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Jazmin aka ThatOneNerdyFanGirll returns after 2 years as we get closer to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the podcast. I always get excited when people say yes and come for the 1st episode. It's always super special when people come back for return episodes. Jazmin and I get to catch up to what's been going on, and talk about one of her latest fandoms, One Piece. She talks about how she got influenced into watching the anime, where she is currently, and we talk about the live action series as well (this was recorded prior to the 2nd season releasing). We talk about favorite characters, and who she's looking forward to seeing. Then we revisit Star Wars. We talk about what we enjoyed the past two years, the state of Star Wars, and the future series that are on the horizon, as well as the future in the movie space. (This episode was recorded prior to the Maul release) Jazmin and I then talk about her Cosplay work. We talk about some of the characters she's cosplayed recently, and cosplay projects she's working on for the future. Plus a no sew ballgown, and how she goes about thrifting for her cosplay work. You can listen to Jazmin's 1st episode here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-358-jazmin-aka-thatonenerdyfangirll-talks-star-wars-the-lord-of-the-rings-and-cosplay You can find Jazmin at: https://www.instagram.com/thatonenerdyfangirll/ https://www.threads.net/@thatonenerdyfangirll https://beacons.ai/thatonenerdyfangirl

It's only been 2 years since her last episode, but Mayanna Berrin returns for her 4th episode as we once again get to catch up and talk about her latest works! We cover the biggest thing that's happened since our last episode in 2024, and that is the critically acclaimed video game, Dispatch. Mayanna was a writer for the game, as well as the voice actor for the character of Coupe. We talk about how she got started with AdHoc Studios and found her way into both the writing and voice acting side of things. Mayanna and I talk about the game, some of the development, her role as a writer, finding her voice for Coupe, and we discuss a few of the choices people can make in the game (and yes, there are spoilers). Mayanna and I then talk about her Kingdom Hearts podcast that she co-hosts, Simple and Clean. We talk about how it came to existence, the planning that goes into the podcast, and we touch on what could come first - Kingdom Hearts 4 or Grand Theft Auto 6. We then talk about her work as Creative Producer for StoryQuest, an actual play platform for tabletop roleplaying games. We discuss what she does, and her continued work in the TTRPG space. You can find Mayanna at: https://www.instagram.com/mayannaberrin/ https://www.threads.com/@mayannaberrin https://bsky.app/profile/mayannaberrin.bsky.social You can find Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast at: https://pod.link/1826633591 https://www.instagram.com/simpleandcleanpod/ You can find StoryQuest at: https://linktr.ee/StoryQuestShowOfficial https://www.instagram.com/storyquestshow/ You can listen to Mayanna's first three episodes at: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-374-mayanna-berrin-returns-and-talks-improv-writing-for-movies-television-tabletop-roleplaying-and-video-games  https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-171-mayanna-berrin-returns http://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-47-mayanna-berrin

Lio aka Lionbcos joins me to talk all about Cosplay, the characters they do, and so much more. I had come across Lio's Instagram several times thanks to their collaborations with others, and people sharing their work to their stories. I really enjoyed what Lio did, and here we are, getting to talk about it! We're talking all about the Cosplay and characters that Lio does. However, we start off at a young age as Lio talks about growing up with parents who are nerds, and how their influences rubbed off on them. Lio talks about some of their favorite characters, and we do spend a bit of time with Laura Kinney aka Wolverine, fka X-23. We talk about the characters that Lio cosplays as, like Claudia from Interview with the Vampire, Invisigal from Dispatch, and more. While they trend towards emo characters, a surprising princess made it into Lio's rotation - and we talk about how and why! We talk about how they choose the characters they cosplay, the group collaborations they've done, and what Lio is planning to do in the future. You can find Lio at: https://www.instagram.com/lionbcos/ https://www.tiktok.com/@lionbcos

I kept seeing a number of cosplays shared by people that featured Moe. That lead to following Moe, and then having Moe on the podcast. You might know on Instagram as DreadheadCos. For this episode, we're sticking to talking about Cosplay, so if that's your thing, then sit back and enjoy. Moe and I start with talking about how they got interested in Cosplay. From there, we talk about some of the first characters they've cosplayed, and how sticking to canon doesn't have to be standard and how to put your own flare and personality into cosplays. As we talk about the characters they've done, we do venture into the fandom world to discuss, particularly with Red Hood. We also talk about Moe's work with prop making and how they approach the different pieces, along with how they work deciding which cosplay or prop to work on. One of my favorite quotes of the episode is "When in dobt, add a corset and belts" We wrap up by talking about what Moe is working on this year, their dream cosplay, and more. You can find Moe at: https://www.instagram.com/dreadheadcos/ https://bsky.app/profile/dreadheadcos.bsky.social

Saint Valkyrie joins me from Puerto Rico as we dive into a number of different fandoms! I had stumbled across her account on Instagram and really enjoyed her work, and I'm glad you all get to listen! We start things off by talking about Video Games. Broad topic, as we start with how she got into gaming, her first console and games, and more. Then we have a focused disucssion on Cyberpunk 2077. We talk about what that game means to her, why she enjoys the game, and how it informs and educates in its own way. Her discussion changed the way I looked and approached the game. It was a great discussion. We also talked about a game she recommends, Sun Haven, and why you should check it out (link below!) Then we jump over to more gaming, but this time, tabletop roleplaying games! We talk about games like Dungeons and Dragons, and Pathfinder. We talk about the kinds of characters and stories she plays, the amount of games she's in, and how she got into TTRPG's in the first place. Next, we're flipping the coin of comic giants, with DC and Marvel. We get to talk about how she got into these two giant fandoms, where she falls on the spectrum of medium - comics? TV shows? Movies? Plus, we're talking about favorite characters, and favorite properties. Then we're wrapping up with a conversation about Cosplay. She talks about how she got started, some of the characters she's done and skills she's learned, along with characters she's currently working on and future plans. You can find Saint Valkyrie at: https://www.instagram.com/saint.valkyrie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@saint.valkyrie You can find Sun Haven on Steam at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1432860/Sun_Haven/

After following Danny aka DannyVanWebster for quite some time, and trying to coordinate calendar, I'm finally excited to have his episode release for everyone to listen to! We kick things off by talking about one of his favorite fandoms, Resident Evil. Danny talks about how he got into the franchise, his favorite games, the remakes that released over the past few years, and who his favorite character is. We speculate about the newest entry into the franchise, as this was recorded before the latest Resident Evil released. Danny and I then switch gears, as we talk about one of the most talked about games from last year, Dispatch. Danny talks about how he stumbled across this game, goes over the premise of the game, and we talk about his favorites. We do delve into a bit of spoiler territory for the ending of the game.  We then go over to another talked about fandom from last year- K-Pop Demon Hunters. Danny talks about how got into the movie, what continues to draw him to it, his favorite characters, and we discuss the rumored (at the time) potential sequel. Lastly, we wrap up by talking about Cosplay. Danny talks about how he got into Cosplay, doing volunteer work, some of the cosplays he's done and what character's he is drawn to. You can find Danny at: https://www.instagram.com/dannyvanwebster/ https://www.tiktok.com/@dannyvanwebster

This week, I have the pleasure of having Vivien of FreshFrippery join me on the podcast! I had been following Vivien's Instagram for quite some time and had been astounded by the work she creates.  We start things off by talking about The Lord of the Rings fandom. Vivien and I talk about how she first got into the fandom. We talk about the books and movies, the characters, and what drew her to his particular fandom. Plus, we talk about the costuming. That leads into the perfect segue as we get to explore the ins and outs of costuming. Vivien talks about how she first got into costuming thanks to a chance encounter on her college campus with someone from the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA). From there, Vivien talks about how she first started crafting and creating costume pieces. We talk about sewing these historical costumes and cosplay, and what skills she's learned along the way. Vivien talks about how she decides on the costume and look she creates. Plus, we talk about the cool costuming and ball events that have been in the spaces for the past several years. She talks about a few of the different events she's attended, and what draws her to specific events. You can find Vivien at: https://www.instagram.com/freshfrippery/ https://www.threads.com/@freshfrippery https://freshfrippery.com/landing_page/ https://www.tiktok.com/@freshfrippery https://www.facebook.com/freshfrippery/    

We've got a hero on the podcast, as Mehr aka SuperMehr2.0 on Instagram joins me. We're talking about two of her favorite things - Superheroes, and Cosplay! With the episode divided in half, the first half is all about superheroes. Mehr talks about getting into superheroes thanks to her brothers, and being sat for several of the animated shows. Iconic shows such as Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Teen Titans, just to name a few. We talk about these shows, then get into some of the different comics. One such comic, and a primary focus, is Ms. Marvel - aka Kamala Khan. We talk about what the character means to Mehr, as well as discuss the comic version to the MCU version. Another surprise character that Mehr talks about is Damien Wayne. I won't say more, so you can listen and find out. Then we turn to Cosplay. Mehr talks about first getting interested in cosplay and talks about the characters that she represents. We talk about her cosplaying during COVID and how she pivoted to online content. We circle back to the love of Ms. Marvel and representing her in various looks and cosplays, and attending the premieres of Ms. Marvel, as well as The Marvels. Mehr talks about some of her upcoming ideas and what she has planned. You can find Mehr at:  https://www.instagram.com/supermehr2.0/ DC Comics Webtoon can be found at: https://www.dc.com/webtoon  

After stumbling across her Kitty Pryde cosplay and then following her work with her cosplay and writings, I knew it'd be a fun time to talk with Jenna Costa Deedy.  We kick things off by talking about Marvel. We talk about the comics, the movies, and the characters she enjoys. We focus some of the world of the X-Men. We talk about the upcoming inclusion of the X-Men into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and what characters she'd love to see make their MCU appearance. Jenna and I then talk about her love of Star Wars. She talks about which characters she loves, why she continues to love the Galaxy Far, Far Away, and we talk about the wide range of Star Wars media. Then, a first for the podcast, Jenna talks about Marine Animals. We talk about why she loves marine animal science and how she got interested in that field. Jenna talks about her time volunteering and working with animals all over at different centers, and what draws her to this work. Lastly, we talk about Cosplay and her writings. On the cosplay side of things, Jenna talks about how she first got into cosplay and why she got interested in it. We talk about some of the characters she's represented and why those in particular, as well as some of the character she hopes to do in the future. Jenna also talks about the writings that she does - between marine animals as well as pop culture. We cover a few different pieces she's written as well. You can find Jenna at: https://www.instagram.com/jennacostadeedy/ https://www.threads.com/@jennacostadeedy https://vocal.media/authors/jenna-deedy https://linktr.ee/jennacostadeedy Use code JENNA20 for 20% off at https://www.davidsonstea.com/ Use code JENNAD679 to get 10% off at https://superxapparel.com/

I stumbled across Gabriella Buba's work on Instagram through a previous guest. This guest was cosplaying as the main character from Saints of Storm and Sorrow, and then hyped up the book. She influenced me, I read the book, and knew I'd love to talk to Gabriella about her work. We start things off by discussing her early fandom influences - Supernatural and Sherlock. We talk about both shows and how these shows were gateways into her early writing, including fan fiction. From there, we talk about her progression into a writer. We talk about the history of Saints of Storm and Sorrow from early iterations to what you can now hold (or listen) to. Gabriella talks about how just one change can be the change that makes the magic happen and make your work become what it was meant to be. We specifically focus on the first book, Saints of Storm and Sorrow, since that's the book I had read. We talk about the characters, the plot, and the setting. Gabriella talks about how real world influences of location and mythology of the Philippines, as well as the role of the Catholic Church, and colonization, all play a role in her book. Gabriella talks about how the book was received here in the US, as well as having made a trip to the Philippines to promote the book last year. Gabriella touches on the audio book version, which has Dante Basco voicing one of the main characters! We also talk about the follow up, Daughters of Flood and Fury, and what is coming next for her. You can find Gabriella at: https://gabriellabuba.com/ https://www.instagram.com/gabriellabuba/ https://x.com/GabriellaBuba https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriella.buba.books https://www.threads.com/@gabriellabuba https://www.tumblr.com/inkcurlsandknives https://bsky.app/profile/gabriellabuba.bsky.social https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555269646766 You can buy Saints of Storm and Sorrow at: https://amzn.to/4cuIksa

Continuing to bring new guests to the podcast, Rizuki and I connect after following each other for quite some time on social media. I'm a fan of the work she does in the realm of Cosplay, and she is one of the co-hosts of Eternal Mooncast. We start off our conversation with none other than the one named Sailor Moon. From how Rizuki used to watch it in the mornings while getting ready for school, to the various iterations of the show that she's watched (along with the dialogue/story choices that had been made!). We talk about her favorites series, her favorite Sailor Scout, and the longevity of the franchise in the world of anime and Cosplay. Rizuki and I then switch gears to talking about video games. We cover a lot of ground with video games. From talking about her love of the Pokemon franchise, to JRPG's like Skies of Arcadia, and her deep obsession with Sonic the Hedgehog. Rizuki is down for Sonic in all versions and all generations of video game console. We also talk about how games hook her, how she can get fixated on games, and what games she's looking forward to in 2026. Then, we get to Cosplay. Rizuki talks about how she first got interested in Cosplay. We talk about the Play in Cosplay, and how having fun is important to remember. She talks about some of her favorite cosplays she's done, her goal to do all the Sailor fuku's, and what she's working on for this year with some larger group collaborations. We also talk about Eternal Mooncast, the Sailor Moon live stream / podcast that you can catch, where she and her other co-hosts discuss all the Sailor Moon you could want, and have guests on as well! You can find Rizuki at: https://www.instagram.com/rizuki https://www.threads.com/@rizuki https://www.twitch.tv/rizukiii https://www.facebook.com/rizukicosplay https://www.rizuki.net/ You can find Eternal Mooncast at: https://www.instagram.com/eternalmooncast/ https://www.twitch.tv/eternalmooncast https://www.youtube.com/@EternalMooncast

New York Times best-selling author Don Martin joins me on the podcast for a wonderful episode full of laughs, learning, and beautiful words. We kick things off by talking about his podcast, Head on Fire. Don talks about how and why he started it, and what you can expect to find by listening or watching his episodes. He interviews experts in overlooked fields, searching for answers to life's biggest and smallest questions. From there, we talk about some of his early fandom influences. From the X-Men, to a focus on the Animorphs series by Katherine Applegate. We discuss how his time spent with family in West Virginia and the history and stories that come out of Appalachia formed the foundations for his future work. Don then talks about how he started writing poetry when he was 10-12.  Under the guidance of his uncle as his poetry & writing mentor, Don continued to develop and hone his craft. If you haven't found a poet you like, Don says you just haven't found the right one and recommends a number of poets and poetry to read. Link are at the end of the show notes. Then we talk about Don's novel, Verity Vox and The Curse of Foxfire. As mentioned previously, Don talks about how the idea for the novel started with a real town and story in West Virginia. From there, Verity Vox can be described as Kiki's Delivery Service meets Old Gods of Appalachia. We talk spoiler free about the book, and Don talks about how he infused the book's town and characters with his personal history with West Virginia and the family that resides there. We also talk about what's coming next for his work, and some projects that we hinted at are out now, including Hexes and Heroes. You can find Don at:  https://bydonmartin.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bydonmartin/ https://www.threads.com/@bydonmartin Verity Vox and The Curse of Foxfire - https://amzn.to/4qf4FNL Don Martin's catalog on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3M1hixS You can find Hexes and Heroes at: https://www.youtube.com/@hexesnheroes You can find Head on Fire Podcast at:  https://www.youtube.com/@HeadOnFirePod Don's Poetry Recommendations Include: Clint Smith - Above Ground - https://amzn.to/4t6Tvgx Andrea Gibson - Lord of the Butterflies - https://amzn.to/3NPX62t Franny Choi - https://amzn.to/3Ogjzps Maggie Smith - Good Bones - https://amzn.to/49RmPjI Maggie Smith - The Well Speaks Of Its Own Poison - https://amzn.to/3M1gmJS Staceyann Chin - https://amzn.to/49YGVak Beau Sia - https://amzn.to/4ann5qN Taylor Mali - https://amzn.to/4ann5qN Saul Williams - https://amzn.to/4ar4OsD Danez Smith - https://amzn.to/3NRul5G Morgan Parker - Other People's Comfort Keeps Me Up At Night - https://amzn.to/4kcF0DX Maya Popa - Wound Is the Origin of Wonder - https://amzn.to/3LPgj3Q

After 5+ years, Lexi aka LexiChuChu on IG returns to the podcast! Lexi's been busy over on their side of the country and we finally had the stars (and schedules) align for their return! We get to catch up a bit before we dive into the realm of Video Games. We kick things off by talking about Hades. Lexi has put in a lot of hours with that game and you'll find out how many hours they've got, plus their favorite weapons for dear ol Zagreus. Plus, we discuss Hades 2 and the different mechanics and gameplay from Hades. Lexi also talks about a game category that we have determined to call Catharsis Games. No, they're not the cozy games you're used to hearing about. Lexi talks about what games are in her catharsis game category and what draws them to those particular games. From there, we're venturing back into Tabletop Roleplaying Games. In Lexi's first episode, this was a topic we had talked about. Now here we are with even more to say. Lexi talks about the multiple Dungeons and Dragons games they play and/or DM in, along with other TTRPG's like Pathfinder, Coyote and Crow, and more. We discuss the gameplay at the table versus online, the storylines that have been created, and the TTRPG systems they'd love to try in the future (here's looking at you, Blades in the Dark!) We then come full circle with more Cosplay. Lexi talks about the past 5 years and what they've been doing in that space, and getting back into building/crafting some cosplay pieces for competition this year. We talk about what they're working on and even more ideas for the future. We also talk about Cosplay Judging, as Lexi has judged for several competitions. We talk about what it's like having seams looked at, techniques being judged, and how to be a good competitor (in skill and respect for others) in cosplay competitions. You can find Lexi at:  https://www.instagram.com/lexichuchu/ You can listen to Lexi's first episode here: https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-194-lexichu-cosplay-talks-mmorpgs-book-recommendations-ttrpgs-and-cosplay

We return to Australia after many a year as Darvily joins me for this episode! I had stumbled across her on Threads and loved the fandoms she was into, and we get to jump into a few of them for this episode. Darvily and I kick things off with talking about the broad topic of video games. We talk about the first games that she experienced, starting with Spyro. We focus on a few games that Darvily specifically was into over the years, including Animal Crossing, Pokemon, and Skyrim. Darvily also talks about some of her favorite indie games that she likes and recommends. Want the recommendations? Listen! From video games, we make our way into the realm of Fantasy Fandom. We talk about Darvily's love of How To Train Your Dragon, books like Lord of the Rings, Fourth Wing, and A Court of Thorns and Roses, to name a few. We also bundle in talk about Renfaires in Australia, as well as Darvily's experience with Dungeons and Dragons. We then wrap up with a conversation about Cosplay. Darvily talks about getting into Cosplay, along with some of the character she does. From Spider suits to Renfaire looks, Sailor Umbreon, and more. We talk about how she decides and chooses her looks and what she's working on for this year. You can find Darvily at: https://www.instagram.com/darvilyyy/ https://linktr.ee/darvily https://www.tiktok.com/@darvilyy https://www.twitch.tv/darvily https://www.youtube.com/@darvilyy

I stumbled across Stacy on Threads back in early 2025 when she posted about who she was hoping the algorithim would bring to her account. I followed Stacy for awhile and then realized "I bet she has an Instagram page" and followed her work there too. One of my favorite things about Stacy is that she wants to build and engage with those who do follow her on her platforms. I love that, and it's one of the things I enjoyed as I got to know her. This episode is split in half! The first half we're talking about Fantasy and Romantasy books. Stacy talks about what she looks for in a book, and what she's drawn to in the Romantasy sphere. We cover a number of different books including Cruel Prince, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and more. Stacy's full list of recommended titles is at the bottom of the show notes including links to purchase! The second half of the episode features Stacy talking about what she creates! From her fantasy inspired costumes to the photography that goes along with it - including great behind the scenes stories on some of her iconic shots from her instagram. Stacy gives us the inside scoop and I am absolutely here for it. We also talk about renaissance faires and fantasy balls, including Stacy's upcoming appearance at FrostFire Ball by Storybook Soirees (link in the notes for ticket info!)  Books that Stacy recommended are: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - https://amzn.to/3LkH4gd A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/4qNzFoG Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/454cG0d The Assassin's Blade novella by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/3LumYQH The Rogue King by Abigail Owen - https://amzn.to/4svVQS5 Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - https://amzn.to/4sz7UC1 Quicksilver by Callie Hart - https://amzn.to/4jxcX1C You can find more info about FrostFire Ball at: https://www.storybooksoirees.com/frostfire-ball You can find Stacy at: https://www.instagram.com/stacylkellam/ https://www.threads.com/@stacylkellam https://www.tiktok.com/@stacylkellam https://linktr.ee/stacylkellam