School of Pop

Fan Fave Media
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entertainment News
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to School of Pop, where curiosity meets pop culture! Join Katrina Monroe, your host and study buddy, as she explores the stories, trends, and cultural shifts that define entertainment. Each "semester" takes a deep dive into a new "course", featuring interviews with experts, industry professionals, and passionate fans. This season, we're exploring the ethics of fan culture, unpacking the behaviors, boundaries, and unspoken rules that shape modern fandoms. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so grab your notebooks! Class is in session.

  1. 08/08/2025

    Final Exam: Reflecting on Fandom Ethics

    In this season finale, we’re unpacking what it really means to be an “ethical fan” today, and how the system around fandom often makes that harder than it should be. From the rise of the “respectable fan” to the quiet pressures of celebrity worship, this finale takes a look at the systems, marketing and cultural expectations that shape how fans behave — and how they’re perceived. We’re asking tough questions about performance, proximity and power in order to name the dynamics that often go unchecked. This episode isn’t about having the final answers. It’s about making space for a smarter, more grounded kind of fandom. One that sees the full picture, and still chooses to care.

    44 min

  2. 07/29/2025

    The Perfect Celebrity: A Reflection on Cancel Culture, Projection, and Entitlement

    In this solo reflection, we’re exploring how cancel culture, projection, and entitlement shape the modern fan experience. In this solo reflection, we’re exploring how cancel culture, projection, and entitlement shape the modern fan experience. Is cancel culture really about justice — or just another performance shaped by PR spin, algorithmic outrage, and the need to pick a side? And when fans start filling in the blanks, how much of our disappointment comes from the gap between who we thought an artist was… and who they really are? From redefining what fan entitlement really looks like to unpacking the industry's role in blurring boundaries, we’re diving into the systems and emotions that fuel these dynamics and what to do with all of it. Follow School of Pop: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolofpophq/ Follow Fan Fave Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fanfavemedia/

    1 hr

  3. 07/15/2025

    Fan vs Fan: Why Are Fandoms So Competitive?

    In this episode of School of Pop, we’re diving into the psychology behind competitive fans. From chart battles and fandom feuds to internal hierarchies and stan wars, we're looking to understand: Why do fans get so emotionally invested in wins and losses that don’t directly affect them? Why is sports fandom celebrated while pop fandom is mocked? And what happens when fan spaces become less about community and more about proving you're the best? Dr. Courtney Plante, a social psychologist and professor at Bishop’s University, joins the class to break it all down. With over a decade of research on media and fan culture, including fandoms like My Little Pony, anime, and furries, Dr. Plante helps us explore what makes competition in fandoms so common, and what it says about how we connect today. Follow School of Pop: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolofpophq/ Class Notes: ⁠⁠https://schoolofpop.substack.com⁠⁠ Pop Recap: ⁠⁠https://poprecap.beehiiv.com⁠

    32 min

  4. 07/09/2025

    Parasocial Relationships: When Fandom Becomes Personal

    In this episode of School of Pop, we’re unpacking the complexities of parasocial relationships: what they are, how they form, and when they might cross a line. Dr. Lynn Zubernis, a clinical psychologist and university professor and a passionate fangirl. She has published seven books which celebrate the positive outcomes of being a fan, including two written with the cast of her favorite series, Supernatural. Lynn has a regular column in Psychology Today on the science of fandom, has written for Slate, The Conversation, Frolic and MovieTVTechGeeks, and is a frequent contribution to publications and podcasts. She chairs the Stardom and Fandom area of the Southwest Popular Culture Association and is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Fandom Studies. Family Don't End With Blood and There'll Be Peace When You Are Done,https://www.peacewhenyouaredone.com/ Follow School of Pop: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolofpophq/ Class Notes: ⁠https://schoolofpop.substack.com⁠ Pop Recap: ⁠https://poprecap.beehiiv.com⁠

    56 min

  5. 07/01/2025

    Field Trip: Roots Picnic and Governors Ball

    Join Kat Monroe on School of Pop's very first field trip!!! We're headed to Philadelphia and New York for a special recap on two music festivals - Roots Picnic and Governors Ball.

    55 min

  6. 05/13/2025

    Fan Finances: How to Enjoy What You Love Without Going Broke

    From concert tickets and merch drops, being a fan is expensive! This lesson at School of Pop explores how to enjoy fandom without breaking the bank. Kat is joined by financial educator Alejandra Rojas, who shares advice for budgeting and setting financial boundaries, and Kristal Terrell, a concert pro who drops her best savings tips for going to shows. Follow School of Pop:Class Notes: https://schoolofpop.substack.comPop Recap: https://poprecap.beehiiv.com Follow Alejandra Rojas: Brown Way To Money Podcast: https://brownwaytomoney.com Follow Kristal Terrell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalterrell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalterrell YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kristalterrell Use SeatGeek code TERRELL for $20 off first purchase of $50+ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:50 Why do fans spend? 07:59 Why are things so expensive? 19:35 Budgeting tips from Alejandra Rojas 36:25 Concert saving tips from Kristal Terrell 47:55 Additional saving tips 52:25 Outro

    55 min

  7. 05/06/2025

    Fan Creations: What's legal? What's ethical?

    From fan fiction and fan edits to AI-generated songs, this lesson at School of Pop dives into the world of fan-made creations Kat is joined by intellectual property attorney Kirk Sigmund, who unpacks the legal myths and explains how fan creations can cross into copyright infringement. The episode also explores ethical gray areas with fan-created content. Follow School of Pop:Class Notes: https://schoolofpop.substack.com Pop Recap: https://poprecap.beehiiv.com Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:30 School Announcements (Cowboy Carter tour, Tony Award nominations) 06:10 Fan Creation Overview 12:30 Conversation with Kirk Sigmon 35:30 Conclusion

    43 min

  8. 04/29/2025

    Broadway Stagedooring: Have Things Gone Too Far?

    From heartfelt interactions to pushy crowds, this lesson at School of Pop dives into the tradition of Broadway stagedooring and how fan culture, entitlement, and social media have shaped its evolution. Kat is joined by content creator and podcaster Jillian Hayes to explore the history, ethics, and shifting expectations around meeting performers after the curtain closes. Plus, Kat shares real fan stories and unpacks how broader fan behaviors across TV, music, and sports reflect similar patterns. Follow School of Pop: https://www.instagram.com/schoolofpophq/ Class Notes: schoolofpop.substack.comPop Recap: https://poprecap.beehiiv.com Follow Jillian Hayes: Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:52 School Announcements (The American Music Awards, The Tony Awards, and Lorde's new single) 06:10 Broadway Stagedooring Overview (History + Opinions) 16:02 Conversation with Jillian Hayes 51:50 Conclusion 1:00:45 Extra Credit (What about "stagedooring" after a concert, television taping or sporting event?) 1:03:02 Show-and-Tell: Picks (Role Model, Marina, Lorde) 1:06:00 Outro

    1h 6m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to School of Pop, where curiosity meets pop culture! Join Katrina Monroe, your host and study buddy, as she explores the stories, trends, and cultural shifts that define entertainment. Each "semester" takes a deep dive into a new "course", featuring interviews with experts, industry professionals, and passionate fans. This season, we're exploring the ethics of fan culture, unpacking the behaviors, boundaries, and unspoken rules that shape modern fandoms. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so grab your notebooks! Class is in session.

Information

  • Creator
    Fan Fave Media
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Fan Fave Media
  • Show Website
    School of Pop