July 26, 2025 • 23 mins
Brian welcomes Ryan Stevens from Nxt Lvl Customs to the show. Ryan graduated from Millville High School and Central Penn College where he was on the Baseball team during a pivotal point in the programs success. Since graduating, Ryan has created his own business where he customizes shoes.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:03):
All right, we are live. Good afternoon, everyone.
July 14, 2025, Brian Christiana here back on the podcast with
Ryan Stevens from Next Level Customs.
Ryan, how's your day going, man?It's good.
It's good, man. I appreciate you having me on.
It means a lot. I'm looking forward to our
conversation. It is going to be a good
conversation. Yeah.
I want to thank everyone for watching on Facebook.
Please share. Ryan has a lot going on in the
(00:25):
community. Ryan is really involved.
He's got to meet some great people over his time working in
sports, working in a great business and a great industry.
Ryan, I want to start right in the beginning.
Tell us a little bit about your.Yeah, You know, I, you know
where I grow up. So most people don't.
Most people have no idea when I talk where I tell them.
So I'm from Millville, PA originally.
(00:46):
I was born in Philly and I livedin Philly.
So I. Was like 5 or 6.
Years old. So then I moved to Millville.
I went to elementary school in Millville.
I went to high school, graduatedthere from Millville, as you
know. Very rural.
You know, my neighbor was like Amish people.
So myself, I kind of wanted to, you know, get out of the area
and kind of explore and, you know, see what else is out there
(01:07):
in the world. And I was big into baseball.
I ended up playing college baseball at Central Penn.
And yeah, so I graduated Millville, went to Central Penn
and COVID happened. So it wasn't a lot going on
obviously at the time. So just I was.
You know, always been in a fashion always like sneakers,
Jordans and things like that. And pretty much it started just
(01:30):
to, you know, pastime during quarantine.
So picked up an airbrush, pickedup some paint.
I started painting on sneakers and cleats and things like that.
And you know, here we. Are couple years later.
You know, working with MLB athletes and celebrities.
And so it's been a, it's been a long time coming, but you know,
it's, I couldn't imagine it would have been, you know, this.
(01:51):
So I'm very good. Grateful.
Yeah, for sure, man. And I want to go back to
Millville to start off. Just talk a little bit about
that. You said rural area.
I mean you were 5 or 6 when you moved up to Millville.
How was it for you as a young kid going from Philly to
Millville? I mean big difference.
Yeah, it was. It was tough.
I'm glad I did it when I was younger because it was kind of
(02:13):
like that perfect mix of like, OK, well I wasn't in Philly my
whole life, but you know, a lot of the time we would spend like
whole summers at my grandparentshouse in Northeast.
Philly we would visit. Often like every other weekend.
So I was still kind of getting both and it was difficult as an
adult now. I appreciate.
You know, my parents getting me to, you know, better schooling
(02:34):
in Millville and, you know, things like that.
But at the time, like, like I said, I didn't really have
neighbors like that. And I love playing like Wiffle
Ball and street hockey and and you couldn't exactly do that
because there's, you know, without driving 2530 minutes to
somebody's house or a. Park or.
Whatever it may be. So that part was kind of, you
know, one of the cons for sure. But you know, me and my wife
(02:58):
just drove. Back there this past.
Weekend and there's certain things you obviously miss, you
know like the traffic not. As bad up there.
Just like the space and like thescenery and and things like
that. But so are my dogs here.
Hey, that's cool. That's.
Great. Yeah.
So, yeah. So it's it's a little.
Bit of you know, I got a. Little bit of both, but sports
wise. Being a full. 4 for four
(03:20):
Phillies. Sports fan was definitely a
challenge because you know. You get all.
Types of different teams and andfrom there, like, you know,
Penguins. You'll get Cowboys.
You'll get, you know, Yankees things like.
That so you you get a a whole array.
Of things so. It it was.
Definitely an interesting experience for sure.
Yeah, and Melville, I mean, there it's a smaller school
district by all means. How?
(03:42):
How were athletics at Millville when you were there?
Yeah, it was it. Was, I mean, ever since I can
remember, it was pretty good. I mean baseball.
Like every every year that I played.
We were in the district championship or you know, like
only losing like 2 games a season.
What? Like, like we, we were always
pretty good at baseball. Basketball was always good.
Soccer's really. Big at Millville.
Yeah, yeah. Soccer's really big at
(04:02):
Millville, so yeah, I mean all the.
Sports were really good, that was.
The kind of like the good thing about going to a smaller school
where you know you. I didn't personally, but you
have a lot of multi for athletesand you're able to make that
commitment all over, you know, because there's not a ton of
kids there that's going to take.Up roster spots, so the sports.
Were always really good and I'm I'm I'm really grateful for
being able to go to a good program that you know I got the
(04:25):
you know. Play all four years.
And. Paired that with like.
Travel ball during the summer and all it was.
It was good, it was. It was a good time to be an
athlete. So after Millville, you decide
to go to Central Penn. But before committing to Central
Penn, were there any other schools out were reaching out to
you about possibly playing baseball?
Yeah, there was a few. I was like I had my heart set on
a Pentech. In Williamsport, yeah, that.
(04:46):
That was like going to be it forme pretty much.
And then I met Coach Stern and I, I remember he, he met me at a
tournament, it was like a fall tournament in the, in the fall
of my senior year. And you know, he came up to me
and in in Stern fashion as a lotof.
Guys that were recruited. The Central Penn will tell you,
you know what school you going to, who's looking at you.
Who's? And I didn't lie to him, but I
(05:08):
just said, oh, no one's looking at me just cuz like I want to
keep the doors open. I want to be like, oh, I'm like,
really like looking at this one school like.
So I was. Just like, oh, no one's really
looking at me. And he's like, OK, well, you
know. I like how you.
Play. And I like how you carry
yourself, you know, give me a call.
You give me a call card and the rest is history from there.
You know, he got me hooked up with everything.
And yeah, and that was that was it.
So then you go over to CP to play baseball and I mean Central
(05:31):
Penn baseball. And you guys even right before
you got there was going pretty well.
I mean, right at the end of my time, beginning of your time, I
mean, right before the pandemic,we were, we were looking at
real, real good team, Conor Graham, Chris Rosario, those
guys, I mean. Yeah, yeah, that, that.
That COVID team. It's it's like the.
Biggest what if and in college. Baseball history, probably like
(05:54):
it was. It was looking very, very
promising, we'll say that. And yeah, those are all.
Great guys, all great. Guys, Jared and Chris and
Christian folk and all them guysare they're.
Great dudes. Yeah, good team for sure.
But then a new fresh wave of guys came in, including yourself
and baseball. A lot of people thought it might
be a rebuild here, but you guys defied the odd.
(06:14):
For sure. Go ahead.
For sure. Yeah, yeah.
It's I, I, I. Stern has to.
Be like the biggest. Like contributor from that team,
like even like that's just the guys he was fine and like the
the diamonds in a rough. Type of guys where you're like,
like. Not to be funny, but like.
Why are you here type of guys like how like?
What what what happened for you to be?
Here like those type of. Guys and I I mean he he he built
(06:37):
it for the long haul if you lookat it like even like, you know,
I know I know he wasn't the coach this year and all, but
most of those guys are stirring guys, you know what I mean like
he. He.
Built the longevity of it and I think that has a lot.
To do with the culture that he had.
At the school, you know what I mean?
So really grateful for him. He, he's the most, one of the
most selfless guys you can meet.He, you know, even off the
(07:00):
field, like always cooking us food, always hanging out with
us, making sure everything was good.
So nothing but good things to say about him for sure.
Sure. Bob Stern, I always thought one
of the best guys you could ever meet.
He he's good at selling, too. I will give him that.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah, for sure, for sure, for
sure. What?
Were some of the stuff he was hewas telling you guys as recruits
(07:20):
that made Central Penn so special?
Yeah, he, I mean, as you know too.
There's a lot of. Stuff you probably can't say on
here that he's. He would just say yeah, but you
know, he just I, I like of. Course coming from Millville.
Like very. Small my graduating class like
36 or something like that. Yeah, so.
You know, I I did like the smaller.
(07:42):
Size. School.
At that point and like, I want to play baseball, like to keep
it 100% honest, like I just wantto keep playing baseball.
So he's pretty much like, listen, if you come here, you
know, you get your free housing and things like that and you're
going to you're going to play. So that was like a no brainer
for me where I was like other opportunities that I was looking
at. I was like, well, in most
schools anyway, like you're going to pay your dues when
(08:02):
you're a freshman, when you're just getting into school, you
know, you might not play all that much.
He pretty much said, listen, you're going to play when you
get here. So that was like the biggest
thing for me was. Like OK, well this.
Situation looks a lot more promising, so let me let me go
take it and and that's that's how it went all.
Four years stayed. There.
And, you know, I met a lot of great people along the way, and
it was, it was. Great.
(08:23):
Yeah. And you guys had a lot of
success also when you were at CP.
Did you guys join the conferencewhen you were there?
Yeah, I think my might have beenmy junior.
Year was the first year of the E.
SAC, I want to say, might have been my soft, my sophomore in my
junior year, one of those years and then my senior year is when
we beat Bucks for the championship.
(08:44):
That was the last. College game I ever played and
that. That was like the.
Icing on the cake, for whatever reason, we we.
Played a doubleheader. I think it mattered for.
Bucks like for their College World Series.
Tuition thing but we played the championship 1st and then we
played like a meaningless like second game for us.
Yeah. We won the first night in in
Sterns, like, oh, do you want toplay?
I'm like, Nope, I'm good. I want to end it on that.
(09:06):
Like I don't I? Don't have to, you know, play
another. Game I'm good like I'm you know
good on ending on that so but yeah that I I want to say that
that was definitely my senior year but I want.
To say we played. Them the year before, but I
don't remember. But anyway, yeah, it was.
It was. It was a lot of fun, definitely
playing them too, because there was a little bit of rivalry and
they always kind of whooped on us a little bit.
(09:26):
So it was nice, you know, it was.
It was bittersweet to. Beat them in the Championship
but then it sucked. Because that was the.
Last game, college team I've ever.
Played so, but yeah, it was cool.
Right when you were there, did they play at City Island?
Yeah, yeah. We, we that.
Was my junior year, so we started playing there my junior
year and that was really. See, it was.
Cool to see to come together because we played in the net.
(09:46):
Which was hard. Because and I, yeah.
And I I. I advocated for.
This for a long time, because itwas, it was a thing with like,
Oh well, no one's coming to the games.
Well, no one wants to drive. All that way to.
To Palmyra to watch. So it's hard for people to do.
That and I always said like. It would be cool if they'd let
us use that stadium. There's a big stadium.
Right down the street. We could play at SO.
(10:07):
Yeah, seeing the program build and, you know, we started there
and then got to play at City Island was was insane.
Like even like having like the senior nights there and, and
just the community nights that you're a part of and all that,
like that's. That was the coolest part of.
Playing, you know what I mean? Like.
You play for that, Yeah, you payall your.
Dues for your You know your career and you.
Look forward to that. Day.
So yeah, it was really cool playing there.
(10:28):
Yeah, City Island, great place under the lights where the
Harrisburg Senators play. And the school did build a good
relationship with the Senators. But your senior year, like you
said, guys played bucks, got oneout on a high note ride.
Was there was there anything youfeel that was also a big
accomplishment for you at CP, whether it was athletics,
(10:48):
academics? Honestly, just meeting people
I'm. Like a huge advocate for that as
well. Like me and my dad have been,
you know, we went back to middleactually.
And we, you know, go around and we, you know.
We're invited to like. Career days and.
I was literally. Asked that multiple times.
Well, is college worth it? Like what do?
You think because you know you're doing your own business
and all and you know some of these.
(11:09):
Kids are with their. Father's business or whatever.
It may be. And honestly, like I think
college. Is worth it just.
For like meeting people, especially if you're in from a
small town like that, like just meeting people and connecting
with people and networking with people and.
Like that was that. Was like one of my.
Biggest like pros? For me, like I met some friends
that I'll, I'll have for the rest of my life and just the
experience of like, you know, getting, being on your own for a
(11:31):
little bit and like starting to gain that, you know, sense of
responsibility. I'm on my own.
I have to, you know, whatever itmay be, clean the room, the,
the, the dorm or you know. Drive to baseball, practice,
like just stuff like that. Like is, I think that was
honestly more. Like I appreciated.
That more now as an adult on my own, you know, paying bills and
things like that then like the actual.
(11:53):
Stuff that I. Learned in class.
So I'm I'm sure other people have different, you know, ways
of looking at college and, you know, they're, you know, they
were big in the classroom and but yeah, it it.
It was cool. It was, it was Honestly, I don't
regret a thing, so I would do itall over again.
Well, hey, you graduated with a degree in were you business?
Yep, Yep. And hey, you're using that
degree to this day with. Exactly.
(12:15):
Customs. Go ahead and ride.
Tell us about Nets level customs.
Yeah, so I officially. Started next level customs in
2020 like I said. With the with the.
COVID pandemic and just started out something to keep my mind
busy and you know. Like I said earlier, I really
liked. Fashion and I like shoes and I,
you know I. Also like to draw.
And paint. So, you know, I've seen people.
(12:37):
For years, do it. And I would try here and there
on some cleats when I was in high school and it just fell
apart. I didn't know.
How to do it? So I was like, you know what,
like I'll, I'll, I'll do a pair for my freshman year in college.
Like I'll buy a. Pair some of these people are
charging 8 hundred 850 dollars 900.
Dollars for a pair of. Cleats.
I'm like, I'm going to try that myself.
(12:57):
So literally driving home from Central Penn, my 2020 March, I
think it was about March, and I bought an airbrush on my way
home. And that was pretty much what I
did for the entire entire pandemic, like just learning and
you know that. That's literally all we could
do. Was stay home so I was just
watching videos and learning andtrial and error and and.
(13:17):
Yeah. So after that.
We were trying to, my dad wasn'treally involved in the
beginning. It was just kind of me and I
was, I was trying to get him involved and like, you know, why
don't you do this? He's like, no, no, because he,
he used to paint cars. So he has a similar background.
It's pretty much the same process.
So tried to get him involved. He really didn't want to.
He's like, no, that's that's your thing, whatever.
And then I was like, I, I got toget my hand.
(13:38):
Like some of these pro players, they need to get this work and
that's how things will start building for us like.
We got to, we got to, you know. Work something in so me and my
dad go to. We try to go.
To a different MLB stadium everyevery year.
That year we're going to Atlanta.
This was 2021. This was a year later.
So I was like. I'm when we go down to Atlanta,
I'm going to bring a pair of cleats for somebody and I'm just
(13:58):
going to give it to him and we're going to just see what
happens. So I was, you know, DM and
athletes, nothing happening. Then I I posted some of my story
one day and tagged like every single.
Philly player I could. And Andrew McCutcheon liked the
story, so I was like, you know what, that's good enough for me,
He liked. It you know we're going to do
it. So then it was OK, we need to
find his shoe size. I'm like, how in the hell am I
(14:19):
going to find that? I'm searching it, can't find
anything. I stumbled upon a game used pair
of cleats on eBay and I zoomed in and I saw the tag and that's
how I got. A shoe size.
I just bought the model that he's been wearing brand new, and
I painted a pair and I went downthere and, you know, he just
happened to be, you know, in batting practice and I just gave
it to him. So we got a video.
(14:40):
Out like. A video of me delivering it to
him. And that's what kind of started
the momentum of, you know. It's it's a.
Form of like it's kind of like areview in a sense it's like
people go on our page and they. See.
Like, oh. We did a pair for him, so he's
legit, you know, So that's what kind of started it and then.
After that we did a pair for Bailey Falter.
That was our first like actual order.
(15:02):
From an MLB player, like it wasn't like, oh, spurt a moment.
I'm going to. Go do this.
And then after that, it's just been like a domino effect.
Now we have, you know, I countless clients across sports
and entertainment so. Very grateful to be.
Where I'm at and I don't, I don't even know if I said what
next level customs is, but we wespecialize in our customizing
(15:23):
footwear. So it's, you know.
Shoes, cleats, whatever. So it's a little.
Bit about the business. Yeah, it's good stuff.
I mean, it's, it's also awesome you guys were mentioned on the
broadcast so many times for the Phillies, even with John Croft,
right? Yeah, yeah, He, he's the best.
He's the but he's the best. He, he's, he's literally.
The most authentic, like genuinedude I've ever met in this whole
(15:47):
business thing. He we did a.
Pair well to backtrack a little bit, so we posted.
On Twitter or or I'm sorry, Taryn.
Hatcher. She's like the beat writer.
For the the NBC Philly company and she posted something about
John Crock like wearing fake. Hocus like the shoes.
Or something. So I just like replied to the.
(16:07):
The tweet and I was like, oh, we'll.
We'll do a pair. For him, what's his?
Size we'll. Do a real pair or something, I
joked. Then she subtweeted it and
tagged him and then he DMD us and he's like, you know, here's
my number, text me and then that's how.
That started. We did.
Prepare for him and we, you know, delivered it to him and
ever since then like it he'll text me like on Father's Day and
you know, Christmas and all and,you know, wish me Merry
(16:29):
Christmas and you know, Happy Father's Day so.
He's a really, really good guy. He's done a lot for our business
and he always shouts us out anytime he can.
Like there. There's been times I won't even
be watching the game. I'll be driving in the car
something my phone will blow up.Oh, John.
Crook's talking about you and I'm like, yeah, he's he's the
man that everyone over at NBC Phillies awesome.
They've been really great to us when we're at the field and we
(16:51):
get to talk to them a little bitand that's how it gets
translated on TV so. It's it's he's the best, but
John Crock is the best. I I got stories for.
Days on here but he probably doesn't want me to tell him.
So he's the best. He he is.
He's a good entertainment by allmeans.
And you've also worked with somereally, really big athlete,
including the first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce
(17:12):
Harper. How?
How did that happen? Yeah, so he he is like.
Me and my dad joke about it. He's like the Unicorn of our
industry. So he he used to be.
Really big in the customs like in his.
Early career. And not even like everyone knows
like the fanatic cleats with thefur and and things like.
That so he he's. Made comments.
Before like he likes his stuff. Factory Factory.
(17:34):
Done. He wants Under Armour to make it
from the factory how he wants it, one of one, whatever.
And I don't know if he's had badexperiences before with
customizers where the paint wasn't holding on it or so he's
made some some things like that like, you know, you don't.
You don't take a What did he say?
I don't. You don't take like a brand new
Porsche to get painted or something.
It was something like that. Like pretty much he he likes
(17:55):
this stuff factory done. So honestly, I kind of took that
as like a challenge, like. OK.
But you haven't had our work like you haven't?
Yeah. You know and.
So we we're really good. We have a really good
relationship with this guy Devo.So Devo is literally like a
celebrity. Connector he knows everybody,
literally everybody, entertainment, sports, you name
(18:16):
it, he knows somebody. So we had a meeting with Davo in
Philly last year. It was right around when the
Eagles were in the NFC championship cuz we did
something with Cooper de Jean like and he hooked that up too.
And he's just like, why have younever done anything with Bryce?
And I'm like, cuz he's like impossible to get to.
And he doesn't really like, he'slike no, no, no, no, no, no,
(18:36):
we're, we're going to, we're going to do it.
And I'm like, OK, so then he's like, listen, I'll get, I'll get
with them and we'll talk about it and we'll figure out what he
wants and all. I'm like, OK.
And I'm like not thinking much of it.
Like, you know, and he text me back like a screenshot, like,
oh, here's his size. We're going to do an Ohio State
theme. It'll be cool.
And like he can, you know, use them in spring training or
whatever. Because I'm sure he's contractly
(18:56):
obligated somehow, like with. The stuff that he puts out.
So yeah. We showed up spring training
and. We we saw you there that day.
Yeah. Yeah, it was.
It was insane so. We just showed.
Up and he was practicing and he came right over to us and we
exchanged it and he loved them and that.
That was it. So that was that.
Was a big one cross. Off the bucket list we've talked
(19:19):
about for years, but. When he made those comments last
year about. It we were like, OK, like, like
we'll. Show them kind of like this.
Is this is? This isn't the same as what
you've gotten before, so. Yeah, that was that was really
special for us. That's good stuff, right?
What are some goals you have at least while you're young with
Nets level customers? Yeah, the.
Biggest, the biggest one right now is finding before when we
lived in Millville. Well, we lived in Danville, but
(19:41):
I went to Millville. But we had like an actual.
Shop. Right next to our house so me
and my dad. Were able to collaborate we it
was easier to work together. And now I'm in Downingtown and
he's in. Yardley So we're about about an
hour. Away from each other.
So right now we're we want to find a space somewhere in the
middle and. Have a place, obviously.
To do business. Have a place to?
(20:03):
Have the athletes come in and design.
The the cleats together. You know, in the same space.
A place to hold classes for people.
To come and learn how to, you know, do what we do and.
That's that's our biggest. Goal right now.
Not to say that something might change tomorrow and I'm like,
OK, I have to. Do this because.
With this business, something new happens every single day.
Something like we get Adm or someone calls us or.
(20:25):
Whatever it is that. That's like completely out of.
This world that we're like, OK, this is.
Awesome, let's do it. So, but that's the biggest one
right now, finding like a a storefront where people can come
in and collaborate with us on their order or learn how to do
what we do. With classes or athletes or
whatever. So that's that's.
Big on our goal board right now to get done.
That's awesome stuff, man. And I and you guys are kicking
(20:46):
some major tail in in the industry and it's really cool to
see someone accomplish a goal and a dream of theirs.
I appreciate. That a lot.
I appreciate that a lot. Yeah, it's it's a.
It's a blessing and I'm just just along for the ride.
Honestly, just see where it takes me.
I'm trying not to put too much expectations on us and just kind
of go with the flow and enjoy the moment and you know,
everything we're going through ameeting and the experiences
(21:07):
we're doing. So yeah, I'm very.
Blessed, very blessed. Well, here, right, we only have
a couple minutes left and I justcouple easy questions for you.
First, how's Haley doing? She's good, she's good.
She, she's feeling pregnant, of course she's she's due here in
less than two months. So we're really excited.
We just got the nursery all doneand all that stuff.
(21:29):
So it's exciting. It's.
Busy, but very very. Exciting, yeah.
That's awesome, man. She's a, she's a good one.
You got a good one there for sure.
And my final question. For you.
Yeah. And my final question, Super
Easy 1 is what advice do you have for a young person wanting
to get into the industry you're kicking bottom?
(21:50):
Yeah, do it. That's the, that's the, that's
the advice I give. Whatever industry, just do it.
Go out and do it. Like I.
For like, honestly like. With this stuff I've always
like. Thought about it like thinking
about working on shoes or cleatsor whatever, and it took me to
just do it to, you know, really get into it.
So even any industry, any anything you want to
accomplishing life, just do it, especially when you're young,
(22:12):
there's not much risk. Just do it just.
Just go out and do whatever you want.
And I honestly forgot to mention, and I apologize, you
guys have a podcast of your own.Yeah, we do.
We do. It's called the Shop Talk
podcast. It's just.
Me and my dad, he he hates it, he hates being on camera, but.
It's we've had a couple. MLB guys on we.
Actually have a couple shows that were recorded, but we.
Just never put them out yet. Just because we're just.
(22:34):
Insanely busy right now, especially players weekend for
the MLBS coming up. So this month and half of next
month, which is going to be insane, but yeah.
The Shop Talk podcast. We pretty much just talk about
what happens day-to-day life andsome of these drop.
Stories we we have stories for days with.
Some how some of this stuff happens and also yeah, but the
shop. Talk podcast we'll have.
Some we'll have some episodes out soon.
(22:56):
Well, make sure you follow them online.
It's again follow Nets level customs.
Ryan, thanks again for giving mesome of your time, man.
Hope you guys have a great summer and congratulations on
the baby man. That's awesome.
Thank you so much, man. Thanks Brian.
I appreciate it. All right everyone, again,
thanks for watching my episode with Brian Stevens.
You'll be able to listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and
on Amazon as well. Hope you all have a great rest
(23:17):
of your day. Stay safe and enjoy.
All right, we are live. Good afternoon, everyone.
July 14, 2025, Brian Christiana here back on the podcast with
Ryan Stevens from Next Level Customs.
Ryan, how's your day going, man?It's good.
It's good, man. I appreciate you having me on.
It means a lot. I'm looking forward to our
conversation. It is going to be a good
conversation. Yeah.
I want to thank everyone for watching on Facebook.
Please share. Ryan has a lot going on in the
(00:25):
community. Ryan is really involved.
He's got to meet some great people over his time working in
sports, working in a great business and a great industry.
Ryan, I want to start right in the beginning.
Tell us a little bit about your.Yeah, You know, I, you know
where I grow up. So most people don't.
Most people have no idea when I talk where I tell them.
So I'm from Millville, PA originally.
(00:46):
I was born in Philly and I livedin Philly.
So I. Was like 5 or 6.
Years old. So then I moved to Millville.
I went to elementary school in Millville.
I went to high school, graduatedthere from Millville, as you
know. Very rural.
You know, my neighbor was like Amish people.
So myself, I kind of wanted to, you know, get out of the area
and kind of explore and, you know, see what else is out there
(01:07):
in the world. And I was big into baseball.
I ended up playing college baseball at Central Penn.
And yeah, so I graduated Millville, went to Central Penn
and COVID happened. So it wasn't a lot going on
obviously at the time. So just I was.
You know, always been in a fashion always like sneakers,
Jordans and things like that. And pretty much it started just
(01:30):
to, you know, pastime during quarantine.
So picked up an airbrush, pickedup some paint.
I started painting on sneakers and cleats and things like that.
And you know, here we. Are couple years later.
You know, working with MLB athletes and celebrities.
And so it's been a, it's been a long time coming, but you know,
it's, I couldn't imagine it would have been, you know, this.
(01:51):
So I'm very good. Grateful.
Yeah, for sure, man. And I want to go back to
Millville to start off. Just talk a little bit about
that. You said rural area.
I mean you were 5 or 6 when you moved up to Millville.
How was it for you as a young kid going from Philly to
Millville? I mean big difference.
Yeah, it was. It was tough.
I'm glad I did it when I was younger because it was kind of
(02:13):
like that perfect mix of like, OK, well I wasn't in Philly my
whole life, but you know, a lot of the time we would spend like
whole summers at my grandparentshouse in Northeast.
Philly we would visit. Often like every other weekend.
So I was still kind of getting both and it was difficult as an
adult now. I appreciate.
You know, my parents getting me to, you know, better schooling
(02:34):
in Millville and, you know, things like that.
But at the time, like, like I said, I didn't really have
neighbors like that. And I love playing like Wiffle
Ball and street hockey and and you couldn't exactly do that
because there's, you know, without driving 2530 minutes to
somebody's house or a. Park or.
Whatever it may be. So that part was kind of, you
know, one of the cons for sure. But you know, me and my wife
(02:58):
just drove. Back there this past.
Weekend and there's certain things you obviously miss, you
know like the traffic not. As bad up there.
Just like the space and like thescenery and and things like
that. But so are my dogs here.
Hey, that's cool. That's.
Great. Yeah.
So, yeah. So it's it's a little.
Bit of you know, I got a. Little bit of both, but sports
wise. Being a full. 4 for four
(03:20):
Phillies. Sports fan was definitely a
challenge because you know. You get all.
Types of different teams and andfrom there, like, you know,
Penguins. You'll get Cowboys.
You'll get, you know, Yankees things like.
That so you you get a a whole array.
Of things so. It it was.
Definitely an interesting experience for sure.
Yeah, and Melville, I mean, there it's a smaller school
district by all means. How?
(03:42):
How were athletics at Millville when you were there?
Yeah, it was it. Was, I mean, ever since I can
remember, it was pretty good. I mean baseball.
Like every every year that I played.
We were in the district championship or you know, like
only losing like 2 games a season.
What? Like, like we, we were always
pretty good at baseball. Basketball was always good.
Soccer's really. Big at Millville.
Yeah, yeah. Soccer's really big at
(04:02):
Millville, so yeah, I mean all the.
Sports were really good, that was.
The kind of like the good thing about going to a smaller school
where you know you. I didn't personally, but you
have a lot of multi for athletesand you're able to make that
commitment all over, you know, because there's not a ton of
kids there that's going to take.Up roster spots, so the sports.
Were always really good and I'm I'm I'm really grateful for
being able to go to a good program that you know I got the
(04:25):
you know. Play all four years.
And. Paired that with like.
Travel ball during the summer and all it was.
It was good, it was. It was a good time to be an
athlete. So after Millville, you decide
to go to Central Penn. But before committing to Central
Penn, were there any other schools out were reaching out to
you about possibly playing baseball?
Yeah, there was a few. I was like I had my heart set on
a Pentech. In Williamsport, yeah, that.
(04:46):
That was like going to be it forme pretty much.
And then I met Coach Stern and I, I remember he, he met me at a
tournament, it was like a fall tournament in the, in the fall
of my senior year. And you know, he came up to me
and in in Stern fashion as a lotof.
Guys that were recruited. The Central Penn will tell you,
you know what school you going to, who's looking at you.
Who's? And I didn't lie to him, but I
(05:08):
just said, oh, no one's looking at me just cuz like I want to
keep the doors open. I want to be like, oh, I'm like,
really like looking at this one school like.
So I was. Just like, oh, no one's really
looking at me. And he's like, OK, well, you
know. I like how you.
Play. And I like how you carry
yourself, you know, give me a call.
You give me a call card and the rest is history from there.
You know, he got me hooked up with everything.
And yeah, and that was that was it.
So then you go over to CP to play baseball and I mean Central
(05:31):
Penn baseball. And you guys even right before
you got there was going pretty well.
I mean, right at the end of my time, beginning of your time, I
mean, right before the pandemic,we were, we were looking at
real, real good team, Conor Graham, Chris Rosario, those
guys, I mean. Yeah, yeah, that, that.
That COVID team. It's it's like the.
Biggest what if and in college. Baseball history, probably like
(05:54):
it was. It was looking very, very
promising, we'll say that. And yeah, those are all.
Great guys, all great. Guys, Jared and Chris and
Christian folk and all them guysare they're.
Great dudes. Yeah, good team for sure.
But then a new fresh wave of guys came in, including yourself
and baseball. A lot of people thought it might
be a rebuild here, but you guys defied the odd.
(06:14):
For sure. Go ahead.
For sure. Yeah, yeah.
It's I, I, I. Stern has to.
Be like the biggest. Like contributor from that team,
like even like that's just the guys he was fine and like the
the diamonds in a rough. Type of guys where you're like,
like. Not to be funny, but like.
Why are you here type of guys like how like?
What what what happened for you to be?
Here like those type of. Guys and I I mean he he he built
(06:37):
it for the long haul if you lookat it like even like, you know,
I know I know he wasn't the coach this year and all, but
most of those guys are stirring guys, you know what I mean like
he. He.
Built the longevity of it and I think that has a lot.
To do with the culture that he had.
At the school, you know what I mean?
So really grateful for him. He, he's the most, one of the
most selfless guys you can meet.He, you know, even off the
(07:00):
field, like always cooking us food, always hanging out with
us, making sure everything was good.
So nothing but good things to say about him for sure.
Sure. Bob Stern, I always thought one
of the best guys you could ever meet.
He he's good at selling, too. I will give him that.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah, for sure, for sure, for
sure. What?
Were some of the stuff he was hewas telling you guys as recruits
(07:20):
that made Central Penn so special?
Yeah, he, I mean, as you know too.
There's a lot of. Stuff you probably can't say on
here that he's. He would just say yeah, but you
know, he just I, I like of. Course coming from Millville.
Like very. Small my graduating class like
36 or something like that. Yeah, so.
You know, I I did like the smaller.
(07:42):
Size. School.
At that point and like, I want to play baseball, like to keep
it 100% honest, like I just wantto keep playing baseball.
So he's pretty much like, listen, if you come here, you
know, you get your free housing and things like that and you're
going to you're going to play. So that was like a no brainer
for me where I was like other opportunities that I was looking
at. I was like, well, in most
schools anyway, like you're going to pay your dues when
(08:02):
you're a freshman, when you're just getting into school, you
know, you might not play all that much.
He pretty much said, listen, you're going to play when you
get here. So that was like the biggest
thing for me was. Like OK, well this.
Situation looks a lot more promising, so let me let me go
take it and and that's that's how it went all.
Four years stayed. There.
And, you know, I met a lot of great people along the way, and
it was, it was. Great.
(08:23):
Yeah. And you guys had a lot of
success also when you were at CP.
Did you guys join the conferencewhen you were there?
Yeah, I think my might have beenmy junior.
Year was the first year of the E.
SAC, I want to say, might have been my soft, my sophomore in my
junior year, one of those years and then my senior year is when
we beat Bucks for the championship.
(08:44):
That was the last. College game I ever played and
that. That was like the.
Icing on the cake, for whatever reason, we we.
Played a doubleheader. I think it mattered for.
Bucks like for their College World Series.
Tuition thing but we played the championship 1st and then we
played like a meaningless like second game for us.
Yeah. We won the first night in in
Sterns, like, oh, do you want toplay?
I'm like, Nope, I'm good. I want to end it on that.
(09:06):
Like I don't I? Don't have to, you know, play
another. Game I'm good like I'm you know
good on ending on that so but yeah that I I want to say that
that was definitely my senior year but I want.
To say we played. Them the year before, but I
don't remember. But anyway, yeah, it was.
It was. It was a lot of fun, definitely
playing them too, because there was a little bit of rivalry and
they always kind of whooped on us a little bit.
(09:26):
So it was nice, you know, it was.
It was bittersweet to. Beat them in the Championship
but then it sucked. Because that was the.
Last game, college team I've ever.
Played so, but yeah, it was cool.
Right when you were there, did they play at City Island?
Yeah, yeah. We, we that.
Was my junior year, so we started playing there my junior
year and that was really. See, it was.
Cool to see to come together because we played in the net.
(09:46):
Which was hard. Because and I, yeah.
And I I. I advocated for.
This for a long time, because itwas, it was a thing with like,
Oh well, no one's coming to the games.
Well, no one wants to drive. All that way to.
To Palmyra to watch. So it's hard for people to do.
That and I always said like. It would be cool if they'd let
us use that stadium. There's a big stadium.
Right down the street. We could play at SO.
(10:07):
Yeah, seeing the program build and, you know, we started there
and then got to play at City Island was was insane.
Like even like having like the senior nights there and, and
just the community nights that you're a part of and all that,
like that's. That was the coolest part of.
Playing, you know what I mean? Like.
You play for that, Yeah, you payall your.
Dues for your You know your career and you.
Look forward to that. Day.
So yeah, it was really cool playing there.
(10:28):
Yeah, City Island, great place under the lights where the
Harrisburg Senators play. And the school did build a good
relationship with the Senators. But your senior year, like you
said, guys played bucks, got oneout on a high note ride.
Was there was there anything youfeel that was also a big
accomplishment for you at CP, whether it was athletics,
(10:48):
academics? Honestly, just meeting people
I'm. Like a huge advocate for that as
well. Like me and my dad have been,
you know, we went back to middleactually.
And we, you know, go around and we, you know.
We're invited to like. Career days and.
I was literally. Asked that multiple times.
Well, is college worth it? Like what do?
You think because you know you're doing your own business
and all and you know some of these.
(11:09):
Kids are with their. Father's business or whatever.
It may be. And honestly, like I think
college. Is worth it just.
For like meeting people, especially if you're in from a
small town like that, like just meeting people and connecting
with people and networking with people and.
Like that was that. Was like one of my.
Biggest like pros? For me, like I met some friends
that I'll, I'll have for the rest of my life and just the
experience of like, you know, getting, being on your own for a
(11:31):
little bit and like starting to gain that, you know, sense of
responsibility. I'm on my own.
I have to, you know, whatever itmay be, clean the room, the,
the, the dorm or you know. Drive to baseball, practice,
like just stuff like that. Like is, I think that was
honestly more. Like I appreciated.
That more now as an adult on my own, you know, paying bills and
things like that then like the actual.
(11:53):
Stuff that I. Learned in class.
So I'm I'm sure other people have different, you know, ways
of looking at college and, you know, they're, you know, they
were big in the classroom and but yeah, it it.
It was cool. It was, it was Honestly, I don't
regret a thing, so I would do itall over again.
Well, hey, you graduated with a degree in were you business?
Yep, Yep. And hey, you're using that
degree to this day with. Exactly.
(12:15):
Customs. Go ahead and ride.
Tell us about Nets level customs.
Yeah, so I officially. Started next level customs in
2020 like I said. With the with the.
COVID pandemic and just started out something to keep my mind
busy and you know. Like I said earlier, I really
liked. Fashion and I like shoes and I,
you know I. Also like to draw.
And paint. So, you know, I've seen people.
(12:37):
For years, do it. And I would try here and there
on some cleats when I was in high school and it just fell
apart. I didn't know.
How to do it? So I was like, you know what,
like I'll, I'll, I'll do a pair for my freshman year in college.
Like I'll buy a. Pair some of these people are
charging 8 hundred 850 dollars 900.
Dollars for a pair of. Cleats.
I'm like, I'm going to try that myself.
(12:57):
So literally driving home from Central Penn, my 2020 March, I
think it was about March, and I bought an airbrush on my way
home. And that was pretty much what I
did for the entire entire pandemic, like just learning and
you know that. That's literally all we could
do. Was stay home so I was just
watching videos and learning andtrial and error and and.
(13:17):
Yeah. So after that.
We were trying to, my dad wasn'treally involved in the
beginning. It was just kind of me and I
was, I was trying to get him involved and like, you know, why
don't you do this? He's like, no, no, because he,
he used to paint cars. So he has a similar background.
It's pretty much the same process.
So tried to get him involved. He really didn't want to.
He's like, no, that's that's your thing, whatever.
And then I was like, I, I got toget my hand.
(13:38):
Like some of these pro players, they need to get this work and
that's how things will start building for us like.
We got to, we got to, you know. Work something in so me and my
dad go to. We try to go.
To a different MLB stadium everyevery year.
That year we're going to Atlanta.
This was 2021. This was a year later.
So I was like. I'm when we go down to Atlanta,
I'm going to bring a pair of cleats for somebody and I'm just
(13:58):
going to give it to him and we're going to just see what
happens. So I was, you know, DM and
athletes, nothing happening. Then I I posted some of my story
one day and tagged like every single.
Philly player I could. And Andrew McCutcheon liked the
story, so I was like, you know what, that's good enough for me,
He liked. It you know we're going to do
it. So then it was OK, we need to
find his shoe size. I'm like, how in the hell am I
(14:19):
going to find that? I'm searching it, can't find
anything. I stumbled upon a game used pair
of cleats on eBay and I zoomed in and I saw the tag and that's
how I got. A shoe size.
I just bought the model that he's been wearing brand new, and
I painted a pair and I went downthere and, you know, he just
happened to be, you know, in batting practice and I just gave
it to him. So we got a video.
(14:40):
Out like. A video of me delivering it to
him. And that's what kind of started
the momentum of, you know. It's it's a.
Form of like it's kind of like areview in a sense it's like
people go on our page and they. See.
Like, oh. We did a pair for him, so he's
legit, you know, So that's what kind of started it and then.
After that we did a pair for Bailey Falter.
That was our first like actual order.
(15:02):
From an MLB player, like it wasn't like, oh, spurt a moment.
I'm going to. Go do this.
And then after that, it's just been like a domino effect.
Now we have, you know, I countless clients across sports
and entertainment so. Very grateful to be.
Where I'm at and I don't, I don't even know if I said what
next level customs is, but we wespecialize in our customizing
(15:23):
footwear. So it's, you know.
Shoes, cleats, whatever. So it's a little.
Bit about the business. Yeah, it's good stuff.
I mean, it's, it's also awesome you guys were mentioned on the
broadcast so many times for the Phillies, even with John Croft,
right? Yeah, yeah, He, he's the best.
He's the but he's the best. He, he's, he's literally.
The most authentic, like genuinedude I've ever met in this whole
(15:47):
business thing. He we did a.
Pair well to backtrack a little bit, so we posted.
On Twitter or or I'm sorry, Taryn.
Hatcher. She's like the beat writer.
For the the NBC Philly company and she posted something about
John Crock like wearing fake. Hocus like the shoes.
Or something. So I just like replied to the.
(16:07):
The tweet and I was like, oh, we'll.
We'll do a pair. For him, what's his?
Size we'll. Do a real pair or something, I
joked. Then she subtweeted it and
tagged him and then he DMD us and he's like, you know, here's
my number, text me and then that's how.
That started. We did.
Prepare for him and we, you know, delivered it to him and
ever since then like it he'll text me like on Father's Day and
you know, Christmas and all and,you know, wish me Merry
(16:29):
Christmas and you know, Happy Father's Day so.
He's a really, really good guy. He's done a lot for our business
and he always shouts us out anytime he can.
Like there. There's been times I won't even
be watching the game. I'll be driving in the car
something my phone will blow up.Oh, John.
Crook's talking about you and I'm like, yeah, he's he's the
man that everyone over at NBC Phillies awesome.
They've been really great to us when we're at the field and we
(16:51):
get to talk to them a little bitand that's how it gets
translated on TV so. It's it's he's the best, but
John Crock is the best. I I got stories for.
Days on here but he probably doesn't want me to tell him.
So he's the best. He he is.
He's a good entertainment by allmeans.
And you've also worked with somereally, really big athlete,
including the first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce
(17:12):
Harper. How?
How did that happen? Yeah, so he he is like.
Me and my dad joke about it. He's like the Unicorn of our
industry. So he he used to be.
Really big in the customs like in his.
Early career. And not even like everyone knows
like the fanatic cleats with thefur and and things like.
That so he he's. Made comments.
Before like he likes his stuff. Factory Factory.
(17:34):
Done. He wants Under Armour to make it
from the factory how he wants it, one of one, whatever.
And I don't know if he's had badexperiences before with
customizers where the paint wasn't holding on it or so he's
made some some things like that like, you know, you don't.
You don't take a What did he say?
I don't. You don't take like a brand new
Porsche to get painted or something.
It was something like that. Like pretty much he he likes
(17:55):
this stuff factory done. So honestly, I kind of took that
as like a challenge, like. OK.
But you haven't had our work like you haven't?
Yeah. You know and.
So we we're really good. We have a really good
relationship with this guy Devo.So Devo is literally like a
celebrity. Connector he knows everybody,
literally everybody, entertainment, sports, you name
(18:16):
it, he knows somebody. So we had a meeting with Davo in
Philly last year. It was right around when the
Eagles were in the NFC championship cuz we did
something with Cooper de Jean like and he hooked that up too.
And he's just like, why have younever done anything with Bryce?
And I'm like, cuz he's like impossible to get to.
And he doesn't really like, he'slike no, no, no, no, no, no,
(18:36):
we're, we're going to, we're going to do it.
And I'm like, OK, so then he's like, listen, I'll get, I'll get
with them and we'll talk about it and we'll figure out what he
wants and all. I'm like, OK.
And I'm like not thinking much of it.
Like, you know, and he text me back like a screenshot, like,
oh, here's his size. We're going to do an Ohio State
theme. It'll be cool.
And like he can, you know, use them in spring training or
whatever. Because I'm sure he's contractly
(18:56):
obligated somehow, like with. The stuff that he puts out.
So yeah. We showed up spring training
and. We we saw you there that day.
Yeah. Yeah, it was.
It was insane so. We just showed.
Up and he was practicing and he came right over to us and we
exchanged it and he loved them and that.
That was it. So that was that.
Was a big one cross. Off the bucket list we've talked
(19:19):
about for years, but. When he made those comments last
year about. It we were like, OK, like, like
we'll. Show them kind of like this.
Is this is? This isn't the same as what
you've gotten before, so. Yeah, that was that was really
special for us. That's good stuff, right?
What are some goals you have at least while you're young with
Nets level customers? Yeah, the.
Biggest, the biggest one right now is finding before when we
lived in Millville. Well, we lived in Danville, but
(19:41):
I went to Millville. But we had like an actual.
Shop. Right next to our house so me
and my dad. Were able to collaborate we it
was easier to work together. And now I'm in Downingtown and
he's in. Yardley So we're about about an
hour. Away from each other.
So right now we're we want to find a space somewhere in the
middle and. Have a place, obviously.
To do business. Have a place to?
(20:03):
Have the athletes come in and design.
The the cleats together. You know, in the same space.
A place to hold classes for people.
To come and learn how to, you know, do what we do and.
That's that's our biggest. Goal right now.
Not to say that something might change tomorrow and I'm like,
OK, I have to. Do this because.
With this business, something new happens every single day.
Something like we get Adm or someone calls us or.
(20:25):
Whatever it is that. That's like completely out of.
This world that we're like, OK, this is.
Awesome, let's do it. So, but that's the biggest one
right now, finding like a a storefront where people can come
in and collaborate with us on their order or learn how to do
what we do. With classes or athletes or
whatever. So that's that's.
Big on our goal board right now to get done.
That's awesome stuff, man. And I and you guys are kicking
(20:46):
some major tail in in the industry and it's really cool to
see someone accomplish a goal and a dream of theirs.
I appreciate. That a lot.
I appreciate that a lot. Yeah, it's it's a.
It's a blessing and I'm just just along for the ride.
Honestly, just see where it takes me.
I'm trying not to put too much expectations on us and just kind
of go with the flow and enjoy the moment and you know,
everything we're going through ameeting and the experiences
(21:07):
we're doing. So yeah, I'm very.
Blessed, very blessed. Well, here, right, we only have
a couple minutes left and I justcouple easy questions for you.
First, how's Haley doing? She's good, she's good.
She, she's feeling pregnant, of course she's she's due here in
less than two months. So we're really excited.
We just got the nursery all doneand all that stuff.
(21:29):
So it's exciting. It's.
Busy, but very very. Exciting, yeah.
That's awesome, man. She's a, she's a good one.
You got a good one there for sure.
And my final question. For you.
Yeah. And my final question, Super
Easy 1 is what advice do you have for a young person wanting
to get into the industry you're kicking bottom?
(21:50):
Yeah, do it. That's the, that's the, that's
the advice I give. Whatever industry, just do it.
Go out and do it. Like I.
For like, honestly like. With this stuff I've always
like. Thought about it like thinking
about working on shoes or cleatsor whatever, and it took me to
just do it to, you know, really get into it.
So even any industry, any anything you want to
accomplishing life, just do it, especially when you're young,
(22:12):
there's not much risk. Just do it just.
Just go out and do whatever you want.
And I honestly forgot to mention, and I apologize, you
guys have a podcast of your own.Yeah, we do.
We do. It's called the Shop Talk
podcast. It's just.
Me and my dad, he he hates it, he hates being on camera, but.
It's we've had a couple. MLB guys on we.
Actually have a couple shows that were recorded, but we.
Just never put them out yet. Just because we're just.
(22:34):
Insanely busy right now, especially players weekend for
the MLBS coming up. So this month and half of next
month, which is going to be insane, but yeah.
The Shop Talk podcast. We pretty much just talk about
what happens day-to-day life andsome of these drop.
Stories we we have stories for days with.
Some how some of this stuff happens and also yeah, but the
shop. Talk podcast we'll have.
Some we'll have some episodes out soon.
(22:56):
Well, make sure you follow them online.
It's again follow Nets level customs.
Ryan, thanks again for giving mesome of your time, man.
Hope you guys have a great summer and congratulations on
the baby man. That's awesome.
Thank you so much, man. Thanks Brian.
I appreciate it. All right everyone, again,
thanks for watching my episode with Brian Stevens.
You'll be able to listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and
on Amazon as well. Hope you all have a great rest
(23:17):
of your day. Stay safe and enjoy.
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