If you’re going to start a new series about the business of entertainment, it only makes sense to begin with someone who knows how to protect the business behind the buzz. Intellectual property is at the heart of every deal, every brand and every story we tell, making it the perfect place to begin. 

That’s why the launch of Reel Talk: Inside the Business of Entertainment begins with none other than my office neighbor and friend, Bess Morgan, deputy chair of Loeb & Loeb’s Brand Protection practice.

Episode 1, “Untangling the Web of IP in Entertainment,” couldn’t have been a better starting point. Our worlds—mine in entertainment, hers in brand protection—collide constantly. From production companies launching YouTube channels to talent safeguarding their names, we’re navigating the same questions from different angles: How do you build something new while protecting what you’ve already built?

Naturally, we kicked off with the pop culture headline of the season: the Travis Kelce–Taylor Swift engagement. As Bess put it, the engagement has become a masterclass in manifestation, meme culture and (of course) ambush marketing. We dug into the delicate balance between fan love and brand misuse, and how quickly viral moments can be co-opted in surprising ways.

From there, the conversation spanned everything from brand building to live events. We talked about clearance, the art of timing a trademark application (Taylor gets an A+ there), and how entertainment properties from The White Lotus to Stranger Things are stretching their reach into merchandise, immersive experiences and Broadway stages.

Kicking off this series with Bess felt like the most natural choice: part insider’s guide, part candid conversation and entirely focused on the future of entertainment and IP. The goal of Reel Talk is to pull back the curtain on the business of entertainment, and I can’t imagine a better way to start.

Episode 1 is live now: “Untangling the Web of IP in Entertainment.” Tune in, and maybe start manifesting your own invitation to the Taylor-Travis wedding.