Welcome friend. How do I describe the nervousness and thrill of picking up the notes for a book I read almost 1.5 years ago? Published in April 2025, Slayers, Every One of Us: One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On by Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs is the book I am sharing about today. It’s about their podcast, Buffering, where they watched and discussed Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
If you have never seen the show, don’t worry. I still haven’t. So why am I talking about this book? Because this is ultimately a story about what it means to build something meaningful with someone else—and keep choosing it, even when life makes that choice difficult. Read on to find out.
A memoir reflecting on heartbreak, perseverance, and life lessons learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from the hosts of the hit podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer.
Kristin and Jenny’s marriage started with an ultimatum: to further their relationship, Kristin must watch Jenny’s favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With the terms set, they began a journey that has led them through seven seasons of the beloved genre show, a podcast rewatching the series with their newly minted listenership of “Scoobies,” unexpected success, and a divorce. Through it all, their love for Buffy and their commitment to their community held them together against the odds.
Slayers, Every One of Us is the story of how two queer women navigated divorce on a very public level and managed to stay in each other’s lives through it all. While chock full of Buffy (and Buffering!) content for true fans, this is ultimately a memoir of queer love and chosen family. It’s a heartwarming story for anyone who’s experienced lost love, and a roadmap for staying close with your ex.
Slayers, Every One of Us – Review
As a reviewer, books come to me long before they come to libraries and social media. It was in November 2024 when I first saw this book become available for request. My best friend, Laur’s favorite show is Buffy and I thought I would read this book to have something to share with them. Little did I know that it would become a favorite. Memoirs do something that non-fiction by itself cannot – they show the experience of what it is like to pursue something we love in the midst of life – its brilliant and dim moments, its ups and downs and its many seasons.
Kristin and Jenny tell the story of their famous podcast, Buffering, how it came to be and the sensation it became to the people who love Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Slayers, Every One of Us is a beautiful and heartbreaking memoir about a creative pursuit that had a beginning and an end and all that happened in between that could have stopped it at any point. Kristin and Jenny’s love for their crafts and respect for each other and their fans helped them persevere and come out on the other side.
I loved getting to know Kristin and Jenny through this book. They brought their unique personalities and perspectives to Buffy and Buffering. I liked how the chapters were organized. I was on a journey to not only get to know Buffy but also Buffering. I don’t listen to podcasts and I loved seeing how much Buffering influenced millions of listeners. The simple premise of rewatching a show was so much more complex than that. As the hosts, there were times when Jenny and Kristin felt like they did not know enough or had not experienced themselves. In order to be respectful to their community and true to who they are, they brought in experts to continue to analyze Buffy through fresh eyes.
Slayers also gave me a new perspective of fandom. I was blown away to see how one show – Buffy – was the inspiration for hundreds of new original songs, Hellmath, prom and community. I write about books and sometimes, I do a lot more than read and write, and that is the true flavor of fandom. Where someone’s creative work becomes such an integral part of our lives that we identify with it. It becomes a phenomenon, an experience, like Buffy Prom.
As a cis woman, I have not lived the experiences that Jenny, Kristin and LGBTQAI+ individuals have. Slayers, Every One of Us gave me insight into many of the challenges faced by the community, especially in those decades where gay marriage was illegal. Jenny, Kristin and many viewers of the show have found acceptance about their sexuality and gender expression in Buffy, its storyline and its characters. Buffy Prom in particular was about being able to show up with whoever they wanted, not what was accepted by society. I read this book after having my daughter and Kristin’s struggles in getting pregnant were heartbreaking to read. And yet, the two continued to create in the midst of making other dreams come true.
I often found myself thinking of my creative pursuit – this blog where you read my thoughts. Life happens and we have to work hard to reach our creative goals. That is what Slayers is about. Kristin and Jenny went through a very tough patch during the production of the podcast. They had to work hard to separate their creative dreams from their personal ones and this is where this book is a testament to perseverance. How hard it is and the sweet nectar of doing brilliant work on the other side. On the way, there are new connections, pain, joy,.. All of life.
Like I mentioned earlier, I have never seen the show but in the few times that Laur mentioned it to me, I knew it meant a lot to them. I was thrilled to find out that they regularly listen to Buffering and to read a book by the creators is a cool thing. The behind the scenes to any creative pursuit is as much of interest to them as it is to me. By reading this book, I caught a glimpse of the life that my friend had lived before we met. Still not having seen Buffy, I understand why it holds such a special place in so many people’s hearts and I hope that one day, I will watch it, maybe alongside Laur but definitely alongside Slayers.
Did you watch Buffy growing up? What did you love about the show? Have you heard Buffering?
Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this book for my honest thoughts. It is one of the best books I have gotten in the mail – not just because of its content but also because of the connection it has to an important relationship in my life. ❤️
Be First to Comment