Avatar: Braving the Elements

Nickelodeon

Enter the amazing world of Avatar through the official companion podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements from Nickelodeon. Join hosts Janet Varney (the voice of “Korra”) and Dante Basco (the voice of “Prince Zuko”) each week as they re-watch every episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender then break down key themes, notable battles, and behind-the-scenes trivia you can’t get anywhere else. Special guests from cast members to producers join them to explore elements of the Avatarverse, including the origins of the story and how Avatar was brought to life. Braving the Elements listeners can use discount code "AVATAR20” for 20% off all Avatar: The Last Airbender products on ParamountShop.com. read less

Our Editor's Take

The Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast explores Avatar: The Last Airbender (or ATLA). This magical world has delivered action, adventure, and mystery since 2005. The Nickelodeon animated TV show lasted three seasons and still has a devoted following. For the uninitiated, this is a separate world from James Cameron's 2009 film.

In this podcast, hosts Janet Varney and Dante Basco explore the TV series. And they also talk about The Legend of Korra, the show's spin-off. Basco voiced Prince Zuko on ATLA and Varney voiced Korra on TLOK, as fans call the shows. They have both great voices and insiders' perspectives.

The initial concept of this podcast was for Janet and Dante to recap every Avatar: The Last Airbender episode. But the Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast has become much more. Janet and Dante's excitement builds as they recap each episode on the show. Their interviews are fun and informal. Joining the hosts are influencers, creators, and voice actors from the series. Guests include actors Jack De Sena and Jennie Kwan. Show creators Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino also appear. James Sie, who played the Cabbage Merchant, shares funny memories and insights. For anyone who thinks they already know, this podcast reveals a few secrets. Actress Lauren Tom, star of the TV shows Supernatural and Futurama, shares a secret or two of her own.

Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast is a fun listen for lifelong fans, benders, and non-benders alike.

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Introducing Avatar: Braving the Elements from Nickelodeon

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 3

Introducing Season 3 of Avatar: Braving The Elements

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Book Three: Fire

Book Three: Fire

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘The Awakening’ with Giancarlo Volpe

‘The Awakening’ with Giancarlo Volpe

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'The Headband' with John O'Bryan

'The Headband' with John O'Bryan

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Bending! with Superfans

New Bending! with Superfans

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… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘The Painted Lady’ with Faith Erin Hicks

‘The Painted Lady’ with Faith Erin Hicks

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?). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bookbending! with F.C. Yee & Nancy Wu

Bookbending! with F.C. Yee & Nancy Wu

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Sokka’s Master’ with Jack De Sena

‘Sokka’s Master’ with Jack De Sena

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Music of Avatar with Jeremy Zuckerman & Jeff Adams

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘The Beach’ with Olivia Hack & Cricket Leigh

‘The Beach’ with Olivia Hack & Cricket Leigh

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’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drawing the Avatarverse with Lauren Montgomery

Drawing the Avatarverse with Lauren Montgomery

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘The Avatar and the Firelord’ with Ify Nwadiwe

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘The Runaway’ with Michaela Jill Murphy

‘The Runaway’ with Michaela Jill Murphy

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choose Your Fate with Superfans

Choose Your Fate with Superfans

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??’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘The Puppetmaster’ with Joaquim Dos Santos

‘The Puppetmaster’ with Joaquim Dos Santos

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’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Nightmares and Daydreams’ with Grey DeLisle

‘Nightmares and Daydreams’ with Grey DeLisle

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Art of Cosplay with Superfans

The Art of Cosplay with Superfans

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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Day of Black Sun Part 1’ with Hector Navarro

‘Day of Black Sun Part 1’ with Hector Navarro

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… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Day of Black Sun Part 2’ with Hector Navarro

‘Day of Black Sun Part 2’ with Hector Navarro

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Midseason Trivia

Midseason Trivia

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices