Tales of the Force

Hello there! Welcome the 24th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Kent.Kent is 29 years old. He is a lifelong Star Wars fan, avid con goer,  traveler, collector, husband, and cat Dad to Kenobi. Don’t forget this is Kent’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Trigger Warning: This episode does include some mature language and mentions of suicide, which can be triggering for some listeners.If you or someone you know is suicidal, please, contact your physician, go to your local ER, or call the suicide prevention hotline in your country. For the United States, the numbers are as follows:The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), or message the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Both programs provide free, confidential support 24/7.Mental Health Resources: 988lifeline.orgafsp.orgwww.nami.orgFollow Kent:https://www.instagram.com/sir_lanz_alot_Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome the 23rd episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Mark.Mark aka The Canerdian Jedi is a lifelong Star Wars fan from Nova Scotia, Canada. He runs the Holocron Chronicles podcast as part of the Secret Friends Unite Podcast Network, and enjoys sharing his love of Star Wars through his @canerdian_jedi accounts, including his newfound love of cosplaying original characters like The Pirate Jedi, Bananakin Skywalker, The Jurassic Jedi, and more. He hopes his positivity for all things Star Wars shines through in everything he does, and reminds people that Star Wars is for everyone.Don’t forget this is Mark’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Follow Mark:https://www.instagram.com/canerdian_jediwww.threads.net/@canerdian_jediwww.tiktok.com/@canerdian_jediwww.youtube.com/@SecretFriendsUnitewww.secretfriendsunite.comHosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome the 22th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Jon Flake.Jon has been a Star Wars fan and an athlete as long as he can remember. He had the OT on VHS, he was in 8th grade when Episode 1 came out, and grew up a prequels kid. Like a lot of fans his age it wasn’t as much of a focus in college, mostly because there wasn’t anything new coming out. As a college athlete he didn’t have as much time for hobbies and other things. His love of Star Wars was rekindled once Disney bought it, and announced there would be more movies. He was quickly wrapped back up in the stories from a galaxy far, far away. After visiting Galaxys Edge he was introduced to the world of props and costumes, which became a huge passion for him. Professionally he used to work training professional athletes, now he runs his own athlete training business specializing in training/mentoring youth athletes. The company is a representation of him and who he is, so it’s inspired by the themes and designs of Star Wars.Don’t forget this is Jon’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Follow Jon:www.instagram.com/jpfxartwww.threads.net/@jpfxartwww.instagram.com/forceperformwww.threads.net/@forceperformwww.force-performance.comHosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome the 21th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Jeff.Jeffrey Cagle is a 39-year-old husband and father of two boys who lives in Northern VA just outside of DC. He is an indoor and a beach volleyball coach. He also has an academic background in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Theological Studies. Jeff shares his love of Star Wars on his blog, The Imperial Talker, and also on Threads and Instagram where he is always up for meeting new fans and hearing about their journey with Star Wars.Don’t forget this is Jeff’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Follow Jeff:www.instagram.com/theimperialtalkerwww.threads.net/@theimperialtalkerwww.imperialtalker.comHosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome the 20th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Ron.Ron is a 20+ year Star Wars fan and co-host of The Pod Awakens. As a former pro wrestling and football commentator, he now uses his love of being behind a microphone to spread his passion for a galaxy far, far away to fans old and new. He hopes to help create a fair and accepting place for Star Wars fans from all walks of life to come together.Don’t forget this is Ron’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Follow Ron:www.x.com/jedigenasiwww.tiktok.com/@jedigenasiwww.instagram.com/jedigenasiFollow The Pod Awakens:www.youtube.com/@podawakenswww.instagram.com/podawakenswww.x.com/podawakenswww.tiktok.com/@podawakenswww.threads.net/@podawakensJessica’s Shirt is by: www.instagram.com/crafting_on_ilumJessica’s “Family Stone” is by: www.instagram.com/afanof____Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome the 19th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is David.A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a boy who disdained space and sci-fi movies. He didn't care for the 1980s action figures or starships. What he did love was...  Caravan of Courage, recorded on a nondescript VHS tape amongst other shows and movies. This boy is our guest today, David. After a journey through various fandoms, David finally fell in love with the Star Wars trilogy, and fell harder for the books. During high school, he found others who were equally enthralled and his connections to the force has continued to the present day through the movies, shows, music, roleplaying games, video games, comics, and all that encompasses the fandom that is Star Wars.Don’t forget this is David’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Follow David and Tales of the Fandom Podcast:www.talesfromthefandom.comwww.facebook.com/talesfromthefandomwww.instagram.com/talesfromthefandomwww.threads.net/@talesfromthefandomwww.x.com/talesftfandomtalesftfandom.bsky.socialHonorable mentions:Nikki: www.instagram.com/mandalorian.princessVictor Dandridge: www.instagram.com/hardest_working_man_in_comicsHosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the 18th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Aaron.Aaron invests his time and energy speaking at the intersection of faith and fandom. Particularly, he brings a unique perspective in discussing culturally accepted concepts of weakness and happiness. Aaron does this by melding heroic journey stories - such as Star Wars and Marvel films - with his own story. He applies this understanding to share wisdom affirmed through four decades of overcoming medical and mobility challenges as he’s chased dreams across the globe. He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as a newborn. He overcame those early years of low expectations and a presupposed poor quality of life to graduate from college and spend his 20's working on Capitol Hill.Presently he lives and works in Washington, DC. Aaron has shared his story with outlets such as NBC Nightly News, Roll Call, and various radio programs. His writing has been featured by a variety of publications and presented at conferences and conventions. He is the creator and moderator of the Council of Nerds film discussion series at the Miracle Theatre in Washington, DC and served as a co-host for the Two Geek Soup podcast. Don’t forget this is Aaron’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Follow Aaron:www.aaronrwelty.comwww.instagram.com/aaronweltyTwitter/X @arwelty, and onFacebook.Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome the 17th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Moshé.He is a lightsaber expert and is known on social media as THEDRIPJEDI. He likesto describe himself as one part Sneakerhead, and one part Star Wars fan! Star Wars has given him hope and courage through hard times, even the loss of his father. He encourages people to “love what you love". You are a Star Wars fan to him regardless of what brought you into it, when you started liking it, or what you love about it. Shé will also be going to FanExpo Chicago this week and can be found at the Legion Sabers booth with his brother!Don’t forget this is Moshé’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Follow Moshé:www.instagram.com/thedripjediwww.tiktok.com/@thedripjediwww.x.com/thedripjediwww.youtube.com/@thedripjediHosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome the 16th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Eric Clayton.Eric, a life long Star Wars fan, is an award-winning writer, speaker, storyteller, and sought-after retreat leader. He is the deputy director of communications for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. He has a BA in creative writing and international studies from Fairfield University and an MA in international media from American University. Eric writes Story Scraps on Substack. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife, two daughters, and family cat. Clayton is the author of Cannonball Moments: Telling Your Story, Deepening Your Faith and My Life with the Jedi: The Spirituality of Star Wars.Don’t forget this is Eric’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful. Spoiler Warning:While talking with Eric about how Star Wars relates to his life and spiritual journey, we touch on all of Star Wars’ current canon. Because of this there are a lot of Star Wars spoilers in this episode. Proceed with caution especially if you do not want to be spoiled on any Star Wars TV shows, animated or live action.Follow Eric:www.instagram.com/eclaytopiawww.threads.net/@eclaytopiafacebook.com/eclaytopiaEric A. Clayton (@eclaytopia) on Xericclaytonwrites.comHosted and Produced by: Jessica McNairTheme Music by: Michael HooverDon't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel:www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforceGeneral Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome the 15th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Kevin. Kevin is 45 years old and has been a life-long Star Wars fan. From the movies, to the toys, to the books, to the games… he has enjoyed the world Lucasfilm has built. His fandom reached new heights 7 years ago when he was encouraged to join a Star Wars costume club. Being able to share his fandom with the public and with his child has been a gift all its own. Don’t forget this is Kevin’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  Follow Kevin: www.instagram.com/mranansiwww.threads.net/@mranansi Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠ www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠ www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce General Disclaimer:  This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the 14th Episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Andrew Hess.  Andrew has been a Star Wars fan since 1983. In 1993 he installed a sound card on his parent’s computer just so he could play X-Wing with sound. He’s never been to Tattooine, thinks Hoth would be too cold, and Corsucant too crowded, but wouldn’t mind visiting Scarif, or maybe not…Depending on the timeline. He doesn’t have a blog or a podcast for me to recommend to you, but we both hope that you really enjoy his story and us just having fun talking about Star Wars. Don’t forget this is Andrew’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  Follow Andrew: ⁠www.instagram.com/hesster66 www.threads.net/@hesster66 Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce⁠ General Disclaimer:  This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the 13th episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is a husband and wife duo, Mike and Kat!  Mike is a PhD-trained astronomer-turned-developer that stumbled into Star Wars fandom as a kid when he ran out of space science at the library. His biggest jump into fandom was in 2005 when he joined LiningUp.Net to camp out for Revenge of the Sith outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for a few weeks. That would propel him toward attending many San Diego Comic-Cons and Star Wars Celebrations over the years.  It was at those cons that helped him meet and get to know his now wife, Kat. He can be found on The Old Switch-a-roo Podcast with his lifelong friend Jaymo! Their podcast explores all the retro games on the Nintendo Switch Online service. Kat is an Aussie expat who has loved Star Wars since she bought her Mom the VHS set for Christmas in the 90’s.  She’s a cosplayer, sewist, and avid cross stitcher! She’s also describes herself as Disney geek, who is most at home talking nerdy things. Her involvement in the Star Wars Fandom and costuming is what lead her to attend US based Star Wars Celebrations. Through these events she ended up meeting Mike, as well as, some of her closest friends. She even moved to the US to get married and they live together here! You can find her on her YouTube channel and instagram account, @katcansew, where she posts her love for Disney and her cross-stitching artistry.  Don’t forget this is Mike and Kat’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on their story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are their own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  Follow Mike and The Old Switch-a-roo Podcast: www.theoldswitcharoo.com www.instagram.com/oldswitcharoo www.youtube.com/@theoldswitcharoo www.facebook.com/oldswitcharoo www.x.com/oldswitch_a_roo www.tiktok.com/@theoldswitcharoo www.threads.net/@oldswitcharoo Follow Kat: wwww.youtube.com/@katcansew www.instagram.com/katcansew  Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠ www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠ www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce General Disclaimer:  This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the 12th Episode of Tales of the Force. May is mental health awareness month. This month I have been specifically highlighting story’s of fans that have also wanted to share about their mental health journey. This is the last episode in this series this month. Because of this added personal component, these story’s go over the normal episode time.  Joining me today is Brandon. Brandon is a teacher, podcaster, and mental health advocate who uses Star Wars as a platform to connect with and inspire others to find meaning through stories. Through his classroom and The Clashing Sabers Podcast Network, Brandon explores the themes and ideas of the saga through a variety of lenses and perspectives. In doing so, he hopes to show people that Star Wars can be for them and what it has been for him: hope, truth, and a light in the darkness. Don’t forget this is Brandon’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  This episode also comes with a content warning. This is simply to empower you, our listeners, with the knowledge you need to make healthy decisions about how and if you should consume this YouTube Channel or Podcast content. In this story there are also references to depression, eating disorders, s—cide, self-h-rm, and loss. Not all episodes are for everyone, if you feel like this episode will be upsetting for you or will offend you in any way please do not continue. As always, please take care of yourself and reach out to someone you trust if needed.  The host and guests do not provide any medical or professional advice on the YouTube Channel and Podcast. Anything said should NOT be taken as a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Mental Health Resources: www.autismspeaks.org adaa.org www.nimh.nih.gov www.eatingdisorderhope.com twloha.com Follow Brandon and Clashing Sabers Podcast Network below: www.tiktok.com/@clashingsabers twitter.com/clashingsabers www.instagram.com/clashingsabers https://m.facebook.com/groups/230660617666426/?ref=share clashingsabers.net Non-profit: www.patreon.com/clashingsabers Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce General Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the 11th Episode of Tales of the Force. May is mental health awareness month. This month I am specifically highlighting stories of fans that also want to share about their mental health journey. Because of this added personal component, these stories go over the normal episode time.  Joining me today is Rory! Rory is 35 years old and has loved Star Wars since he was 6, when the Original Trilogy VHS box set was released. He loves all the movies and shows, and his favorite character is Obi-Wan. He is also a screenwriter and film director, and George Lucas is one of his biggest inspirations. He is a mental health advocate and is very open about his own struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Don’t forget this is Rory’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  In this episode we do talk about mental health and the challenges it has for both of is. With discussing our personal experiences we the host and guest are not providing any medical or professional advice on the YouTube Channel and Podcast. Anything said should NOT be taken as a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Follow Rory: www.instagram.com/mandaroryan89 www.threads.net/@mandaroryan89 www.tiktok.com/@mandaroryan89 Additional Resources on OCD and GAD: https://iocdf.org/ https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce General Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the 10th Episode of Tales of the Force. May is mental health awareness month. This month I will be specifically highlighting stories of fans that also want to share about their mental health journey. Because of this added personal component, these stories will go over the normal episode time.  Joining me today is Adam! Adam is 46 years old and a lifelong resident of Green Bay, WI.  After many years in IT, he has returned to college full time to study web programming. He has gone from being highly suspicious of counseling to being an outspoken advocate for pursuing professional help if needed. Therapy has helped him let go of many of the grudges he held on to and anger that he had about things in his youth. He never claims to be perfect, but therapy is helping guide him firmly back to the light side. He’s been a Star Wars fan for as long as he can remember - he was 5 when he saw "The Empire Strikes Back" in the theater.  He is also a fan of theme parks and just recently retuned from a trip to Walt Disney World.  Don’t forget this is Adam’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  This episode comes with a content warning. This is simply to empower you, our listeners, with the knowledge you need to make healthy decisions about how or if you should consume this YouTube Channel or Podcast content. In this story there is brief mature language and also references to depression, anxiety, and the challenges that come with battling those. Not all episodes are for everyone, so if you feel like this episode will be upsetting for you or will offend you in any way please do not continue. As always, please take care of yourself and reach out to someone you trust if needed.  The host and guests do not provide any medical or professional advice on the YouTube Channel and Podcast. Anything said should NOT be taken as a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Follow Adam: www.instagram.com/wisco.cinephile www.threads.net/@wisco.cinephile More info on anxiety and depression: https://adaa.org/ Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce General Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there, and welcome to the Ninth Episode of Tales of the Force! May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month, I will be specifically highlighting stories of fans that are also wanting to share about their mental health journey. Because of this added personal component, these stories will go over the normal episode time.  Joining me today is Layne. Layne was born in 2000 and has been a Star Wars fan since forever.  He started toy photography when The Force Awakens released in theaters, and then started posting his photos in 2018 on Instagram as @galacticphotography66. He was diagnosed as autistic when he was young. Star Wars, its characters, and its toys have been an integral part of his journey and have helped with understanding the world we live in.  Don’t forget this is Layne’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story.  Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  The host and guests do not provide any medical or professional advice on the YouTube Channel and Podcast. Anything said should NOT be taken as a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Follow Layne below: https://galacticphoto66.wixsite.com/galacticphoto66/ https://www.instagram.com/galacticphotography66 https://www.threads.net/@galacticphotography66 https://www.tiktok.com/@galacticphotography66 Additional episode resources: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-masking-in-mental-health-6944532 https://www.autismspeaks.org/ https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-ad  Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce⁠ General Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the Eighth Episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is John! John was born in Columbus, Ohio, but spent his formative years as a missionary. Kid in the European country of Estonia. The father of five, one of his proudest parenting achievements is keeping his oldest son from finding out that Darth Vader is Luke’s father, before he saw the empire strikes back. John is the host of Two Geek Soup, a podcast that looks at geek culture from a Christian perspective.  Don’t forget this is John’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, or opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  General reminder. Star Wars is a story that deals with hopeful themes, but also touches on things like war, death, loss, slavery and oppression, trauma, mental health issues, personal injury, abandonment, pregnancy and child birth. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. As always, please take care of yourself and reach out to someone you trust if needed.  In this episode, we also do cover John’s spirituality and his journey through his faith as it relates to Star Wars. Follow John and Two Geek Soup: www.instagram.com/twogeeksoup www.threads.net/@twogeeksoup www.facebook.com/twogeeksoup Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce⁠ General Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the seventh episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Denise! Denise, also know as Mandalorian Momma, is a Mandalorian at heart, Mom, and Star Wars Fanatic. She has been cosplaying with the Star Wars groups since 2017 and in 2022 launched "Sisterhood of the Travelin' Bantha Podcast" with one of her best friends, Rexy, to bring more women representation to Star Wars. Her favorite character is Qi’ra and she is obsessed with Prequel Era of Star Wars.   Don’t forget this is Denise personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on their story. Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are their own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  General reminder. Star Wars is a story that deals with hopeful themes, but also touches on things like war, death, loss, slavery and oppression, trauma, mental health issues, personal injury, abandonment, pregnancy and child birth. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. As always, please take care of yourself and reach out to someone you trust if needed.  Follow Denise: www.instagram.com/mandalorian.momma www.tiktok.com/@mandalorian.momma www.threads.net/@mandalorian.momma Follow Sisterhood of the Travelin' Bantha Podcast: www.instagram.com/travelinbantha⁠ ⁠www.tiktok.com/@travelinbantha⁠ ⁠www.threads.net/@travelinbantha⁠ www.youtube.com/@TravelinBantha Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce⁠ General Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the sixth episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Marc! He is a producer, musician, and host of the Boombox Music Talk podcast who believes Obi Wan’s Hut of Exposition in 1977 changed the world. From an early age, Star Wars taught Marc that music and sound can truly create our realities and help shape our perspectives. They hold power over the viewer in a unique way and Marc wanted to pursue that same point of view when writing music. Experiment with the unknown while conveying the familiar and providing hope. And like the Force binding the galaxy together, Star Wars helped him realize we are all one, that strength comes from peace and purpose, and above all that art is a subjective expression, not a competition. As he likes to say, “enjoy the journey & stay zen”. Don’t forget this is Marc's personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on his story. Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are his own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  General reminder. Star Wars is a story that deals with hopeful themes, but also touches on things like war, death, loss, slavery and oppression, trauma, mental health issues, personal injury, abandonment, pregnancy and child birth. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. As always, please take care of yourself and reach out to someone you trust if needed.  In this episode, we also touch on Marc's personal journey in spirituality and the loss of loved ones in his life. If those things might be triggering for you, it might be best to skip this episode. Follow Marc and Boombox Music Talk Podcast: www.instagram.com/boomboxmusictalk ⁠www.threads.net/@boomboxmusictalk www.youtube.com/@boomboxmusictalk www.tiktok.com/@boomboxmusictalk www.facebook.com/boomboxmusictalk www.twitter.com/boomboxtalk Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce⁠ General Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

Hello there! Welcome to the fith episode of Tales of the Force. Joining me today is Gabi Fleury! Gabi is an author, game designer, and cosplayer passionate about the diverse storytelling potential of Star Wars. A new Star Wars fan after taking more than one trip on Disney's Galactic Starcruiser, they're excited to share more about their journey to Star Wars, their changing creative goals, the life-changing power of immersive theatre from their perspective both as an artist more generally and a guest on Starcruiser, as well as the importance of Star Wars being for everyone. Don’t forget this is Gabi’s personal story. It is not my place on the show to dismiss, diminish, judge, or have an opinion on their story. Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are their own. Any comments on this episode and story are expected to be respectful.  General reminder. Star Wars is a story that deals with hopeful themes, but also touches on things like war, death, loss, slavery and oppression, trauma, mental health issues, personal injury, abandonment, pregnancy and child birth. You are advised to refrain from watching or listening to the YouTube Channel or Podcast if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics. As always, please take care of yourself and reach out to someone you trust if needed.  Follow Gabi: www.instagram.com/vesthescoundrel www.threads.net/@vesthescoundrel Gabi's free/unofficial Halcyon-inspired app + immersive theatre event: www.instagram.com/thecorelliancaper Hosted and Produced by: Jessica McNair Theme Music by: Michael Hoover Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@talesoftheforce⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talesoftheforce⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@talesoftheforce⁠ General Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.