The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they are joined by Stan Smith, the legendary tennis player who became an icon in sneakers through his namesake Adidas shoe. Smith talks about signing with the brand, the millions of pairs of Stan Smiths they’ve sold through the decades, and what he thinks of the sneaker market today. Also, the cohosts get ready for ComplexCon and discuss the most fair way to release sneakers—raffle, online, lineup,...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 146
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the cohosts discuss the exclusive access release that Nike’s SNKRS app is doing for the “Lost and Found” Air Jordan 1 and the Jordan 1’s status in general right now. Elsewhere, they react to Nike’s decision to suspend Kyrie Irving and break down how important his sneakers are to its basketball business. The cohosts also discuss the Run the Jewels x Nike SB Dunks, Fat Joe’s Terror Squad Air Force 1...
Nov 11, 2022•59 min•Ep. 145
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they’re joined by Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper, the founders of Eastside Golf. The duo talk about how they’ve landed multiple successful Air Jordan collaborations, their relationship with Michael Jordan, and the goal of placing Eastside on Barack Obama. Also, the cohosts give an update on the Adidas Yeezy fallout and a tribute to Takeoff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...
Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 144
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the cohosts react to the news of Adidas dropping Ye and ending the Yeezy deal early after his antisemitic comments. The cohosts also break down the recent fiasco of alleged backdooring around the “Lost and Found” Air Jordan 1. In the second half of the episode they’re joined by Anwan “Big G” Glover, who played Slim Charles on “The Wire.” Glover explains the style choices for the show, the history ...
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 143
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they go in depth on Kanye West’s disagreements with Adidas, from the execs whose faces were blurred out in his meeting with the brand to his partnership being placed under review. Also, the cohosts discuss Nike’s new policies made to fight back against resellers. Elsewhere in the episode, Welty fires back at the fake sneaker comments, Joe preps for the Blink-182 reunion, and Brendan apologizes for...
Oct 21, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 142
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they talk about New Balance's collaborations and the sustained energy around the brand's lifestyle sneakers. Beyond from the recent heat by partners like Joe Freshgoods and Salehe Bembury, the co-hosts reflect on the last 15 years of special edition NB collaborations from Solebox, Concepts, Hanon, Burn Rubber, and more. Also, Brendan relives a tense situation in Times Square and Joe plans for a ve...
Oct 14, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 141
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they break down the release of the Tom Sachs x Nike GPS at Kohl’s, whether or not the Nike Air Max Bliss looks like a New Balance 992, the closing of NikeLab 21 Mercer, and the StockX coupon code leak that people tried to abuse over the weekend. Also, Joe gets back from his Kith trip, Welty talks about signing with a brand, and Brendan talks about selling ukuleles. Looking for the Complex Sneakers...
Oct 07, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 140
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they discuss the upcoming Trophy Room x Air Jordan 7, the hype around the JJJJound x Asics Gel Kayano 14, and Patta’s Nike collaborations. Also, Welty hops on the On wave, Brendan comes back from vacation in Portugal, and Joe joins remote on a trip in Florida. Looking for the Complex Sneakers Podcast Dad Hats? Shop on Complex Shop now! https://shop.complex.com/products/the-complex-sneakers-podcast...
Sep 23, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 139
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they're joined by the NBA's Langston Galloway to talk about starting his own sneaker brand, his custom sneakers that made it to the Hall of Fame, how he used to camp out for sneakers, and how Chris Paul gave him free shoes, and more. Looking for the Complex Sneakers Podcast Dad Hats? Shop on Complex Shop now! https://shop.complex.com/products/the-complex-sneakers-podcast-dad-hat-white https://shop...
Sep 16, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 138
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they talk about Kanye West’s Adidas deal, his very public battle with the brand over the past week, and what it means for the future of Yeezy sneakers. The cohosts debate whether West truly wants to leave Adidas and discuss what that might look like. Also, Welty breaks out a bunch of shoes for Labor Day, Brendan returns from Atlanta, and Joe goes toy shopping back in Bay Shore. Looking for the Com...
Sep 09, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 137
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they talk about back to school sneakers, reminisce on the shoes that were popular when they were in high school, and break down how bad RTV requests are when you work in footwear retail. They also leak some exciting Nike shoes that aren’t releasing until 2023. Elsewhere, Joe hits some serious buckets at Got Sole, Welty hits a personal best in the gym, and Brendan reflects on his Hood to Coast run....
Sep 02, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 136
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the co-hosts discuss some of the most anticipated sneakers that are still releasing in 2022, like the A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 4, the Concepts x Nike SB Dunk Low “Orange Lobster,” the “Lost and Found” Air Jordan 1 High Chicago and more. Also, they explain their absence last week, talk about the viral video of someone drinking a beer out of a hot dog straw at a Yankees game, and discuss Joe’s fit ...
Aug 26, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 135
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they’re joined by Austin Babbitt, better known as Asspizza, a young streetwear designer who came up in the Soho scene in the 2010s. Asspizza’s latest product are his 730 sneakers, which are based on the popular Nike Air More Uptempo. In the episode, he talks about how he got the shoes made, avoiding legal issues around them, meeting with Kanye West, and more. Also, Joe wins a prize on the boardwalk...
Aug 12, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 134
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the co-hosts discuss the fallout around Yeezy Day, which Ye challenged Adidas over and claimed happened without his approval. They also talk about how to figure out your appropriate sneaker size and make a shocking discovery about one of the cohosts’ footwear. Elsewhere, the trio reacts to the latest in the Zadeh Kicks sneaker reselling saga. Also, Welty influences Rihanna’s sneakers, Joe has some...
Aug 05, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 133
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the trio discuss Travis Scott’s latest Cactus Jack sneaker, the Air Jordan 1 Low, and where it ranks in his work. They also break down the hate around the “Panda” Nike Dunk Low and discuss whether it’s really justified. Later, Welty questions Donald Glover’s New Balance campaign and also the newfound interest in suede Adidas models. Also, Brendan gives up on the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 an...
Jul 29, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 132
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the cohosts are joined by Arthur Kar, the man behind the auto brand L'Art de L'automobile. In addition to supplying rare cars to artists and entertainers, Kar has collaborated with sneaker brands like Vans and Salomon via his streetwear brand. A super connected individual, Kar talks about his time with Virgil Abloh, projects like the “Bred” Off-White x Air Jordan 4 and Louis Vuitton x Nike Air For...
Jul 22, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 131
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they’re joined by James Whitner of the Whitaker Group, the company behind sneaker stores A Ma Maniere and Social Status. Whitner brings along a never-before-seen Air Jordan 12 collaboration and talks about his stores’ rise, the realities of fighting bots, and how backdooring happens in the sneaker industry. Also, Joe and Welty practice yoga while Brendan recovers from a go-karting session Looking f...
Jul 15, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 130
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they discuss the best sneakers of 2022 so far, breaking down the Complex’s staffs picks for the biggest pairs that have released in the first half of the year. The cohosts debate the merits of shoes like Travis Scott’s Air Max 1s, Drake’s Hot Step, and Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1. Also, Joe gives a glizzy update, Welty reminisces on his history in fireworks, and Brendan relives...
Jul 08, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 129
DESCRIPTION: The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the cohosts are joined by Alex Dymond, a behind-the-scenes designer who’s worked on sneakers with the likes of Quartersnacks, Alltimers, and his wife, Olivia Kim. Dymond discusses the early days of sneaker and streetwear culture in New York City, touching on his time at legendary stores like Nort and Supreme. Also, Welty talks about his workout playlist, Joe extolls the values of scuf...
Jun 24, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 128
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they’re joined by Ibn Jasper, a Chicagoan who got his start cutting hair for artists like Kanye West and Don C. Ibn gives an inside look into the creation of Kanye’s unreleased Reebok shoe, the Nike Air Yeezy line, and his short-lived Louis Vuitton sneaker collection. He also talks about his own journey in footwear, from skating in Air Jordans to releasing multiple collections with converse. Elsewh...
Jun 17, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 127
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, they talk about the ups and downs of Air Jordan retros over the past three decades, from good pairs like the “Grape” Air Jordan 5s to forgettable pairs like the “Crimson” Air Jordan 3s. Also, Wetly relives some sneaker backdoor sagas from his Foot Locker days, Joe breaks down the SWAT tactic, and the group celebrates over a platter of glizzies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...
Jun 10, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 126
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the three unpack the saga of Zadeh Kicks, the Oregon-based sneaker reseller who’s been accused of scamming customers out of millions after shutting his business down. They also discuss the upcoming Tom Sachs x NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe, the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 collection, and a long-awaited dinner that finally came to fruition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
Jun 03, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 125
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they are joined by Jeff Staple, a sneaker and streetwear designer who has worked with Nike, New Balance, Tag Heuer, and whose brand is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Staple talks about his legendary Nike Pigeon Dunk SB, turning down a job offer from Nike, the current NFT space as it relates to sneakers, and more. Also the cohosts talk about StockX vs Nike and how tough it will be to ge...
May 27, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 124
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they are joined by Salehe Bembury, a sneaker designer who’s worked with Versace, Yeezy, Payless, New Balance, Crocs, Anta, and more. Bembury talks about his approach to design, how his sneakers are doing on the resale market, and teaching Andre 3000 how to make sneakers. Also, the cohosts reminisce on the simpler days of pep rallies and five-disc changers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
May 20, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 123
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they are joined by Christopher Bevans, who was just named creative director at Eddie Bauer. Bevans has a long history in sportswear that includes helping Kanye West make his first pair of Nike sneakers, designing Roger Federer’s logo at Nike, and helping out on the Nike Kobe collaboration with Stash. Also, the cohosts have a heated discussion about the merits of insoles. Hosted on Acast. See acast....
May 13, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 122
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the three have a long conversation about Marcus Jordan’s infamous Trophy Room x Air Jordan 1 release fiasco, how it affected his reputation in sneakers, and the spicy photos circulating on Twitter. They also break down the “Mambacita” Nike Kobe 6 release and reflect on the career of Peter Moore, the Nike and Adidas designer who passed away last week. Elsewhere, the cohosts discuss the latest in th...
May 06, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 121
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the three touch on the Union x Air Jordan 2 fiasco, from people’s cards getting charged for pairs they couldn’t get and the accusation that the sneakers were backdoored. Infamous reseller Benjamin Kickz makes a brief cameo via FaceTime to discuss his involvement. Also, Joe and Welty reflect on thwarting sneaker thieves at their retail jobs and Brendan tries his best to put in a bid for a role in t...
Apr 29, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 120
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they're joined by Lukas Bentel, a chief creative officer at the Brooklyn art collective MSCHF. Bentel brings with him the recently released Wavy Baby sneaker, a Vans-lookalike model that is the latest MSCHF creation to earn a trademark infringement lawsuit. He defends the shoe, discusses the controversy over the Lil Nas X Satan Shoe that Nike sued over, and explains why he feels confident about his...
Apr 22, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 119
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they talk about DJ Khaled's newly unveiled "We The Best" Air Jordan 5 collection, Fragment x Air Jordan 1s, Drake Nikes, and other top-tier collabs. The co-hosts discuss the merits of these shoes and whether being a collab alone makes them exciting. Also, Joe celebrates a birthday with a pair of glizzies, Welty runs down the latest in MMA news, and Brendan preps for a trip to New Balance HQ in Bost...
Apr 15, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 118
The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the three hosts talk about sneakers they want to see come back, like Arnold Schwarzenegger's Nike lifting shoe, the Nike Air Burst, and the Joe-favorite Air Zoom Citizen. They also reflect on the early days of Nike Flyknit, which launched 10 years ago now. Joe gives a breakdown of the latest Kith trip, Brendan explains Treefort Music Fest in Boise, and Welty starts laying out plans for the Complex...
Apr 08, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 117
