Zan Romanoff
@zanopticon.bsky.social
culture writer for hire / author of BIG FAN, SQUARE WAVES & lots of other stuff / co-host of On the Bleachers, a podcast about the intersection between sports and pop culture
outed myself as someone whose life path was altered by MTV’s Teen Wolf in Vogue today www.vogue.com/article/the-...
The Fan Fiction That Made Me a Writer
www.vogue.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:18 PM
outed myself as someone whose life path was altered by MTV’s Teen Wolf in Vogue today www.vogue.com/article/the-...
work has required me to spend a ton of time with teenagers recently. we are failing them in many ways but chiefly, not one of them has heard of the x-files
February 9, 2026 at 6:51 PM
work has required me to spend a ton of time with teenagers recently. we are failing them in many ways but chiefly, not one of them has heard of the x-files
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the Super Bowl; Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame scandal; the 49ers injury conspiracy theory; Trinity Rodman gets paid; PWHL transphobe reveals herself; and basketball players speak out against ICE.
🔶 Apple bit.ly/3O2uL9d
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/4r2sGIZ
🔶 Apple bit.ly/3O2uL9d
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/4r2sGIZ
It's Not Nothing
Podcast Episode · On the Bleachers · 02/07/2026 · 45m
bit.ly
February 7, 2026 at 12:32 AM
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the Super Bowl; Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame scandal; the 49ers injury conspiracy theory; Trinity Rodman gets paid; PWHL transphobe reveals herself; and basketball players speak out against ICE.
🔶 Apple bit.ly/3O2uL9d
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/4r2sGIZ
🔶 Apple bit.ly/3O2uL9d
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/4r2sGIZ
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the NFL’s Divisional Round; athlete charity scams; Fandom culture continues to crash into hockey culture, with mixed results; & in female millennial excellence is coming for the Olympic Games
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/49DkatR
🔶Spotify: bit.ly/45tedNx
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/49DkatR
🔶Spotify: bit.ly/45tedNx
January 23, 2026 at 7:16 PM
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the NFL’s Divisional Round; athlete charity scams; Fandom culture continues to crash into hockey culture, with mixed results; & in female millennial excellence is coming for the Olympic Games
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/49DkatR
🔶Spotify: bit.ly/45tedNx
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/49DkatR
🔶Spotify: bit.ly/45tedNx
I would be excited about this no matter what but given that it includes a @nzle.bsky.social I'm particularly stoked
Condé Nast forgot to renew the trademark for Gourmet and so a group of journalists grabbed it and are relaunching the food magazine as a worker-owned co-op. Love it. [gourmetmagazine.net]
Gourmet Magazine
Gourmet is a worker-owned publication about food and the people who make and consume it.
gourmetmagazine.net
January 13, 2026 at 5:36 PM
I would be excited about this no matter what but given that it includes a @nzle.bsky.social I'm particularly stoked
tried to write about the best stuff that happened this year, ended up talking about the crying, too buttondown.com/zanopticon/a...
sunlight
I have a friend who keeps a list of every time she eats dumplings in a year. She keeps another list, too, of all of the best things that happen to her: nice...
buttondown.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
tried to write about the best stuff that happened this year, ended up talking about the crying, too buttondown.com/zanopticon/a...
if you're looking for some between holidays listening, I was on Content People talking about writing for a living podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/z...
Zan Romanoff
Podcast Episode · Content People · 12/30/2025 · 39m
podcasts.apple.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:28 PM
if you're looking for some between holidays listening, I was on Content People talking about writing for a living podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/z...
mostly what I am learning from Heated Rivalry is how much of Letterkenny's style (read: tendency to be 50% music video) I should have been attributing to Jacob Tierney
December 19, 2025 at 8:31 PM
mostly what I am learning from Heated Rivalry is how much of Letterkenny's style (read: tendency to be 50% music video) I should have been attributing to Jacob Tierney
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the NASCAR settlement; Phillip Rivers’ Millennial Excellence; World Cup ticket$; the most hated PNWL player looks to beat the transphobe allegations; & Lando Norris wins F1, experiences feelings
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4qaUgD0
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4j1KHUA
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4qaUgD0
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4j1KHUA
December 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the NASCAR settlement; Phillip Rivers’ Millennial Excellence; World Cup ticket$; the most hated PNWL player looks to beat the transphobe allegations; & Lando Norris wins F1, experiences feelings
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4qaUgD0
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4j1KHUA
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4qaUgD0
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4j1KHUA
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on FIFA's peace prize; Trinity Rodman and NWSL’s self-own; Michael Jordan and the NASCAR trial; George Pickens goes off; Lane Kiffin quits; & an LPGA golfer cures her anxiety with fantasy novels.
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/3KIsBdK
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4pxAO3j
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/3KIsBdK
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4pxAO3j
December 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on FIFA's peace prize; Trinity Rodman and NWSL’s self-own; Michael Jordan and the NASCAR trial; George Pickens goes off; Lane Kiffin quits; & an LPGA golfer cures her anxiety with fantasy novels.
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/3KIsBdK
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4pxAO3j
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/3KIsBdK
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4pxAO3j
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on Brosmer woes; Jauan Jennings is the drama; bald man solves hair care crisis; women's hockey & women’s baseball; right-wing incentives driving anti-trans athlete narratives; & a principled cyclist
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4rFLRcd
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/48SH2ox
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4rFLRcd
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/48SH2ox
December 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on Brosmer woes; Jauan Jennings is the drama; bald man solves hair care crisis; women's hockey & women’s baseball; right-wing incentives driving anti-trans athlete narratives; & a principled cyclist
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4rFLRcd
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/48SH2ox
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4rFLRcd
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/48SH2ox
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on MLB’s MVPs; sports bros with podcasts; the NBA’s mob ties; Nico is out in Dallas; YouTube TV and ESPN make up; and Wide Left's @arif.bsky.social on JJ “Nine” McCarthy's future with the Vikings.
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4rikvJh
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4rg6ZpA
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4rikvJh
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4rg6ZpA
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on MLB’s MVPs; sports bros with podcasts; the NBA’s mob ties; Nico is out in Dallas; YouTube TV and ESPN make up; and Wide Left's @arif.bsky.social on JJ “Nine” McCarthy's future with the Vikings.
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4rikvJh
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4rg6ZpA
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4rikvJh
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4rg6ZpA
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on LAPD vs sports joy; pitcher indictments; Cooper Flagg: new loser; Ovechkin's stolen puck; and Baseball Bar-B-Cast's @jordanshusterman.bsky.social on covering
the Mariners this postseason!
🔶Apple: bit.ly/47FBBJb
🔶Spotify: bit.ly/4nSVMYY
the Mariners this postseason!
🔶Apple: bit.ly/47FBBJb
🔶Spotify: bit.ly/4nSVMYY
November 14, 2025 at 12:52 AM
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on LAPD vs sports joy; pitcher indictments; Cooper Flagg: new loser; Ovechkin's stolen puck; and Baseball Bar-B-Cast's @jordanshusterman.bsky.social on covering
the Mariners this postseason!
🔶Apple: bit.ly/47FBBJb
🔶Spotify: bit.ly/4nSVMYY
the Mariners this postseason!
🔶Apple: bit.ly/47FBBJb
🔶Spotify: bit.ly/4nSVMYY
I've been volunteering with SELAH for a little over a year now. We nearly set a new record for participants at yesterday's program-- including very young children. This is week one without benefits.
SELAH in LA has been flooded with people in need of food now that SNAP has lapsed. They're currently doing a fundraiser if any Angelenos want to help them do their amazing work: givebutter.com/support-selah
Help Our Unhoused Neighbors
Neighbors helping neighbors!
givebutter.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I've been volunteering with SELAH for a little over a year now. We nearly set a new record for participants at yesterday's program-- including very young children. This is week one without benefits.
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the most-watched World Series in nearly a decade; the Skaggs trial & what it would take to oust an MLB owner; & are shirtless men at college football games curing the male loneliness epidemic?
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4hP1868
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/47sRumi
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4hP1868
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/47sRumi
November 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the most-watched World Series in nearly a decade; the Skaggs trial & what it would take to oust an MLB owner; & are shirtless men at college football games curing the male loneliness epidemic?
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4hP1868
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/47sRumi
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4hP1868
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/47sRumi
In this you can hear me live react to the first inning of what would eventually become an 18 inning baseball game. I sound very young and alive with possibility.
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on the postseason baseball; federal indictments & mob ties in the NBA; crying in hockey; & @notquitehydepark.bsky.social talks Taylor’s Version: The Poetic and Musical Genius of Taylor Swift
🔶 Apple bit.ly/4qwAlzD
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/47hcUm9
🔶 Apple bit.ly/4qwAlzD
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/47hcUm9
October 30, 2025 at 7:54 PM
In this you can hear me live react to the first inning of what would eventually become an 18 inning baseball game. I sound very young and alive with possibility.
the romance of romance writing: taking a scene that I originally wrote in the present tense and then changed to past and putting it back into the present
October 16, 2025 at 11:53 PM
the romance of romance writing: taking a scene that I originally wrote in the present tense and then changed to past and putting it back into the present
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on playoff baseball; players taking on WNBA; downright erotic sports coverage; James Dolan is watching you; & @awalkerinla.bsky.social tells us about covering LA's upcoming mass sporting events!
🔶 Apple bit.ly/3KAPzTJ
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/471NW91
🔶 Apple bit.ly/3KAPzTJ
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/471NW91
October 9, 2025 at 6:48 PM
New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on playoff baseball; players taking on WNBA; downright erotic sports coverage; James Dolan is watching you; & @awalkerinla.bsky.social tells us about covering LA's upcoming mass sporting events!
🔶 Apple bit.ly/3KAPzTJ
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/471NW91
🔶 Apple bit.ly/3KAPzTJ
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/471NW91
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
hi, cis folks in california!
this headline leaves out that newsom has another 5 days to sign these bills into law. if you’d like to tell him he should do that to protect trans californians, you should to reach out.
he also has a phone: (916) 445-2841
want to know what to say? next post! 🧵
this headline leaves out that newsom has another 5 days to sign these bills into law. if you’d like to tell him he should do that to protect trans californians, you should to reach out.
he also has a phone: (916) 445-2841
want to know what to say? next post! 🧵
October 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
hi, cis folks in california!
this headline leaves out that newsom has another 5 days to sign these bills into law. if you’d like to tell him he should do that to protect trans californians, you should to reach out.
he also has a phone: (916) 445-2841
want to know what to say? next post! 🧵
this headline leaves out that newsom has another 5 days to sign these bills into law. if you’d like to tell him he should do that to protect trans californians, you should to reach out.
he also has a phone: (916) 445-2841
want to know what to say? next post! 🧵
very few people I trust on Taylor but Stephanie is one of them
Publication day for Taylor's Version! I'm so happy for my baby and for all the work @hachetteus.bsky.social & @johnmurrays.bsky.social did to bring her out into the world. Consider an order here: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/steph...
Taylor’s Version
“With unfailing lucidity, empathy, and wit” (Greil Marcus), a preeminent Harvard professor and poetry expert explains the artistry—and the celebrity—...
www.hachettebookgroup.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:43 PM
very few people I trust on Taylor but Stephanie is one of them
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on MLB postseason narratives; the Lynx will not go quietly; Bad Bunny halftime show; how we’re listening to the new Taylor album; & an interview with LA Times' sports reporting legend, Steve Henson
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4mM22Bi
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/3WkKrFH
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4mM22Bi
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/3WkKrFH
October 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on MLB postseason narratives; the Lynx will not go quietly; Bad Bunny halftime show; how we’re listening to the new Taylor album; & an interview with LA Times' sports reporting legend, Steve Henson
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4mM22Bi
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/3WkKrFH
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4mM22Bi
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/3WkKrFH
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
so: what do we need you to do? two things.
1.call your D/I senators. find contact info here: reps.fyi
what do we need you to say? try the call script below. adapt it; make it your own! there are bailout points written in, in case you get nervous. but please *call.* 🧵
1.call your D/I senators. find contact info here: reps.fyi
what do we need you to say? try the call script below. adapt it; make it your own! there are bailout points written in, in case you get nervous. but please *call.* 🧵
![Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm one of Senator [THEIR NAME]'s constituents. House Republicans are trying to insert a multiple articles of anti-trans legislation, including a full transgender healthcare funding ban, into the F-Y '26 budget. I'm calling to tell the Senator to stand up for trans Americans and vote NO on any bill with that language. This IS worth forcing a shutdown.
[you can stop here at 0:20 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't]
This care funding ban follows the map the G-O-P charted while attacking abortion. Democrats lost that fight by giving in to the G-O-P an inch at a time. Giving an inch at a time on trans care will devastate trans Americans and it'll get Democrats nothing in return but contempt.
[you can stop here at 0:40 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't]
Right now, the most popular Democrat in the U-S, [Zo-RAHN Mom-DA-nee], is campaigning on making trans healthcare cheaper and easier to access, and he's only got more good will because of it.
[you can stop here at 0:50 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't]
I'm asking the Senator to refuse to allow any anti-trans language including a healthcare ban in the F-Y '26 bill. Do not vote for any bill with that language. This IS worth forcing a shutdown. Standing with trans people is the right thing to do and it's politically smart. Voters and donors show up for Democrats who fight.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2lzahebnas6od6j6jfydwst7/bafkreih4xihrkllo4bucwiubjidhjlbjt3k7x6wtzdk776qx67tpcaizli@jpeg)
September 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
so: what do we need you to do? two things.
1.call your D/I senators. find contact info here: reps.fyi
what do we need you to say? try the call script below. adapt it; make it your own! there are bailout points written in, in case you get nervous. but please *call.* 🧵
1.call your D/I senators. find contact info here: reps.fyi
what do we need you to say? try the call script below. adapt it; make it your own! there are bailout points written in, in case you get nervous. but please *call.* 🧵
I had another 15 minutes on Kershaw locked and loaded but dinner plans intervened / I'm sorry or you're welcome, depending
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on incremental world records; scamming stone skippers; the Mariners are bound for the postseason and Dodger Clayton Kershaw is bound for retirement. And so much more!
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4nTHbNw
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/46ydmL7
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/4nTHbNw
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/46ydmL7
September 25, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I had another 15 minutes on Kershaw locked and loaded but dinner plans intervened / I'm sorry or you're welcome, depending
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on Taylor’s Arrowhead arrival; Narrative Fantasy Football update; the WNBA playoffs; FIFA corruption; and why ballplayers are drinking less.
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/48rrkB5
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4mA6Olq
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/48rrkB5
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4mA6Olq
September 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on Taylor’s Arrowhead arrival; Narrative Fantasy Football update; the WNBA playoffs; FIFA corruption; and why ballplayers are drinking less.
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/48rrkB5
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4mA6Olq
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/48rrkB5
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4mA6Olq
Reposted by Zan Romanoff
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on engagement leaks; men being OK on group chat; the Micah trade; and @minakimes.bsky.social and @jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social join for the First Ever Narrative Fantasy Football Draft!
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/47WUeZt
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4paerS4
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/47WUeZt
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4paerS4
September 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
New On the Bleachers: @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on engagement leaks; men being OK on group chat; the Micah trade; and @minakimes.bsky.social and @jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social join for the First Ever Narrative Fantasy Football Draft!
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/47WUeZt
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4paerS4
🔶 Apple: bit.ly/47WUeZt
🔶 Spotify: bit.ly/4paerS4