ConCast - A podcast about Conventions and Fandoms

ConCast is full of discussions about conventions and popular culture. Podcasters and Panelists: Good Ash, Little Beard, and Robbin Banks share their stories, views, and insights with their live studio audience, the "Not so Silent Majority"

From Golden Corral to Royal Ball: The DIY Origins of a Renaissance Dream 06/19/2025

Bigfoot, Ghostbusters, and Giant Spiders: The Con Report 06/12/2025

Bigfoot, Ghostbusters, and Giant Spiders: The Con Report S3E18 | Bigfoot, Ghostbusters, and Giant Spiders: The Con Report! Ash and Little Beard are back, tired but full of stories after a packed weekend of events. The episode kicks off with some fun banter about Bigfoot vlogs and Ash’s latest weird TikTok algorithm obsession: Stick Nation. The crew gives a rundown of their weekend adventures: McConnellCon – A surprisingly packed six-hour military base convention, with free signed memorabilia from Darth Vader actor Spencer Wilding and R2D2 actor Jimmy Vee (Little Beard hilariously blanked on the name mid-show). Highlights included a chaotic Dirty Smoker show moment where R2D2 "fought" Darth Vader onstage—an unscripted con memory that stole the show. Big Game Market – Over 200 vendors, great food, and a good crowd despite the heat. Little Beard encountered a disgruntled attendee who mistakenly blamed the Scallywags for a prior bad show (turns out another group used their name as a scapegoat). Geekgasms of the week included: Little Beard’s new lightweight 1984 Ghostbusters proton pack (with future smoke and sound mods planned). Ash discovering PCBWay’s open-source project hub and cheap ways to replicate expensive brewery hydrometers. Tech & Geek News included: Amazon testing humanoid delivery robots. Melbourne researchers advancing toward an HIV functional cure. OpenAI models resisting shutdown commands (!). AI-powered weapon detection at hospitals. Superpower.com – a new AI-driven personal health platform aiming to optimize longevity and wellness. Researchers successfully gene-editing spiders to produce fluorescent red silk—raising both scientific promise and giant-spider horror movie vibes. The show wrapped with some playful discussion about AI's risks, mocap trends, and Eight-Legged Freaks vs. Arachnophobia. Ash also teased upcoming events including the Topeka Ren Faire and Anime Fest Wichita. /episode/index/show/concast/id/36966035