She can style your wig, and looks gorgeous while doing so! In this episode of the Cosplay Crunch, we drag in Allison of AllieCat to delve into her journey through the world of cosplay. We talk about her beginning with Georgia conventions, explore presentation and diversity within the cosplay community, and highlight the personal growth that comes from embracing one's identity through cosplay and the importance of community support. Of course we will give you all the hoensTEA about our experiences at Anime Expo and New York Comic Con, and the challenges of judging cosplay contests. AllieCat shares her journey into the world of wig making for cosplay, discussing the artistic process, time investment, and the challenges faced in creating intricate designs. Throughout this episode, we continue to circle back to themes of empowerment, creativity, and personal growth, showcasing how AllieCat has transformed her passion into a thriving career while encouraging others to embrace their uniqueness.

Are you an artist alley addict and a lover of dragons? Well, you’re in good company! In this episode of Cosplay Crunch, we bring in ex-cosplayer and current talented artist / business woman Larissa of All the Dwagons! We discuss Larissa’s journey of entering the cosplay scene, her transition from cosplaying to becoming a professional artist, and all about her business of the last 7+ years. Larissa shares her experiences from her first Artist Alley to the challenges and successes she faced in her artistic career, particularly focusing on her love for dragons. We talk about the complexities of the art world, insights on the decision to pursue art over traditional education, the strategic considerations in choosing conventions, the importance of community among artists. We get the REALITY CHECK of running a business as a self-employed artist and the challenges of navigating the artist alley community, including the truth behind booth costs, the economics of art, and the misconceptions surrounding the artist's life. We delve into convention experiences, good and bad, as well as the passionate conversation around STAMP RALLIES?!

We made it to the FINALE of The Cosplay Crunch Season 1! In episode 15, Yaya Han joins the podcast for a special, extended episode where we tell ALL regarding Yaya's 25-year journey through cosplay. We highlight Yaya’s early cosplay years, the changing relationship between conventions and cosplay programming, and cosplay through social media and online criticism. Convention etiquette has changed, and we dig into the pre and post pandemic convention experience, as well as international cosplay culture /contests versus cosplay in the United States. And of course, we had to bring up the TV show 'Heroes of Cosplay' to get some behind the scenes tea on what really was going on! Stay until the end where you get insight related to how Yaya’s partnership with Bernina / Bernette began and birthed the B79 Yaya sewing machine, as well as her personal thoughts on writing her book and publishing right before the start of the pandemic.

In episode 14 of the Cosplay Crunch, we discuss Mineralblu's journey through cosplay photography and videography including how Mineralblu got started in conventions and photography, the evolution of their photography style, and the transition from photography to videography. We get all of the tea on Mineralblu's collaborations with Kotaku and obtaining the coveted press badge for major conventions. International cons, changing dynamics of the cosplay community, and photos of celebrity brutality are all covered in our conversation. If you have ever wanted insight on the glamorous life of the cosplay photographer, you are NOT going to want to miss this episode.