The Life of Fredrick Brennan feat. Jay Brandstetter (E361)

A perfect redemption story. RIP Hotwheels.

It's really important that we know which ultima online server Julian played on

Great episode. Also just had a coworker pass unexpectedly and somehow this helped with processing some of my grief. So thanks for that.

Beautiful episode. Love to all y'all.

:( this is how i found out about Fred's passing. my condolences go out to all who loved him 🫂

I took a while to listen to this episode. I’ve always found Frederick’s personal evolution extremely moving. I have to say one of my “omg sempai noticed me” moments on Twitter was when he posted a Japanese language textbook for Taiwanese kids made during Japanese occupation, I replied, and then he REPLIED to me! The world is smaller without you, Mr. Brennan, and I’m sorry that awful Christian lady made you make dumplings.

I admit as a new zealander my heart was a bit hardened against the idea Fredrick had reformed but just hearing about his post 8chan life was really beautiful and put those doubts down. Rest in peace

Thanks for such an honest and obviously caring episode of a complicated human being.

Jake makes the best case for Mac > PC

I also feel that about the furries - I’m not a furry, but I’m into Thomas the tank engine. I get younger fans who harass me n call me horrible things in an effort to gatekeep. I was bogging me down, until I decided to kinda troll them back with pas posters

The weirdest place to find representation, but hey fellow asexual! I’m a sex and romance repulsed ace! Im 43 n I feel for others on how it took to figure out who u r. We weee part of generations who weren’t taught to be so open yet.

Rip Fred🕊️ Fantastic episode

I remember being a reply guy on Twitter trying to convince him to start a podcast about his love of font construction and written language in general. Rest in Power FB! ✊

Holy shit yall sound so young in the auto q

Fuck man. Sorry guys.

One of your best ever episodes, folks. RIP Fred, and thank you all for your willingness to acknowledge the personal growth of a challenging person

Thank you for giving furries so much time here!!!! Furries do bring joy to the world, especially the internet.

So long ,Fred, and thanks for all the memes

Man if yall missed it go back and listen to the auto Q at the end. Glad he seemed to have a decent life toward the end.

Very emotional episode made from the heart. Thank you guys for all your work and your humanity.

Touching tribute guys. RIP Fred.

He was a man, take him for all in all. We shall not look upon his like again.

RIP to Fred, I love the episode he appeared on, he will be missed from the QAA community.

This episode was both heartbreaking and sweet. Rest in peace Fred.

incredible episode, and beautifully (and not without humor) done. fred would have loved it. ❤️ Anyone have pointers to which other eps of QAA Fred had been on? I’ve listened to the whole show but it’s been ages, and outside of “exiled for shitposting”, I can’t find the others.

Jesus, I just lost a close relative last night and now we learn of the passing of a fascinating genius who grew into a hero of sorts. This running mascara is for you friend.

Lovely and sad, thank y'all

Wonderful episode thank you for coming on Jay.

RIP Fred- I hadn’t heard he had passed. He was immediately a deeply compelling figure to me, very interesting as you said. I find people who can genuinely admit they were wrong and have done harm to be very impressive. Most people aren’t strong enough to do what he did. And to go through that journey along with his lifelong experience of being so severely disabled in America, spending time in foster care in America, etc. He was constantly overcoming unimaginable adversity, and still was good for a laugh anytime I heard him speak. I hope the fact that he is no longer in pain is a comfort to those who loved him. And you’re so right to say it about Jim Watkins, Julian. Fuck them. I hope they both [redacted].

RIP Fred 🫡

RIP

Wow rip Fred. Great tribute boys.

Great euology guys! Ive been following Fred's trajectory over the last few years. From the documentary and more recently after reading Elle Reeds Black Pill, and I found him such a fascinating figure. So glad he was able to see at least a glimmer of hope at the end, and that he was surrounded by supportive loving people. Catch ya later, Fred!

What a great guest and tribute to Fred!

Great episode!

RIP Fred

This was so lovely and moving. Fly free, Fred.

Fred was also responsible for one of my favorite moments in the entire podcast. Way back in the early days of QAA he was playing a Neo version of himself in a Matrix parody Jake wrote. He thought it was so funny he started cracking up before he could get to his first line.

It is a relief to know that Fred had people who cared about him despite the things he had to struggle with. It sounds like he managed to live an interesting life. RIP Fred.

Really incredible episode.

Whoa how do the boys sound so different in the auto-q?

This was a lovely send off. Fred was a complicated guy, but the trajectory he wound up choosing for himself gave me and continues to give me hope. People can change. People can choose to mitigate harm and even push back against it. He chose to do that even when the odds were stacked against him, and that’s a powerful legacy.

We love a redemption arc, don’t we folks? RIP to a real one

RIP, Fred 😔

I've never commented on a patreon feed before but I felt compelled here. That was a beautiful, appropriate, and touching eulogy for Fred. The auto queue made me cry. Amazing job guys.

RIP Fred. He was an interesting guy. I know his life was very hard but 31 is still to young to check out

Damn. Rest in power, brother Fred.

Rip

Fred ❤️ Thank you for sharing so much about him!

Hearing Fred passed away hit me harder than i thought it could. He was a brave guy and strong in so many ways. He was to hell and back multiple times and always managed to find the right way forward. Rest easy Fred.

Incredible episode. That last couple minutes was so sweet.

I was also so saddened to see the title of this episode. It was amazing to see someone turn things around. It keeps hope going. RIP Fred.

The Qanon movement has always felt like some surreal, television drama and I’m really sad that one of the good characters has been killed off. Glad he managed to turn his story around to become such a force for good in what is a wasteland of evil. Great episode from you guys as per. RIP Fred

Vale Hotwheels, what a lovely tribute ep

RIP Fred, he may have been a complicated person, but I'm still sad

wonderful episode. Thank you

This was such a lovely, heartwarming episode ❤️‍🩹

Thank you so much for this episode. Frederick and I were Twitter moots. I always wondered why he followed me, a stay at home mum in New Zealand. It makes a lot more sense now hearing a few things you guys talked about and realising there were a few things we had a shared interest in.

jay seems like an interesting character

Wait the drugs Gob Bluth use in Arrested Development to make himself forget bad nights are real?

I always loved hearing from Fred on the pod and found his whole story so fascinating and his persona to be really genuine. We will miss you! 💙

I hate that this makes me think of the Watkins family who have largely passed from my consciousness thank fuck… because fred was very interesting and seemed way cool. Fuck Jim Watkins and his shitty son q whose name I forgot what a loser

Great episode & loved the AutoQ... RIP

Man when I heard I was legit sad. It's rare to get a turnaround like that. And then with that daring escape. Making it to the plane just in the knick of time, that motorcycle guy racing across town with the passports. And Morpheus was there... Rest in peace, big guy

I heard was cuz Julian dropped him.

Through such a poisonous period and cast of characters, Frederick Brennan was someone who was integral to it but both grew up and redeemed himself, proved himself a truly decent human (so unlike the disgusting Watkinses and others) and a model for intelligent engagement in an insane world. And i’m so glad he found another good human to be his companion and partner in what turned out to be the last period of his life. RIP to a legend.

RIP. This was a good tribute to him that I was hoping you'd make. In his redemption arc he got to find the happiness his past denied him.

There is either something wrong or right with my algorithm that I had to hear this news from you guys.

How is there not a kickass hardcore band called Anal Leakage?

RIP Fred

Thank you for this episode. RIP Fred.

I see you Julian. I was a chronic mIRC user for four years. I even remember programming some macros to go and flood sexting channels in raids.

I love Fred's physics videogame idea about helping someone in a wheelchair get around/over obstacles! I would totally play that

RIP to a legit good dude.

Incredibly moving episode, well done by everyone

I had no idea Fred died... I'm just glad it wasn't in a Phillipino jail.

Dope for Julian to not have been exposed to “poisonous foods” as a child. It clearly has set him apart from the crowd.

RIP Frederick.. I had no idea 😔

Sad, I liked Fred.

Just sending so much love to the crew and wish Fred no more pain; such an amazing conversation - thank you 💜

thank you for sharing. rip Fred

💔

RIP Frederick and godspeed 😿. Him taking responsibility for his youthful indiscretions and trying to rectify them is inspirational.

Damn, I'm so glad you guys are doing an episode for him. I had a brief interaction with him online a few years ago. I still think about his escape from the Philippines often.

To hell with Ron and Jim Watkins. RIP Mr. Brennan.

Rest easy Hotwheels

God I had no idea Fred had died. RIP to flawed man who changed himself for the better.

Frederick Brennan died!?! RIP to a legend- a man with decency who made mistakes but learned from them (and grew the fuck up.) Internet culture, for better or worse, owes a lot to him (and I suspect that there are millions of young, funny, talented folks who were denied recognization/financial opportunities due to disabilities and ableism.) The QAnon HBO documentary he featured in is what brought me to this podcast. I’m glad y’all helped save him so he had a chance to begin redeeming himself. Also, it warms my heart to know he became a leftist. Solidarity brethren- great episode!

oh man, how upsetting to learn about that this way. legend! RIP.

Aw man. RIP Fredrick.

Woah. RIP