
Sockjig Sneaker Podcast
A sneaker podcast from @sockjig on Twitter. An inside look into the world of buying and selling sneakers online.
Latest episodes

Jun 25, 2024 • 1h 20min
How To Release a Collab Sneaker Part 1: Brand Theater
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-served approach. Plus a lot more!
Links
New Socks Available Now! shop.sockjig.com
MLB Article I'm quoted in: Instant classic? New Balance unveils Ohtani 1, Shohei's first signature cleat
Sockilizer: The Raffle Simulator: https://www.sockjig.com/sockilizer/
Whatever Industries: https://whateverindustries.com/
Timestamps
0:00 Cold Open
00:12 Intro
01:25 Shohei Ohtani Article on MLB.com
04:42 How to Release a Collab Sneaker Series
07:07 On Feet
07:45 Pickups
12:09 Skips / Recent Releases
20:34 Misses
21:55 Don't Stop Disbelieving About Tomorrow
24:19 Skepta's Getting Royalties
27:59 Nike Stepping in the Drake v. Kendrick Beef
29:03 Kanye x Nike Not Happening
31:14 Kool Kiy Gets a Slap on the Wrist
33:28 Intro: UP NYC Lightning 17 Drop
38:35 How to Release A Collab Sneaker: Start With Why
41:26 The Why
48:11 The How: Designing a Release Strategy
54:11 Evaluating EQL
01:02:05 Rewarding Loyalty
01:04:35 The What: Did You Get it Right?
01:06:27 Post Mortem / Retrospective
01:09:50 JBalvin Release
01:10:29 Travis Scott Release
01:12:34 Action Bronson Release
01:14:30 Nina Chanel Jordan 3
01:17:29 HUF AM1
01:18:02 Outro

May 20, 2024 • 1h 33min
State of the Sneaker Game 2024
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 Box Retailers
40:20 - PacSun Supporting Independent Streetwear Brands
41:09 - State of Signature Basketball Sneakers
44:18 - A'Ja Wilson and Nike Gaslighting
47:04 - Too Many Signature Shoes?
48:16 - One Release a Year
51:06 - AE1 and Being On Offence
53:56 - State of Nike
58:43 - Dylan Raasch Leaving Nike
1:02:40 - State of Jordan Brand
1:09:19 - State of Nike SB
1:11:16 - State of Adidas
1:13:20 - New Balance is a Family Biz
1:17:47 - Asics: Getting GRs Over
1:19:48 - Reebok and Authentic Brands Group
1:27:13 - Other Brands: Salomon, Saucony, Puma, Hoka, On, Crocs, Luxury, Independent Brands
1:31:59 - Outro
https://shop.sockjig.com/

Apr 23, 2024 • 1h 17min
Big in Japan: Sneaker and Clothes Shopping in Japan, Nike's Marketing and Innovation Problem - Episode 67
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 - Misses
08:47 - Bode Astrograbbers
13:19 - Hidden NY Asics
20:42 - Nike and Goat
24:51 - Nike's Marketing and Shitty Products Problem
29:41 - Nike's AI Designed Sneakers
31:39 - Nike and MLB Fanatics Deal
33:35 - The Sword of Donahue
37:08 - Big in Japan
41:09 - Picking a Travel Sneaker
42:02 - Clothing for Japan
45:01 - Initial Thoughts in Japan
48:42 - Cash Money
49:42 - Language
50:51 - Food
54:12 - Transportation
57:07 - Sneakers Japanese Wear
59:52 - Clothing Japanese Wear
1:01:36 - Shopping
1:08:37 - Ginza and the History of Japanese Men's Fashion
1:15:19 - Closing Thoughts
Buy Sockjig Socks
https://shop.sockjig.com/

Mar 13, 2024 • 49min
No Country For Old Heads - Episode 66
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 - Future Sneaker Influencers and Livestreaming
27:27 - Trump at SneakerCon
40:01 - Shawn Stussy Says Sneaker Culture is Officially Over
49:09 - Outro

Mar 11, 2024 • 1h 3min
Tradeblock CEO and Cofounder Mbiyimoh Ghogomu - Episode 65
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 economy. We also talk about what happened with the recent app UI changes and the strong customer feedback on those changes.
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
01:22 - Interview
07:18 - Becoming a Tech Cofounder
15:02 - Tech Startup During Covid
19:36 - Importance of Community
21:47 - Importance of Black Owned Startup in the Sneaker Industry
26:32 - Jason Mayden
33:10 - Tradeblock App
34:50 - Slowing Economy and Down Sneaker Market
39:58 - Recent Tradeblock UI Changes
48:42 - What's Next for Tradeblock
53:53 - Sneaker March Mania

Feb 20, 2024 • 35min
Lost Episode From 2017 - Episode 64
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 2017 Sneaker Boom
05:11 Rundown
05:40 Nike Off-White The Ten Drop
11:40 Sean Wotherspoon: Need Supply Virginia Drop
15:11 Nike 2017 Year in Review
20:39 Nike Collaborators
20:43 Acronym
21:08 Tom Sachs
22:12 Vlone
23:07 PSNY
23:28 Travis Scott
24:05 Jordan Brand
25:55 New Balance
26:43 Fear of God
27:20 Big Baller Brand
27:30 Yeezys
31:17 adidas Ultraboost
33:23 Pharrell and 4D
33:46 4D
34:15 Outro
Support the show! Buy socks at https://shop.sockjig.com/

Jan 31, 2024 • 1h 29min
2023 Year in Sneakers - Episode 63
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 Illustrated, Pitchfork and of course Buzzfeed being broke and content creation in this era.
I also talk about my personal goals with content creation and have a retrospective on the podcast, creating best of the year and worst of the year lists. And finally talk about my personal year in sneakers: favourite pickups, misses, regrets and shoes I sold.
The Best Sneakers of 2023 - 64 Tournament Bracket
https://www.sockjig.com/bestof2023/
Top 20 Worst of the Year in the World of Sneakers
https://twitter.com/sockjig/status/1744190809581494595
Timestamps
00:00 - Cold Open
00:19 - Intro
03:00 - On Feet / Pickups / Skips
04:43 - Bold Predictions For 2024
10:05 - Project Blitz Warehouse Raided
13:14 - Stanley Cup Hype
17:59 - Kith Loyalty Program
27:30 - Nike and Tiger Woods: Being the Big Dog
34:43 - Aside: Getting Paid More for Cartoon Dunk Concept Photoshops Than Working at Nike
36:22 - Digital Media and Buzzfeed's Debt Problem
45:16 - Content Creation as an Independant Content Creator
56:27 - Podcast Retrospective
01:05:53 - Sneaker of the Year Lists
01:09:42 - Personal Year in Sneakers
01:22:24 - Worst Of The Year In Sneakers List
01:29:05 - Outro
Support the show! Buy socks at https://shop.sockjig.com/

Dec 23, 2023 • 1h 15min
Disruptive Sneaker Marketing and The Collaborator Playbook - Episode 62
Anthony Edwards, a star associated with the AE1 sneaker marketing, joins Travis Scott, famous for the Cactus Mac sneakers, along with newcomer JaeTips and established collaborator Jerry Lorenzo of Fear of God x adidas. They dive into disruptive marketing strategies that reshape how sneakers gain traction. JaeTips shares insights for new collaborators while Lorenzo contrasts his experiences in the industry. The discussion also touches on sneaker culture's dynamics and the balance between creativity and market expectations.

Dec 1, 2023 • 1h 3min
Lois Sakany, Snobette Co-Founder and Wall Street Sneaker Analyst - Episode 61
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 - Cold Open
00:12 - Intro
02:39 - Interview with Lois Sakany
03:22 - James Whitner and The Foundation
11:41 - Attending ComplexCon
16:19 - Sneakers at Erewhon
23:39 - Sneaker Analyst for Wall Street
33:04 - What's Next for adidas and Nike?
47:33 - Snobette and Women's Streetwear
Lois Sakany
https://snobette.com/
https://snobette.substack.com/
@LoisSakany

Nov 22, 2023 • 30min
James Whitner's Backdoor Sneaker Ring Busted - Episode 60
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 allegations against Whitner and also his growing influence at Nike and the uncertainty of his future in light of the scandal. Amidst all these revelations, we are reminded that allegations remain allegations until proven guilty in a court of law.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Cold Open
04:12 - The Major Players
08:28 - The Scheme
14:00 - Axe to Fall: A Timeline
17:46 - Backdoor Allegations over the Years
19:56 - Influence at Jordan Brand
21:34 - What's Next
29:54 - Outro
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.