Your Biggest Fangirl Podcast

Episode 53: Fangirls’ Farewell to 2019! Dec 17, 2019

It’s the end of 2019, so it’s time for us to look back on a year -- and a decade! -- of fangirling! In Your Biggest Fangirl’s last episode of 2019, we share highlights from the podcast and our finest moments of fangirling from the year, while reflecting on the growth of the show and ourselves as fangirls. We discuss how fandom and the role of fans have evolved over time, as the divide between creators and consumers continues to shrink-- recognizing the power (and challenges and responsibilities that come along with it) fans face in regards to influencing the media they consume. We also look ahead to 2020 and the things we hope to see! The Your Biggest Fangirl Podcast will be going on an extended winter break and will return in 2020. Subscribe to get the new episode when it comes out! Have you followed us on social media? No better time to do it then now! Instagram: @ybfgpodcast Twitter: @ybfgpodcast Facebook: @ybfgpodcast Tumblr: yourbiggestfangirl.tumblr.com

Episode 52: Collaborating on Orphan Black’s Next Chapter with writer & filmmaker Heli Kennedy Dec 03, 2019

We join the Clone Club this week on the podcast! Our guest this week is Heli Kennedy, a writer currently on the writing team for Orphan Black: The Next Chapter on the literary entertainment platform Serialbox. This isn’t Heli’s first jaunt with the Orphan Black series, as she previously penned the spin-off comics at IDW, Helsinki and Deviations. Her talents span all these forms of media; in addition to audio dramas and comic books, she is also a senior writer at video game company UbiSoft and a filmmaker. Heli shares how she integrates being a fan of Orphan Black into writing for the franchise, the differences in her approach and process when writing for its comic books versus collaborating on The Next Chapter, as well as the unique opportunities the audio drama format presents for delving deeper into all of our favorite characters! Heli also imparts her insights on turning your passion into your profession and her favorite member of the Clone Club to write for! Where to Find Orphan Black: The Next Chapter Listen or read the series on SerialBox: https://www.serialbox.com/serials/orphan-black Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @serialboxpub Where to Find Heli: Instagram and Twitter: @helikennedy

Episode 51: Painting the Portrait of a Fangirl with Temple of Geek’s Monica Duarte and Emily Schuck Nov 19, 2019

Monica Duarte makes her grand return to the podcast, and brings fellow fangirl Emily Schuck with her! Monica and Emily are the masterminds behind “Portrait of a Fangirl,” a new web series hosted on Temple of Geek, to which both Monica and Emily are contributors. You’ll remember Monica from Episode 18 -- she is a photographer, who can proudly claim her photos have been published in Doctor Who magazine and SFX magazine, and also co-hosts of the Temple of Geek Podcast. In addition to Emily’s contributions to the Temple of Geek podcast, their convention highlights and more, Emily is also a writer and editor of the Foothill Journal, which publishes graduate student poetry at Claremont Graduate University. At the core of Portrait of a Fangirl is the necessity of telling the stories of women who have found inspiration, growth, and power through fandom. They interview several inspiring women about how their diverse and fascinating fandoms have enriched their lives. Victoria herself is one of the women interviewed in the series and we reflect on how the women profiled defined ‘fangirl’ and how we’ve been empowered through fangirling. We also take a look at the challenges of maintaining a balance between the fangirl and professional aspects of your life and combating the shame that can accompany the identity. Where to find Portrait of a Fangirl: Instagram: @portraitofafangirl Temple of Geek YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/templeofgeek https://templeofgeek.com/ Where to find Emily: Instagram: @lovemelovemyumbrella Twitter: @emilyschuck Where to find Monica: Instagram, Twitter: @thisdorkynerd

Episode 50: The Magical Ladies We Fangirled Over at LeakyCon Boston – Part 2 Nov 05, 2019

We head back to the wizarding world in the second half of our LeakyCon convention special! We celebrate reaching the big 5-0 episode count and share how the podcast has allowed us to grow as fans and people. We also explore the takeaways Victoria encountered at the con about the Harry Potter fandom, its commitment to social justice, and the impact on our own lives and worldview as members of the generation who got to grow up with Harry. We have another group of five fantastic fangirls to hear from as well! They are: Hayley Burson, an avid Harry Potter fan and costume maker. With her husband Michael, they specialize in creating screen replications from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. She’s also a co-host on Hold My Butterbeer, a podcast about all things wizarding world canon. Where to Find Hayley: Instagram & TikTok: @hobbitparty Hold My Butterbeer Podcast: https://www.holdmybutterbeer.com/podcast Facebook: @michayleycosplay YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoDsgsIsSeZKHoRVc_Rtv0Q Porshea Patterson-Hurst, Bayana Davis, and Connie Gibbs from Black Girls Create. Through substantive but accessible content, Black Girls Create is an intersectional hub for black creators and critical fandom. They collaborate to champion the increased media representation of Black women specifically, and people of color in general. Bayana Davis, serves as Editor in Chief of Black Girls Create & co-host of the #WizardTeam podcast, Connie Gibbs is Black Girls Create Managing Editor and co-host of the TARBIS podcast, and Porshea Patterson-Hurst, contributor at Black Girls Create, volunteers with the Harry Potter Alliance and co-hosts the Game of Thrones podcast Castle Black. Where to Find Black Girls Create: Instagram & Tumblr: @blackgirlscreate Twitter & Facebook: @weblackandnerds Blackgirlscreate.org WizardTeam & TARBIS Podcasts: http://blackgirlscreate.org/bwc Where to Find Porshea: Twitter: @porshea_obvi Where to Find Connie: Twitter & Instagram: @constar24 Constarwrites.com Where to Find Bayana: Twitter: @yana_hallows Melissa Anelli has been reporting on the Harry Potter phenomenon since 2001, and since then has served as the webmistress of the premier Harry Potter fansite The Leaky Cauldron, authored the New York Times bestselling book Harry, A History and founded Mischief Management, a company that produces fan events, LeakyCon included, focusing on community, content, and creativity where she serves as CEO. You may know her from the long-running Harry Potter fan podcast Pottercast or from one of the Mischief Media podcasts, Make New Mistakes and Extraneous. It’s no surprise that we’ve been seriously inspired by Melissa and been fans of hers for years, so we were thrilled when she took time out of running the show at LeakyCon to chat with us. Where to Find Melissa: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @melissaanelli http://www.melissaanelli.com/ Buy Melissa’s book Harry, a History on Amazon Where to Find LeakyCon: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @leakycon Leakycon.com http://www.mischiefmanagement.com/

Episode 49: The Magical Ladies We Fangirled Over at LeakyCon Boston – Part 1 Oct 22, 2019

This Harry Potter convention is jam-packed with brilliant fangirls, so much so that we had to split it into multiple episodes! (Not unlike Voldemort’s Horcruxes.) Victoria tells us all about her experience at the ultimate wizarding world convention – regaling us with tales of the thoughtful panels, making peace with not being the most knowledgeable fan in the room, snacking on Golden Snitchwiches and more. Our first LeakyCon special includes: Christine Chapman is the programs director of Uplift: Online Communities Against Sexual Violence. Uplift is a nonprofit dedicated to combating sexual abuse in online communities through education and advocacy. They work to ensure that these flourishing communities are safe for the millions of people who connect through them by offering toolkits for convention organizers, partnering with platforms, and creating campaigns like a Safer Community Pledge. Where to learn more about Uplift: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr: @uplifttogether https://uplifttogether.org/ Sequoia Thomas and Kim Harris are the hosts of Fanatical Fics and Where to Find Them, a Harry Potter podcast where they read the craziest, funniest, and most outlandish Fanfiction they can find! Delving through the likes of fanfiction.net and Archive of Our Own, they strive to recapture a time long past by bringing back stories written 10 or more years ago as well as recommending one of their favorite fics every episode. Where to Find Fanatical Fics: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook: @FanaticalFics https://www.fanaticalfics.com/ Proma Khosla and Olivia Dolphin have both worked for LeakyCon in the past and parlayed their experience into their careers beyond the convention. Proma is an entertainment reporter who has written about Harry Potter professionally for The Michigan Daily, Teen Vogue, Glamour, and in her current job at Mashable. She’s also a dancer and worked on Team Starkid’s A Very Potter Sequel. Olivia Dolphin has worked as a copywriter and runs a literary magazine called Wizards in Space that grew out of the LeakyCon community. Where to find Olivia: Twitter, Instagram: @LiviDol Wizards in Space: https://www.wizardsinspacemag.com/ Where to find Proma: Twitter, Instagram: @promawhatup Promakhosla.com Where to find Lion Party Films: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LionPartyFilms/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAreXLillvpnoJsJLgJLSrg

Episode 48: Sending Off Supernatural with psychologist, author, and fangirl Dr. Lynn Zubernis Oct 08, 2019

As Supernatural begins its 15th and final season, we talk to Dr. Lynn Zuburnis, a clinical psychologist and professor at West Chester University and longtime Supernatural fangirl. Lynn discusses with us how she has found balance between her academic and psychological roles with those of her fangirl and personal ones. With her collaborator Dr. Katherine Larsen, they have published four books fusing academia and fandom, Fangasm: Supernatural Fangirls, Fan Phenomena: Supernatural, Fandom at the Crossroads and Fan Culture: Theory/Practice. Her latest book delves deeper into the Supernatural fandom with Family Don’t End with Blood: Cast and Fans on How Supernatural Has Changed Lives, an anthology of essays that’s a love letter to the show, written by its cast and fans. We celebrate and examine 15 years of the Supernatural fandom, from the significance of the fans to the show’s longevity and how it may evolve when it ends. Where to find Lynn: Twitter: @FangasmSPN Facebook: @FangasmSPN Instagram: @FangasmSPN Fangasm, The Book: https://fangasmthebook.com/ Family Don’t End With Blood: http://amzn.to/2q8KKXh

Episode 47: Making a Name for Yourself in Nerdery and Becoming a Resource with The BlerdGurl Karama Horne Sep 24, 2019

Karama Horne is the visionary behind The BlerdGurl, a website that provides commentary and perspective from the often overlooked black nerd demographic. On her website, ‘blerd is a word and a movement.’ She’s a contributor at SYFYWire, where she writes the weekly Indie Comics Spotlight column and co-hosts their two of their weekly podcasts. In addition, she also hosts two of her own, The Blerdgurl Podcast, and The Radical Geeks with Angelique Roché. Karama joins us to not only share her experience as a woman of color in the geek space, but how we can cultivate safe spaces on the internet, engage in online discourse healthily, and champion our peers in fandom. She also shares how fangirls can create their own platform and grow their presence in the nerd community, plus leaves us with tons of comic and fan film recommendations! Miles from Home Fan Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OSvMmfIj_w Karama’s article 25 Reasons You’re Not Making Any Money at Comic Cons: http://theblerdgurl.com/resources/cons/why-you-dont-make-money-at-comic-cons/ Karama’s post about Riri Williams: http://theblerdgurl.com/commentary/riri-rhodey-re-skinning-marvel-misunderstanding-diversity/ Where to Find Karama: Twitter: @theblerdgurl Instagram: @theblerdgurl Facebook: @theblerdgurl TheBlerdGurl.com

Episode 46: Inclusion and Authenticity Across Media with writer Brandon Easton Sep 10, 2019

Brandon Easton is a writer, screenwriter, and educator based in Los Angeles who has written for Agent Carter’s second season, and the Thundercats and Transformers Rescue Bots animated series. He’s also an Eisner-nominated comic writer, penning Catalyst Prime: Incidentals and Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven for Lion Forge, then most recently Star Trek: Year Five and Transformers Galaxies for IDW. He discusses his journey from passion to profession throughout his career, and the progress he’s made on his quest to ultimately fill the ‘Infinity Gauntlet’ of his favorite franchises to which he’s contributed. Brandon takes us through the differences in writing for various forms of media and licensed properties from page to screen. He also stresses the importance of inclusion when discussing diversity in creating comic books or television, and how it lends an authenticity for a wider audience. Where to find Brandon: Website: https://brandonverse.com/ Twitter: @BrandonEaston Instagram: @brandoneastonwriter Writing for Rookies podcast: https://writingforrookies.podcastpeople.com/ The Two Brandons podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/10132

Episode 45: Fan Culture and Communication with Dr. CarrieLynn Reinhard Aug 27, 2019

We’re sending everyone back to school in fangirl style on this week’s episode with Dr. CarrieLynn Reinhard! Dr. Reinhard is an associate professor at Dominican University, where she also leads the Social Media Minor for the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences. Her research and work in popular culture blends communication studies, fan studies and psychology. When it comes to examining fandom academically, her book Fractured Fandoms: Contentious Communication in Fan Communities is one of the many she has published through her academic career, and she also serves as editor of the Popular Culture Studies Journal. Finally, she’s a fellow podcaster and co-hosts The Pop Culture Lens podcast. CarrieLynn explores with us the merits of examining fandom and online communication in fan cultures intellectually, opening yourself up to critiquing the media you love, and how we can communicate better as fans in the digital space! Where to Find Dr. Reinhard: Twitter: @mediaoracle playingwithresearch.com Listen to the Pop Culture Lens Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and PodBean.

Episode 44: The Ladies We Fangirled Over at GalaxyCon 2019 Aug 13, 2019

We’re bringing you all another convention special, this time from Kristen’s home turf in Raleigh, North Carolina! She contrasts the benefits of attending GalaxyCon Raleigh as opposed to larger events like Star Wars Celebration, and shares her highlights, discoveries, and takeaways from the convention. In the midst of fangirling with Victoria she takes us across the galaxy of geekdom and introduces us to five awesome ladies on this week’s episode: Ellen Walsh is the founder of Elden Fragrances, which creates ‘mythical scents for the modern nose’ and has several fandom-inspired perfumes. Ellen shares how she got into perfumery and what inspires her in designing her scents. Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram: @eldenfragrances https://eldenfragrances.com/ Debbie, also known as Iron Heart Cosplay, is cosplayer who has put her own spin on characters such as Riri Williams/Iron Heart, Supergirl, Sailor Mars, and Broly. After winning a local cosplay contest, Debbie secured a table in Cosplay Alley at this year’s GalaxyCon. Instagram: @iron_heart_cosplay1.0 Bria LaVorgna is the Managing Editor of Tosche Station.net with bylines for StarWars.com and on essays in the Marvel Comics series that highlights the ages of the Republic, Rebellion and Resistance. She also volunteers with noted Star Wars cosplay groups, 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion. Twitter & Instagram: @chaosbria http://toschestation.net/ Read Bria’s Padme Amidala Essay in Age of Republic: https://comicstore.marvel.com/Star-Wars-Age-Of-Republic-Padme-Amidala-2019-1/digital-comic/50890?r=1 The Craft Collective is a partnership between two business owners, Lauren and Ellie who fuse fandom fun and practicality. Lauren founded La Jolie Fraise, whose textiles add a fandom twist to her handmade scarves, cosplay aprons and more. Meanwhile, Ellie has Ellie Hoops, uniting her fitness expertise with her love of fandom through decorated hula-hoops to promote exercise and fitness in the fan community. Ellie: Instagram & Facebook: @elliecerceaux elliehoops.com Lauren: Instagram: @la_jolie_fraise Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaJolieFraise Have you ever been to a local convention? Tell us about your experiences!

Episode 43: Comics, Coffee and Community with The Perky Nerd owner Tiffany Melius Jul 30, 2019

We’re back from summer break and thrilled to welcome Tiffany Melius, owner of The Perky Nerd, on the podcast! Her Burbank storefront is one of the few female-owned comic book shops in the country. Since its opening in 2016, the store has established itself as a pillar of the LA geek community and was nominated for this year’s Will Eisner “Spirit of Comics” Retailer Award. Tiffany takes us through founding the store and shares her advice on starting a geeky small business! We also discuss girl power in comics from tackling gatekeeping at comic books shops to championing fangirls in her local community through book clubs and events! Where to Find Tiffany & The Perky Nerd : Instagram: @theperkynerd Twitter: @theperkynerd Facebook: @theperkynerd Online Store: https://www.theperkynerdstore.com/ Listen to this episode below or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Episode 42: Super Soldiers with author Jason Inman Jun 18, 2019

Episode 42: Super Soldiers with author Jason Inman Jason Inman makes his triumphant return to Your Biggest Fangirl this week! In case you missed our first interview with him Episode 25, Jason is a comic book creator, podcaster, and veteran who now adds author to his long list of accomplishments with the release of his first book: Super Soldiers: A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country. He takes us through his impetus for writing Super Soldiers, how he chose the 16 comic characters he examines in the book, and explores with us the military’s intricate relationship with the comic storytelling medium. Jason also reflects on his choice to infuse the book with his personal anecdotes serving in Iraq, particularly how rediscovering comics helped him during his deployment and how he now pays it forward with a comic book drive he created for those serving in the armed forces! Order Super Soldiers here: amzn.to/2uhfbu8 Where to Find Jason: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jawiin Instagram: https://instagram.com/jawiin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jawiintv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Jawiin Tune into Geek History Lesson on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play and more.

Episode 41: Drawing on Disney Magic with licensed artist Ashley Taylor Jun 04, 2019

We fangirl out hard this week during our interview with licensed Disney artist Ashley Taylor! With her art displayed at Disney Parks or emblazoned on clothes by Her Universe, Hot Topic and more, Ashley puts a creative spin and applies her own style to beloved characters. Though her own journey as an artist was unexpected (or unorthodox), Ashley seeks to be an inspiring force to other budding artists and women in business. She shows us the magic behind her art, walking us through the process of bringing some of our favorite pieces to life. Where to Find Ashley: Instagram: @ashley24taylor Twitter: @ashley24taylor Facebook: @ashley24taylor

Episode 40: Channeling the Powers of a Girl with Marvel Host, Author, and Producer Lorraine Cink May 21, 2019

May gets a lot more marvelous on this week’s episode! We welcome Lorraine Cink, a comedian, host, and author who currently serves as a Senior Creative Producer for Marvel New Media. Lorraine shares her journey from Marvel fan to employee as well as her advice on making your passion into your profession. We also get her to dish about what it’s like interviewing the MCU’s brightest stars when she covers the premieres of Marvel films, what makes a great red carpet interview, and how you can maximize your chances to encounter your favorite celeb on the barricade at the event! Our discussion wraps up with exploring Lorraine’s process and takeaways from writing her latest book, Powers of a Girl, which celebrates Marvel female characters, as well as how we as fans can keep the girl power momentum going. Where to Find Lorraine : Instagram: @lorrainecink Twitter: @lorrainecink Facebook: @LikeLorraine LorraineCink.com Watch Earth Mightiest Show: https://www.marvel.com/watch/digital-series/earth-s-mightiest-show Buy Powers of a Girl: https://books.disney.com/book/powers-of-a-girl/

Episode 39: The Science of Disney Magic and Pins with Astro-Engineer Kristen Lundebjerg May 07, 2019

We double the amount of Kristens on this episode with this week’s guest, Kristen Lundebjerg! Kristen is an astro-engineer and self-described space enthusiast who is also a huge Disney fangirl. We explore how her two worlds intersect and the ways she appreciates both STEM and magical or fictional adventures. As frequent visitor to the Disney parks, Kristen shares her top tips on navigating the parks and their animated (and sometimes intense) pin trading community. A wonderful resource of fangirl knowledge, she also walks us through starting a pin collection of your own! Where to find Kristen: Instagram: @cosmic_kristen Pin design Instagram: @cosmic_kristen_designs

Episode 38: The Ladies We Fangirled Over at Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019 Apr 23, 2019

We’re keeping our convention specials going this month with Kristen’s coverage of Star Wars Celebration Chicago! She recaps her experience tackling such a large convention from photo ops to panels to pin trading to trudging through the snow to get to the convention center! She gives Victoria her main takeaways from Celebration - including the encouragement she felt for the Star Wars fandom from being among all her fellow Star Wars fans as well as the importance of prioritizing your top events. Finally, Kristen shares her interviews with four spectacular women who span the Star Wars fandom: Dianne Vaznelis (aka Diha) is a digital artist and designer who has worked in the pop culture and gaming industries since 2012. Best known for her soft but vibrant palette, she has created licensed apparel designs for a number of popular properties, including her first love, Star Wars. She is currently an illustrator and assistant designer for indie tabletop publisher Archon Games. Follow Diane: Instagram: @diha_artwork Twitter: @diha_artwork Facebook: @diha_artwork www.diha-artwork.com Zoraida Córdova may be known best for her contribution to the anthology Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View with the short story “You Owe Me a Ride”, which gives a window into the Tonnika Sisters during A New Hope. Her next Star Wars YA novel will be a Galaxy’s Edge inspired titled A Crash of Fate, due out in August 2019. Her other novels include the Brooklyn Brujas series and The Vicious Deep trilogy. She is the co-editor of Vampires Never Get Old, a YA anthology forthcoming from Imprint/Macmillan in fall 2020. Follow Zoraida: Instagram: @zoriadasolo Twitter: @zlikeinzorro Facebook: @ZCordovaBooks zoraidacordova.com Emma Fyffe is an actress and producer who frequently shares her take on her favorite shows, appearing on Collider, Twitch and more. She’s also the Commissioner of the Teams and Intergeekdom leagues on Movie Trivia Schmoedown, which is a facet of fandom that we’ve wanted to dive into. Follow Emma: Instagram: @emmafyffe Twitter: @emmafyffe Facebook: @emma.fyffe Vanessa Marshall is a voice actress with a long list of credits to her name, but she is best known in the Star Wars universe as the voice of Rebel Twi'lek pilot Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels, though she has also provided additional voices in the video games Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Knights of Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords as well as in Rogue One. Follow Vanessa: Instagram: @vanessamarshall1138 Twitter: @vanmarshall Facebook: @VanessaMarshallFanPage http://vanessamarshall.com/

Episode 37: The Ladies We Fangirled Over at WonderCon 2019 Apr 09, 2019

In our second WonderCon feature, Victoria returns to the Anaheim Convention Center to interview four artists about their creative expressions and their experiences with fandom. Before our guests, Victoria reflects on her second WonderCon, from the challenges to the thrills -- not to mention the important tips to remember when attending a convention! This week, we interview: Penelope Gaylord is an illustrator and character designer who has worked with Penguin Random House, Acme Archives Direct, Boom Studios and IDW. She is also a founding member of Identity Comics Studios, where each artist brings their own unique art style to the studio, enabling them to fund and publish several graphic anthologies. Follow Penelope: Instagram and Facebook: @pengpengart Twitter: @peng_peng Follow Identity Comics Studios on Instagram at @identitycomicsstudios Elaine Ho is a California-based illustrator, and previously created concept art for theme parks and virtual reality experiences. Her background in psychology greatly informs her work today, to her series in on Final Fantasy Villains and Disney Women, to her own re-imagining of the Beauty and the Beast trope, Tempest and the Fire. Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: @artofelaineho Check out Elaine’s Patreon for Tempest and the Fire: https://www.patreon.com/artofelaineho Elsa Chang is an illustrator who has worked with every major animation studio and is currently a character designer at Disney TV animation. She’s also illustrated children’s books for major publishers including Random House and Simon & Schuster. During our chat, Elsa also shares her love of the Sherlock fandom! Instagram and Twitter: @elsasketch Facebook: @artofelsachang Jenny Parks is a scientific illustrator and self-described shameless nerd and cat lover. While she illustrates realistic scientific and wildlife works, she is perhaps best known in fandom circles for her reimagining of our favorite sci-fi characters as cats. Her amazing recreations began with Phantom of the Opera and has evolved to more fandoms, from Doctor Who to Marvel to Star Trek, of which she has published a licensed book with CBS. jennyparks.com Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: @jennyparksillus Stay tuned for our next episode with Kristen at Star Wars Celebration, and in the meantime, comment below with any suggestions for future convention special episodes!

Episode 36: ‘No Normal’ but Not Alone with Ms. Marvel and journalist/filmmaker Anisah Jabar Mar 19, 2019

In honor of the release of the Captain Marvel film, we’re continuing this Marvel-ous month of March with a discussion on Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel successor Kamala Khan! We interview Anisah Jabar, a journalist based in New York City and probably one of the biggest Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan fans we know. She uses her own experiences as a woman of color to change the narrative in comics and pop culture through producing the Ms. Marvel-inspired No Normal short film series. We also talk about the importance of diverse representation on screen, and what Anisah hopes for in Kamala’s future. Anisah also shares how her passion for Ms. Marvel was born out of a professional endeavor, and offers advice for tackling your first audiovisual transformative work. Where to find Anisah: Instagram: @msmarvelnyc YouTube: Anisah Jabar msmarvelnyc.com Watch Anisah’s CBS piece: https://youtu.be/O2E-62xmdPM Watch the first of her No Normal short film series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXJ87V3H7S4

Episode 35: Connecting with Captain Marvel with creator Ashley V Robinson Mar 05, 2019

We are so thrilled to welcome Ashley Victoria Robinson back to Your Biggest Fangirl this week to jumpstart Marvelous March! If you didn’t hear her on Episode 14, Ashley is an actress, writer, podcaster and authority on everything girly and geeky. We had so much fangirling with her pre-Infinity War that we knew we had to bring Ashley back for our episode anticipating Captain Marvel! We discuss our hopes and fears for the Carol’s big screen debut, explore the dangers of comparing Captain Marvel to other female-led films like Wonder Woman, as well as highlight the importance of representation not only on screen but behind the camera too. Ashley also gives us three great Captain Marvel comic recommendations to binge-read before we see the movie this weekend and also shares a preview of her latest graphic novel project: Aurora and the Eagle - another awesome female superhero story! Support Aurora and the Eagle on Kickstarter starting on March 13. Ashley’s Captain Marvel Comic Recommendations: Captain Marvel Volume 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More by Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez Civil War II by Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez The Mighty Captain Marvel by Robbie Thompson, Margaret Stohl, Brent Schoonover, and Michele Bandini Where to find Ashley: Twitter: @AshleyVRobinson Instagram: @AshleyVRobinson Tune into Geek History Lesson on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play and more.

Episode 34: Enabling Fanworks to Flourish with Organization for Transformative Works staffer Claudia Rebaza Feb 19, 2019

Just about every fan is familiar with the Organization for Transformative Works, particularly the website Archive of Our Own. On this episode, we introduce you to OTW communication staffer Claudia Rebaza as we delve into the history of OTW and the importance of having an archive like AO3 that both acts as host for fanworks but also fosters a community for creators. We talk with Claudia about the changing nature of online spaces and the way fans adapt to allow their creative pieces flourish and remain legally protected. In addition to squeeing about fanfiction, we recognize the importance of analyzing media and transformative works, and the ways OTW supports academic scholarship of fandom media. Claudia’s Fanworks Recs: Fanfic, Marvel Cinematic Universe: The Responsible Science series by lettered https://archiveofourown.org/series/21267 Podfic, Merlin: Pairing Pendragon/Merlin by lunchee https://archiveofourown.org/works/402425 Fanart, Merlin: The First Nowell the Angels Did Say by mushroomtale https://archiveofourown.org/works/2854562 Fanvid, Merlin: Commentary on Red Rain by secretlytodream https://archiveofourown.org/works/15652821/chapters/36381657 Fanfic, Angel and original Queer Eye: Queer Eye for the Spike Guy by redsrule1 https://archiveofourown.org/works/7898 Where to find the OTW: www.transformativeworks.org Facebook: @transformativeworks LiveJournal: @otw-news Tumblr: @transformativeworks Twitter: @otw-news

Episode 33: Ladies of Fandom Legacy with Legion of Leia founder Jenna Busch Feb 05, 2019

You may know Jenna Busch best as the founder of the website Legion of Leia, as an entertainment journalist, author, or as a speaker at some of the largest cons around the country. This week on Your Biggest Fangirl she sat down with us to discuss the trailblazing ladies in sci-fi and fandom. Jenna walks us through the evolution of female characters in fandom such as Leia Organa and Wonder Woman, what we’re still craving from the ladies we watch on screen and what we hope to see with female representation in the future! We take a look at value of examining female characters and fandom in addition to reconciling nostalgic but problematic women in fandom. Jenna shares all of her finest moments of fangirling, including what she learned from working with the legend Stan Lee, as well as her inspiration for founding the Legion of Leia. Where to Find Jenna: Twitter: @JennaBusch Instagram: @JennaBusch Facebook: @JennaBusch13 Where to Find Legion of Leia: Twitter: @LegionofLeia Instagram: @LegionofLeia Facebook: @LegionofLeia vitalthrills.com/legionofleia Listen to the Legion of Leia podcast: http://legionofleia.com/category/legion-of-leia-podcast/

Episode 32: Proud to be Fangirls with writer and podcaster Angie Fiedler Sutton Jan 22, 2019

Angie Fiedler Sutton walks us through her professional fangirl journey: from fangirling over Martin Freeman to crafting a master’s thesis around geeky topics, to developing her own podcast, G33K Out. Angie’s passion for geek media is fueled not only by her own interests and work in the arts, but also through her educational pursuits in journalism, with a focus on art and popular culture. We unpack and explore why she hesitated to call herself a fangirl because of the negative connotations around the word, the differences in how men and women engage with fandom, and the importance of reclaiming the term. We also talk about the shame fangirls over age forty experience being active in fandom, and the way fandom has evolved over time. Where to Find Angie: Twitter: @angiefsutton Tumblr: http://angiefsutton.tumblr.com/ Facebook: @angiefsutton Pillowfort: @angiefsutton Website: angiefsutton.com Where to Find the G33K Out Podcast: https://www.angiefsutton.com/g33k-out/

Episode 31: Making a Movie Marvel with Ant-Man & the Wasp Director Peyton Reed Jan 08, 2019

We’re kicking off 2019 with a bang this week with director, producer, and writer Peyton Reed! He joins us after the success of last year’s Ant-Man and the Wasp, which is of course the sequel to his first Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Ant-Man. A lifelong Marvel fan, Peyton discusses his process crafting movies within the MCU, bringing lesser known characters Scott and Hope to the big screen, and the pressure to follow Infinity War! He also shares how he has navigated a fandom as deep, vast, and enthusiastic as Marvel and gives us his advice on how we can turn our inspiration from these films into our profession! Where to Find Peyton: Twitter: @mrpeytonreed Instagram: @mrpeytonreed Ant-Man and the Wasp is available on DVD, Blu-Ray & Digital!

Episode 30: Fangirls' Farewell to 2018! Dec 11, 2018

We look back at 2018 in our final episode of the year! We recall our favorite fangirl moments, from our reunion at San Diego Comic Con to the new friendships forged through fandom. Victoria also shares some unexpected celebrity encounters: Brendon Urie and the late, great Stan Lee, while Kristen recaps her convention “stalk walk” behind John Barrowman and her epic selfie sesh with Catherine Tate at Raleigh SuperCon! While we remember the year, we also look to the future and the excitement 2019 brings for new movies, TV shows, video games and more. And of course, no episode is complete without a round of Would You Rather? fandom questions –we each take a stab at answering our latest WYRs! Have you followed us on social media? No better time to do it than now! Instagram: www.instagram.com/ybfgpodcast/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/ybfgpodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ybfgpodcast/ Tumblr: www.yourbiggestfangirl.tumblr.com

Episode 29: Fantastic Fan Films and Where to Find Them with Broad Strokes Productions Nov 27, 2018

Your Biggest Fangirl heads to the wizarding world this week! We nerd out with three members of the Broad Strokes Production team - director/writer Justin Zagri, writer/actor Garrett Schweighauser, and actor Kevin Allen. Broad Strokes has produced the popular Harry Potter prequel fan films, The Greater Good and Severus Snape and the Marauders. They’re currently working on the Great Wizarding War audio drama, tracking the story of Voldemort’s rise to power set after their film Severus Snape and the Marauders. The trio share the origin of their Harry Potter fandom, as well as their inspirations and process creating audiovisual transformative works with us. In addition to imparting their advice on how to make a compelling fan film of your own, we also discuss with the guys our (spoiler-free!) hopes and fears for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald! Where to Find Broad Strokes Productions: Instagram: @broadstrokespro Twitter: @broadstrokespro Facebook: @broadstrokespro Broadstrokesproductions.com Justin Zagri Instagram: @jzagri Twitter: @jzagri Garrett Schweighauser Instagram: @gschwei Twitter: @gschwei Kevin Allen Instagram: @KevinAllenGram Twitter: @KevinAllenSays Facebook: @KevinAllenFace

Episode 28: The Ladies We Fangirled Over at LA Comic Con 2018 Nov 13, 2018

We continue our convention highlights in 2018 with a Los Angeles Comic Con special! Victoria introduces us to four creators, whose work in everything from writing to cosplaying inspire us to infuse our fangirling with more creativity. In fact, LACC was also Victoria’s first time cosplaying! Before our interviews, she shares her process transforming into Thor character Amora and her finest moments of fangirling at the con as well. This episode’s lovely guests are: Genevieve Marie is a professional cosplayer, actress, and screenwriter. As manager of B-Movie Scream Queens, Genevieve also challenges the male-dominated space of horror by showcasing female filmmakers and empowering them to develop new skills. Instagram: @genevievemariecosplay Twitter: @genevievenylen Facebook: @GenevieveMarieCosplay Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenevieveMarie http://genevievemarienylen.com Barbara Keselis a writer and editor of comic books, with work published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics. Barbara, a pioneering force in strong female comic characters, takes us through her journey into her comics. Twitter: @barbarakesel Facebook: @BRKesel Megan Hutchison is a Los Angeles based illustrator and designer who began working in the film industry as a production designer for years before transitioning to illustrating full-time. A true interdisciplinary artist, Megan shares the differences of telling a story through the page versus a screen, and the ways she channels her passion of science and sci-fi into her art. Instagram: @blackem_art Twitter: @blackem_art blackem-art.com Amber Arden is a fashion stylist, costume designer, and milliner whose cosplay often mashes up multiple fandoms or styles. We jump into her interview exploring her inspiration for her brilliant Snow White/Boba Fett cosplay. Instagram: @amberarden Twitter: @amberarden Facebook: @AmberArden YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VeraArden Blog: http://amberarden.blogspot.com/

Episode 27: Safe Spaces and the Significance of Community with FanDames Initiative members Lauren “Scribe” Harris and May Hemmer Oct 30, 2018

Today we welcome two guests hailing from the non-profit organization the FanDames Initiative, Lauren Harris (aka Scribe) or May Hemmer (or the Cocoa Barbie). Lauren and May share the mission of the FanDames with us, which encompasses creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for female fans, both in online fandom and IRL meet-ups like conventions. The FanDames aim to support and provide resources for fangirls, whether it be through panel discussions about geek girl stereotypes or through an ingenious cosplay repair station for potential costume malfunctions on the convention floor. Lauren is an author of works including the Spellhounds series, and May is a burlesque performer, who brings her love of fandom into cosplay and “nerdlesque.” Over the course of our discussion this week, we received their distinct and illuminating insights and personal experiences with fandom, acceptance, and the importance of finding supportive communities as fangirls. Where to learn more about the FanDames Initiative: Facebook: @FanDames Instagram: @fandamesinitiative Where to find Lauren: Instagram: @lauren.b.harris Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Harris/e/B00E7HCKQY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5932517.Lauren_Harris www.laurenbharris.com Where to find May: Instagram:@themayhemmer Facebook: @MayHammer www.mayhemmer.com

Episode 26: Becoming a Licensed Artist and Being a #ForceAgainstCyberbullying with illustrator Erin Lefler Oct 16, 2018

We are thrilled to welcome Erin Lefler on the podcast this week! Erin is an illustrator, licensed Lucasfilm artist, and the creator and champion behind Force Against Cyberbullying, an initiative to combat online harassment and abuse in the Star Wars fandom. We discuss her process designing characters, her evolution from drawing fan art to being a licensed artist for her favorite franchise, and what led to her creating the Force Against Cyberbullying campaign. She also shares with us how fangirls can combat harassment and support each other online. Not only is Erin a force for good in fandom, we fangirl out over our faves - Disney, Loki and Rose Tico! Where to find Erin: Twitter: @Butternutgouach Tumblr: butternut-gouache.tumblr.com Instagram: @butternut_gouache LinkedIn: Erin Lefler Website: https://butternut-gouache.wixsite.com/the-art-of-erin-lef

Episode 25: Comics, Fandom Allies, and Science! with creator Jason Inman Oct 02, 2018

Joining us this week on the podcast is Jason Inman, a comic book expert with two comic books of his own under his belt. His podcast, Geek History Lesson, seeks to inform and educate fans about the origin stories of their favorite fandoms’ characters. He’s a champion of making the comics community inclusive and welcoming to fans old and new. Jason and his GHL co-host Ashley Victoria Robinson take their mission a step further with by creating new heroes for fans to look up to. Jason tells us about Science!, a new graphic novel that follows the story of Tamsin Kuhn Trakroo as she navigates the prestigious Prometheus Institute, which she works to take down from the inside to avenge her father. We learn about the creative process behind writing Science!, Jason’s recommendations for the best DC Comics to start reading, and how we can be better allies as fans! Support Science! on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jawiin/science-an-original-graphic-novel Where to Find Jason: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jawiin Instagram: https://instagram.com/jawiin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jawiintv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Jawiin Tune into Geek History Lesson on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play and more. Loved this episode? Check out our interview with Science! co-creator and Geek History Lesson co-host Ashley Victoria Robinson: www.yourbiggestfangirl.com/ep-14

Episode 24: Fandom After the Finale and Holding onto Smallville with Podcaster Zach Moore Sep 18, 2018

We get nostalgic on this week’s episode with podcaster Zach Moore, who takes his fandom to the next level by creating fun discussion and thoughtful analysis about the shows near and dear to his heart. Zach hosts two podcasts: Standard Orbit on the Trek FM network, and Always Hold On to Smallville, which dissects every episode of decade-long Superman prequel series. Tori had the tremendous pleasure of joining Zach on Always Hold On to Smallville to discuss an episode from Season 3, and he stopped by our show to discuss how a fandom evolves after their show goes off the air, his experience podcasting about his faves, and addressing scandal when it affects your perception of a beloved character. Zach also gets a chance to answer the Would You Rather question he contributed to our game! Where to Find Zach: Twitter: @mooreonzach Instagram: @zacharyrmoore Where to Find Always Hold On to Smallville: Twitter: @alwaysmallville Facebook: @alwaysmallville Listen to Tori’s guest appearance at https://alwaysmallville.podbean.com/e/episode-51-3x07-magnetic/

Episode 23: Beyond Broadway with Hamilton Education Program Director Sasha Rolon Pereira Sep 04, 2018

Sasha Rolon Pereira joins us from the Hamilton Education Program, where she is the director of the program and Associate Director of Education at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. The Hamilton Education Program (#eduham) is a partnership between the Rockefeller Foundation, Hamilton, and Gilder Lehrman, that sends thousands of students to see the hit musical on Broadway and in tour cities around the country. Sasha tells us about how the program bring students into “the room where it happened”, and the ways students engage with this important piece of popular culture to reflect and connect with American history. We also explore Hamilton’s intersection between fandom and academia and the unique qualities the show possesses that makes it culturally significant beyond Broadway and a fan-favorite! Learn more about the Hamilton Education Program at the Gilder Lerhman Institute’s website: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/content/hamilton-education-program Follow #eduham on social media for student projects and performances and videos from the cast. Where to find Gilder Lehrman on Social Media: Facebook: @gilderlehrman Twitter: @Gilder_Lehrman Instagram: @gilderlehrman Pinterest: @gilderlehrman

Episode 22: The Ladies We Fangirled Over at San Diego Comic Con 2018 Aug 21, 2018

For this week of All About Conventions August we have a super-sized convention special for you! Not only do Victoria and Kristen recap their experiences this year at San Diego Comic Con, they share their lessons learned from their trip to help you crush your next con. We also share our interviews from the convention floor with four fabulous female creators! They are: Agnes Garbowska is an illustrator known for her work illustrating titles such as the New York Times Best Sellers & Gem Award winner DC Superhero Girls for DC Comics, My Little Pony for IDW, and Grumpy Cat. She’s also drawn covers for IDW titles including, Jem and the Holograms, Transformers, and Powerpuff Girls. Check out Agnes's latest artwork in the graphic novel DC Super Hero Girls: Out of the Bottle on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MD9KQZ Twitter: @AgnesGarbowska Instagram: @AgnesGarbowska Facebook: @AgnesGarbowska.Art Tumblr: http://agnesgarbowska.tumblr.com/ https://agnesgarbowska.com/ Diana Greenhalgh is a professional illustrator and designer, primarily working in comics, trading cards, and film and television. Diana's first love is comics, where she works as a professional inker on numerous independent and mainstream comic books titles spanning over a decade. Diana also works as a prop artist and graphic designer for film and television. You can see her prop work in season 1 of DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, and she's designed and illustrated one sheets for 20th Century Fox's Deadpool and X-Men Apocalypse films. Instagram: @mechangel Twitter: @DianaGreenhalgh Facebook: @DianaGreenhalghArt Check her out at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mechart Beth Sotelo began working in the comic book industry in 2001 as a colorist for Top Cow Productions. Since then she’s worked for Aspen Comics, DC and Marvel. Her recent coloring credits include DC Comics' Suicide Squad: Most Wanted and coloring/illustration work for 20th Century Fox. She is also the writer and illustrator for her creator-owned digital graphic novel “Grump”. Instagram: @midimew Twitter: @midimew Bethsotelo.com EK Johnston is an archaeologist-turned-author who has lent her words to retellings like Exit, Pursued by a Bear and Spindle. She has contributed two works for the Star Wars canon with a young adult novel Ahsoka and “By Whatever Sun” in the From a Certain Point of View anthology. Her repertoire continues to expand, with The Afterward due to come out next year. And at SDCC, it was also announced that she would be writing Queen’s Shadow, a novel based on Padme’s transition from Queen to Senator -- a dream come true for the author! (And Victoria. Obviously.) Twitter: @ek_johnston Tumblr: http://ekjohnston.tumblr.com/ Instagram: @ek_johnston ekjohnston.ca

Episode 21: Fangirls and Geek Couture at the Her Universe Fashion Show Aug 07, 2018

We’re continuing All About Conventions August this week with our coverage of the Her Universe Fashion Show! Kristen and Victoria share their experiences at the event - getting to fangirl out together, squeeing over the surprise guests, and which were their favorite designs from the show! We also introduce you to the amazing fangirls we encountered at the Fashion Show: Carina Langley-Lacy was a finalist in this year’s fashion show. She is a costume designer and technician who has worked on costumes for the LA Opera and for television shows including the CW’s Supergirl. She has previously competed in the Her Universe Fashion Show before, and her design “Vincent and the Exploding Tardis” was inspired by the episode of Doctor Who episode "Vincent and the Doctor". Follow Carina on Instagram: @carinaterra8787 Lynne Martens, another finalist at this year’s event, is a costume maker, cosplayer, and fashion designer from LA. 2018 was her third year competing in the fashion show and her brand, Classy Looking Nerf Herder is described as geek vintage couture. Her look for the fashion show “Flight of the Phoenix” was based on Fawkes in Harry Potter. Follow Lynne on Instagram: @classylookingnerfherder Corina Marie Smith was one of the winners of the Her Universe Junior Fashion Design Competition. This was the inaugural year for the Junior Fashion Design Competition, which awarded 4 winners under 18 who designed looks inspired the Powerpuff Girls in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the show. Corina designed a Blossom-inspired look, drawing from Japanese street fashion, punk and juniors fashion. Sarah Garringer is the Global Social Media & Content Manager at Singer Sewing Company. Singer was a new partner of the Fashion Show this year, and the company sponsored an additional award to recognize a designer that showcases exceptional sewing and construction. Follow Singer on Twitter: @SingerCo and Instagram: @SingerSewingCompany For more on all the fangirl fabulousness that went at this year’s fashion show, check out Kristen’s blog post recapping her thoughts and insights about the event! We’ll be back on Tuesday 8/21 with our next episode featuring more awesome female creators that we interviewed on the convention floor at SDCC - stay tuned! Where to Find Her Universe: Heruniverse.com Twitter: @heruniverse Instagram: @heruniverse Facebook: @heruniverse Tumblr: https://heruniverseofficial.tumblr.com/

Episode 20: Stories of Strength with Best-Selling Author Renée Ahdieh Jul 24, 2018

This week, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling YA author (and fellow Tar Heel!) Renée Ahdieh joins us on the podcast! Renée recently finished a book tour for her most recent novel Smoke in the Sun, a sequel to her magical-action hit Flame in the Mist. Her debut novel, Wrath in the Dawn, was inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, which kicked off Renée’s prowess for retelling fairy and folk tales in fresh and inclusive ways. Renee’s talent for world building is born from her own love of stories and strong characters; as a fangirl herself, she endorses the idea of falling in love with possibility--no matter the story you consume. We talk about how important it is to embrace the things you love, even when it’s written off as not having critical value. Where you can find Renée: Instagram: @reneeahdieh YouTube: http://ow.ly/DCjY30l55X6 You can also follow her on Twitter (@rahdieh), Facebook (@ReneeAhdiehAuthor) and Tumblr (http://rahdieh.tumblr.com/). Find all Renée’s books and find out what’s coming next at her website, http://www.reneeahdieh.com/.

Episode 19: Becoming Jane Austen Fangirls with JASP Organizers Jennifer Abella and Inger Brodey Jul 10, 2018

This week on the podcast we’re taking you to a land of Regency balls, sweeping romances, and perfectly composed prose! We sit down with Jenny Abella and Dr. Inger Brodey who run the Jane Austen Summer Program, an annual four-day symposium focusing on the author's novels for academics and Austen fans alike at our alma mater - the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We explore why Jane’s works still resonate with readers today, dispel common misconceptions about fangirls of her novels, and discuss the delicate balance a fangirl must strike between loving an author’s work and engaging with it in an academic context. Not only do the ladies give us advice on how to make the most of your symposium experience and reveal next year’s theme for the program, we even get Jenny and Inger to answer a few painstaking Jane Austen-themed Would You Rather questions! Speaking of our Fandom Would You Rather game, this episode also features a question submitted by our friend Zach from the Always Hold onto Smallville podcast! Where to Find the Jane Austen Summer Program: Twitter: @JASPhotline Facebook: @janeaustensummer Instagram: @janeaustensummer Support the program at: https://janeaustensummer.org/donate/ Hope to attend next year? Check out their 101 guide to the Program! Where to Find Jenny: Twitter: @nextjen Instagram: @jenabella78

Episode 18: Whovian Women with Cosplay Photographer and Geek Blogger Monica Duarte Jun 26, 2018

As a fangirl, Monica Duarte wears many hats: a mother, a photographer, a cosplayer, a vlogger and correspondent for Temple of Geek. A seasoned convention goer, she shares tips on nailing a cosplay photoshoot and making fandom fun for the whole family. We discuss Doctor Who and our excitement for Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor, as well as we look at the portrayal of female characters in the show. With Doctor Who being a long-running sci-fi show, we also explore how it has evolved over decades -- and how the relationship between the Doctor and his (now her!) companions have changed. What We Discussed: The Future Has Regenerated — A History of Women in Doctor Who by Mandy Chew Where to Find Monica: Personal Instagram: @thisdorkynerdgirl Cosplay Photography Instagram: @geekandcosplayreport Professional Photography: @paparazzimon Temple of Geek Instagram: @templeofgeek Twitter: @templeofgeek Facebook: @templeofgeek TempleofGeek.com The ConMadres YouTube: The ConMadres Instagram: @theconmadres

Episode 17: Embracing and Examining Fanfiction with Best-Selling Author Seanan McGuire Jun 12, 2018

We are pumped to be joined by best-selling author Seanan McGuire on the podcast this week for a long overdue discussion on fanfiction! Seanan’s urban fantasies include October Daye, Incryptid, and the Wayward Children series, she received the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and in 2013 she became the first person ever to appear five times on the same Hugo ballot. We unpack a brilliant tweet thread Seanan wrote exploring the shame and stigma surrounding female fanfic writers opposed to men who pen transformative works, embracing the training the fanfic community can provide for female professional authors, and writing well-rounded female characters in sci-fi that challenge “The Default” hero trope. Seanan even shares with her some of her favorite fanfics to binge-read!

Episode 16: Cosplay, Community and Cavill with Super Savant Lauren Winn May 29, 2018

Lauren Winn makes her grand return to the Your Biggest Fangirl Podcast! She recounts the single greatest moment of her life: meeting her fave Henry Cavill, pinpointing the 10 Rules of Fangirling Like a Pro that helped her the most. Lauren also shares the time the photographer became the photographed when she debuted her Superboy cosplay at New York Comic Con in October. Lauren walks us through Project KR, and we discuss the origins of cosplay, the empowerment through cosplaying, the community and more. Lauren rounds out the rest of our Would You Rather questions -- send us your suggestions so we can update our game!

Episode 15: Problematic Faves with Theme Park Expert Bethany Curl May 15, 2018

We’re thrilled to welcome fangirl and Universal Studios Team Member Bethany Curl onto the podcast! She joins us to continue the discussion on problematic faves and how to address media, characters, artists and their flaws. Can you love something that has problematic elements? And if so, how does one acknowledges its issues? Bethany also shares with us her behind-the-scenes intel on what it’s like to work at a major theme park how to make the most of your visit, and avoiding park burnout when Disney and Universal are at your doorstep!

Episode 14: Marvel Comics, Heroines, and the Ladies Who Love Them with Actress, Writer, Podcaster Ashley V. Robinson May 01, 2018

We welcome actress, writer and producer Ashley Victoria Robinson, who is a fellow fangirl-podcaster! Ashley co-hosts the Geek History Lesson podcast -- a wonderful resource that delves into the origin stories of your favorite heroes, villains and everything in between! She is also co-author of the newly-released Jupiter Jet comic book, which features a spunky sixteen-year-old heroine named Jacky Johnson who discovers an experimental jetpack in her late father’s workshop, taking to the skies to keep her neighborhood safe. In honor of the release of Avengers: Infinity War, we talk with Ashley about the ladies of the Marvel Universe (don’t worry -- no spoilers here!). And as an authority on comic book heroes and more, we discuss the ways in which female fans sometimes face challenges to prove themselves as fans -- and what that means for fandom as a whole. What we discussed: 9 Ways Women Experience Sexism in Fandom by KT Hawbaker Where to find Ashley: Twitter: @AshleyVRobinson Instagram: @AshleyVRobinson Jupiter Jet is now available at Amazon and Comixology! You can also follow along on Twitter. Listen to Geek History Lesson on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play and more. Their new PinBomb line of fandom-inspired bath bombs with collectible pins is now available! Order them on Etsy.

Episode 13: The Ladies We Fangirled Over at WonderCon 2018 Apr 17, 2018

This is a jam-packed episode! Victoria interviews seven guests at WonderCon 2018 to get their perspectives on being fans and being creators for fans. Our lovely guests are: Amy Mebberson, illustrator and licensed Disney artist known for her Pocket Princesses comics -- and now working with Disney, her fangirling hasn’t gone away. Amy emphasizes the importance of posting and sharing your own artwork to gain exposure, like she did. Chrissie Zullo also gives advice to aspiring artists on how to get a break in the industry, and shares her own path to success. Chrissie was discovered through a talent search at a San Diego Comic Con, where she submitted designs to be reviewed. Aimee Steinberger started her professional career on Futurama, where she did character layout. Though she’s an illustrator and artist for by trade, she still delves into creative endeavors for her hobbies like recreating historical and fantasy costumes. She shares about how balancing the creativity between work and play. Lindsey Reimer is a gamer, artist and illustrator for mobile games. She now works with fellow artists and game developers she admires, and notes the importance of having a supportive and collaborative environment, especially in a traditionally male-dominated field like gaming. Crystal Kan is a story artist and comic book writer, with storyboard credits that include Marvel’s Spider-Man. Crystal talks about the need for diversity in storyboarding and on creative teams, which not only help develop new, exciting stories but would also inspire the next generation of creators. Melissa Pagluica is the creator of the web-comic Above the Clouds, which plays with the idea of a writer’s struggle to tell a story while a fan becomes engrossed with the work. Melissa shares about the creative process from both sides the viewpoint of both of her lead characters -- and how important it is for artists to have the support to keep the story going. Ashley Eckstein is the founder of Her Universe and voice actor best known for her role originating Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars The Clone Wars. Ashley reflects on how far fangirling has come, particularly in the way there are more strong female characters front and center, and inspiring young fangirls to be proud of the things they love. Follow the Your Biggest Fangirl Podcast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @ybfgpodcast, and on Tumblr at yourbiggestfangirl.tumblr.com. Find more shownotes and links at yourbiggestfangirl.com

Episode 12: Passion to Profession with Star Trek Fan & Screenwriter Brian Millikin Apr 03, 2018

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the writer's room of your favorite shows? This week our guest, fanboy turned sci-fi screenwriter Brian Millikin, takes us behind the scenes! He shares how he became a Star Trek fan and how his passion for the show got him his start in Hollywood working for one his heroes, Star Trek: The Next Generation showrunner Michael Piller! We discuss not only meeting but working for your heroes and whether you should “hide your crazy” in professional situations. Brian also takes us inside the writer’s room of the many sci-fi TV shows he’s written on such as Haven, Teen Wolf and Shadowhunters to name a few, and elaborates on creative process as well as the relationship between the writers and the fans. He also reveals that they’re just as big of fans as their shows and characters as we are!

Episode 11: Walking through the West Wing with Claire Handscombe Mar 20, 2018

This week, Victoria and Kristen are joined by West Wing fangirl and fellow podcaster Claire Handscombe! She’s so much of a fan that she credits the show as a major reason she moved from Europe to Washington, D.C. So how does a drama about American politics and the intricacies of the White House attract fans from across the pond? Claire shares her own story and those of other fans, which she compiled into an anthology called Walk With Us: How the West Wing Changed Our Lives. And that’s not Claire’s only book; her upcoming novel Unscripted highlights the fangirl dream of making your fave fall in love with you. She knows a thing or two about that last bit - Claire spills all the details on how she scored a lunch date with her onscreen crush Bradley Whitford! Claire is also the host of the Brit Lit Podcast, where she gives all the news in British books and publishing.

Episode 10: Superhero Therapy with Dr. Janina Scarlet Mar 06, 2018

We have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Janina Scarlet, a fellow fangirl and licensed Clinical Psychologist this week! As a scientist and writer, she has used her own struggles and training to develop Superhero Therapy, which incorporates characters from geek culture into evidence-based therapy for managing anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Dr. Scarlet gives us an overview of going through your superhero training using the method, while sharing her own origin story that seems straight out of a comic book. As we dive deeper, we look at which heroes have been inspirational to her and how she looks at a new film or show as both a psychologist and a fangirl.

Episode 09: Representation in Fandom with actress Alex Taylor Feb 20, 2018

Alex Taylor is a New York-based actor and fan of musicals, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Marvel. An old friend of Victoria’s, Alex adds some much-needed discussion of representation of race and queer identities on film on the Your Biggest Fangirl Podcast -- pointing to how the only Disney princess that would represent her was Tiana, when she was an adult, no less! We look at Black Panther and the importance of the film being an unapologetically black film, particularly an African one. Alex also discusses other fandoms including RPG video games that integrate non-heteronormative relationships. (This episode was recorded before the release of the film, so there are no spoilers of Black Panther beyond the first trailer! )

Episode 08: Geeks, Novels & Nerd Love with YA Author Sarvenaz Tash Feb 06, 2018

Fangirls everywhere can relate to that insatiable need to meet your favorite author or artist, the anxiety of not knowing if you’ll make it to the next panel, or the thrill of being among fellow fans to celebrate one fandom. Add in a little romantic tension between best friends and you’ve got Sarvenaz Tash’s The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love! On this episode, Victoria and Kristen introduce listeners to the novel and to Sarvenaz herself! Sarvenaz is a children’s and YA author whose third novel (The Geek’s Guide) was named an Amazon Best Book of the Year and a YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. We chat with Sarvenaz about her inspiration for the book, what it feels like to be fangirled AT, and her own experiences at New York Comic Con. Sarvenaz also gives us the scoop on her new short story that’s set to debut in the upcoming anthology The Radical Element: 12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutantes, and Other Dauntless Girls, coming out in March 2018!

Episode 07: Convention Cheer with Fellow Fangirl Ashley Cox Jan 23, 2018

Victoria and Kristen welcome guest Ashley Cox as the three of us are reunited in Chapel Hill! When she’s not writing or going to acting classes, Ashley is a dedicated fangirl of Arrow. Kristen and Ashley share their journey to Atlanta for the Heroes and Villains Fan Fest, regaling tales of meeting Stephen Amell and the casts of Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow for photo ops. HVFF was one of Ashley’s first conventions, and she notes which rules from the 10 Rules of Fangirling were most helpful for her. Kristen and Ashley learned firsthand the amount of money a fan can spend at a convention -- but who does it go to? We discuss a Hollywood Reporter article detailing the amount stars can make from convention appearances -- and whether or not the cost is worth it for fans.

Episode 06: Super Magical Girls with Fashion Photographer Lauren Nakao Winn Jan 09, 2018

Our guest this week is New-York based fashion photographer Lauren Winn! She’s a fellow Tar Heel like Kristen and Victoria, and their self-described fandom “baby” - a lover of both Sailor Moon and Superman! Lauren offers helpful advice on mixing fandom with your professional life (she once got assist a Sailor Moon themed shoot) and she loses her chill with Tori talking about our favorite Super men -- Tom Welling and Henry Cavill! In our discussion this week and we dive deep into the trope of the “magical girl” in anime and debate if Kara on the CW’s Supergirl can be considered a magical girl, and why we haven’t seen many magical girls in Western media.

Episode 05: Reunion in Chapel Hill! Dec 19, 2017

Usually our podcast is a bi-coastal operation, but this week Kristen and Victoria are reunited in Chapel Hill! We compare notes on the fandomesque architecture of our alma mater and take a stroll down memory lane sharing a few of our finest hours of fangirling. Kristen reminisces about her Supernatural convention experience where she and her friends became the first ever people to get a photograph of Winchester father-son duo Gil McKinney and Matt Cohen together in flower crowns, while Victoria’s story takes us across the pond: she recounts her stage door experience on London’s West End meeting late-blooming babe Neville Longbottom (or Matthew Lewis as he’s known to Muggles). They also tackle the stigma against friendships forged online in their discussion this week.

Episode 04: Voice-Over and Cosplay with Stephanie Sheh and Stephanie Csongor Dec 05, 2017

This week on the podcast we have not one lovely guest, but two -- both named Stephanie to boot! You might recognize Stephanie Sheh’s voice from animated series such as Sailor Moon, Legend of Korra, and DC Super Hero Girls. Stephanie Csongor is an actress, gamer, and proud fangirl. They discuss what it’s like being female fans in male-dominated spaces like video games and conventions, and experiencing a con from a guest on a panel to a cosplayer on the convention floor. We even get them to share a few of their finest hours of fangirling with us!

Episode 03: Professional Fangirls Entertainment Journalist Kelsie Gibson Nov 21, 2017

How can your fangirl knowledge aid your job? Kelsie Gibson is an editor for a pop culture and celebrity news website, and is herself a fangirl of the Hunger Games, Once Upon a Time, and Disney. Kelsie shares her epic journey of how she went from being an extra in the Hunger Games to interviewing her crush Josh Hutcherson and working the Mockingjay Part 2 red carpet premiere! We discuss if and where the divide should be between your professional life and your passions as a fangirl, as well as the ways in which you can provide your expert pop culture knowledge skillfully and show your appreciation for for your fave when you're on the job.

Episode 02: Fan Favorite Actor Myko Olivier Nov 07, 2017

On the podcast this week is fan-favorite actor Myko Olivier! Myko takes us behind the scenes on what it’s like to be a part of not one, but TWO shows with major fandoms - Castle and Glee - and being received in completely different ways. He recounts how he was cruelly called “The Jar Jar Binks” of Castle, opposed to being a swoon-worthy Warbler of Glee. He also shares with us what he fanboys over, and offers some great advice about what constitutes a respectful fan encounter and experiences he’s had working with actors he admires. This entire episode was glee-ful (see what we did there) - Victoria retells one of her finest hours of fangirling - being a background actor on Glee (and how you can too). Kristen leads the discussion while we take a look at a darker side of fandom - cyber harassing your fave’s real-life significant others. Where to Find Myko Twitter: @thisismyko Instagram: @thisismyko http://www.mykoolivier.com

Episode 01: Mistress of the Holy Meme: Mary Houston Nov 06, 2017

This week’s podcast we sat down with Mary Houston, a straight up tumblr kween and jet-setting fangirl. She gave us her best tips from the barricade when meeting your fave and got down and dirty with us discussing the rollercoaster ride that is having a tumblr following. A college friend of Victoria’s, she and Kristen bonded immediately over their love of Star Wars and offered great insights into our discussion confirmation bias in fandom. Finally, we even got her to confess her worst fangirl nightmare during our would you rather game!

Episode 00: Meet Your Hosts of the Your Biggest Fangirl Podcast Nov 06, 2017

Your Biggest Fangirl Podcast debuts! In this episode, we introduce you to your YBFG hosts, Victoria and Kristen. We talked about our friendship and how we became involved fandom, and what we hope to accomplish with this podcast. We also laid out our 10 Rules of Fangirling Like a Pro - some pro tips next time you’re in a situation to meet a celeb. Finally we played a deviously difficult fandom Would You Rather Game that we plan to play with all of our guests -- we thought it only fair that we take a crack at it ourselves!

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