Avatar: Braving the Elements

Co-creator Bryan Konietzko drops in to talk about the design of some of our favorite characters from the Avatarverse. He gives Janet and Dante some true insider info about what went into the choices that made these characters so visually dynamic, recognizable, and iconic; from the beginnings of Avatar the Last Airbender, to the first drafts of The Legend of Korra. Sponsor - RocketMoney.com/ELEMENTS Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Choose RocketMoney to cancel your unwanted subscription. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, iconic episode here! Janet and Dante hide out at ‘The Western Air Temple’ with Avatar writer, Tim Hedrick. Together, they discuss animals that are not just animals but also verbs, the most memorable lines from the episode, and their opinions on what might be a misuse of Katara’s healing water. Dante and Janet share their personal boomerang histories and the group sympathizes with the newest friend of Team Avatar that is just SO bad at being good. (Oof, that’s rough buddy). To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think you know Avatar? Put your knowledge to the test with Janet and Dante as they’re joined by two superfans for some FIRE trivia made by one of the biggest Avatar enthusiasts we know - Janet! We find out who really remembers their fictional musical instruments from the Four Nations, and put Dante in the hot seat to judge fans’ best impressions of some of the most iconic characters from the animated series. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hold on to your ostrich horses - we’re back with ‘Day of Black Sun Part 2’! Janet and Dante are once again joined by friend and Avatar aficionado, Hector Navarro, to collectively scream over this mid-eclipse twist, as Team Avatar finally makes their way to the Fire Lord’s secret underground bunker only to find Princess Azula sitting smugly on her father’s throne. Follow along as we witness a major turning point for Zuko, ponder the effectiveness of the team’s eclipse glasses, and determine who would be the best real-life PR rep for the Fire Nation (not a hard job when there are just SO many good folks there). Sponsor - RocketMoney.com/ELEMENTS Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Choose RocketMoney to cancel your unwanted subscription. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your eclipse glasses ready - Janet, Dante, and Avatar aficionado, Hector Navarro, are catching up with the Gaang in, ‘Day of Black Sun Part 1’. With the arrival of some familiar faces and fancy new gadgets, Team Avatar is ready to bring the fight to the Fire Lord’s doorstep, but what trouble awaits on the other side of the palace gates? Who knows! Will they find success and redemption after their failure at Ba Sing Se? We hope so! Can Dante really find the good in ANYONE in the Fire Nation? You’ll have to tune in to find out… To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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). To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Sponsor - RocketMoney.com/ELEMENTS Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Choose RocketMoney to cancel your unwanted subscription. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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’. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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??’. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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’. Sponsor - RocketMoney.com/ELEMENTS Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Choose RocketMoney to cancel your unwanted subscription To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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’. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Sponsor - RocketMoney.com/ELEMENTS. Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Choose RocketMoney to cancel your unwanted subscription. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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?). To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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… To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The long-awaited Avatar The Last Airbender Soundtrack, Book 1: Water, coming soon! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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... To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the finale episode of Braving The Elements season two, and we’re going out big with two returning guests: 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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. From his love of tea to his unparalleled guidance for Zuko, get ready to explore the heartwarming and thought-provoking lessons that Iroh imparts on the young prince and viewers alike. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The journey to spiritual enlightenment and emotional transformation is on full display in “The Guru,” one of ATLA’s most pivotal episodes. Janet and Dante are joined by friend and writer Migizi Pensoneau to unpack Aang’s chakra training, Sokka’s reunion with his father, and Azula’s cunning political maneuvering in Ba Sing Se. With Iroh and Zuko sharing a moment of joy over tea and Toph breaking free in true Earthbender style, this discussion captures everything that makes Avatar: The Last Airbender so layered and powerful. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom are about to collide in this high-stakes episode of ATLA, and Azula is never far from the action! Voice actress Grey DeLisle returns to Braving the Elements to join Janet and Dante in recapping Book Two, Episode 18: “The Earth King.” As Zuko battles illness and Team Avatar finally gains access to the palace, political intrigue unfolds. With the voices of Zuko and Azula reunited, expect laughs, tension—and maybe even a power struggle over the mic. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dive deep into one of the most suspenseful episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender—“Lake Laogai”—with comedian and actor Joel Kim Booster! Janet and Dante explore the mystery surrounding Jet, the brainwashing truth behind Ba Sing Se’s political cover-ups, and Team Avatar’s daring rescue of Appa. Joel shares his love for the Avatarverse, bending preferences, and favorite creatures—including a certain polar bear dog from The Legend of Korra. This episode uncovers hidden truths in more ways than one. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grab the tissues—this one's an emotional ride. Janet and Dante are joined by longtime ATLA fan Evanna Lynch (aka Luna Lovegood in “Harry Potter”) to explore the heartbreaking story told in “Appa’s Lost Days.” Revisit one of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s most gut-wrenching episodes as the trio discusses Appa’s journey, the importance of compassion in the Avatarverse, and the power of silent storytelling. 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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ring in the new year with Azula herself! Janet and Dante revisit their fan-favorite conversation with voice actress Grey DeLisle, the iconic voice behind one of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s most formidable villains. From behind-the-scenes memories in the ATLA booth to Azula’s most chilling lines, Grey shares her unique experience in the Avatarverse and updates us on what she’s been working on outside of Ba Sing Se and the Fire Nation. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Celebrate this beloved ATLA episode of multiple character stories with the return of our friend Danielle Radford! 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. From Iroh’s legendary tale to Momo’s search for Appa, this discussion captures the heart of the Avatar: The Last Airbender experience. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know her as Joo Dee from Ba Sing Se, but Lauren Tom’s voice acting legacy stretches far and wide! Janet and Dante sit down with the multi-talented Lauren to talk about her work on Avatar: The Last Airbender, her voiceover and on-screen acting career, and her representation as a powerhouse in the Asian American artistic community. 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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder what it’s like to work behind the scenes in the Avatarverse? Janet and Dante welcome Avatar Studios friends Isabella Boettcher and Pramodh Manian for a lively conversation about their roles shaping the future of Avatar: The Last Airbender. From favorite ATLA moments to which characters they’d travel with, loan money to, or vacation alongside, this episode is a fun and fascinating peek into the people helping to expand the world of Aang, Zuko, and the Four Nations. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. As Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai push Team Avatar to their limits, our hosts dive into the episode’s stunning animation, smart battle strategy, and subtle character dynamics. And don’t miss Karama’s hot takes on what kind of fashion icon Mai would be in the real world! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices