2025 April Update

Spirits intervene. The moon goes dark. The Avatar State stops holding back.In the season finale of Avatar State Radio, the Northern Water Tribe becomes the center of a full-scale assault as the Fire Nation launches its long-awaited siege. The city that once felt regal and untouched is suddenly a battlefield, and the tension never lets up. Aang wrestles with the impossible weight placed on him as the Avatar, and the reality that he is still a child standing in front of an entire army. Zuko slips into hunter mode and goes after Aang alone during a brutal snowstorm that would kill most people. The defenses hold longer than anyone expects, but the pressure mounts as the Fire Nation pushes closer and closer to victory.Part Two escalates everything as the story moves into the Spirit World and back again. The audience finally learns how important the Moon and Ocean spirits are to the balance of the world. Princess Yue becomes the emotional core of the finale, and her story takes on a level of mythic tragedy. Zhao crosses a line that changes the world when he kills the Moon Spirit, causing the sky to fade into a sickly red glow and throwing the balance of bending into chaos. Katara steps up with some of her strongest fighting so far and defeats Zuko in the snow. Zuko’s persistence keeps him going through defeat after defeat, while Aang returns in a tidal wave of Ocean Spirit fury that shows a terrifying and awe-inspiring side of the Avatar State that we have not seen before.The battle finally ends when Yue gives her life to restore the Moon Spirit, bringing the world back into balance and saving a city that had been moments away from collapse. Zuko and Iroh flee, the Fire Nation regroups, and the Gaang gets a moment to breathe. Season One concludes not with triumph, but with the understanding that a larger and darker war is still coming.Book One sticks the landing and confirms that Avatar is not just a well-made cartoon. It is a genuinely great series with stakes, mythology, emotion, and purpose.This episode is made possible by Tellest!Tellest is a fantasy universe of magic and splendor where gifted heroes wield extraordinary abilities that can be seen as both blessings and curses, leading to conflicts that reshape the world. Created by Michael DeAngelo and officially launched in 2011, the setting grew from stories told as labors of love into a vast shared universe. Over the years, Tellest expanded to include new writers and artists, tabletop games, video games, and a wide range of books, including nonfiction and children’s titles. With constant new content and an open spirit toward collaboration, Tellest continues to grow, placing the future of its stories in the hands of its fans and fellow storytellers. Find more information at Tellest.comFind MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Innovation, betrayal, and tanks—this episode proves “filler” doesn’t mean forgettable.Sexism, stubborn masters, and a shocking Gran Gran reveal—welcome to the North.In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike arrive at the Northern Water Tribe and immediately clock that this is the first truly “royal” location we’ve seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender. The city is stunning, the culture is deep, and unfortunately… the traditions are a problem. Enter Master Pakku (quickly rechristened “Master Poophead”), whose rigid views on gender roles spark one of the most important conflicts of Book One.Kev is openly furious watching Katara be sidelined simply because she’s a girl, while Aang is welcomed with open arms as a student. What starts as frustration quickly turns into one of the most powerful character moments of the season as Katara refuses to accept “that’s just the way things are.” The resulting confrontation pushes not only Pakku, but the entire Northern Water Tribe, to reckon with outdated traditions that no longer serve them.And then comes the reveal. WAIT... PAKKU WAS ENGAGED TO GRAN GRAN?! Suddenly, everything snaps into place. What felt like stubborn cruelty is exposed as deeply personal heartbreak, and that emotional context becomes the catalyst for real change. Pakku doesn’t just change his mind; he helps change his culture.As the dust settles, the episode makes one thing very clear: the war is coming. The Northern Water Tribe may look untouchable, but the looming Fire Nation threat casts a shadow over every victory. Training resumes, old wounds heal, and the stage is officially set for the siege to come.It’s a massive episode for Katara, a pivotal moment for the series’ themes, and one that proves Avatar was never afraid to challenge its own world.This episode is made possible by Tellest!Tellest is a fantasy universe of magic and splendor where gifted heroes wield extraordinary abilities that can be seen as both blessings and curses, leading to conflicts that reshape the world. Created by Michael DeAngelo and officially launched in 2011, the setting grew from stories told as labors of love into a vast shared universe. Over the years, Tellest expanded to include new writers and artists, tabletop games, video games, and a wide range of books, including nonfiction and children’s titles. With constant new content and an open spirit toward collaboration, Tellest continues to grow, placing the future of its stories in the hands of its fans and fellow storytellers. Find more information at Tellest.comFind MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Innovation, betrayal, and tanks—this episode proves “filler” doesn’t mean forgettable.In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike soar into The Northern Air Temple, where the Gaang stumbles upon a community of gliders, steam-powered inventions, and one of the earliest moments of disability representation in animated TV. Right from the start, it’s clear this episode was ahead of its time: Taeo’s character is celebrated not for what he lacks, but for how he thrives. His daredevil gliding skills even impress Aang… at least until some Temple disrespect sends our favorite airbender into a spiral.Things only get more complicated when Aang and Taeo discover that the temple’s been opened before, and Taeo’s dad is secretly building weapons for the Fire Nation. Understandably, that doesn’t sit well with Taeo, Aang, and the rest, and it leads to one of the most chaotic battles of Book One. Sokka gets a surprising moment to shine here, tapping into his inner engineer and helping devise both a war balloon and a perfectly timed gas leak bomb. Mike’s still wondering when we’ll get The Last Sky Bison spinoff, while Kev is out here quoting, “Show that bald kid how it’s done!”As the episode wraps, Aang comes to accept that change is part of life, even for the Air Temples. The new inhabitants may not be Air Nomads, but they’ve made the temple their home in their own way. Of course, just when things seem settled, the Fire Nation gets their hands on a shiny new war balloon—and we all know that’s not going to end well.Plus: Mike’s Trivia, Dani Pudi gets a shoutout, and we all agree—this episode might not move the main plot much, but it still hits.Find MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Firebending! Failure! We’re diving into Aang’s first brush with firebending and all the chaos that comes with it in this episode of Avatar State Radio.Kev starts things off thinking Chey is the deserter, and honestly? It’s not a bad guess. We feel bad for the guy: he’s out here trying to help, and the Gaang barely gives him the time of day. Their visit to the Fire Nation’s flashy Fire Days Festival goes exactly as well as you’d expect when you’re public enemies wearing bad disguises. Sokka is loud, paranoid, and weirdly Conan O’Brien-esque in his energy (imagine him on Hot Ones), but he’s not wrong; the festival is a trap waiting to be sprung. And of course, Aang blows their cover because his crush on Katara overrides his survival instincts.With nowhere else to go, the Gaang meets Jeong Jeong, the actual deserter, who lives in exile after turning his back on the Fire Nation. Aang is eager to learn firebending, but Jeong Jeong—burnt out and haunted—warns him that fire is a force of destruction. Even Avatar Roku has to step in and convince him to teach Aang. What follows is a lesson in discipline, one Aang is absolutely not ready for. He loses control. Katara gets burned. And while Sokka is justifiably furious, this injury unlocks Katara’s healing powers, a moment so powerful even Jeong Jeong admits he’d trade firebending to be a waterbender instead.Things go from bad to worse when Zhao shows up, forcing Jeong Jeong to evacuate. Aang disobeys, stays behind, and ends up schooling Zhao by outmaneuvering him completely. Turns out Zhao has no self-control and Aang’s starting to realize that might be a problem with firebending as a whole. In the end, Jeong Jeong and his people escape… except for poor Chey, who once again gets left behind. We wrap with a round of Mike Trivia, a bison whistle moment, and Kev wondering who will actually become Aang’s firebending teacher.Find MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Water Tribe nostalgia, perfume-based bending, and betrayal from our beloved airbender?! This one has it all.In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike are diving deep into Bato of the Water Tribe—a turning point in Season 1 that blends emotional tension, backstory, and some of the coolest bending tricks we’ve seen so far.We start with Sokka showing off some serious tracking skills as the group stumbles upon a Water Tribe boat and reconnects with Bato. For Katara and Sokka, it’s a moment of belonging—but for Aang? It’s a pang of alienation that quickly spirals into a full-blown “FOR SHAME” moment when he crumples up a message from their dad. Yes, really.Cue ice-dodging flashbacks, spiritual guilt, and the arrival of one of the most chaotic bounty hunter duos in the series: June and her shirshu. Between its wild scent-based tracking powers and the psychedelic vision effects, this creature steals the spotlight—until the actual spotlight lands on that final showdown.We’ve got perfume being used as a weapon, Sokka making a powerful emotional decision about his “tribe,” and Zuko getting bodied by smell. And yes—Uncle Iroh has a very special kind of crush on June that deserves its own subplot.Also: Aang earns a mark of trust (sort of?), Mike breaks out more trivia, and Kev has flashbacks to Street Fighter thanks to June’s arm wrestling opponent.One of the best-paced, best-balanced episodes of Book One. You will believe in perfume-bending.Find MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Is it filler? Maybe. Is it fun? Absolutely. Platypus bear, floozy insults, and romantic tension? You bet. We’re diving into “The Fortuneteller.”In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike unpack Season 1, Episode 14 of Avatar: The Last Airbender—a.k.a. The Fortuneteller. While it may not advance the plot in huge ways, there’s no denying the vibes are immaculate. Think The Great Divide… if it were actually good.Aunt Wu’s predictions have the entire town wrapped around her incense-scented finger—including Katara, who’s more than willing to change her diet if it means love is in the stars. Kev’s on full Kataang watch now, as Aang quietly crafts a new necklace for Katara (which, by the way, never shows up again?!).There’s a classic ATLA blend of heart, humor, and philosophy here—like Sokka delivering a banger about choosing your own destiny, or Meng throwing shade with that unforgettable “floozy” line. We also see the early seeds of romantic conflict, and yes… spoiler alert: is Aang the powerful bender in Katara’s reading? 👀Also: Appa literally scares an egg out of a platypus bear, the dialogue is chef’s kiss, and Sokka has officially won Kev over as a character since the Omashu arc.Plus: classic lines, minor romantic chaos, and another round of Mike’s Trivia to round it out.So, whether you believe in fate or not, you were meant to listen to this episode.Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.Find MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

A masked mystery, frog-sucking medicine, and a rare Aang-Zuko team-up? Yup, we’re talking about one of the best episodes of Book One.In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kevin and Mike dive into the iconic thirteenth chapter of Avatar: The Last Airbender, “The Blue Spirit.” With Katara and Sokka laid up with a mysterious fever, Aang has no choice but to venture solo into the Fire Nation–armed with hope, heart, and… frog medicine?Kevin kicks things off by appreciating the callback to The Storm and how the show subtly weaves character threads across episodes. Zhao continues to be the worst, and our hosts debate whether the admiral has any potential for redemption or if he’s officially the Big Bad of Season 1. Spoiler: it’s not looking great for our favorite fire-fueled egomaniac.Meanwhile, Appa and Momo take on babysitting duties (with mixed results), Kev still can’t pronounce Zuko, and the gang questions the science of frozen frog healing. Is it medicine? An insult? Just really bad advice?And then—enter The Blue Spirit.We get into the thrilling prison break sequence, the incredible tension of Aang’s narrow escape, and that unforgettable moment when Zuko’s mask comes off. There’s a lot to unpack between Aang and Zuko here, and the episode leaves us wondering: is there a world where these two could fight side by side?Plus: overpowered firebenders, Katara’s surprising line delivery, a truly odd final line (“This is tasty”), and—of course—Mike’s trivia!Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.Find MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Quick Update from Kev about what's going on.

In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike dive into The Storm, an emotional and revealing episode that explores the pasts of both Aang and Zuko. But first—MARK HAMILL, BABY! Mike takes a moment to celebrate every version of Fire Lord we’ve had, from Mark Hamill’s legendary voice acting to Cliff Curtis and Daniel Dae Kim’s live-action performances.The episode’s intensity kicks off with Aang’s haunting dream, which starts with everyone flying in a whimsical way before turning into a nightmare about his past. Kev and Mike break down how the weight of Aang’s decision to leave the Air Nomads has been haunting him for 100 years. Meanwhile, Kev loves the episode’s flashbacks, as they provide crucial context for why Zuko is the way he is. The biggest takeaway? Zuko is not his father. When it comes down to it, he’s willing to save his people, not sacrifice them.Parallels between Aang and Zuko’s pasts become clear, with Aang’s discovery of his Avatar status quickly leading to his fateful freezing in the storm. At the same time, Zuko’s story unfolds, revealing the tragic consequences of his defiance. Kev and Mike debate what’s worse: the way the grumpy fisherman talks to his wife or adults literally hitting children.Katara reassures Aang that he gives people hope, while Iroh reminds the crew that, in his own way, the Avatar also gives Zuko hope. And speaking of Iroh—this episode delivers an incredible moment as he redirects lightning for the first time, proving just how powerful he is as a firebender.For the first time in a while, we see Aang enter the Avatar State, heightening the emotional weight of the episode. Though Kev initially feels this is one of the weaker episodes, talking it through with Mike helps him appreciate it more. Mike, however, notes that for many fans, The Storm is a top-tier episode of Season 1, leading to some fun debate. They also touch on the fascinating way the Air Nomads determine the next Avatar, which mirrors how the Dalai Lama is chosen.And finally, Kev completely loses his ability to pronounce “Zuko,” proving that even in an intense episode, there’s always room for some laughs.Find MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike tackle The Great Divide, widely regarded as the lowest-rated episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. With Sokka and Katara suddenly at odds in an immature sibling squabble, and even Appa and Momo fighting, the episode starts on a strange note. But Kev argues it all serves to highlight Aang’s growth as a leader and problem-solver.The Gaang encounters two Earth Kingdom tribes—the Gan Jin and the Zhang—locked in a 100-year feud. Aang takes charge, helping the tribes cross the treacherous canyon while resolving their conflicts along the way. Kev and Mike delve into Aang’s leadership moments, including his clever (if questionable) story about the origins of the feud and his ability to unite the tribes. Was he lying, or just doing what needed to be done to bring peace?Despite the episode’s reputation, Kev found joy in the lore-building additions like the Canyon Crawlers, hilariously labeling them as “just hangry.” The duo debates the tribes’ baffling decision to bring food when they had just eaten, and how Aang’s reaction mirrored that of an exasperated parent. They also discuss the episode’s biggest missed opportunity: leaving the tribes’ history unresolved, which could have provided a more satisfying conclusion.Kev appreciates the episode for what it is—a filler that gives Aang a chance to lead—but agrees it’s the “worst” episode so far. Mike, who remembered disliking it much more, admits it wasn’t as bad as he feared. In true Avatar State Radio fashion, the conversation takes a turn with Mike asking, “Do you think you’ll hate this episode or the M. Night Shyamalan movie more?”Join Kev and Mike for a spirited discussion about The Great Divide, its place in the series, and why it’s still worth watching, even if it’s at the bottom of the rankings.Find MikeTellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | PatreonFind KevThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TwitchFind Avatar State RadioAvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | AmazonOur intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/