Jim McFarland's guest appearances

Jim McFarland

Tech of Sports

The Stitchdown Shoecast

WHEELHOUSE RADIO

Leland Melvin

Ralph Lauren

Chris Stewart

Joel Holland

Willy T. Ribbs

James Ross

Dean Karnazes

Brian Jones

Eric Meyer

Shannon Briggs

Mareya Ibrahim

John Scott

Lou Holtz

George Lynch

Colin Campbell

OwlTail

They call Jim McFarland America's Cobbler for a darned good reason—the third generation in a line of cobblers that has run McFarland's Shoe Repair in Lakeland, Florida since 1918, Jim has repaired more shoes than you've ever seen. But the former president of the Shoe Service Institute of America—and Grand Silver Cup Award winner for excellence in shoe repair—knows what's going on with the industry as well as anyone, and he came on the Shoecast to discuss the disturbing decline in cobbler's shops in the US: from 120,000 in 1928 to around 3,500 today, the majority run by people rapidly approaching retirement age and without apprentices. Luckily there are some bright sides, including younger cobblers who do excellent work and also excel at social media to raise awareness. But it may not be nearly enough. So we pick that apart from all angles, and discuss ways Jim sees to stem the tide—and potentially, with any luck, reverse the troubling trend.  But hey we also had a ton of fun! We discuss the Grand Silver Cup and how the SSIA judges pick a winner,  plus the kindly man who had Jim seal a few grand in the sole of a shoe, which is totally normal. Oh and let's not forget that time he repaired the zipper on a body bag, or when he found a blunt in the ashtray of the Trans-Am he just bought, which has absolutely nothing to do with shoes. But, again, fun. This episode was sponsored by Standard &amp; Strange, which sells the type of boots you'll need resoled like 18 times, because you're never going to want to take them off. Join the Stitchdown Discord today, unless you hate boots of courseTheme song: The Road by Punk Rock Opera

They call Jim McFarland America's Cobbler for a darned good reason—the third generation in a line of cobblers that has run <a href="https://mcfarlandsshoerepair.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McFarland's Shoe Repair in Lakeland, Florida</a> since 1918, Jim has repaired more shoes than you've ever seen. But the former president of the <a href="https://www.ssia.info/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shoe Service Institute of America</a>—and Grand Silver Cup Award winner for excellence in shoe repair—knows what's going on with the industry as well as anyone, and he came on the Shoecast to discuss the disturbing decline in cobbler's shops in the US: from 120,000 in 1928 to around 3,500 today, the majority run by people rapidly approaching retirement age and without apprentices. Luckily there are some bright sides, including younger cobblers who do excellent work and also excel at social media to raise awareness. But it may not be nearly enough. So we pick that apart from all angles, and discuss ways Jim sees to stem the tide—and potentially, with any luck, reverse the troubling trend.  But hey we also had a ton of fun! We discuss the Grand Silver Cup and how the SSIA judges pick a winner,  plus the kindly man who had Jim seal a few grand in the sole of a shoe, which is totally normal. Oh and let's not forget that time he repaired the zipper on a body bag, or when he found a blunt in the ashtray of the Trans-Am he just bought, which has absolutely nothing to do with shoes. But, again, fun. This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://standardandstrange.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Standard &amp; Strange,</a> which sells the type of boots you'll need resoled like 18 times, because you're never going to want to take them off. <a href="https://www.stitchdown.com/join-stitchdown-premium/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join the Stitchdown Discord today</a>, unless you hate boots of course Theme song: The Road by Punk Rock Opera

Jim McFarland on the Cobbling Industry's Precarious Position, and That Time He Stashed a Couple Grand Cash In a Shoe Sole

Jim McFarland is as wholesome and real as they come. Lean in to this episode where we chat about his amazing 150 lb weight loss and his incredible passion project and company, Urban Purpose where they serve and love on "those who need loved on". 

Jim McFarland is as wholesome and real as they come. Lean in to this episode where we chat about his amazing 150 lb weight loss and his incredible passion project and company, Urban Purpose where they serve and love on "those who need loved on".

Ep 7: Jim McFarland / Urban Purpose

Runners across the country are always searching for the perfect water bottle to stay hydrated — and Flexr Sports has the answer. Their BPA-free sports water bottle with the first disposable and fully biodegradable liner so it is fresh and clean every time you use it. Flexr Sports is a great way to stay hydrated … Continue reading Jim McFarland of Flexr Sports →

Runners across the country are always searching for the perfect water bottle to stay hydrated — and Flexr Sports has the answer. Their BPA-free sports water bottle with the first disposable and fully biodegradable liner so it is fresh and clean every time you use it. Flexr Sports is a great way to stay hydrated … <a href="https://techofsports.blubrry.net/jim-mcfarland-of-flexr-sports/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Continue reading Jim McFarland of Flexr Sports →</a>

Jim McFarland of Flexr Sports