Meet Fen Alankus: Podcaster & Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fen Alankus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fen, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s your definition for success?
To me, success essentially equals joy. I know that if I’m having fun and experiencing increased synchronicity, that’s it – I’ve entered the flow state. That’s when I feel I’m working with the universe and not against it. I’m still learning that joy isn’t a “thing” to obtain. It’s like a realm we gain access to when we practice following our curiosity. To maintain this state, we have to face our fears regularly and listen to our intuition. Success feels like a buzzing energy of enthusiasm combined with a dash of fear and a pinch of magic. It’s a knowing that we are absolutely following the whisper of our heart’s desires.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Follow the Woo Podcast

I’m a queer, empath witch, obsessed with discussing the paranormal, magickal, and mystical with anyone and everyone. I have apprenticed with gurus, been mentored by shamans, and worked with dozens of healers, sages, and mystics. In a zig zaggy sort of way, these experiences led me to become the host of Follow the Woo podcast.

In each episode, I follow my curiosity wherever it takes me – in and around topics like witchcraft, meditation, the paranormal and supernatural, alien and fae encounters, gurus, shamanism – all the WOO. Through stories, investigations, interviews, and more, I explore some of life’s most bizarre and fascinating questions and mysteries.

A few things set Follow the Woo apart from some of the other paranormal/supernatural podcasts that are already out there:

– I’m not trying to scare my listeners. A lot of Woo content can be terrifying and many people profit off of perpetuating fear. No judgment toward them, but it’s just not my jam. I want to investigate the creepy, scary, unknown realms, but work toward deeper understanding, so myself and my listeners feel less freaked out overall.

– I don’t focus on just one area of the Woo. When you get into this world, you see it’s almost divided into factions – the cryptid people only talk cryptids, alien people only talk aliens, meditation people only talk meditation, ghost people only talk ghosts, etc. I sincerely believe all of these areas are connected and I’m interested in where they overlap.

– I’m obsessed with collaboration, connection, and hyping people up. Yes, I want to help you with your ghost hunting side gig. Yes, I want to connect with you that other podcast guest I just know you’re going to be BFF’s with immediately. Yes, I want to plug the sh*t out of that art show you have coming up. Yes, I want you to listen to podcasts that are similar to mine. I don’t think of those shows as competition – I think of them as friends I just haven’t met yet. We’re all in this together.

Queer Feature Films 

With the guidance of filmmaker and mentor, Diane Bell, I’m also working on two feature films, one I wrote and plan to shoot next summer (2022). That one is about a queer millennial addicted to city life who unexpectedly finds herself living on a secluded farm, where she learns to slow down, face her demons, and embrace true love. The other, I am co-producing with a small film cohort and it’s a horror, based on the true story of a family that allegedly went insane hunting witches.

Here’s what Diane taught me about filmmaking (and all other creative endeavors): Do-it-your-damn-self. You are a boss bitch and there’s nobody like you. Period. Don’t wait for the old white men of Hollywood to give you the green light for production, don’t wait for your podcast to sound perfect, don’t work for years as an intern at a publishing house for the teensy off chance some snooty suit will read your manuscript. This is the Age of Aquarius!  Be your own guru and pave your own way, and if you can’t hold onto that thought yet or you don’t have the means yet, find someone like Diane (or me!), who can believe in you a little bit before you fully believe in yourself. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

• I’m a movie nerd so I’d take them to the studio tours (Warner Bros, Paramount Studios, Universal)
• General foods: Sugarfish/Salmon Talk (sushi), Bludso’s (best BBQ I’ve ever had), TGI Korean BBQ
• Larchmont: farmer’s market (Sunday AM), brunch @ Vernetti,  Jeni’s ice cream
• Los Feliz theater & dinner at Little Dom’s 
• Rooftop Cinema Club 
• Yoga on the bluff in Long Beach (Saturday or Sunday AM) & green juice from Rainbow Juices

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Independent filmmaker and writer, Diane Bell! She taught me how to take the reins in my life and believe in myself as a writer, filmmaker, and creative. https://www.dianebell.com/ 

Website: https://www.followthewoo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/followthewoo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fenalankus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fenalankus

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClifZ3HrpfXEHM3tXUT3lww

Image Credits
Podcast Art – Grace Sekelewski
Headshot – Taylor Brown