Andy Nelson is a filmmaker, producer, and podcast host with over 25 years of experience in film, TV, and documentary storytelling. A co-founder of TruStory FM, he brings his love of movies and narrative craft to life across podcasts, indie films, and educational work in screenwriting and production.

Pete Wright is a veteran broadcaster and media consultant with a 30-year career spanning journalism, brand storytelling, and podcasting. He is a co-founder of TruStory FM, where he hosts and produces podcasts that blend education, entertainment, and human-centered communication.

Steve Sarmento is an educator, writer, and film buff in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s been a part of the fabric of The Next Reel Film Podcasts since its inception. He has served to educate and illuminate through his regular participation in The Film Board and the two podcasts he developed and hosted, Trailer Rewind and Three of a Kind.

Tommy Metz III—filmmaker, festival favorite, and proud recipient of “Most Handsome Son” (per his mom)—has directed award-winning shorts, a horror standout (Static), and the feature film 30 NIGHTS. He’s also spent 20+ years mentoring young writers through Young Storytellers. He lives in Sherman Oaks with his four-legged co-star, Foster, who may or may not have beef with skateboards.

Mandy Kaplan is a multi-talented actress, voice-over artist, and writer whose voice can be heard in hundreds of commercials, video games, and audiobooks. She hosts Make Me A Nerd, where friends introduce her to their fandoms, and co-hosts Once and Future Parent, chronicling the adventure of raising—and being raised by—a high schooler.

Justin “JJ” Jaeger is a recovering news reporter turned podcaster, performer, and professional deep-convo enthusiast. A fixture on TruStory.fm shows like The Film Board, Trailer Rewind, and Marvel Movie Minute, he now mixes book reviews on his YouTube channel Jayge’s Pages with the occasional mic-drop at Portland karaoke bars.

Kynan Dias is an actor, screenwriter, and film professor whose work dances between heartbreak and hilarity. A Las Vegas-raised UCLA grad with a knack for sitcoms and a résumé full of crying in comedies, he co-hosts several TruStory.fm film history podcasts that blend deep research with unscripted chaos. He teaches film at UNLV, where he champions everything from Queer Cinema to Women in Comedy.