And Now We Drink Episode 473: With Michael Vegas

Matt Slayer sits down in person with  performer, director, and producer Michael Vegas for a wide-ranging, booze-fueled conversation that moves from near-death revelations to the realities of making movies in the modern creator economy. Michael opens up about the motorcycle accident that ended his path toward firefighting, reshaped his worldview, and eventually led him through nursing school and into  film. He shares how surviving trauma gave him a deep appreciation for life, connection, and what he describes as unconditional love. From there, Matt and Michael dig into relationships, non-monogamy, jealousy, accountability, and the hard-earned lessons that come with age. They also get political, touching on voting, voter suppression, American exceptionalism, women’s rights, and why travel can break people out of national myths. The episode also offers a candid insider look at the  industry: performer safety, gatekeeping, content creators entering studio work, marketing, podcasts as promotion, and the difference between personal relations and performing  for the camera. Michael talks about building safer, performer-centered spaces like The Bottom Floor, directing for major companies, navigating corporate changes  and why good production depends on trust, preparation, and knowing how to keep talent comfortable. Along the way, the two swap thoughts on guns, travel, social media algorithms, pickup artistry, audio quality, fake prosthetics, drone shots, Danny Elfman, Slayer, and why authenticity matters more than being “cool.” It’s funny, frank, occasionally chaotic, and deeply human—classic And Now We Drink. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Slayer sits down with Blake Lovely for a wildly unfiltered round of frosty margaritas, industry talk, and the kind of conversational detours that define And Now We Drink. What starts with nerd banter about lasers, Lord of the Rings, and questionable childhood movie obsessions quickly spirals into a candid, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful deep dive into life in adult entertainment, social media chaos, and surviving the internet’s worst impulses. Blake opens up about her path from music into the industry, how the work helped her build stability and invest in therapy, and why she refuses to join the chorus of performers who dismiss the industry after benefiting from it. She and Matt dig into the realities behind  sets, the difference between followers and true fans, the pressure to go viral, and the increasingly hostile landscape for workers on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and beyond. The conversation also takes on AI models, likeness rights, censorship, anti-trans harassment, trans representation in media, Southern roots, age-gap relationships, studio awards, directing ambitious features, and why hate comments often say more about the commenter than the target. Blake shares stories from sets, parties, music sessions, and her rise as both a performer and director, including her award-winning feature Once Upon a TS Summer and hints at an even bigger project on the horizon. Equal parts raunchy, political, personal, and hilarious, this episode is a candid snapshot of Blake Lovely’s confidence, resilience, and sharp wit—served with tequila, tangents, and zero apologies. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of And Now We Drink, Matt Slayer sits down with longtime  industry writer, reviewer, and newly minted XRCO Hall of Famer Tod Hunter for a sprawling, funny, and deeply inside-baseball conversation over bourbon. Tod brings decades of perspective from AVN, XRCO,  sets, awards rooms, and the shifting landscape of  media, offering candid thoughts on what awards still mean, how performers’ careers have changed, and why the industry’s legal and labor issues remain more complicated than most outsiders realize. Matt and Tod dig into the evolution of  entertainment from theatrical runs and plot-driven features to Gonzo, DVDs, streaming, OF, and today’s creator economy. Along the way, they talk 2257 compliance, legal cases, performer privacy, the rise and fall of print magazines, and what makes a scene or feature genuinely stand out after thousands of reviews. The conversation also detours—gloriously—through Los Angeles history, Tommy’s chili burgers, the Magic Castle, Beverly Hills trains, Mexican food debates, old-school Thomas Guides, London in the ’70s, and Tod’s unexpected run as both a Jeopardy contestant and writer. Equal parts industry archive, barroom storytelling, and cranky-but-charming cultural commentary, this episode is a reminder that nobody tells  industry war stories quite like someone who has been taking notes for nearly thirty years. We are proud to be brought to you by BellFlask www.bellflask.com use promo code slayer20 for 20% off at checkout Cover your shame in our wares. New Merch! anwd.net/merch The Patreon is full of exclusive content and directly supports the show. patreon.com/mattslayer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Slayer welcomes Codi Vore back to And Now We Drink for margaritas, mayhem, and a wide-ranging conversation that swings from hilarious to brutally honest. The episode opens in the wake of recent “male podcaster” controversy, with Matt and Codi unpacking cancel culture, internet pile-ons, performative outrage, and the difference between accountability and punishment without nuance. From there, they dive into the manosphere’s relationship with SWers, calling out the hypocrisy of shows that shame OF creators while profiting from them. Codi breaks down concerns around OF agencies, industry giants moving into creator management, high percentage cuts, chatters, and the ongoing legal questions surrounding deceptive fan interactions. She also highlights SWAID Collective’s work supporting SWers in need and reflects on how mutual aid, industry stigma, and financial instability intersect. The conversation gets deeply personal as Matt and Codi talk consent, cheating, trust, polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, libido differences, dating insecurity, confidence, and the messy ways people avoid being honest in relationships. They also detour through Berlin’s kink-friendly culture, America’s puritanical roots, beauty as “false scarcity,” and why confidence can matter more than looks. Later, Codi shares her love for the industry, her experiences shooting for major companies, her recent step into directing, and the practical headaches of editing , green screen work, camera settings, color grading, and creator workflows. It’s a drunken, funny, candid, and surprisingly thoughtful episode about s**, power, labor, art, and owning your choices. We are proud to be brought to you by BellFlask www.bellflask.com use promo code slayer20 for 20% off at checkout Cover your shame in our wares. New Merch! anwd.net/merch The Patreon is full of exclusive content and directly supports the show. patreon.com/mattslayer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Slayer welcomes Codi Vore back to And Now We Drink for margaritas, mayhem, and a wide-ranging conversation that swings from hilarious to brutally honest. The episode opens in the wake of recent “male podcaster” controversy, with Matt and Codi unpacking cancel culture, internet pile-ons, performative outrage, and the difference between accountability and punishment without nuance. From there, they dive into the manosphere’s relationship with SWers, calling out the hypocrisy of shows that shame OF creators while profiting from them. Codi breaks down concerns around OF agencies, industry giants moving into creator management, high percentage cuts, chatters, and the ongoing legal questions surrounding deceptive fan interactions. She also highlights SWAID Collective’s work supporting SWers in need and reflects on how mutual aid, industry stigma, and financial instability intersect. The conversation gets deeply personal as Matt and Codi talk consent, cheating, trust, polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, libido differences, dating insecurity, confidence, and the messy ways people avoid being honest in relationships. They also detour through Berlin’s kink-friendly culture, America’s puritanical roots, beauty as “false scarcity,” and why confidence can matter more than looks. Later, Codi shares her love for the industry, her experiences shooting for major companies, her recent step into directing, and the practical headaches of editing , green screen work, camera settings, color grading, and creator workflows. It’s a drunken, funny, candid, and surprisingly thoughtful episode about s**, power, labor, art, and owning your choices. We are proud to be brought to you by BellFlask www.bellflask.com use promo code slayer20 for 20% off at checkout Cover your shame in our wares. New Merch! anwd.net/merch The Patreon is full of exclusive content and directly supports the show. patreon.com/mattslayer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Slayer welcomes Codi Vore back to And Now We Drink for margaritas, mayhem, and a wide-ranging conversation that swings from hilarious to brutally honest. The episode opens in the wake of recent “male podcaster” controversy, with Matt and Codi unpacking cancel culture, internet pile-ons, performative outrage, and the difference between accountability and punishment without nuance. From there, they dive into the manosphere’s relationship with SWers, calling out the hypocrisy of shows that shame OF creators while profiting from them. Codi breaks down concerns around OF agencies, industry giants moving into creator management, high percentage cuts, chatters, and the ongoing legal questions surrounding deceptive fan interactions. She also highlights SWAID Collective’s work supporting SWers in need and reflects on how mutual aid, industry stigma, and financial instability intersect. The conversation gets deeply personal as Matt and Codi talk consent, cheating, trust, polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, libido differences, dating insecurity, confidence, and the messy ways people avoid being honest in relationships. They also detour through Berlin’s kink-friendly culture, America’s puritanical roots, beauty as “false scarcity,” and why confidence can matter more than looks. Later, Codi shares her love for the industry, her experiences shooting for major companies, her recent step into directing, and the practical headaches of editing , green screen work, camera settings, color grading, and creator workflows. It’s a drunken, funny, candid, and surprisingly thoughtful episode about s**, power, labor, art, and owning your choices. We are proud to be brought to you by BellFlask www.bellflask.com use promo code slayer20 for 20% off at checkout Cover your shame in our wares. New Merch! anwd.net/merch The Patreon is full of exclusive content and directly supports the show. patreon.com/mattslayer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of And Now We Drink, Matt Slayer sits down with industry veteran, actor, producer, radio host, and horror filmmaker James Bartholet for a wild, tangent-filled conversation that moves from old-school talk radio to modern  industry realities, award-show culture, and the glory of grindhouse cinema. James reflects on his decades in broadcasting, what he learned from the talk radio era, and why live caller interaction can be both a ratings boost and a minefield. He also dives into his current slate of projects, including Scissors Chapter Two, Murder Motel, horror convention appearances, and his long-running show Inside the Industry with James Bartholet. Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes stories from low-budget horror sets, including a chocolate syrup blood gag that went very wrong Matt and James get candid about the changing economics of  entertainment, from VHS box covers and fan conventions to tube sites, OF, performer expectations, parasocial relationships, and whether performers could ever realistically unionize. They also talk about the importance of respecting performers at conventions and supporting the work you enjoy. The conversation swerves into Hollywood memories, including Joan Rivers, Keanu Reeves, River Phoenix, Britney Murphy, the Viper Room, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame debates, disappearing Los Angeles landmarks, Red Lobster biscuits, dating dealbreakers, and why being present for real conversation still matters. It’s funny, nostalgic, blunt, and unmistakably And Now We Drink.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Slayer sits down with Canadian comedian Simon King for a fast, filthy, and surprisingly thoughtful ride through comedy, chaos, politics, and the weird machinery of modern life. What starts with jokes about OF, The Hub, comedy specials, AI-written eulogies, and s***ide hotline telethons quickly turns into a sharp, darkly funny conversation about what it means to be a working comic in a world run by algorithms, bots, and questionable incentives. Simon talks about touring in the U.S. as a Canadian, the strange instability of modern America, border anxiety, and why Canada’s relationship with the States has shifted from neighborly familiarity to genuine concern. He and Matt dig into the realities of comedy today: crowd work clips, viral fame, bought followers, club economics, content pressure, and why Simon prefers “artisan small batch” audiences who actually know what they came to see. Along the way, Matt and Simon riff on stolen art, Lenin’s body, mutton, corporate gigs, Saudi money, guns, masculinity, generational change, and whether humanity has any shot at making it another hundred years. It’s an episode full of grim punchlines, honest self-reflection, and the kind of unruly tangents that make And Now We Drink feel less like an interview and more like eavesdropping on two funny people trying to make sense of a burning world. Cover your shame in our wares. New Merch! anwd.net/merch The Patreon is full of exclusive content and directly supports the show. patreon.com/mattslayer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Slayer sits down with Canadian comedian Simon King for a fast, filthy, and surprisingly thoughtful ride through comedy, chaos, politics, and the weird machinery of modern life. What starts with jokes about OF, The Hub, comedy specials, AI-written eulogies, and s***ide hotline telethons quickly turns into a sharp, darkly funny conversation about what it means to be a working comic in a world run by algorithms, bots, and questionable incentives. Simon talks about touring in the U.S. as a Canadian, the strange instability of modern America, border anxiety, and why Canada’s relationship with the States has shifted from neighborly familiarity to genuine concern. He and Matt dig into the realities of comedy today: crowd work clips, viral fame, bought followers, club economics, content pressure, and why Simon prefers “artisan small batch” audiences who actually know what they came to see. Along the way, Matt and Simon riff on stolen art, Lenin’s body, mutton, corporate gigs, Saudi money, guns, masculinity, generational change, and whether humanity has any shot at making it another hundred years. It’s an episode full of grim punchlines, honest self-reflection, and the kind of unruly tangents that make And Now We Drink feel less like an interview and more like eavesdropping on two funny people trying to make sense of a burning world. Cover your shame in our wares. New Merch! anwd.net/merch The Patreon is full of exclusive content and directly supports the show. patreon.com/mattslayer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Slayer sits down with Canadian comedian Simon King for a fast, filthy, and surprisingly thoughtful ride through comedy, chaos, politics, and the weird machinery of modern life. What starts with jokes about OF, The Hub, comedy specials, AI-written eulogies, and s***ide hotline telethons quickly turns into a sharp, darkly funny conversation about what it means to be a working comic in a world run by algorithms, bots, and questionable incentives. Simon talks about touring in the U.S. as a Canadian, the strange instability of modern America, border anxiety, and why Canada’s relationship with the States has shifted from neighborly familiarity to genuine concern. He and Matt dig into the realities of comedy today: crowd work clips, viral fame, bought followers, club economics, content pressure, and why Simon prefers “artisan small batch” audiences who actually know what they came to see. Along the way, Matt and Simon riff on stolen art, Lenin’s body, mutton, corporate gigs, Saudi money, guns, masculinity, generational change, and whether humanity has any shot at making it another hundred years. It’s an episode full of grim punchlines, honest self-reflection, and the kind of unruly tangents that make And Now We Drink feel less like an interview and more like eavesdropping on two funny people trying to make sense of a burning world. Cover your shame in our wares. New Merch! anwd.net/merch The Patreon is full of exclusive content and directly supports the show. patreon.com/mattslayer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.