Fansplaining (Page 4)

Still from The Acolyte featuring Qimir and Osha sillouetted in the sunset gazing out at the ocean.

Criticism

The Acolyte’s Squandered Potential

The show brought a whole new set of fans to a stagnating franchise. Its cancellation suggests Star Wars is only interested in looking backwards.

Photograph of rows of red theatre seats.

Features

The Traumatized Gatekeepers of Broadway

Theatre fans measure their passion by nitpicking. Does it do the industry more harm than good?

Still from IWTV S2 featuring Louis and Claudia presenting their tickets at the Theatre des Vampires.

Special Episodes

Special Episode 34: Interview with the Vampire: Season 2

Siri: Pause.

Photograph of a tent labeled SOBER SIDE with several people sitting at tables draped in colorful cloth, with yellow balloons on the edges of the tent.

Features

The Yellow Balloon Movement

Within jam band fandoms often dominated by substance use, clean and sober fans are building their own communities.

1) Flourish and Elizabeth posing behind a purple banner that says "Fandom Is My Fandom" 2) F and E in front of a set of bookshelves, F in a gold necklace and E in a leopard print blazer.

Episodes

Episode 223: The End of the Flourish Era

Reflections on nine years of the podcast by, for, and about fandom in Flourish’s final episode.

Promotional photograph for House, MD featuring Wilson seated at his office desk, feet up, looking at House, seated on his bookshelves and looking upwards.

Special Episodes

Special Episode 33: House, MD

It’s never lupus.

Photograph of a mailbox covered in signatures, cast in the pinkish light of sunset.

Episodes

Episode 222: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 19

Listener letters on RPF about less-famous people, characterization, the tropification of fic, and more.

Triple self-portrait painting in which a woman depicts herself sculpting, playing the harp, and painting a portrait.

Episodes

Episode 221: Self-Inserts

Fan studies scholar Effie Sapuridis discusses her work on self-inserts, from Tumblr to Wattpad to TikTok.

Photograph of Kayti holding a mic and standing in front of a camera at the Birds of Prey film premiere.

Episodes

Episode 220: The Fan-Journalist

A conversation about covering the things you love with writer Kayti Burt.

Photograph of Kayti standing in front of a camera holding a mic at the Birds of Prey premiere.

Criticism

The Fan-Journalist Tightrope

Low pay, minimal worker protections, and pushback from both publicists and fellow fans. Is covering the thing you love even worth it?

Photograph of an old-fashioned red clock with white hands (displaying 11 o'clock) sitting in a green field with daisies growing.

Episodes

Episode 219: Tropefest Speedrun

One hour, ten tropes. (Plus a big announcement!)

Image of many books, mostly with white covers, swirling in a vortex.

Episodes

Episode 218: The Money Question 3: Books???

Opportunists are illegally selling bound copies of popular fics. What does it mean for fandom?

Latest

The Acolyte’s Squandered Potential

The Traumatized Gatekeepers of Broadway

Special Episode 34: Interview with the Vampire: Season 2

The Yellow Balloon Movement

Episode 223: The End of the Flourish Era

Special Episode 33: House, MD

Episode 222: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 19

Episode 221: Self-Inserts

Episode 220: The Fan-Journalist

The Fan-Journalist Tightrope

Episode 219: Tropefest Speedrun

Episode 218: The Money Question 3: Books???