DISCLAIMER: While there is no explicit content in today's episode, there is some NSFW talk sprinkled throughout. If you are a minor or are uncomfortable with those topics, then we kindly ask you not to listen. Thank you and we'll be back next week for another inclusive episode.

It's Virgo season baby! And more importantly than that... it's Sydney and Maya's birthday month!! This month will be full of that indulgent shit that they love and this week they're starting strong in a fandom Sydney loves and an alternate universe Maya loves. This week they ask, what would it be like if you dropped two very gay figure skaters into a world of hitmen, assassins and spies. Featuring all the enemies to lover tropes that you adore (i.e. going undercover at a gala, hiding in a too cramped storage room, and caring for the other after they've been hurt), will their story end in death? Will it end in love? Well, you better listen to find out! As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected]

Maya's Birthday Presents!!! Writing Fanfiction Doesn't Make Me Less of a Writer Quote Sticker by BiblioficDesigns, That Wasn't Very Plus Ultra of You BNHA Sticker by Basedlight, and Fanfic Writer Enamel Pin by PaolasPixels

If you are over the age of 18, read a black heart of gold by karasunotsubasa.

Fanfiction author Lo, a.k.a Ionica01 (A Cup of Magic, Dial and Error, so no one ever told you), joins Sydney and Maya to talk about how fanfiction became a huge escape in the pandemic, the disappointment that comes when you move on from a fandom when the fanfiction isn't done, her journey of watching anime after finding out an Episodes game plagiarized a whole show, and how the older generations are holding up fandom and fanfiction with their own hands. Plus, Maya and Ionica talks about how different fan art and fanfiction are perceived and consumed. As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected].

Check out A Cup of Magic, Dial and Error, and so no one ever told you, as well as all of Lo's other fics on Archive of Our Own.

Listen to Sydney retelling Home Is Where Jirou Is and All that Glitters Is Gold during My Hero Month here!

Fic Recommendations: nothing's quite as sweet by dimpleforyourthought, on growing; by crossroadswrites, finders keepers by solyn

School is back in session! Get out your pencils and paper (or laptops if you're cool like that) and prepare yourself for Professor Maya's introductory class, Storytelling 101. Writing can be a lot of work with a lot of moving parts, but Maya tries her best to explain the 4 P's to a story: People, Place, Plot and Purpose! And who says learning can't be fun? This might not be a masterclass, but she goes in depth for each P and gives examples to help everyone understand all of the different components (hopefully you like Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings). For our writers out there: hopefully this doesn't stress you out too much, and for the readers: look at how much stuff goes into those works of art! As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected].

Fanfiction News: The story behind 'MordeTwi' and why it's blown up on TikTok and Erotica author accused of plagiarizing ‘Supernatural’ fanfic

What happens when you put Minecraft Youtubers and put them in a magical, fantasy world where they're faced with immortal gods, boy-kings, war, and decisions that will change the course of their lives forever? You get the fifth most liked, the fifth most bookmarked, and the seventh most clicked on fanfiction on Archive of Our Own. You don't even need to know what's going on in the Dream SMP to enjoy this delicately written fic that is equally poetic and painful, and will have you sobbing at every turn. The hope, the happiness, the twists and turns, the highs and lows; every paragraph and sentence and character are the reasons you will remember this fic well into the future. Join Maya and Sydney as she recaps one of the biggest fics, not only in the MCYT fandom, but in the entire world. As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected].

Check out passerine by blujamas on Archive of Our Own.

The Happily Ever After. The Unhappily Ever After. Which do you prefer? In this episode Sydney and Maya put on a very tame debate as they discuss the two, why they gravitate towards a specific ending and make too many realizations about their mental health along the way. Choose your side and step up to the podium. As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected]. 

Fanfiction News: Tumblr is testing a subscription service—users already hate it 

Sydney's Etsy Review: Essential oil diffuser car air freshener by kmy2728

Fanfiction author Tasha, a.k.a Canis_Cosmos (An Echo in The Void, Dark is the Knight, A Postcard and a Knife), joins Sydney and Maya to talk about how the Hannibal fandom opened her eyes to fanfiction, the struggles of writing chapter in advanced but also wanting the instant gratification of posting, her transition from the Hannibal fandom to the Teen Wolf fandom, and how she stops herself from getting stuck on the rough draft. Plus, Tasha asks Sydney and Maya how they feel their journey of normalizing and celebrating fanfiction has come along. As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected].

Check out Dark is the Knight, A Postcard and a Knife, and A Dichotomy of Daemons, as well as all of Tasha's other fics on Archive of Our Own. 

Fic Recommendations: A Consequence of Consumption by ironlotus, Life is so much better when you're dead by toluenesister, Of Werewolves and Tentacles by Guede

Some weeks are better than other, and this is definitely a down week for both Sydney and Maya... which is why they're going straight to a coffee shop to raise spirits. There's no better place to cure a cold, warm you from the inside out, and maybe even find love with a traveling thespian. We would like to thank you in advance for the illness-driven ramblings that are latent in this episode while Maya tells a story of what happens when you drop Genshin Impact characters into a fluffy Coffee Shops & Cafes AU. As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected]

Check out more espresso, less depresso by birdsofpassage on Archive of Our Own.

Fanfiction News: Britney Spears fanfiction published in world's leading scientific journal

In this house, we love love. The all-important meet cute, true love's kiss, happily ever after. And there's nothing better than watching the same two people fall in love over and over and over again. That's the beauty of fanfiction, isn't it? This week, Sydney is bringing you into her world of beauty and grace and most importantly, love. Shut Up and Dance With Me is a heartwreckingly glorious fanfiction featuring Voltron's favorite boys, Keith Kogane and Lance McClain as they dance through the competition, into their future and into each other's hearts. And this is why this fic has found a spot as one of Sydney's favorite fics of all time. Join us as she tells you the story of rivals to friends, friends to lovers, found family, and how far two boys will go before they just admit how much they love each other. As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected]

Read, comment, bookmark and kudos Shut Up and Dance With Me by wittyy_name (also visit her on Twitter, Tumblr, Patreon, as well as the fic's Tumblr page!)

This just in, we're not the only fanfiction podcast (kidding, kidding). Hallie and Crumpet from PlotWhatPlot join Sydney and Maya to talk about how they started a podcast to scare the hibbie jibbies out of their friend, why you shouldn't be getting your sex education from fanfiction, the intricacies of finding the perfect cracky smut-filled fic, and how their podcast has shaped their view of fanfiction and fandom as a whole. Plus, Sydney and Maya describe to Crumpet and Hallie the Fanfiction.net purges of 2002 and 2012. As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected]

Check out the PlotWhatPlot on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podchaser. While you're there, check out the episode Sydney and Maya guest starred on, Attack on Titan: Trigger Warning Mr. Winky.

Follow PlotWhatPlot on Twitter, as well of their hosts - Hallie Rose, Crumpet Aintree and Dylan Lincoln.

This was bound to be. The time is now, for Maya to pull out the big guns. The big, the bad, the favorite... Mafia AUs. Whether you like it for the violence, the chaos, or the aesthetic of a man who would kill the world for you and looking good while doing it, then this episode is for you. Hopefully that itch will be scratched, while also learning some new facts about the reality of the mafia and joining us while we talk about reality v. fiction and how that affects Mafia Alternate Universes. And Maya recommends to you her favorite Haikyuu based Mafia AUs (granted only if you don't mind Y/N fics, you know we don't ;)). As always, send us your fic recommendations, or reach out if you are a fic author who would like to be interviewed in the future, at [email protected]

Sydney's Etsy Reviews: Smiling Strawberry Earrings and Space Star Earrings from Clown Cottage, Frog Ring and Flower Ring from ArtsnDinks

Maya's Haikyuu Mafia AU Fic Recommendations: Just Us by skyerocketeer, Stained and Stitched by arcticliars