THE PLUG W/ JUSTIN JAY – Details, episodes & analysis

MGMT are the musical duo of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, known for creating irresistibly catchy, genre-blurring music. 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. In this 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. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with the artists behind the hits 'Kids' and 'Little Dark Age 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

T.J. Miller is a standup comedian and actor who has appeared on Silicon Valley, Deadpool, Transformers, and numerous comedy specials. Although he’s had a taste of Hollywood success, lately he’s chosen a different path. Rather than chasing acting roles on the west coast, he’s made the conscious choice to live in New York City and continue to tirelessly refine his skills as a Manhattan standup comic. This week we sit down to discuss why being a respected comic is more important to him than being recognized as a great actor. We'll also find out what being a philosophy major taught him about comedy and what happens when you spill a drink on someone at a party wearing a gold-sequined tuxedo. Don't miss this special episode recorded live at Newsstand Studios in Rockefeller Center. *This episode was recorded prior to the WGA and SAG strikes. The Plug w/ Justin Jay wholeheartedly supports the efforts of actors and writers and stands in solidarity with its union members. To learn more please see the links below.. https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/ https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike-hub Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 10 studio albums and cultivated a loyal fanbase spanning from Santiago to Silverlake. In this episode we sit down for a chat with this Texas-born, Venezuela-raised, and San Francisco educated singer about psilocybin mushroom trips, sneaking backstage at a Guns and Roses show in South America as a teenager, and how skateboarding videos from the 80’s influenced his musical tastes. Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Perez-Shadi directed the iconic music videos for House of Pain's "Jump Around”, The Beastie Boys' "Gratitude”, and he’s collaborated with streetwear brands like Supreme, Stussy, and Billionaire Boys Club. For over three decades, David has been a prominent figure in downtown New York, documenting hip-hop, skateboarding, and graffiti for over three decades. In this episode, we'll dive into David's journey from a shy bike messenger from the Bronx to becoming the go-to photographer for some of the coolest brands and artists in the game. We’ll also hear some fascinating behind-the-scenes tales from his most chaotic shoots and learn what happened when the RZA went missing during a big budget video.  Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tinker Hatfield is widely 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 are commodities sold for thousands of dollars. Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nathan Florence is a big-wave charger from the North Shore and brother to 2X world champion surfer John John Florence. In the past few years, Nathan has made a name for himself by tackling some of the biggest and most consequential waves on the planet. But it's not just his surfing that's earned him a following. He’s also known for his compelling social media content, providing fans with an inside look at his life as a pro surfer and adventure-seeker. Join us as we chat with Nathan about what lessons he’s learned from his brother, some skills he's acquired to survive a wipeout at Pipeline, and why we might have reached a tipping point of chaos in the lineups on the North Shore. Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny Clinch is one of the most sought after music photographers in the business. He’s shot iconic photos of music royalty from Tupac to Springsteen to Johnny Cash. This episode we discuss what it takes to get consistently compelling photos out of extremely famous people. We also hear what Willie Nelson and Merl Haggard do on the back of their tour bus, and what happens when you shoot at San Quentin prison and leave a $2000 lens behind. Don’t miss this candid conversation with the man behind some of your favorite rock photos. Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pat O’Connell starred in the classic surf film Endless Summer 2 and competed on the world tour. He eventually transitioned into executive leadership positions at Hurley, the World Surf League, and he is currently president of John John Florence’s brand Florence Marine X. Needless to say, Pat has a unique perspective on the culture and the business of surfing. In this episode, we discuss some of the challenges of building a successful brand, hear how the North Shore has changed, and learn why competitive surfing will never be the new golf. Don’t miss a candid conversation with this industry insider and Momentum Generation alum. Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Damon Way is a designer, brand marketer, and the co-founder of DC Shoes. With the help of his brother, pioneering skateboarder Danny Way, DC become one of the most sought after skate brands of the 90’s. Under Way’s guidance, DC was one of the first streetwear brands to successfully implement artist collaborations and limited edition releases into their product line. In 2004, DC was sold to Quiksilver and the brand slowly lost much of its luster without his creative control. In this episode, we sit down to discuss whether skateboarders or surfers have better style, why the music that we listen to no longer defines our identities, and why Toyota Prius headlights are so damn ugly.  Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Shiflett plays guitar in the Foo Fighters and hosts the podcast Walking The Floor. This episode, we sit down for our second in-depth conversation with the Santa Barbara native. It’s been a year of extreme highs and lows for him - he got inducted into the Rock and Roll of Hall of Fame, but also had to endure the tragic death of close friend and bandmate Taylor Hawkins. We discuss the differences between flying a private jet to play sold out stadiums vs the smaller intimate shows that he’s been playing to promote his upcoming solo album. Don’t miss checking out some behind the scenes stories from this rock veteran on this special episode with our first repeat-guest on The Plug Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at: theplugpodcast.jj@gmail.com https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/ https://justinjay.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices