The Fandom Show

HELLO NURSE! Buckle up your khakis and set your cap to ‘backwards’ because this weeks ‘good idea’ is a totally zany conversation with comedian and author, Bryn Pottie (he/him) about the Warner Brothers and, of course, their sister Dot; It’s ANIMANIACS! We chat about the unlimited cache of Jurassic Park-era Steven Speilberg, the 90s animation renaissance, gangster pigeons, intellectual lab mice, and a disney-adjacent character desig...

Come on and grab your friends because we’re talking to professional drag queen, Catfish The Dinosaur (they/them) about Pendleton Ward’s animated fever dream, also known as ADVENTURE TIME! Discover colourful nuclear apocalypses, exploding candy people, low-key vampires, political princesses, fictional fanfiction, deep cut sci-fi references, and all the existential crisis you could ever want from a ‘kids’ show. Plus, an ...

Get ready to serve at the pleasure of the (fictional) president because today we are joined by consultant and crafter, Margo Mullin (she/her) for a walk and talk about the 1990s political classic; WEST WING! We chat about the waves of political burnout and optimism, the rise of the political drama on TV, Aaron Sorkin’s whip-smart dialogue, great speeches, career defining performances and the not-so-enduring fantasy of a competent a...

Who killed Laura Palmer? This episode we’re joined by comedian and writer, Becky Johnson (she/her), to discover all the strange, small-town secrets of David Lynch’s mysterious masterpiece; TWIN PEAKS. We talk about the massive impact Twin Peaks had on the television landscape, pre-grunge fashion, the log-lady, satisfying reveals, liminal spaces, and why Becky finds the whole thing deeply relatable. Plus, we match each ...

Grab your measuring tape and roll out the tabletop terrain because this week we’re talking to actor, writer and sound designer, Sean Meldrum (he/him) about a game that's part strategy, part collecting, part craft project: WARHAMMER! Grab a beer(hammer) and relax as we chat about the game of ‘who forgets less’, the art of assembling tiny plastic armies, techniques for painting in miniature, your ‘friendly local game store’, the endu...

YES AND! This week we’re talking to improviser, comedian and Artistic Director of the Bad Dog Theatre Company, Alia Rasul (she/her), about the art form where everything is made up on the spot - IMPROV! We talk about the health and social benefits of improv comedy, what improv has in common with sports, techniques and rules that make the magic work, the importance of live performance, how improv can help your dating life, the world'...

Strap on the Blasphemous Blade and get ready to die a LOT because this week we’re talking to comedian and writer, Meg Mackay (they/them), about the infamously difficult game they just recently platinum’d; ELDEN RING! We talk about the value of challenging game design, George R. R. Martin’s lore, bosses that have never known defeat, sexy moons, deadly golden hippos, an incredibly dedicated online community, and why you should always...

You asked for it, now here it is. It’s time to crack open The Colour of Magic and prepare to be whisked (or should I say…Disc’d?) away, because this week we’re talking to podcaster, performer and practicing witch, Brett Seivwright (he/him), about his lifelong love for TERRY PRATCHETT. We talk about Pratchett's unique approach to writing, the setting of Discworld, his legendary hat, fakes news predictions, Death’s Twitter account an...

GAME ON! This week we’re talking with writer and comedian, Rachel Manson (she/her), about the immersive game of pretend that has fully changed her life; LIVE ACTION ROLE PLAYING (LARP). We talk about foam weapons, joyful suspension of disbelief, camping with Slenderman, pro-level costume kits, complex game-systems for running around in fields, player consent, and the myriad ways that ‘immersive play’ communities overlap. Plus, what...

And the Oscar goes to..! We’re getting hyped for the 2025 film-nerd superbowl by chatting with cinephile and amateur award historian, Matilda Knarr (she/her), about Hollywood’s Biggest Night; THE OSCARS. Strap into a deeply expensive and uncomfortable ball gown while we chat Oscar bait, red carpet looks, the Weinstein effect, most memorable hosts (for better or for worse), #oscarssowhite and why Bong Joon-Ho called the Oscars ‘a lo...

IT’S GOJIRA!!! We’re chatting with actor, comedian and superfan, Shannon Lahaie (she/her) about her recent, monster sized hyperfocus, the King Kaiju himself; GODZILLA. Get ready to learn about post-war Japan, groundbreaking special effects, soulless American remakes, epic-monster fights and how Godzilla became an inspiration for a generation of filmmakers. Plus, we review the dating profiles for Godzilla’s kaiju enemie...

[italic] FONTS! [italic]. We know ‘em, and we love them. But do we know enough of ‘em? Today we’re joined by graphic designer, typographer and professor, Carl Shura, to discuss the design lurking behind every word you read. We chat about the history of typesetting, what makes a really bold font, the rockstars of the typeface world, and the elements that make typeface design so intricate. Plus, we learn some scandalous facts about o...

LET’SA GO! Today we’re leveling up with game enthusiast Grant Pettypiece, as we talk about the energetic Italian plumber beloved the world over; IT’SA MARIO! We’re talking about Mario’s humble origins as ‘jumpman’, intuitive game design, the Mushroom Kingdom’s questionable doctorate degrees, canonically trans birds, and which character is definitely NOT wearing a hat. Plus, we chat about how Nintendo prioritizes play and indulge in...

HO HO HO! Today we’re chatting with ‘Because News’ producer and holiday enthusiast, Erin Conway, about the most wonderful time of the year; CHRISTMAS! We discuss the real (non-capitalist) spirit of the season, unusual traditions, Mariah Carey’s rebirth, thrifty gifting, eclectic ornaments, and why seasonal magic can be real if you let yourself enjoy it. Plus, a battle royale of Christmas movies and the hosts share their strangest h...

Today we are joined by one half of I Hate It But I Love it, Jocelyn Geddie, to discuss her enduring love for writer, composer and broadway legend; STEPHEN SONDHEIM. We discuss Sondheim's Simone-Biles-style lyrical backflips, his humanist outlook, freak stage accidents, influential mentorships, musical pointillism, writing while high and how Sondheim’s unique style (and desire to swear) changed musicals forever. Plus, Steph gets pos...

THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN! Get ready to outwit, outplay and outlast because today we’re talking to comedian Chelsea Larkin (she/her) about the reality show that just won’t quit: SURVIVOR!  We discuss forty-seven seasons worth of iconic contestants, questionable team sorting choices, coach potatoes, competition-beasts and the narrative importance of inclement weather. Plus, Chelsea reveals her enduring love for Jeff Probst a...

Get ready to fulfill all your fictional fantasies because this week we’re chatting with writer and podcaster, Diana McCallum (she/her), about the only artistic medium that is - for legal reasons - fueled exclusively by the power of fandom; It’s FANFICTION! We discuss the history of the genre, best-selling novels that started as fanfiction, the popularity of slash ships, male pregnancy, and all-werewolf universes, what ...

Get hyped for your Halloween costume because today we’re talking to professional makeup artist, Meg Fraser, about the magical and monstrous world of SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP! We’re taking you behind the scenes to talk about fake dirt, biologically correct injuries, old-age makeup, legendary creature designs and the iconic makeup artists whose work you didn’t realize you loved. Plus, some hot tips for your next zombie costume and a ha...

Today we’re playing padawan to writer and comedian Ben Sosa-Wright (he/him) about the animated Star Wars property that literally saved the galaxy; THE CLONE WARS! We discuss Dave Filoni’s legendary efforts to make the Star Wars canon make sense, how Ahsoka became a fan-favourite, animated world-building, the lightsaber personality test, and which characters are queer coded (cause it’s more than you’d think). Plus, Kyah...