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Sebastian Deken (he/him) is a writer and musician originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He is the author of <a href="https://bossfightbooks.com/products/final-fantasy-vi-by-sebastian-deken">Final Fantasy VI</a> (Boss Fight Books, 2021), a critical exploration of the music from the 1994 game of the same name. He received his BA in music and French language and literature at Washington University in St. Louis and his MFA in creative nonfiction writing from Columbia University. He currently lives in Queens, New York, with his husband and two cats.

Sebastian Deken

2025 Heistmas Advent Calendar Day 22: ‘Snowy Bing Bongs Across the North Star Combat Zone’

Matthew Jackson (he/him) is a writer, critic, podcaster, and nerd-for-hire who&#8217;s been writing about pop culture for more than 15 years. He lives in Austin, Texas, and when he&#8217;s not writing he&#8217;s usually counting the days until Christmas.

Matthew Jackson

2025 Heistmas Advent Calendar Day 21: Ho Ho Ho, Baby

Ethan Kaye (he/him) is a writer/editor/book hoarder. He is scared of the Loch Ness Monster.

Ethan Kaye

2025 Heistmas Advent Calendar Day 20: Christmas Manga!

Sweet Christmas! Ethan’s 10 Most Vital Christmas Songs

2025 Heistmas Advent Calendar Day 18: ‘The Man Who Came To Dinner’

Vanessa Maki (she/her) is a queer writer, critic, artist, and Blerd. She has written for publications like Dread Central, Daily Dead, Fangoria, and many more. She&#8217;s a former contributor for Pink Advocate and The Mary Sue. And she&#8217;s currently a contributor for But Why Tho? etc.

Vanessa Maki

Heist Guide: Holiday Horror

A mosaic of three men in Phrygian caps holding out items.

The 2025 Heistmas Advent Calendar Day 17: The REAL Story of the Magi!

The 2025 Heistmas Advent Calendar Day 16: MST3K Takes on ‘Santa Claus’

Andy Williams in front of christmas swirl

A Festive and Totally Reasonable Analysis of a Christmas Song That’s Slowly Driving Me Insane

Grace Leeder (she/they) has spent years cultivating her passion for storytelling, from TV shows to movies. Since entering the podcasting world in 2020, Grace has established herself as a trusted voice in pop culture, offering in-depth insights and recommendations that resonate with audiences. She began podcasting in 2020 on the award-winning Rob Has A Podcast, sharing her love for various TV series and films with listeners.
In the spring of 2024, Grace began co-hosting The Tastemakers, a podcast designed to provide curated reviews and recommendations. Throughout her podcasting journey, Grace has covered acclaimed series like Succession, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, and many more. She has also expanded her scope to conduct engaging interviews with a diverse range of industry professionals, including actors, writers, directors, and costume designers, delivering an inside look at what goes into making some of the most popular shows and movies.

Grace Leeder

The 2025 Heistmas Advent Calendar Day 15: Santa Got Run Over by a Wrestler