THE PLUG W/ JUSTIN JAY

Justin Jay
  • 4.9 (57)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

The Plug w/ Justin Jay is a bi-monthly arts and culture podcast featuring unfiltered, long-form conversations with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Hosted by New York photographer Justin Jay, the show digs into career challenges, creative journeys, and the personal inspirations that drive culture across music, sports, design, politics, and more. Tired of sound bites and PR-driven content? The Plug is your antidote to short-attention-span culture. New episodes drop every other Thursday — listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch video clips and selected full episodes at https://www.youtube.com/@theplugwithjustinjay

  1. 1D AGO

    Michael “Kaves” McLeer

    Michael “Kaves” McLeer is a Brooklyn-born painter, recording artist, graffiti artist, author, tattoo artist and creator of Brooklyn Pop - an astounding immersive experience celebrating the borough of Brooklyn. The installation features hip-hop memorabilia, graffiti, movie collectibles, historical artifacts, and personal items celebrating the neighborhood that shaped him. In this episode we discuss his path from the proverbial wrong side of the tracks in Bay Ridge, to becoming a renowned graffiti writer and founder of the rap/punk rock group Lordz of Brooklyn. We also chat about the neighborhood gangsters growing up, why free Adidas tracks suits sometimes fell from the sky above Verranzano Bridge, and how Brooklyn based movies and television like The Warriors, Saturday Night Fever and Welcome Back Kotter played a key role in developing self-identity and career goals.  Throughout his career he’s designed exclusive visuals for Audemars Piguet, Jaguar, NIKE, Rockstar Games, WWE, MTV, ADIDAS, Van’s Warped Tour, and created logos & graphics for world-renowned artists such as the Beastie Boys and Metallica. Kaves' energy and thirst for creative expression took him to the world of acting and filmmaking. In 2006, Kaves created, produced and directed The Brooklyn Way, a multi-episode docu-series about his family’s life. From 2011 to the present day, Kaves has been featured in short and feature films including The Many Saints of Newark, Gravesend, The Humdinger, Star and The Eulogy. The Brooklyn Pop interactive installation is open to the pubic at Industry City. See link below for details. Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com ⁠https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/⁠ ⁠https://justinjay.com/⁠ HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay: ⁠https://www.hi1k.com/⁠ Brooklyn Pop ⁠https://thebrooklynpop.com/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min

  2. FEB 26

    Arto Saari

    Arto Saari is a Finnish professional skateboarder and photographer. He is one of only two Europeans to ever win Thrasher Magazine’s prestigious Skater of the Year award, and he's one of the most respected and influential skaters of his generation. Arto built his legacy through groundbreaking video parts and endured numerous brutal injuries along the way. Eventually, he transitioned from professional skating to pursue his passion for photography. His recently released book, Bike Path, intimately captures the vibrant culture and community of Hawaii’s North Shore. In this episode, we dive into the contrasts between skateboarding and surfing culture, we dig into the complex interplay of pain, injury, substance abuse, and addictive personalities in skateboarding, and we discuss the challenging path many pro skaters face as they navigate life beyond their skating careers Bike Path by Arto Saari: ⁠https://www.artosaari.com/bikepath-book⁠ Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1 HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay: ⁠https://www.hi1k.com/⁠ Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com ⁠https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/⁠ ⁠https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min

  3. FEB 13 · BONUS

    Naz Kawakami

    The Plug w/ Justin Jay is proud to announce a collaboration with Monster Children — the independent art and media platform that has been shaping taste for over two decades. I For the next several weeks, Monster Children will be presenting a curated series of encore episodes of The Plug across their website and social channels. To kick things off, we sit down with Editor-in-Chief Naz Kawakami to discuss how a scrappy Australian print title built a global audience without losing its point of view. We'll explore the tension between print and digital media, why some stories are too meaningful to be reduced to a digital scroll, and how imperfection can serve as proof that something is real. Be on the lookout for new episodes here in the weeks ahead, and revisit some of our favorite conversations — including Stacy Peralta, Arto Saari, Tom Sachs, and more — at monsterchildren.com and on Instagram at @monsterchildren and @nazkawakami Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1 Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min

  4. JAN 30

    Jay Glennie

    Jay Glennie is the author of The Making of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, the film has cemented itself as one of Tarantino’s most personal and meticulously constructed works—every prop, location, costume, and needle drop carefully chosen to reconstruct a disappearing version of Los Angeles. Glennie was granted rare access to document how that world came together. Drawing from more than sixty interviews with Quentin Tarantino, the cast, and key members of the crew—alongside extensive on-set photography and original production materials—the book goes far beyond a visual companion or standard oral history. It examines the creative decisions, near-misses, and practical realities behind the film: how iconic moments were shaped, which sequences almost didn’t happen, and why certain choices mattered to Tarantino on a deeply personal level. For anyone interested in how great films are actually made, this episode offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, accidents, and creative obsessions behind this modern classic, told by the only writer granted unparalleled access to Tarantino’s creative process. Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1 Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://justinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hi1k.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min

  5. JAN 8

    Luxxury

    In this encore episode, we revisit our conversation with Luxxury—music producer and co-host of the hit podcast One Song. Each week on their podcast One Song, Luxxury and his co-host Diallo Riddle take a deep dive into a single classic song, and explore the inspirations and specific production techniques that make the track unique. By playing rare, isolated vocal and instrumental stems, they give listeners the chance to rediscover familiar songs, revealing details and textures often hidden in the full mix. So what is the difference between sampling, interpolation, and outright plagiarism? Why is the Jamaican concept of copyright, creatively and the ownership of music almost completely opposite of the way we think of it in the US?  Why is it now legally risky to use the overall vibe and arrangements of a Marvin Gaye track as inspiration for your own song? We’ll find out as we sit down for a chat with someone who blends technology with his passion for music history to shed new light on your favorite songs.  00:00 — How Stems Change the Way We Hear Music00:55 — The History of Sampling in Hip-Hop01:23 — Luxxury Explains the One Song Podcast01:52 — Sampling vs Interpolation vs Plagiarism02:22 — Podcast Production: Research vs Improvisation03:45 — Why Playing Music in Real Time Matters05:11 — Music Stems Explained for Non-Musicians08:01 — Where Do Producers Get Stems?12:20 — AI Music, Stem Separation, and The Beatles19:05 — Quincy Jones as a Music Producer27:05 — Famous Examples of Interpolation in Pop Music43:22 — Taylor Swift, Masters, and Music Ownership Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1 Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://justinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hi1k.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m

  6. 12/18/2025

    MGMT

    MGMT are the musical duo of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, known for creating irresistibly catchy, genre-blurring music. In this Encore Episode, we dive into how they continually push the boundaries of pop and indie music while still maintaining their unmistakable sound. We also discuss the politics of performing at Madison Square Garden, their unexpected rise to TikTok fame, and how their views on drugs have evolved since their debut album. Since their time as art students in the early 2000s, they’ve released five studio albums, garnered critical acclaim, and cultivated a devoted fan base. Their newest album Loss of Life is available now. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with the artists behind the hits 'Kids' and 'Little Dark Age 00:00 MGMT on Pop Music vs. Experimentation 00:29 Welcome to The Plug w/ Justin Jay 01:03 Can AI Replace Human Songwriting? 01:59 Introducing MGMT & the Album Loss of Life 02:56 First Reactions to MGMT’s New Album Loss of Life 03:22 Post-Album Letdown & Choosing Not to Tour 05:47 Touring Burnout, Aging & Changing Priorities 07:39 Writing Catchy Pop Songs Without Compromise 10:04 Genre Labels, Adult Contemporary & Steely Dan Influence 13:24 MGMT Influences: Roxy Music, Prince & 80s Synth Pop 17:07 The Role of Producers & Working With Dave Fridmann 21:28 Music Videos, Self-Promotion & Streaming Economics 30:00 Drugs, Lyrics & Growing Older as a Band 31:56 Final Plugs, Artists to Support & Closing Thoughts Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1 Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://justinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hi1k.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  7. 12/05/2025

    Andy Nicholson

    Andy Nicholson is the bassist and founding member of Arctic Monkeys. This episode he sits down for one of his most open and personal interviews yet. With the 20-year anniversary of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not approaching, Andy reflects on the band’s explosive early years and the moments that shaped modern indie rock. Andy shares the story behind his brand-new photography book, I Bet This Looks Good on Your Coffee Table, featuring rare and intimate behind-the-scenes photos from 2005–2007. From tiny Sheffield gigs to global fame, Andy captured the raw reality of life inside a band becoming a worldwide phenomenon. In this episode: • How Arctic Monkeys handled sudden fame • What life backstage and on tour really looked like • The creative chemistry behind the first album • Andy’s personal journey after leaving the band • Why revisiting hundreds of old photos changed his perspective • Meeting The Strokes, playing SNL, and surreal early-days stories • The emotional process of releasing his photos to the world Whether you’re an Arctic Monkeys fan, a music-photography lover, or someone who lived through the 2000s indie rock era, this conversation offers rare insight from someone who was there for it all. Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1 Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://justinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hi1k.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  8. 11/20/2025

    Kevin Macdonald

    Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald sits down to discuss his groundbreaking documentary One to One, a film that redefines how we understand John Lennon and Yoko Ono in early 1970s New York. Using archival footage—from TV shows, protests, commercials, news footage, and intimate home recordings Macdonald creates a fully immersive, 360-degree view of their lives, activism, and art. From John Lennon’s one and only post-Beatles concert at Madison Square Garden, to Yoko Ono’s conceptual artistry and personal struggles, this conversation dives deep into the film’s meticulous reconstruction, the creative process behind its storytelling, and the political and cultural context of the era. Discover how One to One blends history, humanity, and artistry to reveal John and Yoko like never before. Perfect for Beatles fans, documentary enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of culture, activism, and art. Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1 00:00 – Teaser: Three Blind Men & an Elephant 00:31 – Host Intro: Setting Up the Conversation 02:02 – Introducing Kevin Macdonald 03:10 – Origins of One to One 06:12 – Building Trust With Participants 09:45 – The Intimacy of the Film’s Format 13:20 – Navigating Ethics & Responsibility 17:05 – Crafting Narrative From Raw Lives 21:18 – The Role of Empathy in Documentary Filmmaking 24:56 – Creative Choices Behind the Camera 28:40 – What Kevin Learned From the Project 32:10 – Reflections on Human Connection 35:28 – Closing Thoughts & What’s Next Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://justinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hi1k.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
See All (85)

4.9
out of 5
57 Ratings

About

The Plug w/ Justin Jay is a bi-monthly arts and culture podcast featuring unfiltered, long-form conversations with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Hosted by New York photographer Justin Jay, the show digs into career challenges, creative journeys, and the personal inspirations that drive culture across music, sports, design, politics, and more. Tired of sound bites and PR-driven content? The Plug is your antidote to short-attention-span culture. New episodes drop every other Thursday — listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch video clips and selected full episodes at https://www.youtube.com/@theplugwithjustinjay

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Jay
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 THE PLUG W/ JUSTIN JAY
  • Show Website
    THE PLUG W/ JUSTIN JAY

You Might Also Like