Hey, what's up? This is Jeff Staples. Don't forget, we will very soon be separating the three shows on hype radio, so you will have to go and individually subscribe to those shows that you want to listen to. So search and subscribe right now to The HBR show and soundcheck on Hype Beast Radio or Hype Radio to keep listening.

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Okay, let's get into this week's show.

From Hype Beast and Hype Radio, I am Jeff Staples, and this is the business of hype, a show about creative entrepreneurs, brand builders, innovators, and the realities behind the dreams they've built.

If you're into the world of sneakers at all, to whatever degree, this week's guest has become a household name.

But he's not an all-star athlete. He's not a musician. He's not a Hollywood celebrity. He's not even a sneaker designer.

He's maybe a connector, a guy who makes things happen.

But this gentleman, he makes things happen on a massively global scale that affects billions

and dollars of commerce.

But maybe even more important than the dollars are his connections to affect culture itself.

From losing thousands of dollars booking gigs in college to being the man who Kanye West said, saved my life.

Our guest this week has been through a long and tumultuous path in his life.

Many people would want his job, but few understand what it takes to get there.

And of that group, even fewer has what it takes to make it into reality. Let's get

started because we have a ton to cover. My name's John Wexler and I oversee entertainment and

influencer marketing for Adidas globally. Welcome, man. Thank you for having me. We are in Portland,

Oregon. Rainy Portland. You were just having me. We're in Portland, Oregon.

Rainy Portland.

You were just saying this is what the least amount of time you've spent in Portland since you've been at Adidas?

Yeah, in the last 30 days, I think I've traveled more in that span of time

than in any 30-day period of my life.

And, you know, part of this job is travel.

...