Let's talk about Verticals

🎙️✨ Just before the New Year, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alexandria Watts to talk about her journey as an actress, her work in Verticals, and her growing passion for writing.
As a child, she was completely mesmerized by Titanic 🚢 — so much so that she even took classes about it! Her dream job back then? Oceanographer 🌊🔬. That dream lasted until her mother signed her up for a theater class… and everything changed.
Despite insisting (and laughing about it!) that she absolutely cannot sing 🎶🚫 — especially not in front of an audience — the very first role she ever auditioned for was in musical theater. And to everyone’s surprise (especially her own!) she booked it. ✨👏
After spending several years in New York 🗽, she eventually made the move to Los Angeles 🌴🎬, where she immersed herself deeper and deeper into the world of Verticals and micro-dramas.
Would she love to shoot in Europe or Asia? Absolutely. 🌍❤️
 The only thing holding her back? Her fear of flying ✈️😅That’s why conquering that fear is officially on her 2026 bucket list — because she’s ready to explore the big, wide (Vertical) world beyond the U.S.
Being quite tall, she also shares some funny on-set realities: it’s not uncommon for her to be taller than her male co-leads — especially in heels 👠 — which means the infamous Apple Box makes its regular appearance. 📦😄
Her creativity doesn’t stop at acting. She’s also stepped into writing, creating her own Vertical that was eventually produced with her in the lead role: Frozen Hearts and Fiery Love (ShortMax). ❤️🔥
Her biggest wish for the Vertical space? More rom-coms. More comedy. 🎭💕
 “There’s enough drama in real life — it’s time for more fun and entertainment.”And trust me — you don’t want to miss what else the passionate hobby baker 🍰✨ and I talked about in this episode!
🎧 Tune in now!
Some Verticals with Alexandria Watts
Wild Silence (MyDrama)
 Daddy save me (FlareFlow)
 Blossom with Gun Taming a Mafia Puppy (Goodshort)
 Frozen Wife, Unfrozen Revenge (Moboreels)30 Years Frozen: Emergency Rescue (Netshort)

When six Vertical critics come together, it’s time to recap the past Vertical month – and this time, we’re diving into February 🗓️

Joining the discussion:
* Michaela (Host) @lets_talk_about_verticals
* Aline @i.love.verticals
* Brittany @drama_ink_diaries
* Shikha Dia @verticalviewweekly
* Caitlyn @verticait
* Meagan @realreeldrama

Was the Valentine’s month really as cozy and emotional as the audience hoped? Or did some of the released Vertical content leave us disappointed — and if so, why?

Our Monthly Recap gives you direct insight from the audience perspective on what truly stood out… and what definitely didn’t.

This month’s categories:

🎭 Actor/Actress of the Month
🎬 Supporting Role of the Month
💫 Chemistry of the Month
🏆 Vertical of the Month
💩 Crap/Disappointment of the Month

As always, we keep it open, honest, and unfiltered — celebrating what we love about the Vertical industry while also calling out where there’s clear room for improvement.

A refreshingly entertaining yet critically reflective conversation you don’t want to miss 🎙️✨

Enjoy listening!

⚾ He once had his sights set on the Major League Baseball.�🎭 Today, he’s bringing characters to life on screen — and since 2024, he’s also adding his energy to the Vertical scene.

My guest: Bryce Tipple @brycectipple

Bryce’s journey took an unexpected turn when his grandmother suggested he try acting. He gave it a shot — and that was it. Baseball ambitions moved to the back burner, and a new passion took center stage.

Now based in ☀️ Los Angeles, Bryce has already portrayed multiple lead roles and feels right at home in front of the camera. Through working in several Verticals, he’s gained a deep understanding of the format — what it demands, how it works, and why it connects so strongly with audiences.

🌍 A dream of his?
Shooting a Vertical outside the U.S. — combining travel with storytelling.
⚾🎬 And if it’s a sports Vertical with a baseball theme? That would be the absolute jackpot.

In this episode, we talk about:
✨ Letting go of one dream to fully embrace another
✨ The magic of stepping into different characters
✨ What makes Verticals such a unique storytelling format
✨ Why behind-the-camera talent deserves more credit — because teamwork truly makes the dream work 🤝
✨ And a fun practical insight: How do you memorize scripts during a morning dog walk? 🐶🎧

An inspiring conversation about courage, creativity, collaboration — and staying open to where life takes you.

Enjoy listening! 🎧

Some Verticals with Bryce Tipple:

From Dumped Wife to Christmas Billionaire (@dramabox_official)
She's the (Undercover) Boss (@watchcandyjar)
Hidden Billionaire's Spicy Marriage (@shortmax_app)
Secrets of Sin 2 (@watchcandyjar)
Secrets of Sin (@watchcandyjar)

Have you ever wondered what a production company actually does in the vertical space — the exciting opportunities 🎬, the creative wins ✨, and the real challenges behind the scenes?

I had the chance to sit down with Austin Herring @austinherring , CEO of Snow Story Productions @snowstoryproductions , for an in-depth conversation. With more than 60 verticals produced to date — alongside numerous commercials and other projects — Snow Story Productions has become one of the most established companies in the U.S. when it comes to developing and producing vertical content 📱.

We talk about the recurring challenges of vertical production ⚡, unpack the ever-important topic of scripts 📝, and explore what Austin considers to be a truly “sexy” character in the vertical space 💫. From creative development to on-set realities 🎥, we cover the many layers that go into bringing vertical stories to life.

People need a vision in order to turn it into reality ✨ — and that’s exactly why Austin and I didn’t just talk ideas, we made a deal.
Together, Austin Herring and I mapped out a true win-win scenario: shooting in Germany 🇩🇪, in one of its breathtaking castles 🏰, packed with a big dose of comedy 🎭 — and I’ve officially volunteered to take care of the catering 🍽️.
Let’s just say… it sounds more than promising 😉
A bold vision, a creative collaboration, and maybe the start of something truly spectacular 🎬✨

This episode offers a behind-the-camera look at vertical production like never before on the podcast 🎙️ — packed with valuable insights, honest reflections, and an engaging, entertaining conversation.

Enjoy listening! 🎧

Some Verticals produced by Snow Story Productions:

The CEO and the Country Girl (Dramawave, Reelshort)
The Sweetest Challenge (Dramashorts)
Blind Heiress (Dramashorts)
Good Girl Bad Biker (Dramshorts)
Poolboy (Reelshort)

🎊✨ It’s Lunar New Year — and we’re celebrating with a very special XXL episode! ✨🎊

In this multicultural deep dive, we explore the cultural differences and backgrounds between Eastern and Western verticals — in the best possible company: Jieun and Tiffany from the podcast "Talk Drama to Me" @talkdramatome 🎙️🌏

While Jieun has been part of the vertical space for quite some time, Tiffany is still fairly new to it — so new, in fact, that many actor names don’t ring a bell for her yet. 😄 But that’s exactly what makes it exciting: she approaches the storylines completely fresh, unbiased, and with a different perspective.

We chat about C- and K-Dramas 🎬🇨🇳🇰🇷, how they’ve expanded into Western markets, how entirely new vertical formats have emerged from them — and why key differences still remain. We also dive into cultures, traditions, and how they shape vertical storytelling in ways that don’t always translate across markets.

After Tiffany has to leave us a little early, Jieun and I continue the conversation, talking about what she personally loves about C- and K-Dramas, what she sees as the most significant differences, and where cultural nuances simply don’t transfer to Western audiences.

And of course:
✨ What storylines would we love to see more of?
📱 Which apps are currently impressing us with their content
🚀 And where do we think the vertical industry is headed next?

All this — and so much more — in this vibrant, cross-cultural XXL episode you definitely don’t want to miss! 🎧🌙

In today’s episode, it’s practically a conversation among eight eyes 👀👀👀👀 — because Evan Camacho @evancamachoofficial and I are each joined by our dogs, Nero and Dion 🐶🐶

Evan tells me that he was anything but thrilled about his very first vertical shoot 🎬🔥 Low pay 💸, incredibly hot weather ☀️, a wasp nest 🐝 and plenty more made it a challenging experience. Understandably, he didn’t feel like doing anything like that again for a while 😉😅

Nevertheless, he found his way back to verticals — and has since appeared in many of them in supporting roles 🎭 He would absolutely love to finally take on a lead role ⭐ and also shoot outside of LA 🌎 These goals are high on his “Vertical Wishlist 2026” ✨📝

His roots are in theater 🎭 and sometimes he misses the direct audience feedback 👏 and that very special stage atmosphere ✨ Still, for now, he happily remains committed to verticals because they offer such versatile opportunities to grow and work creatively 🎥

We also talk about some of the more challenging sides of the vertical space: packed schedules 📅, very little sleep at times 😴, external influences on castings 🎬 — and what still makes working in this space so exciting and rewarding ❤️

The advantages of smaller apps 📱 and what actors appreciate about them? Whether Evan ever puts pineapple on his favorite dish, pizza 🍕🍍? — you’ll hear all that and much more in today’s episode 🎧

Enjoy listening! 🎙️✨

Verticals with Evan Camacho:

Daddy, Don't Hurt Mommy (@dramabox_official)
My Scar, His Debt to Pay (@playletshort)
The Last Gambling God (@playletshort)
The Double Life of a Billionaire Sweet Ex-Wife (@shortmax_app)
The spy fiancé who stole my soul (@kalostvapp)

Today’s episode is officially hijacked — by Vertical pirate Nick Ritacco @nick.ritacco 🏴‍☠️

Fresh off wrapping the second pirate vertical ever (after @beneathcrimsonsailsvertical), Nick joins me to talk about one of the most special experiences of his career so far.

What little kid doesn’t dream of becoming a pirate at least once? Nick used to love dressing up as one — and now he’s managed to combine two things he truly loves: his job and his childhood dream. No surprise he already misses the role… and is secretly (not so secretly) hoping for Part II ⚔️

We talk about:
🌊 What it was like filming on a ship out at sea
⚔️ How he prepared for the sword-fighting scenes
🎬 How many classic Vertical tropes made it into the story
😎 And if there’s a traditional banquet scene or not

But we don’t just stay on deck.

We also dive into a more critical conversation about how the Vertical scene has evolved over the past two years, brainstorm new and better project ideas, and I promise Nick I’ll try to get him to Germany (or anywhere in Europe!) in 2026 so he can finally check that off his Vertical bingo card ✈️

And after playing a pirate?
There’s another dream role waiting: detective 🕵️‍♂️
So Kirby Ellwood @kirby.ellwood and I might need to revive our million-dollar idea from Episode 25…

This episode has adventure, ambition, industry talk — and just the right amount of pirate energy. 🏴‍☠️✨

Tune in and enjoy it! 🎧🎙️

Verticals with Nick Ritacco:

The Golden Pear Affair (https://thegoldenpearaffair.com)
Highs-Stakes Heartthrob (@mydrama.excitingseries)
The True Heiress's Perfect Revenge (@app.shorts)
Billionaire Alpha's Fated Mate (@flareflowapp)
Love Again, My Adoptive Brother (@netshortdrama)

It’s time for new storylines in the Vertical Space — and my guest Teig Sãdhãna and I couldn’t agree more:
My heart surgery story deserves a full cinematic Vertical adaptation. With everything. Included.
This story has it all:
 ❤️ Drama
 💞 RomCom
 💔 Heartbreak (in the most literal way possible 😂)Teig immediately volunteered to play my cardiologist (casting = perfection).

And we’ve already reserved a role for Zane Claudio as my caring, protective brother.
Zane… are you in? 👀
The only things currently missing?
 A sponsor.
 Or a lottery win.
 Minor details, really. 😉
And speaking of lottery wins — should that future jackpot arrive, we already know one thing:
 We wouldn’t keep it to ourselves. We’d use it to create beautiful things, meaningful projects, and moments that truly matter. ✨
Beyond our shared vision, we also dive into Teig’s personal journey:🌍 What inspired him to move to New York
 🎬 How unexpectedly his first (still unreleased!) Vertical found him
 🎭 What different roles feel like from the inside
His love for theater remains strong, and one day he dreams of producing a play in New York together with his friends. Until then, the award-winning rising superstar continues filming Verticals — even if he’s still not fully comfortable in a three-times-worn white suit that makes him feel more like a casino employee than a leading man 😄🤍
And one thing I still can’t comprehend:
 Who on earth left this wonderful human being standing at the altar three times? Shocked. One thing I know for sure — that would definitely not happen with me. After this episode, Teig and I are officially heart-connected. ❤️✨
Tune in, dream with us, and step into our visions, our humor, and our very big Vertical ambitions. 🎬🚀
Verticals with Teig Sadhana:
Through Ashes Their Sorrow Awakens (Dramabox)
 My Escort Boy is a Billionaire (Flareflow)My Wife's Billion Dollar Secret (Dramawave)Bitchy BFF Its Your Turn to Pay (Goodshort)

We finally made it happen! 🎉
 In this episode, I sit down for a morning chat (German time ☕) with the Australian/Canadian actor Alex Pychtin, @alexpychtin who’s currently in China 🇨🇳.
This conversation is packed with humor, charm, and wit as Alex and I talk about what it’s really like to shoot Verticals in China, how things have changed from his very first Vertical shoot to today, and how some roles can leave a lasting impression on his private personality 😏🎭.
Alex also shares the bigger goals he’s pursuing through his acting—and what he wants to give back to his audience. He opens up about his motivation to keep doing Verticals and what drives him creatively 🚀✨.Of course, not everything that glitters is gold on a Vertical set ✨➡️😬, so we also dive into challenges and absolute no-gos, discuss a potential Plan B in case he ever decides he’s done with acting, and why he’d much rather shoot in Europe when the temperatures are warmer 🌞😉.
Alex would be an absolute perfect fit for my planned Criminal Vertical Series 🔪🖤—and whether he ends up being the murderer or whether we roam the world together as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde… well, that remains to be seen 😈💥. According to Alex, my darkness is definitely strong enough to appreciate some very twisted (and cinematic) ideas 🎬🖤.
By the end of this wonderful conversation, my laughing muscles are completely wrecked 😂, the inside of my lip is blessed with a bloody little cut 🤕, and one hour and 23 minutes of pure entertainment are safely recorded 🎙️🔥.
Enjoy listening—and laughing along! 😄🎧
Verticals with Alex Pychtin:
Call Me Stepmom, Fxxkboy (@kalostvapp)The Maid Is Actually an Heiress (@kalostvapp)The King Returns on Christmas Eve (@netshortdrama)The Homeless Fishmonger Is My Billionaire Husband (@shortmax_app)In Love with My Exs Father (@kalostvapp)
#vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

It finally happened: I had him all to myself for an extended podcast hangout — Jeff Violette. 🎧
The construction engineer and the business informatics graduate don’t talk about high-brow academic topics — instead, we talk Verticals 😉
After several years working in construction, Jeff was encouraged during his freshman year by his roommate Eric Guilmette @erictaylorguilmette to give modeling a try. He did — but kept it pretty low-key at first, since he didn’t really want his coworkers on the construction site teasing him about his underwear photos 😄🩲
His very first job in a Vertical? As Jeff tells it, he already knew when he arrived on set that it was just a background role — what he didn’t know was that he’d be dancing 💃
 Since then, he’s appeared in numerous Verticals and has moved from the background into the spotlight. He’s played a wide range of lead and supporting roles, and as he admits himself, he doesn’t quite see himself in the over-the-top werewolf characters 🐺😅. CEOs, on the other hand, are roles he really enjoys — even if all those suits can sometimes be a bit much 🤵‍♂️
Jeff isn’t just a Vertical actor — he’s also a Vertical viewer. Especially when it comes to the Verticals of Felix Merback @felix_merback whom he openly admits he’s a huge fan of 🙌. Jeff knows all too well how often Instagram ads pop up promoting new shows, and there are Verticals that have almost made swooming him.
I don’t know what you were doing in 1993, but Jeff and I watched Free Willy more than once 🐋 — and absolutely soaked up that feeling of freedom when Willy jumps over the rocks, accompanied by Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There” 🎶. We drift into some shared childhood memories 💭✨
After this recording session, what would I personally love to do? A Carpool Karaoke ride with Jeff 🚗🎤 — that could be hilarious! Just like this entire episode.
Some Verticals with Jeff Violette:
Marry me by Christmas (@app.shorts)Shoot at my heart (@flareflowapp)Catch me, Love me (@flareflowapp)Destined for My Billionaire Soulmate (@app.shorts)Fired, Framed & Fierce (@playletshort)The Billionaire's Matchmaker (@app.shorts)
#vertical #podcast #new #community #actor