August 4, 2025 • 34 mins
As Dragon Con 2025 approaches, the air is thick with anticipation, and at the center of the excitement is the incomparable Charles "Rock God of Podcasting" McFall. Known for his captivating voice, insightful conversations, and passion for all things pop culture, McFall is a podcasting pioneer who has become a beloved figure in the digital media world. He's not just a voice, but a force shaping the conversation around fandom and entertainment.
In a recent discussion, McFall offered a glimpse into the incredible plans for Dragon Con 2025. This year, fans can expect an even more immersive and engaging experience, with a focus on expanded gaming, a deeper dive into literature and science, and a star-studded guest list that includes actors from hit shows like The Magicians and Supergirl. McFall's role as the Director of Digital Media at Dragon Con means he's at the forefront of amplifying these voices and bringing the magic of the convention to an even wider audience.
Web: https://www.dragoncon.org/
About: Dragon Con, a titan of pop culture conventions, has a rich and fascinating history that reflects the evolution of fandom itself. What began as a small gathering of enthusiasts in a single hotel has blossomed into a multi-venue, multi-genre extravaganza that draws tens of thousands of attendees each year.
The Origins: A Small Gathering of Fans (1987-1989)
Dragon Con's story begins in 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded by a group of local science fiction and gaming fans who were part of an organization called the Dragon Alliance of Gamers and Role-Players (DAGR). The convention was initially a project of this group, with a board of directors that included John Bunnell, David Cody, Robert Dennis, Mike Helba, Pat Henry, and Ed Kramer. The name "Dragon" was inspired by Kramer's home computer, a Dragon 64, which also hosted a bulletin board system that served as a central hub for the group.
The inaugural Dragon*Con (as it was originally stylized) was held at the Pierremont Plaza Hotel and attracted a modest 1,400 fans. It featured notable guests like author Michael Moorcock and Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, and even included a performance by Blue Öyster Cult's Eric Bloom, singing songs inspired by Moorcock. This early convention established a key tradition: a big-tent approach that brought together different facets of geek culture.
The event grew quickly. By 1989, with Anne McCaffrey as the Guest of Honor, attendance had more than doubled, prompting a move to the Omni Hotel and Convention Center to accommodate the swelling crowd.
Rapid Expansion and Diversification (1990s-2000s)
The 1990s and 2000s saw Dragon Con's explosive growth. The convention became known for its "big tent" philosophy, bringing together fans of everything from sci-fi and fantasy to comics, gaming, and anime. Key milestones during this period include:
* Move to multiple hotels: As attendance soared, the convention expanded to encompass a cluster of downtown Atlanta hotels, including the Hyatt Regency, Marriott Marquis, and Hilton Atlanta. This interconnected "campus" of hotels, linked by skywalks and bridges, became a hallmark of the Dragon Con experience.
* The Parade: The annual Dragon Con Parade down Peachtree Street, a showcase of elaborate and creative cosplay, was first held in 2002. It has since become a beloved and widely recognized part of the convention, drawing thousands of participants and spectators.
* Charitable efforts: Dragon Con established a strong charitable component, raising money for various causes. The annual Robert A. Heinlein "Pay It Forward" blood drive, which began in 2002, is consistently one of the largest convention-based blood drives in the country.
* Programming: The number of programming tracks and events expanded exponentially, covering a vast range of topics from writing and alternate history to robotics and space science.
A New Era: Growth and Refinement (2010s-Present)
In 2013, the convention officially dropped the asterisk from its name, becoming "Dragon Con," following a legal restructuring that severed ties with one of the original founders. This marked a new era of management and growth.
In recent years, Dragon Con has continued to thrive, reaching a pre-pandemic attendance of over 85,000 in 2019. Post-pandemic, the convention has implemented attendance caps to ensure a safer and more manageable experience for all. While still a massive event, the focus has shifted to maintaining a high-quality experience, with an emphasis on unique programming, engaging workshops, and a strong sense of community.
Today, Dragon Con stands as one of the world's premier pop culture conventions. It's a place where fans can not only
In a recent discussion, McFall offered a glimpse into the incredible plans for Dragon Con 2025. This year, fans can expect an even more immersive and engaging experience, with a focus on expanded gaming, a deeper dive into literature and science, and a star-studded guest list that includes actors from hit shows like The Magicians and Supergirl. McFall's role as the Director of Digital Media at Dragon Con means he's at the forefront of amplifying these voices and bringing the magic of the convention to an even wider audience.
Web: https://www.dragoncon.org/
About: Dragon Con, a titan of pop culture conventions, has a rich and fascinating history that reflects the evolution of fandom itself. What began as a small gathering of enthusiasts in a single hotel has blossomed into a multi-venue, multi-genre extravaganza that draws tens of thousands of attendees each year.
The Origins: A Small Gathering of Fans (1987-1989)
Dragon Con's story begins in 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded by a group of local science fiction and gaming fans who were part of an organization called the Dragon Alliance of Gamers and Role-Players (DAGR). The convention was initially a project of this group, with a board of directors that included John Bunnell, David Cody, Robert Dennis, Mike Helba, Pat Henry, and Ed Kramer. The name "Dragon" was inspired by Kramer's home computer, a Dragon 64, which also hosted a bulletin board system that served as a central hub for the group.
The inaugural Dragon*Con (as it was originally stylized) was held at the Pierremont Plaza Hotel and attracted a modest 1,400 fans. It featured notable guests like author Michael Moorcock and Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, and even included a performance by Blue Öyster Cult's Eric Bloom, singing songs inspired by Moorcock. This early convention established a key tradition: a big-tent approach that brought together different facets of geek culture.
The event grew quickly. By 1989, with Anne McCaffrey as the Guest of Honor, attendance had more than doubled, prompting a move to the Omni Hotel and Convention Center to accommodate the swelling crowd.
Rapid Expansion and Diversification (1990s-2000s)
The 1990s and 2000s saw Dragon Con's explosive growth. The convention became known for its "big tent" philosophy, bringing together fans of everything from sci-fi and fantasy to comics, gaming, and anime. Key milestones during this period include:
* Move to multiple hotels: As attendance soared, the convention expanded to encompass a cluster of downtown Atlanta hotels, including the Hyatt Regency, Marriott Marquis, and Hilton Atlanta. This interconnected "campus" of hotels, linked by skywalks and bridges, became a hallmark of the Dragon Con experience.
* The Parade: The annual Dragon Con Parade down Peachtree Street, a showcase of elaborate and creative cosplay, was first held in 2002. It has since become a beloved and widely recognized part of the convention, drawing thousands of participants and spectators.
* Charitable efforts: Dragon Con established a strong charitable component, raising money for various causes. The annual Robert A. Heinlein "Pay It Forward" blood drive, which began in 2002, is consistently one of the largest convention-based blood drives in the country.
* Programming: The number of programming tracks and events expanded exponentially, covering a vast range of topics from writing and alternate history to robotics and space science.
A New Era: Growth and Refinement (2010s-Present)
In 2013, the convention officially dropped the asterisk from its name, becoming "Dragon Con," following a legal restructuring that severed ties with one of the original founders. This marked a new era of management and growth.
In recent years, Dragon Con has continued to thrive, reaching a pre-pandemic attendance of over 85,000 in 2019. Post-pandemic, the convention has implemented attendance caps to ensure a safer and more manageable experience for all. While still a massive event, the focus has shifted to maintaining a high-quality experience, with an emphasis on unique programming, engaging workshops, and a strong sense of community.
Today, Dragon Con stands as one of the world's premier pop culture conventions. It's a place where fans can not only
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
What is what a dude?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Cyber World. It is your girl, the one and only
Ash Brown, and this is the Ash set It Show.
This is a very special episode, you guys. I just
realized that this is episode twenty one hundred, twenty one
hundred episodes since twenty fourteen, which is incredible. That's an
(00:27):
incredible number that I never even imagined that I would
ever do. Really didn't have a goal. You know, a
lot of you know that this show started off with me.
You know, morning my Mother. You know, those first couple
hundred episodes are kind of sad, and so we had
to turn that frown upside down. And I had some
amazing people to come through this. You know, Like I said,
(00:48):
twenty one hundred episodes is incredible. So today my guest
is an amazing, amazing talent with over twenty one years
of professional digital media experience, and he holds a title
as the rock god of podcasting. We've got Charles and Paul. Hey, Charles,
(01:10):
how it'd be good? Charles's left out?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Good show? You gotta agree, like maybe I need to
have it beating from let me get today as a
rock gud podcasting and the director digital media Treker Dragon
Con who graduates on twenty one hundred episodes. That is huge.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yes, Like I said, before I knew, I just you know,
I blinked, and I'm like, well, we're at what what's
the number?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Now? What is this?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
So it's a it's a great, great place to be in.
And like I said, just watching how the show has
evolved so much from the beginning till now has just
been an incredible journey, an incredible ride. And I get
to talk to a using phenomenal people much like yourself, Charles.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
So I tried to be as excellent as that can
be every day.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yes, oh my goodness. So well, where do we even begin?
So all right, what's the most unexpected way that your
expertise has allowed you to contribute to Dragon Con differently
than maybe the average show that may be on the
(02:29):
board somewhere.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
I'm gonna say it's the fact that I'm going to
show him. Since I was a kid, I've been behind
the scenes. I'm being at my father's church and just
messing with the sound and learning how the microphones work
everything else at my age of ten. But I've always
was in front of people because he's the preacher. The
(02:53):
Preacher's kids, always in front of people, and ultimately through
life I found the soft and hiding behind the scene,
you know, going to be in front of the scene.
But I found that putting on a good show became
one of the most important things in my life. And
found that if you take ego out of it and
(03:14):
sometimes put it on, that show means you're up the
front with the microphone and you're you're entertaining everybody, and
you're bringing the a game. And sometimes it means you
make opportunities for others and you step back. And that's
what I brought to dragon Con what it became a volunteer,
and then the director was to me at the end
of the day. In fact, i'll tell you the story
(03:34):
a few minutes, but my first year as the director,
nobody knew I was the director. We call it the
shadow year because it was a little unofficial and it
was a little weird how I was handled, but it
was my I was like, let me just see what
I can do with the show. And so always the
show comes first, and I think that's something different I've
brought to dragon Conn.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yes, and you've watched dragon Con evolve over so many
years and beyond the sheer scale of it. What's one
subtle shift that you've observed in the vibe or the
spirit of the con.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Overall, I would have to say, and it's just become
more and more and more fan focused. It has really
become I mean it always started off that way, but
as the years have gone on, as things have evolved
and grown, and the world is business right, and the
business says we should be the biggest, baddest, best ever,
(04:36):
and DragCon we take a different approach. We said, what's
the best experience for the fans? And there's something for
everybody there, and so we want to make sure it's
not the five hour lines to get in somewhere for
five seconds, and it's not the eight hundred dollars hot dogs.
We want to make sure it is it flows for
(04:57):
everybody and meets meets them where their fandom is.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yes, yes, I think that's a good point of it.
I we haven't too much gone into this, but I
just recently moved back to Georgia in the last couple
of months, so I've been away. I've been here and there,
and yeah, it's just it's definitely been you know part
of that you know that journey that right, we were
talking about, you know, this crazy thing called life. And
(05:22):
so I'm actually back and it's been years since I've
been to dragon Con. So I'm looking forward to this
season of dragon Con coming up just a few just
a few weeks, will be.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Here, just a few days to get to publish this thing.
We're coming, We're coming fast. It's awesome August twenty eighth
that I've been the first and I love it. Every year,
every year people knew me. No, I've been working with
dragon Con for a long time. I've been a director
for I think that's my kids year, wow, or maybe
(05:55):
next year. Here A Kennery's track times just closed for me.
But yeah, dragon Con, and I don't care if it's
it's my father or my best friend or a stranger.
Is always I'm like, you should not a stranger. But
you know, I'm like my parents anyway, He's like, you
should go this. It's Labor Day weekend every September and
it's really like this year's mostly August because of how
(06:18):
the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday fall. But yeah, it's
it's always my highlight of the year. And they also
you know this, everybody comes into town for it, and
they're like, oh my god, it's so hot. Yeah, it's funny.
Is next week we get fall? So cool?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Oh, Georgia, some thing's never changed, right right? Oh my goodness. Now,
given your mission of help others be awesome, how do
you see dragon con specifically fostering that awesomeness in its community?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So let me to tell that story. I almost step
back to talk about how I found out about dragon Con.
And I was sixteen seventeen years old working at a
Walmart and the guy run in an apartment. He was
maybe in the twenties. It was a looking back, it's
a weird mix of young people at that particular timeplace
(07:18):
where we're working. And he was like, hey, man, you
ever heard DragCon? Said no, what is it? He said,
it's a party where you just go from room to room,
welcome through the wandering through the hotels and drinking. But
that sounds horrible. Why would you, I mean, do you
don't get ourselves? I don't know, hotel that's too expensive?
He just drank through your passed out like, I don't
(07:39):
know what to do with that. That's not for me.
And then years later, as I got into podcasting and
digital media, and I was building some networks. I was
recruiting a show and it was called Seventh Row Center
and he Alex came on and we were talking and
he said, you know, and I told him, that's about DragCon.
So that's not what Draycon is at all. I mean,
(08:00):
I guess some people to make that, but it's hecause, no, man,
it's it's creative this, and it's that, and there's this track,
is that track? As it was, our goal should be
to get a track or get a panel, all the
podcast tracks, because if you've gotten a panel at drag Con,
you've made it. And that's that's my introduction to dragon
(08:21):
Coon's like, sure, I'll take that challenge on. And you know,
I made it in and did some panels and they
have tried to kind of keep that energy up, not
not that we're exclusive, but that hey, if you've made
it to do a panel dragon Con, you're bringing self
special to the table. I believe that as creators, we
(08:41):
all are bringing film special to the table.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Absolutely we are. Yeah, I definitely would agree with that. Yeah,
but the panels are dragon Con definitely something serious and
they don't accept everybody, so you know, you've definitely got
to have you know, you're on your your p's and
q's for sure. For sure, uh to get onto a panel.
So that is absolutely correct.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
And and and the way I even found you, you're
on the press list, so you've done some work to
get to a third level there. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Yeah, it's definitely been quite the right Charles, Like, I
was like, well, you know, I'm back in the Atlanta
market'll you know, I'll reach out to, you know, the
people that I knew over at Dragon Con, and we'll
see if we can do this thing. And they respect
the brand. They remember what I've done in the past
to to share with my audience, to share with the world.
(09:35):
And I am honored to be on the press list.
So it's definitely been a great, a great honor for me.
And it just definitely you know, their way of showing
their appreciation for me and everything. I appreciate all of it.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
So I love it and I will there say because
we'll get into the digital media track, but we do
a lot more programm than most because that's also what
I bring differently to the con is I don't want
to go to something like that if I'm not working
and I just need some man the opportunities and if
I do the minimums. I really feel like there's so
(10:14):
many great creators on Lenning Down and so we do
a lot of content. So statistically, it's probably easier to
get one of my panels than it is to get
that press passed. So you really have achieved something. Well.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I appreciate that. That that certainly meads a lot coming
from you. That certainly reads a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
That is that is awesome?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I mean, let me see if I can stay on track,
charl There's so many things I want to talk about
and we want to get into. You also mentioned that
being ready for a guest to get the excitement and stories,
you know, out of you. If you had to pick
one Dragon Con moment that sticks out to you, maybe
(10:57):
from last year, maybe from a couple of years back,
what is that moment?
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Man, There's so many. There's so many. I'm going to
pick too.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
I'll give it to you, okay.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
So I've always believed in digital media and I saw
what it could do, and back in the mid nineties
I started, not in early two thousand. The podcasting basically
came around two thousand and three. You know, in two
thousand and four, it really times took shape and it's
been building ever since. And as soon as I got
(11:32):
my teeth sunk into and so it could be like,
oh man, this is the next phase for the world.
And then I saw that businesses, mate, this is what
businesses need to do. You can show the human face
of everything. And then after business has started catching on,
I was like, celebrities, you guys need to do this
because we see the character we never and not every
(11:54):
celebrity needs to do it, but we we There's so
many great careers in this world that we see as
an actor or actor and they do our favorite thing
on our favorite TV show and then you'll be surprised
to find out a decade later they also write symphonies
or they they then they just love this thing that
you love, like they have a passion for home cooking,
(12:15):
and you never get to see that. And that's where
podcasting could come into play. And last year and then
well let me take it back. So two years ago
I started pitching some people, some celebrities, Hey, you have
a podcast, bring it and do it live in Dragon Con.
So now you're really getting interact with your audience, really
getting a whole different aspects than the fan questions, which
(12:36):
are great, and you're get a different aspect. If you
get that aspect all the time a DragCon, there's something special.
And Anson Mount brought his podcast The Well to dragon
Con and I got to sit on stage to produce it.
So I was recording it rather foreign live, so I
got to sit up there with him, record it live
as they're talking. He was talking to Danny Treo, and
(12:58):
just sit on the same stage watching this magical conversation happen.
Plus knowing that it's beyond that it's recording of the podcast.
This is something that's never been done to dragon Con.
It was. It was very magical. It was very amazing.
And even though I am six foot seven and three
hundred and fifty pounds, I have a way of making
(13:19):
myself disappear on face. I did that pretty well. I
think the second massive moment is two one is when
I came on Vision Media is for everybody, and I
saw where we needed to start representing more faces and
more voices on the track. So I started opening up
(13:41):
doors and for people to submit things and do things,
and inviting certain people to make content and do things
with us, and the first year we enabled, and that's
iBOT have to say that we enabled. I didn't make it,
I didn't host it. I just opened the door and
encourage the people who brought it in and then put
great people around them on this spin. But it was
(14:01):
the first blurred panel, which is black nurves. That's the
colloquialism blurts. And the room was filled and it was amazing,
and then Beating t shows up and they said, you
mind if we step in the back of the room,
I'd absolutely not go right ahead, and they set up
in the back of the room and they filmed the
whole well, they turned into the cliff obviously, but they
filmed everything. And then at first of that, I'm just
(14:24):
sitting on the door. So when we fill a room,
you can't let people in. So I'm sitting next to
the side door that we had, which at the time
happened to be kind of next to where the stage
was set up. And we had this throwable microphone and
nobody wanted to throw it, so I was gonna get
it back and forth to people. And I was sitting
on the side of the room and the host Tony said, Hey,
(14:45):
can you Charles, can you get that microphone to the
guy in the red shirt? And so I did. I
walked over and I asked to the guy in the
red shirt and he says, no, I meant the other guy,
which was clearly an orange shirt Tony. But whatever, but
so he goes, you know, the other guy. So they
both had their hands off or whatever. I said, I'm sorry, Tony,
(15:08):
I don't see color. And I kind of took about
five hoping that would land, and then the room exploded.
It was fun. I'm like, oh goodness, the one joke
I need to tell and for the listeners, I am
not a blurred conscious as has been said, so uh,
it was it was just a fun moment to lighten it.
And it was it was just to sit back and
(15:30):
say I opened a door and this magic came in. Again.
That's just the best feeling.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yes, I would certainly agree to that, and that is
that is hilarious. I love that, and uh, I think
I probably should, you know, go ahead and open up
a little bit about me and my involvement went conned.
My sister got me involved in it. I have a
younger sister and shout out to to Rowe. She's got
her own podcast and I kind of got her in
(16:00):
to do and talking about anime stuff. And it's called
the The Blurred Bites. I'm gonna get it right, duh,
Blurred Bites. So she does a you know, like a
weekly show where she's talking about some of her favorite
anime and manga. And when she was a teenager, my
mom was like, you know, look, your sister and her
friends want to go to these conventions downtown. You need
(16:23):
you need to go with her. You know, I don't
need her to get stolen or get lost or any
you know downtown Atlanta. We need somebody to be supervising that.
So I kind of went along as like a chaperone,
so to speak, and it was really awesome just to like,
I was so inspired by the craftsmanship of the costumes
(16:48):
and the work that these people they're they're spending like
a year or so to get these costumes and the
the different pieces that they have alone with them to
get them perfect, and it's like it's something like out
of like like you feel like you're in like a
movie or something. So I remember, like my first year
going to a con and just really just taking pictures
(17:11):
of everyone, just like oh, my gosh, please stop, let
me get a picture of you. Oh my goodness, you know,
can you tell me how you made your costume? And
it just kept on. So I, you know, initially was
not a con person because I really just didn't know
anything about it, and so when my sister opened me
up to it, that was really the the door that
(17:33):
opened up everything else. So I'm everything convention Atlanta wise.
I've tried to, you know, be involved as I've been
in and out of the city for you know, a minute.
But yeah, absolutely seeing everything. If you guys are listening
right now and you've never been to a convention or
you've never been a Dragon con, I don't know why
you haven't already booked your hotel and made it out Okay,
(17:56):
August of twenty eight through the first of September, all right,
you need to go ahead and get that set up.
But it's an incredible experience.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
It truly is. And the costumes. If I ever thought
I'm very bougiet, I'm very expensive and I wanted to
do things. I want to do it right. And if
I don't want to put the work in, I'm lazy
as well. If I ever thought I was going to
do a cost play now, I just wrote how much
money out to pay out? Because again I'm not going
to make it, but there's so much done and people
(18:28):
are three D printing has changed the game and people
are just making the most amazing costomer. I saw one
of my favorite video games is God of War, and
I saw a God of War Kratos is that the
currier's name, And I saw Creatos and instead of having
a shield, he had a painting pad and he was
(18:50):
Bob Ross of War. So it was a Kraatis mixed
up with Bob Ross. It was hilariously, massively awesome and
great and the photos and of course you need to
ask you know, costplay is not count You asked somebody,
but they most everybody's like, oh absolutely. Yeah. The the
second year I think I went, I was doing a
video game show about Marvel and you collected characters in
(19:13):
that game. So my partner who went with it, we
had for the show we had a challenge to see
who could go through and collect the characters from the
game and photos of cosplayer Oh wow, And it was
just fun. Welcome to all the hotels and oh you're
my game? Can I take your picture? And seeing how
many we could collect to each characters. And there's just
something you said it right, if you haven't gone to
(19:35):
Dragon Con noah at the time, there's something for everybody.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Yeah, yeah, and you know, we'll talk about the elephant
in the room. Yes, COVID did slow a lot of
things down, and a lot of things were shifted, a
lot of things were canceled, and we're getting our footing
back now, all right, So so things are better, We're
getting our footing and this is the time for you
to experience this incredible con. Mentioned uh, this is the
(20:03):
time to do it.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Wow. And let me tell you how dedicated they are
to running Dragon Coon and making it happen. COVID didn't
cancel us. We went online, yeah, remember we Yeah, and
we shifted a lot of different pans and it changed
for the positives forever because now there's a lot bigger
(20:26):
presence online of DCTV and the abild TDC the panels
after the con and during the con, and it we
thought it was gonna hurt and it just made life
better for us.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Yes, yes, you know. It's innovation and being able to pivot. Yeah,
I think that's a huge, huge part of it. And
since we have you here, Chiles, you know, I've got questions.
We've got questions. Now, what are some of the things like,
I mean, you're you're you know, mister director. So you've
got like the back door deals of you've got all
(20:59):
the secret and you know, and your cauldron pot of things, Charles.
So what can you share with us that maybe people
don't know about yet? Can we can we let something
out the bad tonight, Charles? Can we talk about something
that may be happening that maybe a lot of people
don't know about it?
Speaker 1 (21:21):
So are you a huge fan of like Tom Holland?
Speaker 2 (21:24):
I do like Tom Holland. Oh my gosh, Okay, Well,
I don't.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Know if he's coming because they treat me like Tom
Holland because I was just the story so they don't
tell me anything.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Well, I will treat you like Tom Holland, then, Charles,
how about that?
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Yeah, I will. I will say this. There's there still
still and the recording just kind of in the July.
I know that she's gonna release in early August. Even
at the release date, there's still some announcements coming. We're
always working to get all fans at heart. We all
(21:59):
are our geeks and nerds and just love all of
this stuff. So we just tried to keep getting the
best that we can get coming in. I'll tell you
one of my most exciting announcement this was when Simon
Peg was announced. Yeah, a lot of fun. So what
about you, Well, who are you hoping that's coming or
(22:21):
who you.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Having just so much? There was a couple of people
that I saw, you know, they're not going to be
able to be here this year, but we're not going
to focus on that. We're not going to focus on that.
But I think overall just kind of getting back into
the atmosphere of Dragon Con. I'm just super excited about it.
I've cleared my schedule, I've called out of work, so
(22:45):
they're like, yeah, do not expect me for these days.
I have things to do, I have things to get into.
But no, I'm definitely looking forward to the Walk of Fame.
I'm definitely looking looking forward to that. See who else
was on there? There was a couple of people that
and I'm terrible with names. I'm better with faces, but
(23:09):
what was his name? There's a lot of people, there's
a lot of there's not going on. There's a lot,
like I don't want to just sing go and be
like I'm looking forward to this person and not everyone else. No,
there's tons of people on the list that I'm looking
forward to and just getting back into the whole vibe
of it, because like I said, uh, Dragon Con is
(23:30):
a vibe. Just getting into the midst of it, It's
it's its whole other vibe. Just being in an atmosphere
seeing everyone. I think the last time I was there,
I don't remember which hotel it was at, but Jesus
was giving out hugs. Yeah, Jesus was giving out hugs. Yeah,
and he I was like, you know what, Jesus, let's
(23:51):
take a picture together. Jesus. He was given out hugs.
He was super sweet. It's always great to see our
Lord and Savior. That's that's always a blessed Jesus is
out here. So yeah, it's just it's a whole vibe.
So I'm definitely looking forward to just seeing all the
different that the couseplayers. I think that's probably my favorite
(24:12):
part is just sitting back and just like seeing these
characters walk by, like, oh my gosh, I know this,
I know that game, I know that character. You know, Oh,
I remember that movie you know. I saw Batman one
time and they did like the Batman from the nineteen
and I want to say it was ninety one ninety two,
the one with Nicole Kidman as Catwoman.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yeah, they had Batman and Catwoman and they were it
was perfect that both costumes were amazed. I was like,
oh my god, like some of the kids are. You know,
I'm kind of dating myself, but the kids are like,
oh my gosh, yeah it's Batman, it's Catwoman. Yeah, what's
the baby. I'm like, no, you don't understand this.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Iron Man. There will be oh yeah, yeah, iron mane
like laid a full metal and that the faith comes
out and gets that in and of course the blast
is going blast and they lie that. I mean, it's
beyond anything you can imagine.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Yes, yes, yes. And then I believe, and like I said,
you may know some stuff because there's like tons of
people and tons of things going through. I believe Blair
Crimmins and the Hookers are going to be there this year.
If I'm not mistaken. I believe that they are. And
shout out to Blair Crimmins and the Hookers. His wife
(25:30):
is Dobby Crimins and she is a phenomenal comedian from
the local Atlanta area, and I've seen her husband play
at like City Winery and stuff. They are outstanding. So
that's my game. Okay, Okay, I thought I saw their
name somewhere. Okay, I was like, I think I saw
(25:51):
them their names.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
All.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, that's that's big stuff.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
You know.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
They don't just you know, we're not just bringing in
every and anybody, so that that's definitely an act.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
You know.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
You guys put that on your list. And there's just
there's so much going on that weekend and I feel
like I'm gonna probably overexhaust myself as usual. But it's okay.
I can sleep and sleep it all that Monday off
Labor Day.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Absolutely, And that's the underlying game that people play is
how many panels can I like, the app drops right,
and the first of all, this app will drop with
the schedule, and you start planning your your favorite panels
and market them and have a buddy because then every
year and at one point, he's all, last year I
did twenty I saw twenty one panels. Someone start to
(26:37):
get twenty four, and then I got twenty four. I'll
try to get twenty seven once he got twenty sevens. Yeah,
I'm not I'm not trying to top that number anymore.
But he will just like you know, every panel that
he thinks he might want to go see. So every
hour of the day he has four different panels that
he can go to and he will just bounce from
one to the other. And that's that's the game is
(26:57):
see see what you can see, see what you want
to do. Amazing.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah, so definitely looking forward to all of that. Oh
my goodness. And then we also want to talk about
your stuff too, Charles, Like you've got, i mean, in
conjunction with dragon Con and everything else, you've got your
own podcast projects. You've got a whole network going on.
So let's dig into that a bit.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Okay. Oh, and it, like I said, I've been at
it for twenty one years, and I got into the
already as a podcasting. I got roasted at Drink one
like a two years ago and one of my best friends,
who is the best enemy you can have? He dug
up I was trying to think. He dug up that
(27:41):
I had done I think forty eight different shows over
twenty years, and he said I retired them, right, I
do regarded like well, you started and failed at forty
eight different shows, and I see the number somewhere in
the four thousand episodes or something. Come buy. And it's
(28:01):
been fun and crazy, and I think I finally after
twenty years of practice, I think I finally have found
my voice and what I really want to do, which
is share my father nerddom and also teach people to
be awesome, help us be awesome. And so those are
teachers that do is be awesome together? And why is
the nerdy wre brotherhood meets fandom.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Wow, that is awesome. Well kudos to you because that's
that's no small feet at all. So I tip my
hats he as well.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Hey, you know I go most so let me tell you,
and podcasting and even most of the media creation and
used to be. If you got the ten episodes, you're
probably gonna do okay and keep going. Now let's say
most people will make it past six ye really? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (28:51):
I mean because it I mean you have to dig
down and really find the dedication the passion behind it,
like you've got to love it, like this show here,
I love doing it. I love talking to people like
yourself who I've never talked to in her life. You know,
this is our first chat ever in life, and you've
got so much to talk about. Like so I always
(29:14):
get I'm always excited for every episode. So for me,
I had to you know, I took the work out
of it because I think we were talking about in
the beginning. I have a broadcast background, so I come
from radio and that just that situation just it did
not end well for me. It was not advantageous for me,
(29:36):
and it left me with some scars, so, you know, rightly,
so I was like, I don't want to do media
stuff anymore. I don't want to do podcasting and rape.
I don't want to do that. That's so much work. Like,
you know, I had lost that passion for it because
it was no longer fun. So with this show, how
I was able to like just pivot and allow it
(29:57):
to just be this new thing and it grew legs
and you know, people were reaching out at the forefront.
And honestly, Charles, I have tried to quit this show
several times. And every time that I've tried to quit
this show, something has happened or someone that's come out
the woodwork and s a no, as you cannot quit,
we need you for this. We want you to talk
(30:18):
about that, We need you to, you know, to interview
this person. And so I've like, I've kind of given
up giving up on the show because the show clearly
is not giving up on me. So here we are,
twenty one hundred episodes later.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
And that's that's what I'm believe in, Is you do
something that's an extension of who you are, Yeah, it
will definitely become a part of everything that you do.
And that's someone just gets so backwards and wrong in
this world. I believe is that we think what we
do mix us who we are, and it's truly opposite.
And I'm just seen creator at your creator, at your
(30:56):
creator either go after your wrong thing because that's what
they think they needed do and they burn out, they
just don't go anywhere and they discourage or more nowadays,
I'm starting to see that others had to do your
side of it, which is I started this thing, I
thought it would be kind of fun, and now it's
just really a major part of my life.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Absolutely that that is totally where I'm at. Charles, Absolutely
where I'm at. So Charles, for people that you know,
I don't know, they're thinking about, oh, maybe we should
do dragon Con this year. Where do they need to
go to get some more information and to you know,
go ahead and secure their registration.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Well, of course, DragonCon dot org is where all the
information is. And right on the first screen you see
to count down there and you can get to buy
now for twenty twenty five. It actually has a next
button next to it hotels and travel, and you just
go down a little bit you can sign up for
the newsletter, and the newsletter we delivered directly to you're
(31:55):
in box, and it's it's like a little piece of
dragon Con come knocking your door.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
It's really fun to get yes and childs. If people
want to get in contact with you or they want
to check out any of your programming, what's the best
way for them to figure that out?
Speaker 1 (32:11):
I try to keep it simple. Is link tree l
I n k t r dot ee so linktree, link
dot link tr dot ee slash r g O P
forty two for rock Guna podcasting and forty two is
the answer to the lives universe and everything.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
I love it. I love that, love that, Charles. It
has been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for
pouring into episode twenty one. Hundred with me.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
Well, I very much appreciate it, Ash, and I want
to encourage you next year to reach out. We have
a discord digital a discord and we can get that
for you. And I'd love for you to do one
of your reviews live at the show.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
That would be phenomenal. We can we can count that.
I'm not leaving George anymore. I promise definitely, yes, I
will definitely stay put and much more success to you
and your team and everyone that is making the magic happen.
Of course, you are more than welcome back on the show, Charles.
(33:15):
I mean that's just a given, whether we're talking dragon Con,
whether we're talking media stuff, or maybe you just want
to get out here and we'll just vibe it up.
We'll just see what the vibe ranks.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I would love that. I will definitely reach out after
to call it after for a good month. I appreciate
and we'll make it happen.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Absolutely. I appreciate each and every one of you guys.
Thank you so much for your love and support. Keeping
in mind, anyone to tell you that you can't do
what you want to do, you look them square in
the face, you tell them, don't believe me. Just watch
watch what I do, watch me make it happen, Watch
me make history. That's what we're doing this for the
(33:56):
history books. Social media is nice, but real life is
so much better. Until next time, you guys,
What is what a dude?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Cyber World. It is your girl, the one and only
Ash Brown, and this is the Ash set It Show.
This is a very special episode, you guys. I just
realized that this is episode twenty one hundred, twenty one
hundred episodes since twenty fourteen, which is incredible. That's an
(00:27):
incredible number that I never even imagined that I would
ever do. Really didn't have a goal. You know, a
lot of you know that this show started off with me.
You know, morning my Mother. You know, those first couple
hundred episodes are kind of sad, and so we had
to turn that frown upside down. And I had some
amazing people to come through this. You know, Like I said,
(00:48):
twenty one hundred episodes is incredible. So today my guest
is an amazing, amazing talent with over twenty one years
of professional digital media experience, and he holds a title
as the rock god of podcasting. We've got Charles and Paul. Hey, Charles,
(01:10):
how it'd be good? Charles's left out?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Good show? You gotta agree, like maybe I need to
have it beating from let me get today as a
rock gud podcasting and the director digital media Treker Dragon
Con who graduates on twenty one hundred episodes. That is huge.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yes, Like I said, before I knew, I just you know,
I blinked, and I'm like, well, we're at what what's
the number?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Now? What is this?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
So it's a it's a great, great place to be in.
And like I said, just watching how the show has
evolved so much from the beginning till now has just
been an incredible journey, an incredible ride. And I get
to talk to a using phenomenal people much like yourself, Charles.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
So I tried to be as excellent as that can
be every day.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yes, oh my goodness. So well, where do we even begin?
So all right, what's the most unexpected way that your
expertise has allowed you to contribute to Dragon Con differently
than maybe the average show that may be on the
(02:29):
board somewhere.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
I'm gonna say it's the fact that I'm going to
show him. Since I was a kid, I've been behind
the scenes. I'm being at my father's church and just
messing with the sound and learning how the microphones work
everything else at my age of ten. But I've always
was in front of people because he's the preacher. The
(02:53):
Preacher's kids, always in front of people, and ultimately through
life I found the soft and hiding behind the scene,
you know, going to be in front of the scene.
But I found that putting on a good show became
one of the most important things in my life. And
found that if you take ego out of it and
(03:14):
sometimes put it on, that show means you're up the
front with the microphone and you're you're entertaining everybody, and
you're bringing the a game. And sometimes it means you
make opportunities for others and you step back. And that's
what I brought to dragon Con what it became a volunteer,
and then the director was to me at the end
of the day. In fact, i'll tell you the story
(03:34):
a few minutes, but my first year as the director,
nobody knew I was the director. We call it the
shadow year because it was a little unofficial and it
was a little weird how I was handled, but it
was my I was like, let me just see what
I can do with the show. And so always the
show comes first, and I think that's something different I've
brought to dragon Conn.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yes, and you've watched dragon Con evolve over so many
years and beyond the sheer scale of it. What's one
subtle shift that you've observed in the vibe or the
spirit of the con.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Overall, I would have to say, and it's just become
more and more and more fan focused. It has really
become I mean it always started off that way, but
as the years have gone on, as things have evolved
and grown, and the world is business right, and the
business says we should be the biggest, baddest, best ever,
(04:36):
and DragCon we take a different approach. We said, what's
the best experience for the fans? And there's something for
everybody there, and so we want to make sure it's
not the five hour lines to get in somewhere for
five seconds, and it's not the eight hundred dollars hot dogs.
We want to make sure it is it flows for
(04:57):
everybody and meets meets them where their fandom is.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yes, yes, I think that's a good point of it.
I we haven't too much gone into this, but I
just recently moved back to Georgia in the last couple
of months, so I've been away. I've been here and there,
and yeah, it's just it's definitely been you know part
of that you know that journey that right, we were
talking about, you know, this crazy thing called life. And
(05:22):
so I'm actually back and it's been years since I've
been to dragon Con. So I'm looking forward to this
season of dragon Con coming up just a few just
a few weeks, will be.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Here, just a few days to get to publish this thing.
We're coming, We're coming fast. It's awesome August twenty eighth
that I've been the first and I love it. Every year,
every year people knew me. No, I've been working with
dragon Con for a long time. I've been a director
for I think that's my kids year, wow, or maybe
(05:55):
next year. Here A Kennery's track times just closed for me.
But yeah, dragon Con, and I don't care if it's
it's my father or my best friend or a stranger.
Is always I'm like, you should not a stranger. But
you know, I'm like my parents anyway, He's like, you
should go this. It's Labor Day weekend every September and
it's really like this year's mostly August because of how
(06:18):
the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday fall. But yeah, it's
it's always my highlight of the year. And they also
you know this, everybody comes into town for it, and
they're like, oh my god, it's so hot. Yeah, it's funny.
Is next week we get fall? So cool?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Oh, Georgia, some thing's never changed, right right? Oh my goodness. Now,
given your mission of help others be awesome, how do
you see dragon con specifically fostering that awesomeness in its community?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So let me to tell that story. I almost step
back to talk about how I found out about dragon Con.
And I was sixteen seventeen years old working at a
Walmart and the guy run in an apartment. He was
maybe in the twenties. It was a looking back, it's
a weird mix of young people at that particular timeplace
(07:18):
where we're working. And he was like, hey, man, you
ever heard DragCon? Said no, what is it? He said,
it's a party where you just go from room to room,
welcome through the wandering through the hotels and drinking. But
that sounds horrible. Why would you, I mean, do you
don't get ourselves? I don't know, hotel that's too expensive?
He just drank through your passed out like, I don't
(07:39):
know what to do with that. That's not for me.
And then years later, as I got into podcasting and
digital media, and I was building some networks. I was
recruiting a show and it was called Seventh Row Center
and he Alex came on and we were talking and
he said, you know, and I told him, that's about DragCon.
So that's not what Draycon is at all. I mean,
(08:00):
I guess some people to make that, but it's hecause, no, man,
it's it's creative this, and it's that, and there's this track,
is that track? As it was, our goal should be
to get a track or get a panel, all the
podcast tracks, because if you've gotten a panel at drag Con,
you've made it. And that's that's my introduction to dragon
(08:21):
Coon's like, sure, I'll take that challenge on. And you know,
I made it in and did some panels and they
have tried to kind of keep that energy up, not
not that we're exclusive, but that hey, if you've made
it to do a panel dragon Con, you're bringing self
special to the table. I believe that as creators, we
(08:41):
all are bringing film special to the table.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Absolutely we are. Yeah, I definitely would agree with that. Yeah,
but the panels are dragon Con definitely something serious and
they don't accept everybody, so you know, you've definitely got
to have you know, you're on your your p's and
q's for sure. For sure, uh to get onto a panel.
So that is absolutely correct.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
And and and the way I even found you, you're
on the press list, so you've done some work to
get to a third level there. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Yeah, it's definitely been quite the right Charles, Like, I
was like, well, you know, I'm back in the Atlanta
market'll you know, I'll reach out to, you know, the
people that I knew over at Dragon Con, and we'll
see if we can do this thing. And they respect
the brand. They remember what I've done in the past
to to share with my audience, to share with the world.
(09:35):
And I am honored to be on the press list.
So it's definitely been a great, a great honor for me.
And it just definitely you know, their way of showing
their appreciation for me and everything. I appreciate all of it.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
So I love it and I will there say because
we'll get into the digital media track, but we do
a lot more programm than most because that's also what
I bring differently to the con is I don't want
to go to something like that if I'm not working
and I just need some man the opportunities and if
I do the minimums. I really feel like there's so
(10:14):
many great creators on Lenning Down and so we do
a lot of content. So statistically, it's probably easier to
get one of my panels than it is to get
that press passed. So you really have achieved something. Well.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I appreciate that. That that certainly meads a lot coming
from you. That certainly reads a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
That is that is awesome?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I mean, let me see if I can stay on track,
charl There's so many things I want to talk about
and we want to get into. You also mentioned that
being ready for a guest to get the excitement and stories,
you know, out of you. If you had to pick
one Dragon Con moment that sticks out to you, maybe
(10:57):
from last year, maybe from a couple of years back,
what is that moment?
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Man, There's so many. There's so many. I'm going to
pick too.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
I'll give it to you, okay.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
So I've always believed in digital media and I saw
what it could do, and back in the mid nineties
I started, not in early two thousand. The podcasting basically
came around two thousand and three. You know, in two
thousand and four, it really times took shape and it's
been building ever since. And as soon as I got
(11:32):
my teeth sunk into and so it could be like,
oh man, this is the next phase for the world.
And then I saw that businesses, mate, this is what
businesses need to do. You can show the human face
of everything. And then after business has started catching on,
I was like, celebrities, you guys need to do this
because we see the character we never and not every
(11:54):
celebrity needs to do it, but we we There's so
many great careers in this world that we see as
an actor or actor and they do our favorite thing
on our favorite TV show and then you'll be surprised
to find out a decade later they also write symphonies
or they they then they just love this thing that
you love, like they have a passion for home cooking,
(12:15):
and you never get to see that. And that's where
podcasting could come into play. And last year and then
well let me take it back. So two years ago
I started pitching some people, some celebrities, Hey, you have
a podcast, bring it and do it live in Dragon Con.
So now you're really getting interact with your audience, really
getting a whole different aspects than the fan questions, which
(12:36):
are great, and you're get a different aspect. If you
get that aspect all the time a DragCon, there's something special.
And Anson Mount brought his podcast The Well to dragon
Con and I got to sit on stage to produce it.
So I was recording it rather foreign live, so I
got to sit up there with him, record it live
as they're talking. He was talking to Danny Treo, and
(12:58):
just sit on the same stage watching this magical conversation happen.
Plus knowing that it's beyond that it's recording of the podcast.
This is something that's never been done to dragon Con.
It was. It was very magical. It was very amazing.
And even though I am six foot seven and three
hundred and fifty pounds, I have a way of making
(13:19):
myself disappear on face. I did that pretty well. I
think the second massive moment is two one is when
I came on Vision Media is for everybody, and I
saw where we needed to start representing more faces and
more voices on the track. So I started opening up
(13:41):
doors and for people to submit things and do things,
and inviting certain people to make content and do things
with us, and the first year we enabled, and that's
iBOT have to say that we enabled. I didn't make it,
I didn't host it. I just opened the door and
encourage the people who brought it in and then put
great people around them on this spin. But it was
(14:01):
the first blurred panel, which is black nurves. That's the
colloquialism blurts. And the room was filled and it was amazing,
and then Beating t shows up and they said, you
mind if we step in the back of the room,
I'd absolutely not go right ahead, and they set up
in the back of the room and they filmed the
whole well, they turned into the cliff obviously, but they
filmed everything. And then at first of that, I'm just
(14:24):
sitting on the door. So when we fill a room,
you can't let people in. So I'm sitting next to
the side door that we had, which at the time
happened to be kind of next to where the stage
was set up. And we had this throwable microphone and
nobody wanted to throw it, so I was gonna get
it back and forth to people. And I was sitting
on the side of the room and the host Tony said, Hey,
(14:45):
can you Charles, can you get that microphone to the
guy in the red shirt? And so I did. I
walked over and I asked to the guy in the
red shirt and he says, no, I meant the other guy,
which was clearly an orange shirt Tony. But whatever, but
so he goes, you know, the other guy. So they
both had their hands off or whatever. I said, I'm sorry, Tony,
(15:08):
I don't see color. And I kind of took about
five hoping that would land, and then the room exploded.
It was fun. I'm like, oh goodness, the one joke
I need to tell and for the listeners, I am
not a blurred conscious as has been said, so uh,
it was it was just a fun moment to lighten it.
And it was it was just to sit back and
(15:30):
say I opened a door and this magic came in. Again.
That's just the best feeling.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yes, I would certainly agree to that, and that is
that is hilarious. I love that, and uh, I think
I probably should, you know, go ahead and open up
a little bit about me and my involvement went conned.
My sister got me involved in it. I have a
younger sister and shout out to to Rowe. She's got
her own podcast and I kind of got her in
(16:00):
to do and talking about anime stuff. And it's called
the The Blurred Bites. I'm gonna get it right, duh,
Blurred Bites. So she does a you know, like a
weekly show where she's talking about some of her favorite
anime and manga. And when she was a teenager, my
mom was like, you know, look, your sister and her
friends want to go to these conventions downtown. You need
(16:23):
you need to go with her. You know, I don't
need her to get stolen or get lost or any
you know downtown Atlanta. We need somebody to be supervising that.
So I kind of went along as like a chaperone,
so to speak, and it was really awesome just to like,
I was so inspired by the craftsmanship of the costumes
(16:48):
and the work that these people they're they're spending like
a year or so to get these costumes and the
the different pieces that they have alone with them to
get them perfect, and it's like it's something like out
of like like you feel like you're in like a
movie or something. So I remember, like my first year
going to a con and just really just taking pictures
(17:11):
of everyone, just like oh, my gosh, please stop, let
me get a picture of you. Oh my goodness, you know,
can you tell me how you made your costume? And
it just kept on. So I, you know, initially was
not a con person because I really just didn't know
anything about it, and so when my sister opened me
up to it, that was really the the door that
(17:33):
opened up everything else. So I'm everything convention Atlanta wise.
I've tried to, you know, be involved as I've been
in and out of the city for you know, a minute.
But yeah, absolutely seeing everything. If you guys are listening
right now and you've never been to a convention or
you've never been a Dragon con, I don't know why
you haven't already booked your hotel and made it out Okay,
(17:56):
August of twenty eight through the first of September, all right,
you need to go ahead and get that set up.
But it's an incredible experience.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
It truly is. And the costumes. If I ever thought
I'm very bougiet, I'm very expensive and I wanted to
do things. I want to do it right. And if
I don't want to put the work in, I'm lazy
as well. If I ever thought I was going to
do a cost play now, I just wrote how much
money out to pay out? Because again I'm not going
to make it, but there's so much done and people
(18:28):
are three D printing has changed the game and people
are just making the most amazing costomer. I saw one
of my favorite video games is God of War, and
I saw a God of War Kratos is that the
currier's name, And I saw Creatos and instead of having
a shield, he had a painting pad and he was
(18:50):
Bob Ross of War. So it was a Kraatis mixed
up with Bob Ross. It was hilariously, massively awesome and
great and the photos and of course you need to
ask you know, costplay is not count You asked somebody,
but they most everybody's like, oh absolutely. Yeah. The the
second year I think I went, I was doing a
video game show about Marvel and you collected characters in
(19:13):
that game. So my partner who went with it, we
had for the show we had a challenge to see
who could go through and collect the characters from the
game and photos of cosplayer Oh wow, And it was
just fun. Welcome to all the hotels and oh you're
my game? Can I take your picture? And seeing how
many we could collect to each characters. And there's just
something you said it right, if you haven't gone to
(19:35):
Dragon Con noah at the time, there's something for everybody.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Yeah, yeah, and you know, we'll talk about the elephant
in the room. Yes, COVID did slow a lot of
things down, and a lot of things were shifted, a
lot of things were canceled, and we're getting our footing
back now, all right, So so things are better, We're
getting our footing and this is the time for you
to experience this incredible con. Mentioned uh, this is the
(20:03):
time to do it.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Wow. And let me tell you how dedicated they are
to running Dragon Coon and making it happen. COVID didn't
cancel us. We went online, yeah, remember we Yeah, and
we shifted a lot of different pans and it changed
for the positives forever because now there's a lot bigger
(20:26):
presence online of DCTV and the abild TDC the panels
after the con and during the con, and it we
thought it was gonna hurt and it just made life
better for us.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Yes, yes, you know. It's innovation and being able to pivot. Yeah,
I think that's a huge, huge part of it. And
since we have you here, Chiles, you know, I've got questions.
We've got questions. Now, what are some of the things like,
I mean, you're you're you know, mister director. So you've
got like the back door deals of you've got all
(20:59):
the secret and you know, and your cauldron pot of things, Charles.
So what can you share with us that maybe people
don't know about yet? Can we can we let something
out the bad tonight, Charles? Can we talk about something
that may be happening that maybe a lot of people
don't know about it?
Speaker 1 (21:21):
So are you a huge fan of like Tom Holland?
Speaker 2 (21:24):
I do like Tom Holland. Oh my gosh, Okay, Well,
I don't.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Know if he's coming because they treat me like Tom
Holland because I was just the story so they don't
tell me anything.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Well, I will treat you like Tom Holland, then, Charles,
how about that?
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Yeah, I will. I will say this. There's there still
still and the recording just kind of in the July.
I know that she's gonna release in early August. Even
at the release date, there's still some announcements coming. We're
always working to get all fans at heart. We all
(21:59):
are our geeks and nerds and just love all of
this stuff. So we just tried to keep getting the
best that we can get coming in. I'll tell you
one of my most exciting announcement this was when Simon
Peg was announced. Yeah, a lot of fun. So what
about you, Well, who are you hoping that's coming or
(22:21):
who you.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Having just so much? There was a couple of people
that I saw, you know, they're not going to be
able to be here this year, but we're not going
to focus on that. We're not going to focus on that.
But I think overall just kind of getting back into
the atmosphere of Dragon Con. I'm just super excited about it.
I've cleared my schedule, I've called out of work, so
(22:45):
they're like, yeah, do not expect me for these days.
I have things to do, I have things to get into.
But no, I'm definitely looking forward to the Walk of Fame.
I'm definitely looking looking forward to that. See who else
was on there? There was a couple of people that
and I'm terrible with names. I'm better with faces, but
(23:09):
what was his name? There's a lot of people, there's
a lot of there's not going on. There's a lot,
like I don't want to just sing go and be
like I'm looking forward to this person and not everyone else. No,
there's tons of people on the list that I'm looking
forward to and just getting back into the whole vibe
of it, because like I said, uh, Dragon Con is
(23:30):
a vibe. Just getting into the midst of it, It's
it's its whole other vibe. Just being in an atmosphere
seeing everyone. I think the last time I was there,
I don't remember which hotel it was at, but Jesus
was giving out hugs. Yeah, Jesus was giving out hugs. Yeah,
and he I was like, you know what, Jesus, let's
(23:51):
take a picture together. Jesus. He was given out hugs.
He was super sweet. It's always great to see our
Lord and Savior. That's that's always a blessed Jesus is
out here. So yeah, it's just it's a whole vibe.
So I'm definitely looking forward to just seeing all the
different that the couseplayers. I think that's probably my favorite
(24:12):
part is just sitting back and just like seeing these
characters walk by, like, oh my gosh, I know this,
I know that game, I know that character. You know, Oh,
I remember that movie you know. I saw Batman one
time and they did like the Batman from the nineteen
and I want to say it was ninety one ninety two,
the one with Nicole Kidman as Catwoman.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yeah, they had Batman and Catwoman and they were it
was perfect that both costumes were amazed. I was like,
oh my god, like some of the kids are. You know,
I'm kind of dating myself, but the kids are like,
oh my gosh, yeah it's Batman, it's Catwoman. Yeah, what's
the baby. I'm like, no, you don't understand this.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Iron Man. There will be oh yeah, yeah, iron mane
like laid a full metal and that the faith comes
out and gets that in and of course the blast
is going blast and they lie that. I mean, it's
beyond anything you can imagine.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Yes, yes, yes. And then I believe, and like I said,
you may know some stuff because there's like tons of
people and tons of things going through. I believe Blair
Crimmins and the Hookers are going to be there this year.
If I'm not mistaken. I believe that they are. And
shout out to Blair Crimmins and the Hookers. His wife
(25:30):
is Dobby Crimins and she is a phenomenal comedian from
the local Atlanta area, and I've seen her husband play
at like City Winery and stuff. They are outstanding. So
that's my game. Okay, Okay, I thought I saw their
name somewhere. Okay, I was like, I think I saw
(25:51):
them their names.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
All.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, that's that's big stuff.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
You know.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
They don't just you know, we're not just bringing in
every and anybody, so that that's definitely an act.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
You know.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
You guys put that on your list. And there's just
there's so much going on that weekend and I feel
like I'm gonna probably overexhaust myself as usual. But it's okay.
I can sleep and sleep it all that Monday off
Labor Day.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Absolutely, And that's the underlying game that people play is
how many panels can I like, the app drops right,
and the first of all, this app will drop with
the schedule, and you start planning your your favorite panels
and market them and have a buddy because then every
year and at one point, he's all, last year I
did twenty I saw twenty one panels. Someone start to
(26:37):
get twenty four, and then I got twenty four. I'll
try to get twenty seven once he got twenty sevens. Yeah,
I'm not I'm not trying to top that number anymore.
But he will just like you know, every panel that
he thinks he might want to go see. So every
hour of the day he has four different panels that
he can go to and he will just bounce from
one to the other. And that's that's the game is
(26:57):
see see what you can see, see what you want
to do. Amazing.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah, so definitely looking forward to all of that. Oh
my goodness. And then we also want to talk about
your stuff too, Charles, Like you've got, i mean, in
conjunction with dragon Con and everything else, you've got your
own podcast projects. You've got a whole network going on.
So let's dig into that a bit.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Okay. Oh, and it, like I said, I've been at
it for twenty one years, and I got into the
already as a podcasting. I got roasted at Drink one
like a two years ago and one of my best friends,
who is the best enemy you can have? He dug
up I was trying to think. He dug up that
(27:41):
I had done I think forty eight different shows over
twenty years, and he said I retired them, right, I
do regarded like well, you started and failed at forty
eight different shows, and I see the number somewhere in
the four thousand episodes or something. Come buy. And it's
(28:01):
been fun and crazy, and I think I finally after
twenty years of practice, I think I finally have found
my voice and what I really want to do, which
is share my father nerddom and also teach people to
be awesome, help us be awesome. And so those are
teachers that do is be awesome together? And why is
the nerdy wre brotherhood meets fandom.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Wow, that is awesome. Well kudos to you because that's
that's no small feet at all. So I tip my
hats he as well.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Hey, you know I go most so let me tell you,
and podcasting and even most of the media creation and
used to be. If you got the ten episodes, you're
probably gonna do okay and keep going. Now let's say
most people will make it past six ye really? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (28:51):
I mean because it I mean you have to dig
down and really find the dedication the passion behind it,
like you've got to love it, like this show here,
I love doing it. I love talking to people like
yourself who I've never talked to in her life. You know,
this is our first chat ever in life, and you've
got so much to talk about. Like so I always
(29:14):
get I'm always excited for every episode. So for me,
I had to you know, I took the work out
of it because I think we were talking about in
the beginning. I have a broadcast background, so I come
from radio and that just that situation just it did
not end well for me. It was not advantageous for me,
(29:36):
and it left me with some scars, so, you know, rightly,
so I was like, I don't want to do media
stuff anymore. I don't want to do podcasting and rape.
I don't want to do that. That's so much work. Like,
you know, I had lost that passion for it because
it was no longer fun. So with this show, how
I was able to like just pivot and allow it
(29:57):
to just be this new thing and it grew legs
and you know, people were reaching out at the forefront.
And honestly, Charles, I have tried to quit this show
several times. And every time that I've tried to quit
this show, something has happened or someone that's come out
the woodwork and s a no, as you cannot quit,
we need you for this. We want you to talk
(30:18):
about that, We need you to, you know, to interview
this person. And so I've like, I've kind of given
up giving up on the show because the show clearly
is not giving up on me. So here we are,
twenty one hundred episodes later.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
And that's that's what I'm believe in, Is you do
something that's an extension of who you are, Yeah, it
will definitely become a part of everything that you do.
And that's someone just gets so backwards and wrong in
this world. I believe is that we think what we
do mix us who we are, and it's truly opposite.
And I'm just seen creator at your creator, at your
(30:56):
creator either go after your wrong thing because that's what
they think they needed do and they burn out, they
just don't go anywhere and they discourage or more nowadays,
I'm starting to see that others had to do your
side of it, which is I started this thing, I
thought it would be kind of fun, and now it's
just really a major part of my life.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Absolutely that that is totally where I'm at. Charles, Absolutely
where I'm at. So Charles, for people that you know,
I don't know, they're thinking about, oh, maybe we should
do dragon Con this year. Where do they need to
go to get some more information and to you know,
go ahead and secure their registration.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Well, of course, DragonCon dot org is where all the
information is. And right on the first screen you see
to count down there and you can get to buy
now for twenty twenty five. It actually has a next
button next to it hotels and travel, and you just
go down a little bit you can sign up for
the newsletter, and the newsletter we delivered directly to you're
(31:55):
in box, and it's it's like a little piece of
dragon Con come knocking your door.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
It's really fun to get yes and childs. If people
want to get in contact with you or they want
to check out any of your programming, what's the best
way for them to figure that out?
Speaker 1 (32:11):
I try to keep it simple. Is link tree l
I n k t r dot ee so linktree, link
dot link tr dot ee slash r g O P
forty two for rock Guna podcasting and forty two is
the answer to the lives universe and everything.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
I love it. I love that, love that, Charles. It
has been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for
pouring into episode twenty one. Hundred with me.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
Well, I very much appreciate it, Ash, and I want
to encourage you next year to reach out. We have
a discord digital a discord and we can get that
for you. And I'd love for you to do one
of your reviews live at the show.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
That would be phenomenal. We can we can count that.
I'm not leaving George anymore. I promise definitely, yes, I
will definitely stay put and much more success to you
and your team and everyone that is making the magic happen.
Of course, you are more than welcome back on the show, Charles.
(33:15):
I mean that's just a given, whether we're talking dragon Con,
whether we're talking media stuff, or maybe you just want
to get out here and we'll just vibe it up.
We'll just see what the vibe ranks.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I would love that. I will definitely reach out after
to call it after for a good month. I appreciate
and we'll make it happen.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Absolutely. I appreciate each and every one of you guys.
Thank you so much for your love and support. Keeping
in mind, anyone to tell you that you can't do
what you want to do, you look them square in
the face, you tell them, don't believe me. Just watch
watch what I do, watch me make it happen, Watch
me make history. That's what we're doing this for the
(33:56):
history books. Social media is nice, but real life is
so much better. Until next time, you guys,
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