Shoe-In

This is episode two of a special three-part Shoe-In Show series in partnership with SATRA Technology : The Science Behind Great Footwear. What does it actually take to make a shoe that won't let you down? Matt Priest sits down with Simon Courtney and Connor Mehew from SATRA Technology to break down the mechanics behind slip resistance — how slips happen, how they're tested, and what footwear manuf...

This is Episode 1 of a special five-part Shoe-In Show series in partnership with Centric Software: What's Driving Footwear's New Operational Transformation. In this episode, Andy Polk sits down with David Gardner, Director of Pre-Sales Customer Success at Centric Software, to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in footwear today — product data integrity. From fragmented spreadsheets and sil...

In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest and Sandi Mines share everything you need to know about Shoes for a Cure's biggest October yet. Celebrating its 33rd year, the initiative is bringing new collaborations, community events, and an ambitious million-dollar fundraising goal to cities across the country. The conversation takes listeners from the vibrant Miami Design District to Chelsea Marke...

In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest and Christie Horan sit down with Semaj Neville, Vice President of Business Development at Steve Madden, for a conversation about leadership, empathy, and the power of brick-and-mortar retail. Semaj shares his remarkable journey from incarceration to leadership and makes a passionate case for investing in frontline workers, the regional managers, distric...

What makes a shoe truly comfortable and how do you actually measure it? In the first episode of a special three-part series with SATRA Technology , Matt Priest sits down with Harriet Stokes, Innovation and Development Technologist, and Simon Courtney, Divisional Manager of Footwear, to explore one of footwear's most complex and misunderstood topics. From moisture management to the psychology behin...

What does it take to bring a breakthrough footwear idea to life — and what happens when the entire industry gets behind it? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Andy Polk sits down with Michael Seeley, Alan Lugo, and Christie Horan to pull back the curtain on the Footwear Innovation Foundation's Launchpad program and the upcoming Elevation Event in Portland. From attracting unconventional talent to fo...

Is the footwear industry's reliance on China at a multi-generational low — or is a resurgence on the horizon? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, FDRA's Matt Priest, Thomas Crockett, and Gary Raines break down the latest developments in footwear trade policy and what they mean for brands and retailers navigating today's complex sourcing landscape. From shifting import dynamics and the role of alterna...

What if a simple pair of glasses could transform your factory floor? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Andy Polk sits down with Ramona Bajema, PhD, Senior Advisor of VisionSpring to talk about the Clear Vision Workplace program and why providing eyeglasses to factory workers is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools in footwear manufacturing today. The data is compelling: clear vision doe...

What happens when a sneaker obsessive spots a gap nobody else is filling? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest sits down with Devonn Vidal, Founder and CEO of Sneakky Klean, to talk about one of the most unexpected and exciting entrepreneurial journeys in footwear today. Starting in Miami in 2019, Devonn built a premium sneaker cleaning and restoration business from the ground up — creatin...

What does it take to build a technology-forward footwear company from the ground up? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest and Sandi Mines sit down with Jennet Chow and Mike Chen, Co-CEOs of Evolution Design Lab, to talk about one of the most innovative stories in footwear today. From humble beginnings selling shoes at swap meets to building proprietary software that manages the entire shoe...

What happens when centuries of tradition meet the demands of a modern footwear industry? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest and Christie Horan sit down with Jane Wilson, Chair of the British Footwear Association and Master of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers — one of the City of London's most ancient Livery Companies with roots stretching back hundreds of years. Jane shares her rem...

AI is everywhere right now, but how do you know what's actually worth your time? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett sit down with Christopher Padilla, Senior Advisor at Brunswick Group and former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, for a conversation about what AI means for business leaders today. Drawing on decades of experience in government policy,...

What does the 2026 back-to-school season tell us about where the footwear industry is headed? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest and Andy Polk sit down with Bryan Eshelman, Americas Leader of Retail at AlixPartners, to unpack the findings from the latest FDRA x AlixPartners Back-to-School Footwear Survey. With operating costs at a 14-quarter high, landed costs rising, and consumers makin...

What defines sneaker culture in a world where individualism has replaced brand loyalty? In part two of this special Shoe-In Show conversation, recorded live at the Library of Congress, Matt Priest continues the discussion with D'Wayne Edwards, President of PLC Detroit, and Sean Williams, Co-Founder of SOLEcial Studies, diving deeper into how younger generations are reshaping their relationship wit...

In this special episode of Shoe-In Show, recorded live at the Library of Congress in partnership with the Congressional Sneaker Caucus, Matt Priest joins Representative Jared Moskowitz, footwear designer and educator D'Wayne Edwards, and Sean Williams, Co-Founder of SOLEcial Studies, to explore one of the most powerful cultural forces in American fashion history. From the courts to the classroom a...

What does it take to build lasting brands in one of footwear's most competitive categories? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Sandi and Christie sit down with Peter Roccamo, President at Falc USA, to talk legacy, relationships, and what's next for premium children's footwear. Peter's career spans iconic licensing deals for Michael Kors, Stuart Weitzman, and Tommy Hilfiger. Now at Falc USA, he is le...

On this episode of Shoe-In Show, Logan Bird, President and CEO of Mephisto USA, shares his vision for leading one of footwear's most respected heritage brands. From stepping into the CEO role to preserving Mephisto's legacy of European craftsmanship and exceptional comfort, Logan discusses how the company is evolving for a new generation of consumers through thoughtful innovation, strategic collab...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup isn't just the biggest soccer tournament on the planet — it's happening right here, and the energy is unlike anything America has seen before. In this special episode of Shoe-In Show, hosts Matt Priest, Andy Polk, and Jolie Gracia take a step back from the business of footwear to celebrate the moment. Fresh from experiencing matches firsthand, they share what it felt like i...

What happens in Washington doesn't stay in Washington — especially if you're in footwear. In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Christie sits down with Thomas Crockett, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at FDRA, to pull back the curtain on one of the most consequential forces shaping the industry today. Before joining FDRA, Thomas served as Legislative Counsel on Capitol Hill, where he hand...

What does it look like to spend a career at the top of the footwear industry and then dedicate yourself to making sure others can follow? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest and Sabria Butler sit down with Portia Blunt, Board Chair of the Black Footwear Forum, for a candid conversation about her remarkable journey through footwear — from the Marine Corps to New Balance and Reebok to found...

How did Crocs evolve from a simple foam clog to a global footwear icon? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Anne Mehlman, Executive Vice President and Brand President, Crocs, shares her journey from CFO to brand leader and reveals the secrets behind the brand's unstoppable growth. From bold collaborations and social media buzz to the power of customer feedback, discover how Crocs continues to redefin...

Meet Jolie Gracia, Marketing and Events Coordinator at FDRA, who went from marketing graduate at UNC Greensboro to managing all four annual FFANY Market Week cycles, supporting the FFANY Pop-Up Showroom, and helping drive social media for both Shoes for a Cure and the Black Footwear Forum. In this episode, Jolie shares how she found her way into the footwear industry, what her day-to-day really lo...

What makes handcrafted Western boots a symbol of culture and craftsmanship? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, Matt Priest dives into the rich heritage of Texas boot-making with Cindy Morris of the Dallas Market Center and Ryan Vaughan of Rios of Mercedes. They explore the synergy between family-owned brands, the resurgence of Western wear, and how cultural trends are reshaping the industry. Discove...

In this episode of Shoe In, Andy Polk shares his journey from politics to footwear, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving and a solutions-oriented mindset. Discover how the FDRA team collaborates to tackle industry challenges, the evolving dynamics of consumer behavior, and the critical role of understanding supply chains. Andy's insights into balancing creativity with practical business s...

Are consumers moving away from athletic footwear or simply redefining what "casual" means? On this episode of Shoe In Show, Thomas and Christie sit down with Bryan Eshelman, Americas Leader of Retail, AlixPartners to break down key findings from the latest AlixPartners consumer footwear survey. From price sensitivity and inventory challenges to the growing demand for versatile, durable footwear, t...