As the WGA and SAG strikes continue, it can be easy to forget why they are on strike in the first place. Many people don't really understand the production process or how things are so bad that professional writers have been willing to stop working for nearly 5 months. In this episode, I speak with veteran TV writer and executive producer, Ricky Manning and staff writer and story editor, Brittany Northcross, about their perspectives on the strikes. They also pull back the veil a bit and talk about working conditions of writers and how that has changed with the advent of streaming. The contrast between Ricky and Brittany's journeys into becoming television writers shows how much the industry has changed and how unforgiving it has been for newer writers over the past decade. This strike about the future of creative labor and invites us all to consider how our work is be respected and used in the greater landscape.

Note: I have consulted with SAG about this episode and have tried to adhere to all necessary guidelines.

The Writers Guild of America is on strike. The Screen Actors Guild is on strike. Hollywood has come to a screeching halt. And everyone is wondering who in the world is the AMPTP! In this episode, I talk to my friends, Cort, an entertainment journalists from Pure Fandom.com and co-host of the Geek Girl Soup podcast, and Amanda-Rae Prescott, an entertainment journal for the PBS affiliate, WGBH Boston, about this entire situation. We also discussion how the demands of SAG and WGA tie into history, representation, progress and the nature of human creativity itself.

In this episode, Kimberly, Neka and I talking about falling in love... with your alien next-door neighbor or the werewolf mechanic or the dragon shifter to tells you that you MUST go on a quest together. Monster Romances are nothing new, going all the way back to Beauty and the Beast, which as you know is "a tale as old as time", but there seems to be a recent surge in interest. In this conversation, we explore what is so compelling about these monster lovers, what does it say about our own society and what can learn from these interspecies relationships. I hope you enjoy the episode!!

This episode is like of a retrospective of internet fanfiction starting for the early days of late 80's with UserNet to modern day social media and how that has influenced fannish behaviors. I talk to my friend Tara O'Shea who is like a fandom OG, bard and storyteller. She is a Award-winning editor, journalist, illustrator, and designer. She co-edited the Hugo Award-winning book "Chicks Love Time Lords", has been on the planning committee of conventions all over the country and currently works as a graphic designer. From message boards to fanfiction.net, to Archive of Our Own, to Fanlore... Tara has been there, so gather 'round fans old and new, and we will tell you the tale of where we have been. 

For my first convention review, I'm joined by journalist, Dean Rogers of pop culture news site, The Rogers Revue. Together, we discuss our collective and separate experiences at the convention as well as some general best practices for going to a convention. As a frequent comic con attendee myself, I was struck by the differences and similarities that I experienced in this convention space. Dean and I cover subjects from the current state of fandom to the emotional experience of celebrity interactions and between all that, I give Farpoint my convention score with my new "convention rubic". Have a listen and I can't wait to hear what you think. 

Anita aka Tranquil Ashes has crafted her own cosplay brand and business in nerdy/blerdy game for a decade. Using her connections and influence to create more inclusive spaces for other black and brown artists and creators, she has become positive force in the cosplay space, encouraging others to full their dreams and setting an example by being an ambitious and bold plus-size creator herself. Also, as the creator of Black Mermaid Day, she is passionate about not only creating a safe aquatic fantasy space, but also encouraging more black families to take up swimming as a life skill and develop a positive relationship with the water. 

Recorded in March of 2022, in this episode, Dr. Maria DeBlassie and I discuss the ways that sci-fi media has responded to the calls for diversity, inclusion and authenticity in television and if we think they have been able to meet the moment. We discuss the ways that social media has influenced the conversation both positively and negatively as well as how certain television shows have had to evolve their narrative to adapt to the social consciousness of their audience. Television shows discussed include: Supernatural, Flash, Charmed, Charmed (2018 reboot), The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Wheel of Time and Star Trek: Discovery

In this episode, host of the podcast The Sacred Now, Jay Jackson and Episcopal priest, Reverend Rachel Kessler aka @nerdypriest on TikTok, join me as we discuss the different places were faith and science fiction meet. We discuss faiths within sci-fi universes as well as how our collective interests in science fiction has complimented or contradicted our beliefs. But ultimately *spoiler alert* this conversation is about the ways that science fiction can continue to give a us hope for a better future. In this episode, we discuss everything from Star Trek, to Blade Runner to Children of Men and more. I hope you enjoy it. 

For the last episode of Black History Month 2022, we end as we begun: Celebrating Black Joy.  We are talking about BIPOC Vampire Day with its founder Jamila aka @BlackBettieCosplay. BIPOC Vampire Day (well, weekend) took place on September 17-19, 2021. For this weekend, cosplayers and artists of Black, Indigenous, Latine, Middle Eastern, East Asian, South Asian backgrounds embraced their "dark" side and dressed up as vampires and various creatures of the night. As movies, television and media have embraced vampire lore over the past few decades, people of color have often been left out or left with minimal representation, with #BIPOCVampireDay, Jamila sought to change that as well as bring a community of diverse, creative people together for a good cause. In this episode, we discuss the inspiration behind BIPOC Vampire Day, how event developed and where it is going next. I hope you enjoy it.

Since 2015 (and a little bit earlier), there has been a massive increase in the amount of women of color that we see in sci-fi/fantasy media across network, cable and streaming platforms. With this increase in representation (and we can always use more), the conversation has shifted a bit more from just putting women of color in speculative properties to exploring how we are being represented and what are the overall messages being send the audience. In this episode, I explore those ideas with transmedia social justice producer and co-host of Trek Table, Claudia Alick and Community Advocate and co-host of Pop Chatter podcast, Natacia Knapper. We look at #StarTrekDiscovery, #Watchmen, #LovecraftCountry, #Flash and so much more. It's a fun, intense, definitely going-to-challenge you conversation.

If you are interested in learning more about the Baldwin House project follow @DCW1MutualAid

If you are interested in learning more about Watch Nights and F*** The Gala, go to www.callingupjustice.com