Ep 9: Star Wars, Costumes and Running to the Outer Rim with Tiffanie (@star_wars_runnah)
What happens when your love for a galaxy far, far away collides with a passion for long-distance running? You get a vibrant, joyful subculture where being unapologetically enthusiastic is the only requirement.
In the latest episode of Culture Coven, host Leah dives back into the Star Wars universe, but this time through a completely unique lens. She sits down with her old running buddy Tiffanie—known across the internet as @star_wars_runnah—to explore the beautiful, overlapping worlds of fitness, fandom, and finding your crew.
From Hating Gym Class to Running Marathons
If you hated running when you were a kid, you are in good company. Both Leah and Tiffanie admitted that organized school sports and PE fitness tests felt more like a punishment than a hobby. It wasn’t until later in life that they discovered the true, non-competitive joy of running—and the incredible, supportive internet community that comes with it.
For Tiffanie, combining her two biggest worlds happened naturally. It started when she learned how to sew her own custom running skirts out of Star Wars fabric, beginning with a tribute to the sleek, metallic armor of Captain Phasma. Today, that hobby has grown into an impressive, massive collection of over 40 distinct Star Wars costumes that require a literal separate storage unit!
Rejecting Toxicity and Keeping Star Wars Fun
One of the most refreshing parts of Leah and Tiffanie's chat is their perspective on navigating a massive franchise in the internet age. With so much online discourse and nitpicking over every creative decision, they remind listeners that it is perfectly okay to just have fun.
"We can have the spectrum of quirkiness to seriousness for Star Wars," Tiffanie notes, sharing love for everything from the deep political storytelling of Andor to the pure, lighthearted joy of alien puppets like the Anzelans and Grogu. They also discuss the absolute brilliant production of the animated series Maul and offer a comforting piece of advice for any fan struggling with digital burnout: It is completely okay to take a step back from a fandom, and it's okay if you don't love everything a franchise makes. You are still a true fan.
Current Obsessions: From K-Dramas to Creepy Suburbs
As always, the episode wraps up with a deep dive into what is currently keeping the coven glued to their screens. Tiffanie shares her love for the deep, culturally rich storytelling found in international media, recommending Netflix favorites like Reply 1988 and When Life Gives You Tangerines.
Meanwhile, Leah delivers a glowing review of her newest, binge-worthy obsession: Apple TV's Widow's Bay. Describing the horror-comedy as "Parks & Rec if it was a horror show," Leah confesses she benched half the season in a single day to avoid the suspense of its unsettling, creepy, yet utterly hilarious incompetent government employees.
Where to find Tiffanie
You can find Tiffanie on:
