Dragon Con 2026

August 26, 2026August 24, 2026 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Dragon Con 2026
Atlanta, GA – September 3 through September 7, 2026

Dragon Con!

It’s an annual tradition for me. It’s like a geeky family reunion as I catch up with dear friends from around the world. This year will be my eighteenth time attending (participating in various capacities since 2009) and my ninth year as an attending professional (since 2016, excluding 2020 and 2023).

If you plan to be there, you can find me at various places over Labor Day weekend according to the schedule below. The convention app is available now – look for Dragon Con by Core-apps in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store – and contains the schedule of events. The list of confirmed guests, performers, artists, and attending professionals is available on the official Dragon Con site.

The schedule spans various fan tracks, each of which specializes in topics like Star Wars, Star Trek, military science fiction, horror, literature, and so on. From those hundreds of hours of programming, comprising around 40 different mini conventions, each attendee can play Choose Your Own Adventure and build their ultimate geeky experience.

Dragon Con itself takes place in downtown Atlanta spanning five hotels (Courtland Grand Hotel, Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, and Westin Peachtree Plaza) and the AmericasMart Atlanta exhibition center. The convention draws approximately 70,000 to 80,000 attendees (or more) annually and showcases one of the city’s most popular parades on Saturday morning at 10am.

Dragon Con prides itself on contributions to charity and the community. You can find more information about those efforts on their webpage. Each year, the convention partners with a local charity organization and this year’s partner is the Hope Atlanta. Hope Atlanta is Georgia’s longest-standing nonprofit committed to preventing and ending homelessness with 125 years of service beginning in 1900. They help clients obtain housing and achieve security and stability by working alongside them and connecting them to the resources they need to achieve self-sufficiency. To support Hope Atlanta’s mission in 2026, Dragon Con will match every donation up to $150,000.

Dragon Con attendees routinely meet or exceed the donation threshold. Every year we make it a mission to make Dragon Con pay.

The convention hosts the Dragon Con Hustle, a virtual 5K conducted on the honor system. The registration fee is donated to the annual charity and each participant gets a physical medal two weeks after the convention ends. This is probably one of my favorite ways to donate since I routinely log 30 to 35 miles during the convention as I walk to and fro. You can run, walk, roll, or even skip your way to the goal, and all Dragon Con asks is for a progress update on social media with the #DragonConHustle hashtag.

Dragon Con also hosts one of the most successful blood drives with the donations going to the non-profit Lifesouth Community Blood Centers. Lifesouth serves 125 hospitals in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and the Dragon Con blood drives routinely outperform those held at that big west coast corporate convention.

If you’re new to the convention, consider stopping by the Dragon Con Newbies group on Facebook. It is run by Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony, and me, and is an in-depth community resource for information about this massive (and sometimes overwhelming) event. Memberships (tickets) for this year’s convention are available, however memberships are limited.

With all that said, here’s where to find me during Dragon Con 2026.

Note: All Dragon Con schedules are tentative until the convention ends on Monday. Even then, things are a bit suspect. As things change before the convention, I’ll update this post.

Revision History:

- Rev 0 – 26 Aug 2026: Initial post.

The Schedule

Attendees start rolling in up to a week before the convention and commence partying. I don’t have any big plans for Wednesday yet, but I will definitely be in the area on Thursday to check in to the hotel, pick up my badge and Hard Rock Dragon Con gear, and get started with programming.

12:00p-3:30p: Dragon Con Newbies Walking and Rolling Tours (3.5 hours)
Main Programming
Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
Want to get the lay of the land & find your way around the Dragon Con Campus? Did you know there is even a food court? Meet others new to Dragon Con by touring with veteran con-goers. Guided groups leave every 30 minutes. The last tours of the day will depart at approximately 3:30PM.
Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony

4:00p-5:00p: Dragon Con Newbies Discussion with Q&A (1 hour)
Main Programming
Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
First Dragon Con, eh? Or, maybe you still find yourself confused or overwhelmed, even if it’s your 2nd or 3rd Dragon Con. Savvy Convention attendees will share tips & tricks to navigate this amazing pop-culture event. Audience Q&A.
Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony

7:00p-8:00p: Aliens 40th Anniversary: Just Start Dealing with It (1 hour)
American Science Fiction Classics
Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
A day at an Aliens anniversary panels is a day on the farm. (The panel only lasts an hour, not a day. We’ve been trained to deal with situations like this.)
Panelists include: Keith R.A. DeCandido, Andrew E.C. Gaska, John Hudgens, Shaun Rosado

11:30a: Starship Troopers: Doing Our Part (1 hour)
American Science Fiction Classics
Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
Starship Troopers arrived in 1997 and Roughnecks from the movie have invaded Dragon Con. All I can say is everyone panels and nobody quits. Or I’ll moderate you myself.
Panelists include: Kevin Stallard, Michael Wesley Collins, Tony Bowers

1:00p: The Unknown Future Rolls Toward Us: Terminator 2’s 35th Anniversary (1 hour)
American Science Fiction Classics
Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
Celebrate the film that depicts how Artificial Intelligence totally makes everything better! Then sit back and relax… Our powerful robots are ready to assist you. (This panel description sponsored by a generours grant from Cyberdyne Systems.)
Panelists include: Gary Mitchel, Derek B. Gayle, John Hudgens, Calvin Watts

2:30p: Space Muppets & CGI: Constructs as Characters in Farscape (1 hour)
Military Science Fiction
Westin, Chastain DE
Pilot, Rigel the XVII, Moya, and more; we’ll discuss some of our favorite (or least favorite) non-flesh-and-blood characters in Farscape, the effects of their use on the audience, and their importance in shaping this beloved series.
Panelists include: Kathleen O’Shea David, James Henson, Amanda J. Tillman, Callie Kelley, Lacee Aderhold, Laura J. Schroeder

4:00p: Batman 66: Holy 60th Anniversary (1 hour)
American Science Fiction Classics
Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
Yes, Commissioner? The all-time classics superhero show has been around for six Bat-decades? Only fleet-footed felons will find that a failure. Celeb-bat good times! (We may have gone too far. We’ll show ourselves out of the cave.)
Panelists include: Michael Bailey, Michael Gordon, ToniAnn Marini, Laura J. Schroeder

10:00a: Smallville: Our Favorite Heroes (1 hour)
American Science Fiction Classics
Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
Clark wasn’t the only good guy in Smallville. Be part of our tribute to the rest of the Super Friends.
Panelists include: Michael Bailey, Derek B. Gayle, Derek Russell

5:30p: Doctor Who: Into the Wilderness Years? (1 hour)
BritTrack
Hilton Atlanta, Galleria 5
So, the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special has been cancelled, and the show has been put on hiatus, but what does this mean? It’s implied we are entering another “wilderness years” situation, which leaves fans bereft of new episodes. We’ll discuss this possibility and give tips on how you can cope.
Panelists include: Mark Heffernan, Anthony Williams, Rob Bowen

11:30a: Classic Tails of Dragon Con (1 hour)
American Science Fiction Classics
Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
Listen to and tell stories about the weirdest or silliest experiences that have ever happened to you, near you, or all around you at Dragon Con!
Panelists include: Jen “Lil’ Bit” Schleusner, Rob Levy, Ryan Carey

Returning to Dragon Con as an Attending Pro for 2026

July 15, 2026July 7, 2026 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Returning to Dragon Con as an Attending Pro for 2026
Atlanta, GA – September 3 through September 7, 2026

Boldy celebrating the convention’s 40th show, we’re gonna do Dragon Con again!

I am pleased to be selected as an Attending Professional for Dragon Con 2026. This will be my eighteenth year at the con (participating in various capacities since 2009) and my ninth year as an AP (since 2016, excluding 2020 and 2023). Dragon Con is a pop culture convention spanning five days, hundreds of programming hours, and countless fan passions. It is one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world, and it remains a ton of fun both as an attendee and as a contributor. It’s also a fantastic nerd party to close out the summer.

From Dragon Con Newbies events to sci-fi classics, modern SF and fantasy, Doctor Who, military SF, and so much more, I’m excited to see what 2025 brings.

Dragon Con takes place in Atlanta, Georgia during Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit the official site. For more information about Dragon Con Newbies, visit the group on Facebook.

50 days until Dragon Con.

The Convention Report is a semi-regular series that announces and discusses my convention appearances. For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – The Power of Admitting You’re Wrong

June 25, 2026June 14, 2026 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
The Power of Admitting You’re Wrong
June 25, 2026

On February 11, 2026, a sheriff’s deputy in Palm Beach County, Florida cited a driver for using her mobile phone while driving. The state’s distracted driving laws allow phone use for navigation and voice calls, but prohibit active texting or typing while driving and ban use completely in school zones and construction zones.

Katie Thomas is an adaptive athlete who documents her life via social media. She was born without a right hand, which is the hand she was accused of using to violate the distracted driving law. When Thomas confronted the deputy with this fact, he still issued the citation. When the error went viral and the nation saw the absurdity on their phones, computers, and televisions, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office formally dropped the charge and dismissed the ticket.

Here’s the thing: The entire affair could have ended right there on North Dixie Highway had the sheriff’s deputy admitted his mistake and walked away. Instead, because of what I can only imagine was pride and fear of personal embarrassment, the citation blossomed into national news.

We’re living in an age of immense distrust in law enforcement. It’s a complex social issue influenced by high-profile misconduct cases, racial and social inequities, and authoritarianism. Events like the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Freddie Gray, policies like “stop-and-frisk” and racial profiling, and recent collaborations with overly militarized immigration enforcement agencies compound over time. The fallout is perceived illegitimacy of police agencies, discouragement of community cooperation, and demands for transparency and reductions in force.

Personally, my family grew up with a great deal of respect for police, but our confidence has been shaken by altercations with corrupt cops while doing nothing more than obeying the law, the very thing policing proponents say will stop people from getting hurt during police encounters. Long story short: Just doing what you’re told is not the absolute right answer.

Events that foment distrust, like the Palm Beach citation, can be defused by admitting errors. It was an obvious error to accuse a woman of operating a phone with a hand she does not possess. Consider that level of power: A simple admission of humanity, exchanging a moment of control for a moment of humility, can touch millions.

One of my favorite book quotes comes from 1991’s Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn:

“Do you know the difference between an error and a mistake, Ensign? Anyone can make an error. But that error doesn’t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.”

When I was in the United States Navy’s nuclear power program, we addressed errors and oversights through a formal critique program. The methodology uncovered root causes for failures and developed corrective actions, often in an attempt to prevent errors from evolving into mistakes. The process wasn’t easy, especially on the egos of intelligent nuclear operators who thrive on a culture of perfection, but it was highly effective at maintaining the standards and growing the culture.

I know from personal experience how tiny errors can grow into mistakes that threaten peoples’ lives. Those are sea stories for a different day.

But the error made by one sheriff’s deputy can be a lesson learned for all of us. There is immense power in admitting when you’re wrong. We all need to have the integrity and fortitude to take that step.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Ahsoka Tano Collectible Grails

June 17, 2026June 14, 2026 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Ahsoka Tano Collectible Grails
June 15, 2026

Every toy collector has their grails. Something highly sought-after. Something rare. Something pricey.

When it comes to Star Wars figures, I mostly focus on Hasbro, from the various 3-3/4″ lines to the 6″ Black Series offerings. I started as a completist in 1995, but eventually slimmed my collection to characters I truly care about. (Based on that selling experience, trust me when I tell you that these vast majority of these toys have little to no return on investment.)

One of those characters is Ahsoka Tano. She was introduced in 2008 with the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie as Anakin Skywalker’s padawan apprentice, and has since become a major player in the galaxy far, far away. I liked her from day one, from her start as a foil to Anakin’s cockiness to her symbolism as a child soldier turned mental health icon and Jedi rogue in the vein of Qui-Gon Jinn.

I identify in many ways with Ahsoka Tano, and I follow Ashley Eckstein, the voice actor who brought her to life, because of how she embraces the character, the fans (especially women and girls, who are often bullied and under-represented in fandom), and discussions of mental health without question. She’s an awesome role model, just like Snips.

While I don’t have many collecting grails, some of mine are Ahsoka-focused. Specifically, the Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles line for the character, which easily run ten times (or more) the cost of my typical collecting fare.

Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles have produced six figures that catch my eye in the sixth scale line. The Sideshow item is Ahsoka’s look from The Clone Wars, specifically the costume introduced in Season Three. This is probably the hardest of the set to find, but the soft goods costume and attention to detail look amazing.

The other five come from Hot Toys and reflect Ahsoka’s journey in the Disney era of the Star Wars franchise. One figure represents her journey during the Siege of Mandalore in Season Seven of The Clone Wars. The next two reflect her appearances in The Mandalorian and the early part of Ahsoka, one with her standard gray outfit and one as a set with young Grogu when she helped unlock his memories. The final two represent her evolution to knighthood, from a revamped version of her padawan look (complete with Ariana Greenblatt’s image) and her most recent form as Ahsoka “the white” from the latter portion of Ahsoka: Season One.

All of these figures outclass my typical Hasbro fare with price tags to match. The only significant variation I think they’re missing is Ahsoka’s look during Star Wars: Rebels. The quality alone makes them grails in my book, and they are a true representation of “you get what you pay for.” Mind you, I’ll be happy if I never see them come home. I’m not going to break the bank to buy them. But if they come home one day, I’ll happily find a place on the shelf to display these works of art.

For me, collecting isn’t a quest to be better than someone else or show off how much I can spend. It’s about having fun and keeping icons of characters and moments that inspire my creativity and drive.

That’s why one of the Hot Toys offerings will never sit on my shelf.

Earlier this year, Hot Toys announced a version of Ahsoka from The Clone Wars movie in 2008. It included her in the infamous tube top costume with Rotta “Stinky” the Hutt. The character in her early TCW outfit hasn’t really been offered since the toy lines that accompanied the early seasons, so this could have been a chance to test those waters.

Unfortunately, the Hot Toys team stumbled. They tried for a “real life” version of Ahsoka by using Ariana Greenblatt’s likeness in that outfit, a move that oversexualized that character in my opinion. It looked creepy, especially since Greenblatt has never appeared in that outfit, and reminded me of the disgusting nature of fandom. (No, I will not be posting the promotional image here.)

Back when Ahsoka was introduced, the common advice was to not search the internet for images of her while at work. As soon as she entered pop culture, fanboys began producing pornography featuring the character, cast in all sorts of costumes and scenarios, including certain situations with Anakin and the troops they led.

Rule 34 on the internet isn’t a new thing, especially when it comes to Star Wars. But, at the start of the Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano is canonically a 14-year-old girl. Her costume, let alone her existence in the franchise, does not excuse the behavior. This goes far beyond horny fanboy fantasies and skirts the boundaries of child porn masquerading as “harmless” fanfic.

I’m not saying the artists at Hot Toys had this in mind, but given that history, placing Greenblatt’s likeness on a character she never embodied is far too close to legitimizing the behavior. The figure has since been cancelled and unceremoniously wiped from the Hot Toys catalog. A few have been shipped, making this a super rare (and incredibly expensive on the secondary market) figure in the series.

It’s one that I have no interest in pursuing. That vision of the character is not Ahsoka Tano to me.

But those other figures? I’m going to keep an eye out for them. If the Force is with me, they may even grace my shelves at some point. Because Ahsoka Tano means a lot to me, and these grails are elegant pieces of art that honor her legacy in the Star Wars mythos.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Star Trek at 60: Physical Appearances in the 24th Century

January 15, 2026January 13, 2026 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Star Trek at 60: Physical Appearances in the 24th Century
January 15, 2026

In May 2007, Patrick Stewart shared an anecdote about a bald man being cast as a Star Trek captain.

The interview clip can be found on the BBC’s YouTube channel.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – The 2025 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

January 12, 2026January 2, 2026 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
The 2025 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
January 12, 2026

My family has been doing the LEGO advent calendars since 2015 and I chronicle the daily builds on Instagram. Each of the annual box sets has been spotlighted on this site. This year, we continued our tradition of building the Star Wars calendars. The joy of this calendar is seeing how LEGO interprets ships and locales from the nearly 60 years of adventures in the galaxy far, far away.

The box contained 24 windows with a single LEGO build in each. This year, the designers changed their approach by making the entire box themed around droids. It was an intriguing idea but came with some significant drawbacks.

Days 1 through 8

The calendar started strong with a minifig from The Rise of Skywalker in Babu Frik. The next two days also made sense with a workbench (that included a clear pedestal for Frik to sit on) and C-3PO (from the moment in Rise when he was reprogrammed to speak Sith). I think the calendar stumbled a bit here with a pit droid that should have been later in the lineup and a chair that has little value in a droid-centered box. The maintenance droid (modeled after the typical GNK gonk droid), R7-A7, and the buzz droid were great thematic choices.

Days 9 through 16

I can’t fault the calendar for including a tool rack as it calls back to the traditional weapons rack filler build of years past. The festive Jawa and BD-72 were great minifig additions, and the B2EMO and treadwell builds were wonderful as well. This block stumbled with the spare parts container, which again is challenging for kids and play factor.

I’m on the fence about the Jawa service vehicle and the crane. These two days referenced an obscure part of two previous LEGO sets: 75059 (Sandcrawler) and 75198 (Tatooine Battle Pack). While they are on theme, this combination is pretty much an exclusive callback for collectors. It maintains some playability, however, by making the vehicle first and then the crane for lifting an astromech by its dome. (I also had no idea what it was until I opened up Jay’s Brick Blog.)

Day 17 through 24

The builds were a lot better in the last third, including the traditional battle droid, another super battle droid minifig, and nice builds for three other droids. The parts bin and the barrel were necessities to fill out the Babu Frik workshop, but I can only imagine the disappointment for kids when they crack open a barrel and shovel on the penultimate day. Traditionally, these calendars save a multipart build for the last two or three days to build up the anticipation. This year… barrel.

I did enjoy the final build for the BB-8 snowman, but the tree was lackluster.

Final Thoughts

This calendar was a step back from the usual and missed some potential in a universe chock full of droids. I wish the development team had considered a droideka (destroyer droid) build or something similar from The Clone Wars. One of the most famous droids is the interrogation droid from A New Hope. Deeper in the lore is the TX-20 tactical droid from the 2011 Mace Windu Starfighter set. Even a simple repaint of a battle droid as one of R2-D2’s droid squad from the Clone Wars Citadel trilogy would be a nice change of pace.

Looking ahead to 2026, we have The Mandalorian and Grogu coming to theaters in May. While that may be too soon to include new minfigs, some miniature builds from the movie would be a nice addition. It’s also the tenth anniversary of Rogue One, so maybe they could include something to honor the film and its characters? Personally, I’m all for Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus.

2026 is also the tenth anniversary of “Twilight of the Apprentice” from Star Wars: Rebels, and I’m always down for more Ahsoka Tano merchandising. I’ve been wanting a minifig with her in a holiday sweater for a while.

Dialing even further back, Shadows of the Empire was the hit release of 1996. Some mini builds of the Outrider or other elements could be fun. One decade earlier, the Droids comic series started in 1986. The Droids and Ewoks cartoon shows were also running at the time, and the Star Tours promotional campaign was in full swing. A StarSpeeder craft build or an R-3X build could be fun nods to the era.

Finally, 2026 is the tenth anniversary of Carrie Fisher’s passing. A tribute might be fitting. Maybe Boussh to tie in Shadows of the Empire?

As I said last year, if you’re looking for a fun interactive gift leading up to the holiday season, I wholeheartedly recommend the LEGO Star Wars advent calendar. Even at its weakest, we have a blast each year and people love following along with us on Facebook and Instagram.

They tend to hit store shelves around Labor Day or shortly thereafter. LEGO’s suggested retail price is $45 USD. Some of the big box store knock that down a little, but I have found the best deal at Costco near the end of September or into October.

If you want to follow along next year, I look forward to it.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – The Quest for Sunshine Preservation (Autumn 2025 Edition)

November 3, 2025March 22, 2023 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
The Quest for Sunshine Preservation
(Autumn 2025 Edition)
November 3, 2025

It’s that time once again.

Daylight saving time is the practice of advancing clocks by one hour in warmer seasons to make darkness fall at a later clock time. It is utilized in several countries around the world and the concept has caused controversy since the earliest proposals. To this day it affects the sleep patterns and productivity of those who practice it.

Many countries and territories abolished the practice after years of practice. The European Union conducted a survey in 2018 and determined that 84 percent of respondents did not want to adjust clocks twice a year. The EU was supposed to stop daylight saving time in 2021 but later asked for a more detailed assessment first.

The United States cannot abolish daylight saving time without federal approval. The practice was established in 1918 with the Standard Time Act and modified in 1966 with the Uniform Time Act (which itself has been revised several times). The government has attempted to abolish routine time changes several times, most recently with the Sunshine Protection Act. The legislation has been introduced multiple times and has died before being passed each time.

For more information (and some humor to brighten your day), check out this 2011 video from CGP Grey.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Debrief: Dragon Con 2025

October 23, 2025October 21, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Debrief: Dragon Con 2025
Atlanta, GA – August 28 through September 1, 2025

Dragon Con 2025 has come to an end. Despite being a busier year, it seemed a lot lower key and easier to manage than in previous years.

Attendance was reported at 75,000, up 3,000 from last year. That attendance number was capped by badge sales, and traffic management felt much better this year. Those 75,000 fans did a lot of good charity work this year. NAMI Georgia will be receiving at least $320,000, and new convention record. The blood drive was very successful as well, earning about 10,600 blood components from more than 3,950 donors.

I left the con physically exhausted and both creatively and emotionally energized. Sadly, I wasn’t able to capitalize on the energy after contracting COVID immediately following the con. Luckily it was a minor case and none of my friends or family picked it up from me, but it was still two weeks spent confined to my house with a lot of resting and sleeping. Work picked up significantly as well since con, hence this after-action report being so late. Such is life.

On to the discussion!

Dragon Con 2025

August 20, 2025September 29, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Dragon Con 2025
Atlanta, GA – August 28 through September 1, 2025

Dragon Con!

It’s an annual tradition for me. It’s also a family reunion of sorts as I catch up with dear friends from around the world. This year will be my sixteenth time attending and my eighth year as an attending professional.

The schedule spans various fan tracks, each of which specializes in topics like Star Wars, Star Trek, military science fiction, horror, literature, and so on. From those hundreds of hours of programming, each attendee can play Choose Your Own Adventure and build their ultimate geeky experience.

Dragon Con prides itself on contributions to charity and the community. You can find more information about those efforts on their webpage. Each year, the convention partners with a local charity organization and this year’s partner is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, it is an association of more than 500 local affiliates who work in the community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. Dragon Con will match every donation up to $125,000.

With all that said, here’s where to find me during Dragon Con 2025.

Note: All Dragon Con schedules are tentative until the convention ends on Monday. Even then, things are a bit suspect. As things change before the convention, I’ll update this post.

Revision History:

- Rev 0 – 20 Aug 2025: Initial post.

The Schedule

Attendees start rolling in up to a week before the convention and start partying. I don’t have any big plans for Wednesday yet, but I will definitely be in the area on Thursday to check in to the hotel, pick up my badge and Hard Rock Dragon Con gear, and get started with programming.

12:00p-4:00p: Dragon Con Newbies Walking and Rolling Tours (4 hours)
Main Programming
Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
Want to get the lay of the land & find your way around the Dragon Con Campus? Did you know there is even a food court? Meet others new to Dragon Con by touring with veteran con-goers. Guided groups leave every 30 minutes. The last tours of the day will depart at approximately 3:30PM.
Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony

10:00a: Dragon Con Newbies Discussion with Q&A (1 hour)
Main Programming
Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
First Dragon Con, eh? Or, maybe you still find yourself confused or overwhelmed, even if it’s your 2nd or 3rd Dragon Con. Savvy Convention attendees will share tips & tricks to navigate this amazing pop-culture event. Audience Q&A.
Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony

1:00p: Fragmented Selves: Memory, Identity, and Humanity in Modern SF Media (1 hour)
American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Marriott Marquis, M302-M303
‘Who am I?’ is a core question in modern SF. From Murderbot seeking autonomy to Severance’s split identities, memory shapes the self. Bucky Barnes battles brainwashing in the MCU, while N.A.T.A.L.I.E. in Ironheart blurs lines between AI and humanity. Let’s explore identity’s frontiers.
Panelists include: Alli Martin, Chelsey Bogan

5:30p: Webs, Wit, and Reboots: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (1 hour)
American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Marriott Marquis, M301
Peter Parker returns to animation exploring the early days of the beloved hero. We’ll look into the show’s style, story, and how it reimagines classic characters for a new generation. How does it stand apart from past versions and what makes this Spidey so friendly?
Panelists include: Anthony Liggins, Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Michael Collins

7:00p: Box Office Blues (1 hour)
American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Marriott Marquis, M301
Theaters are still recovering from COVID, streaming shifts, industry strikes, and pressure for opening weekend hits. Even big successful movies don’t stay in the theaters long. We’ll explore how these forces reshape what gets made, what gets shown, and why audiences return — or don’t.
Panelists include: Stuart Grosse, Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Jon-Paul Estes

11:30a: Rewind and Rewatch: Farscape
Military Science Fiction
Westin, Chastain DE
We’ve done a rewatch of the series and recruited new viewers (and fans)! Do your own rewatches and come talk with us about how it holds up, and how it feels to encounter for the first time.
Panelists include: James Henson, Lacee Aderhold, Laura Jae

4:00p: MCU: Fantastic (4) Futures
American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Marriott Marquis, M302-M303
Marvel’s First Family finally enters the cinematic stage of the MCU. How were they reimagined? Did the cast do the characters justice? What did you think of the retro future vision? From multiversal wrap-ups to cosmic threats, does it set the stage for the next era of the franchise?
Panelists include: Kevin Cafferty, Hanako Ricks, Abigail Hart, Marx Pyle

5:30p: Doctor Who: New Series Review
BritTrack
Hilton Atlanta, Galleria 5
Ncuti Gatwa’s second season as the Doctor was a cosmic rollercoaster — thrilling, emotional, and occasionally a bit dizzying. With a finale that left fans gasping and a regeneration twist that rewrote the rulebook, it’s clear: the TARDIS isn’t the only thing that’s changing.
Panelists include: Ryan Carey, Caro McCully, Ralph Lawson, Moe Hemmi

7:00p: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Anniversary Pizza Par-taaaaay
American Science Fiction Classics
Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
You’re sadly mistaken if you think you’re leaving this panel without A) enjoying delightful pizza to celebrate the first live-action Ninja Turtles movie. and 2) doing a very dramatic reading of Partners in Kryme’s “Turtle Power.”
Panelists include: Nick Frutiger, Keith R.A. DeCandido

No panels scheduled at this time.

Culture on My Mind – The Quest for Sunshine Preservation (Spring 2025 Edition)

March 10, 2025March 22, 2023 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
The Quest for Sunshine Preservation
(Spring 2025 Edition)
March 10, 2025

It’s that time once again.

For more information (and some humor to brighten your day), check out this 2011 video from CGP Grey.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: