PODCAST · tv
Making Media Now
by Filmmakers Collaborative
Making Media Now, presented by Filmmakers Collaborative, is a podcast dedicated to presenting informative and enlightening conversations with creators of all stripes–filmmakers, writers, directors, editors, technical experts–about their process, their vision, their joys and challenges. Listen in to meet visionaries crafting media in a range of genres and for the full spectrum of distribution platforms.
Episodes
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Algorithms, Politics, & Fickle Audiences: The Documentary Dilemma
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is journalist Addie Morfoot. Addie covers media, entertainment and film for various publications. We reached out to ask her to chat after reading a recent article of her’s in The Ankler titled “2 Million Viewers or Bust: Inside Documentary’s Darwinian...
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Nick Beaulieu on "My Omaha," a Tale of Divisions and Efforts to Bridge Them
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is documentary filmmaker Nick Beaulieu, the director of a personal and thought-provoking film called "My Omaha," which will have its broadcast premiere on the PBS series Independent Lens on Oct 5. The film will also be available on the PBS app and its...
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Documentary "More Than Medicine" Examines Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode are Filmmakers Collaborative members Kerthy Fix and Paul Kloss to discuss their documentary "More Than Medicine" which follows four therapists navigating the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Paul and Kerthy have worked for the past 8…
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Mary Mazzio & The Exhilarating Tale of The All-Female Crew of "Mighty Mary"
Host Michael Azevedo's guest on this episode is award-winning documentary filmmaker, former Olympian, and Filmmakers Collaborative member Mary Mazzio. Mary’s latest film, conveniently titled "Mighty Mary" has been garnering all sorts of accolades and attention since it began its run in AMC…
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Previewing The Boston Film Festival with Actor/Director Ed Burns
Host Michael Azevedo's guest on this episode is writer, director, and actor Ed Burns. Ed has been a force in the movie world since his debut film "The Brothers McMullen" which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in 1995. Over the ensuing 30 years, Ed has written and directed more than 15...
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"The [Conserv]atives" Looks At Environmentalism from a Right Angle
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Nadia Gill the co-director of an insightful and thought-provoking documentary called The [Conserv]atives. From summer 2021 through Donald Trump's re-election campaign, four Republican insiders wage an uphill battle to transform their party's stance…
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"Ghost in the Machine" Proposes That Dangerous Ideas Fueled AI Development
Director Valerie Veatch joins host Michael Azevedo on this episode to discuss her provocative documentary "Ghost in the Machine," which will have its broadcast debut on the PBS series Independent Lens on Sept. 14. Valerie's film will also be available on the PBS Documentaries YouTube channel....
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"Women & The Wind": Three Bold Adventurers Sail Across The Atlantic
Host Michael Azevedo recently had the pleasure of watching a captivating, thrilling and inspiring documentary called Women & The Wind (which is currently streaming for rent on Vimeo). This intimate and beautifully made and thrilling film tells the story of 3 young women who literally throw…
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Tech Giant eBay Tries to Crush Truth Tellers in "Whatever It Takes"
Host Michael Azevedo is joined on this episode by Jenny Carchman, director of the riveting true-crime documentary “Whatever It Takes: Inside the eBay Scandal,” which is now streaming on Amazon Prime. Jenny’s film unspools the chilling true crime saga of suburban bloggers from Natick, MA who were...
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Sophie Vershbow of "It Was a Book First" on Book-to-Screen Adaptations
On episode #200 of Making Media Now host Michael Azevedo chats with Sophie Vershbow the co-host, along with Rudi Greenberg, of a new podcast called It Was A Book First, which as you might guess from the title is all about new book-to-screen adaptations. On each episode Sofie and Rudi dissect the…
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Former Movie Studio Exec Steven Puri Helps Creatives Find Focus
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is former Hollywood studio executive and serial entrepreneur Steven Puri. After working as an executive at three film studios and a producer on films such as "Die Hard 5" and "The Wolverine," raising $21MM of venture capital, and running 3 start-ups,...
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Woods Hole Film Fest Preview: "Hard Twist: Through The Lens of Barbara Van Cleve
We continue our 2-episode series of conversations with filmmakers who have documentaries playing at the 35th Annual Woods Hole Film Festival in scenic Woods Hole, MA which runs from July 25 to August 1 this year. In this episode, I’m talking with award-winning cinematographer and director Cynthia...
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"The Endless Frontier" Portrays Scientists Exploring Breakthroughs As Funding Cuts Loom
The 35th Annual Woods Hole Film Festival in scenic Woods Hole, MA runs from July 25 to August 1 this year and we’re devoting a couple of episodes of Making Media Now to conversations with filmmakers who have documentaries playing at the festival. First up is Michael Azevedo's conversation with...
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Nicholas Bruckman Examines "The Price of Milk"
Host Michael Azevedo is joined by Nicholas Bruckman the co-director and producer of a fascinating documentary series currently airing on the Documentary+ platform called The Price of Milk, which dives into the untold story behind the '90s "Got Milk" campaign and leads a four-part investigative…
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"Mary Oliver: Saved By The Beauty of the World" Celebrates Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet
Host Michael Azevedo is joined by Sasha Waters, the director of “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” a biographical documentary about poet Mary Oliver that is now playing in a limited theatrical release and which will broadcast on the PBS series American Masters in August. Celebrated...
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Filmmaker Jessica Earnshaw Explores The Case of "Baby Doe"
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and photojournalist Jessica Earnshaw joins host Michael Azevedo to discuss her latest film, "Baby Doe," which is currently playing in a limited theatrical release. "Baby Doe" tells the story of Gail Ritchey who, 30 years ago, as a young woman from a…
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Alison Ellwood Shines The Spotlight on "Boy George & Culture Club"
Director Alison Ellwood, whose latest music documentary is “Boy George & Culture Club”—which is now streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video, joins host Michael Azevedo on this episode. Alison’s documentary serves up an intimate and unfiltered look at Boy George’s meteoric rise to fame, the...
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PBS Documentary Spotlights Black Americans’ Role in the Revolutionary War
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Steve Humble, the chief content officer for VPM—Virginia’s home for the public media. Steve is also the executive producer of “Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War,” a new documentary that will premiere on PBS on June 29. When the...
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"Georgia O'Keeffe: The Brightness of Light" Depicts a Visionary American Icon
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode are Paul Wagner and Ellen Casey Wagner, the filmmaking team behind “Georgia O’Keeffe: The Brightness of Light," a feature length documentary that is now available on all VOD streaming services. Narrated by Hugh Dancy and featuring Claire Danes as the...
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"To Write Love on Her Arms": A Message, A Movement, and Now...A Documentary
The original promise of the internet—creating community and a world where people enduring solitary personal struggles might feel less alone—was in full bloom back in 2006 when one friend, Renee, told another friend, Jamie, about a mental health crisis she was going through. Jamie went on to write...
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Undocumented Mothers Seek Sanctuary in "If I Could Stay"
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is director Theo Rigby to discuss his documentary "If I Could Stay," which will be premiere on PBS on June 1 and remain available to stream on PBS.org and via the PBS app for 90 days thereafter. Set in Colorado, If I Could Stay/Si Pudiera Quedarme...
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Documentary "Your Attention Please" Explores Push Back Against Addictive Tech
Although it may be hard to detect, a quiet revolution is underway: As the real-world consequences of social media come into focus, and AI’s invasion into every aspect of our lives feels imminent, a new generation of parents and teens are stepping forward to challenge the systems shaping their…
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Comforting Myths Clash with Brutal History in Award-Winning "Natchez"
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode are Suzannah Herbert and Darcy McKinnon, the director and producer of the award-winning documentary "Natchez," which will air on PBS on May 11 as part of the Independent Lens Series. The film is also currently available for VOD streaming on multiple...
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Brandon Katz of Greenlight Analytics & The Data Behind Film & TV Trends
Returning guest Brandon Katz joins host Michael Azevedo on this episode to take a look at some compelling data that’s informing several film and television related stories he’s recently published. As the Director of Insight & Content Strategy for Greenlight Analytics, Brandon—who’s also a former...
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"We Are Guardians" Showcases Battle to Save Amazon
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode are Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman, two of the three co-directors on Academy Award-winning filmmaker and activist Fisher Stevens's (The Cove) timely environmental documentary called "We Are Guardians" which he produced alongside Executive Producer and...
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Director Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana Discusses "Backside: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing"
Host Michael Azevedo is joined by Raúl O. Paz Pastrana, the director of a new documentary airing on PBS’ Independent Lens series on April 13. Raul’s film, "Backside: The Unseen Hands of Horseracing," set amidst the pageantry of horseracing’s premier event—The Kentucky Derby—goes behind the…
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"Brainstorm" Examines Living with Bipolar
Back in 2023, Making Media Now host Michael Azevedo was joined by filmmaker Bonnie Waltch and writer Sara Schley to talk about a film project for which Filmmakers Collaborative was the fiscal sponsor. The film was called "Brainstorm" and it’s now complete and will be featured in a global virtual...
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Feeding The Rage Machine: Andrew Goldberg's "White With Fear"
Joining host Michael Azevedo on episode is writer and director Andrew Goldberg, whose documentary "White with Fear" will premiere on PBS on March 24. Told by the operatives in the rooms where it happened, "White With Fear" is an explosive deep dive into the decades-long quest by America’s...
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The Big Dig Podcast Team Dives Into the Story of "The Codfather"
On this episode host Michael Azevedo takes a dive into season three of the award-winning podcast series, The Big Dig, produced by GBH News and distributed by PRX. Season three is called "Catching The Codfather." Joining Michael are series’ host Ian Coss and the GBH Managing Producer of Podcasts,...
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"Recovery City" Examines Addiction, Community, and Resilience
On this episode, host Michael Azevedo chats with award-winning documentary filmmaker Lisa Olivieri about her film, "Recovery City," a raw exploration of what it means to be in recovery as seen through the eyes of four women whose lives share a common thread: addiction. Set in the working class…
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PBS Doc Details How Trailblazer Barbara Jordan Became "The Inquisitor"
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Angela Lynn Tucker, the director of an inspiring and informative new documentary called "The Inquisitor," which tells the story of the life and career of Barbara Jordan. As a young girl growing up in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Barbara Jordan was taught…
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Media Entrepreneur Miles Spencer Keeps the Conversation Going
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Miles Spencer, the co-founder of an innovative AI start-up called Reflekta. A few weeks back, Mile’s team reached out to me to say that they’ve enjoyed the conversations I've had with various types of storytellers…and how they especially liked how…
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Filmmaking, Motherhood, Love, and Loss: "Vivien's Wild Ride" Covers It All
Host Michael Azevedo is joined on this episode by first-time director Vivien Hillgrove and producer Deann Borshay Liem to discuss a truly engaging and poignant personal documentary called “Vivien’s Wild Ride,” which will premiere on PBS on January 26. Vivien Hillgrove has been a film and sound...
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"American Sons": A Fallen Marine's Story Unites His Comrades
Host Michael Azevedo is joined on this episode by Laura Varela and Andrew Gonzales, the producer and producer/director of "American Sons," a new documentary that follows a brotherhood of Marines a decade after their deployment to Afghanistan, as they struggle to overcome the trauma of combat and...
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"Bombshell" Reveals Military Propaganda in Aftermath of Hiroshima Destruction
Host Michael Azevedo is joined on this episode by Ben Loeterman, the writer and director of Bombshell, a new documentary that Explores How The U.S. government manipulated the narrative around the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ben’s film will premiere on PBS as part of the American...
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Joshua Seftel Enters "All The Empty Rooms"
On this episode host Michael Azevedo welcomes back Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Joshua Seftel to discuss his latest documentary, "All the Empty Rooms," which is currently available on Netflix and has been short-listed for the 2025 Oscars in the category of best documentary short. Across...
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"Third Degree Burnout" Documentary Connects the Personal & the Planetary
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is first-time filmmaker Nivi Jaswal-Wirtjes, the director & executive producer of a powerful and thought-provoking new documentary called “Third Degree Burnout” Narrated by renowned meteorologist John Morales, "Third Degree Burnout" uncovers the hidden...
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Pixela Films' "The Last Yztari" Merges Innovation & Imagination to Cope with Trauma
On this episode, host Michael Azevedo joined by long-time friend of the podcast Tim O’Donnell of Pixela Films and by first-time guest Mary Dague to discuss the just-completed film, "The Last Yztari." This innovative and moving film tells the story of how after using her body as a shield to…
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Daniel Masciari Makes Film Directing Debut with "Stationed At Home"
Director Daniel Masciari who joins host Michael Azevedo to discuss "Stationed at Home," his debut feature film. Set on a clear and frigid Christmas Eve in 1998, in a small, forgotten city, "Stationed at Home" tells the tale of a solitary taxi driver on the graveyard shift breathlessly awaiting…
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"In Waves and War" Explores Potential of Psychedelics in Treating PTSD
Host Michael Azevedo is joined on this episode by Jon Shenk co-director of a powerful documentary now streaming on Netflix called In Waves and War. Blending observational scenes and animation, "In Waves and War" traces the journey of three Navy SEALs, tormented by trauma, to Mexico where they...
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"The Green Box": A Tale of War, Heroism, and a Son's Quest to Know His Father
Host Michael Azevedo is joined on this episode by Vicki Hughes and Holly Stadtler, two veterans of the documentary filmmaking world who’ve teamed up to produce The Green Box: At The Heart of War, a film based on a memoir by Jim Kurtz that tells the story of his decades long search to learn more...
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Addicts Seeking Recovery Get Caught in the "Shuffle"
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Ben Flaherty, the director of Shuffle, a film that won the documentary jury award at the 2025 SXSW festival. This powerful documentary provides a look into the lives of three Florida residents who struggle to free themselves from a predatory system…
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Documentary Examines How US Newspapers Are Being "Stripped for Parts"
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Rick Goldsmith, the director of the documentary “Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink. Rick’s film offers a clear-eyed look at the current state of journalism in the United States with a focus on the insidious threat from a secretive...
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Director Clay Tweel Delivers "The Bitter Pill": One Man's Battle Against Predatory Pharma Companies
Host Michael Azevedo is joined on this episode is Clay Tweel, director of a powerful new documentary called "The Bitter Pill." Clay’s film—which debuted on PBS on 9/22 and will be available to stream on PBS digital until December 10-- follows the charismatic West Virginian plaintiff attorney Paul...
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"Hard Hat Riot" Foreshadows The Splintering of America
On May 8, 1970, “the Hard Hat Riot” erupted in lower Manhattan. At midday, construction workers, including those building the World Trade Center, violently clashed with students demonstrating against the Vietnam War. Workmen saw the protesting students as privileged “draft dodgers” disparaging…
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Andy DeMeo's "Granite Goodness": News Stories of Progress & Innovation
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Andy DeMeo, the creator and host of the Granite Goodness podcast and Substack newsletter. Andy has a belief that most news thrives on outrage, fear, and conflict. And he created "Granite Goodness" in order to take a different approach. The podcast…
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Rob Spera Wrote the "Anti-Textbook" of Film & TV Directing
Host Michael Azevedo is joined by veteran film and television director Rob Spera. Rob’s been on the faculty at the American Film Institute for over 20 years. His feature films include The Sweet Life, Fathers and Sons, and the cult classic Leprechaun in the Hood. His numerous television credits...
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"Make A Circle" Shines a Light on the Joys & Challenges of Childcare Workers
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode are Jen Bradwell and Todd Boekelheide, the married co-directors of "Make A Circle," a new documentary that offers a rare, inside look at the lives of child care providers and early educators — the backbone of a child care system on the brink. The film...
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"Free Land for Free People": Jonathan Berman Presents a Restored "Commune"
Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Jonathan Berman, director of the newly restored documentary "Commune." Originally released in 2005, the film has been newly restored with vibrant sound and picture quality and is currently making the rounds at movie houses across the US. Commune...
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A Brief Update on the State of Public Media
Here's a brief update on the current status of public media. In short: it ain’t good. If you’re a regular listener to MMN, you probably know that over the more than 150 episodes that we’ve produced a sizable chunk of them involved conversations with documentary filmmakers whose work was broadcast...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Making Media Now, presented by Filmmakers Collaborative, is a podcast dedicated to presenting informative and enlightening conversations with creators of all stripes–filmmakers, writers, directors, editors, technical experts–about their process, their vision, their joys and challenges. Listen in to meet visionaries crafting media in a range of genres and for the full spectrum of distribution platforms.
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Filmmakers Collaborative
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Making Media Now have?
Making Media Now currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Making Media Now about?
Making Media Now, presented by Filmmakers Collaborative, is a podcast dedicated to presenting informative and enlightening conversations with creators of all stripes–filmmakers, writers, directors, editors, technical experts–about their process, their vision, their joys and challenges. Listen in to...
How often does Making Media Now release new episodes?
Making Media Now has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Making Media Now?
You can listen to Making Media Now on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Making Media Now?
Making Media Now is created and hosted by Filmmakers Collaborative.
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