THE PLUG W/ JUSTIN JAY

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

Nikolai Fraiture / The Strokes 04/24/2026

Nikolai Fraiture / The Strokes ENCORE EPISODE — To celebrate the landmark performance The Strokes delivered at Coachella 2026, we're revisiting this conversation. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004540

Andrew McCarthy 04/09/2026

Andrew McCarthy This episode we sit down with actor, director, and New York Times bestselling author Andrew McCarthy for a candid conversation about friendship, identity, and reinvention. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806400

De La Soul / Posdnuos 03/26/2026

De La Soul / Posdnuos This episode we sit down for a chat with Posdnuos AKA Plug One, a founding member of one of the most influential and acclaimed groups in hip-hop history - De La Soul. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806405

KAVES 03/13/2026

KAVES 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. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806410

Arto Saari 02/26/2026

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. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806420

Naz Kawakami 02/13/2026

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 /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806425

Jay Glennie 01/30/2026

Jay Glennie Jay Glennie is the author of The Making of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806430

Luxxury 01/28/2026

Luxxury In this encore episode, we revisit our conversation with Luxxury—music producer and co-host of the hit podcast One Song. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004500

MGMT 12/18/2025

MGMT MGMT are the musical duo of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, known for creating irresistibly catchy, genre-blurring music. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004555

Andy Nicholson 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. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806450

Kevin Macdonald 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. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806455

Paul Mittleman 11/07/2025

Paul Mittleman Paul Mittleman worked as VP of Design and Creative Director at Stussy. In this episode, he shares stories from decades shaping the DNA of modern street culture. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806460

Zosia Mamet 10/24/2025

Zosia Mamet Zosia Mamet is an author and actress known for her breakout role as Shoshanna on HBO’s Girls. In this episode, she joins us to discuss her raw, funny, and deeply personal new book, Does This Make Me Funny? /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806465

Larry Charles 10/03/2025

Larry Charles Step inside the mind of legendary writer and director Larry Charles, best known for Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and for directing films like Borat, Bruno, and The Dictator. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806470

Mark Ronson 09/18/2025

Mark Ronson Mark Ronson is one of the most influential music producers of the past two decades. Starting out as one of New York’s most in-demand DJs in the 1990s, he went on to produce for Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Adele, Dua Lipa, Jay-Z, Paul McCartney, and more. He also co-wrote Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk”—one of the defining hits of the 21st century, and most recently curated The Barbie soundtrack. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806475

MC Serch 09/04/2025

MC Serch MC Serch made his mark as one-half of the legendary rap duo 3rd Bass. With classics like The Gas Face, Brooklyn Queens, and Pop Goes the Weasel, the group left an unmistakable stamp on hip-hop. In ’94, Serch went on to executive produce Nas’s groundbreaking debut, Illmatic, cementing his place in rap history. But that’s only part of the story. In this encore episode, Serch takes us inside his wild early days — from battle rapping in Far Rockaway, to a life-threatening clash with MC Hammer in LA, to /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806480

Lisa Andersen 08/15/2025

Lisa Andersen Lisa Andersen is a Surfing Hall of Fame inductee and a 4 time consecutive world champion. As a teenager, she left behind a troubled home life in Florida to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional surfer. By 25, she was ranked the best female surfer on the planet. With her aggressive yet elegant style, she helped transform the entire perception of female competitive surfing. This episode we sit down to discuss the emotional challenges of being the subject of a documentary film about your life, we hear s /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004580

Leo Fitzpatrick 08/01/2025

Leo Fitzpatrick Leo Fitzpatrick is a New York-based actor best known for his breakout role in the groundbreaking 1995 film KIDS. To mark the 30th anniversary of this controversial classic, we’re bringing back our conversation for an encore release. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004585

Ione Skye 07/18/2025

Ione Skye Ione Skye is an actress best known for her standout performances in the classic films Say Anything, River’s Edge, Gas Food Lodging, and many others. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806500

Alex Corporan 07/04/2025

Alex Corporan Alex Corporan is the director of the new documentary Empire Skate, which chronicles the rise of Supreme and the evolution of downtown New York skate culture. It was a movement that reshaped streetwear, art, and youth identity around the world. Alex wasn’t just there to witness it — he helped build it. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004590

Devendra Banhart 06/20/2025

Devendra Banhart Devendra Banhart is a prolific artist and musician who has earned a reputation for his genre-defying sound. Drawing from an incredibly diverse range of influences, he’s released 11 studio albums and cultivated a loyal fanbase spanning from Santiago to Silverlake. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004595

Selema Masekela 06/06/2025

Selema Masekela Selema Masekela is a uniquely versatile sports commentator whose career spans everything from surfing and skateboarding to the NBA, soccer, and Formula One. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806515

Danny Clinch 05/23/2025

Danny Clinch Danny Clinch is one of the most in-demand music photographers working today. From Tupac and Springsteen to Eddie Vedder and Johnny Cash, he’s captured some of the most iconic images in modern music history. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806520

Jeff Ament 05/08/2025

Jeff Ament This week on The Plug w/ Justin Jay, we sit down with Jeff Ament—bassist and founding member of Pearl Jam. Beyond the stage, Jeff has been a dedicated skateboarder since his teens and he’s personally funded the construction of over 27 skateparks across his home state of Montana. For Jeff, it’s more than a passion project: he visits these parks regularly to sweep the concrete, skate alongside local kids, and see the positive impact firsthand. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004605

Gerry Lopez 04/25/2025

Gerry Lopez Few names in surfing carry the weight and reverence of Gerry Lopez. Known for his effortless style and grace at the Banzai Pipeline, Lopez redefined what it meant to surf one of the world’s most dangerous waves—with poise and poetry. He's a two-time Pipe Masters winner, but his legacy doesn’t end in the barrel. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806530

Kai Lenny 04/11/2025

Kai Lenny Kai Lenny is a professional big-wave surfer and one of the most respected watermen on the planet. He’s mastered stand-up paddling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and foiling—pushing the limits of what’s possible on waves of consequence. Over the course of his career, he’s won the SUP Race World Championship, the KSP Kiting World Championship, the Sunset Beach SUP Pro, and the Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806535

Brian Bowen Smith 03/28/2025

Brian Bowen Smith Brian Bowen Smith is one of Hollywood's most sought after celebrity photographers. His work can be seen on billboards, books, movie posters and magazines. Brian has a keen understanding that shooting pictures of high-profile subjects requires more than just technical proficiency with lighting and composition. There’s a psychological skill involved in being able to read the room, navigate egos, and capture a compelling picture despite the sometimes unpredictable emotional state of his subjects. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806540

Randall Poster 03/14/2025

Randall Poster Randall Poster is a highly sought-after music supervisor for film and television who has worked closely with legendary directors like Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater, Martin Scorsese, and countless others. He’s helped craft some of Hollywood’s most iconic soundtracks, including Rushmore, The Wolf of Wall Street, Boyhood, and over 100 feature films. His knack for utilizing timeless classics and for finding the perfect deep cut to enhance storytelling has made him one of the most celebrated and sought-aft /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806545

Tinker Hatfield 02/28/2025

Tinker Hatfield Tinker Hatfield is considered to be one of the most influential sneaker designers of all time. During his time at Nike, he's collaborated with legendary athletes like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to create some of the most iconic and beloved sneakers of all time, from the Air Jordan to the Air Max. He is quite literally the Michael Jordan of Jordans. In this episode, we chat with Tinker about how design, performance, cutting-edge materials and marketing have helped create an entire subculture where sneakers /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/41004620

Stacy Peralta 02/07/2025

Stacy Peralta Stacy Peralta is a true pioneer of skateboarding. /episode/index/show/94b33a52-f209-4d56-8f97-8d4d0ab81ac7/id/40806560

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