Tales From The Fandom

After stumbling across Chloe's Star Wars bounding and fandom blog, I knew I would love to have her on the podcast and talk about some of her favorite things. We were able to connect and talk all about Star Wars, one of her favorite fandoms. We get to cover Star Wars from all the sides. We're talking about the movies, the shows, the books (including the High Republic!). Chloe talks about her favorite characters, the cast, and everything in between. If you like Star Wars, you'll like this episode! Get to know some deep Star Wars lore on this episode too. I learned so much about background characters that even I did not know about, and that's always a good time for me! Chloe also has a blog that's not just Star Wars, so make sure you go check out her writings and photos from there too! You can find Chloe at: https://www.instagram.com/chloesfandomlife/ https://chloesfandomlife.blogspot.com/ https://bio.site/Chloesfandomlife

Joining me from my old stomping grounds in North Carolina, Kal aka AssortedCreates talks about some of their favorite fandoms and personal works! We start things off with talking about the works of Neil Gaiman. We primarily touch on The Sandman comics and TV series, and I learn that there's an Audible audio drama too! We dabble with American Gods, and reflect on some of his other work as well. From there, we switch over to talking about Tabletop Roleplaying Games. We cover Dungeons and Dragons, as well as some other game systems like Blades in the Dark, DIE, and Pirate Borg. Kal talks about what TTRPG's mean to them, and what they enjoy playing. We also talk about Critical Role and The Adventure Zone actual plays, and what those shows appeal are. Then we talk about Kal! Kal talks about their cosplays, the characters they represent, and of course, the props, since Kal also does propmaking! We also briefly touch on the band that Kal is in, Oh! You Pretty Things! Hear a bit of their music at the end of the episo

Brandon aka KingWebHead on social media joins me to talk about some of his favorite fandoms. We start off with the Marvel. Brandon and I talk about his introduction into the long running fandom. We cover everything from animated shows, to comics, to the movies, and more. Brandon tells us about his favorite character(s), movies, and what keeps him drawn to the Marvel franchise. Then, we flip to the other of the Big 2, DC. Not only do we cover similar topics: comics, TV shows, animated works, and movies, but Brandon makes me so interested in a DC character that I want to go out and find some comics with that character. Which character? Listen to the episode to find out. We do also talk about the future of the DC live action movies. From there, we travel to a Galaxy Far, Far Away... Star Wars. Brandon and I talk about who introduced him to the franchise, and the multiple fandom entry points from the movies, to TV shows, and so much more. We also reflect on negative comments that had been released at the time of

Stumbling across creative people is something I love and I was so glad when Sarah aka SpiritDaySarah said yes to coming on to the podcast, because I love the creativity she brings to her videos and posts! If you haven't checked out Sarah's work, go click on the link now in the show notes. Sarah joins me to talk about one of her biggest creative outlets, and that is Disneybounding (or bounding in general!) Sarah takes us through just how she got into Disneybounding and it is a story that I don't think you'll be expecting. From her humble bounding beginnings, Sarah talks about how she continued bounding, and how she creates the content that you see. Sarah reveals some of her secrets about clothing colors, accessorizing, and how certain colors overlap with a multitude of characters. We also talk about the videos she creates. From the first thought, to her creative process with not just video but with editing, green screens, and more. Plus, some of the hardships that go into it and behind the scenes stories. Seri

Raz aka R_Hawk24 on Instagram reached out to me and asked to be a guest. I already had him on my list of people I wanted to reach out to, and well... the rest is audio history in your ears! We kick things off with a fandom that Raz has been in a long time that is getting a resurgence across multiple fronts. Godzilla! We talk about his experience watching the old "man in suit" movies, to the latest movie Godzilla Minus One. We talk about what draws him to the franchise, the longevity of it, and its future. Then we move on to the Resident Evil series, specifically talking about the video game side of things. Raz walks us through some of his favorite games and moments in the franchise, favorite characters, and what he enjoys about the franchise. Raz then dual wields comic book lore with both Marvel and DC. We touch on everything that the companies offer, from movies to TV series, animated shows, and comics. Raz gives a brief talk about one of his favorite characters, Superman, and we talk about the future of bot

After stumbling across her Final Fantasy cosplay work on Instagram and falling in love with it, I'm super happy to have SwordLilyCosplay as a guest! We start things off with talking about a franchise we both love, the Final Fantasy franchise. She talks about the game that first got her into the franchise, and some of her favorite games and characters from the series. We do stop and make sure we show our love for Zack and Aerith. Next, we talk about a new series, Horizon Zero Dawn. We talk about how we were both drawn to the game through the character of Aloy, plus all the cool lore, and of course... ROBOT DINOSAURS! How could anyone say no to that? Taylor Swift is our third stop on this fandom talk. She shares what Taylor means to her, the music, the creativity, and everything in between. Lastly, we talk Cosplay. She talks about how she got into cosplay, some of the work she's done, her inspirations, and of course, what she's planning for this year! You can find SwordLilyCosplay at: https://www.instagram.com/

Randi aka HeyBlueHairCosplay on Instagram and one half of the Clark and Dagger Company joins me on the podcast to talk about one of her favorite fandoms. Star Wars! We explore how Randi first got into Star Wars, and then getting back into it over the years. We cover a lot of space (get it, space? Har har) that Star Wars occupies. From the movies to TV shows, the animated shows to books, video games. I think the only thing we didn't talk about was Star Wars cereal! Favorite characters, favorite media, and what they would do if Dave Filoni asked them to create their own media. From there, we talk about Cosplay. Randi talks about how she got into the world of Cosplay, some of her favorite characters that she cosplays as, and how it goes hand in hand with their business, Clark and Dagger. With her fiancee, David (not me!), they run Clark and Dagger to create 3D props, along with a number of other items. Randi gives us a behind the scenes look about what that means and how the process works. You can find Randi at:

Brad Carter of the BnB Anime Podcast returns after 3 1/2 years as we get to catch up and talk about new and old fandoms! We first get to talk about his newest fandom, Dungeons and Dragons. Brad talks about how he first got into the tabletop roleplaying game as a player several years ago. After getting his feet wet on the player side of things, he's found a comfortable seat as the dungeon master. We get to explore his experiences on both sides of the table, what he really enjoys, and what's in the future for his D&D gaming. Then, we have to talk Anime. I mean, Brad co-hosts the BnB Anime podcast. It's a given. We revisit his love for certain anime, while also exploring his drive to consume everything. Find out what kind of anime Brad likes, his 3 desert island anime he'd take, and even learn about which anime he's never watched (as we both confess to never having watched it!) We wrap up with an open and honest conversation about podcasting. We talk about the longevity of the BnB Anime podcast (co-hosted wi

Welcome to 2024! We are kicking this year off right for a wonderful deep dive into the world of Magic: The Gathering, courtesy of Erminia aka StalwartUrsa. Erminia talks about how she got into playing Magic: The Gathering, and her experiences with these pieces of art on small pieces of cardboard. She talks about her experiences with game stores, the expansion of the game, the new artists being brought in, and more. We also talk about the intersection of Magic: The Gathering and fandoms, where cards from fandoms like Jurassic Park, My Little Pony, Lord of the Rings, and more, are being incorporated into this long lasting game. If you're looking for a wonderful conversation about this game, definitely take a listen. You can find Erminia at: https://beacons.ai/stalwartursa https://www.instagram.com/stalwartursa/ https://www.tiktok.com/@StalwartUrsa https://twitter.com/StalwartUrsa https://www.twitch.tv/StalwartUrsa https://www.youtube.com/@stalwartursa https://www.threads.net/@stalwartursa Get 10% of your order

Author and Professor Jarret Keene, PhD, joins me on the last episode of 2023 to talk about his new book, Hammer of the Dogs! Jarret and I talk about his newest book, Hammer of the Dogs. Jarret talks about how the book came about during one of the classes he was teaching and working on it from there. From the synopsis: Set in the wasteland of post-apocalyptic Las Vegas,  Hammer of the Dogs is a literary dystopian adventure filled with high-octane fun starring twenty-one-year-old Lash. With her high-tech skill set and warrior mentality, Lash is a master of her own fate as she helps to shield the Las Vegas valley’s survivors and protect her younger classmates at a paramilitary school holed up in Luxor on the Las Vegas Strip. After graduation, she’ll be alone in fending off the deadly intentions and desires of the school’s most powerful opponents. Jarret and I talk about the plot, characters, and setting while keeping it spoiler free for you listening. That way, you can get yourself a copy of the book to read!

This one has been a long time coming. After over 5 years, Victoria Avalor returns to the podcast! Fate and our schedules finally aligned, as I've been trying to have Victoria back for a number of years now. We get to catch up and talk about the past several years and then we talk about her two books. Realm of Lore, published in 2017, and An Unholy Union, published in 2020. We talk about what else she's working on, as well as the work/life balance that she handles. Then, we get into talking about another of her passions, Egyptology. Victoria talks about how she first became interested in Egyptian history and mythology. Then we talk about the videos she creates on TikTok and Instagram sharing little stories and tidbits. Lastly, we wrap up with a reflection about Cosplay. Victoria has been active in the community for many a years. We talk about what she's working on now, but we primarily reflect on the history, how cosplay has changed since she started, and more. You can find Victoria's books at:  Realm of Lore

Drew aka Drewbearded returns for the end of 2023! We're talking about his nearly year long play through of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII Remake / Intermission. After playing Crisis Core last year and wrapping up earlier this year, Drew delved into playing the original Final Fantasy 7 and then following it up with his play through of Final Fantasy 7 Remake (and Intermission) Drew talks about his experiences with both games, from revisiting the original FF7 and the changes in story and characters with Final Fantasy 7 Remake. We talk about what he liked and didn't like, what worked for Remake, and some of the things that didn't work. Plus we talk about the world (city?) building with Remake specifically set in Midgar. And we do touch on Intermission, a bit of Dirge of Cerberus, and the next release, Rebirth. Want to watch or find Drew? You can find him at: https://www.twitch.tv/drewbearded https://linktr.ee/Drewbearded You can listen to his first four episodes here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.c

After being intrigued by her work on Instagram and seeing what she does, I am glad to welcome Elizabeth Sánchez Arvizu of Psychology for Geeks to the podcast. We start things off by talking all about Avatar: The Last Airbender. Elizabeth and I talk about the series and characters, the storylines, and how kids relate to the series. We also dabble in conversation about the live action Netflix series, the writer and actors strike, and what that could mean for the future projects in the fandom. Then, we switch gears and talk broadly about Anime. From Elizabeth's first experiences with it, to getting into One Piece thanks to her brother, and other anime that she recommends. Finally, we talk about Psychology for Geeks (or Psych4Geeks, as is her username). Elizabeth talks about how she uses fandom and geek culture in her Clinical Psychology work. How she incorporates it, applications, and what her future plans are. You can find Elizabeth at: https://www.instagram.com/psych4geeks/ https://www.psychologyforgeeks.com/

After finding KiwiNinamori from someone's stories on Instagram awhile back, she was someone I was super excited to get to talk with. Kiwi joins me as we talk about a number of different fandoms. We start things off by talking about The Owl House. We explore the characters and stories, the cancellation, relationships, and so much more. Then we change from that to another cancelled fandom, The Dark Crystal. We of course talk about the movie, but we primarily focus on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, the Netflix series cut short after one season. We talk about the show and characters, and the tragedy of cancellation. We then pair a Korean and Japanese show together with Squid Game and Alice in Borderland. Kiwi talks about how she discovered these shows, and what her draw is to them. Lastly, we wrap up with cosplay. Kiwi talks about first getting into cosplay, the characters she cosplays, the conventions and cosplay contests she's won, and what her plans are for the future. You can find Kiwi at: https://www.i

After stumbling across Michelle Reed's work being shared on Instagram, and enjoying what she creates and does to support those around her, I was excited to have her join me for this episode. We're talking franchises in this episode, with each franchise spanning a variety of media. It's a fun episode and we get to bounce around within the fandoms. The first one we start off with is the Jurassic Park franchise. We talk about the original trilogy, the Jurassic World trilogy, plus Camp Cretaceous, the animated series. We also talk about the books, merch, and what may be in store for the future of Jurassic Park. Then we switch to the realm of the Witcher. Michelle talks about how she first got into the franchise, her thoughts on the TV show, if she's read the books, and the character that she loves the most. The Last of Us franchise spans between two games and a TV series, and we get to talk about both. This franchise is the one that Michelle most connects with in a very personal way. She shares these stories whil

Kat aka MoonettaMagic returns to the podcast after over 6 years! We'd been looking for awhile to have a return episode and timing and scheduling made this work. Note, this episode was recorded prior to the strikes. We catch up a bit before Kat dives into one of their newest fandoms, Monster High. We talk about the original Monster High doll line, the latest releases, and the various series/movies out there on the networks and streaming services. Then, we go to Pixie Hollow with Tinkerbell and the Disney Fairies line. We talk about the books, the movies and shows, and what this world means to Kat. We delve into the realm of Fairies in general as well. This leads into our next topic, which is how Kat found themselves getting into photography. Not just taking the pictures, or being in the pictures, but helping others with her creative vision, finding places for shoots, and so much more. It's really a wonderful listen as Kat talks about her passion for photography. Then, we circle back to Cosplay, which is how I

After stumbling across her work from previous guests, I was so excited to have Brittany aka BajanPrincessBrittany on IG join me for this latest episode! We start things off with talking about Bridgerton. Brittany talks about how she first got into the TV series and then the books. We talk about some of her favorite characters and storylines, how she connects to the show, and more. We also segue into a James Bond discussion before circling back to wrap up Bridgerton and its upcoming season. Then we switch over to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We talk about her first introduction into the MCU, some of her favorite movies, shows, and characters. Plus, Brittany assembles her own Avengers squad. Find out who she chooses! Brittany then takes us to Disney. Not literally though, sorry everyone. Disney is so all encompassing that we do our best to tackle movies, TV shows, and theme parks. Plus, we discuss if Powerline is overrated or underrated. What do you think? We wrap up with a conversation about Bounding, and ho

It's becoming a yearly tradition. Joshua aka HylianDescent of the Hyrule Gaming Group returns for his 4th episode as we continue to take a look into the live of a Twitch Partner and ll that goes on in his world. Hylian talks about his continued experience as a steamer. With the past year being an evolution as a streamer. He talks about putting the focus back on himself and some of the self care he’s been doing away from the streams. We talk about his break from cornerstone games to an expanded roster of streamed games. From Story of Seasons to No Man’s Sky, his adventures with Disney Dreamlight Valley, and the return to Hyrule with Tears of the Kingdom. But we don’t pass up the chance to talk Animal Crossing as well. It's always a pleasure to get to talk with Joshua about his experiences, the growth of his communities, his streams, and his continued plans for the future.  You can find Joshua at: https://www.twitch.tv/hyliandescent https://twitter.com/Hyliandescent https://twitter.com/HyruleGG https://ww

I've invited Sarah aka Feelsbender back to the podcast for one of her favorite topics. We're talking Vampires in Fandom! Sarah kicks things off by talking about her first exposure to Vampires, through the book "The Silver Kiss" by Annette Curtis Klause. She talks about what drew her to the book, and then to vampires in general. Then we talk about vampires beyond the scope of the European influence. Sarah talks about vampires in the Filipino culture, the Aswang and the Manananggal. We talk about the upcoming BIPOC Vamp Day (9/22-9/24) and what has been happening recently with BIPOC Vamp Day, Black Fae Day, and others. Sarah and I also talk about Vampire media recently and we talk about shows and movies, plus we focus on specific vampires that Sarah has to show love too.  We wrap things up talking about what she and I expect for the future of vampires in fandom and the tone that may be set. You can find The Silver Kiss at: https://amzn.to/3sUoOka You can find more info on BIPOC Vamp Day at: https://vampirepyram

It's always something when a guest asks to come back. It's even better when it was one of my original guests when there was no podcast! Michi aka Mew21_Cosplay on Instagram returns to the podcast after 7 years! Her original episode was Episode 8 (link below!). So here we are, catching up! We revisit the Sailor Moon fandom, as Sailor Moon Crystal had only been out a year when we originally recorded. We talk about the various fandom aspects from the TV shows, to the live action show, and the movies that have been released. Michi is a huge Sailor Moon fan, so its easy to get caught up in so many different stories. We also check back in with Michi and the cosplay world. Michi has been cosplaying for 10+ years as of our recording, and she spends some time talking about how she organizes and wrangles large cosplay groups for conventions. Plus, we talk about the cosplay realm in general, going overseas for a cosplay shoot, and more. Then, we focus on the evolution of Eternal Mooncast. Michi created this podcast/live