air Max 90 Waves

07:44 JJJJound Asics Gel Quantum 360

08:20 JJJJound Puma Mostro

09:07 AMM AF1 & AM95

10:48 Levi's Air Max 95s Release Recap

14:13 Who Decides War Jordan Flight Court

15:28 Air Jordan 40

16:45 Paris Fashion Week: JFG 2000

17:16 Get Clint to Debut Your Sneaker

17:39 Does a Kids of Immigrants FNF Sneaker Make Sense?

19:30 Adidas Jellyfish

20:52 Clipse Sambas

23:13 Kith New Balance 204L

23:50 Abc x Fantastic Four x Puma

27:50 Premium Goods Air Max 1 for the NYC Mayor

29:15 Tom Sachs is Keeping The Mars Yard Lore Intact

37:47 TwoJsKicks Update

40:11 Brendan Dunne to StockX

47:41 Sneaker Content Creator Blues

53:55 Outro

In this episode, I try and break down what’s going on at Urban Necessities with Two J's Kicks and Shoe Surgeon? Shoe Surgeon business entity owns Urban Necessities, and pushed Two J's out, but still has him on the hook for business and tax debts. Allegedly. How could have Two J's Kicks signed such a bad deal? What else could be going on? And how Nike settling their lawsuit with Shoe Surgeon Inc is probably a big driver of this all collapsing.

I also discuss Brendan Dunne leaving Complex and how that affects Complex going forward. Finally I answer listener questions for the remainder of the show. There's a whole lot more, a fun show as always so check it out!

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:41 On Feet and Pickups

02:24 Skips and Misses

04:21 Better Gift Shop DN8

06:39 Hali and SGA Signature Sneakers

08:59 Sneaker 360 Deals

09:27 Urban Necessities Allegedly on the Brink of Bankruptcy

10:31 Nike Settles Lawsuit with Shoe Surgeon Inc  

13:51 Did Shoe Surgeon Dom Sign a 360 Deal Too?

14:28 TwoJ's Kicks Signed a 360 Deal

21:26 Surgeon Inc Responds

22:23 Missing Pieces of the Puzzle

23:47 Sneaker Rashomon

29:31 Brendan Dunne Leaving Complex

34:15 Tokyo 5s Releasing, Then Not Releasing, Then Releasing

39:32 Listener Questions

40:59 Why Aren't New Balance GRs as Good Quality as Their Collabs?

46:12 Size 13 Takes

48:18 What Makes a Shoe, Sneaker of the Year

51:47 What Sneaker Grew on You After Release?

53:42 New Balance 9060

58:40 Good Time to Buy Nike Stock?

59:53 What Are Some Collabs Kith Won't Do?

01:01:43 Do You Follow Any Non Sneaker Booms?

01:03:35 Sneaker Releases with Bad Timing

01:05:10 Why Didn't the Coral Studios Air Max 95 Ever Drop?

01:06:53 Interesting Sneaker Raffle Stories

01:08:51 Resellers Are To Blame

01:11:27 What do North American Sneakerheads Think of European Sneakerheads?

01:14:39 Horse/Ducks Question

01:15:46 Dream Guests

01:17:45 Wrestling Sneaker Collabs

01:19:11 Who Would You Smack in Sneakers?

In this episode, I cover Dick’s Sporting Goods acquiring Foot Locker and how mergers and acquisitions usually lead to layoffs at the loser company. I talk about why NYC is so important for any sneaker brand that wants to generate energy. I also ask questions of Nike delayed releases of A’Ja One signature sneaker and Tourmaline Rodeo Dunk SB and how they probably have very boring answers, or very interesting ones that we’ll never hear. I also ask if Grandmas have 4 couches and cover the final UnheardOf Grandma’s Couch release and give 7 Suggestions for Future Grandma Themed Collabs. Plus a ton more!

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

03:04 - On Feet

03:51 - Pickups

05:44 - Air Max 95 Reverse Neon

07:24 - Rejuven8 4 U

08:18 - Bred 11 Low

09:14 - Travis Bright Cactus / Leche Blue

11:04 - UNC AJ1 Reimagined

12:31 - Only in NY: Corteiz Honey Black Release

17:00 - A'Ja One and Nike Basketball Design Language

19:51 - Why Was the Tourmaline Rodeo Dunk SB Delayed?

23:01 - UnheardOf Oink Army and Grandma's Couch Release

29:24 - Seven Suggestions for Future Grandma Themed Collabs

32:13 - Dirty White AF1 Meme Sneakers

36:26 - Early Photos of Undefeated 4s All Look Fake

38:10 - Nike x Hyperice Hyperboot

42:17 - "Made in the Same Factory Bro"

44:26 - Bred 1 Restocks: The Quest For More Money

45:20 - SNKRS Link

47:26 - Sneaker AI Slop Era is Here

49:00 - JFG Puts Over Sneaker Twitter in Complex Interview

51:52 - Dick's Sporting Goods Acquires Foot Locker

01:00:16 - Outro

In this episode I talk about how sneaker brands can get stale and what do they need to do to stay relevant in light of the lack of hype for recent A Ma Maniere releases, and even Bodega store closures. I also discuss how newer brands and releases must be more persona based in this day and age, particularly looking into UnheardOf's recent releases.I also discuss Zadeh Kicks Pleads Guilty, Nike News, What Happened to Air Max Day and why don’t they call it Air Max Day any more? I wonder if StockX Verified Seller program has a strike team auditing resellers. Plus a lot more!

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

04:45 On Feet

05:50 Pickups: Nigel Brick by Brick Jordan 4

10:04 Pickup: Kith 997.5 Easter

11:20 Pickups: Kobe 6 Dodgers & Action Bronson 990v6

12:12 Misses: Jordan 4 SB Navy12:48 Recent Releases

13:17 Supreme Air Max 1

13:52 Salehe NB 991v2 Grimace be the Shoe

14:39 JaeTips Saucony Jazz 9 - I Love You But I'm Busy

18:32 Unheardof Adidas Adistar Cushion 3 Piggy Runners

20:32 Air Max 95 Neon22:00 A Ma Maniere Pack

23:53 New Balance Spring Releases and Kith vs Packer

25:28 Zadeh Kicks Pleads Guilty

29:07 Nike Earnings, DTC Shareholder Lawsuit

31:03 Tinker Got a Weird Case

33:10 What Happened to Air Max Day?

37:31 StockX Verified Seller Program

47:12 Should Bodega Be Saved?

54:25 Staying Relevant / Not Getting Stale

58:08 Persona Based Brands

59:51 UnheardOf Case Study

In this episode, I do a Top 10 Signs That Sneakers Are Back List. I also do release recaps of Bred 1 and Union Jordan 1 release. And cover sneaker news over the recent month. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

02:21 Skips: Haven Asics Gel Nimbus 10.1

03:01 Black Toe 1s and Sneakerhead Math

04:38 Undefeated Spiridon Needs a Gimmick

05:32 Air Max 1 Polly Adventure and the Triangle Stitching

08:39 Misses: Kobes, Galaxy Foams

11:19 Pickups: Black Metallic Jordan 5s

12:17 JFG New Balance 992 Aged Well

16:33 Bred 1 85 High

20:39 Union Jordan 1 Chicago Shadow

22:36 Yuto Dunk SB Matcha

24:51 Recent Releases: Bred 1 85 Highs

27:30 Union Jordan 1 Chicago Shadow Release

39:45 News: Tom Sachs Put Some Pants On And Announced Mars Yard 3.0

43:36 A New Low For Kanye

50:09 Nike Skims

54:30 Kai Cennat gifts a Freddy Kreuger SB

58:57 Travis Scott and WWE

01:04:38 StockX Found Liable for Selling Counterfeits

01:09:31 Sneakers and Tariffs

01:16:40 Top 10 Signs That Sneakers Are Back

In this episode, we talk about the release of the Bred 1 85 High and if the marketing fit the low stock numbers and distribution. We talk about the community resentment and take a look at the 5 Stages of Sneakerhead Grief. Other topics covered include Corteiz’s design contest, sneaker retailers hurting and the recent fires in Los Angeles. 

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

06:48 - On Feet, Skips and Misses 

09:53 - Corteiz Design Contest

15:24 - Sneaker Retail Hurting

19:48 - LA Fires

25:40 - 2025 Bred 1 Release

27:04 - Most Historically Accurate Jordan 1 Ever

29:06 - Ticketmaster Approach to Pricing

30:33 - Stock Numbers and White Glove Service

36:13 - Marketing Blitz

42:27 - 6 Year Cycles

44:21 - Disconnect / Resentment

45:41 - Everything Should Be a GR Opinion

48:08 - 5 Stages of Sneakerhead Grief