The Fandom Show

Who watches the watchmen? Get that doomsday clock ticking because this week we have writer and comedian, Alex Kolanko talking about the fearful symmetry of Alan Moore's most critically acclaimed work, WATCHMEN! We dive into the critique Moore was leveling against the comic industry, anarchist meditations on power, the brilliance of Dave Gibbons nine panel grids, the inherent comedy behind Rorschac...

It's time to settle an island and customize every last inch of it, because today we're joined by writer, actor and twitch streamer, Alice Moran, to talk about her favorite game; Animal Crossing! We chat about the unique circumstances that made this game such a global phenomena in 2020, how Alice made her island 'canada-core' complete with an LCBO, which villagers freak her out the most, and what i...

Grab a drink at Quark's and make some tough decisions about the fate of the universe, because today we're talking with comedian and Star Trek super-fan, Hisham Kelati , about the war-torn, wild west, frontier town of the Star Trek universe; Deep Space Nine! We learn all about the merits and flaws of Captain Benjamin Sisko, how the show explored deeper, more complicated themes than its predecessors...

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PASTA! Mix yourself a nice Pumptini and get ready for some MESSY DRAMA because today we're joined by the host of Vanderpump Robs, Rob Schulte, to talk about the reality TV phenomena a decade in the making: VANDERPUMP RULES. We get a crash course in the lives of Lisa Vanderpump's serving staff, review the most meme-able moments, pitch a new idea for Vanderpump Dogs, and (of cours...

ALLEY-OOP! Grab your kicks and hit the court because today we're joined by writer, puppeteer and basketball podcaster, Freddie Rivas (he/him) to talk about the most elite sport in North America - Basketball! Not a sports fan? Fear not, because we're getting a beginner friendly crash court in what makes Basketball one of the most beloved sports of all time, from the bombastic trick shots to the gri...

Mom! Dad! Bingo! Bluey! Today we're learning about the world (and ourselves!) through the power of imagination, because we're joined by actress and podcaster, Kinley Mochrie (she/her) to talk about a preschool show beloved by adults and children alike; BLUEY! Learn about this wholesome family of Australian Blue (and Red) Heelers as we talk about how the show manages to write great jokes for both k...

DING DING! Grab a folding chair and pretend to hit someone with it because today we're talking to comedian and writer, Callum Wratten (he/him), about the worldwide phenomena that is two parts of athleticism and one part pure spectacle: WRESTLING! We get into the origins of pro-wrestling as a sport (and yes, it did have to do with gambling), the commonalities between pro-wrestlers and drag queens,...

Grab your backpack and head to the community center because today we're talking to actor, writer and comedian Kat Letwin (she/her) about the beloved farming simulator and massive indie video game hit, STARDEW VALLEY. We discuss the WILD amount of detail, magic and pathos that you can discover as you play the game, chat about the creator, Concerned Ape, who programmed, designed and wrote the game a...

BOAR ON THE FLOOR! This week we're talking to actor, comedian and writer Alessandra Vite (she/her) about the critically acclaimed, semi-shakespearean, HBO drama, Succession! We discuss the genre, 'Rich New York', the duality of loving unlikeable characters, the discomfort and misery of wealth (where even the plain black baseball caps are wildly expensive) and which characters we would make a busin...

CONFERENCE ROOM, FIVE MINUTES! It's time for a staff meeting because this week we're interviewing comedian, writer and podcast host, Amanda Pereira, about the corporate cult classic that is THE OFFICE. We discuss the power of the mockumentary format, differing outlooks of the British Office versus the U.S versions, how Steve Carrell made the most infuriating man so loveable, and whether Jim might...

Throw on your steampunk gauntlets, because this week we're talking to comedian, engineer and self-proclaimed "first Korean head writer of Heartland until CBC says otherwise", Edward Choi (he/him). about one of the best video game adaptations ever made - ARCANE. We chat about the worldwide appeal of gaming juggernaut League of Legends, how the showrunners  managed to distill a decade worth of game...

This week we're talking to comedian and collector, Yaw Attuah (he/him) about the wearable artform (that some collectors don't wear); Sneakers! We learn about the sneaker basics like silhouettes and colourways, the major manufacturers and designers, and the difference between a 'sneakerhead' and a 'hypebeast'. We get into the nostalgia that drives sneaker culture, the massive microeconomy behind fl...

GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL! This week we're talking to comedian and Twitch streamer, Filipe Dimas (he/him) about the highest grossing media franchise of all time: Pokémon! We discuss the vast range of pocket monsters, from regular-ass Pigeons to time-bending Poke-Gods, the most boring or bizarre Pokémon and how East Asian mythology informs the design. We also get into competitive gaming, the value of the...

Grab a slice of cheesecake and learn about the four funniest women to ever grace our televisions: The Golden Girls! We are joined by actor and comedian Tricia Black (she/they) to discuss this award-winning 80s sitcom that wasn't afraid to talk about the hard stuff. We chat about the unbelievable comedic skill on display, the gay chef that never was (and what it means 'To be Coco'd), the big person...

This week we're talking about the fandom that makes New Year's Eve possible; clocks and timekeeping! Get ready for a whole hour of fascinating facts on how we measure time and what makes clocks tick. Join us in getting our minds BLOWN by comedian, engineer and amateur clock builder Craig Fay (he/him) as he unleashes fact after fascinating fact about the earliest timekeeping devices, the magic of q...

This week, Christmas will be OURS! We're talking with screenwriter and professional nerd, Alix Markman (she/her) about her lifelong love of the greatest holiday movie of all; The Nightmare Before Christmas! We sink our sandy claws into the history of this Henry Selick classic, the intricate stop-motion animation, the magic of Danny Elfman's musical numbers, how Jack may have done some medium to he...

Get key'd up because this week we're chatting with our favorite techie and hilarious comedian, Connor Low (he/him) about his obsession - Mechanical Keyboards! We take you through the various details of industrial design, the very real difference between CLACKS and THOCCs, the parts of your keyboard that you never even realized it had and the high-stakes mini-economy of second-hand keyboard parts....

Set your phasers to stun and get ready to go where no person has gone before. This week we are joined by Shannon Lahaie (she/her) for a hilarious, heartwarming, in-depth, and occasionally tearful conversation about STAR TREK: The Next Generation. We give an in-depth run down of the key characters, most mind-blowing episodes and why Star Trek serves as an important moral compass for so many people....

Grab some butter, sugar, and flour and get ready for our SWEETEST episode yet. This week we're talking to Great Canadian Baking Show (Season Six) contestant, Jomar Manzano (he/him). We chat about the unattainable glory of Easy Bake Ovens, why chocolate chip cookies are the Smash Bros of baking, what it was like to compete in the olympics of amateur bakes, how baking doesn't need to be euro-centric...

We are SO excited about today's episode that we might just need to hide under a cardboard box. This week we're talking about Metal Gear Solid with voice actor, screenwriter, bonafide legend, Solid Snake himself - David Hayter (he/him). We chat about the origins of Metal Gear, the incredible, intricate mind of Hideo Kojima, how Snake's voice evolved over the years, and what makes this story so comp...

Paddle down the creek and climb into your best friend's window, because this week we're talking to writer and journalist, JP Larocque (they/them) about that 90s teen classic, Dawson's Creek. Get bundled up in a cozy J. Crew sweater vest and get ready to talk about love triangles, sex pacts, Kevin Willamson's self-aware meta dialogue, some STEAMY behind the scenes gossip that only ice cream can soo...

Find a handsome alien and fall in love because this week we're absolutely delighted to chat with Marvel comics writer, Bioware narrative designer and novelist, Sam Maggs (she/her), about the game that changed her life; Mass Effect. We talk about our favorite companions, great (and not so great) romances, why nerdy tattoos can make for a great resume and Sam gives us a peek behind the scenes of wri...

Make a martini (shaken, not stirred) because this week we're talking with accomplished comic writer and podcast host, Andrew Wheeler (he/him), about the world-famous spy with a license to kill; Bond. James Bond. We discuss the changing definition of glamour over the decades, the evolving politics of Bond Villains and Bond Women (NOT GIRLS), how pagers were once considered 'gadgets' and some theori...

This week, we had an absolute meltdown talking to actor and comedian Ajahnis Charley (they/them) about Sonic The Hedgehog. Did you know that there were exactly THREE BAJILLION characters in the Sonic The Hedgehog universe? We certainly didn't. Google along as we learn about hedgehog/human romances, 'chao' fighting, the treasure trove (or bottomless pit) of Sonic fanfiction and how, in the end, it...

*CHEWBACCA NOISE* We're talking with Second City comedian and pro-level nerd, Andy Hull (he/him), about his fandom from a galaxy far far away; Star Wars! We kessel-run you through the dark and light sides of the Star Wars universe; why the movies were such a pop culture force, where George Lucas succeeds and fails and how so much of the extended universe, including the Collectible Card Game, has i...