She-Ra: Progressive of Power

One last spin around the block. We recount the Secret Origin of this podcast, recall our favorite episodes of both our show and the show, and leave with a fun little surprise. MUSIC IN THE EPISODE:Scorpions - "Wind of Change" w/ the Berlin Philharmonic OrchestraLou Bega - Mambo No. 5a very special "Listen to Your Heart"

We're tired of talking. We want to hear from y'all -- the people who really made this iteration of She-Ra something special. About a dozen and a half really incredible, thoughtful, open listeners send us audio recordings that tell their own story about how She-Ra, the Princess of Power has better helped them find acceptance, create art, understand the world, or even understand themselves. Thanks to everyone who sent recordings in; we can't thank you enough for sharing your stories. This episode, we hear from:AveryAghataMeganNathanAaronClaraDanielaEmiliaJacobHadasJaredAlexJenniferJemAnnayaPaigeJBMUSIC IN THE EPISODE:Pretenders - Message of Love

As we near the end of our podcast, we wanted to put a nice bow on our time covering She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and fortunately, Dreamworks was down to help! In this, the first of two Twitch streams we're calling the "Exit Interviews," we've got a bevy of guests from SPOP ready to answer burning fan questions like "could Angella be alive?" and "does Catra shower?" This interview features:Jen Bennett (director)Josie Campbell (story editor)Phil Lomboy (editor)Noelle Stevenson (executive producer)Sharon Sun (board artist)M. Willis (writer)The second part of these streams is happening Wednesday, 8/26 at 5:30 PM PST! You can catch it over at twitch.tv/ericcgarneau. 

Flashback Week ends with a very special episode (at least to one of us) -- Eric's favorite piece of Hemanimation, the 1984 classic "Into the Abyss," a super early look at what a character-driven story might look like for our favorite Twins of Power. Then we circle around to a wider discussion of nostalgia, criticism, and pushing cultural narratives forward, because of course we do. You can watch "Into the Abyss" here.

Our tour through He-Men of the past continues with this stop in, uh, the future to check on the origins of Mara. In Dreamworks' She-Ra she was an unforgettable character -- were the '90s as kind? Probably not. If anyone's curious, you can watch "Save Our City" here but, uh, that's your choice to make. 

Our week of classic flashbacks starts with a look at the rarely discussed 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe reboot! We're discussing the episode "The Power of Grayskull," which contains that series' only look at the Horde (they sadly would never get their own season), as well as the first-ever appearance of Despondos! Plus lots of neat lore about what Grayskull could actually be! We'll be back Wednesday with another throwback!If you're curious, you can watch "The Power of Grayskull" on YouTube.MUSIC IN THE EPISODE:Duran Duran - Union of the Snake

The kiss. Redemption. The power of love. The future. Endings. Plus an interview with the one and only AJ Michalka! We talk Catra (of course), her forthcoming record, AND Celebrity Family Feud.  What an episode. MUSIC IN THE EPISODE:R.E.M. - What's the Frequency, Kenneth?Heart - AloneDio - Rainbow in the DarkTaylor Swift - All You Had to Do Was Stay

This week, the incredible Matt Young (Hello from the Magic Tavern, Improvised Star Trek) joins us for a deep chat about what basically becomes Adora's emotional climax for this series. We also talk about important ways the 2018 She-Ra improves on the classic (of which Matt is also an avowed fan), AND a hatchet gets buried...!MUSIC IN THE EPISODEHeart - Never

Yo, there's another She-Ra podcast in town, and that's awesome!! This week, we're joined by Jane and Nero, hosts of Podcast of Power, a podcast that's just begun its own journey back through the entire She-Ra series. They were gracious enough to jump ahead to the penultimate episode of the series with us this week; we spent a LOT of time talking about Catra/Adora/Shadow Weaver and you will probably have opinions about what we say!Get episodes of Podcast of Power here, please!!MUSIC IN THE EPISODE:David Bowie - Cat People (Putting Out Fire)The New Pornographers - FailsafeCoheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3

We're stoked to welcome streamer and She-Ra fan Bailey Meyers to the show this week to dive into an episode about friendship, love, helping in any way you can, and I guess learning what Grayskull is in this universe?? Also, Lauren, Eric, and Bailey launch their brand-new podcast!Catch Bailey's Goosedrunks as well as her Twitch stream!MUSIC IN THE EPISODE:Best Coast - Who Have I Become?David Bowie - Cat People (Putting Out Fire)

Lauren and Eric get feisty on this guestless episode that recalls classic She-Ra tropes (remember "Duel at Devlan"?), and then there's some stuff about cancel culture, too. We are not on JK Rowling's side here. MUSIC IN THE EPISODE:Roxette - The Look

Directors Jen and Kiki return for part two of their interview as Catra adventures with the Best Friends Squad for the first time! We meet the adorable Melog, and Eric and Lauren wade into the fandom's more contentious waters. MUSIC IN THE EPISODE:Ozzy Osbourne - Shot in the DarkKaren Fukahara & Sydney Mikayla - Heroes on Fire

Once upon a time, we'd have as many guests on the show at one time as we wanted. It was a lawless period of vigilante podcasting. We return to those days with the first of TWO episodes featuring TWO wonderful episode directors for She-Ra, Kiki Manrique and Jen Bennett, who happened to work on the next two episodes we're covering, "The Perils of Peekablue" and "Shot in the Dark." This week, a classic POP character makes an appearance, Scorpia sings, and Lauren finally comes around on Sea Hawk. SONGS IN THE EPISODE:Peggy Lee - Trapped (In the Web of Love)

This week, staff writer extraordinaire Laura Sreebny joins Lauren and Eric to discuss "Taking Control," a heck of an episode that has serious implications for our friends both in space and on Etheria. Also, Eric gets some validation re: shipping Glimmer and Catra.Music in the episode:Springtime Carnivore - "Under the Spell"The Mountain Goats - "No Children"

There is SO MUCH to talk about this week. Not only are we rescuing Catra, not only are we fighting against the homogenizing terror of Horde Prime, but we're also talking to Keston John, the incredible actor behind Hordak, Horde Prime, and, making his stunning debut, WRONG HORDAK. You better believe we asked some stuff about The Good Place too (and Avatar, and Fortnite, and Killmonger). MUSIC IN THE EPISODE:Spice Girls - WannabeThe Good Place theme

She-Ra goes sci-fi and meets the Star Siblings in this week's episode, where Lauren and Eric are joined by staff writer M. Willis for an in-depth discussion of Bow and Glimmer's reconciliation, the power of genre fiction, and also Star Trek. Lots about Star Trek.For anyone interested, I cannot recommend enough that folks watch "Far Beyond the Stars" from Deep Space Nine. It is especially relevant this week. It's on Netflix!Music in the episode:Skunk Anansie: Intellectualize My Blackness

The guests are back! This week, friend and roleplay podcaster extraordinaire James D'Amato joins us for a discussion of one of the season's heaviest episodes. We're gonna talk a lot about cults, space, and apologizing. To check out James' podcasts, make sure to visit  the One Shot Podcast Network online!  For Noelle Stevenson's One Shot episode, you can listen here.Music in the episode:Sylvan Esso - RadioStarship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us NowTegan and Sara - CloserHootie and the Blowfish - Hold My Hand

Entrapta gets absolution, Horde Prime shocks Glimmer, and for some reason we talk a lot about the Office. 

The season premiere is here, and it's all about the terrifying new threat facing Etheria! Lauren and Eric talk about the series' new Big Bad, and a tangent about 90s cartoons gets them thinking about the political landscape when they were young. Hey, remember Bill Clinton? 

In this (much more focused) second half of our return episode, Lauren and Eric generate a literal Bingo card's worth of predictions on what they think will, may, and possibly-but-wouldn't-that-be-crazy happen in season 5!Here's a custom Bingo card generator you can use!Our predictions:1. Catradora becomes canon2. Glimmatra becomes the new key ship3. NEW sword4. Adora transforms without sword5. Entrapdak fanservice6. Hordak "restored," becomes hero7. Castle Grayskull appears8. Adora learns she's princess by blood9. Prince Adam10. obscure reference to New Adventures11. Swift Wind gets partner and/or baby12. Swift Wind sings13. Lauren embraces Sea Hawk14. Razz flies on a broom15. classic MOTU/POP villain cameo16. classic Rebellion characters appear17. Glimmer wins Academy Award18. epic space battle19. Rainbow returns20. Horde Prime jams hair tentacles21. Shadow Weaver: bad again, good again22. Catra gains suppressed superpower23. Angella alive - on Eternia24. a kingdom for ScorpiaBONUS: Imp dies protecting Hordak

So, uh, it's been a while. This was supposed to be a quick catch-up episode, but it turns out we had a lot to say. Covered here: personal updates, Joe Biden, Shelter-in-Place, The Legend of the Fire Princess graphic novel, the Sonic toys, and the She-Ra soundtrack! What DOES Eric think of the new theme song? We'll be back Wednesday with our season 5 predictions!

It's the season finale, and so much is happening! Also, by fan request, we interview Sunna Wehrmeijer, She-Ra's incredible composer!

Lauren and Eric have lots to talk about on this week's episode of the podcast, as all of the plot threads for pretty much the entire series coalesce into the season four finale!

We asked, and the universe answered! This week, a real-live teen enters the studio to talk about their thoughts and feelings about She-Ra and the Princesses of Power! Plus, Micah and Entrapta are back, we have different opinions about what it would take for Catra to earn a redemption arc, and we talk about the bogus concept of "balance." 

New content is back! This week, Lauren and Eric dive into an episode with lots of EMOTIONS. We talk about fighting with friends, bad guys, and, oh yeah, lots and lots of shipping (and also topics with much more gravity). 

A rerun? I know, I know. Unfortunately Eric couldn't record a new episode this week due to some personal stuff involving his dog, but this podcast episode from the pre-Dreamworks days was on his mind a lot so he thought he'd share it again. Maybe  you'll enjoy this look back at how the show used to be!  Even if you don't, please give some thoughts, love, and care to our animal friends this week. If you'd like to check out some of our favorite local organizations doing just that, you can visit Sit Stay Read and Alive Rescue.

It's the densest, most continuity-filled episode yet! Our fan and great friend Ben Rathert joins us to talk about the tantalizing backstory of "Hero" and its many questions and answers. Colonialism will be discussed. Also, we've got some letters to read!

This week it really is ONE FOR THE BOYS as She-Ra writer/script coordinator Shane Lynch joins us to talk about the music, the feelings, the men, and the women of one of She-Ra's most harrowing episodes yet, "Boys' Night Out"!

This week, we're delighted to be joined by longtime Harry Potter podcaster Eric Scull (14 years!!) for his first She-Ra experience as we dive into the tangled reef of "Mer-Mysteries." Also, JK Rowling and impeachment. 

This week, Scorpia defects, and we talk to retired veteran and RPG author Danny Oliver about his time in the military, diversity in the ranks, and why he saw people leave the armed forces. If you want to learn more about Danny's writing, you can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Patreon. 

Just like the old days, Lauren and Eric go guestless on this episode to chat about Light Hope, Mara, and our favorite trio of Horde Cadets, including this episode's unlikely hero, the one and only Kyle! Also, some political stuff happened. 

This week, we take a dive into some of our favorite major and less-major characters with special guest Sean Rose, creator and host of the podcast The Hornet's Nest! From Catra and Glimmer to Netossa and Spinerella, all of your favs get put under the microscope. 

This week, RPG author/convention organizer Ginny Loveday joins us for a discussion of parties, deception, and a very mean Catra. It's "Flutterina" time!

We're back to the Crimson Wastes this week with special guest Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, She-Ra's voice director and a person with an incredible career in animation (that makes Lauren nerd out a little). The return of Geena Davis! The debut of Double Trouble! We've got it all, plus a little Cowboy Bebop history for all the anime fans out there.

Season 4 is here! Join Lauren, Eric, and Rebecca Goldberg, Director of Current Series at Dreamworks Animation, to dive into a big new era for our favorite characters, starting with Glimmer's ascension to queendom! (And apologies for some weird audio glitches that creep up in this episode; I guess our studio was taking an off day)

We're back! This week, we look forward to season 4 and share our hopes and dreams with Professor of Communications Zack Stiegler, who was kind enough to visit the studio while he was in town for DePaul University's Fan Studies Network North America Conference, presenting a paper on fan responses to She-Ra and the Princesses of Power!

This week, Lauren and Eric are joined by the one and only Aimee Carrero, the voice of Dreamwork's She-Ra/Adora! Get insight into She-Ra's recording process, Aimee's background in International Relations (!!), Adora's emotional grounding, and so much more in this sweet interview with a wonderful talent!

The incredibly talented Tim Seeley makes a triumphant return to our show to talk about a couple of the comics he's been cooking up lately, including the must-read He-Man and the Masters of the Multiverse! We also get to be a few of the first to introduce him to the new She-Ra series with a discussion of the episode "Remember."

This week, we discuss the time-honored tradition of fan art with the incredible artist Fey, who, among other things, has made a pretty freaking beautiful She-Ra tarot deck you can see on her Tumblr page! We also chat with Fey about "Moment of Truth," the Endgame of She-Ra episodes!

Technical difficulties pushed our next guested episode to next week, but that's okay! Lauren and Eric have a lot to unpack from the news coming out of last weekend's Power-Con convention, including new toys, a sweet new comic from our friend Tim Seeley, and an animated sequel to the original He-Man!

This week, we unpack the rich and evolving Catra/Scorpia dynamic with guest Katie Utke, a student of fan culture, Disney, and especially of queer coding in animation! Plus, New Adventures of He-Man makes a surprising impact on the Princesses of Power.

This week, a classic She-Ra character returns in a version that Lauren and Eric like way way better. Plus, Lauren and guest Stephen Poon recap their visit to She-Ra co-creator J. Michael Straczynski's recent book signing in Chicago!

She-Ra's back and so are we! This week, Lauren and Eric discuss an incredibly dense and rewarding episode that takes a deep dive into Adora's history.

For this week's season finale, men get emotionally vulnerable as, inspired by Bow's two dads, we talk nontraditional families with special guest Chris Zamiar! Get ready to feel stuff!!

This week, it's all Shadow Weaver all the time as we talk about raising children, power, and trauma with actor and nanny Shannon Campe!

When one of your listeners reaches out to try out an RPG inspired by She-Ra that she created, you listen! This week, we talk to designers Quinn Bleiler and Keisha Howard about their experience in the gaming industry and their love of She-Ra, and we try out a couple scenarios from Quinn's very own RPG, For the Honor! To keep up to date with For the Honor, visit its homepage here or follow Quinn on Twitter for all her projects! Keisha hangs out on the web here and Project Violacea has its own page on the Sugargamers website.

Lauren and Eric finally unpack their trip to visit Dreamworks in Los Angeles last month, AND they get to have a lovely chat with She-Ra's executive in charge of production, Gregg Goldin!

We tackle She-Ra's biggest relationship episode yet with, well, a relationship expert -- Trin from the podcast Friendshipping! Get ready for some scorching hot takes about your favorite characters! Is Scorpia purely misunderstood? Who's the most evil Horde member? Is Sea Hawk actually cool? The answer to these questions may surprise you!

We all know what a delight this week's episode of Princesses of Power is, right? We're gonna share that delight with special guest Liz Burton from the all-female D&D podcast Dungeons, Dice, & Everything Nice! We discuss roleplaying, animation, nostalgic tributes, and Netflix foibles in an episode that Eric has watched over and over again.

This week, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power staff writer Katherine Nolfi joins Lauren and Eric to talk about "Signals," which brings Hordak out of the shadows and into the narrative in a big way. You think we'll find out what he's up to?

The second and final installment of our tribute to co-creator of the original She-Ra series Larry DiTillio finds our adventuring party closing in on the mystery of the Inverted Pyramid. Finally, some combat! Special thanks to Logan Dean for writing and running this adventure. You can enjoy his podcast Low on the regular! If you didn't hear the first part of this story a couple weeks ago, you should probably check that out. Thanks to our fans for being willing to go along with a couple of weird episodes; we're back to the Dreamworks series next week in a big way! And thanks, of course, to Larry DiTillio, one of the coolest cartoon writers of all time.