The Feral Fandoms Podcast

8 Episodes
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By: Onley James & Shannon Ezzell

Why do some stories explode into global fandoms while others fade away? What makes readers ship characters, obsess over merch, and turn books into cult phenomena?The Feral Fandoms Podcast dives deep into fandom culture — from Twilight to K-pop, Supernatural to BL dramas — to uncover the psychology, rituals, and chaos that fuel obsession. Hosted by author and cult-brand strategist Onley James and cohost Shannon Ezzell, each episode blends pop culture analysis, fandom breakdowns, and witchy insights with practical takeaways for writers and creators.If you’re a burned-out author, indie creator, or fandom fan who wants to stop hustling and start...

Taylor Swift’s Playbook Can Supercharge Indie Authors If You Learn The Right Lessons
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Want the uncut chaos + bonus episodes? Join us inside the cult at Patreon.com/TheBurnedOutMuse. Or find everything else (Discord, socials, freebies) at linktr.ee/theburnedoutmuse.


Two Fans Trace How Boys’ Love Shapes Identity, Community, And Taste
10/22/2025

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Ever wonder why the second couple feels like the real main event? We sit down with Peachy—guest relations director for CitrusCon and creator of Church of BL—to trace how Boys’ Love evolves from gateway ships to full-blown obsession, and why fandom keeps returning to dangerous tropes, exquisite art, and redemption arcs that actually land. From Inuyasha-era headcanons to AO3 as a badge of honor, we connect the dots between fanfiction, validation, and the joy of seeing your characters live rent-free in someone else’s brain.

We trade manhwa must-reads—Taming The...


How Teen Wolf Won Hearts—and Lost Its Pack
10/15/2025

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Fans don’t just watch; they build. This week we trace how Teen Wolf lit up the internet with sharp humor, pulpy lore, and explosive chemistry—then fumbled the bag by turning on the very community that made the show a phenomenon. We talk through the early magic: Stiles as the stealth lead, Derek as the reluctant anchor, hunters with silver-coded names, and a transformation aesthetic that chose human-adjacent menace over full-wolf horror. The storytelling worked because the emotional rules held, until Sterek became the center of gravity and the response shifted from play...


From Monster-of-the-Week to Fandom Juggernaut: Supernatural’s 15-Season Evolution
#4
10/08/2025

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Two writers who love fandom and hate sloppy endings sit down to unpack how Supernatural morphed from a gritty monster-of-the-week into a 15-season cultural juggernaut. We talk about why the Winchesters became comfort TV, how the show’s self-aware humor and meta episodes (hello, The French Mistake and Fan Fiction) built trust, and the parasocial magic that Jared, Jensen, and Misha nurtured through cons, charity, and behind-the-scenes chaos. If you’ve ever stayed with a show for the banter more than the plot, you’ll feel seen.

We also wade straight into t...


Turning Fandom Obsession Into Million-Dollar Success
#1
10/01/2025

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Have you ever wondered how some authors create such passionate fan bases that readers literally buy everything they release—sometimes multiple times? Welcome to the world of fandom architecture, where understanding the psychology behind superfans can transform your writing career.

In this inaugural episode of Feral Fandoms Podcast, host Onley James (gay romance author and self-proclaimed "fandom architect") shares the surprising story of how Glee fanfiction on Tumblr became the unexpected blueprint for her seven-figure writing career. Alongside her assistant Shannon, who admittedly "knows nothing about fandoms" (but secretly does), James re...


K-pop's Hidden Magic Transforms Fans into Devoted Followers
#2
10/01/2025

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Step into the electrifying world of K-pop Demon Hunters with us as we unpack Netflix's record-breaking animated phenomenon that's captivated audiences worldwide. This surprising hit has maintained its #1 position longer than any other Netflix offering – and for good reason.

We explore why this film resonates so deeply across generations, delving into how it perfectly captures the all-consuming nature of fandom culture. The brilliant soundtrack featuring earworms like "Golden" and "This Is What It Sounds Like" doesn't just complement the story – it drives it, creating emotional connections that have viewers (including our own...


Twilight, Ship Wars, and Why Cringe Wins
#3
10/01/2025

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Remember the first time you picked a side and meant it? Twilight wasn’t just a teen vampire romance—it was a portable universe that made you choose a tribe, memorize the quotes, and plan midnight screenings with friends who laughed at the same lines you did. We revisit that spark and unpack how a “cringe” classic evolved into a cozy, communal ritual that still fills theaters, Discords, and bookshelves.

We get candid about why the story works despite its flaws: first-person POV that pulls you inside a rainy small town, a love t...


The Feral Fandoms Trailer
#1
09/26/2025

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Welcome to The Feral Fandoms Podcast where fandom chaos meets author survival.

Hosted by 7-figure author + cult-brand strategist Onley James and her chaos-wrangling cohost Shannon Ezzell, each week we break down iconic fandoms (from Twilight to K-pop Demon Hunters to Supernatural) and uncover what makes people obsessed.

We’ll drag fandoms to filth, laugh about ship wars, and reveal what authors can actually steal from fandom culture to build their own ride-or-die readerships.

Expect:

  Fandom hot tak...