Believe in Anything: A Heated Rivalry Podcast

14. Xio (xioaxelrod)

This week's episode features best-selling author Xio Axelrod [https://www.instagram.com/xioaxelrod/] aka "Philly's #1 Loon". We talk about how fandom is community, Heated Rivalry and SKAM parallels, and why Rachel Reid is basically living the dream. P.S. Xio is hosting LoonCon, a community event and fundraiser, on June 7th in Philly. Get your tickets here [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/xio-axelrod/looncon-summer-2026]!

13.5: Harrison (hbrowne24)

It's a minisode! We were able to chat with Harrison Browne [https://www.instagram.com/hbrowne24/]ahead of his book event last month for Let Us Play. He shared what he learned about himself while writing the book, how to live authentically, and how his life has changed since Heated Rivalry.

13. Versha (versharma)

This week, we have a BookCon episode with a very special guest. Versha Sharma [https://www.instagram.com/versharma/] joins us to debrief the panel she moderated featuring Rachel Reid and Jacob Tierney last weekend. We talk takeaways from the Q&A, and got the opportunity to ask her about being part of this fandom and its impact. Highlights of the week include meeting Rachel Reid, loon pins from Naomi, and correctly guessing that Jacob is a Libra.

12. Matt (matt__runs)

This week, we spoke with Matt Kenny [https://www.instagram.com/matt__runs/], a former hockey player turned marathon runner, who was inspired by Heated Rivalry to share his story on social media. We talk about the realities of hockey culture, the importance of vulnerability and authenticity, and the impact of sharing his story with the world. Host HR Highlights of the week cover everything from April 13–14, plus a Hayden (Cal) cameo. Please note that this episode contains mentions of homophobia, including a brief use of a slur, as well as discussions of mental health and experiences of being closeted.

11. Kristin (itskristinchirico)

This week, we are speaking with the hilarious, Kristin Chirico [https://www.instagram.com/itskristinchirico/], a comedian, writer, and content creator. We chatted about fandom norms, unintentionally funny moments in the show, and a top-notch fanfic idea where Ilya and Shane go to a comedy show (it's a need). Highlights of the week include THE Verizon ad, women's hockey, and NASA.