The Fancestor

Ruth Kapelus - writer, baseball fan and Canada's 8th favorite vegan - joins the show to talk about her journey as a Toronto Blue Jays fan. Ruth, who was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada as a child, shared how she became a Jays fan during the team's successful 1980s era. They discussed the Blue Jays' back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, with particular focus on manager Cito Gaston's Hall of Fame credentials. The conversation explored Ruth's evolution as a fan, including how she learned to separate her emotional investment from her personal identity, and her current approach to enjoying baseball while maintaining perspective.

Chrystal O'Keefe, a prominent Chicago White Sox fan and writer for Southside Sox, shared her journey from being a lifelong Cubs fan to converting to the White Sox, primarily influenced by her husband and the team's 2005 World Series victory. She discussed the challenges she faced as a female baseball fan, including the lack of representation and the harassment she experienced while writing about domestic violence in Major League Baseball. Chrystal also described her protest against pitcher Mike Clevinger by donating to domestic violence charities every time he pitched, which inspired others to join her cause. 

The premiere episode of the Fancestor podcast - hosted by Aaron Cameron - features Garret Heinrich, a long-time Athletics fan, discussing his journey with the A's and the team's recent relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. Garrett shares his early memories attending games with his father at the Coliseum, his favorite players, and his perspective on the Bash Brothers era of the 1980s. The conversation covers the debate around retiring player numbers, particularly for Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, as well as Garrett's personal story of attending the final game at the Oakland Coliseum, involving a 2,000 mile journey from Texas. The two also discuss the fan response to the team's relocation, including the "Sell"  movement, and Garrett's decision to continue supporting the team even in their new home in Las Vegas.