75. Blerd Out Loud

Fandom works wonders for mental health. Frfr. In this episode of Impostrix Podcast, host Whitney Knox Lee explores the vibrant world of fandom and how it brings joy, connection, and validation. Whitney is joined by Kristine McPartlin, co-host of the multi-award winning Mind the Force Podcast, a show where Star Wars fandom meets mental health. Kristine shares how she discovered Star Wars during the pandemic and how it has become a significant part of her life, offering community, respite from this world, and helps with mental health. The conversation also touches on the broader ideas of finding joy in various fandoms (i.e. POGS, Pokemon, Lord of the Rings, and more), the importance of leaning in to the things you love just for the heck of it! Tune in for an engaging discussion on how hobbies and passions can enrich our lives. Connect with Kristine on IG and LinkedIn @mindtheforce Follow Whitney on IG @impostrixpodcast DONATE to keep the show running! Donations can be made via Buy Me A Coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/impostrixpod Purchase your I Planned For This: A Life Organizer for When It's Needed today! https://a.co/d/br1d3hJ Thanks Chris @DigitalREM for editing this episode! 00:00 The Beauty of Fandom 00:35 Welcome to Imposter Podcast Season Four 00:56 Pouring into Black Women 02:30 Introducing Christine McPartland 03:25 Diving into Star Wars Fandom 06:03 The Joy of Sci-Fi and World Building 12:33 Discovering Star Wars During the Pandemic 19:20 The Birth of a Star Wars Podcast 24:48 The Comic-Con Experience 28:14 Halloween and Cosplay Fun 29:24 The Joy of Fandom 29:59 Finding Fun and Community 35:48 Nostalgia and Collecting 40:09 Exploring Video Games 42:53 Representation in Fandoms 47:35 Mental Health and Fandom 53:58 Outro and Listener Engagement