111 episodes

Hosted by former Marvel entertainment lawyer Paul Sarker and entertainment enthusiast Mesh Lakhani, Better Call Paul will delve into the business and legal issues at play behind the glitz and glam. This show takes you beyond the catchy headlines to find out what’s really at play behind the scenes and gives you an introduction to the business side of show business.

Better Call Paul Lola Media

    • News
    • 5.0 • 32 Ratings

Hosted by former Marvel entertainment lawyer Paul Sarker and entertainment enthusiast Mesh Lakhani, Better Call Paul will delve into the business and legal issues at play behind the glitz and glam. This show takes you beyond the catchy headlines to find out what’s really at play behind the scenes and gives you an introduction to the business side of show business.

    317. Taylor Swift Overload, LOTR Returns, and FCC Takes on MFNs

    317. Taylor Swift Overload, LOTR Returns, and FCC Takes on MFNs

    This week, resident Swiftie, Mesh, gives us his take on Taylor Swift’s latest record-breaking double album, The Tortured Poet’s Department. Next, Paul and Mesh geek out about Fantom Event’s announcement that it will re-release Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings trilogy this summer in re-mastered 4K. Finally, Paul breaks down the FCC’s recent announcement that it will look into the enforceability of most favored nations clauses and internet holdbacks in carriage agreements between operators (e.g., cable, satellite) and independent networks.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 34 min
    316. Netflix's New Head of Film, Caitlin Clark's Deals & APA’s Guidelines for AI in Documentary Film

    316. Netflix's New Head of Film, Caitlin Clark's Deals & APA’s Guidelines for AI in Documentary Film

    Paul and Mesh kick off the episode discussing Netflix’s new head of film, Dan Lin, and the potential change in strategy from big budget films to a more cost-conscious approach. They then dive into women’s basketball star and WNBA #1 pick Caitlin Clark, her deal with Nike, and what it will take for the WNBA to provide better pay to its athletes. Finally, Paul breaks down the Archival Producer’s Alliance development of guidelines regarding the use of generative AI in documentary filmmaking and how the APA attempts to balance risk and reward.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 42 min
    315. OJ’s Death, Cinema Con and Paramount’s Latest Deal with Skydance

    315. OJ’s Death, Cinema Con and Paramount’s Latest Deal with Skydance

    Paul and Mesh kick off the episode discussing OJ’s death and the controversial legacy he left behind. They break down the latest news from Cinema Con- AMC’s survival, Gladiator 2, Transformers, and other IP coming to the big screen. Finally, they give an update on the Paramount/Skydance deal and the tension it’s causing among shareholders.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 36 min
    314. Chris Babu: TiqAssist CEO

    314. Chris Babu: TiqAssist CEO

    This week, Paul interviews a long-time client, Chris Babu, who is the CEO of a technology company in the ticketing industry. Chris discusses how he leveraged his analytics background, his stints at Ebay and Stubhub, and his passion for live sports and music to build a concierge service for season ticket holders. In addition, Chris and Paul discuss current trends in the sports industry and some surprising facts about March Madness.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 36 min
    313. Diddy Scandal and SBF Sentenced

    313. Diddy Scandal and SBF Sentenced

    Paul and Mesh begin with a potential sale of the theatre chain operator, Alamo Draft House. Next, they discuss the recent federal raid of Sean Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex-trafficking investigation. Finally, they break down Sam Bankman-Fried’s 25-year sentence for financial crimes and provide an overview of how the FTX bubble burst.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 42 min
    312. Dodgers Gambling Dilemma, UFC $335M Settlement, & Reddit IPO

    312. Dodgers Gambling Dilemma, UFC $335M Settlement, & Reddit IPO

    Paul and Mesh dive into the latest sports legal news, starting with a potential gambling scandal involving Baseball’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, whose former interpreter allegedly racked up $4.5M in gambling debts. They then discuss UFC's recent antitrust lawsuit settlement with former fighters and examine its potential impact on the sport. Wrapping up, they discuss Reddit's successful IPO and ponder the company's future.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
32 Ratings

32 Ratings

Jeremy Cott ,

Absolutely outstanding

This guy Paul is top notch - I really can’t express how much I love this show and how useful it is. Highly recommended !!!!

FeedMePods ,

Smart and informative!

Paul and Mesh have great chemistry. I really enjoy their engaging discussions about the entertainment industry, pop culture, and the intersections with law. I find myself learning a lot and jotting down notes on what to watch. I listen to a LOT of podcasts and this one is now one of my favorites. This podcast is so interesting and entertaining with a hint of nerdiness - I love it. Bravo-keep it up!

BellaFranklin ,

Wow the algorithm really got this one right for me

This is a perfect intersection of a few of my podcast interests: the media and entertainment industry, law, and two people having an engaging conversation. The hosts have insider knowledge without being too exclusionary, and they have good takes on the latest gossipy topics without delving into page six-like speculation. A bonus - I absolutely hate sports and hearing about sports, unless it’s these two talking about it!

Just an overall solid podcast, I look forward to it every week.

Top Podcasts In News

The Daily
The New York Times
Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times
Up First
NPR
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Daily Wire
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk
The Tucker Carlson Podcast
Tucker Carlson Network

You Might Also Like

The Powers That Be: Daily
Puck | Audacy
The Journal.
The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet
Pivot
New York Magazine
Fresh Air
NPR
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Marketplace Tech
Marketplace