We have another international guest joining us, as Anshie Shinohara joins me from Germany! After stumbling across her Aerith cosplays on Instagram, I'm happy to welcome her to the podcast.

Anshie and I start off with the only topic we could start with, Final Fantasy 7. Anshie talks about how she first got into the video game, back in the original Playstation days. We talk about what kept her coming back to that franchise, her experiences beyond 7, and then returning to the game with Remake and Rebirth. We cover who her favorite characters are, her thoughts on the remake storyline, and what she hopes for how the story ends this time.

From there, we go into a topic Aerith would be proud to talk about - Gardening. Anshie discusses how she first got into gardening and her history with it, some of her favorite plants, and her current gardening situation. We talk about a plant she'd love to have, and her advice for those who may be interested in gardening.

We wrap up with Cosplay. Anshie has been cosplaying for over 20 years, and she talks about how she first got started with cosplay. This includes a great story about dying her hair pink for a character, some of the characters she's cosplayed over the years, and her love of representing Aerith from Final Fantasy 7. We talk about a few designs she'd love to do in the future, and some behind the scenes talk about some of the photographs on her page.

You can find Anshie at:

https://www.instagram.com/anshie_shinohara/

https://linktr.ee/Anshie

https://anshie.de/

I'm excited to have the Angel of Hell's Kitchen, Alli, join me from Philadelphia for this latest episode of the podcast! We get to talk about some wonderful fandoms and her work.

Alli and I kick things off by talking about The Hunger Games franchise. We cover both the movies and books (including Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and The Sunrise on the Reaping). Alli discusses some of the differences between them, and why she loves and revists the series often. We talk about favorite characters, favorite movies, and more. We also explore the idea of potential future books (and movies) and which characters we'd love to see featured.

From there, we go to Westeros to talk about Game of Thrones. Alli talks about how she first got into the HBO series, and what kept her coming back for more. We talk about her favorite house and characters, her thoughts on the series, and what she'd love to see if there were even more spinoff's.

Then we get to Marvel. We focus primarily on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with what movies Alli started with, and her favorite movies/shows. We talk about favorite characters, thoughts on the upcoming movies (especially the future X-Men movie), as well as characters not yet in the MCU - Psylocke, and Silk. We briefly discuss some of the comics those characters appear in.

Lastly, we wrap up with a conversation about Cosplay. Alli talks about how she first got into Cosplay, as well as how she chooses which characters to cosplay. We talk about some of the ideas she has for photoshoots, and what she'd love to do in the future with cosplay.

You can find Alli at:

https://www.instagram.com/angel_ofhellskitchen/

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

We go to Germany for this episode, as Yuliya aka Yuliya.Crafts joins me to talk about her past, present, and future with fandom.

Raised in the Ukraine in the post-Soviet era, we refelect on Yuliya's first interactions with fandom. Mostly exposed to work from Japan, she didn't get into some of her current fandoms until the age of 20. We talk about the movies and shows she watched then, and what her fandom experiences were like.

We talk about fandoms that she's presently into, like Star Wars, Doctor Who, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and DC movies. We talk about her continued love of Star Wars, one of her first fandoms, and how the stories they've told in that fandom reflect in real life experiences with the current political climates, the war in Ukraine, and much more.

Yuliya talks about Marvel's Fantastic Four movie, and DC's Superman movie, and we reflect on what could come from both movie universes.

We wrap up by talking about Cosplay. Yuliya talks about Cosplay, including how she started. Yuliya talks about some of the characters she cosplays, how she determines who to represent, and some of the characters that she wants to portray in the future.

You can find Yuliya at:

https://www.instagram.com/yuliya.crafts/

https://linktr.ee/yuliyadatsenko

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

https://www.youtube.com/@yuliya.crafts

Twitch streamer Joey Vogt joins me from the great, untapped land that is Ohio for this latest episode of the podcast.

Joey and I are both part of the Hyrule Gaming Group stream team, so I've had the pleasure of watching his Twitch streams and get to know him a bit more. Now, he gets to join me and share what he loves.

We kick things off by talking about Game of Thrones. This show was not in Joey's wheelhouse to start with, as he wasn't so much a fantasy fan. That show changed his mind. We talk about the show - from storylines to favorite houses and characters, and why it kept him coming back for more. Joey also talks about how Game of Thrones opened him up to being interested in more fantasy media and even getting into history and mythology of the medieval time period.

Our newest topic on the podcast is hiking! It's an unlikely one, but I do love getting to share what people love and enjoy. Joey talks about who got him interested in hiking and the great outdoors. We talk about some of the places that Joey and his partner have hiked, the experiences he's had in San Francisco, a hiking intersection with a popular fandom, and more.

Then the back half of the episode, we talk about video games and Twitch streaming. Joey talks about how he got into video games when he was younger, including having owned a Virtual Boy back in the day. We talk about some of his favorites then and now, and what he looks for in games. Joey also talks about his decision to stream on Twitch. From his early days to the point where he thought about hanging up his controller. We talk about the community that he has fostered, the games you can find on his stream, and much more.

You can find Joey at:

https://www.twitch.tv/jvogtgaming

https://www.instagram.com/jvogtgaming/

https://bsky.app/profile/jvogtgaming.bsky.social

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

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

https://x.com/JVogtGaming

Natalie aka OhThatNatalie on socials joins from Canada as we get to talk about a number of her passions.

While we start off strong with talk of tiramisu, we dive into one of our main topics - Books! Natalie talks about how she got back into reading, fanfiction, and what books she is drawn to now. She gives several recommendations (see links below), and we talk openly about how she shares her very personal reactions to some of the books she's read on her Instagram page. She talks about how she decides which books sit on shelves, and which books get boxed to be saved for later.

Mixed in with that talk, we do delve into a little about hockey and how Natalie is a fan of the Carolina Hurricanes and how that came to be.

We then jump over to video games and Twitch streaming. Natalie talks about how she first got into video games, and what kind of video games she is drawn to. Natalie talks about her start as a Twitch streamer, streaming The Sims 4, and eventually transitioning to story based games such as Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect, and Ghost of Tsushima, to recent Souls like games.

You can find Natalie at:

https://direct.me/ohthatnatalie/

https://www.twitch.tv/ohthatnatalie

https://www.instagram.com/ohthatnatalie/

https://www.youtube.com/c/ohthatnatalietv

https://bsky.app/profile/ohthatnatalie.bsky.social

Book recommendations include:

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - https://amzn.to/45BoE2c

Playing for Keeps series by Becka Mack - https://amzn.to/45OV0p0

The D.C. Stars series by Chelsea Curto - https://amzn.to/3VnHTGd

A Rebel Blue Ranch series by Lyla Sage - https://amzn.to/3VlQPfe

Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young - https://amzn.to/4oRDI32

Not Safe For Work by Nisha J. Tuli - https://amzn.to/41ZnKtP

Nearly 3 years to the day, Vicki aka Vicksipixiecosplay returns to the podcast! After we previously had technical difficulties on her first episode where we had to cut things short, this time, we are fully technical and now you've got a full episode!

We kick things off by talking about Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. We specifically focus on the 2005 movie version. Vicki talks about why she enjoys P&P as much as she does, and why this version is the one she gravitates towards. We talk about some of her favorite characters, who she identifies with, and we touch on some of the other versions as well as the potential upcoming version that Netflix is working on. We also do talk about a bit more Jane Austen overall.

From there, we go to Scooby Doo! Vicki talks about how she got into Scooby Doo, which versions she likes, and who her favorite character is (this one may shock you!). We talk about a number of the different versions, including HBO's Velma, the animated Scoob movie, and more.

We wrap up by talking about Cosplay. Vicki talks about her growth on the social media side of things over the past three years, including going viral a number of times, how she's dealt with troll comments and what goes into that experience. Plus, we talk about some of the cosplays she's done, some future cosplays, and how her growth in the community has led her to organize community Bridgerton/Regency era meet up event over the past few years.

You can find Vicki at:

https://www.instagram.com/vicksipixiecosplay/

https://linktr.ee/Vicksipixiecosplay

https://www.twitch.tv/pridenprejudice9

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

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

You can listen to Vicki's original episode here:

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-280-vicki-aka-vicksipixiecosplay-talks-the-owl-house-jane-austen-and-cosplay

Sky is the latest person from the Central Florida area to join us as a guest. As some I've been following for quite a while, I was very excited to get to talk with her!

We're covering some great fandom topics. We start off with talking about the music she grew up with. From Alt. Rock, Emo, and Screamo, to focusing on My Chemical Romance, we cover what Sky enjoyed and still enjoys to this day. We talk a bit about the MCR lore, along with the album she'd recommend people listen to if they're first getting into MCR.

From there, we get to talking about Marvel. Sky's introduction to Marvel originates from a variety of entry points. From animation and comics, to video games, leading ultimately to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We talk about characters like Kitty Pryde, the Rogue/Gambit pairing, and some of her favorite MCU movies.

Then, it's time to go to a galaxy far, far away, with Star Wars. Sky's entry point is one of the most unique ones I've encountered, so no spoilers here. You'll have to listen to the episode. We talk about two of her favorite characters - Bo Katan and Jyn Erso, and why they resonate with her. Sky talks about the various Star Wars media she likes, her favorites, and the wait for the Mandalorian and Grogu movie next year.

Lastly, we wrap up with Cosplay. Sky talks about how she first got into Cosplay, some of her favorite cosplay pieces that she's done, including one where a cast member took a picture of it and shared it with the rest of the cast, and more. We talk about competitions, judging, and her future cosplay projects.

You can find Sky at:

https://www.instagram.com/stardarlingcos/

https://www.facebook.com/StarlightDarlingCosplay/

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

https://linktr.ee/cieldarling

Kitty Pryde's Awesome Mix on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0TWFos9gQg5N9Q6J6QcsjY?si=Ih66kzMbTiSfEp00P1LPlg

Cam aka CamCammeii returns after 3 1/2 years as we catch up, talk about some of the newer fandoms she's into, and talk about her growth and changes within the past years.

We first kick things off by acknowledging that Cam is the designer behind the new Tales from the Fandom logo, as of 3 1/2 years ago. So a little piece of Cam lives on in each episode promo you see on the social media side of things.

Cam and I revisit Genshin Impact and talk about its impact (pun intended) on her video game playing. From her first getting into the game, the characters she enjoys, how it involved her getting a custom PC, and much more.

Then we change gears and talk about two anime shows that Cam has gotten into. We delve into the realm of Delicious in Dungeon, and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Cam talks about why these two specifically call to her, the characters and story, and what you can expect from them.

The back half of the episode, we're talking all about Cam. Our first Cam-topic is talking about her foray into Twitch streaming. We talk about her motivation into starting Twitch streaming, and what you can expect from her channel. Cam and I also talk about her continued work in the cosplay side of things, from newer characters, to her relationship with her body, and what you may see in the future from her. Plus, Cosplay photography! How cam has continued to hone her photogaphy craft, and what cons you may find her at and how to book with her.

You can find Cam at:

https://www.instagram.com/camcammeii/

https://www.twitch.tv/CamCammeii

https://www.instagram.com/camcammeiiphotography/

https://beacons.ai/camcammeii

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

You can listen to Cam's original episode at:

https://talesfromthefandom.libsyn.com/episode-255-imiicie-talks-about-white-collar-my-hero-academia-cosplay-and-cosplay-photography