The following is an interview with David Hyde, Kristen Simon, and Christian Gossett – co-hosts of the newly launched Superfan Podcast, where the people who make the comics you love talk about the things that they love . . . that aren’t comics. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Hyde, Simon, and Gossett about the genesis behind the production, the incredible guests lined up for season 1, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the launch of The Superfan Podcast! What can you share with us about the overall premise of the podcast, and how would you describe the genesis behind the show?
David Hyde: The idea for the Superfan Podcast started two years ago at one of Kris Simon’s birthday parties. She was keen to do something new and creative. It actually took the three of us a little while to land on the conceit itself – that we’d talk to the people who make the comics you love about the things that they love – that aren’t comics.
Once we started to book the season one guests, it started to feel like we had something special. Rodney Barnes! Marc Guggenheim! Kelly Sue DeConnick! Matt Kindt! Marjorie Liu! Patrick McDonnell! It’s quite a line–up.
We spent a lot of time thinking about the look and feel of the podcast. We needed a logo that felt timeless and iconic. Friend of the podcast Criswell Lappin knocked it out of the park.
We needed an official theme song and Daniel Shulman assembled a terrific band of LA musicians called Low in the Shag, and they delivered an amazing mid-century inspired theme that channels optimism and a party vibe that expresses so much of what we want the podcast to be for listeners.
I think all these ingredients have come together to create something really special.
Christian Gossett: We did not enter our chosen format lightly. It meant so much to us to find a format that inspired us, which is why we took a very long time and engaged in many meetings. At the same time, once we found it, we recognized it instantly. It felt like we all knew from the very beginning what we wanted to do; it just took us a while to carve away the excess marble and find the sculpture in the stone. It all came down to wanting to go deep into the creative nucleus of our guests. We all love art and have sacrificed normal lives to make it our profession. We knew our guests did as well. We wanted to talk about that.
BD: With the launch of the first episode featuring writer Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), listeners will hear about his fascination with author Stephen King’s work and the impact that his stories have with readers. What goes into your preparation process for preparing to discuss what each guest loves – outside of comics?
Kris Simon: Sometimes, we know a lot about a guest’s passion, which makes preparation easier. Rodney was the perfect first guest because I grew up reading Stephen King, as my mom loved his books, so I could connect with him as a fellow fan while also asking questions I’d always wondered about. Other times, the subject is harder to research—Alan Alda, for example, left me a bit stumped. That’s where our team dynamic really helps: Christian or David can step in with their strengths, while someone else brings the perspective of a curious outsider. The mix keeps the conversations balanced and engaging.
BD: What do you hope that listeners will take away from the podcast in the weeks and months to come?
CG: For me, it’s this: The life of a creative professional is a path of vulnerability. Our guests, in sharing something they deeply love, proved in episode after episode how creating professional fiction is a deeply personal experience. We hoped that our chosen format for the show would be engaging for the guests and revealing for our listeners. It was wonderful to be in the thick of those recordings. I hope we can encourage creatives out there by showing them that their favorite artists and writers are just as scared as they are.
KS: For me, it’s the takeaway that the best stories are created from personal experience. Even if it’s completely unrelated, it still fuels artistic expression and refills the creative well. The more of yourself that you pour into your work, the better that work is, and the more it resonates with your audience.
DH: For me, I hope that listeners are left with an afterglow of optimism and positivity. It’s inspiring to hear someone you admire talk about the things they love that have helped shape their lives. Talking with Rodney Barnes’ inspired me to return to Stephen King’s prose for the first time in years. I had a new lens to appreciate a writer whose work I already admired.
And it would be amazing if someone reads their first John LeCarre novel after listening to Matt Kindt’s interview or if they check out MASH after listening to KellySue’s conversation. I hope the podcast is a path to discovery for listeners.
BD: Are there any upcoming guests that have been stand-outs for you or that you would otherwise like to highlight for our readers?
DH: We’re talking with award-winning creators every Friday and each episode has multiple moments that should make you smile. I know that’s dodging the question, but it’s the truth.
I will tease that one guest decided they had said everything they had to say on their chosen topic and we spent the last 15 minutes of the episode talking about an iconic holiday special. That was unexpected! We do a lot of prep for the interviews, but the best moments are spontaneous.
BD: How often can listeners anticipate new episodes of the show?
KS: We are launching Season 1 with six episodes, released weekly. We have already started recording the second season, but as with any new endeavor, we really wanted to see how the first season would be received and build off feedback and experience. We’ve been developing this for quite a while (years), and are really invested in producing the best possible podcast for our audience, which is why we enlisted the help of professionals who have shown excellence in the areas of theme music, logos, long-running podcasts, and editing, such as Fanbase Press’ own Bryant Dillon!
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about and subscribe to The Superfan Podcast?
CG: Check out our Substack, The Superfan Signal! Show notes are released at the same time as the episodes. The vibes of the podcast are beautifully captured in the writing of Kris Simon, so if you like what you hear, you’ll like what you read as well!
DH: You can listen to the podcast on Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, or YouTube or follow along at the Superfan website.
We’d really love to hear back from people who listen to season one. People always say never read the comments, but trust me when I say we’ll be reading the comments. Leave us a note on Spotify. Leave a comment on the Substack!
