In Defense of Fandom

In Defense of Fandom

In Defense of Fandom explores the world of fandom, focusing on creativity, community, and collaboration. The show, pulling from interviews with creators and fandom research, illuminates the ways that fandom can be an incredibly positive influence in our lives.In season one, the podcast focused on the creative output of the SPN Family, as Supernatural fans call themselves, a lens to understand fandom activities as a whole. Season two broadened the premise by exploring how the ending of a TV series can affect its fandom. Topics ranged from whether the ending is good/terrible/divisive to whether it matters if the show is cancelled or goes out on its own terms to attempted revivals and reboots. Season three took a step back from television and expanded the scope even further, looking at parasocial relationships. The third season examined how and why we form parasocial bonds, how these bonds can be beneficial (and detrimental), and what a parasocial relationship looks like from the side of the star/musician/creator. Season four, created in collaboration with Denim-Wrapped Nightmares, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Supernatural by taking a look at the music of the show: the music that made the show, music inspired by the show, and music from the show's cast, writers, and crew.

Episodes

September 9, 2025 59 mins
Here's another bonus episode while I work on the next season! A conversation with writer of television, animation, comics, and audio: Meghan Fitzmartin. And for my fellow SPN family out there, you will recognize her name as first a writers assistant for Supernatural to a staffed writer in the final season, penning the episodes Piece of Mind and Drag Me Away (From You). More on Meghan and her upcoming comic, Mary Sue: https://w...
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This conversation with fellow Geekscapists is a post-San Diego Comic Con(versation) covering press passes to running activation booths to attending as a panelist! Check out the other Geekscape Podcasts & Projects: Jonathan London: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/geekscapeforever/hero-of-the-prophecy-1-a-pro-wrestling-comedic-fantasy Christian Bladt: https://www.weirdalgorithmpodcast.com/ Tessa Markle: https://www.femmere...
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August 12, 2025 49 mins
While I’m still working on creating both a special collaboration mini series and mapping out season 4, I wanted to provide you listeners with a special treat! This episode is an interview with Supernatural's production designer, producer, and occasional director: Jerry Wanek! We talk about his experience working on Supernatural, how the show reflected timeless styles from the iconic motel rooms to the art deco Bunker, and how he r...
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With season 3 wrapped, we wanted to see what lingering questions you have about parasocial relationships. Editor Anna Funk joins Sadie on the mic to answer some listener questions and reflect on the season as a whole. Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @itsdrfunk.bsky.social Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie See full episode transcript at www.sadiewit.com Learn more abo...
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In this final installment of the season, we wrap up final thoughts on the state of celebrity worship, fame, and parasociality. We’ll also hear a bit more about the positive things that we can get out of parasocial relationships, some of the risks to watch out for, and discuss the future of parasociality. Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @itsdrfunk.bsky.social Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott And new mu...
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We’ve talked about parasocial relationships as a one-way street, but can that ever change? Is there a way for a parasocial bond to become just a regular friendship? What would that even look like? Hear examples of how parasocial relationships became something more reciprocal, and learn whether that’s likely to be a rare event or something more commonplace. Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @itsdrfunk.bsky.social Music wr...
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Has the internet made us all worse at relationships, including the parasocial ones? We’ll talk about the celebrity attitude scale, which measures how intensely an audience member feels about a celebrity, how the internet has changed our media diets, and how online relationships are a blessing and a curse. Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @itsdrfunk.bsky.social Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott And new m...
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What’s it like to be in-between a celebrity and their fans? What’s it like to have a real relationship with a famous person—and have fans think you might be an access point to that person? Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @itsdrfunk.bsky.social Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott And new music written & performed by August Hotel: @augusthotel Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie See full episode transcript a...
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May 6, 2025 3 mins
I'm so sorry for the delay, but I promise you will have a brand-spanking-new episode in your feed in 2 weeks. In the meantime, support NPR/PBS! Support local journalism! And find ways to give back to your community around you, because this is the only way we're going to make it through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Explore how parasocial relationships may, or may not, differ across mediums. I speak with creators in music, podcasting, youtube, and musical threater spaces to hear how each of their experiences are different and yet so similar! Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @itsdrfunk.bsky.social Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott And new music written & performed by August Hotel: @augusthotel Cover art by Liz Hand: @...
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What happens when our minds fixate on an actor or band member or podcaster and we start to see things that aren’t there? When a fan feels so much closer to their idolized famous person than they really are? AKA, What’s the deal with parasocial relationships? Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie See full episode transcript at www.sa...
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A HUGE thank you to Marie for letting me rebroadcast this lovely conversation with her from March 2024. If you aren't already, you should subscribe to Carrying Wayward for all their excellent episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/carrying-wayward-a-supernatural-podcast/id1541257824 Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie Lear...
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February 4, 2025 38 mins
Don't forget to send me your fan questions! You can reach out via twitter (@SadieWit), instagram (@Sadie_Wit) or my website form (sadiewit.com) Link to Jonathan's Kickstarter: www.herooftheprophecy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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January 21, 2025 56 mins
I catch up with costume designer Jennifer May Nickel regarding the aftermath of the Eaton fire in LA. Jennifer & JP’s gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jp-jennifer-may-nickel-eaton-fire-relief-fund?modal=donations&tab=all RA recovery fund: https://give.randomacts.org/campaign/random-acts-natural-disaster-recovery-fund/c656615 Geekscape podcaster’s gofundme: bit.ly/DustinErin Creation Entertainment’s employee, Leticia, gofun...
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January 7, 2025 18 mins
What started as a random question on Bluesky turned into a whole conversation about fandom conventions (and why I seem to go to so many of them). Thank you Shae for agreeing to jump online with me to chat over the winter holidays so that I could answer your question in far more depth than you were expecting. Remember if you have a fan question of your own, you can reach me on insta, X, bluesky, or my website! Curious to learn mor...
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December 24, 2024 14 mins
Today, we answer Anna’s query! Solution 1: Fifty Shades of Grey is an example of fanfiction that became published as a standalone series. Serialization & Fifty Shades of Grey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzk9N7dJBec Solution 2: Some writers start in fanfiction, but have to leave that world behind so that it doesn’t influence their own, cannon writing (and accidentally steal ideas) How Tamsyn Muir* had to leave the fanfic commu...
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December 17, 2024 11 mins
Welcome to our experiment! Podcast editor Dr. Anna Funk steps up to the mic to ask a question that's been bubbling in the back of her mind. Listen next week for the reveal of the answer! And do you have a fandom question? Send it out way! Either through twitter DMs (@SadieWit), instagram (@Sadie_Wit), or via the webform at https://www.sadiewit.com/contact-1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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November 19, 2024 8 mins
We're back! And with some exciting news! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Alright, let's wrap up everything we've learned on endings: from the fan experience to the changes in how TV is made. And of course, we'll try to answer the question of whether we think Supernatural will ever be back for a season 16th.   Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/in_defense_of_fandom Thanks to the voices you heard in this episode (in order of appearance): Mark Hampton: NA Rob Benedict: @RobBenedict Jeffery ...
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August 13, 2024 2 mins
Howdy Y'all! I hope to see some of you at the Austin, Texas Supernatural convention this weekend. Please don't feel shy, come say hi to me. I'll have stickers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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