My Podcast
You love costumes– but how does one become a costumer?
Join host Sumalee Eaton, professional stitcher and proud Costume Nerd, as she contextualizes and demystifies the world of costuming– one story at a time. Each episode explores the unique paths of costume makers, cosplayers, reenactors, and dress historians in a storytelling format designed to inspire and uplift lovers of costume. If you’re a Costume Nerd on your own journey, this show is tailor-made for you!
Produced exclusively by Sumalee Eaton
Music: Adventure Beyond by Alexander Nakarada
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To connect with me and discuss the show, join us in the Costume Nerd Club forum!
Season 1: SumaLore
For the show's inaugural season, I am deep diving my personal history with costumes, specifically exploring how my perfectionism and insecurities affected my identity as a costumer and how becoming a content creator helped me heal.
Each episode is based on a story beat in the Hero's Journey, and will be about 45 minutes long (well...we'll see!).
Ep 1: Call to Adventure
My costuming origins, early experiences with garment construction, and exploring the online costume community of the early 2000s.
Ep 2: Refusal of the Call
Costuming meets real life context: rejecting my identity as a costumer after an obstacle in my college years shattered my confidence.
Ep 3: Crossing the Threshold
A breakthrough-- stepping into the world of professional stitching and finding strength through learning craft.
Ep 4: The Ordeal
Taking a leap of faith and becoming a freelance theatrical stitcher-- only to discover that not all is what it seems. Featuring guest Indigo Leigh.
Ep 5: Seizing the Sword
All about my adventure as a Tiktok creator: the highs, the lows, and my ultimate transformation as a result of the experience.
Ep 6: Return with the Elixir
The moral of the story and my hopes for the future.