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Friday, August 15
 

10:00am CDT

Fan Works for the New Era
Friday August 15, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Join hosts Jo and Valerie (WhimsyGossip) for an exploration of the world of fan films and new media. They’ll take us through the process of bringing beloved stories off the page with their own styles and interpretations as well as share some snippets and stories from their productions.
Presenters
avatar for Jo Fischer

Jo Fischer

Jo Fischer is a storyteller and filmmaker from Kansas City, MO. Their debut novel Chasing Starlight releases in 2026. As Assistant Director of Whimsy Gossip Productions, Jo brings magic to life on screen. When not writing or filming, they step into the story, cosplaying beloved... Read More →
avatar for Valerie (Whimsy Gossip)

Valerie (Whimsy Gossip)

Valerie is an actress, co-host of the Whimsy Gossip Podcast, and co-producer at Whimsy Gossip Productions. She likes to think of herself as a jack-of-all-nerdoms. Whether it's fantasy, anime, Disney, or anything in between, she is all in. At her core, she is a storyteller and entertainer... Read More →
Friday August 15, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Regency C

11:15am CDT

Not the Droids: Finding Your Way Through the Star Wars Universe
Friday August 15, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Want to explore a galaxy far, far away but not sure where to start? Love Star Wars but want to dive in more? This is the panel for you. Not the Droids Podcast will be jumping to lightspeed to help you navigate the vast universe of Star Wars and help you on your path to the light (or dark) side.
Presenters
avatar for Dani Mione

Dani Mione

Dani is a fan of all things, creator and host of the Creating Magic podcast and Not the Droids podcast. Dani can be found creating content, sewing, reading and exploring all the fantastical worlds. You can find her at @magicelleadventures on most platforms.
avatar for Mayuri Patel

Mayuri Patel

Mayuri is a romance and fantasy fangirl who lives for swoony slow burns, epic magic, and the morally gray love interests everyone warned you about. She co-hosts Not The Droids podcast, watching every Star Wars thing in-universe (yes, even that one), and Spiced Volumes, where the... Read More →
Friday August 15, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Midway Suite 5

2:30pm CDT

Spells, Potions, and Tech with a Multicultural Lens
Friday August 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Words, mixtures, and gadgets are story tools with a multicultural appeal. Their commonalities throughout cultures and history lend validity to contemporary stories of magic and encourage us to embrace the extraordinary. In this session, join panelists as they discuss the influence of multicultural magical representations - Pele (fire), Simurgh (wind), Mama Wata (water) - in fantasy, and build magic to embrace the fantastical in our lives. We will discuss the elemental five, deconstruct spells and potions for each, and watch segments in visual media where multicultural spells, potions and tech storytelling tools are utilized. Spells, potions and pens will be provided. Simply bring your curiosity!

Presenters
avatar for Evie Able

Evie Able

Evie Able is the author of the Bad Little Fairy, Hiding Dragons and Phoenix Ashe books series and winner of the Kroger Award for Excellence in Creative Writing. Able Focuses on interweaving paranormal elements into multicultural children’s and young adult stories, creating unique... Read More →
Friday August 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Regency A

3:45pm CDT

Representation Through The World of Dungeons & Dragons and Fantasy
Friday August 15, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Fantasy is often our ticket to reimagining ourselves and our world. It’s no surprise a medium like D&D has inspired many different people to express their own story. That success has even translated into storytelling adaptations, like The Legend of Vox Machina. Why does D&D present such a valuable opportunity to develop diverse characters? What makes fantasy a great platform for different kinds of storytelling? Join us on our quest to uncover what makes for compelling characters and stories!
Presenters
avatar for Jaine Torres

Jaine Torres

Jaine fell in love with fandom because of the love, acceptance, and friendships she has made. If you find her at the con say hi. She is a 'professional' DM, 'professional' con attendee, and professional nerd! Interests include but are not limited to: D&D, Pokemon, Harry Potter, fun... Read More →
avatar for Nana Kay

Nana Kay

Your not-so-niche Chicagoland indie author known for poetry, prose, and even her satirically sassy video shorts about life and media. As a lover of storytelling, her work often explores philosophy, media, and culture to draw creative parallels to social happenings. If she’s not... Read More →
Friday August 15, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Regency A

3:45pm CDT

Strengthening Family Bonds Through Fiction and Fandom
Friday August 15, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Family relationships strengthen through shared experiences and interests. During this session, father-daughter duo Jamie and Katie will share how fiction, fandoms, and cons have helped them build an incredible relationship. Co-host Derek will also share how he used these techniques with his young children after attending one of these sessions.
Presenters
avatar for Katie Smith

Katie Smith

Katie is a passionate public speaker, swing dance instructor, and community builder. She’s been attending Mischief Management events since 2018, and is thrilled to return as a presenter. She has been a swing dance instructor for two years, helping people of all backgrounds discover... Read More →
avatar for Jamie Smith

Jamie Smith

Jamie was a regular attendee of LeakyCon starting in 2018 in Dallas and is a lifelong fiction fan. By day, he’s a technologist; by passion, a theme park enthusiast who grew up in South Lake Tahoe and has explored Disneyland, Disney World, and Universal Orlando. He’s always ready... Read More →
Friday August 15, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Midway Suite 5
 
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