🎙️ New Episode | THE ARTISTS Podcast
"Brecht and Dialectical Thinking"
with Anthony Squiers, author of Bertolt Brecht’s Adaptations and Anti-Capitalist Aesthetics Today

In an age dominated by doomscrolling and passive viewing, what does it mean to create art that wakes us up instead of lulling us into consumption? In this rich and urgent conversation, scholar Anthony Squiers joins us to re-examine Bertolt Brecht’s radical vision of theatre, adaptation, and aesthetics—and why it matters now more than ever.

Drawing from his book Bertolt Brecht’s Adaptations and Anti-Capitalist Aesthetics Today, Anthony explores how Brecht’s theatrical techniques—rooted in disruption, distance, and dialectics—are tools for reshaping not just art but consciousness.

We cover:

1. Brecht in the Age of Doomscrolling – How Epic Theatre holds up against passive digital aesthetics.

2. Brecht’s Techniques and Innovations – From Gestus to the Alienation Effect, and how they work today.

3. Filmmakers Who Echo Brecht – Cinema that resists identification.

4. Brecht vs. Stanislavski – Emotional immersion vs. critical distance.

5. Art That Effects Consciousness – Why Brecht wanted you to think, not feel.

6. Aristotelian vs. Brechtian Plot Structures – Neat catharsis or jagged provocation?

7. Sartre and Brecht – Political art as philosophical ground.

8. Adaptation as Intervention – Brecht’s irreverent, purpose-driven approach to classic texts.

9. Dialectical Thinking as Creative Tool – Ways to think in tension, contradiction, and complexity.

10. Epic Theatre in 2025 – What does radical performance look like now?

11. Instagram Reels & Passive Aesthetics – What does it mean to consume without questioning?

12. Gestus in Performance – The body as a site of political storytelling.

13. Shakespeare vs. Brecht – Poetic psychology vs. historical materialism.

💭 “The proof of the pudding is in the tasting.”
Let this episode be your first bite into Brecht’s theatrical revolution.

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This episode of The Artists Podcast promises a captivating exploration of the evolving media landscape, featuring renowned producer, professor, and media cartographer Evan Shapiro. Known for mapping the tech and entertainment ecosystem with sharp insights, Shapiro’s work in his Media War & Peace newsletter has helped shape the conversation around the future of media. With a background that includes running TV networks, winning an Emmy and two Peabody Awards, and speaking at prestigious events like SXSW and MIPCOM, Shapiro brings unparalleled expertise to the table.

In this episode, Shapiro dissects the mess the media universe is in and addresses the burning question: Is content still king, or has data taken over?

Key highlights include:

• Data as the Audience's Voice

• Algorithms vs. Creativity

• The Global Fascination with Adolescence:

• The Mass Middle: Streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, and Jio are making strategic moves toward appealing to the mass middle.

• Shakespearean Testing of Content: Shapiro draws a parallel to Shakespeare’s method of testing his plays with live audiences. Should we be testing our content in a similar way before launching it into the world?

• The Evolutionary Leap in Filmmaking:It’s not about competition; it’s about evolution.

This episode offers an insightful look at the intersection of content creation, data, and filmmaking in a rapidly changing industry. Don’t miss it—The Artists Podcast is dropping soon. (Link in bio.)

connect with us on our insta handle the.artistspodcast and tell us what you think of it.

Music Courtesy: Francesco Biondi (IPI: 00542050494) pixabay -

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Steve Jobs was the greatest Design Thinker!
How do you explain design thinking to a layman?Why should everyone be a design thinker?
There is nothing B2B.. it's always human to human!
A great episode with Preeti Vyas Giannetti, an artist, Brand designer, and entrepreneur who has steered VGC over the last two decades to a top position in India as an independent Design and Communication Consultancy. Preeti has been invited to serve on the jury for prestigious awards such as the Cannes Festival (twice), the New York Festivals, and the D&AD London awards, among others. Tune in to this fantastic episode to open your minds from being good to great... coz that doesn't come from being in cheap and safe zones.

Follow @THE.ARTISTSPODCAST for insights!

Email id: metaphysicallab@gmail.com/

You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia,

For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization.
The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state.

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Who Was Shyam Benegal as a Person?

How did he think? What was his style of working? And how did his worldview shape not just his films, but also the people around him?

Shyam Benegal wasn’t just a filmmaker—he was a visionary who reshaped Indian cinema. His influence extended beyond his own films, shaping generations of storytellers, including his nephew, Dev Benegal—an award-winning filmmaker who carved his own path while carrying forward the spirit of fearless, independent storytelling.

In this fascinating conversation, Suchita digs deep with Dev Benegal, exploring his cinematic journey—one that collided with legends, challenged conventions, and uncovered the truths of filmmaking. From the importance of scripts to finding your unique voice, this episode is packed with invaluable insights.

🎬 Did you know?

• Bong Joon-ho watches a film a day.
• Werner Herzog watches just 3-4 films a year.

Does watching too many films dilute your voice, or does it sharpen your vision?

And then there’s the question of scripts. If movies are ultimately made on the editing table, should scripts ever be considered final? Should filmmakers abandon audience testing in pursuit of raw, unfiltered storytelling?

Mira Nair once said, "Every morning you wake up, it’s like going to war." Because filmmaking is both a battle and a revelation.

🚗 ROAD, MOVIE is getting re-released in theatres—a reminder of cinema’s power to transport, to distill details into density.

This, and much more—filmmaking lessons, life insights, and untold stories—with Dev Benegal.

📍 Find him at devbenegal.com.

Follow @THE.ARTISTSPODCAST for insights!

Email id: metaphysicallab@gmail.com/

You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia,

For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization.
The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kant, Hegel, Kafka and Freud- Do we need to understand these philosophers before interpreting David Lynch? How did he manage to get into your subconscious mind and get you inside the storytelling? Trying to know him better through his films and also then understanding how his meditations would have worked for him tapping into his subconscious mind.
From Eraser head to Dune- AND GIVE DUNE ANOTHER CHANCE- according to our guest Todd Mcgowan- a Scholar, professor of Film and Theory and author of The impossible David Lynch!
1) Removing the wall.
2) Which film best describes this?
3) a director between mainstream and indie cinema.
4) From Eraser head to Blue Velvet to Dune to Muhlloland Drive.
5) Wild at heart- BEING MOST MAINSTREAM- and why?
6) Godard vs Lynch
7)fantasy and desire themes and their continums
8)Realization of Henry's fantasy in Eraserhead!
9)Dune- 42 million- hollywood film- was it too challenging for the audience?
10) Kant, Hegel and Freud!

Follow @THE.ARTISTSPODCAST for insights!

Email id: metaphysicallab@gmail.com/

You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia,

For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization.
The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy New Year to our wonderful listeners!

What is the future of AI and creators, new revenue share models for filmmakers, OTT party, global or local content, the future etc.

Our guests are Sunil Nair and Vivek Lath.

Sunil Nair is a dynamic operations and technology leader with over two decades of experience spanning digital media, live commerce, and mobile advertising. He is currently the Co-Founder of Mela Platforms, where he drives innovation in video commerce by connecting brands with e-commerce platforms through cutting-edge content and technology solutions.
Vivek Lath is a seasoned entrepreneur - with a notable career spanning over two decades, marked by innovation, strategic acumen, and resilience. As Founder and Managing Director of Go Quest media, he has led the company to specialize in monetizing entertainment IP, including licensing content to TV channels and streaming platforms across -the globe.



Digs:
1) Significant changes in the content market- post co vid.
2) ATF and challenges - downward cycle of content licensing
3) 41 percent of global advertising money is with Meta, Google.
4) Revenue share models are good and can be the future- like Amazon video direct.
5)OTT party?
6)E commerce and Ai models- rights getting redefined/ arbitrage model.
7)definition of good content- with new AI models.
8) Does audience testing work in a fragmented market?
9)why do women love kabir singh or arjun reddy?
10) global or local
11) predicting the future of content and Ai.
12) the person sitting across the desk- should know the market, understand market, know how to make money... monetization..

Follow @THE.ARTISTSPODCAST for insights!

Email id: metaphysicallab@gmail.com/

You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia,

For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization.
The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What trends will define moviemaking and content creation in 2025? How will AI shape the culture of filmmaking and creators' work? What should filmmakers focus on to stay ahead, monetize effectively, and tap into new opportunities? Is the revenue share model here to stay?

We’ll explore the rising role of small and medium-budget films, the future of indie cinema post-global breakthroughs like All We Imagine as Light, and the evolving relevance of theater in a digital-first world.

Get ready for a deep dive into these questions and more with industry analyst Karan Taurani on The Artists Podcast with Suchita.

Stay tuned for insights that will shape the future of storytelling And your decision making as a creator!

Digs:

1) Supply is a huge challenge1 But why? footfalls and boxoffice!
2) Do we need to start thinking about content in any other way
3) Balance between high and small, medium budget films
4) The OTT party
5) Balancing the release of a big budget and a small indie- Pushpa Vs All we imagine as Light

Follow @THE.ARTISTSPODCAST for insights!

Email id: metaphysicallab@gmail.com/

You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia,

For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization.
The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can you design your life as an Artist, where you focus on important things rather than mundane? How can you design in a way that will get you out of survival instincts and make you more productive in terms of enhancing yourself daily?

How do you define yourself as a storyteller and an Artist?

We ask this to our guest Danish Husain, a prominent theatre director, playwright, poet and a performer.

1) What should be the MINDSET of an Artist?
2) ALIGNING the audience to you!
3) ENHANCING the tools in your repertoire.
4)Compel to make CHOICES out of the comfort zone
5) Art should enrich and also have a commercial aspect.
6) All great stories become the audiences stories
7) Its always Day 1.

Get enlightened- and Enjoy.

FOLLOW: @THE.ARTISTSPODCAST TO STAY TUNED!

Email id: metaphysicallab@gmail.com/

You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia,

For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization.
The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.