Episode 1413: Producer/Director, Bonnie Bruderer INFLUENCER

Just Talking

Binge Network CEO Bonnie Bruderer director of the documentary film Influencer joins JUST TALKING to discuss how millennials made millions of dollars with an iPhone. Social media has created a platform where just about anyone can fashion themselves as an influencer—BUT what does a millennial really know? Are they just a cheaper mouthpiece? Advertising is everything! Without advertising a product can die with the snap of a finger. 24-7 constant branding on social media means also being vulnerable to negative criticism, hurtful insults, lack of privacy and the worst of all trending fates—getting fizzled. Having a huge following is great for the brand but can humans process all these opinions? Influencers VS celebrities. Who do you go with? Who do you trust? Have tech companies created a virtual gladiator stadium and we the audience demand drama on the high court—WAIT are we the problem? Feelings not facts. Can an influencer push a brand for the money and simultaneously be guided by their moral compass? Weaponizing social media as a spying tool has been a hot topic this year. TikTok has been in the spotlight over accusations and potentially could be banned in the USA. Maybe TT needs to hire an influencer? Is social media the new cigarette? The government is proposing bills about child safety, addiction, mental health, screen time, etc.. WARNING: the surgeon general has determined that social media is dangerous to your health—BUT what isn’t these days? With syndication on 300+ smart TV’s there’s more than enough content to binge on.  Watch the Influencer on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/705562/influencer

Episode 1410: Video Game Talk Show Host HenricK The WrecK, Rage Quit and Vocalist/Guitarist Dan Mitre, Distortions

JUST TALKING

Game contributor HenricK The WrecK and Ubisoft Community Development Director, Dan Mitre log into JUST TALKING to smash their video game controllers on the floor frustrated with gaming politics! They're just one life-heart away from the final stage and with 10% energy left can they beat the final boss? In gaming news the U.S. government wants to ban social media giant TikTok because they have concerns over China spying on Americans. Meanwhile Apple Siri, Microsoft Cortana, Google Home and Amazon Echo say— “don’t panic, we hear your concerns." The 2023 BAFTA (British Academy Games Awards) are coming up and why should we care? We don’t BUT let’s press start anyway. Which games do our esteemed panel of gamers nominate? God of War is the Beyonce of awards—multiple nominations but hasn’t sealed the deal. Will Elden Ring take home the gold? Totally Turtles dude! It’s a sleeper hit on the Nintendo Switch. It’s heavy on the cheese but can it deliver the “za” in 30 minutes or less? Voice Acting is getting the recognition it deserves but the competition is tight. Which VO performer takes the trophy in a video game leading role? The best games in 2023 are from 15 years ago! How does the video game industry justify serving stale bread to the fans? Is the nostalgic factor worth the price of entertainment — is there an appetite for these old moldy games? Don’t touch it, there are masterpieces in our world that need to be left alone. The Olympic Esports competition will take place in Singapore with games like Just Dance and Tennis Clash while snubbing established tournament franchises like Call of Duty and League of Legends. Gamers say the Olympics are playing it too safe and need to include headshots. Can we uncheck the parental controls—BUT the E in Esports stands for everyone! Even hockey players clean up their act for the Olympic Games! https://www.chriscollinsshow.com/henrick-the-wreck

STRIKE A CHORD

Vocalist/guitarist Dan Mitre joins STRIKE A CHORD to discuss his Punk Rock trio band Distortions. Rocking out of Raleigh, North Carolina the band has deep roots in the punk rock scene, the trio quickly established a fan base and position in the music community. Distortions is well known for crazy guitar riffs and an unwavering desire to perform live on stage. Rumor has it, this is how the band survives without food or water—feeding off the communal energy of the crowd. But how did former Bear vs Shark bassist Nick Jones and former Blitzkid drummer Andrew Winter link up with Dan Mitre to form Distortions? Music is medicine for the soul. The trio brings passion and emotion to every track but Mitre admits "you don’t really know until you see us live on stage." Their latest EP “Flies” addresses some heavy themes. “We’re all battling some form of depression, the demons ripping at our chest but there’s hope at the end of the day, we can persevere and we can endure and there is a reason to continue forward.” Community is vital to Distortions. We need to be human. You can’t spend every day pretending to be Superman. REACH OUT to people that love you, don’t be afraid. That commitment to community also created a record label, Bored to Death Records. Dan’s DIY punk rock campaign to offer a platform for independent artists without the pressure and politics of a large music label. Singles or Albums has been an on-going argument on the show BUT which side does Distortions go sideways with? The trio is a force of nature and their latest single “Castaways” is as punk as it gets. We’re all just “whimsy hypnosis charming castaways” on punk rock island. Follow, listen and Support: https://distortionsband.com

Episode 1403: Fitness Coaches the VisionTwins and Singer Justin Bernardez

Throw those V’s up in the air for the Vision Twins!  Kalvin and Angelo the twin life coaches join JUST TALKING to discuss all things health and fitness. Bring your protein shakes to the party—don’t wait to lose weight! The mission and vision are one goal. The Vision Twins explain the healthy balance between work, exercise and play time. With 3 MILLION followers on TikTok, being a social media fitness influencer is a fulltime job—BUT what stress relief advice do the Vision Twins offer to combat overload fatigue? Having a vision for yourself is a priority and we hit the gym hard to reach that goal. We all start the new year with grandiose visions of paparazzi taking photos of us posing that will be posted on social media. While secretly hoping our frenemies eat humble pie, jealous of glamorous physiques with envy. That’s a dream many of us will never see! So, let’s get back to reality. You don’t need to be a “gym freak” to improve your fitness. The Vision Twins have some easy workout routines to motivate you into the fast lane to reach your goals. What advice do the Vision Twins offer millennials in this medicinal cannabis laced world? Life changes are always hard. The Vision Twins have a positive simple message for millennials—DON’T WAIT to lose weight! They practice what they preach. Follow at https://visiontwins.com.

THE ADLIBS TikTok sensation Justin Bernardez returns to STRIKE A CHORD to catch up on recent events and his new upcoming project. Justin released an EP in 2021 musically themed around mental health—an open invitation on his social media accounts. Mental Health is a heavy topic and takes a huge toll. So how does an influencer with 2 MILLION subscribers deal with the overload? New videos daily, content hourly and responses in real time. The burnout is real! However, there’s a pay day! The social media investment does pay off. Fans have been asking for that new track, that new album and Bernardez delivers! Trends in music are always changing. There's a big push in the music industry to use artificial intelligence software to write lyrics and produce albums. Can AI really create music humans want to dance to? Are song writers a thing of the past?  Justin asks the question “AI can write a song for you—BUT can AI perform a song?” Music comes from the soul. If AI is artificial, it has no soul—OR does an artificial soul count? Obviously, there’s NO AI replacing Justin Bernardez any time soon! Justin admits to being a smiler and the CCS family salutes back. Smile, subscribe and love at https://www.justinbernardez.com/

Episode 1306: 2022 Midterm Elections… And NO, We’re Not Talking About Your Midterms | Chris Collins Show

What’s GOOD listeners! Host Chris Collins and co-host Marissa Pitts discuss the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections… And NO, we’re NOT talking about your midterm exams! Will Millennials and the Gen Z come out to vote? Should the U.S. government spend less time scrutinizing Elon Musk acquiring Twitter and focus on banning TikTok? Has America outgrown Affirmative Action and have we been lied to about the Green Revolution? AND—what is the number one social issue our generation is focusing on today?