My First Kicks

This week I am joined by the multi-talented Furg, we talk about his terrible sneaker choices growing up in Rochester. What is means to go to a PWI school. How he grew up and how interesting his family is. How many lives he has lived and what it was like working for Tyler Perry. How he found himself in the comedy scene in Atlanta. The craziest places he has been able to do comedy. What black crowds...

This week I am joined by Hawaii Mike, we talk about his journey with sneakers. From working at a sneaker store to falling in love with being fresh. How he came from music and continues to share his love of music. Having legendary moments at The Source and working with DJ Clark Kent. How sneakers lead to him meeting his wife and what Paragon was like back in the day. What ownership and collaboratio...

This week I am joined by Salehe Bembury, we talk about his journey with sneakers. Growing up in Tribeca and sharing New York stories. What streetwear was like growing up. We touch on his journey working with in the footwear industry. How he has been able to consistently create and change footwear. We go through his book, I Make Shoes. Touching on each stop in his journey and what he learned from i...

This week I am joined by Stan Birch, we talk about his early days customizing. Growing up in the south of France and betting on himself. How he broke the news to his mother about pursuing his passion. The moment he felt it clicked for him, then him switching to try something new. How creating varsity's lead him back to creating shoes. What is the difference between Paris Fashion Week and New York...

This week I am joined by the legend Mike Packer, we talk about his journey with Packer. Growing up in the sneaker industry and being part of a family owned business. The moment he decided that he wanted to take over the family business. Why Packer has become a mainstay with in the sneaker industry. What it takes to create a loyal customer base. How that customer base became integral for their rece...

This week I am joined by my friend Sango, as we catch up talking about his newest album Rhythm & Melody. He shares what lead him to wanting to put out the album. I also share with him how it looks through my eyes seeing him perform. We also break down his newest album and talk about what really connected to us. The inspiration of the album, why he feels like producer albums are rare and underr...

This week I am joined by VP of Jordan Visioneering & LA28 at Jordan Brand, Jason Mayden. We touch on his journey, growing up in the south side of Chicago. How he didn't let not being able to get things stop him from creating them. Becoming the first intern at Jordan brand, and a wild interaction with Michael Jordan. What it has been like to work with Jordan and how the creation of the Air Jord...

This week I am joined by Really Jaewon, we talk about growing up and his history with kicks. Some of his most recent cops and why he wants the Steven Victor's. His love for forces and growing up around sneaker legends. Pursuing a psychology degree and then switching to music. His approach to his music and navigating the New York Hip Hop scene. Why he doesn't value material things and a ton more! &...

This week I am joined by Angelo Baque, we talk about his journey growing up in New York. What it was like being inspired by the culture he experienced every day. Finding his way to SOHO and what lead to his creativity. How graffiti became a part of his life and how that lead to him finding his people. The way New York has evolved over the years, how his sister sent him on this path. What Orchard s...

This week I am joined by the multi-faceted Intuition, we talk about his journey with kicks. How his podcast Kinda Neat inspired me many years ago. His journey from Alaska to Cali to pursue photography, how that lead to him becoming a rapper. Connecting with Equilibrium and what their self titled album meant to me personally. What it was like to gather all his skills and put it towards podcasting....

This week I am joined by Rob Markman, known for many things including his contributions to Hip Hop with his coverage. I talk to him about his first kicks and how it lead him down the path he is on. What its like to be a collector of many things not just sneakers. How did Hip Hop find him and if he tried all the elements. What got him into comics and how he has been able to incorporate everything i...

This week I am joined by the voice of NY, Izzy Izzo. We talk about growing up in Brooklyn and how sneakers played a role in his life. Having a father from Sudan and what kind of outlook it gave him. His decision to create content and what gives him confidence. Why we both are so New York and a ton more.   Follow Izzy:  IG: https://www.instagram.com/izzy.izzo/   Follow The Pod: Podca...

This week Mel Ramirez & Kava Vasquez of Bronx Girls Skate join me on the podcast to talk about community organizing. Servicing their community and inspiring girls and women. How they got the opportunity to create their own Nike SB. What it was like growing up in the Bronx and showing their parents their shoe. How crucial it is to have a community while growing up. What it is like to be doubted...

This week Sim From The Hill is on the podcast we talk about his motivation to create inspiring videos. His journey working in SOHO and how that lead to him being a creative. What it takes to be an addition to culture and how to push culture forward. What made him want fresh kicks and pushed his overall style. We also talk about the importance of have perspective. Plus a ton more!   Follow Sim...

This week Andy's back on the podcast, we talk about bringing his son to New York. What it has been like to witness the big apple as a tourist and not through sneaker stuff. Landing and heading straight to the Nike Toma event. We also talk about experiencing imposter syndrome working through down moments. How 3D printed sneakers just aren't my cup of tea and much more!   Follow AD:  IG: h...

This week I am joined by Wayno, we touch on his early love for kicks. How he was able overcome his hardships and look fresh. Why he has always decided to do it himself. We also touch on his love for retro's, whats exciting about sneakers. How we use sneakers to connect to others We also touch on his journey through music and why he always been about sharing his point of view.   Follow Wayno:&...

This week I am joined by Lute & Shame Gang, we talk about their journey with music. How kicks influenced them, how DC inspired Shame. Also how North Carolina inspired both of them. We also touch on Lute's history with kicks and skateboarding and BMXing. We touch on my white on white Air Force's were so big. How the music from North Carolina was heavily slept on. Plus a ton more!   Follow...

This week I am joined by Paulina Lopez, we talk about how Experiential has started to take over when it comes to marketing. How she got into sneakers, growing up in Mexico City and New Mexico. Who inspires her to be so driven and continuing to support others. How community is so important at every step of the way. Plus we talk about how she shifted careers and much more! Follow Paulina:  IG:...

This week I am joined by Alfred Banks and Troy Watts, we talk about their new album Yestermonth. How sneakers played a huge roll in Troy's life, what it's been like being an internet sensation. Why he always says his wife is bad and how bad is she? Alfred co-host with me and we get down to what influence Troy to start making beats. Why these two work so well together and how Troy used to cut schoo...

This week I am joined by Racks Hogan, we touch on his journey with kicks. His transition to becoming an all around creative. The moment he decided to bet on himself and how relationships change over time. What keeps him inspired to continue being a creative. He also shares a couple wild sneaker story and you get a glimpse into what he thinks of the current state of streetwear is now. Plus a ton mo...

This week I am joined by Set Free Richardson, we talk about his first kicks. What it was like living in Philly and having a love for music and culture. Creating The Compound and what it is bringing to the city of New York. How Compound Conversations began. Working at And1 and how a conversation lead to the early days of finding marketing. What it is like to be able to hear stories from legends and...

This week I am joined by Saucepan Dan, we talk about his journey with kicks. Creating at a young age, how that lead to creating hats. Where he gets his hustle mentality from. Finding his way to Sneaker Politics, how it has been being able to design shoes. Meeting Kyrie Irving and connecting his love for cut and sew. What he loves about sneakers and streetwear and a ton more.   Follow Dan:&nbs...

This week I am joined by the legendary S WHIT, we talk about her journey through the music industry. What her biggest influences are, how being curious has always lead to more. What second hand Supreme has done for her fits. What it is like being a DJ personality, and evolving that to more. The amazing opportunities she has gotten. Meeting huge artist and having the opportunity to get gifted a cra...

This week I am joined by My Favorite Color, we talk about going viral while also rapping and being funny. How he has been able to say the truth and it resonate with people. How sneakers and streetwear played a roll in his life, how he worked at a sneaker store. Reselling shoes and catching his only L, working at Social Status and being part of the Pittsburgh sneaker scene. Also we touch on why Cha...

This week I am joined by Samia Grand-Pierre, who co-founded the Snobette. We touch on how being a multi-hyphenate opens doors. What it was like to represent female sneakerheads in the early days. Also we touch on how High Snobiety created The Snobette. Working in the sneaker industry and how she was able to speak to certain audiences. Where sneaker and streetwear media came from and where it is no...