Jon sits down with Derek, Carol, and Ichabod for a conversation that gets to the (beating?) heart of why Horror and Urban Fantasy are sister tracks at Dragon Con. We trace the tracks back to their goth-culture roots and talk about how they are different and, at times, the same.

Derek explains how the Horror Track grew from gothic culture through dark fantasy into the Horror track. Carol talks about Urban Fantasy as the track where the supernatural world melds with ordinary human life.

Additionally, we cover the panels, the guest mix, the relationship with Netherworld, and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the programming fresh from year to year.

Track links: Horror Track Facebook · Urban Fantasy Facebook · Urban Fantasy X/Twitter · Horror Track sponsor: Netherworld

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Jon and Leigh talk with Jason about Dragon Con’s Video Gaming track.

Video Gaming is the Dragon Con track for gaming fans (just see their email address).

They cover topics covering retro gaming, consoles, competitive gaming, and so much more. In this episode we chat about the track’s programming, their big parties, the community of gaming, tournaments, all your favorite systems, and the appearance of video game royalty at Dragon Con 2026.

Track links and resources: [email protected] · Video Gaming Facebook · Video Gaming Twitter/X · Video Gaming Tumblr · Dragon Con tracks page

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Jon talks with Karen and James from Dragon Con’s Military Sci-Fi Media track to talk about what the track is really about.

Military Sci-Fi Media started as a Stargate track and grew into a broader home for TV and media properties that mix space and military influence.

We discuss the shows and franchises that are part of the track including: Stargate, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Farscape, Firefly, Space 1999, Space Above and Beyond, Halo, and others that Jon just thinks are in the track,

We highlight some of their special events including: the MSFM auction and charity work, the intergalactic military shindig, the MSFM Festivus panel, the Firefly and Zoe Washburne deep dives, and the remembering-Gil-Gerard panel

Track links and resources: [email protected] · Military Sci-Fi Media Facebook · Dragon Con tracks page

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Jon sits down with Vaughn James, assistant director of Dragon Con’s Science track, for a conversation about what the track actually is and why it fits Dragon Con so well.

Science at Dragon Con is a lot of things: hard-science panels, science-and-pop-culture conversations, and the more speculative stuff. But it is so much more as evidenced by the crowd-pleasers and recurring favorites, including AI and large language models versus human learning, Science vs. Movies, Science is Gross, Solve for ‘X’, the science fair, and the hands-on science power hour.

Don’t miss the track that mixes scientists, science journalists, and science communicators without losing the fun.

Track links and resources: [email protected] · Dragon Con tracks page · Dragon Con guest list by announcement date

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Jon and Leigh kick off this episode of time-travel and cosplay regrets with Liz, the director of Dragon Con’s Alternate & Historical Fiction track.

We discuss history that could have been, history that was, and all the “what if” storytelling in between.

Additionally, we chat about this year’s Dragon Con Cotillion, retro entertainment, steampunk, pirates, and a Dragon Con’s 3 hour cruise.

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Jon, Leigh, and Sue Phillips chat about Science Fiction Literature at Dragon Con. We discuss the books, ideas, and fan-favorite sci-fi that shape the track.

We look at what fans can expect from the track: space opera, first contact, near-future fiction, cyberpunk, hard SF, and all the other books that keep readers coming back for more.

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Jon and Leigh welcome Cisca Small to 50 Days of Dragon Con for a conversation about Fantasy Literature at Dragon Con and all the ways the track stretches far beyond a single subgenre.

We discuss the big umbrella that is Fantasy Literature; a track that boasts panels on classic fantasy, page-versus-screen, space fantasy, science fantasy, and LitRPG. We also discuss track events like Page to Stage and Boinking Beasties.

Track links: Fantasy Literature Facebook · Fantasy Literature X/Twitter · Dragon Con Fantasy Literature Track

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Jon and Leigh welcome Beth Giles, director of Dragon Con’s Silk Road: Asian Cinema & Culture track, for a tour through one of Dragon Con’s widest-ranging programming tracks.

Beth explains how Silk Road stretches from the Mediterranean through India and across Asia to the Pacific, covering belly dance, K-pop, martial arts, kaiju, Bollywood, Asian dramas, language, origami, food, travel, and the many fandoms that live along the route.

We preview the giant K-pop dance party, charity ‘blinky’ sales for Hope Atlanta, Mothra and Ultraman anniversary programming, Phoenix Wellness Arts, lion dances, stunt martial arts demos, origami classes, Japanese travel and urban legends panels, Asian zombie films, and more!

You can find Silk Road in the Hilton. You can also follow the track on X/Twitter.

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Jon and Leigh welcome Kevin Bachelder back to 50 Days of Dragon Con for conversation about Dragon Con Newbies and what first-time attendees need to know before they arrive in Atlanta.

Kevin talks about his own long history with Dragon Con, how the Newbies community grew from fans helping fans, and why it has become such a useful landing place for people staring at the app, the hotels, the crowds, and the schedule for the first time.

The episode gets into the questions new attendees ask most: how to plan without overplanning, how to handle the size and pace of the convention, why the app and schedule can feel overwhelming, and why it is okay to miss things and still have a fantastic Dragon Con.

Jon, Leigh, and Kevin also cover the culture of helping each other at Dragon Con and finding online resources, meetups, and communities.

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Jon and Leigh go “about town” for Day 8, mixing the usual 50 Days nonsense with ‘practical’ Atlanta advice.

The episode starts with a quick look at several 2026 Dragon Con guests:

From there, Jon and Leigh shift into the annual “what else is happening in Atlanta?” conversation: museums, Zoo Atlanta, the aquarium, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Center for Puppetry Arts…

They also talk through the realities of Dragon Con weekend downtown, MARTA-able side quests, food trucks, Peachtree Center food-court strategy, hotel restaurants, and why sometimes the best convention plan is simply knowing where you can sit down and put food in your face.

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