Your muse isn't dead, she's just tired. Let us help.
What makes a good ship war? What turns a “cringe” YA romance into one of the most feral fandoms in history? Spoiler: Twilight wasn’t just a book, it was a spell.
In this episode of The Feral Fandoms Podcast, Onley and Shannon break down:
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Why Twilight’s love triangle (Edward vs Jacob) was engineered obsession
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How ship wars fuel fandom longevity (and what authors can steal from them)
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The ripple effect on fanfiction—leading to Fifty Shades and beyond
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Why Twilight was basically ritual magic disguised as YA romance
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How it set the stage for later phenomena like The Vampire Diaries
From meme culture to unhinged fanfic archives, Twilight didn’t just sparkle, it built a cult fandom. And if you’re an author, there are lessons here about details, obsession, and giving readers no obvious “safe” choice.
Listen in, scream in the comments, and then tell us: Team Edward, Team Jacob…or Team Bella-Needs-Therapy?
Why do some stories explode into global fandoms while others fade away? What makes readers ship characters, obsess over merch, and turn books into cult phenomena?
The Feral Fandoms Podcast dives deep into fandom culture—from Twilight to K-pop, Supernatural to BL dramas—to uncover the psychology, rituals, and chaos that fuel obsession. Hosted by author and cult-brand strategist Onley James and co-host Shannon Ezzell, each episode blends pop culture analysis, fandom breakdowns, and witchy insights with practical takeaways for writers and creators.
If you’re a burned-out author, indie creator, or fandom fan who wants to stop hustling and start building a devoted audience, this podcast is your initiation. Expect ship wars, fandom lore, marketing secrets, and unfiltered chaos, plus the tools to turn your work into a world fans can’t quit.
Because readers buy books. But fandoms buy everything.
ONLEY JAMES is a 7-figure fiction author, cult-brand strategist, and the chaotic mastermind behind The Burned Out Muse. In under five years, she went from zero platform to one of the highest-earning fiction authors on Patreon, with a six-figure merch store and a feral fandom devoted to her queer, cozy-dark romance worlds.
Known for her over-the-top energy, Onley built her career not by following corporate formulas, but by leaning into obsession, ship wars, memes, merch drops, and rituals that turn casual readers into lifelong devotees.
Through The Feral Fandoms Podcast, Onley now channels that same feral fire into teaching authors how to stop hustling, stop burning out, and start building cult followings around their work. She’s here to prove that fandoms aren’t accidents, they’re built through story details, parasocial rituals, and unapologetic creativity.
SHANNON EZZELL is the fandom newbie-turned-cohost of The Feral Fandoms Podcast, bringing sarcasm, curiosity, and chaos to every episode. A Swiftie at heart (and new Katseye stan), she approaches fandom with fresh eyes, asking the questions burned-out authors and confused newcomers secretly want answered.
By day, Shannon is Onley’s shop manager, assistant, and crisis-handler extraordinaire. She’s beloved by readers for her wit and no-nonsense energy, and indispensable at conventions where she doubles as gopher and unofficial bodyguard. With a background in sales and marketing, and as mom to two active kids, Shannon juggles chaos while keeping things hilarious and grounded.
Formerly cohost of We’re Here for the Occult Stuff, she now dives into cult movies, fandom breakdowns, and ship wars. Together, they deliver feral fandom analysis, sarcastic commentary, and hot takes designed to make you scream in the group chat.