Let's talk about Verticals

The 100th podcast episode is finally here, and who better to celebrate it with than my five Review Ladies? On top of that, it's also time for our ninth Monthly Recap, which means we have lots to discuss! Since numbers are known to be quite relevant in the Vertical Space, we start off with a few facts about the podcast, which has now been around for nine months. Among them are the 96,443 downloads recorded as of May 31.


We're also pleased to see that this month brought several storylines and verticals that we've never seen before. Whether we're all equally enthusiastic about them from a content perspective, however, remains to be seen.


Curious about what didn’t quite impress us in May — and what completely stole our hearts? Then you’re in exactly the right place for my monthly roundtable with the ladies! Joining the discussion: * Michaela (Host) @lets_talk_about_verticals * Aline @i.love.verticals * Dalia @verticalfilmslover * Shikha Dia @verticalviewweekly * Caitlyn @verticait * Meagan @realreeldrama Our Monthly Recap gives you direct insight from the audience perspective on what truly stood out… and what definitely didn’t. This month’s categories: Actor/Actress of the Month Supporting Role of the Month Chemistry of the Month Vertical of the Month Crap/Disappointment of the Month App of the Monh As always, we keep it open, honest, and unfiltered — celebrating what we love about the Vertical industry while also calling out where there’s clear room for improvement. A refreshingly entertaining yet critically reflective conversation you don’t want to miss ️ Enjoy listening! #podcast #new #verticals #bts #community

️ It took Ben Whalen and me quite a while to finally find the time to sit down for a relaxed and unhurried conversation—but good things are worth waiting for.


One of the reasons was that Ben was unexpectedly called away to China for his very first Vertical project right around the time we had originally planned to record. Even better, he was able to return shortly afterward to shoot even more amazing Vertical content for us. ️


When he’s not traveling the world for Vertical productions, Ben is a true film enthusiast who tries to make it to the cinema at least once a week to fully immerse himself in the atmosphere of a good (horizontal) movie.


Ben is also one of the few people I can openly discuss topics that audiences don’t necessarily want to see in Verticals—especially those infamous banquet scenes. We both still wonder why nobody ever just Googles the answer or shows their ID.


According to Ben himself, he has a “hateable face,” which makes him a natural choice for antagonist roles. Over the years, he has embraced those characters and developed a style that is uniquely his own. No matter what role he’s playing, chances are you’ll find him looking sharp in a stylish suit.


And if you’re ever looking for him after a shoot, check the shower first. If his final scene involved a shower, there’s a good chance he decided to stay there a little longer.


One item that’s definitely on Ben’s 2026 bucket list is filming in Europe. Whether he’ll be able to correctly pronounce my name by the time he arrives in Germany remains to be seen.


This episode is packed with fun stories, behind-the-scenes insights, honest conversations, and plenty of laughs. You definitely won’t want to miss it.


Enjoy the episode! Some Verticals with Ben Whalen:





Sleeping with a Billionaire Enemy (Tikok)


The Voice That Lied (Kalos TV)


Found A Homeless Genius to Save My Company (Goodshort)


Karma at Your Wedding Day (ShortMax)


Swapped Heiress by My Bestie (Dramawave)





#podcast #verticals #community #bts #new

At the beginning of my personal Vertical-watch journey, I actually avoided werewolf and vampire Verticals because they felt a little too fancy for me Until my today’s podcast guest Brooke Moltrum — together with Nick Ritacco — completely pulled me in with Fated to My Forbidden Vampire





I’m really excited to talk with Brooke about her very first steps into the Vertical space, how she even ended up becoming part of this industry, and what turned out to be one of the biggest learning curves for her in the beginning





Brooke also loves looking behind the camera and diving into the entire production process of a Vertical. So we also talk about topics like the buzz around click numbers , storylines ️, post-production ️ and where we personally see weaknesses and room for improvement in the current Vertical world.





And when it comes to characters? Brooke is incredibly versatile  Thankfully, she’s not being boxed into just one type of role — she can play the sweet and lovable female lead just as convincingly as the calculating and manipulative antagonist





Besides her time in musical theater — where she also performed in 2025 — Brooke would absolutely love to show off her singing skills in a Vertical one day. (Although, according to her, the extra super-professional dancing could probably be skipped )


And trust me… you’ll definitely want to hear who she thinks would be PERFECT for the male lead role





After appearing in so many Verticals, Brooke has gained a huge amount of experience, learned a lot, and changed many things along the way.


Ever wondered why Brooke almost always crosses her legs when sitting in a Vertical scene?  Or why she sometimes intentionally covers parts of her face during filming?


You’ll hear all of that — and so much more — in this wonderful, relaxed and super fun conversation





Enjoy listening! ️





Some Verticals with Brooke Moltrum:





99 Chances of Love (Kalos TV)


Alpha's Love Captive (MyDrama)


Torn Between the Cole Brothers (Shorts)


Boss, Your Executive Secretary Has Resigned (Dramabox)


I Love You More Than Life (Reelshort) #podcast #bts #new #community #vertical

️ It’s time for a new episode featuring someone from the audience side of the Vertical world! This time, I sat down with Sanne from Vertical World Girl.


Many of you probably already know Sanne and have watched one or two of her interviews with people from the Vertical space. But today, it’s finally her turn to be interviewed


Just like me, Sanne entered the Vertical world in 2023 and — like so many of us — got hooked after watching a ReelShort show. She first started out creating reviews before later launching her own interview series. Since then, her work has become an essential part of the Vertical community.


Of course, we also talk about the kinds of Vertical storylines and genres that instantly make her tune out , which actors and actresses she especially enjoys watching, and whether she prefers subscriptions or spending coins on Verticals


Over time, Sanne has spoken with many actors and actresses, mainly to learn more about the Vertical industry, behind-the-scenes insights, and what it’s really like working on these productions. Does she still have dream guests for her interview format? She reveals it in this episode


We also discuss how much time she invests daily into her Vertical page, what can sometimes feel exhausting or demotivating, and why the whole experience is still so incredibly fun and rewarding ️


You should definitely tune into this episode if you want another audience perspective on all things Verticals and some exclusive BTS stories from the lives of two Vertical interviewers


Have fun listening!