Meet Laura Hendrickson-Rabin and Jessica Ortega

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Hendrickson-Rabin and Jessica Ortega. They and their team shared their story with us below:

The ACOFAE (A Court of Fandoms and Exploration) Podcast’s story is similar to that of many others. ACOFAE initially discussed starting a podcast during the peak pandemic in the Summer of 2020. ACOFAE is fully committed to the fall of 2020, with our first episode launching on December 21, 2020. It was important to everyone involved in the project to know there was longevity in this commitment and that it wouldn’t be something that would be put on the wayside once society “returned to normal.”

Starting with our love for books and fandoms, we wanted to find a way to discuss the things we love on a grander scale. Our passions talking about books, fandoms, and pop culture allowed for us to have a natural progression to further dive into fandom culture on the podcast; integrating movies, television, conventions, and other themes in media as well.

The addition of these themed discussions (including villains in the media, audio vs. traditional reading, gaming, and our most recent addition, Pop Culture Poetry), has allowed for a more reflective and insightful experience. Breathing new life into the things we loved as children and other formative years.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Naturally, to approaching anything new, there’s always going to be a learning curve. Collectively, everyone involved in ACOFAE has different professional backgrounds that are not necessarily tied to podcasting but allowed us to fall into a rhythm pretty quickly.

Something we all struggled with is that it’s easy to get consumed by the necessary research involved in starting a podcast. Finding the courage to take the initial leap from research to actually recording our conversations was the final hurdle. We realized we couldn’t improve until that jump was made and everything before was just in theory. With the occasional tech issues and one lost episode aside, we’re continuously exploring what’s best for the podcast.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
Jessica is an entertainment publicist and works out of New York. Having a background working with celebrity talent, event organization, pitching for streaming and studio titles, and discussing the things she’s passionate about is only a small part of what makes ACOFAE run so smoothly.

Laura is an educator that is based in Colorado. She specializes in children’s literature and brain development. She is most proud of her time in the preschool classroom, bringing a dramatic flare. She is known for her theatrical readings of James and the Giant Peach.

Sam is an environmental scientist. He is most proud of being a dog dad. Sam has loved bird-watching since a young age. He is our behind-the-scenes tech guru, podcast editor, and producer, all of which would not be possible without him.

Individually, our professional backgrounds require meticulous planning and strategy. Collectively, this allows us to collaborate more efficiently. We each have found our fortes in what works for the podcast and the cohesiveness of our episodes. Our individual strengths make us stronger as a whole.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Best: Denver truly has something for everyone. From the botanical gardens to the exquisite food to the John Fluevog store. It’s refreshing to live in such a dog-friendly environment.

Denver is a great music destination. ACOFAE has attended several concerts at Red Rocks, The Fillmore, and Paramount Theater. You can also always catch a game at Coors Field or attend the Denver Fan Expo every summer.

Least: The drivers, the traffic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://acofaepodcast.fireside.fm/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acofaepodcast/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@acofaejessica?lang=en and https://www.tiktok.com/@acofaelaura?lang=en

Image Credits
ACOFAE Podcast