Shows
I'm a Fan of That!PATREON UNLOCK | Olly's Bracket ChallengeThis is a Patreon Unlock. Our Patreons at the Associate Producer level or above get access to bonus episodes during our season break. This episode was initially released to our Patreons on January 13.Vivian has come back from Christmas break with a fun game for 'Olly to play. Well, fun for her. For 'Olly, it's a source of fandom-wracked identity questioning dread.Our SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's InstagramThe Pod's InstagramBuy Our Books!Buy Holly's Book!Buy Vivian's Book!2025-02-1749 min
I'm a Fan of That!Nightmare Before Christmas | Christmas SpecialHappy Holidays everyone! Fan of That is back this December with our yearly Christmas Special, and this time we're continuing from last year to discuss Spooky Christmas. But the emo and goth teenagers living deep inside both Olly and (less deep) Vivian means today we're discussing Nightmare Before Christmas. We chat about spooky Christmas, the lovely turn of coming of age narratives gone different, how we couldn't have had Evanescence without Tim Burton, and how nostalgic we all are for the good ol' emo days.Our SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's Instagram2024-12-0935 min
I'm a Fan of That!BONUS: Dracula, featuring Holmwood Foundation PodcastSurprise! Another Bonus Episode! We just couldn't pass up the opportunity to chat about Dracula, the development of the vampire, and all other fun pop culture stuff with the Holmwood Foundation podcast!Check out the Holmwood Foundation!WEBSITE: https://www.theholmwoodfoundation.com/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/theholmwoodfoundation/TUMBLR: https://www.tumblr.com/theholmwoodfoundationTWITTER: https://x.com/TheHolmwoodFndFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560610285247YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theholmwoodfoundationKICKSTARTER: www.kickstarter.com/projects/georgiacook...2024-11-1327 min
I'm a Fan of That!Project: Daydream TrailerProject: Daydream is a new queer-weird adventure series that focuses on the lives of two agents working for the clandestine British Paranormal investigations organisation “Project: Daydream”. Together with the fresh-faced new recruit, 0620 (Georgia Mea) and the mysterious agent 4815 (A.V Nobelium), they work as partners tackling anomalies, artefacts and all manner of dangers lurking under the world's surface. But sometimes, it’s not just the monsters you need to be afraid of…Starring:48 - A.V. Nobelium / Athena Nobelium [SHE/HER] 06 - Georgia Mae 0220 - Moira Daykin [She/They/Xie] CID...2024-11-0601 min
I'm a Fan of That!Bonus! Halloween SpecialSurprise Bonus Episode!! Happy Halloween, and today Vivian and Holly catch up in costume to chat about Halloween traditions, the importance of being Spooky, and the reason why Halloween (maybe) got so huge recently.If you want more episodes during our off season, go check us out on Patreon!Our SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's InstagramThe Pod's InstagramBuy Our Books!Buy Holly's Book!Preorder Vivian's Book!Fan Of That is now on Patreon!Go...2024-10-3125 min
I'm a Fan of That!When Fandom Goes WrongInspired by our own files going wrong, we decided to do an episode all on when fandom goes wrong. We focus a lot on the happy postive sides of fandom, but sometimes our subjects of interest go wrong and we have to grapple with what we do with what we're left with. Especially with all these items we have. We talk about She Who Must Not Be Named, touch (very lightly) on the allegations around Neil Gaiman, and also talk about Rooster Teeth, a previous fandom of Vivian's which had gone very very wrong.Our Socials2024-10-141h 10I'm a Fan of That!Cosplay, Accessibility, and Accuracy, with Jay JusticeIt's our annual cosplay episode! This week, we have on another guest! This time, its Jay Justice, cosplayer, public speaker, game developer, and many other wonderful things. Jay, Holly and Vivian chat about cosplay, accessibility and the notion of accuracy. We talk about accuracy in costume, and the variations of what that may mean. We chat about body accessibility, financial accessibility, and the public interest and ownership over a cosplayer's costumes. Check outJay Justice's WebsiteJay Justice's InstagramOur SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's Instagram2024-09-301h 20
I'm a Fan of That!The Babadook - a Queer IconHolly brings along a top hat to do a quick closet cosplay of the ultimate queer icon: the Babadook. This episode, we talk about how the Babadook became a queer icon, why discussions of feminism lead to discussions around queer identities, and how horror is such a good facilitator to carry social commentary. We also have many random trails along the way, including the tv show Hannibal, Shape of Water, and Frankenstein.Our podcast's Babadook (aka Holly in a top hat)Check outStryker article - My Words to Victor Frankenstein2024-09-1649 min
I'm a Fan of That!Thank You and Special AnnouncementToday we are announcing something we never thought we would. We're launching a Patreon!Check it out: patreon.com/fanofthatpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-09-0904 min
I'm a Fan of That!TaskmasterHello and welcome to Taskmaster! Oh, I mean, Welcome to I'm a Fan of That! Holly and Vvian chat about the UK panel show Taskmaster. We talk about what we think makes the show so successful, including the size of set, the comraderie of the crew, and the incredible size of the host.Check OutRapid City Library TiktokTaskmaster YouTubeOur SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's InstagramThe Pod's InstagramBuy Our Books!Buy Holly's Book!...2024-09-021h 08
I'm a Fan of That!Stardew Valley and Cosy GamingToday, Vivian has changed the plot to talk about Stardew Valley and cosy games in general. We talk about how to define the genre of cosy games, by looking at games that fit or don't fit the various aspects and definitions provided. We chat about how some games can be made cosy, how different Vivian and Holly's gaming habits are, and chat about the strange capitalistic nature of contemporary cosy games.Our SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's InstagramThe Pod's InstagramBuy Our Books!2024-08-1958 min
I'm a Fan of That!BONUS: Dashcon 2 and Swift vs LestatToday's an extra lovely bonus episode! We were inspired to come and chat together on a hot summer day because it was just so important to discuss the news of Dashcon 2. We reminesce on what Dashcon was before, and all the trainwreck cons that have come after. But that's not all! The amazing worlds of fandom have also given us Taylor Swift vs Lestat, the vampire. That's right, Swifities are currently at war with fictional vampire Lestate from Interview with a Vampire.Dashcon's Infamous BallpitVideo Essays Holly MentionedDashCon...2024-08-0823 min
I'm a Fan of That!Frankenstein and the History of Science FictionToday, we're talking about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and the claims some make about it being one of the first sci-fi novels. Holly chats about the history of science fiction stories, and the development of Frankenstein. Vivian explores the definition of science in contrast to magic and the problematic origins of this distinction. We also talk about other related things, like mythology, science fantasy, and how Vivian and Holly have no idea how wifi works.Reading and Enjoyment List Vivian's Blog Post on Science Fiction, Magic and MythologyReligion and Conspiracy Theories: an...2024-08-0555 min
I'm a Fan of That!Tabletop Role Playing Games with Nathan BladesToday we sit down and talk all things TTRPGs with Nathan Blades, game designer, writer, voice actor, streamer, and much more. We chat about the role of communal storytelling, and the way that narratives come together around a table of people. We also talk about the differences between playing for an audience on an actual play, and playing for fun with friends.Check out Nathan's Stuff!Nathan Blades InfoNathan Blades on itch.ioTheNeonCaster on TwitchListen to Nathan on Campaign: SkyjacksOur Socials2024-07-221h 01
I'm a Fan of That!Sports Anime! and Vivian's love for archeryOn today's episode, Vivian brings in her beautiful American flatbow, called Tiamat. And through this, we talk about Sports Anime! I know, a bit of a leap, but Tsurune, an anime about boys doing archery, is probably a nice place to start. We chat about the demographics of sports anime, explain a little bit about archery, chat about what makes an anime a sports anime, and gush about how much we absolutely love Yuri on Ice.Vivian's Bow, TiamatReading and Enjoyment List TsuruneYuri On...2024-07-0854 min
I'm a Fan of That!Lovecraft and the Cthulhu MythosOn this episode, Holly brings forward the Dream Cycle by H.P. Lovecraft, as well as their book from Call of Cthulhu. Yes! We're talking about Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos! Topics include: communal storytelling and collaborative fiction, fanfiction, the ideas of monstrosity, queer monstrosity, and death of the author.Images of Holly's Lovecraft booksReading and Enjoyment List Rudolf Otto's Idea of the HolyVivian Asimos's Digital Mythology and the Internet's MonsterJeffrey Cohen's Monster TheoryMary Douglas's Purity and DangerLovecraft...2024-06-241h 03
I'm a Fan of That!Comic Books with Kieron GillenToday, we don't have an object. Instead, we have a person! Comic writer and enthusiast Kieron Gillan joins us today to chat all things comic books! We talk about comic books and religion, the nature of mythology and storytelling, and the absolute power of narrative.Check out Kieron's Stuff!Kieron's WebsiteCheck out Kieron's new book Power Fantasy in August!Our SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's InstagramThe Pod's InstagramBuy Our Books!Buy Holly's Book!Preorder...2024-06-1037 min
I'm a Fan of That!The Myth of the CowboyToday, we're YEEHAWing into the story of the cowboy. But we're not just chatting about it generally, we're talking about it in relation to queer culture, and other marginalised groups. And while we do talk a little bit about the historical cowboy, we focus on the myth of the cowboy and how the story of it is understood and explored by its audience. And then we talk about how the mythology is being utilised by marginalised groups to explore their history and personal experiences.The Tom of Finland (esque?) printReading List2024-05-2754 min
I'm a Fan of That!Zelda and MythologyTo kick off Season 2, Vivian wants to talk about her two favourite subjects: The Legend of Zelda and Mythology. We chat about storytelling, definitions of mythology, implicit mythology, and why the Zelda series is so wonderfully special to Vivian.Vivian's copy of the Hyrule HistoriaReading ListVIvian's Video Essay on the Zelda TimelineJonathan Miles-Watson's Cathedral on the RidgeVivian Asimos's Video Games as MythologyDara O'Brien's Video Game SkitOur SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's Instagram2024-05-1353 min
I'm a Fan of That!BONUS - Taylor Swift's Totured PoetsIn a Fortnight we'll be giving you Season 2, but we coudn't wait to talk about Taylor Swift again because of the fanfare that has accompanied her newest album, the Tortured Poets DepartmentOur SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's InstagramThe Pod's InstagramBuy Our Books!Buy Holly's Book!Preorder Vivian's Book!Music for this episode was Nowhere Land by Kevin MacLead Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode was produced by Vivian Asimos and Holly Swinyard2024-04-2921 min
I'm a Fan of That!A Muppet Christmas Carol and AdaptationMerry Christmas, everyone! or whatever holiday time you're taking for yourself. But today, we're talking about Christmas because we watched the Muppet Christmas Carol, the best adaptation of the Dickens novel according to Holly. We chat about adaptation, what makes a good one or a bad one, what's the difference between adaptation and re-imaginings, and the social pressures of Christmas time. Fun Extra ReadingsThe Guardian - article on why Muppet Christmas Carol is the perfect festive filmThe Conversation - how Muppet Christmas Carol became a cult classicEmpire...2023-12-1844 min
I'm a Fan of That!Cosplay Competitions and AccessibilityHolly and Vivian finally talk about cosplay! Just kidding, we know we've accidentally talked about cosplay a lot throughout the season, but this time we mean to talk about cosplay the whole time. In this cosplay special, we wanted to focus on the role of cosplay competitions in the community, and also how this impacts both the actual and the perceived accessibility of cosplay. We chat about race, ableism, and beautiful trophies.Check out Holly's beautiful Discworld Trophy!Our SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's InstagramThe Pod's Instagram...2023-10-161h 05
I'm a Fan of That!Trigun, Anime Reboots, and StorytellingOn this slightly chaotic episode, Holly and Vivian chat about the Trigun reboot, and reboots more generally. We talk about how storytelling can change, how anime storytelling has changed, and how nostalgia plays on all of us.Our SocialsVivian's InstagramHolly's InstagramThe Pod's InstagramMusic for this episode was Nowhere Land by Kevin MacLead Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode was produced by Vivian Asimos and Holly Swinyard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-10-021h 02
I'm a Fan of That!Fan Tattoos Can be Meaningful Too!!On this week of Fan of That Podcast, Vivian brings her arm. Yes,her arm! A few years ago, Vivian got a tattoo of the words from the One Ring around her arm. Holly also has some tattoos based on fandoms. So today, we talk about fan tattoos, what people think of them, and how they can demonstrate our identities, connections and what is so immensely meaningful.Vivian's Lord of the Rings TattooHolly's Star Wars TattooReading ListMary Douglas - Natural SymbolsOur Socials2023-09-181h 02
I'm a Fan of That!Taylor Swift at MidnightThis week, Vivian wants to talk about pop music, and specifically Taylor Swift's newest album Midnights. To really get the full knowledge of what this album means to both Taylor Swift and - more importantly for our purposes - her fandom, Vivian hops into history corner to give a concise overview of the history of Taylor Swift's position in the spotlight and her ever changing view of herself. We talk about the complicated racial and political dimensions of the Kanye/Swift fights, this misogynistic view of her "list" of men, and the wonderful way a music fandom can have...2023-09-041h 07I'm a Fan of That!The Great Fanfiction Debacle of Anne RiceThis week, Holly struggles to chat with fangs in their mouth because we're talking about vampires! More directly, we're chatting about Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire, and the great fanfiction debacle of the early internet years. Strap in you youngin' listeners as Old Folks Vivian and Holly explain how the internet used to be with online chat rooms and the early days of fanfiction and fandom online. We talk about the actual notion of death of the author, and try to explore what ALLEGEDLY happened in the 90s and early 2000s.Some fangs for cosplay2023-08-211h 05I'm a Fan of That!The Shakespeare Jubilee and the Beauty of ConventionsIn this episode, Holly brings their copy of Shakespeare's Histories as an entryway for us to talk about the history of Shakespeare. Get it? In history corner, Holly talks about what the Shakespeare Jubilee was, how it worked, and what it did for the history of fan conventions. We talk about conventions and how amazing they are, as well as how fan conventions function as spaces of imagination. And of course we get a little nerdy about Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and celebrity gravesites.Holly's copy of Shakespeare's HistoriesReading ListOverview...2023-08-071h 03
I'm a Fan of That!Knitting and Communities of CreationIn this episode, Vivian brings her handknitted Lord of the Rings scarf - a double knitted scarf with the One Ring rhyme and the Tree of Gondor. Vivian learned to knit in high school, and always enjoys making something related to her lovely fandoms. So we talk about it! We chat about communities of creativity, and the powerful bonds formed when you meet people who love making and your media choices, and how the process of creating draws a close relationship between the creator and the media.A Pic of Vivian's ScarfA Pic...2023-07-241h 01I'm a Fan of That!Knitting FandomIn this episode, Vivian brings her handknitted Lord of the Rings scarf - a double knitted scarf with the One Ring rhyme and the Tree of Gondor. Vivian learned to knit in high school, and always enjoys making something related to her lovely fandoms. So we talk about it! We chat about communities of creativity, and the powerful bonds formed when you meet people who love making and your media choices, and how the process of creating draws a close relationship between the creator and the media.A Pic of Vivian's ScarfA Pic...2023-07-241h 01I'm a Fan of That!Orville Peck's Mask and LGBT StorytellingOn this episode of I'm a Fan of That, Vivian brings a fringed eye mask worn by country singer Orville Peck. We talk about the masked country singer, and the power of that amazing fringed mask. Holly brings their love of folk music, and Vivian brings her obsession with Orville Peck, to talk about the way he tells his stories in such a way that it becomes tied intimately with the LGBT Community. An out-country singer and self-proclaimed gay cowboy, Orville Peck's music, and more importantly his mask, has come to represent the experiences of the gay community.2023-07-1052 min
I'm a Fan of That!The Arc Reactor and Marvel's Relationship to CapitalismThis week, Holly brings their Arc Reactor to the party, and a detailed conversation about the history of the growth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We also talk about the relationship grown with Disney and the formulaic nature of super hero films and stories. And Vivian teaches Holly the idea of the "Nigella Effect".Pic of an Arc Reactor(Holly accidently misplaced theirs)Reading ListCNet article on the history of the MCU"Myth Sells: Mattel’s Commission of The Masters of the Universe Bible" by Joseph La...2023-06-2651 min
I'm a Fan of That!The Perilous Realms and the Tolkien Society's DefinitionsThis week, Vivian brings a copy of The Perilous Realms by J.R.R Tolkien, a wonderful gift from her mother-in-law, who is a member of the Tolkien Society. Holly has their own experiences with the Tolkien Society, so we talk about it! The Tolkien Society is a more academic based fan group of people who love Tolkien's writings and worlds. We talk about the perceived boundary between "play" and "serious", and the fight to make fantasy and genre-literature more generally to be seen as a legitimate field of study. But we also talk about the way different fan...2023-06-1259 min
I'm a Fan of That!Vivian Wants a Love Island Water BottleVivian comes to Holly demanding a Love Island water bottle! Not really, but we actually chat about Love Island today, one of Vivian's favourite reality shows in the UK. We talk about the notion of the "new" celebrity, and the accessibility of celebrity through social media. We talk about the creation of narratives and storylines, and how Love Island creates gossip and narratives through the presentation of the islanders.Picture of a Love Island water bottleOur SocialsVivian's instagramHolly's instagramThe Pod's instagram2023-05-2957 min
I'm a Fan of That!The D20 and Communal Storytelling in TTRPGsThis week, Holly brings a D20 to the podcast, a 20 sided dice that has become a token symbol of table top role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. We talk about the need for adult play - not that kind of adult play - and the way TTRPG players play with the boundaries of belief, and the creative and interactive way stories are crafted.An image of a D20Reading ListGizmodo article about DnD's open gaming licenseGizmodo article about fan response to the license change...2023-05-1555 minI'm a Fan of That!Teaser TrailerEnjoy this teaser trailer for I'm a Fan of That! First episode drops just NEXT WEEK!!!Our SocialsVivian's instagramHolly's instagramFandom's instagramMusic for this episode was Nowhere Land by Kevin MacLead Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-05-0801 min
I'm a Fan of That!I'm a Fan of That TrailerWelcome to I'm a Fan of That! The show where we talk about the wonderfully complicated worlds of fandom through the objects we love. Your friends through this venture are pop culture writer Holly Swinward, and pop anthropologist Vivian Asimos. Join us fortnightly to talk about everything from the D20 to Taylor Swift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-04-0301 min
Religion and Popular Culture PodcastFandom and Cosplay (feat. Holly Swinyard)This week, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas are joined by pop culture writer and cosplay expert Holly Swinyard. We chat about all things interesting about cosplay, including aspects of costuming vs buying, the connection between fiction and cosplayer identity, and the transformative nature of cosplay.Follow Holly on instagram: @lilistprinceCheck out Holly’s Cosplay books: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/A-Guide-to-Film-and-TV-Cosplay-Hardback/p/19103Check out the Cosplay Journal: https://thecosplayjournal.com Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomasFollow Vivian on twitter and instagram: @vivianasimosQuestions, comments, critiques? Send ‘em to religionpopculturepod@gmai...2022-09-291h 05