#368: What happens when the things we want to enjoy feel impossibly large? In this episode, the GT Radio crew talks about overwhelming fandoms—anime with thousands of episodes, decades-long comic book universes, sprawling book series, and ever-expanding cinematic franchises. Starting with Josué finally diving into One Piece, the conversation explores why these massive bodies of media can feel intimidating, how fans find creative entry points, and what strategies actually help people get started. Along the way, the hosts draw parallels between navigating fandoms and navigating real life: breaking big goals into smaller steps, asking for help, finding motivation through community, and letting go of the idea that there’s only one “right” way to begin.

Characters / Media Mentioned

• One Piece
• Marvel Comics
• DC Comics
• Spider-Man
• Deadpool
• X-Men
• Captain America
• Miles Morales
• Ms. Marvel
• Ultimate Marvel Universe
• Blackest Night (DC Comics event)
• My Hero Academia
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Star Wars (Original Trilogy, Prequels, Sequels)
• Rogue One
• Solo
• The Mandalorian
• Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Andor
• Ahsoka
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars
• Star Wars Rebels
• Star Wars Resistance
• Doctor Who
• Jodie Whittaker era of Doctor Who
• David Tennant era of Doctor Who
• Assassin’s Creed (series)
• Resident Evil
• Wheel of Time (book series and TV show)
• Brandon Sanderson
• Song of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones
• House of the Dragon
• Baldur’s Gate
• Monster Hunter
• Harry Potter
• Laurel K. Hamilton novels
• Webtoons
• Bleach
• My Hero Academia
• Reality Is Broken (Jane McGonigal)

Themes / Topics Discussed

• Overwhelm
• Burnout
• Motivation
• Mastery
• Community
• Learning Curves
• Decision Paralysis
• Optimization
• Media Literacy
• Goal-Setting
• Asking for Help

Relatable Experiences Discussed

• Feeling Overwhelmed
• Procrastination
• Fear of Starting
• Perfectionism
• Loss of Motivation
• Getting Stuck After Finishing a Series
• Information Overload
• Career Transitions
• Executive Dysfunction

Want to continue the conversation? Join the GT community and tell us about the fandoms you’ve avoided, the ones you finally tackled, or the shortcuts that helped you get started.
Visit the GT Forum and connect with us across the Geek Therapy Network:

• Website: https://geektherapy.org
• Community Forums: https://forum.geektherapy.org
• Twitter / X, Instagram, and Facebook: @GeekTherapy

What fandom felt too big for you to start, and what finally helped (or stopped) you from jumping in?
How do you decide whether to start at the “beginning” or find an easier entry point?
What strategies from geek culture have helped you tackle overwhelming real-life tasks?