Media Path Podcast
Big Heads Media
1 Creator
1 Creator
3 Listeners
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 Media Path Podcast Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Media Path Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Media Path Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Media Path Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Documentary Film & Personal Storytelling
Media Path Podcast
04/27/23 • 68 min
We are serving up a film fan's dream discussion, as we plunge deep into the techniques, processes, challenges and craft of documentary filmmaking with two talented creators, Brandon Ogborn and Reed Harkness. Both are captivating storytellers whose productions are based on personal experiences and relationships, exploring the themes of family, community, ethics and society’s expectations.
Brandon's film, 'Damn, Dana' is a character study as well as a snapshot of an unprecedented time in our recent past, focusing on restaurateur Dana Tanner, whose refusal to close the doors of her Long Beach eatery during COVID-19 lockdowns sparked national interest and turned her into the poster child for one the pandemic's most controversial issues, the effect of government mandates on the service industry.
Reed's feature 'Sam Now' is an examination of how individual family members processed the disappearance of his step-mother. Reed facilitated and filmed his brother Sam’s journey to find his mom which led to Sam ultimately finding himself. 25 years in the making, Reed’s brother bonding project inspired his entire family to better understand their own emotions and unique connections.
Brandon and Reed discuss the catalysts for each of their documentaries, the roles played by family and friends, their storytelling approaches and directing styles, their subjects’ receptions of their films and what they learned from their respective themes... boys and men grappling with difficult emotions and how we all responded to the frightening early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Waco: The Aftermath on Showtime, the podcast series, Long Shadow and American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing on Netflix.
Path Points of Interest:
Waco: The Aftermath on Showtime
2 Listeners
An Insider's Look At Biden's Whitehouse
Media Path Podcast
01/18/24 • 53 min
Best-selling author Chris Whipple’s newest book is The Fight Of His Life and it chronicles the first two years of the Biden administration. Chris’s extraordinary access to White House insiders provided him with an exclusive look into the workings, challenges and accomplishments of Team Biden.
Chris’s earlier works include The Gatekeepers and The Spymasters and he is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Politico. He’s also a filmmaker who has produced documentaries for Discovery and Showtime.
The Fight Of His Life opens on the fraught transition during which Trump would not concede, nor allow for a peaceful passing of critical information to the new administration. However, Chris spoke with a heroic Trump insider who quietly and boldly provided the incumbent administration with the tools they would need to safely lead our country.
Chris calls his book, "a political thriller in three acts" and it quickly moves into detailing the challenges immediately faced by Biden: A deadly pandemic, a plummeting economy, an unresolved 20-year war, and the aftermath of an attack on the Capitol that polarized the country. The crises continued in waves... The fallout from the Dobbs decision, raging inflation, and Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Remarkable access to White House insiders including Chief of Staff Ron Klain, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and CIA Director William Burns allowed Chris to learn and explore internal power struggles and back-room compromises.
Chris reflects with us on Biden's accomplishments, from Covid relief to rescuing the economy, to an infrastructure bill, to the Inflation Reduction Act, and preparing NATO for the invasion of Ukraine.
He also speaks frankly about the troubled withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and he offers his views on what Biden should do next and which achievements he should proudly proclaim from the campaign trail. We talk about the mysterious pull of Trump, the future of the Republican Party and the mixed reviews on Kamala Harris, whom Biden has called “A work in progress.”
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Once Upon a Time Time In Northern Ireland on PBS and Prime and The Last Movie Stars on Max and Prime.
Path Points of Interest
The Fight of His Life by Chris Whipple (paperback)
Once Upon A Time In Northern Ireland
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
1 Listener
The Real Brian Wilson & Accessing an Artist’s Path Far Beyond the Beach featuring David Leaf
Media Path Podcast
12/01/22 • 76 min
At the age of 19, David Leaf created a To-Do list:
1) Write about Brian Wilson
2) Become his friend
3) Help him finish SMILE.
Mission accomplished.
You may know Brian as an extraordinary artist who spread surf, song and Southern California style around the world, but there is SO much more to uncover.
David has released an expanded version of his seminal tome entitled ‘God Only Knows” The Story of Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the California Myth,’. First published in 1978, and updated in 1985, the story continues to unfold and this definitive opus has been extensively bookended with what amounts to an entirely bonus book of Brian Lore.
David joins us for an in-depth conversation, digging into Brian Wilson's artistry and influences as we explore his relationships with family, fellow Beach Boys + the triumphant hero’s journey of 'SMiLE’.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending 1899 on Netflix and the movie 'She Said', now in theaters.
Path Points of Interest:
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road
Beautiful Dreamer: The Story of Smile Documentary
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Don Was's Brian Wilson Documentary)
BBC production of God Only Knows
1 Listener
07/25/24 • 65 min
We celebrate the importance of film to entertain, fascinate and illuminate us. Our guest is filmmaker Meredith Yinger
whose latest work is called Scars Unseen. It takes us into the worlds of three inspiring women who have survived domestic violence and terror and are now thriving in their efforts to pave a path forward for others.
Meredith is a filmmaker, Documentarian, and the Owner of She TV Media - a female-led, full service video and virtual event production company designed to amplify women’s stories and voices. Meredith reveals the often hidden truths of domestic violence.
1) Abusers have been abused. Hurt people hurt people. 2) Leaving is a process. It often requires many attempts. 3) The stress of abuse rewires the brain. 4) Abusive energy goes either inward or outward.
Were the men who stormed our Capital abused or abusers or both? Weezy posits that theory. Plus Fritz and Weezy get their young staff’s views on Kamala Harris for President and we are recommending Trying on Apple + and Olympic Pride - American Prejudice, streaming on many platforms.
Path Points of Interest:
Meredith Yinger Amazon Author Page
Books
1 Listener
The Making of a Matinee Idol & Icons of Hollywood's Golden Age (Michael Gregg Michaud on Troy Donahue
Media Path Podcast
04/04/24 • 65 min
When TVs entered living rooms and Cinerama lit up movie screens, teens went nuts for Troy Donahue. Born Merle Johnson Jr. he was discovered at The Golden Pheasant restaurant in Calabasas by bigwigs, William Asher and James Sheldon. Signed to Rock Hudson’s manager Henry Wilson, Troy won the role of Johnny in A Summer Place and was a teen idol by the morning after opening night.
A screen dream, Troy’s reality was a nightmare. Author Michael Gregg Michaud has written books about Sal Mineo, Mae West, Marlene Dietrich and Diane Mcbain. Michael joins us to discuss his biography, Inventing Troy Donahue: The Making of a Movie Star.
Long intrigued by the darker reality behind Hollywood’s seemingly perfect presentation, Michael helps us understand the challenges that shaped Troy’s life. He lost his father at 14 and undiagnosed dyslexia adversely affected his grades and his sense of worth. Troy began drinking in middle school. He says he was drunk all the way through his two TV series, Surfside 6 and Hawaiian Eye and unable to master new lines because of his learning disability and his inebriation. By the time he made Paul Springs Weekend, he was downing three codeine laced aspirins with a pint of vodka, followed by four lines of cocaine just to get himself up and out the door.
This regimen was quickly followed by a career on the skids, financial ruin and four failed marriages. Troy’s charm, humor, wisdom and gratitude pulled him through recovery and bonded him for life with ex-wives, girlfriends and screen partners, Suzanne Pleshette, Sandra Dee, Connie Stevens, Diane McBain and Angie Dickinson.
We also learn from Michael about his other books, including a brand new one on Mae West’s nightclub act. It’s called Mae West and Her Adonises.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending the new doc series on Paramount +, Willie Nelson & Family and Loudermilk on Amazon.
Path Points of Interest:
Michael Gregg Michaud on Amazon
Inventing Troy Donahue: The Making of a Movie Star
Michael Gregg Michaud on Facebook
1 Listener
Documenting Underground Culture & A Punk Perspective On Hollywood with Penelope Spheeris
Media Path Podcast
05/30/24 • 71 min
Her films populate the most notable entries in underground and mainstream 20th century youth culture. Trailblazing filmmaker Penelope Spheeris joins us to share her cheeky Hollywood outsider perspective which allowed her to break legendary ground, with Suburbia and the Decline of Western Civilization trilogy and make significant dents in mainstream film land with Wayne’s World, Black Sheep and Little Rascals. Brace for Penelope’s snidely self-effacing perspective on movies, music, and Hollywood’s club and movie cultures.
Penelope traces her fascination with punk and street life back to her turbulently nomadic life as a carnival kid. In the late 70s, she and her film crew stage dove deep into L.A.’s punk infused club scene and emerged with Decline of Western Civilization I... A film which was quickly banned by the LAPD before capturing a devoted midnight screening audience and ascending into cult status. Decline I was followed, seven years later by Decline II which captured The Hollywood metal scene and then by Decline III, Penelope’s homage to Hollywood’s homeless, punk street kids, one of whom became her long-term boyfriend.
Between Declines II and III, Penelope directed Wayne’s World. She fills us in on capturing Mike Myers and Dana Carvey’s big screen vision, how funny they were on the set and whether or not Freddy Mercury saw the famous head banging, Bohemian Rhapsody car scene???
Disappointments cloud anyone’s horizon but Penelope has come to terms with losing Wayne’s World II and she’s still hopeful that her unreleased doc about Ozzfest ’99 will receive the necessary music clearances for wide release. (We’re counting on you, Sharon Osborne!)
Plus, Fritz is recommending The Beach Boys doc on Disney+ and Weezy shares her nuanced take on Spacey Unmasked on Max.
Path Points of Interest:
Penelope Spheeris on Wikipedia
Decline of Western Civilization Movies
1 Listener
02/15/24 • 58 min
Dan Partland has amassed an impressive body of documentary film work including, American High, Intervention, American Style, American Race and Apple’s top selling doc of all time, #Unfit, which studies the dangerous psychology of Donald Trump. Along with Rob Reiner, Dan is now bringing us God + Country, opening in theaters this Friday. Dan joins us to talk about the film which chronicles the current wave of American right wing extremism that is jeopardizing our nation’s governing principles, our humanistic ideals and the Christian faith itself.
God + Country visits the pews and pulpits of our nation’s mega-churches from where we learn that right wing Christian extremists believe that America is fulfilling a Messianic prophecy and their God given mission is to see it through, by any means necessary. Dan tells us that this current wave of Christian extremism is rooted in racism and is determined to enshrine white Christians at the top of a cultural caste system.
Christian nationalism is the belief that America should be a government mandated Christian nation. GOD & COUNTRY explores how a base of Christians has radically stoked a movement which is erasing the line between Church and State. Dan shares that there are almost 200,000,000 Americans who identify as Christians and many of them now fear that their faith is being hijacked by an extreme right wing political movement.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Genius: MLK/X on Nat Geo/Hulu/Disney + and Expats on Prime.
Path Points of Interest:
1 Listener
11/14/24 • 72 min
Are you looking for comfort, distraction, hope or optimism? We are serving it up with recommendations to soothe, calm and quiet your spirit, plus two inspirational guests! Andrew Jameson is a writer/producer/director who brings his skillset to his advocacy work and Norman Lear biographer Tripp Whetsell joins us to celebrate a life and a body of work that continues to inform, inspire and amuse generations.
Andrew's new project Faces of the City is a series of six documentary shorts which focus on critical community organizing work that is addressing social and economic challenges facing San Francisco's most vulnerable residents. Andrew shares his insights into ways in which the wealthy tech sector, at-risk populations and the city's unique history and culture can unite to forge a balance that would result in more favorable outcomes for all Bay Area citizens.
Then, author/journalist Tripp Whetsell joins the conversation to discuss his new book, Norman Lear: His Life and Times. Deeply steeped in Lear Lore, Tripp teaches a class on Mr. Lear at his almamater Emerson College. His richly researched biography traces the groundbreaking writer/producer's life from his bumpy childhood with a criminal father through his 52 combat missions over Nazi-occupied territory and across his wide swath of history making television.
We get into all of the All in the Family controversies from its provocative scripts to the epic standoffs between Mr. Lear and Caroll O’Connor. From there,Tripp takes us through the spinoffs: Maude and The Jeffersons, to the spinoffs of spinoffs: The Facts Of Life and Diff’rent Strokes. Each one, a trailblazer, boldly addressing themes like race, class, bigotry, feminism, divorce, homosexuality, rape, mixed marriage and menopause.
Mr. Lear’s remarkable cocktail of capabilities included creativity, business instincts, courage under pressure, casting genius and a unique ability to foster relationships with the network execs and censors who came to understand that his controversial content translated into buzz, influence and profits!
Plus the whole Media Path team is recommending content to stream while you avoid the news, curl up and sip something soothing.
Path Points of Interest:
Tripp Whetsell
Norman Lear: His Life & Times
Tripp Whetsell Amazon Author Page
1 Listener
11/23/23 • 66 min
Many young people raised within the restrictive discipline of a strict, Christian evangelical childhood are pulling away from that narrow and dogmatic framework as adults and finding comfort and guidance in a podcasting community of fellow travelers who are walking a similar path.
Among these bold podcasters are two former church leaders who are now critical voices in a campaign against Christian Nationalism and for a free and fair pluralistic democracy.
Scholar, author, coach and co-host of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi joins us along with musician, author and host of Chapel Probation, Scott Okamoto.
In Brad’s new book, Preparing for War, he offers brilliant insights into our history and legacy of colonialism, racism and white supremacy and how our untreated wounds continue to fester and infect our political landscape. Bigotry and prejudice are even more insidiously dangerous when they come holding a cross, wrapped in a flag.
Brad’s podcast with Dan Miller is Straight White American Jesus in which the two university professors examine and discuss the intersection of the religious right and politics in America.
Scott’s focus is on Evangelical colleges. He taught for 16 years at Azusa Pacific University and become increasingly disillusioned by the subpar academic standards in support of white supremacy. His book, Asian American Apostate recounts his struggle to break free of a value system that encourages White Christian cultural power and to, instead, embrace his own Japanese heritage.
Scott’s podcast, Chapel Probation features conversations with fellow evangelical college graduates with horrifying stories to share about life on the inside and their escapes from racist, sexist and unforgiving indoctrination.
We talk in-depth about the problematic curricula at Fundamentalist Christian colleges, homeschooling and private religious education. We explore the meaning of deconstruction and decolonization as the terms apply to those departing from Christian backgrounds, the Seven Mountains mandate, the new Apostolic Reformation, the ascension of Mike Johnson, purity culture, why the right loves Trump and Putin & much more.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending The Holdovers and Rustin.
Path Points of Interest:
Straight White American Jesus on Facebook
Straight White American Jesus on Twitter
Asian American Apostate by Scott Okamoto
Scott Okamoto on Instagram
Scott Okamoto on Twitter/X
The Holdovers
1 Listener
The Post-Soviet Influx Of Western Culture & Musicians In A Time Of Crisis with David Junk
Media Path Podcast
09/19/24 • 80 min
The fall of the Soviet wall and the opening of the iron curtain presented ample space for hope, optimism and opportunity for westerners eager to share culture, creativity, business and democracy concepts with the citizens of the former Soviet Union. David Junk leapt at the chance to work for Polygram/Universal Records in a country hungry for music and freedom. David’s 15 years in Russia were a unique window of time between Gorbachov’s Glasnost and Putin’s re-consolidation of power.
David stepped into a landscape that he called “the wild, wild, east,” teaming with gangsters and corruption and also talented, enterprising Russians, eager to explore new possibilities. David’s journey is documented in his book, Rockin’ The Kremlin which gives readers an inside look at boots-on-the-ground life and work in Russia from the perspective of a Russian speaking, idealistic American.
David and his co-writer Fred Bronson join us for a fascinating dive into David’s adventures... Contract negations with Polygram which included kidnapping insurance, Russian kids’ obsession with hip hop, discovering and exporting Russian talent including two young girls called t.A.T.u. who kissed on The Tonight Show, wearing “F*** War” tee-shirts which they got past everyone because the words were written in Russian. David says that those tee-shirts are now being worn by kids in Ukraine.
This window in time introduced a generation to a complex intersection of culture and politics which was ultimately snuffed by Putin’s coalition with the Russian Orthodox Church and a renewed, vehement opposition to LGBTQ rights and individual expression. Ultimately, it was David’s deep disappointment in colleagues’ support for the invasion of Ukraine and concerns for his family’s safety which brought him back to the states. But still, so much was learned and exchanged.
All this, plus Fritz and Weezy are recommending The English Teacher on FX (streaming on Hulu) and the making of The Sopranos doc, Wiseguy on HBO Max.
Path Points of Interest:
The English Teacher FX and Hulu
https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/english-teacher
Wiseguy - HBO
https://www.hbo.com/movies/wise-guy-david-chase-and-the-sopranos
1 Listener
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
Featured in these lists
FAQ
How many episodes does Media Path Podcast have?
Media Path Podcast currently has 237 episodes available.
What topics does Media Path Podcast cover?
The podcast is about News, Media, Streaming, Podcasts, Books, Movies, Tv, Arts and Politics.
What is the most popular episode on Media Path Podcast?
The episode title 'Documentary Film & Personal Storytelling' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Media Path Podcast?
The average episode length on Media Path Podcast is 65 minutes.
How often are episodes of Media Path Podcast released?
Episodes of Media Path Podcast are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Media Path Podcast?
The first episode of Media Path Podcast was released on Jul 11, 2020.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ