Avatar: Braving the Elements

Janet and Dante welcome podcasters Afiya Augustine and Vincent Bernard for an intense look at the suspenseful ATLA episode 12 “The Serpent’s Pass.” As Team Avatar braves this perilous crossing, our guests dive into bending battles, relationship dynamics, and how Avatar: The Last Airbender keeps fans emotionally connected. Plus, they share their favorite ships, bending styles, and what keeps the Av...

This week we talk Avatarverse, voice acting and directing, and more with Critical Role’s Sam Riegel! Sam sits down with Janet and Dante to talk not just about what makes "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Legend of Korra" so special to Sam and his kids, but also what makes a great voice actor and how he approaches voice directing. From his early friendship with Janet to directing iconic shows,...

Things get sandy—and serious—in this unforgettable ATLA episode 11, “The Desert.” Janet and Dante are joined once again by actor and comedian Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place, Big Mouth) to dive into the heartbreak of Appa’s disappearance, the mystery of the White Lotus, and the horror of those terrifying buzzard wasps. Jason brings the laughs, but also gets real about what makes the Avatarverse s...

One of the most amazing things about the Avatarverse is the creativity it inspires in its fandom, as shown by this week’s guests, Daniel Mertzlufft and Katherine Lynn Rose! Janet and Dante are joined by these two innovative, collaborative content creators to talk about how they were inspired by "Avatar:The Last Airbender" and where that inspiration took their own artistic creations. Social media b...

Team Avatar uncovers ancient knowledge—and faces heartbreaking loss—in the pivotal ATLA episode 10 “The Library.” Janet and Dante are joined by pop culture critic Phil Yu (Angry Asian Man) to explore Wan Shi Tong’s mysterious desert stronghold and the revelations it holds about the Fire Nation. Can Toph save the day? What will happen to Appa? This is one of the most emotionally charged chapters in...

It’s a family affair for this special midseason game of Avatarverse superfans! Our Season One player Abby Abebefe is back to once again test her ATLA knowledge, but this time she’s brought two of her sisters with her! Janet and Dante welcome Abisola and Ayosola Abebefe to Braving the Elements for the first time, challenging all three sisters to discover who knows the most about the Avatarverse. Gu...

“Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source.” It’s an episode full of Uncle Iroh wisdom! Janet and Dante delve into ATLA’s Ep. 9 “Bitter Work” this week, following the progress (or lack thereof) of a certain Avatar and his certain Earthbending Master, as well as training of a different sort between Iroh and Zuko. Along the way, we discover a connection between water and lightning, fire and...

When other fandoms love the Avatarverse as much as we do, magic happens. Janet and Dante are joined by Broadway’s Major Curda (KPOP) and actor Lex Mayson (Joe vs. Carole) for a heartfelt roundtable about why Avatar: The Last Airbender is so beloved, including the ways it helps propel us forward to follow our own artistic passions. And as always with our guests, we talk hybrid animals, ships, and b...

We’re back at San Diego Comic Con for another LIVE podcast recording! This time, Braving the Elements is joined by not one but TWO beloved voice actors: Jack DeSena (Sokka) and Phil LaMarr (Kuei the Earth King). Join us for an exclusive listen to our panel from this past July. Expect from thrilling conversations with our Avatar VOs, breaking Avatar Studios news, and of course - a dynamic table rea...

Sleep-deprived and running for their lives—Team Avatar is feeling the heat in Book Two’s action-packed episode 8, “The Chase.” Janet and Dante are joined by actor and performer Erika Ishii for a breakdown of the Gaang’s mounting tension and Azula’s relentless pursuit. They discuss Ty Lee and Mai’s tracking tactics, Katara’s leadership, and just how real things get when rest runs out. It’s a fun an...

What happens when the Avatarverse makes friends with the amazing Dark Horse Comics world? Janet and Dante chat with longtime Avatar: The Last Airbender writer Tim Hedrick about expanding the ATLA story through the Dark Horse realm. From The Promise to Smoke and Shadow, Tim shares what it’s like building the post-series world of Aang, Zuko, and the rest of Team Avatar. If you love the comics or wan...

This week, Zuko is anything BUT alone, since Dante and Janet are joined by ATLA superfan Adal Rifai for “Zuko Alone!” It’s the episode (and episode title) that would end up launching future iconic storylines (“Suki Alone,” “Korra Alone”) and Adal Rifai (Hello From the Magic Tavern, Hey Riddle Riddle podcasts) is here for the deep dive! Find out more than ever before about Zuko’s troubled childhood...

Continuing our celebration of all things Toph Beifong, Janet and Dante welcome Michaela Jill Murphy (aka Jessie Flower), the original voice of Toph! Find out more about the real-life personality behind one of the biggest personalities in the Avatarverse as we sit down with Michaela to hear more about her life before and after joining the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender, how much the young Jessi...

Janet and Dante reconnect with their “two dads” to hear more about Toph’s origin story! A character as iconic as Toph deserves a whole episode about how she came to be! Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko reminisce about their original concept designs for Toph and how they evolved during the collaborative process with writers and animators, as well as their memories of Jessie Flowers (aka Michaela...

Say hello to Toph Beifong! Janet and Dante welcome Ethan Spaulding, the director of “The Blind Bandit,” to celebrate the epic ATLA episode 6 that introduced one of the Avatarverse’s most iconic characters. Learn behind-the-scenes trivia about Earth Rumble Six, the casting of Toph, and what makes this earthbender such a fan favorite. Get ready for seismic-level insights into Toph’s legacy in Avatar...

Delight in this conversation with the incredibly warm and energetic Cricket Leigh, whom you also know as the voice of the significantly less warm and energetic Mai! Cricket opens up to Janet about joining the ATLA cast, Mai’s emotionally complex character arc, and how her chemistry with Ty Lee and Azula makes for one of the series’ most intriguing friendships. Plus, you’ll hear Mai thoughts on Zuk...

“MY CABBAGES!” If you love this iconic ATLA line, then this episode is for you. Janet and Dante welcome James Sie, the voice behind the unforgettable Cabbage Merchant, to revisit ATLA Book Two episode 5 “Avatar Day.” They explore the episode’s themes of justice, Kyoshi Island lore, and why some villagers want to cancel the Avatar. A fun, nostalgic deep dive into one of Book Two’s quirkiest chapter...

This week we bring you a special episode from our Braving the Elements LIVE appearance at San Diego Comic Con, winter of 2021! Janet and Dante are joined by an amazing audience of fans and friends at the show, featuring live performances by members of the audience playing all of your favorite characters in a myriad of different beloved scenes from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Among other things, th...

Which element reigns supreme in the Avatarverse? Janet and Dante moderate a passionate debate among four ATLA superfans, each repping one of the four bending styles—Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. From iconic benders like Katara and Zuko to the practical and aesthetic strengths of each element, this battle of bending is both hilarious and heartfelt. Who wins? You decide. For WATER: Amanda Castrillo F...

Step into one of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s most mystical episodes, “The Swamp,” with returning guest Hector Navarro! Janet and Hector break down the eerie visions, spiritual symbolism, and unforgettable swampbenders from this memorable ATLA chapter in Book Two. It’s a fun, thoughtful dive into how the Avatarverse blends folklore, philosophy, and comedy—with a few great accents along the way. Th...

Meet the voice behind the ever-cheerful and ever-dangerous Ty Lee, Olivia Hack! Janet and Olivia sit down to discuss her experience of voicing the first character we see in the Avatarverse who can seriously affect someone’s bending power! They talk about Ty Lee’s origin story as well as Olivia’s own origin story and how she came to the series for Book Two. And never fear— even an actor who voiced...

Join hosts Janet and Dante—plus returning guest Jennie Kwan, the voice of Suki—as they revisit the action-packed ATLA Book Two episode “Return to Omashu.” Episode 3 introduces fierce non-benders Mai and Ty Lee, and deepens Azula’s fearsome squad. Jennie compares Suki’s fighting style to her new foes, and the trio dives into the dynamics of Azula’s control, friendship tensions, and the importance o...

We're diving further into "The Cave of Two Lovers,” this time with writer Josh Hamilton and composer Jeremy Zuckerman! This episode is truly a treasure trove of trivia you could only learn from Josh and Jeremy’s uniquely "inside" perspectives. From hearing about Josh and Tim Hedrick’s own renditions of the ATLA episode’s famous songs, to finding out more about the process of making a show like Ava...

We couldn’t cover this unforgettable ATLA episode without welcoming back Jack De Sena, the hilarious voice of Sokka. Join Janet, Dante, and Jack as they sing (maybe off-key) and laugh their way through the legendary “Cave of Two Lovers.” Celebrate the dynamic guest cast in Episode Two of Book Two of ATLA, including Dee Bradley Baker’s turn as troubadour Chong and his rendition of one of the most f...

This week brings you a conversation with the amazing Grey DeLisle Griffin, who voiced Azula on ATLA! It’s the long-awaited debut of the magnificent actor who brought Azula to life— in all her terrifying glory! Grey talks about her experience recording her part in the epic series, along with the process of discovering how beloved the show was after the fact. And that discovery came through the most...