trailers and media clips
ALIENS EXPANDED: DOCUMENTARY (2024) | FILM
The Callisto protocol: Mastering horror docuseries (2022) | gaming
Experts react: Dom Toretto from The Fast & the Furious (2023) | Culture and fandom
ALIENS EXPANDED: DOCUMENTARY (2024) | FILM
BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM BY WARNER BROS. (2023) | ANIMATION
Experts react: IF John wick were real (2023) | Culture and fandom
Fandom Entertainment: Spider-Man goes to Therapy (2023) | CULTURE AND FANDOM
in search of tomorrow: The definitive 80’s sci-fi documentary (2022) | FILM AND TV
Marvel’s 616 on DISNEY+ (2020) | Culture and Fandom
Batman: The LONG HALLOWEEN by Warner bros. (2022) | animatioN
COSPLAY UNIVERSE: Be your own hero (2022) | CULTURE AND FANDOM
NECESSARY EVIL: Super-VILLAINS of DC COMICS (2013) | Comics
Titles (appearances)
full episodes - Interviews and Appearances
“FOR ALL NERDS SHOW” - X-Men ‘97
Dr. Drea re-joins the video podcast known for frank discussions about comics, movies, television, and video games — and how those media affect the world of fandom. This episode focuses on major events seen in the first season of the animated series, X-Men ‘97.
“FOR ALL NERDS SHOW” - THE PSYCHOLOGY OF Marvel’s MOON KNIGHT
Dr. Drea joins show hosts DJ BenHaMeen and Tatiana King, who serve as the show’s cultural guides, and who invite a revolving cast of guests that run the gamut of industries--from hip hop and politics, to comics, movies, television and video games. In this episode, we share insights about the superhero with multiple personalities and an uncountable amount of internal conflicts, Moon Knight (Marvel/Disney+).
“Reignite YOURSELF” - Handling Burnout in the VFX industry
The Visual Effects Society partnered with Dr. Drea to create this 5-part web-series to celebrate mental health and provide industry support. This episode features legendary Star Wars special effects artist John Dykstra, who talks about finding joy in our work.
“Reignite YOURSELF” - Staying calm under pressure of the VFX INDUSTRY
The Visual Effects Society partnered with Dr. Drea to create “Reignite Yourself,” a 5-part web-series to celebrate mental health and provide industry support. This episode features visual effects supervisor Chris White from Weta, who talks about staying focused during high-pressure situations in the creative industry.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE - the show that shaped us
To celebrate the new adaptation of The Twilight Zone developed by Jordan Peele, Fandom invited Dr. Drea to conduct an analysis of the groundbreaking and historically acclaimed anthology series—and speak to today’s most compelling themes of horror, suspense, and lessons of humanity.
“HOW DO WE SUSTAIN?” - 10 QUESTIONS SERIES
In difficult times, how do we sustain - individually, collectively, and globally? In this UCLA Arts series focusing on innovators and visionaries, Dr. Drea offers the healthy framework of leaning into storytelling when times are tough. “We connect with stories not only for entertainment, but for guidance, comfort, and resilience.”
“minoritized Students’ Mental Health and well-being” - Student affairs now podcast
Higher Ed professionals address the mental health and well-being of the most marginalized. They discuss strategies deliberately designed for the most marginalized, collaboration across the campus community, expanding self-care to community-care and systems, and recognizing and addressing the toll on the mental health of professionals.
“The State of Fandom” - Honest trailers
After being stuck at home for the majority of 2020, 74% of fans report spending more time with entertainment. But that’s only part of the story: While fads like sourdough starters and puzzles came and went, entertainment media stayed strong throughout quarantine because it provided people with the one thing they were missing most during lockdown: Connection. Dr. Drea discusses.
“THE HEALING POWER OF STORIES” - TED X UCLA
Sadness. Rage. Grief. Hope. Ever feel intense emotions when watching a movie or streaming a show? Pop culture is brimming with immersive stories that become a part of our psychological fabric. Dr. Drea delves into this powerful phenomenon and shares how these connections can help us gain insight, emotional growth, and self-discovery. Stories create healthy escapism and help us flourish, especially during times of crisis.
“Real world impact of AVENGERS ENDGAME” - screen junkies
Dr. Drea joins a league of professional advisors to answer questions about the real-world implications of the Marvel villain Thanos and his destructive choices.
“A psychologist breaks down the walking dead” - skybound | Gamma RAY
Dr. Drea conducts a deep-dive analysis of the characters in Telltale’s video game, The Walking Dead.
“LOOKING FOR LEIA” - sYFY
Many women and non-binary fans share experiences of having their fandom questioned and subjected to testing, with acquisition of trivia and collectibles set as a benchmark for "real" fandom. Dr. Drea joins other experts to share how their love of Star Wars goes beyond the screen and into their daily lives.
“Taking care” - the BOSTON GLOBE
Want some support … from a distance? Watch Boston Globe Love Letters advice columnist Meredith Goldstein in “Taking Care,” which features conversations with mental health professionals during this time of social distancing. Meredith talks to Dr. Drea about how we can stay connected even when we’re apart. They also talk about healthy escapism and learning self-care through pop culture, especially during times of hardship.
“2018 year in review” - MTV NEWS
Dr. Drea joins experts to discuss how pop culture mirrored both the best and worst parts of 2018, and how the movies and TV of the past year reflected the changing cultural conversation.
“wonder woman and the #metoo moVemenT” - CNN
Dr. Drea speaks to CNN about significant connections between the sociopolitical landscape and storytelling on screen.
FANDOM IRL: MARVEL’s LOKI and BLACK WIDOW
The imperfect but forgivable anti-villain Loki and the troubled but compassionate assassin Black Widow are deconstructed in these thought-provoking pieces that ask audiences, “What if Loki and Black Widow went to therapy?”
FANDOM IRL: DC Entertainment’s HARLEY QUINN
"Crazy" is a word that can mean out of control, wild, unpredictable-- yes, Harley Quinn from DC Comics and Birds of Prey is those things. Crazy, though, should never be a word that refers to a person's mental health. It stigmatizes and dehumanizes them.
More on Harley, misconceptions, & psychology in Dr. Drea’s honest video interviews with Fandom: