Charm Bomb

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about fictional heists, weird Pokemon evolution, and ways to manage international shipping costs.   Topics this week include The Magnus Archives (podcast), Kaleidoscope (tv show), and their top 5 fictional dragons.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do you deal with increased international shipping costs? To submit a question to Ask Charm Bomb, email yo...

This episode summer and Joanna chat about their new year's goals, things they're looking forward to in 2023, and what they've been up to since the last recording.   Topics this week include Willow, Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott, fossil hunting, and their top 5 fictional fliers.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: What are your goals for the new year? To submit a question to Ask Charm Bom...

This episode summer and Joanna chat about Douglas Adams and lighthearted sci-fi, homemade apple cider, and their shared love for the Mediterranean climate. Topics this week include cats because of course, the Dragon Prince season 3, Dirk Gently, soup season, and their top 5 things they are thankful for.

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about hanging out together in California in which they explore the outdoors, enjoy local beer, and tell terrible jokes to Mickey Mouse.   Topics this week include terrible humor, Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, deserts and oceans, and their top 5 sea creatures.    To submit a question to Ask Charm Bomb, email your question to charmbomb@geekgirlpenpals.com     Follow Ge...

This episode Joanna chats with Felix, founder of PenPal.me, about connecting folks in a digital world, the joys of being outdoors, and the art of cooking.   Topics this week include travel, fly fishing, the art of ramen, pen pal origin stories, and the fun of meeting an online or pen pal friend in person.    Links to learn more:  PenPal.me website: https://www.penpal.me/   PenPal on Instagram http...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about Halloween and spooky season, birthdays (and cake), and about getting older with fandoms (you're never too old!).   Topics this week include Hocus Pocus 2, Great British Bake Off, Mighty Ducks, Libra season, and their top 5 Halloween costumes from the past.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: Am I too old for fandom? To submit a question to Ask Charm Bo...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about the impact of "super hero level conflict" on everyday people and how to get back in touch or figure out if a pen pal has ghosted you.   Topics this week include Andor (tv show), autumn weather, sword camp, and their top 5 Star Wars characters.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: Should I reach out to a pen pal who ghosted? To submit a question to Ask C...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about different strategies for fighting burnout with personal experiences and suggestions for managing burnout in both the short term and long term.   Topics this week include She-Hulk, The Cryptonaturalist, Goosebumps, Carnival Row, mental health, and their top 5 fantasy fairies.    Mentioned this week: Cryptonaturalist: https://www.cryptonaturalist.com/   The...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about places they'd like to visit, books and graphic novels they're reading, and their favorite memories of one another.   Topics this week include Dead End: Paranormal Park, Calico (game), Sandman, Mothman, collectables, and their top 5 favorite things about cats.    Mentioned this week: Em and Sprout: https://www.etsy.com/shop/emandsprout     This week's Ask C...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about staying safe online, using pen names when writing to pen pals, lots of lake camp activities and IGGPPCamp.   Topics this week include Inside Job, e-biking, Hacks, canoeing, and their top 5 IRL summer camp activities.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do you stay safe when exchanging pen pal information? To submit a question to Ask Charm Bomb, ema...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about upcoming IGGPPCamp fun (without any spoilers), cats and tea, and aspirational creativity.   Topics this week include Timberborn (game), Only Murders in the Building, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Paper Girls, and their top 5 Muppet Show Muppets.    Mentioned this episode:  IGGPPCamp: https://geekgirlpenpals.com/camp     This week's Ask Charm Bomb question...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about their recurring dreams (not quite nightmares?), what they're enjoying about the new Ms. Marvel show, and the etiquette of meeting a pen pal IRL for the first time, including the story of how they met for the first time!   Topics this week include Minx, Gentleman Jack (show), the Haunted Mansion at Disney, Stuff You Missed in History Class, awkward pauses,...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about the healing power of snail mail, both in relationships to other people and with ourselves.   Topics this week include Star Wars Rebels, The King of Tokyo (game), care packages when you don't have internet access, music from middle school, and their top 5 fictional squads.   Mentioned this episode: Dice and Dragons: https://www.instagram.com/diceanddragonso...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about IGGPPCamp, how amazing and terrifying space is, and their nerdy confessions of popular books, movies, and TV shows they never finished.   Topics this week include the BBC show Ghosts (yes, again), the James Webb Space Telescope, The Magicians, Twilight, Games of Thrones, and their top 5 least favorite required reading from school.   Mentioned this episode:...

This episode Summer and Joanna chat about how to turn a casual acquaintance into a friendship, spend a lot of time talking about handicrafts, and discuss their shared love of DIY bubble water.   Topics this week include The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Redactle, leatherworking, stained glass, embroidery, and their top 5 dream crafts to dabble in.    Mentioned this episode:  Florals and F...

This episode Joanna hosts special IGGPPC guest Steena to chat about how we think about productivity and strategies for getting necessary things done when there are more fun things to do, having favorite audiobook narrators, and their current Dungeons & Dragons characters.   Topics this week include Abbot Elementary, college basketball, Sanditon season 2, and their top 5 flowers or plants.    Menti...

This episode Joanna and Summer discuss the IGGPPC 9th birthday party, reconnecting with pen pals when it's been a while, and Our Flag Means Death, all while their cats get up to some shenanigans.   Topics this week include Bailey Sarian's Murder Mystery & Makeup Mondays, Muppet Treasure Island, Wellington Paranormal, and their top 5 pirate-related media.    Mentioned this episode:  Stede Bonnet th...

This episode Joanna and Summer discuss ways to stay up to date on current events without sacrificing mental health.    Topics this week include Ghosts on HBO, Space Force on Netflix, the upcoming IGGPPC 9th birthday, and top 5 wardrobe staples that make us feel "dressed to the nines".    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I stay informed on current events while preserving mental health? T...

This episode Joanna and Summer discuss ways to prioritise letter writing when schedules are full, audiobooks and book clubs, and the perils of reboots.    Topics this week include Rescue Rangers, Tale Spin, Pepper Ann, Wild Thornberries, PBS shows, and top 5 nostalgic cartoons that would worry us (or maybe be cool?) if rebooted.    Mentioned this episode:  Remember August game: https://www.kicksta...

This episode Joanna and Summer discuss ways to incorporate their geek loves into self care, the way movies can enable mental health discussions, and connecting with nature.   Topics this week include Peacemaker, Encanto, 90s country, mental health, genealogy, and their top 5 binge-worthy comfort tv shows.   This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I incorporate geeky loves/interests into self c...

This episode Joanna and Summer discuss how to tell when a friendship has run its course, navigating friendship "breakups", and catharsis through art like writing or music.    Topics this week include the TV show The Great, the book Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village, getting outdoors to boost your mood, and their top 5 ways to cheer up when feeling down.    This week's...

This episode Joanna and Summer discuss New Year's goal setting vs "resolutions", getting organized, traveling and camping, and a bit about their personal art goals for this year.    Topics this week include Cowboy Bebop, She-Hulk, digital planners, SMART goals and other goal setting techniques, and the top 5 things they're looking forward to in 2022.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: Do you...

In this previously unreleased episode Joanna and Summer discuss what they're into right now, including (the same) true crime podcasts and horror-based musical theater. They also chat about their favorite fictional witches and, for some reason, modpodge.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: How do I store my pen pal letters? To submit a question to Ask Charm Bomb, email your question to charmbom...

This episode Joanna and Summer discuss how Geek Girl Pen Pals came to be back in 2013, and take a trip down memory lane from signing up for their first pen pals to joining staff to where the club has grown now.    Topics this week include the Jungle Cruise movie, The Harder They Fall, Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, sword fighting and sports psychology, Curly Whirlies, and top 5 origina...

This episode Joanna and Summer discuss creating a cozy space at home through interior decorating, creating your own traditions, foods they like to share with others, and some of the ways they've gotten through spending holidays solo.    Topics this week include renaissance faires, different ways to connect with people, and top 5 potluck food offerings.    This week's Ask Charm Bomb question: What...