Recovering Gleek

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A podcast about two friends coming to terms with their complicated relationship with the TV show Glee

Ian Allred & Lena Conatser


    • Jun 4, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 24m AVG DURATION
    • 304 EPISODES

    4.9 from 717 ratings Listeners of Recovering Gleek that love the show mention: gleeks, watched glee, lena, love glee, friend of the podcast, santana, started watching glee, showmance, zaddy, rewatching glee, glee podcast, glee content, shue, rewatch glee, obsessed with glee, scottsdale, theater kid, complicated feelings, premiered, talk about glee.


    Ivy Insights

    The Recovering Gleek podcast is a delightful and hilarious show that offers a fresh perspective on the popular TV series Glee. As someone who recently discovered the podcast, I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to it over the past few weeks. The hosts, Lena and Ian, have a natural chemistry and comedic timing that makes each episode feel like a cozy hangout with friends. It's been incredibly entertaining to revisit my memories of watching Glee when I was younger and laugh along with them as they dissect each episode. I would highly recommend this podcast to any fellow Gleeks or even those looking for a good laugh.

    One of the best aspects of The Recovering Gleek podcast is how it feels like a comforting hug after a long day. Lena and Ian create a fun and sharp atmosphere that instantly lifts your spirits. They handle the sensitive issues presented in Glee with care and provide thoughtful insights into the show's sometimes absurd approach to tackling these topics. It's evident that they put effort into making their discussions inclusive and considerate, which adds an important layer to their lighthearted banter. Their friendship shines through and brings an extra dose of warmth to each episode.

    While there are many great aspects of this podcast, there are also a few minor drawbacks worth mentioning. Occasionally, some theater kid rants may be difficult for listeners who aren't familiar with theater jargon to fully understand or appreciate. However, Lena and Ian's humor still shines through in these moments, so it doesn't detract too much from the overall enjoyment of the show. Another potential downside is that because it is focused specifically on Glee, those who haven't watched or aren't fans of the show may find it less relatable or relevant.

    In conclusion, The Recovering Gleek podcast has become a beloved part of my weekly routine since discovering it earlier this year. Lena and Ian bring so much joy and laughter into each episode and make me feel less alone during difficult times. Their humorous and kind personalities shine through, creating a positive and honest vibe that is truly contagious. Whether you're a die-hard Gleek or just looking for a good laugh, this podcast is an absolute must-listen. Thank you, Lena and Ian, for brightening our lives with your weekly therapy sessions!



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    Latest episodes from Recovering Gleek

    BtVS S1E4 Teacher's Pet

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 89:16


    Xander's been bit by the love bug, but its for his teacher! Who's also a literal bug and is going to bite his head off. Teen crushes are tough, man.

    Listener Thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 65:18


    We are discussing your thoughts on the show, Dr Who, which member of the New Directions would be a Slayer, and the Master serving.

    BtVS S1E3 The Witch

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 79:12


    Remember your one friend in high school who's parent was way too overbearing and controlling over their life? And remember that one time when their parent took up witchcraft and swapped bodies with them leading to a malicious Freaky Friday? And then their parent in your friends body tried to poison and then axe murder you? That's what this episode is.

    BtVS S1E2 The Harvest

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 78:09


    Buffy and co work to thwart the Master's master (get it?) plan to walk above ground, Xander struggles to kill his best friend turned vampire, and the Master and Luke are definitely hooking up

    BtVS S1E1 Welcome to the Hellmouth

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 95:32


    NEW SHOW NEW PODCAST! We're leaving the halls of McKinley and heading to Sunnydale High as we talk about our history with Buffy, what we love about the Scoobies, and Darla being an uninformed citizen.

    The Last Episode of Recovering Gleek

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 53:14


    A check in and a few listener emails while we prep to release SLAY!!! A Queer Buffy Podcast

    The One Where We Find Out What's Happening Next

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 77:27


    OKAY WE'RE FINALLY ANNOUNCING WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE POD AND PUTTING THINGS IN MOTION GET EXCITED. Also talking Smosh and Ian's experience in Matilda the Musical.

    Amicable Exes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 74:13


    The gabbers gab about Mayhem, Survivor, dating each other, and more

    Sick Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 27:46


    Lena and an ill Ian read an email and talk about the Traitors finale

    That's Such a Good Thought

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 79:29


    We're reading listener emails about saying goodbye to Glee!

    Final Gleewind: Recovering Gleek Pilot

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 192:11


    For the end of our Glee era we are going back to the beginning. We are relistening to the first episode of Recovering Gleek: A Glee Podcast and reflecting on how we've changed, how our feelings about the show have changed, and what we hope the future brings. Thank you all for joining us these past few years!

    Sporty Spice in the Chat

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 53:53


    GO ELGSES! We're talking about the Super Bowl and reading listener emails about favorite Glee episodes

    Gleewind: Our Favorite Episodes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 142:48


    As we wrap up our time with Glee, we are talking about our FOUR FAVORITE EPISODES. Glee's peak (in our opinion), what Glee is to us, the plot lines we think about the most frequently.Ian's picks:Pilot, DuetsLena's picks:Laryngitis, The Hurt Locker Part 2

    Becoming Each Other's Beards

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 82:05


    This week we are falling in love with each other by doing (an incredibly abridged version of) 36 Questions to fall in love. As well as some listener emails about yearning after people who don't want us back and what the best New Directions setlist is.

    Gleewind: National Show Choir Competition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 127:50


    This week we are taking a look back at the New Directions' 66% losing record as we visit the best and worst set lists, original songs, and rank all12 competition episodesEpisodes discussed this week areNew YorkNationalsCity of Angels

    I Feel Shame and Embarrassment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 86:30


    This week we are talking extensively about reality TV old and new, and getting into an indepth analysis of which characters in Les Mis are or are not divas.

    Gleewind: Diva Offs ft Andrew McGuire

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 180:07


    Gleek of the Week's own song showdown professional Andrew McGuire joins to determine who won each of the 13 diva offs over the course of Glee and compare rankings of diva offs, best to worst

    2024 Wrapped

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 104:24


    Baby New Year and Father Time are here to take a look back at some of our favorite songs, movies, tv shows, and more from the last year

    Gleewind: Christmas Episodes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 128:39


    Christmas day will always be just as long as we have GLEE.We queen out over the highs and lows of Glee's Christmas specials, what songs we wish they had covered, what songs we wish they hadn't covered, and Quinn texting and driving in every universe.Episodes covered in this week areA Very Glee ChristmasExtraordinary Merry ChristmasGlee ActuallyPreviously Unaired Christmas

    Rachel Survivor 47 Winner Truther

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 52:52


    We chat about our Survivor Finale predictions, Blaine not reporting the rock salt slushee to the police, and our memories of Christmas past

    Gleewind: Alfonso Stans Only Pt 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 174:54


    We're giving our fave Glee director his deserved Academy Award, Emmys be damned, as we talk about the last 4 episodes directed by Alfonso Gomez Rejon.Episodes covered this week areAsian FMichaelBritney 2.0The Break Up

    A Bit of Whimsy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 37:39


    This week we are talking about reality TV, Christmas traditions, and millennial school games

    Gleewind: Alfonso Stans Only Pt 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 112:44


    This Gleewind is super sized as we talk about the 8 episodes directed by our fave, Alfonos Gomez Rejon. This week we tackle his first 4 and discuss why Laryngitis means so much to us, Alfonso's understanding of the world of Glee, and pretend we know anything about film theory.Episodes covered this week areLaryngitisGrilled CheesusA Very Glee ChristmasBorn This Way

    Let's Make Judith Hoag Gay Famous

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 83:18


     HAPPY WICKED WEEK! We are chatting about Ian's SNL experience (and SNL crush), the drag personas of the New Directions, and GOING HEAD TO HEAD IN THE ULTIMATE FICTIONAL SHOW CHOIR SHOW DOWN.

    Gleewind: Gleegionals

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 145:33


    It's Regionals for Regionals. Did Glee peak with Journey to Regionals? How do Marley's original songs stack up against Rachel's? Is Candles the worst number every performed at a competition? How does Lena feel about On My Way after watching it for the third time in a matter of weeks? All this and more! (more being discussion of seeing Darren Criss' new broadway show and even more thoughts on Spelling Bee)Episodes discussed areJourney to RegionalsOriginal SongOn My WayAll or Nothing

    They're Parentifying Her!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 71:25


    This week we've got EMAILS EMAILS EMAILS! We talk Broadway, why Glee didn't have more Halloween episodes, and create fantasy Glee Clubs

    Gleewind: HOLIDAY SPECIAL(s)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 151:28


    Pink goes good with Glee!This week we're talking how Glee tackles every holiday that doesn't involve a jolly old elf (maybe stay tuned for Christmas specials?) We chat about Glee's winning streak of Valentine's specials, change our tune on the Rocky Horror Glee Show, and plan our perfect season 3 Halloween special that never was.Episodes discussed areThe Rocky Horror Glee ShowSilly Love SongsHeartThanksgivingI Do

    Harshing the Vibe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 63:20


    Halloween comes early as we discuss horror movies, our holiday plans (or lack thereof), and the best iteration of the Addams Family

    Gleewind: Mash Off

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 103:34


    It's a mash off smack down for the crown (the crown being nonexistent and the winner never once being declared) as we discuss the annual New Directions Boys vs Girls Mash Off.Episodes discussed areVitamin DNever Been KissedMash OffBoys (and Girls) on Film

    Moon 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 66:28


    Reading our charts from Cafe Astrology and learning a little about life, the stars, and each other in the process. Also Ian thought the new Aubrey Plaza movie was about the age of dilemma of would you fight or **** your clone.

    Gleewind: Western Ohio Sectionals

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 140:06


    We're revisiting ever Western Ohio Show Choir Sectionals to talk the best songs, funniest competition, most exciting plotlines, and that one time Quinn tried to report Shelby for sleeping with a student and everyone acted like she was insane for doing so???Episodes discussed this week areSeason 1 SectionalsSeason 2 Special EducationSeason 3 Hold On to SixteenSeason 4 ThanksgivingSeason 6 We Built This Glee Club

    And You Did It At My Birthday

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 55:07


    Chatting about everything from the passage of time to unplanned bowel movements.

    Gleewind: Not Gonna Teach Your Podcast How to Dance With You

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 157:54


    Get your corsage's and have your dates home by midnight because we are talking about all the McKinley High school dances! We discuss who was the best dressed, which dance we would most like to attend ourselves, and how it all peaked with Prom Queen.Episodes discussed this week areSeason 2 Prom QueenSeason 3 PromasaurusSeason 4 Sadie HawkinsSeason 5 Tina in the Sky with Diamonds

    Anna Nalick and a Yap

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 82:42


    Join us as we hang out, read some emails, and chat about what books we've been reading, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and the greatest song of all time

    Gleewind: Coming Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 183:04


    Lena and Ian compare and contrast the coming out stories of our main queer characters (namely Kurt, Santana, Blaine, Brittany, Unique, Karofsky, and Beiste) by reexamining season 1's Preggers, season 3's I Kissed a Girl On My Way, and Saturday Night Gleever, and Season 6's Jagged Little Tapestry and Transitioning.

    The Return: where the hell have you been???

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 60:37


    Remember this podcast? It's back.We're back from hiatus and back into the halls of McKinley High! This week we give updates on our lives, talk about the future of the podcast, and see what Glee characters we are four years later

    Series Wrap Up Character Review Pt 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 144:21


    We bid farewell to our Season 4 newbies, as well as additional Glee Clubbers added along the way (Sugar, Joe, Rory, Lauren). A lot is said about the Glee Project.

    Series Wrap Up Character Review Pt 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 122:35


    We say goodbye to Sam, Blaine, Will, Emma, and Sue by discussing their arcs, inconsistencies, and songs

    Series Wrap Up Pt 2 Character Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 145:02


    We take a look back at our OG New Directioners and discuss what went well with their plotlines, what went wrong, and which of their songs we think of most

    Series Wrap Up Pt 1 w/Former Guests

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 142:28


    Our podcast will not go gentle into that good night as we begin our multi-part series wrap up. This week we give our series wide superlatives for best/worst episode, best/worst plotline, and best/worst song, with some special guests weighing in.(Andrew McGuire and Allison Dodge of Gleek of the Week, Lucas Graden and Murjanatu Mutuwa from Typecasting: Pop Culture by the Numbers, Vicky Moonan and Shane Crowley from Shane and Vicky's DCOM Playhouse, Zach Faust, Tiffani Allen, and Alex Allred)

    Season 6 Wrap Up w/ Alex Allred

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 118:34


    Enemy of the podcast Alex Allred makes one final visit to celebrate officially having seen every episode of Glee, discuss the highs and lows of season 6, and give us his pitch for the Gleeboot

    SPECIAL High School Musical 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 61:02


    A little SNEAK PEEK at our Patreon exclusive episode on High School Musical 2. If you would like to hear the full episode join our patreon at patreon.com/recoveringgleek

    S6E13 Dreams Come True

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 172:09


    IT'S THE SERIES FINALE!! Ryan, Ian, and Brad throw all realism and stakes out the window and go on a wish fulfillment fun ride for an hour. Almost everyone comes back, but almost none of them speak. We flash forward to the absolute worst year the writers' could've picked, Sue becomes VP, Will changes the American education system, Klaine is on broadway, but none of it is less believable than a 2020 Tony Awards ceremony.

    S6E12 2009

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 130:01


    EP Tiff is back to join us on a trip back to the pilot. Get ready to see a lot of things you didn't realize you missed like Kurt's basement bedroom! Sheets N' Things! MATT RUTHERFORD????? It's mostly a nostalgia trip for nostalgia's sake, but that doesn't mean it's not good.

    S6E11 We Built This Glee Club

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 99:34


    It's the final competition episode! Sue is on the warpath, the New Directions have four entire coaches, and JESSE ST JAMES IS BACK.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5302210/advertisement

    S6E10 The Rise and Fall of Sue Sylvester w/ Zach Faust

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 132:15


    WE'RE FINALLY BACK BABYYYY. Zach Faust (@suesylvestertiktok) joins us to discuss Geraldo Rivera, the return of Carol Burnett, and the absolute least climactic way the writers could've solved the New Directions vs Warblers disputeThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5302210/advertisement

    S6E9 Child Star

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 112:12


    The newbies finally get to talk, Billie Eilish's brother joins the cast, and Sue gets bossed around by a 13 year oldThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5302210/advertisement

    Minisode 111 I Upload Therefore I am a Bad Bitch

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 50:37


    Listener thoughts on the double wedding, Abuela being invited to the wedding, and Burt's relationship with BrittanyThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5302210/advertisement

    S6E8 A Wedding

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 90:32


    It's a double wedding for the gays!!! Blaine finally has a mom, the show continues to embarrass Tina, and Quinn is nowhere to be foundThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5302210/advertisement

    S6E7 Transitioning

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 95:10


    Coach Beiste is back at McKinley after transitioning, Rachel throws a house party with all her students, and the writers make these kids cheat on each other againThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5302210/advertisement

    Minisode 110 Objectifying Our Minds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 40:33


    Listener's have thoughts on the situation with Abuela and Brittany, Samchel, and our beautiful brainsThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5302210/advertisement

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