Let's Talk Media with Vedant Akhauri

A 90-second trailer to get to know my background in working and studying in the media and what drives me in this industry.

On May 2, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) approved a strike, the first of its kind since the 2007-08 strike. Leah Ettinger is a Post Production PA. In this episode, we explain why the WGA has gone on strike, Leah's experiences at the strike, The WGA's demands from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), scabbing, and the strike's ramifications on scripted content and the adoption of AI in the industry.

Ryan Ng is a YouTuber with 3+ million views. In this episode, we discuss how YouTubers get burned out and pigeon-holed by the algorithm, and how YouTubers can avoid that.

His channel is called Ryan Ng Films.

Matt Price is a Multimedia Journalist with extensive experience in news and sports coverage. We discuss the symbiotic relationship between politics, the news cycle, and sports coverage. Examples include the rush for information, echo chambers, and treating news like a sports match. 

Clarification from Matt about Lia Thomas: Lia Thomas is a trailblazer. I did not boo her. When referring to "I", I meant in terms of people who oppose and boo her for being transgender, which is wrong.

Megan Handley is a Communications student at Ithaca College. As someone living with disabilities, Megan has written articles about her personal experiences and how the media depicts people with disabilities. In this episode, we discuss: 

• How the media portrays people with disabilities as villains, whitewashed, helpless, and inspiration for able-bodied individuals.
• The erasure of non-visible disabilities in society and the media.
• The under-diagnosis of girls and/or people of color with disabilities.
• Should actors without disabilities portray characters with disabilities?

Megan's articles can be found on bookstr.com

Black Girls Don't Get Love is a multimedia brand that uses media to change the way Black women and girls are perceived in society. This includes adultification, the strong Black woman trope, and their erasure from the coming of age genre.

I interview founder Eden Strachan about her brand's numerous initiatives - A book, a Film training program for girls of color, a prom to celebrate girls of color, and an upcoming feature film. 

Black Girls Don't Get Love (book) - Written by Eden Strachan and Grace King; Illustrated by Katarina Sibley

Black Girls Don't Get Love (website) - https://blackgirlsdontgetlove.com/

Black Girls Don't Get Love can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Let's Talk Media will return for more episodes in January 2023.

Ithaca College professor, Chrissy Guest, worked on "Beyond Ink and Paint: The Women of Animation," a docu-series that celebrates the influential women of the animation world. We discuss the docu-series and the historical, academic, and cultural barriers for women in animation

Fareeha Abrar is a former Chemistry student and an avid Breaking Bad fan. We discuss the show's difficult origins, our favorite and least favorite characters, all 5 Seasons, and our thoughts on Better Call Saul and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.

Anthony Barbatt shares his experiences of growing up without SpongeBob. We discuss our favorite episodes, the spin-offs (Kamp Koral, The Patrick Star Show), and the show's appeal to kids and adults.

A breakdown of IATSE's demands and some ramifications of a 2021 strike

A discussion of re-opening during COVID-19, Dave Chappelle, and PC Culture.

Shows Discussed:

• Chapelle's Show
• Dave Chapelle: Sticks and Stones
• South Park

Jordan Broking is a TV/Radio/Print journalist at Ithaca College. Jordan shares her experiences and observations as a college journalist, such as burnout, the lack of diversity, and the lack of recognition in the professional world.

Jennifer Spitzer teaches a course in Banned Books and Censorship Trials at Ithaca College. We discuss the banning/challenging of books with LGBTQ+, female, and POC perspectives. We also discuss books that should be banned and whether parents should have control over what their kids read in school.

Banned/Challenged Text Discussed

• 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
• A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
• And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
• Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
• Black Boy by Richard Wright
• Captain Underpants by David Pilkey
• Fun Home by Allison Bechdel
• Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Merriam-Webster Dictionary 
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

A discussion about the stigma towards platonic relationships in India, America, Hollywood media, and Bollywood media. 

Examples mentioned: When Harry Met Sally, Toradora, Brooklyn 99, The Kissing Booth, Will and Grace, The Carrie Diaries, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, and Wake Up Sid.

We share our history with Bourdain's shows, our favorite episodes, what made Tony different, and our admiration for his storytelling abilities through food.

I'm joined by This Strange World, a podcast series. We discuss trends that died and exploded in the 90s/Early 00s, 90s media coming back, how the 90s killed the multi-cam genre, 90s media that should come back, and how we'll look back at the 2010s.

This Strange World is hosted by Chris Ashe, Gavin Berger, and Leah Ettinger.

Selin Tuter is an aspiring Turkish journalist. We discuss her experiences in Turkish journalism, Turkey's media literacy, media censorship in Turkey, and TV/Music recommendations from Turkey.

The history of Sabrina Spellman and a review of her cartoons and live-action shows.

Adaptations Mentioned: Archie's Mad House #22, The Sabrina Comedy Hour, The New Archie and Sabrina Hour, Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1996), Sabrina's Showtime Movies, Sabrina The Animated Series, Sabrina: Friends Forever, Sabrina's Secret Life, Sabrina: Secret of a Teenage Witch, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Bartram High School has made headlines for censoring yearbook photos of its female students. As former students in the same district, Katie Logue and I discuss this controversy, how other schools' censor female and/or LGBT students, double-standards with gender and dress code, and free speech at high-school vs college.

Jay Bradley is a Journalism student at Ithaca College and the former News Director at WICB 91.7 FM. We discuss the importance of local journalism in the age of its downsizing, lack of funding, and comparisons against national journalism

Dasha discusses old Soviet cartoons she grew up with, these cartoon's themes, and the growing Western influence on Soviet cartoons.

Cartoons Mentioned: Nu Pogodi, A Kitten named Woof, Three from Prostokvashino, Karlsson on the Roof, Leopold the Cat, Cheburashka, Neznaika na lune, Smeshariki, Doktor Aybolit, Vinnie Pokh, The Snow Queen, Treasure Island Russia, and Buratino.

Jordan Stecker is an incoming grad student at Teachers College, Columbia University. We discuss how people talk during COVID? What are the ramifications for kids during the pandemic? What's it like to teach during COVID? How is COVID different for introverts and extroverts? And how will communication look like Post-COVID?

My first impressions of How I Met Your Father, the upcoming sequel to How I Met Your Mother.

Twitter Usage, Super Followers, Echo Chambers, Banning Trump, and Ithaca College's Twitter culture (Unaffiliated).

2021 Oscar Predictions for Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, Best Supporting Actor/Actress, Best Original/Adapted Screenplay, Best Animated Feature Film, and of course, Best Picture

A discussion of Nickelodeon's "iCarly" and the upcoming Paramount+ revival

Olivia Schlackman is a student athlete at Ithaca College. We discuss the pros/cons of paying college athletes: Worker's comp, Title IX problems, Free Education, Reputation, Time spent for each division, Media Earnings, and overspending in other categories.

We analyze this bombshell interview, American News vs. British News coverage of Meghan Markle, colorism, disturbing parallels to Princess Diana, and the future of the British Monarch.

A discussion of India's STEM culture and Bollywood film, 3 Idiots.

Statement from the guest: Himadri would like to introduce this podcast by questioning why she laughs so much in normal conversation

We discuss our favorite 80s Media, the spike in 80s nostalgia, 80s commercialism, John Hughes' influence on the MCU, and how future media will portray the 2010s (i.e Mustaches and What Will The Fox Say?)

A discussion of the show, Community: Favorite characters, episodes, thoughts on Season 4, and relating to Annie.

How society treats aging women in witchcraft, anti-aging commercials, television shows; and calls them girls in superhero media and society.

We discuss Euphoria Season 1, the two specials, and our predictions for Season 2

Lost Media: A Day with SpongeBob SquarePants, Sesame Street, Lost Pilots, Doraemon, and more.

My initial thoughts on iCarly returning to Paramount+ in 2021. 

Disclaimer: The serious plot-point is a mere theory on Twitter, not from the actual show.

Our long awaiting of the 2020 Election results, how to recharge during Thanksgiving Break, prepare for Remote Finals, and caring for yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Season 1 Finale. New episodes in Spring 2021.

Why there aren't many good fantasy films anymore

We share our best and worst horror films

A PSU Student describes his filmmaking during the COVID-19 pandemic

Five shows that I absolutely recommend!

Analysis of all Spider-Man films, our favorite Spider-Man, and Rumors of Tobey Maguire's return

Beja is a Black Television-Radio freshman at Ithaca College. We discuss the Best/Worst Examples of Black representation, the removal of Gone with The Wind and 30 Rock Episodes, the casting Black voice actors for Cleveland Brown and Missy (Big Mouth), and the coverage of Black Lives Matter.