Once and Always a Fanboy

Hi everyone, my name is Chris, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. She first made her mark as one half of the beloved duo Leanne & Naara, and has since established herself as a solo artist, most recently putting her own spin on the classic “Babaero.” And music isn't the only way she expresses herself. She's also an actor and theater performer, bringing another side of her artistry that some of you may still be discovering for yourselves. Fangirls and Fanboys, Leanne! 00:00 Preview 00:39 Intro 01:29 Babaero 02:55 Leanne & Naara 04:22 Naara’s Influence 06:07 What Makes A Song Good 07:16 Acting 08:41 Braver 09:35 Romantic Idea Of Music 11:03 Being A Fangirl 12:33 Songwriting 14:12 Didn’t Go The Way You Wanted 16:19 Perfectionist 18:56 Armor 20:19 Work Is Fun 22:04 Fanboy Side Quest 26:16 Final Words

Hi everyone, my name is Chris and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. My guest today is a legendary Filipino drummer who has spent more than three decades making music with iconic bands like TEETH and Sandwich. But these days, he is also known for his passion for food, traveling across the Philippines to discover hidden culinary gems and sharing those discoveries with a whole new generation of fans. And with TEETH celebrating the vinyl release of their landmark debut album and hitting the road once again, we're talking music, food, life on the road, and what it's like to keep finding new things to be passionate about. Fangirls and fanboys, Mike Dizon! 00:00 Preview 00:39 Intro 02:17 Food and Music 03:37 Passion for food since the beginning 04:47 Ninja Recording 06:10 Instinct for food 08:09 When you change your mind 09:30 Underrated food destination 10:46 Being the regular customer 12:20 A better content creator 14:03 Looking back at TEETH 15:35 Musicians today 17:53 Drum gear 20:36 Song you’ve played a thousand times 21:29 Tour life 22:48 Right people to make music with 24:26 Fanboying over Raymund Marasigan 26:22 Fanboy Side Quest 29:06 Final Words

Hello everyone! My name is Chris, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Today's guests have carved out a sound that's uniquely their own, blending classical influences with indie pop, jazz, and cinematic storytelling. Their music feels honest and beautifully unpredictable, and with the release of their upcoming debut album Nocturne, they're entering an exciting new chapter as artists. I'm looking forward to talking not just about the music they make, but also the creative process, the sibling dynamics, and the things they're fans of outside the studio. Fangirls and fanboys, Will and Olivia of Wasia Project! 00:00 Preview 00:50 Intro 01:52 Their Childhood Performances 02:48 The Coffee Cup Argument 03:52 The Beauty of Imperfection 06:02 When Creative Differences Make Better Songs 08:32 The Musical Rules They Had to Unlearn 11:05 Making Nocturne 13:40 What They're Fanboying Over 15:30 Hearing the Music in Their Heads 17:27 Writing to Understand Feelings 18:51 Are They Braver Now? 22:13 The 3 AM Sibling Texts 23:29 The Wrong WhatsApp Message 24:22 What “Wasia” Really Means 25:57 Why They Never Wanted a Plan B 27:30 What They Don't Care About Anymore 28:56 Play It, Skip It, Workshop It 31:11 Final Words

Hello everyone, my name is Chris and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy! Today, I’m joined by the stars of HBO Max's LANTERNS, the DC series following Hal Jordan and John Stewart as they investigate a mystery on Earth. We talk about what makes Hal’s fearlessness such an important part of his character, how Aaron approached making John Stewart feel authentic, and what these two characters bring out in each other. Fangirls and fanboys, Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre! Stream new episodes of LANTERNS every Monday only on HBO Max PH!

Hello everyone! Here's a throwback episode packed with fun games, plenty of laughs, and a few fanboy moments I still can't believe happened. The cast put their Avatar: The Last Airbender knowledge to the test, guessed castmates from close up photos, matched memorable quotes, and even assigned bending elements to each other. Fangirls and fanboys, Ken Leung and Elizabeth Yu from Avatar: The Last Airbender Season One.

Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Original films like The End of Oak Street don't come around often, and this one completely drew me in with both its incredible spectacle and the deeply human story at its core. I got the chance to sit down with the film's director and producer, and I have to admit, the Lostie in me was fanboying hard. Fangirls and fanboys, David Robert Mitchell and J.J. Abrams! 00:00 Preview 00:37 Intro 00:45 J.J. Abrams on Why The End of Oak Street Works 02:01 David Robert Mitchell on Embracing Uncertainty 03:13 What They Learned From Each Other 04:46 A Fanboy Moment with J.J. Abrams

Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Some artists write songs you listen to. Others write songs that quietly become part of your life. Our guest today has built a catalog filled with music that people return to during both the biggest moments and the quietest ones. Today, we're diving into the creative mind behind those songs and the passions that inspire her away from the spotlight. Fangirls and fanboys, Syd Hartha! 00:00 Preview 00:41 Intro 01:15 Sofar Manila 02:15 What are you not chasing anymore? 03:27 Braver on stage 05:05 Syd without a guitar 06:35 When you’re stuck writing 07:27 Songwriting rule 08:54 Chorus or second verse? 09:44 Melody or title? 10:44 Life outside of music 11:43 When people find comfort in your songs 13:48 Creative partners 14:46 Making peace with the artist you were 16:41 Song that feels the most like you 17:25 Fangirl Rapid Fire 22:13 Final Words

Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy! Today, we're diving into Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the bold new chapter in The Big Bang Theory universe, with the incredible cast and creators behind the series. We talk about reluctant heroes, bringing beloved supporting characters into the spotlight, and why staying true to who they are became the heart of this adventure. Fangirls and fanboys, Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn, John Ross Bowie, Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, and Zak Penn. 00:00 Preview 00:44 Intro 00:54 Stuart's Safe Place 01:39 Denise Takes the Lead 02:15 What Could Never Change 02:59 Spotting an Evil Stuart 03:48 Why Stuart, Denise, Bert & Barry? 04:28 Becoming Real Heroes 06:18 Bert's Secret Superpower 06:57 Barry Steps Out of Sheldon's Shadow 07:37 Fighting Like Bert & Barry 08:38 Switching Personalities 09:13 Why These Four Worked 10:35 Why Stuart Was the Right Hero 11:24 From Fans to Heroes 12:30 Finding the Right Balance 13:10 Why Not New Characters? Catch new episodes of Stuart Fails To Save the Universe only on HBO Max!

Hello everyone! My name is Chris, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Today, we're joined by one of P-pop's newest girl groups as they celebrate the release of their debut album. DNA has been carving out their own identity through powerful harmonies, and a fresh energy that's uniquely their own. We'll be talking about their journey, the stories behind the album, and what it means to create music as a family. Fangirls and fanboys, Ezri, Julia, and Tasha of DNA! 00:00 Preview 00:44 Intro 01:27 From Separate Paths to One Dream 02:53 The Lesson Family Taught Them Before Fame 04:41 How They Hope Fans Will Describe DNA 05:36 Why Their Differences Make DNA Stronger 07:36 How Three Sisters Lift Each Other Up 08:35 What Their Debut Album Says About DNA 10:33 The Creative Process Behind DNA's Sound 12:58 Did Their First Album Teach Them More About Music or Each Other? 15:25 What DNA Is Currently Obsessed With 19:56 How Fandom Shaped DNA 23:25 The Advice They Chose Not to Follow 24:36 "We Fight Like Individuals, But Recover Like a Family" 26:33 Watching Each Other Blossom 30:09 DNA Test 34:35 Final Words

Hi everyone, my name is Chris, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Today we're celebrating one of the most influential bands of the OPM alternative scene as they reunite not just to revisit the songs that shaped a generation, but to share a new chapter with new music. We'll be talking about the journey from the 90s to today, the stories behind the reunion, and what they've discovered about themselves after decades of making music. Fangirls and fanboys, Barbie, Wendell, Rommel, and Kakoy of Barbie's Cradle! 00:00 Preview 00:35 Intro 01:20 When OPM Felt Different 02:56 The CD Era vs Streaming 07:26 More Than a Reunion 08:13 Kakoy on Finishing an Unfinished Chapter 11:57 Wendell's Signature Sound 14:03 Rommel on the Struggles Fans Never Saw 18:49 Barbie on the Magic of Barbie's Cradle 21:57 Turning Off to Tune In 23:45 Their Most Underrated Songs 24:53 Choosing Authenticity 28:28 Final Words

Hello everyone, my name is Chris, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Today's guest has a gift for turning deeply personal emotions into songs that resonate with so many listeners. From the breakout success of Ako Naman Muna to the journey behind Panahon, she's continued to grow not just as a songwriter, but as an artist who's become even more confident in her own voice. Fangirls and fanboys, Angela Ken! 00:00 Preview 00:39 Intro 01:14 Cavite 04:37 Kalye Playlists 06:04 Truth 09:10 Being Braver 11:27 Collaborators 13:35 Fangirling Over 18:23 Rough Edges 22:00 Advice You Ignored 23:53 What You Got Wrong 25:35 Final Words

Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy! To celebrate the return of Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, I wanted to do something a little different from the usual junket interview. Instead of a traditional Q&A, we put the cast through two fan-inspired games: Truth or Flame, where they tested their memory of Season 1, and "Who's Most Likely To," where they reveal how much they know about each other. Fangirls and Fanboys, Gordon Cormier (Aang), Kiawentiio (Katara), Ian Ousley (Sokka), Miyako (Toph), Dallas Liu (Zuko), and Elizabeth Yu (Azula)! 00:00 Preview 00:28 Truth or Flame with Dallas and Elizabeth 03:53 "Who's most likely to?" with Gordon, Ian, Miyako, and Kiawentiio

Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy! Today is a special one because this marks my very first official HBO Max junket, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to kick things off. We're heading back to Westeros as I chat with two of the stars of House of the Dragon. We talk about Daemon and Rhaenyra's evolution over three seasons, the weight of power and identity, and even have some fun imagining what would happen if they traded places with other characters in Westeros. Fangirls and fanboys, Matt Smith and Emma D'Arcy! 00:00 Preview 00:27 Intro 00:36 Rhaenyra's Identity 01:50 Daemon's Ambition 03:14 Westeros Character Swap

Hello everyone, my name is Chris and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Today’s guest is a singer, songwriter, performer, and artist whose career has constantly evolved across genres and stages. From theater productions, to General Luna, to her solo work that blends rock, jazz, and classical influences, she’s built a career defined by reinvention and creative freedom. And as a fellow musician, I feel like there’s a lot we can get into about artistry, performance, songwriting, and surviving different eras of the industry. Fangirls and fanboys, Nicole Asensio. 00:00 Preview 00:51 Intro 02:07 Growing “New Skin” 06:01 Scariest Stage 08:11 Overthinking 10:01 Music Eras 13:13 A performance that went wrong 15:44 Courage 19:23 Fangirling Over 21:09 Songwriting 23:19 General Luna 25:26 Misconceptions 26:55 Emulating Artists 29:49 Final Words

Hi everyone, my name is Chris, and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Not Suitable for Work is a show about ambition, uncertainty, friendship, and trying to figure life out when nobody really knows what they're doing. So today, I'm joined by the incredible cast behind the series. Fangirls and fanboys, please welcome Avantika Vandanapu, Ella Hunt, Jack Martin, Nicholas Duvernay, and Will Angus! 00:00 Preview00:40 Avantika and Ella Intro00:53 Abby's Confidence vs Experience02:09 AJ and Embracing the Unexpected03:49 Horror Movie Survival Guide05:25 Nicholas, Jack, and Will Intro05:35 Kel's Fear of Living the Wrong Life06:30 Josh and the Weight of Privilege07:29 Davis and the Effort of Love08:21 Horror Movie Survival Guide08:45 New York as a Character09:23 Modern Ambition10:00 Great Collaborators

Hello everyone, my name is Chris and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. My guest today is an actress whose performance as Becka in The Testaments is something that really stayed with me. Coming from a background in theater and Broadway, I thought it was really fascinating hearing her talk about learning to trade projection for subtlety as a performer. We dove into The Testaments, her acting journey, and some thoughtful conversations about loneliness, identity, and everything in between. Fangirls and fanboys, Mattea Conforti. 00:00 Preview00:42 Intro00:52 Coming from Broadway02:29 Becka's Loneliness03:37 Reality TV04:16 Switching Places05:17 Audience Reaction06:24 Performance Detail07:29 Entering Gilead as a Storyteller

Hello everyone, my name is Chris Cantada and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Today’s episode is a special one for me. Before the interviews, before the podcast, before the spandex even, I was part of a band that would go on to become one of the most enduring names in Filipino music. For more than two decades, this band has created songs that many of you grew up with and continue to discover even today. This conversation is unique because I’m not just speaking to any artist or band. I’m speaking to people I once shared a stage with, a rehearsal room at Future Star in Katipunan, and a very meaningful chapter of my life. Fangirls and fanboys, Sponge Cola.00:00 Preview 00:54 Intro 02:34 Improvements throughout the years 07:45 What you guys do to discover new things about each other 11:13 Ted joining Sponge Cola 16:04 Staying true to your sound 20:12 What success looks like 21:43 New album feels like the first album 24:45 Super power 28:40 Longevity 31:38 Creative differences 35:06 Fanboying over 36:54 Did the band almost break up 39:38 Sponge Cola song that defines the band 47:16 Challenges 55:53 Final words

Hello everyone, my name is Chris and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. My guest today is an actress a lot of people are talking about right now because of her performance as Eunice in Beef Season 2. What I really loved is how much she’s able to communicate in such subtle and controlled ways, and it makes her such an interesting character to watch throughout the season. I'm so happy that she said yes to be on the show today, and I'm really excited to dive into Beef, her acting journey, and some thoughtful conversations about performance, creativity, and everything in between. Fangirls and fanboys, Seoyeon Jang. 00:00 Preview 00:38 Intro 01:14 Something that deepened your understanding of Eunice 02:20 Switch Places 03:27 Different Genre 04:25 K-Pop Discipline 07:14 Hidden Panic 08:42 Fangirling Over 09:57 Blocking The Noise 10:51 Relationship with Fear 12:02 Being Underestimated 13:05 Collaborators 14:41 Fulfillment and Success 16:08 What comes naturally now 17:51 Final Words

For me as a 90s kid, Mortal Kombat was one of those games that just stuck with you. I remember playing it on my cousin's Sega, trying to memorize all the Fatalities, figuring things out with friends, and just being completely pulled into that world.So seeing it now, years later, still evolving into something bigger, makes me a proud fan. I enjoyed the first movie, but this sequel really expands everything, the scale, the characters, and the emotion behind the fights. My mind was blown in the best way, and I think fans, especially those who grew up with it, are going to be very happy with what they’ve done here.I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Global Tour stop in Jakarta, where I got to sit down with the cast and talk to them face to face. And what stood out to me wasn’t just the action or the scale of the film, but how much thought and intention they brought into these characters, beyond just the fights.Fanboys and fangirls, Joe Taslim, Tadanobu Asano, Ludi Lin, and Max Huang.00:00 Preview 00:53 Indonesian Facet of Sub-Zero 03:15 Human Quality of Lord Raiden 03:49 What Makes a Good Collaborator 05:43 What Strength Looks Like During Uncertainty 06:45 (SPOILER) What Has Stayed The Same with Kung Lao 07:51 Fight Choreography Shouldn't Be Like Dancing 10:11 The Core of Mortal Kombat

Hello everyone, my name is Chris Cantada and welcome to another episode of Once and Always a Fanboy. Today is a special one for me because I’m joined by two actors whose work I’ve followed and admired for years. Both are known for bringing incredible depth, commitment, and transformation to their roles, and one of them has even been part of a film that meant so much to me personally growing up (That Thing You Do). Today they star in APEX, a tense and immersive story about survival and instincts. Fangirls and Fanboys, Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton! 00:00 Preview 00:37 Charlize Theron Changing The Narrative 02:05 Taron Egerton On Finding Truth 03:49 What Quality The Other Brought That Helped The Film? 05:42 My Full Circle Moment With Charlize