Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

Vedant Akhauri
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Arts
  • Biweekly

Let's Talk Media is an interview podcast hosted by media professional and award-winning podcaster, Vedant Akhauri. Learn from unfiltered conversations with creators and analysts across film, TV, and media about their craft, careers, and the chaos that follows. New episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mentioned in People Magazine. Follow @letstalkmediava on Instagram. Podcast Main Thumbnail and Style Guide by Brontë Cook.

  1. 5d ago

    Coliseum: A Near-Future Speculative Thriller (ft. Author, Henry L. Sullivan III)

    What does it take to turn a high-concept near-future thriller into an immersive, 11-person full-cast audiobook? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with author and independent consultant Henry L. Sullivan III to break down the storytelling craft and audio production behind his novel, Coliseum. Coliseum is a gritty near-future thriller about a DHS analyst racing to stop a serial killer inspired by Coliseum, a hit program featuring brutal gladiator battles, it captivates the nation. Yet, it also attracts the attention of a dangerous killer operating in the shadows. As Victoria Morales hunts the elusive murderer, she finds herself constrained by regulations. Coliseum is a suspenseful exploration of what happens when entertainment normalizes brutality, and what one agent will risk to end the bloodshed. Henry shares how he constructed a fast-paced thriller around an investigator breaking through institutional red tape, how real-world nationwide travel shaped his multi-city settings, and what creators need to know about the technical and financial realities of high-end audio engineering. In this episode, we discuss: The High-Concept Premise: How an idea conceived in 2010, imagining a televised gladiator arena fueled by societal extremism, evolved into a multi-layered speculative thriller.Crafting the Mastermind: Building "Smiling Jack," an amoral entertainment executive driven purely by ratings, viewership metrics, and spectacle.Designing an Unconventional Lead: Why Department of Homeland Security data analyst Vicki Morales relies on unorthodox problem-solving and outside-the-box thinking rather than standard detective procedures to track down a killer.Setting & Tone: How Henry’s background in public administration and nationwide travel helped ground the book's expansive settings, from regional offices to arena backdrops.Producing a Full-Cast Audiobook: An inside look at partnering with Brick Shop Audio to direct an 11-actor cast across London, New York, and Texas, and why audio engineering is often the biggest investment in production.Page to Screen Potential: Visualizing the story's high-stakes action beats as an episodic, streaming-style narrative. Coliseum is available in print, digital, and full-cast audiobook editions on Audible, Amazon, and across global platforms via Author's Republic. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! Follow Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday! Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction02:00 – Real-World Parallels03:30 – Thematic Focus06:15 – Real-World Background08:30 – The High-Concept Arena: Televised Civil War combat09:45 – Meet "Smiling Jack"11:00 – Literary & Media Influences13:30 – DHS Analyst Vicki Morales15:30 – De-Cartooning the Antagonist17:00 – High Stakes in the Arena18:30 – Vignettes of America21:00 – Conceived in 201024:30 – Breaking Protocol29:00 – 11-Person Full-Cast Audiobook36:30 – What if Coliseum was adapted to screen?41:00 – The Hardest Scene to Write44:00 – What Readers Take Away46:00 – Where to Find Coliseum

    Coliseum: A Near-Future Speculative Thriller (ft. Author, Henry L. Sullivan III)

  2. Oct 20

    The Organized Actor: Going Pro, 7 Offstage Roles, and Ditching The Starving Artist Myth (ft. Broadway Veteran & Business Coach, Leslie Becker)

    How does someone build the courage to close down a successful advertising and PR agency at age 28, move to New York City, and book her first Broadway-caliber show in just three months, building a 25-year career starring in hits like Wicked, Nine (alongside Antonio Banderas), Beauty and the Beast, and Anything Goes? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with former Broadway actress, Billboard-charting singer-songwriter, corporate speechwriter, and business coach, Leslie Becker. Leslie breaks down the practical frameworks creatives need to transition from hobbyists to true professionals—from mastering the 7 offstage business roles every performer must manage to ditching the "starving artist" archetype and turning her best-selling 30-year tool, The Organized Actor, into a modern AI-enhanced web app. In this episode, we discuss: Building Bravery & The NYC Leap: How Leslie overcame childhood fear, rejected an account executive corporate offer out of college, ran her own agency for six years, and finally stepped into her true calling on Broadway.The Origin of The Organized Actor: The wild story of calling a major LA theatrical bookstore on a Tuesday claiming her book dropped Friday, writing the entire manuscript in 3 days, selling out all 25 copies in 8 days, and evolving it over 30 years into an AI-powered digital platform.Going Pro vs. Being a Hobbyist: Why a hobbyist works only when they feel like it while a pro works every single day, and why spending just 15 minutes to "do your art first" builds unstoppable consistency over time.The 7 Offstage Roles for Performers: Breaking down the corporate roles every artist must manage (Visionary, Strategist, CEO, CFO, Negotiator, Marketing Director, and Artist) and why mastering the CFO role transforms a "survival job" into a "thriving job" that funds your art.Ditching the Starving Artist Myth: Why creatives were brought here to thrive rather than suffer, and how to eliminate limiting self-talk and negative beliefs.99% of the Work is Getting Work: Re-framing self-tapes and auditions as mini 3-minute films that you produce yourself, and handling digital-era volume where directors receive 6,000+ submissions for a single show.From Billboard Success to Dave Ramsey: Reaching #4 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with her single "Slow Burn", processing her mother's passing through her 5-song EP, Taboo, and writing speech talks for Dave Ramsey at Ramsey Solutions during the pandemic.New Theatrical Works: Behind-the-scenes of her licensed musical A Proper Place and her new show, Fetching Water (written with Michael Hunsaker).You can also listen to her podcast, Unstoppably Creative, and subscribe to her weekly newsletter, Work It. Leslie can be found on https://lesliebecker.com, and on Instagram @thelesliebecker or @organizedactor  If you enjoyed this conversation, 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 platforms and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday! (Disclaimer: Any plug-ins, including the free15 code for 1-month free on Leslie's courses are unpaid. I don't receive a cut for any redeems. Leslie shared her resources voluntarily for listeners). Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction02:15 – Overcoming Fear & Building Bravery03:30 – The NYC Leap at 2805:00 – From Nine on Broadway to Wicked06:30 – The 3-Day Book Origin08:30 – Pro vs. Hobbyist Mindset11:00 – The 7 Offstage Corporate Roles12:30 – The CFO Role & Ditching the Starving Artist Myth14:00 – 99% of the Work is Getting Work18:00 – Evolving into an AI-Powered Web App22:00 – Unstoppably Creative & "Work It" Newsletter26:00 – Billboard Hit "Slow Burn" & EP.21:00 – Speechwriting for Dave Ramsey27:00 – The Proper Place & Fetching Water28:30 – Wrap-Up & Sign-Off

    The Organized Actor: Going Pro, 7 Offstage Roles, and Ditching The Starving Artist Myth (ft. Broadway Veteran & Business Coach, Leslie Becker)

  3. Oct 15

    The Business of Acting (ft. Rob Brownstein, Founder of An Actor's Space)

    How does a college saxophonist accidentally switch his major to drama simply by entering the wrong building to catch his bus home, and turn it into a 25-year Hollywood career across TV shows, video games, and films like Argo, Velvet Buzzsaw (2019 film), Last Appeal (2024 film), Grand Theft Auto V, Killzone 3, Murdered: Soul Suspect, American Crime Story: Impeachment, Straight Outta Compton, Blonde, and Michael? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with veteran actor, educator, and An Actor's Space founder, Rob Brownstein. His other acting credits include Bean, The Bold and The Beautiful, Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Young Sheldon, Mom, Monk, Days of Our Lives, The Office, Bosch, Mad Men, The Evil Within, The Young and The Restless, and Breaking Bad. Rob breaks down the practical realities of navigating the entertainment industry—from voicing 15 different roles in Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) under standard voice-acting contracts to surviving the modern self-tape era, embracing presence over rigid memorization, and cultivating the mental resilience required for a long-term artistic career. In this episode, we discuss: An Accidental Journey into Acting: How a French school poetry reading in Ethiopia ignited Rob's love for audience reaction, leading from jazz saxophone studies at CUNY to an unexpected major change after budget cuts dismantled the music department.The Business of Voice Acting in GTA 5: Voicing 15 distinct roles in Grand Theft Auto V under standard industry NDAs, and the hilarious moment he discovered he was in GTA V after his son's friends recognized his voice in the game.The Psychology of Performing: Why a script is merely a jumping-off point, and why reacting to the who, what, when, where, and why in the moment creates authentic, believable on-camera work.Navigating the Self-Tape Era: How modern digital auditions have expanded opportunity while increasing competition, and why actors must treat their craft as continuous daily practice.The "Next At-Bat" Mindset: Developing a baseball hitter's resilience to handle industry rejection.Recreating History on Major Sets: Behind-the-scenes insights from playing Lee Strasberg in Blonde, Dr. Harley in Michael, and working on historical re-creation sets like Straight Outta Compton, Argo, and Velvet Buzzsaw.Inside An Actor Space: Why Rob transitioned into coaching in 2011, supporting actors who're early-career, working, and 55+. He also runs commercial workshops and encourages artists to create their own web series and support systems.Why Stories Outlast History: A philosophical reflection on why storytelling remains humanity's ultimate tool for empathy and understanding. Rob Brownstein's coaching programs and private sessions can be explored through his studio, An Actor 's Space. Keep an eye out for his upcoming film, The Rooster Prince, directed by Josh Saskin and co-starring Jackson White, Melissa Leo, and Shia LaBeouf. If you enjoyed this conversation, 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! Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction01:45 – From French Poetry & Jazz to an Accidental Drama Major05:15 – First LA Movie Role in Bean: Working alongside Rowan Atkinson and director Mel Smith on a Malibu cliffside.06:30 – The Business of Voice Acting in GTA V11:30 – The Psychology of Acting15:00 – Embracing the Self-Tape Era18:15 – Handling Rejection with the "Next At-Bat" Mindset21:15 – Historical Biopics & Hollywood Sets: Playing Lee Strasberg in Blonde, Dr. Harley in Michael, and working on sets like Straight Outta Compton, Argo, and Velvet Buzzsaw.27:00 – Inside An Actor Space34:30 – Treating Acting as a Long-Term Business42:00 – Upcoming Projects

    The Business of Acting (ft. Rob Brownstein, Founder of An Actor's Space)

  4. Oct 8

    The Discipline of Acting: From Traditional Sets to Micro-Dramas (ft. Ryan Ray Vincent)

    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!

    The Discipline of Acting: From Traditional Sets to Micro-Dramas (ft. Ryan Ray Vincent)

  5. Oct 6

    Paradox Universe: Building an Independent Studio, Making Horror, and Securing Distribution (ft. Filmmaker, Joseph Mbah)

    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!

    Paradox Universe: Building an Independent Studio, Making Horror, and Securing Distribution (ft. Filmmaker, Joseph Mbah)

  6. Oct 1

    HorrorFix: Championing Indie Horror, Micro-Budget Filmmaking, and Building a Genre Hub (ft. Founder, Ash Hamilton)

    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.

    HorrorFix: Championing Indie Horror, Micro-Budget Filmmaking, and Building a Genre Hub (ft. Founder, Ash Hamilton)

  7. Sep 24

    The Business of Podcasting: Booking Guests, Studio Production, and Fighting Burnout (ft. Richard Wilmore)

    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.

    The Business of Podcasting: Booking Guests, Studio Production, and Fighting Burnout (ft. Richard Wilmore)

  8. Sep 11

    Inherited Grief: Being Gen Z in a Post-9/11 World

    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.

    Inherited Grief: Being Gen Z in a Post-9/11 World
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Let's Talk Media is an interview podcast hosted by media professional and award-winning podcaster, Vedant Akhauri. Learn from unfiltered conversations with creators and analysts across film, TV, and media about their craft, careers, and the chaos that follows. New episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mentioned in People Magazine. Follow @letstalkmediava on Instagram. Podcast Main Thumbnail and Style Guide by Brontë Cook.

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