meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Complex Sneakers Podcast

How Steven Smith Ended Up Designing Yeezys With Kanye West

The Complex Sneakers Podcast

Complex

Society & Culture

4.81.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 June 2021

⏱️ 94 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week, the three co-hosts talk to Steven Smith, a legendary sneaker designer who's worked at New Balance, Adidas, Fila, Reebok, Nike, and more. While Smith was for many years best known as the creator of the Reebok Insta Pump Fury, he's recently reignited his portfolio by leading sneaker design for Kanye West's Yeezy brand. Here, he discusses his long history in the sportswear industry, battling with Nike, getting hired at Nike, and much more. Also, Welty takes a walk down memory lane, Joe takes us through his Amtrak history, and Brendan eats Italian food.


Looking for the Complex Sneakers Podcast Dad Hats? Shop on Complex Shop now!

https://shop.complex.com/products/the-complex-sneakers-podcast-dad-hat-white



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

What's up, everybody? It's Joel Puma. You were watching. You were listening to the Complex

0:07.2

Sneakers podcast to my right. Mr. Matt Welty.

0:11.6

I feel like right now it's like you have a workout you're doing when there's 10 seconds left

0:16.8

and you have X amount of reps need to finish within the 10 seconds and you're scrambled.

0:20.8

You're scrambling to get it done, but you know what? We did it all.

0:25.0

And you're here. The laces, your laces are tied finally.

0:28.2

It was you came into the office and it was okay. It was like a whirlwind, but we are here

0:33.7

to my left. As many in devil. On one side we have someone who is a little frazzled

0:38.8

and this guy couldn't be more relaxed. Mr. Brendan Dunn. How are we doing?

0:42.4

I'm here. Welty, I want to know about the rest of his workout. You got to hit with a hit us with

0:45.2

10 pushups real quick or do some burpees or the workout is complete metaphorically.

0:50.1

Yes, the workout is complete metaphorically. Okay, no burpees.

0:54.1

We did some burpees this morning. We already have that stuff is already done,

0:58.7

but all the work behind the scenes had to get.

1:01.5

There's a lot of work behind the scenes. We're wasn't around. We're doing a lot of stuff.

1:05.3

You know, sometimes we have to cram in. Sometimes we don't have time. I was eating cold nachos

1:09.3

for lunch today. Anything else?

1:11.8

Some leftovers. Yeah, guacamole. I need to get back into nachos really heavily.

1:17.4

Shout out to Chris Schoenberger and Nick Schoenberger.

1:21.1

Oh, Nacho Hunters.

1:22.4

Nacho Hunters. We feast and Nike respectively.

1:25.0

Two friends of the program. I think we can call them friends of the program.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Complex, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Complex and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.