Charm Bomb

In this episode, Summer and Joanna chat about slumber parties of their youth including party games and themes, while enjoying tea and birthday cake.     Topics this week include Ghosts (season 3), Star Trek, childhood birthday parties, and their top 5 basic cake flavors.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: Slumber party questions To submit a question to Ask Charm Bomb, email your question to ch...

In this episode, Summer and Joanna chat about shipping on a budget, magical realism, the upcoming IGGPPC birthday party, and ice cream float recipes.     Topics this week include Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live Action), Shark Heart by Emily Habeck, and their top 5 personal eras.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I pen pal when shipping costs are high? To submit a question to Ask Charm...

In this episode, Summer and Joanna chat about magical mysteries they're into from audiobooks to tv shows, decorating a new office, and the game Connections.     Topics this week include the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries by Deanna Raybourn, Death and Other Details (tv show), and play a game where Joanna guesses Summer's top 5 animated magical girl animal companions.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb ques...

In this episode, Summer and Joanna chat about running out of creative ideas and what they do to shake loose new inspiration, from keeping creativity lists to getting a change of scenery and more.     Topics this week include Delicious in Dungeon (anime), All Creatures Great and Small, Sailor Moon, Turning Red, and their top 5 things they would love about being a magical girl.   This week's Ask Cha...

In this episode, Summer and Joanna chat about finding time and energy for your fandoms when starting a new job (or any new phase of life), the challenge with adapting books and musicals into film, and penguin skeletons.     Topics this week include Percy Jackson and the Olympians (tv show), embracing trashy reality tv, Watcher, and their top 5 pieces of media they're looking forward to in 2024.  ...

In this episode, Summer and Joanna chat about getting back into routines after the holidays, including remembering how to even podcast.     Topics this week include We Bare Bears, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds & Lower Decks, and their top 5 very Best Bears.   Mentioned this episode:  Geek Girl Strong: https://geekgirlstrong.com/   Point Loma Tea: https://pointlomatea.com/     This week's Ask Charm...

In the final episode of 2023, Summer and Joanna chat about reigniting interest in an old fandom when the spark just isn't there anymore.     Topics this week include glass straws, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Doctor Who (60th Anniversary specials), and their top 5 items to bring on a road trip.   Mentioned this episode:  Simply Straws: https://simplystraws.com/     This week's Ask Charm Bo...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about asking for support from friends even when it seems overwhelming, especially in a busy time of year.    Topics this week include musical theater (even though this is still NOT the musical episode!) and specifically Company and American Psycho the Musical, Loki on Disney+, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and their top 5 American Thanksgiving side dishes.  ...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about what to do when you just don't feel the holiday spirit as well as whether they were into scary things as kids.    Topics this week include Goosebumps, Miracle Workers, the Haunted Mansion movie, and their top 5 fictional sword fighters.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: What if you're just not into holiday spirit? To submit a question to Ask Charm Bom...

This episode is a throwback, so enjoy this walk back in time with us as Summer and Joanna of the past discuss their favorite spooky or Halloween themed movies, films that are also stage plays, and other seasonal spooky things.  Topics this week include The Legend of Korra (yes, again!), the game Among Us, and dealing with social media while practicing self care. This week's Ask Charm Bomb question...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about growing up in the 90s, get an update on Summer's genealogy research, and discuss the upcoming IGGPPC Halloween event.    Topics this week include Derry Girls, solar eclipses, Fright Night, Little Shop of Horrors, The Haunting of Hill House, and their top 5 horror adaptations.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: What is "Hallowiggles"? To submit a questi...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about patio gardening, cleaning before (certain) family comes to visit, and the hidden truth inside family history that gets unearthed through genealogy.   Topics this week include heirloom tomatoes, A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan, family legends and lore, and their top 5 snacks.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I stop panic-cleaning before...

This episode Summer and Joanna try a whole lot of Tang recipes during IGGPPCamp 2023. Was it good? Not really. Was it entertaining? You be the judge!    Topics this week include Tang cocktails, Tang friendship tea, and Tang baked goods.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How much Tang can we safely consume?    To submit a question to Ask Charm Bomb, email your question to charmbomb@geekgirlpen...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about the way friendships change over time, especially as things in common, like school, work, or fandoms change.    Topics this week include Dungeons and Drag Queens, Mythology 101 (book), and their top 5 things to take time traveling.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I keep friends from a fandom when I'm not in the fandom anymore? To submit a ques...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about the tenth annual IGGPPCamp, which this year is Time Travel themed.   Topics this week include Barbie (the movie), The Woman in the House Across From the Girl at the Window, and their top 5 IGGPPCamp memories.   Learn more about IGGPPCamp:  https://geekgirlpenpals.com/camp     This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: Camp?? To submit a question to Ask Charm Bom...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about the etiquette of gaming in public (and what to do when you encounter gamers in the wild), as well as the classic genre of the "musical episode" without talking about any actual musicals.   Topics this week include Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, playing the accordion, Pokemon Go, and their top 5 cute costumes for cats.   Mentioned this episode (aka our cats...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about grief and its many strange facets, and what to do when you lose a friend (spoiler: nobody knows so you just do your best).   CONTENT WARNING: death, grief, dark humor related to death, cancer   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I cope with losing a friend who doesn't live near me?   To submit a question to Ask Charm Bomb, email your question to c...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about ways to remember friends' birthdays, how to stay on top of sending cards, and the benefits of scheduling things in advance.    Topics this week include Muppets Mayhem, Animal Crossing New Horizon, organizing spaces, and the tea they would serve to their top 5 favorite dinosaurs.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: Advice for remembering to send birthday...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about finding fun things to do outdoors even if you aren't "outdoorsy" by leaning into the stuff you love.    Topics this week include Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves, Jurassic Park LEGO play sets, Dinosaur Train, themed picnics and photoshoots, SUE the t-rex, and their top 5 dinosaurs (will they match on all 5??).   Mentioned this episode:   Jurassic Par...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about how they change perspectives when feeling stuck in a rut, using art as a way to refresh the mind, and live-action Disney movies they have (or haven't) seen.    Topics this week include Eurovision, renaissance faires, and their top 5 Would You Rather Lord of the Rings edition questions.   QUESTIONS:   Live in The Shire or live in Rivendell? Be an Ent or an...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about forgiveness and boundaries after a friendship breakup, Summer tells a classic yarn about dream casting a musical with Lord of the Rings actors, and Joanna gets super excited because it's Hobbit month. So, the usual.    Topics this week include Queen Charlotte: a Bridgerton story, Extraordinary Attorney Woo,, and their top 5 things they'd like about being a...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about saying goodbye to favorite shows, series, or characters, finding shared community with fellow fans, and what makes a reboot or reunion show work (or not).   Topics this week include Star Trek: Picard (and The Next Generation), Bowser's Fury (and Super Mario 3D World), and their top 5 memories of playing Neopets. So. Many. Neopets.    This week's Ask Charm...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about childhood video gaming experiences and how to navigate when someone accidentally hurts your feelings, or you witness someone being hurtful.   Topics this week include Perry Mason (rebooted tv show), Lockwood & Co., GameBoy and Nintendo, and their top 5 classic console games.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I navigate when someone accidentall...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about supporting artists while on a budget, letting go of things that no longer hold meaning, and managing a collecting hobby.   Topics this week include How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix, leatherworking and shoe-making, and their top 5 favorite decades in honor of a decade of IGGPPC.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I break the completi...

In this special bonus episode of Charm Bomb, Joanna hosts IGGPPC Founders Stewie and Farquharson to talk about the origin and founding of the International Geek Girl Pen Pals Club.   Topics this week include international friendships, the magic of snail mail, and of course their top 5 geek loves.    Connect with Stewie:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlingstewie/   Twitter: https://twitte...