IDEA GENERATION

In 2020, a 30-year-old father of two in the Bronx had an idea. While struggling to establish a music career, John Jaequan Cotton, better known as Jae Tips, took inspiration from the streetwear brands he loved and committed fully to a vision for a personal brand focused on apparel and merch.After building an organic following for his designs, Jae stepped outside of his comfort zone and started knocking on the doors of the people who could help scale his vision. That hustle led to a partnership with an obscure running shoe brand, Saucony, and a series of beloved footwear collaborations that captured the imagination of the sneaker community.But despite critical and cultural acclaim, the harsh economics of streetwear and the crowded footwear landscape mean that Jae still cannot take success for granted.And it all started with one idea…Chapters:0:00 - Intro2:15 - Growing Up / Early Influences4:50 - Dealing with Social Anxiety 6:08 - The Influence of Billionaire Boys Club and BAPE8:10 - Lessons Learned Working at Footlocker9:10 - Music Career / Shifting Focus to Merch13:00 - Opportunities During COVID15:00 - Creating Hats, Sneakers, and Shirts17:55 - Keys to Building Community19:30 - First Sneakers with Saucony24:17 - Balancing Supply & Demand / Marketing27:30 - Aftermarket and Resellers29:00 - Five Year Plan / Managing Growth of the Brand32:40 - Biggest Challenges as an Entrepreneur38:20 - Aspirations / What’s Success?40:30 - Leaving ComplexCon Sneaker of the Year Panel43:05 - Turning Adversity into Art

Grammy award-winning rapper Killer Mike discusses his career, authenticity in the Atlanta rap scene, and the transformative power of therapy in a live listening party for his latest album. The podcast delves into his roots, resilience, and creative process while exploring the impact of producers on his music and his tough persona 'Super Mike'.

Designer Mike Amiri shares his remarkable journey of building a luxury fashion house from a $30k investment. He discusses his early days growing up in Hollywood, handcrafting clothes for musicians, reaching over $300 million in annual revenue, managing cash flow in the apparel industry, and balancing business and family. They also explore the impact of the lockdown, future vision for the brand, supporting undiscovered talent, and their creative ambitions outside of fashion.

For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/  On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, writer and filmmaker Sacha Jenkins takes us on a journey from his childhood in Queens launching his own underground rap and graffiti zines, to pioneering the culture-defining magazine EgoTrip. Eventually Sacha would move into the world of filmmaking, directing the critically acclaimed documentaries 'Fresh Dressed,' 'Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,' and his latest work, 'Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues.' And it all started with one idea. Special thanks to our partners at Tres Generaciones for bringing this podcast to life. More about Tres: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/

For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/  On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, designer, artist, and entrepreneur Marc Ecko takes us on a journey from his days as a young airbrush artist in New Jersey, to launching a $500 million brand in Ecko Unlimited, to creating the culture-defining Complex Magazine, to becoming a best-selling author and philanthropist. And it all started with one idea. Special thanks to our partners at Tres Generaciones for bringing this podcast to life. More about Tres: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/

For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/  On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, rapper Rapsody takes us on a journey from her early days in a hip hop collective in college, to rising through the underground rap scene and landing major collaborations with Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar, to the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, 'Laila's Wisdom.' From rapping for fun to signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation and getting nominated for Grammy's, Rapsody's career is an incredible story... and it all started with one idea. Special thanks to our partners at Tres Generaciones for bringing this podcast to life. More about Tres: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/

On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, actor, entrepreneur and activist Gabrielle Union takes us on a journey from her early days as a struggling actor in Los Angeles, to becoming a blockbuster movie star, film producer, and author... all while building a portfolio of her own brands and being a present mother in her family. And it all started with one idea. The Idea Generation Podcast is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila.  The perfect tequila for creatives who are ready to fail twice, but get up Tres!  @TresGenTequila

On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, producer Tay Keith takes us on a journey from his early days taking piano lessons, to meeting BlocBoy JB and building their careers together, to producing smash hits for artists like Beyonce, Drake, and Travis Scott, including the Diamond record "Sicko Mode." The Idea Generation Podcast is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila.  The perfect tequila for creatives who are ready to fail twice, but get up Tres!  @TresGenTequila Credits  Noah Callahan-Bever Creator & Host, Idea Generation Starring: Tay Keith Executive Producer: Helena Ox  Producer: Jack Erwin  Lead Editor, Creative Director & Sound Designer:  Sarathi Garimella  Producer / Editor: Xan of Mars

On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, designer Nicole McLaughlin takes us on a journey from her time as a graphic design intern, to becoming a viral sensation on Instagram by crafting creative upcycled shoes, to starting her own design courses, and collaborating with brands like Reebok and Vans. The Idea Generation Podcast is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila.  The perfect tequila for creatives who are ready to fail twice, but get up Tres!  @TresGenTequila Credits  Noah Callahan-Bever Creator & Host, Idea Generation Starring: Nicole McLaughlin Executive Producer: Helena Ox  Producer: Jack Erwin  Lead Editor, Creative Director & Sound Designer:  Sarathi Garimella  Producer / Editor: Xan of Mars

On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, celebrity stylist Jason Bolden takes us on a journey from his youth in St. Louis and Chicago, to becoming one of the most sought-after stylists in Hollywood. From opening a vintage shop in New York City, to getting a chance to style Gabrielle Union, to building an all star roster of A-listers as clients, Jason Bolden has reimagined what it means to be a stylist... and it all started with one idea. The Idea Generation Podcast is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila.  The perfect tequila for creatives who are ready to fail twice, but get up Tres!  @TresGenTequila Credits  Noah Callahan-Bever Creator & Host, Idea Generation Starring: Jason Bolden Executive Producer: Helena Ox  Producer: Jack Erwin  Lead Editor, Creative Director & Sound Designer:  Sarathi Garimella  Producer / Editor: Xan of Mars