When the power pop band "Material Issue" soared to stardom, Balin Schneider was just born. Yet it's as if he was right there in the crowd at their concerts, experiencing every beat and melody firsthand, after he spent several years making a documentary about the band’s ascent and downfall. What began as a short student project blossomed into a full-fledged feature film and a lifelong passion for filmmaking. 

In this episode, Lulu talks with Balin Schneider, a LA-based documentary filmmaker/reporter/Executive Director of arvonia films. His first feature film, Out of Time: The Material Issue Story premiered at Sound Unseen Film Festival and played in theaters nationwide. He has directed projects with artists such as Gym Class Heroes, Panic! At The Disco, The Academy Is…, BLACKPINK, Cobra Starship and Ed Sheeran. He currently attends the University of Southern California (USC) for his Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism with a focus on International reporting. He has written for LAist, The 74 and his work has been featured in Forbes, Axios, Brooklyn Vegan and Pitchfork.

You’ll hear about:

• What inspired him to tell the story of a band that seems 'out of time'?

• What does it like to start one’s own film production company?

• Why might a filmmaker be interested in pursuing a journalism degree?

• Where can we discover good documentaries? 

Films that we’ve talked about:

• Shoah by Claude Lanzmann

• Nina & Irena by Daniel Lombroso

• Oasis by Justine Martin https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/05/learning/film-club-oasis.html

• Puffling by Jessica Bishopp https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-documentary/preparing-to-fly-in-puffling

Never want to miss an episode? Search for “dedicated lulu” on ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠, and subscribe to the show!

⁠Twitter⁠/⁠Instagram⁠: @dedicatedfm

Email: ⁠dedicatedfm2022@gmail.com⁠

Music Credits:

Material Issue - Everything

In this holiday season, we visited the Skyline Ranch Christmas Trees Farm in La Honda, California, where we we met its wonderful owner Donna. From a fruit orchard to a tree wonderland, this place has been a nature-lovers’ paradise since the 1970s. Besides bringing a festive spirit, their trees play a crucial role in nurturing the environment and spreading the joy of the great outdoors.

In this episode, Donna shares insider tips on finding that perfect tree, taking it home safe and sound, and keeping it merry all season long. She also uncovers the origins of this entire Christmas tree tradition. Grab your saw and we'll catch you at the farm - Hope you snag that dream tree🌲!

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIC1o8p-tN8

Never want to miss an episode? Search for “dedicated lulu” on ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to the show!

⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: @dedicatedfm

Email: ⁠⁠⁠dedicatedfm2022@gmail.com⁠⁠

Hey there, pumpkin lovers! It's that wonderful time of the year when pumpkins become the unofficial dress code at grocery stores. But if you're up for real pumpkin parties, check out the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay if you're visiting the Bay Area. These farmers have been growing pumpkins for almost a century. Are they all set for the busiest time of the year?

Join us on a journey to the heart of pumpkin festivities as we explore Arata's Pumpkin Farm, the oldest pumpkin farm in the area. We sat down with the farm's owner Chris Gounalakis to uncover

• What makes Half Moon Bay the “Pumpkin Capital of the West Coast”?
• Why do people flock to Arata's Pumpkin Farm?
• What's the owner's favorite pumpkin variety and recipe?
• What happens to all the unsold pumpkins?
• What's it like running a pumpkin farm?
• What keeps a pumpkin farm thriving for nearly a century?

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube.

Never want to miss an episode? Search for “dedicated lulu” on ⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, and subscribe to the show!

⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠/⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @dedicatedfm

Email: ⁠⁠dedicatedfm2022@gmail.com⁠⁠

Music Credits:

1. Taylor Swift - Gorgeous

2. The Play - Piano Version

Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios.

Link: https://youtu.be/7CD9KzBpSqk?si=l6UoK7gnw0doslql | Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0

3. Dive

Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios

Link: https://youtu.be/V4b1AUcCi-s?si=FEUC-GiGOZU16fJ5 | Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0