Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

How does a teenager manage to publish dozens of books before even graduating high school? In this episode of Let's Talk Media , the podcast exploring the craft, careers, and chaos of the creative world, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with 18-year-old powerhouse author Shanti Hershenson. Having published her first two novellas in the sixth grade, Shanti has since written an astonishing 38 books...

How do you take on the monumental task of recreating the sacred music of Led Zeppelin? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, the podcast about the careers and chaos in media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Clementine Moss, the founder and drummer of the legendary all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band, Zepparella . With millions of YouTube views, including 25 million on their cover of "...

What is the reality of being a military spouse when the polished brochure fades away? In this sister episode to our interview with veteran Annie Emprima, we explore the flip side of the military lifestyle. Host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Allison Burton - a military spouse of nearly 20 years, a speaker, and a self-described "professional truth teller". Allison exposes the hidden mental load, emo...

What happens when the battlefield follows you home, and the injuries aren't just physical? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, the podcast about the careers and chaos in media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with US Army National Guard veteran and trauma educator, Annie Emprima. Following a deployment to the Middle East, Annie returned home with what she describes as intense "whiplash"—a jarring t...

In this episode of Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Ammar Farooki to explore the gritty, unpolished realities of the indie music hustle. Leaving behind a secure, decade-long career in corporate banking and marketing in Pakistan, Ammar took a massive leap of faith and moved to New York City in 2019 to immerse himself in its vibrant, multi-venue...

Have you noticed those dramatic, minute-long shows flooding your social media feeds? They aren't just a niche internet trend - they are the foundation of a massive new "parallel economy" in Hollywood. In this episode of Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri sits down with actress, director, and producer Delaney Hathaway to unpack absolutely everything you need to know about vert...

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media ! In this episode of the media deep-dive podcast, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Bobbo Byrnes , an award-winning Americana singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and author based in Southern California. Known as a true "road warrior," Bobbo has spent over two decades in the music industry, releasing more than 20 albums and playing up to 150 shows a year acr...

Welcome back to Let's Talk Media ! In this episode of the media analysis podcast, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Sarah Grave. Sarah is a theatre artist and ADHD Coach, passionate about helping fellow creatives (especially women, queer, and neurodivergent artists) clarify their goals, release shame and perfectionism, and build support systems that help them take action with more joy and eas...

Imagine being the voice of a massive 1978 hit song and getting no credit... until fans asked the label put your name on the record. In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with music industry veteran Denise Marsa. Over a 50-year career, she has gone from performing in the gritty 1970s New York rock scene to currently charting multiple dance hits in the UK. If you wan...

Are the giant monster worms in Tremors actually realistic? 🪱🎬 Welcome back to the media analysis show, Let's Talk Media ! This week, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Sam Baker, CEO of Wrigglebrew , a worm fertilizer company based in Lake Mary, Florida. They deconstruct the campy 1990 cult classic Tremors starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, and Finn Carter, through the lens of actual worm science....

Has the fantasy genre become too tame? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with medically retired 82nd Airborne Division veteran and author Richard Spegal. Richard discusses his mission to rescue the fantasy genre from the shadow of young adult tropes and return it to its dark, honest, and brutal roots. He breaks down how he uses his m...

Are students losing their ability to think critically in the age of Generative AI tools like ChatGPT? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri dives into one of the most hotly debated topics in academia today: The intersection of generative AI and education. Joining the show is Dr. Megan Waldron, an educator with a background in English and journali...

Ever wonder what it actually takes to get into a Saturday Night Live dress rehearsal? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri reunites with returning guest Clayton "Clay" Davis for a massive deep dive into 50 years of SNL history! They explore the magic, mechanics, and staying power of America's most iconic sketch comedy show. Drawing on his recent exp...

CONTENT WARNING for discussions of toxic relationships and abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Why are we so captivated by toxic relationships on reality dating shows? In this episode of the media analysis podcast, Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri sits down with licensed therapist, trauma-informed coach, and best-selling author Kate Mageau. After leaving a toxic marriage herself, Kate...

Are your WIPs (works in progress) stuck in the drafts forever? In this podcast about the careers and chaos in media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with book coach Elyse Seal to unpack exactly why your novel is stalling and how to finally cross the finish line. Her insights are actionable to other fields as well, like screenwriting. If you're a writer trapped in the "messy middle" or...

In this episode of Let's Talk Media, the creator-focused interview podcast, host Vedant Akhauri welcomes back engineer, entrepreneur, and author Bob Labbe for a definitive update of his groundbreaking book, Putting by the Numbers . For decades, golfers have relied on intuition for lag putting. Bob shares how his 50-year engineering background and Edward Stimson's historic 1935 Stimpmeter inspired...

How do you transition from a 20-year career as a practicing pathologist to writing medical thrillers? In this episode of Let's Talk Media , the podcast about the careers and chaos in media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with author Devan Greene. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of hands-on medical experience, Devan writes gripping thrillers that combine real-world science with high-stake...

Are your dreams ever past their expiration date? For Dublin-based singer-songwriter Garrett Anthony Rice, the answer is a resounding no . In this episode of the creator-focused podcast, Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Rice to uncover one of the most unbelievable underdog stories in the modern music industry. After putting his artistic dreams on hold in the mid-1990s to pa...

Welcome to Let's Talk Media, the podcast series with conversations from the media and entertainment industry! Today, host Vedant Akhauri interviews crisis PR veteran turned debut author, John David, about his brand-new investigative thriller, The Bystander . If you're obsessed with true crime vibes, media manipulation, and high-stakes conspiracies, this book needs to be on your reading lis...

Did teenagers in the 1970s really not have supervision? What darker secrets were hiding behind the nostalgic peace, love, and unsupervised drive-in keg parties? In this episode of Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri sits down with best-selling novelist Laura Van Wormer. She's best known as the author of the Alexandra Chronicles , which follows the lives of media industry professionals,...

Are record deals a gamble? How do you survive the realities of the music industry without losing your soul? In this episode of Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Emmy-winning musician, songwriter, and SAG actor Scot "Little Bihlman" to expose the gritty, unpolished realities of the entertainment business. From playing alongside music legends like Jelly Roll, John F...

In this episode of Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri sits down with award-winning author Teri M. Brown to discuss her upcoming midlife fiction novel, Peg Unhinged , releasing on April 21st. Teri shares her deeply inspiring personal journey of reinvention ( TRIGGER WARNING ). After leaving a 14-year emotionally abusive marriage in her mid-50s, she felt broken and assumed she was destined to ju...

In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with engineer and author Bob Labbe to discuss his book, Putting by the Numbers . For decades, golf has relied on the traditional "touch and feel" method for putting, a skill often dominated by touring pros. But what if lowering your score comes down to simple math and physics? Bob shares how he used his 50-year engine...

In this special episode of Let's Talk Media , host Vedant Akhauri sits down with a true cultural architect: Stan Lai . Dubbed by BBC as the “the best Chinese language playwright and director in the world," Lai has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of modern Chinese-language performance. In this episode, Lai breaks down his four-decade-long career bridging the Eastern and Western theatr...

Host and former theater kid Vedant Akhauri sits down with actor and writer Sean Gordon to dive into the beautiful, chaotic world of independent theater. Sean is the brains and performer behind Walter Schlinger's Romeo and Juliet. He also played Aaron in the YouTube web-series, Why Try , written and created by Aidan Kushner - who I interviewed in a previous episode. The play's online synops...