SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS with Mike Wendt & Jack Baun

SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS with Mike Wendt & Jack Baun

This week on Unfiltered Brew, we welcome returning guests Mike Wendt and Jack Baun to kick off a “Summer Blockbuster” conversation about movies that shaped generations and changed Hollywood. They review Steven Spielberg’s new film Disclosure Day, a chase thriller about a whistleblower and a weather anchor amid government secrets about aliens, and discuss how its topical storyline affects nostalgia and escapism. The group defines what makes a blockbuster, traces the modern summer-blockbuster model to Jaws, and compares the cultural impact of Jaws and Star Wars, including the hero’s-journey storytelling formula. They highlight today’s appetite for original films like the low-budget hit Obsession, and discuss Cleveland’s filmmaking scene, including the Hometown Heroes event featuring David Wain’s Wet Hot American Summer.

Making a Movie Called...GHOST TOILET?

What started as a joke about a haunted toilet turned into a proof-of-concept trailer, a fundraising campaign, and a feature film in the making. This week, we sit down with filmmakers Adam White and Kara Martinelli, along with producer Bob Ruggeri of Hemlock Films, to discuss their upcoming horror-comedy Ghost Toilet. From the inspiration behind the film and the challenges of independent filmmaking to securing funding and bringing a creative vision to life, they share what it really takes to get a movie made. The conversation also explores aerial cinema, how drone technology transformed the film industry, the future of filmmaking, and why Cleveland continues to be a hub for creative talent. A fun, unfiltered conversation about storytelling, entrepreneurship, creativity, and taking a chance on big ideas even when they sound a little crazy. Grab your favorite brew and join us.

Can We Still Have Difficult Conversations? | Dan Moulthrop

What happened to real conversation? This week on Unfiltered Brew, we sit down with Dan Moulthrop, CEO of The City Club of Cleveland, to discuss why it feels harder than ever to communicate, disagree, and truly listen to one another. From social media and outrage culture to free speech, cancel culture, loneliness, and political division, this episode explores what happens when we stop trying to win arguments and start trying to understand each other. A thought-provoking conversation about human connection, curiosity, and the future of public discourse.

Tina Chammoun on Building a Brand Rooted in Heritage

This week on Unfiltered Brew, we sat down with entrepreneur and founder of Terranean Herbs & Spices, Tina Chamoun. From launching during COVID with $500 to getting her products into 1000+ stores nationwide, Tina opens up about entrepreneurship, motherhood, preserving culture through food, and the reality of building a brand from scratch. A conversation about identity, ambition, burnout, and staying connected to your roots.

"We Almost Quit"… 1 Year of Unfiltered Brew

We made it to 30 episodes… and somehow, it’s already been a year! In this episode, it’s just us, no guest, no script, just the real story behind Unfiltered Brew. From recording in our apartment with no clue what we were doing, to building something that’s brought us into rooms we once dreamed about… this one’s personal. We talk about what it actually looks like to build a podcast with your best friend—the good, the frustrating, and the moments we almost broke. The growth, the doubts, the lessons, and the reality of doing everything on our own. We get into confidence, communication, fear, rejection, and what keeps us showing up every single week—even when it’s hard. If you’ve ever wanted to start something, felt discouraged, or questioned yourself along the way… this episode is for you. This is 1 year of Unfiltered Brew. No filter, no holding back.