Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)

Sneaker pre-orders and scamming in the sneaker community. These two stories dominated last week in the game. Matt talks through both and drives home a firm message: accountability and transparency are key. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattfrate...

As the fourth anniversary of his mom's passing comes, Matt has been thinking about life changes over that time. The growth of self and embracing of passions has filled him with perspective and continued yearning for more. Life is short and we should embrace it as much as we can. Are you? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootw...

Nike and Undefeated released the most coveted grail in all of sneakers with their mass release of the Undefeated Jordan 4. By most measures, the release was a massive success. There has been chatter about delayed shipping, and it begs the question "is sneaker culture spoiled?". Matt gives his take. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com...

Trev, one fifth of the In Kix We Trust podcast team, joins Matt to discuss his life in sneakers and beyond. They talk about sneakers in Toronto, the emergence of runners, and all the sneaker releases we have now. Trev has a lot to provide the culture, and this chat helps shine some light on his contributions. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www....

Nike and Jordan Brand have a unique ability to tell stories with their rich history in sneakers. The frequency of releases has left Matt thinking about whether the brand is diluting their own history by leaving little room between retros. Should Nike lean more into storytelling, or has the culture changed so much that it just doesn't matter? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire...

Angel Reese just got something Caitlin Clark doesn't have — a signature sneaker. Her new deal with Reebok marks a milestone in her career and a statement for her legacy. But when you look at the shoe itself, it raises a bigger question: are sneaker companies running out of ideas? This episode breaks down Reese's Reebok signature, what it means for her story in the WNBA, and whether the design actu...

Fire Footwear is nearing its third birthday, and looking back on the journey to this point is essential as this podcast grows. Matt sits behind the mic reminiscing about where things started, where they are, and where he wants them to go for the future of this podcast. If you found Fire Footwear recently, this is your chance to get to know the host a little bit more. --- New episodes released week...

Expounding on his initial episode about the Urban Necessities story, Matt goes into the human elements behind the aftermath. Social media is a mainstay in society and while it has its benefits, it also has many pitfalls. The Urban Necessities situation has been an example of the toxicity that social media can traffic in: taking sides, false narratives, ignorant opinions and more. --- New episodes...

Urban Necessities, a popular sneaker consignment shop, is under fire due to allegations of defaulted payments and lacking customer service. Matt gives an overall take with the information had at the time (more has since been revealed). Like other scandals before it, Urban Necessities tests the trust of the sneaker community. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTu...

The nostalgia brought on by the NBA Finals has Matt thinking about iconic moments in sneaker history. This episode presents 15 seminal moments along the road to sneaker culture in 2025. While sports helped drastically shape the mold of what is sneaker culture today, there are other moments sprinkled in that have had major impacts as well. What is your favorite moment? --- New episodes released wee...

Nike raised prices again — and sneakerheads are not happy. But before you write off today's prices as the worst they've ever been, the numbers might surprise you. This episode breaks down Nike's latest price hikes in the context of global trade conditions, then compares today's sneaker prices to historical prices adjusted for inflation. Is it actually as bad as the culture is making it out to be?...

On the heels of the sale of Sketchers, Dick's Sporting Goods makes a huge splash with their acquisition of Foot Locker. Foot Locker, like many businesses, is seeing a decline in sales and stock prices with the world economy in flux. Dick's pounced on an opportunity they hope will rise their value globally. What does this mean for sneaker culture? Matt returns and gives his thoughts. --- New episod...

Sketchers is a major global footwear brand, and one that has probably never been mentioned on this podcast. Their recent sale, for close to $9 billion, got Matt's attention. While Sketchers and sneaker culture have never been aligned, could this sale be the jumping point for Sketchers to get into the hype game? Matt gives his thoughts. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwe...

Sneaker culture and basketball shoes have been synonymous for ages. Since the advent of the Air Jordan line, countless NBA (and WBNA) athletes have been given the signature shoe treatment. Each year new iterations of these signature lines debut, but has the line grown stagnant. Nike, Jordan Brand, and others need to look to other sports for their future. Matt talks through the possibilities. --- N...

Back from Rome, Matt dives into sneaker conventions, but not in the traditional way. Prior to leaving, friend of the show DeVante Mack (@realmackism on Instagram) recorded an episode for the week Matt was gone. Due to technical issues overseas, it never saw the light of day ... until now. Tap in as Matt reacts to Devante's episode and provides his own commentary on the matter. --- New episodes rel...

There have been many sneaker collaborators and influencers over the years. In the wake of the hype of running shoes in the culture, Matt briefly talks through Ronnie Fieg and his history in sneakers. He also talks a bit about Kith's arrival, influence and impact on the sneaker game. Tap in. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefo...

The demographics of the sneaker world are dynamic. Many times when people hear about a "sneakerhead" they envision a certain look or behavior. The truth is that sneakers and the culture that surrounds them may not be for everyone. The culture attached to sneakers is perhaps made for specific people, but the commodities that are sneakers are for everyone. Matt thinks about his possible missteps as...

With all the hype buzzing about the return of sneakers and sneaker hype, it's a good time to look at what defines the economy of sneakers. Is it just buzz around a release or two? Or is it more? Matt checks in. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@matt...

Sneakers is an expensive hobby with a large culture. There is a LOT to learn as you navigate. That knowledge can be a barrier to entry, and at times might be seen at gatekeeping. Matt talks through how he might be able to help. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: https://www....

The Jordan releases in 2025 have been hot, heavy, and steeping in history. On the surface it appears we are all getting what we want, but underneath the hood it seems much more intentional. Are we being conditioned into copping out of FOMO? Matt weighs in. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Fr...

It's no surprise that 2025 in sneakers has started out hot. Between limited stock and fighting at releases, the question has popped up all over of "has the feeling been restored in sneakers?". Matt gets on his soap box to talk about what the feeling is to him and how we can bring it back. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefoot...

Stories in the sneaker news about violence at sneaker releases, Joe Freshgoods creating good will, and Yeezy going up in flames (again). Matt breaks it down. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattfrates --- Follow Matt Frates on Instagram: https://w...

In sneaker culture, there are colorways and silhouettes that are universally beloved. Lately Matt has been wondering if all of them still hit the same in 2025? To find out, he asked YOU what you thought. Tap in to find out what the people had to say. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Frates o...

After a back and forth with a listener of the pod, Matt dives into some recent examples of exclusivity and hype. The question is, does this symbolize a rise in sneaker hype? --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firefootwearsneakers Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattfrates --- Follow Matt Frates on Inst...

The topic of representation and leadership in sneakers has been rampant. Matt invites DeVante to talk this through. Who are leaders in sneakers to you? Support DeVante on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmackism/ Listen to the Mackism Effect: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/divergent-being Support Divergent Being on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@divergentbeing --- New episodes re...