Immortal Soles Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jared and Nick Walker
Immortal Soles Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast that is ALL about shoes. We’re kind of like the Discovery channel, but for shoes. Going beyond just the latest hypebeast releases or the hottest retro kicks, we cover all SORTS of topics that will excite the sneakerhead and intrigue the shoe agnostic. Shoes provide insight to society, transcend politics, and bridge cultures. When it comes to shoes, we walk the road less traveled.
World War II, 1944. In a cabin in the woods, in Nazi Germany, a most extraordinary Christmas Eve unfolded…
Soldiers walking through Hürtgen ForestSource: HistorynetFritz Vincken as an adult (undated)Source: Find a GraveMusic Credits:
- “Opening” –
… Read the rest
Were buckled shoes actually worn by pilgrims? What about Squanto? Where did the pilgrims actually land in 1620?… Read the rest
On January 17, 1920, the United States officially entered a 13-year period known as “Prohibition.” Prohibition, was a nationwide constitutional ban on alcoholic beverages. During this period, the production, importation, distribution, and sale of alcohol, with few exceptions, was against … Read the rest
Not every signature sneaker find success like the Air Jordan line. In fact, none have. But some live on the opposite end of the signature sneaker spectrum than Air Jordan. This episode is dedicated to some of those.… Read the rest
Just in time for the heat of summer, we break down one of the season’s most essential wardrobe pieces. It’s hot, hot, hot with a 100% chance of thongs.
Music from YouTube royalty free library. Also, from Scott Bradlee’s Post … Read the rest
In 1991, young superstar Michael Jordan had one of his best years yet in the NBA. In this year he captured his first NBA championship, led the league in scoring with an average of 31.5 points a game, took home … Read the rest
In a sport with “foot” in its name, why is there so little love for feet? Kickers have forever struggled to truly find their place in the game of football. From pee-wee to the pros, kickers are often an afterthought, … Read the rest
We collect a lot of gross stuff on the bottom of our shoes. That’s why it’s crazy that one of the most delicious culinary traditions in one of the most iconic cuisines in the world was possibly inspired by the … Read the rest
A derelict mansion. A skeleton in an attic. An uttered curse. Centuries of unexplained hauntings and misfortunes. And it all comes back to an old pair of green shoes.
The cursed green shoes Source: History Collection Portrait of David Papillon … Read the rest
The Red Sox weren’t always the Red Sox. How did a humble piece of hosiery become synonymous with one of the most legendary, respected, and popular organizations in professional sports?
- https://www.history.com/news/curse-of-the-bambino-babe-ruth-red-sox-broken
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Red_Sox#Regular_season_home_attendance
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Cincinnati_Reds
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Boston-Red-Sox
- https://www.mlb.com/news/boston-red-sox-team-name-history
- Music- License free from YouTube
… Read the rest
One cold February night in southwest England, 1855, mysterious footprints suddenly appeared in the snow, around the Exe Estuary in South and East Devon.
These weren’t any ordinary tracks. They appeared to be hoof marks, measuring around 4 inches long, … Read the rest
Part two of our look at the most iconic OG Air Jordans never worn by Michael Jordan in NBA action. This episodes covers the Air Jordan 7 and beyond.
Cool Gray 11’s… Read the rest
This is episode is part 1 of our breakdown of the most iconic OG, or original Air Jordan colorways that were never worn by Michael Jordan on court for NBA game action, despite the fact they were released while his … Read the rest
William Riley was an earnest young man, in his early 30’s, yearning for a better life. It was the dawn of the 20th century, and lured by tales of riches and opportunity awaiting in America, he packed up his things, … Read the rest
Most, when they hear the phrase “Tar Heel”, know that you are talking about someone from North Carolina, or the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. But how many, if asked “What exactly is a tar heel?”, would know … Read the rest
One of the passageways in the La Merced market in Mexico City Source: Thelmadatter, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Huarache de pollo en salsa roja Source: Svein Meinguer, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Primitive-style … Read the rest
One of the most iconic shoes today came about because of a mishap on a slippery deck, a cocker spaniel named Prince, and a man on a mission to find a simple solution to an age-old problem. 90 years ago, … Read the rest
As a follow up to their Jesus Nikes, Brooklyn-based viral products company MSCHF has teamed up with Rapper Lil Nas X to create a highly provocative and controversial sneaker collaboration, which many are calling the Satan Shoes, or Satan Nikes.… Read the rest
Leprechauns….what are they, why do they wear green, and what do they have to do with shoes? That’s what we’re talking about today!
Music:
YouTube … Read the rest
Al Capone is one of the most infamous and legendary gangsters in modern history. Nearly as iconic as the man himself is the two-toned wingtip shoes he wore.
How is it, that certain shoes are adopted by, and associated with … Read the rest
We’ll be coming back atcha with new episodes in February! Stay tuned!
Source: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons … Read the rest
Traditions come from the strangest of places….. Christmas traditions are no exception.
FairyTale Waltz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100232
Artist: http://incompetech.com/… Read the rest
2020 has been a crazy year…in the sneaker world. So many cool shoes have released this year.
For today’s super-sized episode, we’re just gonna kick back and reflect on some our favorite shoes of 2020. No particular ranking or order.… Read the rest
Shoes are everywhere. We walk in them. We talk about them, and we probably don’t even realize that we’re doing it. Shoes are always on our mind.… Read the rest
They are coming, and they can’t be stopped. You might be next.
https://www.stratcom.mil/Portals/8/Documents/FOIA/CONPLAN_8888-11.pdf?ver=2016-10-17-114016-887
https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/zombie/educate-checklist.htm
… Read the rest
On August 20, 2007, a family visiting from Washington was on a sailing trip through the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver Island, British Columbia. They eventually dropped anchor at Jedediah Island, eagerly anticipating the tranquility and beautiful nature that the … Read the rest
From humble beginnings, Jim Thorpe rose to great heights. Not least of his accomplishments was winning two gold medals at the 1912 Olympics. What’s crazy about this? Aside from other things, he wasn’t even wearing matching shoes. But then…. the … Read the rest
Picking up where we left off last week, we discuss the remaining five picks on the list.
New Balance 997H “Spring Hike”
Source: Hibbett Nike Roshe Run (“Obsidian” colorway)
Source: Kicks on Fire Sanuk “Beer Cozy Lite” flip flops
Source:… Read the rest
For us, summer is all about the footwear. Why, might you ask? Well, for starters, with everyone wearing less layers of clothes, shoes stick out more in a summer outfit than in other seasons. Also, whether you are going hiking, … Read the rest
A tribute to walking the road less-travelled, a salute to pursuing your passions. McElligot’s Pool has long been an inspiration to block out the noise and make your own path.
Text: McElligot’s Pool, by Dr. Seuss
Beats: “Regulators”, Warren G … Read the rest
The Air Jordan 6 marks a lot of firsts for Jordan’s shoe line and Michael’s career. It also marks a lot of lasts for the line. The shoe also transcended far beyond the basketball, and has become an icon among … Read the rest
Cold war CIA spies were well-versed in many forms of cryptology, or the study of creating and solving codes. Secret codes were crucial to help pass on and protect sensitive information. Spies might use anything from a simple caesar shift … Read the rest
July 18th, 1518. It was another typical hot July day in the Holy Roman Empire city of Strasbourg, Alsace (now modern-day France). Typical, except for the fact that the townsfolk spontaneously started to dance. Hundreds joined in the dancing. They … Read the rest
Endless piles of shoes, endless piles of memories. Holocaust memorial sites around the world bring the horrors and tragedies of the Holocaust to life in an intimate, and unique way: shoes.
Shoe room at Auschwitz
Shoe room at Washington DC … Read the rest
Blue suede shoes, high-heeled shoes, hiking boots- all of these are part of Presidential footwear history, and a lot of it comes back to one shoe company in particular.
https://money.cnn.com/2015/06/17/news/companies/johnston–murphy-president-shoes/index.html
All the Presidents’ Shoes
25 Years of Presidential Sneaker Heat
… Read the rest
The Great War. World War 1. One of the deadliest conflicts in history, with an estimated 40 million military and civilian casualties. During 1914 to 1918 this was a war fought, at least on the Western Front of Northern france … Read the rest
In 1948, a Florida couple discovered sets of huge, clawed, unidentifiable tracks emerging from the Gulf of Mexico. The tracks went along the beach for a couple of miles, only to disappear back into the water. Whatever made those tracks, … Read the rest
The P-51 Mustang is considered one of the most well-known and best fighter planes of the WW2 era. It may even hold GOAT (or – greatest of all time) status for some aircraft historians and enthusiasts. It is no wonder, … Read the rest
Kansas City, Missouri, 1967. The Kansas City Athletics just did something that had never before been done in baseball- and they had MLB’s approval to do it. But Cleveland Indian manager Joe Adcock was having NONE of it.
It was … Read the rest
This just might be the holiest shoe collaboration ever:
Source: Metro Source: MSCHF Source: MSCHF Source: MSCHF Source: MSCHF Source: MSCHF… Read the rest
Our story today takes us back to the Soviet Union, where we’ll take a look at government-produced bootleg sneakers, worn and loved by Russian commandos. Presenting the “Adidas” Mockbas – considered by many to be the most iconic bootleg shoe … Read the rest
Mankind’s obsession with flight goes way back. The recorded history of aviation, in fact, goes back a couple thousand years.
As the 19th and 20th centuries passed, we saw the likes of gliders and airships, which gave way to airplanes, … Read the rest
1989- The Chicago Bulls were still a couple of years away from their first NBA title. However, the Bulls and Michael Jordan were on the rise. So were Air Jordan shoes. The Air Jordan 4 would be immortalized in 1989, … Read the rest
The lesser known story about the game Michael Jordan played unlike any other game in his career- what he did was unthinkable!
Nike Air Flight 1- Worn by MJ in Game 3 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semi Finals
- https://theundefeated.com/features/penny-hardaway-on-the-time-michael-jordan-wore-air-flight-ones-over-his-own-concord-11s/
… Read the rest
At this point, Christmas is mere days away, and if you still have gift shopping to do, there’s no time like now to get it done! In last week’s episode we covered a bunch of cool shoe-related gift ideas. We’ve … Read the rest
It’s that time of the year again, when holiday shopping is in full swing. Where countless hours are spent racking your brain for the perfect gift to give. You want it to be fun, cool, maybe even practical. Something that … Read the rest
Welcome back to part two of our jaunt through space, as we explore what it would be like to walk around on different planets and moons in the solar system. In this episode, we’ll travel to the outer reaches of … Read the rest
On July 20, 1969, one of the greatest accomplishments in human history was witnessed around the world, when NASA’s Apollo 11 astronaut Crew successfully landed its Eagle Lunar Lander on the surface of the moon. As the dust settled, the … Read the rest
In 2002, at a boat show in Florida, a monster was born- a monster we all know, a monster that grows stronger still, a monster in plain sight. … Read the rest
Be sure to lace up your hiking boots, and grab your flashlight, your EVP recorder, and your courage. And for good measure – your proton pack, if you have one. You just might need it! Here are 10 of the … Read the rest
There are many types of “scary”. In the spirit of walking, or hiking the trails less-travelled, this episode looks at 10 of America’s scariest hikes. Part 1 focuses on the 10 most dangerous hikes, and Part II of America’s scariest … Read the rest
There are many stories, fairy tales, folk tales, fables – you name it – both ancient and more recent, both light-hearted and also darker in nature, that have to do with shoes. Well, we love a good pair of shoes … Read the rest
Sibling rivalry has existed forever. In the case of Adi and Rudi Dassler, it resulted in the creation of two iconic sneaker and athletic wear brands. But all this success….at what cost?
- Music from Immortal Soles Podcast, YouTube free music,
… Read the rest
The 1800’s American Old West was a time of cowboys and calico dresses. Where justice might be found on the business end of a six shooter. A time filled with wide open, unexplored vistas, teeming with herds of bison and … Read the rest
Link to the Nike x Stranger Things collection: https://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/stranger-things
Original Nike tweet that kicked off the viral marketing campaign
We acknowledge that several shipments from 1985 have gone missing. Please call 1.800.561.1985(🇺🇸) with any info. pic.twitter.com/Lm5LYr5wio
— Nike.com (@nikestore) June
… Read the rest
Sometimes greatness comes from borrowing, or buying, something that has already been done, and making it your own….This story starts in Finland, 1916.
- Original theme music by Immortal Soles Podcast
- Other music from YouTube sound library
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karhu_(sports_brand)
- https://karhu.com/loopschoenen/history
- https://thesportsmarketingplaybook.com/2017/04/01/how-finland-gave-adidas-its-3-stripes/
- https://www.logaster.com/blog/adidas-logo/
… Read the rest
With so much awesomeness coming out of the 80’s, basketball shoes (and specifically Air Jordans) were no exception. The 80’s ushered in some of the most hyped and sought-after Air Jordans in the entire Jordan collection. To this day, sneakerheads … Read the rest
The 90s- Middle-parts, No Fear, JNCO, and an explosion of shoes. Like the old friend from high school you’re mildly interested in finding out where they are now, but don’t want to make the effort to search for them on … Read the rest
The 90s- Middle-parts, No Fear, JNCO, and an explosion of shoes. Like the old friend from high school you’re mildly interested in finding out where they are now, but don’t want to make the effort to search for them on … Read the rest
Kick off your shoes and socks, prop up your feet, and let us massage your…mind with 10 interesting facts about feet!
- Shoe size Robert Wadlow’s size 37AA shoe (largest shoe size in recorded history), next to a US size … Read the rest
Often overlooked, the Air Jordan II set the precedent for many of the successive Air Jordan models. In these shoes, Jordan also smashed records, dunked from the free throw line, and changed the sneaker game forever. Do they deserve more … Read the rest
In the United States, the average working American spends about 90,000 hours at work in a lifetime. And around two-thirds to three-fourths of Americans work in some sort of office setting. Whether you have a relaxed dress code all week … Read the rest
Everyone wants to leave a mark on the world. Some, let’s say, have branched out into some pretty unorthodox methods to accomplish this. This episode talks about the tradition of shoe-tossing, and dives into some of the myths and legends … Read the rest
Release day blues got you down? Are you tired of consistently missing out on grabbing those limited shoes you’ve been eyeing, due to them instantly selling out? We feel your pain! Try out these 8 tips and tricks to maximize … Read the rest
One of the most exhilarating and frustrating times for a shoe collector is release day – the day that a highly anticipated sneaker hits the market. The day where the lucky few will get to purchase rare or hyped shoes … Read the rest
White on Whites, Flaves, Go Getta’s, Uptowns, Forces, 1’s- call them what you will, the Nike Air Force 1’s are one of a kind. A shoe that has had nearly no advertising, but is undoubtedly one of the most profitable … Read the rest
The Nike Air Jordan 1 is perhaps the greatest, most defining, most precedent-setting basketball shoe in history.
This is the sneaker that started the shoe collecting craze. It practically created the movement that would become modern sneaker culture as we … Read the rest
On Wednesday, March 26th, 1997, in a mansion located in an upscale gated community of Rancho Santa Fe, California, 39 people were found dead, from an apparent mass suicide. Ranging from 26 to 72 years old, their bodies were found … Read the rest
Since the dawn of cinematic history, there have been numerous instances where shoes are central to the film- used as a stunning visual device, a vehicle to move the plot, a symbol of a key character which then turns into … Read the rest
We continue our brief journey through shoe history, picking up at the Middle Ages and exploring the innovations and evolution of shoes up to modern times. … Read the rest
In this episode, we take a brief look at the history of shoes from the prehistoric ages 40,000 years ago, up through Ancient Greece and Rome and the early A.D. period.
- Fort Rock Cave: https://goo.gl/images/xfjC3s
- Fort Rock Cave Sandals: https://natural-history.uoregon.edu/gbsandals04
… Read the rest
Welcome to the coolest shoe podcast on the planet! We’re a bi-weekly podcast that is ALL about shoes, and we are thrilled to share that passion with you! Sure, being a shoe podcast, we could cover the latest drops or … Read the rest