Two special guests join Sandra and Kasey to discuss maturing in fandom and a contest geared for writers aging like fine wine.
Kym (aka deanwinchesterswitch) and Beka (aka impala-dreamer) are all SPN fanfic writers who’ve been around the fandom block a time or two.
Beka and Kym’s “Storytellers Contest - The Jensen Ackles Chronicles” (TJAC) recently opened up for author sign-ups. So, listen up to learn about this challenge that plans to showcase the talents of mature fans and stories involving older characters.
Buckle up, it’s a full backseat and lots of facts and opinions are shared!
Wanna learn more about TJAC contest? You can find all the details here! Sign-up for the contest through October 15, 2025!
Creator tumblr links: Beka and Kym
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We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.
Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.
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TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com
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Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:
World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
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For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action
Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
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LGBTQ+ Charities
The Trevor Project - USA and Global
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Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.
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Chapter Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:51 - Storytellers Contest inception
00:05:55 - The right time for a contest
00:06:57 - Combining strength and skills for the contest
00:11:31 - Why Jensen?
00:12:58 - A plethora of mature Jensen content
00:13:56 - The most important thing to nail in the contest
00:15:10 - Scoring the contest entries
00:16:22 - How you can tell when a writer gets a character
00:19:04 - Tangent | My Bloody Valentine and Friday the 13th
00:21:04 - Characterization isn’t the only judging criterion
00:23:31 - The judges and contest details
00:25:13 - Minimum age for a Jensen character in this contest
00:27:41 - Experiences that come with living
00:30:34 - Ageism in fandom and support from older creatives
00:37:08 - Word length categories for contest submission
00:41:53 - The prizes
00:47:04 - Spotlighting the winner
00:50:02 - Champion mature fans
00:55:59 - Fandom changes over the years
01:04:30 - Finding nuance and common joy in fanfic
01:09:33 - Judging responsibilities
01:12:00 - The judging panel
01:13:39 - The draw of prizes
01:16:12 - Handling the possibility of many entries
01:19:18 - A mid-point jolt
01:21:43 - Countdown plans with Kasey and Beka
01:32:29 - Hopes for the contest and some last-minute tangents
01:48:26 - Final thoughts and outro
