Kyle Meredith With...

Travis Fimmel is back in the spotlight with Dune: Prophecy, HBO’s sprawling new series set 10,000 years before the blockbuster films. Speaking with Kyle Meredith, Fimmel delves into his role as Desmond Hart, a battle-hardened soldier wielding mysterious mental powers, as well as his own beer brand, Travla. Listen now.

The show’s shadowy intrigue and willingness to push boundaries are what drew Fimmel to the project. He credits the world-building of Dune: Prophecy to the immersive sets and costumes, though he insists his job as an actor is universal. Still, he’s not above cutting lines to maintain a character’s mystery.

Outside of Hollywood, Fimmel’s passion project is as rugged as his roles. His beer brand, Travla, is a scrappy venture rooted in his Australian farming roots. “We’ve got no budget,” he laughed, recounting his DIY marketing escapades that include wrangling snakes and shooting promo videos on his phone. For Fimmel, the endeavor is as much about representing hardworking country folks as it is about brewing: “Farmers are forgotten. We wanted a beer that gives city people a taste of the country.”

Listen to Travis Fimmel, chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

Speaking with Kyle Meredith, Chris Diamantopoulos is as animated in conversation as he is on screen, riffing on everything from his latest project, The Sticky — a darkly comedic take on Canada’s infamous maple syrup heist the premieres December 6th on Prime Video — to his unexpectedly costly adoption of a 130-pound tortoise. Listen to the chat now.

Based on a real 2011 heist involving millions of dollars’ worth of maple syrup, The Sticky is a quirky, Coen-esque series where Diamantopoulos plays a bumbling Bostonian trying to outwit fate. Co-starring Margot Martindale and a pitch-perfect Jamie Lee Curtis, the show’s oddball ensemble and sepia-toned vibe make it a must-watch holiday binge.

Beyond The Sticky, Diamantopoulos reflects on a career spanning 40 years, from his turn as Robin Williams in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Mork & Mindy to voicing Mickey Mouse.

Listen to Chris Diamantopoulos chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

Kyle Meredith sits down with the stars and music-makers behind Netflix’s new holiday hit, Meet Me Next Christmas. Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, and the vocal phenoms of Pentatonix dish on the film, which merges romance, holiday spirit, and of course, unforgettable music. From flirty airport lounges to magical concerts, the movie puts an imaginative spin on seasonal clichés, and audiences around the globe have taken notice — it’s already topping charts in 43 countries. Listen to the chat now.

For Milian, the project felt like a homecoming. Her character Leila’s pursuit of a fairy-tale romance — and a ticket to Pentatonix’s sold-out Christmas Eve concert (get tickets to their very real Christmas tour here!) — blends charm with just the right amount of chaos.

Devale Ellis, who plays the film’s lovable underdog, Teddy, relished his chance to flip the script. But even with all the rom-com beats, the stars say the movie’s deeper message is about fate and faith, delivered with humor and heart.

At the film’s musical core are Pentatonix, who light up the screen with their harmonies and holiday cheer. Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee shared how the group’s real-life quirks made their way into the script. The group also penned the movie’s title track, “Meet Me Next Christmas,” a swoon-worthy addition to their growing holiday catalog. “It’s got that nostalgic Christmas movie vibe, but with a modern twist,” says Olusola.

Listen to Danny O’Donoghue chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network

Danny O’Donoghue is in good spirits as he catches up with Kyle Meredith, juggling tea, talk of Irish bars, and tales from the road. The Script frontman has spent much of 2024 playing to stadium-sized crowds while opening for Pink, squeezing in intimate guerrilla gigs at small pubs and diving into urban exploration on days off. He joins the podcast to talk Satellites, the band’s first record in five years and their first since the tragic loss of guitarist Mark Sheehan in 2022.

Touring has provided serves as both a source of escape and inspiration. While opening for Pink, The Script has been turning stadium nights into three-part marathons: the main gig, a follow-up show at a local bar, and sometimes even a radio set in between. On days off, O’Donoghue finds creative outlets in places like Detroit’s urban ruins or a science center’s planetarium, where they filmed a makeshift music video under simulated starlight. “You’ve got to keep busy, or the road will occupy you,” he explains. You can catch more of The Script on the road next year in the EU, UK, Australia, and beyond by getting tickets here.

As Satellites signals a new chapter, O’Donoghue acknowledges the weight of time. “Most of the bands we came up with aren’t around anymore,” he says. But rather than feeling like a survivor, he sees it as a testament to hard work. “Music can unlock the deepest of feelings,” O’Donoghue says. “It’s the best way I know to keep going.”

Listen to Danny O’Donoghue chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

For this week’s bonus Rewind episode, Kyle Meredith takes us through four interviews recorded over the past thirteen years with R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and Michael Stipe. Join them in the corner, in the spotlight, as they lose their religion.

Beginning in 2011, just after the band had broken up and in the midst of releasing a career retrospective, Mike Mills talks about the band’s decision to split. He also touches on the string of albums that led up to Collapse Into Now.

From there, we head to 2018 to talk with Mills about the 20th anniversary of the 1998 album Up, as well as the 10th anniversary of Accelerate. After that, head to 2021, when Michael Stipe joined Mills to reflect on the 25th anniversary of New Adventures In Hi-Fi, along with having folks like Eddie Vedder and Jason Isbell covering them.

And finally, we visit 2023, when Mills returned once again to talk about Up (now five years older) and having the group’s music in the television show The Bear.

Listen to R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and Michael Stipe chat about all this and more in the new episode. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

What do you get when you pair an animated holiday tale with a heartfelt story about overcoming barriers? Two wildly different but deeply resonant films that remind us of the power of connection. This holiday season, Richard Curtis (Love Actually, About Time) brings us That Christmas on Netflix, while Judith Light (Who's the Boss?, The Menu) and Courtney Taylor (Abbott Elementary, Insecure) star in Disney+’s Out of My Mind. Both projects dive into themes of love, understanding, and the occasional mistake — be it Santa’s or our own — and all three filmmakers talk with Kyle Meredith about them.

Curtis says That Christmas started as bedtime stories for his kids. Starring Brian Cox as a slightly flawed but lovable Santa Claus, the film is equal parts heartwarming and hilarious, with intertwined narratives reminiscent of Curtis's Love Actually.

Meanwhile, Out of My Mind tackles a different kind of connection. Based on the bestselling novel by Sharon M. Draper, the film follows Melody Brooks, a sixth-grader with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair and is nonverbal. Light and Taylor play crucial roles in Melody’s life, offering advocacy and understanding as Melody challenges societal limitations.

Listen to the cast of Out of My Mind chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube here and here. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

It’s been 25 years since Cruel Intentions turned manipulation into an art form, and now the series adaptation on Prime Video is ready to twist the knife even further. Claire Forlani (Meet Joe Black, Mallrats) and Jon Tenney (Scandal, The Closer) step into this world of privilege and deceit, bringing their own sharp edges to characters who thrive on power games. The pair spoke with Kyle Meredith about their roles, their inspirations, and the ongoing allure of a story that just won’t let go.

Forlani, who hadn’t seen the original 1999 film, leaned on 1988's Dangerous Liaisons for her take on Claudia, a mother whose icy ambition extends beyond her daughter’s life to her stepson’s. Tenney, as Congressman Russell, added a layer of humanity to the narrative, exploring the fraught father-son relationship central to his character’s arc.

Forlani also shares her thoughts on Mallrats 2, Kevin Smith’s long-teased sequel. As for Tenney, his recent stint on And Just Like That… left us wondering if his character might pop back up.

Listen to the cast of Cruel Intentions chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

The Pope of Trash himself John Waters joins Kyle Meredith to dive into his enduring holiday-themed spoken word tours, his provocative take on Christmas traditions, 1994's Serial Mom, the unmade Liarmouth adaptation, and the irreverent artistry that's defined his career.

Waters, who has been delighting (and shocking) audiences with his Christmas tours for over a decade, promises fresh material every year. (Get tickets to this December's run of shows here!) His approach combines biting social commentary with festive absurdity — this year’s show reportedly includes advice on "how to talk dirty using only Christmas words." Ever irreverent, Waters embraces the traditional in his own subversive way: "I don’t have a tree. I decorate the electric chair from Female Trouble."

Waters continues to break boundaries with his work, most recently releasing a delightfully bizarre holiday single on Sub Pop Records. The B-side, "Punk Rock Christmas," is a spoken word piece blending his trademark wit with biting cultural critique, while the A-side, a cover of The Singing Dogs’ "Jingle Bells," takes holiday kitsch to an absurd, joyful extreme.

Despite his many creative endeavors, Waters has faced roadblocks with his long-awaited film adaptation of his novel Liarmouth. "Aubrey Plaza was ready to star, I wrote the script, and they loved it," he explains, but securing a budget has proved elusive. Waters, ever pragmatic, acknowledges that studio leadership changes quickly, leaving room for hope that the project might still see the light of day.

Listen to John Waters chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

This week’s Rewind looks back at a trio of interviews with Tori Amos. Listen to the selections, which span from 2017 to 2021, now.

The first interview runs it back to 2017, when Amos had just released her fifteenth LP, Native Invader. It's an album that was written in the wake of Trump’s 2016 presidential inauguration and the conversation spotlights environmental concerns, her Native American ancestry, and the political landscape backed with sweeping piano runs and slicing guitar solos.

From there, travel to 2020, when the icon delivered her memoir, Resistance: A Songwriter's Story of Hope, Change, and Courage. Amos discusses the responsibility to speak out, how call-to-action songs find their way, and the difference in how her lyrics can be interpreted in reading and speaking versus within a finished song.

We then arrive in 2021 for a conversation about Amos' album Ocean to Ocean. The Artist also talks about fan expectations and connecting back to 1992’s Little Earthquakes as a way to heal.

Listen to Tori Amos chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

Martin Kove joins Kyle Meredith to reflect on an extraordinary career that spans over 50 years in Hollywood, from memorable guest spots on Gunsmoke, Kojak, and Charlie's Angels to his definitive role as the unrelenting John Kreese in The Karate Kid franchise and its Netflix sequel series, Cobra Kai.

Kove describes the evolution of Kreese as a character who began as the ultimate antagonist but has grown into a nuanced figure with layers of vulnerability. "I'd rather cry on camera than beat someone up," Kove says of his approach to playing the tough-guy roles that made him famous. With Cobra Kai’s upcoming final episodes, Kove teases moments of redemption for Kreese, a man forced to reconcile his rigid worldviews with the lessons life has thrown at him.

As for his involvement in the upcoming Karate Kid: Legends movie starring Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan, Kove remains in the dark. "Very few of us were privy to anything of what this movie's even about," he says, before recalling how he was invited to the set of the Will Smith-produced 2010 remake starring Chan and Jaden Smith.

But Kove has other passions as well; as a lifelong Western aficionado, he's interested in reviving the genre for modern audiences. "Kids today don't have heroes like Eastwood or Wayne," he laments, discussing his upcoming projects, including a comic book and potential series centered on old-school values and morality.

Listen to Martin Cove chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.