Ficlets, we don't know about you, but your hosts are having a Greek God Summer. Join us in this episode for a sweeping discussion of mythmaking, why we tell stories, and which ones have the most staying power. And also a surprisingly high amount of chatter about Hadestown for an episode that doesn't feature a Hadestown fic. Works discussed in this episode: seventy-five perpetual deaths for the underworld’s prince by anonymousAlchemist (Hades Game) Kore by oneiriad (Greek and Roman Mythology) It's a No-Regret Life by anistar_e (kaikamahine) (Percy Jackson)

Hot off of our omegaverse episode, we jumped into another classic fandom mainstay: the trio of fandoms known (perhaps only to us) as SuperWolfLock — Supernatural, Teen Wolf, and Sherlock. If that wasn't enough of a uniting theme for you, these fics also have something else in common, and the prognosis is not looking good. Join your hosts as we dive into fic about harrowing (sometimes terminal) illness, romance in dark times, and three classic fandoms where fic writers have been cooking up stories for years upon years. Works discussed in this episode: Alone On the Water by Mad_Lorie (Sherlock) Unbroken by Piscaria (Teen Wolf) deeper than all the roses by kekinkawaii (Supernatural)

What's the smell in the air? Is it fresh coffee grounds, or the earth after rain? No, it's something a little... wolfier?  Ficlets, it's time to foray into the omegaverse! This episode looks at the trope from its inception to modern day, with our discussion examining the trope's worldbuilding, allegories of oppression, and lasting power in fanfiction spaces. Works discussed in this episode: - "burning (like a tire fire)," by brushedbymelancholy (Formula One RPF) — fanfiction- "HeavenScent," by an incompletelist (Red, White, and Royal Blue) — fanfiction- "I ain't no lady, but you'd be the tramp," by tehdirtiestsock (Supernatural RPF) — fanfiction- "Alphas, Betas, and Omegas: A Primer," by norabombay — meta- "The nonnies made them do it!" by netweight — meta

Put your listening ears on because it's time to learn about the wide world of audio works! In this episode your hosts and special guest of the pod Kassie talk about podfic history, fandom, and what goes into making an audio work. We also celebrate the joys of podfic's ultra supportive community, and highlight some events that intrepid podficcers old and new alike can get involved in. If you have a potato and a dream, you too could join this world.  Audio works discussed in this episode include:- "Behind the Pod S1, Episode 4: New(ish) & Old(ish)," by Opalsong & arkadyevna- "Here," by impersonal_villain & sallysparrow017 (The Raven Cycle)- "Starting Playback," by blackglass, Cait_does_Podfics, coyotecrackers, edible_chemistry, olive2read, Ravin_Pods, & wjgravity (The Murderbot Diaries) - "FAQ: The Goose Fight Portion of Your Thesis Defense - A Radio Show," by Voiceteam 2025 (Snake Fight Thesis Defense & Untitled Goose Game) The blanket permission extension can be found here: https://github.com/BrickGrass/Blanket-Permission-Highlighter

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts invite you to saddle up and buckle in for a thrilling discussion of recommendation culture in fandom, including three fics we found through curated rec lists! Dive with us into the history of reccing and the impact of The Algorithm TM on modern rec culture, setting work wherein a setting can function as its own character, the many different forms an action hero can take, and our incredibly divisive feelings about women's wrongs. Fics we discuss in this episode include: Benched by Speranza (Stargate Atlantis),  5 Times the Raptors Tried to Kill Miriam, and 1 Time They Didn’t by tardigradetardis (Jurassic Park), and Unbranded Air by suitesamba (BBC Sherlock).

In our second two-host episode of 2026, hosts Nic and Brenna join forces to discuss the current landscape of the fandom and fanfiction for hit HBO MAX medical drama The Pitt. From major ships to the fragmentation of fandom across different forms of social media to fandom-savvy actors and writers, our conversation covers a lot of ground, including touching on a wide variety of fics! Some of the fics we discuss or just bring up/reference include: 2:00 AM by orphan_accountand yet i fight, and yet i fight by a_gathering_of_flowersA Case of the Mondays by SkiLiftnew dog old tricks by overnightsdon't call it a comeback by overnightsTwo-Player by avocadomoonRejected episode titles (since it IS a minisode and thus has a specific title format) include: Reid's Fired, The Hot Doctor Show, The People Want Blood and Bruises, Pitt Stop, and A Hell Yeah For Toxic Yuri.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss “and so my heart beats wildly,” by lily_winterwood (MDZS).  You thought Olympics season was over? Think again. We're always ready to talk about sports narratives on the pod and boy do we dig into some meaty ones here. Are you interested in how sports can be akin to martyrdom, and how an athlete's responsibility is not to their body but to the game? What about how fiction allows for tidy narrative arcs of redemption that aren't possible with real people? Perhaps how a family's legacy in sport puts the burdensome expectation of perfect representation onto those who follow in its wake? All that and more awaits you in this episode.

Happy Valentine's Day ficlets! Love is in the air, but perhaps the journey to a happily ever after isn't as straightforward as it seems. As we put some beloved characters through twists and turns on classic tropes, we also examine what it means to bridge the distance between your perception of someone and the reality of them, how sense of place can connect to moments of tension, and our lack of knowledge about the court system. Fics discussed in this episode: "One Last Time," by ElAurian (Ace Attorney), "No Retreat, Baby, No Surrender," by itsnotbleak (Captain America Movies), and "loving this body" by beetlesandstars & kryptonian (Heated Rivalry).  H/N (Host note): Reid's mic was experiencing some difficulties this episode, we apologize for the occasional impact that had on the audio quality.

Fic Clique goes TTRPG in Nic's 2026 birthday episode! Join us as our GM (Nic) leads two intrepid warriors (played by Brenna and Reid) through a variety of settings and tropes on a quest to save AO3 from bad actors and maintain the integrity of fanfiction as a vehicle for even the most unlikely characters to fall in love. We're playing a system so simple it feels wrong to say it's heavily adapted from D&D, but that's technically what's happening here! So whether you're a seasoned TTRPG fan or dipping your toe in for the first time, anyone should be able to jump in, get oriented, and enjoy the hijinks.

All roads lead back to Sidney Crosby in host Brenna's 2026 birthday episode, where we discuss all things hockey! Guest of the pod Em joins us and provides vital information about the current state of hockey — thank you, Em! — as we dive into: material-discursive analysis of masculinity in men's hockey, internalized homophobia, relative degrees of emotional safety as a fan engaging with different iterations on the same sport, generational talent and failure, and what gives rpf the sauce. It's a meaty one, y'all. Fics discussed in this episode: Yekaterinburg Standard Time by sevenfists (Hockey RPF), the art of staying by nightswatch (Check Please!), and love takes miles by corsi (Game Changers Series / Heated Rivalry) We also reference the academic article "What a bust": Character selection and the possibilities of failure in hockey RPF, by Júlia Zen Dariva  and Natália Brauns Cazelgrandi Ferreira, which is open source on the OTW's journal of transformative works and cultures.