Advertise on podcast: Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

How does a blue-collar worker from Cleveland land acting roles as Uncle Clive in Netflix's Blonde, Henry The Dishwasher in ABC's Stumptown, and Fabrizio in Nickelodeon's Game Shakers, into becoming one of the most sought-after leading men in the exploding world of 9:16 vertical micro-dramas? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with award-winning actor, writer, and filmmaker Ryan Ray Vincent. Ryan shares candid, unfiltered lessons from his decade-long career in Los Angeles, breaking down how unrelenting discipline, strategic audition preparation, and a refusal to wait for gatekeeper permission have defined his journey across traditional TV, independent film, and modern short-form media. In this episode, we discuss: The Blue-Collar Acting Mindset: How laying bricks and doing construction in Cleveland instilled a lifelong work ethic of earning respect through hard work and daily preparation.Outsmarting the Audition Room: The story behind booking Blonde, buying the source novel overnight, and surprising the director with exact book dialogue during an unscripted improv test.Maximizing Minor Roles: How improvising on Nickelodeon's Game Shakers expanded a 3-line script into 25 lines by Friday.Observing Stumptown's Discipline: What watching lead Cobie Smulders' health and work habits taught Ryan about sustaining long-term performance quality on Stumptown.The Micro-Drama Boom: Letting go of industry elitism to jump into vertical 9:16 short-form media, clocking 10,000 hours on set, and performing in historic Hollywood locations.Acting for the 9:16 Phone Frame: Mastering subtle eye work and micro-expressions in tight close-ups, drawing on David Mamet’s True and False and Orson Welles' philosophy of authentic belief.Human Instincts vs. AI Data: Analyzing Netflix's Squid Game phenomenon, Quibi's premature timing versus Asia's micro-drama surge, and why creators shouldn't wait for permission to make art.A Needle in a Stack of Needles: Avoiding artistic narcissism, standing out through constant study, and keeping personal identity separate from occupational status.Unshakable Daily Routine: How intermittent fasting, cold plunges, and daily script reading build physical and mental durability for the industry's extreme highs and lows (This is not a medical advice podcast). Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Welcome02:15 – Landing Early TV Roles04:30 – Expanding Game Shakers07:10 – Lessons from Stumptown09:45 – The Genius Blonde Audition Strategy14:00 – Pivoting into Micro-Dramas18:30 – Mastering the 9:16 Vertical Screen23:00 – Why Micro-Dramas Work27:15 – Being "A Needle in a Stack of Needles"31:40 – Separating Identity from Occupation35:00 – Blue-Collar Roots & Personal Discipline: Cleveland construction work ethic, 21-day intermittent fasting, cold plunges, and self-producing Load Star.39:10 – Advice for Emerging Creators You can watch Rise of The Caged King, Obsessed With His Silent Bride, and A Sweet Contract With The Mafia Boss on ReelShort. His self-produced short film, Lodestar, can be found on Vimeo. You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryanvayvincent. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating, and share the podcast! You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast platforms and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

How do you build a sustainable career as an independent filmmaker outside the major studio system, write compelling supernatural thrillers on a micro-budget, and navigate distribution to major streaming platforms without waiting for Hollywood's permission? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with independent director, cinematographer, and producer Joseph Mbah. Joseph shares his journey in independent cinema, the founding of his production banner Paradox Universe, and the release of his new supernatural psychological horror-thriller, Whispers Bind. In this episode, we discuss: Field Experience vs. Classroom Theory: Why Joseph's community college professor urged him to learn on active sets, plus a humorous look at his first PA gig.Building Paradox Universe: Joseph's vision to grow an independent studio model reminiscent of A24, specializing in a sweet spot of action, sci-fi, and horror.Authenticity, Faith, and Nigerian Roots: How Joseph infuses his Nigerian heritage and personal faith into his storytelling without being pigeonholed into the traditional "faith-based" genre.The Psychology of Whispers Bind: Exploring the film's central demon that targets human grief through friendly, subtle "whispers" rather than brute force.Micro-Budget Resource Inventory: How to write scripts around assets you already own, optimize production budgets, hire key locations for short windows, and maintain humane 6–8 hour shoot days.Set Safety and Catering: Why feeding your cast and crew well and respecting their rest is an indispensable golden rule of independent filmmaking.Horror as a Moral Playground: Why the horror genre provides a unique "breathing ground" to examine faith, trauma, and complex human belief systems.The Cold Outreach Distribution Blueprint: Practical advice on cutting high-impact trailers, contacting distributors via IMDb Pro, working with sales agents, and landing direct platform deals. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Welcome02:15 – Hands-On Film Education: Transitioning from a high school project to Arizona film studies, and why volunteering on set beats classroom theory.04:10 – Learning Set Jargon05:30 – Paradox Universe06:45 – Nigerian Heritage & Faith in Film08:00 – The Premise of Whispers BindCasting & Micro-Budget Collaboration14:30 – Inventory-Based Writing & Set Ethics17:45 – Horror as a Moral & Spiritual PlaygroundDistribution Blueprint & Securing AgentsFuture Action-Horror Projects & Wrap-Up: Staying a student of cinema, upcoming projects, and where to follow Joseph Whispers Bind is available to stream on Roku, Fawsome, and Samsung TV Plus. You can explore Joseph's production banner at paradoxuniverse.net and connect with him on Instagram @joseph_mbah. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more conversations about the craft of media. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

How can independent filmmakers break through an oversaturated media market to bring micro-budget horror stories to life? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Ash Hamilton, founder of HorrorFix, an online hub dedicated to giving the "indie-est of indie" horror creators visibility, resources, and a platform to reach wider audiences. Ash shares his journey from watching midnight Saturday horror movies with his mother as a child to launching his own film projects and media ecosystem. Together, we explore the pragmatic realities of low-budget filmmaking, the art of creating memorable characters over subgenre gimmicks, and how to pitch investors in the modern digital age. In this episode, we discuss: The Saturday Night Ceremony: How watching late-night horror films with his mother sparked a lifelong passion for the genre, alongside his love for 1980s "rockstar" horror, Universal Monsters, Hammer Horror, and Italian Giallo cinema.Building HorrorFix: Why Ash created a dedicated digital platform to elevate independent horror projects that get overlooked by mainstream media outlets."Write a $700 Movie": Crucial advice for aspiring filmmakers on assessing assets versus limitations.Character First, Device Second: Why relying solely on horror tropes (slasher, werewolf, creature feature) falls flat without characters that audiences love or love to hate.Pitching Investors Realistically: What investors and executive producers actually look for.Inside the Horror Fix Slate: A look at Ash's alien abduction mockumentary Holes in the Sky: The Sean Miller Story, the apocalyptic anthology Final Days: Tales from the End Times, his upcoming documentary Examining Evil, and his 1984 nuclear-scare audio drama Dislocated. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Horror Fix & Giving Indie Creators a Platform02:15 – Childhood Saturday Nights: The Origin of Ash's Love for Horror04:10 – The "Rockstar" Era: '80s Horror, Heavy Metal, & Practical FX06:00 – Ash's Fine Art Roots: From '90s Indie Comics to Hot Rod Airbrushing09:00 – Oversaturation & Overcoming Challenges in Modern Media11:00 – Inside the Horror Fix Slate: Holes in the Sky, Final Days, & Mangled15:00 – The "Write a $700 Movie" Rule: Balancing Assets vs. Limitations17:00 – Why Horror Remains the Ultimate Launch Vehicle for Indie Directors21:00 – Avoiding Cliches: Why Character Investment Beats Subgenre Devices22:30 – How to Pitch Horror Investors: ROI, Marketing Reach, & Attached Talent24:30 – Audio Dramas & Publishing: Dislocated and Upcoming Horror Books26:00 – Where to Connect with Horror Fix & Closing Remarks To explore indie horror reviews, podcasts, and upcoming releases, visit horror-fix.com. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more stories from creators across media. You can follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.

In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with podcast producer and host Richard Wilmore (founder of Make Your Day Richer LLC) for an unfiltered look into the behind-the-scenes craft of podcast production and guest booking. Inspired as an 11-year-old by the celebratory, judgment-free warmth of The Rosie O'Donnell Show in 1997, Richard discusses his mission to bring classic daytime talk show energy into modern digital media. The conversation explores what makes a guest stand out beyond their job title, how solo creators can navigate burnout by redefining creative "seasons", and why human stumbles and unscripted moments remain far more compelling than hyper-polished AI content. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Podcasting Craft: Vedant introduces Richard Wilmore to explore guest booking and studio production.02:15 – The 1997 Rosie O'Donnell Spark: How 1990s daytime television inspired Richard's approach to inclusive media.05:00 – Studio Logistics & Booking Strategy08:00 – What Makes a Standout Guest10:00 – Consistency & Creator Fatigue13:00 – Studio Aesthetics vs. Authenticity16:00 – Human Imperfection vs. AI20:00 – Preventing Burnout as a Podcaster26:00 – Monetization & Industry Trends31:00 – Wrap-Up: Final reflections and where to find Richard's workIf you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more vital stories. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava.

Marking the 25th anniversary of September 11th, host Vedant Akhauri breaks from the standard interview format of Let's Talk Media for a solemn reflection on how Gen Z carries the weight of 9/11. For those who were infants in cribs or born into the post-9/11 era, the tragedy doesn't exist as a personal "where were you" memory, but as a world understood secondhand through stories, history textbooks, and media artifacts. In this episode, we discuss: Media as a History Teacher: How a generation pieced together a national tragedy through pop culture - from Bollywood cinema like My Name is Khan, Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty, and Jon Stewart’s raw Daily Show monologue.The Generational Watershed: Tracing the razor-thin boundary between high school cohorts (such as the Class of 2018 and 2019) that marked the final transition between high-school students born before 9/11 and those born entirely into its aftermath.Living in the Aftermath: A candid reflection on growing up Indian-American in a post-9/11 America without any personal memory of the world before it.Preserving Living Memory: A respectful call for older generations to step up as "historians" for younger listeners, ensuring the human weight, empathy, and memory of the nearly 3,000 lives lost are preserved for generations to come. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more vital stories. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday! This episode is dedicated to the innocent lives lost in the September 11th attacks, the troops lost in the War on Terror, and to those who carry their memories with grief and remembrance. Released on September 11th, 2026 at 8:46 A.M Eastern Time.

How does one family survive the brutal Nazi forced labor camps of World War II, only to find themselves trapped under the paranoid surveillance and repression of Stalin’s Soviet regime? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with retired radiologist and co-author Dr. Robert Wolf. Dr. Wolf joins the show to discuss his award-winning biography of his father, Not a Real Enemy: The True Story of a Hungarian Jewish Man’s Fight for Freedom (co-authored with Janice Harper). The book, currently stocked at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC, recounts the incredible life of Robert's father, Ervin Wolf: A Hungarian Jewish physician who, with his wife, had to survive two back-to-back nightmares: the physical horror of the Nazi occupation, followed immediately by the soul-crushing political surveillance of Stalinist communism. In this episode, we discuss: The Realities of the Forced Labor Service: Dr. Wolf sheds light on the brutal, mobile Hungarian labor camps, grueling paramilitary services with a mere 5% survival rate where Jewish men were used as human landmine detectors.A Four-Time Escape Artist: Ervin's survival, including the bizarre, miraculous moment a "missed" escape attempt actually saved his life.Friendship in the Darkest Times: How Ervin's best friend, Frank, used his skills as an architect to map their grueling steps and keep them both alive.Frontliners in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution: A behind-the-scenes look at the uprising against the Soviets, where Ervin worked 24/7 as a trauma surgeon and Robert's mother ran the Budapest blood bank as a medical student.The War on Historical Denial: A passionate call to action on why preserving firsthand family memoirs is our strongest weapon against modern, rising global antisemitism and the digital spread of misinformation. Not a Real Enemy has won four major book awards and is available now on Amazon in Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, and as an Audiobook. You can also find it stocked at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. To learn more about the upcoming documentary and Dr. Wolf's work, visit notarealenemy.com. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more vital stories. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

How does a former military counterintelligence interrogator and veteran trial lawyer use his high-stakes real-world experience to write authentic, deeply gripping legal suspense, and what does Hollywood get completely wrong about the courtroom? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with veteran trial attorney, elected court official, and former counterintelligence specialist Jon Gagenheimer. Jon discusses the intersection of law, history, and creative writing, showing how his decades in the judicial system fuel his career as a literary novelist. We explore how real-world military interrogation training translates directly to cross-examining witnesses on the stand, why popular television legal dramas violate basic rules of evidence, and how to build authentic, realistic suspense across a narrative without overwhelming your readers with dry legal jargon. (Note: As with all our guest interviews, Jon’s discussion of history, world relations, and modern politics are entirely his own personal opinions, shared here in the spirit of open, thoughtful dialogue) In this episode, we discuss: The Interrogator in the Courtroom: How Jon’s military counterintelligence background in the U.S. Army trained him to read physical mannerisms, decode body language, and spot lies on the witness stand.Calling Out Unrealism in TV: Why standard TV legal dramas are fundamentally unrealistic, and how Jon uses actual direct examinations, objections, and realistic judicial temperaments to construct authentic trial scenes.Ripped from New Orleans History: How the real-life, controversial 1960s Clay Shaw trial in New Orleans, and the booming baritone of DA Jim Garrison inspired the central murder mystery in Jon's whodunit, The Griffin Murders.Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis Team Up: Inside Jon’s novel The Canon Code, which takes a highly analytical, empirical approach to solving Charles Dickens' unfinished final book, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.Churchill vs. H*tler: The wild, high-concept premise behind Churchill vs H*tler, featuring a high-stakes, secret golf match in neutral Sweden patterned after the iconic cheating match in James Bond's Goldfinger.Ditching the Outline: Why Jon rejects rigid paper outlines when writing fiction, choosing instead to write freely and navigate narrative surprises the same way a trial lawyer must pivot on their feet when caught off guard. Jon's novels are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and through regional book distributors. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more vital stories. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

How does a retired aerospace engineer and Air Force veteran use his technical expertise and family military heritage to write gripping, historically authentic espionage fiction? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Jeff Kildow. Jeff served in the U.S. Air Force maintaining the supersonic "Hound Dog" cruise missile during the Cold War and grew up on his father's stories of flying transport missions in Alaska during World War II. Today, he translates those rich historical textures into his thrilling Joel Knight Menace Series, alternative history adventures set during World War II, The Korean War, and The Suez Canal Crisis. Jeff shares his secrets for combining hard science with creative imagination, tracking down vintage World War II telephone books to find period-accurate business names, and ensuring his thrillers balance high-intensity action with realistic, mundane everyday moments. In this episode, we discuss: The "Hound Dog" Cruise Missile: Jeff's Cold War service maintaining a 43-foot-long supersonic nuclear missile, and the highly unique reason it got its name, because it was one of the first missiles that could "make a turn" to throw off Soviet radar defenses.The 11th Air Force in Alaska: How Jeff's father flew Douglas C-47 transport missions down the Aleutian island chain to Atu: The only U.S. territory invaded during WWII, battling some of the worst flying weather on Earth."Get Your Plane Off the Road!": The legendary, hilarious story told to Jeff by famous aerobatic pilot Bob Hoover, who had to execute a dangerous emergency landing with his yellow P-51 Mustang on a narrow Canadian highway, only to have a local woman in a Buick honk at him to get out of her rway.The Packard Protocol: Why a junior officer in his novels has to ask his colonel's permission before buying a prestigious Packard car, and how unwritten military etiquette can make or break a historical fiction story.No Trevors in 1944: Jeff's meticulous naming research using vintage baby name directories to ensure his characters' names perfectly match their historical decades.Designing the Perfect Antagonist: How Jeff solved the challenge of a cross-Atlantic narrative distance by creating a brilliant, double-PhD physically disabled antagonist of short stature who is too scientifically invaluable to be sent to the camps.The Coma Bureaucracy: The fascinating "what-if" premise of his first book, which explores how a terrified, personality-cult-driven high command is frozen in place when their leader suddenly slips into a coma.Jeff Kildow's novels, including the Joel Knight Menace Series, are available on Amazon and detailed on his website at jeffkildow.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more conversations about the craft of storytelling. You can follow the podcast on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.

In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Dr. Caroline Crocker, a scientist turned author who has dedicated her retirement to preserving the raw, personal histories of her parents and grandparents during World War II. Dr. Crocker started with Early Dog Stories, but then pivoted into WWII books, focusing on civilian survival, systematic abuse, and wartime trauma that echo across generations. Brave Face: Chronicling her mother's survival through the occupied Netherlands and the starvation of the Hunger Winter.Unforgivable: Detailing her father Fritz's dual childhood traumas of systemic abuse and surviving wartime occupation.The Truth Was Different: Exploring her translation and deciphering of her grandmother's five out-of-print Dutch novels to uncover hidden family trauma, releasing November 2026.Ordinary Courage: Highlighting her upcoming 2028 biography about her maternal grandparents' resilient kindness during the occupation. In this episode, we discuss: The Craft of Family Preservation: How Dr. Crocker transitioned from a distinguished scientific career as an immunologist and medical researcher to writing creative biographies of her parents, balancing dark historical truths with lighthearted family memories.The Spat-In Dessert and Typewriter Authority: A humorous vignette from Brave Face about sibling rivalry and her mother's childhood in the occupied Netherlands, highlighting the power of the writer to preserve the unvarnished truth.The Starvation of the Hunger Winter: The devastating physical reality of living through the freezing winter of 1944–1945 in the Hague, where families were forced to eat toxic tulip bulbs and crawl across kitchen floors to find single grains of rice.The Miracle of Vera: The inspiring story of Dr. Crocker's premature uncle, who survived the starvation because his mother's best friend, Vera, who had lost her own sons to wartime bombings, walked through the ruins daily to nurse him.Double Traumas in Unforgivable: The childhood of Dr. Crocker's father, Fritz, who dealt with the dual traumas of systematic abuse and abandonment at a children's home alongside the outbreak of the war.Deciphering the Fiction: Dr. Crocker's meticulous process of translating her grandmother's five out-of-print Dutch novels and recognizing recurring, graphic scenes to piece together hidden, traumatic autobiographical realities.The Core Duty of Forgiveness: A profound philosophical discussion on how Dr. Crocker's father and her uncle, a survivor of Auschwitz who lost his first wife and four children there—chose a path of radical forgiveness to heal, famously teaching, "Forgive, forgive, and then forgive." If you would like to read chapters from Dr. Crocker's books or learn more about her research, visit her website at ramblingruminations.com. Brave Face and Unforgivable are available now, and her upcoming book, The Truth Was Different, releases in November 2026. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating. Follow the podcast on Instagram @letstalkmediava for exclusive behind-the-scenes content. New episodes drop on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This episode is dedicated to Keetje van Zanten and her family (Mother Esther, Father Marcus, and Brothers Benjamin and Aron). Keetje became Fritz's friend at the secret orphange in Arnhehemsebovenweg. She and her entire family were murdered in the Holocaust. Keetje was 13 years old (May 16, 1930 - February 1944).

How does decades of writing legendary British comedy prepare you to build a fantasy universe? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with English-born, LA-based author, director, and veteran comedy writer Richard Sparks. Richard joins the show to share his fascinating late-in-life pivot into writing LitRPG with his immersive, comedy-infused adventure, The New Rock Fantasy Series. He takes us on a journey through his extraordinary career writing for British TV comedy royalty - from co-writing the legendary "Schoolmaster" sketch that launched a young, completely unknown Rowan Atkinson into stardom, to working on Not the Nine O'Clock News, and sharing a room with Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy creator Douglas Adams and the Monty Python crew. In this episode, we discuss: 🎮 The World of "New Rock": The unique, comedic premise of The New Rock Fantasy Series where world-champion online gamers find themselves transported to a very real medieval world with nothing but crappy, "noob-level" gear.🏫 The Rowan Atkinson Breakthrough: The fascinating origin story of the iconic "Schoolmaster" sketch, how Richard wrote it in an empty theater, and how its debut at The Secret Policeman's Ball launched Rowan Atkinson's global career.📺 Writing Beside Giants: Behind-the-scenes stories from the golden age of British TV writing, working alongside Richard Curtis, recommending his friend Mel Smith to Not the Nine O'Clock News, and sharing a small London agency with Douglas Adams and the Pythons.🎸 Directing Jack Black: Richard's experience directing the legendary Jack Black in an LA production of Stravinsky’s The Soldier's Tale.✍️ The Golden Rules of Story Structure: Why writing "lightweight," fast-paced entertainment is actually one of the hardest disciplines to master, and how to construct a narrative from the outside to stay one step ahead of the reader.🧙‍♂️ Dax and the Joy of "Second Chances": How Richard infused his own life as a retired gamer into the book's protagonist, Dax, and the sheer thrill of finding a new creative passion. Book 4 in the series, New Rock, New Roads, concludes the story and is set for release in November 2026. You can buy The New Rock Fantasy Series on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local bookstore. Download free print and audio book samples (narrated by Richard himself!) at richardsparks.com (remember, no "e" in Sparks!). If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more vital stories. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

DISCLAIMER: This episode discusses mature and deeply sensitive topics. Listener discretion is advised. How does a survivor of the unimaginable reclaim her voice and turn her past into a mission for systemic change? In this deeply moving episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Misty Nesbbit, a mother of six, grandmother of five, and the author of the powerful new memoir, The Girl Who Kept Breathing (published by Palmetto Publishing). Misty joins the show to share her remarkable journey growing up in Texas, navigating severe childhood hardships, being married off at just 14 years old, and ultimately relocating to Tennessee to break generational patterns and build a life centered on family, hope, and healing. While this conversation touches on heavy themes of childhood adversity and the legal realities of child marriage, Misty’s message is one of ultimate resilience. It is an inspiring testament to the power of choosing to keep going, choosing to keep breathing, and finding the strength to own your own healing. In this episode, we discuss: The Reality of Child Marriage in America: Misty sheds light on the shocking legal loopholes that still exist in various states, allowing parents to legally sign off on marrying off children as young as 13 or 14, and her mission to educate the public to help protect vulnerable youth.An Unexpected Sanctuary: Why being placed in a state-run home for unruly youth paradoxically provided Misty with her first experience of a safe, structured, and loving childhood environment.The Personal Choice to Heal: Misty opens up about her emotional recovery, explaining why healing is an empowering personal responsibility and how she learned to live with her past without letting it weigh down her future.Breaking Generational Cycles: How Misty worked daily to raise her six children differently than she was raised, and why relocating to a new state was a vital step in recreating herself. If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation and needs help, please reach out to your local resource centers. Where to Buy the Book: The Girl Who Kept Breathing (released December 16, 2025) is available now in all formats, including Amazon and Kindle. It's also available on major retailer websites like Walmart and Target. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more vital stories. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with veteran Burning Man attendee, military veteran, and debut novelist Sarah Marshall. They explore Sarah’s profound personal journey of self-acceptance, the transformative power of the Black Rock Desert, and the 20-year labor of love behind her new novel, Playa Dust in My Soul. In this episode, we discuss: Belonging & Breaking Out of the Shell: Sarah shares her journey of transitioning in the mid-1990s and how the unique principles of Burning Man, specifically the Gift Economy and Radical Participation, finally helped her dismantle her protective walls and find true human connection as a transgender woman.The 360-Degree Playa Experience: A look inside her novel, which follows seven distinct characters to showcase every angle of the festival, from the grit of the DPW crew to the magic of the art installations. Sarah discusses what is real versus fiction, including the emotional inspiration behind her protagonist Ruben, who is fresh out of prison.The Evolution of Burning Man: We discuss how the festival has changed over the decades, analyzing the tension between radical inclusion and the rising $700 ticket prices and exclusive "turnkey camps".A 20-Year Creative Hustle: Sarah opens up about the grit required to write her first novel, how she pushed through creative despair, and the beautiful collaborative process of working with her daughter, who designed the book’s cover art and acted as her ultimate story-integrity editor. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava

How do you rebuild your entire sense of self when the structures you grew up with completely fall away? As a creative, how do you stop white-knuckling your way through life to meet other people’s expectations, and instead learn to construct your identity from the inside out? In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Christian Hurst, the Executive Creative Director at AARP, brand strategist behind major initiatives for companies like Marriott International, and the author of the acclaimed young adult space opera saga, the Lily Starling series. In a deeply moving and vulnerable conversation, Christian shares his personal journey of leaving the Latter-Day Saints church (Disclaimer: To find his own identity rather than due to the religion itself), navigating the volatile millennial jungle gym design career during the 2008 financial crisis, and finding his true artistic voice. In this episode, we discuss: The Harrisburg Web Design Summer Internship: Christian reflects on growing up poor in Harrisburg, PA, and credits his parents - his creative educator mother and writer/journalist father - for actively supporting his early artistic curiosities. He shares how they secured drawing lessons for him and set up a life-changing summer internship with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, giving him his first hands-on experience with professional design software.The Gift of the Outsider Mindset: Christian shares how growing up as the "weird kid" and feeling like an outsider trained him to observe human behavior from the outside looking in, a perspective he considers an invaluable gift for any storyteller or artist.Constructing Identity: Inside-Out vs. Outside-In: A brilliant breakdown of how people build their self-worth on external structures and societal expectations with those who actively build their sense of self from the inside out.The Millennial "Jungle Gym" Career & The 2008 Recession: Why the linear "career ladder" is a thing of the past for modern creatives. Christian recounts entering the workforce during the 2008 financial crash.Conquering Imposter Syndrome in an Uber: Christian describes the moment he realized he was finally "legit" and stopped worrying about where his next creative idea would come from.The 10-Second Art Teacher Lesson:  Christian shares a game-changing lesson from an old art teacher who had students draw 10-second gestural drawings. He explains why over-erasing and redrawing ultimately warps the entire perspective of a piece, and why creators must learn to get the idea on the page, trust their instincts, and move on.The Science Fiction of Lily Starling: The origin of Christian’s YA space opera series.Reconciling the Mask & Releasing Bitter Resentment: Christian's powerful reflections on "masking" to please others, the healing power of letting go of past resentment, and why you should only compare your current self to who you were last year. You can find Christian's book series at lilystarlingbook.com and connect with him on Instagram @seahurstpublishing. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes! You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the podcast on Instagram ⁠@letstalkmediava.

What happens when you fuse the heavy, riff-forward power of ’70s classic rock with the raw, aggressive urgency of ’90s alt-metal and grunge? And how does an independent band manage to write, record, and regional-tour while balancing full-time lives without burning out? In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Paul Van Valkenburgh, the lead vocalist of the hard rock powerhouse TubeFreeks. They dive deep into the band's unique genre-bending chemistry, their creative philosophies, and the reality of the independent music grind. In this episode, we discuss: The Family Blueprint: Why sheer musical talent is only half the battle, and the #1 foundation a band needs to survive years of writing and touring together.Unlocking Live Stage Presence: The clever, strategic lineup shift that transformed Paul from a tethered performer into a dynamic frontman, completely revitalizing their live show.The Clint Lowery Masterclass: A look inside their year-and-a-half-long collaboration with the Sevendust legend, and the three specific songwriting upgrades he introduced to elevate their new music from good to great.Who Does Your Song Belong To?: Paul's fascinating philosophy on abstract lyrics, and the wild, Rambo-style animated inspiration behind their fan-favorite "Dirty Rabbit" music video.The Weekend Warrior Grind: How the band manages to practice three nights a week and coordinate regional tours while balancing marriages, kids, and day jobs - and the key to doing it all without losing their minds. When searching for their music, make sure to look up TubeFreaks as one word, spelled with two E's (F-R-E-E-K-S), or the algorithms won't find them! You can stream their music on Spotify, Apple Music, or head over to their YouTube channel to watch their music videos. If you like this episode, please subscribe and rate the show. Follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava to stay updated on all future episodes!

How does an artist transition from the aggressive, distorted walls of underground heavy metal to the quiet, fragile vulnerability of a single acoustic guitar? And when you decide to handle every single step of your music’s creation yourself, how do you conquer self-doubt and find the discipline to actually finish what you start? In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, the podcast exploring the craft, careers, and chaos of the creative world, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with singer-songwriter Rich Clark, performing under the evocative moniker Wayward Sparrow. Rich discusses the release of his debut album, Devil by My Side, a beautifully self-constrained work rooted in Americana and bluegrass storytelling. He lifts the lid on his fascinating transition from fronting a heavy metal band to embracing a deliberately sparse acoustic atmosphere, shares his hard-learned business advice for DIY artists, and explains why true creative success lies in rigorous self-discipline rather than chasing overnight stardom. In this episode, we discuss: The Metal to Americana Pivot: Rich breaks down his unique musical trajectory, from playing fast-tempo underground heavy metal with his band Among These Ashes and southern rock with Clark Country Drifter, to discovering a deep appreciation for the narrative-driven, poetic songwriting of folk and bluegrass as he matured.The Power of Silence and Bleak Space: Why Rich deliberately crafts an atmosphere of minimal instrumentation: focusing purely on the intimate, highly vulnerable pairing of a single voice and an acoustic guitar to let the raw songwriting and lyrical storytelling truly breathe.Inside the Devil by My Side Album & An Exclusive Scoop: Rich shares the core themes of self-struggle, personal demons, and finding hope in hopeless situations that tie his eight-track album together.Writing Like a College Paper: Unpacking Rich's highly structured creative process, where he refuses to touch a microphone until he has a complete album's worth of songs written. He explains why he outlines his tracks just like an academic essay to maintain focus and dodge the trap of endless editing.The 100% DIY Business Blueprint: A candid discussion on the realities of self-recording, self-producing, and self-funding an album. Rich explains why independent creators must treat their art like a business.The Gritty Truth of Promotion and PR: Why completing the record is only half the battle. Rich warns that marketing is a grueling full-time job and shares his #1 piece of advice for indie artists trying to stick out in a massive daily sea of new musicDiscipline Over Stardom & The Songwriting Battle: Why the ultimate creative victory is simply having the personal bandwidth and self-discipline to finish what you start. You can stream Wayward Sparrow's music and grab merchandise on Bandcamp, watch his latest video releases on YouTube, and find his debut album on all major streaming platforms. You can follow the podcast on Instagram @letstalkmediava. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes! You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.