In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Sammie James, as they discuss the new trailers for Loki, Cruella, Pose, & Star Trek: Discovery and celebrate all the winners for the GLAAD Media Awards in This Week in Queer.
.
BIG OPENING
KEVIN: Regé-Jean Page responds to racist reasons he wasn’t cast on Krypton SAMMIE: New trailer for the final season of Pose
.
DOWN AND NERDY
KEVIN: Thunder Force, What Lies Below, Them SAMMIE: Creepshow, Wynonna Earp, What Big Teeth
In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Aaron Porchia, as they discuss the new trailer for Space Jam: A New Legacy which is packed full of IP’s, Charmed adding more trans representation to the cast, and celebrate FX’s new docu-series Pride in This Week in Queer.
Amanda McLoughlin is the creator and CEO of Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production studio based in New York City. Multitude produces original shows, publishes free resources for podcasters, and helps clients of all sizes create, market, and grow great shows. A YouTuber and small business advisor before starting Multitude, her career is dedicated to helping other creators make a living by making great stuff online.
Julia Schifini is a historian, voice actor, sound designer, and lover of all fancy foods. She is a co-host and producer of Spirits, a co-host of Join the Party, and the Community Manager of Multitude. She loves world-building, professional wrestling, fancy cheese, and all things creepy and cool. You can hear her sound design on podcasts like Janus Descending and Valence, and voice acting on Tides and What’s the Frequency.
I had the chance to talk with Amanda and Julia about Spirits, which you can read below.
First of all, how did you come to know each other and how did you come to decide to work on a podcast together?
JS: We jokingly refer to ourselves as “companions from the cradle”, but we met in elementary school. Our weirdness just jived since the beginning and we stayed friends all through school and past college. After we both entered the workforce, we would meet up at bars and lament how draining our jobs could be. We realized that we needed a way to make time to see each other and talk about things that we normally would talk about anyway. So naturally, having drinks and talking about death and mythology seemed like the perfect excuse.
Can you explain your thought process behind the title Spirits?
AM: Fittingly enough, it came to us in a bar! The double entendre of ghost spirits and alcohol spirits was too good to pass up. It’s easy to say, spell, and search for, and coupled with our cover art by Allyson Wakeman, tells people they can expect a lot of both on our show.
Where did your interest in folklore and mythology come from? What were some early stories you were drawn to growing up and why do you think it resonates with so many people?
JS: I picked up a copy of Edith Hamilton’s Mythology arguably WAY too young, and it really struck a chord with me. The stories of Athena, Artemis, and Persephone felt empowering before I realized that was something that was missing from the books I was reading and the shows I was watching. But nowadays it is the universality of the stories of mythology from around the world that keep me interested – seeing how human beings explain the world around them, no matter where they are on the globe.
AM: I mainly learned my Greek myths from Julia reading library books on the playground, so not a lot has changed! Since starting the show, I’ve gotten even more interested in all things mythology. I try to read really widely about both historical and contemporary cosmologies and folkloric traditions from around the world.
A large component of your podcast includes discussing LGTBQIA+ topics in fiction and mythology, bringing a queer lens to otherwise straight narratives? Can you expand on this?
AM: It’s been a priority from the beginning to center the stories of queer people, women, survivors, and other people whose stories have been erased, minimized, or villainized in the retelling. But at the same time, as queer people we can’t help but bring a queer lens to the stories we share. Julia does a great job selecting stories that I’ll find a way to connect with, and we try to create an environment where both of us and our guests can bring our whole selves to that connection.
What are some topics you haven’t covered yet but that you would love to cover in the future?
JS: We are working on bringing on some more Indigenous and African guests to talk more about their respective traditions and folklore!
As someone who has just admittedly gotten into podcasts this year, what do you think draws you in about this medium? What are some of your favorite examples?
AM: People celebrating niche interests is my favorite genre of podcast—and the whole mission of Multitude, the podcast collective of which Spirits is a founding member. Podcasting really lends itself to unexpected intersections of people, topics, and styles, resulting in shows like Exolore (astrophysicist/folklorist Moiya McTier examines worldbuilding in all kinds of fictional universes), One to Grow On (agriculture is political and fascinating), and Advice for/from the Future (what to do if your partner wants to go to Mars, and other advice for futuristic problems).
What advice would you have to give for people who are interested in creating and promoting their own podcast?
JS: Find something that makes you unique, and something that you will be passionate about. There are a lot of podcasts out there (I think a recent study said that in 2020, there were 885,000 new podcasts, which is two new podcasts every minute), so you need to figure out what you are bringing to audiences that they haven’t heard before.
What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet or wish you were asked?
AM: I’m always really interested in how other creators make a living. I write and talk a lot about the business of podcasting, from how we depend on audience support via Patreon to the intricacies of sponsorship booking for podcasts. I wish money wasn’t such a fraught topic to discuss openly, but in the meantime, if anyone out there wants advice or support setting rates or negotiating with a company, hit me up.
Finally, what are some LGBTQ+ media (i.e books/ comics/ podcasts/etc.) you would recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?
JS: Here’s my top LGBTQ+ books from the past year: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, and Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey.
AM: I’ve gotten really into romance novels over the last year, and my favorite LGBTQ+ books in that genre so far include Once Ghosted, Twice Shyby Alyssa Cole, the Feminine Pursuits series by Olivia Waite, and Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. I also love the podcasts Friendshipping, Queery, Gender Reveal, and Bad Queers! Finally, gotta plug the other fantastic members of the Multitude collective. Head over to multitude.productions to learn about them!
In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Jon Herzog, as they discuss the newly announced Comic-Con coming to San Diego Thanksgiving weekend, the new red band trailer for The Suicide Squad, and celebrate the new writer announced for the Zatanna movie, Emerald Fennell as our Strong Female Character of the Week.
.
BIG OPENING
KEVIN: San Diego Comic-Con announces a Thanksgiving Comic-Con Special Edition JON: Disney moves Black Widow and will stream it and Cruella on Disney+, Pixar’s Luca to skip theaters and stream exclusively on Disney+
.
DOWN AND NERDY
KEVIN: The Craft: Legacy, Invincible, The Irregulars, Genera+ion, Alien JON: Veronica Mars Rewatch + Books, Falcon + Winter Soldier, Drag Race UK, Steve Orlando Martian Manhunter run
.
STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER
Writer/Director of Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell to write Zatanna
.
THIS WEEK IN QUEER
DC releasing a 2-issue Superman & The Authority featuring 3 queer members written by Grant Morrison
• A new different Transformers movie is being developed • WB exec states there is no future DC Snyderverse • Pierce Brosnan joins Black Adam as Dr. Fate • Keanu Reeves comic BRZRKR to become a Netflix movie & anime series • New trailer for Stowaway
.
TV
• New special celebrating 50 years of Sesame Street to introduce new black family • CW orders Wellington Paranormal, spinoff of movie What We Do in the Shadows • New trailer for the final season of Supergirl • Wallis Day joins the cast of Batwoman as new Kate Kane • New trailer for The Nevers • New trailer for Made for Love • New trailer for THEM • Disney developing a Hawkeye spinoff around Echo
.
COMIC BOOKS
• DC announces Milestone comics coming out in print in June • Marvel breaks with Diamond for new partnership with Penguin Random House
In this extended episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Bobby Hankinson, as they discuss all the hawt lewks Russell Dauterman designed for Marvel’s Hellfire Gala, check out the new trailer for Cruella, and celebrate the new queer Captain America being introduced by Christopher Cantwell, Josh Trujillo, Jan Bazaldua, and Dale Eaglesham in This Week in Queer.
.
BIG OPENING
KEVIN: Marvel unleashes Hellfire Gala fashions BOBBY: New vocal cast announced for Rugrats reboot
In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Eric Green, as they discuss the final trailer for the massively built up “Snyder Cut” of Justice League, DC’s big campaign announced for Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary, and celebrate all the queer artists and writers announced as part of DC Pride in This Week in Queer.
KEVIN: Promising Young Woman, Moxie!, Genera+ion, Resident Alien, Super Mario 3D World ERIC: X-Men (as always), All My Relations, Extremity, Raya and the Last Dragon, Lego VIDIYO
.
STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER
DC announces “Believe in Wonder” campaign for Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary
.
THIS WEEK IN QUEER
DC announces new DC Pride anthology and variant covers
• The History Channel is releasing a docu-series celebrating 55 years of Star Trek • Peacock developing series based on George R.R. Martin’s Wild Cards • Netflix cancels/expands Special season 2 to 30min • Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit being developed into a musical • Michelle Gomez joins season 3 of Doom Patrol • HBO Max adapting comic Slam! into animated series • New trailer for book 4 of Infinity Train • Cast reveal for The Powerpuff Girl live-action pilot • New trailer for the Kung Fu reboot • New teaser for Amazon Prime’s Them from Lena Waithe • First look at Starz’s Heels • Ducktales living on as a podcast, This Duckberg Life • New trailer for Falcon & The Winter Soldier
In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Kate Moran, as they discuss Disney’s newest movie, Raya and the Last Dragon, debate whether more inclusion in Hogwarts Legacy washes away J.K.’s TERF past/present, and celebrate Alan Scott, the Green Lantern, coming out in a new story from James Tynion IV in This Week In Queer.
.
BIG OPENING
KEVIN: San Diego Comic Con is canceled for virtual event and a smaller IRL one in November KATE: Upcoming Hogwarts Legacy gives the option to play as transgender character
.
DOWN AND NERDY
KEVIN: Coming 2 America, Debri, For All Mankind, The Real World Homecoming, Wiccan & Hulkling, DC’s Infinite Frontier KATE: Sims 4 Kits disappoints again, Wandavision Finale, Raya, Super Mario in Animal Crossing
.
STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER
Watch Raya & the Last Dragon on March 12th for less than premiere access & support a non-profit
• New trailer for AppleTV+ series Calls • Fox renews The Simpsons for two more seasons bringing them to 750 episodes • Fox’s Animation Domination extends to Monday • The CW renews Superman & Lois after airing one episode • CBS orders a pilot based on Sarah Cooper’s book • New trailer for South Park’s vaccination special • First look & reintroduction to The Proud Family • Sony secures showrunner for new Silk series • The Golden Globes address their lack of diversity during broadcast • Starz is working on a Party Down revival
.
VIDEO GAMES
• New Switch system coming in time for the holidays • Act 1 of Hamilton was recreated on Animal Crossing
In the return of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Aaron Porchia, as they discuss all the new shows coming to Paramount+, the new trailer for Disney/Pixar’s Luca, and celebrate a nostalgic BTS look at Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman as our Strong Female Character of the Week.
KEVIN: Antebellum, Possessor, The Equalizer, Batwoman, Superman & Lois, The Cruising Diaries AARON: Charmed, Agents of SHIELD, I Care A Lot, WandaVision
• The Big Two (WB/DC and Disney/Marvel) make statement denouncing anti-asian racism • Marvel announces Reptil series from designer of Flame Con Flamies, Terry Blas
In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Geeks OUT President, Nic Gitau, as they discuss the latest revelations from WandaVision, check out the new Coming 2 America trailer, and celebrate the new writer for the Blade reboot, Stacy Osei-Kuffour as our Strong Female Character of the Week.
• New ad promotes the new Paramount+ streaming service • The CW renews almost all of their shows for new seasons • More guest hosts announced for Jeopardy • New trailer for Punky Brewster revival • New teaser for The Nevers • Creators of Haunting at Hill House are adapting The Midnight Club for Netflix • New trailer for City of Ghosts • Ryan Coogler developing Wakanda series for Disney+
.
COMIC BOOKS
• Yara Flor is getting her own Wonder Girl series in May • Controversial artist includes anti-semetic art in Immortal Hulk panel • James Tynion IV introduces a new Batman rogue, Miracle Molly
.
SHILF
• KEVIN: Aaron Taylor Johnson (Quicksilver) • NIC: Evan Peters (Quicksilver)
In this week’s episode super-sized episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Fwee Carter, as they discuss the epic battle of new GameStop investors vs. hedge fund companies, get excited for the new Godzilla vs. Kong trailer, and celebrate the nominees of the 2021 GLAAD Media Awards in This Week in Queer.
• Warner Bros. promotes all the movies premiering on HBO Max this year • HBO Max announces the Snyder Cut is coming March 18 • Netflix developing animated musical based on The Witch Boy • New trailer for Raya and the Last Dragon • Kevin Hart joins Cate Blanchett in Borderlands movie • Luke Evans joins the live-action Pinocchio movie
• You can no longer have sex with Keanu in Cyberpunk 2077 • According to Activision Blizzard, policies to hire diverse workers is too hard • Konami shutters all 3 production divisions in restructure