Jay Cowit

Director

Jay Cowit is Director of The Takeaway, the public radio show and podcast hosted by Melissa Harris-Perry

 

Jay has been with The Takeaway since its on-air inception in 2008, and has been the Show Director, Technical Director, and sound designer since 2009. Prior to WNYC, he worked at Air America Radio, also as a director, and WNYU, in various on-air and management roles. In 2016, he additionally took on the role of technical director for Freakonomics Radio, working both that show and The Takeaway for more than a year, before returning to The Takeaway in full capacity in 2017.

He is responsible for the show's aural style, including, but not limited to, selecting the music used on the show, mixing interviews, producing the daily podcast version of the show, and creating sonic design used to convey news concepts. Additionally, has directed live broadcast and worked with talent.

He is still thrilled to be working with an absolutely amazing staff, who work harder (and faster and better) than anyone he's ever seen.

Jay currently lives in Prospect Lefferts-Gardens with his amazing and wonderful wife Cate Contino Cowit, along with three cats. He produces music under the name J. Cowit, including music for The Takeaway and other podcasts.

Please reach out with any questions on music or otherwise at jcowit@wnyc.org.

Jay Cowit appears in the following:

Showing Some Appreciation to David Gebel

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

David Gebel is an executive assistant for WNYC Studios who's been working with the business side of The Takeaway for years.

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Happy World Earth Day

Saturday, April 22, 2023

 The Takeaway is observing a very intersectional Earth Day Weekend.

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A Look at Coachella 2023: Weekend One

Thursday, April 20, 2023

As we head into weekend two of Coachella, we check in with Pitchfork staff writer Allison Hussey about the highs, lows, and the lesser-known artists of the three-day music festival. 

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Larissa Fasthorse On Finding the Humor in Performative Wokeness

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Larissa Fasthorse, playwright behind The Thanksgiving Play and member of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, joins The Takeaway to talk about her Broadway debut. 

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"Surviving R. Kelly" Showrunner Discusses Verdict

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

September 27, 2021, A New York jury found R&B singer R. Kelly guilty on all 9 counts against him which included racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

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Russia Invades Ukraine. What's Next?

Thursday, February 24, 2022

On Thursday morning, Russia attacked Ukraine resulting in dozens of deaths. 

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Deep Dive: Passing

Thursday, November 04, 2021

For this week’s Deep Dive, Melissa and co-host Dorian Warren use the new film "Passing" as a jumping off point to explore the thorny questions raised by the concept of passing.

Slice Of Life

Tuesday, September 07, 2021

During the past month, we have been asking you to share slices of your life with us. Here's what you shared.

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Hurricane Ida Causes NYC to Declare a State of Emergency

Thursday, September 02, 2021

Late Wednesday night, New York City saw record levels of rainfall which led to flooding in the streets and subways, a travel ban, and multiple deaths.

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Broadway's Latest Season Centers Black Theater Artists

Thursday, August 26, 2021

All seven of the news plays premiering this season on Broadway were written by Black playwrights, a testament to the activism displayed by Black theater artists during the pandemic.

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African American Participation in Baseball is Down

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Major League Baseball and the Players Union have donated $10 million to the Players Alliance to boost Black numbers in baseball. 

Wisconsin's Absentee Voting Challenges Spell Trouble for November

Monday, July 27, 2020

The recent primary elections in Wisconsin showed there are still many issues with absentee voting that need to be addressed before November.

New Documentary 'Through the Night' Highlights the Essential Nature of Child Care

Monday, July 13, 2020

In 2016, director Loira Limbal started making a film about Dee's Tots, a 24-hour child care center, to highlight the essential caregiving that frequently goes undervalued in the U.S.

The Power of Fiction By and About Black People

Tuesday, July 07, 2020

Best-selling author Jasmine Guillory joined The Takeaway to discuss the sudden interest in antiracism texts, the power of fiction, celebrating about Black lives, and more.

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Listeners Tell Us: Creating Joy in This Moment

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

What small things are you doing to create joy in this moment?

What Are You Angry About Right Now?

Monday, June 08, 2020

We asked listeners what they’re angry about right now. Here’s what they said.

Birdwatching While Black

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Earlier this week, a viral video showed Christian Cooper, a black man, being threatened by a white woman, Amy Cooper, while he was birdwatching in Central Park.

Remembering Richard Hake: Longtime WNYC Host, Colleague and Friend

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

On Friday, the Takeaway and WNYC family lost a friend and beloved co-worker, Richard Hake. He died in his home at age 51.

The Challenges of Parenting During a Pandemic

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Parents are feeling a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety from having to manage working from home while also homeschooling and entertaining their children.

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San Francisco Mayor London Breed Discusses the City's Response to COVID-19

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

We spoke with the mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, about the tough choices ahead.