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Saucony's Energy Department with Jason Faustino
172 Plays29 days ago
This week Jason Faustino jumps back on the podcast to catch up since our last episode. We talk about his recent promotion, his team's expansion since collaborating with Jae Tips. We also talk about Saucony's new Run as One community based campaign. How sneakers has intertwined with every interest we have. Some upcoming collaborations coming out and of course John Cena's Heel turn plus much much more!
Where to find Jason:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/um.jf13/
Cop something from Saucony: https://www.saucony.com/
Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
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Transcript
Introduction and Humorous Job Title Confusion
00:00:00
Speaker
here Your recent, you know, promotion. Thank you. Um, very curious what the, your new, what your new job entails, man. Cause like, his same job, same job. But, and it's funny when I say the title, cause they don't like, people don't know, like if you're not in the industry, like, what do you mean? Director of energy? Yeah. Like what kind of science, like whatever. you actually have Yeah. I think someone from LinkedIn thought what I had to do is science related because Yeah, they wrote me this whole email about energy conservation, stuff like that. I'm like, why am I getting this? And like, oh, they think, you know what mean? They think, yeah. You're like the operations manager. Yeah. I'm like, shoes, sneakers. Like, I'm not that smart. People are sending you like solar panels to test out. Yeah, it was something. I was like, this is one of like,
00:00:53
Speaker
you get You get weird emails. yeah Obviously everyone does, but I was like, this is this makes no sense whatsoever. um But I think it had to do with the word energy.
Sneaker Influence and Episode Welcome
00:01:07
Speaker
What's good everyone welcome back to my first kicks and this week is episode 212 yo but we got a returning guests one of like a mentor I always said I said it the first time a mentor to me you know got me into the sneakers got me into the sneaker game real early my guy Jason Faustina welcome back to the podcast.
00:01:29
Speaker
Thank you. Thank you. I'm glad to be ah irl Yeah. because Yeah. I remember, yo, that Zoom episode was so funny because you were like, sorry if you hear a lot of like slamming, it's the bunnies. Yeah. he is How long ago was that? That was two years ago because we did it.
00:01:46
Speaker
We did it, I think I asked you on in 2021. What episode was that? That was, I gotta look. Dee, can you look Are we single digits? We're not single digits. Nah, it's a hundred and something. Okay. Yeah. But yeah, I think they were still, they are still rambunctious. They were being rambunctious that day. And i was like I was like, I didn't hear anything. you're like, yeah. I think because I used to, when I work from home regularly,
00:02:11
Speaker
they get mad. like They kind of know when it's after hours. They're like, all right, enough of that. You got to get it. Why are you still on? Yeah, ah But we also got D in the building, you know, producer D on the mic. Yes, yes, yes, sir. Per usual. Yes, sir. ah Yo, man, it's you've been, I got to say, you gotta you've been
The 'Run as One' Initiative
00:02:30
Speaker
killing it, right? like first First off, I definitely want to talk about you know the insurgence of the Saucony community initiative, you know, run by one, ah run with one.
00:02:40
Speaker
Run as one. Run as one. Sorry. I was close. I was real close. um You had the spirit. Yeah. I'm very like I saw the first video um featured J Tips. um ah There's a I think she's forgot her name.
00:02:56
Speaker
Vanessa. Yeah. Runner. vanessa Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. yeah She's the homie. Yeah. And ah what like I'm very curious of like what made you want to push that forward, especially, you know, this year.
00:03:08
Speaker
I think that, I mean, you know, that's the brand. get them Give them their credit. But I also think it's it's just sort of naturally like what we were doing. Like I'm not so much sure it's like we thought of a campaign as much as we are just communicating what we're doing and what we're about, you know.
00:03:26
Speaker
way put it is like, one way to put it is like last year we did a brand shoot sort of like a um ah someone we were working with in marketing he's he's not working with us anymore but russ he called it like a sock any all-star shoot because we were working with people that we've been working with and um we basically had jay tips vanessa frazier uh jeremy penna casted break dancers that we work with yeah um and you know just shot all different content with them but
00:04:00
Speaker
um something i noticed we went over this sweet chick and uh i remember i've told people this before i don't remember who i was sitting across from but i wasn't listening to them because jay was sitting across jay was sitting across from vanessa and they were having such a good conversation like he discovered that she's not just like a model for the shoot she's uh like a stocking athlete you know And he had so much to say because he had just seen Sprint on Netflix and then had a lot of commentary about running and was asking her about how she trains and competes, approaches competition and looking forward to the Olympics, et cetera, et cetera.
Sneaker Culture and Personal Running Stories
00:04:36
Speaker
And she was asking him all these questions about design because Vanessa's got little eye design and she's got a good taste she was...
00:04:45
Speaker
she's got a good taste and she was talking about like asking about his goals and like you know how he approaches design it's such a good conversation you know but i was like this is this is what our brand is all about right here you know i mean yeah like the two worlds especially since i sit inside it's like we have performance stuff we have lifestyle stuff but i i kind of always looked at it together and now i think the world is looking at it a little bit more closer together um so i would say run as one is ah there's a lot more to it yeah but it's an evolution of uh like i'd say like that that happenstance yeah i mean like i love the video and you know um bless you excuse me okay i was i've uh you know we had a conversation at complex con last year and i was just like yeah i'm really starting to get into running um trying to i don't know and don't know how people do it like i'll be on the treadmill just laboring
00:05:42
Speaker
Because I'm like, is this over? Is this over, bro? I hate the treadmill, so you on your own. I see you post it every day. I don't know how he does this. Yeah, I post it every day. Three miles. I run three miles every day. It's training for Thursday.
00:05:54
Speaker
Watch, though. so One day it'll just flip. I don't know. I've seen people go through it. Yeah, I didn't like it either. You know, i used to run Lower East Side, New York City in the cold, you know what i mean?
00:06:07
Speaker
On the bridge and stuff. Why are we doing this? Like, it's cool seeing each other, but this is not fun. And then, ah I don't know, at some point you're just like, i kind of like this. you know I do think it's definitely different to run outside versus like in the...
00:06:20
Speaker
Cause I think as I ran to one time I was just like, you know what? I'm a run to go get bagels. And I ran to go get a bagel and I got there and I happened to pick the only time that all the bagel spots were just packed.
00:06:34
Speaker
So I was just like, I guess I'll run to another bagel spot, ran to another, I ended up doing like five miles. Yeah. That's good though. I think about ah this instance all the time. but we yeah We just moved offices recently, but our old office, where we were at, there's there's not a lot of like running spots, oddly enough, for a running brand.
00:06:52
Speaker
um And on top of that, excuse me i think the week this was it was crazy like torrential downpour raining like crazy um but minted was visiting us and they they train like yeah they train for real if you follow um and so they've got like a schedule you know what mean like even when they're at they're coming to the office but they have to have like their run in first and they've got i mean it's no run to the bagel shop how i was running in the lower side like they were like oh tomorrow's 18 miles or whatever and
00:07:23
Speaker
yeah so we we're pointing out where to go yeah also known as like raining and stuff yeah i mean uh i remember even giving them some shoes for like you know because they were going to drench what they had and whatnot but um they ran into endorphins ah I think they train in all different stuff.
Running Environments and Community Efforts
00:07:40
Speaker
yeah they They do run in the endorphins a lot. But ah yeah, I think the rain the rain was the rain was so bad. They did like the 18 miles on a treadmill. and I was like, are you kidding? Because on a treadmill, to your point, if running outside is a little different, but on a treadmill, like the same thing over and over for that long.
00:07:58
Speaker
I don't know how. I do. I don't know what. ah So my ah my tip or my trick is I put on a DJ set and I just run to the DJ set. So I got I mean, former guest Sango.
00:08:12
Speaker
i run to his DJ set all the time. um ah His recent boiler room and then Like I've gotten i've gotten it to the point where I know when the ad breaks are coming. like I know exactly like, all right, cool.
00:08:26
Speaker
You know, let me let me slow down right here real quick. I'm about to get an ad for like waffles. Man, it's just ridiculous. A DJ set could work. yeah I don't know how people run to podcasts and stuff. Yo, somebody told me that one time. They were like, oh, I run to your podcast. I'm like, how?
00:08:43
Speaker
What? What are you doing? What? There's no way. Like, it's just somebody talking, yapping in your ear entire time. you're I'm just like, no, I can't do that. um tim so Former guest Tim Chisano. Tim Chisano.
00:08:55
Speaker
yeah He does every he every morning. He does ah basically like a mini marathon. It's like 18 miles and he runs and I'm curious what he listens to. God bless these people. See, I did that on the bike. Remember during the pandemic? did that on a bike because I cycled a bit. When I was riding like that, was doing like 20, 30 miles every day.
00:09:15
Speaker
I don't know how. I i see it on a bike because you just you have your moments. But like running? Outside? or Outside. yeah Outside. yeah oh I love biking. Inside is like, I don't understand how people, like you said, they run 10, 20 miles. Inside.
00:09:29
Speaker
Inside. inside How? What are you looking at? How do you not get bored? Yeah, i don I'd be. Yeah, even the three miles is too much. Because like even after I do it, then I do the Stairmaster. And I'm just like, all right, cool.
00:09:42
Speaker
But I'm just i'm dying after. I don't know. but It's a lot. I'm going to get a lot of credit for talking about running so much on this podcast. They're going to be like, you're going to be in footwear news. It's like known runner.
00:10:00
Speaker
Sockity's own Jason Faustino is an avid runner. and yeah no direction I need to get my, ah yeah, i'm I'm rehabbing my knee a little bit.
Role in Brand Collaborations and Creativity
00:10:13
Speaker
It's not gonna heal because I play hockey a lot. yeah So it's different impact though, you know? And so I could play, but I cannot run. um But I've been feeling that itch again. i want to like get back out there. oh have mean Let me know. We can yeah we can do it together. down Run to the bagel shop, wherever.
00:10:30
Speaker
um But I hinted on it or I said it, but like congrats on your your recent, you know, promotion. Thank you. um Very curious what your new job entails, man. Same job. Same job. but And it's funny when I say the title because they don't.
00:10:49
Speaker
like people don't know like if you're not in the industry like what do you mean director of energy yeah like what kind science like whatever you're in the lab yeah i think someone from linkedin thought what i had to do is science related because yeah they they wrote me this whole email about energy conservation stuff like that i'm like why am i getting this and i'm like oh they think they think You're like the operations manager. I'm like shoes, sneakers. I'm not that smart. There's some people sending you solar panels to test out and stuff out. Yeah, it was something that I was like, this is one of, you get weird emails. Obviously everyone does, but I was like, this makes no sense whatsoever. But I think it had to do with the word energy.
00:11:38
Speaker
But yeah, um I'm doing this. Excuse me.
00:11:45
Speaker
trying here yeah i'm sorry no no um no i'm doing the same thing you know i mean i'm i'm leading collaborations i think of energy um yeah like that's what collaborations like the purpose it serves for the brand but i don't think it always has to be collabs like use um you know inline products that i think the matrix like regular og is providing energy yeah you know um so i'm gonna lean into stuff like that a little bit more too i mean didn't have to really touch it i mean there's few things um behind the scenes but like straight up great design like josh's uh crystal caves yeah was energy i'm still upset i didn't get a yeah i'm so mad when they got team positioning like even releasing it at kith and stuff like yeah provided the brand so it's like so mad
00:12:36
Speaker
Not even a lot of, ah you know, it doesn't have to be a collab. It's just cool brand stuff. That's how I approach it. No, but but I think so. That's definitely one of the things I want to talk about because I feel like now collaboration is always indicative of like, oh, you know, this person's we working with this brand and now we're getting that is how.
00:12:57
Speaker
we are now, you know, we as in sneakers, sneaker community is always just being introduced into something new and something like that. But the like for you to see it as like, no, we can like, you know, bring in something old and just, you know, collaborate within our ecosystem to bring something new and new, exciting, but still like ah an ode to something that previously came out like that is some I feel like looking at it, that that that aspect is totally different than what I think we're seeing in sneakers now.
Creating for Oneself vs. Following Trends
00:13:26
Speaker
Yeah, i I actually don't look at it that much different than, I mean, just kind of got back into DJing, but like, what am I really doing? You know what i mean? Like, I'm just playing songs like anyone else. yeah you Like, I'm not doing all, and I'm not scratching or doing anything fancy like that. No, no, no.
00:13:44
Speaker
But, yeah like, they're essentially, I'm just putting the right mix together and, the like, curating what's what's played and, like, kind of reading a room and how to move it and, or...
00:13:55
Speaker
you know, kind of what but vibe you want to set for it. yeah I just look at his shoe and can think of the same, same way. You know what mean? Like it doesn't have to have been done by an outside brand or designer. It'd just be internal.
00:14:10
Speaker
I like, sometimes I know where it came from and like the Genesis of a thought that went behind it or it's inspiration, et cetera, et cetera. Sometimes it's just, it's a good color yeah or it's archival, you know, like matrix.
00:14:25
Speaker
um And then it's just positioning it from there. Like, I think a lot of it has happened organically, so I don't want to take credit a a lot. You know, obviously i'm not i'm not on my own. There's a whole team of people thatqua yes that that do amazing things, but um it's definitely something I want to lean into more like time as as much as time allows. know what I mean? Like, I just like looking at ah things and saying, I think this could be something exciting or a moment and then figure it out from there. I mean, you know, in your previous ah episode, if you haven't watched that episode, please go back and watch that episode. 160? 160. Yes. We talked about just, like, you are basically, like, the sneaker watcher. You you observe everything, you know? Maybe.
00:15:13
Speaker
yeah yeah i don't know how much you do I feel like when we when you were on, then, know. go through phases. like Yeah. There's times I can't watch too much, you know what mean? Because I don't want it to, like,
00:15:24
Speaker
infiltrate my mind yeah too much you know um and also i don't know like you look at something for too long or too much just like start to get bored with it or yeah find things and there's plenty of things i don't like know what i mean yeah um so there's that um and it feels nice to look at things like fresh and to be excited so it's it's a balance but I can't not watch things period and, and way things move, people move or what people are into or what, what people are feeling. Like I pay a lot of attention to that more than like the actual shoot. Like I had to really think hard when you said you got unions. i was like, which ones are those yeah you know what mean yeah yeah i remember no yeah i mean look there's so much influx and when you're working within i think that's the heart like i don't know if you've gotten this or have gone through this but you know i worked in one of my first jobs was working at gamestop because i love video games so i just like i'm just working video games but it was like it takes you away you're so in it that it takes you away of like okay now i can get games for free i can
00:16:30
Speaker
try stuff out i don't have that like oh i should need i should try to learn more about it so i don't read the magazines anymore don't put in that effort and time so it's like i feel like whenever it comes to anything that you're like fully 100 invested or like you do it for work i feel like it does make take a couple steps back uh but you know i think yeah it's a uh it's a shame i understand that people go through those phases where they need to step back but I mean, I feel pretty lucky to be working in something that's as fun as
Balancing Personal Interest with Industry Trends
00:17:01
Speaker
this. You know what
00:17:02
Speaker
It's not real energy like like whoever emailed me. This is fun stuff. Bell Atlantic. Yeah, yeah. I can't even speak to it. That's how like little I know of whatever else. But um no, it's like, yeah. So even if you go through those phases, like I try to get back into it. you know or Or I don't have to. like Something will naturally...
00:17:23
Speaker
And i I like that. i That's why I'm critical about things. I want something to catch my eye. I want whether it's um content creator, another brand's launch, new product design. i want stuff like that to to kind of force me to be like, ooh, this is new. This is interesting rather than the opposite. No, yeah. i think But that's see, that's super interesting because I do feel like we're oversaturated on people.
00:17:48
Speaker
Mm-hmm. copying other people to try to leapfrog them the people the people that they've copied right and so it's i feel like i've we see more of that now instead of people just trying to genuinely be like themselves and and trying to to grab on to because i had this i had this uh conversation on twitter or i don't think it was a conversation i just said what i said But it was just more of just ah that's the conversation. yeah Yeah. Speaking into the ether. Yeah. Yeah. yeah It's to the ether and to yourself. But i'll the whole thing of just like, you know, you should be trying to create for yourself. And if you find an audience.
00:18:28
Speaker
Right. Or if your audience feels you feel like you've capped in an audience. Yeah. Then it's kind of just like you got to keep building in order to become undeniable. You know, because so that any audience, whenever they pick it up, they will enjoy it.
00:18:40
Speaker
You know, um I feel like you've you know, you've done that with your recent, you know, several releases. i would even say the GRs, you know, like the the the team. i'm sorry I mean, you, but I meant the whole team. All right. You know, no I appreciate it. Yeah. um Even just like, you know, you made me fall in love with the Omni 9. Like, I can't stop rocking all my Omni 9s because that it's like one of one of the most coolest shoes i've owned plus it's like super comfortable you know and everybody's always like yo what's a comfortable shoe what's a cool comfortable shoe i'm like sock any omni nine you guys omni grid nines you gotta get them so that's uh that's a testament to great design you know i mean like i watching the teams that really make all these different omni nines whether it's our collabs or the inline
00:19:26
Speaker
it's like i've never it feels like i've never seen a bad color yeah and there's a million colors like just being in the office or like how many do we need there's it's omni nines everywhere but um it's turned into that shoe yeah which is good but also like uh yeah original designer he's still with the brand chris mahoney he's like he's a legend yeah like it's just insane like it's like i said the shoe is so good that no i don't know no matter who touched it it looks it looks amazing you know i mean ah matter what color i'm like we're gonna do what what story are are we giving it and it like still looks great so um yeah testament to good design but um
00:20:10
Speaker
I forgot what were saying. Oh, yeah. I was just saying. You're making me think about oh, designing for yourself. Yeah. Yeah. And that's- Creating for yourself. That's episodes 212 through 390. ninety he Like I could go on forever about that. Yeah. um That's why I was encouraging you to- It's a real conversation when you're tweeting to yourself. It really is. Like I think that's very healthy for people to go through.
00:20:35
Speaker
And without that relationship with yourself, you cannot actually- tap into your own originality, your own thoughts and your own approach to things. Instead, you're just, I'm very aware you scrolled and saw something and decided to follow. You know what I mean?
00:20:54
Speaker
Those people, that's where I'm like, all right, I not i need to not pay attention to it. If I could just kind of like, maybe I need a different account. but just like switch to algorithm. yes I get sick of seeing stuff after a while like that. yeah And it like it ruins my own passion and energy I have for the like this culture.
00:21:14
Speaker
i don't want to see it. You what mean? But got to like see past that too. you know But I just find that people people won't... like I don't know. A lot of people don't do that for some reason. They don't spend enough time with themselves and believing in themselves, going with themselves.
00:21:31
Speaker
it's like fiona apple's rant at the mtv uh whatever award show that was music awards where she said go with yourself but like that's the way people come up with like the real shit the exciting stuff you know i mean like that's when it comes from a real place of ah authenticity these are all buzzwords but i they they mean they mean something without all that you know yeah like all the cliche um that surrounds it like um but you don't get there if i don't know i don't know what it is it's probably people's lack of self-confidence or um i don't know it's a lot with cloud you know sneaker game is very like
00:22:11
Speaker
i don't know it's it's ego i know exactly what you're talking about yeah yeah like i said this is a whole hundred other episodes if you went into it i mean because you've been in this very early you know talked about it on your episode make sure you're tapped in this is another this is the last time i'll plug it but but you know you've seen the ins and outs i feel like you've seen every ebb and flow of like you know being within sneakers loving sneakers the people that think there are that they're supposed to be the voice behind sneakers and i think now because that was a lot more locally centralized where we i can be like all right yeah you know i can go to a premium pete you know when he had the store and then he'd be like yo these are this is what's going to come out this is fire like i believe in it like
00:22:58
Speaker
And then it transferred onto the the forums and then the forums are also just being like, oh, okay. You know, uh, um, franilations, will always bring up franilations, franilations, please come on the podcast. But I always bring up franilations and be like, you know, what's he doing these days? I think he's in crypto now.
00:23:13
Speaker
So that's a pivot. Very, very on brand, to be honest. yeah But the, it's always just like, you know, there's the the loudest person on the forum is the one that's dictating what's the next hype issue, you know? So now we've magnetized that to where it's yeah every single, you know, if j J Tips is like, yo, J Tips jt tips is dropping the next shoe, like the the next shoe that he's dropping, everybody's talking about you're like, that's the next shoe.
00:23:39
Speaker
Forget, for fuck all the the next five Nikes, the next five Reeboks. You got to wait till J Tips sock and he drops and then it's the shoe, you know? So. Sounds good to me. Yeah. Yeah. Well, listen, as long as I get a pair, it sounds good to me too. But I think it's just like, you know, are we all following what we really enjoy or are we just kind of just being like, you know, yes, you know, whoever the loudest person is, is saying that this is the shoe is saying it's the shoe and then it trickles down and then we pass that on. Like, I mean, yeah, I mean, I think people could put, put people onto things, which is great. Yeah.
00:24:14
Speaker
But a lot of, I mean, a lot of people aren't doing that. They're just following what's there. yeah I also don't think that's the worst thing. You know what mean? Like it would be, it would be silly if like, you know, two thousands ish runners became a thing through some other brand and we were like, well, they're doing it so we can't do it. That's crazy. yeah That's like, that's our bread and butter. You know what mean? Why wouldn't we play in that, that space? Um,
00:24:37
Speaker
So I don't know. the It's a little bit of both, but i do think the world needs more of what we're like the first part of what you're saying. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think, yeah.
00:24:48
Speaker
I think originality needs to be fostered a lot
Originality and Breaking Gatekeeping
00:24:51
Speaker
more. But a big part of that is to dismantle all the gatekeeping. You know what I mean? Like you, people have to let people in. You what mean? Like I've tried to have that. I don't give anything. I don't hear a shit about,
00:25:03
Speaker
who you're following or what your background is like if you're if you're dope like let's work together you know i mean like i don't really don't really care and i don't know there's a lot of it could be fostered i think i think our our leaders like you know i mean like i hope they're encouraged to try i mean just recently working with someone like unprompted in our showroom was like what's up with that shoe and it's like you don't want to wear that that's not your thing you know what mean like um he fell in love with it know what mean and he just kept saying like aren't we all serving people the same thing at the end of the day like everyone all of us creators are just serving the same product over and over to people he was like why aren't we moving culture he's like i could move culture yeah
00:25:56
Speaker
I can drop this shoe. And was like, please do. yeah like it's I think we need more of that. you know right like And I'm not saying that there isn't any cases of that. therere There are amazing people doing amazing things up and down our industry. But Yeah, there could be more of that, especially to your point, like it is crazy saturated. Yeah. You know, I mean, I think in content creation itself, like i' even just I mean, we had this long conversation at ComplexCon after ah we talked about just like the podcast space and how
00:26:28
Speaker
you know i feel like a lot of people are just copying complex and stuff and trying to be like you know or just trying to be you know you know new sneakers coming out this is what you should check out and and you know there's space for that obviously but i also think like i get pushed back when i'm like you should be different like you should you should always try to be no you should i should like i've taken a ah hard stance i've gotten into arguments with people about this like I don't not like Black Cement 3. It's ah all time.
00:27:01
Speaker
But I hate them at the same time. yeah Because at this point it's just like, celebr let me guess. I take no disrespect. But I'm a three head though. That's not that's just who I am. I own every color, every pair ever dropped. And then because of how comfortable they are.
00:27:19
Speaker
I ain't cop these because they Black Cement 3. I cop them because I just like them. So what? I wasn't even paying attention. yeah But also, like i really, like there are people, they of course, there's so much history there. Of course, that is a favorite all. Of course, it it's beautiful.
00:27:37
Speaker
I'm just saying that most, like if you if you just got dropped onto the earth and you started to get into sneakers, within a few months, let me guess what your favorite shoe is. yeah You're almost like programmed it because like there's so much discourse about it. And like you would feel funny if you didn't like it. Is there something wrong with me? You know i mean? And it's not a knock on the shoe. i'm And I'm not just saying because it's wearing. It is not a knock on the shoe. I'm just saying like- there could be more than that. You what I mean?
00:28:07
Speaker
And I think that's the best part of it. I probably would have not been, not be in this anymore if it was so like singular yeah and like narrow minded. Like if if the industry was like that, I'd be so bored. But like, yeah, like that's,
00:28:26
Speaker
Kind of what, like on TikTok, what interested me, not just you, but like like Flex and and Morgan, shout out, is is like that I was finally like, oh my God, these these guys don't just have Nikes. yeah You know what I mean? Especially Morgan. And it makes me feel like my snake. that part of me wanted to challenge him with some of those challenges, because I was like, my storage has all these brands, you know what I mean?
00:28:52
Speaker
And bad ones too, or old ones too. but um yeah And then to see someone like Flex like open up to it, I'm like, that's where like we like this thing will actually grow yeah and progress somewhere.
00:29:04
Speaker
um But it's not disrespecting like what like made it what it is, you know what I mean? Absolutely. i just for like For the people who are so tunnel vision about it, I'm like, you might want to like, you know, i yeah got check something else out. Exactly. Like, go deeper. No, yeah. I mean, the first shoe you sold me were A6.
00:29:23
Speaker
And ever since then, I was just like, these are the best. Like, you know, like, but that's the thing. So bring it back to collabs because of that. It's just... Because what I think is always a really good... And maybe you can tell me I'm wrong.
00:29:37
Speaker
oh Because i've I've said this on another podcast where just like, it's really hard for me to step away from Nike. right like But what always will get me is the entryway is always a collab.
00:29:50
Speaker
And I feel like... Like it first started with Ronnie Fiege, A6 for me. And I was like, since then, ever then, it was just like, okay, Nikes and Jordans, whatever. Like I was just like, SBs, it was mostly SBs. It was just SBs. and then And then those Kiths drops, the Eastern Conference Knicks colorway dropped. And I was just like, and then i was like, yo, you don't have to, you can look fly and not be uncomfortable.
00:30:12
Speaker
And then... It was after that i was off to the races. um It's a good thing. Yeah. Yeah. yeah But it's like, do you but also believe that where it's just like, that's a good entryway? Or do you think like, I mean, like how to, I always, cause you know, you're, you're from the standpoint of like pushing the shoe. Like how do you get somebody to be like, all right, cool.
00:30:33
Speaker
I'm just jump off the bandwagon and then just randomly get a pair Sauconies. I don't know, but that's that's like, you know, that's Jay for us. You know mean? Like he he's definitely brought in people that that was their first Sockenies and hopefully, I'm i'm sure they are they've got other Omni Nines and other stuff now, you know, because of Jay.
00:30:55
Speaker
um Like that's all a good thing. i i think internally my my approach has always been like, we can try to do this ourselves.
00:31:06
Speaker
but like it'll be even better if we do it with something else you know what I mean and it's not like there's there's difference like a lot of you know I'm not saying anything about anyone else but like you could approach very transactional and just be like that guy's hot this person's hot we can like add them to our sneaker right the roster and then make it happen like you know guess sometimes that works but I think when you develop like b beyond the solitary moment and now you're you're building someone into, like I don't know, your your world, your brand's world and stuff like that, um they're going to stick around much longer. yeah you know what I mean? like
00:31:47
Speaker
That comes with like the right partner. And then obviously consistent... like follow through like it's not it it might not just be about like the right partner know what mean like it it might not just be one part like no gosh Jay's done so much for us but like I think there's people who are like they are fell in love with foot patrols or star cows or been rocking bodegas and are just like now they've you know just grown into another space where they're they're copying J-tips or you know in the past Bima or Tombow or whoever you know so
00:32:21
Speaker
um i think that collective of individuals is is really something um but it's even stronger of a strategy from a brand when it's like connected to the core of who the people are at that brand as well yeah know what mean like i i'm surprised every day so like working with jay or west side or some other people i'm like how did we find each other? Because I'm so similar yeah to them, you know? and and like, this is how I would approach things. This is how I think of it. This is stuff that bothers the shit out of me. You know what mean?
00:32:57
Speaker
Like, it's it's crazy how that happens. And it's, again, it's not just about me. There's other people at the brand too. We have those like multi-points like, you know, ah touch points and ways that they connect to people at the brand. But it's like, I don't know, it's kind of like a calling. You know what I mean? Like, it's just,
00:33:15
Speaker
It's just the right fit. you know There's no way to explain it. like i I always worry if I go on a podcast or I i speak to you know my friend's class or whoever or even into my own company and they ask me to break it down and like put it on a PowerPoint. I'm like, how am I supposed to put, I just feel like this is right a PowerPoint. powerpoint you know yeah yeah but that intuition is is not just like me being a pisces that's i think that's curated over decades me liking this stuff and yeah thinking about it and listening to people and reading about you know what people like their approach to things and etc etc um that's i mean that's the curiosity gene that i always you know i i think that
00:34:01
Speaker
People who are curious about the craft and how to like hone it and how to like build or like even just like their passions like if you are passionate about something you will never just put it down you'll just be like I'm go just keep taking it apart and trying to figure out how can I build this back to getting better you know how to oh how do I make it so that you know I still want to do this ten fifteen years from now you know and I mean, the the the thing about you is is that you always are a cultivator of relationships because like, you know, every conversation we've ever had, i always feel like i I come away with something. I'm just like, I like outside of deep putting the battery in my bag. Every time we have a conversation, you are close second because like I'm like,
00:34:42
Speaker
I gotta talk to D more too. yeah You definitely gotta talk to more too. Y'all It'll be a straight lightning attack. That's cute, man. If you love it, do it. It's that simple. Yeah. But like, you know, i i feel like the one thing I've been thinking about a lot recently, and I did want to tweet it out just to say it, but it was just like,
00:35:01
Speaker
investing people investing in people that invest back into you. Yeah. Because there are there are so many instances where people will just be like, yeah, I'm down, you know? And it's kind of just like a one-way street and you're like, you'll never see him again. But I feel like with you, you've always been a person that's like,
00:35:19
Speaker
I'm going invest in you. And then it's like, like you feel the investment where it's just like, you you put in time, you've had conversations, you know, and then, you know, it's not just ah something where you're just like, I'm just trying to move to the next thing. It's always been like, I can always come up to you and be like, you know, let's have let's finish this finish the conversation we had two months ago, you know? Like, yeah. So we always pick up where we left off. And I think that's like such a great quality. So, you know, and like that. I'm your Twitter therapist right now. Yeah. I love y'all keep calling it Twitter. so I love it yeah I'm not calling it. I'm not calling it. I hear you. that
00:36:00
Speaker
that's that's That's what it's all about. um There's no way to... if I don't know how... i Maybe it's the way I was raised or whatever.
00:36:13
Speaker
If I put any energy or effort into something that's not coming back, I don't care. yeah i I don't feel any type of way about it. I just keep going. I'll move to the next.
00:36:26
Speaker
Because I just know like it's you just know when it is, ah what did you say, like two-way street? or Yeah. Or one-way street where somebody just wants to like... Well, you know it's one-way. But like you also know when it's two-way and it's like reciprocal. you know And those things, it's it's beyond sharing gems. It's like... Those people change your life. in like They can alter your life course. they It's not even a friend in the sneaker game or fashion, whatever.
00:36:54
Speaker
like These are... ends up being mentors brothers sisters like every business part like it could be anything like i just like try to focus on that know what i mean but i i hear it when people can't navigate i mean that i think that um that's sad but it's also um perhaps like you know we're i maybe societal like you you hero the wrong you center the wrong people hero the wrong people yeah I actually love, this is so whatever, but when people tell me they meet someone they look up to and they're so disappointed. Really? Yeah, especially when it's someone i was like, I knew that person. You know what I mean? But like it's it's so apparent. like What a letdown. like it's it's just like the It's performative, but also, like, sadly, we just talk to, like you know, sir yeah hero. Hold people up on a pedestal. Yeah, but to put up the pedestal like these. year
00:37:52
Speaker
some some absolutely well-deserved you know i mean but others are whatever but my my point is like it doesn't have to always be about that you know it could literally be ah dude on the corner like coming out of here that's how i look at things you know i mean and it that can be, that can give you all these gems or who knows what it can do
Authenticity and Real Connections in Sneaker Industry
00:38:15
Speaker
for in life. So why give it all to the person that we're told to yeah that everyone else is supposed to, you know, give the the energy towards? It's not always necessary. No. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I definitely think it's ah societal, you know, like we grew up in, I mean, you know, two thousand was just, everything was just TMZ blew up. And I think like, you know, everybody's just trying to be a celebrity and now,
00:38:39
Speaker
you know everybody is everybody is yeah social media that's what love about your podcast you put people on that I'm like oh you got them they're a legend Welty, Dunn, Premium Pete but then there's people I'm like I don't know who they are but they're interesting you what mean like look at where they came from look at how they approach this they need they need the the mic too so yeah I mean, that's my thing is just like I want to talk to people that excite me yeah so that we can feel that, you know, on the camera.
00:39:08
Speaker
um And it's like that conversation of just having these conversations that, you know, if we were just without the mics, we would still have this conversation. You know, i think that it's it's interesting for people to hear because when especially when it comes from sneakers, because like I was just recently thinking about this too.
00:39:25
Speaker
it was I was just like, yo, I've... And I don't know if this happened to you because you've been in sneakers for so long, but all my interests have always stemmed from sneakers, it seems like. like Last night, I was at of music ah like album listening party, whatever, and I go in and I just, I had like i had this premonition. i'm like, I'm not premonition. I had this like thing thought of just like, yo, I really was invited to this because I was like, hey, I started this pod. Think about from just a small idea. I started this podcast and people wanted me to be at this. And I was just like, that's insane. Like, yeah. yeah
00:40:01
Speaker
they they're much more than foot coverings you know i don't know how else to say i i you know i mean like i yeah same i think a lot of things i'm interested stem from that um but it's just i don't know i maybe it's What was that? I can't remember the name of that document. Just for Cakes. They say New York City is like that in general because you know you try not to be looking at people's eye, making eye contact, so you're looking down.
00:40:26
Speaker
I think I'm just generally like that always. I just am looking down and don't hold eye contact, so I'm all over. But so naturally I'm noticing like sneakers. So I can't help You what I mean? And I find it interesting even when it's not stuff I like or know. I'm just like, what are they wearing? You know what I mean? No, yeah. I mean, when we was at ComplexCon, I was like, you were like, I was looking at so many sneakers and I was telling you like, yo, I ran into Devin and you were like, Devin's here?
00:40:58
Speaker
And I was just like, yeah. He's like, yo, I'm always looking down. I didn't see him. Yeah. That's me. Yeah. Future guests, future guests. Yes, yeah yes. um But I definitely want to talk about like you know your recent trips. you know You've been gallivanting.
00:41:14
Speaker
Gallivanting. Gallivanting. That's a good Filipino auntie term. Yeah. yeah call be beat you yeah But you've been, um you know, recently you went to, i definitely want to hear about, you know, your time in France with the ah the pizza pop-up.
00:41:32
Speaker
Right? You did that in France or you did that in Italy? The J one? Yeah. That was in Italy. i didn't go, but. Oh, ja joke okay. Okay. Yeah. That was with Sneaker 76. That was a Sneaker 76. They're like a...
00:41:44
Speaker
I don't know it's OG, but they've been around for a while. And they've worked with Sakini prior to my time here. And perhaps our Italian team, you know like ah Veronica,
00:41:57
Speaker
Simona, Larry, they were like... we love what Jay's doing. yeah We want him to come out to Italy. what I mean? And I want Jay to go to Italy. i I view him as like like a Godzilla. yeah Just stomp all over the world. You know what mean? like get i might I'm here to, yeah. like I want him to do that. so It's a kaiju battle.
00:42:18
Speaker
yeah sneaker 76 though they you know they put together a whole thing yeah as a whole plan they wanted to go all in yeah they flipped like ah pizza concept we have like a j-tips pizza box in the office yeah that was they sent one back yeah um he said it was amazing they like really showed the love and i love when that happens because i just remember the beginning ah when people were like I don't know if people know who he is outside of you know, the Bronx. Yeah. yeah the have but The hat people. so yeah
00:42:49
Speaker
They're going to know. yeah Exactly. so what was it So what was the last trip you took? personally um i went to california but that was from for some meeting stuff um like work thing like work work probably paris yeah um otherwise it's probably like shorter trips new york and stuff i mean yeah i mean i try to get i try to see if i can link up with you last time i was like we're we're like across the street from each other when uh when i sent you the picture of the uh the water towers Oh, yeah, yeah. And I was like, um this is pretty sure we're looking at Yeah. thing Yeah. yeah
00:43:24
Speaker
I don't remember. That's not to be because I'm always Galvin. This is a fried brain. Yeah, it's all good. oh No. France. Definitely want to hear it. Yeah, Paris. Yeah, Paris. Yeah, I mean, we go twice a year. So um the reception there, I mean, sort of like like business as usual. But it's like, it feels crazy. I just remember...
00:43:44
Speaker
like when we first started is anyone going to show up to this you know what I mean our account's going to come through and want to see what we're working on and they did from the beginning but now it's now it's different like now we're really rocking with them and like working together and like i don't know like people are excited about what we have coming out you know it's going to be even better in june i think the june one is like always the the one for some reason um probably just because it's like better weather people are in a good mood yeah um the brand show out so um
00:44:15
Speaker
um but yeah we did our thing the team amazing credit they they programmed everything from like running events to i think coffee shop activations and uh some in the showroom stuff and then obviously a big moment it tends to be every parish jay like hops off the plane he's like i'm gonna post this today yeah ah like i already know it you know i mean it's like program yeah I mean, you got you get this year, you've gotten two silhouettes to go absolutely viral.
00:44:46
Speaker
I mean, you know, the Westside Gun one. Yeah. And then recently, Jay's. I hate being that guy on podcast and stuff, but ah yeah, we've got more to see from Westside. Oh, yeah? It's going to make people crazy. Yeah.
00:45:01
Speaker
I mean, you can send it to me. yeah you know oh this guy I'll take a look. This guy cooked. And then, ah yeah, I appreciate that. it's These guys are doing their thing. yeah And our product team is killing it.
00:45:15
Speaker
um And Jay's next project, i'm I'm just so proud of it. like it's It's just growth for him. It's a little different. It's it's bigger. yeah um It's exciting one. i Yeah.
00:45:28
Speaker
I mean, not even some, I mean, the the storytelling behind Trinidad's, you know, a spot built. yeah Yeah. Plus, like, we were there, right? We were bumping into each other watching the, like, the tournament. No, I missed it. I missed oh most of the tournament because I was like, what was I doing? I know I was, like, running around because I was trying to get.
00:45:48
Speaker
content yeah um but the uh yeah always working but trying to dad killed that trinidad killed people were going crazy at that tournament like i went i that varsity he had there was i know women's basketball is on fire yeah but trinidad was saying that for like years before telling me i'm sleeping on women's battle the world is sleeping on women's basketball he wants to show love to women's basketball And, you know, spot builds it like a, like a whole different thing for us, but he did his thing on them. And then the way he brought it to life, like that was one of the best things I saw at complex con because these women were competing hard. Oh my God. It was so good. And then they played like fans too or whatever. Did they? Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I saw some of that too. guy was getting backed down. I was like, yo, took him to the paint. And I was like,
00:46:41
Speaker
it was It was very competitive. yeah And it was right out front of the NBA activation too. So it was just like bang, bang. Yeah. But yeah. I mean, shout to Trinidad and Homer because when he was doing that, it was live. like It was live there.
00:46:55
Speaker
yeah the i mean the like the reception that you know you've been able to garner over these past couple of years you know i don't like did you expect that or like foresee that or were you able to or are you just like i'm just gonna build this and build it into what i want like kind of yeah i i kind of that not to be cocky i just i know what i'm capable of and then i was like Sockney, I just like, I know it's slept on, but you also know people
Strategic Brand Collaborations
00:47:26
Speaker
know. yeah And so all you have to do is just like put a little bit of a spotlight on it, you know?
00:47:31
Speaker
So I think the brand was is ready for that moment, you know? And I'm just kind of, I feel like making it go faster. You know I mean? Like adding energy. You know what I mean? Adding solar panels to the back of this. Yeah.
00:47:48
Speaker
No, i i knew what I could do, especially since like at the time – I came from it. You know, i was one of the stores that was working with Zocany. But like, I knew if I went over there, like we can work with more than stores. You what mean? Like, and it's going to be exciting.
00:48:04
Speaker
And I'm not saying that was an original approach. Like other brands are starting to do that. But i knew like in my heart, and that's just the way, like that's all we were allowed to do is like, we have to work with who really wants to work with us. You know what mean? yeah We have to find the right partners. Like we don't,
00:48:22
Speaker
not like other brands that can just go around and throw some money out exactly yeah but it's better that way i don't i like that stuff i like the challenge more homegrown talent yeah i always um i don't know i i realize i i've always had this sort of like in me you know even you know people you probably knew at extra butter as employees like some of those people were me watching them interact in the store purchasing the store talk to people blah blah and then saying you should apply here yeah and they're awesome, you know? And they're great for us, or they're doing great things in the industry now, you know what mean, beyond them.
00:48:59
Speaker
um And so I think I always just kind of, like what you said about observing, like I'm just observing that type of stuff, so um why why not give me the shot with like doing it for collaboration partners, you know what mean? So it's it's like, I guess it's hard to convince people when you think about it because it's, what is it based on? like And I'm like, and people always want to talk strategy all day, like,
00:49:22
Speaker
i my strategy is just like my own strategy i can't i can't really articulate it because it's like a lot of just yeah it's my it's a vision yeah i'm sorry i can't put that thing in my head onto your powerpoint yeah but like it is there and then watch it works you know what mean so um not yeah again not to be said arrogant i'm obviously influenced by others in the industry um and then i also like believe to just go with my own self with like what i've i'm observing and think is dope um and then the biggest thing is like all respect and praise due to our partners they're yeah they're amazing they're killing it like give that's a beautiful thing in life in general it doesn't have to just be on collab but
00:50:11
Speaker
you give someone a chance and they run with it That's amazing. I mean, you speaking of that too, because I think the most two, the last, I'm fumbling, the last two releases you did, one with Saucony Sneaks, and then there's the other one, it's like the pat the the plaid one. Biso. Yeah. yeah And um I think her name's Jell. Jell.
00:50:32
Speaker
Yeah. The ah very community-based yeah releases. um And it's like, It's the same thing where where I um with the Beamer release, ah it was just like, yo, not like this gives people hope, like it gives people hope, like you don't have to be like some crazy, you know, big name. There's a featured designer or whatever in order to even get, you know, this opportunity. um But like, where did that come about where you're just like, I'm gonna take this chance because it was too there are two great shoes that I I still got to get the the sock in the sneaks one that is this.
00:51:07
Speaker
but this how you has how do you say his at? Divs Pat? What's his name? Oh, his Instagram thing? I don't know to say that. It's like Div something. Yeah. But that's Reiner or ranner from Sockney Sneaks and he's he's the man.
00:51:20
Speaker
um But I mean, it came from ah someone else that used to be at at the... Or he pulled it together. But i the way I saw it or like kind of put it into the atmosphere is that through Bima's password. You know what mean? And what he did with...
00:51:38
Speaker
content creators before content creator was a thing. Yeah. you know i mean So it's a call back a little bit like, uh, um, a modern way. I think it could be built on a little more, um and done differently, but at the same time, not taking away, like, um, these are people that were connected to other people or our brand itself for many years. Right. Yeah. So, um, yeah, it's been around yeah years years and years um I didn't see, I don't know the other person's page. oh be so Yeah. Yeah. This has been, this was like OG and like a lot of people know him and he, you know, again, this is someone else's project, but I could at least speak to the fact that he had a story to tell. you know what I mean? Like it came from something and he really expressed from his background and his roots and like,
00:52:29
Speaker
So whether it was me, someone else that worked here, or probably in the future, like I think that's like a Sockany thing. We're going to allow you to do what you do. know what I mean? And like really do your thing. And I like that. I think people are starting to feel that. That's why they love what we're doing right now. Because they they know like that creativity wasn't...
00:52:50
Speaker
like taken away or stripped down by other stuff. yeah We allow people to cook. Yeah, yeah. I think that's that's what's what's great about it too. um It just shows you on the ground level at all times. And I think that's really, really dope. Like we talk about that all the time, the 38th floor syndrome.
00:53:06
Speaker
Like you get so high up, you're not really knowing what's going on down here and everybody's dealing with big players, big collabs, but everything you've been saying, I'm like, yeah, that's how you stay tapped into a culture and that's how you actually stay grounded. Like that's really cool to give opportunities in that kind of way.
00:53:22
Speaker
It's dope. it's important that's why like it always comes back to street like i used to complain like my office was like on the floor like sales floor basically yeah and it was hard to get work done because like always talking and i can't i can't focus because i'm even just listening to what people saying but it was good because now now i miss it you know what mean so i try to seek that out but i mean anyone that's in this industry in any sort of way if you're not like like if you're not part of those conversations, then you don't have to be actively a somebody in them, but you should be having those conversations, whether you go in stores or talking to whoever, waiting online, if people still do that, you know what mean? That's like what you're saying. like
00:54:05
Speaker
that's That's like the real shit. That's where it all comes from. And I feel like that's what a lot of people are always trying to figure out and tap into, but from a distance, like get in there. You what mean?
00:54:17
Speaker
yeah for real get your hands dirty especially now you know with the you know just staple open ah reopen staple and like 21 mercer and I feel like you know now we're getting back to the like the regrowth of sneaker culture where everybody's like Showing up, everybody's doing things, you know, and, you know, Sockany is definitely in that, like, you know, you, you and team have always just been like, you're like, I feel like the, the way it's been bubbling, it definitely stems from just like.
00:54:51
Speaker
you know, you guys being like, yo, we're going to invest into the smaller people or just like the people that actually are about the culture. And now that i feel like your investment is what I'm saying. I'm bringing this full circle, baby. Your investment has definitely come through like the, just the seeds that you laid have come to become, start blooming, you know, especially during this like growth of how sneakers is back was what they're they're saying, you know,
Resurgence of Physical Sneaker Events Post-COVID
00:55:18
Speaker
sneakers. Yeah.
00:55:19
Speaker
i I think it never went anywhere. Yeah, I'm in 19. I know maybe the excitement is. yeah um But that's where I'm like, I don't know.
00:55:31
Speaker
there's Who knows how things work? But like it's not like we're the first at all. But when you know we do Jay's first shoe at at Joy Flower Pot and like New York shows up to to the to the launch, like that changed shit. yeah it could Like people were, you could just tell, i people have told us they're like, yeah, that's on our brand's mood board. You know what mean? Like, cool. yeah And it's not like they haven't done it before, other brands and other people haven't done it.
00:56:01
Speaker
But- But I mean, I feel like, you know, COVID really stripped away a lot absolutely yeah that like element of touching and feeling. That's a big reason. But more importantly, it's just like, regardless of, you know, who else did it, didn't do it, how often it's happening.
00:56:19
Speaker
That was the right thing to do for us at the time, but for Jay to do at the time. You know what mean? And that's how I go by. i try not to like, I don't even have time to think about, um I don't know the other elements of like, who's doing whatever. It doesn't matter to me. You know what mean? Let's kind of do what's right for us. Yeah. um Before we have out of here, I got one last question for you. Yes.
00:56:42
Speaker
What'd you think about John Cena's heel turn? okay ah I think one day you and Flex need the rest the episode.
00:56:53
Speaker
it's amazing yeah it's amazing i have no idea where it's going yeah i can't predict it but i did feel like that was coming yeah i did feel that was coming um i forgot what there was something that happened where i was like i think that's actually going to happen because whatever they said they said it too much like it was like foreshadowing of like you know he's lost this one now he lost another big one and i'm like they're leading me down but at the same time there were times in that match i'm like I don't think he is going to do that. You know what mean? el
00:57:26
Speaker
So it still came off amazing. Like, what a moment. I probably have chills thinking about it. um I love stuff like that. too. I always wonder if that can, like...
00:57:39
Speaker
can that translate into our world? yes You know what i mean? yeah like i' like Not forced, because there are, not to start beef order, but like there are people that consider themselves the bad guy of sneakers or whatever. And I find it so corny. trying to figure who we're talking about here but yeah no I'll let you know off mic but there are people that definitely do that you know purposely or yeah that's not cool it's not cool I think it's like if you if you're just doing hot takes to do hot takes yeah that's lame if you want like you have to get people to come in
00:58:13
Speaker
love you, yeah and then be like, Jordan 11's a trash. And then, there you go. yeah Now you got people that hate you. yeah You know? I hope that Jordan 3 comment didn't come off like that. It's just me speaking. Now you've got, that's your heel turn, baby. That's my heel turn. No, i'm I feel like not johnson but the other guys that's like you're both at the same time you know what mean like the the best wrestlers have so much conviction and like that means that it's really coming from a place yeah so if they're really likable and everyone's feeling that it's coming from a place that everyone can relate to yeah and when they turn that's coming from a place of frustration that people can relate to too and if if that's real like you said like i like i like being in that space where you can go back and forth
00:58:57
Speaker
we're having a nice conversation so I'm mostly friendly today but you know what I mean it can turn heel at any moment but I hear you the forcing is not good it did not feel forced Sina killed it and his follow up like he is no yeah that follow up man i was like gosh yeah I'm in my feelings watching this I'm watching little kids like their faces yeah that is that's it he was like you because like I didn't make a joke about it but he was like no new music, no new clothes, yeah no new nothing. And I was like, and I basic immediately thought Gene Wilder and Willy Wonka at the Chocolate Factory, Charlie the Chocolate Factory, you get nothing, sir. You drink the fizzy lifting drinks, nothing. And I was just like, was like, he's right now. he' He's right now, that's what he's doing. I was thinking about like, I have been to, um well, one time I saw a wrestling event in Paris Fashion Week, like that brain dead dude.
00:59:54
Speaker
And this kid, he was so excited. He waited online. He was not part of Paris Fashion Week. He was there because there was a local wrestling event. And he was dressed as John Cena. like this kid was head to toe john cena and then another time we went to see one of the you know whether it is mania or summer slam at a movie theater just with some friends to like you know to not watch it on the couch like watch it in a movie theater the people i sat next to were like the john cena family and they took everything to heart like every move i'm like he's gonna get up like calm down you know or anything like like really they were buying
01:00:31
Speaker
And all I could think about as he's turning it was like, these people are crushed. Their world is crumbling. Like I can't believe you he did that to them. But I'm like, yes. There was a guy. so i have a group chat with Brian and and the and the homies. and so like We there was a picture of somebody posted in there um and it was this guy on the train that they took that the guy was full full John Cena blue shirt hat got the the elbow pads the knee pads everything the jeans got the Kmart sneakers right and all the catch was I wonder what this guy is feeling right now after he turned heel you know. Oh my God, man.
01:01:10
Speaker
It's crazy. I think that, you know, that's such a sentiment because he was, he was the face of the company for so long, yeah you know? And now he's like, I'm going to take down the face of the company. It's crazy for you to be like, wow, Cody is actually the guy right now that they have to be like, I got to bring in you know, the former face to bring down. It's crazy. Yeah. shout out to brian though because when i like i fall in and out of wrestling sometimes and like i was getting back into it especially because you can't not if you're around brian but like you know cena's popping up here and there and i i don't like this guy like all i associate him is like a spinner belt and jorts and you know what mean like i do not like him and it's like it's so cheesy yeah you know what mean i was i was with you on that too
Storytelling in Wrestling and Sneaker Industry
01:02:00
Speaker
yeah like ah like during his like Ryan kept saying, he was like, no, no.
01:02:04
Speaker
Like, he's so good. You have no idea. you know I mean? It took me a long time, but there was a John Cena, AJ Styles match. yeah, that was great. That Kevin Owens match was really good. There's so many now that I think, but like that one really turned me around. And then anything he said, was like, I like the other day, I thought this was corny. Now I think it's amazing for me. I so I got back into wrestling 2013 because Summer of Punk and that scene of punk and like that storytelling that they both did. was like, all right, I don't know it too well. You got watch. You got to do a rewatch on that on the train back or wherever, because it's like it just like even just do the lead up, like just do the promo video and then do the match and you'll be good. You'll be set straight.
01:02:50
Speaker
um But let's, ah yeah but you know, that's the end of that part. but um Let people know where to find you, Jay. No, don't find me. Don't find you on LinkedIn. I'm laying the cut. Yeah, don't send me energy emails and whatnot. and no i'm ah plug Plug what you got to plug.
01:03:09
Speaker
ah Just follow Sockney. But no, no, no. My Instagram is umjf.um.jf13.
01:03:19
Speaker
that's good it Actually, I wish I knew my Letterboxd thing. I'd rather people follow me on Letterboxd. I'll put his Letterboxd in the description of the podcast so you can check it out. So all one people follow me. No, I got a huge, like actually 50%, no, I'm just playing. No, I was going to say, if people on it like that, you're good. And you know where to find me, am, who is Hassel on social medias.
01:03:41
Speaker
Dee, tell them where to find you. And you know where to find me, Dee, triple e And then oxymorons, that's two R's with an S at the end. you New stuff, new stuff. That new stuff is fire. That new stuff is coming. And ah yeah, I'll see us on tour soon. You know what is. And you know where to follow the podcast at My First Kicks Pod.
01:03:59
Speaker
hit up the YouTube. I'm close to a thousand ah subscribers. ah We just got monetized, baby. Let's go. Monetization. Thank you. That's awesome. Yeah.
01:04:09
Speaker
I have to get on you. watch it or I listen to it. Uh-huh. Obviously, I see the clips. Yeah. But now I have to watch the... Please. Please watch. If it helps you like that, yeah. Please watch. Please watch. Watch the episode. Watch the clips. Copper shirt. We're doing... We're switching it up by the time this come out, right? Yes, we are absolutely switching it up by the time this comes out. So you get the new shirts. New shirts. And yeah, it's going to be consistent too. It's going be fun.
01:04:34
Speaker
Facts. We got those actually. We got those printed. We're good to go. Yeah, yeah. Nah, we got a whole new production team. So it's about to be fun. Stepping it up. yeah And if you got a My First Kicks story You want me to read it to my guests Hit me up info at myfirstkicks.com And you know what we say each week Wear your kicks Peace