Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2025 #1: 2025 Wishlist
January 31, 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 first episode for 2025, the team invites Sven from Drunken Dragon Hotel and author/podcaster/indie TTRPG designer Bob McGough to discuss what they would love to see at Dragon Con.

My wishlist is relatively simple: I’d love to see more Doctor Who stars. A few of us have a tradition of getting professional photos done with the actors who played the Doctor, and we’re missing Christopher Eccleston, Matt Smith, and Ncuti Gatwa from the modern era. I’d also love to get photos with Jo Martin, Paul McGann, and the remaining classic Doctors.

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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 2024 #12: Post Con Blues
December 11, 2024

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 this final episode for the 2024 season, the team invites professor and social media muse Tyra Burton and licensed mental health and social work professional Amy Mikulski to discuss the ways that we can ease the post-con let down. We ride high during the con, but what happens when the excitement and energy come down? How do we deal with that? Tune in and find ways to get through the blues together.

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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 2024 #11: 2025 Con Prep Begins
November 27, 2024

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.

Yes, I know, Dragon Con 2024 is over, but it’s never too soon to get your dragons in a row for the next year. This episode, Sarah Rose from the DragonCon Theater and Performing Arts Lovers community joins the regulars to discuss hotels and other ways to get ahead of the game. 

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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 2024 #10: Let’s Unpack Dragon Con 2024
October 14, 2024

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.

Preparing for con isn’t a huge focus of the tenth show of the 2024 season. Instead, the hosts reviewed their adventures and experiences, both great and not-so-great, and the panels, the parties, and more. 

The 2025 season is just around the corner since planning for Dragon Con is a year-long event.

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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 2024 #9: The Final Countdown
August 15, 2024

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.

The ninth show of the 2024 season is jam-packed with Charles McFall (director of the Digital Media Track), Dave West (from the Big Damn Game Show), information from Charity Events, and a sample of the Dragon Con night life with Spider, Nori Noir, and Nemesis (members of the Cult of DCDJs). 

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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 Tales
August 13, 2024

Last September, I told you all about a publication related to Dragon Con that was coming out. After a few delays, it has arrived in time for Dragon Con 2024.

I am honored to be part of a collection of essays, stories, memories, and more about Dragon Con. It is a collection of essays, stories, memories, and more, and the proceeds go to some great causes in memory of some great people.

Dragon Tales is a benefit book celebrating Atlanta’s largest multi-media pop culture convention for fans by fans. It contains stories, essays, memories, pro-tips, and more by folks who honor Dragon Con in their heart and try to keep it all the year.

It features contributions by Darin Bush, Jerry Chandler, Joe Crowe, Kevin Eldridge, Michael Falkner, Esther Friesner, Bernadette Johnson, Rob Levy, Bobby Nash, Mary Ogle, James Palmer, Ashley Pauls, R Alan Siler, Beth VanDusen, and DJ Spider. It was edited by Michael A. Gordon and features cover art by Mary Ogle.

The book is available now on Amazon. All proceeds of sales will be distributed to two charities in honor of two gentlemen, each of whom loved Dragon Con with all his soul.

Thom Trainor
American Heart Association
https://www.heart.org/

Darren Nowell
Lost-n-Found Youth
https://www.lnfy.org/

Some of the contributors were featured on a recent edition of the Dragon Con Report.

If you bring a copy of the book to Dragon Con, come find me and I’ll sign my work for you.

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The Dragon Con Report 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 2024 #7: Broadway, Bands, and Burlesque
July 22, 2024

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.

The seventh show of the 2024 season samples some of the live entertainment options at Dragon Con. From Broadway discussions and singalongs to live bands and burlesque shows, the Dragon Con Report has you covered with updates from the DC Theater & Performing Arts Lovers group plus guests from Dragon Con Burlesque and The Killbillies. 

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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 2024 #6: Dragon Con Wrestling
July 19, 2024

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.

The sixth show of the 2024 season takes to the mat to discuss wrestling at Dragon Con. Scott, AJ and Mama Kim join the crew to discuss some of the history of DCW, its evolution, and what to expect this year.

Years ago, I was surprised to learn that Dragon Con hosts a wrestling show. Indulge yourself in this episode and learn all about the murder gymnasts of our favorite convention. 

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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 2024 #5: Adventures in AmericasMart
May 31, 2024

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.

The fifth show of the 2024 season gets a taste of the AmericasMart experience from the perspective of the creatives in the Comics and Pop Artist Alley on the 4th Floor. Mike Gordon has been setting up shop there for years, and he joins forces with artist & writer Greg Burnham to discuss their experiences as a vendor at the convention. 

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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 2024 #4: Volunteers
April 26, 2024

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.

The fourth show of the 2024 season explores what it’s like to be a volunteer at Dragon Con. The convention is run by volunteers, from registration to technology operations and more. Mike, Jen, and Channing talk with guests Julia McCure (a volunteer with Information Services) and Andrés Thomas (of the Animation Track) to discuss the lifeblood of the convention. 

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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.