Better Call Paul

This week, Paul and Mesh update the latest fallout from Sean Combs’ various lawsuits and the apology he posted after security camera footage of his attack on Cassie was released. Next, they discuss a few updates from Open AI: (1) a multi-year license agreement with News Corp. to leverage its print media assets in Open AI algorithms and search database; and (2) controversy with Scarlett Johansson w...

This week Paul and Mesh begin with the latest 2025 and 2026 Hollywood tentpole picture release announcements ranging from Imax’s 2025 slate to a new Lord of the Rings film starring and directed by Andy Serkis. They then discuss several major new streaming bundles which will further complicate the content ecosystem as well as the NFL signing a deal with Netflix. Finally, Paul breaks down a class ac...

This week, Paul and Mesh begin with a preview the 77th annual Cannes film festival. Next, they dig into the ever-changing NIL landscape: the legal background, recent paradigm shifts, and where major college sports might be headed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul and Mesh kick off the episode by discussing CBS, which, for the 16th consecutive year, was the most-watched US broadcast network. Paul then explains the SAG-AFTRA’s decision to use Nielsen to track streaming viewership data and performance, which will help verify the platform’s own reporting. Finally, Mesh expresses his excitement about Airbnb’s new Icons launch, where pop culture-themed stay...

This week, resident Swiftie, Mesh, gives us his take on Taylor Swift’s latest record-breaking double album, The Tortured Poet’s Department. Next, Paul and Mesh geek out about Fantom Event’s announcement that it will re-release Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings trilogy this summer in re-mastered 4K. Finally, Paul breaks down the FCC’s recent announcement that it will look into the enforceabili...

Paul and Mesh kick off the episode discussing Netflix’s new head of film, Dan Lin, and the potential change in strategy from big budget films to a more cost-conscious approach. They then dive into women’s basketball star and WNBA #1 pick Caitlin Clark, her deal with Nike, and what it will take for the WNBA to provide better pay to its athletes. Finally, Paul breaks down the Archival Producer’s All...

Paul and Mesh kick off the episode discussing OJ’s death and the controversial legacy he left behind. They break down the latest news from Cinema Con- AMC’s survival, Gladiator 2, Transformers, and other IP coming to the big screen. Finally, they give an update on the Paramount/Skydance deal and the tension it’s causing among shareholders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

This week, Paul interviews a long-time client, Chris Babu, who is the CEO of a technology company in the ticketing industry. Chris discusses how he leveraged his analytics background, his stints at Ebay and Stubhub, and his passion for live sports and music to build a concierge service for season ticket holders. In addition, Chris and Paul discuss current trends in the sports industry and some sur...

Paul and Mesh begin with a potential sale of the theatre chain operator, Alamo Draft House. Next, they discuss the recent federal raid of Sean Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex-trafficking investigation. Finally, they break down Sam Bankman-Fried’s 25-year sentence for financial crimes and provide an overview of how the FTX bubble burst. Learn more about your ad choices....

Paul and Mesh dive into the latest sports legal news, starting with a potential gambling scandal involving Baseball’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, whose former interpreter allegedly racked up $4.5M in gambling debts. They then discuss UFC's recent antitrust lawsuit settlement with former fighters and examine its potential impact on the sport. Wrapping up, they discuss Reddit's successful IPO and p...

This week, Paul interviews very special guest Rishika Jikaria, a lawyer who is also a rising star in the world of dance. Rishika and her sisters turned their lifelong passion for dance into a viral sensation during the pandemic and grew their following on TikTok to over 600,000. Using this platform, they have expanded into branding deals, endorsements and live performances all while balancing pres...

Paul and a very special guest, Jessica David, discuss and recap the Oscars - who won, who looked great, and who stole the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We'll be back next week with a new episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul and Mesh kick off the episode with a deep dive into Warner Brothers Discovery's earnings report, highlighting the fact that while streaming was profitable (a first for a major studio), other aspects of the report were mixed. They then turn their attention to OpenAI's debut of Sora, its incredible text-to-video product, and discuss its potential to impact Hollywood. Finally, they analyze Kylia...

Paul and Mesh start by revealing the upcoming theme of the Met Gala. They then provide a box office update, reflecting on Madame Web’s underwhelming performance and the overall sluggishness in the past few weeks. Shifting gears, they dive into Disney’s introduction of X-Men and Fantastic Four into the MCU and whether it can reignite excitement and recapture the magic for fans. Finally, they analyz...

Paul and Mesh dive into the future of sports content distribution, exploring how networks and leagues are shifting towards streaming and potentially disrupting the entire cable business. They also analyze Disney's recent collaboration with Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, who will begin to incorporate Disney’s intellectual property in a metaverse. To wrap up, Paul sheds light on the potential...

Paul and Mesh kick things off with a preview of Superbowl LVIII which will stream on Paramount+ and be broadcast on CBS, both of which are Paramount properties, and they discuss Byron Allen’s recent $30B bid for Paramount Global. Next, they recap the early reviews on Apple’s latest gadget, the Vision Pro headset, and ponder whether its cutting-edge technology will lead to mainstream adoption. Fina...

In this week's episode of BCP, Paul and Mesh delve into their Oscar predictions and snubs. They then discuss the recent updates to the DGA's agreement with the AMPTP, including a streaming success bonus which is comparable to what the WGA secured, despite the DGA not having to strike. Finally, they break down the latest earnings report from Comcast, highlighting Peacock's remarkable subscriber spi...

On the heels of the Golden Globes, Paul and Mesh kick things off with a recap of the Emmys and the Critic’s Choice Awards before previewing some of the most-anticipated films at Sundance. Next, they discuss Reddit’s revisiting its IPO plans and what the implications might be for owners and users alike. Finally, they discuss a recent trend of layoffs to start 2024 in the tech industry and wonder wh...

In this episode of Better Call Paul, hosts Paul and Mesh open with the latest scoop on Tom Cruise's groundbreaking deal with Warner Brother Discovery to develop and produce movies. They then shift gears to provide a comprehensive recap of the Golden Globes, highlighting the standout moments and winners. The episode concludes with a fascinating exploration of the hottest trends at CES, focusing on...

Paul and Mesh begin with a recap of Broadway’s strong finish to 2023 and then delve into the latest rumored replacement for Jonathan Majors in the MCU. Next, they shift to Paramount's exploration of a potential sale and why it might be attractive to a variety of media players and platforms. Wrapping up, Paul shares his legal and pop culture perspective on the recent drama between Aaron Rogers and...

Paul and Mesh kick off the new year with the second annual Paulies! Listen as they recap the best stories from 2023 as they run through their nominees and winners from the categories including: Best Movie, Best TV Show, Best Streaming Service, Biggest Lawsuit and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul interviews Oz Krakowski, the Chief Revenue Officer of Deepdub.ai. Deepdub.ai leverages AI to create localized versions of films and television shows. Paul and Oz discuss AI generally, and safeguards that can be put in place to ensure that actors have meaningful consent rights and the opportunity to earn compensation from the use of their likeness (or dialog) in new works.  Learn mo...

This week, Paul interviews a very special guest, Melanie Chandra. Melanie is a former Mckinsey & Co. consultant and beauty queen who has followed her dream to become a model, actress, writer and producer. Paul and Melanie discuss her journey, her take on the challenges facing actors and writers today, how she kept busy during a dual SAG and WGA strike, and some of the differences between being an...

In this week’s episode, Paul and Mesh discuss the latest GTA 6 trailer along with Netflix’s plan to bring the GTA trilogy to its gaming platform. Paul then breaks down a wire fraud case involving the Jacksonville Jaguars, where $22M was embezzled by the manager of financial planning. They end with the NCAA’s potential new plan to allow schools to pay college athletes directly for the first time in...