“Our love is God. Let’s go get a slushie.” Content warning - discussions of suicide, sexual assault and violence For this mid-season break, the Scooby Duo are joined by Jason to talk about the Gen-X classic black comedy, “Heathers.” Topics include bad boys, John Hughes films, slang, “Mean Girls,” high school, teen angst, drug abuse prevention programs, 80s nostalgia, cow tipping, bullying, sexual assault, the monocle, Christian Slater’s voice, school shootings and the #MeToo movement. Ever wonde...
Mar 24, 2024•2 hr 44 min•Ep. 26
“It’s a game. We’re not going to play by the rules, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to play.” Join the Scooby Duo to discuss this scary episode of BTVS, featuring a visit from the Watchers Council, a new villainous vamp, Buffy’s birthday tradition of gut-wrenching misery and horror. Kara and Penny cover myriad vampire conventions, ugly hats, exploitation of athletes and artists, talented character actor, Jeff Kober, the patriarchy, tropes in vampire romances and celebrate a few milestones,...
Mar 13, 2024•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 25
Content Warning: discussions of trauma, domestic violence, and transphobia “I need to go on one of my fruitless patrols and react to some vampires.” Kara and Penny are joined by Sam to cover yet another iconic episode of BTVS. Joyce leads the Sunnydale adults in a quest to rid the town of bad influences and the occult. The trio laugh through the darkness of MOO, censorship, mass hysteria and group think. The wide ranging conversation covers topics as diverse as Cher, lizard brains, Lois Duncan, ...
Mar 06, 2024•3 hr 7 min•Ep. 24
Content warning: discussion of suicidality, depression andsexual assault. “Angel, you have the power to do real good, to make amends. But if you die now, then all that you ever were was a monster.” Kara and Penny are joined by Kelly to cover this very special Hellmouth Christmas episode that shows us some of Angelus’s backstory, brings back Jenny Calendar and blankets Sunnydale in snow in the middle of a heat wave. Join this trio as they wrestle with their complicated feelings about Angel and hi...
Feb 28, 2024•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 23
“I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale.” Be careful what you wish for, especially if you are making that wish to a stranger with a pretty necklace. Kara and Penny are joined by Jim again to cover this iconic alternate timeline episode. Join this trio to relive the ups and downs of Dark Willow, the return of the Master, the introduction of Anya, Giles without tweed, the puppy, and army Barbie Buffy. So many tangents are followed. Next time, Season 3, Episode 10, “Amends” Watch “Extraor...
Feb 21, 2024•3 hr 10 min•Ep. 22
“Do you have any of those little marshmallows?” Our favorite platinum punk agent of chaos stumbles drunkenly through town, sharing his tale of woe with all. Penny and Kara are joined by Jim to convene a meeting of the Spike Appreciation Society. The trio highlight the many ways James Marsters delivers the impossible and improbable by making everyone love and hate and love to hate Spike. His visit to the Hellmouth is brief, but the destructive impact ripples for the rest of the season. How do you...
Feb 14, 2024•2 hr 55 min•Ep. 21
“Remember to use your I Statements.” Kara and Penny are joined by Steve from Panels to Pixels to pull apart this plot-critical episode about trust, betrayal and deception. The trio talks about making sure your TV crushes are age appropriate, interventions, Princess Diana, the curse, fighting styles, how insecurity and trauma affects our favorite characters’ behavior, Xander’s pros and cons, the spectrum of rule followers, sexy Tai Chi, onion kisses, comparisons of sub-par and dated CGI, and rebo...
Feb 07, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 20
“Something’s Weird.” “Something’s Not?” This iconic episode is a fan favorite and routinely is included on lists of top 10 Buffy episodes. Join us for an especially nostalgic trip to the 90s to ruminate on our own teen foibles, “Joyles” shipping, the appeal of bad boys, the cultural impact of Gap khaki ads, wondering what teenage Ripper would have listened to in the 90s, feathered coats, cultural appropriation, the connection between Ethan Rayne and candy, and yes, some light objectification of ...
Jan 31, 2024•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 19
"Dont mess with Cordelia" Mr. Trick returns, bringing us “Slayerfest 98." Buffy and Cordelia are forced to work together to defend against a panoply of predators, despite how high hostilities are between them over the race for Homecoming Queen. Penny is joined by Mark from Panels to Pixels, Adrenaline Cinema Podcast and Monarch, Legacy of Monsters on House Podcastica and Willhelm to compare notes on 90s technology, surveillance states, day trading, nerd culture, Freaks and Geeks, gritty superher...
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 18
Trigger Warning: Discussion of Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence “There’s no shame in losing yourself to love. They write songs about it.” Surprisingly, the school counselor managed to reach Buffy when she really needed an outside perspective. When he’s killed, Buffy hunts down the perpetrator and tragedy abounds. Kara and Penny pull from personal experiences to shed some light on one of the more disturbing episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Talk to your kids about toxic behavior and rea...
Jan 17, 2024•2 hr 17 min•Ep. 17
Hello Buffy’s life, how we’ve missed you! Buffy is back in the swing of things and getting back to what passes for normal on the Hellmouth when three new people enter her life to rock the boat. Join Penny and Kara as they praise Mr. Trick, objectify David Boreanaz a little, dig into how childhood trauma affects relationships and try not to be too hard on Xander. Next time, Season 3, Episode 4, “Beauty and the Beasts.” Send us pictures of your favorite Buffy merch or fan art! Or pictures of your ...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 16
“Chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny.” Back in Sunnydale and swimming in awkwardness, Buffy tries to reconnect with her mother and the Scooby gang. Unspoken resentments don’t stay buried for long and things come to a head at Buffy’s unwanted party when the Summers house is beset by zombies. Penny and Kara get into it about the constant destruction of the Summers house, the polarizing nature of bleu cheese, how Joyce is coping, Dolly Parton, all things Pat and sexy Giles. Next time, “F...
Jan 03, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 15
TW: Discussion of Human Trafficking starting at about 10 minutes until about 21 minutes Season 3 starts off with a whimper and ends with a bang, Buffy is hiding out in a bad part of Los Angeles, pretending not to be the Slayer when her calling finds her. Join us to reminisce about the 90s, dish a bit on law school, and admire the fight choreography and cinematography of this season opener. Where do you stand on Joyce vs. Giles? Is Sunnydale going to rule this year? Are vampires intimidated by rh...
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 52 min
Celebrate the highest highs and lowest lows of Season 2. Revisit the quips, fights, betrayals and triumphs with Kara and Penny as they recount the moments that still slay. Season 3 is next and we’re covering all episodes so we start with “Anne.” Keep Slaying! Join the conversation! You can email or send a voice message to stillslayingfeedback@gmail.com or join us at facebook.com/groups/podcastica where we put up comment posts for each episode we cover as well as any news about the podcast. Follo...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 13
A camp classic of late 90s aesthetics with a killer soundtrack, Cruel Intentions delivers on its promise of salacious teenage hijinks and tragic consequences. Kara and Penny are joined by Jim to discuss the ups and downs of Kathryn and Sebastian’s bet. They ask, what is “Camp”? Who is the real villain of the story? How does this film hold up after 24 years? Next time on Still Slaying they'll be wrapping up Season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and getting hyped for Season 3. Send in your picks fo...
Dec 13, 2023•2 hr 23 min
Hello, Cuties! Frequently named among the best season finales on TV, “Becoming, Part 2” offers suspense, romance, strange alliances, unsupervised teenage magic and the saddest of the sad endings. Join us as we relive the thrilling moments of Spike and Buffy’s first alliance, grieve with Giles again for the loss of Jenny and marvel at the depths of sadness this show can make you feel. Penny and Kara ask: Why do crosses ward off vampires? Do the doctors of Sunnydale suspect vampire activity? Just ...
Dec 05, 2023•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 11
“The big moments are gonna come, you can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are.” Widely regarded as one of the best TV finales of the 20th Century, Becoming Parts 1 and 2 deliver flashbacks, action, comedy, heartbreak, mystery, love, betrayal, confrontations, strange alliances, hope and sacrifice. Immerse yourself in 1998 pop culture and events with Penny and Kara and enjoy the deep dive into this rich story of an impending apocalypse during f...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 10
Content Warning: Discussion of stalking and domestic violence starting at 8 minutes and continuing until 38 minutes. Penny and Kara dissect the way that passion informs all of our actions, Angel’s stalking behavior, the growing animosity between Angel and Spike, separating art from artist, and ableist language. These two attorneys talk about the laws around stalking and violence against women and the treatment of stalking in the media. Next on Still Slaying: we’ll be skipping three episodes, “Ki...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 9
Come celebrate Valentine’s Day on the Hellmouth! Penny and Kara talk sexual ethics, the history of Valentine’s Day and Silence of the Lambs. They'll have you wondering: What is a proportional response to a public breakup? Are puffy hearts still in style in 2023? Does Angel really know what speaks to a girl's heart? TW: discussion of sexual assault and consent. Next Week: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 2, Episode 17, "Passion" Theme Music:℗ CC-BY 2020 Quesbe | Lucie G. MorillonGoopsy | Drum and...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 8
7: “Phases” (BTVS S2E15) Penny, Kara and special guest Jim sink their claws into this episode that introduces werewolves (one of the classics!) to the Buffy-verse. From the caloric needs of a Slayer, to masculinity, toxic and ideal, and queer representation on TV in the 90s, this trio revels in an Oz-centric story and delves into the details and nuances that make the show so special. Super-fan Riley (the dog) joins in enthusiastically in the spoilery conversation. Check out the article, "The Ris...
Oct 23, 2023•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 7
Penny, Kara and special guest Anwen get deep into “Innocence.” They talk about how living on the Hellmouth wreaks havoc on your dating life, purity culture, slut-shaming, aspirational behavior and toxic behavior and how this episode is the set-up for the rest of the season and the series. Buffy has now averted two apocalypses. Listen closely and you can hear Kara’s dog asking for attention. Next time, we’ll be covering Season 2, Episode 15, “Phases.” Theme Music:℗ CC-BY 2020 Quesbe | Lucie G. Mo...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 6
It’s Buffy’s 17th Birthday and the Scooby gang are planning a surprise party. You would think that Buffy has enough things jumping out at her from the dark, but she seems really moved by the effort her friends put in. This is the Hellmouth, though, so her party is interrupted by vampires and a severed arm in a box. Penny and special guest Anwen discuss romance, vengeance, ethics, vampire makeup and fangs and have a grand time doing it. For the hosts, viewing the show with the accumulated wisdom ...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 5
Content warning: discussion of domestic abuse and domestic violence Penny and Kara are joined by Randy of the Welcome to the White Lotus podcast to talk about Season 2, Episode 11, “Ted” guest starring the legendary John Ritter. The wide ranging discussion touches on the ways that Buffy is just a teenage girl in so many ways and gets real about the ick of the age difference between Buffy and Angel. Next time, we’ll be covering Season 2, Episode 13, “Surprise.” Theme Music:℗ CC-BY 2020 Quesbe | L...
Sep 26, 2023•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 4
Since Halloween is “dead for the undead,” Buffy, as an 18th Century noblewoman, and pals, Willow as a ghost and Xander as a soldier, chaperone trick-or-treating. Just when everyone is having the best time, a spell takes over the city and people are turned into their costumes. Children are now monsters attacking civilians and each other. With Buffy sidelined, Willow takes control. Join Penny and Kara along with guest Mark from Piratecorpsentertainment.com and laugh and gasp your way through this ...
Sep 21, 2023•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 3
It’s parent-teacher night at Sunnydale High and Buffy’s slaying life, highschool life, and home life are colliding. There's no amount of lemonade that can sweeten Principal Snyder's opinion of Buffy. We get to meet a new pair of vampires, Spike and Drusilla, new in town and looking to make a big impression. Join Penny and Kara as they dive into the episode and revel in the glory of Spike and Buffy’s meet-cute. Meet up at the Bronze for listener feedback and, if you don’t mind spoilers, stay tune...
Sep 13, 2023•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to Still Slaying: a Buffy-verse podcast! In this introductory episode, we (Penny and Kara) do not try to hide our excitement to be talking about Buffy. We're both longtime fans of the show and the character, and cannot wait to share that love with the listeners. Listen in as we talk about our history with this show and our plans for this podcast, where we'll be diving deep into our favorite episodes of the show. For our first full episode we'll be jumping straight to season 2, episode 3,...
Sep 08, 2023•38 min
