The Geek Saga Podcast Episode 66: Drinkin’ Con 2022 “The Hangover”

tara lynne's geek saga podcast

Episode 66 of The Geek Saga Podcast was originally aired as a live webcast, “Drinkin’ Con 2022: The Hangover” on September 16, 2022.

GEEK SAGA PODCAST ON SPOTIFY

Join myself and some of the Drinkin’ Con v6.0 Pre-Dragon Con Webcast crew for our recap of Dragon Con 2022!

Geek Saga Podcast Episode 66 – Drinkin’ Con 2022: The Hangover

Click below to watch in webcast form!

drinkin con 2022 the hangover

The Geek Saga Podcast Episode 60: Drinkin’ Con v6.0 Pre-Dragon Con 2022

tara lynne's geek saga podcast

Episode 60 of The Geek Saga Podcast was originally aired as a live webcast, “Drinkin’ Con v6.0: A Pre-Dragon Con [2022] Webcast” on August 20, 2022.

GEEK SAGA PODCAST ON SPOTIFY

Join myself and some other Dragon Con-loving friends as we talk all things Dragon Con 2022…and have…well…a lot of drinks!

Geek Saga Podcast Episode 60 – Drinkin’ Con v6.0: A Pre-Dragon Con Webcast

Click below to watch in webcast form!

Dragon Con 2022: 2 Weeks to Go!

Last year I chose to wait until much closer to the convention to share my schedule, but in the end things changed anyway, so for Dragon Con 2022 I figured what the heck…might as well go for it and make updates later if need be!

Don’t forget, the 6th Annual Drinkin’ Con Webcast – a pre-dragon con webcast for newbies and oldtimers alike – is THIS Saturday, 8/20, at 7 PM Eastern!

Friday 9/2
@ 1 PM PANEL: Game of Spinoffs (Marriott L401-403)
@ 3 PM PHOTOSHOOT: Red Dead Redemption (Hilton Steps)
@ 4 PM PANEL: You Can’t Go Home Again – Diaspora in High Fantasy (Marriott L401-403)

Saturday 9/3
@ 1 PM PHOTOSHOOT: Pirates of the Caribbean (Hardy Ivy)
@ 2:30 PM PANEL: Red Dead Redemption Actor Q&A (Westin Centennial II-IV)
@ 5:30 PM PANEL: The Great Tourney at Harrenhal (Marriott L401-403)

Sunday 9/4
@ 2:30 PM Red Dead Redemption Fan Panel (Westin Augusta E-H)
@ 4 PM PHOTOSHOOT: Spider-Verse (Hilton Steps)
@ 5:30 PM PANEL: House of the Dragon (Marriott L401-403)
@8:30 PM GAME SHOW: Blackwater Squares (Red Dead Hollywood Squares – Westin Augusta E-H)

Monday 9/5
@ 1 PM PANEL: Fear the Walking Dead – An Hour with the Cast (Westin Centennial II-IV)

Now, despite swearing up and down that I would be laid-back with my cosplay this year, I’ve gone against that [probably better] judgment and scheduled myself silly. That said, most of what I’m planning on is fairly comfortable and doesn’t require a ton of hair or makeup work so hey, there’s a chance I’ll actually fit them all in 😉

dragon con 2022

WEDNESDAY
Find me in my Gang Goes to Dragon Con shirt!

THURSDAY
Day: *New* Secret Cosplay (Hint: Thor Love & Thunder Themed)
Night: *New* Secret Cosplay (Hint: [Sort of] Bunny Hutch Themed)

FRIDAY
Day: Sadie Adler – Bounty Hunter Outfit (Red Dead Redemption 2)
Night: Strawberry Dress (Group Outfit)

SATURDAY
All Day/Night: Elizabeth Swann (Pirate Outfit from POTC: Dead Man’s Chest)

SUNDAY
Day: Spider-Gwen (Marvel Rising laid-back cosplay)
Night: Conspiracy Charlie (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

MONDAY
Find me in my Color War (Fear Street 1978) Outfit!

The Geek Saga Podcast Episode 58: ASOIAF/House of the Dragon Fan Panel at SDCC 2022

tara lynne's geek saga podcast

Episode 58 of The Geek Saga Podcast features live audio from the A Song of Ice and Fire/House of the Dragon Fan Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.

GEEK SAGA PODCAST ON SPOTIFY

Moderated by Amin from A Podcast of Ice & Fire and featuring myself and Aziz & Ashaya from History of Westeros, this is an in-depth discussion of the latest House of the Dragon news featuring some deep ASOIAF dives and even a couple of GoT, err, mentions 😉

Geek Saga Podcast Episode 58: ASOIAF & House of the Dragon at SDCC 2022
Panelists having a chuckle at the ASOIAF/House of the Dragon/Game of Thrones Fan Panel at SDCC 2022

A Note to My Ice & Fire Con Fam, Post IAFC 2022

I’m going to be a bit cliche here, I know, but can you believe that when we gathered at IAFC 2022, it had been nearly three whole years since we were all together? I’ll be honest, it both seemed like yesterday and like a lifetime ago.

auto thots roll out iafc 2022
AUTO THOTS ROLL OUT

I know we all changed in some way or another in these past years – how could we not? I certainly did, but one thing that remained the same for me is the wild combination of stress and excitement and anxiety and love that I experience surrounding each and every Ice & Fire Con (yes, even the virtual ones)…and, of course, the immense amount of gratitude that I feel for our extremely supportive and understanding “fam”.

iafc 2022 small council
Dubbing Lydia the newest Small Council Member

This year was both different, and yet the same. When we all met up again, it was as if no time had passed…and yet SO MUCH TIME had. We kept saying “last year” about our last in-person event, when of course it was three years ago. But seeing you all again, it was like two of those years didn’t exist. Granted, some of us have had a lot of virtual hangouts, but really, no matter how much time had passed, no matter how much we have changed…the fam is…well, I have to say it: UNBOWED, UNBENT, UNBROKEN.

I missed the ones who couldn’t make it. Special shout-outs to Dan and Nancy and Pasha & Benita! I hope to see y’all next year, because truly, the tourney ESPECIALLY wasn’t the same without you. And also a personal special shout-out to Rachel & Josh 😉

Pat and Mallory aka Sanrixian GETTING ENGAGED <3 <3 <3

But wow, did we make some amazing new memories this year. First, ANOTHER IAFC ENGAGEMENT! Congrats to Pat and Mallory, who knew each other online prior to IAFC, met in person for the first time at the convention, bonded at Small Council member/ASOIAF podcaster Chloe’s wedding to fellow ASOIAF podcaster Emmett, and got engaged at our tourney this year! I will never, ever cease to be amazed by the relationships this event has fostered – this is “only” our second at-con engagement (shout out to Ashley and Keith for the one that made me sob for days in 2017, as they met at the first ever IAFC), but I’ve lost count of the number of relationships that have been fostered after people met at this convention. It’s certainly not the most important thing about this event, and of course I personally can’t take credit for them, but I love that – as one Twitteros user said – “Ice & Fire Con is for Lovers”!

Meanwhile, despite the tech issues (hello, main room projector breaking sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning), and, to be honest, needing way more volunteers than we had, this year was amazing. Mostly because of the people who did step up and help out – for Small Council, Lydia and Elena; for volunteers, Jason, Matt F, Kevin, Shelby, Ray, and Chelsea; for non-volunteers, James and Frank B. Then there’s my transport helpers, Bekah & Ren – I mean, who would have had the worst traffic stop, had it happened? Them with the Skelly head, torso, feet, and arms, or me with the Skelly leg bones and tourney swords and stick horses?

LOOK AT ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE <3 <3 <3

And then there’s Obie. A fan who bought a ticket, then offered to help us with recording panels and taking photos, and just went so above and beyond that I can never thank him enough.

RANDOM ASIDE: Special shoutout to Steve Cantu’s amazing and lifesaving empanadas, and Toemas Pappas’ awesome homemade hot sauce. HOW DO WE DESERVE YOU ALL?!

iafc 2022 empenadas
Meme-worthy pic of me w/empanadas & White Claws cuz I gotta call myself out sometimes

Honorable mention: David T for his homemade pretzels. They absolutely saved my life one day of the con when I didn’t have time to eat an actual meal, and they were DELICIOUS!

When it comes to programming – we couldn’t do what we do without the people who provide it. Ashley from APOIAF deserves ALL THE ACCOLADES for the revamped Maester chains and the Medieval Fest. And of course there’s our fandom faves who host so many panels: Davos’ Fingers, Game of Owns, History of Westeros, and Radio Westeros. The support of these uber-popular podcasters has been a huge part of sustaining us all these years, and I can never thank you guys enough (and, to be honest, am kinda star-struck that I get to call you guys friends 😉 )! Not to mention Chloe (IAFC Small Council + Girls Gone Canon podcaster), Emmett (Not-a-Cast), and all of the other amazing people who hosted panels this year. (Special shoutout to the attendee-voted fave panel Gays of Thrones peeps: Elena, Lo, Sam, and Rohanne)

queens musical iafc 2022

As for this year’s musical…wow, you guys. People have been working on this since late 2019. Auditions, recordings, rehearsals, re-writes, more rehearsals…I was so hashtag blessed to be part of a cast and crew of people who were so hardcore about everything from beginning to end. I can never thank Dom, Anna, and Chloe D enough for writing such a fucking FUN show…but at times our Queens cast chat group has been such a help – such a lifesaver – that I can never ever thank my fellow Queens – Britt, Lydia, Elle, Kat, and Anna – enough for being the uplifting, amazing, TALENTED people they are. PS the trailer drops like NOW!

And then there was Saturday. The Manimals coming back to IAFC was something I only dreamed of, especially as we have been so short on funds after having to postpone the convention so many times. Their performance was such a huge highlight of the event, and I am so, so incredibly grateful that they are so supportive of our little event.

We also got to have a Guest of Honor this year, which was a first for us and so exciting! Despite the tech issues surrounding his panels (again, looking at you, main room projector), David J. Peterson rallied and was just the best about all of it.

I also had high hopes for the Game of Swag, and HOLY SHIT DID Y’ALL SHOW! UP! I can’t wait for next year and see all of the awesome items people bring, because WOW will it be hard to top this year!

On an even more personal note – this event takes a lot out of me. While the virtual events in 2020 and 2021 were certainly fun in their own way, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, like the energy I gain from being with the fam in person. I already said this once, but it bears repeating:

I can never give enough awards for everything everybody does for this event. I appreciate and love our IAFC fam so much. I’ve been off and on happy crying for DAYS NOW because I honestly don’t know what I did to deserve this, to deserve ALL OF YOU AMAZING PEOPLE in my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you. For being you, for helping out, for loving this convention and in some cases by extension loving me.

I’m only human, and every single one of you makes me a better person.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t give a special shoutout to our patrons and sponsors for their additional contributions. The truth of the matter is, Ice & Fire Con 2023 is happening thanks to YOU.

On that note: My love and appreciation for every single person who made this – the first Ice & Fire Con in, again, THREE YEARS – an absolutely BANGIN event – is beyond anything I have words for. Because the end-all, be-all is that the community as a whole is what really, really makes Ice & Fire Con special. I FUCKIN LOVE YOU, FAM!

PS EXTRA SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO THE 6 OF US (how is it only 6?!) WHO MADE THE 8 THIS YEAR!

Dragon Con 2021: 1 Week To Go!

I’ve been waiting and waiting to share my Dragon Con 2021 schedule because the one thing I’ve learned in the past year and a half or so is that all things are constantly, constantly, CONSTANTLY subject to change…but hey, we’re a week out so at this point if anything else about this year’s convention DOES change, I’m at the ‘oh well, I don’t really care’ point 😉

Friday 9/3
@ 1 PM Red Dead Redemption Fan Panel (Westin Augusta E-H)
@ 4 PM Red Dead Redemption Photoshoot (Hilton Steps)

Saturday 9/4
@ 1 PM Shadow & Bone Season 1 (Marriott L401-403)
@ 8:30 PM Nailed It or Failed It: Jon Snow (Marriott L401-403)

Sunday 9/5
@ 11:30 AM ASOIAF 25th Anniversary (Marriott L401-403)
@ 2:30 PM Tolkien’s Trickster Tropes (Marriott L401-403)

As for cosplay…well, most of this year is going to be laid back. I’ve got a lot of ‘mystery question marks’ on this graphic, some of which are actually new secret cosplays (though admittedly, pretty lazy ones)…others are simply “I’m wearing a cute outfit this evening that’s not really a cosplay and I haven’t quite decided which outfit it’s going to be”…

WEDNESDAY
Find me in my Gang Goes to Dragon Con shirt!

THURSDAY
Day: Color War Outfit (Fear Street 1978)
Night: *New* Secret Cosplay (Hint: Jurassic Park Themed)

FRIDAY
Day: Sadie Adler – Bounty Hunter Outfit (Red Dead Redemption 2)
Night: *Possible* New Secret Cosplay…or a cute outfit, who knows!

SATURDAY
Day: Jungle Cruise-Themed Outfit
Night: Probably just a cute outfit 🙂

SUNDAY
Day: Edwardian Gown
Night: *New* Secret Cosplay (Hint: Sort of Dragon Con Themed)

MONDAY
Find me in my Gang Goes to Ice & Fire Con shirt!

Additionally, I still have a handful of Fantasy Bitch stickers, so if you see me feel free to ask for one!

dragon con 2019 fantasy bitch

The Geek Saga Podcast Episode 43: Drinkin’ Con v5.0 Pre-Dragon Con 2021 Webcast

tara lynne's geek saga podcast

Episode 43 of The Geek Saga Podcast was originally aired as a live webcast, “Drinkin’ Con v5.0: A Pre-Dragon Con [2021] Webcast for Newbies & Oldtimers Alike”, on August 21, 2021.

GEEK SAGA PODCAST ON SPOTIFY

Join myself and some other Dragon Con-loving friends as we talk all things Dragon Con 2021…and have…well…a lot of drinks!

*Please note that while there are some mentions toward the end about this episode closing in on 3 hours, that is ONLY the webcast version. I cut some off-topic moments out to make the podcast version more palatable (at just barely more than 2.5 hours), but you can always view the full episode on YouTube!*

Geek Saga Podcast Episode 43 – Drinkin’ Con v5.0: A Pre-Dragon Con Webcast

Click below to watch in webcast form!

The embodiment of this webcast: Tara & Erin drinking, Nami flailing, Andrew lecturing, Jessi judging, and Dean just sitting back and taking it all in LOL

The Geek Saga Podcast Episode 38: Game of Tricksters Panel, Virtual Dragon Con 2020

Episode 38 of The Geek Saga Podcast includes live audio from the Dragon Con High Fantasy track’s “Game of Tricksters” panel that aired during Virtual Dragon Con 2020.

GEEK SAGA PODCAST ON SPOTIFY

“In George R. R. Martin’s sprawling epic, he incorporates and plays with many of the tropes of High Fantasy. Which characters embody the trickster archetype? When does GRRM play it straight and when does he subvert our expectations?”

Panelists: Myself, Andrew d’Adesky, Chloe K, Rebecca F

Geek Saga Podcast Episode 38 – Game of Tricksters Panel from Virtual Dragon Con 2020

The Geek Saga Podcast Episode 36: Nailed It or Failed It? Game of Thrones Character Arcs at Dragon Con 2019

tara lynne's geek saga podcast

Episode 36 of The Geek Saga Podcast includes live audio from the Dragon Con High Fantasy track’s “Nailed It or Failed It: Game of Thrones Character Arcs” panel at Dragon Con 2019.

GEEK SAGA PODCAST ON SPOTIFY

I was super excited about this panel and only regret that it was scheduled for Monday morning of Dragon Con (of all times) because it being the last day of the convention, many of us (namely me, ha!) weren’t at the top of our game. Still, it was fun to get some audience involvement on whether the show nailed it or failed it when portraying the ASOIAF characters we love, hate, or love to hate. Stay tuned for the Ice & Fire Con 2020 version of this one, that’s for sure!

Panelists: Myself, Andrew, Brian E, Van Allen Plexico

GEEK SAGA PODCAST EPISODE 36: NAILED IT OR FAILED IT – GAME OF THRONES CHARACTER ARCS DRAGON CON 2019

The Geek Saga Podcast Episode 35: Fire & Blood (Targaryen History) at Dragon Con 2019

tara lynne's geek saga podcast

Episode 35 of The Geek Saga Podcast includes live audio from the Dragon Con High Fantasy track’s “Fire & Blood: Targaryen History” panel at Dragon Con 2019.

GEEK SAGA PODCAST ON SPOTIFY

Last year’s release of the first Fire & Blood tome gave us a lot of information, and we spent this panel breaking it down!

Panelists: Myself, Ashley M, Brian E, Chloe K, Elena K, Van Allen Plexico

Geek Saga Podcast Episode 35 – Fire & Blood: Targaryen History