Episode 440: Stacy Kellam talks Romantasy Books and Fantasy inspired costumes & photography
Release Date: 01/12/2026
Episode 447: Mehr aka SuperMehr2.0 talks about Superheroes and Cosplay
Tales from the Fandom
We've got a hero on the podcast, as Mehr aka SuperMehr2.0 on Instagram joins me. We're talking about two of her favorite things - Superheroes, and Cosplay! With the episode divided in half, the first half is all about superheroes. Mehr talks about getting into superheroes thanks to her brothers, and being sat for several of the animated shows. Iconic shows such as Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Teen Titans, just to name a few. We talk about these shows, then get into some of the different comics. One such comic, and a primary focus, is Ms. Marvel - aka Kamala Khan. We talk...
info_outline
Episode 446: Jenna Costa Deedy talks Marvel, Star Wars, Marine Animals, Cosplay, and more!
Tales from the Fandom
After stumbling across her Kitty Pryde cosplay and then following her work with her cosplay and writings, I knew it'd be a fun time to talk with Jenna Costa Deedy. We kick things off by talking about Marvel. We talk about the comics, the movies, and the characters she enjoys. We focus some of the world of the X-Men. We talk about the upcoming inclusion of the X-Men into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and what characters she'd love to see make their MCU appearance. Jenna and I then talk about her love of Star Wars. She talks about which characters she loves, why she continues to love the...
info_outline
Episode 445: Gabriella Buba talks Supernatural, Sherlock, her book Saints of Storm and Sorrow and work as an Author
Tales from the Fandom
I stumbled across Gabriella Buba's work on Instagram through a previous guest. This guest was cosplaying as the main character from Saints of Storm and Sorrow, and then hyped up the book. She influenced me, I read the book, and knew I'd love to talk to Gabriella about her work. We start things off by discussing her early fandom influences - Supernatural and Sherlock. We talk about both shows and how these shows were gateways into her early writing, including fan fiction. From there, we talk about her progression into a writer. We talk about the history of Saints of Storm and Sorrow from early...
info_outline
Episode 444: Rizuki talks Sailor Moon, Video Games, and Cosplay
Tales from the Fandom
Continuing to bring new guests to the podcast, Rizuki and I connect after following each other for quite some time on social media. I'm a fan of the work she does in the realm of Cosplay, and she is one of the co-hosts of Eternal Mooncast. We start off our conversation with none other than the one named Sailor Moon. From how Rizuki used to watch it in the mornings while getting ready for school, to the various iterations of the show that she's watched (along with the dialogue/story choices that had been made!). We talk about her favorites series, her favorite Sailor Scout, and the longevity of...
info_outline
Episode 443: Don Martin talks fandom influences, podcasting, and his work as an Author of poetry, Verity Vox and The Curse of Foxfire, and more
Tales from the Fandom
New York Times best-selling author Don Martin joins me on the podcast for a wonderful episode full of laughs, learning, and beautiful words. We kick things off by talking about his podcast, Head on Fire. Don talks about how and why he started it, and what you can expect to find by listening or watching his episodes. He interviews experts in overlooked fields, searching for answers to life's biggest and smallest questions. From there, we talk about some of his early fandom influences. From the X-Men, to a focus on the Animorphs series by Katherine Applegate. We discuss how his time spent with...
info_outline
Episode 442: LexiChuChu returns and talks Video Games, Tabletop Roleplaying Games, Cosplay & Cosplay Judging
Tales from the Fandom
After 5+ years, Lexi aka LexiChuChu on IG returns to the podcast! Lexi's been busy over on their side of the country and we finally had the stars (and schedules) align for their return! We get to catch up a bit before we dive into the realm of Video Games. We kick things off by talking about Hades. Lexi has put in a lot of hours with that game and you'll find out how many hours they've got, plus their favorite weapons for dear ol Zagreus. Plus, we discuss Hades 2 and the different mechanics and gameplay from Hades. Lexi also talks about a game category that we have determined to call Catharsis...
info_outline
Episode 441: Darvily talks Video Games, Fantasy, and Cosplay
Tales from the Fandom
We return to Australia after many a year as Darvily joins me for this episode! I had stumbled across her on Threads and loved the fandoms she was into, and we get to jump into a few of them for this episode. Darvily and I kick things off with talking about the broad topic of video games. We talk about the first games that she experienced, starting with Spyro. We focus on a few games that Darvily specifically was into over the years, including Animal Crossing, Pokemon, and Skyrim. Darvily also talks about some of her favorite indie games that she likes and recommends. Want the recommendations?...
info_outline
Episode 440: Stacy Kellam talks Romantasy Books and Fantasy inspired costumes & photography
Tales from the Fandom
I stumbled across Stacy on Threads back in early 2025 when she posted about who she was hoping the algorithim would bring to her account. I followed Stacy for awhile and then realized "I bet she has an Instagram page" and followed her work there too. One of my favorite things about Stacy is that she wants to build and engage with those who do follow her on her platforms. I love that, and it's one of the things I enjoyed as I got to know her. This episode is split in half! The first half we're talking about Fantasy and Romantasy books. Stacy talks about what she looks for in a book, and what...
info_outline
Episode 439: KaiaKayy talks The Lord of the Rings
Tales from the Fandom
As 2025 ended, I kept stumbling across this really wonderful reels on Instagram that kept going into the lore of The Lord of the Rings fandom. After being shown these several times and being captivated, I followed Kaia on Instagram. After a little bit more, I knew I wanted to have her as a guest and delve into Middle Earth lore. Kaia and I talk about everything The Lord of the Rings that we can fit into one non-extended edition podcast episode! From how she got interested in this fandom to start with, to how she continued her journey and where it has taken her today. We cover everything. From...
info_outline
Episode 438: Lola Valentine of Winx Forever Podcast talks Winx Club
Tales from the Fandom
Lola Valentine of Winx Forever Podcast joins me for the final episode of 2025! We're talking all about the Winx Club Fandom! This is a first for the podcast, as I knew nothing about the Winx Club show(s) and movies and only had knowledge via people who cosplayed certain characters. Lola is gracious and gives me (and you listening) a great background into Winx Club, which started in 2004! Lola talks about the original Winx Club series, a 4Kids production back in 2004. We talk about how Lola was definitely the target audience for the show, and how she learned about it back then. We talk about...
info_outlineI stumbled across Stacy on Threads back in early 2025 when she posted about who she was hoping the algorithim would bring to her account. I followed Stacy for awhile and then realized "I bet she has an Instagram page" and followed her work there too. One of my favorite things about Stacy is that she wants to build and engage with those who do follow her on her platforms. I love that, and it's one of the things I enjoyed as I got to know her.
This episode is split in half! The first half we're talking about Fantasy and Romantasy books. Stacy talks about what she looks for in a book, and what she's drawn to in the Romantasy sphere. We cover a number of different books including Cruel Prince, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and more. Stacy's full list of recommended titles is at the bottom of the show notes including links to purchase!
The second half of the episode features Stacy talking about what she creates! From her fantasy inspired costumes to the photography that goes along with it - including great behind the scenes stories on some of her iconic shots from her instagram. Stacy gives us the inside scoop and I am absolutely here for it. We also talk about renaissance faires and fantasy balls, including Stacy's upcoming appearance at FrostFire Ball by Storybook Soirees (link in the notes for ticket info!)
Books that Stacy recommended are:
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - https://amzn.to/3LkH4gd
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/4qNzFoG
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/454cG0d
The Assassin's Blade novella by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/3LumYQH
The Rogue King by Abigail Owen - https://amzn.to/4svVQS5
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - https://amzn.to/4sz7UC1
Quicksilver by Callie Hart - https://amzn.to/4jxcX1C
You can find more info about FrostFire Ball at: https://www.storybooksoirees.com/frostfire-ball
You can find Stacy at:
https://www.instagram.com/stacylkellam/
https://www.threads.com/@stacylkellam