How unboxing sneakers got this creator to the PGA

I met sneaker influencer and creator Jacques Slade at a party to celebrate The Verge’s 10th birthday. Immediately, I was struck by his radiant joy. He had a huge smile on his face as he told me I could totally rock a pair of cool sneakers instead of the secondhand dress shoes I was wearing. And although I never got the kicks he recommended, I was determined to hit him up when the opportunity to collaborate via my Full Frame: Creators series arose.

Jacques has been making sneaker-centric YouTube and social content for over 10 years. From unboxings and interviews with athletes to giving clues on Jeopardy!, there simply isn’t a part of online sneaker culture that he hasn’t touched. But recently, he has begun pursuing a new audience.

What started as a hosting job for online PGA video content has turned into Jacques leveraging his knowledge of sneakers and pop culture to create content about the sport for his personal channels as well. As a longtime golfer, this has given him the opportunity to expand his audience and spend more time on the course rather than in his studio. Tune in to the video above, where I spend a day with Jacques — and his extensive shoe collection — to figure out how he got to where he is today.