July 1, 2025 • 50 mins
The group continues their chat with Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano). More behind the scenes stories of Star Wars Rebels are shared, Ashley talks about her mental health advocacy, the origins of Her Universe and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Be curious. If there's something that you see that's just
not right. Do you have to be invisible? Does it
have to be that way? Ask why?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (00:11):
And and so I think you know, there's a lot
of change that's on the other side of curiosity.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Welcome, Welcome, everybody to this very special episode of Potter Rebellion.
I'm Johnny Brody. You're a nonspector but full on moderator.
Here spending some more time with Ashley X time because
we love spending time with her last week so much
and she's been generous enough to join us again this week.
Of course, it's not just Askley joining me. We've got
our captain not only the Ghosts but also the podcast
(00:51):
Specter two on the Ghosts, but number one in our hearts,
Vanessa Marshall.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Hello, everybody, Welcome and.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Also have Oh yes, we all sot have someone whom
Steve Bloom referred to as a goddess and we all
completely agree miss tearser car.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
If I could pleasure it to be blushed. Hi, Hi,
thanks for joining.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Us, guys, and rounding it out is the Prodigy the
Mozart mister Taylor Gray.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Wow, thank you John. Hey, guys, how you doing.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Hi, praise it's no lies, We're told and welcoming back
our mind leader are incredible and again fashionable. Ashley Xstein,
thank you again for joining us for some extra time
with you, because we love talking to you so much
last week and you were so generous with giving insights
into a Sosokatano and what it was like to come
(01:50):
back as full Crum. But this week we really want
to focus more on you, Ashley, like Ashley x Stein
the person. Obviously we're going to touch on Star Wars
because it's such a you know, stone, it could be
a jump off of the conversation. But part of this
podcast isn't just celebrating the show and the characters. We've
been wanting to celebrate the people behind it, and today
we're going to do that with you.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Oh gosh, well, thank you, thank you so much for
having me and having me back. I had so much
fun last week, so just to come and hang out
with you is literally like a blast from the past
but one of my favorite things ever. We're all a
Star Wars family, so it's just like hanging out with
the family, just in our living room, but.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Virtually yes, well, we're glad to have you back. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
So what that can the four of you talk about
the first time before you like actually hung out. Whether
it was it at the convention, was it at a screening,
was it in the booth? And because there's obviously a
genuine friendship and camaraderie between the four of you and
I've been lucking at the witness it'll close. But can
you all talk about that and peel back the curtain
a little bit?
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I have a question. Let me start with a question.
So last week we talked about Vanessa.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
You mentioned something that I mean, I have like a
vivid I don't have a lot of vivid memories. I
have like the memory of an amnesiac. But I do
remember meeting Ashley for the first time. But my memory,
because it's faulty, I thought that Ashley, didn't you come
at the very beginning of our when we started recording
(03:25):
Rebels and that's when you brought Vanessa and I her
universe shirts. Did you come when you started recording I
In my memory, you came to sort of welcome us
and like be you know, just like gave us a
pep talk and sort of like gave us.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
The lay of the land.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Of what we were getting into it was. That's my memory,
but Vanessa is that is that incorrect?
Speaker 6 (03:48):
I think she had lines as full crumb or earlier
in the show, but we didn't know. I mean, oh,
I think you were there to record those lines in
those episodes prior.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Oh maybe I was blissfully unaware of that at the time.
So I just thought you were showing up to be like, hey, guys,
you're doing it like it was so sweet, and I
just remember, I remember you were so kind to like
bring us and by.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
The way, this, I'm I was gonna.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
Wear my shirt today, but it's in the laundry and
I was like, well, I can't really wear that, but
I intended to. But I still wear it all the time,
even though it's many years old now. But I just
I remember witnessing I mean, you were so kind and
lovely to us, and you and you know it was
(04:39):
it felt like you were sort of passing the baton.
But I remember witnessing Vanessa's reaction and how deeply she felt,
like felt what she was saying to you, And I
just remember thinking like this, I knew that what we
(04:59):
were doing was special, and what we were embarking upon
was special. But getting to witness that interaction between the
two of you guys, I was like, Okay. It was
little things like that, like along the way that kind
of illustrated to me, like that this journey that we
(05:20):
were embarking on was not just another job or another
gig or another role.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It was something much greater than that.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
So I vividly remember Vanessa's reaction and that was really touching.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So I think it's actually both what you're saying and
thank you for jogging my memory, because.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Vanessa's right.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
It was to record some Fulcrum lines and it was
separate from your cast record, but I think it was
before your cast record, So you all were there and
I just came in to record a couple of lines
and then I was out. So I definitely would have,
(06:10):
you know, said a couple of things and said hello
and welcomed you to the family.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
And I'm from the South, so that's what you do.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
You always bring something like a new neighbor, You bring
over cookies to me, you.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Hot plate exact exactly. So since I had her.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Universe, I was, you know, bringing you some fresh designs.
But but yeah, I now that i'm remembering it, You're right,
it was before we recorded the finale, but it was
like an actual episode that we were there for.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
Got it well, you know, Dave, everyone's on a need
to know basis, and I certainly, in his estimation, did
not need to know.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Why you were there.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
So I just thought that you were just like coming
to you know, welcome us into the family, which you did,
and I just didn't know that you were also there
for work, which.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Was good because I was supposed to be top secret totally.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
And you know, we often talk about Dave's sort of
like how how secretive he was, but I I just
I fully accept and agree with his like, you know,
it was important for us not to for being not
(07:32):
to know, so all the better that Tia didn't know,
Like I didn't need to know that, And when I
found that out, it was, you know, like a major revelation.
And that stuff is fun to me, Like it's fun
when as a viewer when I'm watching something and I finally,
you know, connect the dots and it's a big reveal,
(07:54):
that's exciting. So for that to happen when you're actually
recording a show for me, for someone like me that
like loves figuring things, out and like loves solving the
mystery that that is also exciting and fun. So I
was I was perfectly fine not knowing until I needed
to know.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Oh well, you know, we talked about this in the
last episode, about the passing the torch or the passing
the lightsaber moment. For me, it was important to kind
of pass the lightsaber to you all.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
You you were telling.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
The next story, and you know, I had learned so
much from Clone Wars, and you know, to me, it's
like I said, it's one big team. And so to
welcome you to the team, to welcome you to the family,
was an important moment for me. And so I was
really excited to meet you all. Definitely nervous, you know,
because you were already so close, you know, and I
(08:50):
so admired how close you all were.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
So it was weird, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Even though I had been around for a while, I
was the new guy, you know, a party crew.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
So I was nervous and excited. It was. It was
a wonderful moment.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
And can I just say also, well, for those who
are listening, I, as you were just talking, actually I
was just thinking about how, yes, we we are so
lucky that we we like became we like forged those
bonds pretty quickly, which we've talked about on this show before, but.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Some of us more so than others.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
No, no, and it was just so easy, like it
was just there was no there was no there was
not much effort put into it. It just happened so
naturally and organically, which was great for us because it
was hardly acting. You know, it was just like us
and our familial bonds that we had forged, like right
(09:48):
out the gate. But I also as you were talking
about that, I was thinking about you guys and the
Clone Wars cast and how we've all gotten to know
each other, especially getting to go to cons, geting to
go to Star Wars celebration all over the place, all
over the country, all over the world, and we get
to see each other. And I know you guys have
(10:09):
a similar sort of situation and that you guys are
so close.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
But I have to give you all credit because how
we felt a little bit in the beginning with Star
Wars Rebels, we wished we had what you all had,
because the difference between Star Wars and Clone Wars and
Star Wars Rebels is that it wasn't the same cast
in every episode, so whereas you all it was always
(10:34):
the Ghost crew and you were always together. You knew
that you were going to be together in the studio.
Sometimes there would be three or four episodes without Ahsoka
in it, or you know, without Yoda, or because Clone
Wars jumped around so much and told so many different stories,
and so we didn't have the cast dinners always that
(10:56):
you all had, and and you know, we had different
things that that did make us just as close and
now over time, and you know, it's kind of starting
with Disney Star Wars weekends, which I think we need
to get into, but starting with Disney Star Wars weekends
and then you know, with all the conventions that that
really formed that bond with all of us over time.
(11:18):
But I think as a Clone Wars cast, we looked
at you all being so close and it actually brought
us as a Clone Wars cast closer because we were like,
wait a minute, we have that too. We're a family too,
Let's get together for those cast dinners. Let's you know,
so you all actually set an example for us to
(11:39):
follow as well. And I think naturally because we're all
now one Star Wars family and we get to go
to conventions and everything we have become one, which is
really really nice and such a blessing that here we are,
all these years later and we're still doing panels together,
we're still traveling together.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
It's it's just it's so much fun. It really is.
It's such a gift. It's like a gift that keeps
on giving.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Yes, yeah, the fact that we're doing this podcast.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
That I thought that much of talking about it all
had been in the past a bit, but it's been
so amazing and sweet to relive this as we've gotten
older and can look at it through a different lens.
Something I wanted to ask you about that I've always
been so interested and impressed by and curious of you.
(12:31):
Touched upon it in the last episode, but her universe, Like,
surely you couldn't have imagined it would be as big
as this, or maybe you did, maybe you had the
vision of it's where it's even going to. But I
think it's just so special, and even more so when
I've seen fans and you interact with fans and them
wearing your designs, I just think it's so special what
(12:55):
you've given them in a way as well, was your
that you talk about the sort of origins of it,
But did you see it going to where it's at.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
It's so.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Thank you, thank you for your kind words. Yes and no.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
So yes, I'm going to say yes from the standpoint
of I think it's important when you have a dream
to dream big.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
You know, I think you should dream big.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I think you should have big expectations.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
So yes, I dreamed big.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
However, it's wildly exceeded those expectations. When I started her universe,
I just wanted a safe space for female fans to
feel accepted into the fandom, and the clothes were just
a way to do that. Because I know it seems crazy,
(13:48):
but back in two thousand and eight, there was a
massive stereotype, and the stereotype was that Star Wars was
just for.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Men and boys.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
And I was literally told that women and girls would
not buy Star Wars clothes made for them. And someone
called me and said, Ashley, you need to give up
on this dream and you need to be happy with
the men's size small because women and girls are not
going to.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Buy Star Wars clothes.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
And I knew that wasn't true because I was going
to Comic Con and I saw that, you know, at
least it seemed like half of the attendees were women
and girls.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
And so, you know, I was a full time actress.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Like I said, you know in the last episode, I
don't even have a college degree. I knew nothing about
starting a business. I knew nothing about fashion design or licensing.
But I did my research because I was so troubled
by what they told me. And in my research, I
found that women and girls were being bullied, and they
(14:56):
were being bullied horribly for just being a Star Wars fan.
You know, that was back when message boards were a
really big thing. And I just remember I read a
couple of stories about how women would pretend to be
men on the message boards just so they could have
a conversation about Star Wars and be taken seriously for it.
(15:20):
Like a lot of people, if they found out they
were talking to a woman, they would stop talking to them.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I also read lots of stories.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah, literally, they would find out they were talking to
a girl and they would stop.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Talking to them.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Oh my gosh, it was a very different.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Time, very different time.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
And then I read a story after story of little
girls who were carrying, you know, little boys lunch boxes
to school because they wanted a Star Wars lunch box
or a Star Wars water bottle, and then they were
bullied for it, And so all I ever wanted was.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
To break the stigma.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
I wanted to break the stereotype, and I wanted everyone
to be able to enjoy Star Wars together, because you
can't put a gender on Star Wars. To me, Star
Wars is a story of hope. Star Wars is a
story of good overcoming evil, and you can't put a
gender on that, like hope is genderless, like you know,
(16:18):
hope is for everyone.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
And so I.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Had the dream of a world where everyone could love
Star Wars together, which was a big dream and it
was a big stereotype to break. But never in my
wildest dreams did I think it would kind of create
a whole movement and kind of change and shift the
(16:47):
fandom in the way that it has. So for that,
I am forever humbled and proud. There's never a moment
when I see someone in her universe where I.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Get used to it.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I still always genuinely think that my mom is somewhere
around the course, like telling someone to buy it, and
so so yeah, it's forever weird to me. But I'm
forever grateful that that, you know, I've been on this journey.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Yeah, I love that so much, and thank you for sharing,
because you really, you created it transcends being a fashion line.
You created real estate for unheard voices, particularly women in
the fans space. You so you broke ground where there
was no ground to break into. You know, you blaze
the trail because there was no trail set for you.
So you just made it yourself. And you you created
the safe space and also a voice. And now that
(17:39):
voice keeps on getting louder and louder and louder with
that volume is being way turned up. And it's a
really inspiring thing. And I think you're you know, with
the Her Universe fashion show that you do, it's so empowering.
I think what you're doing is you're you're having these
really cool clothing pieces, but you're giving them I feel like,
I look at it, it's like body armor. You're giving them
this body armor and this this is not that they
(18:01):
need that validation or anything that they belong, but it's
a reminder that yeah, you do belong. But and here's
some body armor that's going to look really cool to.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Go with it.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
So thank you for bringing that up, because I've actually
described her universe as armor that you put on, so literally,
the clothes were.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Always just a means to end the bullying.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
That's all it ever was. And I felt that if
female fans felt comfortable in clothes that were made for them,
that then they would feel comfortable to step into the
spotlight and say, Hi, I'm a girl and I like
Star Wars. And I always looked at my designs as
you know, literally armor of something that someone would put
(18:43):
on for the day where they could feel like they
can face the world. So if they put on in
Ahsokatano top, they would feel like it's you know, they're
they're Ahsokatano for the day, Or if they put on
the Sabine top, they would feel like, you know, they're
they're Sabine and taking on the world and being a rebel.
(19:04):
So it was always armored to me. It was always
more than a shirt or a top or a design.
It always had a purpose, and it was a bigger
purpose it was. It was it was always meant to
make you feel something, So yeah, it was it was
always more than just a cute design, but it had
(19:24):
to be cute too.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Yes, that's amazing.
Speaker 7 (19:26):
I mean, I don't know if I'm deluding myself, but
I feel like because I'm not familiar with the origins
of it, but now where everything's that and you're partly
responsible for that in a big way, Like when we
go to conventions and we talk with people, I feel
like it is pretty close to a parody fifty to
fifty genders of who comes up to you, and also
(19:46):
so many couples and partnerships that are like we met
because of Star Wars and now knowing this backstory on
I think that's like incredibly beautiful.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Thank you. Well, so here's some numbers for And No,
I did not create.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
That, I would to be very clear, because fans were
already doing it. And to be clear, I think that
the stereotype in this stigma was created by people that
weren't fans, because if you were in the fandom, it
was already an inclusive space. So that's why I started
doing research in the first place, because you know, I
(20:22):
started going to comic cons in two thousand and seven
and there was women everywhere, and so I was so
confused because I'm like, what do you mean that this
space is just for men and boys, like there's women everywhere.
So this was back in two thousand and nine when
I was, you know, putting together my business plan for
her Universe. I was able to get my hands on
(20:45):
the attendance records for the top five conventions around the world.
And so at the time, you know, the top five
conventions around the world, one of those being Star Wars
Celebration and San Diego Comicon, and forty five percent of
all attendees were.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Women and girls.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
So that was back in two thousand and nine, so
there was almost already fifty to fifty. And then you know,
they released all sorts of consumer reports and eighty five
percent of all consumer purchases, so that's anything, any piece
of merchandise that is bought was being purchased by a
(21:28):
woman eighty five percent. So I'm not a mathematician, but
literally those numbers were not adding up. It's like, okay,
if you make us stuff to buy, then we'll buy it.
But also what I found out, a lot of the
statistics at the time and fandom, in my opinion, were skewed.
(21:56):
They were like, well, of the percentage of action figures
that are bought, you know, ninety percent, are you know,
the male characters. Well, yeah, but that's naturally gonna happen.
When let's say, in one box of action figures night,
and there's twenty action figures in one box, nineteen are
(22:18):
male characters and one is a female character. Well, then yeah,
that action fig that's gonna be skewed. Or if you ask,
let's say you ask a little boy if you could
play with one action figure, who would you play with?
And their choice is Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi or Ahsokatano.
(22:42):
Well they're probably gonna say Anakin Skywalker, but it doesn't
mean they don't want to play with Ahsoka Tano. So
I found out that it's like the statistics were skewed,
and you know, not that anything nefarious was going on,
but I was just like, you know, I just I
think we need to look at this differently, and they
(23:06):
weren't looking at it differently. And so the scary part
is I basically launched an entire business off.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Of those two statistics that.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Forty five percent of all you know, comic con attendees
were women and girls, and eighty five percent of all
consumer purchase purchases were being made by women. Because there
was no other research to back my claim, so it
was a huge leap of faith, but it was one
that I felt that was being underrepresented.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
And the last thing I'll say, because I.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Have to give so much credit to the guys, because
you know, everyone was like, oh, well, you know, hopefully
the women will come out and support you. Well, not
only did the women come out and support me, but
so did the men. You know, from the very beginning,
I said, if we want to break this stereotype united,
we stand, Divided, we fall.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I can't do this on my own. This has to
be a group effort.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
And I was so amazed that not only did the
women stand up, but so did the men. And the
men stood up loud and proud, and they said, I
watched Star Wars with my wife, I watched Star Wars
with my daughter. I'm going to support you because my
daughter deserves a shirt made for her. And so it
(24:24):
was totally a group effort and it wasn't just one sided.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Amazing.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
One of the highlights of celebration in Chicago the women
in Star Wars panel that we did. Do you remember
we brought Darth McKenna up on stage. Darth McKenna, I'm sure,
you guys remember her from various events, but she had
been horribly bullied and for us to bring her up
in stage and applaud her fandom, that's something her mom
(24:52):
still texts me about it. That was a very important thing.
So when you tell me that that was your goal
to impact that one life as an example for other
young girls as well, and that.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Was that was special in that moment.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
But it means more even more now to hear you
say that that was a very another important moment.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
It's amazing to hear you talk about the sort of
nascent stages of her universe and like how you know
her universe's origin story. But it's incredible because when did
we start going to our first combo con?
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Was like twenty fourteen?
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Maybe Star Wars Weekends was what I remember.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Is the like Star Wars Weekend is probably twenty fourteen too.
I think even in that short amount of time, what
that was five years since you launched her universe and
in the years you know since, like my experience and
my impression, Like, first of all, I agree with you, Taylor.
(25:53):
I don't feel like I see a big difference at Oh,
it's mostly guys, it's to me in my mind, it's
fifty to fifty people that I meet Star Wars fans
that I meet, and I would say the majority of
women and girls who come up to me are wearing
her universe. So to me, in my mind, like, it's
(26:17):
incredible to hear you talk about you know what it
was like before you came up with this incredible idea.
You're like this change maker and you've like sort of
I don't want to I'm not trying to blow smoke,
but like revolutionize this space because once I entered into it,
(26:38):
my experience has been that like women and girls love
Star Wars just as much as the guys do, and
they have this outlet to get to express that in
this creative, fun way, wearing your clothes, wearing your designs.
And so to me, like, I guess I just I
never knew a world before, didn't I didn't know Star
(27:01):
Wars before her universe. So you're the impact that you've
made is huge.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
I you know that that's incredible, And that's again all
I ever wanted, you know. I think sometimes we don't
realize it, but we just get used to things, even
if we're not happy about it.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
We're just like, well, that's just the way it is.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
And you know, I remember searching because it it did
start for me with a simple search for a Star
Wars T shirt. I just wanted a T shirt made
for me. And I remember this is back when they
had a Star Wars shop on Star Wars dot Com.
I remember searching it, searching like Star Wars Women, and
(27:54):
all that was in there was a watch, like a
ton of stuff for men. But when I searched Star
Wars Women, all that was in there was a watch,
and I'm just like and it wasn't even a watch
for women, was a man's watch, and I was just like,
this is just wrong, like that you can't give us
a single T shirt. But you know, I remember Lucasfilm.
(28:21):
You know, there was many stops and starts because I
wasn't going about it the right way. So that's that's
a whole separate business thing of the business of what
I learned and how to go about it the right way.
But finally, once I went through the proper steps and
the proper protocol and how to apply for a license
and start a business, Lucasfilm was incredibly supportive and they
(28:44):
gave me the chance to start her universe.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
But I'll never forget, they asked me.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
They said, we've never been successful in selling Star Wars
merchandise for women.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
How are you going to be successful?
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Like they were just like, good luck, but you know,
we've never been able to do it. And I told them,
I said, well, you've been ignoring female fans for so
long that they've given up on you, like nobody's looking
for it. And you know, one thing I've learned in
all the mental health work you know I've been doing,
is one of the worst feelings in the world is
(29:21):
to feel invisible. Literally, all we want is to just
feel seen and to feel visible. And sometimes even if
it's bad news, at least if somebody handles it the
right way and they they just say, I see you,
and you know, here's why, here's you know, here's here's
(29:44):
the why, here's what's going on. But at least I
see you. But to be invisible and to feel like
you don't even exist, that's a horrible feeling. And and
so that's what was happening at the time, is that
as female fans are just invisible, they we weren't being
seen and and I think we had just accepted it.
(30:06):
We just accepted, like, well, that's just how it's going
to be.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
And I think that's just a lesson to.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
All of us of like, you know, be curious. If
there's something that you see that's just not right, do
you have to be invisible?
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Does it have to be that way? You know, ask why?
You know, why not?
Speaker 1 (30:30):
And and so I think, you know, there's there's a
lot of change that's on the other side of curiosity.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Yeah, don't accept the status quo.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
Yeah, you know, it just occurred to me as you
were talking. I uh was a I got a business degree.
Strange to me as well, I might shock some of you.
That's great, I got I got a theater and dance
degree as well, but I also got a business degree.
And in business school, we did a lot of case studies.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
And I was just like, I mean, it's.
Speaker 5 (31:04):
Possible these already exist, but her universe should be a
case study for business school students. So if there's any
business school administrators listening to this, or b school professors,
specifically marketing professors, because we did a lot of case studies,
do a case study on her universe.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
It's fascinating and so important too.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
I mean there's just a lot of sort of layers
to not just the business of it, but the overall
impact of it.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Well, I thank you interwards, I have to share one
thing that and trust me, the credit was not being
given to her universe, but.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
It was. This is probably like twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
I had read some sort of business article about how
women and fandom was now an untapped business, and I
think it was relating to the Disney franchises that they
felt that in the fandom world they were leaving one
(32:18):
point three billion dollars untapped.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
I hope you got all of that.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Not I absolutely did not. I'm not even clothes, I
can promise you.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
But to that, I remember reading that article and I
was very proud because they were specifically talking about fandom.
They weren't talking about like the other franchises like Princess.
They were talking about Star Wars, Marvel, like the Superheroes.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
And and.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
You know, I launched in twenty ten and here we
are just six years later. And it went from them
saying women would not buy a single T shirt to oh,
we're leaving one point three billion dollars on the table,
and you know, like I said they were not giving
credit to me in that article. But I did personally
(33:06):
take a moment to be like, wow, I think I
had a part in that. That's pretty cool and so
it was a very proud moment. But but yeah, I
think as female fans, you know, we are we are
forced to be reckoned with and Tia and Taylor to
your point, you know, I think fandom is an inclusive
place now for everyone.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Hell I love that.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
And you know it's so interesting you brought up those
two analytics that you jumped off with to start her universe.
But I feel like if a statistician came in one,
I would love to see that marketing case study as well.
TII one agree on that. And this is going to
be a natural segue to the stuff you do in
mental health space because I feel like there's a direct
correlation or cosmic alignment if you will to stay in
(33:52):
the space theme of you really her universe rise into
the forefront and the improvement of mental health. Because you
just talked about being invisible is terrifying, but then you're
making the invisible visible and you're empowering the empowered. So
I would love to touch on this because I know
you have to go soon, and you have so many
positive things to say. I love your mental health Mondays.
(34:13):
I love your collaboration with Mindful Matters, having these practices
that we can take into everyday life, and all the
clinical collaborations you did with that with there's you know,
to back it and everything. So I would just love
for you to touch on that in terms of where
in her Universe journey did you realize this is also
coin signing with your own mental health journey and how
(34:35):
it could inspire others.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Okay, this is going to be a two party answer.
Great going back next week.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
So the first part is really before my own mental
health journey started. But one thing I quickly realized in
doing Her Universe, and this is one thing that I
wish studio and creatives would understand because a little behind
(35:05):
the scenes, oftentimes the creatives that are making the project
and the consumer products teams, they they don't get along.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
They butt heads.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
They own The creatives almost view sometimes the consumer products
and the merchandise is like a sellout because they're you know,
it's like they they they're like, oh, I don't want
to sell a plush of this character. That's lessening you
know who this character is. But I strongly believe the
(35:41):
most successful franchises are when the creatives and the consumer
products work together. And the reason being is you have
to understand what those what those products represent. Because we Vanessa,
you said this in last week's show. You know, entertainment
(36:05):
is used for most people as a sense of healing,
is a sense of therapy almost because let's be real,
in today's time, luckily we're talking about mental health more.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
But treatment is not easily accessible.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
You know. Oftentimes, you know, let's say, if you discover you,
you know you want to go to therapy, it could
be a six month wait to find a therapist and
then much less to go on a journey to find
the right therapist for you. It can be a long
journey to find that. So a lot of people turn
(36:41):
to their favorite shows and their favorite characters as a
form of therapy, as an escape, as a form of
hope and so but oftentimes those episodes they last for
thirty minutes, or they last for an hour, and then
you're back into your everyday life. So let's go back
(37:02):
to John the comment you made about our universe being armor.
So the product now has to be that tangible connection
to the hope that you feel from this property or
that character. So the merchandise is a necessary extension of
(37:24):
the creative. Whether it's a shirt you wear, or a
plus you carry, or a key chain that's on your keys,
it is an emotional connection to the story that you
take with you every day to inspire you, to empower
you to be that armor, to be that lightsaber. And
(37:45):
so if the two would just work together, which Star
Wars does a great job at at times, is you
know when the storytellers talk to the merchandise teams and say, hey,
this piece of merchandise is going to be integral for
the fans to buy because they're gonna want it, They're gonna,
(38:09):
you know, be inspired by it, and it's it's going
to be more than just a piece of merchandise that
they buy. It's going to represent something. It's gonna be
I call it tangible hope. Merchandise is like in Star
Wars is like tangible hope. It's something that they.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
Can touch and feel and bring with them.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
So that was always part of it for me, and
I always thought of it as that is, like, what
is this piece of merchandise representing? How is it going
to make that person feel? And so that was part
one now my personal journey.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
You know, I talked about my why. My why was
wanting to help fangirls who are being bullied.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
That was my why. That's what propelled me to start
the company. But forward, you know, five years, I was
completely burnt out. You know, I had to completely step
aside from acting other than Ahsoka because I was I
was working seven days a week, twenty four to seven,
(39:15):
from the moment I woke up and to the moment
I went to bed, and I was exhausted, and.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
I had lost my why.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
I was so consumed with delayed shipments and you know,
product delays and product mishaps, and you know, I had
lost I couldn't see the forest through the trees, and
you know, I'd forgotten about, you know, the purpose of
my mission. I also wasn't taking care of myself. I
(39:46):
didn't understand that some people have a mental illness, just
like some people can have diabetes or heart disease. So
not everyone has a mental illness, but everyone has to
focus on their mental health, just like everyone focuses on
their physical health. So just like they tell you to
(40:09):
eat right and you know, exercise or just like we
can get a cold and that's totally normal. Hey, guys,
I have a cold today. Well guess what. Our brains
can get sick. Guess what Like when we break a bone,
everyone sees that you physically have a cast on what
(40:29):
happens when we break our brain, and that happens. And
so my brain was broken. I was stressed beyond belief.
I wasn't addressing my physical health because I mean, I
wasn't addressing my mental health because I didn't know how.
I didn't know it was a thing. And you know,
eventually I was cyber bullied over a lie something I
(40:54):
didn't do. I had proof that I didn't do it,
but it didn't matter because the Internet believed it. And
it was finally the straw that broke the camel's back
and I was just in a bad place. And that
really opened up my eyes to what mental health actually
is and how it affects all of us.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
And I felt like my.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
Voice was taken away because I couldn't defend myself because
the Internet was the jury and they had made up
their mind. But I said, you know what, I will
get my voice back by being a voice for others
and you know, talking about mental health. So that was
twenty eighteen and I started posting every Monday for mental
health Monday. And I haven't missed a Monday since. And
(41:44):
it's been a journey because I'm still learning. I'm not
a clinician. I'm just a voice, kind of like how
Ahsoka told Ezra, you know, this is a new day,
a new beginning that you know, you you were the spark,
and I was like, well, if I can be a
spark for mental health, that's that's what I'm going to do.
Speaker 5 (42:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Sorry, I'm a long answer.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
That's an incredible answer, And thank you for being so
gracious and generous of sharing that personal side of you.
And just like how you made the invisible fangirls visible,
just like mental health is a bit invisible until we
make it visible. So we aren't a time where those
conversations are being more open. So you that's why I'm
always just so thankful. I'm very thankful that you were
(42:26):
sharing a piece of your journey. And it's an ongoing journey,
that's the whole point. Each day is a new opportunity
to do something better and improve on ourselves. And uh
and and I think a lot of times people will
see the final product. They'll see that maybe the four
of you are at a convention and signing autographs or
you're on the red carpet and by the way, yes,
Tia is the best red carpet walker ever. We have
(42:47):
we have, we have, we have proof feel we got
receipts of that and uh, but you know it's the
the underneath all that, it's you're all human and which
means like you're real people, real emotions. That just means
there's going to be ebbs and flows and and just
normalizing these conversations like you have, Ashley and Tia, Taylor Panessa.
We talked about mental health on here a lot. It's
(43:07):
just it's so important. And thank you for entering that chat.
We're going to get you out of here because I
know you got to go. Jace shared with me before
we started this episode that he had a story he
wanted to share, so I wanted to bring jac on
and that could be I think a nice fun way
to send you on your way. So JC, if you will,
if you could share this story, the baby okay, apologize.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
Of course.
Speaker 8 (43:38):
The timing I know, and she just started crying. Well, first,
I just wanted to say the thing I think, like
listen Ashley, listening to you talk about not having a
business degree and not having all this stuff and starting
a company. Something that you understood I think that nobody
(43:58):
understood is as much as you know.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Her universe sold T shirts.
Speaker 8 (44:03):
I really feel like you were building a community before
every business talked about building a community, like beyond just
trailblazing merch for female fans, you trailblazed building a community
online for a brand in a way that nobody was
doing in twenty ten. And I think that's that's really cool.
(44:27):
And that's the thing I think that you know, no
business degree from, no matter where you go, can can
bring to anything. Is like you understood you were the consumer,
and you understood that and you went out and found
those people. I think that's something that should be studied
in marketing class because I feel like you're one of
(44:52):
the first people who did that, which is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
Thank you.
Speaker 8 (44:55):
I have a fun story which I don't know if
you remember, but a million years ago I made a
Star Wars fan film called Hughes the Force back in
twenty ten and eleven and her Universe sent over some
of the costumes that our female leads were in the
(45:17):
in the fan film, and on this podcast, we often
talk about sports, and one of my favorite stories that
I tell over and over again is that in two
thousand and eleven, I was in Saint Louis. I was
working for the Major League Baseball Players Association, and I
was in the Saint Louis Cardinals' locker room before the game,
(45:40):
and I got a call and said, you got to
get to the Rangers locker room something. We got to
interview so and so, and so I'm running under the tunnel,
the player's tunnel underneath Bush Stadium in Saint Louis, and
I feel like the way I remember it is I
came around a corner and almost knocked you off your feet.
And it was right around the same time time that
(46:00):
I was working on the fan film, and you had
provided the costumes, and you were like, what are you
doing here? And I was like, oh my gosh, I'm
working for the Major League Baseball Players Union. What are
you doing here? And You're like, my husband is throwing
out the first pitch because David had won the two
thousand and six World Series MVP, and this was the
(46:25):
next time that the Cardinals had returned to Bush Stadium
since David won the MVP Award, which I guess you
and I were both at that game also, I believe,
but did not meet at that point. So I just
I thought it was fun because we always talk about
sports and Star Wars here and they are interconnected in
(46:47):
ways that you you never think.
Speaker 1 (46:50):
Well, thank you for refreshing my memory. I absolutely remember
that now, and I do you know, oftentimes I have
two very different worlds. The sports world that you know,
my husband's in and I'm such a proud wife, and
then there's my Star Wars world where he gets to
just be a proud husband, and they don't often intersect,
(47:13):
but when they do, it's just like whoa, yeah, what
are you doing here? But one kind of fun fact
that a lot of people don't really realize. You know, now,
there's so many Star Wars nights at the ballpark, it's
a normal thing. But one of the very first Star
Wars nights at the ballpark was in two thousand and eight.
(47:36):
My husband was playing for the Toronto Blue Jays and
we were promoting Star Wars the Clone Wars, and I
asked Lucasfilm if we could do an event at the
ballpark to help promote the film, and we had had
some baseball bats turned into lightsabers, and so, you know,
(47:59):
back then it is not a normal thing. It was
just something I asked if they could do because my
husband played baseball, and hey, here's a stadium full of
people that might like to watch this movie. And now
it's totally grown into this regular subset of the business.
But it was not a regular thing back then, So.
Speaker 2 (48:22):
That's another thing. Again.
Speaker 1 (48:23):
It was a very different time back then, and so
I'm proud to see how far it's come. Now there's
Star Wars nights at pretty much all the sports games,
all the sports ball as people.
Speaker 3 (48:37):
Said, blazing trails everywhere. Well, Ashley, this was such a pleasure.
Thank you so much for donating your time. Please come back,
because obviously Rebels isn't done with Ahsoka again, I think
we could have more really insightful and stimulating conversations like
we just had just now. So the door is always
open whenever you want to come back, we would be
honored and just thrill to have you. But until then,
(48:58):
everybody and everybody else, thank you everybody for listening. I
hope you got as much out of this conversation as
we did, and there's gonna be plenty more to come.
So as always, we're gonna be back next week with
more Potter Rebellion. But until then, Ashley our outros. Usually
we say Taylor's cute the music, but would you do
us the honors and give us our outro and tell
JC to cue the music?
Speaker 1 (49:19):
All right, Well, thank you so much for having me.
This has just been honestly a dream come true to
join the pod with you all.
Speaker 2 (49:28):
But I guess it's time JC cue the music.
Speaker 3 (49:36):
Potter Rebellion is produced in partnership with iHeart Podcasts Producing,
Hosted by Vanessa Marshall, Tia Sirkar, Taylor Gray and John
may Brody Executive producer and in house Star Wars guru
slash back checker J C. Reifenberg. Our music was composed
by Mikey Flash. Our cover art was created by Neil
Fraser of Neil Fraser Designs. Special thanks to Holly Free
and Aaron Kauffman over at iHeart, Evan Krasco or At
(49:56):
Willie Morrison, Devor Trasy Canobio, George Lucas for Korea This Universe,
we love so much, and of course all of our
amazing listeners. Follow us on Instagram at Potter Rebellion and
email us at Potter Rebellion Podcasts at gmail dot com
Be curious. If there's something that you see that's just
not right. Do you have to be invisible? Does it
have to be that way? Ask why?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (00:11):
And and so I think you know, there's a lot
of change that's on the other side of curiosity.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Welcome, Welcome, everybody to this very special episode of Potter Rebellion.
I'm Johnny Brody. You're a nonspector but full on moderator.
Here spending some more time with Ashley X time because
we love spending time with her last week so much
and she's been generous enough to join us again this week.
Of course, it's not just Askley joining me. We've got
our captain not only the Ghosts but also the podcast
(00:51):
Specter two on the Ghosts, but number one in our hearts,
Vanessa Marshall.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Hello, everybody, Welcome and.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Also have Oh yes, we all sot have someone whom
Steve Bloom referred to as a goddess and we all
completely agree miss tearser car.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
If I could pleasure it to be blushed. Hi, Hi,
thanks for joining.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Us, guys, and rounding it out is the Prodigy the
Mozart mister Taylor Gray.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Wow, thank you John. Hey, guys, how you doing.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Hi, praise it's no lies, We're told and welcoming back
our mind leader are incredible and again fashionable. Ashley Xstein,
thank you again for joining us for some extra time
with you, because we love talking to you so much
last week and you were so generous with giving insights
into a Sosokatano and what it was like to come
(01:50):
back as full Crum. But this week we really want
to focus more on you, Ashley, like Ashley x Stein
the person. Obviously we're going to touch on Star Wars
because it's such a you know, stone, it could be
a jump off of the conversation. But part of this
podcast isn't just celebrating the show and the characters. We've
been wanting to celebrate the people behind it, and today
we're going to do that with you.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Oh gosh, well, thank you, thank you so much for
having me and having me back. I had so much
fun last week, so just to come and hang out
with you is literally like a blast from the past
but one of my favorite things ever. We're all a
Star Wars family, so it's just like hanging out with
the family, just in our living room, but.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Virtually yes, well, we're glad to have you back. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
So what that can the four of you talk about
the first time before you like actually hung out. Whether
it was it at the convention, was it at a screening,
was it in the booth? And because there's obviously a
genuine friendship and camaraderie between the four of you and
I've been lucking at the witness it'll close. But can
you all talk about that and peel back the curtain
a little bit?
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I have a question. Let me start with a question.
So last week we talked about Vanessa.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
You mentioned something that I mean, I have like a
vivid I don't have a lot of vivid memories. I
have like the memory of an amnesiac. But I do
remember meeting Ashley for the first time. But my memory,
because it's faulty, I thought that Ashley, didn't you come
at the very beginning of our when we started recording
(03:25):
Rebels and that's when you brought Vanessa and I her
universe shirts. Did you come when you started recording I
In my memory, you came to sort of welcome us
and like be you know, just like gave us a
pep talk and sort of like gave us.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
The lay of the land.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Of what we were getting into it was. That's my memory,
but Vanessa is that is that incorrect?
Speaker 6 (03:48):
I think she had lines as full crumb or earlier
in the show, but we didn't know. I mean, oh,
I think you were there to record those lines in
those episodes prior.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Oh maybe I was blissfully unaware of that at the time.
So I just thought you were showing up to be like, hey, guys,
you're doing it like it was so sweet, and I
just remember, I remember you were so kind to like
bring us and by.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
The way, this, I'm I was gonna.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
Wear my shirt today, but it's in the laundry and
I was like, well, I can't really wear that, but
I intended to. But I still wear it all the time,
even though it's many years old now. But I just
I remember witnessing I mean, you were so kind and
lovely to us, and you and you know it was
(04:39):
it felt like you were sort of passing the baton.
But I remember witnessing Vanessa's reaction and how deeply she felt,
like felt what she was saying to you, And I
just remember thinking like this, I knew that what we
(04:59):
were doing was special, and what we were embarking upon
was special. But getting to witness that interaction between the
two of you guys, I was like, Okay. It was
little things like that, like along the way that kind
of illustrated to me, like that this journey that we
(05:20):
were embarking on was not just another job or another
gig or another role.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It was something much greater than that.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
So I vividly remember Vanessa's reaction and that was really touching.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So I think it's actually both what you're saying and
thank you for jogging my memory, because.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Vanessa's right.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
It was to record some Fulcrum lines and it was
separate from your cast record, but I think it was
before your cast record, So you all were there and
I just came in to record a couple of lines
and then I was out. So I definitely would have,
(06:10):
you know, said a couple of things and said hello
and welcomed you to the family.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
And I'm from the South, so that's what you do.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
You always bring something like a new neighbor, You bring
over cookies to me, you.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Hot plate exact exactly. So since I had her.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Universe, I was, you know, bringing you some fresh designs.
But but yeah, I now that i'm remembering it, You're right,
it was before we recorded the finale, but it was
like an actual episode that we were there for.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
Got it well, you know, Dave, everyone's on a need
to know basis, and I certainly, in his estimation, did
not need to know.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Why you were there.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
So I just thought that you were just like coming
to you know, welcome us into the family, which you did,
and I just didn't know that you were also there
for work, which.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Was good because I was supposed to be top secret totally.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
And you know, we often talk about Dave's sort of
like how how secretive he was, but I I just
I fully accept and agree with his like, you know,
it was important for us not to for being not
(07:32):
to know, so all the better that Tia didn't know,
Like I didn't need to know that, And when I
found that out, it was, you know, like a major revelation.
And that stuff is fun to me, Like it's fun
when as a viewer when I'm watching something and I finally,
you know, connect the dots and it's a big reveal,
(07:54):
that's exciting. So for that to happen when you're actually
recording a show for me, for someone like me that
like loves figuring things, out and like loves solving the
mystery that that is also exciting and fun. So I
was I was perfectly fine not knowing until I needed
to know.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Oh well, you know, we talked about this in the
last episode, about the passing the torch or the passing
the lightsaber moment. For me, it was important to kind
of pass the lightsaber to you all.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
You you were telling.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
The next story, and you know, I had learned so
much from Clone Wars, and you know, to me, it's
like I said, it's one big team. And so to
welcome you to the team, to welcome you to the family,
was an important moment for me. And so I was
really excited to meet you all. Definitely nervous, you know,
because you were already so close, you know, and I
(08:50):
so admired how close you all were.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
So it was weird, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Even though I had been around for a while, I
was the new guy, you know, a party crew.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
So I was nervous and excited. It was. It was
a wonderful moment.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
And can I just say also, well, for those who
are listening, I, as you were just talking, actually I
was just thinking about how, yes, we we are so
lucky that we we like became we like forged those
bonds pretty quickly, which we've talked about on this show before, but.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Some of us more so than others.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
No, no, and it was just so easy, like it
was just there was no there was no there was
not much effort put into it. It just happened so
naturally and organically, which was great for us because it
was hardly acting. You know, it was just like us
and our familial bonds that we had forged, like right
(09:48):
out the gate. But I also as you were talking
about that, I was thinking about you guys and the
Clone Wars cast and how we've all gotten to know
each other, especially getting to go to cons, geting to
go to Star Wars celebration all over the place, all
over the country, all over the world, and we get
to see each other. And I know you guys have
(10:09):
a similar sort of situation and that you guys are
so close.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
But I have to give you all credit because how
we felt a little bit in the beginning with Star
Wars Rebels, we wished we had what you all had,
because the difference between Star Wars and Clone Wars and
Star Wars Rebels is that it wasn't the same cast
in every episode, so whereas you all it was always
(10:34):
the Ghost crew and you were always together. You knew
that you were going to be together in the studio.
Sometimes there would be three or four episodes without Ahsoka
in it, or you know, without Yoda, or because Clone
Wars jumped around so much and told so many different stories,
and so we didn't have the cast dinners always that
(10:56):
you all had, and and you know, we had different
things that that did make us just as close and
now over time, and you know, it's kind of starting
with Disney Star Wars weekends, which I think we need
to get into, but starting with Disney Star Wars weekends
and then you know, with all the conventions that that
really formed that bond with all of us over time.
(11:18):
But I think as a Clone Wars cast, we looked
at you all being so close and it actually brought
us as a Clone Wars cast closer because we were like,
wait a minute, we have that too. We're a family too,
Let's get together for those cast dinners. Let's you know,
so you all actually set an example for us to
(11:39):
follow as well. And I think naturally because we're all
now one Star Wars family and we get to go
to conventions and everything we have become one, which is
really really nice and such a blessing that here we are,
all these years later and we're still doing panels together,
we're still traveling together.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
It's it's just it's so much fun. It really is.
It's such a gift. It's like a gift that keeps
on giving.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Yes, yeah, the fact that we're doing this podcast.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
That I thought that much of talking about it all
had been in the past a bit, but it's been
so amazing and sweet to relive this as we've gotten
older and can look at it through a different lens.
Something I wanted to ask you about that I've always
been so interested and impressed by and curious of you.
(12:31):
Touched upon it in the last episode, but her universe, Like,
surely you couldn't have imagined it would be as big
as this, or maybe you did, maybe you had the
vision of it's where it's even going to. But I
think it's just so special, and even more so when
I've seen fans and you interact with fans and them
wearing your designs, I just think it's so special what
(12:55):
you've given them in a way as well, was your
that you talk about the sort of origins of it,
But did you see it going to where it's at.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
It's so.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Thank you, thank you for your kind words. Yes and no.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
So yes, I'm going to say yes from the standpoint
of I think it's important when you have a dream
to dream big.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
You know, I think you should dream big.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I think you should have big expectations.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
So yes, I dreamed big.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
However, it's wildly exceeded those expectations. When I started her universe,
I just wanted a safe space for female fans to
feel accepted into the fandom, and the clothes were just
a way to do that. Because I know it seems crazy,
(13:48):
but back in two thousand and eight, there was a
massive stereotype, and the stereotype was that Star Wars was
just for.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Men and boys.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
And I was literally told that women and girls would
not buy Star Wars clothes made for them. And someone
called me and said, Ashley, you need to give up
on this dream and you need to be happy with
the men's size small because women and girls are not
going to.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Buy Star Wars clothes.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
And I knew that wasn't true because I was going
to Comic Con and I saw that, you know, at
least it seemed like half of the attendees were women
and girls.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
And so, you know, I was a full time actress.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Like I said, you know in the last episode, I
don't even have a college degree. I knew nothing about
starting a business. I knew nothing about fashion design or licensing.
But I did my research because I was so troubled
by what they told me. And in my research, I
found that women and girls were being bullied, and they
(14:56):
were being bullied horribly for just being a Star Wars fan.
You know, that was back when message boards were a
really big thing. And I just remember I read a
couple of stories about how women would pretend to be
men on the message boards just so they could have
a conversation about Star Wars and be taken seriously for it.
(15:20):
Like a lot of people, if they found out they
were talking to a woman, they would stop talking to them.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I also read lots of stories.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah, literally, they would find out they were talking to
a girl and they would stop.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Talking to them.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Oh my gosh, it was a very different.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Time, very different time.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
And then I read a story after story of little
girls who were carrying, you know, little boys lunch boxes
to school because they wanted a Star Wars lunch box
or a Star Wars water bottle, and then they were
bullied for it, And so all I ever wanted was.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
To break the stigma.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
I wanted to break the stereotype, and I wanted everyone
to be able to enjoy Star Wars together, because you
can't put a gender on Star Wars. To me, Star
Wars is a story of hope. Star Wars is a
story of good overcoming evil, and you can't put a
gender on that, like hope is genderless, like you know,
(16:18):
hope is for everyone.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
And so I.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Had the dream of a world where everyone could love
Star Wars together, which was a big dream and it
was a big stereotype to break. But never in my
wildest dreams did I think it would kind of create
a whole movement and kind of change and shift the
(16:47):
fandom in the way that it has. So for that,
I am forever humbled and proud. There's never a moment
when I see someone in her universe where I.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Get used to it.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I still always genuinely think that my mom is somewhere
around the course, like telling someone to buy it, and
so so yeah, it's forever weird to me. But I'm
forever grateful that that, you know, I've been on this journey.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Yeah, I love that so much, and thank you for sharing,
because you really, you created it transcends being a fashion line.
You created real estate for unheard voices, particularly women in
the fans space. You so you broke ground where there
was no ground to break into. You know, you blaze
the trail because there was no trail set for you.
So you just made it yourself. And you you created
the safe space and also a voice. And now that
(17:39):
voice keeps on getting louder and louder and louder with
that volume is being way turned up. And it's a
really inspiring thing. And I think you're you know, with
the Her Universe fashion show that you do, it's so empowering.
I think what you're doing is you're you're having these
really cool clothing pieces, but you're giving them I feel like,
I look at it, it's like body armor. You're giving them
this body armor and this this is not that they
(18:01):
need that validation or anything that they belong, but it's
a reminder that yeah, you do belong. But and here's
some body armor that's going to look really cool to.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Go with it.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
So thank you for bringing that up, because I've actually
described her universe as armor that you put on, so literally,
the clothes were.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Always just a means to end the bullying.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
That's all it ever was. And I felt that if
female fans felt comfortable in clothes that were made for them,
that then they would feel comfortable to step into the
spotlight and say, Hi, I'm a girl and I like
Star Wars. And I always looked at my designs as
you know, literally armor of something that someone would put
(18:43):
on for the day where they could feel like they
can face the world. So if they put on in
Ahsokatano top, they would feel like it's you know, they're
they're Ahsokatano for the day, Or if they put on
the Sabine top, they would feel like, you know, they're
they're Sabine and taking on the world and being a rebel.
(19:04):
So it was always armored to me. It was always
more than a shirt or a top or a design.
It always had a purpose, and it was a bigger
purpose it was. It was it was always meant to
make you feel something, So yeah, it was it was
always more than just a cute design, but it had
(19:24):
to be cute too.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Yes, that's amazing.
Speaker 7 (19:26):
I mean, I don't know if I'm deluding myself, but
I feel like because I'm not familiar with the origins
of it, but now where everything's that and you're partly
responsible for that in a big way, Like when we
go to conventions and we talk with people, I feel
like it is pretty close to a parody fifty to
fifty genders of who comes up to you, and also
(19:46):
so many couples and partnerships that are like we met
because of Star Wars and now knowing this backstory on
I think that's like incredibly beautiful.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Thank you. Well, so here's some numbers for And No,
I did not create.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
That, I would to be very clear, because fans were
already doing it. And to be clear, I think that
the stereotype in this stigma was created by people that
weren't fans, because if you were in the fandom, it
was already an inclusive space. So that's why I started
doing research in the first place, because you know, I
(20:22):
started going to comic cons in two thousand and seven
and there was women everywhere, and so I was so
confused because I'm like, what do you mean that this
space is just for men and boys, like there's women everywhere.
So this was back in two thousand and nine when
I was, you know, putting together my business plan for
her Universe. I was able to get my hands on
(20:45):
the attendance records for the top five conventions around the world.
And so at the time, you know, the top five
conventions around the world, one of those being Star Wars
Celebration and San Diego Comicon, and forty five percent of
all attendees were.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Women and girls.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
So that was back in two thousand and nine, so
there was almost already fifty to fifty. And then you know,
they released all sorts of consumer reports and eighty five
percent of all consumer purchases, so that's anything, any piece
of merchandise that is bought was being purchased by a
(21:28):
woman eighty five percent. So I'm not a mathematician, but
literally those numbers were not adding up. It's like, okay,
if you make us stuff to buy, then we'll buy it.
But also what I found out, a lot of the
statistics at the time and fandom, in my opinion, were skewed.
(21:56):
They were like, well, of the percentage of action figures
that are bought, you know, ninety percent, are you know,
the male characters. Well, yeah, but that's naturally gonna happen.
When let's say, in one box of action figures night,
and there's twenty action figures in one box, nineteen are
(22:18):
male characters and one is a female character. Well, then yeah,
that action fig that's gonna be skewed. Or if you ask,
let's say you ask a little boy if you could
play with one action figure, who would you play with?
And their choice is Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi or Ahsokatano.
(22:42):
Well they're probably gonna say Anakin Skywalker, but it doesn't
mean they don't want to play with Ahsoka Tano. So
I found out that it's like the statistics were skewed,
and you know, not that anything nefarious was going on,
but I was just like, you know, I just I
think we need to look at this differently, and they
(23:06):
weren't looking at it differently. And so the scary part
is I basically launched an entire business off.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Of those two statistics that.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Forty five percent of all you know, comic con attendees
were women and girls, and eighty five percent of all
consumer purchase purchases were being made by women. Because there
was no other research to back my claim, so it
was a huge leap of faith, but it was one
that I felt that was being underrepresented.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
And the last thing I'll say, because I.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Have to give so much credit to the guys, because
you know, everyone was like, oh, well, you know, hopefully
the women will come out and support you. Well, not
only did the women come out and support me, but
so did the men. You know, from the very beginning,
I said, if we want to break this stereotype united,
we stand, Divided, we fall.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I can't do this on my own. This has to
be a group effort.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
And I was so amazed that not only did the
women stand up, but so did the men. And the
men stood up loud and proud, and they said, I
watched Star Wars with my wife, I watched Star Wars
with my daughter. I'm going to support you because my
daughter deserves a shirt made for her. And so it
(24:24):
was totally a group effort and it wasn't just one sided.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Amazing.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
One of the highlights of celebration in Chicago the women
in Star Wars panel that we did. Do you remember
we brought Darth McKenna up on stage. Darth McKenna, I'm sure,
you guys remember her from various events, but she had
been horribly bullied and for us to bring her up
in stage and applaud her fandom, that's something her mom
(24:52):
still texts me about it. That was a very important thing.
So when you tell me that that was your goal
to impact that one life as an example for other
young girls as well, and that.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Was that was special in that moment.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
But it means more even more now to hear you
say that that was a very another important moment.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
It's amazing to hear you talk about the sort of
nascent stages of her universe and like how you know
her universe's origin story. But it's incredible because when did
we start going to our first combo con?
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Was like twenty fourteen?
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Maybe Star Wars Weekends was what I remember.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Is the like Star Wars Weekend is probably twenty fourteen too.
I think even in that short amount of time, what
that was five years since you launched her universe and
in the years you know since, like my experience and
my impression, Like, first of all, I agree with you, Taylor.
(25:53):
I don't feel like I see a big difference at Oh,
it's mostly guys, it's to me in my mind, it's
fifty to fifty people that I meet Star Wars fans
that I meet, and I would say the majority of
women and girls who come up to me are wearing
her universe. So to me, in my mind, like, it's
(26:17):
incredible to hear you talk about you know what it
was like before you came up with this incredible idea.
You're like this change maker and you've like sort of
I don't want to I'm not trying to blow smoke,
but like revolutionize this space because once I entered into it,
(26:38):
my experience has been that like women and girls love
Star Wars just as much as the guys do, and
they have this outlet to get to express that in
this creative, fun way, wearing your clothes, wearing your designs.
And so to me, like, I guess I just I
never knew a world before, didn't I didn't know Star
(27:01):
Wars before her universe. So you're the impact that you've
made is huge.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
I you know that that's incredible, And that's again all
I ever wanted, you know. I think sometimes we don't
realize it, but we just get used to things, even
if we're not happy about it.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
We're just like, well, that's just the way it is.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
And you know, I remember searching because it it did
start for me with a simple search for a Star
Wars T shirt. I just wanted a T shirt made
for me. And I remember this is back when they
had a Star Wars shop on Star Wars dot Com.
I remember searching it, searching like Star Wars Women, and
(27:54):
all that was in there was a watch, like a
ton of stuff for men. But when I searched Star
Wars Women, all that was in there was a watch,
and I'm just like and it wasn't even a watch
for women, was a man's watch, and I was just like,
this is just wrong, like that you can't give us
a single T shirt. But you know, I remember Lucasfilm.
(28:21):
You know, there was many stops and starts because I
wasn't going about it the right way. So that's that's
a whole separate business thing of the business of what
I learned and how to go about it the right way.
But finally, once I went through the proper steps and
the proper protocol and how to apply for a license
and start a business, Lucasfilm was incredibly supportive and they
(28:44):
gave me the chance to start her universe.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
But I'll never forget, they asked me.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
They said, we've never been successful in selling Star Wars
merchandise for women.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
How are you going to be successful?
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Like they were just like, good luck, but you know,
we've never been able to do it. And I told them,
I said, well, you've been ignoring female fans for so
long that they've given up on you, like nobody's looking
for it. And you know, one thing I've learned in
all the mental health work you know I've been doing,
is one of the worst feelings in the world is
(29:21):
to feel invisible. Literally, all we want is to just
feel seen and to feel visible. And sometimes even if
it's bad news, at least if somebody handles it the
right way and they they just say, I see you,
and you know, here's why, here's you know, here's here's
(29:44):
the why, here's what's going on. But at least I
see you. But to be invisible and to feel like
you don't even exist, that's a horrible feeling. And and
so that's what was happening at the time, is that
as female fans are just invisible, they we weren't being
seen and and I think we had just accepted it.
(30:06):
We just accepted, like, well, that's just how it's going
to be.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
And I think that's just a lesson to.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
All of us of like, you know, be curious. If
there's something that you see that's just not right, do
you have to be invisible?
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Does it have to be that way? You know, ask why?
You know, why not?
Speaker 1 (30:30):
And and so I think, you know, there's there's a
lot of change that's on the other side of curiosity.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Yeah, don't accept the status quo.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
Yeah, you know, it just occurred to me as you
were talking. I uh was a I got a business degree.
Strange to me as well, I might shock some of you.
That's great, I got I got a theater and dance
degree as well, but I also got a business degree.
And in business school, we did a lot of case studies.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
And I was just like, I mean, it's.
Speaker 5 (31:04):
Possible these already exist, but her universe should be a
case study for business school students. So if there's any
business school administrators listening to this, or b school professors,
specifically marketing professors, because we did a lot of case studies,
do a case study on her universe.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
It's fascinating and so important too.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
I mean there's just a lot of sort of layers
to not just the business of it, but the overall
impact of it.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Well, I thank you interwards, I have to share one
thing that and trust me, the credit was not being
given to her universe, but.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
It was. This is probably like twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
I had read some sort of business article about how
women and fandom was now an untapped business, and I
think it was relating to the Disney franchises that they
felt that in the fandom world they were leaving one
(32:18):
point three billion dollars untapped.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
I hope you got all of that.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Not I absolutely did not. I'm not even clothes, I
can promise you.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
But to that, I remember reading that article and I
was very proud because they were specifically talking about fandom.
They weren't talking about like the other franchises like Princess.
They were talking about Star Wars, Marvel, like the Superheroes.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
And and.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
You know, I launched in twenty ten and here we
are just six years later. And it went from them
saying women would not buy a single T shirt to oh,
we're leaving one point three billion dollars on the table,
and you know, like I said they were not giving
credit to me in that article. But I did personally
(33:06):
take a moment to be like, wow, I think I
had a part in that. That's pretty cool and so
it was a very proud moment. But but yeah, I
think as female fans, you know, we are we are
forced to be reckoned with and Tia and Taylor to
your point, you know, I think fandom is an inclusive
place now for everyone.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Hell I love that.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
And you know it's so interesting you brought up those
two analytics that you jumped off with to start her universe.
But I feel like if a statistician came in one,
I would love to see that marketing case study as well.
TII one agree on that. And this is going to
be a natural segue to the stuff you do in
mental health space because I feel like there's a direct
correlation or cosmic alignment if you will to stay in
(33:52):
the space theme of you really her universe rise into
the forefront and the improvement of mental health. Because you
just talked about being invisible is terrifying, but then you're
making the invisible visible and you're empowering the empowered. So
I would love to touch on this because I know
you have to go soon, and you have so many
positive things to say. I love your mental health Mondays.
(34:13):
I love your collaboration with Mindful Matters, having these practices
that we can take into everyday life, and all the
clinical collaborations you did with that with there's you know,
to back it and everything. So I would just love
for you to touch on that in terms of where
in her Universe journey did you realize this is also
coin signing with your own mental health journey and how
(34:35):
it could inspire others.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Okay, this is going to be a two party answer.
Great going back next week.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
So the first part is really before my own mental
health journey started. But one thing I quickly realized in
doing Her Universe, and this is one thing that I
wish studio and creatives would understand because a little behind
(35:05):
the scenes, oftentimes the creatives that are making the project
and the consumer products teams, they they don't get along.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
They butt heads.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
They own The creatives almost view sometimes the consumer products
and the merchandise is like a sellout because they're you know,
it's like they they they're like, oh, I don't want
to sell a plush of this character. That's lessening you
know who this character is. But I strongly believe the
(35:41):
most successful franchises are when the creatives and the consumer
products work together. And the reason being is you have
to understand what those what those products represent. Because we Vanessa,
you said this in last week's show. You know, entertainment
(36:05):
is used for most people as a sense of healing,
is a sense of therapy almost because let's be real,
in today's time, luckily we're talking about mental health more.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
But treatment is not easily accessible.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
You know. Oftentimes, you know, let's say, if you discover you,
you know you want to go to therapy, it could
be a six month wait to find a therapist and
then much less to go on a journey to find
the right therapist for you. It can be a long
journey to find that. So a lot of people turn
(36:41):
to their favorite shows and their favorite characters as a
form of therapy, as an escape, as a form of
hope and so but oftentimes those episodes they last for
thirty minutes, or they last for an hour, and then
you're back into your everyday life. So let's go back
(37:02):
to John the comment you made about our universe being armor.
So the product now has to be that tangible connection
to the hope that you feel from this property or
that character. So the merchandise is a necessary extension of
(37:24):
the creative. Whether it's a shirt you wear, or a
plus you carry, or a key chain that's on your keys,
it is an emotional connection to the story that you
take with you every day to inspire you, to empower
you to be that armor, to be that lightsaber. And
(37:45):
so if the two would just work together, which Star
Wars does a great job at at times, is you
know when the storytellers talk to the merchandise teams and say, hey,
this piece of merchandise is going to be integral for
the fans to buy because they're gonna want it, They're gonna,
(38:09):
you know, be inspired by it, and it's it's going
to be more than just a piece of merchandise that
they buy. It's going to represent something. It's gonna be
I call it tangible hope. Merchandise is like in Star
Wars is like tangible hope. It's something that they.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
Can touch and feel and bring with them.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
So that was always part of it for me, and
I always thought of it as that is, like, what
is this piece of merchandise representing? How is it going
to make that person feel? And so that was part
one now my personal journey.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
You know, I talked about my why. My why was
wanting to help fangirls who are being bullied.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
That was my why. That's what propelled me to start
the company. But forward, you know, five years, I was
completely burnt out. You know, I had to completely step
aside from acting other than Ahsoka because I was I
was working seven days a week, twenty four to seven,
(39:15):
from the moment I woke up and to the moment
I went to bed, and I was exhausted, and.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
I had lost my why.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
I was so consumed with delayed shipments and you know,
product delays and product mishaps, and you know, I had
lost I couldn't see the forest through the trees, and
you know, I'd forgotten about, you know, the purpose of
my mission. I also wasn't taking care of myself. I
(39:46):
didn't understand that some people have a mental illness, just
like some people can have diabetes or heart disease. So
not everyone has a mental illness, but everyone has to
focus on their mental health, just like everyone focuses on
their physical health. So just like they tell you to
(40:09):
eat right and you know, exercise or just like we
can get a cold and that's totally normal. Hey, guys,
I have a cold today. Well guess what. Our brains
can get sick. Guess what Like when we break a bone,
everyone sees that you physically have a cast on what
(40:29):
happens when we break our brain, and that happens. And
so my brain was broken. I was stressed beyond belief.
I wasn't addressing my physical health because I mean, I
wasn't addressing my mental health because I didn't know how.
I didn't know it was a thing. And you know,
eventually I was cyber bullied over a lie something I
(40:54):
didn't do. I had proof that I didn't do it,
but it didn't matter because the Internet believed it. And
it was finally the straw that broke the camel's back
and I was just in a bad place. And that
really opened up my eyes to what mental health actually
is and how it affects all of us.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
And I felt like my.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
Voice was taken away because I couldn't defend myself because
the Internet was the jury and they had made up
their mind. But I said, you know what, I will
get my voice back by being a voice for others
and you know, talking about mental health. So that was
twenty eighteen and I started posting every Monday for mental
health Monday. And I haven't missed a Monday since. And
(41:44):
it's been a journey because I'm still learning. I'm not
a clinician. I'm just a voice, kind of like how
Ahsoka told Ezra, you know, this is a new day,
a new beginning that you know, you you were the spark,
and I was like, well, if I can be a
spark for mental health, that's that's what I'm going to do.
Speaker 5 (42:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Sorry, I'm a long answer.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
That's an incredible answer, And thank you for being so
gracious and generous of sharing that personal side of you.
And just like how you made the invisible fangirls visible,
just like mental health is a bit invisible until we
make it visible. So we aren't a time where those
conversations are being more open. So you that's why I'm
always just so thankful. I'm very thankful that you were
(42:26):
sharing a piece of your journey. And it's an ongoing journey,
that's the whole point. Each day is a new opportunity
to do something better and improve on ourselves. And uh
and and I think a lot of times people will
see the final product. They'll see that maybe the four
of you are at a convention and signing autographs or
you're on the red carpet and by the way, yes,
Tia is the best red carpet walker ever. We have
(42:47):
we have, we have, we have proof feel we got
receipts of that and uh, but you know it's the
the underneath all that, it's you're all human and which
means like you're real people, real emotions. That just means
there's going to be ebbs and flows and and just
normalizing these conversations like you have, Ashley and Tia, Taylor Panessa.
We talked about mental health on here a lot. It's
(43:07):
just it's so important. And thank you for entering that chat.
We're going to get you out of here because I
know you got to go. Jace shared with me before
we started this episode that he had a story he
wanted to share, so I wanted to bring jac on
and that could be I think a nice fun way
to send you on your way. So JC, if you will,
if you could share this story, the baby okay, apologize.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
Of course.
Speaker 8 (43:38):
The timing I know, and she just started crying. Well, first,
I just wanted to say the thing I think, like
listen Ashley, listening to you talk about not having a
business degree and not having all this stuff and starting
a company. Something that you understood I think that nobody
(43:58):
understood is as much as you know.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Her universe sold T shirts.
Speaker 8 (44:03):
I really feel like you were building a community before
every business talked about building a community, like beyond just
trailblazing merch for female fans, you trailblazed building a community
online for a brand in a way that nobody was
doing in twenty ten. And I think that's that's really cool.
(44:27):
And that's the thing I think that you know, no
business degree from, no matter where you go, can can
bring to anything. Is like you understood you were the consumer,
and you understood that and you went out and found
those people. I think that's something that should be studied
in marketing class because I feel like you're one of
(44:52):
the first people who did that, which is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
Thank you.
Speaker 8 (44:55):
I have a fun story which I don't know if
you remember, but a million years ago I made a
Star Wars fan film called Hughes the Force back in
twenty ten and eleven and her Universe sent over some
of the costumes that our female leads were in the
(45:17):
in the fan film, and on this podcast, we often
talk about sports, and one of my favorite stories that
I tell over and over again is that in two
thousand and eleven, I was in Saint Louis. I was
working for the Major League Baseball Players Association, and I
was in the Saint Louis Cardinals' locker room before the game,
(45:40):
and I got a call and said, you got to
get to the Rangers locker room something. We got to
interview so and so, and so I'm running under the tunnel,
the player's tunnel underneath Bush Stadium in Saint Louis, and
I feel like the way I remember it is I
came around a corner and almost knocked you off your feet.
And it was right around the same time time that
(46:00):
I was working on the fan film, and you had
provided the costumes, and you were like, what are you
doing here? And I was like, oh my gosh, I'm
working for the Major League Baseball Players Union. What are
you doing here? And You're like, my husband is throwing
out the first pitch because David had won the two
thousand and six World Series MVP, and this was the
(46:25):
next time that the Cardinals had returned to Bush Stadium
since David won the MVP Award, which I guess you
and I were both at that game also, I believe,
but did not meet at that point. So I just
I thought it was fun because we always talk about
sports and Star Wars here and they are interconnected in
(46:47):
ways that you you never think.
Speaker 1 (46:50):
Well, thank you for refreshing my memory. I absolutely remember
that now, and I do you know, oftentimes I have
two very different worlds. The sports world that you know,
my husband's in and I'm such a proud wife, and
then there's my Star Wars world where he gets to
just be a proud husband, and they don't often intersect,
(47:13):
but when they do, it's just like whoa, yeah, what
are you doing here? But one kind of fun fact
that a lot of people don't really realize. You know, now,
there's so many Star Wars nights at the ballpark, it's
a normal thing. But one of the very first Star
Wars nights at the ballpark was in two thousand and eight.
(47:36):
My husband was playing for the Toronto Blue Jays and
we were promoting Star Wars the Clone Wars, and I
asked Lucasfilm if we could do an event at the
ballpark to help promote the film, and we had had
some baseball bats turned into lightsabers, and so, you know,
(47:59):
back then it is not a normal thing. It was
just something I asked if they could do because my
husband played baseball, and hey, here's a stadium full of
people that might like to watch this movie. And now
it's totally grown into this regular subset of the business.
But it was not a regular thing back then, So.
Speaker 2 (48:22):
That's another thing. Again.
Speaker 1 (48:23):
It was a very different time back then, and so
I'm proud to see how far it's come. Now there's
Star Wars nights at pretty much all the sports games,
all the sports ball as people.
Speaker 3 (48:37):
Said, blazing trails everywhere. Well, Ashley, this was such a pleasure.
Thank you so much for donating your time. Please come back,
because obviously Rebels isn't done with Ahsoka again, I think
we could have more really insightful and stimulating conversations like
we just had just now. So the door is always
open whenever you want to come back, we would be
honored and just thrill to have you. But until then,
(48:58):
everybody and everybody else, thank you everybody for listening. I
hope you got as much out of this conversation as
we did, and there's gonna be plenty more to come.
So as always, we're gonna be back next week with
more Potter Rebellion. But until then, Ashley our outros. Usually
we say Taylor's cute the music, but would you do
us the honors and give us our outro and tell
JC to cue the music?
Speaker 1 (49:19):
All right, Well, thank you so much for having me.
This has just been honestly a dream come true to
join the pod with you all.
Speaker 2 (49:28):
But I guess it's time JC cue the music.
Speaker 3 (49:36):
Potter Rebellion is produced in partnership with iHeart Podcasts Producing,
Hosted by Vanessa Marshall, Tia Sirkar, Taylor Gray and John
may Brody Executive producer and in house Star Wars guru
slash back checker J C. Reifenberg. Our music was composed
by Mikey Flash. Our cover art was created by Neil
Fraser of Neil Fraser Designs. Special thanks to Holly Free
and Aaron Kauffman over at iHeart, Evan Krasco or At
(49:56):
Willie Morrison, Devor Trasy Canobio, George Lucas for Korea This Universe,
we love so much, and of course all of our
amazing listeners. Follow us on Instagram at Potter Rebellion and
email us at Potter Rebellion Podcasts at gmail dot com
Hosts And Creators
Vanessa Marshall
Taylor Gray
Tiya Sircar
Jon Lee Brody
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