A semi-processed podcast about how we process culture by two zinesters based in Chicago.
With Keidra Chaney (https://wildramppublishing.com/) & Liz Mason (https://lizmasonisawesome.com/)
In this episode, we talk with CJ Wu, who runs zinemap.com, a collaborative map of the global zine scene. CJ tells us about how the site started as a way to answer questions about distributing their own zines but quickly evolved into a community-maintained resource that reveals how zine scenes look in different places. We talk about the unanticipated ways that users engage with the site's resources which leads to innovation, how Zinemap functions as both an archive of past events and evolving living directory, the difficulties in representing specifics about an art form that often defies categorization, and so much more. Somehow the words "Zinester Linked In" got mentioned.
Exciting note!: Since we recorded CJ added a way to preserve past event editions as well as a check that flags duplicate listings, and said "Talking about them made me realize I’d been wanting to get them sorted for a while so thank you for the nudge!" Way to go get 'em, CJ!
Besides running zinemap.com, CJ Wu makes autobio comics about life's little joys and struggles, translates children's books and teaches languages.
We are celebrating our first anniversary and we've reached 1200 downloads! We're gonna do a special anniversary episode soon! Celebrate with us by e-mailing your fave moments of Rough Draft (or quotes, guests, related thoughts): roughdraftchicagopodcast@gmail.com .
Links!
CJ:
Zinemap.com https://zinemap.com/
Zinemap profile: https://zinemap.com/profile/cjmakescomics
Zine Librarian’s unConference 11/7+11/8 https://www.zinelibraries.info/
SCAMP in Sydney Comics, 11/21+22 https://www.cockatoocomics.com/scamp?currency=USD
cjwucomics.com https://cjwucomics.com/
Support Zinemap on kofi etc: https://ko-fi.com/cjwu + https://zinemap.com/support-zinemap
on IG: @cjmakescomics
Keidra:
Zinemap profile: https://zinemap.com/profile/wild-ramp-publishing
Zine Librarian’s unConference 11/8 https://www.zinelibraries.info/
Wild Ramp Review of Books https://wildramppublishing.bigcartel.com/product/wild-ramp-review-of-books
Calls for submissions: Act Your Age #4 Toxic Fandom https://tinyurl.com/ActYrAge4
@keidrachaney
@wildramppublishing
bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social
wildramppublishing.com
keidradchaney.net
Liz:
Zinemap profile: https://zinemap.com/profile/caboosezine
KC Zine Con #11 11/7 https://kczinecon.com/kc-zine-con-11/
Punk Scholars Network U.S. interview at Razorcake https://razorcake.org/punk-scholars-network-u-s-interviewed-by-liz-mason/
Well Now We're Both Awake radio show on CHIRP Radio 107.1fm Chicago, Wed 6-9am CT, at the CHIRP Radio app, or at https://chirpradio.org/
@caboosezine
@sugarhijinx
lizmasonisawesome.com
linktr.ee/caboosezine
26 Aug 2026
Rough Draft #20 Maira McDermott
This week we talk with East Bay, CA-based artist Maira McDermott, who in 2017 founded both the Long Arm Stapler Podcast and the Bay Area Queer Zine Fest. Maira's work focuses primarily on mental health, gender/queerness, and how those lenses color their world, especially their favorite topics: karaoke and King of the Hill.
We talk about zines verses diaries, the push and pull of extroverted-introversion necessary for communal art, hosting podcasts as a way to get advice, time management strategies that involve reliance on cheap light-roast coffee...and how "Video Killed the Radio Star" as a karaoke choice is harder than you think it is.
Upcoming events and Links for Maira:Bay Area Queer Zine Fest 9/27 http://bayareaqueerzinefest.comBehind the Zines https://www.ilovezines.com/search?q=Behind+the+Zines&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastWant to talk about your zines on Maira's podcast? Fill out the form at: tinyurl.com/letschatlashttp://instagram.com/maiiira.pnghttp://longarmstapler.neocities.orghttp://ko-fi.com/LNGRMSTPLRhttp://linktr.ee/LNGRMSTPLR
Upcoming events and Links for Keidra:Wild Ramp Review of Books https://wildramppublishing.bigcartel.com/product/wild-ramp-review-of-booksCalls for submissions: Chicago Civic Mini-Zine Microgrants: https://tinyurl.com/chiciviczine & Act Your Age #4 Toxic Fandom https://tinyurl.com/ActYrAge4@keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com + keidradchaney.net
Upcoming events and Links for Liz:Zine Workshop at the U of Chicago's Library Community Day 8/29 https://lizmasonisawesome.com/upcoming-appearances/2026/8/29/zine-workshop-at-the-university-of-chicagoWell Now We're Both Awake with Liz Mason radio show on CHIRP radio 107.1fm Chicago, Wednesdays 6-9am CT, chirpradio.org or the CHIRP Radio app https://chirpradio.org/@caboosezine + @sugarhijinx + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine
What's on draft? Got somethin' you wanna tell us? E-mail us at roughdraftchicagopodcast@gmail.com
18 Aug 2026
Rough Draft #19 Idol, Burning x Superfan
In this episode of Rough Draft, we discuss 2 mirror image books of fiction about the interior life of young women navigating fandom, idol worship and parasocial relationships.
Superfan: A Novel by Jenny Tinghui Zhang and Idol, Burning: A Novel by Rin Usami address how performers aren’t the only ones who must navigate balancing outer persona with their authentic self.
Idol, Burning focuses on high school student Akari in Japan. She has a huge following on the internet where she blogs about the J-Pop group Maza Maza, but she can't seem to complete school assignments or hold down a job.
Superfan focuses on college student Minnie in Austin, Texas. Her obsession with the band HOURglass helps her cope with the trials of relationships. But can she find her way with making genuine connections?
Among other things, we talk about how expression of fandom can lead to higher level thinking, characters taking power back that they once gave away, the appearance of zine culture in Superfan, and Keidra's secret parasocial relationship with rabbits on the internet.
Hey, thanks for listening! We’ve now had over 1000 downloads! Thanks for supporting us!
Links!
Parts of this conversation were featured in Wild Ramp Review of Books (Summer 2026 issue)
https://wildramppublishing.bigcartel.com/product/wild-ramp-review-of-books
Superfan: A Novel by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
https://bookshop.org/p/books/superfan-a-novel-jenny-tinghui-zhang/ec6c61eba883c0b2?ean=9781250369666&bkshp-astro=t
Idol, Burning: A Novel by Rin Usami, Translated by Asa Yoneda
https://bookshop.org/p/books/idol-burning-a-novel-rin-usami/9f461ba958c4849c?ean=9780063213296&bkshp-astro=t
Keidra's "The Empowered Stan" article on Fainsplaining:
https://fansplaining.com/the-empowered-stan/
Links for Keidra:
@keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com + keidradchaney.net
Links for Liz:
@caboosezine + @sugarhijinx + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
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