Fic Clique

Fic Clique is a podcast about fanfiction. Join friends Nic, Brenna and Reid as they discuss fandom, fic, and their love of all things fannish.

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#147
Yesterday · 1 hr 14 min
Minisode: Interactive (Fan)Fiction
Nic & Reid are back for another two-host episode and they're here to talk about interactive (fan)fiction. You've heard of standard prose fanfiction, now get ready for: fics you can play like a game! From choose-your-own-adventures to explorative social media to fully voiced visual novels, the world of interactive fanfiction is vast and varied. This minisode explores not only a range of said fics, but also how the format allows for a different kind of collaborative storytelling. Works mentioned in this episode: - "one way street" by mackerel_cheese (Project Hail Mary) - "changing the game" by mackerel_cheese (Game Changer Web Series) - "The atom, the charm and the spin" by reconditarmonia (Hadestown) - "do you believe in coincidences?" by mystyrsust (Danny Phantom) - "[Visual Novel] Gusu Summer Camp: A Dating Sim - Expanded Edition" by PodTogether 2025 - "[Visual Novel] Cottage (En)core" by PodTogether 2026 Alternate episode titles include: "Cursed Character Creation," "Unethically Non Monogamous," and "Why Speak When Bone?"
#146
October 9 · 1 hr 26 min
127: "The Fic Clique Pantheon"
Ficlets, you're invited to our Halloween party! We're starting the spooky season festivities early by visiting fics that feature costumes each of us has worn over the years, from a childhood look to a teenage crew to a full group organized effort from a few years ago. These fics contain major themes of legacy (establishing one, running from one, embracing one), reckoning with mortality, what makes a "good" life, the dreamscape and the fantastical, complicated relationships with institutions, and of course costumes, performance, and the true self as reflections of desire. You'll also get some host lore, so look forward to that. Get the party started by enjoying our fics from this episode, which include: - "The Red Country" by jibrailis (Alice in Wonderland) - "God Save the Blessed American President Mom" by zipadeea (Red White & Royal Blue) - "blessed with a wilder mind" by opinionhaver69 (The Locked Tomb series)
#145
September 25 · 1 hr 36 min
126: "My Digital Footprint"
"The average podcast doesn't make it past seven episodes. Fic Clique Georg, who is celebrating their seven year anniversary, is an outlier adn should not have been counted." - Nic Fic Clique In honor of our seventh anniversary we have once again returned to a For Our Consideration, where we discuss a beloved fic recommended to us by the ficlets! In addition to a heartfelt discussion about language and connection we also do some retrospecting about what season two of the pod has meant to the three of us. Thank you all as ever for coming along for the ride. Works discussed in this episode: - "Cultural Exchange" by Therrae (Transformers)
#144
September 4 · 1 hr 10 min
125: "That Storied Place of Learning"
Happy back to school season, Ficlets! Whether you or a ficletlet are headed back to your studies or you're just looking forward to cooler weather and autumn vibes, this time of year has plenty to celebrate. In this themed and studious episode your hosts explore setting as a vehicle for found family dynamics, mentorship and intergenerational friendship, the tradition of bildüngsroman and college AUs, and an unintentionally vast pile of campus novel recommendations. Works discussed in this episode: - "i'll write you harmony in c" by magneticwave (Pride and Prejudice) - "Selected Moments in Introductory Symbology" by kaydeefalls (His Dark Materials series) - "Date Night" by smilebackwards (X-Men First Class) - "Idiot Control Now" by cygnaut (X-Men FIrst Class)
#143
August 21 · 1 hr 37 min
124: "Blessings of the Yuletide Fairies" ft. the Yuletide Mods
This special episode of Fic Clique treads familiar ground with new faces as your hosts welcome guests of the pod Isis, Morbane, and Pendrecarc! Yuletide is an annual exchange that is beloved not just to the pod but to fandom at large, and we were thrilled to chat with some of the mods and dig a little deeper into the event. This episode provides everything you need to know about Yuletide, from participation logistics to moderator insights to many wonderful fic recs. We even have the inside scoop on some news for 2026's event, but please; leave your questionably-real German novels at home. Works mentioned in this episode: - "The Marvels of Whitby" by Sath (Medieval Manuscript Illustrations) - "Some Assembly Required" by Untherius (IKEA "Start the Car!" Commercial) - "the ultimate test of cerebral fitness" by psychomachia (Chess Board Game) - "Song of the Season" by feroxargentea (Northern Exposure) - "The Yule Land" by raspberryhunter (The Waste Land) - "Nectar of the Honeymen" by The_Midnight_Girl (Goblin Market) - "A Lotus Flower, Flourishing in the Dark" by Rodo (The King's Affection) - "The Opposite of Swarb" by Ankaret (Bellwether) - "Why one small American town won’t stop stoning its residents to death" by Charlotte_Stant (The Lottery, New Yorker RPF) You can find the mods and other information about the event at yuletide-admin.dreamwidth.org.
#142
August 7 · 2 hr 5 min
Minisode: Astolat's Witcher Works
In this not-so-mini two-host minisode, Brenna and Reid explore one of their most beloved corners of Ao3: Astolat's Geralt/Emhyr Witcher works! Using a rubric we created from the foundational elements of this ship we analyze how each work functions to help craft the narrative of this rarepair we love so much. Works discussed in this episode are all of Astolat's Geralt/Emhyr Witcher fics, which can be found in the compiled series on her Ao3 profile. Alternate titles for this episode include: "Lock In or Turn Off the Pod," "She’s Ciri, He’s Just Ken," and "Struck With Lustful Longing"
#141
July 24 · 1 hr 21 min
123: "Copy, Moon Joy"
3...2...1...Liftoff. We're rounding out this year's birthday episodes with one of Reid's favorite genres: space opera! With themes of language, sacrifice, and human connection, the backdrop of space provides a rich setting for us to play in. Media discussed in this episode include: - "Protostellar" by ninamonday (BTS RPF) — fanfiction - "A Memory Called Empire" by Arkady Martine — novel - "Project Hail Mary" — movie - "The Deep Humanity of Project Hail Mary" by Rachel Kessler — essay on Reactor Mag
#140
July 10 · 1 hr 26 min
122: "The Odyssey Gasp"
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)
#139
June 27 · 1 hr 15 min
121: SuperWolfLock
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)
#138
June 12 · 1 hr 29 min
120: "A/B/Oh No They Didn't"
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
#137
April 24 · 1 hr 39 min
119: "Your Savored Flavor"
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
#136
April 10 · 1 hr 34 min
118: "God Is Watching the Dinosaur Training"
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).
#135
March 27 · 1 hr 20 min
Minisode: The Pitt Fandom & Fanfiction
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_account - "and yet i fight, and yet i fight" by a_gathering_of_flowers - "A Case of the Mondays" by SkiLift - "new dog old tricks" by overnights - "don't call it a comeback" by overnights - "Two-Player" by avocadomoon Rejected 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.
#134
March 13 · 1 hr 17 min
117: "Nose Butter Switch Foot 440 Chicken Sandwich"
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.
#133
February 14 · 1 hr 15 min
116: Romance Gone Sideways
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.
#132
January 30 · 1 hr 40 min
115: Roll for Birthday
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.
#131
January 9 · 1 hr 42 min
114: "The Love of the Game"
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.
#130
Dec 26, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Minisode: 2025 Year in Review
Another journey around the sun is coming to a close, and that means Fic Clique is taking a look at the year on a grand scale. Join us as we make predictions for hot 2026 fandoms, list some of our "best of"s, and manifest greatness for the pod in the year to come. Alternate titles for this episode include: "Paid Dust but the Dust Is Delicious," "My Crying Levels Are on the Decline," and "Your Algorithm Terrifies Me."
#129
Dec 12, 2025 · 1 hr 39 min
113: Open Your Heart to Toxic Yuri (Zeitgeisty Fandoms of 2025)
In 2025's last full-length episode, your hosts brought some hot fics and even hotter takes to the table as we discussed our perspective on what fandoms "hit (or remained in) the zeitgeist" this year. From The Pitt to Arcane to Interview With the Vampire, our conversation led us to discuss topics such as: humor as a cultural indicator the impact of big media companies in an increasingly siloed media landscape the risks of creating progressive media and science fiction as a reflection of social anxieties The fics we discussed this episode were the fifth element (series) by copycat_punisher (The Pitt), love, letting go by theroyalsavage (Arcane), and Cunk on Fangs by beemovieerotica (Cunk on Earth, Interview With the Vampire).
#128
Nov 28, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
Minisode: Reader Insert Fic
Welcome one and all to a rousing discussion of a long awaited topic: reader insert fanfiction! In our first ever two-host minisode, Nic and Reid get into the beautiful weeds of different fanfic traditions, degrees of closeness and how POV can mediate your self-concept as a reader, fantasy and (dis)comfort, and communal fic reading experiences that will have you gathering hands with your friends and declaring: We are All Y/N. Alternate titles for this episode include: Put Up Your Messy Buns The Cringe Among the Cringe People Want to Fuck That Skeleton Man My Lesbian Hall Pass

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