Unfamous with Justin Tranter

Valencia Grace performs “Picture Frames” live on Unfamous

Wed, 20 May 2026 14:57:00 -0000

Valencia Grace performs a live rendition of “Picture Frames” on this special episode of Unfamous. Stripped down to just voice and piano, the performance highlights the theatrical emotion, intimacy, and storytelling at the core of Valencia’s artistry. Follow, subscribe, like and comment if you love to watch and listen. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Wendy Laister & Magus Entertainment.

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Bonus: Valencia Grace performs “Picture Frames” live on Unfamous

Wed, 20 May 2026 14:53:00 -0000

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Valencia Grace + Kyle Stuart | Finding your artistic identity and building the right team

Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Valencia Grace and manager Kyle Stuart break down what it actually takes to build an artist from the ground up. From getting dropped by a label and rebuilding independently to shaping a theatrical “pop opera” identity in real time, the episode explores the creative and strategic partnership behind an emerging artist’s career. They talk about how to find the right collaborators, what makes artist-manager chemistry work, balancing creative instinct with rollout strategy, navigating budgets and industry gatekeepers, and why building a strong creative community changes everything. Valencia also opens up about learning to lean into her individuality instead of chasing trends, while Kyle shares the realities of developing a new artist versus managing established acts like Duran Duran. Follow, subscribe, like and comment if you love to watch and listen. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Wendy Laister & Magus Entertainment.

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Yadim Carranza + Darian Darling | Building beauty culture from the underground

Wed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Yadim Carranza and Darian Darling shape beauty culture from behind the scenes. But more importantly, they’ve spent years helping each other survive and evolve through nightlife, fashion, addiction, transphobia, and the chaos of creative ambition. In this episode, the longtime friends and collaborators join Justin Tranter to talk about going from MAC counters and tiny New York apartments to influencing global beauty trends. They unpack the hidden artistry behind face charts, Fashion Week, celebrity makeup, and queer nightlife, while reflecting on the realities of building careers in industries that often celebrate queer creatives publicly while sidelining them behind the scenes. The conversation moves from hilarious downtown stories and Madonna obsession to deeper conversations about confidence, identity, sobriety, and learning not to tie your self-worth entirely to your work. Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Sherrae Rucker Special thanks to Mark Beavan and Jimmy Knehans. Shout out to Chloe Pappas and Leslie on Patreon.

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Debbie Gibson | Youngest artist to write, produce, and perform a Billboard #1 hit

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:00:00 -0000

On this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with pop icon Debbie Gibson for a candid conversation about songwriting, producing, and building a career before adulthood. Debbie breaks down how she taught herself production, became the youngest artist ever to write, produce, and perform a Billboard Hot 100 #1, and learned to protect her creative vision in an industry that constantly underestimated her. The two also dive into collaboration, family dynamics in business, artistic reinvention, and what it takes to survive and evolve in pop music for decades. Funny, emotional, and full of behind the scenes music stories, this episode is a masterclass in ambition, resilience, and creative trust.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment on Spotify.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha

Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, and Heather Moore.

Shout out to Chloe Pappas and Leslie on Patreon.

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Grace VanderWaal + Eren Cannata | Growing up as a 'Childstar' and processing it through music

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:16:00 -0000

Grace VanderWaal and Eren Cannata make work that feels raw but intentional. More importantly, they know how to keep the energy in the room alive long enough for the right idea to land. In this episode of Unfamous, they talk about building Childstar and the creative rhythm Grace and Eren found together. Grace reflects on starting sessions as young as 12 and how writing gave her a way to say things in her own personal way, and how that evolved into a more instinctive, collaborative process with Eren now. They get into protecting the vibe, letting ideas evolve, and trusting the moments that arrive on their own. It is about collaboration, instinct, and making something honest without forcing it. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Sherrae Rucker Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Brad Cohen, Jamie Sward, Lauryn Caldwell, Alana Aquino, Alexandra Baker and Uriah Tejada. Shout out to Chloe Pappas and Leslie on Patreon.

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MUNA | Evolving Together, Creative Tension and Making Dancing On The Wall

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0000

MUNA makes emotionally sharp, collaborative work that holds because they know how to stay in it long enough to figure out what a song actually needs.

In this episode of Unfamous, host Justin Tranter sits down with MUNA to talk about building a band as a long-term collaboration and what it’s taken to evolve together while working on their upcoming album, which Justin also co-wrote on. They get into creative tension, letting go of ideas, trusting each other’s instincts, and how honesty in the room shapes the final work. It’s about collaboration, communication, and making something real without forcing it.

If you love music, creativity, and understanding how collaboration actually works behind the scenes, this one’s for you. Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha

Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Heather Kolker, Megan Manowitz, Jordan Shepley, and Anna Ross. Shout out to Chloe Pappas and Leslie on Patreon.

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Kid Cudi | Trusting Collaborators, Taking Vocal Risks, and Taking Free on Tour

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Kid Cudi and Justin Tranter make emotionally expansive, genre-shifting work. But more importantly, they know how to stay open long enough to actually find something new.

In this episode of Unfamous, Justin sits down with Cudi to talk about their collaboration on Free and what it meant for him to move from writing alone into a shared process. They get into trust, pushing past limits, and letting other voices in without losing your own. It’s about creative risk, curiosity, and how to collaborate without losing your identity.

If you love music, creativity, and the real process behind how things get made, this one’s for you. Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha

Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Kasey Sobey and Sydnee Nanas. Shout out to Chloe Pappas and Leslie on Patreon.

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Troye Sivan + Leland | A Look Inside Their Creative Partnership + How “Rush” Started With a DM

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Troye Sivan and Leland make emotional, euphoric, deeply honest pop. But more importantly? They know how to build a creative partnership that blurs the line between friendship and songwriting.

In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with the longtime collaborators to talk about how their relationship fuels their music, from their first chaotic session to crafting songs like “Rush” and “Bloom,” and why the best ideas often come from surprise, trust, and letting things get a little weird.

It’s about creative shorthand. It’s about pushing each other past instinct. It’s about chasing feeling over formula and staying honest even when imposter syndrome creeps in. And it’s a real look at how two artists build something lasting by choosing curiosity, joy, and each other over ego.

If you love pop culture, music, and the messy, magical truth behind how things get made, this one’s for you.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Sherrae Rucker

Special thanks to Mark Beaven and Jimmy Knehans

Shout out to Leslie Tranter and Chloe Pappas on Patreon

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King Princess | Girl Violence, Nicole Kidman and a Demon Named Cherry

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0000

King Princess makes bold, chaotic, deeply self-aware pop. But more importantly? She knows how to build art through collaboration, trust, and a healthy amount of beautifully unhinged creativity.

In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with longtime collaborator and pop provocateur King Princess to talk about songwriting, acting, queer storytelling, and what it actually takes to survive the music industry while staying true to yourself.

From writing together when she was still a teenager to watching her step into acting alongside icons like Nicole Kidman and Christine Baranski in Nine Perfect Strangers, the conversation moves through creative evolution, artistic freedom, and the lessons that come from building a career on your own terms. They unpack everything from navigating labels and contracts to the power of trusting your collaborators, plus the creative chaos behind her new album and the mythological world of “Girl Violence.”

It’s hilarious. It’s brutally honest. And it’s a real look at how artists grow when they stop pretending they have to do everything alone. If you love pop culture, music, and the messy, magical truth behind how things get made, this one’s for you.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Sharrae Rucker

Special thanks to Mark Beavan and Jimmy Knehans

Shout out to Chloe Pappas and Leslie on Patreon.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melanie Martinez + CJ Baran | Building Worlds Through Intuition, Trust, and Experimentation

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Melanie Martinez and CJ Baran make dark, beautiful, deeply specific art. But more importantly? They know how to build a universe together. In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with the longtime collaborators behind Cry Baby, Portals, and Melanie’s upcoming double-album world to talk about storytelling, trust, experimentation, intuition, and what it takes to make something both wildly ambitious and emotionally precise.

It’s imaginative. It’s meticulous. It’s weird in all the right ways. And it’s a real look at how two artists build a fully realized world without sanding off what makes it special.

If you love pop culture, music, and the messy, magical truth behind how things get made, this one’s for you.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha

Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Bobbie Gale, Nina Savio and Kyle Stuart

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Trixie + Fena | If The Wig Stays On, The Zipper Closes + No One Cries, It's No Accident. It's Fena.

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0000

Trixie Mattel and Fena Barbitall know drag is never just the person in front of the camera. It takes trust, instinct, taste, stamina, and someone behind the scenes who knows how to keep the whole illusion alive.

In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with the longtime collaborators to talk about drag as a craft, creative assistance, building looks under pressure, touring, ego, instinct, boundaries, and what it takes to support an artist while helping shape the final vision.

It’s funny. It’s candid. It’s deeply specific. And it’s a real look at the kind of behind-the-scenes collaboration that makes performance feel effortless, even when it absolutely isn’t.

If you love pop culture, drag, and the messy, magical truth behind how things get made, this one’s for you.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistants: Kyle Stuart & Justin Stuart

Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, and Brandon Lim.

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Amy Allen + Gabz Landman | The Songwriter–Manager Partnership That Built a Hitmaking Career

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0000

Amy Allen is one of the biggest songwriters in pop. Gabz Landman is one of the sharpest managers in music. But more importantly? They know how to build a career together.

In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with the longtime collaborators to talk about instinct, trust, advocacy, career-building, and what it really takes to make a songwriter-manager relationship work over the long haul.

It’s warm, honest, and full of insight about the kind of collaboration that doesn’t always get centered, but shapes everything.

If you love music, creative partnerships, and the messy truth behind how careers actually get built, this one’s for you.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Sherrae Rucker

Special thanks to Jimmy Knehans and Mark Beavan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Solo Session with Ink | From Street Performer to writing Beyonce's “16 Carriages” and performing at Stagecoach

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Ink is a hitmaking songwriter with main-character energy. But more importantly? She understands collaboration like it’s a spiritual practice and a contact sport.

In this Unfamous minisode, Justin Tranter sits down with Ink (Beyoncé’s “16 Carriages,” Lil Nas X’s “Star Walkin’,” Kendrick Lamar's "Luther", and a résumé she will absolutely read out loud and proud) to talk about freestyling melodies, letting go of the thing you “married,” learning from genius-level artists, and why the room has to stay sacred for the magic to show up.

It’s funny, unfiltered, unexpectedly deep, and a masterclass in staying loose while still making something great.

If you love music, creativity, and the messy reality of how the best work gets made: welcome to the room.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistants: Justin Stuart + Kyle Stuart

Special thanks to Jimmy Knehans, Mark Beaven, Luke Burland and Bailey Katler

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Caleb Hearon + Caitie Delaney | How to Be Funny, Employed, and Only Mildly Traumatized About It

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Caleb Hearon and Caitie Delaney are hilarious. But more importantly? They know how to collaborate.

In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with two of comedy’s sharpest minds to talk about writing rooms, pitching to sell, ego deaths, executive notes, financial insecurity, and the very specific horror of saying “sure” to Caleb Hearon.

It’s chaotic, smart, honest and it’s a real take on how collaboration actually works.

If you love pop culture, comedy, and the messy truth behind how things get made, this one’s for you.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha

Special thanks to Jimmy Knehans, Mark Beaven and Michelle Kariuki

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing: Unfamous with Justin Tranter

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Most of what you love in pop culture didn't happen the way you think it did.

Unfamous pairs a celebrity with the collaborator who helped build their biggest moments and lets you hear how it actually went down.

It’s funny, honest, occasionally chaotic, and full of real insight about collaboration, ego, ambition, and making something that lasts. You know the moments. You don't know the stories.

Tune in to Unfamous, launching March 4th.

Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.

Instagram: @unfamousthepodcast

Tiktok: @unfamousthepodcast

Join our Patreon for exclusive access to private AMA's with Justin, song breakdowns, "Unfamous Advice" from Justin and more: https://patreon.com/Unfamousthepodcast

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Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistants: Kolbi Samantha + Sherrae Rucker

Special thanks to Jimmy Knehans and Mark Beaven.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices