PodCon, or How To Unapologetically Own Your Voice As A Marginalized Podcaster

From the outside (particularly if you’re not in one of the many niche podcast fandoms that congregated in Seattle this past December) the inaugural PodCon looks an awful lot like a social experiment: what do you get when you hold a convention dedicated to a notoriously white medium in a notoriously white (albeit growing) city? Turns out the answer is surprisingly not “get out.” I’ve been a fan of the Night Vale Presents network for years now, so walking in I was already familiar with Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor’s dedication to creating platforms that featured a cast of diverse voices. I assumed as they are two of the co-founders (along with Hank Green and Travis & Justin McElroy) that this practice would continue in a convention setting. But this is not about handing out cookies. Instead, let’s talk about what PodCon’s first year put in place to make sure that marginalized communities, especially creators of color, are given the space to show up as their full, authentic selves. Center Community Engagement For cons of this size that cater to fans (at about 3000 in-person attendees) it’s not unusual for the appeal to be the grass root elements. PodCon, however, felt curated for a notably Tumblr-esque cross-pollination of live art-making and fandom. I was impressed by how many interactive activities were built into the structure of the con, such as the fake flyer wall, the community wall, and the scavenger hunt known as PodCon quest. These are small choices, but they have…