In our long-awaited 18th episode, we come to you live from (and on the way to!) Readercon 35, held in Burlington, Massachusetts, from July 9-12, 2026. We had the pleasure of interviewing ten different people, and we asked them about their past and present Readercon experiences, their connection to the field of speculative fiction, their most memorable Readercons, and why they feel Readercon is one of the most welcoming, approachable, and must-attend conventions for newbies and pros alike. We hear amazing stories, anecdotes, and Readercon legends. And we speak with folks attending Readercon for the very first time, and those who have attended for many years.

People interviewed in this episode are: Ellen Datlow, Kenneth Schneyer, Kristin Janz, P. Djèlí Clark, Andrew Dana Hudson, C.Y. Ballard, Victor Manibo, JoAnn F. Cox, Michael Cisco, and Scott Edelman.

We recorded this episode live with a handheld mic, so please excuse the background noise! Though we think it adds to the ambiance! Pretend like you are really there!