Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

How does someone build the courage to close down a successful advertising and PR agency at age 28, move to New York City, and book her first Broadway-caliber show in just three months, building a 25-year career starring in hits like Wicked, Nine (alongside Antonio Banderas), Beauty and the Beast, and Anything Goes? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with former Broadway actress, Billboard-charting singer-songwriter, corporate speechwriter, and business coach, Leslie Becker. Leslie breaks down the practical frameworks creatives need to transition from hobbyists to true professionals—from mastering the 7 offstage business roles every performer must manage to ditching the "starving artist" archetype and turning her best-selling 30-year tool, The Organized Actor, into a modern AI-enhanced web app. In this episode, we discuss: Building Bravery & The NYC Leap: How Leslie overcame childhood fear, rejected an account executive corporate offer out of college, ran her own agency for six years, and finally stepped into her true calling on Broadway. The Origin of The Organized Actor: The wild story of calling a major LA theatrical bookstore on a Tuesday claiming her book dropped Friday, writing the entire manuscript in 3 days, selling out all 25 copies in 8 days, and evolving it over 30 years into an AI-powered digital platform. Going Pro vs. Being a Hobbyist: Why a hobbyist works only when they feel like it while a pro works every single day, and why spending just 15 minutes to "do your art first" builds unstoppable consistency over time. The 7 Offstage Roles for Performers: Breaking down the corporate roles every artist must manage (Visionary, Strategist, CEO, CFO, Negotiator, Marketing Director, and Artist) and why mastering the CFO role transforms a "survival job" into a "thriving job" that funds your art. Ditching the Starving Artist Myth: Why creatives were brought here to thrive rather than suffer, and how to eliminate limiting self-talk and negative beliefs. 99% of the Work is Getting Work: Re-framing self-tapes and auditions as mini 3-minute films that you produce yourself, and handling digital-era volume where directors receive 6,000+ submissions for a single show. From Billboard Success to Dave Ramsey: Reaching #4 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with her single "Slow Burn", processing her mother's passing through her 5-song EP, Taboo, and writing speech talks for Dave Ramsey at Ramsey Solutions during the pandemic. New Theatrical Works: Behind-the-scenes of her licensed musical A Proper Place and her new show, Fetching Water (written with Michael Hunsaker). You can also listen to her podcast, Unstoppably Creative, and subscribe to her weekly newsletter, Work It. Leslie can be found on https://lesliebecker.com, and on Instagram @thelesliebecker or @organizedactor If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more vital stories. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast platforms and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday! (Disclaimer: Any plug-ins, including the free15 code for 1-month free on Leslie's courses are unpaid. I don't receive a cut for any redeems. Leslie shared her resources voluntarily for listeners). Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – Overcoming Fear & Building Bravery 03:30 – The NYC Leap at 28 05:00 – From Nine on Broadway to Wicked 06:30 – The 3-Day Book Origin 08:30 – Pro vs. Hobbyist Mindset 11:00 – The 7 Offstage Corporate Roles 12:30 – The CFO Role & Ditching the Starving Artist Myth 14:00 – 99% of the Work is Getting Work 18:00 – Evolving into an AI-Powered Web App 22:00 – Unstoppably Creative & "Work It" Newsletter 26:00 – Billboard Hit "Slow Burn" & EP. 21:00 – Speechwriting for Dave Ramsey 27:00 – The Proper Place & Fetching Water 28:30 – Wrap-Up & Sign-Off

How does a college saxophonist accidentally switch his major to drama simply by entering the wrong building to catch his bus home, and turn it into a 25-year Hollywood career across TV shows, video games, and films like Argo, Velvet Buzzsaw (2019 film), Last Appeal (2024 film), Grand Theft Auto V, Killzone 3, Murdered: Soul Suspect, American Crime Story: Impeachment, Straight Outta Compton, Blonde, and Michael? In this episode of the media interview series, Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with veteran actor, educator, and An Actor's Space founder, Rob Brownstein. His other acting credits include Bean, The Bold and The Beautiful, Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Young Sheldon, Mom, Monk, Days of Our Lives, The Office, Bosch, Mad Men, The Evil Within, The Young and The Restless, and Breaking Bad. Rob breaks down the practical realities of navigating the entertainment industry—from voicing 15 different roles in Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) under standard voice-acting contracts to surviving the modern self-tape era, embracing presence over rigid memorization, and cultivating the mental resilience required for a long-term artistic career. In this episode, we discuss: An Accidental Journey into Acting: How a French school poetry reading in Ethiopia ignited Rob's love for audience reaction, leading from jazz saxophone studies at CUNY to an unexpected major change after budget cuts dismantled the music department. The Business of Voice Acting in GTA 5: Voicing 15 distinct roles in Grand Theft Auto V under standard industry NDAs, and the hilarious moment he discovered he was in GTA V after his son's friends recognized his voice in the game. The Psychology of Performing: Why a script is merely a jumping-off point, and why reacting to the who, what, when, where, and why in the moment creates authentic, believable on-camera work. Navigating the Self-Tape Era: How modern digital auditions have expanded opportunity while increasing competition, and why actors must treat their craft as continuous daily practice. The "Next At-Bat" Mindset: Developing a baseball hitter's resilience to handle industry rejection. Recreating History on Major Sets: Behind-the-scenes insights from playing Lee Strasberg in Blonde, Dr. Harley in Michael, and working on historical re-creation sets like Straight Outta Compton, Argo, and Velvet Buzzsaw. Inside An Actor Space: Why Rob transitioned into coaching in 2011, supporting actors who're early-career, working, and 55+. He also runs commercial workshops and encourages artists to create their own web series and support systems. Why Stories Outlast History: A philosophical reflection on why storytelling remains humanity's ultimate tool for empathy and understanding. Rob Brownstein's coaching programs and private sessions can be explored through his studio, An Actor 's Space. Keep an eye out for his upcoming film, The Rooster Prince, directed by Josh Saskin and co-starring Jackson White, Melissa Leo, and Shia LaBeouf. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more vital stories. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday! Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:45 – From French Poetry & Jazz to an Accidental Drama Major 05:15 – First LA Movie Role in Bean: Working alongside Rowan Atkinson and director Mel Smith on a Malibu cliffside. 06:30 – The Business of Voice Acting in GTA V 11:30 – The Psychology of Acting 15:00 – Embracing the Self-Tape Era 18:15 – Handling Rejection with the "Next At-Bat" Mindset 21:15 – Historical Biopics & Hollywood Sets: Playing Lee Strasberg in Blonde, Dr. Harley in Michael, and working on sets like Straight Outta Compton, Argo, and Velvet Buzzsaw. 27:00 – Inside An Actor Space 34:30 – Treating Acting as a Long-Term Business 42:00 – Upcoming Projects

How does a blue-collar worker from Cleveland land acting roles as Uncle Clive in Netflix's Blonde, Henry The Dishwasher in ABC's Stumptown, and Fabrizio in Nickelodeon's Game Shakers, into becoming one of the most sought-after leading men in the exploding world of 9:16 vertical micro-dramas? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with award-winning actor, writer, and filmmaker Ryan Ray Vincent. Ryan shares candid, unfiltered lessons from his decade-long career in Los Angeles, breaking down how unrelenting discipline, strategic audition preparation, and a refusal to wait for gatekeeper permission have defined his journey across traditional TV, independent film, and modern short-form media. In this episode, we discuss: The Blue-Collar Acting Mindset: How laying bricks and doing construction in Cleveland instilled a lifelong work ethic of earning respect through hard work and daily preparation. Outsmarting the Audition Room: The story behind booking Blonde, buying the source novel overnight, and surprising the director with exact book dialogue during an unscripted improv test. Maximizing Minor Roles: How improvising on Nickelodeon's Game Shakers expanded a 3-line script into 25 lines by Friday. Observing Stumptown's Discipline: What watching lead Cobie Smulders' health and work habits taught Ryan about sustaining long-term performance quality on Stumptown. The Micro-Drama Boom: Letting go of industry elitism to jump into vertical 9:16 short-form media, clocking 10,000 hours on set, and performing in historic Hollywood locations. Acting for the 9:16 Phone Frame: Mastering subtle eye work and micro-expressions in tight close-ups, drawing on David Mamet’s True and False and Orson Welles' philosophy of authentic belief. Human Instincts vs. AI Data: Analyzing Netflix's Squid Game phenomenon, Quibi's premature timing versus Asia's micro-drama surge, and why creators shouldn't wait for permission to make art. A Needle in a Stack of Needles: Avoiding artistic narcissism, standing out through constant study, and keeping personal identity separate from occupational status. Unshakable Daily Routine: How intermittent fasting, cold plunges, and daily script reading build physical and mental durability for the industry's extreme highs and lows (This is not a medical advice podcast). Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Welcome 02:15 – Landing Early TV Roles 04:30 – Expanding Game Shakers 07:10 – Lessons from Stumptown 09:45 – The Genius Blonde Audition Strategy 14:00 – Pivoting into Micro-Dramas 18:30 – Mastering the 9:16 Vertical Screen 23:00 – Why Micro-Dramas Work 27:15 – Being "A Needle in a Stack of Needles" 31:40 – Separating Identity from Occupation 35:00 – Blue-Collar Roots & Personal Discipline: Cleveland construction work ethic, 21-day intermittent fasting, cold plunges, and self-producing Load Star. 39:10 – Advice for Emerging Creators You can watch Rise of The Caged King, Obsessed With His Silent Bride, and A Sweet Contract With The Mafia Boss on ReelShort. His self-produced short film, Lodestar, can be found on Vimeo. You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryanvayvincent. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating, and share the podcast! You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast platforms and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

How do you build a sustainable career as an independent filmmaker outside the major studio system, write compelling supernatural thrillers on a micro-budget, and navigate distribution to major streaming platforms without waiting for Hollywood's permission? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with independent director, cinematographer, and producer Joseph Mbah. Joseph shares his journey in independent cinema, the founding of his production banner Paradox Universe, and the release of his new supernatural psychological horror-thriller, Whispers Bind. In this episode, we discuss: Field Experience vs. Classroom Theory: Why Joseph's community college professor urged him to learn on active sets, plus a humorous look at his first PA gig. Building Paradox Universe: Joseph's vision to grow an independent studio model reminiscent of A24, specializing in a sweet spot of action, sci-fi, and horror. Authenticity, Faith, and Nigerian Roots: How Joseph infuses his Nigerian heritage and personal faith into his storytelling without being pigeonholed into the traditional "faith-based" genre. The Psychology of Whispers Bind: Exploring the film's central demon that targets human grief through friendly, subtle "whispers" rather than brute force. Micro-Budget Resource Inventory: How to write scripts around assets you already own, optimize production budgets, hire key locations for short windows, and maintain humane 6–8 hour shoot days. Set Safety and Catering: Why feeding your cast and crew well and respecting their rest is an indispensable golden rule of independent filmmaking. Horror as a Moral Playground: Why the horror genre provides a unique "breathing ground" to examine faith, trauma, and complex human belief systems. The Cold Outreach Distribution Blueprint: Practical advice on cutting high-impact trailers, contacting distributors via IMDb Pro, working with sales agents, and landing direct platform deals. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Welcome 02:15 – Hands-On Film Education: Transitioning from a high school project to Arizona film studies, and why volunteering on set beats classroom theory. 04:10 – Learning Set Jargon 05:30 – Paradox Universe 06:45 – Nigerian Heritage & Faith in Film 08:00 – The Premise of Whispers Bind Casting & Micro-Budget Collaboration 14:30 – Inventory-Based Writing & Set Ethics 17:45 – Horror as a Moral & Spiritual Playground Distribution Blueprint & Securing Agents Future Action-Horror Projects & Wrap-Up: Staying a student of cinema, upcoming projects, and where to follow Joseph Whispers Bind is available to stream on Roku, Fawsome, and Samsung TV Plus. You can explore Joseph's production banner at paradoxuniverse.net and connect with him on Instagram @joseph_mbah. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more conversations about the craft of media. You can find Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri on all major podcast directories and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday!

How can independent filmmakers break through an oversaturated media market to bring micro-budget horror stories to life? In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Ash Hamilton, founder of HorrorFix, an online hub dedicated to giving the "indie-est of indie" horror creators visibility, resources, and a platform to reach wider audiences. Ash shares his journey from watching midnight Saturday horror movies with his mother as a child to launching his own film projects and media ecosystem. Together, we explore the pragmatic realities of low-budget filmmaking, the art of creating memorable characters over subgenre gimmicks, and how to pitch investors in the modern digital age. In this episode, we discuss: The Saturday Night Ceremony: How watching late-night horror films with his mother sparked a lifelong passion for the genre, alongside his love for 1980s "rockstar" horror, Universal Monsters, Hammer Horror, and Italian Giallo cinema. Building HorrorFix: Why Ash created a dedicated digital platform to elevate independent horror projects that get overlooked by mainstream media outlets. "Write a $700 Movie": Crucial advice for aspiring filmmakers on assessing assets versus limitations. Character First, Device Second: Why relying solely on horror tropes (slasher, werewolf, creature feature) falls flat without characters that audiences love or love to hate. Pitching Investors Realistically: What investors and executive producers actually look for. Inside the Horror Fix Slate: A look at Ash's alien abduction mockumentary Holes in the Sky: The Sean Miller Story, the apocalyptic anthology Final Days: Tales from the End Times, his upcoming documentary Examining Evil, and his 1984 nuclear-scare audio drama Dislocated. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Horror Fix & Giving Indie Creators a Platform 02:15 – Childhood Saturday Nights: The Origin of Ash's Love for Horror 04:10 – The "Rockstar" Era: '80s Horror, Heavy Metal, & Practical FX 06:00 – Ash's Fine Art Roots: From '90s Indie Comics to Hot Rod Airbrushing 09:00 – Oversaturation & Overcoming Challenges in Modern Media 11:00 – Inside the Horror Fix Slate: Holes in the Sky, Final Days, & Mangled 15:00 – The "Write a $700 Movie" Rule: Balancing Assets vs. Limitations 17:00 – Why Horror Remains the Ultimate Launch Vehicle for Indie Directors 21:00 – Avoiding Cliches: Why Character Investment Beats Subgenre Devices 22:30 – How to Pitch Horror Investors: ROI, Marketing Reach, & Attached Talent 24:30 – Audio Dramas & Publishing: Dislocated and Upcoming Horror Books 26:00 – Where to Connect with Horror Fix & Closing Remarks To explore indie horror reviews, podcasts, and upcoming releases, visit horror-fix.com. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating to help us share more stories from creators across media. You can follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.