Urban Fantasy and Horror Tracks Take Over the Show

The shadows are deep, the music is loud and the creatures of the night have claimed another episode of the Dragon Con Report. This time, we’re joined by the directors from the Urban Fantasy and Horror Tracks at Dragon Con, along with legendary Goth Party DJ – DJ Ichabod, for a conversation packed with storytelling, music, and late-night energy.

From modern monsters and supernatural storytelling to dance floors filled with black velvet and industrial beats, this episode explores why these tracks continue to be fan favorites year after year.

Exploring the Worlds of Urban Fantasy & Horror

We dive into what defines urban fantasy and horror in today’s landscape and how both genres continue evolving with new creators, fresh perspectives, and changing audience tastes.

The discussion covers:

• Why urban fantasy remains such a popular genre
• How classic monsters continue finding new life
• The overlap between horror and fantasy fandoms

Whether you love supernatural detectives, haunted cities, cosmic terror or creatures lurking in dark alleyways – there’s something here for every fan of the strange and unusual.

Building Dragon Con Programming

Creating programming for Dragon Con involves balancing longtime fan favorites with exciting new ideas and the Urban Fantasy and Horror Tracks are no exception.

We talk about:

• How panel topics are selected
• What makes a great guest or discussion
• The challenges of building engaging programming
• Hidden gems attendees should watch for this year

The track directors also share insight into what makes Dragon Con audiences unique and why these genres connect so strongly with convention fans.

Inside the Legendary Dragon Con Goth Party

No conversation about these tracks would be complete without discussing one of Dragon Con’s most iconic late-night events: the Goth Party.

DJ Ichabod joins us to talk about:

• Crafting the perfect convention dance floor atmosphere
• Reading the crowd and building a live set
• Music that always fills the floor
• Memorable moments from past Dragon Con nights

The result is part dance club, part vampire ballroom, part sleep-deprived fever dream fueled by excitement and excellent music.

Music, Mood & Fandom Energy

Horror and urban fantasy are about more than books and movies. Atmosphere matters. Music matters. Community matters.

This episode explores how music helps shape fandom experiences and why events like the Goth Party become lasting memories for Dragon Con attendees year after year.

Why These Tracks Continue to Thrive

One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation is community. Fans return to these tracks because they offer welcoming spaces for creativity, self-expression and shared enthusiasm for all things eerie, magical, and delightfully strange.

Whether through storytelling panels, late-night parties or hallway conversations with fellow attendees – these tracks help create the unforgettable energy that defines Dragon Con.

For more Dragon Con coverage, interviews, and fandom discussions, keep following the Dragon Con Report throughout the season.

The Dragon Con Report is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Producer Jen “Lil’ Bit” Schleusner, Executive Producer Mike Faber.
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We want to hear from you! Feedback is always welcome. Please write to us at [email protected] and subscribe and rate the show wherever fine podcasts are found, such as Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, and our new YouTube Channel.
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Watch the episode video on YouTube

Urban Fantasy on FB

Urban Fantasy YouTube

Urban Fantasy on Blue Sky

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Out ov The Coffin

Fascination Street

Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for Dragon Con. Delta has announced a discount code for the 2026 show. NM4XQ is the code.

Dragon Con Report Intro and Outro attributes:

Stock Media provided by Blackmid / Pond5
Adventure Of The Pirates – Fantasy, Epic Orchestral Music by Pond5

Stock Media provided by MellauSFX / Pond5
Dragon Fire Roar Sound Effects by Pond5

#dragonconreport #dcr #podcast #dragoncon #dragonconpodcast #conventions #AtlantaGeekScene #dragonconAtlanta #ESONetwork #geekpodcast #Geektalk #ChanningSherman #JenLilBitSchleusner #MikeGordon #nerdpodcast #TheESONetwork #2026DragonConReport #DragonCon2026 #ESOPatreon #40yranniversary #UrbanFantasy #Horror #GothParty #horrortrack #urbanfantasytrack #spooky #fantasy #magic #derektatum #carolmalcolm #djichabod

The post The 2026 Dragon Con Report Episode 4: Creatures of the Con Night appeared first on The ESO Network.

This time, The 42cast, is proud to welcome prolific animation writer Brynne Chandler on to the show. Brynne talks to us about her decades of experience, focusing on many ground-breaking series from the 80’s and 90’s including He-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles. She talks with us about her experiences working in the industry and her thoughts on some of the series and specific episodes that she worked on. Along the way we discuss such varied topics as where morals in TV series came from, the unintended consequences of being overly protective of young people, whether women like action and explosions, and what the DCEU didn’t understand about Batman and Superman.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Like what you heard? Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/42cast. You can also find us on X as @42cast, Instagram/Threads as 42cast, or Blue Sky as 42cast.bsky.social. We can also be found on Youtube or rss.com where you can find links to all of the various podcast providers where we can be found. Please, leave us a review. Have a question for the Ultimate Answer? E-mail us at [email protected]. Want to be part of the discussion, join our Discord Server where you can talk about any form of geekiness, opine on the episodes, or participate in our general silliness.

The post The 42cast Episode 281: The Brynne Chandler Interview appeared first on The ESO Network.

This week we will be honoring one of the longest traditions in Star Trek history by counting down our favorite courtroom episodes! Every series has done at least one courtroom episode–even Lower Decks! How do they rank?

Earth Station Trek is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber.

#startrek #nextgeneration #deepspacenine #voyager #strangenewworlds #lowerdecks

The post TREK COURT! – Earth Station Trek – Episode 262 appeared first on The ESO Network.

This week we’re MONKEEING AROUND with Cary Gordon (Metal Geeks) and Chris Nicchi (The Metal Exchange) to dive into POOL IT! This will be an episode for the Eighties kids as we’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Monkees 20th (21st) anniversary album!

Our ‘You May Also Like’ recommendations this week are the new singles “In the Stars” and “Rough and Twisted” from the upcoming album, Foreign Tongues, by The Rolling Stones!

Monkeeing Around is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber.

#monkees #poolit #80smusic #CaryGordon #metalgeeks #ChrisNicchi #metalexchange #rollingstones #ForeignTongues

The post POOL IT! 40th (39th) Anniversary – Monkeeing Around – Episode 87 appeared first on The ESO Network.

This one’s a few days late—but for a really good reason.

Leah’s been out of town working as a nurse, helping care for First Nations evacuees from Fort Albany. Every spring, flooding forces northern communities out of their homes. This time, many were relocated to Toronto—about eight hours from us. Leah stepped in as a care coordinator, supporting families during a tough and uncertain time.

She’s home for a quick four-day break… then it’s right back for another 10-day stretch.

We also squeezed in something a little more fun—our 2-year anniversary on May the 4th (yes, that May the 4th). We tried to go out for a nice dinner, but Smelt season had other plans. Every restaurant was either packed or closed. After a bit of running around, we finally landed somewhere and made a night of it.

Bonus: we tried Wayne Gretzky’s salted caramel liqueur. Worth it? We’ll let you know.

In this episode, we also catch up on:

• The early days of Shawn’s new YouTube channel
• Starting a brand-new mail route this week
• A trip to the Echo Bay town-wide yard sales… with more disappointment than treasure

It’s a bit of everything this week—real life, small wins, and a few laughs along the way.

Links & Mentions

• Shawn’s YouTube Channel: The Long Way Around @thelongwayshow
• Shawn’s Etsy Shop: rustedrobottoys https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys
• Leah’s Etsy Shop: collectandcaston https://www.etsy.com/shop/collectandcaston

What We Talk About

• Why the episode is late this week
• Leah’s work with Fort Albany evacuees
• Flood season in Northern Ontario
• Our May the 4th anniversary
• Smelt season taking over every restaurant
• Wayne Gretzky salted caramel liqueur taste test
• YouTube channel updates
• New mail route beginnings
• Echo Bay yard sales recap

Podcast Promos: Tales From Hollywoodland, ESO Patreon

The post Late Episode, Big Stories: Flood Evacuations, Anniversary Adventures & Yard Sale Letdowns appeared first on The ESO Network.

Batman ’66 S3 Ep9 – How to Hatch a Dinosaur

Egghead, Olga and the Cossacks are coming! This time their odious idea is to radiate a Neosaurus egg and have the dinosaur dine on our dauntless defenders. Can this monstrous case be cracked?

Episode aired Thursday, November 9, 1967

Director: Oscar Rudolph

Writer: Stanford Sherman

Cast:

Adam West – Batman/Bruce Wayne

Burt Ward – Robin/Dick Grayson

Yvonne Craig – Batgirl/Barbara Gordon

Alan Napier – Alfred

Neil Hamilton – Commissioner Gordon

Stafford Repp – Chief O’Hara

Vincent Price – Egghead

Anne Baxter – Olga

Jon Lormer – Professor Dactyl

Mary Benoit – Petula

William Corcoran – Boy Scout

Violet Carlson – Old Lady

Pat Becker – Technician

Mike’s Shout Out:

Fiberglass Freaks’ Batman Museum

Fiberglass Freaks’ Batman Museum GoFundMe

Drew’s Shout Out:

The Jurassic League

BatChums logo by Peter Cutler.
https://www.instagram.com/cutler7666

Theme music by Ricky Zero.
RadioCult.com
https://youtube.com/@wehadthat

If you would like to leave feedback, comment on the show, or would like us to give you a shout out, please call the Bat-Chums feedback line at (317) 455-8411 leave us a message, text us, or feel free to email us @ [email protected]

The post BatChums Episode 105 – How to Hatch a Dinosaur appeared first on The ESO Network.

This week the gang revisit Episode 104: Films Never to Watch again. After listening to the podcast, friends of the show and frequent guests, Dave and Phil, had a quiet chat in the pub and decided they wanted to give us their films the never want to watch again. Take a listen to find out which films were on their list.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Let us know via email at [email protected] or at the Cosmic Pizza Podcast Facebook page.

Thank you for downloading and listening. We hope you enjoy the show. If you do, then tell others.

Title music by: Letter Box

https://soundcloud.com/audio-library

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AUDIOlibrary/

The post Cosmic Pizza Podcast Episode 107: Dave & Phil’s Films Never to Watch Again. appeared first on The ESO Network.

Cigar Nerds Podcast: Johnny Turns 40. This week we’re taking a trip down memory lane and talk about the 40th Anniversary of Short Circuit. In Science we discuss landing a plane on a train, artemis 3 delays, AI talking to animals, and spooky sounds. In Nerd News we talk about Alien Isolation 2, Resident Evil, Roger Sweet, Driver’s Ed, and Rambo returns. This week we’re smoking the La Aurora Especial and Cohiba M.

• La Aurora
• Short Circuit
• AI
• Red Bull
• Artemis 3
• Spooky Sounds
• Alien Isolation
• Resident Evil
• Roger Sweet
• Drivers ED
• John Rambo

The post Cigar Nerds Podcast: Johnny Turns 40 appeared first on The ESO Network.

Karen and Spilled Tea are BACK and they brought a whole new era of Earth Station Boo with them. Tune in as we reintroduce ourselves, address the hiatus, and pull back the curtain on all the exciting changes coming to your favorite horror podcast. We’ll dish on the newish format, fun stuff happening in our discord, fresh new episodes now every Tuesday, Dragon Con appearances, AND the cool merch store. Same kooky energy and spooky vibes just with a different set up.

Find mental helath help worldwide: https://findahelpline.com/

Subscribe now to Earth Station Boo where we talk all things horror. Let’s Get Spooky!

Find all our links here: https://linktr.ee/EarthStationBoo

You can also find us on: @earthstationboo 

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Earth Station Boo Merch Store

Check our Friends at the ESO Network
ESO Network Patreon
Dragon Con Report

Have feedback or comments?
Email us at [email protected]

#EarthStationBoo #ESONetwork #LetsGetSpooky  #Horraholics #FemalePodcast #HorrorPodcast #HorrorNerds #HorrorDiscussion #HorrorFans #CultHorror #HorrorCommunity #PodcastForHorrorFans #HorrorMovies #CultClassics #HorrorLovers #HorrorAddict #NewEpisode #PodcastRelaunch #HorrorIsBack #SpookySeason #TuesdayDrops #MovieNight #DragonCon #HorrorMerch #BackAndSpookier #discord

The post We’re Back and Spookier Than Ever! | Earth Station Boo appeared first on The ESO Network.

80s Bands

We sure do love a list! And Loudwire has put out their list of 80s bands that should have been bigger! And we have a lot to say about this list — the ones we agree with, the ones we don’t really like, and the ones who may not have deserved to have been any bigger than they were. Plus we each list the 80s bands we love that we think should have been bigger. 

But first we have some music news to cover with the passings of Dave Mason and Alan Osmond, plus a sad announcement from the Indigo Girls. 

We’d love to hear your thoughts about 80s bands that should have been bigger. Drop us a line at [email protected] or just leave a comment on our socials or whatever podcast platform you’re listening to us. 

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 

Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 

Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 

Find more about us:

Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition 
Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  
R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  
Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

The post Modern Musicology #165 – Should Have Been Bigger: 80s Bands appeared first on The ESO Network.

Flopcast episode 730! The Flopcast Book Club is back in session as we discuss Even the Good Girls Will Cry, the new memoir from Melissa Auf der Maur. Melissa was just a young photography student in Montreal when she was recruited to play bass in Courtney Love’s band Hole, and suddenly found herself in the eye of the 90s alt-rock storm. And yikes, she has stories. We’ll learn about life on the road with Hole (yeah, it was as crazy as you think), Lollapalooza bus trips with Sinéad O’Connor, haunted houses on fire in New Orleans, tea with Ozzy Osbourne, leaving Hole and joining Smashing Pumpkins, going solo, and finally walking away from it all. And we even recall the time we met Melissa a few years back, which shockingly is not covered in the book. (Gotta leave something for the sequel, right?) Also: Kevin joins Joe and Gary for another online American Sci-Fi Classics panel! And this time we’re discussing the world of Sid and Marty Krofft! Slip into a Sleestak costume and join us. #melissaaufdermaur #hole #courtneylove #smashingpumpkins #eso #esonetwork #geektalk #geekpodcast #geek #nerdtalk #nerd #nerdpodcast #podcast #flopcast

Episode 730 complete show notes and links at www.flopcast.net!

The post Flopcast 730: Dream of the Nineties appeared first on The ESO Network.