Slayers, Every One of Us

How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On

By: Kristin Russo, Jenny Owen Youngs

Narrated by: Jenny Owen Youngs, Kristin Russo

Read by the authors and hosts of the hit podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, this memoir reflects on heartbreak, perseverance, building community, and life lessons learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This audiobook features bonus songs, jingles, and clips from the podcast and live shows, and contributions from fans/committed Scoobies.

Kristin and Jenny’s marriage started with an ultimatum: to further their relationship, Kristin must watch Jenny's favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With the terms set, they began a journey that has led them through seven seasons of the beloved genre show, a podcast rewatching the series with their newly minted listenership of “Scoobies,” unexpected success, and a divorce. Through it all, their love for Buffy and their commitment to their community held them together against the odds.

Slayers, Every One of Us is the story of how two queer women navigated divorce on a very public level and managed to stay in each other’s lives through it all. While chock full of Buffy-related content (and Buffering!) for true fans, this is ultimately a memoir of queer love and chosen family. It's a heartwarming story for anyone who's experienced lost love, and a roadmap for staying close with your ex.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Kristin Russo (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“At turns inspiring, hilarious, and devastating (in the best way), Slayers, Every One of Us underlines the truth that the hardest thing to do in this world may be to live in it, but found family and love of story can help ensure that you *will* be slaying—no matter what. The warmth and goofy wit that Russo and Youngs bring to everything they do is the perfect antidote for anyone who feels like cookie dough that’s not *quite* done baking.”—Joanna Robinson, cultural critic and podcaster at The Ringer

"A heartfelt story of how one couple's mutual obsession allowed them to remain in each other's lives, this tender, funny, and totally charming tale of love, divorce, and podcasting is as much an ode to queer community as it is to a certain vampire slayer."—Gabrielle Korn, author of Yours for the Taking and Everybody (Else) Is Perfect

"Recently I found myself enchanted by a book about a podcast I didn’t listen to, that recapped a TV show I’d never watched; a testament to how good Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs’ memoir Slayers, Every One Of Us is. This once-married duo cut to the quick in their deeply personal memoir recounting the creation of their massively successful podcast, Buffering the Vampire Slayer, which recaps the '90s teen drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The memoir’s subplot—Youngs and Russo’s meeting, falling in love, subsequent breakup and divorce, while they taped seven seasons of their wildly popular podcast—was like a dagger to the heart. A spellbinding read."—Tegan Quin, award-winning musician and New York Times bestselling author

Love These Two

I love your podcast, loved the book, love you both. I really honor your deeply personal and painful stories. You don’t owe your stories to your community—or to anyone. Yet I know these stories are meaningful to lots of folks who’ve listened along for years, myself included. Your pod was a lifeline during COVID. I’m glad that you both got happy next chapters individually and together.

Scoobies Forever

I came to the Buffering podcast in 2020, looking for something hopeful to fill the long quiet hours of lockdown telework. Listening to Kristin and Jenny navigate the landscape of a post-election 2016 helped me through the 2020 campaign season. I listened in order, only finding out about the turmoil that had happened in their relationship years after it happened.
This book is an amazing walk through the best, worst, and best times between two amazing women. Chosen. Family. Matters.
Thank you both, so damn much.

public success, private battles

You never know what battles people are fighting has never been truer than in the telling of behind the scenes of buffering. The vampire Slayer a rewatch podcast. listening to Kristen and Jenny recount the success of their podcast with the dissolution of their marital relationship was emotional in ways I wasn't ready for, but a testimony to the community that they belong to. powerful listen and a story worth hearing. also listen to the podcast. it's really good.

Tales of the Slayers

It was wonderful recounting the journey of Buffering while hearing the often heart-wrenching behind-the-scenes stories. I was enthralled the entire time. If you love Buffering — or just Buffy — this is very much worth a listen.

Wonderful!

I laughed, I cried, and I now feel like I have a deeper understanding of my two favorite podcasters!

A True Work of Heart

After jumping on the podcast bandwagon during the pandemic in 2020, I have been a devout listener. This book is a stunning achievement and provides so much insight on the blood, sweat and literal tears that went into the making of Buffering the Vampire Slayer by these two incredible people (and their associated partners and supporters). Even if you are not a current fan of the podcast, this audio book is a beautiful journey and I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Cried multiple times while listening but in a good way. Awoo!

I listened to the podcast as it was coming out. This memoir shares so much more of what was happening behind the scenes, while also taking you through the journey of the podcast again.

My Favorite Podcast About My Favorite Show

Kristin and Jenny are a dream. I’m a devout listener of the podcast (but found it late in its creation) and have re-listened many times. The book gives profound context to the podcast oeuvre and had me in tears many times. The intertwining of life and fandom is so relatable to anyone who deeply loves a popular property and sees themselves in it and in return that property in themselves. A moving and sweet story that anyone can enjoy; absolute heaven for a fan of Buffering and/or Buffy.

Bring Your Tissues Scoobies!

From beginning to end heart wrenching and tearful but oh so honest. While Jenny and Kristin were bringing entertainment and escape for all of us, they were living their own battles. We did not know all of their story till now. I for one respect the hell out of both of you for not only continuing this journey with us but for sharing the behind the scenes struggles. My husband had to check in on me multiple times while listening because my sobbing was very loud. Forever a listener and forever grateful!

Jenny and Kristin could read the phone book and I’d buy it!

If you are a Buffering fan, this is a must have. If you’re not a Buffering fan, why on earth not? Best podcast ever, best community ever, and now best book authors ever. I am totally biased, but I thought the book was wonderful. It brought all the heart and storytelling about life that Kristin and Jenny excel at.