Reina Valentine returns to the podcast for her 6th episode as we get to catch up and talk fandom. In the title, you'd normally see the fandoms we'd be talking about. Funny (or unfunny) thing is, Reina has said that she's not currently a part of any fandom - and that is what we are discussing on the episode.

We talk about how Reina pulling back from fandoms happened, with shows like Game of Thrones, The Acolyte, and Shadow and Bone, and the reasoning for each is different - but heavy is the heart that throws down for fandoms like Reina did. So she made that decision to step back from that fandom spaces. You'll get to hear about the what's and the why's, and how things are going now.

Reina also updates us about her cosplay, now that she's regained control of her Instagram. We talk about several cosplays that have yet to be shot and posted, like one of Rose's Titanic outfits, and the work that went into creating it. We discuss some of the other cosplays she's done, along with some potential future cosplays.

You can find Reina at:

https://www.instagram.com/reinavalentinecosplay/

You can listen to Reina's previous episodes here:

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-166-reina-valentine-cosplay

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/fandom-friday-live-show-with-reina-valentine-cosplay-talking-game-of-thrones-on-getvokl-july-17-2020

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/fandom-friday-live-show-with-reina-valentine-cosplay-talking-dc-fandome-and-dragoncon-on-getvokl-august-28-2020

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/shadow-and-bone-season-1-review-part-1-with-reina-valentine

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/shadow-and-bone-season-1-review-part-2-with-reina-valentine

Selena aka itsselenachea on socials returns to the podcast after 4 years as we get to catch up and talk about old and new fandoms!

We start things off by talking about the Spider-Man fandom. This episode releases one week before Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and we discuss potential things that may or may not happen in the movie. We also talk about Tom Holland and how many movies he may still do as the beloved Peter Parker. We also talk about the animated side of things with talk about Spider-Man: Beyond the Spiderverse, releasing (potentially) in June 2027. Selena and I also discuss Cindy Moon, aka Silk, and how we hope that we see her in future media.

From there, we promenade, stick out our pinky fingers, and talk about Bridgerton. Selena talks about when she got into Bridgerton and what attracted her to the Netflix series. We spend some time talking about the latest season, featuring Sophie and Benedict, and how much representation means in media.

We then talk all about Selena! From her name change on social media over the past 4 years, what she's been doing in front of and behind the camera, social media, and Cospaly. It's wonderful to hear what Selena has done and is doing, and I'm glad she said yes to coming back.

You can find Selena at:

https://www.instagram.com/itsselenachea/

https://linktr.ee/itsselenachea

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsselenachea

https://www.threads.com/@itsselenachea

You can listen to Selena's original episode here:

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-261-cindy-aka-cindymooooooon-talks-marvel-the-mcu-spider-man-the-spider-verse-over-the-garden-wall-and-cosplay

I had stumbled across Becca's Threads account, WomenPlayDND, awhile back. I loved what she was doing with getting new players into Dungeons and Dragons and breaking people out of the rule book and getting them to the table. It was a pleasure having her join me on the podcast to talk about this, and more! We start things off by talking about the Romantasy book genre. We talk about some of her early reads, and what draws her to the Romantasy genre. Becca also talks about how characters are portrayed, storylines, and more. I recommended previous guest, Gabriella Buba's "Saints of Storm and Sorrow", and we even had a non-Romantasy book mentioned that I grew up with (Redwall, by Brian Jacques) Then we get into, you guessed it, Dungeons and Dragons. Becca talks about her early experiences getting into D&D, along with what kept her from the table and enjoying the game. She talks about how she found inspiration online, to then finding groups that worked for her and her play style, along with characters that she plays. We also talk about some of the past issues with D&D, the barriers and gatekeeping of getting into the game, and how she's worked on a system to teach others D&D and helping to make it more accessible, founding Women Play DND. You can find Becca at: https://www.womenplaydnd.co/ https://www.instagram.com/womenplaydnd/ https://www.threads.com/@womenplaydnd

Dr. Anna Eskamani, Florida native, and current Florida House of Representatives member for District 42 (in Orange County, as of release in July of 2026 - her term expires in November 2026), and currently running for Mayor of Orlando (election in 2027) joins me to talk about one of her favorite fandoms.

We split the episode in two. We focus first on Star Wars. Dr. Eskamani talks about how she got interested in the franchise. From the movies to TV shows, books, video games, and more. We talk about how she watched her older brother play Star Wars video games, and how she's love to revisit the Knights of the Old Republic games if she had time. We talk about the themes of Andor, meeting Diego Luna at MegaCon in Orlando, and reflect on the messages that Star Wars has. Plus we even talk about her current (and future) Star Wars tattoo's!

The theme of Star Wars leads us into talking about politics, and Dr. Eskamani's time in Florida politics. We talk about how she first got into advocacy and activism. From her work with Planned Parenthood after graduating from the University of Central Florida, to then being elected to the Florida House of Representatives and her work in that chamber. We talk about supporting local businesses, and why she's decided to run for Mayor of Orlando after working 8 years in the House (with term limits).

Throughout this episode, you'll find themes of family, passion, and of hope.

You can find Dr. Eskamani at:

https://www.instagram.com/annafororlando/

https://www.instagram.com/annaforflorida/

https://www.annafororlando.com/

https://bit.ly/m/annaforflorida

Hazel aka HazeltheWriter on social media returns to the podcast after 5 years as we get to catch up and talk about some new fandoms!

After recording 5 years ago, Hazel moved to England for some time, and has now moved back stateside. While over in England, she got interested in Live Action Roleplaying. If you're thinking of boffer style games, then you're about to learn what kind of games Hazel found herself in. First swept up into Lord of the Rings / Hobbit style games, Hazel branched off into Game of Thrones themed games. We talked about her weekend adventures, overnighting at these events, and how with the Game of Thrones stories, they were set with alternate histories so events could be changed.

While getting into these Game of Thrones LARP's, it was only fitting for Hazel to get into the series to learn more about these characters. We talked about her experience with Game of Thrones all these years later, favorite house, favorite characters, and a lot more.

Then we wrapped up by revisiting Cosplay. Hazel talks about her time cosplaying in England, doing some larger group projects, and what she's working on now and what you can expect to see from her in the future.

You can find Hazel at:

https://www.instagram.com/hazelthewriter/

https://hazelthewriter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HazelTheWriterFB

You can listen to Hazel's original episode here:

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-218-hazel-the-writer-talks-marvel-cinematic-universe-avatar-the-last-airbender-pixars-cars-and-cosplay

After quite some time, I'm pleased to have Kate aka TheCloudyKate join me as we get to talk about some of their favorite fandoms!

We start things off by tackling One Piece. Kate talks to me about how and when they got into the series, and whether they're into the anime, the manga, or the live action. We talk about their watch parties with friends, their thoughts on the live action series and where it may or may not go, their favorite characters, and what the One Piece could end up being (though Kate threatens to quit if it becomes reality)

Then we jump over to Tabletop Roleplaying Games. From their first games rolling dice, to the games they've played - from Dungeons and Dragons, to Call of Cthulhu, Vampire: The Masquerade, and more. Kate talks about home games, being a part of actual plays, and what draws them to these games. Plus, Kate reveals the type of character they love to play when given the chance.

It's on to books, as Kate and I talk about the books they love, what they've read recently, and what they're drawn to. We also talk about the rise of fantasy balls / book events, being a part of them as a guest and as a character hired by these balls.

Lastly, we wrap up our conversation talking about Cosplay. Kate talks about how they got started in the hobby, the characters they choose to cosplay, some of their favorites, and what they're working on for the future.

You can find Kate at:

https://www.instagram.com/thecloudykate/

https://linktr.ee/thecloudykate

https://www.threads.com/@thecloudykate

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecloudykate

The first official returning guest of the 10th year of this podcast, Sadie Waycaster aka SadiebyDesign returns almost 9 years later as we get to catch up and talk about some past fandoms, new fandoms, and Cosplay! Sadie was one of my first guests back in 2016 and was a huge supporter of the podcast in its infancy. Ever since then, it has been a pleasure to know Sadie and follow her life and work and have someone I can call a friend. I knew I wanted her to return and she said yes, so here we are.

We get to catch up first since it has been awhile since we talked, and then we cover a number of new fandoms that Sadie's into. These fandoms include (but are not limited to) Infinity Nikki, Witch Hat Atelier, Chinese dramas, Brandon Sanderson, The Knight and The Moth, Tusk Love, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and Project Hail Mary.

Sadie also talks about the past several years with her cosplay work, her departure from Instagram and re-emergence on TikTok, and her plans to return to her website and blog/vlog.

You can find Sadie at:

https://www.facebook.com/sadiebydesign

https://www.tiktok.com/@sadiebydesign

https://www.sadiebydesign.com/

You can listen to Sadie's previous episodes here:

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-12-sadie-geerligs

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/beauty-and-the-beast-review-with-sadie-geerligs

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/2017-retrospective-with-sadie-geerligs-of-sadie-by-design

ElectroCosplay joins from New York to talk about some of her favorite fantastical fandoms, plus we're talking about Cosplay too!

We start things off by talking about one of the biggest fantasy video games series, Elder Scrolls. Electro and I talk about how she got into the Elder Scrolls series, and we bounce around between talking about Skyrim, Elder Scrolls Online, and how she incorporates Elder Scrolls themes and idea into her real life decorating for her home. Plus, there is a request for Elder Scrolls 6 (take note Bethesda!)

From there, Electro and I talk about George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and its television counterparts, Game of Thrones. We talk about how she first got into ASOIAF, her thoughts on the books and a particular thought about just where the final books may be. We also talk about The Game of Thrones series, plus House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. All through that, we talk about the characters, the stories, and what story she'd love to see done.

We then get to Dungeons and Dragons. Electro talks about how she got interested in the game thanks to Baldur's Gate (and fan fiction!). We talk about the kinds of characters she enjoys playing, some of her favorite spells, and what keeps her coming back to slinging dice and creating stories with others.

Then we wrap up with Cosplay. She talks about how she got started with zero skills and how she built her skills and repertoire from the ground up. We talk about a number of her cosplay looks, including her Royal Cookie dress and all that went into designing and creating it. Plus we hear some behind the scenes stories about debuting her work at conventions and all that goes into navigating with a huge gown.

You can find Electro at:

https://www.instagram.com/electrocosplay/

https://linktr.ee/electrocosplay

https://www.electrocosplay.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@electro_cosplay

June 6th reflects the anniversary of Tales from the Fandom. This episode also serves as the 10 year anniversary, as well as the birthday of our returning guest, Ali aka The.Ali.Way

Recorded back in February, Ali returns after nearly 3 years since his first episode. Our conversation focuses all about Ali and his journey as a creator. In our first episode, Ali seemed to be right at the start of reaching that brass ring in the content creator space. We now reflect on the years since that release. From attending movie premieres, working/partnering with brands to create content and reviews for them, and more. Ali talks about his experiences with them, as well as growing as a person and brand, and evolving. From bounding and dancing, to opportunities with modeling and working and walking in Toronto Fashion week.

Throughout this conversation, we talk about how Ali is bridging the gap of who he was 3 years ago to who he is now. We talk about how he focuses on making sure that each post he makes fit not just his brand, but also for his community. He talks about creating with intention, being his authentic self, and pushing himself to new opportunities and growth.

Ali is one of those people I just love to see in my feed. To see his continued success and I am just so happy that we were able to get back together to celebrate him!

You can find Ali at:

https://www.instagram.com/the.ali.way/

https://www.threads.com/@the.ali.way

https://www.thealiway.me/

You can listen to Ali's original episode at:

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/ep-331-ali-aka-the-ali-way-talks-disney-pixar-the-marvel-cinematic-universe-dance-and-bounding

Returning for a 3rd episode and to help us get closer to our 10th anniversary, Arizona cosplayer and creator Sara Moni Cosplay joins me. We originally recorded an episode in 2016 during my first year, and then she returned in 2020. Now here we are, reflecting on the past, present, and futures of our fandoms and passions.

We kick things off with a through line through our previous conversations, as we once again return to the X-Men. We talk about the past several years of X-Men media, from movies like New Mutants, to X-Men 97, and the inclusion of X-Men characters in the MCU. Sara and I discuss what could be coming in the MCU with Doomsday, and what she'd like to see from the future of the X-Men and other mutants in the MCU. Sara and I also dip our toes into the comics by talking about the Krakoa run.

From there, we talk about something new. Monster High doll collecting. We talk about how Sara's gotten into this new space of fandom and how her collection has grown and the process of adding to the collection. Plus, we talk about the characters lend themselves well to be cosplayed.

We wrap up with a great overview of what Sara is doing now. We talk about her recent addition of streaming on Twitch to all the content she creates. Sara talks about what you can expect to find on her Twitch streams (which are really neat to sit and listen/watch). We also talk about her social media, her continued time in Cosplay over the past 10 years since I've been following her, and we reflect on the closure of JoAnn and how it has affected the cosplay community since.

You can find SaraMoniCosplay at:

https://www.instagram.com/saramonicosplay/

https://www.twitch.tv/saramonicosplay

https://www.youtube.com/@saramonicosplay

https://www.facebook.com/SaraMonicosplay

https://saramoni.carrd.co/

You can listen to her previous episodes here:

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-179-sara-moni-returns

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-28-sara-moni

TW: Mental Health discussions

On the same day we celebrate the 49th anniversary of Star Wars, Jessica of Rebellion of Hope Podcast joins me to celebrate and talk about the famed fandom, plus a whole lot more!

I've been following Jessica for quite some time from the lead up to launch of her Star Wars podcast, Rebellion of Hope. We finally were able to get together and I could host her on my podcast. We kick things off by decidely NOT talking about Star Wars, as we talk about Avatar: The Last Airbender. We mainly stay in the animated series realm, as we talk about how Jessica got into Avatar, favorite characters, what kind of bender she'd be, and the connection between this show and Star Wars media for her.

Then, we travel to a fandom from a galaxy far, far away. We spend a lot of time talking about Star Wars. From how Jessica got into Star Wars, how it got her through tough times in life, and getting into the fandom more and more. We talk about a lot of the media, from Clone Wars, to the Mandalorian, The Acolyte, and more. We discuss the EU/Legends, and Disney's decision to move into their own choices with the Star Wars universe. We also talk about her Star Wars podcast, Rebellion of Hope, and what she has done/is doing as a positive voice in the Star Wars fandom. We also talk about Star Wars conventions, panels, and so much more.

We also talk about Jessica's desire to strike out on her own and starting her own business, Asteria Outpost. You'll hear the background behind that, what Jessica does to source the items she sells for her brand, and being an entrepreneur in these times.

You can find Jessica and Rebellion of Hope Podcast at:

https://linktr.ee/rebellionofhope

https://www.instagram.com/therebellionofhope/

https://www.threads.com/@therebellionofhope

https://www.youtube.com/@therebellionofhope

You can find Asteria Outpost at:

https://asteriaoutpost.com/

https://www.instagram.com/asteriaoutpost/

https://www.threads.com/@asteriaoutpost