Fan culture, taken seriously from the inside.
The gist
Fansplaining covers fan culture where media criticism, personal history, and industry analysis overlap. Its episodes move from romance TV and K-pop to fanfiction, tourism, Star Wars, and the uneasy border between fan work and professional entertainment.
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About Fansplaining
Fansplaining covers fandom as a living cultural system. It is not content to treat fans as consumers, hype machines, or internet curiosities. Recent episodes look at fandom as criticism, travel, creative apprenticeship, identity formation, and professional power. The range is wide. Heated Rivalry becomes a way to talk about romance, misogyny, television form, queer love stories, and why Hollywood struggles to recognize an audience that is already there. BTS fandom opens into Jeju Island, Purple Festa, pilgrimage, over-tourism, and the possibility of mutual respect between local culture and global fans. K-pop Demon Hunters leads to a broader accounting of K-pop's generations, American reception, Asian artists, and the gap between enjoying a cartoon fantasy and respecting the real industry behind it. The show also makes room for first-person fan histories. Text-based role-playing is treated as more than adolescent escapism; it becomes a structure for experimenting with names, bodies, desire, and gender. Mary Sues are not dismissed as lazy wish fulfillment. They are reconsidered through bias, online hostility, queer representation, and the long habit of mocking the stories fans make for themselves. Star Wars and professional writing raise a different tension. What happens when a fan enters the official machine? Fansplaining is especially attentive to that middle space between fanfiction, indie publishing, traditional publishing, franchise work, and public identity. It understands the thrill. It also understands the cost. Episodes can be funny, candid, scholarly, and blunt, but the governing mode is careful cultural analysis with fan knowledge baked in. The show suits listeners who want rigorous thinking about fan practices without condescension. It is for people who know that shipping, fan travel, convention panels, tie-in novels, Tumblr meta, and online backlash are not separate from media history. They are media history now.
Made for: Best for listeners interested in fanfiction studies, media criticism, queer fandom, pop culture industries, and the messy path from fan creativity to professional work. It especially fits people who want fandom analyzed with affection and rigor rather than explained from a distance.
What sets it apart: Fansplaining combines insider fluency with editorial discipline, moving between personal essays, criticism, reporting, and industry analysis. It treats fandom's pleasures, conflicts, and creative labor as culturally consequential without flattening them into trend pieces.
In their own words
Fansplaining is a podcast about by, for, and about fandom. It's hosted by Flourish Klink and Elizabeth Minkel. New episodes come out every two weeks. If you want to call us and leave a message for us to read on air, our number is 1-401-526-FANS!
As heard by us
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Fansplaining connects fan creativity and enthusiasm to the industries, identities, and power structures that grow around popular culture.
Fansplaining follows fan enthusiasm into the industries, communities, and power structures that shape it. Flourish Klink and Elizabeth Minkel bring an informed conversational ease to questions about transmedia franchises and the passage from fan creativity into professional…
Why you'd press play
A Jeju zither plays BTS, and your fandom argument suddenly needs a passport.
Press play if you want
- to hear Elizabeth and Flourish question whether keeping a franchise alive across media serves its fans
- to feel the awkward shift when a lifelong Star Wars fan becomes a paid Star Wars writer
Talks about
Podcasts like Fansplaining
Tales from the FandomFan stories, cosplay craft, and character love.
Star Wars Escape PodFans arguing the Star Wars canon, week by week
That Aged WellNostalgia with receipts and side-eyes.
Star Wars Audio ArchivesStar Wars fiction, read aloud part by part.
Episodes
- 1
Episode 210: The RPF Tipping Point
·1h 9m - 2
Episode 213: The Year in Fandom 2023
·1h 17m - 3
The RPF Question by Sacha Judd
·28m - 4
Episode 194: The Pain Fandom
·1h 8m - 5
Episode 193: Ask Me About My Fanart
·1h 13m - 6
Episode 192: Death, Mourning, and Fandom
·1h 4m - 7
Episode 191: Femstats February
·1h 23m - 8
Fansplaining's Next Chapter by Elizabeth Minkel
·7m - 9
Can Fandom Make Us Better Tourists? by Kayti Burt
·17m - 10
Alternate Universes by Newt Albiston
·14m - 11
Reclaiming the Mary Sue by Meghan Fitzmartin
·10m - 12
K-Pop's Demons, Real and Fictional by Aja Romano
·21m - 13
The Fan, the Pro, and the Spaces In Between by Tessa Gratton
·29m - 14
The Fandom Advantage: How Fan Creativity Fuels Pro Entertainment Careers
·54m - 15
How Friendships Onscreen and Off Fueled Half a Century of Fandom by Jay Castello
·11m - 16
I Came to Ruin You: The Collecting Practices of K-Pop Fandoms by Rea McNamara & Bo Shin
·24m - 17
Bridgerton and Period Drama Fandom's Enduring Racism Problem by Amanda-Rae Prescott
·24m - 18
Sam Wilson Deserved Better Than Brave New World by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw
·16m - 19
The War That Almost Broke a Classic Fandom by Lena Barkin
·28m - 20
The Endless Appetite for Fanfiction by Elizabeth Minkel
·21m - 21
Bringing Fanfiction Into the Classroom by Abby Kirby
·15m - 22
The Beatles Live! by Allegra Rosenberg
·22m - 23
The Scream Fandom's Enduring Divide by Michael Boyle
·22m - 24
The Acolyte's Squandered Potential by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw
·17m - 25
The Traumatized Gatekeepers of Broadway by Laura Wheatman Hill
·21m - 26
The Yellow Balloon Movement by Maria Temming
·24m - 27
Episode 214: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 18
·1h 12m - 28
Episode 223: The End of the Flourish Era
·1h 20m - 29
Episode 219: Tropefest Speedrun
·1h 9m - 30
Episode 218: The Money Question 3: Books???
·1h 25m - 31
Episode 217: Fanbinding
·1h 14m - 32
Episode 216: Allegra Rosenberg
·1h 12m - 33
Episode 215: The Broken Contract
·1h 12m - 34
Episode 220: The Fan-Journalist
Fansplaining interviews Katie Burt about the intersection of fandom and journalism, exploring how fans navigate being both fans and journalists.
·1h 18m - 35
Episode 212: Fandom Truthiness
·1h 14m - 36
Episode 211: The Copyright Conundrum
·1h 19m - 37
The Success of Heated Rivalry Should Not Be a Surprise by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw
·16m - 38
Episode 209: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 17
·54m - 39
Episode 208: What Fans Owe Each Other
·1h 10m - 40
Episode 207: Paul Cornell
·1h 8m - 41
Episode 206: Bad Fans Revisited
·1h 11m - 42
Episode 205: Fanfluencers
·1h 7m - 43
Episode 204: Happy Anniversary #8
·1h 27m - 44
Episode 203: Solidarity and SDCC
·1h 2m - 45
Episode 202: Dylan Marron
·1h 10m - 46
Episode 201: Artificial Fandom Intelligence 2: Rise of the Grifters
·1h 26m - 47
Episode 200: Maia Kobabe
·1h - 48
Episode 199: Reflecting Reality?
·1h 2m - 49
Episode 198: Strikesplaining
·1h 15m - 50
Episode 197: Stitch
·1h 19m - 51
Episode 196: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 16
·1h 8m - 52
Episode 195: Fandom Life Cycles
·1h 5m - 53
Episode 169: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 12
·1h 7m - 54
Episode 190: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 15
·1h 10m - 55
Episode 187: Artificial Fandom Intelligence
·1h 1m - 56
Episode 186B: Disability and Fandom: Part 2
·1h 59m - 57
Episode 186A: Disability and Fandom: Part 1
·1h 44m - 58
Episode 185: RPF Revisited
·1h 11m - 59
Episode 184: Justin Bolger
·1h 7m - 60
Episode 183: Fandom and Religion
·1h 11m - 61
Episode 182: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 14
·1h 15m - 62
Episode 181: The Illusions of Crowds
·1h 4m - 63
Episode 180: Happy Anniversary #7
·1h 27m - 64
Episode 179: Fan Labor, Fan Consumption
·1h 5m - 65
Episode 178: Kaitlyn Tiffany
·1h 1m - 66
Episode 177: The Good, the Bad, and the Popular
·1h 9m - 67
Episode 176: Liang Ge
·1h 9m - 68
Episode 175: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 13
·1h 15m - 69
Episode 174: The Classification of Fandom
·1h 2m - 70
Episode 173: The Meta Episode
·1h 7m - 71
Episode 172: Safe Spaces
·1h 21m - 72
Episode 171: OFIC Magazine
·1h 6m - 73
Episode 170: Fandom-Tinted Glasses
·1h 12m - 74
Episode 168: The Entertainment Media Machine
·1h 10m - 75
Episode 167: Our Secret Identities
·1h 10m - 76
Episode 166: Writing Trans Characters
·1h 17m - 77
Episode 165: Fests
·1h 9m - 78
Episode 164: The Year In Fandom 2021
·55m - 79
Episode 163: Freya Marske
·1h 8m - 80
Episode 162: Ways of Seeing
·1h 4m - 81
Episode 161: Brent Lambert
·1h 4m - 82
Episode 160: The Original Character
·1h 4m - 83
Episode 159: Gwenda Bond
·58m - 84
Episode 158: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 11
·1h 16m - 85
Episode 157: Nichole Perkins
·1h 3m - 86
Episode 155: Happy Anniversary #6
·1h 14m - 87
Episode 154: Fans are Discussing…
·1h 7m - 88
Episode 153: The Productive Fan
·1h 9m - 89
Episode 152: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 10
·1h 7m - 90
Episode 151: Teaching Fanfiction
·1h 18m - 91
Episode 150: Post-Pandemic Fandom
·1h 5m - 92
Episode 149: The Real Character
·1h 5m - 93
Episode 148: Do Not Interact
·1h 5m - 94
Episode 147: Anisa Khalifa
·1h 5m - 95
Episode 146: If You Give a Fan a Cookie
·1h 3m - 96
Episode 156: The Exit Interview
Hidden gemFlourish defines transmedia as story across multiple media that still works on one medium alone.
·1h 9m·2 clips - 97
Episode 221: Self-Inserts
Flourish and Elizabeth introduce a podcast episode about self-inserts in fan fiction, featuring PhD student Effie Sapiridis, and discuss the stigma and lack of academic research on the topic.
·1h 19m - 98
Episode 222: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 19
Flourish and a guest answer listener questions about fandom etiquette, norms, and fanfiction topics in the 19th installment of their Ask Fansplaining Anything series.
·1h 16m - 99
Episode 189: "No Cultural Impact"
This episode of Fansplaining explores the disconnect between blockbuster movie success and visible fandom, using the Avatar franchise as a case study.
·1h 13m - 100
Episode 188: The Year in Fandom 2022
Elizabeth and Flourish discuss the year in fandom 2022, comparing it to previous years and previewing their annual trend analysis.
·1h 13m - 101
The Success of Heated Rivalry Should Not Be a Surprise by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw
Hidden gemGavia Baker-Whitelaw argues that the success of the show Heated Rivalry is predictable within romance and fandom communities, criticizing mainstream media's shallow analysis.
Jan 26, 2026·16m·1 clip - 102
Fansplaining's Next Chapter by Elizabeth Minkel
Elizabeth Minkel announces the relaunch of Fansplaining as a weekly written publication covering fandom through reporting, analysis, and personal essays.
Jan 21, 2026·7m - 103
Can Fandom Make Us Better Tourists? by Kayti Burt
Hidden gemExploring how BTS fandom fosters respectful tourism and cultural exchange on South Korea's Jeju Island.
Dec 10, 2025·17m·1 clip - 104
Alternate Universes by Newt Albiston
A personal narrative exploring how text-based role-playing shaped the author's queer identity, gender transition, and lifelong engagement with fandom culture.
Nov 19, 2025·14m - 105
Reclaiming the Mary Sue by Meghan Fitzmartin
Meghan Fitzmartin discusses her new comic that reclaims the Mary Sue trope and recounts receiving death threats after writing Tim Drake as bisexual.
Oct 29, 2025·10m - 106
K-Pop's Demons, Real and Fictional by Aja Romano
Hidden gemK-pop Demon Hunters' success may be overtaking K-pop itself, not just boosting it.
Sep 24, 2025·21m·1 clip - 107
The Fan, the Pro, and the Spaces In Between by Tessa Gratton
Hidden gemFanfiction exists in “inherently queered space” because it “divorces value from money.”
Aug 27, 2025·29m·1 clip - 108
The Fandom Advantage: How Fan Creativity Fuels Pro Entertainment Careers
Hidden gemAt a San Diego Comic-Con panel for the Fansplaining podcast, host Elizabeth Mikkel questions five professional writers -- Daphne Olive, Ami Leonard, Tessa Gratton, Lynn Foga, and Megan Fitzmartin, plus panelist Brent Lambert -- about how their fan pasts shaped careers on shows like Black Sails, Supernatural, and Star Wars: The High Republic.
Jul 30, 2025·54m·4 clips - 109
How Friendships Onscreen and Off Fueled Half a Century of Fandom by Jay Castello
Jun 25, 2025·11m - 110
I Came to Ruin You: The Collecting Practices of K-Pop Fandoms by Rea McNamara & Bo Shin
May 28, 2025·24m - 111
The RPF Question by Sacha Judd
Apr 23, 2025·28m - 112
Bridgerton and Period Drama Fandom's Enduring Racism Problem by Amanda-Rae Prescott
Mar 26, 2025·24m - 113
Sam Wilson Deserved Better Than Brave New World by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw
Feb 26, 2025·16m - 114
The War That Almost Broke a Classic Fandom by Lena Barkin
Jan 22, 2025·28m - 115
The Endless Appetite for Fanfiction by Elizabeth Minkel
Dec 31, 2024·21m - 116
Bringing Fanfiction Into the Classroom by Abby Kirby
Nov 20, 2024·15m - 117
The Beatles Live! by Allegra Rosenberg
Oct 23, 2024·22m - 118
The Scream Fandom's Enduring Divide by Michael Boyle
Sep 4, 2024·22m - 119
The Acolyte's Squandered Potential by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw
Aug 23, 2024·17m - 120
The Traumatized Gatekeepers of Broadway by Laura Wheatman Hill
Aug 14, 2024·21m - 121
The Yellow Balloon Movement by Maria Temming
Jun 12, 2024·24m - 122
Episode 223: The End of the Flourish Era
May 22, 2024·1h 20m - 123
Episode 222: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 19
May 8, 2024·1h 16m - 124
Episode 221: Self-Inserts
Apr 24, 2024·1h 19m - 125
Episode 220: The Fan-Journalist
Apr 10, 2024·1h 18m - 126
Episode 219: Tropefest Speedrun
Mar 27, 2024·1h 9m - 127
Episode 218: The Money Question 3: Books???
Mar 13, 2024·1h 25m - 128
Episode 217: Fanbinding
Feb 28, 2024·1h 14m - 129
Episode 216: Allegra Rosenberg
Feb 14, 2024·1h 12m - 130
Episode 215: The Broken Contract
Jan 31, 2024·1h 12m - 131
Episode 214: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 18
Jan 10, 2024·1h 12m - 132
Episode 213: The Year in Fandom 2023
Dec 27, 2023·1h 17m - 133
Episode 212: Fandom Truthiness
Dec 13, 2023·1h 14m - 134
Episode 211: The Copyright Conundrum
Nov 29, 2023·1h 19m - 135
Episode 210: The RPF Tipping Point
Nov 8, 2023·1h 9m - 136
Episode 209: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 17
Oct 25, 2023·54m - 137
Episode 208: What Fans Owe Each Other
Oct 11, 2023·1h 10m - 138
Episode 207: Paul Cornell
Sep 27, 2023·1h 8m - 139
Episode 206: Bad Fans Revisited
Sep 13, 2023·1h 11m - 140
Episode 205: Fanfluencers
Aug 30, 2023·1h 7m - 141
Episode 204: Happy Anniversary #8
Aug 16, 2023·1h 27m - 142
Episode 203: Solidarity and SDCC
Aug 2, 2023·1h 2m - 143
Episode 202: Dylan Marron
Jul 19, 2023·1h 10m - 144
Episode 201: Artificial Fandom Intelligence 2: Rise of the Grifters
Jun 28, 2023·1h 26m - 145
Episode 200: Maia Kobabe
Jun 14, 2023·1h - 146
Episode 199: Reflecting Reality?
May 31, 2023·1h 2m - 147
Episode 198: Strikesplaining
May 17, 2023·1h 15m - 148
Episode 197: Stitch
May 3, 2023·1h 19m - 149
Episode 196: Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 16
Apr 19, 2023·1h 8m - 150
Episode 195: Fandom Life Cycles
Apr 5, 2023·1h 5m