Join us for magical fun at CONjuration 2025!

Time for one last fandom hurrah for 2025…it’s CONjuration time!!!

CONjuration is a 3-day immersive, magical, and fantasy convention in Atlanta, featuring cosplay, panels, and fun activities! If you are a fan of magical fantasy (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, Dungeons & Dragon, Narnia, Buffy, etc.) then this is the con for you, with over 300 hours of magical programming to include panels, performances, animal “meet and greets” with the Georgia Reptile Society, and a Wicked-themed Ball! This year's convention will be held Nov 14-16 at the Sonesta Suites Gwinnett Place. A weekend pass is only $70 (with discounts available for minors under 18 and college students), but you can also purchase single- or two-day tickets; information can be found here. 

The Fandom Hybrid Podcast is pleased to be returning this year to present and participate on panels with our favorite magical community! Anthony, Hanako, Michael, and Michele will be speaking on panels covering a variety of topics all weekend long! Below is a detailed schedule of events for all of us, including times and room location (as always, the schedule is tentative until the convention starts and is subject to change). We will post any updates as they are received). Come and listen to us as we discuss the following:

Friday, November 14, 2025

25 years of The Emperor’s New Groove (Michael)

The panel for Kuzco, the panel chosen especially to discuss Kuzco, Kuzco's panel. Did any of us still think we would be frequently quoting this Disney movie about a llama a quarter of a century later? What about this movie has stuck with us after all this time? Let’s discuss! 6:00pm - Dark Tower

Catching Up With the Frasers: An Outlander Fan Panel (Hanako, Michele)  

The second half of Season 7 brought with it a lot of separations and reunions, joy and heartbreak, near-death moments and lots of questions! Let's take a step through the stones and revisit the biggest moments of Season 7, while we anticipate (and dread) the eighth and final season. *Book-to-Show Spoilers* 6:00pm - The Arcane Academy

We Are Here, Too: A Look at POC Representation in Fantasy Literature & Media (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)

In recent years, fantasy and/or genre-based shows and films have led the way in diversity and representation in media: House of the Dragon, The Wheel of Time, Interview With the Vampire, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, and our new Captain America - just to name a few. These changes don't always go over with everyone, but why? Are they basing their opinions on "the color of the skin, or the content of the character"? We'll have a discussion about these choices and how representation can be good for all, not just the ones who need it. 7:00pm - The Arcane Academy

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Wizards Behaving Badly (Anthony, Hanako)                                                    

From Gandalf’s cryptic half-truths to Dumbledore’s questionable mentorship, from Raistlin’s ambition to Merlin’s meddling, wizards in fantasy often bend rules, manipulate “chosen ones,” and leave chaos in their wake. This panel explores the archetype of the wizard as guide, trickster, and sometimes outright villain. Why do so many magical mentors walk the line between wisdom and recklessness? Are they protectors, manipulators, or both? Join us as we examine the moral gray areas of fantasy’s most powerful spellcasters. 10:00am - Enchanted Forest

Fandom Funerals and Repass: Why Fictional Deaths Feel Real to Us (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)                  

As fans of fictional worlds, we often find ourselves emotionally attached to the characters we read about or watch onscreen. When a fictional character dies, it has as much of an impact on us as though these characters existed in our reality. Join our panel for a group therapy session as we discuss the fictional deaths that affected us the most, and what their deaths can teach us about how to process our own grief and loss. 11:00am - The Arcane Academy

Fathers are the Worst (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)

From Darth Vader to Tywin Lannister, from Denethor to Stannis Baratheon, fantasy is full of fathers who break their children instead of building them up. This panel dives into the most memorable “worst dads” in fantasy literature, film, and television — the absent, the abusive, and the emotionally unavailable. Why does fantasy lean so heavily on father figures as sources of trauma and conflict? What does this say about inheritance, legacy, and generational wounds? Join us for a mix of fandom fun and critical reflection on the dads who make us grateful for our own. 1:00pm - The Arcane Academy

Mothers Aren't Better (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)

If fathers are often terrible in fantasy, the mothers aren’t always a safe haven either. From Cersei Lannister’s ruthless manipulation to Galadriel’s complicated maternal aura in Tolkien’s legendarium, mothers in fantasy frequently blur the line between protector and destroyer. This panel explores how maternal figures are portrayed across genres — absent, idealized, or terrifyingly overbearing — and what those depictions reveal about cultural expectations of motherhood. Together we’ll unpack the archetypes, the stereotypes, and the surprising subversions of mothers in fantasy worlds. 2:00pm - The Arcane Academy

Cartoons Aren't Just for Kids! (Michael)  

A discussion of some of the best animated shows aimed at adult audiences. From Adult Swim to Harley Quinn, adults have been loving on cartoons as much as the kids do! We'll cover the panel's favorites and discuss the appeal, and maybe we'll learn of some new ones from the audience too! 4:00pm - The Arcane Academy

The Final Countdown: Predictions, Theories, and Who Won’t Survive Stranger Things Season 5 ((Anthony, Hanako, Michele)

The end is almost here! With the Upside Down’s final chapter looming, join fellow fans and panelists for an electrifying discussion as we speculate on how Stranger Things will wrap up. Will Hawkins survive the fight of its life? Which character arcs are destined for triumph—or tragedy? And who might not make it out of Season 5 alive? From wild fan theories to carefully pieced-together clues, we’ll break down what could be in store as the beloved series reaches its epic conclusion. Come ready to share your boldest predictions for the ride into the final season! 5:00pm - The Arcane Academy

Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Discussion (Hanako, Michele)       

Are you an Outlander fan who has wondered about the conflict between the MacKenzie brothers? Do you have questions (or theories) about what really happened to Claire's parents? Looking for more romance, mystery, and intrigue in the world of Outlander? Well, STARZ has answered the call with Outlander: Blood of My Blood, an original prequel series to the hit show that details the parallel stories of Jamie and Claire's parents, and gives us a peek at why J&C were always destined for each other. We'll dive into the reveals of Season 1 and discuss what we hope to see in the already-renewed Season 2. 7:00pm - The Arcane Academy

Wheel of Time: Then and Now (Anthony, Hanako, Michael, Michele)

Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time is one of fantasy’s great epics, spanning fourteen books and decades of fandom. Amazon’s recent adaptation brought new life — and new controversy — to the series before its unexpected cancellation. In this panel, we’ll explore Wheel of Time then and now: how Jordan’s original work shaped modern fantasy, how the show interpreted (and sometimes altered) that legacy, and what the future might hold for fans in a post-cancellation landscape. Whether you came to the Wheel through the books, the show, or both, join us to discuss what worked, what didn’t, and why this turning of the Wheel still matters. 8:00pm - The Arcane Academy

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Shyamalan Movies 101: Monsters, Madness, & Twists (Michele)       

Let’s dive into the spooky worlds of M. Night Shyamalan.  What is he trying to tell us?  Are the ghosts metaphors, or are they just ghosts sometimes?  Bring your mermaids, monsters, and a friend and we’ll share the moments that still haunt us. 10:00am - Dark Tower

Bite Club: Vampires Through the Ages (Hanako)        

This panel will be an open discussion on vampires and vampire media in all shapes in sizes across history. Kind of an open discussion of how they changed from evil blood suckers to hot guys that brood. Also talk about some popular vampire media of the past couple of years. 12:00pm - Enchanted Forest       

Magical Time Travel: Are There Rules? Does it Matter? (Anthony, Hanako, Michele)

Who needs Deloreans and Pym Particles when you can travel through time with nothing but magic items or the power of love! We'll explore how time travel works in magical movies and shows like Outlander and Prisoner of Azkaban. Come share your magical time travel favorites and frustrations.  Does it have to make sense if the story’s good? 1:00pm - The Arcane Academy

Disney vs. X-men (Michael)         

Storm vs. Pepa Madrigal? Elsa vs. Ice-man? Beast vs...Beast? How do our favorite magical Disney characters stack up against our favorite X-men? Who has more fans? Who has more trauma?! Come share your favorite characters' super powers and magical moments, and let’s see how they stack up! This panel is family friendly, so littles are welcome. 2:00pm - Dark Tower

Therapy in the Tower (Anthony, Michele)

What if Frodo processed his trauma instead of carrying it alone? Could Rand al’Thor have found healthier ways to handle the weight of prophecy? Therapy in the Tower imagines what counseling might look like for fantasy’s most beloved (and most broken) heroes. Panelists will step into the role of therapists, exploring how characters from Tolkien, Jordan, Rowling, and beyond might work through grief, identity struggles, and impossible choices. This mix of humor, fandom, and mental health insight offers a new way to see the stories we love — and the healing our heroes desperately need. 3:00pm - Enchanted Forest        

Sorting Stranger Things (Michele)

Is Eleven a Ravenclaw? Is Dustin really a Hufflepuff? Come debate away the Hogwarts Houses of our beloved Stranger Things characters. 4:00pm - Sorting Sanctorum