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Welcome back to season two of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast! In the season premiere episode, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with professor and research assistant at Germany’s University of Kassel, Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier.

Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast

The “Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast” is a new series from the team at the Temple of Geek. Portrait of a Fangirl initially began as a web series and has now expanded into a podcast series as well. You can watch and listen to the series both here and on our YouTube channel.

Hosted by Jenna Wrenn, at the core of the project is the importance of telling the stories of women who have found inspiration, growth, and power through fandom.

You can listen to the Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast directly on this page or stream it on Apple Podcasts / Google Podcast / iHeart Radio / Spotify and wherever you stream your podcast. You can even watch it on our YouTube channel. You can also find us on social media on Instagram and TikTok.

Academia in Fandom with Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier

Being a fangirl looks different to each person. But what does being a fangirl within the boundaries of higher education look like? Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier took the time to talk to us and explain how fandom shaped her life and how she incorporates being a fangirl into higher education.

From a young age, Dr. Mittermeier was enthralled by her frequent family trips to Disney parks. That fascination would eventually translate to her research in graduate school which focused on popular culture.

Dr. Mittermeier obtained her Ph.D. in American Cultural History from the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and went on to publish A Cultural History of Disneyland Theme Parks – Middle-Class Kingdoms. According to Dr. Mittermeier’s university biography:

The book focuses on Disneylands in Anaheim, California (1955), Orlando, Florida (1971), Tokyo (1983), Paris (1992), Hong Kong (2005), and Shanghai (2016), situating them in the historical contexts at the time of their opening. It also sheds light on the influence of class on their (mis)success.

She has co-edited books relating to popular culture, including:

• Fan Phenomena: Disney 
• The Routledge Handbook to Star Trek
• Fighting for the Future: Essays on Star Trek: Discovery
• Time and Temporality in Theme Parks
• Key Concepts in Theme Park Studies
• Here You Leave Today: Time and Temporality in Theme Parks.

As a professor, Dr. Mittermeier teaches courses fit for a fangirl, with topics such as theme parks, film, and television, but with a historian’s twist, particularly, coursework focused on the 20th and 21st centuries, and how history helps us understand it these forms of media.

Her postdoctoral research project deals with “Unmade Queer Television in the US and West Germany.”

You can follow Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier on Instagram and Twitter. She also hosts a podcast called In Front of Ira, where she and her cohost discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether a movie is worth watching.

About our Host

Jenna Wrenn is the host and executive producer of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, as well as an entertainment correspondent for Temple of Geek.  Jenna has conducted interviews with talent such as Max Brooks, Christopher Paolini, Rachel Smythe, and Ashley Eckstein and has written several articles for Temple of Geek covering conventions, anime, pop culture, and much more.

Jenna is a historian by trade, writer by passion, and cat mom by birthright. Jenna loves to travel, forging new connections, and cosplaying. She is excited to bring more fascinating interviews to viewers/listeners of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast.

Check out season one of the Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast

• A Conversation With Author EK Johnston (11/10/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, EK Johnston talked about her career and her work within the Star Wars universe.
• Rachel Smythe Roundtable Interview at New York Comic Con 2023 (10/19/2023) – Rachel Smythe, author of the Lore Olympus series, made her first-ever New York City appearance at New York Comic Con on October 12-15, 2023.
• Inclusivity and the Authentic Self in Content Creating (10/3/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with content creator Alix Catherine about finding one’s space in fandom. 
• Emily Zemler on “The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town” (9/8/2023) – On this episode of the Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast, Author Emily Zemler discusses “The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town”.
• Kayleigh McKee on Creativity, Industry, and Personal Growth (9/1/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with voice actor Kayleigh McKee about the impact of popular culture on the individual. 
• Fandom From Behind the Scenes – POAFG Podcast (8/15/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with the event organizer for Anime Magic, Lexi Elle.
• A Discussion With Graphic Novelist Ghezal Omar (7/20/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with graphic novelist, Ghezal Omar, about her comics and the importance of strong female representation.
• The Art of Fangirling With “Let’s Play” Creator Leeanne Krecic (7/19/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with comic author, Leeanne Krecic, about her journey in creating the hit Webtoon series Let’s Play.
• Interview with Ashley Eckstein – Her Universe Fashion Show (6/28/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano, Star Wars) about the 9th annual Her Universe Fashion Show.
• Creating Representation in Pop Culture – POAFG Podcast (6/21/2023) – In the latest Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, author Kayden Phoenix talks about her journey in creating the first Latina superhero team in comics.
• Elevating Fandom Through Fashion – POAFG Podcast (6/7/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with the creator of Heroicouture, Sandra Botero.
• The Business of Fangirling – POAFG Podcast (5/16/2023) – In this episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with artist Keres about how being a fangirl led to her business.
• Creating a Safe Space in Fandom – POAFG Podcast (4/27/2023) – In this episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with artist Moon about how art can make every fangirl feel seen.
• Integrating Fangirl Culture into Everyday Life – POAFG Podcast (4/1/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with seamstress, cosplayer, and creator Mel about how being a fangirl is an important part of her
• Fangirling to the Best Version of Yourself – POAFG Podcast (3/17/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, Jenna Wrenn spoke with photographer Phryn about how fandom has shaped her life.
• Fandom and Self Discovery – POAFG Podcast (3/3/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with cosplayer Hashirahero_cos about fandom and self-discovery. Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast The “Portrait of
• Anne Yatco on embracing your inner Fangirl – POAFG Podcast (2/13/2023) – In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with Anne Yatco about what being a fangirl means to her.
• The positive impacts of the Cosplay Community – POAFG Podcast (2/2/2023) – Portrait of a Fangirl host Jenna is joined by cosplayer Natalia to discuss the positive impacts that the cosplay community has made on her.
• Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast Ep1: How POAFG came to be (1/28/2023) – Host Jenna Wrenn is joined by Monica Duarte and Tiffany Cagle to discuss how “Portrait of a Fangirl” came to be.