Shows
FansplainingCan Fandom Make Us Better Tourists? by Kayti BurtOur final article of 2025 is here! Kayti Burt—who first wrote for us last spring, in a fantastic piece on the precarity of being a fandom journalist (https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/the-fan-journalist-tightrope)—returns to Fansplaining to tackle the subject of fandom tourism, and how fans can approach journeys with respect rather than entitlement. "Can Fandom Make Us Better Tourists?" In an era of overtourism, South Korea's Jeju Island and international BTS fans are building bridges of mutual respect. Read the whole piece: https://www.fansplaining.com/can-fandom-make-us-better-tourists/
2025-12-1017 min
FansplainingAlternate Universes by Newt AlbistonOur November piece is here! Newt Albiston's essay is one part guide to fandom text-based roleplaying, one part meditation on working through gender exploration via roleplay. Plus: be sure to click through and see the gorgeous art we commissioned from illustrator Anna Lark. "Alternate Universes" Through text-based roleplaying, I've lived so many other lives—and experienced so many other bodies. Read the whole piece: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/alternate-universes/
2025-11-1913 min
FansplainingReclaiming the Mary Sue by Meghan FitzmartinOur October piece is part essay/part excerpt: Meghan Fitzmartin, who's written for DC Comics, Supernatural, and many other fan-favorite properties, has published an indie comic, Mary Sue, about—you guessed it!—a fanfiction writer. While the essay is a standalone text you should be able to listen to just fine here, we highly recommend heading over to the piece itself to see excerpts from Mary Sue's first issue! "Reclaiming the Mary Sue" by Meghan Fitzmartin. My new comic interrogates the continued bias against Mary Sues—and brings one life. Read the whole piece...
2025-10-2910 min
FansplainingK-Pop's Demons, Real and Fictional by Aja RomanoSeptember's piece is by longtime fandom journalist Aja Romano, on the explosion of Kpop Demon Hunters, and its intersections—or lackthereof—with real K-pop artists and fans. "K-Pop's Demons, Real and Fictional" by Aja Romano. KPop Demon Hunters has seen massive mainstream success in the U.S. What does that mean for real K-pop artists and their fans? Read the whole piece: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/kpops-demons-real-and-fictional
2025-09-2420 min
FansplainingThe Fan, the Pro, and the Spaces In Between by Tessa GrattonOur August piece is by novelist (and Fansplaining SDCC 2025 panelist!) Tessa Gratton, about navigating the intersections of the fan and pro writing worlds, and how their queerness shapes their framings of these worlds. "The Fan, the Pro, and the Spaces In Between" by Tessa Gratton. Writing for Star Wars challenges me to interrogate fandom power dynamics—and figure out where I fall in a rapidly shifting landscape. Read the whole piece: https://fansplaining.com/articles/fan-pro-spaces-between/
2025-08-2728 min
FansplainingThe Fandom Advantage: How Fan Creativity Fuels Pro Entertainment CareersFansplaining returned to San Diego Comic-Con this year (our tenth anniversary!) with a fantastic panel of fandom folks who work in pro entertainment careers. There's an audio recording here on our feed, and over at the website: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/sdcc-2025-the-fandom-advantage You can watch video version as well as read a full transcript. Because the intro to the audio is only on this feed, that's transcribed below. Transcript of intro: Hi everyone! Elizabeth here. I am fresh off San Diego Comic-Con 2025...or not...fresh, but I'm off. [laughing] I got home in the wee hours of yesterday morni...
2025-07-3053 min
FansplainingHow Friendships Onscreen and Off Fueled Half a Century of Fandom by Jay CastelloOur latest piece is about making fanworks—and fandom friendships—last through the decades! "How Friendships Onscreen and Off Fueled Half a Century of Fandom" by Jay Castello. For the admins of the Starsky & Hutch Fiction Archive, preserving fanworks and fannish community go hand in hand. Read the full piece: https://fansplaining.com/articles/how-friendships-fueled-half-century-fandom
2025-06-2511 min
FansplainingI Came to Ruin You: The Collecting Practices of K-Pop Fandoms by Rea McNamara & Bo ShinThis month's Fansplaining piece is a bit of a departure from our usual fandom reporting and critical analysis: for the first time, we're very excited to share a virtual art exhibit of sorts, from Toronto-based curators and BTS fans Rea McNamara and Bo Shin. I came to ruin you: The Collecting Practices of K-pop Fandoms was on display at York University this past spring, and what follows is an expanded version of the exhibition's brochure, plus images, videos, and interviews with some of the fan collectors and participating artists Jiwon Choi and Lux Pyre. You ca...
2025-05-2823 min
FansplainingThe RPF Question by Sacha JuddIn our newest piece, Sacha Judd goes deep on RPF, tracing it back decades and tackling its thorny intersections with other kinds of fan practices. "The RPF Question" by Sacha Judd. Amid blurry boundaries between fic, celebrity fandom, and conspiracy theories, how real person fiction evolved from forbidden to mainstream and back again. Read the full piece: https://fansplaining.com/articles/the-rpf-question
2025-04-2328 min
FansplainingBridgerton and Period Drama Fandom's Enduring Racism Problem by Amanda-Rae PrescottOur latest piece is by Amanda-Rae Prescott, who was one of the expert guests in our "Race and Fandom" series back in 2020! (https://www.fansplaining.com/episodes/135b-race-and-fandom-revisited-part-2) "Bridgerton and Period Drama Fandom's Enduring Racism Problem" by Amanda-Rae Prescott. Complaints about historical accuracy and acting quality are often dog-whistles: some fans only want to see white actors—and white history—on screen. Read the full piece here: https://fansplaining.com/articles/bridgerton-period-drama-fandoms-racism
2025-03-2624 min
FansplainingSam Wilson Deserved Better Than Brave New World by Gavia Baker-WhitelawGav is back in Fansplaining in 2025! This time, she writes about Sam Wilson's recent Captain America debut—and how the MCU failed both the character and the fandom. "Sam Wilson Deserved Better Than Brave New World" by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw: Marvel wants fans to care about lore without thinking too deeply about themes and emotions—the things that brought them to this fandom in the first place. Read the full piece here: fansplaining.com/articles/sam-wilson-deserved-better-brave-new-world
2025-02-2616 min
FansplainingThe War That Almost Broke a Classic Fandom by Lena BarkinOur first article of 2025 is here—and it's a big one! "The War That Almost Broke a Classic Fandom" by Lena Barkin: Blake's 7 fans and actors mixed regularly at cons and on the pages of zines—until an anonymous letter changed everything. Read the full piece here: fansplaining.com/articles/the-war-that-almost-broke-a-classic-fandom
2025-01-2228 min
FansplainingThe Endless Appetite for Fanfiction by Elizabeth Minkel Around this time in December, we usually wrap up Fansplaining with "The Year in Fandom": a look back at five trends from the prior year followed by five trends from the year coming to a close. With Flourish's departure this summer, the podcast is now on hiatus—but I had a lot of thoughts about 2024, particularly when it came to fanfiction. Many thanks to Flourish for looking this over; in a way, it's a "Year in Fandom" segment in spirit. In 2024, everyone wanted a piece of fic, from AI grifters to traditional publishers to ravenous audiences. Where did...
2024-12-3120 min
In Defense of FandomFandom Questions: Anna's AnswerToday, we answer Anna’s query!Solution 1: Fifty Shades of Grey is an example of fanfiction that became published as a standalone series.Serialization & Fifty Shades of Grey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzk9N7dJBecSolution 2: Some writers start in fanfiction, but have to leave that world behind so that it doesn’t influence their own, cannon writing (and accidentally steal ideas)How Tamsyn Muir* had to leave the fanfic community behind to avoid being influenced by the fic about HER story: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/811/the...
2024-12-2414 min
FansplainingBringing Fanfiction Into the Classroom by Abby KirbyOur latest article is by Abby Kirby, who writes about her experiences teaching fanfiction to middle schoolers: "Fic does something that my traditional English classes cannot: it places the power in the hands of the student." Read the full piece here: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/bringing-fanfiction-into-the-classroom
2024-11-2015 min
FansplainingThe Beatles Live! by Allegra RosenbergWe're excited to welcome back Allegra Rosenberg, who's written a new article for us on contemporary Beatles fandom: "The Beatles Live! New generations of fans are cultural archaeologists, working with the materials of the past to create the passion of the present." Read the full piece here: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/the-beatles-live
2024-10-2322 min
FansplainingThe Scream Fandom's Enduring Divide by Michael BoyleOur newest article is "The Scream Fandom's Enduring Divide" by Michael Boyle: Nearly a year after star Melissa Barrera was fired for pro-Palestinian social media posts, fans remain torn over the future of the franchise. Read the full piece here: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/the-scream-fandoms-enduring-divide
2024-09-0421 min
FansplainingThe Acolyte's Squandered Potential by Gavia Baker-WhitelawOur newest article is "The Acolyte's Squandered Potential" by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw: The show brought a whole new set of fans to a stagnating franchise. Its cancellation suggests Star Wars is only interested in looking backwards. Read the full piece here: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/the-acolytes-squandered-potential
2024-08-2316 min
FansplainingThe Traumatized Gatekeepers of Broadway by Laura Wheatman HillOur newest article is "The Traumatized Gatekeepers of Broadway" by Laura Wheatman Hill: Theatre fans measure their passion by nitpicking. Does it do the industry more harm than good? You can read the full article here: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles//the-traumatized-gatekeepers-of-broadway
2024-08-1421 min
FansplainingThe Yellow Balloon Movement by Maria TemmingOur first piece in this new era of Fansplaining is "The Yellow Balloon Movement" by Maria Temming: Within jam band fandoms often dominated by substance use, clean and sober fans are building their own communities. You can read the full article here: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/the-yellow-balloon-movement Hi, Fansplaning listeners, Elizabeth here. So everyone probably knows by now that the podcast is on hiatus. And you may be wondering why is this still showing up in my feed?Thanks for not unsubscribing, because I would say with 95% certainty, the podcast will be back in some form before to...
2024-06-1223 min
FansplainingEpisode 223: The End of the Flourish EraAfter nine years of collaborating on Fansplaining, Flourish and Elizabeth mark Flourish's final regular episode by casting back to the state of fandom when they first met on a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July of 2015. A decade ago, we were at the height of Hollywood's "Geek is Chic" arc, facing the rapid mainstreaming of fandom and the beginnings of the "creator-ification" of fanworks. What's changed for the better—and what's gotten worse? Plus: in the ultimate ironic twist, Flourish accepts their own personal journey into lurkerdom, a truly fitting end to a podcast run that nearly ended du...
2024-05-221h 20
FansplainingEpisode 222: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 19Flourish's final "Ask Fansplaining Anything" episode follows the format of the previous 18 (!!), with a new batch of (thoughtful as ever!) listener letters and voicemails. Topics discussed include people bringing a prior adaptation's fandom baggage to a new version, writing RPF about people who aren't actually famous at all, the tropification of fanfiction, and whether multiple versions of a character can feel true simultaneously.
2024-05-081h 16
The Gifted Child SymposiumShipping: the Author is Dead, Long Live the QueersHave you ever looked at two fictional characters and thought to yourself omg they are gay and so in love despite the aggressively platonic or heterosexual relationships they’re shown in? Have you ever been personally victimised by a straight showrunner for 10 seasons of TV? In this episode we discuss shipping and the psychology behind it, as well as queerbaiting and Roland Barthes’ "The Death of the Author." With case-studies from Supernatural and Once Upon a Time, we delve into the ways in which shipping is actually literary criticism and the ways in which queer audiences will, despite the odds...
2024-04-141h 03In Defense of FandomSeason 2 Episode 2: Putting my theory to the testI have a little theory about TV endings. Good endings are fondly remembered, bad endings kill fandoms, and divisive endings make them stick around forever (to argue!). So, am I actually right? Let’s find out…
Spoiler Warnings!
Want to avoid all spoilers? Use these timestamps to skip them completely:
Avatar the Last Airbender: 7:37-8:30
Dexter: 11:16-11:40
Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/in_defense_of_fandom
Have thoughts on TV endings? I want to hear them!
h...
2024-04-0928 min
FansplainingEpisode 219: Tropefest SpeedrunEpisode 219, "Tropefest Speedrun," kicks off with a big announcement: as you might have guessed with Flourish a few months away from a) giving birth and b) being ordained as a priest, they are going to be leaving Fansplaining in May. Post-Flourish plans for the podcast still TBD, this episode builds off the long-running "Tropefest" series for Patrons and jets through ten fanfiction tropes and themes in an hour, including classics like time loops, identity porn, truth serum, and sex pollen.
2024-03-271h 09In Defense of FandomSeason 2 Episode 1: What makes a TV ending?New season, new topic!
This season, we’re talking about how television shows bring their stories to a close, and how that affects the fandom. We’ll talk about great endings and terrible endings. Shows that got to go out on their own terms and shows that were canceled, only to later be revived in a new format.
And of course, there will be discussion about the ending of Supernatural. A LOT of discussion.
Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/in_defense_of_fandom
Have thoughts on TV end...
2024-03-2625 min
The Ink SinkHoliday Replay: Tropefest! Enemies to Lovers + The Mary SueEnemies? Lovers? Marys? Sues?
It's time for part two of our Ink Sink Tropefest! This is
the second Holiday Replay episode for Season 2 as we prepare for Season 3!
Find out how to keep up with us and support the show here: https://linktr.ee/inksinkpodcast
Warning: We curse in this episode. We have FEELINGS about internet trolls.
Listen to part one where we covered The Chosen One and the Three
Witches.
In this episode, we cover Annie's favorite trope: Enemies to
Lovers.
We also cover one of the...
2024-02-1650 min
FansplainingEpisode 214: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 18In the newest installment of the long-running "Ask Fansplaining Anything" series, Flourish and Elizabeth tackle a fresh batch of listener comments and questions. Topics discussed include fic that "breaches containment," AI and fanworks, differing norms around the AO3's "Major Character Death" tag, and what to do when Someone Is Wrong On the Internet.
2024-01-101h 11
FansplainingEpisode 211: The Copyright ConundrumIn Episode 211, "The Copyright Conundrum," Flourish and Elizabeth welcome prolific fic writer and copyright expert EarlGreyTea68 back to the podcast to discuss her new Fansplaining article, "How U.S. Copyright Law Fails Fan Creators." After giving a little primer on copyright, trademark, fair use, and how they all intersect with fandom, EGT discusses the ways current U.S. intellectual property law is unequipped to deal with non-monetized creativity—and how the system fails everyone but the big publishers and studios. They also discuss copyright and AI, and whether copyright claims have the potential to take down LLMs and AI to...
2023-11-291h 19
FansplainingEpisode 209: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 17In the newest (17th!) installment of the "Ask Fansplaining Anything" series, Flourish and Elizabeth read a mix of responses to recent episodes and fresh queries. Topics discussed include communal versus solitary fandom, how the "BNF" role shifts when global fandoms rely on fan translations, asexuality and aromanticism in fic, their (EXTREMELY MIXED) experiences running surveys, and, importantly, AMC's Interview with the Vampire.
2023-10-2553 min
we met online.SlashKatherine and Naama explore the infinitely imaginative space of erotic fan fiction by discussing "Slash," the 2016 indie gem starring Michael Johnston and Hannah Marks.
References:
"Slash" (2016) IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4729990/
Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/FanFiction.Net: https://www.fanfiction.net/Fansplaining (website and podcast): https://www.fansplaining.com/
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/we-met-online/message
2023-09-1955 min
The Ink Sink2.10: Return of the Problematic Authors
Warning: This episode contains discussions of transphobia and racism.
This episode also contains cursing. Because some of these people are just s*** bags.
See all our transcripts, support us on Ko-Fi, and shop our book lists here: https://linktr.ee/inksinkpodcast
Our sources for this week’s show:
Warner Brothers developing a new Harry Potter series: https://deadline.com/2023/04/harry-potter-tv-series-max-release-date-cast-1235323284/
Recent controversy surrounding old Dr. Seuss books: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/books/dr-seuss-books.html
Robin James writing in the Journal of Popular Music Studies: Feminist responses to the “can we separ...
2023-06-2129 min
FansplainingEpisode 200: Maia KobabeFor their 200th!!!! episode, Elizabeth and Flourish are joined by artist, author, and longtime Fansplaining collaborator (and fan!) Maia Kobabe to celebrate the occasion. Topics discussed include the fandom elements of eir graphic memoir, Gender Queer, the pleasure of creating fanart while working as a professional artist, eir experiences in K-pop fandom, and the secret to making friends, whether fellow fans or a pair of podcast hosts (spoiler: make art for them!) (like the cover of this episode—thank you, Maia!).
2023-06-1459 min
Incelwe met online: SlashKatherine and Naama explore the infinitely imaginative space of erotic fan fiction by discussing "Slash," the 2016 indie gem starring Michael Johnston and Hannah Marks.References:"Slash" (2016) IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4729990/ Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/FanFiction.Net: https://www.fanfiction.net/Fansplaining (website and podcast): https://www.fansplaining.com/
2023-06-0555 min
FansplainingEpisode 196: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 16In yet another (the sixteenth!) installment of "Ask Fansplaining Anything," Flourish and Elizabeth discuss a fresh batch of listener questions and comments. Topics include portmanteau ship names, permissive fanart attitudes amongst video game developers, fic self-promotion etiquette, and a pair of letters about big name fans, and what exactly that term means in fandom right now.
2023-04-191h 07
The Ink Sink2.4: Tropefest: Enemies to Lovers + The Mary SueTime for part two of our Ink Sink Tropefest!
Listen to part one where we covered The Chosen One and the Three Witches.
In this episode, we cover Annie's favorite trope: Enemies to Lovers.
We also cover one of the most maligned tropes in fiction: The Mary Sue.
Check out our sources here:
Some fan commentary from Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/ue11mp/mary_sue_isnt_real_and_she_cannot_hurt_you/
Some fan commentary from Fansplaining: https://www.fansplaining.com/a...
2023-03-3149 min
FansplainingEpisode 191: Femstats FebruaryIn Episode 191, "Femstats February," Flourish and Elizabeth welcome back Destination Toast—the Steve Martin of Fansplaining—to talk through their massive stats analysis comparing the F/F, M/F, and M/M categories on the AO3. Length, rating, frequency of certain tags and warnings: What results matched their expectations, and what results were surprising? And what do the differences between them suggest about fandom? (Prepare yourself: armchair theorizing and hot takes abound!!)
2023-02-081h 22
FansplainingEpisode 190: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 15In the latest (fifteenth!) installment of "Ask Fansplaining Anything," Flourish and Elizabeth tackle a new collection of listener letters. Topics discussed include defining "canon" in RPF fandoms, the sad fate of fandoms on Twitter, and what to do about non-fandom friends who judge your fannish activities. Plus: a query about the hypothetical legality of physically printed fanfiction in libraries, with an answer from *actual lawyer* and copyright expert Earlgreytea68.
2023-01-251h 10
FansplainingEpisode 182: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 14In the fourteenth installment of "Ask Fansplaining Anything," Flourish and Elizabeth read and respond to a fresh batch of listener questions. Topics covered include fictional fandom conspiracy theories, the use—or misuse—of the AO3 collections feature, the spaces created within fandom for toxic behavior, and advice for anyone looking to move from lurking to participating.
2022-09-211h 15
FansplainingEpisode 175: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 13In the latest (13th!) installment of the "Ask Fansplaining Anything" series, Flourish and Elizabeth tackle a fresh batch of letters from listeners. Questions posed include: Are author's notes "unprofessional"? What are the distinctions between fusions and crossovers? Are some fans writing x reader fic to avoid engaging with canonical characters of color? Would it really be so hard to make a new fic archive? And what can fans do when their object of fandom likes fic…a little too much?
2022-06-081h 15
FansplainingEpisode 174: The Classification of FandomIn Episode 174, "The Classification of Fandom," Flourish and Elizabeth break down some of the broad categories people use to define types of fans, starting with a foundational meta that proposed distinctions between "affirmational" and "transformational" fandom. Why do we create these categories, and are they—or have they ever been—meaningful? They also welcome the first Fansplaining Fellow, Pepper Campbell, onto the podcast to introduce her upcoming research project: an ethnography of fans who use Discord for fandom activity.
2022-05-251h 02
FansplainingEpisode 169: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 12In Episode 169, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 12," Elizabeth and Flourish dig into a new collection of listener messages. Topics covered include the "Dead Dove Do Not Eat" tag, the intersections of self-inserts and outsider POV fic, and whether "queerbaiting" is a meaningful term in 2022. They also listen to a pair of voicemails about the recent conversation on pseuds and "the right to be forgotten" in fandom.
2022-03-091h 06
FansplainingEpisode 158: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 11In Episode 158, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 11," Elizabeth and Flourish read and respond to a new batch of listener questions. Topics covered include the primacy of shipping in fanfic culture, the ethics of pirating Chinese novels, how to organize your fic collection, and how worried we should be that the entertainment industry is spying on fandom.
2021-09-221h 15
FansplainingEpisode 156: The Exit InterviewIn Episode 156, "The Exit Interview," Fansplaining marks the end of Flourish's time in the entertainment industry (!) with a conversation about what they've observed over thirteen years working on fan-related projects in Hollywood. Topics covered include the rise of streaming services, the fall of transmedia storytelling, executives' attitudes towards fans of their properties, and why, after more than a decade, fandom's vibes often seem worse than ever—and whether the entertainment industry is responsible for that.
2021-08-251h 09
FansplainingEpisode 152: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 10In Episode 152, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 10," Flourish and Elizabeth tackle a new batch of listener questions that all center on the theme: "free your mind by cleansing your timeline." Topics discussed include mismatched expectations on Tumblr, monetizing Twitter stan accounts, ageism in fandom, and the growing trend of pro publishers using AO3-style tags in book marketing.
2021-06-231h 07
FansplainingAsk Fansplaining Anything: Part 9In Episode 143, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 9," Elizabeth and Flourish read a fresh batch of listener letters. Topics covered include age and fandom, fanfics of fanfics, pop culture's role in protest movements, and a trio of letters about trans, nonbinary, and asexual exclusion in fan spaces.
2021-01-271h 03
FansplainingAsk Fansplaining Anything: Part 8In Episode 134, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 8," Elizabeth and Flourish once again open up the mailbag and answer listener questions. Topics covered include sports RPF, the ethics of sporking, adaptations of fan-favorite properties, how to make new friends in fandom, and even more of everyone's favorite topic: slash discourse.
2020-09-161h 09
FansplainingSlash: The DiscourseIn Episode 133, Elizabeth and Flourish talk directly about a topic that creeps into a lot of Fansplaining discussions: slash fic and the people who write it. They walk through the history of "slash fandom" and the ways that early narratives about it endure to this day, and they dig into the fraught gender politics around slash, wrapping up with a discussion of whether the term means anything at all in 2020. They also read a slew of listener letters about the topic of the last episode, purity culture.
2020-09-021h 22
Casefiles of the Three Patch Podcast107A – Challenging Fandom Racism Roundtable – Extended CutTranscript available
In this extended cut of the Challenging Fandom Racism roundtable, fan studies scholars Dr. Rukmini Pande, Stitch, joan miller, and Dr. Samantha Close join finnagain to discuss transformative fandom’s cyclical struggle to recognise racism, the skepticism and harassment faced by fans and acafans who speaking out against racism, why the AO3 and the OTW need to change, and ways fans can practice anti-racism in our fannish lives and online communities.
Additional Shownotes
Consulting Fans: Dr. Rukmini Pande, Stitch, joan miller, Dr. Samantha Close, finnagain
Producer/Editor: finnagain
Dr. Rukmini Pande twitter
Squee From the Margins: Fandom and Rac...
2020-08-281h 28Casefiles of the Three Patch Podcast107 – Challenging Fandom Racism RoundtableFour acafans discuss racism in transformative fandom, the work of challenging this status quo, and some ways fans can practice anti-racism in our communities. Listen to the EXTENDED CUT here.
Additional Shownotes
Consulting Fans: Dr. Rukmini Pande, Stitch, joan miller, Dr. Samantha Close, finnagain
Producer/Editor: finnagain
Dr. Rukmini Pande twitter
Squee From the Margins: Fandom and Race with the University Iowa Press
Upcoming edited collection (2020): Fandom, Now In Color: A Collection of Voices
Interview with Henry Jenkins
Interview on Fansplaining on racism in fandom
Article on racism in femslash fandoms
Stitch twitter
Stitch Media Mix blog
Why Write About Fando...
2020-08-2832 min
FansplainingPurity Culture 2020In Episode 132, Elizabeth and Flourish receive a letter asking them to revisit the topic of purity culture, which they last discussed in 2018. They talk about the way the term "anti" has changed in the past 15 years, connections between fiction and real life, and the specific way the fannish migration to Twitter has amplified these dynamics. They also hear from EarlGreyTea68 in a belated anniversary episode segment, and they answer a listener letter about migratory fandom.
2020-08-191h 04
FansplainingHappy Anniversary #5Flourish and Elizabeth celebrate their fifth anniversary with an annual tradition: inviting back guests from the past year to talk about changes in fandom, from the global to the personal. Topics discussed include race and racism in fandom, harassment and accountability, increases in "migratory fandom" behavior, and the act of rereading providing comfort over the past few months.
2020-08-051h 16
FansplainingPam NolesIn Episode 130, Elizabeth and Flourish interview Pam Noles, the self-described "executive geek" in charge of one of the restricted entrances to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con. They discuss Pam's history with cons, how being on-staff changes the con-going experience, and the past, present, and future of SDCC. Plus: Pam tells some behind-the-scenes stories about saying "no" to A-listers, studio executives, and the kind of people who say things like, "Don't you know who I am?!?"
2020-07-221h 10
FansplainingLetting Harry Potter GoIn episode 129, Elizabeth and Flourish talk about J. K. Rowling's unremitting transphobia—and how beyond no longer engaging with her work, they don't want to have anything to do with the Harry Potter fandom anymore, either. Topics covered include the rise of TERFism in British feminist media, Tonks's beloved status amongst trans and nonbinary folks, and viewing the books' regressive gender politics through the lens of JKR's recent commentary. And they puzzle over one big question: How do you put the Harry Potter fandom behind you without disowning your past fannish self?
2020-07-081h 08
FansplainingThe K-pop NarrativesIn Episode 128, "The K-pop Narratives," Keidra Chaney returns to the podcast to discuss mainstream framings of K-pop fans and their online actions in support of Black Lives Matter. Topics covered include the flawed foundations of these narratives, the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of boosting hateful hashtags, and the continued anti-Blackness within K-pop fan spaces—and its connections to anti-Blackness within the industry itself.
2020-06-241h 10
2020-06-1004 min
FansplainingA Fan of FandomIn Episode 127, "A Fan of Fandom," Elizabeth and Flourish get (too?) meta answering a listener letter about the term "fan of fandom," which Flourish had previously dismissed as "cute." They discuss the ways different communities use the terms "fan" and "fandom," the role of affect in their fannish lives, and whether approaching all media with a fannish lens might lead to more inclusive fan spaces—and more diverse media.
2020-05-271h 11
FansplainingSocial Media FicIn Episode 126, "Social Media Fic," Elizabeth and Flourish welcome Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, culture journalist and Elizabeth's collaborator on "The Rec Center," back to the podcast to talk about how fanfic has expanded across Twitter. Topics covered include the fuzzy lines between fiction and roleplay, changing norms around pseudonymity, and generational shifts around fanworks and ephemerality.
2020-05-131h 15
FansplainingCon-solationIn Episode 125, Flourish and Elizabeth discuss the state of fan conventions in 2020, whether they've been canceled, moved online, or, in a few cases, are supposedly going forward (DragonCon, what are you doing???). What's lost in the transition from IRL to remote—and what can fans potentially gain? They also answer a listener question about, uh, other listeners' questions!
2020-04-291h 16
FansplainingAsk Fansplaining Anything: Part 7In Episode 124, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 7," Elizabeth and Flourish dig into a new pile of listener questions and comments. Topics covered include fan reactions when male versus female actors talk about shipping, whether spec scripts count as fanfiction, what to say to friends who disrespect fic, and how the podcast gets made.
2020-04-151h 11
FansplainingReread, Rewatch, ReplayIn Episode 123, "Reread, Rewatch, Replay," Elizabeth and Flourish think about that most ubiquitous of comfort activities—returning to old favorite books, shows, films, games, and fics. Topics covered include the specific pleasures of re-experiencing narratives, how repeat consumption is an inherent part of fan culture, the different things people seek out when rereading fic, and how moments of collective trauma influence art and culture.
2020-04-011h 09
FansplainingWash Your Hands and Read Some FicIn very self-isolated Episode 122, "Wash Your Hands and Read Some Fic," Elizabeth and Flourish share the results of a mini-survey about people's fiction habits in times of crisis—the personal, the global, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Are people more interested in fluff or angst? Do they seek escapism or catharsis? Is this a good time—or the worst time—to watch Contagion? They also read a message from the co-chair of the AO3 Technical Support and Feedback Committee on some of the reasons the Archive doesn't have a mobile app.
2020-03-181h 06
FansplainingThe Money Question 2: The AppeningIn Episode 121, Flourish and Elizabeth revisit the themes of an earlier episode about fanfiction and money in the wake of the recent brouhaha about apps like Fanfic Pocket Archive Library. They talk to fanfic author and copyright law professor Earlgreytea68 about "the AO3 App Wars," digging into topics like the basics of U.S. copyright law, the AO3's non-monetization policies, and the legal, moral, and ethical dimensions of who is (and who should be) permitted to make money from fanfic.
2020-03-041h 25
FansplainingEbony Elizabeth ThomasIn Episode 120, Flourish and Elizabeth welcome back one of their earliest guests, Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, to talk about her book about race, fantasy, fandom (and more!), The Dark Fantastic. Topics covered include what Ebony's work as a reading professor entails, the themes of the book, Barnes & Noble's "diverse book cover" controversy, and what to do with the problematic canon of children's literature. They also discuss a listener's response to the last episode, about whether Oscar Isaac really can be said to "ship" Finnpoe.
2020-02-191h 15
FansplainingEpisode 119: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 6In Episode 119, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 6," Flourish and Elizabeth tackle a new stack of listener questions and comments. Topics covered include actors' shipping preferences, #OwnVoices in profic and in fanfic, what counts as "canon," why we get stuck in fandoms we no longer like, and Flourish's true feelings about fictional demons.
2020-02-051h 04
FansplainingThe Craft of Writing (Fanfiction)In Episode 118, "The Craft of Writing (Fanfiction)," Flourish and Elizabeth interview Betts, a fic writer and professional writing instructor, about how different writing practices can inform each other on a craft level. They discuss how fanfic utterly altered Betts's career path, what role it plays in her classroom, the effects of changing norms around fic critique and feedback, and why many people in fandom spaces are reticent to engage with literary fiction (and why they should give it a try).
2020-01-221h 07
FansplainingFans and the ManIn Episode 117, "Fans and the Man," Elizabeth and Flourish talk about whether fandom really has "gone corporate" in the last decade—and if so, what parts of fandom, and in what ways? Topics covered include whether fans have "sold out," been exploited, or both; whether it's a good thing for fandom to be intertwined with corporations; and whether "curatorial" and "transformative" are even still useful terms to define fan cultures as we enter the '20s.
2020-01-081h 14
I Ship It64 - No Place Like HomeWhat is it about fall that makes you want to be just as cozy as possible? And nothing says cozy, nothing says 'home' to a fangirl like the Harry Potter universe. Get in here for some musings about the wizarding world and a quick spin with the sexiest falsely accused non-murderer in fiction.
Links:
the dogfather - hollimichele
A lie gets halfway around the school before the truth has a chance to get its pants on - MidniteMarauder
All the Young Dudes - MsKingBean89
The Darcy Lewis Party Barge - crimtastic
Fansplaining...
2019-10-1529 min
FansplainingAsk Fansplaining Anything: Part 5In Episode 110, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 5," Elizabeth and Flourish answer a new collection of listener letters and voicemails. Topics covered include ageism, "valorizing" bad behavior in fic, multishipping, and further thoughts about the phrase "OOC," in real life and in fiction.
2019-10-021h 05
FansplainingThe Neverending FranchiseIn Episode 106, "The Neverending Franchise," Flourish and Elizabeth debrief after Fansplaining's panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, "Don't Dream It's Over: What Fans Do When Long-Running Stories End." They discuss the panelists' takes on the topic—what happens when specific iterations of a franchise come to an end—and dig into the (sometimes radically different) perspectives of various stakeholders in entertainment franchises, including fans, writers, producers, marketers, and more.
2019-08-0759 min
FansplainingThe More You KnowIn Episode 100, "The More You Know," Elizabeth and Flourish celebrate the ways they've learned and grown in the past four years of Fansplaining, reflecting on key areas where they've changed their frameworks—and their minds. Topics covered include lurkers, the realities of TV production, racism in fandom, and our old friend, capitalism. Here's to a hundred more!
2019-05-151h 07
FansplainingThe Shipping AnswersIn Episode 99, "The Shipping Answers," Elizabeth and Flourish are joined by special guest and DATA PROFESSIONAL verity to analyze the 17,391 (!!!) responses to the Fansplaining Shipping Survey. How do these bazillions of people define "shipping"? Following along with verity's interactive data visualization, they discuss topics including "active" vs. "casual" shipping, how fandom impacts shipping practices, and exactly how much people care about their ships being "endgame."
2019-05-011h 22
FansplainingAsk Fansplaining Anything: Part 4In Episode 96, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 4," Flourish and Elizabeth respond to a plethora of listener letters on a wide variety of topics, including genderbending, imagines, political leanings across fannish platforms, Fandom Wank, kink memes, and how to deal with a friend who has GENUINELY TERRIBLE IDEAS ABOUT FANFIC.
2019-03-201h 04
Can I Just SayCIJS 31: Can I Just Say Discussion of The FavouriteThis week on Can I Just Say, Lindsey Romain of Nerdist joins us to discuss The Favourite by Yorgos Lanthimos. We chat about shooting, dancing, women in power and men throwing fruit.You can read Lindsey's writing here and find her on twitter hereElizabeth Minkel was a guest on our other podcast, Fathoms Deep, and discussed The Favourite on her podcast, Fansplaining https://www.fansplaining.comSupport us on Patreon for Black Sails commentary tracks, bonus episodes, and our undying love.Buy Elizabeth's Book or See Daphne's JewelryFollow us o...
2019-02-201h 47Can I Just SayCIJS 31: Can I Just Say Discussion of The FavouriteThis week on Can I Just Say, Lindsey Romain of Nerdist joins us to discuss The Favourite by Yorgos Lanthimos. We chat about shooting, dancing, women in power and men throwing fruit.You can read Lindsey's writing here and find her on twitter hereElizabeth Minkel was a guest on our other podcast, Fathoms Deep, and discussed The Favourite on her podcast, Fansplaining https://www.fansplaining.comSupport us on Patreon for Black Sails commentary tracks, bonus episodes, and our undying love.Buy Elizabeth's Book or See Daphne's JewelryFollow us o...
2019-02-201h 47
FansplainingAsk Fansplaining Anything: Part 3In Episode 92, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 3," Elizabeth and Flourish read and play another batch of listener letters and voicemails. Topics covered include fandom's future platforms, TV revivals, the dehumanizing aspects of RPF, and a return to The Discourse Trilogy™, from parallels with American fundamentalist church culture to the relationship between purity discourse and happy endings.
2019-01-231h 13
FansplainingAsk Fansplaining Anything: Part 2In Episode 83, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 2," Flourish and Elizabeth answer a pile of listener letters from the past few months. Topics covered include responses to the recent episode on real person fiction, whether crossovers are underappreciated, why there is a culture of paying for fanart but not fanfic, what "fuck canon" really means, queer representation in fan-favorite shows, and whether fandom is rife with internalized misogyny.
2018-09-1959 min
FansplainingReal Person FictionIn Episode 80, "Real Person Fiction," Elizabeth and Flourish are joined by Aja Romano, internet culture writer at Vox, to discuss RPF: writing fiction about celebrities and other real, living people. Topics covered include stigma towards RPF within fandom and in the broader culture; the many ways real people turn up in all sorts of art; and what happens when a celebrity encounters online discourse about themselves. They also discuss a listener message about one of Fansplaining's favorite topics: fandom, capitalism, and the monetization of fanworks.
2018-08-081h 03
FansplainingAsk Fansplaining Anything: Part 1In Episode 74, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 1," Flourish and Elizabeth answer a pile of listener letters from the past few months. Some touch on recent episodes, from more observations about fan tourism to critique of the discussion on alternate universe fic. Others pose new questions, on topics including the Society for Creative Anachronism, aging into or out of fandom, fic-searching and tagging methods, how to make fandom friends, and ways to help your family understand why fandom is so important to you.
2018-05-161h 07
FansplainingNerf HerderIn Episode 57, "Nerf Herder," Elizabeth and Flourish start things off with the Fansplaining Patreon Pledge Drive before they talk to Parry Gripp, the lead singer of the band that wrote and performed the Buffy The Vampire Slayer theme song. They discuss the evolution of nerd culture, how music gets into television shows, and different types of band fandoms. Elizabeth and Flourish later discuss Joss Whedon and fans' reactions and moral obligations when the creator of their favorite thing turns out to not be a very good person.
2017-09-201h 10
Fathoms Deep - A Black Sails PodcastFD 64: Reading with the Hamiltons – with Elizabeth Minkel and Gavia Baker-WhitelawThis week on Fathoms Deep, journalists Elizabeth Minkel and Gavia Baker-Whitelaw join us to talk about falling hard for Black Sails and the research projects that have become part of that glorious obsession…. including figuring out what would have been in the Hamilton’s library. Spoilers for all 4 seasons of Black Sails!You can find both Elizabeth and Gavia at The Rec Center: http://tinyletter.com/elizabethandgavGavia’s articles: www.dailydot.com/authors/gavia-baker-whitelaw/Gavia’s website/tumblr: hellotailor.tumblr.comGavia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hell...
2017-08-071h 37Fathoms Deep - A Black Sails PodcastFD 64: Reading with the Hamiltons – with Elizabeth Minkel and Gavia Baker-WhitelawThis week on Fathoms Deep, journalists Elizabeth Minkel and Gavia Baker-Whitelaw join us to talk about falling hard for Black Sails and the research projects that have become part of that glorious obsession…. including figuring out what would have been in the Hamilton’s library. Spoilers for all 4 seasons of Black Sails!You can find both Elizabeth and Gavia at The Rec Center: http://tinyletter.com/elizabethandgavGavia’s articles: www.dailydot.com/authors/gavia-baker-whitelaw/Gavia’s website/tumblr: hellotailor.tumblr.comGavia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hell...
2017-08-071h 37
Fathoms Deep - A Black Sails PodcastFD 64: Reading with the Hamiltons – with Elizabeth Minkel and Gavia Baker-WhitelawThis week on Fathoms Deep, journalists Elizabeth Minkel and Gavia Baker-Whitelaw join us to talk about falling hard for Black Sails and the research projects that have become part of that glorious obsession…. including figuring out what would have been in the Hamilton’s library. Spoilers for all 4 seasons of Black Sails!You can find both Elizabeth and Gavia at The Rec Center: http://tinyletter.com/elizabethandgavGavia’s articles: www.dailydot.com/authors/gavia-baker-whitelaw/Gavia’s website/tumblr: hellotailor.tumblr.comGavia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hello_TailorGavia’s podcast – Ove...
2017-08-071h 37
FansplainingDefining Fanfiction: The ResultsIn Episode 49, "Defining Fanfiction: The Results," Elizabeth and Flourish discuss the results of the Fansplaining Definitions Survey, in which more than 3,500 respondents offered a variety of perspectives on what fanfiction is—and isn't—to them. They explore a variety of themes: is fanfiction derivative? Is it written by and for fans? Must it include shipping and fannish tropes? And they talk about other trends in the survey data, from different ways to use the word "fandom" to fannish perceptions of fiction, nonfiction, and canon.
2017-05-311h 00
FansplainingDefining Fanfiction: The SurveyIn episode 46, "Defining Fanfiction: The Survey," Flourish and Elizabeth discuss Fansplaining's newest survey, which asks respondents to define what fanfiction is—and what it isn't. They discuss the genesis of the survey and the thinking behind its questions before launching into a wide-ranging discussion about intent, authorship, context, and more. They also tackle the survey's specific examples, from Lev Grossman's "The Magicians" to the Aeneid to "50 Shades of Grey" to the "Riker Googling" Twitter account, and Flourish coins the term "Schrödinger's fanfic."
2017-04-191h 23
FansplainingTall PrincessFlourish and Elizabeth interview Teresa Nguyen, who went from novice seamstress to cosplay master in less than four years. Topics covered include screen-accuracy vs. interpretation, "professional cosplayers," and the experience of going to a con in costume. They also discuss the Fansplaining Definitions Survey and play a pair of voicemails from a listener who shares her experiences in North African fandom and some thoughts on the current state of Riverdale fandom discussion.
2017-04-051h 09
Fresh out of TokensFandom follies, fic and more with Flourish and Elizabeth of Fansplaining!We had a visit from the fine folks behind Fansplaining to talk about fandom, gaming, fic and more as Tanya turns the tables after a visit to their show
2017-03-2200 min
FansplainingFansplaining!!! On IceIn Episode 39, "Fansplaining!!! On Ice," Elizabeth and Flourish interview Lauren Orsini, a journalist and anime expert. Topics discussed include different generations of anime fandom in the United States, the way language barriers affect the transcultural conversation, depictions of gay men in anime, and—of course—Yuri!!! On Ice. They also take reader mail and discuss the term "beta reader" and the less-common "alpha reader" in fanfiction communities.
2017-01-111h 02
FansplainingFive Tropes Fanfic Readers Love (And One They Hate)In Episode 34, Flourish and Elizabeth devote most of the hour to further discussion of the Fansplaining Fic Preferences Survey, where more than 7,500 readers weighed on 144 fanfic tropes and themes. They talk about the purpose of the survey, the choices they made while designing it, some conclusions about the results, and incorporate reader feedback, from long-form responses to a list of tropes the original survey overlooked. They also share a preview of a special episode for Patreon supporters, about the 1998 film "Primary Colors."
2016-11-021h 04
FansplainingA Hundred Thousand WorldsIn Episode 33, Elizabeth and Flourish talk to Bob Proehl, the author of A Hundred Thousand Worlds, a novel about comics and cons that includes characters inspired by Gail Simone and Gillian Anderson. (!!!) They discuss "literary" vs genre fiction, gender dynamics in convention culture, and the fuzzy boundaries of RPF. In the second half, Elizabeth and Flourish discuss some initial results from the Fansplaining Fic Preferences Survey, in which more than 7,500 respondents weighed in on their favorite and least favorite fanfiction tropes.
2016-10-191h 08
FansplainingNerds For HerIn Episode 32, "Nerds for Her," Elizabeth and Flourish talk to Paul DeGeorge, half of Harry and the Potters and the creator of the #NerdsForHer, a campaign to get fandom excited about Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US presidential election. Topics discussed include the idea of "political fandom," Hillary's bad narrative, John Travolta and Emma Thompson in Primary Colors, and whether fanfiction can help foster enthusiasm for the only reasonable candidate. (Who is Hillary Clinton. Fansplaining endorses Hillary Clinton. Seriously.)
2016-10-041h 08
FansplainingHappy Anniversary #1In Episode 28, "Happy Anniversary #1," we welcome the past year's guests back on the podcast to talk about what's changed in fandom since Fansplaining began. Answers cover news items like what fandoms have emerged, which have cratered, and what's been going on in the law, but they also touch on the ways that fandom is increasingly breaking the fourth wall, the concept of "fan entitlement," and the changing ways that fandom thinks about race, nationality, and representation. Plus, we make like NPR and encourage people to donate to the Fansplaining Patreon, pledge-drive style!
2016-08-101h 09
FansplainingTrash Ships and Fandom IRLIn Episode 21, "Trash Ships and Fandom IRL," Flourish and Elizabeth split the episode between two different topics. First they talk to Fansplaining regular DestinationToast about her recent Star Wars shipping statistical analysis (during which Flourish declares herself Captain Of The Garbage Scow). Then they talk to Alexa Donne of Leviosa about the task of running a fan convention, including the importance of accountants, market realities, and how much the Harry Potter community loves to drink.
2016-05-031h 05
FansplainingSlash: The MovieThis episode of Fansplaining is a little different: due to a technical problem, we weren't able to use our guest's audio, so we posted a transcript of the whole conversation, and the episode is a conversation ABOUT the conversation. For episode 18, Flourish and Elizabeth talked to Clay Liford, the director of SLASH: The Movie, a film about teen sexuality and fanfiction. Slash recently premiered at SXSW to positive critical reviews—and a good deal of controversy within fandom. Topics covered include the controversy and its criticisms, reverence versus accuracy, and the trouble with media that has to represent a wh...
2016-03-2554 min
FansplainingDestination: Stats!In Episode 13 of Fansplaining, Elizabeth and Flourish interview Destinationtoast about her world-famous fandom statistical analyses. Topics covered include "2015: A (statistical) year in fandom," bad math, the differences between major fanfic archives, and trends on the rise in the coming year—plus, Elizabeth gets trolled.
2016-01-101h 02
FansplainingThe Year In Fandom 2015In Episode 12 of Fansplaining, Elizabeth and Flourish count down their five top media fandom stories of 2015—and ask you to share your own. They also share personal fandom stories from 2015, and make a New Year's resolution for the podcast next year. Topics covered include the Triple Crown, Ham4Ham, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (with only the very lightest of spoilers!), and the fact that you heard about Hermione's casting in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" here first.
2015-12-2850 min
FansplainingMuggles v No-MajIn Episode 11 of Fansplaining, "Muggles v No-Maj," Elizabeth (while in England) interviews Caroline Crampton and Anna Leszkiewicz of SRSLY, the New Statesman's pop culture podcast; Flourish, back in New York, adds her responses. Topics covered include what the job of a magazine editor really entails, the difficulties of being a fan and a journalist, Britpicking, whether Tumblr is an American space, and how time zones affect our fannish experiences.
2015-12-141h 04
FansplainingFangirling Through TimeIn Episode 10 of Fansplaining, Fangirling Through Time, Elizabeth & Flourish interview Evan Hayles Gledhill about the Tumblr of the Victorian era, Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and other depictions of fans in media, Walt Whitman's reaction to his gushy fanmail (and other topics covered by historicalsquee), and the enduring patriarchal effort to police women's reading and writing. In addition, we read listener stories about how fanfic has helped at difficult times in people's lives.
2015-11-291h 05