Let's talk about Verticals

Some ⚠️ Irony & sarcasm warning! ⚠️ 😉

This episode comes with a high risk of sore laughing muscles — seriously, I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard during a recording. So please don’t take everything we talk about too seriously… a lot of it is very much intentional. 😏

I sat down with Cayman Cardiff @caymancardiff to discuss the truly important questions in life. Just in time for the holidays, we’re debating whether Santa Claus can (and does) visit countries without snow — and if so, how on earth he pulls that off 🎅🌍. 
We also tackle the fundamental question of whether Michael Bublé secretly controls the weather and causes snowfall ❄️🎶. Naturally, a very scientific discussion was required — we consider it our educational duty.

Of course, it’s not all nonsense. We also talk about Cayman’s vertical career, the wide range of roles he’s played over the years, what it’s like filming in various uniforms in sometimes very hot conditions 🥵🎬, and how he manages to maintain a solid work-life balance despite tightly packed shooting schedules.

We also dive into what kinds of roles he’d still love to play in the future and his first steps as a producer on “House of Flies” 🎥✨.
All of this — and much more — wrapped up with lots of wit, humor, and charm awaits you in this episode.

🎄 Happy Holidays, my loves, and enjoy listening! 🎧💫

🎬 Another Vertical actor joins me on the podcast!
 This time, I’m talking to Patric Palkins, who took a very different career path before entering the Vertical world. For 17 years, Patric was a professional ballet dancer 🩰 — trained in classical ballet and performing on some of the world’s biggest stages 🌍✨.
He shares how he got into classical ballet, what it felt like to dance on major international stages, and the very special feeling that ballet gave him as an artist and a person.We also talk about why he decided to hang up his ballet shoes and trade that professional career for a completely new one — acting 🎭.
Along the way, we speculate why he keeps getting cast in roles with a slightly evil edge 😈 — usually in a suit (which, by the way, is not his thing 😄) — and where we hope the world of Verticals will head in the future 🚀.
On top of that, Patric shares his personal tips on how to recharge your energy on a day off 🔋✨ and gives a surprisingly simple explanation of what makes tacos so special 🌮😉.
All of that and more in this episode — have fun tuning in and listening! 🎧💫

🎄 Christmas is just around the corner!

I sat down with Mark Pontarelli @markjpont for a cozy little pre-holiday chat, where we talk about when and how he celebrates Christmas 🎅, his acting goals for the new year 🎭, and we look back on everything the past few months had to offer.

Since — aside from one shoot in the UK 🇬🇧 — Mark hasn’t had any other shoots in Europe yet, we start brainstorming together: what kind of shooting project would actually make sense, which Vertical title would be the perfect fit, and why Nick Ritacco @nick.ritacco and Michael Vaccaro @michaelvaccaro might want to start packing their suitcases for a trip to Italy 🇮🇹✈️.
And yes… the Pope may or may not play a role in this entire spectacle 🙏😇 — you’ll have to listen to find out.

We also talk about which Verticals he especially enjoyed in 2025, which ones carried a deeper meaning for him, what he loves about this form of creativity and art 🎬✨, and what he’s hoping for when it comes to Verticals in 2026.

A wonderful, funny, and slightly chaotic conversation about God (the Pope 😄) and the world — one you definitely don’t want to miss.
🎧 Happy listening & Merry Christmas vibes! 🎄💫

It’s finally happening – and I couldn’t be happier to welcome a true Vertical legend as my guest: Kasey Esser 🎬✨
With his incredible versatility as a person (as we quickly discover, there’s a Business Kasey, an Acting Kasey, a Producing Kasey, a Fitness Kasey, and many more), he has already aimed high in life – and reached many of those goals. And trust me: the next big plans are already in motion 🚀

We chat about his journey, which actually started before acting, with the opening of a fitness studio in LA 💪🇺🇸, and how that eventually led him into the vertical space. When he landed his very first vertical, “Fated to My Forbidden Alpha”, he honestly thought not many people would watch it – turns out, he was very wrong 😄🔥Since then, things have only gone one way: up. Steeply up. 📈 
Today, alongside acting, Kasey has stepped behind the camera as well. He has just written, produced, and starred in his very first own vertical – a huge milestone 🎥👏
How has this rapid development over the past few years shaped his personality and character? What would he, looking back, maybe change or do differently? And why does he think that, in some ways, he’s actually very German? 🇩🇪😉
All this – and so much more – awaits you in this episode and in this wonderful, open, and inspiring conversation between Kasey and me 💬👉 This is one you definitely don’t want to miss.
 Tune in, press play, and enjoy 🎧✨

Scripts are a big deal in the vertical world 🎬 — and let’s be honest: from an audience point of view, some things in verticals just make us go “wait… what?” 🤨😂 That’s exactly why I’m extra excited to chat with Alina Averianova @alinavestory today!

If anyone knows their way around scripts, it’s her — Alina is a Script Supervisor in the vertical space 📝✨. Is the job really as fancy as it sounds? And what does a script supervisor actually do all day? She spills all the tea in this episode ☕😉

And of course, I had to finally get answers to some long-standing mysteries, like:

* Why does an outfit suddenly change even though it’s clearly the same scene? 👗🤔
* Why does spilled wine magically disappear from clothes? 🍷✨
* How is everyone’s hair already perfectly dry right after a shower scene?! 🚿💁‍♀️
* And why is the defibrillator almost always placed on top of clothing instead of bare skin? ⚡😳

In Alina, I finally found the long-lost detail manager of the vertical space (shoutout to episode 9 with Caitlyn @verticait 👀😉), giving us some very exciting behind-the-scenes insights into vertical productions 🎥✨

We also chat about her journey into becoming a script supervisor, the stress and challenges that come with the job 😮‍💨, and the little wishes and dreams she has for her future 🌈💭

A super fun, fast-paced and insightful conversation that gave me — as a vertical viewer — so many long-overdue answers 🙌 Trust me: you do not want to miss this episode 🎧🔥

In this episode, we’re joined by pure Italian power 🇮🇹🔥

The wonderful Ramona from Vertical Lessons met up with me spontaneously for a conversation – and what a conversation it was!She’s also the creative force behind the intro of this podcast 🎶 and the background music for my Sneak Peek videos🎥✨.

Ramona is still relatively new to the Vertical space – she’s been addicted to Verticals only since March 2025 📱💥. But don’t let that fool you: since then, she has watched over 500 Verticals 😱📈! Together with her brother, she runs the platform Vertical Lessons.

Their mission?
Not only to write reviews 📝, but also to highlight the lessons they believe certain Verticals are trying to teach us 🤔💡.True to her Italian roots 🇮🇹❤️, Ramona’s heart especially beats for mafia Verticals 🕶️🔫. She firmly believes these stories should be produced where the mafia is more or less “at home”: Italy. And yes – she openly offers herself as a point of contact for directors and production companies 🎬🤝.

What else is she absolutely into?
Fast cars, lots of horsepower, and pure adrenaline 🏎️💨⚡Crazy fact about Ramona?
She will be taking part in the next Rally Dakar 🏜️🔥🏁
If that alone isn’t a Vertical-worthy story, what is?!

🎧 This episode is an absolute must-listen.
Don’t miss out on this incredible burst of energy and passion! 💥✨

🎉 @i.love.verticals just turned ONE! And that alone was the perfect reason to celebrate with a special fan episode featuring Aline.

A Werewolf Vertical was her gateway into the industry — and since then, she’s become an essential part of the community. 🐺✨
On her page, she creates seasonal story-driven Verticals (currently her Advent Vertical 🎄) and shares open, honest reviews you can truly rely on. Thanks to her “Get to Know” category, the audience also gets to meet and understand many Vertical actors a little better. 🎬💬
Her AI-generated chibis give her page a unique, adorable signature style. And I’m especially happy she regularly joins our Monthly Recap episodes to share her thoughts on everything happening in the Vertical space. 🗣️💡

Another highlight is her format “Vertical You”: Fill out her questionnaire and Aline will craft a personalized, AI-generated Vertical description — often so good it could easily become a real Vertical. 🤖✨📜

Aline’s page is full of insights, entertainment, and fun — for both audiences and creatives. She’s a passionate yet critical Vertical watcher with clear no-gos that can make her switch off a Vertical early. But when it comes to certain casts or the works of her favorite directors Danny Farber @sirdannyfarber and Matt Macedo @mattmacedo , she’s always tuned in and ready to enjoy any genre. 🎧🔥

In our conversation, she also shares how a Frenchie girl ended up living in Canada 🇫🇷➡️🇨🇦, what her small but meaningful Vertical dream looks like, and why supporting smaller platforms matters so much to her. 💛

Check it out and tune in.
And don't forget to like and share!

November is behind us, and once again there were tons of Verticals to watch — which means there’s plenty to talk about in this month’s Monthly Recap! 🎬✨
Joining me are Dalia @verticalfilmslover , Caitlyn @verticaitand Brittany @drama_ink_diaries , and together we dive into who impressed us the most this month, who left us a bit disappointed, and which app delivered the best Verticals overall. 📱⭐
We’re also introducing a brand-new category to the recap: 🎭 The Side Role Actor/Actress of the Month! From now on, we want to shine a brighter spotlight on supporting actors — and soon we’ll also highlight the best on-screen chemistry between performers. 💫
And since Christmas is right around the corner and many apps are packed with festive Verticals, we wrap up by sharing our current favorite Christmas Verticals — perfect to get you into the holiday spirit. 🎄❤️
All in all, it’s another episode full of all things Verticals from the month of November. Definitely worth tuning in! You might even discover a Vertical you haven’t seen yet but absolutely should! 👀🔥
Enjoy listening, and an early Happy Holidays from the Recap Crew! ❄️🎁✨
And don't forget to like and share!

Giovanni DeVal joins me in this episode, bringing along a touch of Italian flair 🇮🇹 (even if only ancestrally 😉).
We chat about his first experiences in film 🎬 and why, back then, he simply wasn’t “dead enough” for his brother’s project 😄.I also remind Gio that he owes his school principal a long-overdue thank-you 🍎 — after all, she indirectly helped set the stage for his acting career 🎭.He tells me

• what he loved doing as a child 👦✨,
• what he dreamed of becoming one day 💭,
• why he gets up so early every morning ⏰
• and what his typical start to the day looks like 🌅.

We also talk about his breakfast preferences 🥐☕ — which, as he reveals, depend on one very specific factor. What factor? You’ll find out exclusively in this episode 🤫.Of course, we also dive into the allure of playing the villain 😈, his latest vertical video 📱, and why everyone should watch it and share their thoughts with him 💬🔥.👉 Tune in and enjoy! Have fun listening 🎧✨

In this episode, I’m joined by Tina Ann Brock @tinaannbrock . The New York–based actress has spent many successful years shining in all kinds of acting fields. She’s an award-winning American stage, film, and television character actress, known for playing fun, eccentric, and powerful characters — always “poised, precise, with a dash of wacky.” ✨🎭

She brings this amazing versatility to her vertical roles as well: from the evil stepmother 👀, to a queen 👑, a loving and caring mom 🤱, or even a good witch 🧙‍♀️ — there’s truly no role she can’t embody perfectly.

Tina shares how her mother sparked her love for dressing up and stepping into different characters early on, why that magic still captivates her both on stage and in verticals, and what goes through her mind when she reads certain scripts. 🎬💭

We dive into all that and so much more — and trust me, it’s definitely worth tuning in! 🎧💬