We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jay Gaskin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jay, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Honestly, I learned how to do what I do (and I’m still learning) from my favorite YouTube commentators and podcasters. As for the second part of this question, I don’t have an answer at the moment since I’m still in the early stages of developing my show and honing my craft. The most essential skills I’ve learned from doing my live show include conducting thorough research so I know what I’m talking about and using credible sources to ensure the information I share with my audience is accurate and reliable. Additionally, I’ve learned that it’s important to think quickly on my feet, to do my best to avoid moments of silence during my show (a few seconds of silence can feel like hours for listeners), and to have a script while also being comfortable going off-script if it feels right. I’d say the biggest obstacles are not knowing the right questions to ask, not knowing the right information to search for, and not having many people in my personal network who have a show about pop culture, current events, and societal issues on YouTube or other listening platforms to ask for advice.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jay Gaskin. I am 26 years old and recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (a multi-subject degree that includes art, business, political science, and communications) from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Ever since I was a little boy, and especially after receiving a smartphone at the age of 15, I have been fascinated by celebrities and love staying updated on the latest pop culture news, trends, and current events. As I grew older, I also became interested in local, national, and international news and realized the importance of staying informed on what happens locally, nationally, and internationally, as these events affect me more than I realize. After digesting the latest news, pop culture, trends, and current events, I share my opinions with my friends and family, exchanging perspectives as if we were on an entertainment/lifestyle news talk show. I am so energized and passionate during these moments that our conversations often last for hours, leaving me feeling even better afterward. This is how I knew I needed to start my own show.

My show, Pop Culture with Jay, focuses on pop culture, current events, and societal issues. On my show, I discuss a range of subjects, including music, politics, celebrity gossip, trending topics on social media, and even education. I launched it through my university’s radio station, UMSL Radio, during the same semester I graduated, and I will continue the show on the station this upcoming fall semester as an alumnus, as well as through Spotify.
I was inspired to start my show by the YouTube and podcast creators I follow, such as Kimberly Nicole Foster, Zach Campbell, The Empressive Channel, and the Surface Level Podcast, just to name a few. These creators discuss similar topics and possess certain qualities and aesthetics that I admire.

What sets me apart from others is the range of topics I cover. While some commentators focus on a single subject—and that’s great!—listeners can come to my show and find a multitude of topics in one place.
I am most proud of my persistence and tenacity. I decided that I wanted to create my show, and I made it happen. Although doing a live show can be nerve-wracking, I am proud of myself for pushing through that nervousness.

What I want my followers, fans, and potential followers and fans to know is that the show is currently on hiatus but will be back this summer. You can follow my show on Spotify at Pop Culture with Jay and be sure to click the notification bell to stay updated on new episodes. Also, follow my personal page @TheeJayGaskin to receive show updates as well.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. I eventually would love for my show to be one of my sources of income at some point and be self-employed so I can do my show more often. My goal is also financial freedom which leads to more freedom in general which is my ultimate desire and I am hoping my show can assist in this.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Hearing feedback from friends, family, and fellow listeners about their thoughts on the show, I especially love hearing about the aspects of each show they like and what were highlights them. Feedback helps me figure what to keep doing and what to maybe scale back on or take out altogether.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: TheeJayGaskin
• Other: Spotify page for the show: Pop Culture with Jay

Image Credits

The first photo of me with my arms crossed is by Derik Holtmann from the UMSL Daily news blog.