I recently had the opportunity to interview Joe Foster, the founder of Reebok. The journey started when I was added to a WhatsApp group related to Rick Macci’s upcoming book, Think Like a Champion, for which I would be writing a chapter. To be honest, I never wanted to be in any group—but there I was.
About a month later, a lady posted a video about the Reebok story, and I was immediately hooked. When I started taking tennis seriously in the late ’80s, Michael Chang was wearing Reebok, and the legendary doubles pair Flach and Seguso were also with the brand. The video wasn’t just nostalgic—it was excellent. I sent her a private message, even though at the time I didn’t know who she was, nor did I know Joe’s story, the setbacks he faced, or the journey he had undertaken.
For a couple of weeks, I didn’t get a response until she eventually reached out, apologizing for the delay and asking if I was still interested in Joe’s story. We set a date and started reading his book, Shoemaker. Having recorded over 100 podcast episodes, I’ve read many of my guests’ books, sometimes only partially. This time, it wasn’t a duty—it was a joy. Joe’s story felt like attending ten MBAs packed into a novel, one you can’t put down until the last page.
Every guest is an opportunity to learn something new, to uncover a person’s journey, or even to discover more about yourself. With Joe, I realized that some stories don’t just inform—they inspire. They remind you why curiosity, persistence, and passion are worth pursuing, both on and off the court.
