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.
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 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
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1:04:38
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1:04:38
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.
As a teenager growing up in a predominantly white beach town in Southern California, he was one of the few Black surfers in the water. That meant navigating everything from subtle bias to outright racism. While he refused to let that stop him from pursuing the sport he loved, the absence of others who looked like him left a lasting impression.
In this episode, we discuss his essay in the new book Surfer Stories, where he reflects on South African surfer Mikey February’s historic qualification for the professional tour. For Selema, the moment wasn’t just significant—it was deeply personal. His father, legendary jazz musician Hugh Masekela, was exiled from South Africa during apartheid. So seeing a Black South African competing on surfing’s biggest stage brought decades of struggle and resilience full circle.
We also discuss how someone goes from the surf break to the broadcast booth to build one of the most diverse résumés in sports media, and why curiosity has been one of his greatest strengths. Selema also shares some of his biggest on-air blunders—and what they taught him.
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
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55:32
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55:32
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.
In this episode, we dive into what it takes to consistently get compelling shots of world-famous artists. Danny shares stories from behind the lens—including what Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard were up to on the back of their tour bus, and what went down when he accidentally left a $2,000 lens behind at San Quentin prison.
Don’t miss this candid, behind-the-scenes conversation with the man responsible for some of the most unforgettable rock photos of our time.
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
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58:51
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58:51
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.
In this episode, we talk about his new band, Deaf Charlie, how touring with a side project compares to life on the road with Pearl Jam, and what inspired him to embark on a 1,200-mile skateboarding journey with kids he met through his parks.
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
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46:22
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46:22
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.
In this episode, we sit down with the man they call Mr. Pipeline to talk about his unique dual role in the newly released book Surfer Stories—as both a subject and a storyteller. Alongside guest Claudia Lebenthal, the book’s editor and creative force, they reflect on Gerry’s enduring influence and the intimate portrait he paints in his essay on fellow legend Garrett McNamara.
Lopez also shares what five decades of yoga have taught him about flow—on waves and in life—and how staying grounded, along with his mantra of “keep paddling,” has helped him navigate challenges far beyond the lineup.
And finally, we dig into the decision that raised eyebrows in surf circles: Gerry’s partnership with Costco to release an affordable line of signature Wavestorm soft-top surfboards.
Don’t miss this conversation with one of the most respected and compelling figures in the history of surfing.
You can find Surfer Stories, edited by Claudia Lebenthal, wherever you get your books.
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
The Plug w/ Justin Jay is a bi-monthly arts and culture podcast offering unfiltered, long-form conversations with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Tired of sound bites and PR-driven content? Each episode dives deep into the career challenges, inspirations, and current projects of these cultural trailblazers from music to politics. The Plug is your antidote to short-attention-span culture. New episodes drop every other Thursday.
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