Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode of the media analysis podcast, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Hannah Breisinger, a 2019 Ithaca College grad and reporter/host for the NPR affiliate WHQR in Wilmington, North Carolina. Hannah shares what it is like navigating the fast-paced news cycle during a global pandemic and historic BLM civil rights protests, proving exactly why local journalism is more crucial than ever.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Broadcasting During a Pandemic: Hannah discusses working at a small NPR affiliate during the early months of COVID-19. She explains the domino effect of sickness on a small staff, and how her station adapted to remote broadcasting to keep their essential coverage on the air.
• National vs. Local News & The 1898 Coup: Hannah gives a brilliant defense of local journalism by bringing up the 1898 Wilmington massacre - the only successful coup d'état on American soil, where a thriving Black community and local newspaper were destroyed by white supremacists. She explains how local reporters possess this vital historical context to properly report on modern racial tensions, whereas parachuting national reporters often miss the full picture.
• The Pitfalls of Citizen Journalism: We explore a nuanced take on getting your news directly from Twitter. While acknowledging the power of social media, Hannah warns that citizen journalists lack the training to provide full context, noting how easily short video clips can be chopped up or manipulated just to get likes and retweets.
• Redefining Impartiality: Hannah challenges traditional journalistic "objectivity". She argues that acknowledging the facts of systemic racism and police brutality is not a partisan stance, but a factual one. She notes that ignoring these realities in the name of strict "impartiality" does a massive disservice to the community being covered.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode of the media analysis podcast, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with his former Ithaca College TV Production professor, Pete Johanns. With a rich background as a television news producer, reporter, anchor, and PBS documentary filmmaker, Pete brings decades of experience to a deep dive into how consumer control over media access has completely transformed the information landscape.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Carnival Tents" of Media: Pete discusses the massive shift from the rigid schedules of 20th-century news (waiting for the 6:00 PM broadcast or the morning paper) to today's on-demand internet landscape. He uses a "carnival" analogy to explain how audiences went from choosing between just three network tents to an explosion of endless, specialized options online.
• Echo Chambers & Information Overload: While access has increased, Pete warns about the dangers of niche programming. We discuss how consumers often seek out "tents" that strictly reinforce their existing personal beliefs, leading to tunnel vision and a lack of exposure to differing perspectives. We also touch on the societal anxiety caused by constant information overload.
• The Business of Big Media: Why do people distrust mainstream news?
• Citizen Journalism vs. Brand Trust: We explore the rise of regular people distributing news on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
• BLM News Coverage: We discuss the coverage of the ongoing BLM protests in Summer 2020.
• The Myth of Neutrality: Pete argues that true journalistic neutrality does not exist, as everyone has inherent personal bias. Instead, we discuss how language and visuals subtly shape a narrative.

• The Future of Entertainment: Looking ahead, Pete predicts a post-pandemic surge in cheap, unscripted reality television, and suggests that traditional movie theaters will have to evolve to compete against streaming platforms.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava

Remastered: June 19, 2026

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode of the media analysis podcast, host Vedant Akhauri explores why the radio industry is far from dying, it is simply evolving. Featuring two distinct conversations, this episode dives into the creative freedom of fictional radio dramas and the critical, artistic importance of audio journalism.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Boundless Nature of Audio Dramas: Ithaca College students Noah Pantano and Jay Bradley discuss founding TNT Radio Productions. TNT Radio Productions is an organization dedicated to creating new and original works for the radio/podcast format. They explain why audio storytelling is only limited by imagination, noting that you don't need a $3 million budget for massive set pieces when you can build entire worlds creatively through sound.
• Freedom from the Radio Waves: Noah and Jay explain how the podcast boom has revived the radio drama format. There's less monitoring, allowing creators to tell more diverse and experimental stories.
• Producing During a Pandemic: A look at how TNT Radio Productions adapted to the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown, using Discord, home recording equipment, and virtual collaboration to piece together their mystery adaptation, Clouds of Witness, and an original script, The Assist.
• March 2026 Update: The production discussed in my interview with Jay and Noah, Clouds of Witness, has finally been released on ⁠YouTube⁠ and your favorite podcast apps.
• Radio vs. TV Journalism: We are then joined by Peter Champelli, the Station Manager for WICB 91.7 FM. Peter breaks down why he views radio journalism as the most artistic form of reporting.
• Why Radio is Not Dead: Peter argues that radio is evolving, not dying, comparing its trajectory to the transition from print to online media. He emphasizes that local radio stations remain crucial pillars of the community, while successfully expanding their reach through original, on-demand podcasts.
• The Cultural Impact of Podcasts: Peter discusses the podcasts that shaped his love for audio, including how Serial pushed the medium into mainstream pop-culture conversations, and his deep appreciation for Radiolab's innovative, fast-paced audio production.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava

Remastered: June 19, 2026. Because we're talking about radio, the original audio has an Old Radio filter. I don't have the original files anymore, so remnants of that filter remain in certain sections of the remastered audio.

 "The Voices" by Josh Woodward. Free download: https://www.joshwoodward.com/

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode (recorded in May 2020), host Vedant Akhauri explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has completely upended the education system.

Featuring 3 different perspectives: A graduating high school senior, a rising college senior, and a graduating college senior.

This episode dives into the realities of remote instruction, the heartbreak of lost milestones, and the looming uncertainty of the future.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The High School Senior Experience: Incoming USF freshman, Susan Mago, shares what it was like to have her senior year come to a sudden halt. We discuss the stress of AP exam technical glitches, canceled IB exams, and finding creative ways to celebrate with drive-through graduation parades.
• The Struggle of Remote Instruction: Ithaca College student, Jordan Stecker, discusses the challenges of adapting to online classes, particularly for kinesthetic learners who need hands-on experience. He breaks down the varying success of professors transitioning to platforms like VoiceThread and Zoom, and the lack of communication from college stakeholders.
• The Uncertainty of Fall 2020: With Ithaca College announcing a delayed October opening, Jordan predicts a second wave of COVID-19 and questions the viability of returning to campus. We also discuss the massive financial implications for universities, the potential for faculty layoffs, and students questioning if full tuition is worth an online experience.
• Graduating into a Pandemic: Graduating Ithaca College senior, Chloe Landau, discusses the emotional toll on the college class of 2020. She shares her thoughts on creative virtual alternatives like Roblox and Minecraft graduations, while mourning the fact that she couldn't roll across the real stage to get her diploma in her Heelys.
• The Entertainment Job Market: Preparing to start a full-time job at NBC News, Chloe discusses the bleak reality for media grads trying to enter the workforce. We talk about canceled study-away internships and the terrifying reality of companies scrubbing their job portals clean.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava

Remastered: June 19, 2026.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes mature and potentially triggering discussions regarding assault and the othering of others based on who they are. Remember that you are beautiful and loved for who you are.

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode of the media analysis podcast, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Billy Streleckis. Together, they tackle the incredibly complex and often polarized topic of "cancel culture," unpacking what it really means for media consumers, creators, and everyday internet users.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Defining the Backlash: Billy shares his perspective on cancel culture as an immediate, often short-term knee-jerk reaction, and questions how long a "cancellation" actually lasts once the initial internet uproar fades.
• Separating Art from the Artist: Is it possible to detach a problematic creator from their work?
• The Digital Footprint: How far back should employers and the public look into someone's social media history? We debate whether high school tweets should be considered "fair game," the importance of allowing people room to grow, and the impending challenges for younger generations who are growing up completely immersed in social media.
• Double Standards: We examine whether cancel culture is applied hypocritically, diving into the double standards around abuse allegations in the media and the societal roadblocks men face when coming forward as victims of assault.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava

Remastered: June 19, 2026.

DISCLAIMER: This episode was originally recorded in April 2020. When discussing the various allegations included in this episode, we were working with the information available to us at the time. Since them, some of them have seen massive developments, documentaries, or very public trials in the years since. Please listen with that in mind.

This song: All The Things Lost is from Robert Abraham's album: Robert Abraham

Bit Rate: 320000Genres: Rock, Progressive, Instrumental

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode of the media analysis show, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Bridget Bright, his college News Director for WICB 91.7 FM at Ithaca College.

Standing at exactly 6-feet tall, Bridget shares her unique perspective on the Netflix teen rom-com Tall Girl. Together, they unpack the film and why the coming-of-age genre is taking over.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Tall Girl Experience: Bridget shares what it was like watching the movie with her tall friend group. She also recounts a hilarious real-life encounter where a stranger walked up to her at the college pub to ask if her life was like the movie.
• Critiquing the Tropes: Vedant and Bridget break downTall Girl, specifically how the film treats the protagonist's height as her entire personality. They laugh about the characters bonding over big hands and a love interest carrying a milk crate around for 10 years.
• Rom-Coms vs. Coming-of-Age: Bridget explains why she historically despises rom-coms, pointing out that mainstream teen movies often recycle the same narrow-minded tropes centered on White female protagonists instead of also showing more diverse female perspectives. We discuss why coming-of-age films usually do a much better job of exploring complex storylines and diversifying the narratives being told in media.
• Watchlist Recommendations: Bridget shares her favorite coming-of-age films, including Skate Kitchen and The Miseducation of Cameron Post. We also experience a shocking podcast moment when Vedant admits he hasn't seen Lady Bird, before bonding over recommendations like Portrait of a Lady on Fire and the TV series Killing Eve.
• NOTE: Vedant has since watched Lady Bird and considers it a masterpiece.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava.

Remastered: June 19, 2026.

Song Credit: PUREVIL | Detrimental Isolation | Experimental Horror Music (Copyright and Royalty Free)

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode of the media analysis show, host Vedant Akhauri tackles the massive reality television juggernaut that is The Bachelor. Vedant turns to two colleagues from Ithaca College's WICB 91.7 FM for help: TV and Radio Operations Manager Jeremy Manard, and writing major and college radio DJ Olivia Brown. Together, they unpack the show's massive appeal, the "reality" of reality drama, and issues with diversity and gender stereotypes.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Knowing a Contestant & The Gold Standard of Reality TV: Jeremy shares his unique experience watching the 2015 season because he attended graduate school at Syracuse University with breakout contestant Ashley Iaconetti (Ashley I). He explains why he considers The Bachelor and Survivor to be the "Mount Rushmore" and "gold standard" of reality television.
• Pilot Pete's Drama & 'Listen to Your Heart': Olivia breaks down the chaotic finale of Pilot Pete's season. They also briefly review new spin-offs like Listen to Your Heart.
• Scripting & The Reality TV Contract: Is the tension of Reality TV real?
• Demonizing Ambition & Reinforcing Stereotypes: Olivia critiques the depiction of contestants through stereotypes.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. Tune in next week as we talk about the Netflix movie Tall Girl with Bridget Bright.

Audio Remastered: June 10, 2026

'Sleep' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode of the media analysis podcast, host Vedant Akhauri catches up with his former high school classmate Katie Logue, who is currently a junior at the University of Central Florida (UCF). This episode takes a deep dive into how movies and television portray the high school experience. From the absurdly unrealistic outfits of Pretty Little Liars to the grounded character drama of Boy Meets World, Vedant and Katie unpack which teen tropes hit the mark, and which ones completely miss reality.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Sweet Spot of Teen TV: Why are high school shows so universally popular?
• The '13 Reasons Why' Problem: Katie critiques the hit drama 13 Reasons Why for feeling out-of-touch 45-year-old man and its depiction of su*cide. We compare this to Nickelodeon comedies like Victorious and Zoey 101, which get a free pass for their inaccuracies because they are intentionally absurd and aren't championing themselves as realistic awareness.
• Dawson Casting & Unrealistic Standards: We break down the damaging effects of "Dawson Casting" - the industry practice of casting actors in their mid-20s to play 15-year-olds. Katie points out how this gives real teenagers false expectations and low self-esteem.
• Debunking Tropes (Heels, Picture Day, and Dress Codes): We tear into some of the most annoying high school television tropes. Katie shares her relatable, blister-inducing mistake of trying to wear heels to school like the cast of Pretty Little Liars, and we laugh about how television ignores strict high school dress codes and makes Picture Day seem way more important than it actually is.
• Cliques vs. Reality: Are the "Plastics" from Mean Girls real? While acknowledging that stereotypes exist for a reason and there are definitely "Plastics" in the world, we debunk the myth that all popular kids are inherently dumb or mean. Finally, we praise classic shows like Freaks and Geeks and Boy Meets World for writing nuanced, three-dimensional characters (like Kim Kelly and Cindy) who break out of their isolated bubbles.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. Tune in next week as we discuss the production and demographics of The Bachelor.

Audio Remastered: June 10, 2026

Song Credit: PUREVIL | Detrimental Isolation | Experimental Horror Music (Copyright and Royalty Free)

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In this episode of the media analysis podcast, host Vedant Akhauri reunites with his high school and Ithaca College friend, Noah Pantano. As a lifelong theater kid with an encyclopedic knowledge of musicals, Noah is the perfect guest to help unpack one of the most baffling pop-culture moments of the decade: the 2019 Cats movie. Together, they dive into the wild world of CGI, the dangers of the uncanny valley, and the ongoing debate between practical effects versus digital rendering.

In this episode, we discuss:

• From Les Mis to Cats: We explore the puzzling transition of director Tom Hooper, who went from directing the straightforward, grounded Les Misérables to the plotless, dancing extravaganza of Cats. Noah explains why trying to force a logical plot into a show that is essentially just cats introducing themselves was a massive misstep.
• The Uncanny Valley: Noah breaks down exactly why the film's CGI is so deeply unsettling. He explains that the studio had three safe routes: full CGI (like The Lion King), full Broadway practical makeup, or 2D animation. By refusing to pick a lane and trying to mix human actors directly with digital fur, the film landed directly in the "uncanny valley."
• Pop Stars vs. Professionals: A critique of the film's casting choices.
• Aging CGI vs. Practical Effects: Taking a broader look at the industry, we debate how fast CGI ages compared to practical effects. We compare the rapidly aging 3D rendering of shows like Jimmy Neutron and early Toy Story movies to the timeless, raw energy of the practical stunts in Mad Max: Fury Road.
• A Future Cult Classic: Stick around as Noah predicts that despite its massive flop, Cats is destined to become a so bad it's good cult film.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava for all the BTS moments, and hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode.

New episodes every week!

Audio Remastered: June 10, 2026

"Ancient Rite" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media! In Episode 10 of this media analysis podcast, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with former Ithaca College peer Aaron Ohmstede, who is now heading to the University of Florida to study philosophy and political science. This episode delves into the complicated, highly influential world of celebrity endorsements. From pop stars driving voter registration to tone-deaf ads, Vedant and Aaron unpack when an endorsement works, when it completely backfires, and how the internet has changed the game.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Power of the Unexpected: Aaron explains that endorsements are often most powerful when a public figure steps outside of their usual realm. They highlight Taylor Swift's surprising dive into politics during the 2018 Tennessee midterms, noting how a pop star's endorsement generated massive buzz and donations for her candidate.
• The Best and the Worst: A breakdown of the most impactful and disastrous endorsements. Aaron praises civil rights leader Jim Clyburn's endorsement of Joe Biden for completely swinging the South Carolina primary beyond what any polls indicated. On the flip side, they tear into Kylie Jenner's infamous Pepsi ad, criticizing both the corporation and Jenner for tone-deafly trivializing the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement just to sell soda.
• The Detrimental Endorsement: What happens when an endorsement actually hurts a candidate?
• Reaching the Unengaged: While warning against voting solely based on a celebrity's opinion, Aaron defends the practice by noting how artists like Cardi B (who interviewed Bernie Sanders on her IGTV) can engage massive audiences of young people who usually ignore politics. They also discuss the modern king-making power of platforms like The Joe Rogan Experience, where long-form discussions reach the largest audiences in the world.
• Hollywood Elites: Pushing back against the narrative that celebrities are just out-of-touch elites, Aaron argues that they are still people with a fundamental right to voice their opinions. He urges voters to take celebrity endorsements with a grain of salt, but to actually examine the why instead of dismissing them outright.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava.
Audio Remastered: June 8, 2026

"Unwritten Return" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/