Fire Footwear: Sneaker Talk (with Matt Frates)
Episodes
Travis Scott & Lazy Collabs
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 tr...
The State of Sneaker Culture
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ques...
Tennis Shoes
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 cult...
Reviewing the Movie "Air"
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Having finally seen the critically acclaimed movie "Air", Matty Ice is ready to break it down for the Fire Footwear community. While initially hyped ...
Father's Day and Dad Sneakers
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Alternatives to Air Jordans and Nike Dunks
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 othe...
Are Jordans and Dunks Becoming Stale?
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Novella: Looking Into the Future of Sneakers
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 so...
Adidas To Sell Remaining Yeezys
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 g...
The Jordan 4: From Classic Colorways to Unique Releases
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 un...
Exploring Sneaker Collaborations: From Travis Scott to Fear of God
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 prote...
Social Media
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 nothin...
My London Travels
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 snea...
Sneaker Cities
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 aroun...
Air Max Month 2023
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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.---Subscrib...
Tom Sachs & Ja Morant: How Much Should Sneaker Culture Care?
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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, bu...
Jordan 3 Reimagined
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 critica...
Air Max 1: A Risk Worth Taking
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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. Taki...
Jeff Staple: Sneaker Icon
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
February 2005 was a different time, but provided what is arguably the most seminal moment in the ascension of sneaker culture into the mainstream. Je...
Community in Sneakers
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
40 Years of Matty Ice
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Tiffany x Nike: A Class in Sneaker Affordability
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Do Sneaker Companies Really Care About Us?
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In an episode inspired by other sneaker content creators, Matty Ice talks through what sneaker companies actually care about. A fundamental question ...
Union LA and Sneaker Collabs
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Sneakers' Connection to Societal Narratives
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sneakers are a wonderful part of our culture, but can they symbolize more than just sneaker culture? Matty Ice looks into sneakers' connection with so...
Forgotten Sneaker Silhouettes
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are sneaker companies missing an opportunity by releasing the same silhouettes year after year? Matty Ice discusses some forgotten silhouettes in the...
Anticipated Sneaker Drops of 2023
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 lo...
2022: Sneakers Year in Review
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
Sneaker of The Year 2022
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There were a lot of drops throughout 2022, but which one was the best? Check out Matty Ice's subjective list.---Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: h...
Fire Footwear: Trailer
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a sneaker lover? Love talking about them? This is the show for you.Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattfratesc...
Dedicated Sneaker Months
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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?---Su...
Virgil Abloh: Legacy and Creativity
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One year after the passing of Virgil Abloh, a fundamental question remains. Is he the most influential designer in sneaker history? ---Subscribe to ...
Sneaker Authenticity
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 difficu...
Sneakers As Thanksgiving Dinner
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can sneakers be compared to a Thanksgiving meal? If so, which would you have on your plate? Let's discuss.---Subscribe to Matt Frates on YouTube: htt...
Jordan 1 Chicago: Lost and Found
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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.---Subsc...
The Doernbecher Freestyle Series
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 Fi...
Kanye West And The Yeezy Legacy
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 A...
Halloween Sneakers
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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, H...
Nike Cracking Down On Resellers & Bots
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 resellin...
Air Force 1
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Jordan 1: ”The Shoe That Started It All”
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Are Jordan 1 Mids Really That ”Mid”?
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
What Is Hype?
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sneakers and hype have a complicated relationship, but what is hype, really? Over the last five years, hype has contributed to the meteoric ascention...
What Is An Old Head in Sneakers?
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Are Any Sneakers Truly Exclusive Anymore?
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Exclusivity defines sneakers today, but are sneakers ever truly exclusive? With the inspiration of Union's "Passport Pack" of Dunk Lows being a time ...
The Most Underrated Air Jordan
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
Has Sneaker Culture Lost Its Way?
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
MLK Day | Nike’s Vaccine Policy | Air Force 1 | Listener Mailbag
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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?"...
Where Are All The Dunk Retros?
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ol...
The Most Anticipated Sneakers of 2022
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
2021 Sneaker of the Year
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Best Christmas Inspired Sneakers
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Air Jordan 11
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Air Jordan XI is one of the most iconic in the Jordan lineage, but it is also was a huge risk at the time of its release. A favorite of the man h...
SoleSavy and Building Community
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The sneaker world has been lacking a critical part of what makes it so special: community. In today's Us versus Them world, the folks at SoleSavy are...
Virgil Abloh Passes Away
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was supposed to be about something else entirely, but the death of Virgil Abloh rocked the sneaker community to its core. His life and l...
Union L.A.
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In an episode where there was no plan, host Matty Ice starts thinking about sneaker shops. One that comes to mind that has had a huge impact on today...
Adidas
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the landscape of sneakers Nike tends to dominate the space, but Adidas is right behind it. Adidas' long history goes well beyond today's hype mark...
The Nike Dunk
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Nike Dunk is one of the most sought after silhouettes in today's market, but its history is interesting. What started out as a stroke of marketin...
Kanye West
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kanye West, while eccentric, has had quite an impact on the sneaker community we know today. From his Chicago connections with Virgil and Don C, to h...
Virgil Abloh
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Virgil Abloh is one of the biggest names in fashion today. His love for fashion began with his architecture roots, and blossomed into some of the mos...
Tinker Hatfield
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The history of today's current sneaker culture began long before Travis Scott lent his design eye to it. For there to be hype, there had to be hype-w...
Travis Scott - Remastered
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally Recorded: October 13, 2021; Remastered: December 15, 2022The sneaker game has evolved into a market built around hype for even the most mun...
Meet Matty Ice - Remastered
09 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded October 8, 2021. Remastered on November 1, 2022.In the first episode of the reincarnation of his sneaker channel, Matty Ice, sneaker lover a...