We will not watch this episode or discuss it due to Clause 47 in our contract which specifically states that no episode shall be produced when there are simply "TOO MANY FUCKING FEELINGS."  Just kidding, let's all cry together! Willow will always find Tara! Spike is a monster but oh no he is treated like a man! Glory just wants to go home! Giles puts his GLASSES ON! Buffy knows that the bravest thing we can all do is *sounds of muffled sobs* Yeah, fuck everything, it is the Season 5 finale, "The Gift," and no one is or ever will be ready. 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 schedules, resources, events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com SPECIAL GUESTS Alba Daza: instagram.com/alba.daza +++ Produced by: Alba Daza, Kristin Russo, and Jenny Owen Youngs +++ Anti-Racism Book Spotlight: When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrice Khan-Kullors and Asha Bandele The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls by Mona Eltahawy Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall Learn about our commitments to creating + maintaining an anti-racist base here at Buffering the Vampire Slayer at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/justkeepfighting +++ JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!!  patreon.com/bufferingcast WHY ARE MEN HOODIES, TANKS, & CROP TOPS: HOORAY! bufferingthevampireslayer.com/shop Logo: Kristine Thune Edited by: Kristin Russo

Kristin & Alba interviewed the brilliant Sharon Ferguson — Sineya, the First Slayer in the Buffyverse — and holy shit. We talk about that  bananas roll down the sand dune, the desert mountain lion, Sharon’s audition, her work with Prince (yes PRINCE), her thoughts on a Sineya spin-off series, and literally so much more?! What an honor and a privilege.  Follow Sharon on Instagram at @sharonferguson007 and check her out MCing the incredible “Cherry Boom Boom” dance show — learn more at cherryboomboom.com LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNET Kristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.com Alba Daza: https://www.instagram.com/alba.daza/ Jenny Owen Youngs: @jennyowenyoungs; jennyowenyoungs.com Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagram Also hey, here's our website with schedules, resources, events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com +++ Produced by: Alba Daza & Kristin Russo +++ Learn about our commitments to creating + maintaining an anti-racist base here at Buffering the Vampire Slayer at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/justkeepfighting +++ JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!!  patreon.com/bufferingcast WHY ARE MEN HOODIES, TANKS, & CROP TOPS: HOORAY! bufferingthevampireslayer.com/shop Logo: Kristine Thune Edited by: Kristin Russo

Oh lord, Willow is going into Buffy’s mind, Spike is slapping Xander, Glory has some kind of connection with Ben (we think they work together), Dawn found some chains in an alley, and everyone is sad and we are STRESSED THE FUCK OUT. It’s Season 5 Episode 21: The Weight of the World. Woof.In other news, please get excited for today’s guest segment with Kandis with a K, a practicing witch who is in conversation with Alba on Willow’s witchcraft and other magic in this episode! Learn more about Kandis below!! 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 schedules, resources, events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.comSPECIAL GUESTSKandis with a K: Tune in to “Witch Wednesday” at @kandis.with.a.k and learn more about Kandis’ work at her website: http://kandiswithak.com/Learn more about Kandis’ upcoming film project and support by donating!!Edible GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/edible-short-filmListen to the full conversation between Alba + Kandis here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/40374701+++Produced by: Alba Daza, Kristin Russo, and Jenny Owen YoungsAlba Daza is a 27-year-old emerging Latinx writer/director/podcaster based in Montreal, Canada. Check out her podcast, My Mama So, which centers around appreciating the greatness of motherly figures: https://bit.ly/mymamaso+++Learn about our commitments to creating + maintaining an anti-racist base here at Buffering the Vampire Slayer at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/justkeepfighting+++JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!!Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcastWHY ARE MEN HOODIES, TANKS, & CROP TOPS: HOORAY!bufferingthevampireslayer.com/shopLogo: Kristine ThuneEdited by: Lauren Klein & Kristin Russo

Our first ever digital live taping!! Spike is driving a Winnebago wearing goggles, the Knights are on a crusade to The Battle of Chevron to find and kill the key, Ben has some kind of connection to Glory, and Buffy just can't carry the weight of it all anymore. Today we are talking S5E20: Spiral and it is a J O U R N E Y. LOCATE US 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 schedules, resources, events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com Produced by: Alba Daza, Kristin Russo, and Jenny Owen Youngs Alba Daza is a 27-year-old emerging Latinx writer/director/podcaster based in Montreal, Canada.  Check out her podcast, “My Mama So…” which centers around appreciating the greatness of motherly figures: bit.ly/mymamaso +++ BIPOC SPOTLIGHT Please email us additions and suggestions to bufferingthevampireslayer@gmail.com & view our expanding anti-racism library of people, organizations, and resources at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/antiracist-library YABA BLAY + TARANA BURKE in conversation with GLENNON DOYLE + ABBY WAMBACH a discussion on "passing the mic" and conversation on accountability, collaboration, Black joy, and much more. >> link << SONYA RENEE TAYLOR "Black people don't owe you absolution. The difference between absolution and an apology, and how NOT to allow whiteness to bully and then center itself as the victim." >> link << +++ JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast WHY ARE MEN HOODIES, TANKS, & CROP TOPS: HOORAY! Visit our store at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/shop Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren Klein & Kristin Russo

Oh wowowowow this week Willow is going to finally pay her debt of PAIN to Glory while we all look on in wonder, Buffy is going to get so so so mad about triangles, Giles is going to be hotter than anyone has ever been whilst in proximity to a minion, Anya is going to take a horrible xenophobic turn (yikes) before veering briefly into lesbianville (nice), and we are going to cry *again* because Willow and Tara and Willow and Tara and Willow and Tara. Oh. Also, Glory knows who the fucking key is OH NO OH NO! It's Season 5 Episode 19: Tough Love. LOCATE US 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 schedules, resources, events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com Produced by: Alba Daza, Kristin Russo, and Jenny Owen Youngs Alba Daza is a 27-year-old emerging Latinx writer/director/podcaster based in Montreal, Canada.  Check out her podcast, “My Mama So…” which centers around appreciating the greatness of motherly figures: bit.ly/mymamaso +++ BIPOC VOICES TO FOLLOW Please email us additions and suggestions to bufferingthevampireslayer@gmail.com & view our expanding anti-racism library of people, organizations, and resources at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/antiracist-library METIS IN SPACE Métis In Space hilariously deconstructs the science fiction genre through a decolonial lens. Join hosts Molly Swain & Chelsea Vowel as they drink a bottle of (red) wine, and from a tipsy, decolonial perspective, review a sci-fi movie or television episode featuring Indigenous Peoples, tropes & themes. Their inaugural episode was on Buffy's "Pangs," and they are now 5 seasons in! metisinspace.com/ INDIAN & COWBOY PODCASTS The world’s premiere member supported Indigenous podcast network. indianandcowboy.com +++ JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast WHY ARE MEN HOODIES, TANKS, & CROP TOPS: HOORAY! Visit our store at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/shop Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren Klein & Kristin Russo

Special guest, avowed Spike fan, and all-around-badass Alanna Bennett joins us today as we ride a f*cking EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER together! We've got a Buffy Bot, we've got a pissed off hellgod with great hair and a penchant for torture, we've got Detective Minions, and hooooooboy we have got an... actual... kiss... between... Buffy... and... Spike?!?!??!? Also, Alanna coins the term "anti-bangs" for Angel. So, all in all, a win-win. It is time for S5E18: Intervention. LOCATE US UPON THE INTERNET Special Guest, Alanna Bennett: @alannabennett; alannabennett.com/ 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 schedules, resources, events and such: bufferingthevampireslayer.com Produced by: Alba Daza, Kristin Russo, and Jenny Owen Youngs Alba Daza is a 27-year-old emerging Latinx writer/director/podcaster based in Montreal, Canada.  Check out her podcast, “My Mama So…” which centers around appreciating the greatness of motherly figures: bit.ly/mymamaso +++ BIPOC VOICES TO FOLLOW Please email us additions and suggestions to bufferingthevampireslayer@gmail.com & view our expanding anti-racism library of people, organizations, and resources at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/antiracist-library Alicia Garza • Co-Founder of BLM •Twitter • Instagram Amanda Seales • Twitter • Instagram Ava DuVernay •Twitter • Instagram  Bernice King • Twitter • Instagram Bob the Drag Queen •Twitter • Instagram Brittani Nichols • Twitter • Instagram Ericka Hart • Twitter • Instagram  Gene Demby •Twitter • Instagram Ijeoma Oluo • Twitter • Instagram Kendriana Washington •Instagram Kim Katrin • Twitter • Instagram  Layla F Saad • Instagram Opal Tometi • Co-Founder of BLM •Twitter • Instagram Patrice Cullors • Co-Founder of BLM • Twitter • Instagram Miss Peppermint • Actor singer horror movie Buff •Instagram Rachel Cargle • Twitter • Instagram Raquel Willis • Twitter • Instagram Shishi Rose • Writer, Birth Worker, Creator •Instagram Tamika D. Mallory • Twitter • Instagram Tourmaline • Twitter • Instagram  +++ JOIN OUR PATREON FAMILY!! Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!! patreon.com/bufferingcast WHY ARE MEN HOODIES, TANKS, & CROP TOPS: HOORAY! Visit our store at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/shop Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Lauren Klein & Kristin Russo

The absolutely brilliant LaToya Ferguson, Alanna Bennett, and Ira Madison III host today's conversation on race within the Buffy and Angelverse! This is the first in a larger series that will be produced and hosted by BIPOC Buffy fans here on the Buffering the Vampire Slayer and WOW — what a way to begin. These three TV geniuses bring their encyclopedic knowledge of both series to the table with questions like: What would have happened if Leonard Roberts played Riley? Why in the hell was Drusilla able to kill Kendra — an immensely powerful Slayer — with one filed f*cking fingernail? How would it have impacted the arc of the show if Bianca Lawson had been cast as Cordelia? This. Episode. Fucking. Rules. Today’s conversation was curated, produced, and edited by LaToya Ferguson. You can follow LaToya at @lafergs on Twitter and you should also *immediately* tune into her podcast about The Vampire Diaries (YEAH THAT’S RIGHT) called The AMPire Diaries over at theampirediariespod.com Alanna Bennett is a culture writer and screenwriter who you can follow over at @AlannaBennett on Twitter and Instagram! Currently Alanna is writing for The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico Ira Madison III would love if you’d just please leave him alone (he’s busy!), but if you INSIST he can be found at @ira on Twitter, @irathethird on Instagram; he also was a writer on Netflix’s Daybreak and is currently writing on Netflix’s forthcoming Q-Force -- Massive thanks to Mackenzie MacDade and Alba Daza who are working with us as consultants and facilitators! Here’s more on their work: Mackenzie MacDadeis a 31 year old, queer woman of color, teaching artist, feminist, part time poet and general rabble rouser. She got her start in feminism from a book of feminist nursery rhymes, and her start in pop culture analysis from 9 years of homeschooling (translation: 9 years of TV and movie watching). A firm believer in queering the collective consciousness, she strives to inspire people to redesign their idea of normal and step out their comfort zone. She takes inspiration from Gertrude Stein, Buffy, Angela Davis, Faith and bell hooks. Someone once described her as “The love child of Angela Davis and Ru-Paul” and she thinks that just about sums it up. Alba Daza is a 27-year-old emerging Latinx writer/director/podcaster based in Montreal, Canada.  At 13 years old she discovered (through Buffy) that she wanted to be a screenwriter and hasn’t let go of that dream since. Her stories focus on telling and celebrating the stories of marginalized voices, giving them space to breathe and thrive. Through her work, she plans to decolonize pop culture and Slay white supremacy, just like Buffy taught her. Check out her podcast, “My Mama So…” which centers around appreciating the greatness of motherly figures: bit.ly/mymamaso -- You can learn more about this new series and our other initiatives here at Buffering the Vampire Slayer at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/justkeepfighting Logo by Kristine Thune

We’re back today to share new commitments here at Buffering the Vampire Slayer, all of which are focused on bringing an anti-racist base to the podcast & bringing the work of becoming & staying anti-racist into our larger community. You can also read more about our ongoing commitments at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/justkeepfighting‬ & snag a transcription of this episode at https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/transcriptions. We will be back in your ears this Wednesday with a *fucking brilliant* episode featuring LaToya Ferguson, Alanna Bennett, and Ira Madison III in conversation on race in the Buffy & Angelverse — and next week we will be talking about S5E18: Intervention! SIGNAL BOOSTING! Each episode we will be linking in our show notes to BIPOC creators, organizations, and more. Please email us at bufferingthevampireslayer at gmail dot com with your suggestions and we will be expanding out our library here: bufferingthevampireslayer.com/antiracist-library This week please check out: ReVisiting Sunnydale: A Buffy Podcast (!!!!!) “Two grown blerds with plenty of thoughts and opinions on each episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Podcast Link: https://revisitingsunnydale.libsyn.com/ Follow ReVisiting Sunnydale on Twitter And please follow: Patrice Cullors • Co-Founder of BLM • Twitter • Instagram Gene Demby • Host of NPR’s Code Switch • Twitter • Instagram Alicia Garza • Co-Founder of BLM • Twitter • Instagram Shishi Rose • Writer, Birth Worker, Creator • Instagram Opal Tometi • Co-Founder of BLM • Twitter • Instagram Kendriana Washington • Afrofuturist writer, artist, and organizer • Instagram Miss Peppermint • Actor singer horror movie Buff • Instagram Bob the Drag Queen • Twitter • Instagram -- Logo: Kristine Thune (kristinethune.com) Edited by: Kristin Russo

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