Advertise on podcast: Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we revisit Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 4 to examine how belief operates as both a safeguard and a liability, shaping who can access power and who collapses under its weight. This is also the episode where everyone tries very hard to blame an object, a curse, or destiny itself, instead of doing the extremely inconvenient thing of admitting their choices matter. Hook spends most of this episode convinced his hand has turned him evil, which is relatable, because we’ve all had a bad day and immediately assumed it meant we were fundamentally broken. Rumplestiltskin once again learns the hard way that “I deserve this” is not the same thing as “this belongs to me.” It’s an episode about belief, which means half the characters think they’re cursed, and the other half are just haunted by their own inner monologues.S4E4: The Apprentice Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - [email protected]

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we revisit Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 4 to examine how the Snow Queen manipulates fear through insinuation and silence, turning suspicion into mob mentality and allowing a community to turn on Elsa without ever being told to. S4E3: Rocky Road Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - [email protected]

On Storybrooke Circus this week, we look at Season 4 Episode 2 of Once Upon a Time's exploration of whether mere survival is truly living. S4E2: White Out Elsa’s desperate search for Anna exposes how fear can keep someone technically safe while emotionally frozen [see what i did there?], mistaking isolation for protection. Emma continues to grow into leadership by choosing empathy and openness [finally!]. Let's break down the episode’s core message: that survival built on fear alone is not a life at all, and that real living begins only when characters risk connection, vulnerability, and trust.We've got a bit of an expanded format on the show here - I'm beginning to a go into a deeper dive into the writing of the show and what these episodes actually mean for the canon and possibly all of us as viewers. Let me know what you think! Opening and New Format: 00:00 Pre Show: 10:48 Show Breakdown: 23:55 Post Show: 01:57:47 Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - [email protected]

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we dive deep into Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 1, exploring how fear, restraint, and emotional growth reshape Emma, Regina, and Elsa. S4E1: A Tale of Two Sisters ELSA OF ARENDELLE makes her debut on the streets of our very own Storybrooke. Theres talk of fear responses, isolation, emotional growth, and what it's like to finally turn a corner and be the most mature person in the room for a change (I'm looking at you Swan, and frankly I could kiss you right on the mouth for being so great this episode). Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - [email protected]

Get your tux and your ballgown out because it's time to walk the red carpet and experience the first annual Once Upon a Time Academy of Witchcraft and Fantasy BROOKIE AWARDS!!!! Check out all the winners, as well as an episode wide recap of everything that has happened for seasons 1-3. Once we're all caught up we'll reunite in the new year for SEASON 4 Frozen Ever After (is what its called in my mind)!!! Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - [email protected]

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we dive deep into Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 22, exploring how Emma Swan stops running from her past and chooses belonging, family, and Storybrooke as her true home. S3E22: There's No Place Like Home It's the SEASON FINALE! This one hit me right in the feels for just so many reasons. It was an emotional rollercoaster from top to bottom, and maybe one of my favorite episodes of the entire show so far. Just when we thought Regina's redemption was as good as it gets, Emma's redemption hits even harder this week! We also get the debut of my sweet sweet 2-year-old daughter busting in my room because she loves the microphone. For the next episode we will be doing a fun Awards Show to celebrate the end of the season before we head into *SPOILERS* the FROZEN SEASON! Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - [email protected]

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we take a look at Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 21, exploring how easily destiny can unravel, reframing true love and hope not as fixed outcomes, but as choices that must be actively protected when the future is uncertain. S3E21: Snow Drifts Happy Black Friday! Episode 3 of SBC - Snow Falls - is actually our 3rd highest streamed episode of all time behind the Season 1, and Season 2 Premieres. This week we go BACK IN TIME (cue Huey Lewis and the News) to get to relive those moments but in a slightly new way as Emma and Hook go on a buddy cop comedy run causing all kinds of antics. Get ready for a Back to the Future themed time travel episode before heading into the SEASON FINALE!! Links: ⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠mackee's Twitch⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - [email protected]

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we revisit Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 20 as the arrival of Dorothy reframes Zelena’s obsession with rewriting the past, revealing why growth requires choosing the present instead of endlessly trying to go home. S3E20: Kansas Happy Wicked: For Good premiere day!! In an amazing synergy of real life and podcast life this episode is an entirely Wicked Witch and Oz centric episode complete with an appearance for Dorothy herself on the same day the movie conclusion to Wicked is released in theatres! In today’s episode, we get a redemption arc for the ages, as well as the stunning conclusion to Zelena’s terror on Storybrooke…or is it?? (Spoilers, it’s not because there are still 2 more episodes in the season)#shadyglinda Links: ⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ ⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠mackee's Twitch⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia Email - [email protected]

On Storybrooke Circus, we return to Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 19 to unpack how happiness built on illusion and denial may feel peaceful, but quietly plants the seeds of inevitable collapse. S3E19: A Curious Thing In this episode we finally figure out how we got to Storybrooke without memories in the first place and we get some payoffs to all the mystery this season has been serving. We also get the answer to the age old question: If something goes horribly wrong with a curse, can a fairytale character actually split their heart in half and just do sharsies with someone else? Asking for a friend. Links: ⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ ⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠mackee's Twitch⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia Email - [email protected]

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 18 and Regina’s struggle to understand whether forgiveness can truly heal if it requires her to erase herself in the process. S3E18: Bleeding Through This episode is FULL of new format announcements, out of control SFX, and a Jane Espenson script that will make your mama want to shed a tear. Links: fanlist.com/thesbcpod - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠SBC DISCORD⁠ party!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ ⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠mackee's Twitch⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia [email protected]

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we revisit Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 17 to unpack how fractured memories and unfinished business reveal that identity can’t be rewritten without consequences eventually coming due. S3E17: The Jolly Rodger After the longest commercial break of all time (3 years), let's get back to it. :) The characters in this show go through constant transformation, and so does this show. It may look and feel little different than you remember, but the heart and soul of SBC never really left. Let's get to work. Links: Let's jump start the SBC DISCORD party!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ mackee's Insta⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/mackeemousemedia/ || mackee's Twitch - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia [email protected]

::in my best kermit the frog voice:: Alright let's dig in to the watch party for Episode 16 where we dig into Zelena's backstory a little more, and see how see ended up literally green in the first place. MERCH IS LIVE: CHECK IT OUT HERE - https://etsy.me/3NOhPhg LINKS: PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/thesbcpod || SBC DISCORD - https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || SBC INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ila's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/ilasikorski/ || mackee's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/mackeemousemedia/ || Submit to the Storybrooke Daily Mirror: [email protected] || Voicemail/Text number: (207) 536-8512‬ ||

Alright we are changing things up a little bit here. We are going to try splitting the episode up into the pre-watch party shenanigans, and the actual watch party as separate episode so we can get more content out to you. SO consider this episode the pregame to the party if you will :) We'll see how this goes lol MERCH IS LIVE: CHECK IT OUT HERE - https://etsy.me/3NOhPhg LINKS: PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/thesbcpod || SBC DISCORD - https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || SBC INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ila's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/ilasikorski/ || mackee's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/mackeemousemedia/ || Submit to the Storybrooke Daily Mirror: [email protected] || Voicemail/Text number: (207) 536-8512‬ ||

WEREEEEEE BACCKKKKKKKKK (a dinosaur story)!! Back from a long hiatus - did you miss us? :) This is messy because we forget how to do our own show, but we did it. Cruising advice, a new segment called the hater hoedown, and a kickass episode to review to get us back into the swing of things. We missed you beautiful people. MERCH IS LIVE: CHECK IT OUT HERE - https://etsy.me/3NOhPhg LINKS: PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/thesbcpod || SBC DISCORD - https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || SBC INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ila's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/ilasikorski/ || mackee's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/mackeemousemedia/ || Submit to the Storybrooke Daily Mirror: [email protected] || Voicemail/Text number: (207) 536-8512‬ ||

Season of the witch continues as we barrel into our SIXTIETH EPISODE 🎉!!!! Come party with us and celebrate (since that is the only good thing about this particular episode, the rest was a rough time lol) Also, if you call into the Storybrooke Daily Mirror, tell us your sharing and caring. You know you want to. MERCH IS LIVE: CHECK IT OUT HERE - https://etsy.me/3NOhPhg Intro Song "W.I.T.C.H" by Devon Cole - LINKS: http://Devon-Cole.lnk.to/WITCH || https://www.tiktok.com/@devoncolemusic || http://instagram.com/devonmcole LINKS: PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/thesbcpod || SBC DISCORD - https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || SBC INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ila's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/ilasikorski/ || mackee's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/mackeemousemedia/ || Submit to the Storybrooke Daily Mirror: [email protected] || Voicemail/Text number: (207) 536-8512‬ ||