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!Timestamps00:00 Intro04:45 On Feet05:50 Pickups: Nigel Brick by Brick Jordan 4 10:04 Pickup: Kith 997.5 Easter11:20 Pickups: Kobe 6 Dodgers & Action Bronson 990v612:12 Misses: Jordan 4 SB Navy12:48 Recent Releases13:17 Supreme Air Max 113:52 Salehe NB 991v2 Grimace be the Shoe14:39 JaeTips Saucony Jazz 9 - I Love You But I'm Busy18:32 Unheardof Adidas Adistar Cushion 3 Piggy Runners20:32 Air Max 95 Neon22:00 A Ma Maniere Pack23:53 New Balance Spring Releases and Kith vs Packer 25:28 Zadeh Kicks Pleads Guilty29:07 Nike Earnings, DTC Shareholder Lawsuit 31:03 Tinker Got a Weird Case33:10 What Happened to Air Max Day?37:31 StockX Verified Seller Program47:12 Should Bodega Be Saved?54:25 Staying Relevant / Not Getting Stale58:08 Persona Based Brands59:51 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

In this episode I talk about the making of sneaker of the year lists and the criticism they get and why I believe that anyone creating lists like this should embrace the debate.

That leads to the main segment which is about how fandom is changing in sneakers and all other niches. I talk about how it's becoming more tribalistic and how that affects the state of criticism and feedback in this modern digital age. There's also a special announcement!

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

03:25 - On Feet

04:19 - Pickups

13:40 - Misses

15:07 - Skips

17:17 - James Whitner, Virgil Abloh and The Lore of a Swoosh on a Converse

19:00 - Embrace Debate: Making Sneaker of the Year Lists 

28:45 - Fandom vs Tribalism in Sneakers

In this episode, I discuss my spat with the Editor in Chief of Complex, criticism vs hating, how past history affects harshness, the backlash, and a lot more. It's not intended as a rant, it's intended as a reflection. Also, Sneaker Guy of the Week returns, plus the debut of a new segment: We Are So Back / It's So Over.

00:00 - Intro

05:40 - Pickups

06:11 - Misses

07:33 - Skips

10:48 - Upcoming

13:06 - Sneaker Guy of the Week

15:05 - We Are So Back / It's So Over

22:21 - Sneaker of the Year Panels

25:41 - The Zone of Conflict of Interest

26:53 - Recap of What I Said Last Episode

29:56 - Whitaker Group x adidas official

34:17 - What Does an Editor in Chief Do?

38:10 - EIC Responds

41:11 - Looking For Clout

42:10 - Anonymous

47:35 - Journalism Skills

48:18 - Go Outside

48:54 - God Bless

53:40 - My Response

58:29 - Outro

Cover includes artwork by Aldo Giorgini

In this episode we talk about James Whitner not getting charged by feds and apparently signing with adidas and speculate if his relationship with Nike and Jordan will continue. We also talk about the Nike CEO John Donahoe stepping down and who’s really to blame for Nike’s decline in these last 5 years. Some other topics, we talk about StockX sneakers available at Walmart, TwoJsKicks apparently out at Urban Necessities, customizers selling fakes, and Tom Sachs back at Nike. A lot of topics! If I had more time, I woulda made a shorter podcast.

Timestamps

00:00 - Cold Open: Let the Blessings Come In

00:18 - Intro

02:10 - On Feet

02:30 - Pickups

05:26 - Skips

12:05 - EQL Feedback

15:31 - Influencer Era

20:18 - StockX Sneakers Available at Walmart

23:51 - TwoJsKicks Apparently Out At Urban Necessities

27:46 - JSM Customs Accused of Selling Fake Customs

39:03 - Tom Sachs Back at Nike

46:01 - James Whitner Gives Up Claim to $1.2 Mil 

50:33 - Complex Interview

57:16 - Potential Adidas Deal

1:00:03 - Working With Multiple Brands

01:02:10 - Nike Relationship Over?

01:07:14 - Prosper Closing

01:08:27 - MJ and James Whitner

01:10:08 - Nike CEO Out

01:17:21 - Outro

In this episode I cover EQL's recent customer privacy incident in full detail and explain what happened, and why it shouldn't be considered as no big deal because incidents like this could potentially be company ending events.

I also talk about Nike suing The Shoe Surgeon and how coverage of the story seems to be ignoring that he's being accused of mass producing counterfeit sneakers. Allegedly.

Timestamps

00:00 - Cold Open

00:21 - Intro 

02:38 - On Feet / Pickups

09:22 - Skips

12:57 - Upcoming

15:06 - Shoe Surgeon Sued By Nike

26:08 - EQL and Customer Data

29:22 - Disclaimers

33:17 - Kept The Same Energy

36:12 - Twitter Timeline of Events

46:46 - One Time Exception

51:38 - Tweets Deleted

53:45 - Blowback

57:16 - JBosston617's Side of the Story

01:00:52 - Morality and Companies

01:04:04 - Avoiding Company Ending Events

01:08:43 - Who's to Blame

Buy socks at https://shop.sockjig.com/

The series concludes with a conversation with my friend Corey Whatever who runs the digital agency Whatever Industries that has worked with brands like Rhude, Fear of God, JJJJound on their sites and on their hyped sneaker collaborations. We talk about what happens on that side of the aisle during and after sneaker drops.

You can find Corey Whatever at:

https://whateverindustries.com/

Twitter: @corey_whatever

Instagram: coreywhatever

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

Support the Jig, buy socks at https://shop.sockjig.com/

Premise

You own a fictional skateshop in San Francisco called Ice Age Skate and you're getting 10k pairs of a Dunk SB to release in-store and online.

Let's create a release strategy plan for a hype collab sneaker, and decide how we want to release in-store, to fnf/vip, and online. We'll also do some Backdoor Math and decide if that's an option we should explore. Finally we look at the logistics involved in warehousing and shipping 10k pairs.

If you like the episode, consider buying some Sockjig Socks: https://shop.sockjig.com/

Timestamps

0:00 - Cold Open: Pump Up The Volume

0:35 - Intro

02:14 - Premise: You’re Getting 10k Pairs of a Hype Dunk SB to Release

04:16 - Why a Nike SB Dunk for the Collab?

06:55 - Think of it Like You're Planning a Wedding

07:35 - Start With Why

08:56 - The Business of Collabs

13:54 - Release Strategy

14:40 - Marketing Plan

17:29 - A Sidebar on Location Clearance

21:03 - In-Store Raffle

25:19 - FNF / VIP

27:08 - Online Drop or Raffle

30:32 - To Backdoor, or Not To Backdoor

34:00 - Option 1: 100% Retail, No Backdooring

34:53 - Option 2: 80% Retail, 20% Backdoored at $200

36:39 - Option 3: 80% Retail, 20% Backdoored at $300

37:08 - Option 4: 50% Retail, 50% Backdoored at $350

38:13 - Option 5: Full Trophy Room Mode

38:45 - Recap

40:51 - Final Stock Allocation

42:46 - Logistics Plan

46:21 - Shipping 10k Sneakers

48:57 - 3PL - Third Party Logistics

53:25 - Did Any Pairs Fall Off the Truck?

54:05 - Backdooring Logistics

55:10 - Drop Time

56:30 - Customer Service

58:21 - What If the Online Drop Didn't Go Well?

01:01:22 - Post Release

This is a special edition Sockjig x Loose Laces Crossover episode all about Nike re-releasing grails like Wu-Tang Clan Dunk Highs and potentially Undefeated Jordan 4s.

Listen and Subscribe to Loose Laces Podcast

Apple https://open.spotify.com/show/7irgYwZjswyrUFCBtdio4T

Spotify https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/loose-laces/id1623728170

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LooseLacesPod/

The Game Is The Game Socks available now at https://shop.sockjig.com/