The Channel 8 Podcast

Joining me on this very special series finale episode is Alvin Martinez, aka @misterqmart, a staple in the Canadian sneaker scene, and a valued member of @CanadaGotSole! I wanted to close out the podcast discussing with Alvin his favourite sneaker pickups throughout the year, which range from retros of iconic Nikes, hot silhouettes from New Balance, and collabs from Adidas! Tune in and thank you all for joining me on this ride for the past 30 episodes, it's been a pleasure!

Joining me on the show today is one of the OGs from the Toronto sneaker scene, 1/3rd of @CanadaGotSole, a good friend, and an even better father, Joel Hernandez aka JO DOONEY! In this episode we discuss growing up in the 80s and witnessing the revolutionary Air Max 1 for the first time, the point in time when he realized the sneaker game had changed for good, and how he's leading by example in raising a teenage son. 

Today's episode is centered around answering questions from our listeners! Ranging from my earliest memories of sneakers, what I would be doing if I didn't have a sneaker YouTube channel, to the ten pairs I would keep in my collection - I get deep into the mailbox and answer the questions you've been waiting to ask!

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Toronto-based graphic designer, Jazz Alba onto the show! Jazz went viral back in 2019 with his Simpsons-themed Toronto Raptor illustrations on Instagram and has amassed a large following in just a short time! In this episode we discuss his visual arts background, we talk about our shared love for The Simpsons, along with some Raptors-talk including who our five greatest Raps of all time are!

Joining me on the show for today's episode is one of the most talented and influential people in the Canadian sneaker scene today, Jonathan Crandell, better known just as "Cran". Over the last few years, Cran's following has grown tremendously largely due to his customization skills, giving shoes his signature vintage and aged look. Tune in as we dive into his past, his relationship with industry legends like Ronnie Fieg and James Whitner, and where he plans to take his work into the future!

For Episode 25, joining me on the show is fellow YouTuber Josh Dominic, also known as JDKicks! Josh, who originates from Toronto too, moved to Berlin, Germany, a few years ago and its there where he launched his own sneaker channel. Tune in as we discuss his origins, how the sneaker scene is in Berlin, and what the future holds for his channel!

In today's solo episode I'm sharing my thoughts on the issue of product scarcity which is leading consumers to alternate avenues, including buying reps or "fake" sneakers, supporting artists who produce custom pairs or brands that produce silhouettes with an obvious influence from existing silhouettes like the Air Jordan 1. 

For Episode 23, I'm honoured to have on one of the OGs in "Sneaker Youtube", someone who influenced me to start my own channel and has had a profound impact on sneaker YouTube as a whole - Anthony Bartoloni who is simply known better as, YoAnty! In this episode we discuss how he got started with filming videos over ten years ago, major changes he sees in the scene between then and now, and why he decided to step away from the limelight to focus on family.

For today's episode, we're headed to the far east as we welcome Jay Shuang, better known as Mr. Shanghaisole himself! Having lived in both the US and Asia equally throughout his life, Jay gives us his perspectives on how the Chinese sneaker market differs from North America's - including trends, resellers, and the drama surrounding China's boycott of Nike. We also dive into his experience as a basketball coach, and how he's trying to get his wife on board with his sneaker addiction.

Episode 21 of the Channel 8 Podcast is all about Adidas, and for today's episode, we have one of the biggest Adidas heads I have the pleasure of knowing, Alex Des Roches from the Montreal area, also known as Sugycypersons! In this episode we discuss how his origins as a break dancer got him into sneakers, along with his perspective as an Adidas employee throughout the crazy hype the brand experienced in 2015-2016.

We are twenty episodes in, and joining me on the show today is Judyna Pres, who goes by Juberry - a Montreal-based illustrator and designer with a passion for food, tech, and of course, sneakers. We talk about her father's role in sparking her love for sneakers, her recent Air Max 90 design that was put into production for Solesavy members, and the importance of using art to speak out for issues that matter. 

We got a big episode for Episode 19, as we have Marissa Hill, who you might know better as ShadeTV – one of the largest female sneaker and streetwear channels on YouTube, joining in for a discussion about the origins and quick growth of her channel, her eye for style and fashion, and most importantly - if she prefers OG colourways or new, hyped collabs! You don't want to miss this!

This week's episode dives into the geekier side of me and my love for comic books and superheroes. Joining me is Allan Martinez, also known as Spoonr, who is also a self professed geek, Twitch Affiliate and graphic designer. We discuss our first exposure to comics, our unhealthy addiction to collecting things, and also we tap into his gamer side as well!

Joining me in this week's episode is Kevin Cormier, a Boston-based math educator, lifelong sneaker fan, hip-hop connoisseur, and vinyl collector. We'll break down the Boston area sneaker scene in the 80s, some of our fondest memories as members of TeamROSHE, and what it's like being a "sneaker teacher". 

Hopping on the show this week is Alex Wong, known as "Steven LeBron", who is an author, NBA show host, and social media content producer, who's work on basketball has been published in the NY Times, GQ, Complex, and much more. We dive into his love for sneakers, some memorable experiences with NBA stars like Serge Ibaka, and discuss his sudden career change from a CPA to becoming a freelance writer.

For Episode 15 of the Channel 8 Podcast, I'm pleased to welcome Australian sneaker and streetwear Youtuber and Instagrammer, Li-Anne Kuek, better known as "Monsieur Banana" onto the show! With over 70K dedicated subscribers, Banana has been making waves in the scene for the past few years! We dive into her origins of what got her interested in sneakers, her background as a chef and baker, and she reveals the story behind her unique screenname!

In today's episode of the Channel 8 Podcast I'm talking all about New Balance - which models are my favourite (some which may surprise you), and the origins of my #IZBAK movement. Tune in to the show and be sure to share with me your favourite NB silhouettes as well!

The Channel 8 Podcast is back with another episode, and this week joining me on the show is another Toronto-based creator, Bryson Moore, better known as @Brycekicks! Known not only for his sneaker content, but also his style tips and outfit inspirations, Bryson and I discuss his origins, how he defines his own style, and words of advice for those who want to pull off better fits!

With the recent announcement that Kobe Bryant and Nike's contract has ended, I wanted to share my thoughts in today's episode about the situation and the feasibility of a "pre-order" system for Kobe's shoes. Would this actually work for all parties involved?

For this week's episode of the Channel 8 Podcast, I welcome fellow YouTuber, TJ Keasal, better known as Talks With TJ! Having shared similar experiences in creating for YouTube, we discuss the challenges we've faced with "haters", practicing smart spending, as well as the roadblocks she has had to deal with as a female sneaker-related content creator.

On Episode 10 of The Channel 8 Podcast, I welcome on one of the OG sneakerheads in Toronto, Lionel McDonald. Having worked with Foot Locker Canada for over 25 years, Lionel shares with us some of his favourite stories from his many celebrity encounters (including Deion Sanders, Spike Lee and Carmelo Anthony), the changes he's seen in the sneaker community over the years, and how he forsees the future of sneaker retail to be.

On Episode 9 of The Channel 8 Podcast, I dive into my love of Disney alongside our honourary Canadian from San Diego, John, better known as @Weekends_With_Walt!  John has been wearing Jordans since the mid 80s, and has been a lifelong visitor of Disneyland and Walt Disney World.  Check out this episode as we dive into our shared love for sneakers and everyone's favourite mouse!

On Episode 8 of The Channel 8 Podcast we welcome Toronto-based toy photographer and a good friend of mine, Mike G, aka @plastic.lyfe! Both a sneaker collector and a fan of all things geeky, this episode touches upon two of my interests. Tune in to hear about the similarities between creating content between both of these communities and to hear more about Mike's journey!

The latest episode of The Channel 8 Podcast covers the topic of sneaker reselling! This is very prevalent in today's sneaker culture and shoes are becoming tougher to obtain with each passing week as consumers battle a growing number of resellers and bots. Who's to blame? Is there a solution? Tune in to hear my thoughts!

Tune in for Episode 6 as I bring on Nathan Clark, Owner and Operator of one of Canada's best sneaker boutiques - Courtside Sneakers! Since 2011, Courtside has been serving up the best in sneakers and streetwear for Atlantic Canada, and they're set to open up their third location later on this year! Listen in as Nathan talks about his origins, what got him interested in sneakers, the challenges he faces with running his own boutique, and his hopes for the future of Courtside!

In today's episode, I've decided to rank the Air Jordan 1 to 23 from worst to best. Rankings were based off of various reasons like appearance, nostalgia factor, relevance to Michael Jordan's career, and more. Tune in to find out which model I placed as the worst, and which I ranked as the best and let me know if you guys agree or disagree!

For Episode 4, I share some of my most memorable sneaker campout stories with you guys. Over the years, I've tried to avoid it when possible but sometimes for that extra special shoe, you just gotta brave the lines and do it! Ranging from random acts of kindness from store staff, to chaos in queue, these are some of the best and worst moments I've experienced camping out!

Tune in to Episode 3 as I welcome my first guest to the show, Toronto-based portrait and street photographer, Richie Dos Santos (@rich3dee)! Not only a killer behind the lens, Richie has also been a good friend of mine for a few years now. Check out the episode as we talk about our joint love for sneakers and photography!

In Episode 2 of The Channel 8 Podcast I talk about the workflow behind my YouTube video creation process. Here you'll learn about the steps I take into making a sneaker review video along with some tips that I've learned along the way!

It begins! Episode 1 of The Channel 8 Podcast kicks off my journey into podcasting. In this debut episode you'll learn a bit about the history behind me, Sean Go, and find out what shoes I've bought recently!