The Plug w/ Justin Jay is a bi-monthly arts and culture podcast featuring unfiltered, long-form interviews with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Each episode dives deep into career challenges, inspirations, current projects, and the stories behind the people who are defining culture in music, sports, design, and politics.
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 visit https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com to access all episodes and updates.
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The Plug w/ Justin Jay is a bi-monthly arts and culture podcast featuring unfiltered, long-form interviews with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Each episode dives deep into career challenges, inspirations, current projects, and the stories behind the people who are defining culture in music, sports, design, and politics.
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 visit https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com to access all episodes and updates.
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.
From working directly with Shawn Stussy to influencing brands like Supreme, Adidas, and Converse, Paul reflects on authenticity, creativity, and the evolution of streetwear. He explains why early Stussy and Supreme succeeded where others failed, and why the term “streetwear” misses the point entirely.
Paul also dives into collab culture, subcultures in New York and Tokyo, and how Instagram reshaped personal expression. It’s a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people and philosophies that built modern street style.
00:00 – Intro: Paul Mittleman on shaping modern street culture02:30 – Connecting Shawn Stussy to New York’s creative scene06:15 – The rise of Supreme and its Stussy influence08:40 – Why Stussy and Supreme stayed authentic11:00 – The power of saying “no” in creative work14:00 – When collabs lost their meaning17:00 – “Future landfill”: the dark side of drop culture20:30 – Streetwear vs. street culture23:00 – Can real subcultures still exist today?29:30 – From downtown discovery to the algorithm era39:00 – Instagram, identity, and authenticity46:30 – Choosing integrity over corporate success48:50 – Paul’s recommendation: Subculture by Dick Hebdige
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/
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THE PLUG W/ JUSTIN JAY
The Plug w/ Justin Jay is a bi-monthly arts and culture podcast featuring unfiltered, long-form interviews with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Each episode dives deep into career challenges, inspirations, current projects, and the stories behind the people who are defining culture in music, sports, design, and politics.
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 visit https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com to access all episodes and updates.
