The Complex Sneakers Podcast

This is the one you've all been asking for, the best sneakers of the year. The most hotly debated subject this year, or almost any year, what were the best sneakers over the past 12 months? After the panel at ComplexCon, many were wondering what we'd put as our top 10. Would Drake's Nocta shope be on the list? Would a Samba make it? How much did people care about Travis Scott's Air Jordan 1s still? Were we feeling the Nike SB Dunks this year? How good were the SB Jordan 4s? Would Jae Tips get a spot? Action Bronson? and more. We answer it all.

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Action Bronson’s next step in footwear is his boldest yet. On this episode, the rapper, chef, painter, sculptor, body builder, and all-around renaissance man debuts a wild EVA foam shoe that looks like something between a shoe you’d slip off as you step into the mosque and an old-school Dutch clog. Bronson also teases what’s to come from his New Balance 1906 collaboration and discusses how limited his sneakers are, how involved he is in making them, and how hackers tap into the stock numbers on his drops. Also, at the top of the episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty break down the Travis Scott vs. John McEnroe marketing stunt, more Messi Adidas, and even more discussion on infamous Complex underrating of the “Red October” Nike Air Yeezy 2.

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The biggest sneaker scandal of the year is the bombshell allegation that James Whitner, owner of sneaker stories like A Ma Maniere and Social Status, has for years resold millions of dollars of product, breaching his Nike contract and getting involved in what prosecutors say is an illegal money laundering scheme. In this episode, the cohosts respond to the allegations and what they might mean for Nike and Whitner. Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty also react to the long-awaited debut of Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God Athletics line with Adidas and rehash a controversial Complex list from 2014—yes, we put the “Red October” Nike Air Yeezy 2 that low. Elsewhere: Samba memes and re-soling your sneakers.

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Tony Finau wants to change the game of golf, from how it looks to who plays it. In this episode, the PGA Tour pro talks about his deal with Nike, golfing with Michael Jordan, and how that infamous ankle roll changed his approach to sneakers. Finau even teases some early heat in the form of the “Reverse Grinch” Nike Kobe 6. Elsewhere in the episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty discuss some 2024 sneaker leaks including a Stash x Nike Air Max 95, a Corteiz x Nike Air Trainer Huarache, and the possible return of a classic Patta x Nike Air Max 1. This episode was recorded at ComplexCon a few weeks back, meaning some of the conversation is a little dated, but the show will be back on schedule next week.

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The sneakers that you loved decades ago may not be all that exciting today—no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise. Here, Complex Sneakers Podcast co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty talk about wanting old Air Jordans to come back only to realize that a lot of them really don’t hold up. The retro market is different, and more saturated now, which affects how we consume retro staples like Jordans and Air Maxes. The co-hosts also discuss the black and royal Air Jordan 1 “Reimagined,” which arrived to not that much fanfare last weekend and may be an indicator of how people feel about too many tweaks on original Jordan styles. Also: the TMNT x Adidas Superstar, Nigo x Nike Air Force 3s, and a look ahead at ComplexCon.

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Designer Nicole McLaughlin, who started out in the sneaker industry as an intern at Reebok before her quirky upcycling creations ever went viral, is ready to expand her footwear portfolio with a new collaboration from Hoka on its Mafate Three2 model. In this episode, McLaughlin relives her resume, from the Reebok years to her time at the Adidas Farm in Brooklyn (with a Kanye West cameo) to making her own collaboration with Vans. McLaughlin, queen of upcycling that she is, also gives tips on thrifting and turning old items into new shoes. Elsewhere, Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty discuss the best Nikes of 2024, how to wear Off-White Nikes, and the latest Adidas Yeezy drama.

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Ever seen someone try to return a pair of fake sneakers at Foot Locker? Or witnessed sneaker theft in real time? On the latest episode of the Complex Sneakers Show, cohosts Matt Welty and Joe La Puma relive their past lives as sneaker salesmen with tales of avoiding district managers, showing up late, and wage theft lawsuits. Also in the episode: Brendan Dunne’s report on the Adidas Yeezy release plan pause, the purported Lil Yachty x Nike collab, the sneaker scene in the UK, and a lot of Nike Air Max Plus/TN talk.

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Westside Gunn, who just released his album “And Then You Pray for Me,” is a rapper who’s well-versed in rare sneakers and elite garments. In this episode, he talks about the footwear of professional wrestlers, his aspirations to own a pair of Nike Air Yeezy 1s even if they’ll crumble on him, and the blight that is fake Denim Tears. Westside also drops a teaser that Griselda will reunite in 2024 for a sequel album in “WWCD 2.” At the top of the show, Joe La Puma, Matt Welty, and Brendan Dunne discuss Taylor Swift’s New Balance influence, the Malaysia excursion, and making people golf to get a pair of Travis Scott’s Air Jordan 1s.

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Bimma Williams is an entrepreneur and podcast host who spent years in the sneaker industry at brands like Saucony, Adidas, and Nike. Now, he interviews subjects from the footwear scene and beyond on his Claima Stories podcast. In this episode, Williams tells stories about his work on the Adidas Yeezy business, his time alongside Travis Scott at Nike, and finding his community as a Black man in the industry. Williams previews his first sneaker collaboration, a Saucony set to drop this weekend. Also, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty get caught up on sneaker news like Taylor Swift’s New Balances, the Born x Raised Dunk release, and Anthony Edwards’ Adidas signature model.

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Remember the rare Nike Air Yeezy 1 Grammy sample worn by Kanye West that sold for $1.8 million dollars just two years ago? The shoe just sold again, this time losing 90 percent of its value and selling for a mere $180,000 at an auction at Goldin. The cohosts discuss the market of high-end sneakers, why pairs like this are suddenly selling for way less money, and who benefits from it all. Also, Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty talk about the latest signature shoes from LeBron James and Devin Booker, what’s coming from Jerry Lorenzo x Adidas, and how good J Balvin’s Air Jordan 3 collab is.

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