This week, Mandy slays into Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a show she'd previously avoided. Joined by Pete Wright and Kyle Olson, she confronts her assumptions about vampires and the supernatural in stake and song.

Before the nostalgia kicks in, Kyle addresses the complicated legacy of Joss Whedon, emphasizing the importance of separating the art from the artist. This is a conversation about reclaiming the Buffy fandom as a source of joy, setting the stage for a more nuanced discussion.

Are Pete and Kyle, middle-aged straight white men, the right vessels for Buffy fandom? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. In fact, it's their experience that shines a spotlight on just how broad the fandom of this show reaches.

This is an exploration of that fandom, the power of nostalgia, and the complex relationship between art and its creators. Along the way, they patrol through S2E3: School Hard, S4E10: Hush, and S6E7: Once More With Feeling.

Links & Notes

• Evan Ross Katz's book, Into Every Generation a Slayer is Born
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Hulu/Disney+)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (JustWatch)

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Dive deep into the swirling vortex of nerddom with Mandy and Dana as they dissect the wildly popular A Court of Thorns and Roses. Mandy grapples with the thorny intricacies of faerie lore, romanticy, and the age-old question: just how does one maintain hygiene in a pre-modern, magically infused realm?

Dana, the seasoned reader and fantasy aficionado, acts as Mandy's Virgil, guiding her through the labyrinthine world of Sarah J. Maas's prose. They explore the surprising parallels to Beauty and the Beast, the allure of world-building (even when it leaves you scratching your head), and the irresistible pull of a good, old-fashioned, fairy-fueled romance.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever wondered about the finer points of faerie etiquette, the power of BookTok, or the enduring appeal of a story that blends romance, fantasy, and just a touch of good old-fashioned gore. You might even learn a thing or two about Taylor Swift along the way. Trust us, it's more connected than you think.

Links & Notes

• A Court of Thorns and Roses
• Sarah J. Maas
• Throne of Glass
• Fourth Wing
• BookTok

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What happens when fear isn’t just in the shadows, but in the walls of your own home? When the weight of loss becomes a creature you can see, hear, and—perhaps worst of all—cannot escape?

This week, Mandy invites filmmaker, podcaster, and friend Tommy Metz III back to unpack one of the most unsettling films of the last decade: The Babadook.

Mandy and Tommy explore the architecture of horror itself, evaluating how Jennifer Kent’s 2014 cult classic reshaped the genre. From the film’s muted color palette to its sound design, they unpack how the movie doesn’t just tell a bedtime story—it feels like one.

What if the Babadook isn’t just a monster, but an author, a symbol of a mother’s unresolved trauma? Tommy presents a theory that might just make you rethink every frame of the film, complete with exhibits and photographic evidence. Mandy recounts her own nightmares, her love-hate relationship with creepy children’s books, and her newfound obsession with the film’s unsettling layers.

And what about this for unexpected twists: How did a shadowy, top-hat-wearing figure become a queer icon? Yes, you read that right. The Babadook’s journey from psychological horror to internet meme is a subplot worthy of its own deep dive.

Links & Notes

• Find Tommy on All The Feelings
• The Babadook on streaming platforms
• Photos referenced during the episode

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