Leila Jordan Berger


Original Reporting

the Guardian •

‘They’re gonna make me cry’: I competed at a speed puzzling championship

A PhD student in Berkeley. A 12-year-old in Texas. A content creator in Washington. An undergrad at Stanford. A former math teacher turned homeschool mom in Texas. After a three-day competition in Atlanta, Georgia, these people became national champions for a burgeoning hobby: speed jigsaw puzzling.I have been a lifelong jigsaw puzzle lover. But in recent years, I have observed the quintessential way to slowly pass time transform into a competitive sport. So I traveled to the USA Jigsaw National...
Los Angeles Times •

Dropout is the part-internet, part-studio streaming service that built its own comedy ecosystem

When Netflix launched the streaming era it had a simple promise: One place for everything. But when entertainment studios launched their own services, suddenly every major company wanted to be The Streamer, racing to fill their platforms with the most content possible to beat out competitors.Amid the chaos of the 2010s streaming wars Dropout — a streaming service launched by comedy internet-video giant College Humor in 2018 — was born. The platform specializes in unscripted comedy shows bolste...
The Ankler. •

The Paramount–Skydance Merger, Through the Eyes of the Lowest Rung

ShareAfter a year and a half of will-they-won’t-they tension, Paramount Global’s $8 billion merger with Skydance was completed in early August 2025. All it took was three rounds of layoffs affecting more than 20 percent of the company, a possible quid-pro-quo firing of Stephen Colbert maybe to appease the Trump administration and secure FCC approval for the deal or not (depending on whom the public believes) and the end of Sumner Redstone’s Succession-inspiring family drama over ownership.Now Pa...
IndieWire •

Netflix Canceled the Release of a Gore Vidal Biopic Eight Years Ago — for the Filmmakers, the Story Isn’t Over

In winter 2018, Netflix gave a triumphant report of its fourth quarter earnings from 2017. The streaming giant touted its increased streaming revenue, over 20 million new memberships added, and that the company doubled its worldwide operating income. It mentioned only a minor piece of bad financial news: Netflix took a $39-million loss in unreleased content from the quarter. “Despite this unexpected expense,” the report said, “we slightly exceeded our contribution profit and operating income for...
IndieWire •

‘The Fall’ Oral History: Tarsem and Lee Pace on Making Mischief in Over 20 Countries for an Epic No One Would Touch

What was the first story that captivated you as a child? That’s where “The Fall” starts.


Director Tarsem Singh‘s 2006 fantasy drama tells the story of Alexandria, a little girl who befriends Roy, a 1920s movie stuntman paralyzed in a Los Angeles hospital. He begins to tell her a magical story, all the while trying to manipulate her into getting him drugs to help him end his life. The film takes place partly in that sunny hospital and partly in impossible locations where the story of a group...
Business Insider •

Droughts are threatening California's water supply. The state is racing to save what's left.

Despite enduring droughts for much of the past 15 years, California continues to lead the nation in water consumption.During these dry periods, some of the state's local governments began to look for ways to diversify their water supplies away from lengthy pipelines and expensive, out-of-state sources.In 2012, San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission began developing the Onsite Water Reuse Program to investigate whether water reuse, also known as water recycling, in buildings could be a solut...
Paste Magazine •

Puppetry Steals the Show in Eric, So Why Aren’t Puppets in More Media for Adults?

It is a truth that must be universally acknowledged: people love puppets. Puppetry is one of the most endearing artforms in human existence. An artform of overwhelming fondness. They invite us to play pretend, to accept a felted reality and talk to a creature rather than acknowledge a hand.

Most of our collective love of puppets comes from childhood. Especially in the United States, puppetry is a staple of children’s TV. Many people alive today grew up watching puppets in some form, whether it
Insider •

Brands aren't hurt by advertising on hard news, a new report finds

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Insider •

Waste-management facilities are using AI to turn trash into recycled treasure

• Millions of recyclable materials are put into incorrect waste streams every year.
• The UK startup Greyparrot uses AI to help mitigate environmental harm from improper waste disposal.
• This article is part of "Build IT," a series about digital tech trends disrupting industries.

The proverbial "reduce, reuse, and recycle" approach to waste disposal is easier said than done. In the past few decades, global conservation initiatives have tried to promote an eco-friendlier attitude toward recycl
Insider •

While some companies are cutting the CMO role, Gen Z marketers still strive for the top job

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Marketing is going through a very visible transition. The CMO role at several companies,
Insider •

Passion and purpose inspire Brazilian chefs to serve authentic cuisines like the Carnival-favorite dishes feijoada and coxinha

• Chefs say Rio de Janeiro's culinary scene is popular at Carnival but deserves recognition year-round.
• The Brazilian chefs Leticia Schwartz and Luiza Souza shared their favorite dishes, including feijoada.
• This article is part of "Festivals of Flavor," a series celebrating Latin festival cuisines.

Leticia Schwartz, a Rio de Janeiro-born chef, has spent most of her career on a mission.

Her calling, she told Business Insider, is "to put Brazilian cuisine on the map." This inspired her to t
Insider •

AI is helping fragrance companies unlock the sensational possibilities of smell

This article is part of " ," a series about digital tech trends disrupting industries.

Smell is perhaps the most powerful human sense. Think about the scent of fresh lavender or an evergreen forest; these might bring you peace or remind you of something unpleasant. Either way, you don't have control over how they affect you.

The connection between smell and emotion has intrigued scientists for decades. Every person experiences scents and feelings differently, which raises the question, why do
Insider •

Emergency dispatchers are using AI and cloud-based tools to help those in need faster

• Emergency-response centers are using AI to improve and streamline services like live translation.
• Better tech could help workers prioritize calls, avoid logistical issues, and catch crucial details.
• This article is part of "Build IT," a series about digital tech trends disrupting industries.

Raquel Lewandowski has been working as a call taker at a call center in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, for nearly 30 years.

In that time, she's seen technology modernize emergency-response services
Los Angeles Times •

Commentary: 10 years ago, Amazon tried to reinvent TV pilots. Its failure foretold our streaming future

In 2013, Amazon’s fledgling streaming service, Prime Video, had a new form of competition to confront. With Netflix’s international expansion already proceeding at — the platform had that year launched buzzy original series “House of Cards” and “Orange Is the New Black” — streaming entered the realm of “prestige TV” formerly dominated by premium and basic cable. It was no longer just a new technology: It had suddenly become the way for newcomers to challenge media companies that had dominated th
Paste Magazine •

The Right to Write: How the Writers Guild of America's Formation Remains Relevant 90 Years Later

“The motion picture industry is and has been in a state of uncertainty and transition.” These are the opening words on the first official union contract for screenwriters, written on April 6, 1933. With that phrase, written 90 years ago, the Screen Writers Guild was formed, the union that would eventually become the Writers Guild of America. When they spoke of “uncertainty and transition,” they referred to an industry quickly evolving with new technologies. The economy was in shambles. The futur
Paste Magazine •

The Price for Profits: Why Residuals Are at the Heart of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes

Editor’s Note: This article originally published August 30th, 2023, but in the wake of SAG-AFTRA’s lucrative deal to mark the official end to the Hollywood strikes, we’re bringing it back to highlight the importance of the writers’ and actors’ fight for fair compensation.

The last time both the writers and actors were on strike was 1960. The unions were less than 30 years old, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, and Ronald Reagan was considered a promising leader for workers’ rights. But the is
Awards Radar •

Interview: The Cast and Showrunner of 'Carnival Row' Discuss the Show’s Dramatic Conclusion

After nearly 4 years off the air, Prime Video’s original series Carnival Row has returned for its second and final season. Created by Travis Beachum and René Echevarria, the steampunk-inspired fantasy detective drama starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne has been a dark and magical ride. Awards Radar had the chance to speak to Bloom, Delevingne, Caroline Ford (Sophie Longerbane), Arty Fraushan (Jonah Breakspear) and Season Two showrunner Erik Oleson about the making of Season 2 and crafting
Awards Radar •

Interview: 'Women Talking' Costume Designer Quita Alfred Discusses Her Most Collaborative Project Yet

Leave or fight? That’s the question at the heart of Women Talking, Sarah’s Polley’s fourth feature as a director. The film tells the story of a group of women in an isolated Mennonite community who must decide what to do in the wake of decades of horrific violence against them. Adapted from Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel, the film discusses trauma, faith, and how those who have been silent can finally use their voice. Women Talking’s ensemble cast includes Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand
Awards Radar •

Interview: Composer Jeff Beal Explores the Possibilities of Jazz in 'Raymond & Ray' - %

How can you bury what’s left unresolved? That’s the question at the heart of Raymond & Ray, Apple TV+’s new film tells the story of brothers Raymond (Ewan McGregor) and Ray (Ethan Hawke) who must dig the grave of their deceased estranged father. Written and directed by Rodrigo García, Raymond & Ray is a dark, funny, and intimate look at the strange way relationships grow and tangle.

The film also offers a realm of familiar and new possibilities for Jeff Beal. The prolific composer (most well kn
Awards Radar •

Interview: 'The Menu' Composer Colin Stetson On Creating a Score Unlike Any Other

One of the most delightful film surprises of the year was The Menu. The dark comedy horror satire is an exquisitely crafted send-up of the fine dining scene. Directed by Mark Mylod and starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, and Nicholas Hoult, The Menu cut through a crowded theatrical market to become a well-deserved critical and box office hit.

But the whole meal is tied together by composer Colin Stetson’s (Hereditary) genre-defying score. A refined but chaotic exploration of a high class w
Paste Magazine •

Dare to Believe in a Magic Groundhog: One Morning in Punxsutawney

An hour and a half outside Pittsburgh, nestled deep in Amish Country and the Christmas tree capital of America, is the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. A small town that for one day a year becomes thrust on the global stage for their magic weather prognosticating groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil.

But the day is also steeped in much more magic than just a prognosticating groundhog. Phil himself is entrusted to the Inner Circle, the local groundhog club who takes care of him and reads his pre

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