PODCAST · arts
Mike Giant Podcast
by Michael LeSage
Mike GIant presents interviews, mixes, lectures, etc.
Episodes
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Episode 70: RIME
A conversation between Mike Giant and Rime. Recorded in Rime's RV in the parking lot of Mike Giant's studio in Dayton, Ohio on September 11, 2026. Topics discussed include: Big Dog energy with Dax, what it means to be an artist, crafts, parental encouragement, the Art of Cycling, dancing,...
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Episode 69: Jason REVOK
A conversation between Jason Revok and Mike Giant. Recorded live on Saturday May 9, 2026 at The Contemporary Dayton in Dayton, Ohio (the second museum talk during his exhibition at the museum). The museum director, Heather Jones, is speaking at the beginning and a Q&A with the audience at the…
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Episode 68: Nalla Smith
Mike Giant interviews Nalla Smith at his home in upstate New York. Recorded April 26, 2026. Topics discussed include: Learning how to tattoo from Nalla, informal apprenticeships, piercing at Body Manipulations (1989-1991), Daljeet’s on Haight Street, Freddy Corbin, odd jobs, Spaghetti Western…
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Episode 67: Morning Breath
Mike Giant in conversation with Morning Breath, the graphic design/fine art studio of Doug Cunningham and Jason Noto based in Brooklyn, New York. Topics discussed include: Working at Think Skateboards in the 1990s, vouching for Doug, Chris Cycle, Doug getting arrested painting freight trains, TMF...
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Episode 66: Bee Gats
Conversation between Mike Giant and photographer Bee Gats. Topics discussed include: photographic aesthetics, the beauty of decay, Estevan Oriol, Boogie, opening doors for the next generation, the Tulsa series by Larry Clark , The Americans, playing with cameras as a child, Kodak cameras, hip-hop...
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Episode 65: Psychedelics
Mike discusses his experiences with psychedelics. Topics discussed include: early experiences with marijuana, friends smoking with their parents, propaganda films, first gravity bong experience, effect of cannabis on color, meth labs in the woods, shrooms, peyote, early experiences with lsd,...
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Episode 64: Big Meas
A conversation about tattooing between Mike Giant and Big Meas, both of Dayton, Ohio. Recorded in Mike's art studio on December 5, 2025. Topics discussed include: Seeing biker tattoos at 10 years old, flash, JD Crowe, line sheets for stencils, Boog, Jack Rudy, BJ Betts, trades, apprenticeship…
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Episode 63: July 4th
Mike recites a written piece in homage of the Declaration of Independence.
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Episode 62: San Diego recap: 1984 - 1992
Mike recalls memories from his early adventures in San Diego, California from 1984 to 1992. Topics discussed include: Michigan weed, CHiPs, Charlie’s Angels, Spring Break in San Diego, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Battlestar Galactica, skateboarding in 1984, orange plastic skateboards, first...
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Episode 61: 2000
Mike recalls more memories from living in San Francisco in 2000. Topics discussed include: 214 Clara, Damon Soule, Adrian Sanchez, The Loft Invasion, web developers, Valeria Hursyz, Tweaky Pete, basement studio, rat hunting, dead junkie, Sketch group show, blackbook art, Millennium Blackbook...
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Episode 60: Dalek
Mike Giant in conversation with Dalek at Mike's studio in San Diego, California on June 21, 2024. Topics discussed include: Tyke, pickup basketball games, Hurley (2009-2015), Mark Parker, Roger Gastman, Black Dot, fashion world, Spacemonkey racing yacht, apartment mural, Cycle, dominatrix...
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Episode 59: 1999: Part Three
Mike recalls more memories from living in New York City and San Francisco in late 1999. Topics discussed include: Working at East Side Inc, staying with Nalla, Zoe, freelance writing, The Vault, Dom scene, Barmacy and Beauty Bar, Deb Parker, Saoirse, Henna patterns, subletting apt on Grand Street...
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Episode 58: 1999 - Part Two
Mike recalls more memories from living in New York City and San Francisco in 1999. Topics discussed include: East Side Inc, Nalla Smith, Dash Snow (Sace), Agathe, Wall Street heist, John the Fencer, Kunle (Earshot), Tom of Finland cop tattoo, Titpig, Sarah Lawrence girl, Brendan Fowler, Ashley...
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Episode 57: 1999 - Part One
Mike recalls memories from living in New York City and San Francisco in early 1999. Topics discussed inlcude: living near Golden Gate Park, Imagination Plantation, 3D animation, office fashion, Wild Brain, Fern Gully, tattooing friends at home, Kodik Joe, Chris Woodcock, Sarah, Hotmail, student...
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Episode 56: Rime MSK
Mike Giant interviews Rime MSK with special guest Persué at Mike's studio in San Diego, California on December 22, 2023. Topics discussed include: Honesty, fear of conflict, Thich Nhat Hanh, porn, intimacy, self-reflection, self-work, squirters, transmitting feelings, bullying, running from…
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Episode 55: 1998 - Part Two
Mike recalls memories from living in London and San Francisco in 1998. Topics discussed include: "Claire", Keri, Dek, Brighton, The Moon, throwups at Meanwhile, graffiti over graffiti, UFO, Abstract, Phunkateck, Ed Rush, Optical, Sage, Eklektic, GHB, Grove Park Yard with Egs, Network SouthEast...
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Episode 54: 1998 - Part One
Mike recalls memories from living in London in 1998. Topics discussed include: Losing weight, skateboarding daily, Wandsworth, Tom and Honor, Brixton, Dogstar, Prince Albert, The Sun, Irish red cream ale, Guinness, Keri, crooked teeth, The Plumber, Soho and Covent Garden, black latex, after-hours...
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Episode 53: 1997
Mike recalls memories from living in San Francisco and London in 1997. Topics discussed include: Oak Street house, “Allie”, Noah Hurwitz, @111MinnaGallery, latex pants, waxing, Skin Two, loft on 11th, @california_choppers, the red bathroom, Patsy Cline songs, pre-sex routine, condoms, loft on...
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Episode 52: Spring Road Trip - Part Two
Mike gives a recap of his recent road trip through the South. Topics discussed include: The Silver Skillet in Atlanta, heavy police presence, Little 5 Points, The Clothing Warehouse, poster sale at Swag Shop in Edgewood, @killermike (Run The Jewels), active shooter, barber shop vibes, cheap shots...
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Episode 51: Spring Road Trip - Part One
Mike gives a recap of his recent road trip through the South. Topics discussed include: Invite from Bee Gats to show with him in New Orleans, August road trip to St Louis, considering a move out of California, leaving San Diego on April 26th, 250K+ Prius, $5.29 a gallon, traveling with M, smoking...
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Episode 50: California Center for Psychedelic Therapy
Mike has a conversation with Dr. Cole Marta and Brooke Balliett, LMFT of the California Center for Psychedelic Therapy. Recorded Sunday, April 2nd at the Center. Topics discussed include: Preparing set and setting for a psychedelic trip, dosage differences in individual people, Ego Death,...
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Episode 49: 1996
Mike recalls memories from living in San Francisco in 1996. Topics discussed include: Ben Lovejoy, apt at 8th and Geary, worst roommate ever, coke fiend girlfriend, blood splattered walls, Damon Soule, Oak Street house, anarchist John, Food Not Bombs, feeding soup to the homeless, Burning Man,...
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Episode 48: 1995 - Part Two
Mike continues to recall memories from living in San Francisco in 1995. Topics discussed include: 8th and Geary apartment, Kodik Joe, Clifton Carter, working at Think Skateboards, The Dirty Dildo, High Speed Productions, Conqr, RJD2, George Washington High School, Cram, regional handstyles, Club...
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Episode 47: 1995
Mike recalls memories from 1995. Topics discussed include: Photographic memory, moving to 8th and Geary with Ben Lovejoy, America Online, trading porn, personal ads, Sugar Daddy, shoulder massage in the round, back door access, King Street Garage, Club Universe, raver pack, flag dancers…
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Episode 46: 1994 -Tattoo
Mike recalls memories from the last half of 1994. Topics discussed include: Black and grey fineline tattoos in Albuquerque in 1980, weekend flea market, Catholic and prison imagery, tattoo magazines, Guy Aitchison, biomechanical style, first tattoo, Mr. Went, jail rigs, Sharpie backpieces, Joker...
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Episode 45: Alysha Nett
Giant's interview with Alysha Nett. Recorded at Alysha's home near Kansas City, MO on August 18, 2022. Includes interjections by her partner Mike Fuentes. Topics discussed include: Growing up near Wichita, creepy basements, tornados, Varsity sports, drunk at school, country girl stuff, MTV, music...
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Episode 44: 1994 - Part Two
Mike recalls memories from the last half of 1994. Topics discussed include: Working at Think Skateboards, Wade Speyer, Phil Shao, pre-drawn graphics, Eric Ricks, Dan “Cancerman” Drehobl, lip tricks, High Speed Productions, Paul Zuanich, being good at one thing, Fausto Vitello, The Widowmaker,...
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Episode 43: DJ Jae - Live at The End Up
Live recording of a vinyl set by DJ Jae at The End Up in San Francisco on a Saturday night in 1994. Converted to MP3 from the original audio tape by Davis Livingstone in Boulder, Colorado in 2016 .
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Episode 42: 1994 - Part One
Mike recalls memories from the first half of 1994. Topics discussed include: Living in San Francisco, working at Think Skateboards, NYE at the Fillmore, phone card numbers, Cole EMB, writing letters, weekly international calls, 5 Fulton to 15 Third, roach coach, decaf coffee, sack lunch, $375…
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Episode 41: Galleries and Museums/The Business of Art
Mike Giant discusses his experiences in the fine art world as well as how to navigate it. Topics discussed include: Agree, Futura, graffiti writers moving into galleries, art “investors”, 1991 Albuquerque Museum mural show, connector photos, reasons to work with a gallery, stable of collectors,...
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Episode 40: 1993
Mike recalls memories from 1993. Topics discussed include: The Beach Zone, Rob Russell, sending a package of samples to Think Skateboards, Burton snowboards, Tribal Gear, ASR Trade Show in San Diego, Olé Madrid, first E high, moving to 1933 McAllister, Everlasting Tattoo, initial excitement…
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Episode 39: GRAFFITI WRITING: PART TWO (Late 1980s to early 1990s)
Recollections of my early years as a graffiti writer. Subjects discussed include: High school PE class (1988), Subway Art, Breakin’ movie, John aka Tank, Frisco Bus Style, Castoner wildstyle tags, Dan-O (aka Wizdom and Omen), The Frontier restaurant, SHARP Skinheads, exchanging blackbooks, KWS...
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Episode 38: GRAFFITI WRITING: PART ONE (Late 1980s to early 1990s)
Recollections of my early years as a graffiti writer. Subjects discussed include: photographic memory, moving to New Mexico, Cholo graffiti, Breakin movie, Subway Art book, Hip Hop graffiti, Olde English font, Thailand, seeing a writer at work for the first time, Uptown SK8 Posse, Matt Linnell...
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Episode 37: GIANT UFO!!!
90min mix meant for moments of heavy marijuana consumption. Ambient, dub, jungle, downtempo, juke and more with spoken word from Mike Giant https://soundcloud.com/itsufo mikegiant.com
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Episode 36: Justin Kerson
Giant's interview with his old friend Justin Kerson. Recorded at Justin's home in Northern California on March 19, 2021. Topics discussed include: Growing up Marin County, Tupac, Ben Harper, Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead’s last show at Shoreline, LSD, Dark Orchestra, MoTown, Orange Sunshine...
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Episode 35: The Eightfold Path
Mike speaks on the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. Recorded January 17, 2021 in his studio in San Diego, California. Based on material previously published in the "Buddhist Basics" zine.
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Episode 34: DJ Eldon
Mike's interview with his old friend DJ Eldon. Recorded in Eldon's home in Albuquerque, NM on October 19, 2020. Topics discussed include: Meeting each other during the early 90s rave scene, born in 1959 in Albuquerque, growing up in a large Hispanic family, graduated top of his class at Del…
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Episode 33: Wane COD
Mike's interview with his friend and mentor Wane COD. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on October 13, 2020. Topics discussed include: Agree’s tutoring, Top 3 New York writers, Wane, Hims, Know, IGT, Can Control, Ghetto Art, Bomber, Hype, Albuquerque Aerosol, Huffer, studying...
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Episode 32: Joy Shannon - Pt. 2
Part two of Giant's interview with his friend Joy Shannon. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on July 5, 2020. Topics discussed include: Ed Hardy changing sanitation standards in tattooing, latex gloves, the Old Timer Splotch, tattooing in photo booth, re-using needles, Crown...
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Episode 31: Joy Shannon - Pt. 1
Part one of Giant's interview with his friend Joy Shannon. Recorded in Mike's studio in San Diego, California on July 5, 2020. Topics discussed include: Culture magazine, art/music writing, offering a tattoo apprenticeship, growing up in Santa Ana, early years in Chicago, Irish bloodline, Celtic...
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Episode 30: Tony Bonetti
Giant's interview with his old friend Tony Bonetti. Recorded at Tony's home in Sunnyvale, CA on Sunday, June 14, 2020. Topics discussed include: Ramon Altorre, tattoo trip to New Mexico, ultra violence, San Jose, the Tech Boom, initial links to the tattoo world, The Skullz Press storefront, being...
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Episode 29: Guided Meditation
Mike presents a guided meditation in the Vipassana tradition over a digital mix he made featuring tracks by Steve Roach. Recorded April 20, 2020 by DJ Artistic at Lower Left Studios in San Diego, California.
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Episode 28: "Jazz Percussion" Vinyl Mix
Mike presents a mix of jazz vinyl records featuring outstanding percussion. Recorded on Monday April 13, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Mosaic, “Mosaic” Max Roach, Bitter Sweet, “Mendacity”...
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Episode 27: "Junglism" Vinyl Mix
Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, choir, synths, soundtracks, dub and breaks. Recorded on Monday April 13, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) DJ Rap, Proper Talent 001, “Get Under” LTJ Bukem, Suspended Space,...
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Episode 26: "Koyaanisqatsi" Vinyl Mix
Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, choir, synths, soundtracks, dub and breaks. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi, “Koyaanisqatsi" Nightmares on Wax, Smoker’s...
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Episode 25: "Martial Law" Vinyl Mix
Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, synths and breakbreat vinyl records. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Ice-T, The Iceberg, "Shut Up, Be Happy" (featuring Jello Biafra) Digital, Portica...
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Episode 24: "God, Christ, Gurus" Vinyl Mix
Mike presents an eclectic mix of spoken word, synth and breakbeat vinyl records. Recorded on Monday April 6, 2020 by DJ Artistic at the Lower Left Studio in San Diego, CA. Playlist: (Artist, Album, "Track Title”) Yogananda, Chants and Prayers, "God, Christ, Gurus” Kitaro, Ki, “Sun” The Orb -...
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Episode 23: Adam Hathorn
Giant's interview with Adam Hathorn, a tattoo artist based in San Diego, California. Recorded in Giant's studio in Miramar on Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Topics discussed: Big Trouble Tattoo, the totem pole of talent, humility, photos of tattoos, Instagram portfolios, growing up in New England,...
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Episode 22: Vernon Courtlandt Johnson aka VCJ
Giant's interview with Vernon Courtlandt Johnson, a fine artist based in Santa Barbara, California. Recorded in his home on August 10, 2014 for Monster Children magazine, vcjgraphics.com Please follow this link to see a video of our meeting. https://vimeo.com/113684648
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Episode 21: Dave Persué
Giant's interview with Dave Persué, a fine artist based in San Diego, California. Recorded in their studio in Miramar on Monday, October 23, 2019. Topics discussed: Per-Sway, growing up in San Diego, Star Wars, sports, getting forced outside to play, drawing, Nikol Schattenstein, William Randolf...
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