Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running

They Refuse to Make Toy Shoes. | Inside HOKA's Culture Strategy

July 13, 2026·29 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

HOKA has become one of the few running brands to cross into culture without losing credibility with runners. If you're building a brand, launching new products, or wondering how companies grow without abandoning what made them special, this conversation is for you.Thomas Cykana and Travis Wiseman pull back the curtain on HOKA's collaboration strategy, why they refuse to make "toy shoes," and how fashion found HOKA before HOKA ever chased fashion. It's a conversation about culture, product, trust, and the surprisingly human decisions behind one of running's fastest-growing brands.Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review.If you’re new to Borderlands, start here.Topics / Timestamps00:00Resources / LinksBorderlands.ccLa French TrailSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningJohn Ruben, founder of UnnaPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack

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