Making Media Now

By Filmmakers CollaborativeTV & Film Society & Culture Documentary Film Interviews

Making Media Now episodes

October 13 Algorithms, Politics, & Fickle Audiences: The Documentary Dilemma
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is journalist Addie Morfoot.

Addie covers media, entertainment and film for various publications. We reached out to ask her to chat after reading a recent article of her’s in The Ankler titled “2 Million Viewers or Bust: Inside Documentary’s Darwinian Collapse”.

According to Addie’s reporting, the Darwinian collapse referenced in that attention-grabbing headline started with algorithms and finished with the White House.

As listeners to this podcast already know, getting a documentary film out in the world and in front of audiences involves many interdependent steps: Funding production to get it made, finding a distributor who can deliver it to audiences, and most importantly…the audience itself.

That fragile ecosystem has always been fraught with challenges at every step. But recent economic and political forces have made it even more so.

Addie’s article and our conversation supplied some real insight into this dynamic.

Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead
56 min
October 02 Nick Beaulieu on "My Omaha," a Tale of Divisions and Efforts to Bridge Them
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is documentary filmmaker Nick Beaulieu, the director of a personal and thought-provoking film called "My Omaha," which will have its broadcast premiere on the PBS series Independent Lens on Oct 5. The film will also be available on the PBS app and its YouTube channel on the same day.

Set in Omaha, Nebraska — where the legacies of Malcolm X, racial segregation, and political division still shape everyday life — the film follows filmmaker Nick as he documents his city’s racial justice movement while attempting to reconnect with his terminally ill father Randy, a staunch Trump supporter.

As Nick delves deeper into North Omaha’s struggle and resilience, the film becomes an intimate portrait of family, race, and the uneasy search for truth inside modern America.

At the same time, Nick begins filming a series of increasingly difficult conversations with his father Randy, a conservative Christian and devoted Trump supporter, whose sudden diagnosis of stage-4 cancer forces both men to confront the emotional and political distance between them before time runs out.

What begins as a documentary about political division gradually becomes something more intimate and unsettling: a reckoning with identity, legacy, community, and the unresolved contradictions at the heart of America.

Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead
50 min
September 28 Documentary "More Than Medicine" Examines Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode are Filmmakers Collaborative members Kerthy Fix and Paul Kloss to discuss their documentary "More Than Medicine" which follows four therapists navigating the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Paul and Kerthy have worked for the past 8 years doing the research, conducting the interviews, shooting and editing their documentary. They made the film because—as you’ll hear in our conversation— they saw people suffering and discovered how in many cases psychedelic-assisted therapy really worked.

"More Than Medicine" will be premiering at the Woodstock Film Festival on Oct 17th, 2026.
And Kerthy and Paul are continuing in their fundraising efforts to get the film in front of police chiefs, lawmakers, therapists, medical students, and the folks who are losing hope and giving up.
Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead

32 min
September 21 Mary Mazzio & The Exhilarating Tale of The All-Female Crew of "Mighty Mary"
Host Michael Azevedo's guest on this episode is award-winning documentary filmmaker, former Olympian, and Filmmakers Collaborative member Mary Mazzio.

Mary’s latest film, conveniently titled "Mighty Mary" has been garnering all sorts of accolades and attention since it began its run in AMC theaters across the nation on September 11.

The response has been so enthusiastic that its big screen run has been extended!

Narrated by Elizabeth Banks and Hugh Jackman, "Mighty Mary" chronicles an amazing group of “we eat nails for breakfast” type of women: the first all-women’s sailing team to contend for the famed America’s Cup, the holy grail for one of sport’s most elite and exclusive racing events.
This groundbreaking team was comprised of a group of world class and Olympic sailors as well as Olympic rowers and included a deaf sailor, a Native Hawaiian sailor, and the first African American sailor to ever win an America’s Cup race.

What had been dismissed as a publicity stunt turned into something unimaginable.

In all her films, Mary Mazzio explores the concept of overcoming obstacles, whether it is a fight for social change, or issues of poverty and lack of opportunity.

All of Mary’s films are about ordinary people doing extraordinary things – defying expectations and challenging assumptions of what they can achieve.

Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead

41 min
September 18 Previewing The Boston Film Festival with Actor/Director Ed Burns
Host Michael Azevedo's guest on this episode is writer, director, and actor Ed Burns.

Ed has been a force in the movie world since his debut film "The Brothers McMullen" which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in 1995.

Over the ensuing 30 years, Ed has written and directed more than 15 films and has acted in numerous others, including Steven Spielberg’s "Saving Private Ryan."

Ed’s latest film—Beneath The Blue Suburban Skies—will make its US premiere on Sunday, September 20 at 42nd Boston Film Festival (for which Filmmakers Collaborative is the fiscal sponsor).

During the festival, Ed will be presented with the inaugural Boston Film Festival Award for Excellence in Cinematic Storytelling.

"Beneath the Blue Suburban Skies" tells the story of the Collins family, where the mother Tina feels stuck in a middle-aged rut and struggles with feelings of shame and anger she has toward her two grown children who live at home. And she holds resentment toward her husband, played by Ed Burns himself, who may have held her back.

As an added bonus, Ed Burns will be in attendance during the Sunday, September 20 screening and will participate in a Q&A.

Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead
35 min
September 17 "The [Conserv]atives" Looks At Environmentalism from a Right Angle
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Nadia Gill the co-director of an insightful and thought-provoking documentary called The [Conserv]atives.

From summer 2021 through Donald Trump's re-election campaign, four Republican insiders wage an uphill battle to transform their party's stance on climate change from within.
As extreme weather intensifies and the 2024 election approaches, they confront a political machine built on denial, testing whether personal conviction can overcome tribal loyalty.
This is a deeply personal story about the cost of defying your own side and the haunting question that drives them all: will their efforts be enough before time runs out?
Nadia Gill is an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Encompass Films, known for crafting visually rich, socially resonant documentaries that explore the environment, American identity, and ideological complexity.
Her work has been featured by Netflix, the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg Originals, the Smithsonian Channel and the Redford Center.
Nadia co-directed Planetwalker, a critically acclaimed documentary shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
The [Conserv]atives is her feature directorial debut.
A former attorney and native Angeleno, she now lives in Lake Tahoe, where in addition to making films she runs the Bristlecone Film Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering a local film culture in the Northern Sierras.
Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead
58 min
September 11 "Ghost in the Machine" Proposes That Dangerous Ideas Fueled AI Development
Director Valerie Veatch joins host Michael Azevedo on this episode to discuss her provocative documentary "Ghost in the Machine," which will have its broadcast debut on the PBS series Independent Lens on Sept. 14.

Valerie's film will also be available on the PBS Documentaries YouTube channel.

Valerie’s film examines AI’s troubled history and its present day impact.

"Ghost in the Machine" reveals how the human values, biases and power structures behind artificial intelligence are shaping our world—and its societal and environmental consequences.

Valerie Veatch is writer and director of documentaries Me@The Zoo (HBO) and Love Child (HBO). She is a graduate of the New School for Social Research with a degree in culture and media studies. Her award-winning work deals with the intersection of technology and society.

Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead

59 min
September 04 "Women & The Wind": Three Bold Adventurers Sail Across The Atlantic
Host Michael Azevedo recently had the pleasure of watching a captivating, thrilling and inspiring documentary called Women & The Wind (which is currently streaming for rent on Vimeo).

This intimate and beautifully made and thrilling film tells the story of 3 young women who literally throw caution to the wind and set out on a 2200 nautical mile voyage across the North Atlantic—from South Carolina to Portugal--on a 50-year-old wooden catamaran.

Michael's guest on this episode is one of those 3 women: the film’s director—filmmaker and photographer Alize Jireh.

Not only is Women & The Wind Alize’s debut film, the 30-day sailing voyage—which featured challenges anticipated and unexpected—was her first sailing experience! Talk about diving in with all you’ve got!

Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead

1 hr 6 min
August 28 Tech Giant eBay Tries to Crush Truth Tellers in "Whatever It Takes"
Host Michael Azevedo is joined on this episode by Jenny Carchman, director of the riveting true-crime documentary “Whatever It Takes: Inside the eBay Scandal,” which is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Jenny’s film unspools the chilling true crime saga of suburban bloggers from Natick, MA who were targeted in a terrifying cyberstalking campaign orchestrated by senior security executives at global tech giant eBay.

“Whatever It Takes” is a story of corporate espionage and escalating threats that terrorized an ordinary couple.

Jenny Carchman has made documentaries for both theatrical release and broadcast television, including PBS’s “Frontline,” “American Masters” and “American Experience,” as well as programming for HBO.

Her wide ranging films have brought viewers closer to subjects such as former NYC mayor Ed Koch to The New York Times and to the Grateful Dead.

Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead

1 hr 10 min
August 20 Sophie Vershbow of "It Was a Book First" on Book-to-Screen Adaptations
On episode #200 of Making Media Now host Michael Azevedo chats with Sophie Vershbow the co-host, along with Rudi Greenberg, of a new podcast called It Was A Book First, which as you might guess from the title is all about new book-to-screen adaptations.
On each episode Sofie and Rudi dissect the TV and film adaptations that are all across your feeds, what you'll be reading and watching next, and the business behind what actually makes it off the page.
Along with co-hosting the podcast, Sophie is a freelance journalist and former-Big 5 publishing employee writing about books, the publishing industry, tv/film, and internet culture. Her work has appeared in Esquire, New York Magazine, Elle, The Atlantic, Literary Hub, and beyond.

Making Media Now—which is available on all podcast platforms including YouTube--is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.

About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/

Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead

48 min

About Making Media Now

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Making Media Now, presented by Filmmakers Collaborative and hosted by Michael Azevedo, is a podcast dedicated to presenting informative and enlightening conversations with creators of all…