Episode 123: Starship Therapise with Justine and Larisa

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This week we want to thank Phoenix, Ariel, Antonia, Natasha, Alexandria, and Angela for supporting us on Patreon. It’s because of you we can keep this community running!

Exciting news, lovers of fan fiction! This week’s guests, Justine Mastin and Larisa Garski wrote a book all about the therapeutic power of fan fiction called Starship Therapise.

Modern mythologies are everywhere–from the Avengers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the dragons of Game of Thrones. Where once geek culture was niche and hidden, fandom characters and stories have blasted their way into our cineplexes, bookstores, and streaming systems. They help us make sense of our daily lives–and they can also help us heal. Mental health therapists and Starship Therapise podcast hosts Larisa A. Garski and Justine Mastin offer a self-help guide to the mental health galaxy for those who have been left out in more traditional therapy spaces: geeks, nerds, gamers, cosplayers, introverts, and all of their friends.

Starship Therapise explores the ways in which narratives and play inform the shape of our lives, inviting readers to embrace radical self-care with lessons from Westworld’s Maeve and Dolores, explore anxiety with Miyazaki, and understand narrative therapy with Arya Stark. Spanning fandom from Star Wars to Harry Potter, The Legend of Zelda to Steven Universe, and everywhere in between, Starship Therapise is an invitation to explore mental health and emotional wellness without conforming to mainstream social constructions.

Insights from comics like Uncanny X-Men, Black Panther, Akira, Bitch Planet, The Wicked + Divine, and Batman offer avenues to growth and self-discovery alongside explorations of the triumphs and trials of heroes, heroines, and beloved characters from Star Wars, Wuthering Heights, The Lord of the Rings, The Broken Earth trilogy, Mass Effect, Fortnite, Minecraft, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Star Trek. Each chapter closes with a hands-on mindfulness, meditation, or yoga exercise to inspire reflection, growth, and the mind-body-fandom connection.

If that sounds up your alley, you can order now, follow @starship_therapise online, and listen to Starship Therapise wherever you listen to podcasts.

Special thanks to our executive producers for this episode Geeklery, Galaxy Gear Boutique, NW Nerd Podcast, and Karen Hallion.

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