Slayers, Every One of Us details podcasters Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristin Russo’s lives together—and apart—over the various seasons of their podcast, Buffering the Vampire Slayer. From marriage to a cross-country move to divorce, additional moves, and coparenting the podcast through a new marriage, the memoir follows the highs and lows of their lives together, what was happening in the country throughout the course of their podcast, and the symbolism and analyses of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes they shared along the way and built an entire community around.

When I picked this up, I hadn’t listened to Buffering the Vampire Slayer yet but instead was drawn in from the premise of the memoir. I started watching Buffy in college with a friend and then got all the DVD sets so I could return to my favorite episodes whenever I wanted. Now, after reading segments of what Kristin and Jenny discussed on the podcast as part of the book, I want to go back and listen to the Buffering episodes (and the episodes from their podcast about Angel, too).

I was initially drawn to this book for the nostalgia factor but appreciated the funny, touching, heartbreakingly emotional backstory to the podcast as well.

Since I hadn’t listened to them before, it did take me a couple of chapters to learn to differentiate when Kristin or Jenny was speaking in the audiobook. The audiobook includes clips from some of the Buffy-themed songs they performed for their podcast—those were especially fun to listen to—and the print version includes photos. (You can download those as a PDF with the audiobook version.)

There are some appendices included after the main arc of the memoir—fun vignettes that would be easily consumed in either print or audio and tips for playing some of the podcast songs, which may be easier to follow with the audio accompaniment.

This would be a good pick for fans of their podcasts or devoted Buffy the Vampire fans looking for a nonfiction read.

3.5⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press and an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

Thank you to Kristen Russo, Jenny Owen Youngs, St Martin's Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a honest review (unpaid).

I don't think I have read a nonfiction book this quickly even. It was truly addictive, I could not stop thinking about it, I put off writing a ten page paper in favor of reading this book. Sometimes heartbreaking and other times hilarious, this book shows how fandom can keep us holding on.

As a fan of the Buffy TV series, I was thrilled when I first saw this book. However, I admit that I should have done more research before requesting it, as I’m not familiar with the podcast that the book is centered around, or the podcasters who wrote the book. Despite this, I found it to be a pretty good read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-ARC!

Slayers, Every One of Us by Kristin Russo and Jenny Owens Young is a wonderful look back at their Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast, their lives, and how the two intertwined. While their marriage fell apart, their podcast became more popular, and they found a way to move through the ruins of their romantic relationship to create an enduring friendship.

I loved this book! I thought it was very well written and interesting. I enjoyed reading the links between the shows and what was going on in their lives. Heads up - if you haven’t seen the show, there will be spoilers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have a weakness for Buffy related books, so even though I had never even heard of the podcast, I was intrigued by this one. While fans of the podcast will probably also really enjoy this, I don't think you have to be a fan to enjoy it- I think they did a great job communicating their background, their shared experiences, and the struggles along the way through making this podcast as people who started it off married and worked through their divorce and new relationships with other people.

My Buffy origin started later in life, during the pandemic, when I watched two episodes a week with two good friends. I grew to love the show and frequently supplemented my watches with the Buffering podcast. I didn't listen to every episode, but listening to Kristin and Jenny grapple with some of the bigger episodes was such a treat for me. Jenny's songs and Kristin's jokes were a particular highlight and even though I wasn't as active in the community, I still felt like I was one of their friends while I was listening.

I requested this book on a whim because while I did enjoy them and the podcast, I thought this book would be more of an encyclopedia of the show and their episodes and as someone that listened to them already talk about the show, I wasn't sure if I needed to read a book along the same lines. Thankfully, one day while I was waiting in a line, I pulled up this book and started reading and once I started I couldn't stop.

I admit that I did some light Instagram stalking of the two of them when I found out they were getting a divorce and further admit to being baffled they could continue podcasting together. This book delves into what went on behind the scenes of their popular podcast and because I'm nosy, I ate it all up.

This book must have been spectacularly vulnerable and hard to write. They spare no punches, going into every devastating moment of trying to get pregnant, their marriage falling apart, the fallout from that and how they managed to still work well together and get through to the other side. I particularly loved how they used the Buffy storyline to map out these events while emphasizing how much their Buffy community and the show helped them. This was a delight to read and I highly recommend to fellow Buffy and Buffering lovers.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an early review.

I have never listened to the podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, but I’m a huge BtVS fan. I don’t think it’s completely necessary to be familiar with the podcast, though surely it helps. At its heart, this book is about how our experiences can be understood and shared with others through pop culture. That’s very relatable to me. And since I cannot imagine anyone picking up this book if they aren’t hardcore Buffy fans, you will definitely appreciate Hellmath, the cast interviews, and the songs written about major series milestones.

I eyeball read this, but I would recommend picking up the audiobook if you can. There is A LOT of music in this book, and I think it would benefit from hearing it rather than reading the lyrics. But still good either way.

I found Buffy a few years ago when I was in a late 90s early 2000s tv show phase (mind you I was born in 1997) and honestly I still love shows like Dawson’s Creek, Buffy, and ER like no other shows I’ve seen, so when I was recommended this book by a publisher as an advance reader copy, I knew I would accept it! I couldn’t put it down, it’s paced so well, it’s funny, it’s filled with scenes and connections to the show as the authors discusses their personal lives and the connections to their Buffy podcast and how it all ties together with the Buffy plot lines. I loved the behind the scenes of creating this podcast, but also with the songs for each episode and the fun the authors had while writing it as they were also married. This book also covers their divorce, the drama of working together post divorce, and dating others and how they stayed friends through it all.

This is a book that I now want to read as an audiobook because knowing the authors are podcasters, I know the audiobook likely has all the best aspects of that in it too, and so I’ll need to go check that out! But if you loved Buffy, highly recommend checking out this book, it’s perfect for the fans!

Kristen and Jenny, co-hosts of podcast "Buffering the Vampire Slayer", tell the story of their relationship interspersed with passages about each season of <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>. Kristen and Jenny take turns providing insight into their relationship and its highs and lows from their own perspectives, all while connecting back to <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> and the time spent working together on their podcast. Also included are the lyrics to the Buffy-themed songs that * has written and composed for each of their "Buffering" podcast episodes. I really enjoyed reading about some of the background and thought that was put into these original songs/lyrics.

This memoir is best suited for those who are fans of the "Buffering" podcast, as the content of the book is primarily focused on the lives and experiences of the co-hosts. However, those who are die-hard <i>Buffy</i> fans or are part of the LGBTQIA+ community may also enjoy this read. Given <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>'s history of depicting one of the first long-term lesbian relationships on television, I felt that this memoir also honored that history and provides an analysis of just how significant <i>Buffy</i> was (and continues to be) for fans of the show. As a huge <i>Buffy</i> fan myself, my experience has been that it is hard for those who are not as familiar with the show to understand the significance of its themes and character relationships, and in 2025, there are fewer and fewer people talking about <i>Buffy</i> or watching <i>Buffy</i> for the first time: reading this memoir felt like chatting with a friend who loves the show as much as I do, and I really appreciated that! I would have appreciated even a tad bit more about the show or the content of the podcast itself, but I am also keeping in mind that this is primarily meant as a memoir at the end of the day.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Kristin Townsend, and Jenny Owen Youngs for providing an advance digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This title is available for purchase beginning April 8th, 2025.

Rating: ★★★½ (Kindle), expected ★★★★ (Audiobook)

As a longtime supporter of the Buffering the Vampire Slayer podcast (yes, I was a proud Patreon backer for years), I went into this memoir with high hopes—and a preordered audiobook.

I first discovered Jenny and Kristin back in season 2, when they were still married, and remember the heartbreak I felt when they announced their split. I feared the podcast would fizzle out, but they blew me away by continuing all the way through Buffy's seventh season and beyond—while maintaining the heart, creativity, and depth that made it so special in the first place.

One of the most mind-blowing elements of the podcast was always Jenny's original song for each episode. That alone set it apart, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how that all came together was one of my favorite parts of this two-person memoir.

In Slayers, Every One of Us, they both—especially Kristin—share some deeply personal and difficult experiences with vulnerability and honesty, though it’s clear there are emotional boundaries they chose not to cross. It’s a book written for fans, through and through. I don’t think it would resonate quite the same with someone unfamiliar with the podcast, but it might just be enough to pique their curiosity and turn them into a listener.

While I received a free Kindle version from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I had already purchased the audiobook—and truly think that’s going to be the definitive experience. This story is about two podcasters and the community they built, and it’s only fitting to hear it in their voices. The Kindle version earns a solid 3.5 stars from me, but I fully expect the audiobook to land at a strong 4.

If you’re a Buffy fan and haven’t checked out the podcast yet, what are you waiting for? I recommend it to every Scooby I meet. Jenny and Kristin should be incredibly proud of what they’ve built—on mic, and now on the page.

This review has been posted on my Goodreads.

I watched Buffy back in the day (with my Superfan mom of all people), but I haven’t watched in 20 years and I definitely haven’t listened to this podcast. I am, though, a huge fan of basically any memoir and this book is an excellent revisiting of these two formerly-married, Buffy-superfan podcast hosts and their lives throughout the creating of what appears to have been a hit.
I was initially sent the kindle version of this book and truly didn’t realize it was more of a memoir about podcasts hosts instead of a book about Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I’m a big YouTube deep diver and I seriously just watched a 1hr 42min video, so I wasn’t apprehensive to accept this book for review. But once I realized it was a memoir, I was very relieved to find there was an audiobook to request.
The audio version of this book is especially important since the hosts wrote songs for every episode and preform quite a few of them throughout the narration. And even having no familiarity with these two women, I related to much to their passion for a TV show, for each other, for the political climate in the past years, and their cross-country moves throughout adulthood.
I’m sure anyone who listened to this podcast will fully love this book. It makes me sad that I wasn’t a part of this community while it was active, but I’m happy for the joy I can feel radiating throughout this book.

This book will be an absolute delight to fans of the Buffering podcast. Kristin and Jenny are wonderful storytellers. They are lovely humans and have built such a wonderful podcast and community. This is a story of love and heartbreak in many forms. I'm not sure how it will land for those that aren't fans of the podcast but I ate it up. I cried and laughed out loud multiple times. I read the ebook but look forward to doing an audio reread soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Finished Reading
DNF @ p33

Pre-Read notes

When I was a teenager, I really loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the movie and the show, both from the 90's. When I was offered a chance to read this one, written by two fans, I jumped at it!

Final Review

Review summary and recommendations

I'm not quite the audience for this book. Buffy ran originally before most of the stuff in this book existed, which is when I watched it and loved it. Back on the 90's, before the internet was widely available. I thought this book would be an analysis of a very good show that broke boundaries, but it's more like a love letter to a Fandom that formed years after Buffy did.

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. [...All] of a sudden you find yourself wondering, just what are these weird wiggly things jutting out from where your wrists end, and where do they go? Into your pockets? Jauntily resting upon your hips? Steepled below your chin as though you might be moments away from tying someone to the train tracks in a silent film?! p24 A really brilliant description of how overwhelming anxiety can make the smallest and most familiar things, like tour own hands.


Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. DNF @ p33 I am not the audience for this book.

Rating: DNF @ p33
yes, to today's Buffy fans
Finished: Mar 30 '25

Thank you to the author Kristin Townsend and Jenny Owen Youngs, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of SLAYERS EVERY ONE OF US. All views are mine.
---------------

Thoroughly enjoyed and preordered the hardcopy!! An excellently written book with insight I appreciated.

How art unites us and can save your world… a lot.

This book is a deeply emotional - and often hilarious - exploration of how certain works of fiction anchor themselves into us. How these works can help us feel seen, show up as echoes in our daily lives, and provide a great escape mechanism, all in one. Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristin Russo’s lives
are inextricably linked to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They forged a community with Buffy fans in a time when a supportive, queer-friendly community was really needed (2016). And little did they know, they would need that community right back as their marriage dissolved. 

Yes, this is a love letter to the Scoobies, fans of the Buffering podcast and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s also an exploration of the end of a public marriage from the inside.

You could pick up this book and not have to know any of the source material(s) but it’s much more rewarding if you do. As an avid fan of both Buffy, the TV show, and of Jenny and Kristin’s podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, lets just say reading this has a lot of alternating laughing out loud and weeping involved.

Profoundly feminist, heartfelt, and unabashedly queer. Slayers, Every One of Us, like Buffy, runs the whole gamut of emotions at whiplash speed and you’ll love keeping up with it. “Are you ready to be strong?”


Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

I am a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but had never heard of the Buffering the Vampire Slayer podcast before I picked up Slayers, Every One of Us. Honestly, I missed that this book was a memoir, and assumed it would be written in essay format. Since that was the case, I had no background information about the podcast's hosts, nor did I know what to expect from this book. I initially chose to read it because I thought it would be equal parts memoir and essay, discussing the lessons Buffy taught the authors and how they applied them to their lives.
I was not prepared for the divorce. Actually, as someone who does not know these two women personally, I was utterly blindsided by the divorce. Devastated. Enraged. Jenny? Yeah, hate her.
"Somewhere in the middle of all those noes, Jenny got back in the car and drove away." Ugh, good, f*** Jenny anyway.

Anyway, after that, Jenny became the villain in the story, and I really didn't want to read her POV, so I mostly skipped through parts of it. It was really hard to read her matter-of-fact recount when Kristin's portions still sound hurt and betrayed. Jenny is not for me. Nah.

I'm genuinely surprised that the podcast continued after the divorce, but I think it is nice that the two were able to remain friends after their marriage was dissolved. I'm not sure I could keep doing something that involved with my ex when the hurt was that deep.

Overall, I found this memoir to be a really emotional read. The alternating POVs will appeal to fans of the podcast, but I do wish the book related more to the actual podcast and Buffy so it was more friendly for those of us who don't have the background of the podcast episodes to fill in the blanks. Most of the events surrounding the podcast itself are glossed over, and I know that it's because this is a memoir, but I want to know more about the good things that happened because of the podcast. I want the happy to be mixed in with the heartbreak so that the gut punch doesn't hurt so bad. Tell me about the conventions, and the people you met, and the fun things you did. Tell me why the title of this memoir makes sense, because as a person new to this fandom, I don't think it does. Slayers, Every One of Us feels like the title of a book of essays revolving around the Buffy brand of feminism, which is definitely not what this book is giving.
The lyrics were a nice inclusion, though. And I will say, Jenny got one thing right. "It's gayer than you." Amen.

I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kristin Russo for providing me with an ARC of Slayers Every One of Us in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the authors and publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I am the target audience for this book. I've been listening to Buffering the Vampire Slayer since their first season, and since then have been listening to their music, coverage of Buffy, other fandoms and their lives.

Kristin and Jenny have a way of reaching their listeners that makes you feel like family. Their empathetic approach to talking about a "problematic fav" itself, the show Buffy, makes one of my all time favorite shows even more fun to watch and share with others.

Them being so open and responsible to so many fans for so long, has led to a passionate community, and I know this book will mean so much to so many. So much of Kristin and Jenny's lives and hearts are laid open in this book with grace and compassion for themselves and each other. Their vulnerability with each other and us readers is impressive as hell, and I know so many people will relate to parts of their story, while others are unique to them, probably, as ex wives who host a super popular podcast.

I can't wait to keep listening and following these creators in each new adventure they invite us to join them for.

This was a totally random read for me. I've never listened to Kristin & Jenny's podcast, but I love Buffy so I gave it a chance and am happy I did. Their total Buffy devotion is obvious and their songs to go along with every episode are hilarious, but the (emotional) story of their relationship's deterioration and how they found a path forward is what was most memorable for me. Buffy has faced the absolute darkest things that can happen in life and kept going and kept sharing her gifts with others, which is what Kristin and Jenny did, too, in the face of political upheaval, a breakup, trying to remain coworkers, global pandemic, etc. etc.
I really enjoyed this and it was a quick read.

"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."

What an emotional read! I love Buffy and remember watching it in real time with great fondness, but I'd never heard of the podcast because I'm not really a podcast listener, and I just had to find out how the TV show could be applied to relationships, and just life in general. I was immediately drawn in by the writing of Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs. They alternate chapters between themselves, and then include chapters written together, as well. The vulnerability they showed in sharing the details of their relationship, from how they met, through their divorce, and then how they found a way to keep and strengthen their friendship in the end. I was amazed at how huge the podcast following grew, and more importantly, how they were there for every one of their listeners through all of the turmoil of their personal lives. Buffering the Vampire Slayer become a family where members of the queer community were welcomed and given the support they didn't even know they needed in some cases.

All in all, I enjoyed this emotional story very much and highly recommend it.

5/5 stars.

*** I wouuld like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the authors, Kriste Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs, for the opportunity to read and review Slayers, Every One of Us.

This was nostalgia at its finest, with a harsh dose of reality. I loved revisiting the Buffy episodes, which now of course I want to watch again, and it was nice to see that there are parallels to art throughout time. The experiences Kristin and Jenny shared were heartbreaking and brutal, but also healing. Seeing that you aren't alone in trauma is a huge thing, an important thing.

This is releasing in a great time politically as well. Some of the issues they were dealing with are issues now today, or are bigger issues today, and I can only hope that it will help people find comfort and solace in their trauma, knowing that others experience the same things too.

Check on your friends, make sure the people you love know it, and be unapologetically you, always.