Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

Join returning guest Tess Cheng and I as we review the 2025 satirical black comedy film, The Roses. Directed by Jay Roach and written by Tony McNamara, the film is a modern reimagining of the 1981 novel The War of the Roses and its 1989 film adaptation. 

The story follows Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo Rose (Benedict Cumberbatch), a seemingly perfect couple whose lives unravel when Theo’s career declines just as Ivy’s culinary ambitions take off. Their professional shift triggers a domestic cold war filled with fierce competition and resentment. We discuss spoilers!

The film also features Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Allison Janney, and Zoë Chao.

You can currently stream The Roses on Hulu or the Hulu on Disney+ bundle.

Feel free to hear our previous conversation about the film, Friendship, starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd.

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. You can also follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava.

In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Israeli-born, New York-based artist Mifarma to discuss her evolution from a singer of romantic Hebrew ballads to a creator of dark and gothic English anthems. We explore the origins of her moniker - a play on the Hebrew word for monster - and how her alter ego serves as an avatar for the contradictions of the human experience, feeling "from everywhere and nowhere".

Content Warning: This episode contains candid discussions of sexual trauma and violence. Mifarma opens up about the traumatic event that shifted her artistic perspective, leading her to write blunt lyrics.

She explains why her latest release is an anti-catharsis record, rejecting linear narratives of healing in favor of acknowledging that recovery is volatile and unpredictable. We also discuss specific tracks, including Somnambulist, which explores dissociation, and I Left The Room Without My Hair, which Mifarma describes as a hymn for women and a straightforward discussion of sexual violence.

Beyond the lyrics, we examine Mifarma’s unique role as a curator who creates an amalgamation of different artists by collaborating with composers to blend genres from Mozart to rap.

Join us for a raw and deeply personal conversation about finding your freedom language, grieving the self, and the power of owning rejection.

Episode #146: In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Aidan Kushner, the creator of the new YouTube web series, Why Try. This comedy celebrates the God-given right to be miserable in a modern world that constantly tries to force a negative into a positive.

Aidan discusses his background in stand-up and sketch comedy (including his time at Second City) and how he transitioned into narrative filmmaking.

• Premise: Two cynical 20-somethings who meet at an emotional support group and bond over their mutual hatred of everyone else there.

This episode covers:

• The Anti-Sitcom: Aidan discusses his influences, ranging from the neurotic Jewish humor of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld to dark British wit, and how he writes characters who never learn their lesson.
• The "Blacklist": A deep dive into the show’s absurd plotlines, specifically the sex blacklist - a registry for people who are bad at sex, and the main character’s placement on it due to a belt incident.
• Toxic Negativity vs. Toxic Positivity: Aidan explains the real-life inspiration behind the show’s opening scene at a support group, satirizing the echo chamber of toxic positivity to cure depression.
• How to write Cringe Comedy: How Aidan translates real-life awkwardness into script, ensuring that while the characters may be mean, their actions stem from relatable social gray areas rather than malice.
• Micro-Episodic Storytelling: A look at the production format of releasing 3-to-5-minute chunks that coalesce into a full sitcom narrative,
• Season 2: A tease for Season 2 releasing on February 12, 2026.

Cast/Crew credited on iMDB are:

• Dixie O' Connell as Daisy
• ⁠Sydney Nocerino as Melanie⁠
• Sean Gordon - credited under Sean S Gordon on iMDB - as Aaron
• Dorothea Miller as Rachel
• Christian Clements as Gregory
• Jack Alano as Archie
• Ivan Richter as Billy
• Aidan Kushner as Creator/Executive Producer/Director/Editor/Party Guy/Man on the Phone/Waiter
• Tate M. Coan as Vicky
• Claire Kane as Annoying Speaker
• Haylin Davis as Amy
• Mark Gacki as Poker Joe
• Michael Newman as Barry
• Hayden Keegan as Waiter
• Sophia Astor as Boom Operator
• Reed Gordon as Script Supervisor.

You can watch the series on YouTube under Aidan Kushner or follow the show on Instagram @whytry_webseries. You can also follow Aidan @aidan_kushner.

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. You can also follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava.

Before The Sopranos or The Wire, there was Tales from The Crypt. In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri hears untold stories with Alan Katz (frequently credited as A L Katz), the writer, producer, and legendary "Keeper of the Franchise" for HBO’s Tales from the Crypt.

Alan takes us on a wild ride through what he calls the Hollywood excess-era of the 1990s, revealing how a show with no bible became a cultural phenomenon that pioneered prestige TV. Alan shares the untold war stories that could only happen in the golden age of television creative freedom.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Inventing an Icon: How Alan created the Crypt Keeper’s little Groucho Marx personality and backstory because the producers had a puppet but no plan
• Hollywood Chaos: The Meatloaf Incident, convincing Tim Curry to skip Mardi Gras and play three roles in an episode, the cancellation of their movie (Dead Easy) and the production of the movie, Bordello of Blood
• CONTENT WARNING: We delve into mental health and childhood trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

Whether you are a horror fanatic or a creator trying to find your own voice, this is an insightful listen.

Alan's podcast is called The How NOT To Make a Movie Podcast and is available on all major 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 us on Instagram @letstalkmedia.

If you’ve ever tried to quit smoking or quit vaping and realized willpower alone is not enough, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Jessi Hartnett, a former smoker, author of Honor Your Heart and creator of the You Can Quit Smoking podcast, to break down a more sustainable way to overcome nicotine addiction - without spiraling into shame.

In this conversation, we unpack the difference between the willpower route (White-knuckling cravings) and the mindset route (Changing the beliefs and needs that keep pulling you back).

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why smoking/vaping is often a psychological dependency, not just a physical habit

• How media and marketing shape cravings and identity (from classic TV culture to social media)

• The hidden needs smoking can be meeting (stress relief, control, belonging) - and healthier replacements

• How perfectionism and hustle culture can turn quitting into a self-bullying loop

• A healthier way to handle relapse (as data and practice, not seeing it as failure)

• The identity shift phase: That weird liminal in-between when trying to quit and how to move through it

• Tools and resources Jessi shares for cravings (including breathing and grounding practices)

Whether you’re trying to quit cigarettes, quit e-cigs, or support someone you love, this is a real-world, compassionate roadmap.

Note: This episode is educational and not medical advice.

You can find Honor Your Heart on their website (honoryourheart.net) and on social media (@_honoryourheart on Instagram, @JessiHartnett on YouTube, and @honoryourheart on TikTok). Jessi's podcast is called You Can Quit Smoking and is available on all major 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. You can also follow us on Instagram @⁠letstalkmediava.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri interviews Geraldine Carriere - an Indigenous serial entrepreneur, author, and recording artist.

Coming from a small, isolated northern community, Geraldine shares her mission to help women and Indigenous youth find their authentic selves. Geraldine argues that entrepreneurship is women into their DNA.

Key themes explored in this episode include:

• The Serviceberry Philosophy: Drawing from the book The Serviceberry, Geraldine contrasts the capitalist tendency to hoard resources with the Indigenous concept of reciprocity. She shares the parable of a hunter to explain that “true success is seeing it in the belly of your neighbor."
• The Seventh Generation Prophecy: She discusses the historical trauma where it was illegal to be Indigenous and how she views herself as part of the prophesied Seventh Generation - those destined to step forward, do the hard work of restoration, and heal their communities.
• Oral Tradition as Strategy: Geraldine explains that as an oral traditional people, storytelling is the most effective way to cut through the noise and reach the heart of the matter, a skill she utilizes in her music and writing
• Pride, Presence, and Productivity: A look at her transformational coaching program and book, which helps people hold a mirror to themselves and have the crucial conversations necessary for self-mastery.

Listeners can check out her book Wild Woman: Master the Art of Pride, Presence, & Productivity on Kindle and her music released under Ger Carriere.

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. You can also follow us on Instagram @⁠letstalkmediava.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with the legendary Deborah Lindquist, a visionary designer and pioneer known as the “Green Queen” of the fashion world.

With a career spanning over four decades, Deborah has redefined sustainable luxury through her unique process of upcycling, transforming recycled and organic materials into one-of-a-kind couture.

Deborah shares the fascinating stories behind her high-profile collaborations with some of the biggest names in media and entertainment. We dive into her work with trailblazers such as Rihanna for her song "Unfaithful", Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé, Emma Watson, Alison Brie, Paris Hilton, Paula Abdul, P!nk, Lea Thompson, Michelle Williams, Christina Aguilera, and many others. She recounts the iconic moment she met Sharon Stone during a photo shoot and ended up giving the actress literally a shirt off her back - a skull sweater that became an overnight media sensation.

We also explore her time as the wardrobe stylist for the Pussycat Dolls during their early burlesque days at the Roxy, and her studio's work with other mega-stars like Pink

Beyond the glitz of the red carpet, Deborah provides a hard-hitting critique of fast fashion, labeling it a race to the bottom that harms both natural resources and human labor. Drawing on her childhood roots on a farm, she explains her core philosophy that everything matters - from the soil and water to the integrity of the creative process.

Key highlights from our conversation include:

• The 1000-Pound Pivot: How Deborah survived being labeled a non-essential worker during COVID-19 by committing to 1000 pounds of denim to manufacture masks.
• Media Archaeology: The science behind her sonic fabric, an experimental material made from recycled audio cassette tapes that actually retains sound.
• Innovative Materials: Her use of military parachutes, vintage kimonos, and saris to create sustainable high fashion.
• The Green Quen Mission: Insights into her vegan fashion line and her educational series, "Creating Eco-Conscious Fashion," which helps the next generation of creators turn non-tangible ideas into physical art.

Whether you are interested in celebrity lore or the ethics of the global garment industry, this episode is an insightful deep-dive into entrepreneurial resilience and creative transformation.

Visit deborahlindquist.com to find her fashion line, educational courses, and her latest writing.

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. You can also follow us on Instagram @⁠letstalkmediava⁠

In this episode, host Vedant Akhauri breaks down Primate, the new creature feature from director Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down, The Strangers: Prey at Night). He saw this film during a blind screening where the audience didn't know the movie's title or details beforehand, other than being a horror film.

It stars Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Troy Kotsur, Victoria Wyant as Kate, Gia Hunter as Erin, Benjamin Cheng as Nick, Charlie Mann as Drew, Tienne Simon as Phil, Miguel Torres Umba as Ben (practical stunts), Kae Alexander as Yoko, Amina Adbi as the 911 dispatcher, and Albert Magashi as Matt.

Note: This is labelled as a Let's Talk Horror episode, which is my horror mini-series under the Let's Talk Media main podcast. However, I forgot to edit and narrate it as such. It slipped through my mind in the rush of a blind movie review. So, this is the 13th part in spirit.

In the Season 7 premiere of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri interviews Jordan Holman - known artistically as Kentucky - about his major career pivot from the lead guitarist of heavy rock bands to a solo indie folk artist. They discuss the literal meaning behind his album Second Chance Music, the liberating but lonely process of building a song entirely alone, and his profound philosophical take on why musicians must serve as oracles in the age of Generative AI.

Kentucky records from his home studio, The Kentucky Bend, located in Almonte, Ontario. The studio was built under the guidance of the designer for the famous Canadian band The Tragically Hip.

You can find his work by searching "I Am Kentucky" on social 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. You can also follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava.

Content Warning: This episode discusses mature subject matter, specifically physical violence, physical threats, and narcissistic personality disorder. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with C.F. Micky, the author of the memoir Cultivating Freedom: Finding My Way from Fear to Freedom. C.F. Micky is a pseudonym used to give the author the autonomy to tell her story authentically while protecting her family.

We discuss her harrowing journey through and escape from a 33-year marriage marked by narcissistic abuse and coercive control on a Canadian farm. Micky opens up about the subtle red flags she missed, the eventual escalation to physical threats, and the six-year legal battle required to start reclaiming her life.

Key topics in this conversation include:

• The Illusion of Linearity: Micky explains "Cognitive Entrapment," where abusers keep a victim's head spinning to mask the reality of the situation. She shares visceral examples of control, from being forced to load groceries in the rain to being micromanaged on how she parked a water truck.
• Psychological Tools for Survival: Learn about "Gray Rocking" (becoming unresponsive to cut off a narcissist's "supply") and the mental technique of shelving trauma to function through legal proceedings.
• The Legal Reality: Micky details the economic and practical challenges of divorcing while entangled in a family farm business.

• A Guide to Leaving: Beyond her story, Micky discusses the practical resources in her book, including freedom checklists, questions for hiring lawyers, and other red flags, designed to help others identify if they are in a toxic relationship.

Cultivating Freedom is available now on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats.

• Website: cultivatingfreedom.ca

• Book: Cultivating Freedom: Finding My Way from Fear to Freedom (Foreword by Stephanie Ann). Available on Amazon and Kindle.

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. You can also follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava.