Frequently Asked Questions
In your episode about (X) how come you didn’t mention (Y)?
Each episode begins with a lot of research, looking at the history of the topic and the ways people have discussed it. I often joke that I don’t want my podcast to feel like “Imaginary Wikipedia” because I don’t want listeners to feel burdened with too much information to retain. That doesn’t mean what gets left on the proverbial cutting room floor is inherently less important. It just didn't fit into the flow of the narrative I was telling
Do you take suggestions for episode ideas?
Sure! I particularly like suggestions about a work that sparks questions or controversy, or a creative person with an interesting backstory. I also have a list of topics I’ve wanted to explore, but I haven’t figured out yet what my specific angle would be. You can use the search bar on the Home or About pages to see if I’ve already covered a topic.
What about requests to interview authors on Imaginary Worlds?
I get lots of requests from publicists and self-published authors on a daily basis. I read them all but don’t have time to respond to most of them. If you are pitching, please remember this is a podcast about sci-fi and fantasy. Also, I usually don’t cover YA books.
Why are some of the ads read by you, and some of the ads sound like they belong on commercial radio?
I prefer all the ads to be read by me, but when I’m not offered a host-read ad, that spot gets filled by an automated ad. I don’t have control over the automated ads, or their sound design. Let me know if you heard an ad that doesn’t fit the tone of my show. I can ask my hosting platform to block a specific ad. But the automated ads are geo-targeted and get swapped out so frequently, it can be like whack-a-mole trying to track them down.
Do you offer an ad-free version of the show?
Yes, you can pay for an ad-free version on Apple Podcasts. There’s also an ad-free version available to the higher tiers of Patreon subscribers. The ad-free version on Patreon also includes our ad-free chat show Between Imaginary Worlds, which comes out between regular episodes of the show.
Is it okay to use an episode of Imaginary Worlds as part of a course curriculum?
Yes! Feel free to include an episode as part of a syllabus or textbook materials, so long as you credit the show.