Justin Robert Young
Encyclopedia
Justin Robert Young is the editor-in-chief of iTricks.com, the foremost magic news site on the web, editor of WeirdThings.com, and is a podcaster for the TWiT.tv network, co-hosting the weekly show NSFW.
journalism program where he also worked at The Daily Orange
, the independent student newspaper of Syracuse, New York
. He has also worked as a newspaper journalist for “The South Florida Sun-Sentinel” of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and “The Morning Call” of Allentown, Pennsylvania. He decided to include his middle name in his professional moniker, as several persons were already utilizing the name “Justin Young” in a professional capacity. In his early career, Young practiced and performed stand-up comedy and improv in addition to attempting a comedy podcast.
to serve as the editor-in-chief of iTricks.com, published by Mayne. Young later went on to serve as editor of WeirdThings.com, also published by Mayne. Young first met podcasting collaborator and magician Brian Brushwood
in Florida while interviewing him for iTricks.com and soon after became a regular guest on Brushwood’s BBLiveShow podcast following a swarm of call-in appearances. Young and Brushwood were picked up by Leo Laporte
’s TWiT.tv network to co-host a show that went on to be named NSFW and premiered on November 24, 2009. Only one month prior in October 2009, Young, with co-hosts Andrew Mayne and Brian Brushwood, began the WeirdThings.com podcast, which has appeared as one of iTunes top science podcasts. In 2009 he also served as an Associate Producer on the first season of G4 Underground
. Through the NSFW podcast, Young has interviewed AMC network’s The Walking Dead
star Michael Rooker
who has affectionately proclaimed to be Young’s “stepfather”. Young has also co-hosted a podcast film festival with film director and producer Christopher Coppola
, and has written advertisements for Greg Grunberg
’s website Talk About It, which promotes epilepsy awareness.
's South by Southwest
Interactive (SXSWi) festival party, Young, along with NSFW co-host Brian Brushwood
, initiated one of the largest Twitter
hoaxes ever when they prompted a packed audience to tweet and re-tweet with the hashtag #omgconan that Conan O’Brien, recently departed from NBC
, was going to join Revision3, an internet television network co-founded by Digg
founder Kevin Rose
. Word even spread that Conan walked out live on stage to make the announcement The stunt was originally orchestrated to set the record for the “Most Tweeted Hoax”, and now Justin Robert Young currently holds the record at 525 tweets with the Universal Record Database
. During Magic Month at Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida (January 30 - February 25, 2011) Young was featured in “Stars of Magic” alongside performer Andrew Mayne
. This marked Young’s first performance in magic.
, Young became a regular guest on the show after several call-ins to the show following a chance meet-up with host Brian Brushwood in Florida for an interview for iTricks.com.
iTricks Magic Week in Review: The iTricks Magic Week in Review Podcast is an extension of the iTrick.com magic news website, for which Young is editor-in-chief, and reviews the latest magic news of the week in addition to interviewing guests from the magic industry.
NSFW: The NSFW podcast is part of the TWiT.tv network, hosted by Justin Robert Young and Brian Brushwood
. The show premiered on November 24, 2009. It had its origins in the style and format of the BBLiveShow, hosted by Brushwood.
WeirdThings.com Podcast: The WeirdThings.com podcast is co-hosted by Andrew Mayne
, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood
. In it they discuss science, the impossible, and the fantastic.
Early career
Justin Robert Young is a graduate of the Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
journalism program where he also worked at The Daily Orange
The Daily Orange
The Daily Orange is an independent student newspaper published in Syracuse, New York. It is free, and published daily during the Syracuse University academic year.It was one of the first college papers to become fully independent from its parent college...
, the independent student newspaper of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. He has also worked as a newspaper journalist for “The South Florida Sun-Sentinel” of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and “The Morning Call” of Allentown, Pennsylvania. He decided to include his middle name in his professional moniker, as several persons were already utilizing the name “Justin Young” in a professional capacity. In his early career, Young practiced and performed stand-up comedy and improv in addition to attempting a comedy podcast.
Journalism and Podcasting
Following his brief tenure in newspaper journalism, Young was recruited by longtime friend and magic inventor Andrew MayneAndrew Mayne
Andrew Mayne is a magician, illusion designer and filmmaker. He has written and produced over fifty books, DVDs and manuscripts on magic he's considered one of the most prolific magic creators of the last decade. He's the publisher of iTricks.com and host of the Weird Things podcast, one of the...
to serve as the editor-in-chief of iTricks.com, published by Mayne. Young later went on to serve as editor of WeirdThings.com, also published by Mayne. Young first met podcasting collaborator and magician Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood is an American magician who performs nationwide. He is especially well known for his display of bizarre magic. He is known to perform fire-eating, escapes, breaking a cinder block over his head, sticking nails in his eyes and nose, sticking needles through his palm, reading minds,...
in Florida while interviewing him for iTricks.com and soon after became a regular guest on Brushwood’s BBLiveShow podcast following a swarm of call-in appearances. Young and Brushwood were picked up by Leo Laporte
Leo Laporte
Léo Gordon Laporte is an Emmy Award winning, American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur. A former resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he now lives in Petaluma, California with his wife Jennifer and two children, Abby and Henry....
’s TWiT.tv network to co-host a show that went on to be named NSFW and premiered on November 24, 2009. Only one month prior in October 2009, Young, with co-hosts Andrew Mayne and Brian Brushwood, began the WeirdThings.com podcast, which has appeared as one of iTunes top science podcasts. In 2009 he also served as an Associate Producer on the first season of G4 Underground
G4 Underground
G4 Underground is a cable television newsmagazine series airing on G4 hosted by Morgan Webb. "G4 Underground" is described as having a similar format of ABC's 20/20, except it takes a look at many topics that most major news programs don't cover such as Porn 2.0, Urban Spelunking and Salvia...
. Through the NSFW podcast, Young has interviewed AMC network’s The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead (TV series)
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror television series developed for television by Frank Darabont and based on the ongoing comic book series, The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard...
star Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
who has affectionately proclaimed to be Young’s “stepfather”. Young has also co-hosted a podcast film festival with film director and producer Christopher Coppola
Christopher Coppola
-Personal life:Coppola was born in Los Angeles County, California. His father, the late August Coppola, was a professor of literature, while his mother, Joy Vogelsang, is a dancer and choreographer; the two divorced in 1976. His mother suffered from chronic depression...
, and has written advertisements for Greg Grunberg
Greg Grunberg
Gregory Phillip "Greg" Grunberg is an American television actor. He is best known from starring as Matt Parkman on the NBC television series Heroes. Other notable roles included the characters Sean Blumberg on Felicity and Eric Weiss on Alias , both created and produced by childhood friend J. J...
’s website Talk About It, which promotes epilepsy awareness.
Live Events and Hoaxes
On March 10, 2010 at DiggDigg
Digg is a social news website. Prior to Digg v4, its cornerstone function consisted of letting people vote stories up or down, called digging and burying, respectively. Digg's popularity prompted the creation of copycat social networking sites with story submission and voting systems...
's South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
Interactive (SXSWi) festival party, Young, along with NSFW co-host Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood is an American magician who performs nationwide. He is especially well known for his display of bizarre magic. He is known to perform fire-eating, escapes, breaking a cinder block over his head, sticking nails in his eyes and nose, sticking needles through his palm, reading minds,...
, initiated one of the largest Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
hoaxes ever when they prompted a packed audience to tweet and re-tweet with the hashtag #omgconan that Conan O’Brien, recently departed from NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, was going to join Revision3, an internet television network co-founded by Digg
Digg
Digg is a social news website. Prior to Digg v4, its cornerstone function consisted of letting people vote stories up or down, called digging and burying, respectively. Digg's popularity prompted the creation of copycat social networking sites with story submission and voting systems...
founder Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose is an American Internet entrepreneur who co-founded Revision3, Digg, Pownce, and Milk...
. Word even spread that Conan walked out live on stage to make the announcement The stunt was originally orchestrated to set the record for the “Most Tweeted Hoax”, and now Justin Robert Young currently holds the record at 525 tweets with the Universal Record Database
Universal Record Database
RecordSetter, formerly known as the Universal Record Database , is a social media website containing a collection of world records created by the public and evaluated by staff and visitors to the site...
. During Magic Month at Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida (January 30 - February 25, 2011) Young was featured in “Stars of Magic” alongside performer Andrew Mayne
Andrew Mayne
Andrew Mayne is a magician, illusion designer and filmmaker. He has written and produced over fifty books, DVDs and manuscripts on magic he's considered one of the most prolific magic creators of the last decade. He's the publisher of iTricks.com and host of the Weird Things podcast, one of the...
. This marked Young’s first performance in magic.
Advertising
For the 2011 World Series of Poker, Young served as the spokesperson for Bicycle Cards, interviewing players in the tournament and providing commentary. His interactions during the tournament were documented in a series of YouTube videos on the channel Bicyclecards.Internet Podcasting and Television
BBLiveShow: Initially started by magician and podcaster Brian BrushwoodBrian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood is an American magician who performs nationwide. He is especially well known for his display of bizarre magic. He is known to perform fire-eating, escapes, breaking a cinder block over his head, sticking nails in his eyes and nose, sticking needles through his palm, reading minds,...
, Young became a regular guest on the show after several call-ins to the show following a chance meet-up with host Brian Brushwood in Florida for an interview for iTricks.com.
iTricks Magic Week in Review: The iTricks Magic Week in Review Podcast is an extension of the iTrick.com magic news website, for which Young is editor-in-chief, and reviews the latest magic news of the week in addition to interviewing guests from the magic industry.
NSFW: The NSFW podcast is part of the TWiT.tv network, hosted by Justin Robert Young and Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood is an American magician who performs nationwide. He is especially well known for his display of bizarre magic. He is known to perform fire-eating, escapes, breaking a cinder block over his head, sticking nails in his eyes and nose, sticking needles through his palm, reading minds,...
. The show premiered on November 24, 2009. It had its origins in the style and format of the BBLiveShow, hosted by Brushwood.
WeirdThings.com Podcast: The WeirdThings.com podcast is co-hosted by Andrew Mayne
Andrew Mayne
Andrew Mayne is a magician, illusion designer and filmmaker. He has written and produced over fifty books, DVDs and manuscripts on magic he's considered one of the most prolific magic creators of the last decade. He's the publisher of iTricks.com and host of the Weird Things podcast, one of the...
, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood is an American magician who performs nationwide. He is especially well known for his display of bizarre magic. He is known to perform fire-eating, escapes, breaking a cinder block over his head, sticking nails in his eyes and nose, sticking needles through his palm, reading minds,...
. In it they discuss science, the impossible, and the fantastic.