
The Billion Dollar Idea That Shaped Reebok with Angel Martinez
If you've ever built something - a business, a family, a life - and wondered whether anyone else could see what you see, this episode is going to stop you cold. Angel Martinez grew up with nothing. Adopted, raised in the Bronx, running laps around the block because that was the only competition available to him. What he built from that starting point changed the way women see themselves in sport forever, and created industries that didn't exist until he decided they should. What you'll take away: ● Why women were the most underestimated market in athletic footwear history, and how Angel saw it before anyone else did. ● How Jane Fonda gave women permission to sweat, have muscles, and take up space, and why that single cultural shift built a billion-dollar industry. ● The origin story of the Reebok aerobics shoe and how Reebok went from $1.3 million to $1.6 billion in just a few years. ● The HOKA origin story and why ultramarathon runners were the unlikely heroes that made it credible. ● What Angel learned about company culture at Deckers and why a shared "why" is worth more than any perk or paycheck. ● Why leadership has nothing to do with having all the answers. ● What three failed retirement attempts taught him about identity, purpose, and what it means to really be done. This is not a business podcast episode. It's an honest, energizing conversation about drive, vision, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts, from someone who has done it, repeatedly, against the odds. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a builder who needs to hear it. And if you haven't already, follow Toxic Free with KB so you never miss a conversation like this one.


















