Sundance 2026 - Public Access and Seized

Send us Fan MailThese two Sundance documentaries touch on the importance of freedom of speech, and what happens when we both give people access and take it away.Public Access shares rare footage of NYC's media rebels who turned our screens into platforms for free expression, turning ordinary people into stars. We sit down with director David Shadrack Smith and subject/public access star Jake Fogelnest to discuss the wild west of public access TV, why Jake interrogated David before he agreed to participate in the film, and Jake being the original influencer.Seized documents the illegal raid of the Marion County Record, a small town Kansas newspaper, and what happened in its aftermath. Director Sharon Liese joins us to share how she gained the trust of the local people, the importance of telling both sides, and how the arrival of a new intern changed the way the story would be told.Follow director David Shadrack Smith on IGFollow Jake Fogelnest on IGFollow director Sharon Liese on IGThank you to our sponsor, Standard Deviant BrewingSupport the showThanks for listening and for your support! We couldn't have won Best of the Bay Best Podcast in 2022 , 2023 , and 2024 without you!--Fight fascism. Shop small. Use cash. Fuck ice.--Support Bitch Talk here!Subscribe to our channel on YouTube for behind the scenes footage!Rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!Visit our website! www.bitchtalkpodcast.comFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and SubstackListen every Monday at 7 am on BFF.FM