Shawn Setaro is a writer, reporter and podcaster who has conducted interviews with and covered stories about some of the most notable figures in music and specifically hip hop. His work includes writing and reporting for Complex Media podcast series about pivotal hip hop artists such as Complex Subject: Pop Smoke, Infamous: The Story of YNW Melly and Infamous: The Tekashi 6ix9ine Story.

Shawn’s reporting and writing over the years is the work of someone who has spent significant time following the evolution of music and simultaneously, by proxy, internet culture and how it has helped drive the careers of new music artists, genres and sounds.

But before working in the writing and podcasting space, Shawn was a musician who found a gateway into reporting while pursuing his interest in music culture.

In this episode Shawn discusses his approach to pivoting into the writing, reporting and podcasting space. We also discuss his approach to podcasting and music journalism, interviewing subjects and finding the story when creating longform podcasts.

He then explains the tools that he has picked up over the years in music journalism, as Editor-in-Chief of Rap Genius (now Genius), and while creating and hosting the pivotal podcast, The Cipher, that enable him to write for and produce podcasts. We also delve into the collaboration process when working on narrative podcast series.

Twitter: @SameOldShawn

Kavery Kaul is an award winning documentary director, writer, and producer, whose films have shown on television, in theaters and at film festivals including Telluride, Rotterdam and DOC NYC. Her most recent film, The Bengali, is a documentary that explores the ties between South Asians and African-Americans in the U.S.

In this episode, Kavery speaks about going from working as an apprentice editor to directing her own films, taking risks in order to get her work made and moving past the “traditional” ideas and expectations of documentary storytelling. We then break down her approach to directing and producing The Bengali, including defining a cinematic language, and building on the story that was filmed in the field in the editing room.

Instagram: @riverfilmsunlimited

Jendra Jarnagin is a film, tv and commercial cinematographer whose projects have played at Sundance and Tribeca and have streamed on Hulu, and Paramount Plus.

She also recently completed work on the Warner Brothers television show, East New York.

But before working as a cinematographer, Jendra began her career as a gaffer and electrician.

In this episode, Jendra explains her path to becoming a cinematographer.

We then delve into her approach to lighting and filming projects such as the music video, "Oprah," for the music artist Rapsody, and the show East New York.

We also discuss how approaches to cinematography and lighting are changing with new advancements in technology.