Brief Recess: A Legal Podcast with Michael Foote & Mélissa Malebranche

Michael and Mélissa discuss sexy Halloween costumes, civil unrest in France, and do a deep dive into all the fun, freaky, and spooky Halloween related lawsuits!

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote_ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

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Michael and Mélissa discuss Michael's exit from The Traitors, Katie Zachariah's historic departure after five days as Trump's press secretary, and an investigation into Tucker Carlson's hair and unhinged comments on his podcast. Thank you for helping us win a Signal Award!

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote_ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• https://ourbodiesourselves.org/

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Michael and Mélissa discuss Kelly Clarkson's online anger towards a small business, Ilhan Omar's home raided by federal agents, and sit down with award-winning civil rights attorney and campus sexual assault survivor Laura Dunn for an in-depth and nuanced discussion about the Cornell 7.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote_ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• https://lauraldunn.com/
• @lauradunn4justice - IG

The interview in this episode discusses themes of sexual assault. Please skip ahead to Tales From the DMs if this topic is triggering to you. If you need confidential help, please visit https://rainn.org/, call 800.656.HOPE, or text HOPE to 64673.

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Michael and Mélissa discuss Paranormal Activity on Broadway, the Cornell 7, Nolan Wells updates, and sit down with Professor Corinna Lain to discuss Tennessee's recent failed lethal injection of Death Row inmate Christa Pike.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote_ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• https://corinnalain.com/
• Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection

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This episode originally aired on Ghosted on March 2, 2026.

This week, Ghosted! court is in session as Roz welcomes the terrifyingly brilliant Michael Foote, Esq. It’s time for ghosts, giggles, AND gavels as the two discuss lawsuits involving plaintiffs of a paranormal persuasion PLUS Michael shares his personal experiences with the paranormal.

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote__ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_. You can find Roz Hernandez on Instagram @GhostedByRoz and @RozHernandez.

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Michael and Mélissa discuss Mitch McConnell's last stand and Michael's drunk DMs to celebrities, before sitting down with Clay Aiken to discuss dad life, his new album, and what it was like coming out as gay in 2008.

Brief Recess is a weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote__ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• @clayaiken -IG
• https://clayaiken.com/

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Michael Foote is joining the cast of NBC’s The Traitors: New Blood! Michael and Mélissa discuss the Lindsay Clancy mistrial, Trump's lies about where he was on September 11th, and we sit down with the hilarious Liza Treyger to discuss her stand up comedy career and her podcast, TMU: an SVU Pod.

Brief Recess is a weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote__ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael and Mélissa discuss Dolly Parton, Trump's unhinged AI posts, Lake America, data centers, and sit down with our favorite Boop, Hannah Solow, to talk about being a Broadway understudy on “Oh, Mary!”

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote__ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• @babymcgoo
• https://hannahsolow.com/

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Michael and Mélissa discuss representation in Hollywood, Republicans Sean Duffy and Rachel Campos, and their journey from hooking up on reality tv to becoming the hypocritical moral authority, drunk Cameos, and sit down with the hilarious and fearless Suzanne Lambert to discuss MAGA makeup and her hilarious social videos.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @Michael_Foote_ or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• @itssuzannelambert - IG
• @itssuzannelambert- TT
• https://www.itssuzannelambert.com
• Mean But True with Suzanne Lambert

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Michael Foote is joining the cast of NBC’s The Traitors: New Blood! Michael and Mélissa discuss Karoline Leavitt resigning after Trump's decoy flight, recent lynchings in Mississippi, and sit down with Congressman Robert Garcia for a deep dive interview breaking down the latest updates from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and new avenues of pursuit since Todd Blanche took over as Attorney General.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• @reprobertgarcia

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Michael Foote is joining the cast of NBC’s The Traitors: New Blood! After months of keeping it secret, Michael and Mélissa Malebranche can finally talk about the big announcement. They also dive into the Lindsay Clancy trial and online sleuth theories before sitting down with Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, and writer Bryan Safi for a hilarious conversation about his one-man Off-Broadway show and the high-stakes drama series 9-1-1.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• https://www.instagram.com/bryansafi
• http://www.areyoumadatmeshow.com/
• https://bryansafi.com/

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Michael and Mélissa discuss Mélissa's killer green sauce, Mitch McConnell's eternity leave, and sit down with the internet's other favorite lawyer, Kaetan Mazza, a.k.a. Mr. Keep You Outta Jail, breaking down common legal misconceptions and criminal defense strategies when dealing with the justice system.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• Kaetan Mazza: MrKeepYouOuttaJail - IG

Tati Missa's Green Seasoning Recipe:

• Epices
• One head of garlic, peeled
• Three bell peppers (I use green, yellow & orange)
• One onion
• One shallot
• Three scallions
• One bunch of chives
• One bunch of parsley leaves only
• One bunch of cilantro leaves only
• 1/2 cup - 1 cup of olive oil
• Juice of one orange
• Juice of one lemon (you can use lime if you prefer)
• Blend
• Store in glass jar in fridge

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Michael and Mélissa discuss Boston, picky eaters, the latest evidence in the Nolan Wells investigation, and a deep interview with standup comic, Alaina Bamfield, whose recently released special discusses being a survivor of the disgraced USA women's gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

• Alaina Bamfield's debut special, Untouchable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzigeuasz2I
• http://instagram.com/alainabamfield

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Michael and Mélissa discuss how the FIFA World Cup is finally over, the recent ICE shootings in America, and then a hard, fun pivot with our guest, Ben Hopkins (@benhopkinsbenhopkins) who is social media's favorite bartender and teaches us how to make some cocktails while we get tipsy and play games on this special Summer Staycation episode!

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

If you want to drink along with us check out Ben’s recipes that he made in this episode:

Brief Recess

1.5oz London Dry Gin (we used Fort Hamilton which is the best but i know we can't promo brands)

1oz Blanc Vermouth

.5oz Bitter Bianco

*stir*

.5oz Coconut Water, Lift ice to incorporate

Lime Twist!

Mélissa's Daiquiri

2 oz - Clairin

1oz - Lime Juice

.75oz Simple Syrup

7-8 dashes - Peychaud's Bitters (if making at home 3d from a regular bottle will do!)

Shake hard till there is frost on the outside of the tin, double strain into a chilled martini glass.

Goodbye Ladybug Juice XXX 420

One glass of room temperature Kim Crawford Chardonnay

Two fingers of warm, old Southern Comfort

Combine, best enjoyed in a closet

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Michael and Mélissa discuss online dating from their single days, Robert Kardashian defending OJ Simpson, and a deep dive into Jeffrey Epstein, debating how a blue wave in the midterms could affect criminal investigations and the NYT determination into the cause of Epstein's death.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael and Mélissa discuss World Cup vs. Wimbledon, the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding, a 4th of July weekend recap, and a deep dive interview with former White House staffer and communications expert, Charlie Goldensohn @chez.chuck, about the progressive wave of election results that swept NYC.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael and Mélissa discuss cities they love to hate, the America 250 debacle, Jeff the Giant Fern and other A-list celebs, and do a deep dive into a fascinating trademark infringement lawsuit between Patagonia and drag queen Pattie Gonia.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael and Mélissa discuss Michael's invite to the Juneteenth cookout, Michael Jackson, Candace Owens, Erika Kirk, the Reflecting Pool saga, all the viral World Cup moments, the Tartan Army of Scotland, and do a deep dive into the twists and turns of the Luigi Mangione murder trial coming up.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael and Mélissa discuss the Knicks winning the NBA Finals, the World Cup, the UFC 250 event at the White House for Trump's birthday, the Epstein Files Situation Room secret recording, and interview congressional candidate for New York's 12th District, Laura Dunn.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:

lauradunnforcongress.com

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Happy Pride month from Brief Recess! For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.

Michael and Mélissa discuss protecting LGBTQ+ youth amid federal restrictions on gender-affirming care, and cover the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling Chiles v. Salazar. The decision reversed Colorado's ban on "conversion therapy," which is a disturbing and dangerous blow to the LGBTQ+ community.

Brief Recess is a new weekly legal podcast from Exactly Right Media. Follow Brief Recess wherever you get your podcasts, and watch full video episodes every Thursday on the Brief Recess YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Briefrecess

Find Michael on Instagram @dept_of_redundancy_dept or TikTok @Michael_Foote_ and Mélissa on both as @MelissaMalebranche.

Got legal questions? Email briefrecess@exactlyrightmedia.com.

Links:
CenterLink
GLAAD
Outright International
The Trevor Project
SAGE
Guide to Anti-LGBTQ Online Hate and Disinformation

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