Pigeon
James “Pigeon” Fielder, Ph.D., teaches political science at Colorado State University and is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. He is also serving as a Marine Corps University Non-Resident Krulak Fellow for academic years 2021-2023, is the Chief Operating Officer for Mobius Worlds Publishing, and develops organizational crisis scenarios under the name Liminal Operations. Pigeon researches interpersonal trust and emergent political processes through tabletop and live-action gaming as natural experiments, and has over two decades of experience designing, executing, and assessing training exercises and wargames, from small-group tabletop discussions to multi-day exercises engaging 5,000+ participants.
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Noon | Location: Sooner B
Philosophy of Fear
Delve into what makes chilling tales so delicious. Purgation? Vicarious punishment? Just a sick psyche? Exactly why do we want to be frightened for entertainment?
Moderator: Tommy B. Smith
Panelists: Tommy B. Smith, Mark Alfred, Daniel Erickson, Pigeon, A C Smart
Tracks: Film & TV, Horror, Supernatural & Paranormal, Gaming, Writing & Publishing, Pop Culture & Entertainment
2:00 PM | Location: Boomer A
Fiction and Politics: How Can Stories Make a Difference?
Stories have power. They distill the past and tell us how to best predict the future. Can fiction writers make a difference in today's hyperpolitical discourse? Should they feel obliged to try?
Moderator: Daniel Erickson
Panelists: Daniel Erickson, Sheila Hartney, Lyde Van Hoy, Pigeon, B J Thrower
3:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
A Storyteller Is Born: Game Mastering 101
We discuss the humble beginnings of learning to run your own TTRPG (Table Top Role Playing Game). From tips to tricks of the trade, rules to know (and break), to choosing the right system for you and your players and developing home-brew elements to customize a game, these experienced GMs and players tell all for new dungeon masters.
Moderator: Pigeon
Panelists: Pigeon, Brook Bullock, Joshua Cook, Rook Riley, Seth Skorkowsky, Christina Stiles
Tracks: Gaming
7:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Literary Beers
Join panelists in the hotel lounge for lively conversation. BYO beverages, please.
Moderator: Julie Barrett
Panelists: Julie Barrett, La Blanke, Brook Bullock, Charles Dane Clark, Dr Paisley, Phillip Drayer Duncan, J.H. Fleming, Tim Frayser, Caleb Haldane, Nick Johnson, Bekah June, Mike Kennedy, Kimber, Dennis McDonald, Paula Helm Murray, Pigeon, Alan J Porter, James Simpson, Bradley H Sinor, Sue Sinor, A C Smart, Stevo the Gutter Nerd, ET Wardwell, Steven E. Wedel, Mario Wytch
Tracks: General Interest, Writing & Publishing, Meetup, Food & Drink
2:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
Writers Change the STEM World
Talk about “a wish to build a dream on”! From Edward Bellamy's prediction of the credit card to Clarke's projection of communications satellites, we survey how imagined tech in science fiction has influenced the world.
Moderator: Pigeon
Panelists: Pigeon, Aaron Bossig, Rhonda Eudaly, Everyday Futurist, Brian A. Hopkins, Ted Pennella
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Science Fiction, STEM
4:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
The Hero's New Reality
The Hero's Journey, one of the most appealing narrative structures, takes a person from the ordinary to extraordinary then back again. How do these steps define a hero? How do our encounters with fictional heroes shape our worldviews when we face similar challenges IRL?
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD, Pigeon, Alan J Porter, Selina Rosen, Bradley H Sinor
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Cosplay, Writing & Publishing, Gaming, Comics
9:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain
Koffeeklatch
Join panelists in the hotel breakfast area for morning networking and conversation. BYO coffee, please.
Moderator: Mitzi Bartlett
Panelists: Mitzi Bartlett, Matt Cavanaugh, Charles Dane Clark, Cal Custard, Brenna Deutchman, Pete Dixon, Phillip Drayer Duncan, Muriel Fahrion, J.H. Fleming, Dara Fogel, PhD, Tim Frayser, Hall of Femme, Amber Hanneken, James Hollaman, Carolyn Kay, Chaz Kemp, Mike Kennedy, Kimber, Melinda LaFevers, Elizabeth Leggett, Lollalotus, Luna Reign Cosplay, Madi, Dennis McDonald, Mimic Rae, Harold Neal, Pigeon, Alan J Porter, Jeff Provine, R Karch Photography, Rook Riley, Rie Sheridan Rose, Rynaga, Bradley H Sinor, Sue Sinor, WandererTJ, Mel. White, Craig Wolf
Tracks: General Interest, Food & Drink, Meetup
11:00 AM | Location: Sooner B
Groupthink, Misinformation, Moral Panics, and More
Survey the behavior of those caught up in societal panics. Examples are the Red Scare, (fictional) child-abuse rings, Satanic panic and D&D, mad gassers, and such. Must a group define itself by defining and condemning an Other, even if the Other ain’t there?
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD, Dr Paisley, Mark Finn, Pigeon, Joey “Okie Space Queen” Rodman, A C Smart
Tracks: General Interest, Culture & World Affairs