Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

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 theatrical worlds. We dive deep into:The Dual Lens: How growing up bicultural in America and Taiwan created an "identity crisis" that ultimately became his greatest creative superpower.Building an Industry: What it was like trying to spark a contemporary art scene in 1980s Taiwan under martial law, and how his 1985 debut, That Evening, We Performed Cross Talk (那一夜，我们说相声), revived a dying comedic art form and sold on over two million cassette tapes.Masterpieces of the Stage: The craft behind his most iconic works, including blending extreme tragedy and farce in the 40-year global phenomenon Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land (暗戀桃花源), and staging karma and memory in his massive eight-hour epic, A Dream Like a Dream (如夢之夢).The CreativitRy: Lai's holistic philosophy on why true art requires learning both the "method" and the "wisdom" of a craft , and his number one piece of advice for creators: never write what you think the audience wants to see .Whether you are a theater fanatic, a filmmaker, or simply an artist looking to unleash your own creative power, this episode is filled with profound wisdom.Follow the show on Instagram at @letstalkmediava for behind-the-scenes moments and updates.New episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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 synopsis: "In this meta-theatrical solo performance, Walter reckons with the role our mentors play in our development and attempts to provide insight into the world's most famous love story. While desperately trying to share his work with anyone who will listen, he grapples with the notions of youth, tragedy, and validation."This play premieres at the 2026 New York City Fringe Festival (with an encore run already booked at the Tank Theater!).In this episode, we explore how Sean and director Dixie O'Connell deconstructed the world's most famous love story, transforming it into a real-time, one-hour dissertation that spirals out of control in-story. Sean unpacks how the play mirrors the universal "crucible" of your 20s, dealing with unmet expectations, the role of mentors, and the romanticized doom of the struggling artist" narrative. We also discuss Two-Way Glass Productions' mission to completely shatter the fourth wall and make the audience an active participant in the room.But this isn't just an interview about a play - it's a 360-degree evergreen conversation on surviving Fringe theater. Sean reveals the grueling logistics of independent art: from the democratic lottery-submission process that removes industry gatekeepers, to the intense pressure of 15-minute load-ins and three-hour tech rehearsals. Credits for Walter Schlinger's Romeo and Juliet (as of April 2026):Lainey Helmers (Producer)Sadie Kalinowska-Werter (Stage Manager)Reed Gordon (Set and Projection Design)Ali Caruso (Costumer Design) Sean Gordon (Writer/Performer) Dixie O'Connell (Director)Listeners in April 2026 can check out more about the play at FRIGID New York here and at The Tank here.Follow @letstalkmediava on Instagram. Subscribe to get notified of the latest episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.Thank you for turning in as we cross 150 episodes!

What if dyslexia isn't a neurological deficit, but a visionary superpower? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Hillary Summerbell, CEO of the literary technology company Summerbell, to discuss a groundbreaking innovation in media accessibility.After struggling with severe visual dyslexia and made to feel stupid in a traditional education system, Hillary spent 20 years as a successful interior designer. Her life changed five years ago when she accidentally discovered she could read fluidly - and comprehend deeply - when text was presented in a soft curve rather than a straight line. This profound realization led to the creation of a software featuring the patented "positional reading arc," which mirrors the natural movement of the human eye to instantly calm visual processing.Backed by a Johns Hopkins University study showing a significant 9% improvement in reading comprehension, Summerbell is redefining how neurodivergent individuals engage with digital text.In this episode, we deep-dive into:Reframing Dyslexia: Why society needs to stop treating learning differences as a deficit that needs remediation, and start recognizing the spatial and visionary capabilities of the dyslexic brain.Ditching the "Audio Crutch": How modern accessibility trends (like audiobooks and text-to-voice) often prevent dyslexic individuals from developing fundamental reading skills, and why Summerbell intentionally removes audio features to force visual engagement.Systemic Failures & Accessibility Laws: The glaring disparities in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding accommodations for physical disabilities versus learning differences, and Hillary's fight to make reading a fundamental right rather than a privilege gatekept by private tutors.Transforming EdTech: How Summerbell functions as a web browser and Chrome extension, allowing users to curve any text on the worldwide internet, complete with AI-integration for guided reading sessions.The Power of Global Media: How Vedant's own 20-year passion for understanding learning disabilities was originally sparked by a 2007 Bollywood film, Taare Zameen Par, bringing this episode's topic full circle for him.To learn more about the positional reading arc or to download the tool, visit www.summerbell.com.Follow @letstalkmediava on Instagram. Subscribe to get notified of the latest episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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.