When the power pop band "Material Issue" soared to stardom, Balin Schneider was just born. Yet it's as if he was right there in the crowd at their concerts, experiencing every beat and melody firsthand, after he spent several years making a documentary about the band’s ascent and downfall. What began as a short student project blossomed into a full-fledged feature film and a lifelong passion for filmmaking. 

In this episode, Lulu talks with Balin Schneider, a LA-based documentary filmmaker/reporter/Executive Director of arvonia films. His first feature film, Out of Time: The Material Issue Story premiered at Sound Unseen Film Festival and played in theaters nationwide. He has directed projects with artists such as Gym Class Heroes, Panic! At The Disco, The Academy Is…, BLACKPINK, Cobra Starship and Ed Sheeran. He currently attends the University of Southern California (USC) for his Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism with a focus on International reporting. He has written for LAist, The 74 and his work has been featured in Forbes, Axios, Brooklyn Vegan and Pitchfork.

You’ll hear about:

Films that we’ve talked about:

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⁠Twitter⁠/⁠Instagram⁠: @dedicatedfm

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Music Credits:

Material Issue - Everything

In this holiday season, we visited the Skyline Ranch Christmas Trees Farm in La Honda, California, where we we met its wonderful owner Donna. From a fruit orchard to a tree wonderland, this place has been a nature-lovers’ paradise since the 1970s. Besides bringing a festive spirit, their trees play a crucial role in nurturing the environment and spreading the joy of the great outdoors.

In this episode, Donna shares insider tips on finding that perfect tree, taking it home safe and sound, and keeping it merry all season long. She also uncovers the origins of this entire Christmas tree tradition. Grab your saw and we'll catch you at the farm - Hope you snag that dream tree🌲!

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIC1o8p-tN8

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⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: @dedicatedfm

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Hey there, pumpkin lovers! It's that wonderful time of the year when pumpkins become the unofficial dress code at grocery stores. But if you're up for real pumpkin parties, check out the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay if you're visiting the Bay Area. These farmers have been growing pumpkins for almost a century. Are they all set for the busiest time of the year?

Join us on a journey to the heart of pumpkin festivities as we explore Arata's Pumpkin Farm, the oldest pumpkin farm in the area. We sat down with the farm's owner Chris Gounalakis to uncover

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube.

Never want to miss an episode? Search for “dedicated lulu” on ⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, and subscribe to the show!

⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠/⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @dedicatedfm

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Music Credits:

1. Taylor Swift - Gorgeous

2. The Play - Piano Version

Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios.

Link: https://youtu.be/7CD9KzBpSqk?si=l6UoK7gnw0doslql | Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0

3. Dive

Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios

Link: https://youtu.be/V4b1AUcCi-s?si=FEUC-GiGOZU16fJ5 | Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0

For ethnic cuisines, navigating the balance between authenticity and adaptation can be tricky. While there’s a strong urge to stay true to the original recipe, compromises have to be made to appeal to the local palate. But Jia, the founder of a Chinese sauce brand called Hotpot Queen, doesn’t want to play it safe and aspires to bring the boldest Sichuan flavors to Americans’ plates — from sandwich to ice cream. Besides the unapologetic spiciness and numbness, her sauce has a secret element that adds a kick — the love and passion passed down through her mom and generations of Chongqing women. 

In this episode, Lulu talks with Jia, the founder of Hotpot Queen, whose fiery personality tastes just like her sauces. You’ll hear about: 

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⁠Twitter⁠/⁠Instagram⁠: @dedicatedfm

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Music Credits:

Arimura Taishi - Hot pot quartet 

Keep It Spicy!

Website: www.hotpotqueen.com

Instagram: @hotpotqueen

We never get tired of foods that give us a funny feeling. Like mustard that sends a shockwave through our skull. Like carbonated drinks with a playful fizz in every sip. It’s not necessarily the flavor that sets us on fire; it’s the sensation that does the magic. For those in the food industry, creating a sparkling sensory experience would be key to crafting a killer product. This is precisely what inspired Yao to start 50Hertz, a brand featuring the unique taste of Sichuan Pepper. Don’t mistake it for the fiery red chili pepper you typically see in a Sichuan dish; it’s the small round berry that hides in the plate.

In this episode, Lulu talks with Yao Zhao, the founder of 50Hertz Tingly Foods. They explore what makes Sichuan pepper special, how well it has been received in the US market, and how it can make mealtime more exciting.

You’ll hear about:

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Twitter/Instagram: @dedicatedfm

Email: [email protected]

Music Credits:

Daystar - Baby Whale's Dream

Pucca - Episode 18

Try It Out

https://50hertzfoods.com/

When the thirteen-year-old Zao first saw Margaret Cho’s standup comedy on TV, he was intrigued by her loud and unapologetic persona and wished to see more not-your-average Asians on stage and screen.

Later, Zao became a filmmaker himself and met Joyce, a producer who also aspires to debunk the model minority myth by creating more “irreverent” Asian characters. The two hit it off and went on making a proof-of-concept film to promote the idea. Joyce even brought Margaret on the cast and Zao was thrilled to work with his idol. Though the story is about an Asian American family, Zao and Joyce don’t think it’s ethnicity-based. It intends to address something universal, with the Asian idiosyncrasies being the cherry on the cake. And they’ve been working very hard to turn the short film into a full-length one…

In this episode, Lulu talks with Zao Wang (ins @zaowangfilm) and Joyce Liu-Countryman (ins @joyceliucountryman), the director and producer of the film Unconditional: A Family Guide to Hunting. They share their takes on breaking Asian stereotypes in the media.

You’ll hear about:

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Twitter/Instagram: @dedicatedfm

Email: [email protected]

Support Their Film

Website: https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/fiscal-sponsorship/unconditional/

Email: [email protected]

Music Credits:

Jonny Easton - Buddy

Jonny Easton - Falling

Next time you proofread your writing, watch out for timidity — anything that sounds vague, indirect or hesitant unless you truly mean it. It's not just the grammar that matters, but the tone. As much of our communications have gone digital across text, emails and shared docs, it’s even more crucial to know how to add sparkle to what we write so that the readers would jump up and implement what we suggest.

This also raises the bar for online writing assistants —besides catching typos, those smart ones can even help tweak the tone of our writing, depending on whether we’d like to sound personable or professional.

You’ll hear about:

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Twitter/Instagram: @dedicatedfm

Email: [email protected]

Music credits:

Sadens - Summer

One of those cool perks at tech companies is their joyful office space. Open floor plans, game rooms, and even a rooftop garden to relax in. It’s not just for fun; it’s about branding, attracting top talents and increasing productivity. Even though the pandemic has receded, these stylish spaces are often half empty since few can resist the comforts of working remotely. Are companies still interested in upgrading their physical offices? Is it still the staple of business? What does it take to attract people back?

In this episode, Lulu talks with Cherish Rosas, a Global Design Manager Lead @LinkedIn who has been elevating workplace experience across many LinkedIn campuses, from New York’s high-rises to Silicon Valley’s sprawling estates. How does her team add regional flavors to different office locations? What’s her visions of post-pandemic workplaces?

You’ll hear about:

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Twitter/Instagram: @dedicatedfm

Email: [email protected]

Music credits:

Eric Godlow - Lovely

When Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts comic strips, first learned a museum would be built for him, he wasn’t really up for it. Thankfully, he was later convinced it would be a huge treat for his fans to see his original drawings up close (and it truly is!) At Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center located in Santa Rosa, California, one could either indulge his comics craving, or stop by the cafe table where Schulz had been seated for 4 decades, eating his go-to tuna salad sandwich while conceiving the strip of the day.

On the 100th anniversary of Schulz's birth, Lulu talks to Benjamin Clark (Twitter: @BLClark), a curator at Charles M. Schulz Museum / a book writer who authors Charles M. Schulz: The Art and Life of the Peanuts Creator in 100 Objects. Like Schulz, Benjamin is also a Midwesterner who's got a great sense of art and humor.

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Twitter/Instagram: @dedicatedfm

Email: [email protected]

Music credits:

Vince Guaraldi Trio - Charlie Brown Theme

If there’s one thing that all human beings love, it's probably food. It nourishes our body, mind, and soul. For some, food is about desire, pleasure or taste. For others, it’s a creative outlet, and they even translate this passion into a career. Not necessarily a cook; there are many other niches in the market — food photography, recipe design, food styling and the list goes on. You may not realize it, but their work is everywhere — from the crispy-skinned, well-seasoned chicken wings on your food delivery app, to the medieval banquets or 19th-century dinner parties you see on the silver screen. Besides all the sweet perks, working with food is not always glamorous: it also calls for endurance, patience, and ability to work under pressure.

In this episode, Lulu talks with Marta Fowlie, a LA-based food-focused content producer who builds an online marketplace — Phoode to helps thousands of talents like her seek new clients. Ready to cook up something creative with her?

You’ll hear about:

Never want to miss an episode? Search for “dedicated lulu” on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and subscribe to the show!

Twitter/Instagram: @dedicatedfm

Email: [email protected]

Music credits

Daystar - You know better than I

Daystar - Alcohol-Free (instrumental ver.)