This week on “The Tie-In,” Zena and Mark reflect on their second season. Season 2 included nearly 50 interviews! Join Zena and Mark as they look back on what they've done this year and share the lessons they've learned from their guests.

Please like & follow “The Tie-In” here: @the_tie_in_pod

1. You can learn more about our hosts, Zena Harris and Mark Rabin & connect with them here:
2. Zena Harris on LinkedIn
3. Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

I don't know of anyone else out there talking to people behind the scenes in various parts of entertainment, going out in the field, filming like, you know, battery installations.

Hi, this is Zena Harris and I'm Mark Rabin.

Welcome to the tie in.

Okay.

Hey.

Hey.

Like, happy holidays, everyone.

Happy holidays.

This is obviously being pre recorded a little bit.

We made it or we're making it.

We made it and we're making it.

So we decided to do something, I think we did this last year, but something also like a little bit different this year.

Just on the holidays to do a little recap and just chat and just, you know, just go over some of the highlights and yeah, just kind of like jam on this because we, we do a lot of interviews.

I mean, we did one interview a week for the last two years almost.

Yeah.

And so we're calling this one.

This is season two, right.

We're, we're.

It's coming, coming to an end in season two.

And yeah, it's been, it's been a wild one.

And just looking back, I mean, such a trip.

Yeah.

I mean, look, you guys, like, I don't know and you, you can tell us, give us feedback or, or you know, write in whatever, but like we're out.

Like, I don't know of any other podcasts.

If you have one, do share because I'd love to listen, but like, I don't know of anyone else out there talking to people behind the scenes in various parts of entertainment, going out in the field, like, you know, with their cameras, like, yeah, you know, filming like, you know, battery, you know, installations and these sorts of things and just getting, you know, we are, you know what, we're hustlers.

That's what we are marking.

You just talk to lots of people.

I mean, luckily it's a, you know, we were doing it before the podcast as well.

This is just like.

So it's not like, it's not like that big of a continuation, but it is, it is more focused and you know, like more intentional.

And we're really like, like these are part of, these people are our friends, our new friends.

We know we, we just sort of kindred spirits and yeah, you know, we're just, we're just trying to figure out how to, how to tell the story still.

Right.

I mean, that's, that's.

And we're evolving and you know, I think, I think one of the biggest things is, you know, we've been changing the format around a little bit.

We've been trying to figure out how to Tighten things up and learn how to, how to be better podcasters and production value and, you know, so it's, it's kind of like, it's, it's its own evolving project.

Totally.

It really is.

Epitomizes the saying, don't let perfection be the enemy of the good.

Right.

Like, you know what?

This is good stuff.

Like, these are golden interviews with people.

Like, you know, in hearing, you know, I mean, these people are all over entertainment in various ways and, and just, you know, like, I didn't, you know, you and I just, you know, two years ago decided let's do a podcast and, you know, actually capture this stuff.

And man, I'm so glad we just started.

And you know, we're just constantly iterating, evolving, you know, taking feedback and, you know, I know I have a lot to learn on how to do this.

And, and doing it on the road too.

I think that's been the fun challenge, right?

Like, like finding the right WI fi signal or tethering on my phone and, you know, wherever I am and trying to find the right light and, you know, making sure my, my speakers.

Look at this.

I actually am using a makeshift holder.

It's, it's like a religious candle.

Like, that's what you found in your, your, like what's.

What I could clip the, the, the mics to.

That's hilarious.

See, you know, constantly innovating.

That's us, right?

Okay, so let's, let, let's dive in.

Like, what was.

Let.

Let's think about this year in recap.

And like, it's almost like kind of mind blowing, right?

I see.

Like, almost.

I'm just looking at a list here.

There's almost like we're going to have like 50, right?

Yeah, almost 50 interviews this year.

I mean, look, we do one, we release one every week.

Some are, you know, like, so we're right, we're, we're hitting right at 50 this year.

Pre.

Prerecorded.

Prerecorded, yeah, each week.

And really, I mean, breath and depth here.

Like, some of them are, you know, very focused on film and tv.

Some we've got writers, some we've got tangential folks who have great climate stories, authors, you know, like Sherry Goodwin, like, oh my gosh, what a fantastic conversation.

Yeah.

So let's, let's go back.

So let's, let's think about it.

What was.

I mean, God, when I look at this list, right.

I mean, I think we've started with like, Liz Rubin with a really candid interview in January, right?

That was that was, like, way back.

We went all the way through.

I mean, Robert.

Robert Diaz Leroy return guest.

I just talked to him the other day, actually.

Oh, me too.

Yeah.

I mean, what.

What a guy.

I mean, he is.

He is out there doing it.

He's so creative and intellectually, you know, just like in the film world.

Right?

Like, love it.

He's like a.

It's like an OG guy, you know?

And as you were in Australia, I.

Mean, God, I know Australia.

So one of my kind of favorite, you know.

So we do both, like, interviews during Via Zoom, and then we also do these in the field segments.

And in the field segments, to me, I think are.

You know, it's just.

It's interesting.

Super fun.

We get in spaces that, you know, and hanging out with friends and just jamming behind the scenes that, you know, like, a lot of people don't get to see.

And, you know, going to Australia and talking with those folks down there, like, just sitting in a park and chatting like, oh, my gosh.

And, you know, the rain comes in and we're, like, wrapping it up because, like, it's about to downpour on the beach.

Like, this is the kind of fun, like, exhilarating stuff that we.

So.

And then we went to south by Southwest.

You know, I'm just like, I'm just going through this list, you know, be prepared.

I'm going to ask you what your favorites are, but I'm just going through this, right.

We went behind the scenes at the Luck reunion, Willie Nelson with Neil Vasavada and Overdrive Rocks.

Jeez, so many good interviews here.

I love the one with you and Andrea Jeannie at Coachella.

Yeah, that was cool, right?

Yeah, totally.

Exactly.

Like, what a.

What a cool cat that guy is.

And, like, you know, I didn't get to see him at Burning man there this year, but he was there as well.

But he's got the coolest stuff, and he's actually taking, like, real measurements of all the various generators and.

And power draws around, like, entire sites.

So, I mean, yeah, it'd be cool to have him back on as well, just to talk about his Burning man work and.

But yeah, that Coachella interview was cool.

I just.

Just right there, right?

I was like, okay, you're.

You're doing it.

I'm coming back tomorrow.

Yeah.

And then, geez, you know, Adam Rao and Geez.

Mo Daliwal.

I mean.

Oh, that was a cool one.

I mean, and then we did the reciprocal one, too, right?

So I was on his podcast and, you know, super fun, too.

Yeah.

I did that with Lena Manroe as well, where it was reciprocal and you know, what a just lovely lady she is.

So.

Right.

Yeah.

A lot of, A lot of folks in the entertainment industry and media do have their own other outlets and you know, podcasts and so on.

And you know, I'm just looking at this list too and like Carly Steinman.

Oh God.

Oh, geez.

What a cutie.

Like, like she is out there doing it.

Women in trades.

I know, I know.

Like she is putting women in trades and she's from the film business.

Right.

So she started, you know, in.

On the electric department, electrician.

And.

And she's actually selling her calendar.

We did a little cross promo, but she's selling a calendar.

Women in trades.

And it's just go Carly.

I know, right?

Just to see these people.

Like.

Yeah.

So.

And then we've got like Catherine Warren, right?

We have, you know, what a badass.

May I just say.

And you know, talk about powerful women, right?

And Nat Bolt, like fun actress, right.

We get different perspectives.

She, she's doing great work.

Yeah.

So many, so many powerhouse women here that are really making big waves in the industry.

Valerie Weiss.

Weiss, yeah.

Dr. Weiss to you.

Dr. Weiss.

Not Weis.

Yeah, on and on.

I mean, Sabrina Torres.

I mean, what a girl.

Like getting out there and starting a whole.

The great film club in LA and inviting independent filmmakers in and just giving them some space to show their stuff.

Like, God, that takes a lot of guts and courage to just do it.

And you know, just probably, I mean, just amazing stuff people are doing out there, right?

I mean, totally.

Yeah.

Honestly, I'm just trying to think like.

Yeah.

I'm gonna ask you my think my favorite moments.

I mean, we had a great time at south by Southwest.

So that was like a bit of a milestone, right, where we got.

Yeah.

One of our producers, Colin Miller had helped us and shout out to Colin for listening.

Yeah, he.

Yeah, he did a great job setting that up.

And we kind of were inundated with interviews that were a little bit off, off topic, off the beaten path for.

For what we were normally doing at the time.

But.

But it was pretty good.

Super interesting.

We learned a lot.

Learned a lot.

And how to do this more live.

Right?

Like that was our first real.

You.

Know, just kind of pop up situation.

And other than.

Other than Andre Champagne at spf, that was more on, you know, that was on a stage.

Exactly.

That was on a stage, you know, very well coordinated, these sorts of things.

But pop up like, you know, do an interview, you know, like, just make a space.

That was our experience and learning at south by Southwest.

And, man, there's a lot going on at south by Southwest.

Yeah, yeah, it's.

It's.

It's.

It's almost too much.

It's an adventure.

It's an adventure.

Yeah, we bit off a lot.

I was tired after that, to be honest.

Like, I was ready to come home and just kind of vet, if you will.

It was like, calm down.

There's.

There's a lot.

We're going in different directions.

Um, and associated with that was, you know, buzzing around Austin and also the Luck reunion with Neil.

I mean, honestly, like, that was one of my favorites too, because, like, literally shadowing the guy and going, you know, just hanging out behind the scenes, swapping out battery units, you know, checking out the monitor of all the stuff and just chatting it up all day long, seeing what they're doing.

And honestly, like, that experience sometimes, you know, you're like, is this okay?

Are we okay in this space?

Like this?

And that everybody there, even the guys, like, you know, from Luck reunion and Reverb and all the folks like, in and around, you know, that space, thinking about power, thinking about sustainability.

Super nice, super welcoming, right?

So, like, it was such an experience.

Experience.

So shout out to all.

All those folks.

Like, that also made it.

Made it a.

A great time.

So.

Yeah, and.

And shout out to Neil for.

For.

For putting live events powered by batteries and solar on the map.

You know, he's.

He's.

He's one of the trailblazers out there for sure.

And he's taken.

Taken all the good work that everybody has done and sort of, you know, accelerated it out there.

So.

Yeah, I mean, I got to see him at Burning man, so he was doing lots of installations there, and he does, like, you know, powers entire, entire festivals now.

Well, he was at Coachella too, wasn't he?

I think that Coachella.

He's everywhere.

He's everywhere.

Honestly, like, I remember talking to him at the Luck reunion, and he's like, yeah, these units are going to be going to Coachella, you know, so, like, my gosh, like, way to coordinate, way to get out there, way to beat the drum.

Like, that's super cool.

It's a tough.

It's a tough biz, though, you know, because you're literally.

Again, it's.

It's.

It's field deployment.

I mean, so totally.

It's like kind of living in a trailer and you're.

You're out.

Out every weekend and, and during the week as well.

So.

Yeah, it's not, it's not easy because it's still cables, wires, batteries, solar panels, setting everything up, taking everything down like it's.

Yeah.

So, yeah, we're seeing you, Neil.

Good job out there.

Yeah, we are.

Way to go.

And you know what?

We hung out with Show Power.

We haven't been able to release some of this stuff.

You'll see some good stuff, though, coming, I'm sure.

So just, you know, hang in there with that.

But.

Well, I mean, we can probably talk about it.

Like, we don't have the footage, but.

Yeah, we had the pleasure of going to Toronto to go behind the scenes to see Show Power Power, the Coldplay concert.

We don't know when the footage is going to come out or what's going to happen to it.

Yeah.

However, it was a, A really cool experience and, and I just, you know, thank you to.

To Lawrence and Paul and the crew out there.

Yeah.

Yeah, again, these are not easy feats.

Right.

Yeah, I mean, this is big stuff and, you know, really, you know, innovative.

Right.

And this is, you know, big stages.

I mean, look like, you know, zero room for error on this.

So way to go, guys.

And, you know, pushing the industry forward.

Right.

So shout out to.

To those folks.

Always good to hang out and, and figure out how to.

Yeah.

Artists.

Right.

And we need more artists like Coldplay as well to.

To take that chance.

And.

And it's happening.

It's going to happen more and more here.

There's just not enough batteries now that can do that in the field in a.

In a way that can tour or travel.

So that's kind of a chicken and egg.

You gotta have the batteries for people to get comfortable with and, and so on.

So.

So, yeah, it's happening.

2026 is going to be a big year for live events and music production.

I think so, too.

Yeah, I think so too.

Yeah.

And, you know, other great conversations.

What about Brett Walter and Tim Ginny?

Like, what a fun one, right?

These guys.

I mean, super pros and like tech and, you know.

Yeah.

Entertainment climate.

Remind me.

Climate action now.

Yeah.

Oh, I got the app.

I got the app.

I'm doing my little climate action thing.

Climate action now.

Check it out.

Yeah, they make it really easy to get in touch with your, you know, state representative.

So, like, if you're into that.

Super easy.

Yeah, it drafts.

It drafts your action, your email.

You can customize it, you can Send it.

You can take like 10 actions a day and then it.

Then you collect credits to plant trees.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I can't.

It was so long ago.

I can't remember that.

Yeah, yeah, no, it's super cool.

I got the started.

So how many trees have you planted?

I don't know.

I don't know.

But, yeah, I get emails all the time.

You're echoing your climate action.

So it's, it's, you know, talk about making it easy.

That's what people, you know, always say, like, if you can make climate change, you know, action easy, well, here you go.

App in your hand.

So I still feel that, that, that people are overwhelmed.

And, you know, like, now we're seeing sort of like almost like a backtracking, but, you know, the earth is not stopping.

The climate's not stopping to change.

Like, it's so funny.

We can, we can bury our heads in the sand and, and delay the inevitable, but it is, it is happening.

Yeah, these are, these are probably going to be defined by major climate change and climate events.

Yeah, it's, it's.

We're.

We're heading into just an incredibly complex world where we are not prepared.

So part of these conversations that we're having.

I know, I know, but just switching to, like, the folks that we interviewed on behind the Scenes of film and tv.

Like, you know, we've got that fun interview with Adam Rao and Joe Mac.

Like, yeah, production designer, construction manager.

You know, moving materials across borders.

Like, come on.

Like, yeah, Set reuse.

Like, I mean, there's no reason why we should not be doing.

Right.

Set reuse.

It's just a natural one and they proved that.

It saves money, it saves resources.

It's.

You can reimagine these sets in so many different ways.

Yeah.

My favorite word.

Retheme.

Hello.

Like, I don't know why I never thought of that before.

Like, this is.

And this is change the lights and paint it.

Just re.

Theme it.

Yes, yes.

Yeah.

And they're moving.

You know, the great story about, you know, moving sets from Toronto to la.

And even by doing that, they still save money.

And I mean, like, dive into that one if you're curious.

Like, you know what I love about.

A lot of the film guests that are in the reuse sort of world are pioneering this.

A lot of them came out of theater.

Yeah.

Both Joe and Adam did.

Yeah.

Right.

But those other folks too, we talked to, and you're just.

It's like yeah.

Because they had to do more with less theater.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And yeah, like, Jack Cooper Simpson was great.

I mean, like, okay, all.

May I just say, all of ours or what is your favorite.

What is your favorite episode?

Well, and they're like, there's the from the Field, obviously.

Yeah.

I mean, those are just so much fun.

And in.

I mean, there's going to be.

The Burning man one is a little bit delayed, so it's going to be coming out first week in January, so keep your eyes out for that.

So that was fun with that.

But in.

In terms of this year.

Yeah.

I mean, I just, I really do think that that from the feel, if.

So if we're doing it, segment them into different things, like the from the Field ones.

Those are.

Those are just fun.

My heart is just, you know, in those.

And I love getting out there and seeing people doing it in action.

Yeah.

So.

So yeah, I would say that the luck reunion one was.

Was one of the funnest ones that we went out there and made like a little mini documentary.

But if I had to, like, look at, you know, film ones.

Geez.

I. I think.

Oh, I really liked Lynn Lindsey Sturman.

That was early in the year, but she's the one from Film.

But that's reimagining la.

Yes, totally.

That really, like, I get that.

It's like we built it the first time and we can rebuild it.

And that's, I think, one of the challenges that we.

We kind of come up with this thing that we're like, well, we can't change it, right?

Oh, nope.

It's already there.

We can't change it.

And it's like, no, no.

If.

If LA or, you know, everywhere else, America wanted to reimagine civic life and cities and how people move around.

And it's like, we can do that.

We can do that.

It's possible.

Yeah.

And I really loved her initiative, you know, like.

Oh, Lillian Lou.

I know.

I just, you know, going into the.

More of the fashion stuff.

Right.

So we.

We did talk to a couple folks in.

In fashion.

I'm just looking here right now.

Jillian Clark.

Yeah, as well.

Right.

So there's.

There's again, back to that idea in.

In film and fashion.

Right.

It's.

Yeah, there's a.

That's a subplot to.

To a lot of stuff.

So what's cool about film is there's like.

Right.

It's not just film.

There's so many different departments and there's so many different things.

Yeah.

Right.

And.

And it's just like, it's such a complicated thing.

So that's what we're trying to, like, cut through that and get these stories.

So I'm just looking at.

I. I think a kind of a strange standout was the barrel at sea.

Right.

You know, nothing to do with any.

Anything.

Wild card.

Wild card.

Yeah.

Dax Patton.

Dax Patton.

Green.

Green Burial at Sea.

I mean, crack cracked us up in so many ways.

We were like, whoa, what are we doing here?

But the thing too is, like, that kind of stuff can show up in a TV show.

Sure.

Right.

So it doesn't have to be in a.

In a cemetery.

Why don't we get the family on a boat and.

Yeah, right.

But that's the kind of story, like, you know, you might see some kind of thing like that on a TV show and be like, whoa.

And yeah, there's a guy doing it.

There's.

You know what?

Wild.

It's wild.

You know, and love group interviews too.

Right.

We had Sophia, Roxy.

Roxy and Dortel on.

Yeah.

Talking about their good tie in survey.

Like, you know, these are people out there every day, you know, engaging with lots of shows, lots of crews trying to make a difference in the industry.

So, you know, great work to those Wonderful.

Yeah.

And then just, I mean, I think also from a sort of a conscious film side, Samuel Rubin.

Right.

Very candid conversation.

I mean, we're.

This is some of the things that.

These are folks that.

That we all know and.

And respect and have seen for, you know, a decade.

And then to have a.

Such a conversation with him, you know, I learned a lot, and I had just so much more respect for Samuel and the work that he's been doing since he was, like, a kid.

And.

Yeah, kudos to you, Samuel, for, For.

For putting yourself out there and, and leading by example.

So I, you know, things like that, like, wow.

Just.

I don't even, you know, it's.

It's incredible to me, what I love.

And I don't know where I.

We talked about this.

Maybe it was in a production meeting or.

Or whatnot.

But what I have just been loving is the authenticity.

Right.

Just genuine love for the work.

What they're.

What our guests are doing, you know, how they're just opening up about it and, you know, it's not always easy.

We all know that.

Right.

And just, you know, I appreciate that from our guests.

And, you know, we don't take that lightly.

You know, like, we.

This industry entertainment can sometimes be, you know, super guarded.

Right.

So definitely.

Yeah.

Appreciate it still is the stories and the Insight and the learnings.

Right.

So, yeah, and I think that's interesting that.

I think that's why we've.

We have been exploring as well, the music side, because there seems to be a more transparency and openness there, at least from my perspective.

But also they're.

They're newer to the sustainability scene, so it's like.

I think there's just more openness there.

And the events are like, you know, they're.

They're three days or they're four days or they're so.

So it's kind of like a short mini in and out.

So there's a lot more openness and getting it done versus productions can go on for a long, many seasons.

And there's different crews and different stuff.

And just like, I think this thing film is.

Ever has a level of complexity there that is a little trickier to.

To break into.

Mm.

In my opinion.

In my humble opinion.

Agreed.

It is a bit of an inside job, though.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

And just, you know, to maybe wrap us up and just kind of, you know, this is a new thing we.

We did this year is collaborate with Jackson Wild.

Right.

Yeah.

The Jackson Wild Summit is.

Has been going on for years and this focuses on, like, wonderful achievements in documentary filmmaking, wildlife and nature and.

And these sorts of things.

So we had the great pleasure of interviewing.

You've seen.

Well, you might see all three, but we interviewed three different filmmakers, three different projects that went through Jackson Wilde and their Green Production Award.

And, you know, man, this is a different type of filmmaking.

Right.

It's super light sometimes and it's just neat to have the collaboration with them and have access to folks who are submitting for that festival.

So shout out to Jackson Wild too.

Yeah.

Just so many compelling stories and.

And bringing it back to nature.

Right.

Bringing it back to.

To the human experience.

I think we just get so distracted these days, right, with everything and everybody's running on fumes and we're, you know, just.

Everybody's addicted to their phones and.

Right.

It's like, look up.

Like, look up.

There's a super movie.

Look around.

Go for a walk.

Go for a walk in nature.

Feel the.

The, you know, freshness of the forest and the smell and, you know, the look at the animals that, you know.

Anyway, it's.

There's some lovely work out there that kind of, you know, shows all of this and just excited to be able to talk to filmmakers in that space too.

So.

Yeah, absolutely.

So many good things and.

Yeah.

And, you know, thank you for putting up with our learning here.

As we go along and we're really trying to figure out, you know, how to, how to get our social media going and how to, how to get the word out and love to talk to film schools and, you know, just anything.

We don't, you know, at this moment, we don't have advertisers.

Right.

We're the ones doing this thing, funding it, and because we love doing this, maybe that's going to change.

Right.

In the, in the new year.

We're always looking for folks that want to get their own message out as well.

So please reach out to us if you've made it to the end of this, of this episode.

And yeah, we're just always open and like, send us your way.

Send somebody your, you know, our way.

We, we want to talk to them and get this into the right ear.

Channels the ears of everyone in the industry, right?

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

Well, hey, happy holidays, y'.

All, like, you know, hope you all have a restful holiday season and we will catch you back in the new year.

And, you know, you got a few minutes in your holiday and you want some fun stories tie in is where it's at.

We've got 50 of them for you, so.

And then that's season two.

We got season one.

I know we have season one, too.

So you can really, like, go back in the archives and, like, find some good stuff.

There are some really, like, golden interview.

So anyway, thank you all, really.

Thanks for listening.

Yeah.

And also, this wouldn't be possible without our production team.

We got Rachel Werbel as well as Colin Miller.

Thank you, Colin, for all of your work that, that you've given us over the years.

Erica Timmerman at Picnic Social, her team, like, and her amazing team, and Jewel over there.

Thank you guys for all of your amazing work with us over the last couple of years.

And then Aaliyah Kane for her design work.

Peter Chapman for the theme song.

I know, it's just super cool.

Have I missed anybody?

Yeah.

Thanks, everybody.

We had to call on all of our friends to come and help us to do this, so.

Yeah.

Yeah.

All right, well, happy holidays and we'll see you in January.

Music is by Peter Chapman.

Social media is by Picnic Social.

Our editor and producer is Rachel Werbell.