Culture on My Mind
Battle of the Fictional Bands 2022
March 14, 2022

The week, the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track is all about that music. The nerdy music that drove our childhoods and still pilots our geeky souls.

On March 10th, the gonzo panel of ToniAnn Marini (on Twitter and The Geeky Devil), Leigh Tyberg (The Salacious Crumbles), Keith DeCandido (decandido.net and wherever fine books are sold), Kevin Cafferty (Gleaming the Tube), Kevin Eldridge (The Flopcast), and Shaun Rosado (pneumaz on Twitter), joined Joe Crowe and Gary Mitchel for the panel that was so popular last year that it became five, including one at Dragon Con itself. Welcome back to the tour, but let’s just forget about those green M&Ms.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels will be held once every two weeks (or every fortnight, if you will). If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the webs to the YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The next panel will be on March 24th. The docket contains a famous bloodsucker and a bonus panel that shall remain nameless for now, and there are always more on the way. You can find all of this and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on Women at Warp: A Star Trek Podcast.

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
Sci-Fi Sports
February 28, 2022

The week, the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track is celebrating the sports of science fiction as we come into March, which is mad for hoops or something.

On February 24th, the panel of Darin Bush (on Amazon, though the man really needs a website) and Shaun Rosado (pneumaz on Twitter) joined Joe Crowe and Gary Mitchel for a celebration of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Dodging that bludger, bouncing on that trampoline, and doing some real podracing!

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels will be held once every two weeks (or every fortnight, if you will). If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the webs to the YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The next panel will be on March 10th. The docket contains battling bands, a famous bloodsucker, and a bonus panel that shall remain nameless for now. You can find all of this and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on Women at Warp: A Star Trek Podcast.

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
Yer a Twenty-Year-Old Wizard!
January 31, 2022

Can you believe that it’s been twenty years since the film version of Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone premiered? The Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track celebrated it just last week.

On January 27th, the panel of ToniAnn Marini (The Geeky Devil), Deanna Toxopeus (RevolutionSF’s Facebook page), Darin Bush (on Amazon, though you should join me in telling him that he really needs a website), Shaun Rosado (pneumaz on Twitter), and me for a discussion on the movies, the books, our memories of the franchise, the legacy, and our acceptance of all Wizarding World fans despite what the franchise’s creator thinks of them.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels will be held once every two weeks (or every fortnight, if you will). If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the webs to the YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The next panel will be on February 10th. The docket contains a mool-ti-pass anniversary, fictional sports (just in time for that “Superb Owl” football game), battling bands, a famous bloodsucker, and a bonus panel that shall remain hidden for now. You can find all of this and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on Women at Warp: A Star Trek Podcast.

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
Fly You Fools! (The Second Breakfast)
January 21, 2022

If you know The Lord of the Rings, you know that there is a lot to talk about. As a result, the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track celebrated twenty years of assembling the Fellowship… twice! 

The first panel on this was held on January 13th and discussed here.

On January 20th, the panel of Darin Bush (on Amazon, though you should join me in telling him that he really needs a website), Kevin Cafferty (Gleaming the Tube), Sherman Burris (NerdBurger358 on Twitter), and Beth Van Dusen (Execute Chapter 66, available where all fine podcasts are fed) joined Joe Crowe for one more round of hot Middle-Earth action.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels will be held once every two weeks (or every fortnight, if you will). If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the webs to the YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Since this was a special event, the next panel will be on January 27th when we celebrate another 20th anniversary. You can find this and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on Women at Warp: A Star Trek Podcast.

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
Fly You Fools!
January 17, 2022

One thing that the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track does well is anniversaries. Last Thursday, they celebrated twenty years of assembling the Fellowship. 

On January 13th, they talked about hobbits and Gandalf and Tolkien galore as they looked back on two decades of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The live-action movie, not the book. Because the book is much older. Joe Crowe was joined by Shaun Rosado (pneumaz on Twitter), ToniAnn Marini (jersey_devil86 on Twitter), Nathan Laws (host of The 42Cast), and David Wright (Galahad’s Doom).

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels will be held once every two weeks (or every fortnight, if you will). If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the webs to the YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The future of the Classic Track’s YouTube channel holds another 20-year anniversary celebration. You can find this and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on Women at Warp: A Star Trek Podcast.

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
Slay Bells
January 10, 2022

It’s a new year with some old… no, classic takes. This time around, the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track crosses holiday streams by mixing horror and Christmas seasons like chocolate and peanut butter. 

On December 30th, they talked about Krampus and Black Christmas and Frosty the Snowman(?) in the magical mixture that is chills and thrills in the wintertime wonderland. After all, the holiday season can be a real killer. Joe Crowe and Gary Mitchel were joined by Shaun Rosado (pneumaz on Twitter), Lola Lariscy (also on Twitter), and Jonathan Williams (Wrestling with Pop Culture).

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels will be held once every two weeks (or every fortnight, if you will). If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the webs to the YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The future of the Classic Track’s YouTube channel holds two 20-year anniversary celebrations, one of which I will be participating in at the end of the month. You can find this and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on Women at Warp: A Star Trek Podcast.

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
Ask Gary and Best Franchises
December 10, 2021

It’s been a hot minute (or two) since we visited the crew at the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track, so here’s what’s been happening. 

On November 18th, the Garys had a face-off. It was Classic Track co-conspirator Gary Mitchel’s birthday, and in track tradition he was forced to answer questions and address topics sent in by the audience. It’s like an Ask Me Anything, but more entertaining. The face-off came about with Gary’s co-host, Other Gary (Lindros), as they competed for the title of ULTIMATE GARY.

You can find Gary Mitchel on the Twitter and Gary Lindros on the Facebook.

On December 2nd, a panel was assembled with Deanna Toxopeus, Lola Strickland, Shaun Rosado, Bobby Nash, and Sherman Burris to discuss the top movie franchises for holiday binge watching. Some might think you should skip Thor: The Dark World, but I’m not one of them.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels will be held once every two weeks (or every fortnight, if you will). If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the webs to the YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

The future holds the return of Sci-Fighters, a little holiday horror, and two 20-year anniversary celebrations. You can find this and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on Women at Warp – A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast.

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.