Transcript

Taylor: Well, fans, in case you missed the memo, this is a pretty special episode for us because look at the title. It is episode number 100. It’s a pretty special episode because, with a few exceptions, Katie and I have worked together to craft 100 episodes about Marvel covering shows, movies, special presentations, movie replays, random topics, the Multiverse, space, time travel, not my favorite, that last one. But we have talked about a lot of things in 100 episodes. And so for this special, special occasion, we are just going to take this episode to talk a little bit about how proud we are and celebrate and also have a few guests. We have some familiar voices joining us on the show today, who you’ll hear in a little bit, as well as some of our friends of the pod who we are excited to introduce to you all for the first time on this show. So without further ado, let’s dive into episode 100. Happy celebration to us. Katie, why don’t you kick us off, as always with our first segment where we’re going to talk a little bit about what we are most proud of in crafting this show for 100, I’m going to say that number 1000 more times this episode, 100 episodes.

Katie: I would honestly if looking back at all of this, 100 episodes, I will also say 9 million times because we deserve to. I honestly think the thing I’m most proud of is not just reaching the achievement because I think it’s an achievement in itself. I think anybody who’s done anything where you’ve been able to get a medal, whether it’s in a game or it’s in a sport or whatever, I mean, that’s awesome. But I think it’s also just the track of getting there. And I think when you even talk to anybody who might be in a professional setting who is talking about what they did to get to that accomplishment, I mean, they’ll say in a heartbeat, that it’s everything that happened to get us here. It’s the path. And quite frankly, I think I’m just proud of the fact that we stayed consistent. I think that’s my proudest moment, just solely because I struggle a lot with that. And I know I’ve talked about this on other episodes, that if it was up to me wholeheartedly by myself, this podcast would have been dead in two weeks. Not even because of the workload or anything of that. It solely would have just been because it would have been a passion project until I found the next passion project that I would hyperfocus on for two more weeks and it would be forgotten. P.S. there’s a book I’ve been writing for about a year and I am like a chapter in, and that’s a good example of this. So I just think staying consistent is just such an awesome thing. I think we’ve made so many awesome strides as well. And so to be able to say we’re entering another 100 episodes after this and to keep going. An achievement we want to obviously get to quicker at this point. I think it’s just awesome.

Taylor: Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. I think consistency has been a challenge in that, you know, we both have lives outside of the show. We both have other things we’re interested in, other responsibilities. And so making that commitment to not only ourselves but to each other, to hit those marks as best we can. Did we always put out episodes on time?

Katie: No. 

Taylor: But did they get out? Yes. And have we been better about being on time lately? Yes. And so just finding those ways to really just be accountable to this team of two here and make sure that we’re doing everything that we can to build the best show that we can for you all, that consistency is key. I think for me, the thing that I’m most proud of is just the and you touched on this a little bit, but the strides that we’ve made, the way that we’ve been able to hone our skills, invest in the show. I don’t know if you guys noticed this and the quality of our audio, but we got new mics recently, which was a big deal for us.

Katie: Unless you count about a couple episodes ago and I forgot to record on my mic. And so if you heard my audio, I’m sorry, that was my fault.

Taylor: There was a moment where I inputted her audio and I started listening and I was like girl, we have a problem.

Katie: Yeah, I’m sorry, guys. That was definitely on me. I just totally forgot to flip the settings. So I’m sorry, but as usual, we now have new mics that have been making us sound ten times better than just our voice memo app on our phones.

Taylor: Yeah, so we’re in the big leagues now. We have real equipment, like real podcasters, so that’s exciting. But you know, even going beyond that, just learning how to better edit so that you all have relatively consistent audio levels that you’re hearing. The social has been amazing. The rebrand was huge for us in terms of just looking more professional, honing in on exactly who we want to be as a podcast, and really drilling into the things that make us special. You know, I think we’ve gotten really, really intentional over 100 episodes. Those first 20 episodes, man, they were chaotic and we had no idea what we were doing. And that’s probably true for a lot of podcasters. But as we’ve gone on, we have learned how to be more strategic, and more intentional. I think that’s the thing I’m most proud of, is the way that, you know, we have quarterly meetings now, which you all see on our social and the way that we’re able to plan and execute has gotten a lot more streamlined. And I’m a very process-oriented person, so that just makes me like over-the-moon happy. And it took a hundred episodes to get there so I’m really, really proud of that.

Katie: Yeah, I think we should put an emphasis on the planning because I can guarantee you we all can account for the fact we used to go into episodes with not a single plan and we just were like, guess the episodes Loki Episode three, we’re just going to talk about it. Now we actually sit there and we’re like, okay, so what were the big moments of the episode? Let’s hit on them. Okay, Do you have something else? Okay, let’s strategically go into this and know what we’re going to talk about. What might get talked about in the blog instead of in the episode, or maybe might make it’s extra episode at the end of the show or movie or whatever. But yeah, those first few have I sometimes I go back to do like the transcripts for the show and obviously, I’m working backward a little bit, and man, you know, I can’t even tell we’re cutting each other off so bad. It’s so, don’t look at those transcripts, guys, because they’re bad. They’re not edited right now. But yeah, we’ve definitely made a lot of strides in just how we are able to do this together. And I think that has gone to show in the recent 30 episodes especially. And so we just keep getting better and that’s what we want to do for the next hundred.

Taylor: Yeah, couldn’t have said it better. I’m excited to find new ways to improve, make the show better, involve you all, and try new formats. There are a few episodes coming down the pike in the next few weeks or so that we’re excited to share with you all that are different from what we’re normally doing. And so as we’ve built the foundation, over 100, numbers 100 or 200 are going to be a little bit more experimentation, a little different. And I’m excited to switch it up, change it up a little bit, and just keep getting better for you all. And I think that’s what I’m most looking forward to as we look to our next hundred horizon. And so now that we’ve talked a little bit about the under-the-hood stuff, the stuff you can’t see, the gross logistics stuff that I get really excited about but you as listeners probably don’t care all that much about as long as we are in your ears weekly, we’re going to talk about some of the content stuff that has really been fun for us to work on over the last 100 episodes. And now it’s kind of insane to think about all of the topics that we’ve covered. I listed some of them out at the top of the episode, but that wasn’t even going into listing every show, every movie, and every special presentation. I mean, there are 100 episodes of content in here, so there’s a lot to talk about, but we’re going to pick a couple each that we are really, really proud of, or really excited about whether the quality is great in the audio, who cares? The content made us happy and that’s all that matters. So, Katie, as always, I’m going to make you go first.

Katie: I think there are a couple of ways to go about answering this. I think as far as just in general, the things I thought we had some of the best discussion about, the things I thought, you know, we were pretty on par with for better or for worse, of two you point the quality of the podcast consistency, whatever you want to say about it. I would say honestly, Spider-Man: No Way Home is up there for me, including the actual reactions. But I know we got to do a special debate episode with Davis, and so that was pretty cool and that was really fun. And honestly, I think maybe that’s a fond memory just because we all walked out saying Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man was actually the best. As a firm Andrew Garfield Spider-Man fan since day one, I was very happy that I turned two Tobey Maguire fans over just by looking at the book. So I’m actually very passionate about that. But I think that was pretty cool. I mean, we don’t get to always do a lot of those debate episodes. I think, you know, that’s something we want to do moving forward at some point. There’s so much to debate, but that was the first time doing it, so that was really fun. I also really enjoyed actually Secret Invasion, and that’s not just because of recency bias. I think we actually did really awesome covering that. I think we were pretty on par with a lot of the show. I think it was fun because while we were on par, we never really knew what was going to happen next and I think some of that comes down to just the quality of the show. I think we were really passionate about five out of six of those episodes and even the episode I don’t think we were quite as passionate about, I think we broke it down really well. I think we did an awesome job and still, I think that show is so one of the top ones, in my opinion, whether or not they fumbled the bag on the last episode or not. So I thought we did really awesome at that, that’s still one of my favorite pieces as well that we covered. And honestly, I might have to just throw out Hawkeye just because that was also I can’t say Loki, I’m sorry, I just can’t. But that was one of the few we got to see some of the episodes together and we got to see all of like Wandavision, Falcon and Winter Soldier, Loki, all those together. But obviously, we weren’t yet a podcast during the first two. And like I said, I can’t say Loki, and I just, you know, being able to kind of watch together and record that was just, that’s a different experience. We don’t get to do that often anymore. So I think that’s still one of my favorite content moments as well.

Taylor: Yeah, those are all really, really good options. I think I could definitely see Hawkeye and No Way Home being on my list as well. But just to get a little bit of variety because, you know, variety is the spice of life. I’m going to not name those. I think for me, this is tough. I think weirdly enough, as frustrating as it was this episode because it caused me like six panic attacks, I was really, really proud of our Secret Wars episode because I thought we were able to actually I think if I remember correctly, we talked about Secret Wars before it had been confirmed as a film. So the fact that we actually were like, you know, I know it was kind of getting obvious at that point, but still, we called it we were there. I think we’ve talked in previous episodes about the debacle that happened around that episode and how I spent many an hour with Apple support. And then we had lovely raindrops. But, you know, despite what the audio sounds like of that episode, I was really, really proud of us being able to pick something that big and predict it early before it was officially announced. I also got a chance to read the actual comic as you all know, earlier this year. And so that was just like a really awesome thing to predict it and then also get that background a little bit later. So it’s definitely a top moment for me. I would also say that our coverage around Ant-Man is actually something that I’m really proud of, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. I think because it was the first time that we had implemented our reactions and then a few topics stemming out of a movie, which we’ve now done a couple of times. But that was the first time where we really kind of sat down and intentionally said, you know, after watching a film all right, we’re going to do our reactions episode, obviously opening weekend like we’ve always done. And then coming out of that, here are a few topics that I think we need to drill down deeper on. And I know we covered Young Avengers, we covered Kang. And so those are really obviously important topics moving forward. And that was something that I think, you know, we talked about process improvements and changes that we’ve made to the episodes and the show in general, and that was a really cool moment to see something that we were excited about implementing actually come to life. And I think, you know, a lot of that has been stuff that we’ve gone back to and referenced in later episodes, especially as it relates to the Young Avengers. So that’s something that I’m also really proud of. And then just from a I really enjoyed this content and also have good memories of watching it, similar to Kate in Hawkeye, and picking it because we actually got to watch it together. Last year, we got to watch the Guardians Holiday special together because it was right around Thanksgiving. So we were both home and able to watch together and record together, which as Katie mentioned, are really growing increasingly rare. Believe it or not, we’re actually in the same room right now recording this episode as I’m saying this, but those are not something that’s not something that we get to do often anymore. So any time where we get to be in the same room, feed off of each other’s energy, watch it together, react in real-time together, that’s you know, those are great moments. That was how the show was born and so it’s a little bit of a return to our roots and not being mediated by FaceTime, though thank you FaceTime for making the show possible. Not in that ad.

Katie: It can be if Apple wants it to be, so just reach out to us.

Taylor: Yeah. You know where to find us. All our socials are, you know, linked below. Anyway, so those are some highlights for us and just some things that we’ve really enjoyed covering, some topics we’ve enjoyed talking about as well as just good memories over 100 episodes. There are probably a million more that I can’t think of and Katie, I’m sure you feel the same because 100 episodes, I mean, as we sat together with the exception of a few times where our friend and guest host Davis stepped in, we’ve sat down together 100 times to talk about Marvel, and that’s insane. But I would be remiss if I didn’t say what I think Katie and I both feel, you know, at the very deepest levels of our hearts, which is that this show would not exist without all of you, without us seeing that people are actually enjoying it, listening to it every week. You know, we get our Spotify wrapped at the end of the year and we get to see who’s checking us out on Spotify and or not who, but how everybody’s checking us out and all that good stuff. And you know, without you guys, we would have given up probably around episode ten. I think that’s when I had my first meltdown, maybe? I don’t even know that we made it to ten before I had my first meltdown, to be honest. But without, you know, your constant listenership, we wouldn’t have a show. And we are just so grateful for all of you for sticking around with us through our audio issues and our challenges and our sometimes late episodes. We’re learning, we’re growing, and we’re so grateful for you all to be here with us throughout this journey. 

Katie: I just have to say 10, I’m not sure that was that might not have been the threshold. I feel like it would have been like five because we definitely struggled, especially when we had to do the double episodes, which was a choice that we made to do Loki and Black Widow together.

Taylor: TBT two the questionable choices we were making at the beginning of this show.

Katie: Yeah, that was definitely a choice I don’t agree with, but here we are. Yeah, but honestly, as Taylor said, this would not be possible without you guys. I mean, when there are moments where we aren’t always feeling the most confident in things we’re doing, things whether they’re working or not, and being able to see, you know, you guys joining in, you guys coming in on YouTube, on Spotify, adding us on socials, you know, talking to us on socials, interacting in whatever way, shape or form. That’s what boosts everything for us. Because quite frankly, like without that, we would have had a lot of moments where I think we would have had to seriously talk about, do we want to do this? Is it worth it? Are people really getting what we want out of this? We just want to create a great community here and talk Marvel because that’s what this is all about. And so it all comes down to that and we’re just so happy that we have you guys here and you guys are well and to Taylor’s point, you’ve stuck around during some of the crazy moments, the not-so-great moments, the just all over the place moments and even the episodes where we used to just argue with each other on the mics all the time, or I guess not even the mics we didn’t use to have mics. So even when you stuck around for all that, we’re just super appreciative of all of it.

Taylor: Yeah, definitely. Again, we wouldn’t be here without all of you, but we won’t bore you with any more of our reflections or ruminations though we will say thank you one more time because again, you guys are awesome and we are so, so, so appreciative of your support. But without further ado, let us dive into the meat of this 100th episode with some of our guests, and we’re excited to have you all join us. Listeners we have a special news segment for you for this 100th episode. We just got done talking a little bit about our reflections on what it means to us to be 100 episodes into the show. And now we are bringing back a familiar face who hasn’t been here in a minute from the show. Our good friend and frequent sort of frequent guest host, Davis. Davis, welcome back.

Davis: Hello, it’s great to be back. Honestly, it feels like forever that we were I think it was I think Moon Knight. We were talking about Moon Knight the last time I was on the podcast.

Taylor: Yeah, that was a while ago.

Katie: It’s been a long time. 

Taylor: We haven’t talked about Moon Knight in a minute.

Davis: Yeah, well, thank you very much for having me back and hopefully some listeners are thrilled that I have returned, but maybe not. Who knows?

Taylor: Well, I know we’re thrilled to have you back.

Davis: Oh, thank you. 

Taylor: Katie’s laughing but I’m at least happy to have you back, my friend.

Davis: Oh, thank you. I appreciate it.

Taylor: Anyway, so appreciate you again coming in and helping us celebrate our 100th episode. We’re going to be focusing all on fandoms because, of course, that is the basis of our show and everything we talk about here. So let’s just dive right in. First question for you, Davis. What fandoms are you a part of?

Davis: Well, first of all, before we start, I just want to take a moment to recognize 100 episodes. That is insane. 

Taylor: Thank you. Thank you. 

Davis: I mean, like bravo. That is so awesome. So cool. Like when you started the podcast, did you think you get to on? I mean, that’s a pretty big milestone.

Taylor: Definitely not. I mean, it’s actually shocking we haven’t killed each other yet.

Katie: I would actually have probably said the same thing. 

Taylor: But yeah, it’s been fun. We’ve learned a lot. We have had a lot of fights. We’ve had a lot of good moments. But yeah, it’s it’s been a challenge. But I think it’s one that we’ve started to kind of wrangle and I’m definitely excited about the next hundred.

Katie: 

Yeah, I mean, it makes things like that feel a lot more in the or a lot more able to be done. I think after having these 100 down, I mean, the fact that it’s taken us a little more than two years roughly to hit 100 and that’s only going to get quicker as we’ve turned to doing one episode every week. It’s going to be exciting. It’s fun. I feel like we’ve got a good background going for us and I’m happy to just keep going.

Davis: Yeah, that was it. I just wanted to congratulate you guys because 100, I mean, that’s incredible. I mean, it’s quite an accomplishment.

Taylor: Thank you. And I mean, some of those episodes we couldn’t have done without you because realistically, you filled in when one or the other couldn’t be here. So we kind of need a second person to do this show and appreciate, you know, all of your support as well and being able to step in and guest host when one of us had a prior commitment that we couldn’t be on. And realistically, those episodes wouldn’t happen without you, so we wouldn’t be here without you, my friend. So thank you.

Davis: Oh, thank you very much. I’ll take 0,5% of the credit.

Taylor: That seems about appropriate.

Katie: That’s all I was going to give you.

Taylor: That seems good. 

Davis: Thank you. Fair enough. I thought one was a reach.

Taylor: This is true. 

Katie: Yeah.

Taylor: You hit that one on the head. But without further ado, diving into the topic of fandoms. Tell us, what fandoms are you a part of? What do you consider yourself a member of?

Davis: So I think there are three main fandoms. First being, you know, the Cleveland sports stuff. 

Taylor: Boooooo.

Katie: Get outta here.

Davis: I’m a Cleveland sports fan, you know, whether that’s good or bad, a lot more bad than good in the past couple of, you know, my whole life, actually.

Taylor: That’s a sign you might want to leave, jump ship.

Davis: It hasn’t been a great run, but yes, I am a diehard Cleveland sports fan. I live, breathe, and die bleeding a lot for these teams. So I think that would be my main fandom. But then the other two would definitely be Marvel, and then the third would be Star Wars. So one is a little bit more niche. I don’t think there are a lot of people who would say they’re diehard Cleveland sports fans, but I think Marvel and Star Wars, at least there are millions of people across the world that are a part of those. So I think the latter two are, the more the bigger ones.

Taylor: Totally. And I know I personally can relate to the last two. Katie just the middle one.

Katie: Yeah. I can’t say I’m too much of a Star Wars fan. It’s on my list to get to eventually.

Davis: It’s on my to-do list. Just don’t worry about Star Trek. That’s something completely different.

Katie: Well, I know that. I am aware of that. No, I think I’ve actually seen more Star Trek than I’ve seen Star Wars over the years, so I have some catching up to do.

Davis: Taylor, I feel like that’s your responsibility.

Taylor: I know. I feel like I have failed in the realm of older siblings. It is something I’m embarrassed about, to be honest.

Katie: As long as it’s your fault.

Taylor: You know you’ve made everything in our lives my fault I’m just used to it. But yeah, I mean, obviously Marvel’s a huge part of our fandom as well. And we all know I love myself a good Pedro Pascal, Mandalorian moment. 

Davis: Who doesn’t?

Taylor: Gotta love a good Star Wars. I think those are three mm two very solid fandoms that third one…

Davis: Agree to disagree. Okay, we can all be Philadelphia fans and win championships in recent years. All right?

Taylor: You know what? We have been bleeding green since the day we were born. Even when they weren’t good.

Davis: Oh, so you’re a Skrull?

Katie: Oop.

Davis: Bleeding green.

Taylor: You know what? If that’s what it takes, I’m okay with that. 

Katie: So are we now throwing out the theory that the entirety of Philadelphia fans who bleed green are Skrulls?

Davis: I think we should put that out there into the universe. I think that should be known.

Katie: All right. I’m okay with that.

Taylor: Honestly, they have some baddie powers. I would like to shapeshift. Can we be Super Skrulls? Is that on the board?

Davis: Yeah, I think so.

Taylor: All right, then literally, who can beat us? Like, truly we have Jalen Hurts and the power of the Skrulls. Who’s going to beat us?

Davis: Well, to be a Super Skrull, I think you have to be standing next to the Liberty Bell as it gets struck by lightning. I think that’s how you get you gain those powers.

Taylor: That can be arranged.

Katie: That’s not hard.

Taylor: Welcome to Philadelphia. All right, lovely. Most of it. Moving on. What does fandom mean to you?

Davis: I think fandom, first and foremost, is having a community around you. You, of course, can be a fan of many different things. And I think the coolest part of the overall term fandom is you can literally be a fan of anything. And there’s a very high likelihood that other people like and are interested in the same things you are. So I think the coolest part about being a part of a fandom is being a part of a community. You know, in terms of Marvel and Star Wars, like everywhere you look, you know, billboards, merch, Etsy, like everywhere. I mean, there are stickers on water bottles, there are posters on walls and living rooms and bedrooms, T-shirts. I mean, you couldn’t walk down Hollywood Boulevard, which is near where I live, and not see some sort of Marvel or Star Wars t-shirt and the ability to just have an instant connection with someone that you’ve never met before. Like you, it literally could be someone you just met that same day. If you both are a part of the same fandom, you instantly have this amazing connection with someone that you could launch into a multiple-hour conversation with a complete stranger about. And I think that’s the coolest thing. So fandom for me at least, the main meaning behind it for me is just having that community that gets excited and enthusiastic about the same things as you.

Taylor: Totally. I think one of the coolest things is being in a room of people you might not know. Like say you’re like at a work networking event or some kind of event where you have-

Katie: Or like college. 

Taylor: Also, that. Any place where you’re outside of your comfort zone right? And you know, immediately you just happen to like mention that you like Marvel. Or in my case, I always drop the podcast because, you know, word of mouth marketing and immediately someone’s like, oh my God, did you see the most recent project or what did you think about this? Or are you excited about The Marvels, Loki, Echo insert upcoming project here. And to your point, you can have like a solid 30-minute conversation. Everybody else is looking at you like you’re nuts. But that conversation between you and that person is so meaningful and you’re immediately connected in that way. So I totally agree. I think it’s such an important way of like making it what could be a big room, smaller in a lot of ways, or just finding that one person who you are now comfortable within a room where you maybe were stretching yourself before.

Katie: And I think it even goes almost the other way, too, because I think I haven’t had a lot of chances to go to Comic-Con. I’ve only gone to about two. But I think it gives a really awesome example of, you know, you can go to these comic cons, and everyone there more or less, depending on the theme. If it’s a broad one, of course, it’s a little different. But if you go to a more specific one, they’re there for the same reason you are. Same as going to these movies. Whenever we go to a premiere, I mean, those people who are in that theater on Thursday night with you are just as much of a diehard fan of the fandom you are a part of, and they will talk your ear off if you want to because you guys just know you’re there over something that connects you. And so I think it’s so awesome too, to just be able to go to all these events and just a simple movie and, you know, interact with these people and make friends through it. So I think it’s awesome. I think they are great ways to make friends. I think when you get games involved, I think of like Pokemon Go or like they have the Wizard app for that, that’s very similar too, for Harry Potter. I mean, you just can make so many friends this way and it just becomes such a deep-rooted thing. I think fandoms are awesome.

Davis: Yeah. And to that point, I think one of the biggest positives about fandom is giving someone a platform and giving someone an opportunity to connect with other people when they otherwise wouldn’t have. You know, you always hear stories of maybe there was like a socially awkward kid in your class or we all know that one person who, you know, maybe doesn’t have a ton of friends, in class or in school, but, you know, they have an awesome, amazing online community that has their back. So I think it gives people who, maybe aren’t the best at making friends an opportunity to do so, because it’s hard. Making friends is hard, especially if you don’t have any common ground. So I think fandoms give people who might not be the easiest to befriend a chance. And I think that’s awesome because there’s a lot of times where you see people who, you know, aren’t the most socially inclined, and yet they have hundreds of fans around them through fandom. So I think that’s kind of the coolest thing. In my opinion, giving someone who might not otherwise be able to be a part of a community, a platform and a group of people to surround themselves with in relation to something common.

Katie: Yeah, I agree. I think it’s just beyond if we really just want to boil it down, I think it’s just the best way to your point, I think you’re saying it builds that community around you, whether it’s natively through, you know, the first day of school or a club or something like that, or going online. I mean, how many times have we sat here even throughout the podcast, and been like, you know, we were talking to so-and-so on Twitter, no idea who they are behind the screen. I don’t know who they are from Adam and I never might ever know that. But I mean, we had a whole conversation back and forth or we debated something back and forth. So I think it’s just having that ability to just have a community around you that’s just so golden about it.

Davis: Yeah. And to that point, two years ago, I moved out to Los Angeles. I moved across the country into one of the biggest cities in the country, and I didn’t know quite where I fit in. It’s a huge city. It’s hard to find your niche, to find your group. And so I was having a hard time because I was nervous. I didn’t know where exactly to fit myself in this huge city, but I relied on one of my fandoms. I looked up where to watch Cleveland Brown sporting events, and there’s a local bar in Hollywood that the owners from Cleveland. And so I showed up for one of the very first games of the season that year, and the bar was packed with people wearing Cleveland Browns merch. It was crazy. They were barking at each other. They were screaming. It was so passionate and lively. And I’m like, okay, this is it like, this is my community. I finally found it in this huge fishbowl that is Los Angeles. I was able to find my people and find, you know, a space to hang out for a couple of hours every weekend and feel like I was back at home. So I think that’s really where the sports fandom has come in handy as of recently because it’s given me a place where I feel like I’m at home and fit in in a huge city. Obviously not as big as New York City, but I’m sure, Taylor, you can relate to something to some degree.

Taylor: Yeah, definitely. I think you hit the nail on the head with that one in the idea of making a large place smaller. Obviously, New York, there are so many people everywhere and that can make it seem like it’s supposed to be really easy to, like, meet people and find friends. But realistically, everybody’s kind of doing their own thing and you don’t really actually know anyone right? Especially, you know, just moving here. But when you are able to find people who you have things in common with, that just makes it that much smaller, that much faster. I know one of the things that I was able to do when I first moved to the city a few years ago was the place where I was living, it was an all-girls dorm and we would do Bachelor Mondays every week. We would all sit in the theater room and watch The Bachelor. And I had made some friends through some events there, but we would always go whenever possible, Monday nights. That was the thing. And like, even though I’m not necessarily friends with every girl who went and did that, it was just a nice way of bonding with the girls who were living in my building and building that community over something that we all enjoyed watching on a Monday night. So I totally relate to that. I think any time that you can make a large place seem less intimidating by making it smaller and kind of niching down it just makes it way easier and less scary to just put yourself out there because you already know that you kind of have a foundation with a lot of those people.

Davis: Yeah, I think we had very similar experiences. That’s why people choose to be part of fandoms to fit in and feel like they’re supported.

Taylor: Yeah, you know what, I think that’s why we wanted to really circle this episode on fandom because at the end of the day, that is the foundation of our episode. That’s what we’re trying to do is really create a community around this podcast so that Marvel lovers from all over the world, from all walks of life, can really find a place where they are with people who are passionate about the same things. And I appreciate you coming on here being able to talk with us, and celebrate this milestone moment for the show. For all you listeners, just a little sneak peek. He’ll be back in not too long in the relatively near future.

Davis: All right.

Katie: Davis and I are going to party.

Taylor: Yeah, I’m going to be MIA for an episode or two.

Davis: Mark your calendars.

Taylor: Yeah. So we’ll let you all know when that comes. But definitely excited to have a Kate and Davis mash-up coming down the pike this fall. We again are so, so, so grateful for you taking the time to chat with us and celebrate all of this with us, and are so grateful for all of your support and helping us get 100 episodes.

Davis: Of course. And on one last note and kind of a sentimental note, I think the reason we became Taylor and I became friends all the way back in 2016 was because of our shared fandoms. I think at the time, I think it was Twenty-One Pilots and Marvel for the most part.

Taylor: I think, yeah, that sounds right.

Davis: Yeah. So I think I mean, we obviously would have become friends, but I don’t think we would have become as quick and as close of friends if it hadn’t been for our fandom. We always would have become friends. But it was almost instantaneous because we had our fandom connection. So that’s just what I wanted to end on because I’m like, I think that’s why we’re such good friends is in large part due to our mutual fandoms.

Taylor: Couldn’t have said it better myself. That was very kind.

Katie: Sentimental.

Davis: Of course. And congrats on 100 episodes!

Group: Woo!

Taylor: Thanks, Davis! Listeners, now that we have had our first guest, we are so excited to introduce someone to you all that you have not yet met. But he’s a friend of the show. We have Mike from the Superhero Show-Show also Movie of the Year. He is a podcaster, a friend of the show and he’s been podcasting since 2010, which we just did the math a few minutes ago. I was 12 years old and Katelyn was 9, so he has been doing this a long time, a real pro in the room with us today.

Mike: That hurts to hear. I knew you guys were younger than me, but that one oo that hits. I am middle age. That’s weird to realize as I’m wearing cartoons on my shirt.

Taylor: But you know what? You’re experienced and we love that. Experience is great. 

Mike: Yes. I’m so happy to be able to usher in a new wave of podcasters. You’ll take up the torch and I get to give advice, like use microphones.

Katie: Which we took.

Taylor: Yes, we did. We had a lovely interview with Mike a few months ago now? I don’t even know time is hard and, you know, he was giving us some advice and was like, try mics. And so we did that and you all know the story. We use them about 95% of the time. We try.

Mike: That’s an A.

Taylor: Yeah, we literally got on and I said, Katelyn, did you adjust your input because we really need to make sure you’re doing this right today, my friend.

Katie: Yeah, I did, don’t worry, guys. It’s all taken care of.

Taylor: Amazing. Well, as you all know, it’s the 100th episode and we are talking all things fandom today. Mike, you are a fan of many things, and so we thought you would be a perfect person to talk about all sorts of fandoms. You definitely do not have to limit it to Marvel. We won’t limit it to Marvel, but we just want to talk about all the things that come with being a part of multiple fandoms and podcasting about your fandom, because I think that’s a pretty fun thing to do. So just to kick us off, why don’t you share a little bit about the fandoms that you’re a part of?

Mike: Sure. I decided to throw a couple of them on today. I could not remember if this was a video podcast or not. And so I have my Marvel t-shirt and my Monster Squad hat, two of my longest-running fandoms. I remember I got into Marvel because of the X-Men animated series that came out in 1992, I had like four channels. I was six years old and you guys were not born, I was flipping through my four channels and then this crazy, brightly colored, very dramatic show was on. And then I continued to watch the first episode just two inches from the screen. And I can honestly say my life changed there. And so yeah Marvel Comics, cartoons, movies, obviously huge fan. I like some DC stuff, but Marvel is definitely my love. I just got Wolverine is Weapon X tattooed on me like a month ago. 

Taylor: Very nice.

Mike: Bit of a fan. The Monster Squad, which is a much smaller entity than Marvel. Do you guys know what that is?

Katie: I can’t say I do.

Taylor: No.

Mike: A lot of people don’t. It’s totally fine. Imagine if The Goonies, do you know The Goonies?

Katie: Vaguely.

Mike: Okay, just so young. Imagine if The Goonies fought the Universal Monsters. So it’s a bunch of, like, young teenagers fighting Dracula, Wolfman, The Mummy came out in 1986. It is delightful. It’s so much fun and it’s so absurd and tongue-in-cheek. And Shane Black, he would go on to direct and write so many things. The Last Boy Scout, Die Hard, Iron Man 3. And so, yeah, it’s just very tongue in cheek, which a lot of the stuff I’m into tends to be. Those are the big two. I don’t know. I have more. How long do you want me to just rattle stuff off? 

Katie: Hey keep going.

Taylor: Go for it. Oh, my gosh, we love a fandom. We’re both part of so many. Like, go for it.

Mike: This feels, fandom to me feels so one very internet. Like I’ve been a fan of things my whole life, but fandom feels online and it leans nerdy, right? So for going that way, loved Firefly and Serenity and Buffy. Do not Love the creator anymore. Have a complicated relationship, and I think that’s part of being a fan of stuff. Eventually, somebody who makes stuff you like is going to let you down because people are gross.

Taylor & Katie: Yeah. 

Mike: One of the things I’m a huge fan of and I guess was the first community I was part of because I’m of the age, I remember when AOL showed up and I was a nerdy kid, right? So there were not a lot of outlets. I didn’t have a lot of friends, to the point that I bought Dungeons and Dragons books just to read them. I did not have enough friends to play. 

Katie: Oh no.

Mike: Me and my one friend would just sit there and read them, so into the stuff, but not part of a community until it was really like late middle school, high school. I found like live punk shows and pop punk and emo in general, I would say is I think it’s nerdy because I think everything’s nerdy if you’re into it enough. But that is a huge fandom of mine to the point that now in my late thirties, I’m still going to EMO nights are a thing all over the country and that feels the closest thing to me I think I can like, so many times I’m like I’m a fan of a thing but can I say I’m part of the fandom? I feel like I have a weird relationship with that word, but that stuff, it’s live, it’s communal. You’re all screaming your heads off and I don’t know, punk rock church. It’s fun.

Taylor: Yeah, no, I think that’s a good point, though. The difference between being a fan of something and being a part of a fandom is that kind of community line. Because, for example, I’m a fan of The Hunger Games, but I don’t live on that part of the Internet, right? To what you were saying earlier, it’s very tied to the Internet and that’s not a part of the Internet that I like really even dabble in. Maybe if I was like growing up, I did grow up with the Internet, but like, if I was on the Internet more at that time, I think when I was reading it, I think definitely I would have been. But like when it comes to Marvel or Star Wars, like that’s where I’m like online, like talking to people and, freaking out about how good Lethal looks and Asoka, you know, that type of stuff. But I like that point too, of the difference between liking something and being a fan. And then also being a part of the fandom as part of the community.

Mike: And I don’t know if you’ve gotten into this in this. I loved it when you emailed me what it’s going to be about, I was very excited and I like I said, I have an interesting relationship not just with being part of one, but like the idea of it, because the benefits of fandom, right, is the community. You can meet people across the country, across decades, and you’re just like you’re into what I’m into, let’s talk. That’s how we met. I can say I don’t know if this counts as fandom, but Other Nerdy Podcasters.

Taylor Yes literally.

Mike: Started as part of the pandemic. Me and my co-hosts were just like, we miss talking to other people. Everybody’s at home. Let’s start finding other nerdy podcasts that are out there and this thing that feels very insular, like it’s just talking to you and your audience. It was awesome and broke open this whole world. And I’ve gotten to meet dozens and dozens of podcasters from across the country. Because I’m a podcast nerd, I started doing this in 2010 pretty serial, when people were still asking what is a podcast? And so I love podcasting, I love podcasters and I love, meeting you guys was awesome and the stuff you’re into and just be like, I don’t care that we don’t have the equipment, we’re just going to do it. That’s so cool. And so that’s the stuff I can get on board with. That there are to me the nerdy fandoms because again, I love the MCU. I like Star Wars. One, the fan versus fandom. I think I like that stuff until you meet somebody who can quote every line from every movie and you’re like, I guess I don’t like it because I can’t do that.

Taylor: Yeah.

Mike: And then there’s the toxic fandom where you’re like, I have critiques. My other shit movie of the year is my less nerdy show the movies are nerdy as hell. And it’s like, I think criticism is an important part of being a fan, an important part of interacting with art. But it does feel like all my fandoms are now little armies and freak out if you have one bad word to say about a thing in their world.

Katie: Yeah, I think that’s a really interesting point because I think too, you’re bringing up that toxicity and I think as Marvel fans, I can positively say we’ve seen such a shift, I think in that fandom as well, almost on the opposite. When you like something, especially Phase Four, we’ve actually really enjoyed a lot of the projects. Honestly, the Internet has not. We’ve heard a lot of things about people hating things. I think She-Hulk is a great example of one that a lot of people didn’t like. We loved it.

Mike: She-Hulk was great. 

Katie: So yeah, there’s definitely that turnaround of when you’re online, you know, it’s just it’s interesting how you can have a group that loves something so much, but also, you know, sometimes that criticism or, the negativity can really turn into something that it wasn’t necessarily meant to be.

Taylor: Yeah. And I think that’s so it’s so disappointing because the idea of fandom, like what you were saying earlier, is about community. But when the community is about being negative, it’s no longer fun anymore. I know Star Wars is like notorious for that for, really crappy stuff too. And so, it’s very disappointing when you, like, come across that stuff and then you like, find little pockets of hope where everybody just really likes one thing, you know. Up until season three, it was The Mandalorian. Everyone was like, oh, my God, The Mandalorian. We can agree, we like this one. And then, you know, season three, now everybody is, you know, jumping ship. But like, it is nice when you get that one little beacon where everybody’s like, this piece, we like this and we can agree to like this one thing. That’s growing increasingly rare, which is disappointing.

Mike: And I just I guess I think there’s a difference between being critical of the things you like and you can be thoughtful and nuanced and you can have a conversation because that’s what we want to pick it apart. Like, I like being like, here’s how they messed and here they could have done this and I would have expected this and talking about things because nothing’s perfect versus like, there’s the dying of fire.

Taylor: Yeah.

Mike: Some people are like, oh, so this is bad, so they should all burn in hell. I’m going to find the creator’s addresses and start emailing their kids like what is wrong with you?

Taylor: Yeah.

Mike: But it’s okay to be like, hey, this movie was not as good as the other movies, and here’s why. Like, I love I don’t know where it is in my rankings, but I love that The Last Jedi exists because it is an unending conversation and there are some gross, evil, negative parts of it. But there are also, just like I happen to love it, there’s a lot of people who dislike it. So the people who won’t insult you because you like it, to be able to just debate and talk and chew, it is amazing.

Taylor: Yeah, I think there has to be room for to your point, like nice, nice in the tone of the conversation, but like thoughtful like you don’t want to just be like a hive mind of like, everything they put out is amazing because that is just not fun either. You want to be able to have those debates and talk about theories and talk about, oh, I wish it could have been this. And then, you know, there’s everybody’s talking about their ideas and their expectations and expectations can kind of get you in trouble sometimes. But at the same time, like, it’s fun to talk about. And if you’re all just agreeing like this is good or this is bad and not really conversing why or going in-depth, then it just kind of becomes really flat and shallow instead of like the rich piece of content that was actually put out.

Mike: And yeah, why I think, I think it might come from, one that people get rude online because you can’t see eye to eye. Most of the conversations aren’t, we at least right now can see each other’s faces and we’re like, oh, that’s a human I’m talking to. But so much of it is not and just shouting and empathy is going down. They’ve done studies and that’s scary. And now I lost my train of thought. It’s a Monday evening. My brain is fried.

Taylor: It’s challenging.

Mike: What was I going to say? I don’t remember. It’s gone. Maybe it’ll come back.

Taylor: No worries. No worries. That happens to me literally four times a day. So you literally told me something before we started recording and I couldn’t remember it 2 seconds later. So there you go. It is a Monday, but we’ve talked about this a little bit, but definitely want to hone in a little bit on what fandom means to you. You’ve talked about the community aspect, but what other elements do you think it’s really added to your life as well?

Mike: I do think just because of what got me into it because it was X-Men and then like books about dragons, and so I was such a quiet, shy little kid that I’d always be in the corner of school. I’d finish whatever assignment and just read. I didn’t know how to talk to people for most of my life. So it was it was pure escapism and both those like high fantasy books and then the X-Men it is almost so often about like, well, this person’s a weirdo, but look, they can be a hero. And so to be like a shy little freak, it was so helpful and just kind of a lifeline, both escapist and be like, oh, things can change, right. And then time moves on, everybody is a little more accepting. And then you meet other people who are into what you’re into and it’s kind of magical.

Taylor: Yeah, totally. I think for me at least, we are much closer as siblings in doing the show. We don’t live even, I mean, we’re like a couple of hours apart. We only see each other every couple of months, but we talk once a week on the phone and then we’re texting pretty much daily. And yes, it’s like 90% about the show, but it’s still it’s a reason for us to interact and talk. Like when I was in college my senior year, Kate was a senior in high school. We actually went, I think, four months without texting, calling, or just even talking to one another. We weren’t angry. We just were both doing our own thing. So it’s really nice that now that we’re both busy adults doing our own thing, having jobs, living our lives, we still have this like one point in time and one thing that we’re both really, really excited about that we get to talk about once a week and send each other memes or whatever it is. And that’s the important thing for me is that it has made us I think a lot closer as siblings.

Mike: Oh for sure. Right before I hopped on, my older sister texted me a video of George Clooney making fun of the Batman movie he was in. Because it was me and her. It was, we have there’s six of us total from different combinations of families, but it was always me and my older sister shipping around to different houses. So we were very tight growing up. Like you said, you’re adults. We definitely entered that fantasy, dorky, comic book stuff together. And so, yeah, that’s still, she’ll randomly be like I started watching Buffy again and it’s insane. I can’t believe we watched this as kids and that kind of stuff. Yeah, it is just it’s an easy way, it feels like in general, our generations don’t, like what we’re going to talk about the weather? We don’t want to talk about jobs. So it’s like what brings you together instead of getting that real deep stuff all the time. I do feel like fandom is such a way to connect with the people in your life.

Katie: And it makes, I think you said a good point earlier. It makes just finding people easier. I know I’m a very extroverted person, but not in a room of people I don’t know. Like I’m the person who’s constantly going to say random things just to see if somebody will start talking to me and it might flop. And then it’s really awkward for everybody in the room, or I might bring up Marvel or I might bring up like I play Pokemon Go. I’m a very avid Pokemon Go person. 

Mike: Nice.

Katie: But I could bring that up. I could bring up Harry Styles, Harry Potter, all these bands, things I love. 

Mike: Lots of Harrys.

Katie: Yeah, well, I was trying to say Harry Potter and Harry Styles came out first but I was like that works too. I could just bring up all these different fandoms and, you know, one will stick, and eventually, you know, that other person or somebody else in the room is like, you know what? I play that game too. Or yeah, I watched the last Marvel thing. This is how I felt. And boom, immediately it’s like a comfort thing. And you just made a friend in that room and it’s just it’s a powerful thing.

Mike: Yeah, it’s I was recently with a friend and his kids hanging out at their pool, and it’s like they have a community pool. And we were talking about Secret Invasion and I was just saying, how let me down. I liked the first two episodes and it spiraled from there. And some other dad just swam over and he’s just like, now why did you like it? And then we were just like talking, getting into it for just like a cool ten-minute conversation until he was like okay thanks, and just swam away. And yeah, that that’s the you wear the paraphernalia, you throw out a quote and you, it’s just little calling cards, little smoke signals to the people are into what you’re in do. 

Katie: Oh yeah.

Mike: In a very cool IRL fandom, what has been the Taylor Swift concerts and I did not get to go I’m not a millionaire but I know people went and to see that people are like trading bracelets and like this very like it feels so at the same time it feels like decades old of making bracelets and trading and very online meets IRL because you’re trading and you’re it’s this weird, cool community building with people you’re going to share one magical three and a half hours screaming along to every song night with. And I think it’s awesome.

Katie: Oh, yeah. I mean, that’s kind of I think why Harry Styles slipped out as well. Because as somebody who was a fan way back when, when One Direction was a thing and now I follow his solo career I mean he’s another one that when he was on tour, I mean the atmosphere is so amazing. You’re just there as you said, for 3 hours and sometimes you just start talking to someone because you ask them to take your picture or whatever, and next thing you know, you’re like besties for life. I guess we’re going to exchange numbers and everything. So it’s really cool that in real life kind of moments, especially when it does meet those Internet moments as well. 

Mike: For sure.

Taylor: Amazing, and then our last question for you and it’s something again, we kind of touched on as we’ve been chatting, but why do you love being a part of the fandoms that you’re a part of? You can pick a couple or general however you want to go and attack that one.

Mike: Okay I’ll pick the one we kind of touched on with like Marvel, I know you guys are super into it. I think we touched a little on this as I was a weird little kid, and it was an entryway into that. The one that maybe people don’t think of as a fandom, but I’m hot off having gone to Podcast Movement, which is the biggest podcast conference. It’s 11 years running and it was my first one in person this year. 

Taylor: So jealous.

Mike: It was, go, it was phenomenal. And it’s expensive, but it’s worth it. And the quicker you buy, I don’t work for them but the earlier you buy tickets, the cheaper it is but going there and so I will say just I’m a huge fan of podcasting and that is one I fully feel unabashed, and proud of being able to like, yeah, I can, there’s some things like I said, like I like Marvel Comics and then somebody would be like, what about this issue and I’m like, I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about. But podcasting, has been around so long, and watched it change from people being like, what is a podcast until a couple of years later, people are like, why do you do that? And then a few years later, people being like, can you please, I give you money, you do this for me has been, an amazing experience personally, but just to see this thing be new and grow and connect people from whether I met, you know, finance bros, but they have one, so we have something in common. Old ladies who knit but they podcast so we have something in common and it is one of those truly because it’s such a big umbrella but we all have this same shared passion because you got to get into the tech, you got to get into all that. Podcasting isn’t one thing, right? You have to learn how to run 18,000 different social medias. You have to learn how to talk to people, which is, I think is very important. Might be why that was such a pleasant conference to be at, because all these people are practicing to talk all of the time. And yeah, it’s just a very connective medium in technology and so it changed my adult life for sure. It’s the longest thing I’ve ever done.

Taylor: Yeah, I mean, just being in New York, there’s a really strong podcasting community here and I’m a member of the Podcast Academy, so kind of the same vibe, the same types of people who end up going to Podcast Movement are in that and will have like, you know, every once in a while we’ll all get together and everybody is just talking about what are you doing? What’s your show about? You know, are you liking this? What’s your hosting platform and why do you like it or not like it? This is the one I use. And just like getting super nerdy about this one thing, even though our shows might be about, to your point, like something totally different, we have this one medium in common and everybody who’s into it and really, really into it is like really, really into it, you know? And that’s such an amazing thing to like walk into a room and be with a bunch of people who are super into the same thing that you are and want to talk about it the same way that you do. I talk to, you know, people randomly, friends, family, whatever, about our podcast all the time. They just kind of smile and nod. They understand what a podcast is, but the in depth stuff, they’re like, I don’t really care what you’re doing. I just know that I can if I wanted to listen to it on a platform. They don’t, but, you know, it’s fine. But when you get the chance to talk nerdy about that with people who know what they’re talking about, I can just go on for hours.

Mike: And I think there is something to be said about as Alex logs have gone away and I don’t even know if you guys know what that is. Church attendance is going down like there’s a lot of communal things that are going down. I think there’s a reason fandom and online fandoms are getting more voracious and more ferocious and more connected. I do think we are social animals. And so it’s just any way we can connect and comfortably, that’s going to be amazing. And I remember the thing I forgot forever ago, about one of the downsides of fandom, I think you love a thing and it can help shape who you are. But I think it’s when it’s when one thing is so tied to your identity, when your identity is one thing and so somebody critiques that one thing, it feels like a personal attack, even though it’s not at all. Like you and I might disagree on our MCU rankings, but that doesn’t mean I think you’re a bad person. And I do think that that feels like internet rotted brains. Where people like can no longer, it’s the nuance and it just flattens out.

Taylor: Yeah. There’s like zero perspective anymore that there is a world outside of the internet and that fandom like, don’t get me wrong, being a Marvel fan is 90% of my personality. And I will debate anyone on anything or educate anyone to the best of my ability when they ask me a question. Much more than they ever bargained for when they ask me what they thought was a simple question. But I have enough perspective and like enough, you know, to be able to say, okay, cool, you didn’t like that, that’s a serious bummer. And like, I’m going to make fun of you for it forever if that’s the level of friendship we have. But I’m not angry and I think to your point, not everybody is able to, like, reach that level of equilibrium. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not perfect. Sometimes I go to bat for stuff, but I try to keep it kind.

Katie: Yeah, I think it’s interesting. I mean, Taylor, you actually brought this up in a couple of our episodes or a couple episodes ago. I think Agents of SHIELD, you were even saying you’ve gotten in a lot of debates online. 

Taylor: Oh, yeah. 

Katie: With people who are really willing to go to bat and but they’re not willing to always see the other perspective or it doesn’t really turn into a debate anymore. I remember there was one thing you were going after and somebody just ripped Taylor a new one. And I don’t know what it was. 

Taylor: It was quite mean.

Katie: But it’s shocking.

Taylor: Yeah, I think it was something about like it being canon and like, my perspective of canon is whether it can be realistically a part of the MCU in the Multiverse. In canon more specifically being 616. So if I say something is not canon, it means it’s not 616, but that’s fine. It totally can respectfully live on another universe. That was my whole point. Someone absolutely ripped me a new one trying to tell me it was 100% 616 and there was absolutely no way. And I was stupid, all this stuff. And I was like, dude, I haven’t seen the show in five years, I’m now currently rewatching it, but I haven’t seen it forever, but from what I remember, it does not jive.

Mike: It doesn’t. 

Taylor: No, it does not. There’s a certain point where it’s like, no.

Mike: Yeah. And, but also like why tell somebody they’re stupid? Like it’s like, okay, we disagree because like, where I’m at, none of the movies are 616. 616 is the comics. That’s its own thing. Then the movies need their own designation.

Katie: Interesting.

Mike: But I don’t think you’re dumb or a bad person because you call it 616. You’re just wrong.

Katie: I tell Taylor she’s wrong all the time.

Taylor: I don’t like your tone, but okay. It’s her favorite thing. Literally why she was put on this earth, I’m pretty sure.

Katie: Exactly.

Mike: It’s what sisters are for. If I may turn the tables, a hundred episodes in, I hope you guys are proud of yourself. That’s a huge accomplishment. That’s awesome. What have you learned in the hundred year? 100 years, 100 episodes?

Taylor: Feels like a hundred years.

Mike: Right?

Mike: In 100 episodes of podcasting with each other, what have you learned?

Taylor: I think we’ve learned, at least I’ve learned, I don’t speak for Katelyn because she’ll hit me the next time I see her. But I think for me it’s all about how to communicate effectively. Like we definitely the first honestly, the first year there times where we tried to have a civilized conversation and it ended up screaming at each other and one of us hung up the call. And that happened more times than I would like to admit. But now, you know, we have planned meetings. We have, you know, strategy discussions that are just two people coming at it from like their own perspective from we’re both marketing people. So usually we’re talking about marketing the show or something like that. And we’re coming at it from our own disciplines and we’re able to communicate more effectively our point of view and without feeling like, like what you were saying earlier, like it’s a personal attack because I don’t agree with her strategy. More just, hey, this is my point of view and being able to effectively communicate that has made us leaps and bounds better in our show for sure.

Mike: That’s great.

Katie: Oh yeah, and I don’t want to steal yours, but I want to say communication as well, but not as much in the back end, just the actual podcast itself. We could not speak to one another and it wasn’t because we don’t know how to talk. We clearly both do and we both enjoy doing it. But in the early days during COVID, she would sit on the chair next to me, I’d sit at my desk and we’d be sitting there recording, and we just grew up in a family where you just yelled over each other. And so we would be sitting there cutting each other off, talking over each other, and then we’d get in arguments because, I mean, there have been times I sat there and I said, Taylor if you don’t stop talking, I’m leaving. Because I just was getting so frustrated because she wouldn’t let me make a point. She’d just keep cutting me off. And so it is communication for me as well, but just, you know, actually being able to hold conversations and there are still moments we cut each other off, but we’re a little bit more mindful and I think we can actually put out a podcast now without us cutting the other person off every 5 seconds so that, to me, is a huge accomplishment for us.

Taylor: Yeah, there’s a lot more finished thoughts and ideas now, which is really exciting and I think makes for a better listener experience.

Mike: Probably. And just so you don’t think you’re alone in years one or two, because I’ve been podcasting with some of my best friends I’ve thrown a chair across the room in the middle of a show. So yeah, it happens.

Katie: I can’t say I’ve done that. 

Mike: We used to drink pretty heavily on our show. Our first show was a drinking game where there was shots, the first shots would have to happen throughout the first hour. 

Taylor: You know, this is going to make you feel awful but when we first started our show, Katie wasn’t even old enough to drink.

Mike: That’s crazy. 

Taylor: That would have been a challenge. I do have one random question for you, because you’ve been podcasting for much longer than we have. We’ve had 100 episodes. What piece of advice do you have for us at the foundation we’ve got to hit the next hundred and make our show even better.

Mike: I’d say never stop tweaking and I know there’s people who that freaks out, but like, don’t coast. I think it’s very easy to say, you get your formula, you find out what works and you guys have. But it’s to keep it exciting and interesting for you and your listeners and have that reason to show up every week. Always fiddle and it’s awesome that you’re marketers, that’s my background as well. And so it’s like, what’s working, what’s not either on air as a listener, like randomly do focus groups, listen as a listener, which is I know that’s so hard, but listen and come back with notes for each other and your self like they’ll just note each other because that could cause those fights again.

Taylor: Oh, it definitely does. 100%. I get random texts of you say this too much and then I get annoyed.

Mike: And that’s, so early on that first show that we would all have phrases we said too much and all be like, if you say that again, you’re going to have to do a shot every time you say it. So that’s what would lead into chair throwing. 

Taylor: That seems like a cruel punishment.

Mike: It really is but there’s certain phrases that now I can’t even remember. They are wiped out of my mind. 

Katie: So it was effective.

Mike: Yes, it was very effective and just black out. So don’t do that. Don’t don’t drink too much on the show. And then for the marketing aspect you guys probably already know this, is I’d say go was already kind of natural for you because there’s so many avenues out there and it’s so hard to learn if it’s not something you enjoy doing, like learning is part of an aspect but there’s too many avenues. And I think that’s where burnout can happen is, is you have to do some of that extraneous stuff, clearly, because you want people to know the show exists. But I think if you hate X, don’t go on X. Through the years, we deleted our Facebook a couple of years back. We just got off of Twitter because it’s a hellscape. And so this is it for me because there’s not a lot of that. I’m not an Instagram guy, but now I’m like, okay, I can learn one thing because it’s the one thing I’ll let us stay on and so and meet other podcasters.That’s awesome. Come to Podcast, Movement next year. It’s cool. It’s so cool that you’re part of the Podcast Academy. Is that Jeremy, not Jeremy Ends.

Taylor: Oh, not Jeremy Ends. It’s a whole, they’re online, but then they also have like chapter stuff like in different regions. 

Mike: Awesome. 

Taylor: It’s amazing. You can definitely like just if you Google The Podcast Academy, also not a paid ad, I just really love it. You can sign up. There’s a mentorship program, I’m now in my second rotation of having a mentor, it’s fantastic. Can’t recommend it enough. It has been one of the best things I’ve done as a podcaster, just even building community and learning from so many people. It’s been fantastic. Well, thank you so, so, so much for coming on and helping us celebrate our 100th episode. Please tell us and all of the listeners where they can find your fantastic shows and check you out as well.

Mike: Yeah, thank you for having me. It was a huge honor to be on and now that you hit 100 episodes, you changed the name of your show. I’m excited that everybody can hear the interview we did months back on ours. So if you want to hear the interview I did with Katie and Taylor, check out the Superhero Show-Show wherever you get your podcasts. We’re on all the places. I love Overcast. And again, when you get into podcasting, that’s my podcatcher of choice. You can make playlists. It’s great. You can customize each show. It’s amazing. Check out Overcast, but I guess more importantly, check out the Superhero Show-Show. We’re about to hit 500 episodes. I don’t know what we’re going to do to celebrate, but I think in five weeks we hit that and that’s my goal. And that is it’s a lot of time and Movie of the Year as well, if you’re more into movies. For that show, we each season is a different year, right now it’s 1973. We build a bracket of 16 movies and then watch them and make them fight to find the best movie of that year. And then Instagram @YourPopFilter. I’m @microphoneyo, you know, if you want to see me and my dog and my wife, that’s microphone-yo, because my name is Mike Gravogno. And it sounds alike. That’s all my things. We’re on YouTube too. I guess. I don’t know, we’re, we’re everywhere. Thank you.

Taylor: Well, I can’t say it enough. You guys should definitely check out all of the places where Mike is because they have great shows and I happen to think it’d be a pretty good complement to our show as a nice double header. So definitely check that out. We’ll put all of that information in the show notes as well. So you guys have an easy spot to find it all. And thank you again for helping to celebrate. It has been fantastic and I’m sure we’ll see you again soon.

Mike: Oh, for sure. Congratulations again.

Taylor: We have had some incredible conversations with our guests so far for this 100th episode and for our final segment. We’re excited to include some voice memos from some fans of the show and friends of ours that were so, so, so grateful that they were willing and able to share their experience with fandom, with us. So without further ado, let’s tune in.

Fan 1: Hi, Taylor. Hi, Katie. Congrats on 100 episodes. I’m happy to be a fan and proud to have seen all the success that y’all have gotten from this podcast, and thanks for allowing me to be on the show. So a reason that I love Marvel so much is just because of the large amount of conversations that can come from it. There are so many different characters and franchises that come from Marvel, and I love the fact that you can have a conversation with anyone as far as their favorite character or favorite moments. My favorite character from Marvel and all of Marvel is Black Panther. It’s slightly overtaken Spider-Man for me. But either way, I just love the fact that I can talk with different people, either through you on the podcast or other friends of mine that like love Marvel and have different conversations about the movies, the comic books, and video games. It’s just all a lot of cool things that can come from a conversation in turn for Marvel fans. So that’s the main reason why I love Marvel so much. But yeah, again, thank you, and congrats on all the success and the continued success you all have moving forward.

Fan 2: So I enjoy being part of the Marvel community because it’s something that me and Katie have been doing together for a few years now, and it’s just kind of like, just the community of Marvel and I was just telling her today, actually, I was excited for the new movie to come out or for whatever new movie and show, because I listen to your guys podcast, obviously, and I hear, oh, this and this and this is coming up and I’m excited. I’m very intrigued to see what’s next. I know with everything stopping with with everything that’s going on as far as all the studios and stuff not really writing scripts or anything, but I’m excited for all the movies to come out. It’s just it’s very I wouldn’t say close-knit, but that’s probably what I would describe it as. All the fan theories out there and all the crazy ideas that the community has. It’s very interesting to, hear it on your guys’ podcast with your theories, but also to go into the movie, now I’m kind of racking my brain when I’m into a movie or watching a show like, all right, well, Taylor and Katie had said their predictions and I’m like, all right, let’s see how close they were. I’ll catch myself, like wow they were right or this was right. Some of the theories of some of the fans, I’m like, they’re right, you know, And especially, you know, one of the movies leaves off on a hard, really hard cliffhanger and a lot of the theories start coming out and you start looking at them. And obviously me and Katie, I would never have gone through them on my own. And Katie’s such a fan so she goes through them and me and her will talk about it. And it’s so interesting to know, like, well, when we’re watching, like wow they were right or even Katie was right, you know, Katie called a few things that you guys had talked about. And it’s just very interesting to me to be able to kind of really be excited to see what’s next and know all the predictions that the community has and to kind of compare. So that’s why I enjoy being part of it. So it’s a mix of it’s a home cozy feeling, Marvel in general, and the community because of the community itself, but also obviously because you guys enjoy it and it’s something that I can enjoy with Katie together, that we can enjoy together. So that’s why I enjoy it. And I love, obviously listening to you guys, because one, you know, I just like hearing you guys talk and hear what you guys got. But it’s also nice to compare it when I’m watching the show, like actively compare what you guys said to the show and see how close you guys, you know, hit the head, hit the nail with the hammer, hit the hammer on the head. You know what I’m talking about. But it’s very intriguing to to kind of see how close everybody got with all their theories and predictions. So that’s why I enjoy Marvel and the community.

Taylor: This has been such a fantastic 100th episode and what a wonderful way for us to celebrate this milestone with some friends of the show and all of you. And we’re so excited to hit the ground running on this next 100 episodes, make the show better, and continue to build our community. Thank you all for being a part of this journey with us, sticking with us, being patient and helping us be better podcasters. We are so grateful. And with that being said, that is a wrap on our 100th episode. You all know where to find us. Definitely make sure that you are subscribing on your podcast platform of choice and checking out the website. And if you’d be so inclined to check out our homepage where you can support the show via affiliate links.

Katie: Make sure you guys also give us a follow on Twitter @SisAssembledPod and Instagram and Threads @SistersAssembled. You can keep up with the show there when new episodes come out, blog posts, and just fun things we as the hosts are doing. And for episode 101, we are going to be going back to one of our longest-standing series, which is our Marvel Replays. We will be going to Black Panther. And so that’s going to be next episode. So get ready, make sure you guys watch the film, if you would so choose, so you can kind of get the same experience we got to have by re-watching it. And as always, make sure you keep up with us because Marvel just blew your mind, so let’s talk about it.