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Pre aka WariWariWay returns after 2+ years for their 3rd episode with me. We finally get to catch up and talk about fandoms new and old. We first talk about the latest in the Avatar: The Last Airbender fandom, Avatar: Seven Havens. We explore and discuss the first several episodes (Pre had watched the first 6, I had watched the first 2 prior to recording). We talk about some of the characters, our thoughts going into the series, and speculate about what could be coming from this series (as well as touch upon the recently announced series following Avatar Kuruk). Then, we find ourselves in Marvel territory. We talk about Marvel comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Pre and I talk about Marvel burnout, the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday, and how Pre recently got into Marvel Rivals. We wrap up by talking about Cosplay. From what they've been doing the past couple of years, working with previous cosplayer/photographer CamCammeii Photography, and upcoming cosplay projects. You can find Pre at: https://www.instagram.com/wariwariway/ https://www.threads.com/@wariwariway You can listen to Pre's previous episodes at: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-209-pre-aka-cupofpre-talks-avatar-the-last-airbender-the-tales-of-video-game-series-final-fantasy-and-cosplay https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-367-pre-aka-wariwariway-returns-and-talks-tekken-final-fantasy-14-cosplay-twitch-and-k-pop You can find CamCammeii Photography at: https://www.instagram.com/camcammeiiphotography/

After 2 1/2 years, I'm pleased to have Jazz aka NerdyBlasianCosplays back on the podcast. We get to catch up before getting into all things fandom. "Would you like to rage with us?" - Jazz We start off by talking about some recent Cosplay work that Jazz has done. From her Arizona Green Tea Princess Leia look (and how that came about), to her first Mandalorian armor - her PacMandalorian, and whether she'll be doing more armor in the future. We also talk about her role in volunteering as a cosplayer. I quote "Why not do something for somebody else". Jazz also gives us a brief rundown on attending the most recent Rebel Scum Con. She talks to me about how it feels being a niche convention vs a multi-fandom convention, the vibes, and her positive experience with the con. Then I jokingly say we're getting into the Tales from the Dark Side of the Fandom, as we soap box and revisit the big three fandoms we talked about last time - Disney, Marvel and Star Wars. We hit topics including the Marvel Cinematic Universe and her feelings about Doomsday and X-Men 97. We reflect on Marvel burnout with discussion about the social media side of that burnout and the lack of supporting particular characters. Disney and Star Wars also catch some strays during our rants. We talk also talk a bit about an upcoming cosplay for Jazz, Nutcracker Barbie. And we reflect on Once Upon A Time, before circling back to cosplay for a bit more on what else Jazz may be working on next year. You can find Jazz at: https://www.instagram.com/nerdyblasiancosplays/ https://www.facebook.com/nerdyblasiancosplays/   You can listen to Jazz's original episode at: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-373-jazz-aka-nerdyblasiancosplays-talks-disney-star-wars-marvel-and-cosplay

After 5 years, I am glad to welcome back MULAN aka LilPandass_ to the podcast. I've enjoyed seeing everything that she's done since we first talked back in June of 2021. This time, we're focused on one thing. Cosplay! Though if you know anything about Cosplay, it is definitely more than just one thing! We get to catch up first, and then jump into all about cosplay. We talk about how Mulan has evolved over the past 5 years with cosplay. From characters she cosplays, her continued knowledge and growth when it comes to self shoots & photo shoots, location scouting, and partnering with great photographers. Mulan takes us behind the scenes when it comes to how everything evolves from initial idea to completed vision. We also talk about UGC work (User Generated Content). She talks about how she first got into doing it, the ups and downs of the process, and just how much work goes into the videos that you see (and a lot that you don't see). It's a wonderful conversation and I really enjoyed getting an indepth look at all that she does for the right photos & reels.  You can find MULAN at: https://www.instagram.com/lilpandass_/ https://www.facebook.com/lilpandass https://twitter.com/lilpandass_ https://www.tiktok.com/@lilpandass_ https://ko-fi.com/lilpandass_ You can listen to her first episode here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-225-mulan-aka-iitsnotmulan-talks-about-cosplay-disney-genshin-impact-and-k-pop

How has it been 6 years since Z aka SailorMoonTurtle has been on the podcast? Z returns for their 6th episode as we get to catch up and reflect on what's been going on and what they're currently working on. After catching up at the start of the episode, we jump right into talking about Percy Jackson and the Riordanverse. We talk about the books that have released over the past 6 years, the Disney Plus live action show, and we return to The Kane Chronicles and get an update in on a potential media project for that series. Then we talk about a very long running manga and anime, Detective Conan. Z talks about how they got into the series, what keeps them coming back for more, and gives a brief overview of this media. Sailor Moon is next up, as it is one of Z's cornerstone fandoms. We talk again about the franchise over the past 6 years and focus on the touring show, along with the current Tokyo show. I ask Z their thoughts on if a Sailor Moon reboot (in either live action or anime) should happen. Then we round things out with Cosplay. Z talks about what they've worked on over the past 6 years, if they can make fuku's in their sleep, some of their bigger projects, and what they're working on for the future. You can find Z at: https://www.instagram.com/sailormoonturtle/ https://www.tiktok.com/@sailormoonturtle You can listen to Z's old episodes here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/the-riordanverse-special https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-155-zharia-aka-sailormoonturtle https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/fandom-friday-live-show-with-zharia-aka-sailormoonturtle-talking-black-lives-matter-and-fandom-on-getvokl-july-10-2020 https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/fandom-friday-live-show-with-zharia-aka-sailormoonturtle-talking-studio-ghibli-and-power-rangers-on-getvokl-august-7-2020 https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/fandom-friday-live-show-with-z-aka-sailormoonturtle-talking-the-kane-chronicles-on-getvokl-september-18-2020

Writer, Producer, Director, and Actor Stefanie Hubbard returns to the podcast after 3 1/2 years as we talk about all the exciting things happening with her work with Pure Magic Pictures. To start off, those attending New York Comic Con on Friday, October 9th 2026 - Pure Magic Pictures movie Ghost Punchers will be headlining the first ever Indie Film Showcase. 7:15pm, North Room 406. Go see the movie, there'll be a Q&A with cast and crew! Stefanie and I get to talk about how this opportunity came about, specifically with Ghost Punchers, and what you can expect from this movie. Stefanie also talks about her latest film, A Fairy Fail. She talks about how the initial concept came about and getting it from her notebook to the final version you see on screen, and the talented cast and crew of the movie. There are no spoilers for either movie in the episode. We also talk about the Pure Magic Pictures cinematic universe, as all their movies take place in the same universe and you'll see characters or references to previous movies pop up in their later movies. We talk about the wide range of movies that Stefanie and her partner Kalani have created, their talents in front of and behind the camera, and we get to know what their 10th movie will be. Go see the Pure Magic Pictures crew on Friday if you're at New York Comic Con! You can find Pure Magic Pictures at: https://www.puremagicpictures.com/ https://www.instagram.com/puremagicpictures https://www.threads.com/@puremagicpictures https://www.tiktok.com/@puremagicpictures https://discord.com/invite/eDT4xysA33 You can find Stefanie at: https://www.instagram.com/stefaniehubbard/

I've been following Serenity aka Seriniteacup for over two years and was drawn to their cosplay work and creative style. After getting to know them, I was happy when they said yes to coming on the podcast. We have a great conversation about things they love. We kick things off by talking about their love of Superheroes and how they got into the Marvel and DC superheroes. We focus particularly on Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), and Moon Knight on the Marvel side of things, and we talk about Jason Todd (The Red Hood) and Jaime Reyes (Blue Beetle) on the DC side of things. We talk about what these characters mean to them, why they're drawn to them, and much more. From there, we jump over to books! Serenity primarily reads Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. We spend some time talking about books like The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma, The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, and books that influenced them in the beginning of their reading journey. We also get some book recommendations including Dune, and The Diary of Anne Frank (this is a story you'll need to listen to!) Then Serenity talks to me about Project Gateway to Reading. PGtR is a project that Serenity has started to get comics and graphic novels into Title 1 schools in Central Florida. Serenity talks about the influences behind the idea and what they've been able to do so far this year, and what drives them for this project. We also talk about Tony Weaver Jr's Nerds for Literacy program. Lastly, we wrap up by talking about Cosplay. Serenity talks about how they initially got interested in Cosplay in High School and their early experiences with it and with conventions. We talk about characters that they've represented and how they decide which characters to cosplay, along with how they decide the style and look of the characters. We talk about the community that Serenity surrounds themself with and some potential future projects (along with con safety tips). You can find Serenity at: https://www.instagram.com/seriniteacup/ https://beacons.ai/seriniteacup https://www.twitch.tv/seriniteacup/ You can support Project Gateway to Reading at: https://ko-fi.com/seriniteacup You can find Tony Weaver Jr's Nerds for Literacy campaign at: https://www.nerdsforliteracy.com/

A little over 2 years have passed, and author Carolina Cardona returns to the podcast. It doesn't feel that long, as its been a pleasure seeing what Carolina had been doing since we last talked. We get to catch up and talk about what the past 2 years have looked like for Carolina. From her novel, Andujar: The Robot Gentleman of San Juan being translated into Spanish, as well as being taught as part of the curriculum in a course at the University of Puerto Rico. Imagine my surprise when the person who loves robots drops a bombshell that she was working on a novel set in the 14th century involving plague doctors and a 9 year old nun. Carolina and I talk about "The Plague Doctor & The Littlest Sister", which was released online and available for free via HoneyFeed (link below!). We talk about the novel that she calls a cozy fantasy during the time of the Black Death, and what you can find with 3 plague doctors, the 9 year old nun, a disgraced Templar Knight, and the mysteries happening around them. We then wrap up by talking about what she's working on for the future, what you can expect, and so much more! You can read The Plague Doctor & The Littlest Sister here: https://www.honeyfeed.fm/novels/33517 You can find Andújar: The Robot Gentleman of San Juan at Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, Barnes and Noble, and Ingram Spark. https://amzn.to/4aTlhUq You can find Carolina at: https://www.carolinacardona.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thetropicaleccentric/ https://www.threads.net/@thetropicaleccentric You can listen to Carolina's first episode here:  https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-364-carolina-cardona-aka-thetropicaleccentric-talks-anime-japan-and-her-work-as-an-author

Artist and Podcaster Phil Rood returns for his 3rd episode as we talk about Vince Gilligan's latest TV series, Pluribus. The show that we had no idea what it really was about until we watched the show. Spoilers abound, so if you haven't watched the series, you may want to skip this episode. Both Phil and I enjoy Gilligan's previous shows, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. We also championed the wonderful Rhea Seehorn from Better Call Saul and were psyched to see her cast in this latest series. Phil and I talk about the whole series, from the story, to the respective main and supporting characters (and cast). Phil gets deep with the show and hits some discussion topics that I didn't even think about. It'll make you think and go "hmmmmm" We also discuss what we'd like to see (or not see) in the second season, which most likely won't release until late 2027 or 2028. Listen and let us know your thoughts on the series! You can listen to Phil's previous episodes here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-325-better-call-saul-breaking-bad-with-phil-rood https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-214-phil-rood-talks-breaking-bad-better-call-saul-game-of-thrones-and-usagi-yojimbo You can find Phil at: https://www.instagram.com/philrood75/ https://philroodart.com/ https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/road-runners/list?title_no=1113928&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAaduU4yN_dfAlAphqvA9XH6K4LOS0oX8fksMaCB9IZPuamQcLp0mxhAUq698Qw_aem_0GSlvoO8SbZAr-gXxnlXdA You can find The Picture Show with Austin and Phil Rood at: https://anchor.fm/phillip-rood

After stumbling across Jo aka MsArtsyAce on Threads back in December of 2025 and falling in love with her cosplay work, she joins me as a guest. This episode was recorded during the FIFA World Cup, and there are references to the game happening at the time (Mexico vs Ecuador) throughout the episode. With that in mind, we kicked things off by talking about the FIFA World Cup, and Football in general. We both talked about tuning in to the various matches throughout the month at the time, and what draws us in. Jo and I talk about what teams we were rooting for, some of the history of the world cup and changes to the game this year. Jo also talks about the disparities between teams from different nations, and we have a conversation about racism and affluence in the FIFA World Cup, and in the sport in general. Jo also talks about her attention to the sport after the world cup is over, which leagues she may or may not watch, and more. We then go from Mexico to Westeros, as we talk about House of the Dragon. Jo talks about how she got into the series, her experience with watching Game of Thrones, and characters that she loves from the series. We also talk about some of the casting of the series (Hello Steve Toussaint, aka Lord Corlys Velaryon, and Clinton Liberty aka Addam of Hull), stories we'd love to see explored in Game of Thrones series (I seriously learned about things I didn't know thanks to Jo, and did lots of Wiki-diving after the episode). Recorded during the early part of this season, we do speculate about what was to come. Tell us how we did! Jo and I then wrap up by talking about Cosplay. We talk about how she got into cosplay, the characters she's cosplayed, competing and winning a Judges Award at C2E2, and what she's working on in the future. You can find Jo at: https://www.instagram.com/msartsyace/ https://linktr.ee/msartsyace https://www.threads.com/@msartsyace

Joshua aka HylianDescent of Hyrule Gaming Group returns for his 6th episode as guest host for our 10 Year Anniversary Special. I join him as the guest, as we get into the 10 years of Tales from the Fandom. We talk about the eras of the podcast, from its early episodes to its COVID years, along with some memorable guests. We both talk about how much work content creation is, and the behind the scenes of the podcast (and my continued dislike of editing). One of the big things is a discussion about my personal cornerstones/pillars of fandom that I'll always come back to - even if I'm not in them as much as other creators (hello Lord of the Rings creators, you all rock!) We also talk about some fandoms that surprised me, and he asks me a hard hitting question to round things out. On the tail end, I resume host mode and ask Hylian about two of his most recently played games (at the time of recording), Solarpunk, and Pokemon Pokopia. I also find out some future games that he's interested in playing off stream. You can find Joshua at: https://www.twitch.tv/hyliandescent https://www.instagram.com/hyliandescent/ https://www.instagram.com/hyrulegg/ https://t.co/4kqVCNPl1r?amp=1 You can listen to his first five episodes here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-388-joshua-aka-hyliandescent-of-hyrule-gaming-group-returns-as-we-talk-video-games-his-twitch-growth-and-balancing-hylian-and-joshua https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-337-joshua-aka-hyliandescent-of-hyrule-gaming-group-returns-as-we-talk-twitch-video-games-and-self-care https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-268-joshua-aka-hylian-descent-of-hyrule-gaming-group-returns-to-talk-twitch-community-evolution-and-animal-crossing https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-197-joshua-aka-hylian-descent-of-hyrule-gaming-group-returns-to-talk-twitch-animal-crossing-and-community-building https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-156-joshua-aka-hylian-descent-of-hyrule-gaming-group

Reina Valentine returns to the podcast for her 6th episode as we get to catch up and talk fandom. In the title, you'd normally see the fandoms we'd be talking about. Funny (or unfunny) thing is, Reina has said that she's not currently a part of any fandom - and that is what we are discussing on the episode. We talk about how Reina pulling back from fandoms happened, with shows like Game of Thrones, The Acolyte, and Shadow and Bone, and the reasoning for each is different - but heavy is the heart that throws down for fandoms like Reina did. So she made that decision to step back from that fandom spaces. You'll get to hear about the what's and the why's, and how things are going now. Reina also updates us about her cosplay, now that she's regained control of her Instagram. We talk about several cosplays that have yet to be shot and posted, like one of Rose's Titanic outfits, and the work that went into creating it. We discuss some of the other cosplays she's done, along with some potential future cosplays. You can find Reina at: https://www.instagram.com/reinavalentinecosplay/ You can listen to Reina's previous episodes here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-166-reina-valentine-cosplay https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/fandom-friday-live-show-with-reina-valentine-cosplay-talking-game-of-thrones-on-getvokl-july-17-2020 https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/fandom-friday-live-show-with-reina-valentine-cosplay-talking-dc-fandome-and-dragoncon-on-getvokl-august-28-2020 https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/shadow-and-bone-season-1-review-part-1-with-reina-valentine https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/shadow-and-bone-season-1-review-part-2-with-reina-valentine

Selena aka itsselenachea on socials returns to the podcast after 4 years as we get to catch up and talk about old and new fandoms! We start things off by talking about the Spider-Man fandom. This episode releases one week before Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and we discuss potential things that may or may not happen in the movie. We also talk about Tom Holland and how many movies he may still do as the beloved Peter Parker. We also talk about the animated side of things with talk about Spider-Man: Beyond the Spiderverse, releasing (potentially) in June 2027. Selena and I also discuss Cindy Moon, aka Silk, and how we hope that we see her in future media. From there, we promenade, stick out our pinky fingers, and talk about Bridgerton. Selena talks about when she got into Bridgerton and what attracted her to the Netflix series. We spend some time talking about the latest season, featuring Sophie and Benedict, and how much representation means in media. We then talk all about Selena! From her name change on social media over the past 4 years, what she's been doing in front of and behind the camera, social media, and Cospaly. It's wonderful to hear what Selena has done and is doing, and I'm glad she said yes to coming back. You can find Selena at: https://www.instagram.com/itsselenachea/ https://linktr.ee/itsselenachea https://www.tiktok.com/@itsselenachea https://www.threads.com/@itsselenachea You can listen to Selena's original episode here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-261-cindy-aka-cindymooooooon-talks-marvel-the-mcu-spider-man-the-spider-verse-over-the-garden-wall-and-cosplay

I had stumbled across Becca's Threads account, WomenPlayDND, awhile back. I loved what she was doing with getting new players into Dungeons and Dragons and breaking people out of the rule book and getting them to the table. It was a pleasure having her join me on the podcast to talk about this, and more!   We start things off by talking about the Romantasy book genre. We talk about some of her early reads, and what draws her to the Romantasy genre. Becca also talks about how characters are portrayed, storylines, and more. I recommended previous guest, Gabriella Buba's "Saints of Storm and Sorrow", and we even had a non-Romantasy book mentioned that I grew up with (Redwall, by Brian Jacques)   Then we get into, you guessed it, Dungeons and Dragons. Becca talks about her early experiences getting into D&D, along with what kept her from the table and enjoying the game. She talks about how she found inspiration online, to then finding groups that worked for her and her play style, along with characters that she plays. We also talk about some of the past issues with D&D, the barriers and gatekeeping of getting into the game, and how she's worked on a system to teach others D&D and helping to make it more accessible, founding Women Play DND.   You can find Becca at:   https://www.womenplaydnd.co/   https://www.instagram.com/womenplaydnd/   https://www.threads.com/@womenplaydnd

Dr. Anna Eskamani, Florida native, and current Florida House of Representatives member for District 42 (in Orange County, as of release in July of 2026 - her term expires in November 2026), and currently running for Mayor of Orlando (election in 2027) joins me to talk about one of her favorite fandoms. We split the episode in two. We focus first on Star Wars. Dr. Eskamani talks about how she got interested in the franchise. From the movies to TV shows, books, video games, and more. We talk about how she watched her older brother play Star Wars video games, and how she's love to revisit the Knights of the Old Republic games if she had time. We talk about the themes of Andor, meeting Diego Luna at MegaCon in Orlando, and reflect on the messages that Star Wars has. Plus we even talk about her current (and future) Star Wars tattoo's! The theme of Star Wars leads us into talking about politics, and Dr. Eskamani's time in Florida politics. We talk about how she first got into advocacy and activism. From her work with Planned Parenthood after graduating from the University of Central Florida, to then being elected to the Florida House of Representatives and her work in that chamber. We talk about supporting local businesses, and why she's decided to run for Mayor of Orlando after working 8 years in the House (with term limits). Throughout this episode, you'll find themes of family, passion, and of hope. You can find Dr. Eskamani at: https://www.instagram.com/annafororlando/ https://www.instagram.com/annaforflorida/ https://www.annafororlando.com/ https://bit.ly/m/annaforflorida

Hazel aka HazeltheWriter on social media returns to the podcast after 5 years as we get to catch up and talk about some new fandoms! After recording 5 years ago, Hazel moved to England for some time, and has now moved back stateside. While over in England, she got interested in Live Action Roleplaying. If you're thinking of boffer style games, then you're about to learn what kind of games Hazel found herself in. First swept up into Lord of the Rings / Hobbit style games, Hazel branched off into Game of Thrones themed games. We talked about her weekend adventures, overnighting at these events, and how with the Game of Thrones stories, they were set with alternate histories so events could be changed. While getting into these Game of Thrones LARP's, it was only fitting for Hazel to get into the series to learn more about these characters. We talked about her experience with Game of Thrones all these years later, favorite house, favorite characters, and a lot more. Then we wrapped up by revisiting Cosplay. Hazel talks about her time cosplaying in England, doing some larger group projects, and what she's working on now and what you can expect to see from her in the future. You can find Hazel at: https://www.instagram.com/hazelthewriter/ https://hazelthewriter.com/ https://www.facebook.com/HazelTheWriterFB You can listen to Hazel's original episode here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-218-hazel-the-writer-talks-marvel-cinematic-universe-avatar-the-last-airbender-pixars-cars-and-cosplay