Sneaker History Podcast - Sneakers, Sneaker Culture and the Business of Footwear
Nearly 600,000 downloads and still here! A show about sneakers for sneakerheads, by sneakerheads. We're not here to bring people down or play gatekeeper, we are here to show the positive side of sneakers and connect with like-minded sneaker enthusiasts. We talk about sneakers and the footwear industry, interview footwear industry professionals, designers, and creatives who share our passion for sneakers. To advertise to our audience: [email protected] A part of the Retrospect Podcast Network.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Allen Iverson's First NBA Game: The Reebok Question on Night One
Thirty years ago today, on November 1, 1996, Allen Iverson played his first NBA game, against the Milwaukee Bucks in Philadelphia, and he scored 30 points in a shoe with his own name on it: the Reebok Question. In this episode, Nick Engvall tells the story: Hampton to Georgetown, the No. 1 pick, the Reebok deal, the first Question commercial, his debut, the rookie season that followed, my own Questions, and the First Game Score out of 10.
Watch the video version with the photos and the First Game Score: https://youtu.be/booEDs8119A
First Game: John Wall and...
John Wall's First NBA Game: A Reebok Signature Shoe on Day One
16 years ago, on October 28, 2010, John Wall played his first NBA game on opening night at Orlando's brand new Amway Center, and he walked in with his own signature shoe already on his feet: the Reebok Zig Slash, built on ZigTech. In this episode, Nick Engvall tells the story: one season for John Calipari at Kentucky, the Wizards' 10.3% lottery jump, the Reebok deal, his debut, the record-setting weeks that followed, my John Wall "Beyond The Gold" Reebok player edition, and the First Game Score out of 10.
Watch the video version with the photos and the First Game Score...
Derrick Rose's First NBA Game: The adidas TS Creator Nobody Remembers
18 years ago, on October 28, 2008, Derrick Rose played his first NBA game at the United Center in Chicago, and he didn't play it in a signature shoe. He played it in an adidas TS Creator player edition, Bulls white and red. In this episode, Nick Engvall tells the story: the 2008 Memphis run in adidas, the 1.7% lottery that sent a kid from Englewood to his hometown team, his debut against the Bucks, the shoe almost nobody remembers, and its First Game Score out of 10.
Plus my own Memphis player edition adidas TS Pro Model, straight from the very first...
LeBron James' First NBA Game Wasn't in the "First Game": The Air Zoom Generation Story
23 years ago, on October 29, 2003, LeBron James played his first NBA game at Arco Arena against my Sacramento Kings, and he wasn't wearing the shoe Nike calls the "First Game." In this episode, Nick Engvall tells the real story of the Nike Air Zoom Generation: the $90 million rookie deal, Aaron Cooper and the design team, the Hummer H2 theory, the colorway that actually debuted on his feet, and why the "First Game" pair is really from his first home game a week later.
Plus a sidebar from my own career: in 2017 at StockX we partnered with Nike to...
Michael Jordan's First NBA Game: The Real "Banned" Story
42 years ago, on October 26, 1984, Michael Jordan played his first NBA game, and he wasn't wearing Air Jordans. In this episode, Nick Engvall tells the real story of the "Banned" Air Jordan 1: the Nike Air Ship Jordan actually wore, the NBA letter dated October 18, 1984, the "devil colors" quote nobody can source, and the 1985 Nike newsletter line that says the shoes were never banned at all.
From the 1985 commercial to the $1.47 million game-worn Air Ships at Sotheby's, the 2011 outlet "Banned" release, Unbanned (2018) and Air (2023), here's how one shoe became the most famous rule breaker in sneaker history.
...
Matt from Corporate: Our Memories Become Our Movement
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Kader Sylla Built a Skate Shoe for Twenty Stairs | Coffee Time Kicks
What does it mean to have your own signature sneaker? For adidas Skateboarding pro Kader Sylla, it's a trip.
Kader joins Mike Guillory on Coffee Time Kicks to break down his adidas signature skate shoe, from the first conversations to the details most people will never notice. He wanted a slightly pointier toe for flick, and a split toe you rarely see on skate shoes anymore. Most of all, he wanted a shoe he could jump down a twenty stair in and still feel fine the next day. That led to cushioning that runs through the entire...
Why a Footwear Designer Started Making Knives
Rick Maderis has spent more than twenty years inside adidas, Nike, Jordan Brand and Curry Brand, working on the graphics, color and storytelling that rarely get a name attached. Now he runs Burnside Knives in Portland, and you can see the sneaker brain in every piece.
Rick and I played phone tag for close to a year before this happened, and it was worth the wait. We talk about the fire drills that end up producing better work, tilting the adidas trefoil fifteen degrees and hearing about it, why retros carry more pressure than new...
The Air Jordan 41... "You Never Really Finish an Air Jordan, You Just Run Out of Time" - Jason Mayden
Jason Mayden walked into Jordan Brand in 2001 as its first design intern. He designed the Air Jordan 2009 and the Jordan CP3.II, left in 2014 to build his own companies, and came back a decade later to run design for the entire brand. This past May he stepped out of that job into one that did not exist until he took it, VP of Jordan Visioneering and LA28 Creative Lead.
We talked about the Air Jordan 41, and about almost everything except the spec sheet.
He explains what he had to unpack coming back into the building...
The Photographer Ronnie Fieg Gifted a 1-of-36 Air Max 95 | Chef Doomy
Mike is flying solo for another Coffee Time Kicks episode, and he brought a good one. He sits down with photographer and content creator Adham Abousalem, better known as Chef Doomy, for an honest conversation about building a craft instead of chasing a following.
They get into why this wave of oversaturated releases is quietly handing power back to the collector, what actually makes someone a sneakerhead (it has nothing to do with brand loyalty), and how New Balance helped make comfortable runners cool again in a post-Yeezy world.
Adham shares his origin, from collecting...
The Most Complete Michael Jordan Collection Is In The Last Place You'd Look
Josh De Vaney lives in Perth, Western Australia, about as far from the center of sneaker and basketball culture as you can get, and he has quietly built one of the most complete collections of Michael Jordan toys and figurines on the planet. Not the shoes. The toys. The stuff most of us ripped open as kids and never thought about again.
It started with a Christmas hoop in 1994 and turned into an eleven-year hunt that led Josh to a figurine Ohio Art says was never sold or released, a twelve-page feature in Sneaker Freaker, an unplanned...
Inside Saucony's Collab Playbook with Jason Faustino, Sr. Director of Energy
Mike runs a solo Coffee Time Kicks episode and sits down with a friend of the show, Jason Faustino, Senior Director of Energy at Saucony. Fresh off the brand's Paris preview, Jason breaks down how Saucony builds its creative world: why knowing exactly who you are beats chasing anyone else, how collaborations really get vetted (it comes down to chemistry and gut), and how a small team stays two years out on product while making it look effortless.
They get into the Westside Gun partnership and the passing of the torch from Jae Tips, why Jason sees...
From Dallas to the World: Jared Moody's Sneaker Photography Journey
Mike is back with another Coffee Time Kicks episode, and this one is for anybody who has ever looked at a sneaker photo and wondered how someone made a shoe feel alive.
Jared Moody is the photo manager at Sneaker Politics, a contract shooter for Sneaker News, and one of the most intentional sneaker photographers working right now. Born and raised in Dallas, Moody got into sneakers around 2010 through his cousins, got deep once he hit high school, and has been building his craft ever since.
In this conversation, Mike and Moody cover the full...
The Whole Squad Is Back: World Cup, Skechers, and the State of Sneaker Culture
The whole crew is back. Nick, Robbie, Mike, and Rohit reunite for a full-panel episode of the Sneaker History Podcast, and it feels exactly like catching up with friends who happen to know more about shoes than most people you know.
They kick things off with Rockin' and Coppin', covering everything from Nipsey Hussle PUMAs and adidas SL EVOs to a World Cup craze over jerseys and some very real talk about what shoe buying looks like when adulting kicks in. From there, the conversation stretches across World Cup sneaker culture, 3D printing and foam technology in...
The Untold Story of a Soccer Shoe Born From Hustle, Struggle, and Grassroots Roots
Most sneaker fans haven’t seen a project this layered and meaningful — until now. When two creators linked up, they crafted a sneaker that tells a story of perseverance, culture, and global pride, right during the World Cup.
Brandon Davis, of Better Generation, and Andu, of Roommate the artist behind the inspiring custom sneakers, turn a simple soccer shoe into a symbol of grassroots hustle and self-expression. In this episode, you’ll discover how a cold DM sparked a creative partnership that culminated in a limited-edition sneaker capturing the spirit of the World Cup. Brandon shares the behind...
The Copification of NBA Sneakers... And Why the WNBA Isn't Having It
Every men's Nike basketball shoe right now has some DNA from the Kobe 4, 5, or 6. Nick, Mike, and Rohit ask whether that's a problem, and whether the women's game has already figured out the answer. They cover Asia Wilson's signature, the Sabrina as a tasteful homage, Edwards making the Believe That One the most talked-about takedown model in recent memory, and a four-team sneaker identity breakdown to close the playoffs. Ganglands, villain shoes, and a Sacramento Kings tangent that gets personal.
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The World Cup Sneaker Battles Have Begun
In this episode of the Sneaker History Podcast, Robbie, Rohit, and Mike discuss various sneaker releases, including a special Mother's Day collaboration from adidas. They share their personal sneaker highlights and upcoming purchases, while also touching on the charitable efforts behind certain sneaker collaborations. The conversation shifts to the rising star Anthony Edwards and his impact on the basketball scene, followed by a review of an exciting new adidas ad for the World Cup, showcasing a blend of sports and celebrity culture. In this engaging conversation, the hosts delve into the dynamics of branding in soccer, particularly focusing on...
The Catalog That Raised a Generation of Sneakerheads (Eastbay Founders Art Juedes & Rick Gering)
There are companies that sell shoes. And then there are companies that shape the way an entire generation experiences them. Eastbay was the latter... and most people have no idea how improbable the whole thing was.
Art Juedes and Rick Gering started Eastbay out of a store in Wausau, Wisconsin. Two coaches with 16 years of combined college education, zero business courses between them, and a vision that shoe stores in this country were failing athletes. No one specialized. No one had inventory. No one knew what they were talking about when you called. So Art and Rick...
The Art of Taking Sneakers Apart
Mike sits down with Al Baker, the artist behind Deadstock Anatomies, for a Coffee Time Kicks conversation about turning sneakers into framed art pieces inspired by entomology, the science of pinning insects.
Al breaks down how a wife's passion for bug collecting led to taking apart a Jordan 1 and never looking back, the time he split a Red October down the middle and made $6,000 doing it, why the Reebok Above the Rim line still has him hunting Poshmark for old Steve Francis ATRs, and what it felt like to hand A'ja Wilson a piece made from her...
The Men Behind the Eastbay Catalog | Art & Rick Tell Their Story
If you grew up flipping through the Eastbay catalog, this one's for you.
Mike sits down with Art and Rick, the two men behind one of the most beloved institutions in sneaker and athletic culture. Born two days apart in the same hospital, lifelong friends, and eventual business partners... their story is one of those rare ones that almost sounds made up. They break down how a simple idea rooted in getting the best athletic footwear to young athletes turned into a cultural phenomenon that shaped how a generation discovered sneakers. They also talk about their new...
Christina Faith on Building The Grindhouse, Creating Without the Bag, and 20 Years in the Game
Christina Faith has been building for 20 years. She started with a DSLR in 2006, ran a record label, launched her first business in college, and has now opened a 2,500 sq. ft. creative production space that's also becoming a live music venue. She's self-taught, faith-driven, and one of the most grounded voices in the creative space right now.
In this Coffee Time Kicks conversation, Mike sits down with Christina to talk about growing up not being able to afford sneakers, making her own money by 7th grade just to grab a pair of Penny Hardaways, and why everything she...
Running Changed. Sneakers Changed It.
You probably know I've got a love-hate relationship with running. But when Raziq Rauf, the guy behind the Running Sucks Substack, sent me his new book This Is Running, I couldn't put it down. So I figured I needed to get him on the show.
Raz is a former music journalist, BBC and Guardian contributor, USATF running coach, and now author of what is genuinely a cultural history of running in the 21st century. We talk about the super shoe revolution and what carbon plate technology actually does to your body, why run clubs exploded out of...
4 Years. 6 Samples. 60 Pairs.
Mark Strong didn't have a design background. He didn't have a factory connection. He had an idea, a Garrison contest entry, and the kind of stubbornness it takes to actually see something through. Four-plus years later, he's got a shoe. The SV1 "Radici" — 60 pairs, hairy suede uppers, Vibram soles, and laces sourced from the same Tennessee tannery that makes Rawlings baseball glove leather.
We talk about the whole journey: Made in USA dreams that hit a $300/pair wall, a Portugal factory that went dark mid-sample, a pivot back to China, tariff chaos during pre-orders, and indigo-dyed hemp to...
From Hoop Dreams to Amazon Prime: The Story Behind the Meal Ticket Documentary.
Rohit caught up with producer Billy Burke and writer/producer Terrence Watson to talk about Meal Ticket, their documentary about the McDonald's All-American Game, now streaming on Amazon Prime. These two have serious resumes... Billy produced New York City Point Gods, and Terrence has worked with everyone from Gatorade to creative duo Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah. But Meal Ticket might be their most personal project yet.
We get into how the film came together, why Flau'jae Johnson is everyone's favorite character (you'll see), and the Tracy McGrady interview that didn't make the cut but probably should...
Boots to the Street: The Best Sneakers of the 2026 World Cup
The World Cup is almost here, and the sneaker game around it is already delivering. Nick, Robbie, and Rohit break down everything from Nike's Air Max soccer boot hybrids and country-specific colorways to adidas' Federation Pack Sambas for Japan, Mexico, and Italy. They get into the Jordan Brand x Brazil situation, why traditional colors still matter on the global stage, and how this year's releases are threading the needle between football culture and everyday wear. Plus, Rockin' and Coppin' featuring the Mark Gonzalez x adidas Terrex Sky Chaser GTX, some Kobe threes, and a Reebok Formula One throwback.
<...Trying Is Cool: AD Sneaks on Photography, Teaching, and Why the Work Behind the Photo Is the Whole Point
Andrew Dutton, better known as @ad__sneaks on Instagram, has built one of the most recognizable sneaker photography accounts anywhere online. Hundreds of thousands of followers. Features from Complex. Brand invitations to NBA All-Star Weekend. And a coffee table book, The Art of the Sneaker, releasing March 24th , that nobody saw coming... including him.
Nick and Andy get into how a digital media teacher from rural Idaho turned a COVID-era passion project into a published photography book, what it actually looks like behind the scenes of those perfectly lit shots, and why "trying is cool" might be...
I Finally Talked to Pete Forester and We Forgot to Talk About Sneakers
Pete Forester and I have been circling each other in the sneaker and streetwear editorial world for well over a decade. Pete worked at Kith under Ronnie Fieg, wrote news for Complex Sneakers, covered the industry for Esquire, hosted two seasons of High Snobiety's From the Ground Up, and was editorial director at StockX. He also wrote the Sole Collector article that introduced the world to StockX before he ever worked there.
We finally connected... and barely talked about shoes.
The Highsnobiety show ended because the owner didn't like Pete's haircut. That story says everything...
The Shoe Is the Story: Amado Rodriguez Jr. on ZX Series, Osaga, and the Running Technology Nobody Talks About
Amado Rodriguez Jr. started his blog, The Official Encyclopedia Sneakérica, with one goal... to do for sneakers what Encyclopedia Britannica did for everything else. No hype. No "buy it now" buttons. Just the deep cuts, the real history, and the stuff that gets lost when everybody's chasing the algorithm.
He's @SneakerProfiler on Instagram, a B-boy whose parents came from Puerto Rico, a military veteran who ran constantly during his time in the Army, and a marathon runner who might know more about the ZX Series than most people at adidas right now.
We talked f...
Voltron's Back: Black Mamba Origins, Reebok's Return, and the Future of F1 Sneakers
The whole crew is back together... Nick, Mike, Robbie, and Rohit are all in the same (virtual) room for the first time in a while, and things get weird before they get good. From confusing their Thugs (Young vs. Slim, no disrespect to either) to breaking down the Reebok Engine A26 and the adidas x Spider collab dropping March 3rd, the guys cover a lot of ground this episode.
The real meat of the conversation though? That ESPN story by Baxter Holmes about the Jordan 19 and the Black Mamba origin... it turns out the snakeskin concept that...
Under Armour Digs Themselves Further Into The Hole With Curry
Steph Curry's sneaker free agency has him wearing heat from every brand, while Under Armour gets petty by stealing Curry Brand's Instagram followers. We debate where he should sign next (spoiler: maybe nowhere), compare this to Kobe's free agency, and break down why UA's downfall feels inevitable. Is Sunday Red the move? Should he just keep wearing whatever he wants? And why does Under Armour's logo look like a linebacker?
Sole Retriever's Curry Tracker: https://currywatch.com/
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The Algorithm Flattens Culture: JT, The Sneaker Savant, on Dadas, Portland, and Why Substack Might Save Sneaker History
JT, AKA The Sneaker Savant, has been in the sneaker world long enough to remember when eBay was church, when Dadas sold out, and when nobody questioned either of those things. He's been a fixture in the Sneaker History Discord for years, built a following on Instagram under @TheSneakerSavant, writes over at thesneakersavant.substack.com, and has been quietly one of the most interesting thinkers in this whole space... he just doesn't always show his face.
This one gets personal pretty fast. We talk about the Portland gathering and what it meant to finally be in a...
Nike and Jordan Brand All-Star Weekend Sneaker Releases
Is there a better place for All-Star Weekend sneaker releases than Los Angeles?
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The Costco Dunk Craze, J. Cole's New Album, Marvel's Wonder Man, and More
In this episode of the Sneaker History Podcast, Mike and Rohit dive into the latest sneaker culture trends, including their recent picks and the buzz around the Costco Dunk. They also review J. Cole's new double album, discussing its themes and production quality, before transitioning to a discussion about the new Marvel series, Wonder Man, and its character-driven storytelling.
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Sneaker Culture Overview
03:02 Recent Sneaker Acquisitions and Experiences
06:07 The Costco Dunk Phenomenon
11:59 In-Depth Review of the Costco...
Sneaker Culture Unveiled: A Journey With Jazerai Allen-Lord
In this episode of the Sneaker History Podcast, host Mike Guillory welcomes Jazerai Allen-Lord, an OG in the sneaker community. They discuss Jaz's journey from skate culture to becoming a respected voice in sneaker media, her experiences in writing and content creation, and the importance of representation and mentorship in the industry. Jaz shares insights on navigating challenges, building resilience, and the evolving role of women in sneaker culture. The conversation highlights the significance of community, personal experiences, and strategic thinking in shaping the future of the sneaker industry.
Follow Jazerai on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com...
From Outside The Box: Back To Where It Started... StockX Co-Founder Chris Kaufman
Chris Kaufman co-founded StockX, but this isn't an origin story. We talk about what he learned watching companies destroy culture for quarterly gains, why constant layoffs cost more than just keeping good people, and what leadership actually looks like when you stop pretending you have all the answers. Plus: the Kanye visit, the first StockX trades, and why Detroit was the perfect place to build something weird and new.
Chris wrote "Empathy at Work" because he's convinced being decent to people isn't just morally right... it's better business. After this conversation, I think he's right.
...
Nike Mind 001 Review: Is It The Real Deal or The Next Fuel Band? Or Somehow... Both?
Nike dropped the Mind 001 and the internet had opinions. One of us already bought it and tried it, so we're debating this with actual experience instead of just hot takes. Is this innovation or gimmick? Is Nike breaking new ground or desperately trying to make us care about something... anything? What does this release signal about their bigger strategy? Rohit, Robbie, and Nick argue it out.
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...
What Does 2026 Mean For The Sneaker History Podcast (Special Episode)
An essential update for the podcast moving forward, and what you can expect in 2026.
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$12/month for industry analysis, insider stories, and deep dives into sneaker history.
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A Century of Footwear Knowledge - The Archivist's Role In Sneaker Culture
In this episode of the Sneaker History Podcast, host Mike Guillory speaks with Sam Smallidge, the archivist at Converse, about the rich history of the brand and its impact on sneaker culture. They discuss Sam's unique connection to Converse, the evolution of various shoe models, and the significance of player-worn shoes. The conversation also delves into the role of an archivist, the process of archiving new models, and the importance of collaborations in sneaker design.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Converse and Sneaker...
Knowledge Is Currency: D'Wayne Edwards on Retail, Design, and Building the Only Design-Focused HBCU
In this episode of the Sneaker History Podcast, hosts Robbie Falchi and Mike Guillory interview Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, a legendary sneaker designer and founder of Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, a footwear design academy. They discuss the evolution of sneaker culture, the influence of athletes and pop culture on sneaker design, and the importance of authenticity in marketing. D'Wayne shares insights on the sneaker industry, advice for aspiring designers, and the significance of community engagement. The conversation also highlights the adidas Business Track initiative, which aims to bridge the gap between retail and sneaker design, emphasizing the...
Sneaker Culture in the South With Rukus' Devin Chriss
In this episode of the Sneaker History Podcast, host Mike Guillory interviews Devin Chriss, a partner at Rukus, a sneaker and skate shop in Louisiana. They discuss the unique culture of sneakers in the South, the importance of community engagement, and the evolution of sneaker collaborations, particularly with New Balance. Devin shares insights into the challenges and successes of running a sneaker shop, the impact of reselling on the market, and the significance of skate culture in shaping sneaker trends. The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling in sneaker design and the future of sneaker retail in a rapidly...
