Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

About Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

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. Follow @letstalkmediava on Instagram. Podcast Main Thumbnail and Style Guide by Brontë Cook.

Publisher

Vedant Akhauri

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

22 Feb 2020

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

206 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   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 & Welcome 02:15 – Landing Early TV Roles 04:30 – Expanding Game Shakers 07:10 – Lessons from Stumptown 09:45 – The Genius Blonde Audition Strategy 14:00 – Pivoting into Micro-Dramas 18:30 – Mastering the 9:16 Vertical Screen 23:00 – Why Micro-Dramas Work 27:15 – Being "A Needle in a Stack of Needles" 31:40 – Separating Identity from Occupation 35:00 – 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 (https://www.reelshort.com/full-episodes/rise-of-the-caged-king-6a3d980baaf954b86307ecc4), Obsessed With His Silent Bride (https://www.reelshort.com/movie/obsessed-with-his-silent-bride-6825b3f25b08ac3a230d912d), and A Sweet Contract With The Mafia Boss (https://www.reelshort.com/movie/a-sweet-contract-with-the-mafia-boss-68466cf23f6f0588fd06b114) on ReelShort. His self-produced short film, Lodestar (https://vimeo.com/827088090?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAadXN_z2CbIKaHP9v9klgKRVVg76waZ36Hs9R5P8dga48pY89o0BqmQ3zBuXqg_aem_Di1lpByufxngPdIrPk7iXg), can be found on Vimeo. You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryanvayvincent (https://www.instagram.com/ryanrayvincent/). 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 (https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fletstalkmediava). New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   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 (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5474363/). Joseph shares his journey in independent cinema, the founding of his production banner Paradox Universe (https://www.paradoxuniverse.net/about-us), and the release of his new supernatural psychological horror-thriller, Whispers Bind (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28713072/). 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 & Welcome 02:15 – 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 Jargon 05:30 – Paradox Universe 06:45 – Nigerian Heritage & Faith in Film 08:00 – The Premise of Whispers Bind Casting & Micro-Budget Collaboration 14:30 – Inventory-Based Writing & Set Ethics 17:45 – Horror as a Moral & Spiritual Playground Distribution Blueprint & Securing Agents Future 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 (https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/312032b16f48636663cfe851d6e42cb6), Fawsome (https://fawesome.tv/movies/10794597/whispers-bind), and Samsung TV Plus. You can explore Joseph's production banner at paradoxuniverse.net (https://www.paradoxuniverse.net/) and connect with him on Instagram @joseph_mbah (https://www.instagram.com/joseph_mbah/?hl=en). 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 (https://www.instagram.com/letstalkmediava/). New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

3. 

   1 Oct 2026

   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 Platform 02:15 – Childhood Saturday Nights: The Origin of Ash's Love for Horror 04:10 – The "Rockstar" Era: '80s Horror, Heavy Metal, & Practical FX 06:00 – Ash's Fine Art Roots: From '90s Indie Comics to Hot Rod Airbrushing 09:00 – Oversaturation & Overcoming Challenges in Modern Media 11:00 – Inside the Horror Fix Slate: Holes in the Sky, Final Days, & Mangled 15:00 – The "Write a $700 Movie" Rule: Balancing Assets vs. Limitations 17:00 – Why Horror Remains the Ultimate Launch Vehicle for Indie Directors 21:00 – Avoiding Cliches: Why Character Investment Beats Subgenre Devices 22:30 – How to Pitch Horror Investors: ROI, Marketing Reach, & Attached Talent 24:30 – Audio Dramas & Publishing: Dislocated and Upcoming Horror Books 26:00 – Where to Connect with Horror Fix & Closing Remarks To explore indie horror reviews, podcasts, and upcoming releases, visit horror-fix.com (https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhorror-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 (https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fletstalkmediava). New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings