Recommended Buffyverse Podcasts

[HelloIAmHawt]

So Chipperish Media just hit a Patreon goal and Lani Diane Rich (former co-host of Dusted) and her co-host Dr. Kelly Jones will be launching Still Dead, an episode-by-episode conversational podcast about Angel!

 

[Mrs Gordo]

So Chipperish Media just hit a Patreon goal and Lani Diane Rich (former co-host of Dusted) and her co-host Dr. Kelly Jones will be launching Still Dead, an episode-by-episode conversational podcast about Angel!

Hard pass. Lani doesn't even like Angel. I don't know why she is making a podcast about his show. I guess she just wants a chance to talk about s5 Spike?

 

[Mylie]

Hard pass. Lani doesn't even like Angel. I don't know why she is making a podcast about his show. I guess she just wants a chance to talk about s5 Spike?

I remember her saying that Wesley was her AtS Spike so I think she's probably just going to focus on him instead.

 

[Mrs Gordo]

I remember her saying that Wesley was her AtS Spike so I think she's probably just going to focus on him instead.

She basically just tweeted me back that I prob wasn't going to like her podcast lol.

I tweeted: "All due respect to you and your opinions, I can only hope that the premise of your podcast won't be a constant reminder to us Angel fans about how "a Vampire seeking his soul out, is better than one being cursed with it's soul."
She responded: "Well, it's my opinion that in fiction, an active choice is always better than a passive reaction, so yeah, I'm gonna express that opinion. But I hear there's another Angel podcast starting up soon; I'll tweet it when I find out! You'll probably like that one better than mine. 🙂"

Hey at least she is being up front about her POV so as not to waste my time. I could argue with her how Angel does, in fact, make active choices throughout his show and so does Buffy (Buffy's story is Angel's story, replace calling with soul). But whatever would be the point of that?

 

[Mylie]

She basically just tweeted me back that I prob wasn't going to like her podcast lol.

I tweeted: "All due respect to you and your opinions, I can only hope that the premise of your podcast won't be a constant reminder to us Angel fans about how "a Vampire seeking his soul out, is better than one being cursed with it's soul."
She responded: "Well, it's my opinion that in fiction, an active choice is always better than a passive reaction, so yeah, I'm gonna express that opinion. But I hear there's another Angel podcast starting up soon; I'll tweet it when I find out! You'll probably like that one better than mine. 🙂"

Hey at least she is being up front about her POV so as not to waste my time. I could argue with her how Angel does, in fact, make active choices throughout his show and so does Buffy (Buffy's story is Angel's story, replace calling with soul). But whatever would be the point of that?

Well I'm glad to know...

Though I find her reasoning flawed. As if Angel didn't make any choice... It's not the soul that counts, it's what you do with it. What Angel did with it was a choice. One he did by himself.

 

[Buffy Summers]

Is there a podcast for people who think Willow is the most central character in the 'verse?

I think you need to start one. I'll guest star and tell you where you are wrong 😛

Ooh I'll help you Taake! Every podcast needs a hater to drum up comments! 😀

 

[HelloIAmHawt]

So, for people on the fence due to Lani's past perspectives on the show--Dr. Kelly Jones, the co-host for Still Dead is a big Angel fan. So, there will definitely be two sides to the discussion. Though side note, I've always thought it was more admirable to opt-in to a soul than it is to have one forced upon you, so I defo fall in Lani's camp on that debate.

All that said, I wouldn't be terribly worried that that'll come up continuously, I mean, Spike is barely even in Angel, and I defo think Angel is an intricate and interesting enough show that her take on storycraft will be of interest to the obsessive Buffyverse fandom. Though obv if someone disagreeing with something you care a lot about is too much for you to listen to, no one is forcing you.

 

[WillowFromBuffy]

Ooh I'll help you Taake! Every podcast needs a hater to drum up comments! 😀

It is just gonna be me sobbing into the mic, as you two rip into my favourite characters 😛

 

[Mrs Gordo]

So, for people on the fence due to Lani's past perspectives on the show--Dr. Kelly Jones, the co-host for Still Dead is a big Angel fan.

Both hosts made it abundantly clear they are incredibly huge Spike fans on twitter yesterday. Lani literally tweeted out “Spike is better than Angel” in a gif and the co-host said something swoony sbout Spike’s poetry. (Which - what a way to market your new AtS podcast). I’m not sure there will be two views in this perspective on this podcast (it would be different if say you had a Spike story fan and an Angel story fan on a podcast to have well thought out discussions on the merit to the differing stories). Now granted you can be a massive Spike Stan and like Angel the Series and even Angel’s character in a secondary manner. But it just seems odd to me, personally, that two people who find Angel’s story as uncompelling (see above re passive reaction) would decide to start a whole podcast about the guy’s story. But perhaps as mentioned above the focus will be on Wes or Cordy and not the titular character.

At the end of the day you are right, Angel fans don’t need to listen to her podcast if we know her and her co-hosts biases against Angel's story (and based on her twitter responses her lack of maturity in addressing those biases). But personally I’d love to find an (ep x ep) podcast where the hosts really appreciate and enjoy Angel’s story. We get that some with Hellmouthy but they are more about fun and less about analysis. The search for such a podcast continues.

 

[HelloIAmHawt]

Eh, there will absolutely be focus on Wes and Cordy (and well, anyone in the episode being discussed), but I think what's important to note here is that this sort of podcast isn't meant to just be a fan podcast (which I suppose some of you may be looking for) it's a critique, a close intellectual read--sure, there will be some people who get more love than others, probably some goofy jokes, but it's about picking apart the stories told and their relation to the Buffyverse at large that intrigues. Of course, I can only speak to it in terms of podcasts that already exist (as this one isn't out yet). Personally, I like to listen to stuff that challenges things I love, rather than squee-fests.

Also, @dcai0830, after a quick google, I am surprised to see how few Angel podcasts there are! Have you tried "The Angel Rewatch" podcast?

I love Angel the show, but absolutely hated him as a character in Buffy (IMO that relationship is the most informed, poorly written relationship in the series), so I think it shall be interesting, but obv. I can't see the future. 🙂

 

[Mrs Gordo]

Personally, I like to listen to stuff that challenges things I love, rather than squee-fests.

As do I. Which is why one of my fav podcasts was Dusted. But Lani lost me at Still Pretty because her Spike fanaticism (and Spuffy fanaticism to boot) make it precisely a squee fest for that character and that relationship. There was no examination nor criticism being addressed just lavish praise for all things Spike/Spuffy. The push and pull that her Dusted co-host added was gone (and yes I know the back story - not interested in getting personal about this I’m just expressing my preference for Dusted over Still Pretty).

Also, @dcai0830, after a quick google, I am surprised to see how few Angel podcasts there are! Have you tried "The Angel Rewatch" podcast?

Yes. I have probably, sadly?, listened to every Buffyverse and specifically AtS podcasts out there (at least a few test episodes to see if they are good fits). I found Angel Rewatch tolerable at times but boring mostly. The co-hosts seemed disinterested especially towards the end.

 

[HelloIAmHawt]

Perhaps my general leanings toward Spuffy (despite it being creepy, manipulative, abusiveness until S7) make it less of a problem for me, but I've always found the Spuffy gush to be the "goofy" bit of the podcast (all podcasts have it and I love some personality). But to each their own. As I said, there will be a new sort of push-and-pull in this new on as it's conversational (rather than lecture-style the way Still Pretty is), but how that pans out is yet to be seen. If you'd like @dcai0830 I can count the Spike mentions per ep to see if it might fulfill your needs one day. 😉

 

[Mrs Gordo]

If you'd like @dcai0830 I can count the Spike mentions per ep to see if it might fulfill your needs one day. 😉

Lol I appreciate the sentiment but it’s really about more than that. Enjoy the podcast!

 

[Mylie]

There’s plenty of Angel fans here. Maybe someone could start an AtS podcast! 🙂

As for agreeing with the podcasters in general, I don’t need to agree with their opinions to enjoy a podcast but the lack of podcast that are Angel/Bangel positive is quite disheartening. I’d love to just find 1!!!

 

[HelloIAmHawt]

There’s plenty of Angel fans here. Maybe someone could start an AtS podcast! 🙂

As for agreeing with the podcasters in general, I don’t need to agree with their opinions to enjoy a podcast but the lack of podcast that are Angel/Bangel positive is quite disheartening. I’d love to just find 1!!!

I'd still suggest giving this one a go if you want to listen to two educated women have fun conversations while delivering smart, snappy commentary on story (even if you don't always agree!). 🙂 And again, to anyone looking for a fancast tailored to their specific views on the verse (or at least anyone who is sensitive to criticism of Angel as a show), this is certainly not the podcast for you.

 

[Taake]

There’s plenty of Angel fans here. Maybe someone could start an AtS podcast! 🙂

Brainwash @Athena to come around to my side of things, and we'll have you covered. Sadly, she's super stubborn.

 

[Mylie]

I'd still suggest giving this one a go if you want to listen to two educated women have fun conversations while delivering smart, snappy commentary on story (even if you don't always agree!). 🙂 And again, to anyone looking for a fancast tailored to their specific views on the verse (or at least anyone who is sensitive to criticism of Angel as a show), this is certainly not the podcast for you.

I am going to give it a go for sure. I did enjoy Lani on Dusted and while I hated Still Pretty, I do think she has lots of interesting insight (when she doesn’t have her Spike goggles). But maybe I’m not the target audience... I’ll try it nonetheless out of curiosity and just to give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[HelloIAmHawt]

I am going to give it a go for sure. I did enjoy Lani on Dusted and while I hated Still Pretty, I do think she has lots of interesting insight (when she doesn’t have her Spike goggles). But maybe I’m not the target audience... I’ll try it nonetheless out of curiosity and just to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Fair enough--TBF, seasons 6 and 7 are basically about Spuffy in the same way that seasons 1-3 are about Bangel, so if you don't love the Spuffz then the seasons themselves must be rough-going. IMO, the stories throughout that aren't even about romance are some of the real highlights of the Buffyverse.


Also, to anyone who has been following along on this (and cares), I just took a peek at Twitter (I'm not great at frequently using it, so I hadn't seen any of the dramaz) to see what the Spike love fuss was about as mentioned by @dcai0830 earlier in the thread. I feel compelled to point out that all of that was pretty clearly 100% tongue-in-cheek in response to some users who were trolling the announcement of the new podcast.

To go on too long and give context: To respond to someone's announcement (an adult woman, a bestselling author and professor with several successful podcasts under her belt) by insulting her craft and demanding that she do it in any other way than she intends to? How else would she respond but to mock the insult? And obv, that mockery came after she gave a real response that just wasn't quite enough for the ones trollin' her. But I suppose there's always a price to some level of notoriety?

It's all very silly. From what I understand there's a subsect of the Buffy-loving community that are really are really aggressive about this Spuffy vs. Bangel debate, sucks that it seems to cause such big rifts between people (like actual personal arguments!). I only started Internetting about the show during the last couple of years and this fighting-instead-of-discussing is new news to me (I mean, naturally I've seen it in other communities, I guess I thought Buffy was a comfy bubble).

And TBH, if you listen to the episodes of Dusted on Suprise/Innocence, Becoming Parts 1/2, and I Will Remember You it's pretty obv that she respects the Bangel relationship a lot more than rabid Spuffy shippers do (or at least, she's a professional and can see what's good and what isn't when she's looking at something critically!).

 

[Mrs Gordo]

Hmm this doesn't feel very tongue-in-cheek, it seems a pretty straight forward sentiment.

https://twitter.com/x/status/963250099915763712

I don't agree that I was "trolling" her announcement as much as asking what the aim of the podcast would be given her previous discussion on the issues. I tried to keep it respectful. That the thread eventually ended up in a cacophany of Spike gifs and Spike love (even if some were sarcastic in nature) just underscores my original theory.

This isn't about Bangel v. Spuffy. Just because I have a ship preference doesn't mean I am defined by that ship entirely. This is about whether a character's story arc is or is not be appreciated (not fan girled over but respected enough to have a critical rather than dismissive conversation about it). We will find out once the podcast is released if that happens.

 

[HelloIAmHawt]

Look, I certainly don't want to get personal here @dcai0830, but I think you should go back and look at what you wrote with fresh eyes, put yourself in Lani's shoes, and imagine how it looked to her. Your initial post to Lani ("All due respect to you and your opinions, I can only hope that the premise of your podcast won't be a constant reminder to us Angel fans about how "a Vampire seeking his soul out, is better than one being cursed with it's soul") was strongly implying that she's not competent enough to have intellectual discourse and create a podcast palatable to fans of pop culture that reflects her expertise and POV (her provable trade).

You literally suggested that she was intending to make an objectively terrible podcast. Not even the most hardcore of Spuffy fans would want to listen to a podcast about Angel the Series that focused only Spike, who doesn't show up until season 5 (aside from his one-off ep in season 1 and IIRC he's in a flashback in season 2). Lani likes Spike, but she's not an idiot. Harping on that comparison for seasons before it becomes relevant would be both boring and stupid. So, you accused her of being boring, stupid, and bad at her job. Aside from that, ya'll were trying to tell her how to do her job as a professional podcaster. She responded honestly and kindly to you (considering that you basically called her a moron, and that "With all due respect to your opinion" is basically the "I don't mean to sound racist but..." of "polite" conversation).

The pro-Spike messages that I interpreted as tongue-in-cheek were not in response to your message that was polite-in-tone if not in message. They were to another poster who was much more aggressive (noted in your Twitter link above), and literally told Lani to that she should do the show with that person's perspective or not that all. So, they were even more rude in both tone and content than you were. Lani's responded to blatant pro-Angel spam with blatant pro-Spike spam. It's making fun of the person while trying to get them to go away, while also being a joke to her fans who are reading the room the same way she is.

Also re: having Angels' character and arc be appreciated, I think Lani's work speaks for itself. Yes, she squees over Spike during S6 and S7 of Buffy, but she absolutely respects Angel and Buffy/Angel when they are the focus of either show. Dusted is a testament to that, and it's all there for anyone who cares to listen.