Rough Draft with Keidra and Liz Podcast

Liz Mason / Keidra Chaney
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A semi-processed podcast about how we process culture by two zinesters based in Chicago. With Keidra Chaney & Liz Mason

  1. 1d ago

    Rough Draft #21 CJ Wu and Zinemap

    In this episode, we talk with CJ Wu, who runs zinemap.com, a collaborative map of the global zine scene. CJ tells us about how the site started as a way to answer questions about distributing their own zines but quickly evolved into a community-maintained resource that reveals how zine scenes look in different places. We talk about the unanticipated ways that users engage with the site's resources which leads to innovation, how Zinemap functions as both an archive of past events and evolving living directory, the difficulties in representing specifics about an art form that often defies categorization, and so much more. Somehow the words "Zinester Linked In" got mentioned. Exciting note!: Since we recorded CJ added a way to preserve past event editions as well as a check that flags duplicate listings, and said "Talking about them made me realize I’d been wanting to get them sorted for a while so thank you for the nudge!" Way to go get 'em, CJ! Besides running zinemap.com, CJ Wu makes autobio comics about life's little joys and struggles, translates children's books and teaches languages. We are celebrating our first anniversary and we've reached 1200 downloads! We're gonna do a special anniversary episode soon! Celebrate with us by e-mailing your fave moments of Rough Draft (or quotes, guests, related thoughts): roughdraftchicagopodcast@gmail.com .     Links!   CJ: Zinemap.com https://zinemap.com/ Zinemap profile: https://zinemap.com/profile/cjmakescomics Zine Librarian’s unConference 11/7+11/8 https://www.zinelibraries.info/ SCAMP in Sydney Comics, 11/21+22 https://www.cockatoocomics.com/scamp?currency=USD cjwucomics.com https://cjwucomics.com/ Support Zinemap on kofi etc: https://ko-fi.com/cjwu + https://zinemap.com/support-zinemap on IG: @cjmakescomics   Keidra: Zinemap profile: https://zinemap.com/profile/wild-ramp-publishing Zine Librarian’s unConference 11/8 https://www.zinelibraries.info/ Wild Ramp Review of Books https://wildramppublishing.bigcartel.com/product/wild-ramp-review-of-books Calls for submissions: Act Your Age #4 Toxic Fandom https://tinyurl.com/ActYrAge4 @keidrachaney @wildramppublishing bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social wildramppublishing.com keidradchaney.net   Liz: Zinemap profile: https://zinemap.com/profile/caboosezine KC Zine Con #11 11/7 https://kczinecon.com/kc-zine-con-11/ Punk Scholars Network U.S. interview at Razorcake https://razorcake.org/punk-scholars-network-u-s-interviewed-by-liz-mason/ Well Now We're Both Awake radio show on CHIRP Radio 107.1fm Chicago, Wed 6-9am CT, at the CHIRP Radio app, or at https://chirpradio.org/ @caboosezine @sugarhijinx lizmasonisawesome.com linktr.ee/caboosezine

  2. Aug 26

    Rough Draft #20 Maira McDermott

    This week we talk with East Bay, CA-based artist Maira McDermott, who in 2017 founded both the Long Arm Stapler Podcast and the Bay Area Queer Zine Fest. Maira's work focuses primarily on mental health, gender/queerness, and how those lenses color their world, especially their favorite topics: karaoke and King of the Hill. We talk about zines verses diaries, the push and pull of extroverted-introversion necessary for communal art, hosting podcasts as a way to get advice, time management strategies that involve reliance on cheap light-roast coffee...and how "Video Killed the Radio Star" as a karaoke choice is harder than you think it is. Upcoming events and Links for Maira: Bay Area Queer Zine Fest 9/27 http://bayareaqueerzinefest.com Behind the Zines https://www.ilovezines.com/search?q=Behind+the+Zines&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Want to talk about your zines on Maira's podcast? Fill out the form at: tinyurl.com/letschatlas http://instagram.com/maiiira.png http://longarmstapler.neocities.org http://ko-fi.com/LNGRMSTPLR http://linktr.ee/LNGRMSTPLR Upcoming events and Links for Keidra: Wild Ramp Review of Books https://wildramppublishing.bigcartel.com/product/wild-ramp-review-of-books Calls for submissions: Chicago Civic Mini-Zine Microgrants: https://tinyurl.com/chiciviczine & Act Your Age #4 Toxic Fandom https://tinyurl.com/ActYrAge4 @keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com + keidradchaney.net Upcoming events and Links for Liz: Zine Workshop at the U of Chicago's Library Community Day 8/29 https://lizmasonisawesome.com/upcoming-appearances/2026/8/29/zine-workshop-at-the-university-of-chicago Well Now We're Both Awake with Liz Mason radio show on CHIRP radio 107.1fm Chicago, Wednesdays 6-9am CT, chirpradio.org or the CHIRP Radio app https://chirpradio.org/ @caboosezine + @sugarhijinx + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine   What's on draft? Got somethin' you wanna tell us? E-mail us at roughdraftchicagopodcast@gmail.com

  3. Aug 18

    Rough Draft #19 Idol, Burning x Superfan

    In this episode of Rough Draft, we discuss 2 mirror image books of fiction about the interior life of young women navigating fandom, idol worship and parasocial relationships. Superfan: A Novel by Jenny Tinghui Zhang and Idol, Burning: A Novel by Rin Usami address how performers aren’t the only ones who must navigate balancing outer persona with their authentic self. Idol, Burning focuses on high school student Akari in Japan. She has a huge following on the internet where she blogs about the J-Pop group Maza Maza, but she can't seem to complete school assignments or hold down a job. Superfan focuses on college student Minnie in Austin, Texas. Her obsession with the band HOURglass helps her cope with the trials of relationships. But can she find her way with making genuine connections? Among other things, we talk about how expression of fandom can lead to higher level thinking, characters taking power back that they once gave away, the appearance of zine culture in Superfan, and Keidra's secret parasocial relationship with rabbits on the internet.   Hey, thanks for listening! We’ve now had over 1000 downloads! Thanks for supporting us!   Links! Parts of this conversation were featured in Wild Ramp Review of Books (Summer 2026 issue) https://wildramppublishing.bigcartel.com/product/wild-ramp-review-of-books Superfan: A Novel by Jenny Tinghui Zhang https://bookshop.org/p/books/superfan-a-novel-jenny-tinghui-zhang/ec6c61eba883c0b2?ean=9781250369666&bkshp-astro=t Idol, Burning: A Novel by Rin Usami, Translated by Asa Yoneda https://bookshop.org/p/books/idol-burning-a-novel-rin-usami/9f461ba958c4849c?ean=9780063213296&bkshp-astro=t Keidra's "The Empowered Stan" article on Fainsplaining: https://fansplaining.com/the-empowered-stan/   Links for Keidra: @keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com + keidradchaney.net   Links for Liz: @caboosezine + @sugarhijinx + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine

  4. Aug 3

    Rough Draft #18 15 minutes on International Zine Month

    July was International Zine Month. Halfway through we checked in to see how we were both celebrating it! And also, a meditation on scheduled project-making.   Links mentioned: International Zine Month: stolensharpierevolution.org/international-zine-month Alex Wrekk's stuff: stolensharpierevolution.org + Portland Button Works & Spiral House Shop portlandbuttonworks.com ZineMap zinemap.com Quimby's Bookstore Quimbys.com Zine Pavilion instagram.com/zinepavilion ilovezines.com Chicago Civic Mini-Zine Microgrants: https://tinyurl.com/chiciviczine Wildramp Publishing stuff Keidra was talking about at wildramppublishing.bigcartel.com: Indoor Thoughts + Wild Ramp Review of Books    South Side Zine Fest & Carnival 8/15 Both Keidra and Liz at that!   Links and events for Keidra: @keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com + keidradchaney.net   Links and events for Liz:  @caboosezine + @sugarhijinx + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine

  5. Jun 14

    Rough Draft #17 Sarah Becan

    This week we talk with Chicago-based comics artist, illustrator, and author Sarah Becan. Her new book Let's Make Cocktails is the fourth book in the comic book cookbook Let's Make series that included Let's Make Bread, Let's Make Dumplings and Let's Make Ramen, and it's also her first solo book!     In our "spirited" conversation about Let's Make Cocktails (OK, we couldn't resist), Sarah shares with us wisdom about disentangling the brainworms of imposter syndrome, thoughts about jumping into freelance food illustration, her philosophies on translating recipes into drawings, the things that make a graphic novel recipe book different than other cookbooks and so much more! Here's the brainworms print Sarah told us about, and here it is in all it's amazing glory: & Liz's replacement-ingredient Arnold Palmer during the recording:   Links and events for Sarah: Kenosha Book Fest 6/21 & ALA Artists Alley 6/25-6/29 sarahbecan.com instagram.com/sarahbecan bsky.app/profile/sarahbecan.bsky.social Buttondown newsletter   Links and events for Keidra: ALA Zine Pavilion 6/28 + South Side Zine Fest & Carnival 8/15 @keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com  + keidradchaney.net   Links and events for Liz: ALA Zine Pavilion 6/26-6/227 + MWPZF Pre-Fest Reading at Quimby's Bookstore 7/10 + Midwest Perzine Fest 7/11 + Flowstate Fair 7/24 + Ridman's Coffee with Sugar Hijinx & Zine Club Chicago 7/26 + South Side Zine Fest & Carnival 8/15 @caboosezine + @sugarhijinx + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine   -- Got somethin' you wanna tell us about Rough Draft? What's your favorite cocktail? E-mail us at roughdraftchicagopodcast@gmail.com

  6. Jun 2

    Rough Draft #16 Off the Rails

    Does a project going "off the rails" mean you have an unwieldy ball of cud you keep adding to or does it actually mean an off-road side quest that makes the project get bigger and better than you ever imagined? We know we probably say this about every episode, but this is one of our best. Stuff mentioned: Act Your Age zines Caboose #7 BS 101 Caboose #14 My Canadian Boyfriend soleheiress.bandcamp.com/album/1990s https://soundcloud.com/keidra Reflective and Therapeutic Writing Class   us!: We'll both be at the ALA Zine Pavilion at the end of June. See our social media stuff below for which days we'll be there. Keidra: new zines: So You Want to Start a Nonprofit (or Something Similar)? and Act Your Age: Heated Rivalry Special Issue @keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com  + keidradchaney.net Liz: @caboosezine + @sugarhijinx + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine + at these events: Midwest Perzine Fest 7/11  Flowstate Fair 7/24, Sugar Hijinx & Zine Club Chicago at Ridman's Coffee 7/26, South Side Zine Fest & Carnival 8/15

  7. May 6

    Rough Draft #15 Ben Tanzer: God Damn Gem

    This ep we welcome Ben Tanzer! Writer, a teacher, storyteller, and general force of positivity - we've both known him for years! Host of This Podcast Will Change Your Life and ambassador of well, introducing people to each other, Ben is one of our faves.  We talk about Ben's guidelines for hype and joy, the difference between hustle culture and diligence, and being comfortable with failure, among other things. We did an exchange program! Recently, Ben had us on This Podcast Will Change Your Life #382! We talked creative roadmapping, work legacy and more. It was great, and like this episode of RD, super inspiring. Wanna listen to us separately on his podcast in 2015 before Liz and Keidra knew each other?!  Liz was on #110 + Keidra was on #127.   Where to find Ben!: Ben's most recent book! After Hours: Scorsese, Grief and the Grammar of Cinema (ig publishing) Podcast tanzerben.com LinkedIn TikTok Substack   us!: Keidra's stuff: @keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com  + keidradchaney.net Liz's stuff: @caboosezine + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine

  8. Apr 24

    Rough Draft #14 Zine Scenes

    This time around we talk Zine Scenes! In other words, what excites us with zine distros, fests we like (or wanna go to!) and collectives. Plus, a new endeavor! Links of stuff we talked about: Distros Sugar Hijinx Brown Recluse Zine Distro Wasted Ink Zine Distro Zine Distro ilovezines.com Antiquated Future Portland Button Works & Spiral House Shop Fests The Sick And Disabled Zine & Craft Fair Grand Rapids Zine Fest Milwaukee Zine Fest Black Zine Fair NY Black Zine Fair Detroit Festival of the Photocopier Grid Zine Fest Madison Print & Resist South Side Zine Fest The Zine Pavilion at ALA Collectives/co-ops/communities Razorcake Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative Hallogallo & friends Dreamworldgirl Zine ZapLit Zine Library at Electric Lady Lounge Crucial Comix   us!: Keidra's stuff: @keidrachaney + @wildramppublishing + bsky.app/profile/kdc.bsky.social + bsky.app/profile/wildramppublishing.bsky.social + wildramppublishing.com  + kdcstrategy.com Liz's stuff: @caboosezine + lizmasonisawesome.com + linktr.ee/caboosezine

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A semi-processed podcast about how we process culture by two zinesters based in Chicago. With Keidra Chaney & Liz Mason

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