Not My Fantasy

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005) Feat. Alina Phelan Ballou

Don’t shut the wardrobe door as you join us in exploring the magical first installment of the Chronicles of Narnia franchise! We’re talking about the 2005 film “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” And we’re in good hands with special guest Alina Phelan Ballou who was a major collaborator and stand-in for Mrs. Beaver! We discuss the smart adaptational choices made by the filmmakers, rave the quality of the 18-year-old CGI animals, and get lost in the wondrous world of Narnia.
 
Check out Alina on Instagram at @missalinagram, AND be sure to rewatch the battle scene to spot Alina as the Centaur shooting a flaming arrow that turns into a phoenix!
 
Research for this episode:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
 
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Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan. 
This episode was edited by Hannah Sylvester.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan
Intro Music: "The Quest" by Scott Little.

Pinocchio: A True Story (2021) with Katie Weatherly and Aaron Buckley

Episode 13: Pinocchio: A True Story (2021) (feat. Katie Weatherly and Aaron Buckley)
 
Happy April Fools!
 
No we didn’t talk about Guillermo or Walt’s Pinocchio, we talked about Pauly Shore’s! We take on fruity Pinocchio in a hot mess of an episode where we talk about unrealistic expectations of women, nonsense plots, daddy issues, and how little Cullen cares for the Pinocchio story. We also plug a Patreon that doesn’t exit. But should it?
 
Thank you Katie for watching the movie and proving Cullen wrong about Thumbelina and Aaron for not watching the movie or reading the email. 
 
Research for this episode:
Cullen read Pinocchio in like 4th grade. 
 
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
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Research & Writing by Cullen
This episode was edited by Hannah
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan
Intro Music "Not My Fantasy Quest" by Scott Little.

The Secret of Kells (2009)ft. Maiko Greenleaf

Episode 12: The Secret of Kells (2009) (feat. Maiko Greenleaf)
 
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Hannah converts to Christianity in this episode that takes us on a journey from Irish MythologyxBible crossover fics to a Golden Age of Saints and Scholars to Colonialism to a beautiful unique film about the blending of Irish religion and culture. We explore  a world of intricate art, faeries who deserve more screen time, and wide-eyed ginger scamps trying to save the Bible while their crossfit uncle tries to Build that Wall (for actually a good reason) Sorry not sorry to the Vikings. 
 
Thank you listener and wood elf Maiko Greenleaf for joining us on this holiday adventure in the Emerald Isle. Follow her @maikogreenleaf for costuming fun!
 
Research for this episode:
How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill
The History Section of the Troy and Sterling Heights Public Library
Irish-American Heritage 
 
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
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Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan. 
This episode was edited by Cullen Callaghan.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan.
Intro Music "Not My Fantasy Quest" by Scott Little.

Beauty and the Beast (2017) ft. Allyssa Swearingon of Gleeboot

Episode 11: The Beauty and the Beast (2017) (feat. Allyssa Swearingen)
 
This episode, we talk about the 2017 live-action remake of “Beauty and the Beast,” which is exactly the same as the 1991 animation but worse. We cringe at the movie answering all the thought experiments no one really wanted answers to, rate how sexy the bad-CGI beast is, and scream about how this movie was marketed as “more feminist” but is actually way less feminist. Plus, Cullen takes us on some adventures in Norway and Germany with animal bridegrooms and kidnapped, drugged husbands — some other iterations of the Beauty and the Beast story.
 
Check out Allyssa (IG: @a.m.swearingen) and her amazing art! If you want more Allyssa takes, check out our co-hosted podcast, Gleeboot (IG and TikTok: @gleebootpod)! 
 
Research for this episode:
 
“East of the Sun and West of the Moon” by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, translated by George Webbe Dasent and D. L. Ashliman
“The Singing, Springing Lark” by The Brothers Grimm
 
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
TikTok
 
Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan. 
This episode was edited by Hannah Sylvester.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan
Intro Music "Not My Fantasy Quest" by Scott Little.

Beauty and the Beast (1991) With Taylor Zaccario of Obscure Obessions

Episode 10: Beauty and the Beast (1991 (feat. T Zaccario of Obscure Obsessions)
 
We’re still talking about Beauty and the Beast but now the version everyone knows. We talk about a film as influential on Cullen as the Bible and one Hannah could take or leave. We talk Cupid and Psyche and Bluebeard and turning the pretty love interest into the protagonist. Is it true love (Yes)? Is it Stockholm Syndrome (No) ? Is a Grad School project a report (Maybe)? T is back to go over these deep questions with us as well as list the worst kinds of birds. 
 
Check out Taylor Zaccario on Obscure Obsessions (@obscurepodcast and obscureobessionsblog.blogspot.com
 
Research for this episode:
Bluebeard
Cupid and Psyche 
 
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
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Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan. 
This episode was edited by Cullen Callaghan.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan.
Intro Music "Not My Fantasy Quest" by Scott Little.

La Belle et la Bete (1946) with the Fairy Tellers

Episode 9: La Belle et La Bete (1946) (feat. The Fairy Tellers)
 
This week, we go back as far to the beginning of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale that we care to go. We’re joined by Katrina and Geoff from The Fairy Tellers podcast to talk about the 1946 French fantasy film, “La Belle et La Bete” and three early versions of the story by Villeneuve, Beaumont, and the Brothers Grimm. Hear our takes on everything from romance to disembodied body parts as decor to suffering through two hours of exposition after the climax of a story happens.
 
Check out The Fairy Tellers on Instagram @thefairy_tellers and TikTok @thefairytellers! 
 
Research for this episode:
Beauty and the Beast (Beaumont)
Summer and Winter Garden
Beauty and the Beast (Villaneuve) - It’s Abridged, it’s hard to find the full version for free online. 
 
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
TikTok
 
Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan. 
This episode was edited by Hannah Sylvester.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan.
Intro Music "Not My Fantasy Quest" by Scott Little.

Return of the King (2003) with The Sillymarillion

Episode 8: Return of the King (feat. Paul and Tori of the Sillymarillion )
 
We finished Lord of the Rings! Join us to see the epic climax of one of the Greatest Fantasy Trilogies of All time. We (allegedly) follow Frodo to Mount Doom while Aragorn unites the people of Middle-Earth against a Dark Lord with terrible dental coverage. Paul and Tori of the Sillymarillion join us to go over the history and headcanons of Middle-Earth, discuss the ultimate girlgoddessxhobbit ship, and pitch Rivendell for the CW featuring Emma Roberts as Gollum
 
Check out Paul and Tori  on The Sillymarillion Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more! Look them up on IG @sillymarillions. Also look up MerryxEowyn art on @spectralingart
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
TikTok
 
Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan (@culleneverafter). 
This episode was edited by Hannah Sylvester.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan
Intro Music "Not My Fantasy Quest" by Scott Little (@scottlittlemusic).

The Two Towers (2002) with Liz Achanta of the Slug Club

Episode 7: The Two Towers (feat. Elizabeth Achanta)
 
New year, new episode about The Lord of the Rings trilogy! Join us as we explore industrialism vs. nature with Merry, Pippin, and the Ents, fantasize about the Sir Ian McKellen-Cate Blanchett makeover montage that never was, try our best Gollum impressions, and swoon over Aragorn becoming the horse girl he was always meant to be.
 
Check out Elizabeth Achanta on The Slug Club Podcast: A Harry Potter Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!
 
Research for this episode:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3892&context=etd
 
https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-rings-of-power-explores-the-war-on-terror-legacy-of-the-lord-of-the-rings/
 
https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/articles-posts/5502-war-not-allegory-wwi-tolkien-and-the-lord-of-the-rings.html
 
http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/ovids-metamorphoses-ceres-and.html
 
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
TikTok
 
Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan (@culleneverafter). 
This episode was edited by Hannah Sylvester.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan
Intro Music "Not My Fantasy Quest" by Scott Little (@scottlittlemusic).

Fellowship of the Ring (2001) with Cait Callaghan

Episode 6: Fellowship of the Ring (feat. Cait Callaghan)
NEW INTRO MUSIC WHO DIS?
It's time to talk about the Fantasy Film Franchise to rule them all! Join Pippin (Cullen) and Merry (Hannah) as they join Frodo (Cullen's Sibling Cait @artsywriter on IG and @stronggayarms on Twitter) on a quest to discuss what made the greatest epic of the modern age so strong. We talk elves, dwarves, orcs, Shrek, Wagner, serving looks, Gay Wizards and Hobbits, Gabriela Montez, and Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon being a personal anthem for Galadriel. This movie may be long but it holds up (mostly). Tag along us for the first part of our Middle Earth mission, quest, thing. 
 
Research for this episode:
Tolkien's Biography 
Magic Rings
Queer Readings of Lord of the Rings 
 
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
TikTok
 
Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan. 
This episode was edited by Hannah Sylvester.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan
Intro Music "Not My Fantasy Quest" by Scott Little. 

Gods of Egypt (2016) With Alexis Jacobson of Altared

Episode 5: Gods of Egypt (feat. Alexis Jacobson)
TW: For brief reference of attempted Sexual Assault in an Egyptian Myth
It's Morbin time to talk about a truly wild film with such deep lore. Our conversation has everything, baby gravy salad, the mistress of the west, Bible villains, robogods, a blond Aladdin, Chadwick Boseman love, a jilted goddess, men in skirts with no sexual or platonic chemistry and girlfriends dying before the almighty will of Christopher Nolan, god of male character development. All of this is made so special by Alexis Jacobson, host of the wedding podcast Altared, (@altaredpodcast) www.altaredpodcast.com. She actually worked on this film and had such a blast helping it come to life. It was great to get her perspective on this sword and sandals epic and we had a blast talking about the lore of this pre-Disney's Chicken Little civilization. 
 
Research for this episode:
Gods of Ancient Egypt:
The Battle of Horus and Set
Egyptian Mythology 
Ra and Isis
Sekhmet and Hathor
 
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Watch Us on YouTube! 
 
Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:
 
@notmyfantasypod
Instagram
TikTok
 
Research & Writing by Cullen Callaghan. 
This episode was edited by Hannah Sylvester.
 
Cover Art by William Callaghan