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Ohio got Something to Say! with JD
0 Playsin 15 hours
This week JD is on the podcast, we talk about how he grew up in Ohio. How did streetwear travel to Ohio, what it was like to put on his own events. Starting the Streetwear Flea Market and continuing to host them every year. Working at sneaker stores in Ohio, and how he build community. Also we talk about his views on influencers and much much more!
Follow JD:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mrkingjd/
Photo IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamesdrakeford/
Streetwear Flea: https://www.instagram.com/streetwearflea/
Websites
https://www.streetwearflea.com/
https://jamesdrakeford.com/
Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks
Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
Recommended
Transcript
The Regret of Selling MF Doom Dunks
00:00:00
Speaker
Is there a piece that you've gotten rid of in high in like college that you that you regret getting rid of? ah my My MF Doom Dunks. That was one of my first Nike SB shoes.
00:00:14
Speaker
The quality on those is amazing too. I just checked like StockX maybe couple weeks ago and it was like in the multiple thousands and I was just like, yeah, I'll never have them again. It's sad to me, but I had them.
00:00:30
Speaker
I had fun wearing them. I wore a lot. So...
Introducing JD and His Journey
00:00:37
Speaker
What's good, everyone? Welcome back to My First Kicks. This episode 235. this week, I bring to you a new guest, another, you know, he he gave me the honor of being on my first ever panel.
00:00:49
Speaker
You know, welcome to the podcast, JD, man. Hello. Thank you for inviting me. It means a lot. Nah, come on, man. you ah We rolled together at ComplexCon. Hopefully, you got you pulling up this year?
00:01:01
Speaker
Thinking about it. Thinking about it. I'll be there. If you pull up on me, I might have maybe a shirt or two. But ah huge honor having you on. You know, we we talked about this for a hot minute. I thought you didn't want to be on here, man. I said, let me know when.
00:01:16
Speaker
Just waiting on the invite. You know, you you are a voice. I want to say you are a voice of the like like building community. And, you know, you you do you put a lot forward in terms of just like streetwear flea market. But for people who are not familiar with you, how about you introduce yourself?
00:01:36
Speaker
ah My name is James, a.k.a. JD. from West Dayton, Ohio. Living in Harlem now, been in New York for about six years. ah i put on an event called The Streetwear Flea.
00:01:49
Speaker
I'm a photographer, do a lot of marketing, do some sales. I like to create. And yeah, that's kind of, that's me, just gist of me.
00:02:00
Speaker
Yeah. yeah i think I think you're multifaceted for sure, you know, but you're super duper plugged you know, you know? I like to be outside, get around, touch the community, touch the streets. Yeah. So, but I definitely want to touch on your time in Ohio, but we're going to start off with the first question I ask everybody
First Fascination with Sneakers: Foamposites
00:02:18
Speaker
each week. And that question is, what's your first kicks? What's that first pair of sneakers you absolutely needed to have?
00:02:28
Speaker
It's so hard to even remember my first kicks. I've, I've loved, I've been like fascinated by footwear since before I could like even spell the shoes that I was fascinated with, but.
00:02:42
Speaker
One of the earliest memories of a shoe that I felt like I needed was the original Foamposite. Oh, yeah. i I didn't have it when it it released in 97. My foot wasn't big enough, but I remember seeing those at, I think it was Foot Locker at the Salem Mall in Dayton, Ohio, RIP Salem Mall. But I remember seeing that shoe and just...
00:03:07
Speaker
I thought it was amazing that design was, you know, futuristic. It still looks futuristic today. And it was so cool. And, you know, at that time I was a young child, like it had nothing to do with the marketing or any cultural
Evolution of Sneaker Technology
00:03:22
Speaker
associations. It was literally just the design itself yeah was extremely intriguing.
00:03:28
Speaker
that I mean, that phone pause, I don't know. I've always had big feet. I think when did I become a 13? Maybe like eighth grade or something like that. I know I tried on a pair of eggplants. I told the story on here before. Tried a pair of eggplants. I looked down and looked literally like i I had an eggplant on my foot and I was like never again.
00:03:45
Speaker
so It's a good color. Yeah, it is. But it's like that shoe is so... It's bulbous. It's like big. Yeah. And yeah. Kind of love it or hate it.
00:03:57
Speaker
i feel like, you know, amongst the sneaker community, most people kind of accept it as being a good shoe, but... Outside of sneaker world, it's kind of a love hate thing. Yeah. I don't know if it's just like... Because, I mean, Penny wore it, obviously. It's a shoe.
00:04:10
Speaker
And so, like in terms of just like performance-wise, I've never seen anybody be like, yo, you got to get the foams because you know I'm going jump on this. Actually, I've hooped in foam pauses before.
00:04:22
Speaker
They are on a heavy side, but they do give you that good lockdown feel in the carbon fiber spring plate. It's nice. They like... Kind of propels you forward. So it's a little stiff, but if you're like an explosive player or you like to have that extra bounce, I think they're good.
00:04:42
Speaker
Interesting. I might hoop in my tech and foams then. Go ahead. I don't know if they had the same technological details in 2025, but I say go for it.
00:04:53
Speaker
This is true. A lot of people don't understand that. Like the the way that the tech moves and changes over the years. You know, they they always say, they use the original mold and et cetera, et cetera, but it just never feels quite the same, especially when you have some OG pairs.
Cultural Influences on Style
00:05:12
Speaker
Like it it's not, it can't be the same. no They feel different. You can feel the cushioning in a a different way. But, yeah. You know, cost cutting. You got to figure out. game Yeah.
00:05:24
Speaker
You got to figure out where you can cut here and there and see if we make interesting. Low cost, higher retail, better margin. People buying it. Yeah. You got to hit those numbers. Quotas, baby. But what was... Because, I mean, I think you you are definitely one of the flyest guys I know.
00:05:38
Speaker
Right? Thank you. You know, I think you'd be... Fashion is definitely what you represent. You know? Getting dressed is fun. For sure. where did that come from? Because I know Dayton, Ohio is not like... You have to do your research. You might have to do your research. No, this is where I'm here learn.
00:05:58
Speaker
i always say, i mean, the Wright brothers, they have nothing to do with fashion, but they invented the airplane. yeah So I feel like undoubtedly Dayton, Ohio is the flyest place in the world. Look Because we invented flying.
00:06:11
Speaker
But... On a style tip, we have a rich, like, musical and cultural history. So style and, ah yeah, just style in general is kind of it's always been present in Dayton and other cities in Ohio.
00:06:29
Speaker
And, you know, certain industries kind of died and, less money was flowing through a lot of our major cities so we kind of took the back seat in the midwest but anybody that's been in the midwest for a while that was around when you know american factories were a thing like dayton was popping so but to answer your question my style probably a lot of inspiration would come from my mother she's a very stylish woman she's always been
00:07:01
Speaker
Like that. Colorful clothing. Unique. Unique pieces. So that was kind of you know subconsciously probably my inspiration.
00:07:12
Speaker
Where did where did that like did that run in your family? Or is was she like the one that stepped out of that? I mean, there's... And where's your family from originally? My dad's side of family is from North Carolina. My mom's side is from Indiana. So grandparents were never really that close. I mean, I was close with them, but, you know, they lived far away. So I wasn't with them on a daily.
00:07:35
Speaker
But, i mean, you know, there's stylish
Building Community Through Style
00:07:37
Speaker
people in the family. But I would just say, i would say mom and then, you know, neighborhood and any other pop cultural influences that were,
00:07:48
Speaker
you know, popular at the time coming up. Yeah. Like was like, were you the flyest high school or like, when did the, when did that start? When did you start being like, yo, I'm a dress for myself. Like, you know, I was definitely one of them.
00:08:00
Speaker
We actually, we had uniforms in high school, but you know, within uniforms, you can still kind of get fits off depending on the brand you wear. wore Dickies.
00:08:11
Speaker
Hey, you know, I had some good, some good Dickies on Captain Chris, you know, keep the, keep the crease down the middle. I'd say was probably, it was a few of us, you know, shout out to Marky D. That was one of them.
00:08:25
Speaker
My boy, Vite. ah It was a few of us, but I was at least top five. How'd you, how'd you find each other? i mean, I always been one of those people that kind of know everybody. At least matt everybody within my area. Yeah.
00:08:43
Speaker
You know, it's like ah in the neighborhood or at school. like to meet people that I do think because I definitely want to expand on that because like that is something I also like I had to like learn, you know, because it's interesting when you're you're trying to like be a kid and like, you know, you're trying to be like not alone.
00:09:04
Speaker
So it's just like some people try too hard. Some people try to like, you know, ah like either overcompensate or like they kind of stick to themselves. So it's like Especially like in now with with the the internet and stuff like that, and definitely feel like that's a little bit harder to make that that like that outside friend.
Authentic Connections and Communication
00:09:21
Speaker
um So like did you how did you find that within yourself? Because I know you said it's just like, yeah. Well, I am more on the reserve side. So although I like to meet people and I like to be connected with any community that I'm near, i guess my way is a little bit more...
00:09:42
Speaker
I'm not going to peculiar, but that's kind of the word that comes to mind. It's just, I'm not like a, I'm not always like an introduce myself first type person, but i think I,
00:09:56
Speaker
I make myself approachable yeah enough, enough to where I get connected with people. Or i guess when when people are, you know, close enough proximity and we do say hi, maybe I i let it be more than a hi and bye. You know, I might ask a little bit about them or how they're feeling or...
00:10:18
Speaker
comment on what they're wearing, but, you know, kind of spark conversation, but really just, I think just authentic interaction. So maybe we might not even speak, but, you know, you see the same person a few times and you acknowledge them.
00:10:33
Speaker
So that could be it. You know, there's people in my neighborhood. I couldn't tell you their name to save my life, but when I walk by them, you know, we communicate now verbally. So Same thing at school. i i you know we not I'm not hanging out with everybody, but I acknowledge everybody. Yeah. that It's funny you said that. I was just thinking about this thought in my building this morning because ah this is an old guy.
00:10:57
Speaker
Shout out to the homie in my building because this is what you just said. I don't know his name. yeah right But I've been literally been talking to him for like five years. right And i used to go to the I would go to the gym and he'd be like he'll come up to me and be like, yo, man, you keep doing your thing. And I'd be like, yeah, man.
00:11:12
Speaker
and So I'm in the building this morning. Yeah, it's a connection. Yeah. You're just like, yo, man, how's it going? Check it in. But i I'm always like, I forgot to ask this guy's name. yeah Yeah. I mean, sometimes it's important, but depends on who it is. Like for me, it's not important for somebody to know my name. Mm-hmm.
00:11:30
Speaker
You know, it's like if they know who I am and I feel like they have a respect for me, that's enough. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's interesting. Some people are just very like you
Streetwear Culture: Ohio vs. New York
00:11:39
Speaker
need to know. Yeah. Some people very much. Everybody's different. So I guess, you know, knowing who you're communicating with is always important. But me names and then it's like once you meet so many people, it's hard to remember names. Yeah, for sure. It's extremely hard. so i got nowadays, I got to meet people at least four or five times before i remember their name. Nah, yeah. i remember the do you remember when the first time I met you?
00:12:04
Speaker
The first time? Yeah. No clue. It was Streetwear Fleet in the Brooklyn. And i was like, jam Jam was like, yo, yeah you got to be my mans. And this is before, like I hit you on LinkedIn. i was just like, yo, I'd love have you on a podcast. and ah And I was like, when I went to, i was like, Jam, I want to meet JD because this this is dope.
00:12:26
Speaker
Like I want to know, I want to get to know him. And then he was just right, come on, let's go. In the middle, like, and this this is when it was packed too. He just pushed through everybody. It's like, yo, this JD. And you were just like, what's up, man? And you were You were mad reserved. And was just like, all right, cool. like And then, you know, over time, I feel like, you know, we got really cool with each other. But like, I remember that first time um and me being like, man, did I, did I mess up or something? Yeah. No, I mean, I see everything that like any messages on either Instagram or LinkedIn, even Twitter. Like ah read every message. I ah pretty much get back to everybody. I don't always remember, especially like I've been meeting some people in person that like have sent me messages on LinkedIn. And that's kind of a harder connection to make than, you know, meeting somebody on Instagram. But either way, it's like.
00:13:22
Speaker
Anytime somebody takes the time to like reach out or speak to me, I, you know, try and take the same amount of time to digest what they're saying and consider it or, you know, respond.
00:13:35
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, i try to do the same thing as well. You know, we, we are, we are nothing without the people that, you know, that reach out to us too. So, especially if you're trying to like build something too, especially if you're trying to build community too.
00:13:47
Speaker
For sure. And just, you know, knowing what it's like on the other side when you're reaching out to someone or when you have a question or you want anything, you know, it doesn't take much to respond. Like, even if that's a no, like I don't mind when if you ask someone something they're like, oh, I can't do it.
00:14:04
Speaker
It's like, all right, appreciate you getting back to me. Versus, oh, I sent five messages in two years and they don't say anything and they actually see it. Like, I don't know. That's weird to me.
00:14:15
Speaker
i mean i do the i they call me the king of follow-ups i always follow up but like i don't do it in a harassing way yeah you know i'll take take the time and some people take it take it as just like oh they didn't get back to me so all right them but it's just kind of like sometimes yeah sometimes people miss it sometimes people are just like not in the mood and you kind of just got to like catch them at the right time i do think it's a little bit of luck as well yeah i feel like two Two follow-ups or two messages, like there's that's calm.
00:14:44
Speaker
Three, if somebody isn't responding after three, it's kind of like after three, I get a sense of like, oh, okay, they they kind of disrespected me a little bit.
00:14:56
Speaker
But, you know, people are people are busy. People don't see everything. So that's why feel like it's it's not and not bad to reach out two or three times. Four or five, it's like, all right, now I'm begging.
00:15:09
Speaker
And that's that's enough. No, hell no. Definitely don't. If I'm getting up to four or five, no. always tell myself three is the max. That's what I'm saying. Three like, I try. Yeah. Yo, jumping in real quick to say thank you for listening to this week's episode with JD.
00:15:27
Speaker
And... Wanted to let you know and remind y'all, because this goes a long way. hit that like button if you're on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, especially if you're on YouTube or Apple or Spotify, wherever you're listening your podcast.
00:15:42
Speaker
And leave a comment. Definitely leave a comment on Spotify. Definitely leave a comment on YouTube. It goes a long way. It helps the podcast go extremely far and reach the masses. So I need y'all help. This is a community. We're trying to build this up, right?
00:15:57
Speaker
And if you're interested, also have a Patreon, which helps the podcast tremendously as well. Patreon.com slash myfirstkicks. I got two tiers. You get a shout out with the $3 tier and you get a shout out and all the content that I put out specifically for Patreon, like my trip to Portland will be on the Patreon in a couple weeks.
00:16:20
Speaker
You gotta go to the Patreon to see that. But let's go back to the episode. It's not gonna happen. Yeah. I put my hand out. Yeah. You didn't reach out. All right. Yeah. um I definitely want to know how... Because, like, so... Streetwear.
00:16:35
Speaker
How big is streetwear in Ohio?
00:16:39
Speaker
Because I always feel like streetwear is New York. Like, New York, LA. So... um I think right now it's pretty big. Yeah. I mean, shout out unheard of.
00:16:52
Speaker
you know Growing up, it was a thing, but more like niche. like Whereas the thing about New York is just kind of larger than life where... you could have like five streetwear events popping at once in new york with a couple hundred people at each one whereas in ohio you might have one it's like if if two people try to throw the same type event and pull from the same community one of them is going to be dud like one of them won't do well
00:17:26
Speaker
And that's the biggest difference I feel like with being in New York, being creative or, you know, being in fashion and things like that. It's like these people and, you know, these industries exist elsewhere, but just not as large. Yeah.
00:17:40
Speaker
So, you know, I always had me and my homies and extensions of our homies that were into sneakers and street wear and definitely, you I feel like me and my homies and some of the people that I looked up to growing up, they go toe to toe with anybody anywhere.
Early Jobs and Sneaker Passion
00:17:59
Speaker
Like as far as what they have, what they know, and just caring about the culture. Yeah. When, at what point did the culture, did you find the culture? Did the culture find you?
00:18:11
Speaker
yeah. I would say like coming out of high school, definitely college, maybe high school just because, you know, in the mall we had a skate shop called Flamingos.
00:18:25
Speaker
That was kind of, it was really popular. So, you know, being exposed to Flamingos in a skate shop and Nike SB and kind of, a lot of streetwear origins kind of come from skating. So I would say leaving high school and college, and that's also when, you know, you start to make your own money a little bit.
00:18:44
Speaker
So you start doing some more shopping and that's kind of what started it. I feel like, yeah. What was your first job?
00:18:54
Speaker
First job was at a grocery store, Dorothy Lane Market. Yeah, at a grocery store. I was, I guess I was cashier. And what else did we do? Oh, yeah, bagging. Bagging. I was just going to say bagging. Yeah. but Were you there with SBs on? Were you you would just use was there?
00:19:13
Speaker
It's kind of a blur. Yeah. I remember some things. Like, I remember certain people. But, like, the day-to-day is kind of a blur. But yeah, it was calm. It was a calm job.
00:19:23
Speaker
Easy. Still kind of tiring at times. We ain't got busy, but yeah very easy. I mean, I want to ask if you guys you have like a crazy story from like your retail days, I guess.
00:19:38
Speaker
I don't. It's it's a blur. My memory, I have to, that's what I take so many photos. Yeah. like without photos, it's hard for me to remember a lot of yeah what I've been through, to be honest. Yeah. um' ah i'm I'm definitely the, I guess the opposite because I'm like, I like to experience it.
00:19:56
Speaker
Yeah. um I think I like to rely on my memory a lot. And so I miss out on the photos. Like I
Birth of Streetwear Flea
00:20:04
Speaker
don't go back. But yes, like, but I also think like there's something needs to, in order for me to spark up that memory again, something needs to trigger it.
00:20:12
Speaker
Yeah. And then I'll be like, yo, I remember it that one time, but I do want to get to that. Like, I remember that one time, maybe the photos will help me, but I don't know. I think I, if I pull out my phone in the moment, I'm like, nah, I'm losing the moment.
00:20:23
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I just remember the homies and like, you know, people that I enjoy seeing at work. Yeah. That's about it. Nah, it's all good. um I definitely want to talk about what inspired you to start, you know, Streetwear Flea Market. And then like, especially like that first first couple of times doing it. Like, what was that like?
00:20:46
Speaker
Uh, what really inspired it the very first time was, well, I used to put on closet sales, like just my own, my own pieces. Cause I've always since.
00:20:59
Speaker
Since college, like I've always had a lot, yeah a lot of shoes and clothing. And every now and then, you know, I would sell on eBay or I would sell in person and i would do these big closet sales and like promote a date, have people pull up, not like at home, but I would have a space or like rent a venue and have people pull up and shop from like my closet.
00:21:23
Speaker
And that's crazy. I was Talking to a friend, ah think it was actually Maddie, my friend Maddie, shout out to Maddie. We were talking about having a closet sale and he was saying he needed to do the same thing. And I'm like, I know at least six to seven people that need to do the same thing. So I was like, we should kind of do this together.
00:21:45
Speaker
in my head, I'm like, you know, we should, I should plan something to where all of us can do this together. So that was kind of the start of the idea. And then it was also like, you know, I wanted to invite brands and certain people within the community that, you know, were influential and just industry where community. yeah So, you know, the very first event,
00:22:11
Speaker
It was a lot of individuals selling their own pieces, footwear and apparel. And then ah few like sneaker resellers and a few people that had their own brand.
00:22:22
Speaker
But I would say probably at least half was all like collectors that were just needing to offload pieces. and at that time, there wasn't any other event like that
The Emotional Journey of Sneaker Collecting
00:22:37
Speaker
at all.
00:22:37
Speaker
Not where I was at least. And The only other thing that was similar would be like a sneaker show. Yeah. And the sneaker shows to me had gotten pretty boring because at that time, like a lot of people were displaying shoes but not selling them. Yeah.
00:22:52
Speaker
And I felt like that was, to me, it was boring. It's like I see my grail or I see like a shoe that I want and it's not for sale. Yeah. You're just displaying it. Yeah. It was, like you know, they basically call them sneaker exhibitions. Right. Yeah.
00:23:04
Speaker
So after you go to a few of those, it's kind of like, why keep going? Like I've seen, I've seen all the shoes. Yeah. Same. So then in the street where I flee for me, it felt like it was different. There wasn't anything else like it going on.
00:23:19
Speaker
And yeah, it was a, it was a pretty big hit. how did you How did you amass all that stuff? Because I don't know anything about closet sales. I've only been to one, and that was at Extra Butter. Shout Extra Butter. But like I didn't know that existed. I didn't know you can be like, yo, I'm trying to offload a ton of stuff, yeah pull up. you know so like are you just Were you just copping and copping, and then you were just like, yo what did that I guess, I mean...
00:23:48
Speaker
you know people say they have obsessive purpose personalities yeah I guess I'm one of those people because like when I really lock into something i go hard yeah and so I buy a lot If somebody else has something and then they don't value it that much, I'm like, let me hold that.
00:24:07
Speaker
I got 50, I got 40 for you. yeah And, you know, just being around and going after what you want, it just happens. Some things, you know, some things get given, some things get bought, some things get traded for.
00:24:21
Speaker
and you know, as most sneakerheads or like anybody that's really into it, it's like you find a way to get what you want. Yes, by any means necessary. and then, you know, over time, it just adds up.
00:24:32
Speaker
I always worked also, always worked in like footwear retail. So like Foot Locker, Foot Action. i worked at Foot Action slash Foot Locker ah right after high school.
00:24:45
Speaker
So pretty much through my whole time when I was in college. And then also in college, I was working at a boutique called Soul Classics. Oh, nice. Which is still there in Columbus, Ohio. So, yeah, just being in that environment, just accumulating.
00:25:03
Speaker
is there Is there a piece that you've gotten rid of in high and like college that you that you regret getting rid of? a my My MF Doom Dunks. That was one of my first Nike SB shoes.
00:25:18
Speaker
The quality on those is amazing too. Amazing. I just checked like StockX maybe couple weeks ago and it was like in the multiple thousands and I was just like, yeah, um I'll never have them again. it's sad to me, but.
00:25:33
Speaker
I had them. I had fun wearing them. I wore them a lot. So it is what it is. I mean, it's great. Those are my girls, but it's like the... You know how you have like like S tier? The tier that you... It's like the tier above where I'm just like, it don't count. if i That's the one right there.
00:25:49
Speaker
um But yeah, I never... i There was only one pair. i got... This is... One of my biggest regrets was just like, and ah and I wish that like I can go back in time with the money I have now to go get it Because I remember on the forums, $250. And I was like, damn.
00:26:05
Speaker
And I was like, that's too much. And then now I'm like, yo, $250 retail now. Right. That's when the What the Dunk came out. I think, I don't know if it's true or not, but back then it was rumored that there were like 300 of them.
00:26:18
Speaker
And I could have gotten them for $200. I wasn't plugged in to get them when they first released, but the resale at the time was like 500, 600. five hundred six hundred And at that time I didn't have it, but now it's like, I wish it was 600. They weren't like, i don't know, 20, 30,000, which is crazy. So it's like, that's another shoe that I really loved, but i missed my opportunity to get them.
00:26:45
Speaker
So you're an SB head. Of course. Yeah. Yeah. Because I know you, I mean, you're rocking Sunders right now, which you sold you sold me on them. Yeah, shout out to kicking it. Yeah, this colorway was crazy to me And that's the kind of random, but that's the kind of collector or...
00:27:01
Speaker
Sneaker guy I am, like I don't care if it's a GR. you know It's like everything was a GR at one point. Yeah, for sure. Everything that's highly sought after was on a shelf at one point. So I definitely, I don't need everything to be like super popular or instant sellout. Like in three or five years when nobody can find these, I'll have them and I'll be happy. Yeah, exactly. i still want those artics. If you if you've seen ah a pair of artics, I don't think they come in a 13.
Individuality in Fashion
00:27:28
Speaker
But the how did like sneaker culture, you know, embracing that part of it of like, well, changing it, like what made you want to be like, you know, I'm going to be different. I'm going to be i'm ah I'm a I'm a like betting on yourself. Like what what motivates you to bet on yourself in that instance?
00:27:49
Speaker
That's always been my thing. um I can't quite pinpoint what it is, but like I said, even going back to high school, I didn't want my uniform to look exactly like everybody else's. Like I wanted mine to be a little bit different, whether that's the shoes or how I tuck my shirt in or if I don't tuck it in or what shade of blue I buy, like, I always wanted, you know, my fit to be a little bit different. You know, nowadays, same thing. Like, I don't, when I'm going to an event, I don't want anybody to have the same thing I have on.
00:28:25
Speaker
Yeah. It's certain... Certain shoes that, you know, you like so much that it doesn't matter. Yeah. Like say that the kids are immigrants under. It's like that shoe is kind of undeniable.
00:28:38
Speaker
Everybody has it and I don't mind. But still at the same time, if I'm going to an event and I feel like somebody else might have them on, I won't wear them. Yeah. Just like, you know, these, I'm like, GR, I've never seen anybody else with him Nah, definitely not.
00:28:53
Speaker
It's fun. Like I like wearing everything and I like to, express myself and not that, you know, sometimes you can express yourself truly and somebody else expressing himself truly aligns with how you express yourself. But I like to feel like I'm different or unique. So if somebody else has the exact same thing on them, like, man, maybe I'm not that, not that different.
Moving to New York: Opportunities and Growth
00:29:19
Speaker
I'm not as unique as I think I am.
00:29:21
Speaker
But more often than not, that doesn't happen. So No, yeah, that I remember there was one time me and my best friend, we pulled up with the Melvins on and I was like, I'm about to go home and change. You probably didn't expect it. No, I didn't.
00:29:36
Speaker
But it's just like now we live in this world where everybody's literally like rocking the same like undefeated force drop. Right. Right. I'm like in my head, I'm like this coming out. I'm i'm rocking them next year.
00:29:47
Speaker
Like. That's what I've always been on. Like, it's cool. Everybody's rocking. Like, if you like pulling up to something and everybody else is rocking it, like, cool. Like, that's you. But for me, it makes me feel like, I don't know, what's that scene where it's just like, where you're just like, cog in a machine type of thing. Yeah, right.
00:30:06
Speaker
Yeah, she like that. i will wear I like to wear my shoes right away, but it would just be casual. I would wear those walking down a block to go to the deli to the grocery store. like Just get steps in.
00:30:21
Speaker
Yeah, just for fun. i wouldn't like try and get a fit off with those. yeah Not right now. I either... Like super popular shoes, I either... you know try to wear them a little bit early or wear them years down the line when people forget yeah I so you said biggest as regret your sneaker regret I want to know biggest clothing regret that you got is there like you like yo this old vintage Burberry sitting in the trunk or something like that That's tough. I really, I kind of hunted down a lot of like clothing pieces that I really wanted. Like I have some of my favorite Nike jackets ever. Yeah. Like the...
00:31:03
Speaker
the power of varsity jacket from like the mid two thousands. And I have this Nike ACG K2 jacket from like 2011, maybe also Nike, they did like athletics far East in in the mid two thousands. I have like, not the whole collection, but most of the pieces from that collection that I like.
00:31:25
Speaker
So like, Clothing is a little easier, in my opinion, because less people know about it. So, like, the resale value is not very high. It's hard to find, but when you find it, it might be anywhere from 100 to 300 being a high.
00:31:43
Speaker
and You know, if you patient enough and you search enough, like, like i said, I'm kind of obsessive. So it's like every, every month or every few weeks or as much as I think about something, yeah I'll just search it.
00:31:57
Speaker
And usually it's not there, but that one day it'll be there yeah and I'll be ready. I love that. That's the, ah that's the old eBay mentality that I used to have where it'll pop up eventually. Not with SBs, man. They all, they're all cooked, I think. A lot of, yeah, a lot of them, like I used to have the Gibson, the Gibson dunk. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:32:17
Speaker
Most of the time when those pop up, it they're beat. Yeah. Which I won't do. And then like every now and then the new pair will pop up, four or five.
00:32:28
Speaker
I wouldn't really do it. If it if I see it like 350, maybe. There you go. There you go. A little 350. I'm curious of just like what what was the move? why what Why come to New York?
00:32:44
Speaker
Um,
00:32:47
Speaker
just more creative opportunity. I feel like I got to a point in Columbus where I like exhausted as much of my energy as I wanted to doing creative things.
Managing a Lifestyle Boutique
00:33:00
Speaker
And, you know, from streetwear fleet, to hosting events, to photography, to managing soul classics.
00:33:08
Speaker
And. And he was a man kind of wanted a little bit more. Yeah. Several years. That's fire. Yeah. Those are my folks. um Yeah. I just kind of want a little bit more. Yeah. And.
00:33:24
Speaker
It was kind of a situation where I felt like anything that was cool going on, it kind of involved like me or my friends. And it's fun, but you don't always want to be the one that has to like put something on or like do something. Sometimes you want to go support other people that are doing something cool and interesting.
00:33:44
Speaker
So like I said, community just a little bit smaller, whereas in New York, It's so many, so many people and so many groups that are doing really cool, fun, interesting things that like you can't, you can't do it all. And that was kind of interesting. That was intriguing to me.
00:34:02
Speaker
And then of course, just, it was ah alignment, you know, ah ah friend of mine had posted that they had an apartment that was the open and My lease was going up at the time. Our relationship had ended.
00:34:19
Speaker
So it was kind of like it just aligned for me to try it out. I didn't really expect that I would be here as long as I've been here, but it made sense for me to try it. Were you visiting before that? Like, did that?
00:34:32
Speaker
Not super often, but I have been in New York several times, like through managing Soul Classics and just being in the scene, like been to several events out here, like Agenda Project and Vans Headquarter is in New York. Well, New York and like, I think Costa Mesa, West Coast. Yeah.
00:34:54
Speaker
So different like meetings, whether that be a Nike meeting or Vans meeting and, you know, just had reasons to visit New York. Mm-hmm. i'm now now we talked about managing the store i need to know like what was that like like what what are where what were some of your experiences doing that um that was cool that was perfect for me because when you manage a a smaller boutique or a lifestyle boutique especially at that time or a mom and pop shop if you will you know you you kind of have to do everything
00:35:26
Speaker
And some people don't like that, but me being a person that has different skill sets and different interests, I never minded it. You know, so from doing visual merchandising to running the Instagram, to doing a photography, to putting on events, to...
00:35:43
Speaker
to Literally managing the store and making sure releases go smoothly, coming up with ideas for trade shows or, you know, what brands we should bring
Creativity and Execution in Ideas
00:35:55
Speaker
in. Like wearing all those different hats for me was a lot of fun. Yeah. So I just remember having the freedom and that was always nice.
00:36:03
Speaker
Were you throwing on events like to build community around the store too? Yeah, yeah, definitely. Like, we used to have social events, and we've done events with brands, plus Streetwear Flee.
00:36:18
Speaker
Yeah, you you did it there, too? Not, like, at the and a store, but during that time period, like, while I was managing the store. Yeah, because I was wondering, like, are you doing, so then you do, like, the store events, and then you'd be like, all right, now I still got my, um you know? Yeah, during, like, while I worked at Soul Classics, probably from,
00:36:40
Speaker
2010 2018, 2017. You know, I had photography exhibitions. I had community forums.
00:36:52
Speaker
Had parties. Just like, you know, completely separate from the store. Just on the side. So. Damn, man, you're doing everything. do as much as I can. Yo, that's crazy, dude. Or it's like I do, you know, I do as much as I can, but as much as like,
00:37:08
Speaker
I do everything that I want as much as I can. Yeah. Yeah. Like, I don't even know how do you get the inspiration? Cause I feel like, like, is that just being in a creative and just scratching that itch? Or is it like, how did, how do you, how do you get to the point where like, yeah, I'm gonna actually execute this thing because a lot of people come up with ideas, but then they stop, a lot of people stop themselves and actually execute it. So how do you you call yourself forward?
00:37:35
Speaker
I mean, the best feeling comes from when you actually execute the idea. It's like, it feels good to come up with the idea. Like that excitement feels great. And that spark happens. But the best feeling is when you actually execute it. You know, it's kind of like sports. It's like,
00:37:54
Speaker
hitting a shot at practice is cool. Like that feels good. yeah But hitting a shot during the game, that's like the epitome or, you know, winning the championship. So that's kind of how I feel about any idea that I have. It's like, I might come up with an idea while I'm out walking and like, I'll get excited and I'll feel good. But then I know that's not like the, the, what is it? The, ah what's the top?
00:38:21
Speaker
The, uh, That's just not the the highest of that excitement. like it It gets better. and the type of the top The top of the dopamine rush or something? was I guess like the is it what zenith or just the oh yeah peak. The peak, yeah, yeah. The climax. or Yeah, yeah. All of that. It's like I know there's there's more to it, and that comes when everything comes together.
00:38:47
Speaker
But how are you so fearless? Because I feel like. Well, I will say as much that I do, there's like 20 ideas and 20 projects that are incomplete.
00:38:59
Speaker
Like I have a lot of, lot of different ideas that I haven't gotten to yet or some that I've started and kind of are dormant right now. That happens too.
00:39:10
Speaker
And that, that bothers me. That's the downside. You know, I have a lot of things that I want to finish that, I'm just too busy doing other things to finish them. And that kind of weighs on me.
00:39:22
Speaker
So that's the downside. It's like, I feel bad for like not finishing certain things that I started. But what was the question? How are you fearless?
00:39:33
Speaker
How did you become fearless? Right, right, right.
00:39:38
Speaker
Honestly, I feel like believe in the idea.
Challenges in Organizing Events
00:39:43
Speaker
Like, I think I have good ideas and because the idea is good, i feel like what, what is there to be afraid of? It's like in my head, when I plan something and I write it down and I put all the pieces together, like I don't see how it could fail.
00:40:02
Speaker
And sometimes when things don't go as planned, I'm almost like surprised and yeah or, you know, I sit back and like, okay, why were there only 50 people there? Like what, what happened? What was going on? Was it the promotion? Was there, were there are other things going on in the city or was there, you know, just a miscommunication or like, you know, i'm trying to figure out why it didn't go exactly how I thought it would in my head. But usually,
00:40:33
Speaker
Just, ah you know, kind of playing quarterback. come I did play quarterback in high school. what what But um that's another... that's No, no, no. We're going to have to come back to that. So... Literally, like quarterback, being a chef, just putting things together. It's like, you know, if you're a chef, you put all the, no, I'm just using it as a metaphor. But it's like when you put all the ingredients together, you're this is going to taste good. Right, yeah. So if for some reason it didn't taste good, you would be like, wait a minute.
00:40:59
Speaker
all right, where did I go wrong? So that's kind of how it is with like events or ideas or anything that I create. So let's fast forward to like right now where, you know, you did two successful events. You did the Ohio Street Wear Flee. You did the New York Street Wear Flee.
00:41:17
Speaker
um You know, that is a lot of stress, right? So how do you how did you manage that? and then Very stressful. the The first New York event was probably...
00:41:30
Speaker
That's one of the hardest things I've ever done. That was probably the the largest event I've done pretty much like by myself. yeah You did that by yourself? Mostly. That's crazy, dude.
00:41:44
Speaker
I'm not going to say 100%, but maybe like 95%. ninety five Yeah. But I have um have a co-founder that he helps out as much as he can, but he owns Soul Classics.
00:41:55
Speaker
He has four kids. At the time, he was coaching football. he like He's busy with his own life, too. But, um yeah, so just like communicating with the venue, communicating with all the vendors, yeah all the DJs, all the hosts, all the logistics, sound, tables, chairs, blah, blah, blah. It's like...
00:42:21
Speaker
it is stressful, especially like money's involved and people have to get paid. So it's like, that's probably the most stressful part. i like I value people's time and efforts. So, you know, if we discuss a number or discuss some type of payment, I want to make sure I can deliver on that.
00:42:40
Speaker
And the New York event was a very expensive. So it's like, It was the most pressure that I had on me and like the most tasks. Yeah. So it was just, it was a lot, but I just kind of grew up um in an environment where like excuses weren't really valid or tolerated. So anytime I feel like I'm overwhelmed or...
00:43:09
Speaker
can't do something it's like I'm reminded like you can and you will and there's no excuse it's like get it done and just you know locking in The I'm because so basically I'm when I when I when you asked me to be part of the panel, right? I think I was most in awe of just like how you build community.
00:43:31
Speaker
Right. And even with like the conversation about like what we were speaking about in the panel about we also spoke on community and like the influence, the power of influence. Right. Right.
00:43:43
Speaker
But I'm curious about just like you're you've done to You've been part of two separate communities, but yeah, you were able to hone both the New York community and the Ohio community, right? And leverage yourself as this person that's putting this community together.
00:44:02
Speaker
So what what is it about community that keeps you going?
Influencer Culture and Community Events
00:44:11
Speaker
I mean, I i love people. I care about people. And i want to see people do well. So I like to have fun. And it's like, for me, fun involves like other people. yeah i dont Well, sometimes I have fun alone, but it's more fun when other people are involved. yeah So trying to bring people together and feeding off of each other's energy, it's important to me. And it's something that I enjoy. yeah,
00:44:40
Speaker
It's the same thing here as it was in Ohio or anywhere i will be. it is different in New York. People kind of, they often ask me like, what's the difference between the events in Ohio and the events in New York?
00:44:53
Speaker
And I would say like, you know, in New York, there is so many people, like there's so much opportunity here and people are after that opportunity. So it's kind of like, it's more opportunist here.
00:45:07
Speaker
Whereas in Ohio, it's more for the culture. Like it's not necessarily to make it big. A lot of people do have aspirations to make it big or to, you know, meet somebody that's going to help them advance. But for a lot of people, that's not even necessarily on their mind. They're just doing it because they like it.
00:45:28
Speaker
yeah You know, they like to create, they like to get dressed. They like sneakers and, that's kind of how they move. Whereas New York is more so everybody has like big aspirations and it's a lot of influencers, lot of really cool people and they want, they want to be treated as such. Yeah.
00:45:47
Speaker
You know, they don't want to just pull up and support the community or be a part of the community. They want like eyes and attention too. So it's tricky.
00:45:58
Speaker
I cause like, let's talk about that because yes, that was the topic of the panel. Right. And so what is your overall thoughts on that? Do you think, you know, we're turning, we're going towards more of that. Are we, or do we think, you know, we're actually a lot of the people that are having voices or prominent voices or even a little, a little bit of a voice are pushing, know,
00:46:23
Speaker
You know, something else instead of like, oh, I'm the influencer. I'm the person that should be getting the product. Like, what do what do you think you're seeing more of now? think it's going more towards.
00:46:36
Speaker
Influencer culture for now, at least it will get to a point where. like you know like a breaking point or the balloon burst but for now bubble burst the way you know people are getting paid on Instagram and TikTok and the way the algorithm is set up it just encourages people to promote themselves more which obviously there's a lot of benefits to that yeah from a cultural standpoint and from a human standpoint not so much yeah like for example I feel like a lot of
00:47:12
Speaker
A lot of folks that attend events here are doing so to create content just as much as they are, if not more than they are going because they like what's going on or because they support what's going on or because they're just a fan of what's going on. It's like, I'm going here.
00:47:32
Speaker
because I feel like it's important to be here and I want to record this moment and share with my followers not I'm going here because I like this artist and I want to support them yeah you know it's a bit of both too but that's very prevalent you know especially in you know the more like branded events or branded activations it's kind of It's more so about being there than supporting what's going on. Yeah.
00:48:04
Speaker
It's, I mean, I've been to both sides and I have seen the the differences, right? Of people that are just like, wow, i'm happy to be here. And versus, a wow, I should be here.
00:48:16
Speaker
You know, I do think... and Social media created a lot of this like entitlement that I i don't really understand. Yeah. um As a person that just kind of really just wants to talk to people and connect with people.
00:48:29
Speaker
um But like when it comes to branded events, it's it's so like. Oh yeah. Certain amount of followers get you in the door. You get in the door. The payment is ah the, the, the, the give and take or the bargain is I promote your stuff because you invited me. Right. Right.
00:48:49
Speaker
And then that cycle.
Social Media's Impact on Influence
00:48:51
Speaker
Because you see it brings success. Very transactional. Yeah. And it's like forward and forward and forward. um And then, I mean, you mentioned the algorithm and I've been saying this a lot. Like it's it's really hard to break the algorithm. And what you're trying to do is always break it.
00:49:07
Speaker
Because when you when you become the algorithm, then that's when you see the most success. Right. Right. You know, so it's like, but if you're just going to events, making the same, Hey, come welcome to the day in the life of a 23 year old, blah, blah, blah. And then you go, I go to the Nike event, bla bla blah, blah, blah. You know, it's part, it's playing into the algorithm. So how do you make something different? That's going break it.
00:49:28
Speaker
And it's just like, yeah, that, that study. Yeah, it's playing into it, but a lot of that stuff is like becoming noise, yeah white noise. And I don't think it's as impactful as not as it once was a few years ago. So like it works, it's it getting the views, it's getting the likes, but views and likes and impact aren't the same either. So what do what what do you think or what is your definition of impact?
00:49:56
Speaker
what ah What do you see as impact?
00:50:02
Speaker
Well, there's not one one type of impact. So it's like... yeah But yours. Right, right. Even for me, it's like... A large impact might be a million views or it might be something that goes viral, but it could be something that has 40 or likes, but it means a lot to 20 people. Like it's something that 20 people will never forget versus maybe 500 people see it, but they forget about it next week. Like,
00:50:32
Speaker
It's different and it's it's certain things that like I've done. I've done like community forums for a long time. So I've had where it event called Culture Talk.
00:50:45
Speaker
It's still a thing. I haven't done in years, but bring it back. It's still a thing. Bring it back. Say we're like Culture Talk. You know, there's been events where might have been 30 people there. At this time, Instagram isn't as popular.
00:50:59
Speaker
Posts may get. Mm-hmm.
00:51:02
Speaker
20 50 maybe 60 likes yeah but it's like the impact on the people that were there is like is way greater than anything that like can be seen on social media like there are relationships that have been built at the event and through the conversations that like change the trajectory of people's lives and friendships, create friendships, create relationships. So it's just like, that's the type of impact that I care about a lot more than just what we see online. Yeah.
00:51:37
Speaker
Back to the, the, the influencer thing and people just kind of being opportunists. Like I know some folks that it's kind of like, they won't go to an event if they're not invited.
00:51:52
Speaker
And for me, it's like,
00:51:55
Speaker
What if, like, are you not interested, like, on your own? Like, for me, if I find something interesting and I'm available and I have energy, like, I'll go. Definitely go. Period.
00:52:07
Speaker
I want to be there. I like what's going on. I want to be there. Like, I want to be a part of it. It's not about getting a goodie bag or being invited or anything.
00:52:20
Speaker
like advantageous to me in that way. Right. Yeah. To me, the benefit is the experience. Yeah. The experience, the community and being a part of that moment. Yeah. I do. I do think we definitely are missing that in people themselves because of just like the way we look at things. And so I'm hoping that, you know, i don't know. I do feel like,
00:52:45
Speaker
You give and take with FOMO, right? Like, if you post that you're having, like, I made these connections. I'm having a good time. I got to experience this. You aren't you are getting people to be curious of being like, yo, I should pull up with next one. And I do think that, like, that's what I loved about when people would go on social media and show, like, yo, we did the sneaker ball in such an, like, in Ohio. We did the sneaker ball out there. You got to pull up next year. Like, I like that because it's more,
00:53:12
Speaker
Like, yo, that's something I'm missing that I, that I would love to be at. And, but I think people have figured out a way to capitalize on that. And so it's turned into like, if, say, if I post that, some, something similar to that, you know, I got to experience it. Oh, you're just mixy. You're just outside. I'm just like, no, man, I just kind of wanted to go to something. Everything kind of bleeds into each other. You know, it's like,
00:53:37
Speaker
That's what makes it tricky because and I'm not saying like don't go post pictures from events. like yeah Anybody that knows me knows I'll post a thousand. Like I got 9,000 pictures on Instagram. yeah that's what i That's what I do. But you can tell when
00:53:58
Speaker
it's like more genuine versus when it's like, Like say, if you get seeded a shoe, people get seeded shoes and products all the time. So it's like, and they post about it.
00:54:12
Speaker
It's like, are you more excited that you were given a gift or are you promoting a product? Usually nowadays it's more so thank you for giving this to me, not, oh, look at this, this nice product and explaining the product. It's just, thank you for giving it to me. And it's like, it's boring.
00:54:35
Speaker
Thanks for shouting me out like that. That's what I do. I say thank you. You're not saying there's nothing wrong with saying, it bleeds into each
Evolution of Personal Style
00:54:42
Speaker
other. i say, but nowadays i try not, I don't really say thank you unless it's,
00:54:50
Speaker
I try and like, I try and deliver on what needs to be delivered. Yeah. Usually if something is being seeded is because, you know, they want you to help push a product.
00:55:02
Speaker
And I also, I don't always want somebody to know whether I got something for free or whether it was seeded or whether it was seeded or whether I bought it. So I'll just post the product valley and maybe give my opinion on it or say, I like it, say it's fire whatever. And then from there, it's like, is the viewer,
00:55:23
Speaker
it's about what I'm posting and not whether I got it for free or not. Cause like I said, when, when it's just about getting something for free is boring to me. Yeah. You're giving me an existential crisis over here. I will, I will rethink my strategy at the next pair.
00:55:39
Speaker
All right. Sorry. but We're towards the end of the podcast. I did have another question. i don't know if I could squeeze it in. Maybe I could squeeze it in. um I'm ah i' a, I'm a, I'm to squeeze it in right here. Sorry, Maxim.
00:55:54
Speaker
ah Hopefully it's not a long answer. But do you believe, because I've i've seen a lot of conversations about this on Twitter, ah but do you, as a person who gets fly and a person who knows fashion, do you believe sneakerheads can't dress?
00:56:13
Speaker
Generally speaking, most like,
00:56:19
Speaker
sneaker sneaker guys i would say not really okay fair it's not you know obviously it's not I'm not saying they're not capable of it but I think the focus is so much on sneakers that they're not able to because they're, you know, just preoccupied on the sneaker. And, you know, to, to be good at dressing or to be knowledgeable about style and fashion, you got to kind of take some of that energy away from sneakers and some folks don't, but it's also,
00:56:57
Speaker
It's interesting because style is in like visual art is something that I feel like is in people or it's not.
00:57:08
Speaker
Same way, you know, people say like you can't buy style, you can buy fashion. Like it's true. You can't really like teach someone how to be creative. Like you can teach people how to copy or follow a blueprint, but To have that creative eye or to have that stylish eye and vision, ah think it's something that's kind of natural.
00:57:28
Speaker
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Or, I mean, I do also think it's just like, it comes from community too. Cause like if the community around you is getting fly, you do want to, you get inspired to be like, hi, yo, I got to try something different. And then you try to earn that. It's something that's learned.
00:57:45
Speaker
Yeah. It's like the, the style is something that maybe you have, but there's so much knowledge that it is involved with style. It's like the way I was dressing when I was in high school to now it's night and day. Like I didn't know,
00:58:00
Speaker
much at all compared to what I know now in high school. So coming from a place of like silo knowledge, just being on sneakers and then you kind of graduate from that to like, okay, these pants look better with my sneakers. yeah Okay, this shirt looks better with my pants and with my
Life Lessons and Final Thoughts
00:58:18
Speaker
sneakers. Okay, this hat looks better with my shirt that looks better with the pants with this sneaker or this hat, it matches my my pants and and my shirt, but not the sneakers. So it's like, it's so many layers that come with time and like knowledge and trial and error.
00:58:36
Speaker
Absolute fact. Let me hit you with the last question. So we get up about it here. So it deals with a little ah visualization. i want you to think back to young JD. He's about to, he's about to open that box of phone posits right now. You're older. You behind your younger self. What would you tell your younger self as he opens that box?
00:58:58
Speaker
I would just say have fun. Like, like you, you have what you want now, enjoy it, have fun and don't let this be the end all be all.
00:59:10
Speaker
There's more to life. And, you know, whether you have this shoe or not, life is okay and life will be okay and life will be better.
00:59:21
Speaker
Yo, that's bars. is It's not, don't throw a pick in the fourth quarter of the of this one game? or
00:59:32
Speaker
don't think I, more like touchdown. yeah
00:59:37
Speaker
Or get the interception. I used to play cornerback. Oh, I thought you said quarterback. I said quarterback. Oh, you played both? Yeah. Man, let everybody know where to find you. my last My last game, I had ah think I had an interception, a touchdown pass, and a touchdown run.
00:59:54
Speaker
You play we really played both sides. That's crazy. But yeah, let everybody know where to find you, man. um I am on Instagram at MrKingJD.
01:00:04
Speaker
That's M-R-K-I-N-G-J-D. I'm also on Instagram at James
01:00:26
Speaker
What else? That's enough for now. Yeah. Yeah, make sure you tap into Streetwear Flee whenever you see it pop up. When's the next one? Next year? um The next, like, full Streetwear Flee. Maybe in the fall, but probably next year.
01:00:41
Speaker
But look out for and event within the next two months. Okay. Yeah. Okay. um And you know where to find me, who is hot on all social medias. But I'm going to pass it on to myself ah to give the Patreon shoutouts and to plug the Patreon. If you've made it to the end of this episode, I really appreciate you.
01:01:00
Speaker
And if you are a Patreon subscriber, you know we got to do them Patreon shoutouts at the end of this week's episode. So first shoutout goes to Ross Adam. Second shoutout goes to Adam Neustetter.
01:01:11
Speaker
Always tell everybody he started this. He started that ball rolling on Patreon. Then we have Fresh Poetic Derek. Thank you for still subscribing. And Jesse, Jesse G. And of course, Adam Butler.
01:01:25
Speaker
Now, if you are interested in becoming a patron, patron, a patron, patron, a patron, becoming a patron, hit up patreon.com slash my first kicks.
01:01:36
Speaker
I got tiers on there, like i said earlier in the episode, two tiers. But to expand on this a little bit longer, i got a special episode coming with me, Aaron,
01:01:51
Speaker
Andy, AB Sneaks, just strictly on Patreon that will talk about our time at Portland where we went to go see the Nike campus, we went to go see Adidas campus, we'll talk a little bit about the cool stuff that we got to see, our time in Portland, some of the food that we ate. Like, we we took an air and b Airbnb, so we have lots of stories. And if you are interested in hearing our journey,
01:02:20
Speaker
uh in a couple of weeks i will be putting that only on patreon i'll probably put like a 15 minute like sample that people on youtube can check out on youtube and on you know apple and and spotify can check out because you know i gotta give them a little taste but if you are well i gotta give y'all a little taste i gotta get y'all to subscribe to the Patreon, right?
01:02:46
Speaker
So if you are really interested in that, you want to get ahead of that, you don't want to miss that episode when it drops, patreon.com slash myfirstkicks. And if you haven't yet and you're here, please make sure to hit the subscribe button that you see on this page or watch one of these other two episodes that you may be interested in.
01:03:04
Speaker
don't forget, wear your kicks. Peace.