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. Expect a blend of personal takes and in-depth interviews with filmmakers, writers, academics, and creators across film, TV, and the wider creative world - delivering real, unfiltered conversations about the craft, careers, and chaos behind making (and appreciating) media.Follow @letstalkmediava on Instagram. New episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays. Guest submissions open.Disclaimer: Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect my views.

Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri is a arts podcast hosted by Vedant Akhauri, with 183 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Vedant Akhauri hosts Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri, a arts show with 183 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #46

  Playa Dust In My Soul: A Novel On Burning Man (ft. Sarah Marshall)

  Aug 20, 202631 minS7

  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

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  Episode #45

  Reinventing Your Craft: Navigating the Career Jungle Gym, Silencing Imposter Syndrome, and Building Identity from the Inside Out (ft. Christian Hurst)

  Aug 18, 202635 minS7

  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.

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  Episode #44

  Tubefreeks: Fusing '70s Sabbath Riffs with ’90s Grunge (ft. Frontman, Paul Van Valkenburgh)

  Aug 13, 202631 minS7

  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!

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  Episode #44

  Devil by My Side: From Underground Heavy Metal to Sparse Acoustic Americana (ft. Wayward Sparrow)

  Aug 11, 202627 minS7

  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 music Discipline 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.

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  Episode #43

  Multi-Hyphenated: How Paul Carganilla Thrives as an Actor, Screenwriter, Director, and Podcaster

  Aug 5, 202653 minS7

  How do you keep your creative fire burning when balancing a day job, a family, and your own artistic ambitions? Is specialization really the only path to success in Hollywood, or is the modern multi-hyphenate actually holding the master key to creative freedom? 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 actor, director, writer, podcaster, and ultimate multi-hyphenate, Paul Carganilla. With a career that spans 15 years as a professional live performer at Disneyland Resort to writing, directing, editing, and starring in his own crowdfunded feature films and hosting five distinct podcasts, Paul is the living embodiment of the adaptable modern artist. He shares his fascinating journey through the entertainment industry, his heart's fire creative philosophy, and the incredible joy of watching his children build their own Hollywood careers alongside legends like Susan Sarandon, Matthew McConaughey, and Robert Rodriguez. In this episode, we cover: The Disney Breakroom Incubator: Paul shares memories from his 15 years performing at Disneyland - from playing the Genie in Aladdin and the Sheriff of Frontierland, to doing atmospheric improv as a pirate tied to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. 110 Pages in 6 Days: How Paul transitioned from theater school to the screen, teaching himself to write, edit, and direct through sheer hands-on experience. He breaks down the chaotic, high-intensity shoot of his independent feature film The Haunted Man , which involved filming nearly 94 pages of a 110-page script in a single hotel location across just six days with two camera crews running simultaneously. Somewhere a Second Time & Fan Fiction: The origin of his romantic sci-fi mystery screenplay that gives Hollywood icon Natalie Wood a magical second chance after her tragic 1981 disappearance. Paul explains why he wrote this 102-page script purely for the joy of creation, knowing he would never make a dime off of it, and why he chose to release it as a free download. Juggling the Multi-Podcast Plate: How Paul manages to host five incredibly diverse podcasts, including Titanic Legacy , Cove Pod , and an upcoming scene-by-scene breakdown of The Adjustment Bureau, by setting his own schedule, prioritizing time management, and treating creative work as his personal equivalent to "Netflix binging." The "Heart's Fire" Philosophy vs. Burnout: Paul breaks down why you must protect your creative energy, avoid the trap of constant hustle, and let your internal passion guide you through the industry's inevitable dark period. Raising the Next Generation of Hollywood: What it's like living in a household with two generations of performers, including his wife (who toured as young Cosette in Les Misérables ) and his children, Everly and his son, who are already starring in major projects alongside Susan Sarandon, Aubrey Plaza, Matthew McConaughey, and Woody Harrelson. You can check out Paul's feature film The Haunted Man and his web series Winners on YouTube. Download his screenplay Somewhere a Second Time for free at somewherestory.com . Keep up with Paul's latest updates and podcasts on Instagram @paulcarganilla . 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

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