We all know that courtroom dramas aren't entirely true to life, but some offenders are particularly bad. What does Hollywood get wrong about law, court, forensic science, and the justice system? Where should you NEVER take your legal advice? Participants: Erica Fair, Nathan Michael Anderson, Samuel T. Weston (mod), Jules Porter
Four authors write complete flash fiction stories in five minutes based on topics suggested by the audience. Participants: Lee Harris (mod), Molly Glover, Duck Washington, Tim Wick, Stephanie Olson
Join our interactive pitch meeting for the most outrageous movies that probably should never exist! Help us decide as a benefactor if these reboots and sequels should make it to the big screen or go straight to VHS! Participants: Lindsey Wollan (mod), Christina Gregerson, Alicia Beck, Christi Farris
Four panelists play increasingly silly games for your host, Lee Harris. Based on the longest-running British panel gameshow in history. Participants: Lee Harris, Matthew Kessen, Tim Wick, Windy Bowlsby, Nick Glover
As clips of strange movies play on screen, a team of voice actors and musicians create a whole new soundtrack...without ever seeing the movies before! It's film, improv comedy, and live music all in one, plus a 75% chance of rubber-suit monsters! Participants: Molly Glover, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Caly McMorrow, Nick Glover, Kelvin Hatle, Jerry Belich, Duck Washington
Thursday July 3, 2025 11:30pm - Friday July 4, 2025 12:30am CDT Hyatt 2 Greenway BCDE
If you want to get away with evil deeds, you have to seem virtuous to outsiders. We discuss our favorite fictional villains who spun their public image to hide their intent, the tactics they used, and how we can learn from them to avoid real propaganda. Participants: Lathan Murrell, T. Aaron Cisco (mod), Lauren Crabtree
People obsessed with sports are just as nerdy as people into video games or RPGs. Research shows that being a fan fills an innate human need to belong. Why isn't that brand of fandom given the same treatment in society? Participants: Chris Kluwe, Erik Nyberg (mod), Stephanie Cranford, Kendrick Edmund Cronin, Janelle Kloth
Piercing discussion on the the myths and misconceptions behind swords and fencing. Panelists will discuss good and bad examples of historical fencing in media, and what really happens when you can't roll to hit in real life. Participants: Erica Fair, Kurt Fleschner (mod), Jamie Riedesel, Kendrick Edmund Cronin, Paul Bates
Teams of "literary experts" compete to describe the plot of a book, judging only from its cover art! Participants: Melissa Sue Kaercher, Tim Wick, Nick Glover, Molly Glover, Eric Thompson, Jerry Belich, Lee Harris, Shannan Paul
Pasta Aliens, grade school Crash Bandicoot, and the long long legend of Segata Sanshiro are just scratching the surface of the funniest commercials from Japan. Come see a curated hour of oddities. Participants: Viga
Connie and MKII need your help! The sisters are competing to design the perfect board game and will need the assistance of six audience members to help (or hinder) their creations. Don't worry! Only Angela and Dawn will be involved in the messy process. Participants: Dawn Krosnowski, Cory Damone Enriquez
Ok...so...hear us out. Is there better place to share your "unique" crushes than at Convergence? NOPE! Join us for this interactive "adult craft" experience where the stranger the crush the more we want to Hear YOU Out! Participants: Cory Damone Enriquez, Dawn Krosnowski, Christina Gregorson
Friday July 4, 2025 11:30pm - Saturday July 5, 2025 12:30am CDT Hyatt 2 Greenway BCDE
Hop about the nostalgia train and come gush about your favorite cartoons from the 20th century! What do we prefer about them over modern animated shows? Participants: Kiki Joy Latham, Bryon D Stump, Erik Nyberg, Elizabeth Merritt, Shannan Paul (mod)
It's objectively terrible, but it's fun! What shows do you know are awful but watch anyway? Participants: Kiki Joy Latham, Ren Nonnweiler, Randee Dawn, Laura Okagaki (mod), AJ Pete
How do science fiction and fantasy inform our understanding of how to be in the resistance? Participants: Jaymie Delia Wagner, Renate Fiora, Kerry Peterson, Katarina R Larsen (mod), Lathan Murrell
Your favorite godless geeks are back again, celebrating their 13th anniversary at the place where it all started. Tim, Nick, and Molly will record two episodes live with an audience! Come sit with like-minded folks for geeky atheist nonsense. Participants: Tim Wick, Molly Glover, Nick Glover
Former Guest of Honor Dr. James Kakalios gives a talk based on his upcoming book, The Physics of Superheroes: Hollywood Edition: An All-New Exploration of the Multiverse, the Quantum Realm, and Everything In-Between. Participants: James Kakalios
Watch several victims, um VOLUNTEERS, try sodas of mysterious origins. Will they suffer? Can they choke it down? Might they even like it?! Find out! Our misery loves your company. *Pointing while laughing optional. Participants: Kelly Murphy (mod), Viga, Dan Schmidt, Steve Sylvestre, Nick Amos, Geoffrey Benson, Robert "Ski" Cudinski, Michael Benson
Parasocial relationships (one-way relationships where fans feel they "know" a content creator, media personality or influencer) have always existed. With social media, they take unfortunate, sometimes perilous twists. Let's discuss navigating them. Participants: Tanya DePass, Kendrick Edmund Cronin (mod), Tanya PlusOne, Chris Kluwe
A beloved but questionable decision making game that you all know and love! Join us for the "Smash or Pass" Kahoot! (smart device required to participate but not to enjoy the show) **mature content** Participants: Lindsey Wollan, Christina Gregerson, Alicia Beck, Christi Farris
How does someone explore kink and the kink community safely? What is it like in the kink community? And why are so many geeks so kinky as well? Let's talk about kink and the community surrounding it! **mature content** Participants: Heather L Heim, James, Kelly Murphy, Lathan Murrell, Lisa Marie Deguiseppi (mod)
Saturday July 5, 2025 11:30pm - Sunday July 6, 2025 12:30am CDT Hyatt 2 Greenway BCDE
Pro-censorship rhetoric is on the rise both in politics and in fandom. We'll discuss why it's become so prevalent, what forms censorship can take, and how to combat it in the fight to keep fandom a space where expression, not repression, is celebrated. Participants: Jaymie Delia Wagner, Assad Khaishgi (mod), Kerry Peterson, Lauren Crabtree, Jules Porter
Writers of mystery novels must come up with a mystery to be solved. What "givens" must writers of science fiction come up with? How does this help or hinder writing the story? Participants: Jaymie Delia Wagner, Wes Huntington, Kate Dane, Danith McPherson (mod), T. Aaron Cisco
