No new episode today.We stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement and know that we need to do better in supporting and defending Black lives. We feel we have a responsibility here on our platform to share in our knowledge, learning, and conversation surrounding our white privilege, the Black Lives Matter movement, social and restorative justice, community work, and so much more, and hope that you will join us in fighting against the horrific injustices and centuries of violence against Black bodies. In our show notes today, and every day hereafter, we will be including links to important Black voices, organizations fighting against racism and white supremacy, places to donate, books to read, and any other resources we can gather.+++AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES + BUSINESSESImportant Black Voices to Follow (this list will continue to grow!)Amanda Seales • @amandaseales • Twitter • InstagramArlan Hamilton • @arlanwashere • Twitter • InstagramAshley Ford • @iSmashFizzle • Twitter • Instagram [@smashfizzle]Ava DuVernay • @ava • Twitter • Instagram Bernice King • @berniceking • Twitter • Instagram [berniceaking]Brittani Nichols • @BisHiliarious • Twitter • InstagramEricka Hart • @ihartericka • Twitter • Instagram Ijeoma Oluo • @ijeomaoluo • Twitter • Instagram Ira Madison III • @ira • Twitter • Instagram [@irathethird]Janet Mock • @janetmock • Twitter • Instagram Jenna Wortham • @jennydeluxe • Twitter • Instagram Kim Katrin • @KimKatrinC • Twitter • Instagram Layla F Saad • @laylafsaad • InstagramRachel Cargle • @rachelcargle • Twitter • Instagram [@rachel.cargle]Raquel Willis • @RaquelWillis_ • Twitter • Instagram [@raquel_willis]Roxane Gay • @rgay • Twitter • Instagram [@roxanegay74]Tamika D. Mallory • @tamikadmallory • Twitter • InstagramThe Conscious Kid • @theconsciouskid • InstagramTourmaline • @tourmaliiine • Twitter • Instagram Tracy Clayton • @brokeymcpoverty • Twitter • InstagramWoke Kindergarten • @wokekindergarten • Instagram List of Black-Owned Bookstores https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.phpList of Black-Owned Businesseshttps://twitter.com/jadealycebod/status/1266573372370059266?s=12A Reading List, To BeginJames Baldwin, The Fire Next TimeAngela Davis, Freedom Is A Constant StruggleIbram X. Kendi, Stamped Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be Anti-RacistReni Eddo-Lodge, Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About RaceAudre Lorde, Your Silence Will Not Protect YouWesley Lowery, They Can’t Kill Us AllIjeoma Oluo, So You Want To Talk About RaceLayla F. Saad, Me and White SupremacyArticles/Shorter FormFrom Ibram X. Kendi• https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/too-short-lives-black-men/600628/• https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/ahmaud-arbery/611539/From Ijeoma Oluo•https://medium.com/the-establishment/white-people-i-dont-want-you-to-understand-me-better-i-want-you-to-understand-yourselves-a6fbedd42ddfFrom Adam Serwer• https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/americas-racial-contract-showing/611389/Please email us at bufferingthevampireslayer at gmail dot com with suggested additions, edits, questions, or concerns —  we will be building out a larger, more expansive landing page on our website to continue this resource-share!+++National Resource List | Created by @botanicaldyke"This Google sheet contains many of the community bail funds, memorial funds, political education resources, the names of organizations to put on your radar, and general advice/tips for people attending protests or using social media as an organizing tool."https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fpdRY5fwoyt04Il6y9bToWjv4wUaIoMAQERoE2A140U/edit#gid=0+++We will be starting a reading and discussion group with a focus on better understanding our white privilege and how we can work to dismantle the systemic violence against Black communities in this country and across the world. Details and more info at: bufferingthevampireslayer.com/justkeepfightingWe know that self-care is a critical component of doing this work and that our space here at Buffering the Vampire Slayer is one of comfort, solace, and shared community for many of you. We honor that and commit to continuing to foster this space and our shared love of Buffy and all that the show stands for in its many forms — but want to challenge our white listeners, specifically, to remember that self-care is only a part of our larger work; if you walk with white privilege that means that after you recharge, you go back out to keep up the fight.We love you, we are humbled as always to share this space with you, and to just keep fighting. 

Today we are moving from the shock of losing Joyce and along to the many paths of grief: some leave flowers, others listen to music that reminds them of different days, some hold their old, broody loves close. Then of course there are those who break Wiccan oaths, visit men in a bathrobes with a tail, steal eggs from totally innocent Ghora demons, and attempt to raise the deceased using forbidden magic. Standard Sunnydale stuff. PHEWF. It is Season 5 Episode 17: Forever. We love and miss you, Joyce. LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram Also hey, here's our website with events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST DIGITAL LIVE TAPING!! Saturday, June 20th at 4pm Eastern / 1pm Pacific Information & Ticketing: bufferingthevampireslayer.com/zoom JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast NEW HOODIES, CROP TOPS BACK IN STOCK, HOORAY! Visit our store at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/shop Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

The Body remains one of the most emotionally resonant television episodes of all time, and this week we are continuing our exploration of its many themes. We are first in conversation with Brittany Ashley, host and producer of "Don't Tell the Babysitter Mom's Dead," a grief podcast which explores the experience of losing parents, and specifically mothers. Brittany lost her own mom at age six, and talks about her ongoing journey through that loss, her relationship to this episode of television, and the power she has found in sharing her experiences with others. We also have the absolute honor of sharing our previously unreleased conversation with Kristine Sutherland about her time on the series, and specifically the impact this episode has had on her life, and the lives of so many others! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram Also hey, here's our website with events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com SPECIAL GUESTS Brittany Ashley: brittanyashleyfunny.com/ Kristine Sutherland: twitter.com/theksutherland Check out Brittany's podcast, "Don't Tell the Babysitter Mom's Dead," here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-tell-the-babysitter-moms-dead/id1383346483?mt=2 JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Kristin Russo & Jenny Owen Youngs

Kristin had the chance to speak with the brilliant Jen Malkowski, an assistant professor of Film and Media Studies at Smith College with a specialization in death and dying in media, about Buffy the Vampire Slayer S5E16: The Body.  More on Jen can be found here: smith.edu/academics/faculty/jennifer-malkowski Jen is also the author of Dying in Full Detail which can be accessed for free here LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram Also hey, here's our website with events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Today we journey together into one of the most impactful episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and — in our opinion — one of the most impactful episodes of television across time and genre, S5E16: The Body. We dig deep into the show's four acts, share in conversation with Professor Jen Malkowski from Smith University who studies representations of death and dying in media, hear selected poems as read by author & poet Alyse Knorr, and end with music composed together by Jenny Owen Youngs and Saul Simon MacWilliams. We couldn't be more thankful to share this journey alongside you, beautiful scoobies.  LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram Also hey, here's our website with events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com SPECIAL GUESTS Jen Malkowski; smith.edu/academics/faculty/jennifer-malkowski Jen is an assistant professor of Film and Media Studies at Smith College with a specialization in death and dying in media and the author of Dying in Full Detail which can also be accessed for free here. Alyse Knorr; alysejoy.wixsite.com/alyseknorr Alyse is an assistant professor of English at Regis University and, since 2017, co-editor of Switchback Books. Her most recent book of poems, Mega-City Redux, won the 2016 Green Mountains Review Poetry Prize, selected by Olena Kalytiak Davis.  Saul Simon MacWilliams; saulsimonmacwilliams.com/ Saul has worked closely and extensively with composer and producer Dan Romer on films including his Oscar nominated feature 'Beasts of the Southern Wild', 'Digging for Fire', 'Finders Keepers', 'Mediterrania', 'Beasts of No Nation' and ABC's The Good Doctor. In 2018 MacWilliams scored HBO's Martin Luther King Jr. biopic, 'King In The Wilderness', directed by Peter Kunhardt and Co-Scored Clay Tweel's award winning documentary 'Out of Omaha'. MacWilliams scored the Anton Yelchin biopic, 'Love, Antosha', which premiered at Sundance '19 followed by a theatrical release. JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Here we are at S5E15: I Was Made To Love You, which begs the eternal question: Why are men??????! UGHHHHH so yeah Warren is here and he makes a goddamn robot and then leaves her in his goddamn room to be with his new human girlfriend and Buffy is like GOD DAMN why don't you just hire a helicopter while you're at it, man?!?!?!?!?! Oh, also, Giles tells Spike where to stick it. Tada! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram Also hey, here's our website with events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

We have mail about fish reproduction! We have mail holding Riley accountable! We have mail about mannequin nipples! We have mail including a song that proves, once and for all, that Sunnydale *is* Santa Barbara. Yes, friends, it is a MAILBAG and it is here for YOU — our first mailbag in the main feed in oh-so-long!! Thank you to everyone who sent us these perfect distillations of humanity which, as it would turn out, is still (somehow!!) thriving. AwooooOOoOoOoOoOOOOOO! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram Also hey, here's our website with events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com Many thanks to HEATHER STEVENSON for today's Santa Barbara Song performance, and to DARCEL ELLIOTT, TANIA ISRAEL, and former Santa Barbara Mayor HELENE SCHNEIDER for establishing once and for all that Santa Barbara *is* Sunnydale.  JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Behold the magnificence of her dulcet tones as they land against your unworthy eardrums, mortals - today is the day we give you our conversation with the GLORIOUS Clare Kramer!!! Her most wondrous smoothness talked with Kristin about her inspiration for the Glory audition, the on-set trials and tribulations of being a woman with naturally perfect curly hair, and loads more. As is always the case with our cast interviews, there are **SPOILERS WITHIN** so tread carefully, Scoobies, and enjoy!!! (Or should we say... BENjoy?! Wait, why would we say that? Can't remember... hm. Probably nothing.)LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNETJenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.comKristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.comBuffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagramAlso hey, here's our website with events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.comSPECIAL GUEST CLARE KRAMER!!Follow Clare at @clarekramerofficial on Instagram and @clarekramer on Twitter!JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcastLogo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com)Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

You know that feeling when you used to date an undead guy with a soul but then he left town, and then you dated an alive guy who loved basketballs but then he also left town, so you've just been *trying* to mind your own business while you process your sister being a mystical key and fight off a god who wears silk and heels... but then ANOTHER undead guy, this time one with peroxide hair and a chip in his head, develops a massive crush on you?! Life can sure be the pits sometimes! We are here this week with S5E14: Crush so before you go and put up your protective wards, let's let a little Spike in, shall we? LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram Also hey, here's our website with events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Last week we put out a call on social media to hear what you all were doing to help our communities during this scary and overwhelming time. We were so overwhelmed with your beautiful responses that we decided to read a selection of them here! One of the biggest gifts that Buffy continues to give us is community, and our Buffering community is something that we are thankful for each and every day. We will be back next week with our regularly scheduled programming (with S5E14: Crush ahhhhh!), but for now if you'd like a bit of light in the form of your fellow scoobies being the gosh darn best, here you go. Stay safe and, if all else fails, try speaking Latin. AwooooooOOoOooOoooOOOOO! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram #JUSTKEEPFIGHTING Learn more about our campaign to give back to the community at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/justkeepfighting JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY New bonus material, concerts, book clubs, music in advance, ad-free episodes, & more! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Kristin Russo

Dawn finds out she's the key while eating chocolates with Spike at the Magic Box, Glory gets to the hospital only moments after Ben left which was so weird, and Anya and Xander's role play includes firemen and shepherds... BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS THIS IS A DOOZY OF AN EPISODE, Y'ALL. Much trauma, many things revealed, and also RIP Dreg the Minion. Wow. It's S5E13: Blood Ties. LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram HOT HOT TIPS We are coming to CHICAGO on 7/12! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets & information! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!! https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

The brilliant Ira Madison III returns to guest on his *very favorite episode* of the series and we get down and dirty with the patriarchal bullshit that is (and has always been) THE F*CKING COUNCIL. In the words of Jenny Owen Youngs, "fellas, she is not your commodity"!! Want to know why?! Because power. She has it. You don't. And we know it f*****cking bothers you!!!! MWAHAHAHAHA yes indeed it is S5E12: Checkpoint, and we couldn't think of a better time than right damn now to tell Quentin and his Quentets to suuuuuuuck itttttttt! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram SPECIAL GUEST Ira Madison III: @ira; https://www.iramadison.com/ HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18!! We are coming to CHICAGO on 7/12! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets & information! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL + ON SALE!! https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Trixie Mattel is here CAN YOU EVEN STAND IT?!?! We are going to talk about Olaf the Troll and Anya and Willow fighting and Dr. Seuss and wigs and Xander's poor lil wrist and Tara's eyeshadow and running into Juliet Landau at the gym??!?! Wow. It's S5E11: Triangle!!! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram SPECIAL GUEST Trixie Mattel: @trixiemattel; https://www.trixiemattel.com/ HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18!! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Marc Blucas!!! Measures his hand size!!! Against Jenny's?!!! WHAT IS LIFE EVEN?! In addition to hand size comparison, we dig into topics like: how it felt to be surrounded by tin foil at The Initiative, whether or not Forrest had a crush on Riley, what that goddamn sexy boot removal was all about, and of course the ahem many varied and colorful opinions on our resident butterscotchian boyfriend. In the words of Jenny... WOW. **Spoilers contained within this interview!** LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com/buffering Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram SPECIAL GUESTS MARC *FREAKING* BLUCAS: instagram.com/marcblucas11 HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18!! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Helicopter blades are whirring over the sound of our tears as Buffy comes face to face with her fear of needing some monster in her men, all while our cardboard prince heads deep into the unknown woods. Jenny also examines height differentials and thinks about how that might affect the use of the Buffy box. You're welcome. It's S5E10: Into the Woods. LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18!! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

A queller demon on the ceiling! A queller demon in a tree! A queller demon under your car! A queller demon with many teeth!! While we *hate* this extraterrestrial bug more than most things in this life, we’d still rather look at its horrible mouth than think about Joyce going into surgery. Sigh. It’s S5E9: Listening to Fear, and we must face it even though we don’t wanna. LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18!! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

There's a snake! There's a snake! There's a great big snake!! With... arms?!?! WHATEVER. Glory, who now has a name and some new shoes, puts a cobra in a vase and kablam makes a giant snake who sniffs and sniffs until he finds THE KEY (it's Dawn, but nobody tell Glory)!! Luckily Big-Slayer-Sister Buffy rides on the back of the snake like Khaleesi on her dragons and kills it before it can reveal the truth to Glorificus. Meanwhile, Joyce is diagnosed with a brain tumor, and we do not want to talk about it because it is sad. It is S5E8: Shadow! LOOK OUT FOR THE SNAKE! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18!! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Live from San Francisco's Brava Theater!! Spike has always been bad, baby... but this week we learn that, at first, he was only bad at poetry. We are taking a deep dive into our favorite peroxide-doused vampire and are joined by the effulgent Kate Leth & Joanna Robinson to discuss impeccable cheekbones, bad accents, snapping subway poles in half, and what to do when your finger *oops* gets covered in the blood of a slayer?! WOW. Buckle up and and get ready for a live barrel-jump by Jenny Owen Youngs, because it's S5E7: Fool For Love! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram SPECIAL GUESTS Kate Leth: @kateleth; bisexual.zone Joanna Robinson: @jowrotethis Introducing Cory Branan as the voice of Spike! @corybranan; corybranan.com Thank you to The Brava Theater in San Francisco, to Cathy for our stunning lighting, and to Jaime (fanlink.to/sainthills) for engineering! HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18!! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Kate Leth guests and Tara's family makes a surprise visit to Sunnydale with a whole carload of patriarchal bullsh*t in tow (and also Amy Adams). Never fear! The scoobies do what scoobies do best in response: they punch Tara in the nose and promptly welcome her into their chosen family. Oh, and we spend no less than a half hour on a new, one-time segment with Kate called "Cornography." It's S5E5: Family, and you're all welcome. LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Kate Leth: @kateleth; bisexual.zone Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram   HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18 and FOOL FOR LOVE is happening in San Francisco on 12/6! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast HELP US TRANSCRIBE over at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/transcriptions Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

The Beast has arrived in her glorious red dress, tousling about her golden locks and also some very important monks. Spike is out for a walk bitch and Giles is in his most resplendent wizarding attire, Anya gets a job and Ben still looks great in scrubs. Oh, and although we still don't know what's in that Magic Eye poster... we now know that DAWN IS THE FREAKING KEY. It's S5E5: No Place Like Home! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram HOT HOT TIPS PROM is happening in Brooklyn on 4/18 and FOOL FOR LOVE is happening in San Francisco on 12/6! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! NEW MERCH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/buffering-the-vampire-slayer JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast HELP US TRANSCRIBE over at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/transcriptions Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Riley's heart beats 150 times per minute but he still can't find love and no one cares except for Jenny! JUST KIDDING. Buffy also cares. Joyce faints in the kitchen, Harmony smokes Morley Slims and cannot keep an arrow in a crossbow, and most importantly SPIKE LOVES DAWSON'S CREEK. It's Season 5 Episode 4: Out of My Mind. LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com/buffering Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com, everyoneisgay.com, mykidisgay.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram HOT HOT TIPS NEXT LIVE SHOW is in San Francisco on 12/6! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast HELP US TRANSCRIBE over at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/transcriptions Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren "Karen" Klein & Kristin Russo

Two Xanders, no waiting! Our favorite day-glo demon Toth is in town to kill the Slayer but, whoops!, his neon beam misses Buffy and instead splits Xander into two. While Anya contemplates the many things she can do in this kind of glorious double-boyfriend threesome, the scooby gang work on putting Xander back together again. Oh, and by the way? Spike made a Buffy mannequin! Whatever! It's Season 5 Episode 3: The Replacement!LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNETJenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com/bufferingKristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com, everyoneisgay.com, mykidisgay.comBuffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagramSPECIAL GUESTSFashion Watch Queen Kate Leth: @kateleth; http://kateleth.comHOT HOT TIPSNEXT LIVE SHOW is in San Francisco on 12/6! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets!JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcastHELP US TRANSCRIBE over at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/transcriptionsLogo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com)

Mercedes McNab sat down to talk with Kristin about her role as our favorite Cordette-turned-vampire, Harmony! We talk about her audition, that epic fight scene with Xander, and the many takes it took to say Blondie Bear for the first time — and we also put out a call for anyone who knows who got Harmony's fangs from the set of Buffy?!?! So Mercedes, at last, we meet! **Spoilers contained within this interview!** LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com/buffering Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram SPECIAL GUESTS Mercedes McNab: @mercedesmcnabofficial HOT HOT TIPS NEXT LIVE SHOW is in San Francisco on 12/6! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcastHELP US TRANSCRIBE over at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/transcriptions Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com)

BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT YOU (and because Gaby Dunn could never be contained to just a few lines), we bring you this extra special bonus chat between us, Gaby, and musical artist/general dreamboat Mal Blum. We talk to Gaby about her experience performing the role of Dawn for the song in S5E2: Real Me, and Gaby in turn explains to us the general concept of Harriet the Spy. Mal is on hand to be charming and delightful. You're welcome!! **Spoilers are contained within this interview so if you haven't watched past Season 5 Episode 5, hang tight and listen to this after you get there!** LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com/buffering Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram SPECIAL GUESTS Famous Millenial Gaby Dunn: @gabydunn Singer, Songwriter, Heartthrob Mal Blum: @malblum HOT HOT TIPS NEXT LIVE SHOW is in San Francisco on 12/6! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcastHELP US TRANSCRIBE over at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/transcriptions Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com)

Harmony has brought her minions to Sunnydale to kill Buffy, Joyce is dressing up for someone at the gallery, Tara and Willow have officially U-Hauled (but where is Miss Kitty??), and Buffy still has... a little sister?! We have a segment from our Mercedes McNab interview, a fashion watch from Kate Leth, and we have cast Gaby Goddamn Dunn as the voice of Dawn in this week's song. Hold onto your gold pants, everyone, because its Season 5 Episode 2: Real Me! LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com/buffering Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com, everyoneisgay.com, mykidisgay.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram SPECIAL GUESTS Mercedes McNab: @mercedesmcnabofficial Fashion Watch Queen Kate Leth: @kateleth; http://kateleth.com Famous Millenial Gaby Dunn: @gabydunn HOT HOT TIPS NEXT LIVE SHOW is in San Francisco on 12/6! Visit bufferingthevampireslayer.com and click EVENTS for tickets! JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY: Now with ad-free episodes!! patreon.com/bufferingcast HELP US TRANSCRIBE over at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/transcriptions Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com)