With the rise of the internet, fandoms have taken a new shape over the past 10 years. While many popular series or franchises like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars used to be seen as male-dominated, the rise of spaces like Tumblr and X have shifted that narrative entirely. Fandoms that were once spear-headed by men are now being ran by women and queer folks. The best part? They were there the whole time.
I had the pleasure to sit down with the hosts of Yap Sesh: A Fangirl Podcast, a podcast by women, for all fans, with an emphasis on the female experience in fandoms. In the wake of COVID-19 and the boom in social medias like TikTok making it more accessible than ever to become a content creator and connect with other fans, both Sawyer and Brooke took the opportunity before them to start posting and creating.
The pair initially met on TikTok in 2020, where they both post fandom and cosplay related content. Quickly becoming friends, the two met in person for the first time on a trip to Disney Springs, solidifying their friendship. They have since met in person at various other events and trips while maintaining a consistent online friendship.
Sawyer, a current resident of the New Jersey area, began creating content about four and a half years ago, but still works in science. "I am working on breeding worms, but I would LOVE to breed lizards!" While she has been a Star Wars fan for a long time, Sawyer began her journey with online fandoms and community spaces in the world of Frozen! "There definitely is a difference between being a fan versus being a part of the [Star Wars] fandom." While most of her content has shifted to Star Wars related videos and posts, many of her interests overlap with the Disney bubble as well, with her favorite being the Cars franchise.
Brooke also has spent a lot of time in fandom spaces over the years. While internet spaces were not as popular during her childhood, being a fangirl has always been a part of her life. "I can't be a casual fan," Brooke remarked. "My first online fandom space was probably the Jonas Brothers. I had the Tiger Beat magazine posters on my wall. I also was SuperWhoLock adjacent, but TikTok and Star Wars were what got me more active in community spaces." Brooke has also branched into other cosplays and fandoms like The Last of Us franchise and Critical Role.
Their content journey's through TikTok and X were ultimately what led them to Yap Sesh. Earlier this year, discourse began on whether or not women belong in Star Wars both on screen and in the fandom. "I was featured in The Rolling Stone in regards to a person talking about women not being able to like Star Wars," Sawyers said. "It caused a lot of self reflection about my content and what I have wanted to achieve versus what I have." The idea of creating a podcast was planted into her head, as an opportunity to be a female-led space in the Star Wars community. She then put the idea out online, sending that seed over to Brooke.
"I feel like you haven't been in a fandom space if you haven't thought about starting a podcast,"Brooke said when asked why she wanted to be a part of Yap Sesh. "I didn't want to just talk about Star Wars... these pages will turn non-news into clickbait and headlines which is not what I wanted to do." When Brooke asked Sawyer if she needed any help with her new podcast, it was a no question for Sawyer to invite Brooke onboard. "We are both neurodivergent and I struggle forming strong feminine friendships... [Brooke] is such a wonderful friend and someone I like to spend a lot of time with. If I'm gonna do this with someone it needs to be someone I have a genuine friendship with. In another universe Yap Sesh is a solo show because I can't imagine doing it with anyone else."
They began building the podcast from the ground up. The name Yap Sesh was easy to find. "We're just yapping!" Brooke said. From the beginning, Sawyer and Brooke knew they wanted to invite a different demographic than most other podcasts. While their priority is to find fem-presenting guests to give them a platform, they also like to try to find guests that have never been on podcasts to set themselves apart from other shows. "I don't like to be put in a box where my content is only one thing," Brooke said. She emphasized the fact that they try to make the guests as comfortable as possible. All guests on Yap Sesh get to pick the topic of their episode beforehand with nothing being off limits. It's allowed their show to cover a range of topics from content creation to world building and show reviews. The sky is the limit and they are ready to exceed to the stars.
Both hosts have lofty goals for the future. With Yap Sesh still within its first year of going live, it has boasted some amazing guests and amazing events. Their dream guest? Sawyer answered with no hesitation: "Kathleen Kennedy." Brooke took a bit more time to think before laughing, "Everyone can drink, I would say Ashley Johnson."
The podcast also invited guests to participate in the Star Wars Spelling Bee charity event back in June for Pride. With a month long goal to raise $2,500 for the Point of Pride organization, the livestreamed event managed to help bring in just over $3,000. "This is the stuff that matters," Sawyer said. She and Brooke emphasized that this is what they are the most proud of since they started their podcast. Working with other people to make an impact is something both want to continue in the future. "[I recognized] that a lot of people I looked up to with massive platforms weren't actually doing anything with that platform... But if I can convince someone to buy a book, what else can I do with that influence?" They emphasized that this is just the beginning of what they want to be able to do.
Though they have had many successes since they started, starting the podcast has not come without it's challenges. They knew from the beginning featuring only female and non-binary people on the show would be the hardest part. While many female and non-binary creators are excited to take part in longer form content, some still feel like fandom spaces are predominantly male. "The perception is that fandom spaces are male-dominated, even though it's not true," Brooke said. Most of their challenges have come down to their male counterparts in the podcast space. "A lot of our male peers and counterparts in the creator space see success quicker and more often... It's frustrating when a lot of it is the same kind of content [as one another]." The pair has taken this challenge in stride, remaining optimistic about where their future will go.
As both fans and creators, I asked one final question for the two to answer: If you could tell someone one thing, one piece of advice about existing in online spaces, what would it be?
For both the answer was simple.
For Sawyer: "Shut up and listen... The most meaningful conversations are when we listen to other perspectives and other points of view."
And Brooke: "Some fights just aren't worth it. We live in a world where people can be keyboard warriors... be concise and don't get into fights that aren't worth your time."
Yap Sesh is changing the game of podcasting, emphasizing the influence and importance of female and non-binary folks in fandoms and creator spaces. Both of these women have raised the bar for inclusivity and lifting up voices of people who may be sidelined. If you are looking for a fun podcast, full of unique perspectives on all things nerdy, cosplay and more, then look no further. The podcast is available on Spotify, and Youtube. You can find updates on their X here, and both Brooke and Sawyers socials. Find their Linktree here: https://linktr.ee/yapseshpod.
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