Shows / Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Step into the world of sneakers with host Matt Frates. Each week, we unravel the unique stories behind the sneakers and the culture. From iconic designs to influential figures, discover fresh perspectives and in-depth discussions on the sneakers that shape our world. If you live for sneaker talk and crave insightful takes, this is your go-to podcast. This podcast is brought to you by Matt Frates Creates, LLC This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 -…
Episodes
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Nike Refurbished
The Nike Refurbished program is Nike's attempt at giving sneakerheads the ability to cop shoes they may have missed out on. In the sneaker world there is a…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Reimagined Jordans and Nikes
Jordan Brand, and by extension Nike, is fully on the "reimagined" path when it comes to their most beloved Jordan colorways. The unveiling of the Jordan 4…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
The Complex Value of Sneakers
How do we determine the true value of a sneaker? News outlets such as Complex make this a complicated questions to answer. The viewpoints and personalities…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Matty Ice's Rotation (and Some Pick-Ups)
Matty Ice does a lot of talking about sneakers that others wear, but rarely gives a glimpse into his own sneaker closet. In this episode, you get a peak of the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Union Jordan 1: Story of a Successful Sneaker Release
The recent release of the Union Jordan 1 highlighted how far sneaker releases have come. Smaller shops and boutiques are taking measures to give sneakers back…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Remembering Momma Ice
Nearing the two year anniversary since Momma Ice passed away, Matty Ice gives you a glimpse into her and their relationship. Momma Ice was a complicated woman…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Kobe Bryant's Sneaker Legacy
Kobe Bryant's legacy goes beyond the basketball court. His untimely death in 2020 took his popularity in the sneaker world to new heights. With the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Rep Sneakers: The Great Debate
Replica sneakers are probably the most polarizing topic in the sneaker world. Are they evil? Should you wear them? Does it matter? Matty Ice talks through the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Travis Scott & Lazy Collabs
Between the Travis Scott "Utopia" Air Force 1 and the A Ma Maniere Jordan Air Ship, sneaker collabs seem to be getting lazy. Sneaker companies are trying to…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
The State of Sneaker Culture
Matty Ice brings Fire Footwear, a long standing audio podcast, to I&C Sports on YouTube. A passionate member of sneaker culture, he asks the question "what is…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Tennis Shoes
For an entire generation, sneakers and tennis shoes are one and the same. In today's world, basketball is the sport most associated with sneaker culture thanks…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Reviewing the Movie "Air"
Having finally seen the critically acclaimed movie "Air", Matty Ice is ready to break it down for the Fire Footwear community. While initially hyped as a movie…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Father's Day and Dad Sneakers
After a visit to see his dad over Father's Day Weekend, Matty Ice comes back to the airwaves to reflect on his time there. Time and experience bring with it…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Alternatives to Air Jordans and Nike Dunks
In a sneaker world where Jordans and Dunks are becoming stale, we must look for a solution this complacency. In today's episode, Matt dives into other…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Are Jordans and Dunks Becoming Stale?
Sneaker culture reached an apex during the pandemic, but is seeing a crash down to earth of late. Nike is shifting their executives to better serve the needs…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Novella: Looking Into the Future of Sneakers
In this episode of Fire Footwear, host Matt Frates dives into the future of sneaker culture, examining the rise of the resale market, the impact of social…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Adidas To Sell Remaining Yeezys
Kanye West and Adidas are back together, but it's not the love story we've all been waiting for. This temporary partnership could change the sneaker game, and…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
The Jordan 4: From Classic Colorways to Unique Releases
Get ready to step into the world of the iconic Jordan 4 silhouette as we explore its unique design elements and legacy in sneaker history! From the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Exploring Sneaker Collaborations: From Travis Scott to Fear of God
On this episode of Fire Footwear, Matty Ice delves into the world of sneaker culture and beyond. He discusses the importance of foot comfort and protection…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Social Media
Social media is woven into the fabric of society, but are its intended uses being overshadowed? In sneakers it seems as if social media brings nothing but…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
My London Travels
Matty Ice is back in the U.S. after a great trip to England. Having come down from the experience, he has many thoughts on his time there. From sneaker culture…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Sneaker Cities
Matty Ice is crossing the Atlantic to visit the great country and England. In doing research for the trip, it dawned on him that so many cities around the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Air Max Month 2023
March is Air Max Month, and while it is coming to close, the Iceman dives into other great Air Max models, while also giving his favorites. --- New episodes…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Tom Sachs & Ja Morant: How Much Should Sneaker Culture Care?
While the sneakers themselves are awesome, it's the humans that make up the culture. The creators can sometimes get a pass for troubling behavior, but the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Jordan 3 Reimagined
The release of the Jordan 3 Reimagined is probably going to be the biggest of the year, but the history of how the Jordan 3 saved the brand is critical to the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Air Max 1: A Risk Worth Taking
In 1987, Nike found themselves falling back to the mean and it needed to take a risk. In comes Tinker Hatfield and his architecture background. Taking…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Jeff Staple: Sneaker Icon
February 2005 changed sneaker culture forever. The Jeff Staple Pigeon Dunk caused a riot outside Reed Space in New York — and nothing was quite the same after…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Community in Sneakers
In light of A Ma Maniere's Jordan 12 release for women, and the news of Kanye and Adidas possibly reuniting, Matty Ice thinks about the importance of…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
40 Years of Matty Ice
Forty years ago this week, Matty Ice was born. The world was a different place in 1983; sneaker culture hadn't blossomed into what it is today. The last forty…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Tiffany x Nike: A Class in Sneaker Affordability
At the end of the day, unlike cars, sneakers are mostly all the same. A collection of leather, rubber, and stitching. However, not all sneakers are priced the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Do Sneaker Companies Really Care About Us?
In an episode inspired by other sneaker content creators, Matty Ice talks through what sneaker companies actually care about. A fundamental question is "should…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Union LA and Sneaker Collabs
With their upcoming AJKO low release, and the announcement of another Jordan 1 OG High collab, it begs the question "Are sneaker collabs becoming too common?"…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Sneakers' Connection to Societal Narratives
Sneakers are a wonderful part of our culture, but can they symbolize more than just sneaker culture? Matty Ice looks into sneakers' connection with societal…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Forgotten Sneaker Silhouettes
Are sneaker companies missing an opportunity by releasing the same silhouettes year after year? Matty Ice discusses some forgotten silhouettes in the history…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Anticipated Sneaker Drops of 2023
The calendar has turned over to 2023, and there are a lot of sneaker drops to look forward to. Matty Ice breaks down some of the known releases to look forward…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
2022: Sneakers Year in Review
The year 2022 was quite the year. In some ways it was the most normal year we have had since the pandemic started. For sneakers, like every year, it was…
Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)Sneaker of The Year 2022
There were a lot of drops throughout 2022, but which one was the best? Check out Matty Ice's subjective list. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe…
Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)Fire Footwear: Trailer
Are you a sneaker lover? Love talking about them? This is the show for you. New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to Fire Footwear on YouTube…
Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)Dedicated Sneaker Months
Much like the Jordan 11 always drops in December, should every month have an associated sneaker silhouette? What would one be you'd want to see? --- New…
Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)Virgil Abloh: Legacy and Creativity
One year after the passing of Virgil Abloh, a fundamental question remains. Is he the most influential designer in sneaker history? --- New episodes released…
Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)Sneaker Authenticity
Should sneaker authentication be a million dollar a year job? With the need for true authenticity at its peak in sneaker, we examine just how difficult it can…
Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)Sneakers As Thanksgiving Dinner
Can sneakers be compared to a Thanksgiving meal? If so, which would you have on your plate? Let's discuss. --- New episodes released weekly. --- Subscribe to…
Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)Jordan 1 Chicago: Lost and Found
Are Nike and Jordan brand watering down the legacy of the Jordan 1 Chicagos with the upcoming Lost and Found release? We'll discuss this week. --- New episodes…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
The Doernbecher Freestyle Series
The Doernbecher Freestyle series is an important part of sneaker culture and history. Is it the best thing in sneakers? We'll discuss, this week on Fire…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Kanye West And The Yeezy Legacy
It's no secret that Kanye, or Ye, has been in the news a lot for all the wrong things. His behavior has caused a public outcry, and the loss of his Adidas…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Halloween Sneakers
Sneakers inspired by Halloween have been a "thing" since the late 1990s, but the trajectory to get to where we are today has been a journey. Today, Halloween…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Nike Cracking Down On Resellers & Bots
For the past five or six years Nike has trafficked in the hype surrounding sneakers; their profits and stock price soared. Now that hype and reselling are…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Air Force 1
While the Jordan 1 may be seen as "the shoe that started it all", it owes it all to the Air Force 1. The Air Force 1 is one of Nike's most sold shoes over the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
The Jordan 1: ”The Shoe That Started It All”
Using a different show format for this week only, Matty Ice takes our journey to the next most logical place; the history behind the Air Jordan 1. It is "the…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Are Jordan 1 Mids Really That ”Mid”?
The Air Jordan 1 Mid is quite possibly the most hated on shoe in all of sneaker culture. Debuting in 2001, and being mass produced over the last few years, it…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
What Is Hype?
Sneakers and hype have a complicated relationship, but what is hype, really? Over the last five years, hype has contributed to the meteoric ascention of…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
What Is An Old Head in Sneakers?
Sneaker lovers unite! This podcast is back after a 7 month hiatus. Host Matty Ice catches you up on everything that has happened, plus breaks down a…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Are Any Sneakers Truly Exclusive Anymore?
Exclusivity defines sneakers today, but are sneakers ever truly exclusive? With the inspiration of Union's "Passport Pack" of Dunk Lows being a time before…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
The Most Underrated Air Jordan
Getting back to the main theme of the show, the love of sneakers, Matt dives into a main question. Is there such a thing as a underrated Air Jordan in today's…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Has Sneaker Culture Lost Its Way?
The term "sneaker culture" used to mean something; a descriptor of what made the sneaker community so tight knit. Nowadays it feels like the culture has…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
MLK Day | Nike’s Vaccine Policy | Air Force 1 | Listener Mailbag
Recording on MLK Day (despite getting the date wrong), Sneaker Love returns to ask the question of "Do you expect morality from your favorite brands?". As Nike…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Where Are All The Dunk Retros?
At the core of sneaker culture there is a healthy respect for the past. When it comes to Air Jordans, the brand is always willing to bring back an old classic…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
The Most Anticipated Sneakers of 2022
Happy New Year sneaker fam! In this first installment of 2022, Matty Ice comes to you in both audio and video form! Every year promises lots of heat, and 2022…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
2021 Sneaker of the Year
Calendar year 2021 is nearly over, and with thousands of sneakers releasing this year, it's time to choose the best of the best. Sneaker of the Year isn't all…
- Fire Footwear: Sneakers Talk (with Matt Frates)
Best Christmas Inspired Sneakers
Christmas and sneakers have a rich history, both with the NBA and the sneaker community as a whole. The story arc of sneakers and Christmas follows two paths…