PodUK 2020 (AKA, the greatest day I can remember)
It’s been a week since I got home from my mini European Vacation, and two weeks since PodUK (how, I don’t know. It both seems so long ago and also like it just happened yesterday).
I think I had just started listening to KFAM when they did Beyond the Falls 1, so I didn’t know about it until I hit that in the feed and by then... obviously had missed it, but it was definitely something I wish I could have seen. So I was hoping there would be another one.
And then the KFAM twitter and the guys behind it were kinda mentioning going to the UK and I knew PodUK was a thing and was like. Crap. That’s far from Wisconsin. And they made it official and I was like, well, at least I’ll have a fun Beyond the Falls episode to listen to afterwards!
But then I saw more and more people planning on going, and talked to my friend and my mom and looked at finances, and hey - I could maybe go. and make an entire vacation out of it. So the European Adventure began. Now, if I made a post about my whole vacay, it would be TOO LONG, so I’m just focusing on PodUK, February 1 (with a little bit before and after it with the KFamily),
In the leadup to the con, I finally finished listening to The Amelia Project (I had previously listened to the first 3 clients, but that was it) and I’m so glad I did because it’s amazing! I also listened to We’re Alive because I saw they were going to be there as well and wanted to listen to as many as I could that would be there- We’re Alive was so long it ended up being the last one listed that I had time for, but I don’t regret it at all because I LOVED it.
More, including pictures, behind the cut:
First - huge thank you to Jess, Chris, and Brett because without your idea to have this convention, I would never had been able to see all of the kfamily I was able to see, meet the creators of some of my favorite entertainment, and just have a great day surrounded by people who love the same things I do. I hope you understand how thankful I am. At a few times during the day, my mom just kept remarking about how happy I looked, which isn’t something she’s known for saying so I must have been pretty ecstatic. Pretty much everyone I saw seemed happy that day, so I think you put on a fantastic event.
The day started out hanging around all the podcasts’ tables - finally seeing Eric, Kyle, Trent, and Noah in person which tbh, kinda freaked me out. If I didn’t have stuff to give them, I’m not sure I’d have gone up to them lol. But I didn’t want to carry stuff around all day so I had to woman up and do it.
Trent absolutely made my day with his reaction to the Archie’s Pomchi Palace onesie I made him (Because he jokingly asked if I could make one for a guy his size after I made one for my baby niece and then, I needed to find out if I could. And I did!) The expression on his face was just.... all my worries about him thinking it was stupid vanished immediately.
I hope he, Eric, Noah, and Kyle also enjoyed the KFAM listener tears coffee mugs and the sunglasses (which discord kfamily members also got and I hope they enjoyed!)
The opening ceremony was a great way to get excited for the day. While waiting for all the panels I had signed up for, I sat in for a bit of the live People’s Polygraph episode which was really fun (and included talking about women’s hockey!) and found out I have no idea how to use a kazoo.
Eventually made it to the KFAM workshop on how they go from idea to air which was FASCINATING. There’s so much that goes into it, which I knew, but to see it all just focused on one episode... it’s amazing. I can’t believe all the stuff Eric does and he basically taught himself. Mind blown.
I think after this workshop we had a bit of downtime before the next panel (it was a busy day, things got hazy), so I went back down to the podcast tables and met the people behind The Amelia Project - they are all so lovely and brilliant and I was so excited to meet them.
There was then the audio drama panel featuring a bunch of different podcasts: and was very intriguing on how they all do what they do and the effect they have - It was great to hear from both Kyle and Eric, but also KC from We’re Alive, and Alex from Rusty Quill since Jess made me listen to The Magnus Archives (and he’s so charming, oh my lord he’s charming. It should be a crime).
(Kyle, Eric, KC, and Maddy who does the Prickwillow Papers which is next on my to-listen list!)
Next was the Voice Acting panel with Eric, Trent, Kyle, and Noah. Now, tbh, I was like.... maybe I’ll skip this panel and go see something else because I don’t have any desire to voice act, and there’s so many other podcasts represented that had stuff going on, but... I came for KFAM and I wasn’t going to miss KFAM and I’m really glad I didn’t because this panel ended up being so informative not just for people interested in voice acting, but in character development and storytelling, and honestly Noah’s passion for acting is so entertaining I could listen to him talk about it all day. So I’m really glad I didn’t go off for something else.
The KFAM meet n greet was next which wasn’t really what I expected, but was probably what I needed because it was fast face to face time and I didn’t have to come up with anything to say really. Sad I didn’t really get pictures, but that’s alright. They signed my script and I love it and also Eric gave me a hug and that was the best.
(Look at those sunglasses! Styling! Alyssa is the best and I love her)
Next up was the Live Amelia Project episode which was hilarious as always and the actors are amazing - it’s in their feed now, so go listen! (Also, I guess you can hear me calling for Tanisha, so ignore that)
But seriously the episode was so great. I highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already. With a mug of hot cocoa of course.
And then the main event for me and most of the kfamily who came: Beyond the Falls Live Two
I started the show on the floor cause I could not believe Trent brought the onesie out. And then sang about it omg I think I’m still dead.
I love Beyond the Falls episodes because I love seeing what goes on behind the finished product, and also learning more about what these guys who make my fave show are like and this was no exception to that. I got to be there for my first Lipton Lightning Round live which was amazing and I may have been the reason the beat was way too fast cause I was way too excited.
Episode “101″ despite not being canon may be my favorite episode ever. The improv was fantastic and I applaud all four guys and all the suggestion givers for making it so great.
The q&a session was also fantastic - these guys are just fabulous and thoughtful and kind and I think I was laughing almost 95% of the time or so? It was definitely a highlight.
Hung out a bit at the con location before heading over to the pub, and some of the discord family did our own LLR in the lobby and it was so fantastic and someone has a video and I don’t know who but I want it! Also Alex from Rusty Quill made a video from Jess because, as I said, he’s the most charming.
The pub was fun - the official get together was up a bunch of stairs my ankle was not happy about, but it was so crowded we mostly ended up at the bar. I don’t think I ever thought I’d mention my favorite ship of Troy/Jacob to someone actually involved in the podcast, but hopefully Trent didn’t think less of me.
Finally got a picture with KC Weyland at the pub as he was leaving - poor guy talked so much that day he lost his voice, but from the one panel I saw, it was all informative and entertaining information so thank you for doing that KC
Got more selfies with the KFAM guys and kfamily which was great
(Ok, the one with Kyle is from the London pub meet up, not the Birmingham one cause I didn’t get one with him there, oops?) (Also, that’s how great these guys are - they took out time from their London vacations to have another meetup and drink and socialize with us. <3
A couple thank yous *which please forgive the fact that I can never put things as eloquently as I’d like*:
Noah - I love your passion for what you do, and I could use some of your energy if you ever figure out how to pass that on to other people. Thanks so much for coming to PodUK and joining in the KFamily reunion there. You’re a total sweetheart, you just came up to everyone as they were hanging around, as if you knew how terrified some of us (including me) were to actually meet the people being KFAM and were just so personable and amazing. Love you so much for that.
Trent - I don’t even know what to say. Thanks so much for liking the onesie and bringing it out and almost killing me cause you did (in a good way I guess)? I really enjoyed the pub conversations about art and improv and I’m going to do my best to take your advice when I start my class next month. Still think we should figure out how to do a gofundme for Trent’s Traveling Art Garage! It would be such a hit. I love that you’re the kfamily dad and always have the best advice.
Kyle - Thanks for calling me over that morning because I’m not sure I’d have had the courage to do more than just stand around and probably get someone else to give you your coffee mug and glasses. Thanks for helping create King Falls and foster the community where I’ve met so many great people. Thanks for traveling all that way and taking time away from your vacation and your family for this. It means so much and I hope you know how much I and everyone else love you for this.
Eric - So, I talked to you the least mostly because I was too nervous. You pretty much do everything I wish I could do (start learning and perfecting things for a passion project) and you’re SO talented and out of all of you four, for some reason, just made me the most nervous. But I was glad I was able to work up the courage to ask for a pic before you left the pub. I love all the work you do behind the scenes on KFAM - the workshop showed how much you do and it’s amazing (also, I know you’re not big on public speaking but you did PERFECTLY on that workshop and all the panels and the live show). Thanks for doing all of that for us, and for helping create King Falls, and for taking time to travel to the UK to meet with fans and do the con - I love all the work you put into this, and thank you so much for it.
Tanisha, Sarah, Swan - Mods extraordinaire! (Along with Meg and Shaunte, and we missed those two a lot!) Thanks so much for helping organize the KFamily events - dinners, breakfasts, hanging out in hotel rooms. Honestly, the trip would have been made for me even without the Con stuff if it had just been a meet up of us fans. I love you all, thanks for all you do, and I can’t wait to see you again.
KFam Discord Family - I know if I tried to list you all, I’d forget someone. Probably multiple. But thank you so much for making this day so special. I was worried a bit that I’d travel over and then wouldn’t find a welcoming place with the members of the discord (which is dumb cause I always felt welcome on the discord, but in person is different). As I said above, even just meeting you all would have made my trip great. You’re all wonderful, beautiful, kind and inspiring people. Fire - thanks for the in-person reindeer facts and the stroopwaffles from the Amsterdam airport! Katie - thanks for the stickers, I cherish them! Alyssa - thanks for being the best. Thanks for introducing me to Courtney, for coming for cheese with me, for putting up with my Troy/Jacob madness. Everyone: thanks for all the hugs and the laughs and the love. I’ll truly never forget this event and all of you. I have so much love for you all.
Let’s have another reunion soon, k? <3 <3 <3
