A new Vertical year has officially begun, which made it the perfect moment for the ladies and myself to take a look back at the month of December.
Together with

Aline @i.love.verticals
Dalia @verticalfilmslover
Shikha Dia @verticalviewweekly
and
Caitlyn @verticait

we revisited a month packed with Verticals — and plenty to talk about.

December brought a wave of Christmas Verticals 🎄, though we couldn’t help but debate whether some of them truly deserved that label. 

As always, we also discussed our regular categories:

🎭 Actor/Actress of the Month 🎬 Supporting Role of the Month 🏆 Vertical of the Month 💩 Crap Vertical of the Month

On top of that, a recently released Vertical of a particularly hot and spicy nature 🔥🌶️ sparked even more discussion and entertainment.

We also shared our thoughts on what changes and improvements we’d like to see in 2026 — especially when it comes to the audience — and talked openly about platform costs and the ever-growing number of subscriptions 💸📱.

An episode full of honest and unfiltered opinions — engaging, entertaining, and definitely not one to miss.

Enjoy listening! 🎧

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Alert! 🐶🍳🎬

For this episode, I met up online with Hunter Kohl @hunter.exp.edition , the New York–based actor who happens to be just as much of a dog lover as I am 🐕❤️. He shares the story of how he got his very first dog — and why, at the time, he was convinced it almost led to his parents’ divorce 😅.

In his latest vertical cooking project, Hunter plays a top-tier chef 👨‍🍳✨ — which, of course, made me curious about his real-life cooking skills. Let’s just say: according to him, his oven has been used to store shoes, clothes, and various other non-edible items 👟👕🔥 (a claim I may still need to fact-check with Molly Anderson @mmactuj 😉).

We also talk about his journey into acting 🎭, why a brief detour into architecture wasn’t quite his thing 📐, and how he nearly walked off set during his very first vertical shoot 😬.

Ever wondered what the infamous “Titanic hand” is all about 🚢✋ — and why filming it is far less romantic than it sounds? Then you definitely don’t want to miss this episode.

Today’s episode is enriched by the wonderful actress and producer Abigail Stanton @abigailstantonThanks to director Matt Macedo @mattmacedo she found her way into the world of Verticals — and with her very first role as a witch in a werewolf vertical, she instantly enchanted everyone. Since then, she’s become an indispensable part of the vertical scene. With her reddish hair, she’s often cast in slightly dark or villainous roles — which she actually enjoys tremendously 🖤✨

While male actors are happily dropping their towels or proposing marriage to their scene partners, her most common task in Verticals tends to be kidnapping people — preferably children 😉

She talks about what she urgently wishes for when it comes to Vertical storylines, what she sometimes finds downright disgusting, and what makes her turn down certain scripts and roles. As a passionate horror gamer (and viewer), she’d love to see much more horror and creepiness in the Vertical world — as well as crime stories or science fiction 👻🔪🚀

What else she’s enthusiastic about, and why she doesn’t just have one bird but several, you’ll find out in this podcast episode. And what does all of this have to do with my chicken Henni? 🐔 That’s a whole different story — one you’ll also get to hear right here.

Enjoy listening to this episode 🎧✨

🎙️ One last Fantalk episode for this year is ready to go! 🎙️
Today’s episode features the wonderful Dalia from Verticalfilmslover ✨ @verticalfilmslover
The Vertical Drama critic is both a member of the #verticalviewcrew and a regular guest on the monthly recap episodes.

In this episode, the two of us sat down for an in-depth chat about how she found her way into the Vertical World 🌍 and how it ultimately led her to creating her own review platform.

📊 Dalia has already watched over 1,600 Verticals, keeps a meticulously organized list, and regularly publishes reviews on her Instagram profile. She’s developed her own rating system ⭐ and shares what makes her click on a Vertical in the first place, which actors she especially enjoys watching, and which genres she prefers.

🎟️ We also talk about her experience at Verticon 2025, what she thinks should change (and evolve) in the Vertical space in 2026, and which actors we’d love to see more often — both in nice roles 😇 and villain roles 😈, because we think it would suit them perfectly.

🔥 Curious why you may have already hated Zane Claudio @zaneclaudio a few times?
🎯 Why Danny Farber @sirdannyfarber was her first target?
💭 And why Jackson Tiller @jacksontiller__ and Grace Swanson @gracewswanson have a special place in her memory?

This episode is a truly wonderful conversation — critical, insightful, and definitely entertaining 🎧✨ 
One you absolutely shouldn’t miss! 🚀
And don't forget to like and share!

In this episode, we step back behind the camera and spotlight another outstanding female director: Paige Compton @dudette.director 

From an early age, Paige knew she wanted to be part of the film world—and she pursued that goal without hesitation. Her path led her through the U.S. Army and film school, where she spent the last four years of her military service working as an Audio Visual Director for the White House, supporting former President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden 🇺🇸🎥

After earning her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film and Television, the film industry came to a near standstill due to the pandemic—until Verticals found their way to Hollywood 📱🎞️. Paige’s very first Vertical became an instant smash hit, and many more successful projects followed.

We talk about where women are still disadvantaged in the Vertical world, what she would like to change or further develop in certain stories (whenever creative freedom from the customer allows), and what she hopes for the future to enable even more creative progress in Verticals 🚀💡

With a fan survey she designed herself, Paige aims to better understand the wishes and needs of the audience, allowing her to produce even stronger Vertical content independently in the future 📊❤️

For Paige, having a great time and enjoying the process on set is essential—but she also expects professionalism and a strong sense of teamwork from everyone involved 🤝🎬. She shares exclusive behind-the-scenes stories and talks about some of the unique, Vertical-specific creative work she has done with actors.

This conversation is packed with Vertical insights you don’t want to miss—so tune in and listen now! 🎧🔥

In this episode, I talk to the actress Kristine Kay Larsen @kristinekaylarsen , who was born and raised in Denmark before packing her bags right after finishing school and moving straight to Los Angeles 🇩🇰✈️🇺🇸.

From an early age, she knew she wanted to live and work in the U.S. — preferably as an actress. Said and done 💥: within just 1.5 years, she built the foundation she needed at an acting school before first hearing about the world of “Verticals” in 2023 from Eric Guilmette @erictaylorguilmette 

After her first role in a werewolf vertical, she initially felt exhausted 😴 — but when another vertical role came along, she was instantly on fire 🔥! Kristine shares what all those marriage proposals in Verticals do to her and why she’s slowly becoming an expert in bridal fashion 👰‍♀️💍.

We also both agree that we urgently need a Witch Group Vertical 🧙‍♀️✨ and start putting together the dream cast already:
 @kirby.ellwood @mmactuj @sarahmoliski @cailinpeluso  @emilygateley — and as the male witches 🧙‍♂️@stevenmorana @nick.puya and @theadamchisnall 
 Directed by Matt Macedo @mattmacedo 🎬. So get ready!

All that’s missing now is the much-needed billionaire 💸😏 to finance the whole thing. But Kristine’s mission is clear: at her next filming location, she’ll definitely meet one again — and then firmly lock him in for funding our project 😎🤝.

And how does a Danish girl feel about Christmas, snow, and Santa Claus? 🎄❄️🎅
Kristine has some very convincing arguments ready for her ongoing debate with Cayman Cardiff @caymancardiff with whom she btw would love to shoot a Vertical someday ❤️🎥.

There’s a lot to talk about — and you definitely don’t want to miss this conversation!
 🎧 Enjoy listening to this episode! 🎧

Some ⚠️ Irony & sarcasm warning! ⚠️ 😉

This episode comes with a high risk of sore laughing muscles — seriously, I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard during a recording. So please don’t take everything we talk about too seriously… a lot of it is very much intentional. 😏

I sat down with Cayman Cardiff @caymancardiff to discuss the truly important questions in life. Just in time for the holidays, we’re debating whether Santa Claus can (and does) visit countries without snow — and if so, how on earth he pulls that off 🎅🌍. 
We also tackle the fundamental question of whether Michael Bublé secretly controls the weather and causes snowfall ❄️🎶. Naturally, a very scientific discussion was required — we consider it our educational duty.

Of course, it’s not all nonsense. We also talk about Cayman’s vertical career, the wide range of roles he’s played over the years, what it’s like filming in various uniforms in sometimes very hot conditions 🥵🎬, and how he manages to maintain a solid work-life balance despite tightly packed shooting schedules.

We also dive into what kinds of roles he’d still love to play in the future and his first steps as a producer on “House of Flies” 🎥✨.
All of this — and much more — wrapped up with lots of wit, humor, and charm awaits you in this episode.

🎄 Happy Holidays, my loves, and enjoy listening! 🎧💫

🎬 Another Vertical actor joins me on the podcast!
 This time, I’m talking to Patric Palkins, who took a very different career path before entering the Vertical world. For 17 years, Patric was a professional ballet dancer 🩰 — trained in classical ballet and performing on some of the world’s biggest stages 🌍✨.

He shares how he got into classical ballet, what it felt like to dance on major international stages, and the very special feeling that ballet gave him as an artist and a person.

We also talk about why he decided to hang up his ballet shoes and trade that professional career for a completely new one — acting 🎭.

Along the way, we speculate why he keeps getting cast in roles with a slightly evil edge 😈 — usually in a suit (which, by the way, is not his thing 😄) — and where we hope the world of Verticals will head in the future 🚀.

On top of that, Patric shares his personal tips on how to recharge your energy on a day off 🔋✨ and gives a surprisingly simple explanation of what makes tacos so special 🌮😉.

All of that and more in this episode — have fun tuning in and listening! 🎧💫

🎄 Christmas is just around the corner!

I sat down with Mark Pontarelli @markjpont for a cozy little pre-holiday chat, where we talk about when and how he celebrates Christmas 🎅, his acting goals for the new year 🎭, and we look back on everything the past few months had to offer.

Since — aside from one shoot in the UK 🇬🇧 — Mark hasn’t had any other shoots in Europe yet, we start brainstorming together: what kind of shooting project would actually make sense, which Vertical title would be the perfect fit, and why Nick Ritacco @nick.ritacco and Michael Vaccaro @michaelvaccaro might want to start packing their suitcases for a trip to Italy 🇮🇹✈️.
And yes… the Pope may or may not play a role in this entire spectacle 🙏😇 — you’ll have to listen to find out.

We also talk about which Verticals he especially enjoyed in 2025, which ones carried a deeper meaning for him, what he loves about this form of creativity and art 🎬✨, and what he’s hoping for when it comes to Verticals in 2026.

A wonderful, funny, and slightly chaotic conversation about God (the Pope 😄) and the world — one you definitely don’t want to miss.
🎧 Happy listening & Merry Christmas vibes! 🎄💫

It’s finally happening – and I couldn’t be happier to welcome a true Vertical legend as my guest: Kasey Esser 🎬✨

With his incredible versatility as a person (as we quickly discover, there’s a Business Kasey, an Acting Kasey, a Producing Kasey, a Fitness Kasey, and many more), he has already aimed high in life – and reached many of those goals. And trust me: the next big plans are already in motion 🚀

We chat about his journey, which actually started before acting, with the opening of a fitness studio in LA 💪🇺🇸, and how that eventually led him into the vertical space. When he landed his very first vertical, “Fated to My Forbidden Alpha”, he honestly thought not many people would watch it – turns out, he was very wrong 😄🔥

Since then, things have only gone one way: up. Steeply up. 📈 
Today, alongside acting, Kasey has stepped behind the camera as well. He has just written, produced, and starred in his very first own vertical – a huge milestone 🎥👏

How has this rapid development over the past few years shaped his personality and character? What would he, looking back, maybe change or do differently? And why does he think that, in some ways, he’s actually very German? 🇩🇪😉

All this – and so much more – awaits you in this episode and in this wonderful, open, and inspiring conversation between Kasey and me 💬

👉 This is one you definitely don’t want to miss.
 Tune in, press play, and enjoy 🎧✨

Scripts are a big deal in the vertical world 🎬 — and let’s be honest: from an audience point of view, some things in verticals just make us go “wait… what?” 🤨😂 That’s exactly why I’m extra excited to chat with Alina Averianova @alinavestory today!

If anyone knows their way around scripts, it’s her — Alina is a Script Supervisor in the vertical space 📝✨. Is the job really as fancy as it sounds? And what does a script supervisor actually do all day? She spills all the tea in this episode ☕😉

And of course, I had to finally get answers to some long-standing mysteries, like:

* Why does an outfit suddenly change even though it’s clearly the same scene? 👗🤔
* Why does spilled wine magically disappear from clothes? 🍷✨
* How is everyone’s hair already perfectly dry right after a shower scene?! 🚿💁‍♀️
* And why is the defibrillator almost always placed on top of clothing instead of bare skin? ⚡😳

In Alina, I finally found the long-lost detail manager of the vertical space (shoutout to episode 9 with Caitlyn @verticait 👀😉), giving us some very exciting behind-the-scenes insights into vertical productions 🎥✨

We also chat about her journey into becoming a script supervisor, the stress and challenges that come with the job 😮‍💨, and the little wishes and dreams she has for her future 🌈💭

A super fun, fast-paced and insightful conversation that gave me — as a vertical viewer — so many long-overdue answers 🙌 Trust me: you do not want to miss this episode 🎧🔥

In this episode, we’re joined by pure Italian power 🇮🇹🔥

The wonderful Ramona from Vertical Lessons met up with me spontaneously for a conversation – and what a conversation it was!

She’s also the creative force behind the intro of this podcast 🎶 and the background music for my Sneak Peek videos🎥✨.

Ramona is still relatively new to the Vertical space – she’s been addicted to Verticals only since March 2025 📱💥. But don’t let that fool you: since then, she has watched over 500 Verticals 😱📈! Together with her brother, she runs the platform Vertical Lessons.

Their mission?
Not only to write reviews 📝, but also to highlight the lessons they believe certain Verticals are trying to teach us 🤔💡.

True to her Italian roots 🇮🇹❤️, Ramona’s heart especially beats for mafia Verticals 🕶️🔫. She firmly believes these stories should be produced where the mafia is more or less “at home”: Italy. And yes – she openly offers herself as a point of contact for directors and production companies 🎬🤝.

What else is she absolutely into?
Fast cars, lots of horsepower, and pure adrenaline 🏎️💨⚡

Crazy fact about Ramona?
She will be taking part in the next Rally Dakar 🏜️🔥🏁
If that alone isn’t a Vertical-worthy story, what is?!

🎧 This episode is an absolute must-listen.
Don’t miss out on this incredible burst of energy and passion! 💥✨

🎉 @i.love.verticals just turned ONE! And that alone was the perfect reason to celebrate with a special fan episode featuring Aline.

A Werewolf Vertical was her gateway into the industry — and since then, she’s become an essential part of the community. 🐺✨
On her page, she creates seasonal story-driven Verticals (currently her Advent Vertical 🎄) and shares open, honest reviews you can truly rely on. Thanks to her “Get to Know” category, the audience also gets to meet and understand many Vertical actors a little better. 🎬💬
Her AI-generated chibis give her page a unique, adorable signature style. And I’m especially happy she regularly joins our Monthly Recap episodes to share her thoughts on everything happening in the Vertical space. 🗣️💡

Another highlight is her format “Vertical You”: Fill out her questionnaire and Aline will craft a personalized, AI-generated Vertical description — often so good it could easily become a real Vertical. 🤖✨📜

Aline’s page is full of insights, entertainment, and fun — for both audiences and creatives. She’s a passionate yet critical Vertical watcher with clear no-gos that can make her switch off a Vertical early. But when it comes to certain casts or the works of her favorite directors Danny Farber @sirdannyfarber and Matt Macedo @mattmacedo , she’s always tuned in and ready to enjoy any genre. 🎧🔥

In our conversation, she also shares how a Frenchie girl ended up living in Canada 🇫🇷➡️🇨🇦, what her small but meaningful Vertical dream looks like, and why supporting smaller platforms matters so much to her. 💛

Check it out and tune in.
And don't forget to like and share!

November is behind us, and once again there were tons of Verticals to watch — which means there’s plenty to talk about in this month’s Monthly Recap! 🎬✨
Joining me are Dalia @verticalfilmslover , Caitlyn @verticaitand Brittany @drama_ink_diaries , and together we dive into who impressed us the most this month, who left us a bit disappointed, and which app delivered the best Verticals overall. 📱⭐
We’re also introducing a brand-new category to the recap: 🎭 The Side Role Actor/Actress of the Month! From now on, we want to shine a brighter spotlight on supporting actors — and soon we’ll also highlight the best on-screen chemistry between performers. 💫
And since Christmas is right around the corner and many apps are packed with festive Verticals, we wrap up by sharing our current favorite Christmas Verticals — perfect to get you into the holiday spirit. 🎄❤️
All in all, it’s another episode full of all things Verticals from the month of November. Definitely worth tuning in! You might even discover a Vertical you haven’t seen yet but absolutely should! 👀🔥
Enjoy listening, and an early Happy Holidays from the Recap Crew! ❄️🎁✨
And don't forget to like and share!

Giovanni De Val joins me in this episode, bringing along a touch of Italian flair 🇮🇹 (even if only ancestrally 😉).
We chat about his first experiences in film 🎬 and why, back then, he simply wasn’t “dead enough” for his brother’s project 😄.

I also remind Gio that he owes his school principal a long-overdue thank-you 🍎 — after all, she indirectly helped set the stage for his acting career 🎭.

He tells me

We also talk about his breakfast preferences 🥐☕ — which, as he reveals, depend on one very specific factor. What factor? You’ll find out exclusively in this episode 🤫.

Of course, we also dive into the allure of playing the villain 😈, his latest vertical video 📱, and why everyone should watch it and share their thoughts with him 💬🔥.

👉 Tune in and enjoy! Have fun listening 🎧✨

In this episode, I’m joined by Tina Ann Brock @tinaannbrock . The New York–based actress has spent many successful years shining in all kinds of acting fields. She’s an award-winning American stage, film, and television character actress, known for playing fun, eccentric, and powerful characters — always “poised, precise, with a dash of wacky.” ✨🎭

She brings this amazing versatility to her vertical roles as well: from the evil stepmother 👀, to a queen 👑, a loving and caring mom 🤱, or even a good witch 🧙‍♀️ — there’s truly no role she can’t embody perfectly.

Tina shares how her mother sparked her love for dressing up and stepping into different characters early on, why that magic still captivates her both on stage and in verticals, and what goes through her mind when she reads certain scripts. 🎬💭

We dive into all that and so much more — and trust me, it’s definitely worth tuning in! 🎧💬

Intimacy — a topic people rarely love to talk about in public 😅 …but my guest and I go all in for a full hour! 🎙️❤️
This week, I’m joined by Intimacy Coordinator Karie Donnovan. @valleyintimacypro Thanks to her work, actors feel safe and comfortable even in the most delicate and intimate scenes on set 😌🎬
And trust me — you wouldn’t believe all the things an intimacy coordinator is actually responsible for! 👀✨
Karie shares how she prepares for the many different “situations” that can come up during vertical shooting 📹😉, where boundaries and challenges around intimacy can appear, and what the emotional world on set really looks like.
We unpack all that and so much more in this open and insightful conversation 💬💖
Tune in — you don’t want to miss this fascinating episode! 🎧✨

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with a super creative mind in the vertical world — Director and Actor Danny Farber. This episode is bursting with creativity! 🎨✨
 We take the idea of the Criminal Vertical Series — a concept I originally developed with Kirby Ellwood @kirby.ellwood — and elevate it with some fantastic new twists. Plus, I give Danny a little tip on how he could hide his signature Easter Egg in a pirate-themed vertical. 🏴‍☠️🐣
We also talk about what makes filming in Europe — especially in Istanbul — so special for Danny, and what improvements he wishes to see for crews and especially for female actresses, as well as for storytelling overall. 🎬💡
Danny’s first steps into the vertical space in 2023 were like being thrown into cold water, but I’m so glad he feels completely at home in this world now. 🌊📱 We dive into different perspectives on verticals, storytelling, the big NO-GOs, the platforms, clients, and so much more. 🚫📲
A real highlight: Danny performs his brand-new song “Istanbul” live and unplugged — exclusively in this episode! 🎶🔥 And yes… we even set up a music gig for him here in Germany at “Michaela’s Soundgarden.” 🌿🎤
You don’t want to miss this creativity-packed episode — tune in and enjoy! 🎧💥

Also visit www.sirdannyfarber.com

In this episode, you’ll hear a super fun and down-to-earth conversation between two Bachelor of Arts grads 🎓😄. No fancy academic talk here—just real talk about the vertical content world, packed with charm and humor 💬✨.
During what I like to call a “waffle talk” 🧇 (okay… I was the only one actually eating waffles), Buddy shares how he’s been trying to bring more acting into his life alongside his full-time job 🎭💼.
We also chat about which sport verticals he’d totally rock 🏋️‍♂️🤸‍♂️ and why he thinks he’s absolutely not the guy for a basketball vertical 🏀😂.
He tells me what he’s grateful for on set 🎥🙏, what he’d love to see evolve in the vertical world 🌍📱, and what it’s like to know both sides of the production business 🎬🔄.
Why his mom can’t watch some of his films/verticals 🙈, why Buddy feels like he’s in a real-life Forrest Gump moment in this episode 🏃‍♂️🍫, and what he expects when he plays my brother in a vertical 🤦‍♂️🎬 — you’ll hear all that and more exclusively in this episode!

In this new episode, I welcome the wonderful Kirby Ellwood @kirby.ellwood , with whom I was able to have a very refreshing and humorous conversation. 🤩 With an impressive 27 lead roles, she is a highly sought-after vertical actress. 🎬 She reveals to me that she has actually never starred in a werewolf vertical and has never filmed a vertical production in Europe. Why? We wonder… 🤔🌍

Since she’s a beer lover and would love to visit Munich for Oktoberfest one day, I give her a little crash course on it 🍺🎡, and we also talk about the things she considers essential for always spreading good vibes. ✨😄

Why do we urgently need to contact Matt Macedo @mattmacedo and Robert Palmer Watkins @robertpalmerwatkins , and what million-dollar idea did we come up with to solve, among other things, Kirby’s Europe “problem”? 💡💸

You’ll find out all of this and much more exclusively in this episode! So tune in! 🎧🔥