January 11, 1994: The First X-Files Fanfiction Is Posted
Release Date: 01/08/2023
March 16, 2014: Wizard Rock Goes Down in Flames (TW Sexual Assault, Coercive Control, Emotional Abuse, Neil Gaiman Discussion)
This Week In Fandom History
Yuck... This week, Emily and V tackle a requested topic and look at the downfall of wrock, AKA Wizard Rock, aka music about Harry Potter made by semi-pro musicians in the 2000s and early 2010s. Much of the wrock genre was caught up in the blizzard of allegations that made up YouTube Abuse in 2014, the pre-MeToo movement that aimed to take vloggers who preyed on their fans to account. In particular, we look at the total shitheads who made up the band Ministry of Magic. As an extra content warning, if you miss it in the episode title: we discuss Neil Gaiman in this episode -- not in graphic...
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BONUS! Femslash Deep Dive with TGIF/F
This Week In Fandom History
Thank god it's femslash... part two! This week, in lieu of a minisode, V and Emily were joined by jarrow, the founder of FaberryCon and TGIF/F (see ), for a lengthy chat about all things femslash. We talk migratory (fem)slash fandom; subtext; female friendships and friend-ships; and why the death of the 22-episode season is killing shipping, especially for noncanonical pairings. Femslash has a parallel history to slash fandom, and it's one that we don't get to talk about nearly enough on this show, so it was a delight to skip the shallow wading and get right to the deep dive. Thank you,...
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March 16, 1982: Earthshock Rocks Doctor Who Fandom
This Week In Fandom History
To the TARDIS! This week, V and Emily tackle a requested episode about a deeply controversial Doctor Who episode: Earthshock, which aired in 1982, featuring the Fifth Doctor. This episode killed off -- 40-year-old spoilers -- child companion Adric, and we're still seeing the effects of that choice in the writing of the show today. Although as far as it actually affected the Doctor or his other companions... well, that's up for debate. Compared to New Who companion deaths like those of Clara and Bill, Adric's was handled... uh. Well. They made some choices. Who was your favorite Doctor Who...
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Minisode #007
This Week In Fandom History
What was the most shocking character death you’ve witnessed, and how did it make an impact on you? In 2025, TWIFH is starting something new… minisodes! These will be released on Wednesdays as a li'l sneak preview of the topic for the upcoming full-length episode on Sunday. Huge thank-you to all of the wonderful listeners who sent in replies for these minisodes! If you’ve ever wanted to hear yourself on a podcast, send us a voice note! We’ve turned Submissions on on our Tumblr, and we’ll also accept links to uploaded .mp3 files. If you want to answer but don’t want your real-life...
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March 2, 2012: The Onceler Becomes Tumblr Sexyman Supreme
This Week In Fandom History
How bad can he be? This week, Emily and V peek through their fingers at their MOST REQUESTED TOPIC EVER: how The Onceler, from Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, became Tumblr's #1 Sexyman in 2012. Not other 2012 villains like Loki or Moriarty or Cato The Hunger Games. No. The Onceler. The animated Onceler. And you know what? After this episode, we kind of understand what was going on with all the Onceler love, and we're 100% in support of it. Did you have your very own Onceler? Tell us on our Tumblr! Sources This Week In Fandom History is a fandom-centric podcast that tells you… what happened this...
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February 28, 1986: Pretty In Pink Proves the Brat Pack Possess Power
This Week In Fandom History
That's not a name, that's a major appliance! This week, V and Emily use the release of iconic teen film "Pretty In Pink" as an excuse to look at the influence of the Brat Pack on film, fandom, and film fandom since 1985. "Pretty In Pink" is a part of why Star Wars IX has the chopped-up feel it does; the Brat Pack themselves changed the nature of how fans and celebrities were meant to relate to one another. And, of course, the VCRification (it's a word) of movie-watching feeds right into the issues with direct-to-streaming fan culture today. What's your favorite Brat Pack film? Are you a...
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Minisode #005 + Minisode #006
This Week In Fandom History
How would you celebrate a holiday all about your blorbo? + What is the biggest contribution you’ve made to your fandom? Anything counts, including being a kudos-leaver and headcanon-cheerleader! In 2025, TWIFH is starting something new… minisodes! These will be released on Wednesdays as a li'l sneak preview of the topic for the upcoming full-length episode on Sunday. Huge thank-you to all of the wonderful listeners who sent in replies for this minisode. Additionally, thank you to everyone who has been kind and patient with us as we had to take an unexpected break due to bereavement. If...
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February 15-17, 2013: FaberryCon East (Plus, T.G.I.Femslash!)
This Week In Fandom History
Thank god it's femslash! This week, Emily and V discuss the absolutely pie-in-the-sky delightful FaberryCon, a long-running convention dedicated to Quinn Fabray/Rachel Berry in the Glee fandom, a noncanonical femslash ship. Then, even more delightfully, after the end of Glee, the conventioneers transformed the experience into @tgifemslash, a multi-fandom, ship-neutral, femslash convention OF DREAMS that is still ongoing! We take a look at the absolute pinnacle of con panel planning, cute vidshows, and why a small, niche audience is almost always better than trying to please everyone. Have you...
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February 12, 2011: The Odds Are Not In V's Favor
This Week In Fandom History
Thank you for your consideration! This week, V and Emily are joined by a very special guest, Heidi Tandy AKA Heidi8, who is on the show to explain the intricacies of fandom and copyright law because, well, she was V's attorney for the event this week in fandom history. In 2011, V made a fanwork map of the fictional country of Panem from The Hunger Games novels -- not the movies, which had not even been officially announced yet -- and in 2023, Lionsgate released an official map of Panem that looks... extremely similar. (You can see a side-by-side on our website, ). Emily and V had questions for...
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February 2, 2024: #CoDay
This Week In Fandom History
He's a special li'l guy! This week, V and Emily look at a very recent event in fandom history, Star Wars: The Clone Wars' fannish holiday celebrating their main man, almost everyone's favorite clone, Cody. Since his clone identification number is CC-2224, a mysterious yet enterprising fan saw the date 2/2/24 approaching and ran with it, creating a delightful celebration of all things fannish and all things Cody. Cody is so popular and beloved, in fact, that this episode's event was requested by not one, not two, but THREE listeners: Elismor, soundssimpleright, and an anonymous request. And...
info_outlineWe want to believe! In the second week of January, we're heading back thirty years (woof) to ye olde Web 1.0 and the very first online X-Files fanfiction. But to our surprise, it wasn't just an X-Files fic! Join V and Emily as they get to explore a whole new-to-them fandom as they learn about cult fave Forever Knight, talk alt-net servers and e-mail lists, and read the cutest author's note in fandom history. Are you MSR or NoRomo? More importantly, are you a Friend Of Don?