Playing Dress Up

Playing Dress Up

Joe Salem has been going to conventions for a decade so far, dressing up like it’s Halloween throughout the year. But why does he do it? Why do his friends entertain it? Join him and his guests as they unravel why they pretend to be fictional characters on the weekends.

Episodes

January 18, 2021 61 mins

Lauren, the woman who can do it all, tells us that getting into podcasting got her into cosplay! Why are Shin Megami Tensei games SO HARD? It's still insane to think how Homestuck truly made cosplay accessible to all. All in favor of a cosplayer feeding station, say aye! Joe hypes up AnimeNYC, hopefully a 2021 con, for his listeners!


--


Shout out to @cowbuttcrunchies, @sorairo_days, @stefmasc, and @micaburton!


---

Mark as Played

The teal mermaid herself, Amanda, president of the Steins;Gate fan club, finally joins us on the podcast! Who would have KNOWN Steins;Gate loss in popularity was due to Madoka Magica? When was the last time you took a bath? Amanda fully realizes that she's cosplayed for legitimately half of her waking life! 


--


Shout out to @supitscarrie!


---


- Follow Amanda everywhere @bluucircles! Etsy shop is slated to r...

Mark as Played
January 4, 2021 59 mins

Is your 2021 plan also rooted in pure survival? This ends up being a Hades appreciation podcast! Can you believe humans truly are just big version of goldfish now? Joe TRULY forgets the name of the game where you can romance the dog. Mary is, in fact, caucasian and her mother is an ICON at Hot Topic!


---


Shout out to @micaburton, @vintageaerith, @celsiusshi, @kiraarinn, and @sorairo_days!


---


- Don't follow Mary...

Mark as Played
December 21, 2020 27 mins

Joe just wants to thank everyone for listening to the podcast throughout the year! Who knew we would hear the perspective of 49 different people within the scene? Enjoy the holidays and New Year's, and we'll see you January 4th, 2021!


---


Shout out to everyone who has been on the podcast in the past!


---


- Follow myself on IG @joesalem


---


How to Support the BLM Movement:


Black Queer Town Hall: bl...

Mark as Played
December 14, 2020 54 mins

Have you sadly been cursed with the Instagram update? Do you even KNOW your friend's last names? Sometimes, you throw spaghetti at a wall and it'll eventually stick, but god it might not even be spaghetti!!


---


Shout out to @Lin_Manuel, @teerico_linman, @vintageaerith, @mintyhoneyy, and @shinjaninja!


---


- Follow Stef everywhere @stefmasc + check their shop at stefmasc.storenvy.com


- Follow myself on IG @jo...

Mark as Played
December 7, 2020 56 mins

The Idol Trash Queen herself joins us on the podcast to talk to us about DJ idols! We also don't condone underage drinking! Joe FULLY describes woodwind instruments, but fully forgets the word for it. All it takes is one piece of perfect media to get all your friends into a series! The years are TRULY blending into each other.


---


- Follow Merry's shop @merrysmileco + shop them via merrysmile.bigcartel.com


- Follow m...

Mark as Played
November 30, 2020 59 mins

Did the TWEWY sequel video game announcement also throw you ALL the way for a loop? Always make sure to be a part of the system! We get to hear the entire history of Cosmic Crown to see how it has become what it is today!


---


Shout out to @sassacat.cos, @rainbowrex, @DesignDino_Rex, @elasticrabu, @kyoshiki.kyo, and @boomslank


---


- Follow Cosmic Crown everywhere @cosmiccrown + shop them via www.cosmiccrown.com

<...

Mark as Played
November 23, 2020 55 mins

Are you also just on auto-pilot at this point in quarantine? Only water your plants when the soil is dry! Joe tells Van of things she didn't even remember about her own life. Van unlocks Joe's third-eye into why danmei is so popular with so many of his friends!


---


Shout out to @wherestomi + @nyriikos!


---


- Watch danmei!


- Follow myself on IG @joesalem


---


How to Support the BLM Movement:


Bl...

Mark as Played
November 16, 2020 62 mins

You ever fly to Australia so you can finally meet your friends? Vicki tells us her lovely story on why she wore a casual Yosuke cosplay to Costco. Gaia Online will teach you how to do Artist Alley! Independent artists are truly trying to thrive out here in 2020!


---


Shout out to @ohmonah + @nyriikos


---


- Follow Vicki on Twitter @tasobubu +  shop them via etsy.com/shop/tasobi


- Follow myself on IG @joe...

Mark as Played
November 9, 2020 70 mins

Did you also drop off social media around 2015 - 2017? Well, Joe and June did and they talk about how socializing online is an act of emotional labor. Always make sure you turn your brains off and have some peace and balance when you can! For some reason, Joe didn't know that the Physical Touch love language wasn't just about sex!


---


Shout out to @lucaplex, @mintyhoneyy, and @luxidity.co


Cosplay Satisfaction Post fr...

Mark as Played
November 2, 2020 59 mins

Who knew a simple invitation to a cosplay group photoshoot would lead to mass friendship? Ed tells us how meeting Joe became a pivotal moment in his journey through cons. Sometimes, we shouldn't speak things into the universe! Is sharing drinks appropriate in a post-COVID world?


---


Shout out to @purple.schala, @kimidoricosplay, @sirfranku, @luckylukse, @phoenixramen, and @russnj


---


- Follow Ed on Twitch @ twit...

Mark as Played
October 26, 2020 64 mins

Isn't it a real treat when you see parents support their children in their hobbies? It's also about to be kotatsu season real soon, so get cozy and snuggle up underneath one!  Joe will forever be blown away that he's able to talk with people internationally within the cosplay community, because that was barely an option 10 years ago!


---


- Follow Des on Twitter @OSK_spice + follow Peach Flower House @ peachflowerhous...

Mark as Played
October 19, 2020 58 mins

It's a real treat to travel halfway through the country to meet all the friends that live near you! You live and learn with every cosplay you do, and every fuck up you do! Are you member of the Church of Hot Glue?


---


Shout out to @sadboi.photos, @maison_hikari, and @cosmiccrown!


---


- Follow Annette on IG @sassacatcos


- Follow myself on IG @joesalem + twitch.tv/joeshmoecos


---


How to Support the ...

Mark as Played
October 12, 2020 64 mins

I'm sorry for the audio, but I'm also a one-man team, so this is what we get!! Who knew one busted photo from 2012 would lead to a lifetime of friendship? Is Joe a bunch of clones or does he truly just have a knack for showing up in places? 25 is the magical age where everything breaks down!


---


Shout out to @clautista, @myhankoko, and @bishoujodevil!


---


-Follow Steph on Twitter, IG + twitch @misssnore


-Fo...

Mark as Played

Who knew cosplaying as Toph at a con would lead you to move to NYC shortly after?? Has Florida FINALLY reached it's final form in these wild times? Are you part of Team Full Fantasy? All these questions and more are fully answered in this podcast with our lovely guest, Val of Valerian Steel Cosplay!! We also answer a listener question!


---


Shout out to @ngnyc, @oyasumiyu, @garrett_watts, and @jacquistuffnthings!


---

...

Mark as Played
September 21, 2020 60 mins

Alex truly comes to us to prove he truly is a bald-headed masochist for his friends. Have y'all ever LARPed in your own backyard as a child, or was that just a thing boys did? We will never understand the Japanese fascination for the lottery system for concerts, but so be it! And why is the Prince of Nigeria e-mail money scam still prevalent in 2020?


---


-Follow Alex on IG @alexestefany + try out all the cons!


-Follo...

Mark as Played
September 14, 2020 57 mins

Everything is garbage and their truly is barely a lick of good news in 2020!!! PSA that CVS has Hello Kitty Halloween items on sale! Cosplay is truly all about your own personal journey, so please don't listen to THOSE dudebros that feel the need to comment about cosplay. 4-way stretch spandex truly IS the one and is unparalleled. 


---


Shout out to @_krobek_, @edgar.allen.nope, @spandexworldinc, @blerdcon, and @tv_ch...

Mark as Played
September 7, 2020 58 mins

Do you love walking aimlessly in the outdoors?? Because that's as good as it gets!! The impact of the Neopets faeries as cultural icon, legends, and stars is felt endlessly to this day. We talk about our experiences being third culture kids watching anime!! Also, why did our childhoods revolve around murder mysteries?


---


-Follow Teese on Twitter @vicunad + listen to them on "Author's Note: Don't Like, Don't Listen" and "...

Mark as Played

Cosplayers are truly the superfans of the world, transforming themselves into the characters they love. Online, interactive communities are important, now more than ever!! We FINALLY get to hear the Kumacos origin story!! Does anyone else remember the era of a wild SURGE of cosplay groups??


---


Shout out to June, Ariel, Vicki, and Paulina of Kumacos!!!


---


-Follow Kumacos on Facebook + visit Memento Mori on the ...

Mark as Played
August 24, 2020 61 mins

Nat breaks down to use why we are drawn to feet from an art history perspective, while Joe grieves his hatred for them. King of Prism is a god damn nightmare, but what a god damn EXPERIENCE!! We talk about the culture of cheer screenings and their newfound impact stateside! Are you a Ricky Rat stan??


---


Shout out to @sorairo_days, @rainbow_rex, @kimmistry7, @notgodzilla, @purple.schala, @kimidoricosplay, and @mementocosp...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.