SPONSORED BY
SNEAKER SALARIES

Have you been so crazy about sneakers, that you wanted to do it for a living? The truth is, the love and passion for sneakers can be expressed beyond the hobby of collecting rare footwear, immersing in design history, and rocking a different pair every day. It can actually become a way of life on the professional end. As sneaker culture continued to grow over the years, so did a rich ecosystem of business and careers beyond the “traditional” roles at major brands and companies. We at Sneaker News are an example of how something founded purely on an obsession for sneakers can be transformed into a viable way to make living.

In this day and age, there are so many more opportunities in the footwear industry that rely on media, art, curation, and re-selling. And with Sneaker Salaries, a new podcast brought to you in partnership with one37pm of Gallery Media Group and sponsored by JD Sports US, the goal is bring you hands-on advice from the individuals who have created powerful names in the industry through hard work and an authentic passion.

The podcast is hosted by Sneaker News Editor in Chief John Kim, who ditched a background in medicine and joined Sneaker News in 2009, and Jordan Hagedorn, a member of the Sneaker News team since 2013 who happens to be an NFL Agent among other ventures. Check out the episodes that are live now, and be sure to check back every week for a new episode. Don’t forget to subscribe to Sneaker Salaries wherever you listen to podcasts, and please rate us if you like the episodes.

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Sophia Chang is an illustrator and designer who spent her life in NYC boroughs and took whatever opportunities that came her way by the horns. Her catalog of clients is vast, but her love of footwear and community led her to co-found @commonace, a women’s only shopping and sneaker culture hub.

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Brian Nadav’s family built a footwear/apparel retail empire in the Philadelphia area since the 1980s. Using his knowledge of the business and his passion to further serve his community, Brian launched Lapstone & Hammer, one of the choicest boutiques in the entire nation.

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Combining his love of footwear and his natural connection to his community, Derek Curry embarked on a journey into politics…Sneaker Politics, that is. Listen in on how the army vet turned down pursuing an MBA to form a small retail empire in the South.

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Phillip Leyesa has gained quite a following – and a business – thanks to his spin on custom sneakers, sending brand new Jordans through a time machine to look fit for the 1980s. With a client base that includes Daniel Arsham, StockX, and boutiques in Japan, Phillip’s growing presence stretches beyond his reworked footwear

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Rather than sports and sneakers, Evan Belforti’s youth was shaped by his love of the fantasy and sci-fi drama. His personal passions, combined with his unique talent has allowed him to grow as one of the sneaker industry’s must-watch designers. Currently at Reebok, Evan works as a footwear designer under the fashion and collaborations team; listen in on how he got his start, and what he envisions for his own future.

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Gerard Smith aka “G-Roc” was an active contributor to the NikeTalk forums who founded one of the earliest sneaker blogs int he biz – The Shoe Game. Find out how he got his start – and how he persists today.

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Through the power of social media, Tyler Mansour flipped his love of footwear and photography into one of the premier occupations in the sneaker retail industry – the senior photographer at NYC’s KITH.

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In 2007, three friends from high school put their heads together to form IMAGE-NY, a sneaker consignment shop that serves the entire borough of Queens and the surrounding regions. In our latest episode, the shop’s founders – Perry Shum, Shu Cheng, and Gregory Lam – reveal the inner workings behind one of the most respected consignment shops on the market.

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Armed with just a camera and his computer keyboard, Oscar Castillo set out on a mission to put Chicago’s sneaker scene on the map. Over a decade later, he’s created one of the most looked-at online destinations of the sneaker game while procuring budgets from major brands to host events in the Windy City.

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Jeff Cole went from almost failing his college classes to being one of the most re-posted digital artists on Instagram. Find out how the Chicago-native’s love of MJ sprouted into a must-follow on social media, and later into a small business.

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On a bit of a whim, Cassy Athena picked up her camera and began snapping photos at the Drew League during the infamous lockout-shortened NBA season in 2011. From there, she became the go-to photographer to the NBA’s elite and up-and-coming, all while forging friendships with business-minded celebrities.

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Dan Gamache flipped a potentiial career as a southpaw hurler in the MLB to one of the most sought after sneaker customizers on the planet. Listen in to learn how Mache Customs got hiss start, and what he’s up to now.

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Raised in a small city walled off by Alaskan tundras, Brooklyn-based Gia Seo is a self-made creative and art director based in NY that carved her own path that led to the formation of her own agency.

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Index Portland’s origins began when founders Mikey Nguyen and Terrance Ricketts met at the school playground in the second grade. Since then, they’ve continuously evolved over the years to form one of the premier brick and mortar sneaker destinations in the world.

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Dominic Ciambrone, aka The Shoe Surgeon, is among the most prominent names in the world of custom footwear. His ascension to the top is one of hard work and grind, built on a big dream he had while offering his services at his local mall. Listen below to see how The Shoe Surgeon built his career from the ground up.

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The brain behind many of Concepts’ unforgettable special projects is Deon Point, the New England native who ditched a profitable career in contracting to pursue an unshakeable passion.

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At the forefront of digital curation of all things 90s is Alan Galloway aka @oldmanalan, the NorCal-bred enthusiast who has amassed quite a following for his ability to hit nostalgic notes.

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While not the first to do it, Jacques Slade aka @kustoo has risen to be the foremost sneaker “unboxer” on YouTube, amassing a following in the millions. Learn more about his rise and pay attention to gems of knowledge he drops if you’re trying to get it on the game too.

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