This week I am joined by Manny Santiago, we touch on his journey to becoming a pro skater. What it took for him to get to where he is now. Growing up and his love for Jordans, how skating found him in Massachusetts. Repping Puerto Rico and how that culture found its way into his home. How skateboarding doesn't have a Hall of Fame yet. What it was like to get to develop his own shoe with R.A.D. What he learned from the process and what he wants to give back to others. Plus a whole ton more!  

Follow Manny: 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mannysantiago/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mannysworld

Cop the Manny Ones: https://rad-global.com/products/r-a-d-manny-one-triple-white?srsltid=AYCX9vInmSgE8OBVDL_jweQRJ4xA5RI_Kx_jK7ffYM_mpbRPNXnOMky1 

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks  

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks   

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

From a Broken Heart To Your Own Shoe with Manny Santiago

This week I am joined by DJ Cuzzin B we talk about his early days collecting kicks. How he was enamored by DJing and the steps he took to become a DJ. What lead him through the doors of NPR. What it has been like to work with Tiny Desk and the amazing artist he has been able to witness. How sneakers has been something he's loved for so long. What it's been like to become the change you want to see. What his top 5 Tiny Desk are and much more!

Follow Bobby:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/djcuzzinb/

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

Becoming Lil East Coast with DJ Cuzzin B

This week I am joined by Jeff Staple, to talk about how he became to love sneakers. What it was like to create a cultural hype that inspired my curiosity. The moment he knew the Reed Space needed to transition to an agency. What he thinks is great collaboration and what it has been like to work with different brands. How he has created a team that inspires and expand his ideas. How'd he become unapologetically himself. Why this all comes back to Graffiti and much much more!  

Follow Jeff: IG: https://www.instagram.com/jeffstaple/ 

Staple: https://www.staplepigeon.com/  

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks  

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks   

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

Collabing With a Rodent with Jeff Staple

This week I am joined by Cyril Palmer, you may know him from TikTok with his fashion and cars videos. We talk about his upbringing, how he fell in love with skating. What was it about Nike SB that pulled him in to sneakers. What went behind creating Watchyoudie, how he became known for skating heating. How all of this created the community around him. What it took to develop the charisma he has till this day. Why he wants to see people win and much more!  

Follow Cyril: 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/cyrilroypalmer/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cyrilroypalmer  

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks  

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks   

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

Seeing the City on 4 Wheels with Cyril Palmer

This week I am joined by the multi-talented Furg, we talk about his terrible sneaker choices growing up in Rochester. What is means to go to a PWI school. How he grew up and how interesting his family is. How many lives he has lived and what it was like working for Tyler Perry. How he found himself in the comedy scene in Atlanta. The craziest places he has been able to do comedy. What black crowds are like and how Deadass Comedy in New York compares. Why he wore fake Jordan's and a ton more!  

Follow Furg: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yofurgwhatup/  

Website: https://www.yofurgwhatup.com/  

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks  

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks   

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

Making Bad Sneaker Choices with Furg

This week I am joined by Hawaii Mike, we talk about his journey with sneakers. From working at a sneaker store to falling in love with being fresh. How he came from music and continues to share his love of music. Having legendary moments at The Source and working with DJ Clark Kent. How sneakers lead to him meeting his wife and what Paragon was like back in the day. What ownership and collaboration really means and how opportunities have found him. Plus a whole ton more!

Follow Mike:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/hwmk/

Check out Hip Hop is a Fad: IG: https://www.instagram.com/hiphopisafad/

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

Live, Translate, Define with Hawaii Mike

This week I am joined by Salehe Bembury, we talk about his journey with sneakers. Growing up in Tribeca and sharing New York stories. What streetwear was like growing up. We touch on his journey working with in the footwear industry. How he has been able to consistently create and change footwear. We go through his book, I Make Shoes. Touching on each stop in his journey and what he learned from it. What he doesn't like about list and what separates him as a footwear designer. Plus a whole ton more!  

Follow Salehe: 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/salehebembury/  

Follow Spunge IG: https://www.instagram.com/beaspunge/ 

Cop Something: https://beaspunge.com/  

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks  

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks   

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

Becoming a Spunge with Salehe Bembury

This week I am joined by Stan Birch, we talk about his early days customizing. Growing up in the south of France and betting on himself. How he broke the news to his mother about pursuing his passion. The moment he felt it clicked for him, then him switching to try something new. How creating varsity's lead him back to creating shoes. What is the difference between Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. He literally flew here to do the podcast so we talk about EVERYTHING!

Follow Stan:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/staniflou/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/stanbirch__/

Cop Something: https://stanbirch.com/

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

The Art Behind Standing Out with Stan Birch

This week I am joined by the legend Mike Packer, we talk about his journey with Packer. Growing up in the sneaker industry and being part of a family owned business. The moment he decided that he wanted to take over the family business. Why Packer has become a mainstay with in the sneaker industry. What it takes to create a loyal customer base. How that customer base became integral for their recent Air Force 1 exhibit. Plus a whole ton more!

Follow Mike:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mikepacker_/

Packer IG: https://www.instagram.com/packer/

Shop Packer: https://packershoes.com/

Shot by Jay Dimino 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/bydimino/ 

Website: https://www.bydimino.com/

Follow The Pod: 

Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

A Piece of Yonkers In Teaneck with Mike Packer

This week I am joined by my friend Sango, as we catch up talking about his newest album Rhythm & Melody. He shares what lead him to wanting to put out the album. I also share with him how it looks through my eyes seeing him perform. We also break down his newest album and talk about what really connected to us. The inspiration of the album, why he feels like producer albums are rare and underrated. What it has been like since he dropped the album. Also what it was like to play it for Nas and much more!  

Follow Sango: IG: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/ 

Buy the album: https://shop.massappeal.com/products/sango-rhythm-melody-2xlp-one-black-one-white?srsltid=AfmBOoqKWZvAmdxHba63-jYO1AgEq06shyhYJJiaKF5B5DKUMboCPjYp  

Follow The Pod: Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks  

Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks   

Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/

My Album of the Year with Sango

Hass (@whoishass) · Zencastr

Hass (@whoishass)

My First Kicks is a podcast with the goal of bringing storytelling back to the sneaker community. Each week your host Hass brings on a guest and ask them. What’s your first kicks? Using this question as a through-line to start a conversation that begins with kicks and goes anywhere possible.