Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2026 #6: Dragon Pride
July 23, 2026

I’m playing catch-up with the Dragon Con Report after being out of the loop since January.

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the sixth episode for 2026, the hosts celebrate Pride Month in Dragon Con style. This episode was aired and posted on June 22, but like I said before, I’m catching up. Luckily, the LGBTQIA+ community can be celebrated every day of the year.

Dragon Con is a place for everyone, including the LGBTQIA+ community. Quite honestly, that community makes Dragon Con feel like home. Jennifer and Channing are joined by Chandra Free, Joshua Duart, Josh Coleman, and Patric Good, one of the convention’s beloved resident Klingers (of M*A*S*H fame) to discuss what makes Dragon Con a beautiful place and a home away from home.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2026 #5: It’s the Puppetry Track
July 16, 2026

I’m playing catch-up with the Dragon Con Report after being out of the loop since January.

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the fifth episode for 2026, this team pulls some strings.

From felt to foam and beyond, if you’re into puppetry, this track is for you. Join Mike, Jennifer, and Channing as they chat with Beau and believe in the magic.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2026 #4: Tracks of Horror & Urban Fantasy
July 9, 2026

I’m playing catch-up with the Dragon Con Report after being out of the loop since January.

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the fourth episode for 2026, the team explores something wicked and weird with guests from the Horror Track and the Urban Fantasy Track.

Mike, Jennifer, and Channing are joined by Derek Tatum, Carol Malcolm, and DJ Icabod to chat about the scary and the strange fun you can find on these wonderful tracks this Labor Day Weekend!

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2026 #3: It’s the Brit Track
June 29, 2026

I’m playing catch-up with the Dragon Con Report after being out of the loop since January.

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the third episode for 2026, the hosts go British.

If you’re a die-hard Anglophile or a fair-weather fan from PBS, the BritTrack is for you. Mike, Jennifer, and Channing are joined by Caro and Rob to discuss the tea-fueled panels and cutting wit they keep hidden in the Hilton’s basement just minutes from Trader Vic’s.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2026 #2: Dragon Connections
June 15, 2026

I’m playing catch-up with the Dragon Con Report after being out of the loop since January.

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the second episode for 2026, the hosts explore love. Love at con. Love that brings congoers together.

From chance encounters in crowded hotel lobbies to friendships that blossomed into lifelong partnerships, these are stories of fans who met at con and are still together years later. Mike, Jennifer, and Channing are joined by Josh Duart, Tyra Burton, Lauren & Nikki Evallen-Muller, and Kristi & Justin Grub to talk about meeting their someone in the dance of cosplay and late-night panel adventure.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2026 #1: The First Dragon Con
June 8, 2026

I’m playing catch-up with the Dragon Con Report after being out of the loop since January.

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the premiere for 2026, the hosts are honoring Dragon Con’s 40th year with a look at the very first Dragon Con convention. Dragon Con officially launched on October 2, 1987, at the Pierremont Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia (which is apparently known now as the Crowne Plaza Atlanta – Midtown, located near Spring Street and North Avenue, about a mile from the current convention footprint). Chipping in $300 each, Pat Henry, David Cody, John Bunnell, Robert Dennis, and others were able to attract some big names like Michael Moorcock, Robert Asprin, Richard Garriott, and Gary Gygax, as well as 1,200 attendees. It was small, but it was a success.

Mike, Jennifer, and Channing are joined by Darin Bush and Marilyn Teague to discuss their memories of that 1987 event and its legacy.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2025 #11: Dragon Cults
November 5, 2025

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the eleventh episode for 2025, the hosts are starting a new series in preparation for Dragon Con’s 40th anniversary. That’s right, it’s history time with some discussions on the various con cults. From carpet celebrations to shrines for cardboard cutouts, this con has some wacky ways to build communities. Start your journey with this introductory episode.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2025 #10: 2025 Dragon Con Debrief
October 27, 2025

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the tenth episode for 2025, the hosts look back on Dragon Con 2025 and discuss the highs and lows from the event. Con may be over, but there’s always time to think about next year, the things you’d love to do again, and the things that need some improvement.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2025 #9: Crunch Time to Con
August 28, 2025

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast. Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the ninth episode for 2025, they squeak in one last roundtable before the big event. They talk Tiki Time with Jonathan Chaffin and Horror in Clay to discuss the official Dragon Con tiki mug. They also go retro with Joe Crowe of the American Sci-Fi Classics Track, including his love of all things Manimal.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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
Dragon Con Report 2025 #8: Revelry Round Up
August 27, 2025

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast. Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the eighth episode for 2025, the team goes deep into the most exciting after-dark experiences at con. From imaginative fantasy events to nostalgic retro parties, Dragon Con celebrates it all, and this episode brings Kevin Cafferty, Rebecca Perry, and Renee Cooper to the dance floor as they explore Dragon Con’s nightlife.

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The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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.