Avatar: Braving the Elements

Janet Varney and Dante Basco are joined by legendary actor Stephen Root - voice of Gommu, Republic City’s underground hobo and secret telegraph master - to unpack one of Legend of Korra’s most jaw-dropping moments: the reveal of Amon’s true identity. Together, they dive deep into The Legend of Korra Book 1, Episode 11: “Skeletons in the Closet.” Root shares his thoughts on playing morally complex characters, why he wouldn’t want bending powers (a first for any guest!), and his surprising connection to his favorite hybrid animal from the Avatar universe, Naga. The trio dives deep into the emotional backstory of Tarrlok and Noatak, the trauma of bloodbending, and the chilling legacy of Yakone. Plus: relationship drama, epic bending battles, and a hilarious telegraph scene that proves Gou might be the most resourceful non-bender in the Avatarverse. And as always, you can react to the epic action featured in this week’s episode by checking out the official Avatar Legends YouTube Channel!  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Minnesota Twins MLB pitcher Pablo López joins Braving the Elements to share his deep love for the Avatarverse - and yes, he really wears a Water Tribe belt on the mound. Hosts Dante Basco and Janet Varney dive into Pablo’s personal connections to Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, from childhood memories to life lessons drawn from Aang and Korra’s journeys. They build fantasy baseball teams with benders, debate pro-bending strategy, and explore how the show's themes mirror real-life challenges in professional sports. Plus, Magic: The Gathering designer Dillon Deveney gives us a first look at the epic ATLA x MTG crossover, revealing how the team brought bending battles and beloved characters to life in card form. And if you’d like to join Janet, Dante and their guest(s) as they react to some amazing action, check out the video version of this episode on the official Avatar Legends YouTube Channel! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ve heard his voice narrating every twist and turn in The Legend of Korra. Now the man behind Shiro Shinobi finally steps up to the mic! In this episode of Braving the Elements, hosts Dante Basco and Janet Varney sit down with Jeff Bennett, the voice behind Avatar’s most iconic radio broadcaster, to discuss the fan-favorite episode “Turning Tides.” From Shinobi’s Shakespearean flair to unforgettable lines like “I am currently wetting my pants,” this episode celebrates the character’s surprising rise and enduring charm. Jeff performs a custom Shinobi recap, reflects on his ATLA connections, and teases the return of General Iroh. And as always, you can react to the epic action featured in this week’s episode by checking out the official Avatar Legends YouTube Channel!  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know The Boulder was almost voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson?! ATLA legends Toph (Michaela Jill Murphy) and The Boulder (Mick Foley) spill some Avatar secrets and join us for a joyful reunion full of laughs, live scene reenactments, and heartfelt fan stories. From their Earth Rumble 6 showdown to real-life convention adventures, this episode dives into the friendships and fandoms that continue to grow around the Avatarverse. Michaela shares a touching moment with a blind fan, while Mick reflects on how wrestling shaped his iconic character. Join the fun and react to the stunning action featured in this episode on the official Avatar YouTube Channel! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Avatar Aang makes a powerful return in TLOK Book One: Air, Episode 9, “Out of the Past” - and this week, we’re joined by none other than ATLA’s original voice of Aang, Zach Tyler Eisen. Hosts Janet Varney and Dante Basco dive deep into this unforgettable episode, where Korra’s captivity triggers a chilling vision of Aang’s final showdown with Yakone and a shocking revelation about bloodbending. Zach reflects on his emotional journey voicing Aang and what it means to revisit the Avatarverse in a moment of such high stakes and spiritual weight. Together, we explore the disturbing legacy of Yakone, Tarrlok’s betrayal, and the pain that continues to ripple through time - from Aang’s struggle to bring justice, to Korra’s growing fear of losing control. This episode is packed with tension, legacy, and heartbreak, as past and present collide. How does Aang’s courtroom memory guide Korra through her darkest hour? And what does this spiritual encounter say about the burden - and power - of being the Avatar? And as always, you can react to the epic action featured in this week’s episode by checking out the official Avatar Legends YouTube Channel!  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we're diving deep into Book One: Air, Episode 8 of The Legend of Korra “When Extremes Meet” with special guest Richard Epcar, the voice behind Captain Saikhan! Join hosts Janet Varney (Korra) and Dante Basco (Zuko) as they unpack the shifting politics of Republic City, the rise of Tarrlok, and the chilling return of bloodbending - all while celebrating the artistry, humor, and unexpected darkness of this pivotal ATLA-universe episode. Richard shares behind-the-scenes stories from the booth, his take on Saikhan’s controversial alliance, and why he thinks Asami Sato deserves the title of Team Avatar MVP. And as always, you can react to the epic action featured in this week’s episode by checking out the official Avatar Legends YouTube Channel!  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The saga of the Cabbage Merchant continues! James Sie - the voice behind Avatar: The Last Airbender’s iconic cabbage merchant - joins Janet and Dante to unpack The Legend of Korra Book One: Air, Episode 7: “The Aftermath”. From the shocking takedown of Cabbage Corp to Hiroshi Sato’s dark secret, this episode is packed with bending betrayals, cabbage-bending conspiracies (maybe), and emotional fallout from legacy characters. The trio explores themes of betrayal, legacy, chosen family, and how trauma fuels extremism - from Hiroshi to Jet to Amon. Plus: how the Cabbage Merchant’s legacy still echoes through the Avatarverse - one heartbreak at a time. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mindy Sterling joins Janet and Dante to talk about voicing Lin Beifong, The Legend of Korra’s master metalbender and the daughter of ATLA’s Toph. In Book One’s “And the Winner Is…”, Lin steps up to defend the pro-bending finals against Amon’s threat. The trio unpacks Lin’s metalbending might, her Marina Dietrich-inspired swagger, and how it feels to carry on Toph’s legacy. Plus, a hilarious attempt at a Shiro Shinobi recap and behind-the-scenes stories that prove Lin’s not the only scene-stealer in the room. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seychelle Gabriel, the voice of Asami Sato, joins Janet and Dante to explore the tangled emotional web of The Legend of Korra’s “The Spirit of Competition.” As pro-bending battles escalate, so do the romantic tensions between Korra, Mako, and Asami. Seychelle shares what it was like to voice such a stylish, badass character in her very first voiceover gig, and reflects on Asami’s early role in the Avatarverse and her growing connection with Korra. The trio explores the roots of the Korrasami ship, behind-the-scenes stories from Seychelle’s audition, and how love, loyalty, and competition all collide in this turning point of Book One. Plus, it’s time for another round of “Quip or Cabbage?” To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Director, character designer, and Avatar legend Joaquim Dos Santos joins Janet and Dante to talk all things Korra - from the very first sketch of the Avatar herself to crafting the episode's darker, noir-inspired tone. In this episode, Team Avatar revisits The Voice in the Night, where Korra faces off with mounting fear, political pressure, and a growing Equalist threat. Joaquim shares how he helped design Korra as the "opposite of Aang," how her MMA-inspired physicality influenced her character, and how cinematic storyboarding brought a new visual language to the Avatarverse. Plus: Tarrlok’s shady charm, the chilling mystery of Amon, and why this episode marks a major tonal shift in Book One. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices