Beaming down to planet Wattpad

On this episode of Mind the Tags, Vee and Emily are joined by psychologist and fandom researcher Dr. Lynn Zubernis. Lynn shares how fanfiction and fandom can be healthy and therapeutic (insert Brooklyn 99 Vindication gif here) and how her own journey down the Supernatural rabbit hole inspired her career. And at the top of the episode, Vee and Emily check in about the Great AO3 Outage of 2026.    Sources from today's ep: Writing Your Own Fanfiction is Good for You by Lynn Zubernis Fandom at the crossroads : celebration, shame and fan/producer relationships by Katherine Larsen and Lynn Zubernis  Family Don't End with Blood There'll Be Peace When You Are Done Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design.   

On this week's episode, Emily and Vee plumb the depths of Kinktober, from kinks of yore to today's titillations. Plus, we march once more onto the perennial Kinktober battlefield with shouts of "All the kink, all the time!" CW: This episode is going to include conversation about sex and kink, including questions about consent. If that’s not something you want to listen to, take a look back in our archives. We have a ton of great episodes for you to check out. Topics include: Kinktober, kink, sexuality Want to support Mind the Tags? Sign up for our Patreon! Have ideas for the pod? Email us at [email protected]. Sources from today's ep: Sam Winchester bumper sticker Squick on Fanlore Inktober on Fanlore The Inktober Controversy by Clara Thomas Kinktober on Fanlore Original Kinktober Tumblr post CaitVi Kinktober 2025 on Fanlore Central Outreach Wellness Center Kinktober26 list on Tumblr OFMD Kinktober list Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design.     

On this episode of Mind the Tags, Vee and Emily are joined by author and fanfic enthusiast Joanne Harris, who shares how fandom has been an essential place for her creative growth. Let it be known that in Joanne's house, pirates can have fairy wings!   Sources from today's ep: Joanne's website Joanne's Bluesky Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design.   

Surprise, it's a bonus episode! Our pals from This Week in Fandom History have shared an episode about one of their favorite fics, and we are excited to share it with you. Please enjoy "'Flesh Mechanic' Changes The Fic Game And We're Obsessed" with Emily and V!

On this week's episode, Vee invites Emily to explore the confounding and deeply upsetting world of Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, which has wedged its way into some of the most fraught political and sociological discussions of our day. Beware, listeners: the dementors are here, and they all use ChatGPT.  Topics include: Eliezer Yudkowsky, AI, rationality  Want to support Mind the Tags? Sign up for our Patreon! Have ideas for the pod? Email us at [email protected]. Sources from today's ep: Do Not Interact on Fanlore More Everything Forever by Adam Becker The Harry Potter Fan Fiction Author Who Wants to Make Everyone a Little More Rational by David Whelan 'Harry Potter' and the Key to Immortality by Daniel D. Snyder The Harry Potter Fanfic Behind Silicon Valley’s Weirdest Philosophical Movement by Alexandra Ciufudean A quick-informal post on - Yudkowsky's Harry Potter! by David Brin Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality is complete, and it is excellent by Will Baude Sex, AI, and the Apocalypse by Ian K. Duncan ‘Eugenics on steroids’: the toxic and contested legacy of Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute by Andrew Anthony Mind the Tags fanfic survey Emily's expressions during the episode Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design.

On this episode of Mind the Tags, Vee and Emily interview AO3 curse survivor and self-published author Rachel D. Oak. Rachel shares how fanfiction inspires her and introduces the hosts to early 2000s British boy band McFly. Plus, Rachel discusses how and why the romance novel industry and fanfiction share so much in common! Sources from today's ep: Important McFly content “Red Queen Plagiarized Powerless”: Anti-Fandom, Comments, and Warped Temporality on BookTok by Henry Roach The Curse of AO3 on Fanlore Rachel's YouTube channel Rachel's Substack Rachel's Instagram Rachel's books on Amazon Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design. 

On this week's episode, fandom olds Emily and Vee bravely explore the treacherous terrain of the latest Wattpad discourse. They discuss some of the concerns raised by Wattpad writers in recent weeks, other purges throughout fandom history, and their renewed commitment to smut for smut's sake (get your badge below!).  Topics include: Wattpad, censorship, AO3 Want to support Mind the Tags? Sign up for our Patreon! Have ideas for the pod? Email us at [email protected]. Sources from today's ep: Our Fandom Our Fight craft fair Our episode with Kailey Delayne Pro-shipper on Fanlore Anti-shipper on Fanlore Wattpad on Fanlore the rise and fall of wattpad by Allie Tricaso Sold to One Direction on Fanlore After (One Direction story) on Fanlore ‘Zombie Prom’ Scribe Hired To Pen Teenage Publishing Sensation Beth Reekles’ ‘The Kissing Booth’ by Stuart Kemp rip wattpad by ColeyDoesThings Timeline of Fandom Purges and Site Restrictions on Fanlore Wattpad Says Its Rules for Sexual Fanfics Haven’t Changed by Jennifer Zhan Bullet point confusion Smut for smut's sake badge  Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design. 

On this episode of Mind the Tags, Vee and Emily interview Kailey Delayne, a sex and pleasure educator who also hosts erotic fan fiction competitions. Kailey shares her favorite things about reading smut out loud in breweries throughout Philadelphia and why eroticism can be such a powerful tool in today's world.   Sources from today's ep: Kailey's website EFFC's Instagram Your Empowered Sexuality!  Our episode with author Tara  spagslag's Instagram The Sex Ed Bakeshop Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design. 

Join Emily and Vee as they dive into the fascinating life and career of Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek. Vee does their very best to tell a coherent story despite Emily's frequent screaming. The cohosts discuss how Roddenberry's legacy of fan interaction can inspire future showrunners. Topics include: Star Trek, Kirk/Spock, zines, conventions, Gene Roddenberry Want to support Mind the Tags? Sign up for our Patreon! Have ideas for the pod? Email us at [email protected]. Sources from today's ep: Crossover on Fanlore Can We Talk About the Mail? I’ve Been Dying to Talk About the Mail by gayfranzkafka AO3 Ship Stats 2026 by centreoftheselights Gene Roddenberry on Wikipedia How Gene Roddenberry Stayed Connected to Fandom Through Letters by Maria Jose and John Tenuto Our Kirk/Spock episode Kirk/Spock on Wikipedia How are Spock and Kirk straight? on Reddit Roddenberry commenting on Kirk/Spock on Reddit The Roddenberry Footnote on Fanlore Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design. 

On this episode of Mind the Tags, Vee, Emily, and special guest T explore the growing intersection fanfiction and generative AI. T discusses a project he worked on to identify AI in fics across multiple fandoms, the repercussions of sharing those findings, and how writers and readers can respond to AI in the future.   Sources from today's ep: Fandom Has a Generative AI Problem document 2026 Heated Rivalry AI Accusations and Fanfiction Harassment Controversy on Fanlore Calling All Marcus Chens, Martinezes, Thornes, Mayas, Vances, Old Man Tibers on Reddit Heated Rivalry is at the Center of Fanfic’s AI Reckoning by Kayti Burt for Fansplaining Thank you to Erik Potteiger for producing our song and Haflacky for our logo design.