A new Mainly Eminem podcast episode delves into the stories of four die-hard Eminem fans who found themselves starring in his documentary, “Stans”, and eventually met the man.
Eminem’s fans are famous for their dedication, but for a few, that devotion went all the way to the big screen. In his new episode, we spoke to Nikki, Katie, Brendan, and Ralph: four “stans” whose stories feature in Eminem’s documentary “Stans”, produced by Em himself.
The geography of this episode spans from Scotland to Detroit and shows how far passion can take you.
‘It Was Like Nothing I’d Ever Heard Before’: Nikki on How Eminem Changed Her Life
Nikki from Aberdeen was only 14 when “Stan” stopped her in her tracks on holiday in Spain. “Up until then, I’d only really listened to cheesy pop and love songs”, she recalled. “But this was a story, and it was raw”.
From that moment, Nikki became a lifelong fan. She saw 8 Mile multiple times at the cinema, bought The Eminem Show on release, and travelled to Milton Keynes at 17 to see Eminem live for the first time. She even had tickets for his cancelled Manchester show and described her teenage heartbreak at missing it. Years later, she stood in the crowd at T in the Park for his Recovery comeback, calling that record her favourite.
Years later, she holds the world record for most Eminem tattoos. “I didn’t start out thinking, I’ll break a record”, she laughed. “I just got one portrait and fell in love with the whole experience”.
That passion led her into the Stans documentary. The team approached her and then travelled all the way to Aberdeen to shoot scenes at her home, in her car, and at a local tattoo parlour. “It was surreal”, Nikki said. “These guys from LA are coming all the way over here just to film me. But it was such a good day”.
Unfortunately, she could not make it to the New York premiere, where Eminem made a surprise appearance. It’s “painful to the core”, she admitted. With a three-week-old baby at home, the timing wasn’t possible. “But I have to think of it positively. He knows who I am now. I believe I’ll meet him one day and thank him in person, properly, for everything. He’s literally changed my life”.
‘I Couldn’t Believe It Was Me’: Katie on Meeting Eminem and Starring in Stans
Katie’s love for Eminem began young. Growing up in Detroit with two older sisters, she was introduced to hip-hop in the late 90s. -I was probably six or seven when I first heard him”, she said. “My sisters loved Tupac, Biggie, Lil’ Kim, and of course Eminem. My oldest sister passed away in 1998, so his music holds a special meaning. It reminds me of her”. For years, she had worked in the joint where Em used to work, expecting him, maybe, to enter the room someday. She did not meet Em there, but she had crossed paths with some of the stans who later also took part in the documentary. “It’s funny how that plays, how it all comes together. It’s all meant to be”, Katie mused.
Submitting a shaky two-minute audition tape turned into filming in New York and Detroit, telling her story in depth, no chance encounter with a star would ever provide. But nothing compared to the premiere. Katie debated going, torn between school, work and expenses. At the last minute, she decided to take the risk. It paid off. “We had no idea Eminem would show up. Suddenly, he was there. I shook his hand, and all I could say was, ‘Hey ’. After decades of waiting, that was it. But honestly, I don’t regret it. He’d already seen our stories. He knows who we are now. That’s more than a meet-and-greet. That’s forever”.
‘We Just Asked Him While He Was Eating Pizza’: Brendan on Landing a Spot in Stans
Brendan was just seven when he first discovered Eminem, hearing Curtain Call on a family trip to Ireland. “My cousin played it in the car that summer, and I fell in love straight away”, he said. His fandom only grew, with “Relapse” becoming his personal favourite.
For him, it was all about seizing the moment. After spotting Eminem’s manager, Paul Rosenberg, and Alchemist in a Detroit pizza shop, he asked outright to be in the film. Months later, the cameras were rolling. At the premiere, he got to meet Eminem for the second time, ten minutes face-to-face with Eminem and a few selected fans.
Having tracked Eminem’s jet online, he had a feeling Marshall would appear. He was right. “We actually got 10 minutes with him. It was surreal. He was being very genuine to everyone in the room. He went around to all the stans and thanked them for being part of the project. I’m sure he’s watched the film multiple times now, so he knows us”.
For Brendan, it was the perfect full-circle moment. From discovering “Curtain Call” in Ireland, to seeing Eminem live at Slane Castle in 2013, to speaking with him face to face: “I literally sprinted around the room afterwards screaming, ‘Let’s go!’”
‘Yo, It’s the Guy from Fortnite’: Ralph on Meeting Eminem and Representing the Stan Community
Ralph was practically raised on Eminem. “My parents were fans, so I heard his music on the radio as a kid. By 2009, when ‘Relapse’ dropped, I realised his music was my comfort”, he said. His true “Stan” phase began with “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” in 2013, when “Rap God” and “The Monster” put Eminem back on top of the charts.
Unlike many fans, Ralph has never seen Eminem live – too young when tours came around, and with New York rarely on the schedule. But his dedication online made up for it. Running the popular Eminem Data fan account on X, Ralph submitted a video for the Stans documentary and was invited for interviews. “They liked how I used his music as comfort and built a positive community around it. That’s what got me in”.
At the New York premiere, Ralph finally met Eminem. Nervous but determined, he delivered the now-viral line: “Yo, it’s the guy from Fortnite!” To his relief, Eminem got a joke. “It was just such an awesome opportunity to see him laugh”, said Ralph, and every fan knows what he meant.
The moment spread across TikTok and fan sites, but Ralph also managed to say something deeper. “I told him he saved my life. Through middle school and high school, when I was at my lowest, his lyrics gave me strength. I don’t even know if he heard me, but saying it mattered”.
Now featured on the Stans soundtrack cover, Ralph feels honoured to represent the fanbase in a new light. “We get called toxic online, but I think that the documentary portrayed us right: we’re organised, positive, and connected by the music. Eminem himself told us stans mean a lot to him”.
Each story is unique, yet they all highlight the powerful bond between Eminem and his fans, a bond built through music. The episode gives a rare glimpse into the lives of other members of fandom, complete with unforgettable moments of meeting Em himself. A short recap cannot really capture the emotion and excitement of those experiences, so make sure to check out the full episode.
