The Shoes That Didn't Make the Sneaker of the Year List

At ComplexCon 2025, Joe La Puma was joined by Fat Joe, Vashtie, Matt Welty, Brendan Dunne, and Upscale Vandal to discuss and rank the best sneakers of the year as chosen by the Complex team. Nigel Sylvester’s Air Jordan 4s, Air Max 95s, Awake’s Air Jordan 5s, and more are all debated as the audience discusses whether they like the choices or not and gives feedback to the panel in real time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Complex Sneakers Podcast, co-hosts Joe La Puma, Matt Welty, and Upscale Vandal discuss the sneakers that didn’t make the Sneaker of the Year list and why: Vans Souvenirs, Yu-Gi-Oh 95s, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Salehe Bembury joins this week’s episode of The Complex Sneakers Podcast to talk about his new book, “I Make Shoes”, his new brand, SPUNGE, and his sneaker history with Yeezy, New Balance, and Crocs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Complex Sneakers Podcast co-hosts Joe La Puma, Matt Welty, and Upscale Vandal are joined by Wu-Tang Clan member and rap legend Ghostface Killah to talk about his love for Clarks Wallabees, Nike Air Maxes, his rap lyrics, influence on streetwear and fashion, and to hear hilarious stories about his changing footwear choices over the years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Complex Sneakers Podcast, co-hosts Joe La Puma, Matt Welty, and Upscale Vandal talk about the Coolkicks stolen sneaker scandal, Pharrell’s Jellyfish sneaker with Adidas, and why JLP doesn’t love all patent leather sneakers.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of the Complex Sneakers Podcast, co-hosts Joe La Puma, Matt Welty and Upscale Vandal discuss Air Jordan retros sitting on shelves, whether or not Jordan Brand is doing too much with the Air Jordan 11 for its 30th anniversary, and Welty seeing Michael Jordan at a NASCAR race in New Hampshire.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Sachs is on the Complex Sneakers Podcast this week to talk about his Nike Mars Yard 3.0, to unveil the brand new and upcoming Nike General Purpose Participation Shoe, address the allegations made against him at Nike in 2023, and his history in footwear and art. We even found out that Tom Sachs used to be an Air Jordan 9 guy. Elsewhere, the guys talk about the return of the "Toyko" Air Jordan 5, the return of grail-level shoes in general, and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Complex Sneakers Podcast is back for its first episode since Upscale Vandal joined Joe La Puma and Matt Welty as a new host. The three guys catch up, Vandal explains why he joined the podcast and they go over the Sneaker Collaborator Power Rankings, as decided by the Complex Sneakers team. The team debates Travis Scott, Nigel Sylvester, Jae Tips, ASAP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator, and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of the Complex Sneakers Podcast, Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty discuss the upcoming Air Jordan 4 "White Cement," that re-released for the first time since 2016. The crew looks at the shoe's quality, leather, history, and more. And discusses whether or not they deserve a price tag of $225. They also discuss Lil Yachty's Air Force 1 release in NYC, Dick's Sporting Goods buying Foot Locker, and how good the Air Max 95 is this year.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It happens to the best of us—we let a sneaker argument online get us in our feelings. This week, we relive a recent online drama involving our own Matt Welty and the Cincinnati sneaker store Unheardof over their “Piggy Runner” Adidas collaboration. The other cohosts, Joe La Puma and Brendan Dunne, give a progress update on the great sneaker purge of 2025. Also in this episode: “Rodeo” SB Dunks, more NIke Kobe retros, the “White Cement” Jordan 4, and Dunne going belt shopping at a random man’s apartment. Note that this week's episode was shot in a temporary studio—we'll be back to normal in a few weeks.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.