![Fangirling In The Face of Barriers Panel at San Diego Comic Con [SDCC] 2025](https://images.beamly.com/fetch/https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FmfbHRDK6-IA%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg?w=365)
Meet the Panelists:
● Bobbi Miller: A pop culture commentator, culture critic, and host dedicated to creating "edu-taining" pop culture content. She is the host of Culture Kitsch on YouTube and The
Afternoon Special.
● Emily Baeza: Known online as MovieMija, she is a Latina commercial and film producer
and a prolific content creator on TikTok and YouTube.
● Frankey Smith: Known as Fantastic Frankey, she is a host and content creator who has built a significant platform by challenging modern fandom media and those who gatekeep it.
She hosts the official DC Studios Showcase podcast.
● Shiv Reddy: A South Asian content creator who champions representation in media,
highlighting South Asian stories in film and TV and fostering discussions on
representation.
● Victoria Male: An internationally recognized screenwriter and producer who regularly
contributes to entertainment outlets like Comicbook.com and Temple of Geek. She is the creator of the Your Biggest Fangirl Podcast.
● Monica Duarte: Monica is Editor-In-Chief at Temple of Geek, Latinx Correspondent for That Hashtag Show, Creator of Portrait of a Fangirl, Producer of Temple of Geek Podcast and Temple of Geek's Who Review. She works hard to give a voice and platform to marginalized communities in geek spaces.
● Alix Galit (Moderator): A multifaceted talent embedded in podcasting, streaming, and tabletop gaming. She's the host of the Welcome Party Pod podcast and a Twitch streamer at Percept Studio, as well as a sought-after convention panel moderator and voice actor.
Key moments from the discussion:
0:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
0:00:12 - Panelists introduce themselves and their platforms.
0:05:03 - A special shout-out to Jenna Wrenn, host of "Portrait of a Fangirl," who could not be present.
0:05:49 - Discussion on significant barriers faced by content creators.
0:13:31 - Bobbi introduces herself
0:14:31 - Emily discusses self-doubt and time management as personal barriers. She also highlights the supportive community on TikTok compared to other platforms.
0:19:15 - Monica addresses gatekeeping within fandoms, particularly the generational divide and the expectation to "prove" oneself as a true fan.
0:22:15 - Discussion on balancing personal interests with potential negativity and emotional labor.
Victoria discusses managing criticism on platforms like comicbook.com, noting that engagement, even negative, generates revenue.
Bobbi emphasizes authenticity and setting boundaries with negativity, learning to prioritize their thesis over external emotions.
0:31:29 - Coping with racism and misogyny.
Shiv uses the block button and focuses on constructive criticism rather than hate comments. She also notes that some negative comments are simply about her appearance.
Frankey mentions facing negativity regardless of their actions, attributing it to their appearance.
0:35:49 - Advice for new content creators.
Monica advises creators to choose platforms that feel safe and prioritize mental health, as traffic may not be affected by leaving toxic spaces.
Emily suggests anticipating the "worst-case scenario" comments to safeguard against negativity and proactively blocking unwanted interactions to cultivate a positive community. She also highlights the importance of empathy, knowing that some people "just want to be heard."
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