Idling In The Impala | a ride through SPN fandom and fanfiction

Sandra and Kasey welcomed authors and friends to dig deeper into fanfiction on this episode. The topic is minority and cultural representation (or the lack thereof) in fanfics, focusing on Reader Insert and Original Characters.

Alex, known as ZepSkies, is a reader-insert and OFC writer who has penned many stories centered around characters brought to life by one Jensen Ackles. She’s imbued her reader inserts and ofc’s with diverse traits and characteristics that have reflected her Latin heritage and explored other cultures outside her frame of reference. 

Sandra sent an ask out in Idling’s Discord server to talk to authors from various cultures about this topic. One member, Laila (known as rubyvhs on tumblr), was keen to come on for the chat. Unfortunately, exams got in the way of her joining. But she kindly took time out and answered some questions sent over in advance.

Many thanks to these talented authors for sharing their insight and lived experiences!

You can find Alex on tumblr and AO3 and listen to her author interview.

You can find Laila on tumblr and AO3.

~~~

Reminder ~ “Ride with Pride” fundraiser merch will be available through June 30th, 2025! Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

~~~

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

~~~~~

Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

~~~~~

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:03:23 - Laila’s intro to SPN and fanfiction

00:06:18 - Alex’s cultural background and formative years

00:12:15 - Laila’s cultural background

00:17:00 - Fanfic Alex reads

00:25:10 - Fanfic Laila reads

00:25:54 - When Alex discovered cultural representation in fanfic

00:31:27 - Did Laila search for her cultural heritage in fanfic?

00:36:36 - Deciding to give a reader-insert character diverse cultural traits

00:51:29 - Fear of sharing a part of your culture in fanfiction?

00:58:41 - Laila incorporated her cultural identity into fanfic

01:05:34 - Breaking out of an ingrained bias

01:13:20 - Writing about a culture outside of your frame of reference

01:31:58 - Laila’s cultural creations

01:40:34 - Final advice from Alex

01:45:22 - Final thoughts and outro

Idling in the Impala’s 2025 Priding in the Impala Fundraiser is live! Visit the merch store and pick up anything with the “Ride with Pride” artwork (designed by the immensely talented Quickreaver)! Net revenue will be split between the LGBTQIA+ non-profit organization The Trevor Project and expenses that keep Idling in the Impala running (things like domain hosting, Zoom, Canva, etc.)

“Ride with Pride” merch will be available through June 30th, 2025! Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

https://idlingintheimpala.com/collections/ride-with-pride-2025

~~~

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

~~~~~

Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

Sandra and Kasey took a little time to discuss an angel that symbolizes middle management and chews scenery with the best of ‘em. He also voiced an iconic line describing the co-dependent relationship of Sam and Dean.

They’re talking about Zachariah, one of the baddest baddies to appear on Supernatural. 

~~~

Reminder ~ “Ride with Pride” fundraiser merch will be available through June 30th, 2025! Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

~~~

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:18 - Zachariah Deep Dive

00:03:59 - Show intro to Zachariah

00:08:33 - Towing the company line

00:10:12 - A great scenery chewer

00:13:24 - Middle management skills don’t work on the Winchesters

00:18:04 - Zach is a One-Trick Pony

00:19:14 - Point of No Return

00:21:51 - Zach’s callback in Lebanon

00:26:14 - A great exit

00:27:32 - Actor Kurt Fuller

00:34:13 - Outro

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

~~~~~

Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

Podfic Narration Time – “Magdalena” by Impala_Dreamer

Beka is well-known for her reader-inserts, but don’t discount her abilities to create original, fleshed out characters. This is an angsty, bittersweet story with an OFC and MOC!Dean that was a pleasure to narrate. It made me want to cuddle my murder baby man; bodily harm be damned!

Please visit the fic on AO3 and give it a kudo and comment - it deserves a ton of praise!

Visit our website at idlingintheimpala.com and find out where to listen to ALL our Ramble Ons.

~ Sandra

~~~~~

Supernatural Fandom

Rated Mature

Dean Winchester/OFC

Summary: 

The Mark of Cain has Dean doubting even his own thoughts, but there's one place he can go for a moment of peace, one person who can take away the pain... even for one night.

Sandra and Kasey chatted with an author creating OFC and reader-insert fics for the SPN fandom since 2016. Beka, known as Impala Dreamer, was one of the first tumblr blogs Sandra followed in 2019. Beka keeps the fandom well supplied, with over 1000 fics to her name, and also writes and publishes original fiction.

She indeed lives up to her tumblr tagline: “Smutting People, Writing Angst, A Dreamer’s Business.”

Such a fun chat that covered a bunch of topics! Enjoy!

You can find Beka and her fics on tumblr and AO3. 

~~~

Reminder ~ “Ride with Pride” fundraiser merch will be available through June 30th, 2025! Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

~~~

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

~~~~~

Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

~~~~~

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:03:19 - When did Beka get into Supernatural?

00:05:52 - Dean in the water should keep you hooked

00:07:03 - Beka truly connected with SPN

00:09:36 - Beka’s favorite brother

00:14:30 - A beast in bed

00:16:22 - What kept Beka coming back to the show?

00:19:40 - A season you could give up and never watch again

00:24:29 - Beka likes the Brits

00:27:41 - Favorite supporting characters

00:30:07 - Does Beka binge or consume SPN buffet style?

00:30:35 - Mystery Spot

00:39:04 - The start of fanfiction for Beka

00:42:19 - How the community built up on tumblr

00:43:29 - Reader-Insert focus

00:44:12 - How does Beka decide whether it’s an OC or Reader-Insert story

00:48:35 - tumblr skews reader-insert

00:52:13 - Creative social spaces, reader reactions, and the goal of writing

01:04:48 - When does Beka find the time to write?

01:05:19 - Following Jensen for character inspiration

01:08:31 - Fave fanfic tropes

01:16:17 - Does Beka have a fave fic she’s written?

01:18:46 - How down the research rabbit hole can Beka get?

01:25:35 - Favorite SPN Authors

01:31:51 - Beka’s original fiction

01:47:11 - Is Beka a Plotter or a Pantser?

01:48:49 - Happy endings in original fiction?

01:50:53 - Highlighting a handful of Beka’s fanfics

01:57:56 - Fiction isn’t reality

02:08:29 - Kasey’s questions

02:11:42 - Writing words of wisdom

02:19:57 - Final thoughts and outro

Sandra and Kasey thought it was time for a WIP update. They’ve both been busy tying some stories up into neat little bows and representing the love of their favorite Winchester brother. Listen to them bang and bing away. As always, massive thanks to those in the fandom community who offer creatives the chance to shine in an array of challenges and collaborations!

Reminder ~ “Ride with Pride” fundraiser merch will be available through June 30th, 2025! Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

~~~

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

~~~~~

Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

~~~~~

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:46 - Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

00:16:20 - Sandra and Kasey differ with their WIPs

00:17:55 - Pets4Punks

00:33:54 - The ABCs of Julie and Dean

00:38:00 - What challenges has Kasey signed up for?

00:41:16 - Kasey’s story for the SamWin JarPad Big Bang

00:45:31 - Know Thyself

01:00:30 - And then along came a JarPad Bingo

01:19:36 - Outro

It’s another ranking episode! Not too long ago, Sandra and Kasey picked some of the best one-off characters in Supernatural, and that got them thinking… why not pick some of the worst? The guidelines were as strict as last time: a character could only appear in one episode of Supernatural.

Have a listen and see if you agree with Sandra and Kasey’s picks. Well, mainly Sandra’s. Kasey may not have done the assignment and copied Sandra’s work.

Reminder ~ “Ride with Pride” fundraiser merch will be available through June 30th, 2025! Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

~~~

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

~~~~~

Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

~~~~~

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:08 - The idea of ranking worst one-offs

00:05:19 - How Sandra picked her characters

00:06:20 - Special Group Episode Award

00:11:43 - Searching through the seasons

00:12:32 - Season 3

00:16:06 - Tangent on movie adaptations of King novels

00:26:21 - Season 4

00:28:17 - Season 5

00:29:45 - Tangent on The Walking Dead

00:32:30 - Back to Season 5

00:34:03 - Tangent on Paris Hilton

00:35:03 - Trying to get back to Season 5

00:37:39 - Season 6

00:39:16 - Season 7

00:44:01 - Leave the dogs alone!

00:47:16 - Season 8

00:53:39 - Final pick from Season 14

00:56:32 - Outro

It’s another Tags and Tropes episode in which Sandra and Kasey focus on a category or aspect of fanfiction they may or may not have delved into before. The genre up for discussion is Transformation.  

Link to Metafic Fanlore Page: https://fanlore.org/wiki/Animal_Transformation and https://fanlore.org/wiki/Anthropomorfic. 

Doc with all the stats and fic links discussed in this episode can be found here.

If you’d like to check out more fic recs from our Discord members join us in the #backseat.

~~~

Reminder ~ “Ride with Pride” fundraiser merch will be available through June 30th, 2025! Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

~~~

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

~~~~~

Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

~~~~~

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:11 - Back in the driver’s seat after a break

00:01:56 - Transformation

00:02:31 - What we think of when we hear transformation

00:04:20 - Animal transformation

00:08:35 - Leaning into mythical animals

00:11:17 - Sandra has an affinity for witches

00:11:42 - Include werewolves and alpha omega or no?

00:12:49 - AO3 tags are lacking in animal transformation

00:14:23 - Interest in fics that lean hard into the actual act of transformation

00:15:45 - Some squicks might keep people away from transformation fics

00:25:40 - The fallout after animal transformation

00:26:45 - Anthropomorphic

00:27:18 - Dean loves his car

00:29:41 - We haven’t read much anthropomorphic fic outside of the Impala

00:30:36 - Becoming an object solely for function and dom/sub undertones

00:32:03 - Absolved of responsibility or being cared for

00:33:49 - AO3 stats

00:36:01 - Kasey’s memory gets jogged

00:38:08 - Sandra has some fics to rec

00:49:13 - Kasey found a fic to rec

00:50:14 - Recs from our Discord members

00:53:31 - Final verdict and Outro

Sandra and Kasey are talking about one of their favorite SPN characters that walked on sunshine… until she met her fate in Dark Dynasty. Charlie Bradbury is the subject of this character discussion. There are so many highs with Charlie on the show and, arguably, the lowest of the lows.

What’s your take on Charlie’s fate? Were you on board for the AU version?

Reminder ~ “Ride with Pride” fundraiser merch will be available through June 30th, 2025! Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

~~~

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

~~~~~

Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

~~~~~

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:01 - Talking about Charlie Bradbury

00:02:54 - One of the best character introductions

00:04:32 - Charlie was created to fill the Frank void

00:05:22 - The writers behind the characters

00:06:44 - S7 debut

00:08:07 - Fave Charlie scenes

00:10:58 - LGBTQ+ representation in media

00:12:01 - Charlie’s relationship with the boys

00:15:18 - Pac-Man Fever

00:18:45 - Linda Hamilton tangent

00:20:22 - Charlie’s horrible ending

00:22:01 - The backlash on Charlie’s treatment

00:28:30 - Bringing back an AU version of Charlie

00:32:34 - MCU AU example

00:33:27 - The need for closure

00:34:45 - Belladonna

00:35:27 - Charlie brought out the Geek in Dean

00:37:27 - Shout-out to Felicia Day

00:38:36 - Outro

Sandra and Kasey have had zero complaints about the homework assigned for this interview! If you’ve been a connoisseur of J2 and Wincest fanfic for more than a minute, the stories by the legendary writer on the podcast today have probably been recommended required reading. Nyxocity is a prolific creator who has been writing and posting since the heyday of LiveJournal. According to her tumblr profile, she’s blessed fandoms with over five million words of fanfic!

Get ready to be lectured about the evolution of the SPN fandom and learn about Nyx’s writing process and inspiration.

Where you can find Nyx and her work: tumblr, AO3, and LiveJournal

~~~

We're taking you for a spin in Baby's backseat.

Dean's House Rules - Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole, and the ones in the back enjoy the ride... idling in the Impala.

~~~~~

TL;DR - If you can’t be bothered clicking on all the things in this description, just visit our website: idlingintheimpala.com

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email ([email protected])!

All the Socials and AO3 and Fiction links: https://linktr.ee/idlingintheimpalapodcast

Our Discord #backseat Channel.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Give us some info about you here so we can connect.

Feel inclined to leave us a tip for all this AWESOME content? Visit our Ko-fi page. Monthly supporters will get special behind the scenes perks!

We’ve got podcast merch for our fellow idlers. Take a look!

~~~~~

Charities IITI Supports: Check out the Causes, ‘cause page on our website for the whys:

World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

~~~~~

For Those in the US: Educate and Empower Yourself, Find Ways to Take Action

Support Basic Human Rights - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Prioritize Your Mental Health - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Thrive (Not Just Survive) After Abuse - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)  

~~~~~

LGBTQ+ Charities

Switchboard LGBT UK

The Trevor Project - USA and Global

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Our podcast occasionally incorporates brief excerpts from the CW television show "Supernatural" for transformative commentary and analysis. This use falls under the Fair Use doctrine codified in Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act. The included clips are short, constituting only a minuscule portion of the original work, and illustrate specific points within our critical commentary. Our podcast does not compete with the show's market. This use promotes public discourse and understanding of the work, strengthening its cultural significance.

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Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:42 - When did Nyx get into Supernatural?

00:03:59 - Nyx’s Blorbo

00:11:20 - Nyx’s take on the show ending

00:13:36 - Mystery Spot verdict?

00:20:23 - Nyx is a forgiving viewer but she has her limits

00:26:52 - Living through Hellatuses

00:28:53 - Season 3 Cliffhanger

00:31:49 - Favorite show characters

00:37:46 - The start of Nyx’s fanfic journey

00:39:56 - Any original fiction?

00:41:30 - J2 is very close to original fiction

00:44:56 - How has the fandom community changed over the years?

00:47:33 - The rise of AO3

00:49:06 - What was Nyx’s first Supernatural story?

00:53:09 - The backlash over slash way back

01:01:38 - Sons of Anarchy and SPN crossover

01:07:44 - Metafic Wincest with Stranger than Fiction

01:13:33 - Like Staring Into the Sun

01:24:04 - Homework Verse

01:45:19 - When you have more story to tell, make it a verse

01:53:23 - How does Nyx decide if a story idea is gonna be J2 or Sam and Dean?

01:57:32 - Current work - Retroactive

02:06:11 - Writing and posting on a schedule

02:10:39 - Will reader feedback affect the story ending?

02:12:17 - The super power of reverse engineering a story

02:18:46 - It’s Not Living If It’s Not With You Verse

02:30:33 - Nyx doesn’t just write

02:34:09 - Nyx has a major announcement

02:42:37 - Final thoughts and words of wisdom from Nyx

02:49:49 - In shock and awe outro