Let's talk about Verticals

Michaela Bergmann

5.0 (1)
AFTER SHOWS
UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

A Podcast with people who are part in the vertical industry, whether actors, producers, directors, fans, streaming platforms, etc. Everyone is welcome to talk with me about the big, wide world of verticals. About life with and in this world, its bright and dark sides. Be excited for wonderful real talk paired with humor, charm but the necessary seriousness 🎙️

13H AGO

64 - Jieun and Tiffany (Talk Drama to me) - Cultural differences in the Vertical Space...

🎊✨ It’s Lunar New Year — and we’re celebrating with a very special XXL episode! ✨🎊In this multicultural deep dive, we explore the cultural differences and backgrounds between Eastern and Western verticals — in the best possible company: Jieun and Tiffany from the podcast "Talk Drama to Me" @talkdramatome 🎙️🌏While Jieun has been part of the vertical space for quite some time, Tiffany is still fairly new to it — so new, in fact, that many actor names don’t ring a bell for her yet. 😄 But that’s exactly what makes it exciting: she approaches the storylines completely fresh, unbiased, and with a different perspective.We chat about C- and K-Dramas 🎬🇨🇳🇰🇷, how they’ve expanded into Western markets, how entirely new vertical formats have emerged from them — and why key differences still remain. We also dive into cultures, traditions, and how they shape vertical storytelling in ways that don’t always translate across markets.After Tiffany has to leave us a little early, Jieun and I continue the conversation, talking about what she personally loves about C- and K-Dramas, what she sees as the most significant differences, and where cultural nuances simply don’t transfer to Western audiences.And of course:✨ What storylines would we love to see more of?📱 Which apps are currently impressing us with their content🚀 And where do we think the vertical industry is headed next?All this — and so much more — in this vibrant, cross-cultural XXL episode you definitely don’t want to miss! 🎧🌙

1h 42m
3D AGO

63 - Evan Comacho -From first Disaster experience to a Vertical Mainstay 🎬✨

In today’s episode, it’s practically a conversation among eight eyes 👀👀👀👀 — because Evan Camacho @evancamachoofficial and I are each joined by our dogs, Nero and Dion 🐶🐶Evan tells me that he was anything but thrilled about his very first vertical shoot 🎬🔥 Low pay 💸, incredibly hot weather ☀️, a wasp nest 🐝 and plenty more made it a challenging experience. Understandably, he didn’t feel like doing anything like that again for a while 😉😅Nevertheless, he found his way back to verticals — and has since appeared in many of them in supporting roles 🎭 He would absolutely love to finally take on a lead role ⭐ and also shoot outside of LA 🌎 These goals are high on his “Vertical Wishlist 2026” ✨📝His roots are in theater 🎭 and sometimes he misses the direct audience feedback 👏 and that very special stage atmosphere ✨ Still, for now, he happily remains committed to verticals because they offer such versatile opportunities to grow and work creatively 🎥We also talk about some of the more challenging sides of the vertical space: packed schedules 📅, very little sleep at times 😴, external influences on castings 🎬 — and what still makes working in this space so exciting and rewarding ❤️The advantages of smaller apps 📱 and what actors appreciate about them? Whether Evan ever puts pineapple on his favorite dish, pizza 🍕🍍? — you’ll hear all that and much more in today’s episode 🎧Enjoy listening! 🎙️✨Verticals with Evan Comacho:Daddy, Don't Hurt Mommy (@dramabox_official)My Scar, His Debt to Pay (@playletshort)The Last Gambling God (@playletshort)The Double Life of a Billionaire Sweet Ex-Wife (@shortmax_app)The spy fiancé who stole my soul (@kalostvapp)

1h 26m
6D AGO

62 - Nick Ritacco - 🏴‍☠️ Pirate today, 🕵️‍♂️ Detective tomorrow...

Today’s episode is officially hijacked — by Vertical pirate Nick Ritacco @nick.ritacco 🏴‍☠️Fresh off wrapping the second pirate vertical ever (after @beneathcrimsonsailsvertical), Nick joins me to talk about one of the most special experiences of his career so far.What little kid doesn’t dream of becoming a pirate at least once? Nick used to love dressing up as one — and now he’s managed to combine two things he truly loves: his job and his childhood dream. No surprise he already misses the role… and is secretly (not so secretly) hoping for Part II ⚔️We talk about:🌊 What it was like filming on a ship out at sea⚔️ How he prepared for the sword-fighting scenes🎬 How many classic Vertical tropes made it into the story😎 And if there’s a traditional banquet scene or notBut we don’t just stay on deck.We also dive into a more critical conversation about how the Vertical scene has evolved over the past two years, brainstorm new and better project ideas, and I promise Nick I’ll try to get him to Germany (or anywhere in Europe!) in 2026 so he can finally check that off his Vertical bingo card ✈️And after playing a pirate?There’s another dream role waiting: detective 🕵️‍♂️So Kirby Ellwood @kirby.ellwood and I might need to revive our million-dollar idea from Episode 25…This episode has adventure, ambition, industry talk — and just the right amount of pirate energy. 🏴‍☠️✨Tune in and enjoy it! 🎧🎙️Verticals with Nick Ritacco:The Golden Pear Affair (https://thegoldenpearaffair.com)Highs-Stakes Heartthrob (@mydrama.excitingseries)The True Heiress's Perfect Revenge (@app.shorts)Billionaire Alpha's Fated Mate (@flareflowapp)Love Again, My Adoptive Brother (@netshortdrama)

1h 38m
FEB 14

61 - Teig Sãdhãna - A Heart Story Made for Vertical...

It’s time for new storylines in the Vertical Space — and my guest Teig Sãdhãna and I couldn’t agree more: My heart surgery story deserves a full cinematic Vertical adaptation. With everything. Included. This story has it all: ❤️ Drama 💞 RomCom 💔 Heartbreak (in the most literal way possible 😂) Teig immediately volunteered to play my cardiologist (casting = perfection). And we’ve already reserved a role for Zane Claudio as my caring, protective brother. Zane… are you in? 👀 The only things currently missing? A sponsor. Or a lottery win. Minor details, really. 😉 And speaking of lottery wins — should that future jackpot arrive, we already know one thing: We wouldn’t keep it to ourselves. We’d use it to create beautiful things, meaningful projects, and moments that truly matter. ✨ Beyond our shared vision, we also dive into Teig’s personal journey: 🌍 What inspired him to move to New York 🎬 How unexpectedly his first (still unreleased!) Vertical found him 🎭 What different roles feel like from the inside His love for theater remains strong, and one day he dreams of producing a play in New York together with his friends. Until then, the award-winning rising superstar continues filming Verticals — even if he’s still not fully comfortable in a three-times-worn white suit that makes him feel more like a casino employee than a leading man 😄🤍 And one thing I still can’t comprehend: Who on earth left this wonderful human being standing at the altar three times? Shocked. One thing I know for sure — that would definitely not happen with me. After this episode, Teig and I are officially heart-connected. ❤️✨ Tune in, dream with us, and step into our visions, our humor, and our very big Vertical ambitions. 🎬🚀 Verticals with Teig Sadhana: Through Ashes Their Sorrow Awakens (Dramabox) My Escort Boy is a Billionaire (Flareflow) My Wife's Billion Dollar Secret (Dramawave) Bitchy BFF Its Your Turn to Pay (Goodshort)

1h 22m
FEB 13

60 - Alex Pychtin - Crime, Cameras & Charisma...

We finally made it happen! 🎉 In this episode, I sit down for a morning chat (German time ☕) with the Australian/Canadian actor Alex Pychtin, @alexpychtin who’s currently in China 🇨🇳. This conversation is packed with humor, charm, and wit as Alex and I talk about what it’s really like to shoot Verticals in China, how things have changed from his very first Vertical shoot to today, and how some roles can leave a lasting impression on his private personality 😏🎭. Alex also shares the bigger goals he’s pursuing through his acting—and what he wants to give back to his audience. He opens up about his motivation to keep doing Verticals and what drives him creatively 🚀✨. Of course, not everything that glitters is gold on a Vertical set ✨➡️😬, so we also dive into challenges and absolute no-gos, discuss a potential Plan B in case he ever decides he’s done with acting, and why he’d much rather shoot in Europe when the temperatures are warmer 🌞😉. Alex would be an absolute perfect fit for my planned Criminal Vertical Series 🔪🖤—and whether he ends up being the murderer or whether we roam the world together as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde… well, that remains to be seen 😈💥. According to Alex, my darkness is definitely strong enough to appreciate some very twisted (and cinematic) ideas 🎬🖤. By the end of this wonderful conversation, my laughing muscles are completely wrecked 😂, the inside of my lip is blessed with a bloody little cut 🤕, and one hour and 23 minutes of pure entertainment are safely recorded 🎙️🔥. Enjoy listening—and laughing along! 😄🎧 Verticals with Alex Pychtin: Call Me Stepmom, Fxxkboy (@kalostvapp) The Maid Is Actually an Heiress (@kalostvapp) The King Returns on Christmas Eve (@netshortdrama) The Homeless Fishmonger Is My Billionaire Husband (@shortmax_app) In Love with My Exs Father (@kalostvapp) #vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

1h 24m
FEB 12

59 - Jeff Violette - Hard Hats, Underwear & the Vertical Space...

It finally happened: I had him all to myself for an extended podcast hangout — Jeff Violette. 🎧 The construction engineer and the business informatics graduate don’t talk about high-brow academic topics — instead, we talk Verticals 😉 After several years working in construction, Jeff was encouraged during his freshman year by his roommate Eric Guilmette @erictaylorguilmette to give modeling a try. He did — but kept it pretty low-key at first, since he didn’t really want his coworkers on the construction site teasing him about his underwear photos 😄🩲 His very first job in a Vertical? As Jeff tells it, he already knew when he arrived on set that it was just a background role — what he didn’t know was that he’d be dancing 💃 Since then, he’s appeared in numerous Verticals and has moved from the background into the spotlight. He’s played a wide range of lead and supporting roles, and as he admits himself, he doesn’t quite see himself in the over-the-top werewolf characters 🐺😅. CEOs, on the other hand, are roles he really enjoys — even if all those suits can sometimes be a bit much 🤵‍♂️ Jeff isn’t just a Vertical actor — he’s also a Vertical viewer. Especially when it comes to the Verticals of Felix Merback @felix_merback whom he openly admits he’s a huge fan of 🙌. Jeff knows all too well how often Instagram ads pop up promoting new shows, and there are Verticals that have almost made swooming him. I don’t know what you were doing in 1993, but Jeff and I watched Free Willy more than once 🐋 — and absolutely soaked up that feeling of freedom when Willy jumps over the rocks, accompanied by Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There” 🎶. We drift into some shared childhood memories 💭✨ After this recording session, what would I personally love to do? A Carpool Karaoke ride with Jeff 🚗🎤 — that could be hilarious! Just like this entire episode. Some Verticals with Jeff Violette: Marry me by Christmas (@app.shorts) Shoot at my heart (@flareflowapp) Catch me, Love me (@flareflowapp) Destined for My Billionaire Soulmate (@app.shorts) Fired, Framed & Fierce (@playletshort) The Billionaire's Matchmaker (@app.shorts) #vertical #podcast #new #community #actor

1h 17m
FEB 11

58 - Nic Westaway - He sailed on the First Vertical Pirate Ship...

In this episode, I sat down with Nic Westaway for an in-depth conversation. The Australian-born actor now lives in Canada and, after several years on the Australian TV series Home and Away, has found his way into the Canadian and vertical storytelling world. He talks about his very first encounter with the vertical space and how, almost like a snowball effect ❄️, more and more roles started to come his way. Whether as a caring father 👨‍👧, a somewhat malicious husband 😈, a president 🇺🇸, or a blue-collar worker 🛠️—Nic has appeared in a wide range of characters and brings them to life beautifully every time. Most recently, he was part of the very first Pirate Vertical 🏴‍☠️, which has already been filmed and is currently in post-production. We’re all eagerly waiting for it! He shares what it was like to portray a pirate, partially work as a co-director 🎬, and what made this pirate vertical shoot so special. A role he’d still love to play? A vampire 🧛‍♂️! Which clearly means—we need more productions in that genre (and honestly, I’d love to see that too 😍). Nic has also started writing vertical scripts himself and is always interested in what audiences want to see, what they can do without, and what truly resonates 📱🎥. Looking ahead, he’s aiming to secure a visa for the U.S., which would allow him to explore verticals and their potential in America 🇺🇸. Shoots in Europe? Absolutely—Nic is always open to that 🌍. Hopefully, 2026 will open up exciting and big new opportunities for him ✨. Want to know more about the Pirate Vertical and Nic Westaway? Then you definitely shouldn’t miss this podcast episode! 🎧🔥 Some verticals with Nic Westaway: Breaking Chains for a new Life (Stardust) Wake up Daddy! Mommy is dying (Netshort) Mommy why does Daddy hate me? (Dramawave) Thanksgiving with Mom and Dad (Dramawave) The Divorced Navy Queen Awakens (Joyreels) And don't forget to like and share!

1h 33m
FEB 10

57 - Elijah van Zanten - Verticals. Villains. Cheeseburgers. 🍔😈🎬

After chatting away for more than two hours before hitting record, Elijah van Zanten @elijahvanzanten and I still managed to sit down for a solid hour of mostly serious talk about Verticals and their role in his life 🎬😅 Elijah booked the lead role for his very first Vertical — even though he admittedly had no real idea on set what he was actually doing at the time 🙃. Apparently, he handled it pretty damn well, because otherwise he wouldn’t have gone on to book so many more leads and roles since then — and become a true fixture in the Vertical space ⭐️. Elijah now knows exactly what he loves about Verticals, which roles he enjoys most (and least), and we both immediately discover a shared villain connection 😈🤝. He also reveals why it’s best to leave him alone for a bit after waking up in the morning ☕️😴, and what he needs on set to really feel comfortable and in his zone 🎭 Where to find his karaoke-singing videos online remains a mystery 🎤👀 (I’ll have to investigate), but he did promise to show up chic and sharp in a suit for the next episode 🕴️✨. We also talk about how Elijah would prepare for a psychopath role, whether it’s sometimes hard for him to be nice 😏, what else the self-confessed cheeseburger junkie loves to eat 🍔❤️ — and so much more. This refreshingly honest and fun episode is one you definitely don’t want to miss 🎧🔥 Some verticals with Elijah van Zanten: Step aside Ex - she's the hidden Lycan Queen (@dreameshort) The perfect Play (@kalostvapp) Legally bound to love (@flextv_official_us) Lady Shark in Law (@mobo_reels) After Divorce the Billionaure crushed on me (@flareflowapp) And don't forget to like and share!

1h 26m

A Podcast with people who are part in the vertical industry, whether actors, producers, directors, fans, streaming platforms, etc. Everyone is welcome to talk with me about the big, wide world of verticals. About life with and in this world, its bright and dark sides. Be excited for wonderful real talk paired with humor, charm but the necessary seriousness 🎙️

Creator

Michaela Bergmann
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

65
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Michaela Bergmann
Show Website

Let's talk about Verticals