S.2 Ep. 47: Built to Conform, Born to Question: Ariel Sullivan on Conform & Beneath
S.2 Ep. 47: Built to Conform, Born to Question: Ariel Sullivan on Conform & Beneath  
Podcast: The Mythic Mic Podcast
Published On: Tue Apr 21 2026
Description: 🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where stories hold a mirror to humanity, grief has many faces, and fantasy dares to ask what happens when the world stops making sense.This week, co-host Sara Santillan is joined by Mythic Mic Rep Britt and author Ariel Sullivan for a deeply powerful and thought-provoking conversation about her dystopian romance Conform and its highly anticipated prequel, Beneath. Ariel opens up about her writing journey, from discovering her love of storytelling at just eight years old to navigating the challenges of imposter syndrome, rejection, and finding her voice. She shares candidly about how Conform was born during one of the lowest points in her life, becoming both an escape and a lifeline during postpartum depression and the chaos of COVID. We dive into the world of Conform, a dystopian society where your worth is determined by your genetics and humanity is divided into rigid, oppressive classes. Ariel unpacks the layered themes of duality, power, and perspective—and why she intentionally wrote a protagonist who refuses to see the world in black and white. At the center of it all is Emeline, a character who stands in the gray, challenging systems, questioning narratives, and forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about division, control, and what it really means to understand one another.We also explore Beneath, Ariel’s ambitious prequel that takes readers 200 years into the past to uncover the origins of this fractured world. With heavier emotional stakes, found family dynamics, and a raw exploration of grief and survival, Beneath expands the universe in ways that deepen every moment of Conform.🩸 What happens when a society decides your worth before you’re even born?🔥 Can standing in the gray be the most dangerous choice of all?⚔️ And what does it mean to hold onto humanity when everything around you demands conformity?This is a must-listen for dystopian lovers, emotionally driven readers, and anyone who believes stories should challenge, heal, and stay with you.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:✨ Ariel’s journey from fanfiction to published author. ✨ Overcoming imposter syndrome and finding confidence as a writer. ✨ Writing Conform during postpartum depression and COVID. ✨ The inspiration behind the dystopian world and its class divisions. ✨ Why Emeline chooses to stand in the gray instead of picking sides. ✨ Exploring duality through character, color, and conflict. ✨ Crafting world-building as a “character” with its own motivations. ✨ The balance between romance, rebellion, and societal commentary. ✨ The emotional depth behind Beneath and its focus on grief. ✨ How different stages of grief are represented through characters. ✨ The decision to write a prequel before continuing the main story. ✨ What readers can expect from the next installment (Core) 👀CONNECT WITH US🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill👤 Britt (Mythic Mic Rep) - @BrittBooksIt📚 Ariel Sullivan – @ArielHSullivan✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.