You Are What You Love

Sarah Ullrich, co-host of Post Book Depression, joins to discuss the romance book duet from author Pepper Winters. We discuss how the book was outside of her comfort zone, and how that helped Sarah understand herself, the expectations readers have of the romance genre as a whole, and how the long journey with these characters helped Sarah open herself up to the people around her. Tangents include fluff versus angst, how books teach us a unique type of empathy, and the possibility of travel through fiction. Be sure to catch me on Post Book Depression discussing Emily Henry! We'll be off next week for the holiday. You Are What You Love will return on 11/29!  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Amy Watson, co-host of Post Book Depression, joins to discuss the romance thriller duet from author Mia Sheridan.  We discuss how Sheridan's writing made Amy reframe her view of characters she wasn't sure she should care for, open up discussion with her friend and future co-host Sarah, and how suspense and romance can meet. Tangents include Amy's preference for an unhappy ending, whether life ends once you find love, and how romance is in every story, and should be taken more seriously.  Be sure to catch me on Post Book Depression, and join us next week with Amy's co-host, Sarah!  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Mallory, immersive theatre creator, joins to discuss K.A. Applegate's book series, Animorphs.  We discuss how the books focused on family and friendship rather than centering on romantic endings, Mallory's childhood dream of being a vet and how that helped her connect with one of the characters, and discovering the books at the Scholastic Book Fair. Tangents include how darker themes helped Mallory form her own view of the world and art, whether fandom should be a part of the creator's writing process, and whether an unsatisfying ending is actually the right answer.  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Jac, writer and Co-Host of Book Talk for Book Tok, returns to discuss Sarah J Maas' epic hit book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (FKA ACOTAR).  We discuss why the books are so popular, how women in fandom benefit the economy, and why female authors don't get the same respect as male authors. Tangents include how fiction can create a safe space to explore your own emotions, why fandom can feel a bit like therapy, and the truth about The Great Gatsby.  Be sure to catch me on Book Talk for Book Tok with Amy and her co-host Jac, where we discuss the first romcom I ever made, and what Shakespeare's Hamlet means to me.  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Jac, writer and Co-Host of Book Talk for Book Tok, joins to discuss Sarah J Maas' epic hit book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (FKA ACOTAR).  We discuss how Jac started the series at the same time as therapy, what Feyra's relationships taught Jac about her own romantic leanings, and how romance books (and fan fiction) give women a safe space to explore and discuss their sexuality. Tangents include what women want (and how romance novels can be a guide), what the books of our youth, including Twilight and Gossip Girl, taught us about sex, and regrettably, Two Girls One Cup.  Be sure to catch me on Book Talk for Book Tok with Amy and her co-host Jac, where we discuss the first romcom I ever made, and what Shakespeare's Hamlet means to me.  We'll be back next week with the second part of this episode!  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page. For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Amy, Co-host of Book Talk for Book Tok, joins to discuss one of the biggest online to traditional publishing success stories, Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments.  We discuss how Amy discovered Cassandra Clare through her Harry Potter fan fiction, why Clare's publishing journey meant so much to Amy, and how the books changed our view of feminism and femininity. Tangents include whether haters have the right to put artists down, chasing the thrill of the young adult books that excited us in our teenage years, and why fan fiction can make you a better writer.  Be sure to catch me on Book Talk for Book Tok with Amy and her co-host Jac, where we discuss the first romcom I ever made, and what Shakespeare's Hamlet means to me.  We'll be back next week with Amy's co-host, Jac, to talk about the hit fantasy romance series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR).  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now! Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  To get your personalized podcast recommendations, download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Erin, co-host of The Fic List, joins to discuss Fan Fiction as a whole.  We discuss how transformative works have been around for far longer than we had a term for them, the difference between fan fiction and adaptation, and how the public perception of the form is changing. Tangents include Erin's first fan fiction, how Harry Styles and One Direction shaped a new era of fan fiction (and traditional publishing), and the idea of anonymity in fandom.  Heading to New York Comic Con? So is Erin! Join her, the rest of The Fic List team, and previous You Are What You Love guest Berklie Novak-Stolz at their panel on the history of fan fiction. Information on the panel can be found here.  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Mike Schubert, host of The Newest Olympian, join to discuss the book series we've been sleeping on all along, Percy Jackson and The Olympians.  We discuss how Mike started reading the series for the first time as an adult, the idea of genuine goodness in Percy and his friends, and what the books can still teach us after childhood. Tangents include positivity in fandom, representation of mental health and family dynamics, and why Rick Riordan is such a good guy. Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Percy Jackson experts, best friends, and co-hosts of the Seaweed Brain podcast, Erica and Carter, join to discuss the incredible children's series, Percy Jackson and The Olympians.  We discuss how Erica and Carter bonded over the books growing up, the groundbreaking ways Rick Riordan represented mental health and family dynamics, and the most important lessons they took away from the series. Tangents include banned books, the importance of yielding, and the true definition of a hero.  Next week, Mike Schubert from The Newest Olympian returns for his take on the books!  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  To get your personalized podcast recommendations, download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Maddie, crocheter, fangirl, and writer joins to talk about the international boyband sensation, *NSYNC. We discuss how band brought her comfort decades after they released their last album, the impact of boybands across generations, and how the band's treatment and response to it can strengthen our sense of empathy. Tangents include which boyband is winning the nostalgia era, why fan relationships matter so much, and why teenage girls deserve more respect.  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Sean Barnett, writer, director, and actor joins to talk about the musical internet sensation, Team Starkid.  We discuss how the theatre company helped Sean understand the idea and possibility of a multi-hyphenate, how the outlandish comedy matched his personality, and the way Team Starkid shaped the internet. Tangents include the importance of being silly on stage, the fantasy of a future family Team Starkid allowed, and the connection the internet allows us to form with the artists who make what we love. Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Harrison Prince, writer and host of the upcoming Ruff Boys podcast, returns to talk about the Young Adult Sci-Fi series, The Pendragon Adventure by D.J. MacHale. We discuss how the books made Harrison a better person, the craft of a team behind a book, and how D.J. MacHale was the first author that helped Harrison understand brand recognition. Tangents include whether social media is good for book lovers, the value of biographies, and the trust you put in writers you love. Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Harrison Prince, writer and host of the upcoming Ruff Boys podcast, joins to talk about the Young Adult Sci-Fi series, The Pendragon Adventure by D.J. MacHale. We discuss how the books helped Harrison escape during a tumultuous time, the way the first book's format broke the rules of writing, and how the series helped Harrison to start to hone his own craft.Tangents include whether books have to be good to be worthwhile, controversial reader takes, and Matthew McConaughey. We'll be back next week with part 2 of this episode!  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Tyler Hyrchuk, founding member of Lengthy Tangent and producer, writer, and voice actor for the upcoming audio drama Peculiar Radio, joins to talk about the children's book "Grandma and the Pirates."  We discuss how Tyler's understanding of performance changed as he grew older, how he found his place as a voice actor rather than an on screen performer, and how parroting other people's comedy gave him confidence. Tangents include the craft behind improv, committing to the bit, and, unfortunately, Dane Cook.  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  Check out Lengthy Tangent at their website!  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Tyler Hyrchuk, founding member of Lengthy Tangent and producer, writer, and voice actor for the upcoming audio drama Peculiar Radio, joins to talk about the children's book "Grandma and the Pirates."  We discuss how memorizing the audiobook sparked a love for performance, how mimicking the author's performance helped Tyler understand storytelling, and the balance of art and math in education. Tangents include problem solving in the internet age, impressing parents and peers, and if it's possible to beat modern video games.  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  Check out Lengthy Tangent at their website!  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

During our season break, things have shifted in the entertainment industry. The WGA strike has continued, and SAG-AFTRA has joined them on the picket line in the fight for a fair deal with the AMPTP. In this special episode, I'm joined by four WGA members, Elyse Morales, George Ghanem, Kyle Lau, and Charlotte Austin Johnson.  We talk about how each of them became working writers and members of the WGA, their personal experiences in the industry and what they're fighting for while on strike, and the moments in media that inspired them to become writers in the first place.  Donate to The Entertainment Community Fund, and find out how to join the picket line: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/take-action/stand-with-writers Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Merete Mohs, founding member of Lengthy Tangent and producer, writer, and voice actor for the upcoming audio drama Peculiar Radio, returns to talk about Stephen King's 7 book series, The Dark Tower. We discuss how Stephen King's writing transported her to new worlds, how her tastes have changed and developed since, and how our creative journeys can be sparked by envy of a really good thing. Tangents include Merete's love of travel, how she wants her kids to see the world, and how creative passions can start before you realize what's happening.  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  Check out Lengthy Tangent at their website!  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Merete Mohs, founding member of Lengthy Tangent and producer, writer, and voice actor for the upcoming audio drama Peculiar Radio, joins to talk about Stephen King's 7 book series, The Dark Tower. We discuss how the books took time to grow on her but helped Merete return to reading, the way it was the first time she remembered not trusting that characters would make it to the end of the adventure, and how her reading habits have changed since she started the series. Tangents include whether it's harder to make audiences laugh or cry, the importance of Johnny Knoxville, and how life changes when you become a parent.  We'll be back with part 2 next week!  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Alex C. Telander, writer and creator of the audio fiction podcasts Circe and The Ostium Network, joins to talk about the cultural juggernaut that is The X-Files.  We discuss how the show was inspired by Twin Peaks and went on to inspire other cult classics, the dichotomy between wanting to believe and being grounded in science, and how the show helped Alex meet his wife. Tangents include fan convention culture, the beauty of DVD box sets, and what we'd like to see in an X-Files reboot.  Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!

Mary Frances Noser, actor, writer, and educator, returns to discuss the worldwide phenomenon children's series, Harry Potter.  We unpack Mary Frances' relationship with the books in the face of J.K. Rowling's public views, Harry Potter's representation of women, and Mary Frances' own connection to the Chosen One Narrative. Tangents include fan fiction, the true nature of evil, and how children's stories can help us navigate darkness in the abstract.   Sign up for my newsletter at our website, tandonproductions.com, and let me know what you thought of the episode by finding me on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok @marissakumari.  Interested in being a guest on You Are What You Love? Submit a request via the form on this page.  Join our Discord server to connect with other listeners, chat with Marissa, and find out about watch parties! https://discord.gg/VNtVCMDxEK  For the best listening experience and to get personalized podcast recommendations, find You Are What You Love on Heard.FM.  Download Heard.FM on iOS and Android now!