Better Call Paul

This week, resident Swiftie, Mesh, gives us his take on Taylor Swift’s latest record-breaking double album, The Tortured Poet’s Department. Next, Paul and Mesh geek out about Fantom Event’s announcement that it will re-release Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings trilogy this summer in re-mastered 4K. Finally, Paul breaks down the FCC’s recent announcement that it will look into the enforceability of most favored nations clauses and internet holdbacks in carriage agreements between operators (e.g., cable, satellite) and independent networks.

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Paul and Mesh kick off the episode discussing Netflix’s new head of film, Dan Lin, and the potential change in strategy from big budget films to a more cost-conscious approach. They then dive into women’s basketball star and WNBA #1 pick Caitlin Clark, her deal with Nike, and what it will take for the WNBA to provide better pay to its athletes. Finally, Paul breaks down the Archival Producer’s Alliance development of guidelines regarding the use of generative AI in documentary filmmaking and how the APA attempts to balance risk and reward.

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Paul and Mesh kick off the episode discussing OJ’s death and the controversial legacy he left behind. They break down the latest news from Cinema Con- AMC’s survival, Gladiator 2, Transformers, and other IP coming to the big screen. Finally, they give an update on the Paramount/Skydance deal and the tension it’s causing among shareholders.

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This week, Paul interviews a long-time client, Chris Babu, who is the CEO of a technology company in the ticketing industry. Chris discusses how he leveraged his analytics background, his stints at Ebay and Stubhub, and his passion for live sports and music to build a concierge service for season ticket holders. In addition, Chris and Paul discuss current trends in the sports industry and some surprising facts about March Madness.

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Paul and Mesh begin with a potential sale of the theatre chain operator, Alamo Draft House. Next, they discuss the recent federal raid of Sean Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex-trafficking investigation. Finally, they break down Sam Bankman-Fried’s 25-year sentence for financial crimes and provide an overview of how the FTX bubble burst.

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Paul and Mesh dive into the latest sports legal news, starting with a potential gambling scandal involving Baseball’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, whose former interpreter allegedly racked up $4.5M in gambling debts. They then discuss UFC's recent antitrust lawsuit settlement with former fighters and examine its potential impact on the sport. Wrapping up, they discuss Reddit's successful IPO and ponder the company's future.

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This week, Paul interviews very special guest Rishika Jikaria, a lawyer who is also a rising star in the world of dance. Rishika and her sisters turned their lifelong passion for dance into a viral sensation during the pandemic and grew their following on TikTok to over 600,000. Using this platform, they have expanded into branding deals, endorsements and live performances all while balancing prestigious corporate careers. Rishika shares some insights on how she broke through and what it takes to grow a brand.

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Paul and a very special guest, Jessica David, discuss and recap the Oscars - who won, who looked great, and who stole the show!

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We'll be back next week with a new episode.

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Paul and Mesh kick off the episode with a deep dive into Warner Brothers Discovery's earnings report, highlighting the fact that while streaming was profitable (a first for a major studio), other aspects of the report were mixed. They then turn their attention to OpenAI's debut of Sora, its incredible text-to-video product, and discuss its potential to impact Hollywood. Finally, they analyze Kylian Mbappé’s anticipated move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, as he jumps from his hometown squad to one of the most prestigious clubs in the world.

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