Best Rendered Reality Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 526 - Hoon Kim of Beeble AI: How Switchlight Creates 'Relightable Footage' for Real-Time Filmmaking 57:58

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2h ago57:58

57:58

AI is revolutionizing cinematic lighting control with Beeble AI's Switchlight. Founder Hoon Kim explains how his tool, originally a general AI concept, became a powerful VFX asset by tackling the difficult process of relighting. Switchlight "unlights" any video footage to figure out the fundamental physical properties, like the shape (normals) and …

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John 15:4-9 | Abide In Christ - In Christ

1d ago

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Message from Paul Behneman on November 23, 2025By Valley Center Community Church

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'Gums and Grift' & 'Cool Your Jets' & 'Tiles and Tribulations' 44:50

13h ago44:50

44:50

First, the plaintiff met the defendant on an online dating site and ended up loaning him money for new teeth. She claims once he got his new teeth, he cheated on her with another woman. He now refuses to pay her back, so she is suing for the money she spent on the dental work, as well as a roasting and frying pan he stole. Then, the plaintiff hired…

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'No Good Deed Goes Unpunished' & 'A Very Sticky Situation' & 'Smoke and Mirrors' 44:22

7d ago44:22

44:22

First, the plaintiff says she purchased a truck for a young man who worked for her, but he ended up taking off with the vehicle and was never heard from again. The man she bought the car from, the defendant, made himself the leaseholder. She believes the defendant should be held responsible, so she is suing for the money she is owed. Then, the plai…

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'H20 + Laptop = Problems' & 'Holding Tight' & 'Lousy Landlording' 43:54

6d ago43:54

43:54

First, the plaintiff says the defendant knocked over her computer into water, so she’s suing for repairs. The defendant insists she didn’t knock over the computer. It just fell. Then, the plaintiff says he arranged a car deal with the defendant and gave him money, but it was called off, so the plaintiff is suing for the return of cash he already pu…

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Episode 525 - Dennis Berardi on Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein & Resurrecting Mr. X 1:03:32

2h ago1:03:32

1:03:32

Visual effects veteran Dennis Berardi joins the podcast to discuss the resurrection of his legendary studio, Mr. X, and his latest collaboration with Guillermo del Toro on Frankenstein. Dennis shares the technical and artistic challenges behind the film, detailing how his team blended massive physical builds with digital artistry to create the film…

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'Backup Crackup' & 'A Fake Diamond' & 'Accused of Bad Breeding' 44:29

4d ago44:29

44:29

First, the plaintiff says the defendant backed into his car, damaged it, and took off, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant says the plaintiff was illegally parked, and she only lightly tapped the vehicle. Then, the plaintiff purchased an engagement ring from the defendant but found out it was fake, so he’s suing. The defendant says he was upfr…

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Romans 12:1-2 | Holy In Christ - In Christ

1d ago

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Message from Paul Behneman on November 16, 2025By Valley Center Community Church

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'A Rotten Tenant' & 'A Phone Phony?' & 'Letting a Lady Down' 44:17

7d ago44:17

44:17

The plaintiff rented an apartment from the defendant and learned it was a haven for pot smokers. The plaintiff had to move out, but the defendant won’t return her security, so she’s suing. The defendant claims the plaintiff kept rotten trash in her apartment, and he has every right to keep her security. The defendant is countersuing for additional …

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'Losing Control of His Dogs' & 'A Bunch of Damaging Lies' & 'Selling a Bum Bike' 44:20

13d ago44:20

44:20

First, the plaintiff says her dog was outside and tied up when the defendant’s pit bulls attacked her beloved pet. The plaintiff is suing for vet bills. The defendant argues he paid the vet bills in full already, so he doesn’t understand why the plaintiff filed this lawsuit. Then, the plaintiff rented an apartment from the defendant. However, he’s …

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'Malicious Tree Trimming?' & 'Talking and Chilling' & 'Not Treating a Transmission Right' 43:56

12d ago43:56

43:56

First, the plaintiff claims her neighbor, the defendant, maliciously cut the trees that line her property and dumped the debris at her front door, so she’s suing. The defendant says the plaintiff’s trees ruin her property, but the plaintiff never does anything about it. Therefore, the defendant is countersuing for carpet and driveway cleaning. Then…

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'The Big Elephant in the Yard' & 'No Love in the Loveseat' & 'Running Out of Rooms' 44:36

10d ago44:36

44:36

First, the plaintiff hired the defendant to carve a tree into an elephant, but his saw broke. The defendant told her he’d come back and finish the job, but he never did, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues he did everything the plaintiff asked, and she called months later asking for her money back. Then, the plaintiff purchased a lovese…

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Episode 524 - VFX Soldier & Scott Ross: The Subsidy Wars 1:30:09

5h ago1:30:09

1:30:09

The anonymous "VFX soldier in the trenches" who took on the studios is back, and the fight he started is far from over. Two legends of the VFX labor rights movement, Daniel Lay (the formerly VFX Soldier) and veteran exec Scott Ross, join Chris and Daniel Thron to revisit the pivotal moment their fight began. The conversation goes back 10+ years to …

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'One Big Party Pooper' & 'Rolling Over Rover' & 'You Move Me' 44:29

11d ago44:29

44:29

First, the plaintiff booked some space for the defendant to throw a party, but the guy illegally served alcohol. Police officers raided and shut the party down. The defendant hasn’t yet paid for the rental, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant claims the plaintiff promised him the party wouldn’t get shut down. He also allegedly promised he’d ge…

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Romans 6:1-4 | New In Christ - In Christ

16d ago

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Message from Paul Behneman on November 9, 2025By Valley Center Community Church

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'What a Kitchen Mess' & 'One-Man Wrecking Crew' & 'Smoking Out a Tenant' 44:21

14d ago44:21

44:21

First, the plaintiff hired and paid the defendant to design her a new kitchen, but she was never available and didn’t do a thing, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant says she spent months working on the project, and when she asked for additional money, the plaintiff flipped out on her. Then, the plaintiff claims the defendant was driving like …

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'Taking His Sweet Time' & 'Cracking Up a Customer' & 'You Pay, You Get' 44:04

15d ago44:04

44:04

First, the plaintiff says she and her fiancé were supposed to move into a home the defendant was renting. The plaintiff paid first month’s rent and security. However, five months later, the place still wasn’t ready, so the plaintiff is suing for the money she and her fiancé already put down. The defendant argues the home was basically ready, and he…

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'Doggy Dilemma' & 'Always Getting the Runaround' & 'Accused of Being Rear-Enders' 44:25

16d ago44:25

44:25

First, the plaintiff says his former fiancée, the defendant, gave away his dog while he was in a rehab facility, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant alleges the plaintiff was abusing his dog, so she rightfully gave him a better home. Then, the plaintiffs rented a house from the defendant, but they claim they were wrongfully evicted. The plaint…

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'A Real Toss-Up' & 'Quit the Band, Quit the Rent' & 'Lock It to Me' 44:13

17d ago44:13

44:13

First, the plaintiff says the defendant tossed her car keys out of a window. They landed on the street, and her remote starter broke, so the plaintiff’s suing. The defendant claims the plaintiff’s friend told him to throw the keys, so he feels he is not responsible. The defendant is countersuing for babysitting fees. Then, the plaintiff says he and…

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Episode 523 - David Morin, Executive Director of the ASWF, on His Journey from Softimage to Securing Open Source 1:10:26

21d ago1:10:26

1:10:26

What was it like to be inside Softimage during the Microsoft acquisition? How did Bill Gates' "big pivot" to the internet change everything overnight? Industry veteran David Morin joins Chris to share his fascinating origin story, from programming with punch cards and an 8-year art detour to working with ILM on Jurassic Park and navigating the seis…

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'One Friend’s Trash' & 'Unc Causes a Funk' & 'Copping Out on a Carpenter' 44:27

18d ago44:27

44:27

First, the plaintiff and the defendant had been friends for over 20 years, until a lousy car sale. The plaintiff is suing for a refund for the lemon sold to her by the defendant. Plus, the plaintiff sublet his apartment to the defendant, who took it upon himself to re-sublet the apartment to his uncle. The plaintiff is now suing for property damage…

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Ephesians 1:3-14 | Blessed In Christ - In Christ

4d ago

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Message from Paul Behneman on November 2, 2025By Valley Center Community Church

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'No Chill' & 'Deadbeats in a Dump' & 'Subpar Super' 44:23

21d ago44:23

44:23

The plaintiff owns an air conditioning service company for which the defendant was a client. His son fulfilled two service calls to her house and has not received payment. He is now suing for the money he is owed. The defendant claims the plaintiff’s son was neglectful, and she refuses to pay. The plaintiff rented a house to the defendant, a distan…

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'You’re Not Getting the Picture' & 'Paying the Painter' & 'Smash Hit' 44:30

27d ago44:30

44:30

First, the plaintiff brought her professional camera to the defendant for repairs, but it disappeared. Unable to make her living as a photographer, she is suing for lost wages and the cost of her camera. The defendant claims he sent the camera to the manufacturer, who told him the camera was irreparable. He argues that he has been very accommodatin…

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'Sticking Up for Renters Rights' & 'Ding, Ding, Rock' & 'A Sly Suede Suit' 44:23

23d ago44:23

44:23

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, her former roommate, owes her money for rent, so she’s suing. The defendant found out the plaintiff was illegally renting out the room, so he wasn’t legally required to pay rent. Then, the plaintiff claims he was parked when the defendant, a landscaper, kicked up a rock, denting his vehicle, so the plaintiff…

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'Cashing and Dashing' & 'Poor Painter' & 'Robbing the Renters' 44:11

24d ago44:11

44:11

First, the plaintiff paid the defendant to redo her kitchen, but she claims he never showed up, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant says he is just a salesman who works on commission, and he sold the plaintiff a kitchen. The company he worked for went out of business. The defendant insists the plaintiff should go after the company, not him. Th…

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Episode 522 - Gabriel Regentin: How Ingenuity Studios Made Weapons Unbelievably Real 1:00:11

28d ago1:00:11

1:00:11

For our special Halloween episode, we sit down with VFX Supervisor Gabriel Regentin to discuss his work with Ingenuity Studios on the smash-hit horror film, Weapons. Gabriel details his close collaboration with director Zach Cregger, whose primary goal was to ensure every visual effect felt 100% "in-camera" and unquestionably real. He shares the ch…

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'Causing a Family to Flee' & 'Stealing a Guy’s Stash' & 'A Moving Mess' 44:17

25d ago44:17

44:17

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, his former landlord, failed to make necessary repairs after a hurricane. The plaintiff had to move out his entire family and pay various relocation fees, so he’s suing. The defendant insists the plaintiff moved in months after the hurricane, and he fixed a minor leak for him. Then, the plaintiff rented a fur…

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Luke 20:27-47 | Our Greatest Treasure - The Gospel of Luke

1M ago

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Message from Jason Smith on October 26, 2025By Valley Center Community Church

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'Bridal Shower Backout' & 'Dingy Beach Digs' & 'Clunker Cadillac' 44:03

1M ago44:03

44:03

First, the plaintiff and defendant were friends of 17 years — close enough that the defendant agreed to host the plaintiff’s daughter’s bridal shower. Before the festivities, the defendant’s phone was broken when it fell off the couch occupied by the plaintiff’s daughter and dog. When the plaintiff refused to pay for the damages, the defendant deci…

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'Grandma’s Back Pay' & 'Craigslist Roommate' & 'What’s Not Registering?' 44:13

1M ago44:13

44:13

First, the defendant is the ex-girlfriend of the plaintiff’s son and claims to be the mother of her grandchild. Unconvinced, the plaintiff is demanding a paternity test and is suing to recover payment for her babysitting services. Then, the plaintiff met his roommate, the defendant, on Craigslist. After a no-smoking rule was broken and some toiletr…

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'I Didn’t See You There' & 'Employee of the Month' & 'By the Bundle' 43:52

1M ago43:52

43:52

First, the plaintiff is suing for medical expenses and pain and suffering after being struck by a cyclist, the defendant, on the streets of New York City. The defendant argues the plaintiff deliberately jumped in front of the bike and is accusing him of extortion. Then, the defendant, after being awarded employee of the month at his job at a baseba…

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'Conning a Lover Out of Money' & 'Ate Her out of House and Home' & 'Abandoning a Whip' 44:32

1M ago44:32

44:32

First, the plaintiff gave the defendant, her ex, money to rent an apartment together, but they broke up. The plaintiff is suing for the money back. The defendant denies owing the plaintiff a dime. Then, the plaintiff gave the defendant a loan to help pay some bills but hasn’t been paid back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant lived with the p…

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Episode 521 - Tim Miller Gets Real About Hits, Misses, and What's Next 1:17:27

1M ago1:17:27

1:17:27

Returning to the podcast for his fourth appearance, director Tim Miller, the creative force behind the blockbuster hit Deadpool and the acclaimed anthologies Love, Death & Robots and Secret Level, pulls back the curtain on the unpredictable reality of a Hollywood career. In a candid discussion, Miller unpacks the delicate balance of luck and persev…

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'Breaking a Bride’s Heart' & 'Chilling Out a Customer' & 'Rocking the Boat' 44:13

1M ago44:13

44:13

First, the plaintiff claims she gave her friend, the defendant, a loan so she could attend her wedding. However, the plaintiff says after a fight, the defendant refused to pay the money back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant insists the money was a gift. Then, the plaintiff purchased two air conditioners from the defendant, but water poured…

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Luke 20:19-26 | Render to God the Things That are God’s - The Gospel of Luke

1M ago

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Message from Jason Smith on October 19, 2025By Valley Center Community Church

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'Dodging a Day Care Bill' & 'Twerking a Transmission' & 'Don’t Bank on Me' 44:13

1M ago44:13

44:13

First, the plaintiff says she cared for the defendant’s daughter but hasn’t been paid for her services, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues she was part of a government program that allowed her to only pay a portion of the day care bill. Then, the plaintiff was involved in an accident with a police car. The defendant towed his car and d…

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'Lousy Laundering' & 'A Hairy Scare' & 'Who Ran into Who?' 44:15

1M ago44:15

44:15

First, the plaintiffs dropped off laundry at the defendant’s laundromat, but he lost their clothes, so the plaintiffs are suing. The defendant argues someone left with the plaintiffs’ laundry, but he believes it was a setup. Then, the plaintiff went to the defendant for a hair wash and set, but she ruined her hair, and she had to cut it all off, so…

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'Making a Mess of Things' & 'Condo Catastrophe' & 'Faking It for Furniture' 44:25

1M ago44:25

44:25

First, the plaintiff says the defendant helped her buy a car and send it to her son in Africa. However, the vehicle was a piece of garbage and sat in storage for weeks, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues he tried to help the plaintiff, but he didn’t make any money from the deal. He was just trying to be a nice guy. Then, the plaintiff …

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'Crooked to the Customer' & 'Going Berserk' & 'An Insecurity' 44:20

1M ago44:20

44:20

First, the plaintiff purchased furniture from the defendant’s shop, but an employee took off with the money, and she didn’t get what she bought. The plaintiff is suing for a refund. The defendant argues the person the plaintiff gave her money to was a crook, but it has nothing to do with him. Then, the plaintiff went to give his co-worker a ride, b…

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Episode 520 - Dan Fowler on 20 years of Virtual Production on the Avatars 1:19:31

1M ago1:19:31

1:19:31

After nearly 20 years dedicated to James Cameron's groundbreaking Avatar saga, virtual production supervising stage operator Dan Fowler joins host Chris Nichols in the garage for a deep dive into his incredible 30-year career. Dan recounts his journey from being the drummer in a 90s hair metal band to becoming a key operator on one of the most tech…

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'Neighborhood Loan Shark' & 'Shady Roommate' & 'Pulling Out into a Disaster' 44:04

1M ago44:04

44:04

First, the plaintiff says the defendant owes his father money. He paid a little of his debt off, and then just stopped. His father still has bills to pay, and he needs the money owed. The defendant says he knew the plaintiff’s father, who was a neighborhood loan shark. The guy died, and his sons are trying to collect interest on a loan he already p…

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Luke 20:9-19 | Christ the Cornerstone - The Gospel of Luke

1M ago

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Message from Jason Smith on October 12, 2025By Valley Center Community Church