Have you ever wondered what inspires the artists and writers behind your favorite comics — not in their work, but in their lives? That’s the spark behind The Superfan Podcast, debuting September 19. Hosted by Christian Gossett (The Red Star), Kristen Simon (Executive Editor at Mad Cave Studios’ Nakama Press), and Superfan Promotions founder David Hyde, the new series is built around one simple but radical idea: invite comics creators to talk about what they love outside of comics.
“The idea for this podcast started at a party,” Hyde explains. “After all, we see the Superfan Podcast as a party, one that everyone’s invited to attend.” The party in question was Simon’s birthday, where Hyde first noticed her natural chemistry with Gossett. “The first question that we had to tackle was who to pair her with on the podcast,” Hyde recalls. “She has a great rapport and chemistry with Christian Gossett, so he was a natural fit to be a co-host, especially since he was at the party.”
Initially, Hyde planned to stay behind the scenes as a producer, but as the season’s guest lineup began to take shape, he jumped in as a co-host. “I didn’t want to miss out on the fun,” he says. And for listeners, he adds, the reward is a deeper appreciation of the creators they already love: “If you’re a comics fan and you’re not sure about checking out the Superfan Podcast, I’d say that your own feelings about your favorite creators just might deepen after hearing these conversations.”
Your Superfan Podcast hosts. Photo by Alan Amato.
Breaking the Mold
With so many comic book podcasts already thriving, the team knew they needed a unique angle. Hyde points to shows like Word Balloon, Off Panel, and the AIPT Comics Podcast as inspirations. But rather than tie every conversation to the promotional cycle, they decided to spotlight the eclectic passions that shape creators in unexpected ways.
“In season one, the conversation topics are diverse and super eclectic: Stephen King, Billy Joel, Alan Alda, John le Carré, gardening, and Frank Zappa,” Hyde notes. Sometimes the subject is predictable, like horror writer Rodney Barnes wanting to talk Stephen King. But even then, surprises abound — like Barnes’s personal connection to The Green Mile.
For Gossett, the show’s mission is about digging deeper: “How is what they love built into what they do? What is it they are trying to bring to their chosen genres? What cultural gap are they (unknowingly) attempting to fill?” Simon adds that sometimes the topics are familiar, and sometimes they’re wildly unexpected, but the enthusiasm is always infectious. “Perhaps listeners’ horizons will expand just a little bit more,” she says.
Behind the Curtain
The podcast’s freewheeling tone is supported by careful prep — but not too much. Simon says she’ll often watch a documentary on the subject but avoids going too deep. “Sometimes being the person who doesn’t know a lot about the subject is beneficial and can prompt deep dives,” she explains.
Hyde adds that they prepare about twenty potential questions in a shared document, with links to relevant stories, but keep things loose enough for organic tangents. “Kelly Sue talking about Alan Alda was not something one could really prepare for!” he laughs. That flexibility has paid off: one guest, he recalls, declared mid-interview that he’d said everything he needed to on his topic, so they spent the next twenty minutes talking about the soundtrack to a holiday special instead.
Portraits of the season 1 guests and co-hosts by Christian Gossett
Co-Host Chemistry
The trio’s mix of backgrounds gives the show its particular energy. “Working together, we wanted to create a podcast that is a celebration of art and life,” Hyde says. As an artist with a theatre background, Gossett brings spontaneity and levity to the conversations, along with portraits he’s drawn of each guest to capture “the vibe not just of the guest but of the interview itself.” Simon, an editor, brings focus and structure, while Hyde’s experience in publicity and marketing helps guide the conversation.
Simon jokes that Gossett may have an unspoken advantage: “Christian also has a great radio voice. I’m hoping that catches on and people start tuning in just to hear him speak.” Gossett, in turn, praises Simon’s emotional openness, recalling how she recited a memorized poem during Marjorie Liu’s episode in a moment of genuine connection.
Capturing Joy
For all three hosts, the biggest reward has been the sense of joy that permeates the recordings. Simon says she felt it most strongly during the Marjorie Liu episode: “It honestly felt like we could have stopped the podcast, hopped on the phone, and then chatted for hours more! The joy is just contagious.”
For Gossett, that spark came when Marc Guggenheim spoke passionately about Billy Joel and the importance of artists reclaiming their rights: “The personal is revealed as universal.” Hyde remembers hearing the first cut of the podcast theme song, a buoyant, mid-century–inspired tune by Daniel Shulman and his band, Low in the Shag. “I thought, we might really have something here.”
Looking Ahead
Season one features a powerhouse lineup — from Rodney Barnes and Kelly Sue DeConnick to Matt Kindt, Marjorie Liu, Marc Guggenheim, and Patrick McDonnell. Each conversation comes paired with themed cocktails, mocktails, and desserts (shared via the Superfan Signal Substack), and portraits of the guests drawn by Gossett.
As for the future? Hyde teases that season two’s guests are already lined up, with “a fun swerve” planned for season three. When asked about their dream guests, Gossett shoots high: “Kevin Feige.” Simon laughs off the idea of picking one, afraid to “jinx it.” And Hyde, reflecting on the season one roster, emphasizes what makes Superfan work: “Our guests have in common that they’re curious and generous people. As we look ahead, we’ll want to keep that same energy in mind for future conversations.”
Then he adds, with a grin: “We have been blessed to have only been turned down for an interview by one person. I won’t say who that was, of course, because they are now my white whale.”
The Superfan Podcast premieres September 19, but its hosts are already living up to their name — showing that being a fan, in any field, is about joy, curiosity, and connection.
Listen at the links below.
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