In Defense of Fandom

About In Defense of Fandom

In Defense of Fandom explores the world of fandom, focusing on creativity, community, and collaboration. The show, pulling from interviews with creators and fandom research, illuminates the ways that fandom can be an incredibly positive influence in our lives.In season one, the podcast focused on the creative output of the SPN Family, as Supernatural fans call themselves, a lens to understand fandom activities as a whole. Season two broadened the premise by exploring how the ending of a TV series can affect its fandom. Topics ranged from whether the ending is good/terrible/divisive to whether it matters if the show is cancelled or goes out on its own terms to attempted revivals and reboots. Season three took a step back from television and expanded the scope even further, looking at parasocial relationships. The third season examined how and why we form parasocial bonds, how these bonds can be beneficial (and detrimental), and what a parasocial relationship looks like from the side of the star/musician/creator. Season four, created in collaboration with Denim-Wrapped Nightmares, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Supernatural by taking a look at the music of the show: the music that made the show, music inspired by the show, and music from the show's cast, writers, and crew.

Publisher

Sadie Witkowski

Category

society & culture · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Feb 2023

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

7 of 59 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   S4, Episode 6: Con Attendee to Event Team Member

   Host Sadie Wit interviews creation team member Ellen about her transition from convention attendee to event staff, revealing the joys and challenges of working behind the scenes.

2. 

   16 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   S4, Episode 5: Post DragonCon Report with Daniel

   Host Sadie Wit interviews Daniel Regueira, founder of Chicago Cane Cooperative, about their shared DragonCon experience and insights.

3. 

   26 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   S4, Episode 4: The Original Experience

   Host Sadie Wit interviews Tammie Buchignani about The Original Experience, revealing how it immerses fans in a beloved genre world.

Inside a recent episode

S4, Episode 6: Con Attendee to Event Team Member

Published 29 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] So when you are a team member, you don't everything. Oh, you get to meet the actors. You get to do that. No, no. You may get like, I've had it where sometimes I don't see the actors at all. Like I could be at the merch table and interacting with the attendees and not see any of the actors which is also fine i have done i've done both like theater i if i'm in theater i'm working those mics i am making sure somebody's not sitting in your seat that the that people are not trying to jump seats which irritates me so much um and like not Like, not just standing at the door. Like, I interact so much with the attendees that it's very slight with the actors. […]

Who has been a guest on In Defense of Fandom

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ellen
• Daniel Regueira
• Tammie Buchignani
• Gary Berman
• Matt Kelly

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

28 ratings

Spotify

4.3 / 5

30 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

3

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

77

Contact In Defense of Fandom

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Kings of Con: The Podcast

• 

  Supernatural Then and Now

• 

  Once We Were Spacemen

• 

  99% Invisible

• 

  SmartLess

• 

  Nevermind the Music

Questions about In Defense of Fandom