In this episode, I try and break down what’s going on at Urban Necessities with Two J's Kicks and Shoe Surgeon? Shoe Surgeon business entity owns Urban Necessities, and pushed Two J's out, but still has him on the hook for business and tax debts. Allegedly. How could have Two J's Kicks signed such a bad deal? What else could be going on? And how Nike settling their lawsuit with Shoe Surgeon Inc is probably a big driver of this all collapsing. I also discuss Brendan Dunne leaving Complex and how ...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 81
In this episode, I cover Dick’s Sporting Goods acquiring Foot Locker and how mergers and acquisitions usually lead to layoffs at the loser company. I talk about why NYC is so important for any sneaker brand that wants to generate energy. I also ask questions of Nike delayed releases of A’Ja One signature sneaker and Tourmaline Rodeo Dunk SB and how they probably have very boring answers, or very interesting ones that we’ll never hear. I also ask if Grandmas have 4 couches and cover the final Unh...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 80
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 V...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 79
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 J...
Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 78
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 ...
Feb 06, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 77
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 - ...
Dec 28, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 76
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 Pane...
Nov 18, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 75
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 ...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 74
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 1...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 73
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 06:41 - Corey Whatever 07:21 - Starti...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 72
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 ...
Aug 13, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 71
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/...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Season 1Ep. 70
This episode is about how to release a sneaker from a collaborator's point of view. I'll take a look at how they can create a release strategy that suits their needs. But first they need to know what are they trying to get out of a sneaker release and what are their core values. I also evaluate why sneaker releases are the way they are, taking a look at recent releases of Action Bronson, Nina Chanel Abney, and others. I'll answer why some choose raffle, or loyalty access or first-come first-serv...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 69
An in depth look at sneaker brands, collaborators, retailers, resell, sneaker media, trends and overall thoughts on the state of the sneaker game in 2024. Timestamps 00:00 - Entrance 02:01 - Intro 04:33 - Opening Remarks 15:49 - State of Sneaker Market 17:41 - The Rise of EQL 19:30 - State of Reselling: Resell is Dead, Long Live Resell 21:24 - State of Resell Apps 23:15 - State of Sneaker Media 34:27 - State of Sneaker Retailers 36:33 - Boutiques and the Loss of Targeted Facebook Ads 38:51 - Big...
May 20, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 68
In this episode, I talk about Nike’s marketing and shitty products problem. I also talk about my trip to Japan, how Instagram is a key for vacation planning, what I wore and what Japanese were wearing. I also talk about shopping and a give a brief history Ginza, the birthplace of Japanese Fashion. Other topics include the Bode Astrograbber release and how Hidden NY has no point of view. Timestamps 00:00 - Newsradio Cold Open 00:21 - Intro 03:09 - Pickups / Skips / Misses 04:54 - Skips 06:35 - Mi...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 67
In this episode, I talk about Live Streaming and how future sneaker influencers will more likely emerge from this space. I also share my thoughts on all these overly dramatic takes about the Death of Sneaker Culture because Trump appeared up at SneakerCon. Plus a lot more! Timestamps 0:00 - Cold Open: Thurston Moore 02:51 - Pickups 04:17 - Skips 07:12 - Misses 08:56 - HartCopy adidas BW Army Release 13:14 - Wale Deserves More 16:36 - Nike Signs Kai Cennat 20:13 - Complex Sold to NTWRK App 25:14 ...
Mar 13, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Episode 65 of the Sockjig Sneaker Podcast features an in-depth interview with Mbiyimoh Ghogomu, CEO and Co-founder of Tradeblock, a marketplace app for trading sneakers. Mbiyimoh discusses his personal journey from a sneaker-loving kid to a tech startup CEO, the inception and growth of Tradeblock, and the significance of running a Black-owned startup in the sneaker industry. We also talk about the challenges of having a startup that launched just before Covid-19, and also now the slowing sneaker...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 65
This is special episode of The Sockjig Sneaker Podcast. I found a pilot episode of a sneaker podcast that I originally recorded on November 30th, 2017. I thought it was lost media but I just found it, cleaned it up and publishing for the first time ever. So let's go back to Nov 2017 when Nike Off White The Ten had just dropped, we used to cop Yeezys from EU sites in the middle of the night. A time many look back on now as a golden age. Timestamps 00:00 2024 Intro 01:15 What is a Sockjig? 02:36 2...
Feb 20, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 64
In this episode I discuss bold predictions for sneakers in 2024: Send me your 2024 Bold Predictions. Click Send a voice message button here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sockjig I also discuss the recent raid at the Project Blitz warehouse, the Stanley Cups hype and what's important about the Kith Loyalty program. I also look at the Nike and Tiger Woods split and why Nike is letting legends walk. I think talk about the challenges in digital media with recent layoffs at Sports Illust...
Jan 31, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Season 1Ep. 63
In this episode, we look into the disruptive marketing campaigns of Anthony Edwards AE1 and the Travis Scott Cactus Mac sneakers. We also talk about the playbook for collaborators with both new collaborator JaeTips, and contrast that with established collaborator Jerry Lorenzo and his new Fear of God x adidas collection. But before that, I talk a little bit about sneaker of the year bracket tournament, the sneaker community, perception, validation and people wanting to be the Sneaker Mayor. And ...
Dec 23, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 62
In this episode we welcome Lois Sakany, a Wall Street sneaker analyst and co-founder of women's streetwear blog, Snobette. We discuss the current challenges faced by big brands like Nike and Adidas, the state of women's streetwear. Lois offers an insightful analysis of the impact of marketing, design, and distribution on a brand's success. We also discuss Lois attending ComplexCon, what people are wearing in Erewhon, and the impressive rise of Emily Oberg's Sporty and Rich brand. Timestamps 0:00...
Dec 01, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 61
In this episode, we delve into the current money laundering allegations against James Whitner of the Whitaker Group, owner of Social Status and A Ma Maniere. The podcast breaks down the possible scheme which allegedly involved selling Nike product to a Chinese buyer, with proceeds said to have been laundered and traced back to Whitner. We explore a possible timeline of events from 2017 to 2022, examine key players involved, and touch on the court documents. We also delve into past backdoor alleg...
Nov 22, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 60
In this episode, I take a deep-dive look into the future of sneaker retail amid the generational shift in what we buy, and the technological changes happening everyday. I look into recent store closures, the decline of big box retailers and malls and contemplate the long-term future of retail. Finally, I examine what retailers need to do to save brick-and-mortar retail, and what Nike can do to help going forward. I also talk about Kanye story in NYT, CPFM Flea 2, and Complex cancelling shows. So...
Nov 09, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 59
In this episode, I recap my trip to Kith Toronto opening night party and the store open and talk about why I was there, how I got invited, and the people I met. I also talk about the Born x Raised Dunk SB drop. Timestamps 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:06 - Intro 00:58 - On Feet 01:12 - Pickups 03:24 - Misses 04:20 - Nike dotSwoosh TINAJ 08:17 - Born x Raised Release 21:09 - Kith Toronto https://linktr.ee/sockjig https://shop.sockjig.com/...
Oct 09, 2023•49 min•Season 1Ep. 58
In this episode I talk about early pairs and if they're stolen, fake, or backdoored. I also talk about Kool Kiy, Nightwing's fake apology to me, Tremaine leaving Supreme, and debut a new segment called Size 13 Takes. Timestamps 00:00 - Funkmaster Flex Cold Open 02:30 - On Feet 03:22 - Pickups / Skips / Misses 11:56 - Size 13 Takes 14:03 - Nike v. Kool Kiy Lawsuit Update 19:43 - Fake Apologies 33:47 - Tremaine Leaves Supreme 39:50 - Fake Sneakers 44:40 - Stolen Sneakers 48:43 - Backdoored Sneaker...
Sep 07, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 57
What's there to hate about StockX? Let me count the ways. This is The Hater's Guide to StockX Timestamps 00:00 - Cold Open - The Unofficial and Probably Incorrect Story of the Founding of StockX 04:55 - Intro 07:04 - Disclaimer 08:44 - What’s Good About StockX? 11:23 - Authentication 23:36 - Nike NFT Lawsuit 26:52 - Fakes on StockX 31:52 - Rapid Fire 34:13 - Voice Messages 38:56 - Buying on StockX 44:30 - Selling on StockX 52:36 - Customer Service 58:12 - Tech Fuck-ups 01:00:38 - Too Stupid or T...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 56
A conversation with designer, Creative Director, and entrepreneur Joe Freshgoods. We talk about his approach to creating sneakers and storytelling. We talk about the business side of collabs, and also detail what happened with adidas. Finally we talk about how Joe handles drops, both in person and online. It's a very candid and in depth conversation with Joe. He shares a lot of exclusive details, and doesn't generally do very many long form interviews, so check it out. https://twitter.com/JoeFre...
Jul 05, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this episode, I talk about Spider-Man Jordan 1s, Jarritos SB Dunk, Yeezys returning, and shoot down the Travis SB Dunk rumour. There's also a sock drop in this episode if you're interested. The main topic is about advice I'd give to someone in their early 20s about getting into sneakers, but without the cliches. Timestamps 00:00 - Cold Open: Tony Soprano 00:26 - Intro 03:31 - Sock Drop 04:33 - On Feet 06:05 - Pickups and Skips 09:32 - JaeTips Saucony 10:15 - Spider-Man Jordan 1 12:38 - Jarrit...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode I welcome my guest, creative director, stylist, and all around blueprint JerLisa Nicole. You may have seen her work on Twitter including the Black History Month Kicks of the Day hashtag. We talk about that as well as her Sneaker Hunting show that was on Sole Collector, being outspoken and passionate and how that can hurt your bookings in the sneaker industry. We also talk about representation and women in sneakers. And throughout the interview I read aloud some of her memorable t...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 53
In this episode, I look at how generative artificial intelligence like ChatGPT could affect sneaker brands, sneaker media, content creators, resellers and sneakerheads. I look into all of the problems and issues that could arise because of the rise of Generative AI. BridgetGPT, the first sneaker AI also returns. In sneaker news, I give my thoughts on FOG adidas and the Union Jordan 1 Footscape, Nigo and Nike, botched SNKRS apps drops, and a lot more. Timestamps 00:00 - Cold Open 00:26 - Intro 02...
Apr 23, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 52
