George Kiel III is a man of many talents, and he is very passionate about many things. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing George since 2014 and got to know him even better after he came to my house to film a Sneak Peek for Nice Kicks in early 2015. Since then, George and I have kept in touch and I consider him a good friend and someone I admire for many reasons.

He burst on the scene during his time with Nice Kicks, writing for the site and creating their highest rated original video content including Sneak Peek and Kicks on Court. Through that process, George engaged with the best known athletes, celebrities and artists in the world, and eventually rose to become editor-in-chief. In January of 2015, he formed the Kiel Colon Cancer Foundation to raise awareness and honor his mother who passed from the disease the previous year. The KCCF 3-on-3 basketball tournaments and open gyms have gone national, and the blue knots initiative has grown to include college and professional athletes. Upon leaving Nice Kicks in 2016, Kiel formed coiski.com – an educational digital media platform.

I say it a lot about the people I have interviewed (which may explain why I choose to interview them in the first place) but George is truly one of the nicest and down-to-earth people I know. Despite his continued success across many platforms, he remains grounded and humble. The passion he displays for the KCCF is unrivaled and I’m always happy when I am able to participate or contribute to the their efforts in some way. Thank you, George, for taking the time to answer my Five Questions. Continue reading →

It seems like every industry or hobby has its go-to source for the latest news and information. For those of us who love sneakers, that publication has to be Sneaker Freaker. Enthusiasts clamor for the latest issue and can’t seem to wait to share pics of upcoming releases first seen in the small-sized, full-color matte pages of the magazine. In a culture crowded with blogs and other online sources for “information and news”, the reality is that most become SkyMall for sneakers with lots of pretty pictures of shoes with little original content or opinion (and no, top 10 lists and “You might be a sneaker head if…” articles don’t qualify). Even in this digital age, the print version of Sneaker Freaker continues to scoop new and upcoming releases regularly. Beyond that, the writing and expanded articles are detailed, thoughtful, informative and entertaining. The man behind the success is none other than Woody, founder and editor since he created SF in 2002. Thankfully I was able to catch up with the man himself to pose my “Five Questions” and naturally his answers were not regular old stock feedback. See for yourself below. Continue reading →

Anyone who has ever looked at a sneaker blog is sure to have seen the work of my latest Five Questions guest, Jake Danklefs. Through his company, Dank & Co., Jake produces 1-of-1 custom shoes for select clients that include professional athletes and celebrities. Often taking a theme from another shoe or from sports and cultural references, Jake works with his clients to establish the overall look of the piece before starting his work on the blank canvas of an existing sneaker. His work is so meticulous and in demand that wait times can be as long as nine months – a timeframe customers are more than happy to wait for his art. I’ve met Jake on several occasions and always enjoy catching up and talking sneakers and life in general. While is talent is indisputable, it is his friendly and approachable personality that I have always appreciated. We thank Jake for his time and hope you enjoy his insights into sneaker culture.
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Rick Williams is c0-owner of Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique in Detroit and owner of Distinct Life. Rick is also an incredible photographer and has incorporated his work along with others’ into Trust the Shooter. He’s designed some of my all-time favorite collabs so I was lucky to catch up with him for the very first Five Questions. Continue reading →