Fantasy+Girls Podcast
31 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsThis is a podcast about geeking while female from authors Em Shotwell and E. J. Wenstrom. This is a space for us to dig deep (and sometimes not so deep) into the science fiction and fantasy space within pop culture to celebrate what we love, dissect what's problematic, and be geeks.
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Episodes
Mad Scientist Edition
June 11, 2024 12:56 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBThere’s been a strong mad scientist motif running lately with a feminist bent, and we needed to talk about it. Poor Things. Lisa Frankenstein. The Tortured Poets Department--we get into all of it, plus some of our other faves on the trope. To keep up with FANTASY+GIRL, subscribe on your favorite podcast platform follow us @TypoPodcasts on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, and subscribe to the Typo Podcasts newsletter. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2023 in Books, Happy New Year, Etc.
January 11, 2024 10:26 - 1 hour - 62 MBEm and EJ get their act together long enough to rehash the best stories they consumed in books and screen over the past year. Stay tuned for a deep dive into Bunny, Saltburn, Poor Things, among others, and a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT from Em about what to look forward to in 2024. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Summer Reading Assignments: EJ's Report on Bunny
August 29, 2023 11:23 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBAs we wrap up the summer, E. J. and Emma have completed their summer reading and are ready to report back. Emma assigned E. J. to read Bunny by Mona Awad, a speculative/horror cult favorite with shocking twists and a lot of takes. Bunny, we have a lot to talk about. Egregious spoilers ahead. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Summer Reading: The Series
July 09, 2023 13:00 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MBFANTASY+GIRL is going back to school with a series dedicated to the nostalgia of summer reading assignments! For the series, Emma C. Wells and EJ Wenstrom will be challenging each other with SFF books to read, and then come back to discuss. Keep going--Emma and EJ have already announced what they're challenging each other to read first: Tune and and read along to join the discussion in the next episodes: What EJ is Assignging Emma to Read What Emma is Assignment EJ to Read ★...
Summer Reading Series: Emma's Assignment for EJ
July 08, 2023 14:34 - 2 minutes - 2.02 MBFANTASY+GIRL Podcast is back with a new series celebrating summer reading! Emma and EJ are choosing a book for the other to read. The duo will then lead a deep dive into the chosen stories on the podcast! Which book did Emma choose for EJ? BUNNY by Mona Awad. Emma chose this book hoping to appeal to EJ’s love of weird—but well written—speculative fiction. EJ loves Catherine House and Her Fearful Symmetry—and Emma thinks Bunny fits nicely with those titles (even if it is a bit weird...
Summer Reading Series: EJ's Assignment for Emma
July 06, 2023 17:29 - 3 minutes - 3.65 MBFANTASY+GIRL is going back to school with a series dedicated to the nostalgia of summer reading assignments! For the series, Emma C. Wells and E. J. Wenstrom will be challenging each other with SFF books to read, and then come back to discuss. Here, E. J. reveals what she's challenging Emma to read first, and why. EJ is assigning Emma to read HOW TO LIVE SAVELY IN A SCIENCE FICTIONAL UNIVERSE by Charles Yu. EJ has been a Charles Yu fan for years and this was the novel that start...
Stuff We (Mostly) Liked in 2022
December 18, 2022 13:50 - 1 hour - 97.7 MBIn which we ramble on about random things we like and a few things we don’t. NOTE: FANTASY+GIRLS stands with the HarperCollins union. Wow! It’s been an entire year since Emma and EJ hosted their last episode of SFF Girls. Last we saw our heroes, they were in a cabin in the Georgia mountains, drinking and making s’mores. Em plugs TikTok bc why not? It has been a good year for speculative fiction—but especially horror. 2021 was the year for Rom-Coms—but 2022 is all about the horr...
In Which We Rise from the Dead
October 22, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 113 MBWe're back, and just in time for a Halloween episode! Tag along (and bring your best axe and/or brain-bashing bat) as we take a deep meandering dive into our favorite zombies.
When Our Powers Combine ... Girl Gangs of SFF
May 14, 2021 00:47 - 52 minutes - 72.8 MBWhat's even better than a strong female protagonist? An entire gang of them. In this episode, Emma and EJ share their favorite all-female crews from across speculative fiction, comiserate on what makes them great, debate what earns the label, and pick their own fantasy girl gangs.
Hate Web: A Valentine’s Day Special
February 12, 2021 12:00 - 58 minutes - 79.8 MBWelcome to the Star Crossed Lovers episode. EJ researched to find out what *really* qualifies as star-crossed-lovers and Em just winged it (which is pretty obvious because at least one of her picks barely counts). The phrase comes directly from Shakespeare and the ladies discuss the classic trope—which brings EJ to her first pick for the podcast: SAGA. Saga is a loose interpretation of Romeo and Juliet set in the realm of a futuristic space opera. This comic is one of EJ’s favorit...
The Year Hell Froze Over
January 21, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 97.6 MB* This episode was recording in the days following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. * 2020. It's over, and good riddance. But one silver lining to a tumultuous, bizarro year? There were some damn good books, shows and movies. Em and EJ discuss their highlights, what they're looking forward to most in 2021, and the importance of story amid a deeply divided world.
NanoGatorsGiving: A Very Speculative Thanksgiving Episode
November 19, 2020 11:44 - 56 minutes - 78 MBWe’re in the home stretch of 2020, ya’ll. Em and EJ embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving with a look at their favorite themed speculative fiction and pop culture (or the next closest thing). They also share about their NaNoWriMo goals and experiences. Also some alligators, just for fun.
Not Your Scream Queen #5: A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
October 21, 2020 11:08 - 1 hour - 92.1 MBIn this final episode of our female-driven horror miniseries, Em and EJ take a stroll through Bad City and weigh the pros and cons of befriending a vampire.
Not Your Scream Queen #4: The Babadook
October 18, 2020 18:39 - 49 minutes - 68 MBThe BabadookEm and EJ talk about the monstrosity of grief, the dark side of motherhood, and what frightens us most with guest host Erica Waters, author of Ghost Wood Song.
Not Your Scream Queen #3: Ma
October 16, 2020 20:55 - 1 hour - 88.1 MBEm and EJ explore more female-driven horror with Ma, starring Octavia Spencer in a wildly unhinged and out-of-character role. Claustrophobic small towns, dumb teenagers and a few seriously inappropriate laughs ahead.
Not Your Scream Queen #2: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
October 15, 2020 12:00 - 47 minutes - 65.2 MBNot Your Scream Queen Episode 2: HE LOVES ME HE LOVES ME NOT We are back with our mini series featuring women in horror aptly titled NOT YOUR SCREAM QUEEN.. Your two ADHD diagnosed hosts agree that this is the most focused mini-series they’ve accomplished yet, and they are feeling pretty proud of it. Of course that might be because the “work” involved has been a delight! Em has loved the research for this series. Watching horror movies? Who wouldn’t love it? Em doesn’t typical...
Not Your Scream Queen #1: Jennifer's Body
October 14, 2020 11:13 - 56 minutes - 77.5 MBRight from the get-go, Em and EJ agree there’s an important topic that, coming out of the My Favorite Apocalypse series, we have not touched on enough: Cannibalism. It only comes up a few times every episode, we promise to do better. Which brings us to JENNIFER’S BODY, our first pick for the miniseries. But put a pin in that, Em has some ideas: Since we’ve decided to focus this new miniseries on women of horror--writers, directors, actors, and more--she suggests calling it Not Your Screa...
My Favorite Apocalypse #4: The Apocalypse Goes Goth
August 02, 2020 19:22 - 46 minutes - 64.3 MBFANTASY+GIRLS My Favorite Apocalypse Ep 4: The Apocalypse Goes Goth EJ and Em have been gone…for a while. It is now July—months away from when they began the series in April EJ and Em talk about how things have changed since the miniseries began. EJ and Em discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, how it is necessary, and how it is changing publishing. The hosts discuss easy ways that you can support Black authors and creators. Em and EJ discuss the twitter hashtag #publishingpaidme on...
My Favorite Apocalpyse #3: And We're All Out of Bubble Gum
July 17, 2020 18:00 - 47 minutes - 65.1 MBFANTASY+GIRLS My Favorite Apocalypse Ep. 3: And We’re All Out of Bubble Gum Note: This episode was recorded in April, before the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police, and the subsequent protests. When Em and EJ talk about the current state of the world, they are referring to the very beginning of quarantine. FANTASY+GIRL Podcast stands behind Black Lives Matter. For our full Black Lives Matter statement, commentary on its impact on publishing, and how t...
My Favorite Apocalypse #2: Radioactive Carrots
July 16, 2020 18:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBFANTASY+GIRLS My Favorite Apocalypse Ep. 2: Radioactive Carrots Note: This episode was recorded in April, before the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police, and the subsequent protests. When Em and EJ talk about the current state of the world, they are referring to the very beginning of quarantine. FANTASY+GIRL Podcast stands behind Black Lives Matter. For our full Black Lives Matter statement, commentary on its impact on publishing, and how to support bl...
My Favorite Apocalypse #1: Don't Eat the Soylent Green
July 15, 2020 18:00 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBFANTASY+GIRLS My Favorite Apocalypse Ep. 1: Don’t Eat the Soylent Green Show Notes Note: This episode was recorded in April, before the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police, and the subsequent protests. When Em and EJ talk about the current state of the world, they are referring to the very beginning of quarantine. FANTASY+GIRL Podcast stands behind Black Lives Matter. For our full Black Livse Matter statement, our commentary on its impact on publishing...
Hearts & Spaceships: A Very SFF Valentine's Day
February 13, 2020 17:00 - 39 minutes - 54.3 MBLove through space and time! For Valentine's Day, Em and EJ talk their favorite science fiction and fantasy couples, and what makes them so special, including the final word in Vampire Bill vs. Eric, a deep dive into the nuances of Black Mirror, and a Game of Thrones fan fiction dream couple.
Reading Goals & Related Anxieties
January 27, 2020 17:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBWhat's your 2020 vision for reading? Reading anxiety is real! EJ and Em talk about their plans to tackle their reading goals (or lack thereof) in 2020. And what's with all these carefully cultivated reading lists anyway? Are they helpful? Annoying? Both? Probably.
The Decade's Greatest Characters, Ranked (or Not) - New Decade Kickoff Series
January 22, 2020 17:00 - 43 minutes - 60.3 MBThe past decade has brought a slew of new and important conversations to the surface, and with it, we've seen female and nonbinary characters unlike any we've encountered before. Em and EJ call out some of the highlights.
Back to the Future with 2020 TBRs - New Decade Kickoff Series
January 21, 2020 17:00 - 43 minutes - 60.3 MB2020 is here and its going to bring more great new books, movies and shows than you could ever consume. Em and EJ chat about the titles they're most excited for and totally ruin their TBR lists with all the new adds.
New Year, Same Old Unicorns - New Decade Kickoff Series
January 20, 2020 17:00 - 50 minutes - 69.1 MB2019 in review! Em and EJ look back at their years, call out their fave SFF things and a few they could maybe have done without (looking at you, Joker). Also some light dabbling in how our experience of time has changed over the 2010s. The reading list for this one is MASSIVE so have a pen ready and let's go. (Or join the Unicorn Army on Patreon for lists and links for this and every episode.)
From the Unicorn Army - HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #5
November 20, 2019 00:15 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBEm & E. J. share stories from you, our glorious listeners! Listen in for some unusual horror tales from our friends.
Ghosted -- HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #4
November 07, 2019 00:30 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBHaunted houses. Lingering souls. Things going bump in the night while you sleep. Em & E. J. get far too specific about encounters with the other side of the veil.
The Things That Keep Us Up At Night -- HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #3
October 23, 2019 09:30 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBSome of the worst monsters already lurk among us every day. The things that scare us half to death aren’t limited to the fantastical, and in this episode, Em and E. J. get dark about the things that scare them the most. Sleepwalking. Real life brushes with serial killers. Beheading. We’re bringing all the chills—and want to hear yours too.
Let’s Talk Witches, Bitches – HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #2
October 23, 2019 08:40 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBContinuing our HALLOWEEN SPECIAL theme of creeping ourselves out, in this episode we talk witches, from Hermoine to American Horror Story, and real-life legends. Who’s your favorite witch? Join the conversation in the comments.
You, Me & the Devil - HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #1
October 23, 2019 08:30 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBEm and E. J. dive into Halloween head first with deep dive chat about the devil and demons within our stories. We splurge our favorites, analyze, overanalyze, and totally creep each other out. Listen in and add your own favorite and fearsome devil tales in the comments.