The Fandom Show

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...

Hold onto your butts! This week we’re excavating fascinating fact fossils with comedian and writer Chris Leveille, as we discover a fandom that DOES move in herds; JURASSIC PARK! We dig into the massive success of Crichton’s original book, how Spielberg masters fear and awe, (r)evolutionary special effects, an iconic (and meme-worthy) cast and a bunch of Pratt-keeping sequels that should have stayed extinct. Plus, Chris gives us hi...

Grab your straw hat and munch on a devil fruit because we’re talking to Katie Chin about her favorite manga, ONE PIECE! We discuss the loveable optimism of Monkey D. Luffy, geopolitical pirate politics, wacky island themes, awkward ‘kid appropriate’ edits, and how the author, Eiichira Oda, somehow created a narratively coherent world where he was allowed to draw whatever the hell he wanted. Plus, we assemble a crew from Katie’s fav...

Cut an LVAT wire to the tune of Snow Patrol, because we’re talking to drag queen, gamer and superfan, Juice Boxx about the steamy medical drama that kills more people that it saves; GREYS ANATOMY! We discuss iconic soundtracks, weird medical cases, the origin of the ‘Pick Me’ girl, behind the scenes cast drama, a misguided musical episode, a parking lot of no return, the endless string of increasingly ridiculous disasters and why t...

Get ready to stomp the catwalk because we’re learning about FASHION with writer, costume designer and drag queen extraordinaire, Justin Gray (he/him). We talk about the origin of popular fashion, who decides what’s trendy, what ‘au couture’ actually means, the glory of Mary Kate’s Birkin Bag, why you're probably washing your clothing wrong and how fast fashion is, quite literally, demonic. Plus, how you can build your ...

Things are about to get real forkin’ philosophical because we’re talking to actor and comedian Ashley Comeau about the show with an afterlife of its own; THE GOOD PLACE. We talk about Mike Schur’s carte blanche from NBC, how the writers made philosophy funny, which character we think represents us best, and how it may have changed our personal outlook. Plus, we decide which celebrities would end up in the Good Place, and what custo...