Avatar: Braving the Elements

Janet and Dante are joined by OG Avatar superfans to talk about their best character recreations from the show, their ultimate dream cosplays, and the coolest group cosplay they’ve seen at a con to date.

We hear about DJ Dante’s most uncomfortable fit, and the gang deliberates the best character from the Avatarverse to bring to a party (SPOILER ALERT: it is most certainly, NOT Azula).

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Revisit the most stressful episode of Book 3, ‘Nightmares and Daydreams’ with Janet, Dante, and…Azula?? Not quite, but it IS the iconic voice actress behind this most delightful and nightmarish princess, Grey DeLisle!

With the solar eclipse only a handful of days away, Team Avatar sets camp at the meeting spot for the invasion force. Everyone prepares and rests up for their next square off with the Fire Lord. That is, everyone except Aang who is having just a *bit* of trouble coping with the pressure before the big event (but hey, who wouldn’t be?).

Let this be a reminder to all, when facing your biggest enemy in a battle to restore peace and harmony across all four nations, it’s usually best to remember your pants!

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Scary ghost stories, creepy dark woods, and an eerie little town in the Fire Nation…what could possibly go wrong? 

Dive into this fan favorite ep with Janet & Dante as they are joined by storyboard artist & director Joaquim Dos Santos. We hear some insider info about alternate titles for the episode and all the ways the original series broke the rules of animation. Then Joaquim shares his most memorable moments from working on the show, and the trio talks about the importance of stranger danger when hanging out in the woods at night (we’re lookin at you, Team Avatar).

Catch Dante’s survival instincts kicking in and find out what Janet has deemed the “most effective scare” in the series, in ‘The Puppetmaster’.

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Nerd out with Janet, Dante, and two superfans as they talk about all things Avatar - from which show characters they would want on their team for a 48-hour film challenge, to the impact of the thoughtful representation of disabilities in the Avatarverse.

We’ll learn a bit about the origins of extreme martial arts from real-life Korra (a title bestowed by Janet herself) and hear some spirited discussion about questions you may not have thought to ask, like ‘Is there anything worse than a spa day with Azula??’.

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Janet and Dante are thrilled to welcome back Michaela Jill Murphy, the original voice of everyone’s favorite earthbending melon lord, Toph. We’ll uncover more golden nuggets from Dante’s past (y’all ever seen a pre-teen do a 3 card monte?) and discuss the one person you NEVER want to pull a scam with.

Find out what happens when cheating a cheater goes too far in, ‘The Runaway’.

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What’s it like to be besties with the Avatar? Who gave Roku his lewk? Are there any good folks in the Fire Nation?? Answers to these questions and more as Janet, Dante and special guest, Ify Nwadiwe dive into, ‘The Avatar and the Firelord’.

We’ll catch up with Aang as he receives yet another very specific calendar ask from his predecessor, Avatar Roku, and follow along as Zuko digs deeper into his past to unearth the one family connection we truly didn't see coming. If you’ve ever wondered what a Fire Nation reality TV show would look like, this episode is for you!

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Big burly men with lovely lady legs, iconic superheroes, and more - all in a day’s work for a storyboard artist and director, and this episode Janet and Dante are joined by one of the best, Lauren Montgomery!

Lauren gives a behind-the-scenes scoop on a couple animal hybrids that didn’t quite make the cut, and shares her very surprising favorite ship from the Avatarverse (you’re seriously never going to guess who it is).

We hear Dante’s FIRE rec for the best tea in Ba Sing Se, then he and Janet try their hands at drawing and interpreting some character shorthand. A high stakes challenge - with unreliable erasers - that you won’t want to miss! 

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Join Zuko, Azula, and the girlies for a bit of sun, a little relaxation, and just a touch of ambition for total world domination. We’ll get a taste of the trials and tribulations of Fire Nation teens, and witness a touching moment between siblings that *almost* convinces Dante that Azula means well. Almost.

Guests Olivia Hack (voice of Ty Lee) and Cricket Leigh (voice of Mai) help Janet brainstorm some new nicknames for Combustion Man - which is just soooo formal - and we see the line between Dante and Zuko blur yet again as we follow this fiery bunch of adolescents in, ‘The Beach’.

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Leaves from vines and secret tunnels - feel all the feelings with Janet and Dante as they are joined by composer, Jeremy Zuckerman and original show editor, Jeff Adams to talk about the Avatar live concert tour and the iconic music that makes us laugh and makes us cry (especially Janet).

We’ll hear more about Jeremy's super airbending music powers and what it’s like to put the score at the forefront of storytelling and truly capture the essence and emotions of the Avatarverse. There may even be a couple special performances from Jeremy and Janet… FORESHADOW REPORT: there definitely will be.

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Space rocks, training montages, and Fire Nation shopping sprees - there is never a dull day on a road trip with Team Avatar. In ‘Sokka’s Master’ we follow the journey of our favorite (and only) non-bending member of the Gaang as he discovers his own unique strengths and learns the skill of the blade.

And who better to join this Sokka-focused side quest than the voice of the boomerang guy himself, Jack De Sena! Jack, Janet, and Dante catch up with each other, question whether or not our friends REALLY miss us when we’re not around, and discuss the importance of honesty and humility on the path to power.

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Author of the Avatar Kyoshi & Avatar Yangchen novels, F.C. Yee, and the novels’ audiobook actor/narrator, Nancy Wu, join Janet and Dante to geek out! Together, they discuss team Avatar throughout history, what it's like to expand the Avatarverse with a master like Michael DiMartino, and why ‘The Great Divide’ is such an important episode.

Nancy talks about the cultural relevance and authenticity she feels as an Asian American and fan of the Avatar series. Then, Dante asks F.C. which of the novels is his favorite (possibly the full box set? *wink wink*), and more importantly, if the Fire Nation will ever receive any love from the books in the future.

Catch up with the story of Avatar Kyoshi and Avatar Yangchen here: https://www.abramsbooks.com/?s=avatar

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Janet and Dante are joined by Avatar graphic novel and comic book author, Faith Erin Hicks, as we follow our favorite Gaang to a peculiar little fishing village in, ‘The Painted Lady’. Plagued by the toxic run-off from the Fire Nation weapons factory up the river, the villagers suffer greatly from the surrounding polluted waters - that is, until a mysterious female figure comes to their aid…

Janet and Dante find out who Faith’s REAL favorite member of Team Avatar is, talk about the diversity and richness of female characters in the Avatarverse, and discuss the presumably *unique* flavor of turtle ducks (yum?).

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Janet and Dante welcome 3 superfans to tell us what kind of bending THEY would love to see in the Four Nations. Along the way, important questions are answered like, who is the best ship? Do animal hybrids exist IRL? And is any type of bending innately good or evil?

Together, Janet, Dante, and our fiery fans stretch the fabric of the Avatarverse to its limits with their dream bending possibilities, and maybe even stumble upon a powerful new super bending gang of their own…

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Janet and Dante are delighted to welcome back John O’Bryan, the writer who gave us the most iconic (and unlucky) cabbage merchant ever! John shares more behind-the-scenes intel as we catch up with Aang, the gang, and their sticky fingers, doing their best to assimilate to the Fire Nation; including ‘picking up’ some fresh new fits and taking a *brief* break from restoring world balance, to host the hottest Fire Nation school dance of the century...likely the only Fire Nation school dance of this century. Not so far away, Zuko experiences the perks and drawbacks in his relationships after returning home, and seeks help from a mysterious stranger to destroy the Avatar, once and for all.

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Janet and Dante are joined once more by dynamo director, Giancarlo Volpe, as we welcome Aang back to the land of the living in, ‘The Awakening’! After the fall of the Earth Kingdom, Aang wakes up in some alarming new digs with a hair-raising new look (iykyk) as the Gaang makes their way towards unfamiliar Fire Nation territory. Meanwhile, Zuko finds himself feeling uneasy about his long-awaited return home after helping Azula defeat the Avatar, troubled by the question - is there a chance he could still be alive? 

Janet and Dante get some insider info from Giancarlo about the elements that make this such a powerful season opener, marvel at the masterful displays of waterbending from Katara, and dive into Dante’s strong feelings about Zuko’s sinister sister and …her chess playing skills?

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We’re back and fired up for a new season! Janet and Dante have a ‘family’ reunion with their two dads, Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, as everyone catches up on some of the major moments from Team Avatar’s time in the Earth Kingdom. To get ready for Book Three: Fire, we’ll talk about the epic cliffhanger of season two, fiery characters we’ll meet in season 3, and some of our favorite episodes we can’t wait to watch again. Janet and Dante ask Mike and Bryan some questions from fans, and we may even hear a bit about what’s going on over at Avatar Studios…Flameo, it’s Fire Nation time! 

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Coming in HOT - Nickelodeon’s official companion podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements is back for it’s third season! Join hosts Janet Varney and Dante Basco every Tuesday as they rewatch and discuss every episode of Book 3: Fire with special guests for more behind-the-scenes info you can’t get anywhere else.

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The long-awaited Avatar The Last Airbender Soundtrack, Book 1: Water, coming soon!

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Join us for a special milestone as we celebrate the 100th episode of Braving the Elements! In this rebroadcast from Season 1, Janet and Dante are joined by former Nickelodeon executive (now CEO of Avatar Studios) Eric Coleman, aka "The Godfather of Zuko," for a candid discussion about the development of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Learn about Mike and Bryan's early ideas, their creative process, and valuable insights on navigating network animation development from an industry veteran!

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Let's celebrate the funniest moments of Book 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, with comedian and Avatar fan Ron Funches. This episode rebroadcast highlights not only some of Janet, Dante and Ron's favorite scenes but also the moments our fans have shared with us over social media. 

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Let's celebrate one of the most cherished episodes in Book 2 - "The Tales of Ba Sing Se"! Joined by our dear friend and fellow Avatar stan Danielle Radford, Janet and Dante dive into an epic recap of this special collection of sentimental and emotional Avatar vignettes. We're not crying, you are... 

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We're joined by Lauren Tom, the multi-talented actor and voice artist who brought to life Joo Dee, the smiling guide of Ba Sing Se and so many other memorable characters. Listen as Janet and Dante chat with Lauren about her prolific career in voiceover and on-screen acting, her success as a writer, mother, and being such a prominent figure in the Asian artistic community. In this captivating rebroadcast, Lauren shares her journey and insights into the entertainment industry, showcasing the qualities that make her a superstar. 

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Join Janet and Dante as they continue to celebrate the remarkable Toph Beifong by sitting down with Michaela Jill Murphy (aka Jessie Flower), the original voice of Toph. In this rebroadcast, Michaela shares insights into her life before and after joining the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and how much she relates to Toph's bold personality. This episode promises to be a compelling and insightful conversation about the beloved character and her real-life counterpart - you won't want to miss. 

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Get ready to hear the story of one of the most iconic characters in the world of animation! Join Janet & Dante as they bring back Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko on a nostalgic trip down memory lane to reminisce about the creation of the legendary Toph. With exclusive insights into the creative process, we'll unpack early character concept designs and their evolution to the Toph we all know and love today. This rebroadcast promises to be an enthralling experience for all fans of the show. 

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It’s the last official episode of Braving The Elements season two, and we’re going out big with two returning guests: our “dad” Mike DiMartino and the voice of Aang, Zach Tyler Eisen! Hear from two adored members of the ATLA world as we face the final episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book Two. The action-packed finale of the television season may not have as happy a conclusion as the one we have closing out our podcast season… but that’s what makes getting into Book Three so exciting! 

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In our penultimate Season Two episode, Janet and Dante welcome back Ijeoma Njaka to the pod! Who better to explore some of Book Two’s most formative and critical turning point moments than Ijeoma, an academic professor who created a class syllabus highlighting some of the great “big picture” themes of Avatar: The Last Airbender? The trio explores Zuko’s journey, the power of knowledge -- and its risks — and much more, including lots of discussion around fan favorite responses!

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This week Janet and Dante welcome the actor who stepped in as Uncle Iroh: the delightful Greg Baldwin! Meet the warm, kind, and humble voice of the man who truly honored his predecessor by joining the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" cast after the passing of the great Mako. Always committed to respecting and continuing the work that Mako began, Greg shares some of his own background in the arts, his love of voice acting, and how his life has been impacted by interacting with so many fans who love Uncle Iroh.

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Our friend Migizi Pensoneau takes a break from writing on “Reservation Dogs” for this week’s conversation about ATLA 219: “The Guru!" Janet and Dante are thrilled to have Migizi's perspective, humor and insight, since, as they like to say almost every recap and discussion: “A lot happens in this episode!” Book Two draws towards a climax as Sokka reunites with his dad, Azula’s plan is dangerously close to succeeding (will Katara find out it time?), Aang clears his chakras, and Iroh and Zuko get to (briefly) celebrate making truly fantastic tea. Oh… and Toph might do some cool stuff, too...

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Join us in remembering Mako, the legendary actor whose iconic voice brought Uncle Iroh to life. Janet and Dante are joined by Mike, Bryan, and ATLA Voice Director Andrea Romano for a wonderful conversation honoring the great Mako Iwamatsu. In addition to sharing memories of Mako’s work as Iroh in "Avatar: The Last Airbender," the group looks back on Mako’s extraordinary life and career, including his stage, screen, and television work. And the episode wouldn’t be complete without sharing some cast, crew, and fans’ favorite Iroh moments

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Reunited for the first time on a Braving The Elements episode: the voices of Zuko and Azula! Grey DeLisle joins Janet and Dante for their breakdown of ep 218 of ATLA, “The Earth King,” and the trio are delighted to be together at last. Except for a few moments when Azula seems to be trying to take over the narrative…! Will Team Avatar convince the King to believe them? Will Zuko survive his sudden illness? What’s the deal with the dragons we see in his fever dream? It’s another action-packed episode!

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Janet and Dante welcome two amazing advocates in the disability community who also happen to be big fans of the Avatarverse: Jimmy Clare and Ru Jones! Jimmy Clare is a Motivational Speaker, Autism Advocate, Author, and Founder of CrazyFitnessGuy, and Ru Jones is a Disability advocate + content creator! Both bring their love of Avatar: The Last Airbender to BTE, and sharing their perspectives on the represenation of disability in the Avatarverse. They also make some amazing choices after questions about which characters they’d like to cook a meal with, play a game night with, and more!

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Come with us… for a tranquil visit to Lake Laogai… with Joel Kim Booster! Janet and Dante are thrilled to be joined this episode by the inimitable and truly hilarious Joel, as together they dig into the Gaang’s encounter with the mercurial Jet, their further attempts to rescue Appa, and the discovery of a significant secret woven into the political and cultural fabric of Ba Sing Se itself. And speaking of discoveries, you’ll find out about Joel’s love of the Avatarverse —including love of a certain polar bear dog and, of course, what kind of bender he would be!

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Celebrate the gorgeous design of Ba Sing Se and more with three key artists of the Avatarverse! This week Janet and Dante welcome the brilliantly talented Elsa Garagarza, Angela Song Mueller, and podcast regular and “dad,” Bryan Konietzko! Find out incredible behind-the-scenes details as Elsa (Supervising Background Designer) and Angela (Character Designer) talk about their artistic development and roles in the Avatarverse. Learn about the inspirations behind many of the gorgeous scenic and character designs of Book Two and beyond, and hear all three delve into the creative process of making an episode begin to come to life!

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Janet and Dante recover from “Appa’s Lost Days” with the brilliant and hilarious Ron Funches! What better way to transition from the emotionally poignant Appa-centric episode of Book Two to the rest of the season? By taking a break with one of the funniest comedians around to focus on some of the joyful, silly, and especially funny moments of ATLA, with particular focus on the second season. You’ll also hear from Ron about how he found both ATLA and TLOK, what he loves about the Avatarverse, and what YOU all told us were your favorite funny moments of Book Two. Plus: Ron makes his own fabulous suggestion for what we should call the listeners of Braving the Elements!

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The wonderful Evanna Lynch (aka Luna Lovegood in “Harry Potter”) comes back to the podcast for “Appa’s Lost Days!” Janet and Dante can’t imagine a better guest to weather the heartache of this crucial and unique episode of ATLA, when we find out what happened from the moment Appa was taken away as Toph struggled to keep The Library from sinking in that eponymous episode. How many tissues will it take to absorb our tears as we talk through Appa’s entrapment, horrible treatment, brave escape, and reunion with a gentle and much-needed friend? Get your own box of tissues ready, and find out!

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We’re not done celebrating the magic of “The Tales of Ba Sing Se.” This week we welcome two of episode's writers, Andrew Huebner and Katie Mattila! Janet and Dante are thrilled to be joined by writers Katie Mattila (“The Tale of Zuko”) and Andrew Huebner (“The Tale of Iroh”) for one of the podcast’s best behind-the-scenes episodes yet. Find out more about how The Tales came to be, including what Katie and Andrew’s actual “regular" jobs were at ATLA at the time. Get some in-depth intel on the inspirations behind Iroh’s tale, why Katie was so excited to tackle Zuko’s date, and much more!

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It's the start of a brand new year, friends! Whether you're a bender or non-bender, we hope you're having a fantastic start to 2023. 

This week, we have a special re-broadcast of our delightful conversation with the amazing Grey DeLisle, the voice actress who played Azula on ATLA - getting deep into her experience recording on the series, and what projects she's keeping busy with outside the Avatarverse. And yes, we get to hear the terrifying Azula with a special message for her Zuzu. 

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Happy holidays from your friends at Braving the Elements! This week, our gift to you is one of our favorite conversations we've had with Avatar show creators (and our two dads), Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko! We get into the beginnings of Book 2 and how this season came to be in the Avatarverse. 

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Celebrate this beloved ATLA episode of multiple character stories with the return of our friend Danielle Radford! Could we have done a single Braving the Elements episode for EACH of the marvelous stories presented in “The Tales of Ba Sing Se?” You bet we could! But we settled on discussing it the way it has been given to fans of the Avatarverse: all bundled up in one legendary and beloved episode of the television show. Janet and Dante are rejoined by the wonderful Danielle Radford, who'll ride the laughter and tears of the tales of Toph and Katara, Iroh, Aang, Sokka, Zuko, and Momo along with you.

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You know her as one of the smiling guides of Ba Sing Se, but you probably know her for a lot of other amazing roles. It’s Lauren Tom! The voice of Joo-Dee joins Janet and Dante to continue the streak of voice artists appearing on Braving the Elements to prove once again that the Avatarverse has featured some of the kindest, funniest, and most humble superstars in the business. Lauren talks about her career not just in voiceover, but as an on-screen actor, accomplished writer, mother, and we celebrate her stellar representation as part of the Asian artistic community. We hope she inspires you as much as she inspired us!

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Janet and Dante are joined once again by Bryan Konietzko to talk about one of his favorite episodes! Expect a ton of great insider info for this recap and discussion surrounding the mysterious “City of Walls and Secrets,” Episode 14 of Book Two of ATLA. Explore Ba Sing Se under the watchful eye of Joo Dee as more and more walls and rings of the city are revealed… to some degree. But many secrets remain, and Janet, Dante and Bryan dig into them all! Plus: listen up for an important message about a new school of etiquette founded by an unlikely character!

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Meet two wonderful friends of the podcast, who also happen to work at Avatar Studios! Janet and Dante welcome Isabella Boettcher and Pramodh Manian for a chat about their work at Avatar Studios, how they discovered the Avatarverse, and some of their favorite moments in Book Two of ATLA! Find which Avatar character Isabella would go on a vacation with… and her answer may surprise you! Learn which character Pramodh would feel most comfortable loaning money to, and why! All this and more with two of our favorite folks who happen to spend their days working with our Two Dads.

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This week brings you our happy return to NYCC (where Janet and Dante recorded their first live, in-person episode last year)! Because NYCC 2021 was such a blast, we know we had to turn it up a notch— and you were there for it! Recorded on October 6th, 2022, Janet and Dante were joined by guest after extraordinary guest! From an in-depth conversation with David Burtka and Robbie Daymond about the marvels of the Avatarverse to a table read including Michaela Jill Murphy (Toph!!) and Greg Baldwin (Iroh!!), this packed show even finished off with trivia and prizes for fans. Thank you, New York Comic Con!

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Friend of the show Karama Horne returns to dig into “The Drill!” As a giant drill threatens to breach the walls of Ba Sing Se, Team Avatar has to figure out if it’ll be possible to stop it in time. Not if Azula, Ty Lee and Mai have anything to say about it! Well… at least Azula and Ty Lee. Janet, Dante and Karama applaud everyone’s efforts and appreciate the detail and design of the infamous Drill. And speaking of design… Karama delights everyone by speculating on what clothing designers Mai would wear IRL. Don’t get caught in the slurry!

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It’s Janet and Dante live at London Fan Expo, recorded this summer! Our Braving The Elements hosts rounded up hundreds of Avatar fans for a delightful discussion across the pond. This conversation, led by Janet and Dante featuring some truly fantastic questions from the audience, once again proves how insightful, charming, and enthusiastic the community of ATLA lovers truly is. And find out if Dante got some love of the Fire Nation from our U.K. friends!

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Find out if you're brave enough to cross “The Serpent’s Pass” with our special guests, podcasters Afiya Augustine and Vincent Bernard! Join Janet and Dante in welcoming Afiya and Vincent for a very suspenseful ATLA episode. They don’t call it “The Serpent’s Pass” for nothing! This week also brings a lively conversation surrounding the difficult task of picking most valuable bending, our guests’ favorite ships, and how to keep falling in love with the Avatarverse over and over again... in new ways through the years.

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This week we talk Avatarverse, voice acting and directing, and more with Critical Role’s Sam Riegel! Sam sits down with Janet and Dante to talk not just about what makes "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Legend of Korra" so special to Sam and his kids, but also what makes a great voice actor and how he approaches voice directing. From his early friendship with Janet through the sketch comedy world to the roleplaying empire he and his Critical Role mates have built with an amazing fandom, there’s a lot to learn in this ep… including what an “infinite monkey" is!

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Get ready for one of our quenchiest episodes, with returning super-guest Jason Mantzoukas! Jason’s back with Janet and Dante to talk about the both very stressful and very funny ATLA episode “The Desert,” in which some pivotal actions take place. Who is The White Lotus society? Where is Appa? And what should fans of Braving the Elements be called? All this and much more, so stay hydrated and avoid the buzzard wasps!

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One of the most amazing things about the Avatarverse is the creativity it inspires in its fandom, as shown by this week’s guests, Daniel Mertzlufft and Katherine Lynn Rose! Janet and Dante are joined by these two innovative, collaborative content creators to talk about how they were inspired by "Avatar:The Last Airbender" and where that inspiration took their own artistic creations. Social media blew up over the songs they wrote and recorded, which collectively garnered millions of views. And... the gang comes up with a few brand new ideas during the episode!

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Take a trip with Janet, Dante, and their special guest Phil Yu... to the “The Library!” Will Team Avatar find a way to defeat the Fire Nation, using information guarded by a giant owl spirit? Can Toph save the day? And what will happen to Appa? Phil Yu (Founder and Editor of Angry Asian Man) helps Janet and Dante navigate the plot twists and turns of this exciting ATLA episode!

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It’s a family affair for this special midseason game of Avatarverse superfans! Our Season One player Abby Abebefe is back to once again test her ATLA knowledge, but this time she’s brought two of her sisters with her! Janet and Dante welcome Abisola and Ayosola Abebefe to Braving the Elements for the first time, challenging all three sisters to discover who knows the most about the Avatarverse. Guess the answers as you listen along, and let us know how YOU did!

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“Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source.” It’s an episode full of Uncle Iroh wisdom! Janet and Dante delve into ATLA’s “Bitter Work” this week, following the progress (or lack thereof) of a certain Avatar and his certain Earthbending Master, as well as training of a different sort between Iroh and Zuko. Along the way, we discover a connection between water and lightning, fire and rage, and Sokka and a very cute sabertooth moose lion cub.

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One of our favorite things about the Avatarverse is when people from fandoms we love happen to love "The Last Airbender!” This week Janet and Dante are joined by Major Curda (“KPOP" The Broadway Musical) and Lex Mayson (“Joe vs. Carole") for a roundtable discussion about what makes ATLA so beloved, including the ways it helps propel us forward to follow our own artistic passions. And as always with our guests, we talk hybrid animals, ships, and bending!

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We’re back at San Diego Comic Con for another LIVE podcast recording! This time, Braving the Elements is joined by not one but TWO beloved voice actors: Jack DeSena (Sokka) and Phil LaMarr (Kuei the Earth King).

Join us for an exclusive listen to our panel from this past July. Expect from thrilling conversations with our Avatar VOs, breaking Avatar Studios news, and of course - a dynamic table read featuring fans and friends alike of some iconic scenes from Book 2 (and beyond). With our amazing fans and friends in the room, this panel is anything but rough, buddy.

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This week brings us the exciting ATLA episode “The Chase”— and Erika Ishii is along for the ride! Janet and Dante welcome the marvelous actor/performer/cosplayer Erika Ishii, who brings her love of the Avatarverse into the frame as the trio breaks down the many aspects of “The Chase.” Find out whose “fault” it is that Azula, Mai and Ty Lee keep successfully tracking Team Avatar, and does that really cause the rift in this episode? Because Janet, Erica and Dante (and probably YOU!) all know what happens without enough sleep, and… watch out!

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What happens when the Avatarverse makes friends with the amazing Dark Horse Comics world? Brilliance on the page!

This week Janet and Dante spend time with friend of the show Tim Hedrick, who talks with them about the expansion of the ATLA television series into the Dark Horse realm, resulting in phenomenal graphic novels, delightful comic books, and more! Whether you’re a longtime fan of the books or just dipping a toe in for the first time, this is a great overview of ways to experience Avatar beyond the screen.

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This week, Zuko is anything BUT alone, since Dante and Janet are joined by ATLA superfan Adal Rifai for “Zuko Alone!” It’s the episode (and episode title) that would end up launching future iconic storylines (“Suki Alone,” “Korra Alone”) and Adal Rifai (Hello From the Magic Tavern, Hey Riddle Riddle podcasts) is here for the deep dive! Find out more than ever before about Zuko’s troubled childhood, including his relationship with Azula, Ozai, and his beloved mother. Oh— and… TURTLE DUCKS!!

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Continuing our celebration of all things Toph Beifong, Janet and Dante welcome Michaela Jill Murphy (aka Jessie Flower), the original voice of Toph! Find out more about the real-life personality behind one of the biggest personalities in the Avatarverse as we sit down with Michaela to hear more about her life before and after joining the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender, how much the young Jessie Flower (Michaela’s stage name) could relate to Toph’s bold and original characteristics, and what it’s meant to interact with fans in the recent resurgence of people discovering and re-discovering the Avatarverse!

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Janet and Dante reconnect with their “two dads” to hear more about Toph’s origin story! A character as iconic as Toph deserves a whole episode about how she came to be! Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko reminisce about their original concept designs for Toph and how they evolved during the collaborative process with writers and animators, as well as their memories of Jessie Flowers (aka Michaela Jill Murphy) — the voice is behind fan-favorite Toph lines like “Twinkle Toes!"

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To usher in the first truly Toph-centric ATLA episode, Janet and Dante welcome “The Blind Bandit” director Ethan Spaulding! Ethan’s debut appearance on Braving the Elements includes great insights about the powerhouse that is Toph Beifong, as well as some fantastic behind-the-scenes trivia about the making of this seminal episode. With Ethan’s insider knowledge around all things Earth Rumble Six, discussion about Toph’s family dynamics, and much more, this BTE episode gets the Toph celebration kicked off with gusto!

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Delight in this conversation with the incredibly warm and energetic Cricket Leigh, whom you also know as the voice of the significantly less warm and energetic Mai!

Janet and Cricket sit down for a chat about the Avatarverse and its emotional depth, digging into how Cricket became a part of the show-- even as she wrestled with doubts about her own magnificent voice!

Find out Cricket's thoughts on shipping and bending, Ty Lee and Azula, and of course, a certain moody hero whose name starts with a "Z."

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Finally! Janet and Dante are overjoyed to welcome the wonderful person who voiced the beloved words… “MY CABBAGES!” Prolific voice-over actor and novelist James Sie (The Cabbage Merchant!) joins Janet and Dante for this trip back in time for ATLA Book Two episode 5, “Avatar Day.” Why does a whole town of people hate the Avatar? Can Aang and the gang change the minds of its citizens? And what’s the deal with Kyoshi Island? James brings his wisdom, memories and humor to this not-to-be-missed conversation.

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This week we bring you a special episode from our Braving the Elements LIVE appearance at San Diego Comic Con, winter of 2021!

Janet and Dante are joined by an amazing audience of fans and friends at the show, featuring live performances by members of the audience playing all of your favorite characters in a myriad of different beloved scenes from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Among other things, this live recording just goes further to prove that the Avatarverse is one of the best fandoms in the world!

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Janet and Dante welcome 4 superfans to debate on one of the Avatarverse’s most popular questions: which bending power is the “best?" Taking into account various aspects of each element, including defensive and offensive uses, overall awesomeness, examples of usage by individual ATLA characters and more, our debaters bring passion, heart and humor to this lively discussion!

For WATER: Amanda Castrillo Foxworth

For EARTH: Mikaila Baskin

For AIR: Suraj Muralidharan

For FIRE: Nicholas Mayfield

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Our old friend The Profector returns to settle into “The Swamp” with Janet! Hector and Janet try to do credit to an ATLA episode of mysteries… and visions… and some of that profound wisdom that makes us all love the Avatarverse so much. Plus: you’ll get to hear some very fine accent work by the two friends as they talk about those irrepressible swampbenders. This episode of BTE is at least as much fun as a screaming bird with a human voice!

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Meet the voice behind the ever-cheerful and ever-dangerous Ty Lee, Olivia Hack! Janet and Olivia sit down to discuss her experience of voicing the first character we see in the Avatarverse who can seriously affect someone’s bending power! They talk about Ty Lee’s origin story as well as Olivia’s own origin story and how she came to the series for Book Two. And never fear— even an actor who voiced a chi blocker has thoughts about what kind of bender she would be!

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It’s a return to the second-largest city of the Earth Kingdom (Omashu!) AND the return of our beloved Jennie Kwan to take us there! Janet and Jennie are thrilled to discuss this epic episode in which we meet two new fierce non-bending characters in the form of Mai (Cricket Leigh) and Ty Lee (Olivia Hack). Jennie (the voice of Suki) is ready to compare Suki’s formidability to these two new fighters, and there’s a lot to dissect about their fascinating friendship dynamic with the controlling Azula. And, of course, there’s much more adventure to be had - particularly for Momo and Mai’s baby brother, Tom-Tom! But will Aang be able to free King Bumi so that he can become Aang’s earthbending teacher?

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We said we’d do it and we did: diving further into "The Cave of Two Lovers,” this time with writer Josh Hamilton and composer Jeremy Zuckerman! This episode is truly a treasure trove of trivia you could only learn from Josh and Jeremy’s uniquely "inside" perspectives. From hearing about Josh and Tim Hedrick’s own renditions of the ATLA episode’s famous songs, to finding out more about the process of making a show like Avatar, to hearing what these behind-the-scenes contributors to the Avatarverse think about all of the amazing covers of “Secret Tunnel” that are out there in the Fandom: it’s a conversation not to be missed!

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How could we cover this iconic episode without bringing back a buddy like Jack De Sena? Janet and Dante welcome Jack back to the podcast for this dive into the Secret Tunnels near Omashu, where music fills the air and love leads the way. Celebrate the fabulous voice work by the dynamic guest cast in Episode Two of Book Two of ATLA, including Dee Bradley Baker’s turn as troubadour Chong and his rendition of one of the most famous songs ever to hit animation! Will Jack, Dante and Janet be able to meet the standard? Can they carry a tune? Or even stay in sync? It’s a good thing Team Avatar isn’t depending on them doing so in order to get to Omashu!

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This week brings you a conversation with the amazing Grey DeLisle Griffin, who voiced Azula on ATLA!

It’s the long-awaited debut of the magnificent actor who brought Azula to life— in all her terrifying glory! Grey talks about her experience recording her part in the epic series, along with the process of discovering how beloved the show was after the fact. And that discovery came through the most perfect means possible— the fans themselves! Janet and Grey also talk about some of the other fantastic projects Grey has been working on the last couple of years, and Azula even pops in to deliver a message to Zuzu!

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Team Avatar has a rough time of it in this first episode of Book Two, and Janet and Dante are feeling it! While Aang, Katara and Sokka (and, of course, Appa and Momo!) try to navigate a relationship with a very zealous Earth Kingdom General, Dante has to emotionally process the reality that before Zuko gets to enjoy the demise of Zhao, he’s confronted with his fierce and intimidating sister, Azula! Can Dante and Janet reconcile their fear of Azula with their total love of Grey DeLisle? Will she ever appear on Braving the Elements? And will Aang agree to forgo the rest of his training to face Ozai?

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We’re Back and we couldn’t be more excited! Janet and Dante catch up with each other and with their two Dads, Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko! In anticipation of all the great things that happen in ATLA Book Two: Earth, we’ll share some teasers about what's coming up in this season of the podcast, chat about characters we can’t wait to meet (Toph lovers, rejoice!), and prepare for some of the big themes of Book Two we can't wait to dig into. Then Janet and Dante talk to Mike and Bryan to get their recollections of Book Two’s beginnings. They might even get an Avatar Studios morsel or two!!

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Ready to explore more of the amazing world of Avatar: The Last Airbender? Nickelodeon’s official companion podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements is back for a second season! Join hosts Janet Varney and Dante Basco every Tuesday as they rewatch and discuss every episode of Avatar Book 2. Plus, Janet and Dante are joined by special guests for more behind-the-scenes info you can’t get anywhere else. 

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Hear from The Avatar himself, Zach Tyler Eisen! Join Janet & Dante for an exclusive, rare appearance by the former actor who gave Aang life.

We revisit Zach’s experience of recording ATLA, which he did when he was about the same age as the character he portrayed (while still enjoying the childhood Aang may have missed). Zach also weighs in on some of Aang’s tougher choices, and illuminates us about his current career passions!

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This exclusive release of the live Avatarverse panel at ECCC features Janet, Dante, and friend of the podcast (and talent extraordinaire) Dee Bradley Baker!

Recorded in the chilly December clouds of beautiful Seattle at Emerald City Comic Con, moderator Patrick Hawkins takes Janet, Dante and Dee through a thoughtful conversation before turning the questions over to the audience! And as usual, fans of the Avatarverse continue to prove how insightful, compassionate, and all-around awesome this fandom truly is. And don’t worry - as always, Dante represents for the Fire Nation!

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This week, Janet and Dante reminisce about some of their - and YOUR! - favorite moments from Season One of the podcast.

We'll hear memorable conversational gems with ATLA creators and Avatar Studios’ Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, Jack De Sena (“Sokka”), Zach Tyler Eisen (“Aang”), and Jennie Kwan (“Suki”)! Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning, or are catching up on the podcast, this episode captures great moments with just a sampling of some of our many terrific guests!

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Join Janet and Dante for their first-ever live Braving the Elements, which they did live at NYCC 2021!

They are joined by their friend and ATLA/TLOK staple Dee Bradley Baker for a spirited discussion about the Avatarverse… and a very special table read! They are also joined by hundreds of amazing audience members, who made the live experience so incredible and heart-warming. Would you have had the right answer to win an ATLA collectible at the show? Did Dante show off any Zuko fight moves? And did Janet get super emotional about how much fun they were having with everyone? Find out, with your ears!

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It’s the final episode of Braving the Elements’ first season, and Janet and Dante are celebrating with friends new and old!

The game’s afoot as Janet and Dante are joined by two amazing superfans and two delightful voice actors for a series of games that will show off just how much these four really know about Book One: Water! Antoine Bandele and Kendall Byrd bring their passion and encyclopedic knowledge of the Avatarverse! Jack De Sena (“Sokka”) and Jennie Kwan (“Suki”) pair up with our experts for this two-team showdown!

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It’s Book One’s spectacular finale episode, and we’re talking about it with the spectacular author of the first five ATLA graphic novels, Gene Luen Yang!

Janet and Dante wrap up the recap side of BTE in the second-to-last episode of the podcast’s first season, and they’re doing it in style, thanks to Gene’s insight and perspective. Highlights include Gene’s own background (in teaching, which we love!) and how he came to the Avatarverse, the creepy coolness of Koh (and all the faces he loves to show off), and of course, a lot of talk around Princess Yue and a pair of very important fish.

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As we approach the Season Finale of Book One: Water, Janet and Dante welcome back the awesome Hector Navarro!

It’s a good time to take a close look at some of the big moments of Book One, and review the complex and very cool character arcs of many of our ATLA characters. And who better to join Janet and Dante than friend of the show, Hector Navarro, whose love of the Avatarverse and his passion for details has now earned him the official Avatarverse nickname: The Profector! Revisit how far Team Avatar has come in our story, relish the shifts we’ve seen in Iroh and Zuko, and much more!

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The penultimate episode of Book One features our guest, the voice of Vegeta (Dragonball Z) and All Might (My Hero Academia): Christopher Sabat!

It’s the first half of the two-parter that marks the finale of Book One of ATLA: “The Siege of the North, Part One!” Janet and Dante are joined by their buddy Christopher Sabat to talk discovering podcasts, confusing friend zones, and the coolest way to impress someone you’re crushing on (heads up, piano players!). And, of course, the trio has to spend some time talking about that wonderful moment with Iroh and Zuko... and whether Zuko can even handle it!

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Join Janet and Dante for a fun and informative conversation with longtime ATLA Director, Giancarlo Volpe!

Hear more about the early experience of working on ATLA from the Directing side, including very cool details about the animation process. Learn about Giancarlo’s background and what art has inspired him. And find out what final shot of a particular episode Giancarlo felt was missing… and the satisfaction of seeing how it ended up being created by a fan afterwards! And yes, more talk about… you guessed it… The Great Divide!

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We’ve set our course heading North… and toward a great conversation with the voice of Princess Yue, Johanna Braddy!

Janet and Dante explore the wonders of the Northern Water Tribe as we near the end of Book One of ATLA with “The Siege of the North, Part One.” After praising the amazing design of this episode’s extraordinary landscape and discussing the complicated introduction to Master Pakku, Janet and Dante are joined by Johanna Braddy for a chat about her own experiences in the Avatarverse and beyond.

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Janet and Dante are still abuzz over all the gadgetry in “The Northern Air Temple,” so they decide to talk to fellow lover of gadgets, Adam Savage!

From the delivery systems of Omashu to Jet’s hooked swords to the Fire Nation’s reversible tanks, Adam geeks out with Janet and Dante about some of the very cool designs to come out of Book One of ATLA. But the trio also talks about the deep, abiding emotional calls to action that come from the series, and how we can foster our own imaginations and skills!

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Hop onto your glider and come with us for this journey to “The Northern Air Temple” with special guest Jason Mantzoukas!

Jason joins Janet and Dante for a rousing conversation about not just this conflict-laden episode of ATLA, but also the joy of the Avatarverse at large! Marvel at Aang’s willingness to forgive and move on; celebrate Sokka’s discovery of a cerebral kindred spirit; watch Katara soar like an airbender, and much more!

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This week we take a closer look at the hugely important theme of "Family" with Cheyenne Ewulu!

For a deeper dive into all of the various and layered family dynamics in Book One of "Avatar: The Last Airbender," Janet and Dante welcome actress, Amazon Prime Video and Funimation host, and all-around entertainer, Cheyenne Ewulu! Cheyenne’s love and understanding of the Avatarverse makes this is a great episode for fans who celebrate the depth and complexity of ATLA’s given and chosen families.

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What do you do when you really want to wrap your head around an ATLA episode? Go to the source!

This week, Janet and Dante break down “The Deserter” with ATLA, LOK, and Avatar Studios writer, Tim Hedrick! And yes, he IS credited with the writing of this acclaimed episode, in which we meet the mercurial Jeong Jeong, who has a lot of brilliant observations, but an equal amount of what you might call baggage. Plus! Dante draws our attention to the charms of a quaint Fire Nation village, including all the puppets and spicy snacks it has to offer.

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You know it’s going to be an amazing conversation when you have Avatar Kyoshi and June the Bounty Hunter together in one person!

Janet and Dante are thrilled to welcome their friend, VA and musician Jennifer Hale to the podcast! What follows is a conversation spanning from her beloved roles in ATLA (shout out to Nyla the shirshu), to the snowy wilds of Labrador (Jen's heritage!). And-- fascinating, inspiring thoughts on honoring your gifts, spirituality, and the word that seems to come up so often when we talk about Avatar: Balance.

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This week, Janet and Dante are joined by Avatar Studios’ Consultant on Native Representation, Migizi Pensoneau!

The trio discusses the many layers of “Bato of the Water Tribe,” including Aang’s actions in this episode (controversial amongst fans!), the introduction of the very memorable shirshu (multiple-animals-hybrid alert!) and bounty hunter June, and the reinforcement of what it means to honor not just your literal family, but also your chosen one.

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Happy Holidays from your pals at Braving the Elements! This week, Janet and Dante reminisce about some of their - and YOUR! - favorite moments from Season One of the podcast.

Featuring memorable conversational gems with ATLA creators and Avatar Studios’ Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, Jack De Sena (“Sokka”), Zach Tyler Eisen (“Aang”), and Jennie Kwan (“Suki”)! Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning, or are catching up on the podcast, this episode captures great moments with just a sampling of some of our many terrific guests!

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For their interpretation and discussion of ATLA’s “The Fortuneteller,” Janet and Dante are joined by their pal, the talented and wonderful Evanna Lynch (“Luna Lovegood” from the Potterverse)!

Discussing Aunt Wu’s approach to fortunetelling (Cloud-reading! Osteomancy!) leads to some personal anecdotes about seeing psychic advisors IRL; everyone celebrates the introduction of the brilliant Jessie Flower/Michaela Murphy to the Avatarverse (pre-dating her role as Toph, she plays Meng in this episode!), and Evanna proves herself to be just as compassionate, thoughtful, and delightful as you could ever hope she’d be. Go ahead and press “Play:” there’s an hour of joy in your future!

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Janet and Dante joyfully welcome Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra Sound Designer Benjamin Wynn to the podcast!

Ben chats with Janet and Dante about his early experiences on ATLA, including what it’s like to jump into the deep end on a job you have no idea how to do! Hear about Ben and previous BTE guest Jeremy Zuckerman’s tandem approach to sound and music, learn about their creative manifesto, and find out what 99 Cent store purchase has become part of one of animation’s most iconic scores!

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Janet and Dante discuss one of the most acclaimed episodes of ATLA Book One: “The Blue Spirit” — and things get emotional!

As Aang rushes to find a cure for what ails Katara and Sokka, Janet and Dante rush to lavish praise on the thirteenth episode of the series’ first season. Find out what color Zuko’s mask was originally supposed to be, and why they changed it! Learn more about real-life frogs and toads in a very unscientific way! And see if Janet can get through talking about Aang and Zuko’s changing relationship without crying.

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Get ready for a very cool “big picture” conversation about the Avatarverse this week as Janet and Dante sit down with Karama Horne and Ijeoma Njaka!

Hear from two extraordinarily awesome women who bring nuance, intellect, and humor to this very special round-table-style episode of BTE. Featuring discussions about big recurring themes in ATLA, find out about lessons we can all take into our own lives from Avatar. Karama is a culture journalist and content creator also known as @theblerdgurl, and Ijeoma is an arts educator, professor, writer and artist based in Washington, DC.

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The wonderful Jack De Sena (“Sokka”) rejoins Janet and Dante as they sail together into ATLA’s Episode 12: “The Storm!"

Jack comes back to bring us all a little more Sokka-- in this Book One episode that contains decidedly less Sokka than others! In addition to the gang’s breakdown of the revelations from “The Storm” (Zuko’s scar! Aang’s toys! Iroh’s lightning!), you’ll also get to hear about fun facts, like the ordinary temp jobs Dante and Jack tackled as teenagers.

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This week’s special guests, Hector Navarro and Danielle Radford, jump in to help Janet and Dante further unpack the merits of “The Great Divide!”

Following their lively recap last week, Janet and Dante bring in their two friends, Hector Navarro (SpongeBob BingePants podcast) and Danielle Radford (Honest Trailers), for a high-spirited-yet-extremely-friendly debate over whether this much-discussed episode of ATLA is in fact “thriller” or “filler!"

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Janet and Dante tackle one of the most debated-about episodes in Avatar: The Last Airbender as they plunge into “The Great Divide!”

Listen in as our hosts discuss the creepy canyon crawlers and the fate of the Canyon Guide, the backstories of the bickering tribes and Aang’s surprising solution, and more of what makes this episode such a heated topic of conversation in the ATLA fandom. Will Janet and Dante be able to come to their own conclusions about it? And... what do you think about all this?

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To celebrate our halfway mark in Season One of the podcast, we’re bringing in some new friends to test their ATLA knowledge!

Janet and Dante welcome four incredibly awesome Avatar fans for a game show-style quiz on some of the finer details of Book One (and some foreshadow report-ish topics, too)! Who will win the most points in this friendly competition? Will it be Abiodun “Abby" Abebefe? Dominique Gayle? Phillip Hughes? Or Jordan Wolfe? Test your own knowledge along with our contestants as they puzzle through our questions— some of which were written by other superfans!

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This week brings you an unusual and exciting listen: an episode that was recorded live on Twitch, featuring the legendary Dee Bradley Baker!

Janet and Dante spend a marvelous hour with the voice actor behind all of the animals (and several featured human characters) you hear on both ATLA and TLOK. Dee even graciously tries to teach Janet and Dante how to make some of these iconic animal sounds themselves (emphasis on “try”)! Hear more about Dee’s unique and fascinating work, and find out more about how our career paths can take wonderful and unexpected turns, if we’re willing to let them.

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Team Avatar encounters a controversial character in the ATLA episode “Jet”— and Janet and Dante encounter the delightful Crawford Wilson, the voice behind Jet!

Take a visit to the treetops and find out the inspiration behind the Freedom Fighters’ woodsy hideout as Janet and Dante explore Episode 10 of Book One, celebrating all the terrifically-named characters in Jet’s gang (Smellerbee! Pipsqueak! Sneers! Longshot! The Duke!) and discussing the parallels between Jet and characters like Katara and Zuko. Then hear from Jet himself, the charming Crawford Wilson!

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In this very special episode, ATLA & TLOK Composer Jeremy Zuckerman sits down with Janet, Dante, and Song Exploder’s Hrishikesh Hirway!

The focus is all about the music in this lively discussion about the challenges and delights of scoring television and film. Listen to tales of the very early days of Avatar to the finale of Korra! Find out what instruments make the best “cold climate” soundtracks. And learn what ATLA reprise may have snuck into Hrishi’s own music!

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This week Janet and Dante are joined by writer, gamer, comedian and podcaster Ify Nwadiwe, who jumps into the investigation of “The Waterbending Scroll!”

The trio is quick to acknowledge that there is just a LOT going on in this Book One episode, and the discussion goes from honest explorations about envy and competitiveness, to admiring Avatarverse fans for creating a real-life Pai Sho game, to Appa’s pedicure, to our friend the Cabbage Merchant, and much more. Plus! Ify brings what we think is a BRAND NEW Zuko “ship” to the table!

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Get ready for an amazing look inside the world of voice acting and directing with the legendary Andrea Romano!

Join Janet and Dante as ATLA and TLOK’s Voice Director Andrea Romano treats them to a fascinating, in-depth and delightful conversation about her work on the other side of the microphone, and the road that led her to becoming one of the most beloved voice directors of all time. Not only will you hear wonderful behind-the-scenes tales from the Avatarverse, but stories from across the world of animation!

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Somehow we got lucky enough to welcome two back-to back Avatars! We go from Avatar Aang last week (Zach Tyler Eisen) to this week’s guest, James Garrett— otherwise known as Avatar Roku!

Janet and Dante recap and discuss Part Two of "The Winter Solstice,” unpacking “hot stinkers," Appa’s flying style, and so many other details big and small! Then they’re joined by the great James Garrett, who drops some pretty cool info about the Royal Shakespeare Company, his inspiration for his portrayal of Roku, and issues a special request to the fans!

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That’s right! It’s the voice of The Avatar himself, Zach Tyler Eisen! Join us for this rare appearance by the wonderful former actor who gave us Aang.

Janet and Dante revisit Zach’s experience of recording ATLA, which he did when he was about the same age as the character he portrayed (while still enjoying the childhood Aang may have missed). Zach also weighs in on some of Aang’s tougher choices, and illuminates us about his current career passions!

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It’s a very important first half of a two-part story arc in which Janet and Dante start to get acquainted with The Spirit World!

In this key episode of Book One, we meet the understandably grumpy Hei Bai, spend some time with an intimidatingly cool spirit dragon and his “nose hairs," and see a whole lot of Uncle Iroh’s hot bath-loving bare skin. Plus: Dante compares Prince Zuko to a couple of beloved vintage detectives, leading to a surprising impression.

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This week we dig into the careful design and detailed mechanics of animated martial arts with Sifu Kisu and Bryan Konietzko!

What would a podcast about Avatar be without at least one episode showcasing the phenomenal artistry of the fighting styles in The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra? Bryan and Kisu share the history of meeting, collaborating, and ultimately how they worked with the whole ATLA team to develop the incredible bending and combat styles of the Avatarverse.

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Janet and Dante explore the many layers of “Imprisoned,” and then settle in for a great chat with the voice of Tyro, Kevin Michael Richardson!

We delve into the intensity of the Fire Nation prison island and the oppression of a people, laugh about some truly inspired comic moments in the episode, and celebrate the amazing acting in this episode (including a turn by George Takei!). The icing on the cake is hearing from Kevin about his own hard work and success, and his thoughts on how race factors into the world of voice acting.

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Get the inside scoop on the early days of writing Avatar: The Last Airbender from one of its original and long-standing writers, John O’Bryan!

Meet the person who turned in the first draft of the script laying out the city of Omashu and introducing us to King Bumi! But we know what you’re all thinking… is this the mind that created one of the most iconic characters in the entire series? Is this the imagination responsible for… THE CABBAGE MERCHANT??

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This week we’re headed to the fast-moving, earthbendingly-impressive city of Omashu, so hold on to your cabbages!

Who better to join Dante and Janet for this rollercoaster recap than the strange, spirited leader of Omashu himself, King Bumi? Meet prolific voice actor André Sogliuzzo (“Bumi”), hear the origin story of the king's distinctive voice, and celebrate the introduction of a different beloved character whose love of a certain leafy vegetable is famous!

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A conversation with Jennie Kwan that was so inspiring, layered, and downright fun, it deserved its own episode!

Janet and Dante talk with Jennie about her background and multifaceted work in the arts and the entertainment industry, including her positive approach to her work. And Dante and Jennie share their experiences as Asian Americans working in Hollywood, with thoughts on how things have evolved and where they’re headed.

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The delightful Jennie Kwan breaks down Episode Four of ATLA with Janet and Dante, bringing her fabulous insight and wit!

Listen in as this trio discusses their love of Suki and Kyoshi Warrior cosplay; something that suspiciously seems like Zuko’s breakdancing moves; the concept of gender fluidity in the Avatar legacy; and how to empower a person who has a lot to learn (Sokka!) by using toughness and a little patience.

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Janet and Dante are joined by voice actor Jack de Sena (“Sokka”) for a hilarious episode full of great conversation!

Find out about Jack’s beginnings as a child actor to his busy college years trying to balance school with his ATLA voice-acting duties. Discover Jack’s thoughts on Sokka’s insatiable appetite (don’t eat the hybrid animals!), his favorite Sokka ship, and much more. It’s a can’t-miss episode guaranteed to make you laugh.

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Appa takes us to The Southern Air Temple (and Ep. 3 of ATLA), where Aang must face some tough truths while Zuko faces a formidable enemy… all with Janet and Dante along for the ride!

From peaches (Momo!) to barbecue (Agni Kai!), from root-breaking to gooey-caking, from the families we lose to the families we choose, there’s a lot of adventure to explore and unpack.

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Janet and Dante are joined by former Nickelodeon exec Eric Coleman, who delves further into the development of ATLA and the stories behind some of the key moments and decisions that made the show work so beautifully.

Listen in on this candid discussion with “The Godfather of Zuko” and learn more about Mike and Bryan’s early ideas, what it was like to work with them, and how to get ahead in a tough industry, all the way to getting a show made... while staying true to your vision!

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Janet and Dante recap some great listener interactions and then dig into Episode Two of ATLA: The Avatar Returns, which leads to some big revelations…

Is Appa’s new nickname “the lazy canoe?” Did Zuko get bested by his own bed? Does Janet cry during EVERY episode of ATLA? Is Dante doing a British accent? And on a more serious note, Dante and Janet discuss how a shift in perspective can change the way you see your own life and choices!

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It’s the second part of our two-episode illuminating chat with “Avatar” creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko!

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Jump into a multilayered conversation with Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the creative minds behind “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra!”

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In our first-ever episode: get to know Janet and Dante, find out what to expect in our first season, and dive into "The Boy in the Iceberg!”

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Jump into the amazing world of Avatar with Nickelodeon’s official companion podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements. Every Tuesday, join hosts Janet Varney and Dante Basco as they re-watch every episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender starting with Book 1. Special guests from cast members to producers join them to explore elements of the Avatarverse, including how Avatar was brought to life and behind-the-scenes info you can’t get anywhere else. 

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