Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri interviews Rebecca Engel, a neurodivergent educator, author, and advocate who has turned her early life challenges into a global platform for change.

Rebecca shares her extraordinary journey from silence to self-expression, having been non-verbal until the age of four. She discusses overcoming early predictions from doctors and defying limitations to achieve her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education. Her mission is to use her voice to promote empathy, mental health, and true inclusion for all.

We dive deep into how creativity, self-expression, and academic rigor intersect with the disability and media landscape:

• Dismantling Harmful Education Practices: Rebecca details her efforts to expose and replace outdated practices in special education, including a critique of systems based on operant conditioning and the Skinner’s box theory.
• The Power of Empathy and Voice: We explore her children's book, Step into My Shoes, which aims to help kids with disabilities see themselves represented as whole capable people. The book’s core message is that inclusion isn't pity; it's power.
• Creativity as Regulation: Learn about her creative platform, Stitches and Stanzas (which blends writing, poetry, and fiber art).
• Media Representation: Rebecca provides an expert analysis of common misconceptions about autism.

This episode is a profound reminder that creativity and empathy can be such powerful tools for connection and understanding.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 powerful episode of Let's Talk Media, Vedant Akhauri is joined by entrepreneur, author, mentor, and international speaker, Craig Satskovski.

Craig, who is known to many as "The Shaman from Jersey", is a human behaviorist and business mentor who helps entrepreneurs uncover their true identity and define their purpose in life.

Craig explains how he was able to alchemize everything he went through, defining a shaman as a "medicine man for themselves". His life story - including being a 9/11 First Responder, a cancer survivor, and facing bankruptcy and homelessness - is proof that we can truly rise above anything.

Our conversation explores the core principles Craig used to transform his life and why he encourages people to fail as often as they can. He asserts that the only real estate you truly own is your mindset.

We also discuss deeply psychological and entrepreneurial wisdom, including:

• The Vig: An explanation of his book, Everybody Pays a Vig, which defines the vig as the cost or tax that everybody pays in life during their journey to growth and self-discovery.
• Mindset Mastery: Why you must develop a mindset that's so overpowering it brings your subconscious patterns to conscious thought.
• Healing Recall: The technique of recalling past circumstances, even catastrophic ones, by activating serotonin and oxytocin (the feel-good chemicals) instead of adrenaline and cortisol, thereby reframing the emotional attachment of bad memories.
• Childhood Programming: The analysis of how your programming is established from 0 to 8 years old, and the need to change the change that one story that's been holding you back
• Action Over Fear: Craig’s insistence that you must execute on your plan immediately, or else time will feed fear to the point of procrastination.
• Our communication right now is the money, and why we are the commodity and store of value.
• The 2920 Club: A discussion of how to maximize the 2,920 hours you have available each year outside of typical sleep and work, while still making personal and family time.
• The Power and necessity of Raw Communication

Listen in for powerful insights on transforming your story. You can find Craig's works, including his book, and connect with him for a 15-minute free session via his website, craigovsky.com

Disclaimer: This episode covers mature subject matter from Craig's journey, including homelessness, addiction, and SA. Listener discretion is advised.

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.

On this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri welcomes author Joshua Blum to discuss his fantasy book series, The Thirteen Hour. Blum, who grew up during the 1980s, shares how his writing is deeply inspired by his upbringing and classic '80s pop culture, including films like Back to the Future, Labyrinth, and The Last Starfighter.

The story, influenced by '80s fairy tales and one-shot movies, centers on a young man named Logan from a sleepy village who is recruited into his kingdom's military and eventually sent on a solitary quest around the world.

The series, which includes the prequel A Shadow in the Moonlight, Falling Leaves Don't Weep, and Empty Hands, explores the complex process of growing up and grappling with the transition to adulthood through a fantasy lens. Blum also discusses how '80s teen films, particularly those by John Hughes, helped him understand the stereotypical American teenage experience, influencing the dialogue and banter between his main characters, Logan and Aurora.

The conversation highlights the truly unique element of Blum's work: The incorporation of music into his narrative words. To enhance the reader's experience, he created a retro '80s/synth-style soundtrack to accompany the book, available across two albums: Long Ago Not So Far Away (2016) and the recently released Once Upon a Dream.

We also touch upon Blum's short book for children, Your Star Will Glow Forever, a positive poem intended to offer a message of hope, reminding readers to stay optimistic even during tough times.

Listeners interested in the connection between '80s cinema and fantasy literature are highly encouraged to check out this episode, especially as a companion piece to our previous '80s episode with Chris Clews.

You can find the Thirteen Hour book series on Amazon, including A Shadow in the Moonlight, The Thirteenth Hour, Falling Leaves Don't Weep, and Empty Hands, as well as his short children's book, Your Star Will Glow Forever.

Here's the accompanying soundtrack to listen to while reading the above books. Here's the download code for the accompanying book albums, if Bandcamp asks you to purchase or download them after a few listens: cpv5-6ewds7bg-kudcswxn-gvxwssev-79eskfhh-wlfn. You can redeem it here: Link.

You can also find The Thirteenth Hour Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, which explores the aspects of '80s culture as well as a wide variety of influences behind the books.

If you'd like to contact Joshua Blum or keep up with him on social media, you can find him on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Patreon, TikTok, and YouTube.

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.

Welcome to this insightful episode of Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri, featuring special guest Aaron Diecker, a dialogue editor with over 20 years of experience in animation.

Aaron has worked for Fox Television Animation, Paramount+, and Nickelodeon. His career journey began in sound for television and included work on Dora the Explorer.

He explains the critical role of an animation dialogue editor, which involves building the final audio conversation by selecting and curating separate acting performances to establish the pacing and rhythm of the show, working from record drafts and actor "sides".

We take a deep dive into Aaron’s experiences working on iconic shows such as Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, and the Hulu revival of King of the Hill.

Aaron also details his new book, Animation Dialogue: Building the Voice of the Show, a blueprint intended to fill the training gap in dialogue editing. The book covers the three phases of the job: Building dialogue assets, the maintenance phase for script updates, and discussing the lived experience of working in this deadline-driven industry.

His book is available on Payhip. To learn more from Aaron Diecker, you can also attend his Zoom sessions about the field of animation dialogue editing and reach out to him on LinkedIn.

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.

The then-final installment of the Let's Talk Horror miniseries (under the broader podcast, Let's Talk Media) celebrates Scream (1996), the film directed by Wes Craven that revitalized and redefined the slasher subgenre after it had become stale and nearly dead in the mid-1990s. This is a self-aware horror film that uses meta humor to satirize the familiar cliches and tropes of 1970s and 80s horror.

The episode explores how Scream launched a wave of self-referential teen horror films, focusing on:

• Challenging the Final Girl: Vedant discusses why Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott is seen as a feminist icon for being a strong, self-sufficient protagonist who defies the passive archetype.
• Upping the Stakes: The episode analyzes the shocking casting decision to feature a major star (Drew Barrymore) only to kill them off within the first 13 minutes, conveying the film’s message that anyone could die.
• Modern Terror: The use of the telephone (cordless and cell phones) is highlighted as the primary source of terror and intrusion, creating a sense of claustrophobic dread in the home. Ghost Face uses a voice disguiser, turning the attacks into a psychological assault.
• Cultural Commentary: The film resonated with audiences by blending Generation X cynicism with genuine emotional stakes. It contrasts safe suburbia with brutal violence, reflecting the common 1990s motif of the collapse of the American dream.
• Failing Authority: Analysis confirms that, consistent with Wes Craven’s other works, authority figures - including parents and police officers like Dewey Riley - are constantly depicted as failing to protect the victims

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help boost the show and be notified of future episodes, including the upcoming horror mini-series, Sunday Scaries! Follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava

For Part 11, The Let's Talk Horror miniseries (under Let's Talk Media) dives into the divisive 2013 remake of Stephen King’s Carrie.

The episode offers a nuanced take, asserting that while the film was likely unnecessary—a point even Stephen King questioned - it is not an awful movie, but rather a mixed bag.

The episode outlines the film's attempts to update the classic tale, analyzing where these efforts succeeded and where they failed, comparing the modern version to the 1976 original film.

• Visual and Budgetary Shift: Vedant focuses on how the 2013 version is very cinematic and polished resembling a contemporary horror film like The Conjuring, contrasting sharply with the very raw" and voyeuristic feel of the 1976 original
• Character Modernization: A look at the updated interpretations, including Chloë Grace Moretz’s Carrie being more realistic and a lot more sympathetic, and Julianne Moore’s Margaret White, who is depicted as psychologically broken rather than cartoonishly evil.
• Sue Snell: She's more active and sympathetic in this version.
• Modern Logic Failures: Critiques focus on the effectiveness of the cyberbullying addition and the inconsistencies of placing the story in a modern setting.
• Thematic Disruption: An analysis of the climax, arguing that because Carrie is presented as fully in control of her powers and seemingly enjoying killing her classmates, the film shifts the narrative into a "revenge fantasy" rather than the society creates monsters narrative of the 1976 original
• The tonal variation feels disjointed

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help boost the show! Follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava.

For Part 10, Let's Talk Horror (a mini-series under Let's Talk Media) dives into Hot Fuzz (2007), the second film in the Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy, directed by Edgar Wright and co-written with Simon Pegg.

The movie is best described as taking a quiet English town and turning it into a Michael Bay film. Highly disciplined London super cop Nicholas Angel, who takes his job very seriously and has an arrest record 400% above average, is transferred to the ultra-laid-back village of Sandford. Unsettled by a series of mysterious deaths disguised as accidents, Angel must investigate the dark secrets of the seemingly peaceful community alongside his sidekick Danny.

Take a deep-dive into this film that expertly blends action parody, buddy cop satire, folk horror, and slasher elements. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help boost the show! Follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava.

Welcome back to Let's Talk Horror, the special miniseries from Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri exploring the dark and scary side of media.

In this chilling Part 9, host Vedant Akhauri interviews author Lance Marwood about his debut novel, the chilling supernatural thriller, The Charale (published March 1, 2025, by V13 Press). The Charale dives into the intersection of supernatural and cosmic horror, blending occultish elements with generational trauma.

The novel centers on Michael Abney, a struggling writer, and his young son, Gordon. The horror begins when Gordon starts seeing mysterious apparitions and subsequently becomes non-verbal. As their relationship deteriorates, Michael reaches out to his mother, who is forced to reveal a dark family curse.

The curse originated generations prior with Michael’s great-grandfather, Steven Abney, a man who was indoctrinated into a cult inspired by the concept of Thuggee. Steven made a pact with an ancient Indian entity, setting in motion a devastating cycle that demands a due or payment.

If the entity does not receive what it is owed, it simply moves onto the next of kin. This entity has been linked to the mysterious deaths of various men across the family's history.

Lance Marwood discusses how his own unconventional background - including his mother’s upbringing in India and the ghost stories he was raised on - inspired the novel and its central figure, the Churel (a word for a female ghost or witch in Indian folklore).

We explore:

• The book's visceral themes, including the recurring motif of the voice.
• Why this story is ultimately a dark, challenging look at what happens when human beings make decisions that haunt their descendants.

If you're looking for a dark story that is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, listen in to discover the terrifying scope of this family's curse.

You can find Lance Marwood's book, The Cherale, on Amazon or order the E-book or paperback through your local bookstore via the Ingram Spark Distribution.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to help boost the show! Follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava

Welcome to this episode of Let's Talk Horror, a miniseries focusing on media in the horror landscape! For Part 8, we are joined by author and television veteran Eric Rogers, who discusses the wild ride behind his new novella, The Dryer - published by The Evil Cookie Publishing.

The novella, published June 6, 2025, is described as high concept and high fun. This Stephen-King inspired story follows a young couple, Tim and Mary, who buy a used dryer that surprisingly produces oranges. Their attempt to start a business quickly spirals into chaos when the supply fails to meet the growing demand. Eric explains that the horror is twofold: A body horror element involving the wife's addiction to the fruit and the greater, real-world scary circumstances revolving around human greed and consumerism.

Here's the cool part - Eric first wrote The Dryer over 20 years ago (around 2002), then dusted it off and found publication with indie publisher Evil Cookie.

Eric shares the writing process and the differences between serving many masters in a television writer's room and the freedom of being the "master of your universe" when writing a novella.

Eric has had a prolific career working in television, film, and comic book writer. His produced credits include:

• Futurama
• NYPD Blue
• Polly Pocket on Netflix
• Brickleberry
• Uglydolls
• Stretch Armstrong
• Wander Over Yonder
• Kingdom Builders
• Teen Titans Go!
• Littlest Pet Shot
• S.M.A.S.H
  

He most recently served as the Creator, Executive Producer, and Show Runner of ANGRY BIRDS: MYSTERY ISLAND for Amazon Prime/Amazon Kids+, Titmouse Inc., and Rovio, which aired on Prime Video worldwide in 2024.
He's also the Co-Creator, Executive Producer, and Show Runner for the sci-fi/comedy series, MICRONAUTS, from Hasbro Studios (premiere TBD), as well as Creator, Executive Producer, and Show Runner for Netflix’s SKYLANDERS ACADEMY. He's also a 2011 Writer’s Guild of America Award nominee for my FUTURAMA script, "The Silence Of The Clamps."

The Dryer is currently available on Amazon and Kindle. You can follow Erig Rogers on Twitter/X @EricRogersHere, Instagram @eric_rogers_here, and on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and leave a rating to help boost the show and stick around for future episodes. Follow Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on Instagram @letstalkmediava for updates and extras.

What if the deepest parts of ourselves—our shame, our fears, and our unspoken pain—are not threats to be avoided, but rather portals to wholeness?

In Episode 7 of Let's Talk Horror - a mini series of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri interviews depth psychologist and best-selling author Melissa Kim Corter about her latest book, Apothecary for the Afflicted: Shadow Work for Invisible Wounds.

In this book, Melissa teaches you about the shadow, how to work with it, and the importance of facing inner darkness using Jungian Psychology and analogies from Grimms' Fairy Tales. As you work with the materials, you will discover supportive shadow-work practice to soften resistance when difficult emotions, feelings, and sensations rise to the surface.

This marks Melissa’s return to the podcast, following a previous discussion on using horror and thriller films as psychotherapy.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The Shadow and Jungian Psychology: A deep dive into the Jungian concept of the shadow, including the myths of the shadow, and why our hidden pain haunts us until we listen.
• A Unique Fusion: How the book offers a unique combination of psychology, Grimms' Fairy Tales, and shadow work.
• The Power of Story: How Melissa pairs afflictions and invisible wounds with certain dark fairy tales, breaking down the retelling and analyzing the psychology behind them.
• Symbolic Themes: Analyzing stirring and symbolic chapter titles, such as "She who is thrown into darkness" or "She who has been cut to pieces".
• Individuation and Division: Using fairy tales, such as "The Robber Bridegroom," to explore themes of inner division (symbolic dismemberment) and the psychic process of individuation - the movement toward wholeness.
• Tools for Transformation: How the book guides readers to create a "darkness journal"—an essential tool for uncovering blind spots using only a notebook and an open heart.
• The Writing Journey: Melissa shares the pivotal experience of writing the book, which required her to confront her own childhood memories, including growing up around intense and macabre real-life occurrences on a haunted road.
• Vulnerability in Collaboration: The emotional process of receiving contributions (forwards) from Dr. Cydni Brannen (Ph.D) and Dr. Stacy Shelby, as well as illustrator Stephanie Wicker-Campbell, and how vulnerability is essential to receive the gift of their words.
• Overcoming Fear: Practical advice for listeners who are hesitant or scared of confronting their inner darkness, explaining that the ego often misinterprets the process as a threat.
• The Long-Term Benefit: Why the longer you run from your pain, the worse it gets. Using the "beach ball" analogy to illustrate how unresolved issues grow and intensify until they are integrated and released.

You can find Melissa Kim Corter's book, Apothecary for the Afflicted: Shadow Work for Invisible Wounds, at her website melissacorter.com or through major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and leave a rating to help boost the show and stick around for future episodes.Follow Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on Instagram @letstalkmediava for updates and extras.

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