Come listen to disabled authors, actors, and artists talk about managing their creative lives and their daily lives. Participants: Stephanie Cranford (mod), Camryn Carey, J.R. Dawson, Christine Galey, Tania Richter
When are board games art? Always? Never? How do the commercial realities of publishing board games conflict with artistic goals? What alternatives to commercial publication are art-driven game designers using? Participants: Tata (mod), Nicole Fende, Martin Grider, Alisha Volkman
For first timers or veterans who are pretty sure they don't know everything, this panel will try to teach you everything you need to know. Participants: Rhea Wessendorf (mod), Nikki Armstrong, Brian Etchieson
Corvids have a reputation for wisdom, trickery, and mimicry and are important symbolic figures in many mythologies and cultures. They have appeared in fantasy stories as spies, wise creatures, or bad omens. Discuss our fascination with these creatures. Participants: Lisa Hario (mod), Renate Fiora Hyer, Satish Jayaraj, David Lenander, Kerry T Peterson
There are quite a few anime with a strong food focus. Come discuss your favorites! Participants: Kenneth Justiniano (mod), Amanda Bliss, Molly Glover, Sheko, Jessi Silver
It is weird how we only award movies the moment they come out. But do those films stand the test of time? We will reexamine the films of 2016 to see if they still hold up. Is Spotlight still the "best picture"? Participants: Duck Washington (mod), Windy Bowlsby, Garrick A Dietze, Andrea Ropella, Megan M Slawson
GoH John Kovalic discusses his work on the Munchkin game franchise and the long running Dork Tower comic. Participants: Edward Eastman (mod), John Kovalic
Kitchens are often cluttered with various devices. Which do you use constantly? Which gather dust? How can you find more uses for what you have or find more multi-faceted tools to replace many items at once? Participants: Alisha Srock (mod), Scott Grandt, K.N. Hamann, Tom Hyer, Erin Wilaby
Finding a good bookstore that isn't one of the last big chains seems to get harder every year. What are your favorite local shops? Participants: Eiryn Katherine (mod), Mallory Glass, Jeff Grapevine, Gus, Stephanie Olson
With the David Lynch memorial panel last year, there were so many questions about thoughts on Twin Peaks and what did things mean. We decided it might not be the worst idea to dedicate a panel to giving our thoughts on what we think things mean. Participants: Garrick A Dietze (mod), Drew Johnson, Sherry Pofahl Johnson, Caly McMorrow, Noel Thingvall
On the BROdcast Podcast, the elite Alpha Omega Geeks unlock forbidden high-value strategies like respecting women, acceptance > tolerance, and the grindset of empathy, compassion, and decency. The only podcast so dangerously dope, it's not even recorded! Participants: T. Aaron Cisco, Scott Wenker
Many of us view conventions as an escape but keeping con environments safe and inclusive means that we can't fully ignore sociopolitical issues. We'll discuss how to be more cognizant of this reality whether you're an attendee or an organizer. Participants: Miss Shannan (mod), Lauren Crabtree, Kendrick Edmund Hogue, Kerry T Peterson, Johanna Stark
Have you ever wanted to learn how ConSuite keeps filling up the bags of chips or how badging can be a great way to make new friends? Come find out from the CONvergence Volunteers Department how you can become volunteer powered.
Want to make a Star Wars costume, whether for fun or to join an official club, but don't know where to start? Is the complexity or cost holding you back? Join 501st and Rebel Legion members as we discuss affordable costumes that are easy to put together. Participants: Kayla Beckemeyer, Kat Hosley, Jill McTavish
The golem is a well-known figure from Jewish folklore. How has this concept and metaphor influenced science fiction and artificial intelligence (androids, cyborgs, etc.) stories throughout history and today? Participants: Jen Rogachevsky (mod), J.R. Dawson, Andrea Herman, Joe, Naomi Kritzer
Sci-fi adventure is a blast, but it can also be fun to deep dive into the deep thinking behind stories like The Three-Body Problem, Foundation, Dune, and more. What books, movies, and shows can you think of that make you think? Participants: Johanna Stark (mod), Kurt Fleschner, Dave Margosian, Rosewind, Boris Leonidovich Smelov
A discussion on what history can teach us about the combat systems of role playing games. How accurate are they? Are the weapons appropriate for the setting? What do RPGs get right and wrong? Participants: Paul David Bates (mod), Eddie, Daniel Jay-Dixon, Kenneth Justiniano, Jamie Riedesel
It's not just for dating anymore! Let's talk about how our understanding of consent has changed over the years. We'll talk about why it matters at CONvergence and outside of it as well as some strategies to apply the principles of consent in more areas of life. Participants: Kerry T Peterson (mod), Sean Eberle, KitKat, Natalya Rose, Nick the Board Game Librarian
Musicals are more than singing and dancing--they're fantasy, action, science fiction, even horror. Join alumni Guest of Honor Lee Harris and obsessive musicals fan Windy Bowlsby as they dive into what makes the musical format so familiar to the SF/F fan. Participants: Windy Bowlsby, Lee Harris
It's been said that in sci-fi, the magic is in the technology and in fantasy, magic is the technology. Where falls science fantasy? What stories do a good job of incorporating both elements? Participants: Kendrick Edmund Hogue (mod), Kate Dane, Skylar Merritt Schwartz, Samuel T. Weston, Dirk Ykema
Come learn all that CONvergence offers to our teen fans from other teen fans. Learn about the Teen Room, favorite volunteer options, and more. Participants: Azron Borchert (mod)
Before James Gunn took a hold of the DC cinematic universe, Nur-D created a personal retooling of the previous 15 DCEU films. Join him as he guides you through his vision! Participants: Nur-D
A panel to discuss the prevalence of book bans and book challenges and how they affect librarianship today. Bring us your questions and concerns so we can offer suggestions and commiserate together. This will primarily be a Q&A panel. Participants: Crystal Kelleher (mod), Princess Sam Irish Lass, Josiah John Mannion, Morgan Strickland, Kellee Lee Wolf
When you have genetic engineering for humans, humankind will change--possibly splitting or...who knows? What do the panelists think will happen? Can we sanction manipulating our offspring while avoiding the pitfalls of eugenics? Participants: Arthur J Kneeland (mod), Lee Brontide, Kurt Fleschner, Laura Okagaki
Gardening in the city can be difficult, from a lack of yard to plant to lacking sunlight due to building shade. What means exist to aid growing food in urban environments? Participants: Katie Heilman (mod), Jason Nesler, Springyboii, Johanna Stark, Erin Wilaby
Ok, maybe not "everything", but join our panelists as they tell you some surprising things about the world of publishing. Participants: Lee Harris (mod), Jay Gallentine, Jenny Goloboy, Laura Szatz, Madeleine Vasaly
The Victorians had Dracula and Dr. Frankenstein. The 50s had giant creatures. The 80s had Jason and Freddie. What do the things we consider monstrous or frightening say about us and our society? Participants: John Thomas Bliss (mod), Sonni de Soto, Brian Forrest, T'Yanna L Singleton
Oh heavens, our lovelies, this blows! Let's have a discussion about hormones (oral and otherwise), diet, and best practices to get us through these very difficult times. Participants: Miss Shannan (mod), Annie Fleschner, Sherry Pofahl Johnson, Dawn Krosnowski, Laura Okagaki
Learn the basics of sewing, from the various kinds and purposes of different stitches to how to determine which settings to use on your machine. Participants: Eiryn Katherine (mod), Cassara Carriere, Ashley M Mages, Elizabeth Merritt, Erin Wilaby
How do you create interesting antagonists for your protagonists? What tropes are helpful and which should you avoid? Participants: Kate Dane (mod), Dzhemi, Kendrick Edmund Hogue, Scott Jamison, Sarah Tasz
AMC+'s adaptations of Anne Rice's novels into the Immortal Universe have gotten a lot of buzz. We'll explore the following series: Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat, The Mayfair Witches, and Talamasca: The Secret Order. Participants: Mordecai Mika (mod), skazka 9000, Brian Forrest, T'Yanna L Singleton, Jody Wurl
The current online dating scene is a horror show. AI bots, fake accounts, honey traps--there are plenty of things to be wary of. How do you find love or fun in such a terrible landscape? What techniques have you found successful? Participants: Jin (mod), Kiki Joy Latham, Johanna Stark, Dirk Ykema
In recent years, indie devs have taken over PC video games with titles that cover every combination of topics and styles imaginable. Join our panelists while they attempt to discern if a game is safe to play at work based just on the name! **mature content** Participants: Geoffrey Benson, Lucien Benson
A mostly non-serious panel in which panelists will argue if and how gay sex would have fixed something. Would it fix a love triangle, a terrible movie ending, or maybe even the economy? **mature content** Participants: Henry Kaldhusdal (mod), Sean Eberle, Kendrick Edmund Hogue, Kiki Joy Latham, AJ Pete
Thursday July 2, 2026 11:30pm - Friday July 3, 2026 12:30am CDT Hyatt 1, Lakeshore A
Squid Game is over, but the fandom lives on. Come discuss what you liked about the show and discuss what made the show so intriguing. There will be spoilers! Participants: Noel Thingvall (mod), Charlene Holm, Janelle Kloth, Kyo Phetnongphay
Thursday July 2, 2026 11:30pm - Friday July 3, 2026 12:30am CDT Hyatt 2, Greenway HI
