September 24, 2014: In Which We Got Jossed By Dan & Phil

PHIL LESTER, YOU’RE A GENIUS! This week’s episode is a little different. This week, Emily and V finally release an episode that has been sitting in our vault for over a year — not because it wasn’t good, but because the universe pulled off one of the most chaotic, timeline‑breaking acts of accidental fandom trolling we’ve ever witnessed. We originally recorded this episode as a thoughtful, slightly exasperated look at Dan & Phil shipping culture — how two creators became the center of one of the internet’s most enduring RPF fandoms, how fans blurred the lines between performance and reality, and why it’s important to remember the fiction part of Real Person Fiction. We talked about boundaries. We talked about ethics. We talked about how there was no evidence of a real‑life romantic relationship. And then — about 24 hours later — Dan and Phil announced their relationship. Not only that: they announced they had been together since 2009. So not only did reality Joss our episode… It Jossed fifteen years of fandom history with one press release. We took a breath. We texted each other memes of Ben Affleck smoking on a balcony (you know the one), and then shelved the episode until it fit the calendar. And now — finally — it is time. Join 2025 TWIFH discussing 2014 Dan & Phil, and let 2026 you laugh at our misfortune. --- Sources Fanlore The Secrets of the Slashers Are Dan & Phil In a Relationship? The Truth Promo Sex Ed with DB - When you think back on your high school days, do you feel like you got the sex ed you deserved? Probably not. Well, good news: Sex Ed with DB is a podcast about the sex ed you should have gotten in school. Host DB has a Master of Public Health from Columbia University with expertise in sexuality, sexual, and reproductive health – so rest assured that the podcast is always medically accurate and based in actual science. It’s also warm, funny, and entertaining! Sex Ed with DB just wrapped its fourteenth season, which focused on PLEASURE, ranging from foot fetishes to getting strapped to gooners to polycules to pleasure as RESISTANCE. You can check out a great starter episode ("Late Bloomer Lesbianism with YouTuber Alayna Joy") right here on your podcast app of choice! TGI Femslash - Our favorite fan convention, TGIF/F, is happening soon! The con is back on February 18-21, 2027, in Los Angeles, and registration is open now. The convention is limited to 100 attendees, so make sure you register soon to experience a wonderful, intimate, friendly con full of like-minded femslash lovers as you make friends with fellow queer fans, dance the night away to vids at Club Femslash, participate in the one-of-a-kind Fic Battle, and attend fascinating panels. You can get more information and register for your spot at http://www.tgifemslash.com. We'll be there, and we hope you will, too! Artifacts: Stories from the Emotional History of the Internet - Artifacts is a storytelling podcast about the technology, media, and digital culture we've left behind, and the feelings that remain. Each episode begins with a familiar artifact - a burned CD, a dial-up modem, a movie rental store, a family computer, a paper map - and unfolds into a story about memory, identity, creativity, belonging, curiosity, and the experiences we still carry with us today. This isn't just a show about old technology. It's about the people who grew up alongside it. Hosted by award-winning podcaster Danny Brown, Artifacts blends personal storytelling, cultural history, and thoughtful reflection to explore why some of the most ordinary objects became the milestones of our lives. Because sometimes the objects fade, but the feeling doesn't. This Week In Fandom History is a fandom-centric podcast that tells you… what happened this week in fandom history! Follow This Week in Fandom History on Tumblr at @thisweekinfandomhistory We’re now on Instagram! @thisweekinfandomhistory Sign up for our newsletter on our website, http://www.thisweekinfandomhistory.com! Check out our Fandom Primer playlist via linktr.ee/twifh You can support the show via our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/thisweekinfandomhistory Please remember to rate the show 5 stars on your listening platform of choice! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.