Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

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.

Episode #146: In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Aidan Kushner, the creator of the new YouTube web series, Why Try. This comedy celebrates the God-given right to be miserable in a modern world that constantly tries to force a negative into a positive.Aidan discusses his background in stand-up and sketch comedy (including his time at Second City) and how he transitioned into narrative filmmaking. Premise: Two cynical 20-somethings who meet at an emotional support group and bond over their mutual hatred of everyone else there.This episode covers: The Anti-Sitcom: Aidan discusses his influences, ranging from the neurotic Jewish humor of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld to dark British wit, and how he writes characters who never learn their lesson.The "Blacklist": A deep dive into the show’s absurd plotlines, specifically the sex blacklist - a registry for people who are bad at sex, and the main character’s placement on it due to a belt incident.Toxic Negativity vs. Toxic Positivity: Aidan explains the real-life inspiration behind the show’s opening scene at a support group, satirizing the echo chamber of toxic positivity to cure depression.How to write Cringe Comedy: How Aidan translates real-life awkwardness into script, ensuring that while the characters may be mean, their actions stem from relatable social gray areas rather than malice.Micro-Episodic Storytelling: A look at the production format of releasing 3-to-5-minute chunks that coalesce into a full sitcom narrative, Season 2: A tease for Season 2 releasing on February 12, 2026.Cast/Crew credited on iMDB are:Dixie O' Connell as Daisy⁠Sydney Nocerino as Melanie⁠Sean Gordon - credited under Sean S Gordon on iMDB - as AaronDorothea Miller as RachelChristian Clements as GregoryJack Alano as ArchieIvan Richter as BillyAidan Kushner as Creator/Executive Producer/Director/Editor/Party Guy/Man on the Phone/WaiterTate M. Coan as VickyClaire Kane as Annoying SpeakerHaylin Davis as AmyMark Gacki as Poker JoeMichael Newman as BarryHayden Keegan as WaiterSophia Astor as Boom OperatorReed Gordon as Script Supervisor.You can watch the series on YouTube under Aidan Kushner or follow the show on Instagram @whytry_webseries. You can also follow Aidan @aidan_kushner.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.

Before The Sopranos or The Wire, there was Tales from The Crypt. In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri hears untold stories with Alan Katz (frequently credited as A L Katz), the writer, producer, and legendary "Keeper of the Franchise" for HBO’s Tales from the Crypt.Alan takes us on a wild ride through what he calls the Hollywood excess-era of the 1990s, revealing how a show with no bible became a cultural phenomenon that pioneered prestige TV. Alan shares the untold war stories that could only happen in the golden age of television creative freedom.In this episode, we discuss:Inventing an Icon: How Alan created the Crypt Keeper’s little Groucho Marx personality and backstory because the producers had a puppet but no planHollywood Chaos: The Meatloaf Incident, convincing Tim Curry to skip Mardi Gras and play three roles in an episode, the cancellation of their movie (Dead Easy) and the production of the movie, Bordello of BloodCONTENT WARNING: We delve into mental health and childhood trauma. Listener discretion is advised.Whether you are a horror fanatic or a creator trying to find your own voice, this is an insightful listen.Alan's podcast is called The How NOT To Make a Movie Podcast and is available on all major platforms.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 and follow us on Instagram @letstalkmedia.

If you’ve ever tried to quit smoking or quit vaping and realized willpower alone is not enough, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Jessi Hartnett, a former smoker, author of Honor Your Heart and creator of the You Can Quit Smoking podcast, to break down a more sustainable way to overcome nicotine addiction - without spiraling into shame. In this conversation, we unpack the difference between the willpower route (White-knuckling cravings) and the mindset route (Changing the beliefs and needs that keep pulling you back). In this episode, we discuss:Why smoking/vaping is often a psychological dependency, not just a physical habit How media and marketing shape cravings and identity (from classic TV culture to social media)The hidden needs smoking can be meeting (stress relief, control, belonging) - and healthier replacements How perfectionism and hustle culture can turn quitting into a self-bullying loop A healthier way to handle relapse (as data and practice, not seeing it as failure)The identity shift phase: That weird liminal in-between when trying to quit and how to move through itTools and resources Jessi shares for cravings (including breathing and grounding practices)Whether you’re trying to quit cigarettes, quit e-cigs, or support someone you love, this is a real-world, compassionate roadmap.Note: This episode is educational and not medical advice.You can find Honor Your Heart on their website (honoryourheart.net) and on social media (@_honoryourheart on Instagram, @JessiHartnett on YouTube, and @honoryourheart on TikTok). Jessi's podcast is called You Can Quit Smoking and is available on all major platforms.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.