Speaking
I'm a frequent speaker at pop culture conventions around the country, presenting seminars about the craft of storytelling, entertainment careers, and ways to power-up your life using concepts from gaming. I also speak at universities and social events. I have been a main stage presenter and celebrity interviewer at Planet Comicon (Kansas City), Emerald City Comicon (Seattle), and Podcast Movement (Chicago).
My extensive experience as an interviewer through my work in podcasting and radio makes me a highly adept panel moderator. I've shared the stage and had phenomenal conversations with a wide array of personalities, including filmmakers, animation professionals, comic creators, authors, and more.
Below is a (probably not comprehensive) list of my previous speaking engagements. (Last updated August 9, 2018.)
RollaCon 2018 — Missouri University of Science & Technology
October 2018
Keynote Speaker, “The Torn Identity: Deciding Who We Are, in a World that Wants to Decide for Us”
Missouri University of Science & Technology
August 2018
Keynote Speaker, “Inclusion & Community Development”
A Seminar for incoming resident advisors and student body government
San Diego Comic-Con International
July 2018
Moderator, “Finding Comfort in the Apocalypse”
With Cory Doctorow, Elizabeth Hand, Douglas Holgate, Andrew Smith, Emily Suvada, Scott Westerfeld
Moderator, “Here There Be Dragons: Creating Fresh Stories in Fantasy”
With Tomi Adeyemi, Jason Denzel, R.F. Kuang, Robert Jackson Bennett, Mary E. Pearson
Emerald City Comic Con – Seattle, WA
March 2018
Moderator, “Storytelling Spotlight with Jonathon Coulton”
With Jonathan Coulton, Molly Lewis, Patrick Rothfuss, Anne Wheaton
Moderator, “Marketing (Isn’t) Magic: How to Promote Your Art (and Yourself) Without Selling Your Soul”
With Rob Boffard, Jaimie Cordero, Danielle Davis, Jordan Dené Ellis, Ashlie Hammond, Fonda Lee
Moderator, “10 Points to Slytherin: Why Good Fans Love Evil Characters”
With David Accampo, Erica Harrell, Alex Marshall (aka Jesse Bullington), Annalee Newitz, Desirée Proctor
Moderator, “How to be a Nerd for a Living: Discovering Careers in Pop-Culture”
With Mike Collins, Jaimie Cordero, Jordan Dené Ellis, Adam P. Knave, Fonda Lee
Planet Comicon – Kansas City, MO
February 2018
Mainstage Interviewer, “Let’s Get Dangerous with Jim Cummings”
Featuring “Winnie the Pooh” and “Darkwing Duck” voice actor Jim Cummings
Mainstage Interviewer, “Water Tower Talk with the Animaniacs”
Featuring Animanaics & Pinky & The Brain voice actors Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, and Maurice LaMarche
Mainstage Interviewer, “The World of Remnant Q&A With the Cast of RWBY”
Featuring RWBY voice actors Lindsay Jones, Kara Eberle, Arryn Zech, Barbara Dunkelman, Elizabeth Maxwell, and Michael Jones
Mainstage Interviewer, “The Steven Universe Hour with Zach Callison”
Featuring Stephen Universe star Zach Callison
Moderator, “Something Something Danger Zone! Behind the scenes of Archer”
With Kevin Mellon and Trinity Animation
Seminar Speaker, “Podcast Peptalk: How to Produce Your Own Show”
Seminar Speaker, “Real Life Power-Up: Leveling Up Personally & Professionally”
Wizard World – St. Louis, MO
February 2018
Moderator, “The High Cost of Resurrection: The Ramifications of Bringing Characters Back to Life”
With Ryan Dalton, J.R. Frontera, Kristin Helling, Melody Meiners
RollaCon – Missouri University of Science and Technology
November 2017
Featured Speaker, “Character Class: Discovering Your Vocational Identity”
PixelPop Festival – St. Louis, MO
August 2017
Moderator, “Life Balance (for Video Game Creators)”
With Rebekah Saltsman, Mary McKenzie, Monique Parasram
San Diego Comic Con International
July 2017
Moderator, “The Animated Life: A Peek Behind the Cels”
With Mike Collins, Andrea Fernandez, Marie Lum, Shadi Petosky, Rachel Vine
Moderator, “10 Points to Slytherin: Why Good Fans Love Evil Characters”
With Jane Espenson, Rebecca Zanetti, Christine Boylan, Tomi Adeyemi, Erica Schultz, Kendall Ashley
Planet Comicon – Kansas City, MO
April 2017
Seminar Speaker, “Real Life Power-Up: Leveling Up Personally & Professionally”
Moderator, “Comic Book Storytellers: Artists who write and writers who draw!”
With Amanda Conner, Shannon Denton, Ande Parks, Phil Hester, Colleen Doran
Mainstage Interviewer, “The World of RWBY Planet Comicon Q&A”
Featuring Arryn Zech, Elizabeth Maxwell, Kara Eberle, and Jessica Nigri
Moderator, “Be More Animated: The Secrets of Animation”
With Shannon Denton, Kevin Mellon, Joel Adams
Moderator, “Something Something Dangerzone: How To Make Archer”
With Kevin Mellon
Moderator, “Making Comics: How Comic Book Artists Tell Visual Stories”
With Greg Smallwood, Chad Hardin, Jeremy Haun, Kyle Strahm, Megan Levens
Moderator, “How to Be a Nerd For A Living: Discovering Careers in Pop-Culture”
With Sarah Andersen, Shannon Denton, Kara Eberle, Julia Kaye, Jeffrey Moy
Emerald City Comicon – Seattle, WA
March 2017
Moderator, “Marketing (Isn’t) Magic – Promoting Your Art Without Selling Your Soul”
With Jaimie Cordero, Jordan Dené Ellis, Amanda Nuckolls, Tara Theoharis
Moderator, “The Animated Life – A Peek Behind the Cels”
With Victoria Ying, Mike Collins, Steph Laberis
Seminar Speaker, “Real Life Power-Up – Leveling Up Personally & Professionally”
PixelPop Festival – St. Louis, MO
October 2016
Moderator, “Voice Acting for Games”
With Jenny Gibbons, Carol Mertz, Ryan Winzen
Moderator, “Play in Public”
With Stuart Keating, Kristina Goodwin, Ben Triola
Moderator, “Game Artists”
With Anita Tung, TJ Hughes, Anthony Amato
Moderator, “Game Concepting”
With Gene Kelly, Matthew Seniour, Liz Gattra
Moderator, “Life Before Going Indie”
With Samantha Kalman, Mary McKenzie, Jenny Gibbons, Ryan Winzen
San Diego Comic-Con International
July 2016
Moderator, “Death & the High Cost of Resurrection”
With Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire), Andy Schmidt, Anthony Ferrante, Mary Robinette Kowal, Paul Cornell
Podcast Movement – Chicago
July 2016
Stage Presenter for Aaron Mahnke (Creator of Lore)
Planet Comicon – Kansas City, MO
May 2016
Moderator, “How to be a Nerd for a Living: Discovering Careers in Pop-Culture”
With Ming Chen, Holly Messinger, Freddie Williams II
Moderator, “Secrets of Visual Story: Drawing Comics”
With Freddie Williams II, Mark Texeira, Brian Hurtt, Jeremy Haun
Moderator, “Image Comics: Creator Owned Everything”
With Jason Hurley, Jeremy Haun, Howard Chaykin, Rick Burchett
Moderator, “The Making of Archer”
With Kevin Mellon
Moderator, “Star Wars Universe: Beyond Film”
With Kevin J Anderson, Jeffrey Moy, Todd Aaron Smith, Darryl Woods
So You Want to Start a Podcast? A St. Louis on the Air Event
June 2016
Panelist, “So You Want to Start a Podcast?”
Live St. Louis Public Radio Event and Recorded Broadcast on St. Louis on the Air
With Kameel Stanley, Alex Ihnen, Dustin Bryson, Wendy Buske
Emerald City Comicon – Seattle, WA
April 2016
Moderator, “Marketing (Isn’t) Magic: Promoting Your Art Without Selling Your Soul”
With Jaimie Cordero, Danielle Davis, Jen Vaughn
Wizard World Comic Con – St. Louis, MO
April 2016
Moderator, “How to Be a Nerd For A Living: Finding Your Career in Pop Culture”
With Rachael Stott, Rick Burchett, Ellie Ann, Carol Mertz
Project Comic Con – St. Louis, MO
October 2015
Panelist, “Achievement Unlocked! Promoting and Profiting from Your Passion”
With Carol Mertz, Carolyn Noe, Rori!, Em Piro
PixelPop Festival – St. Louis, MO
September 2015
Speaker, “Nerd For A Living Presents: Be Your Own Hero”
SHE in the Pub – St. Louis, MO
August 2015
Featured Speaker, “Be Your Own Hero: Leveling Up Personally & Professionally”
Presented by Super Heroines, Etc.
Nerdy Networking – St. Louis, MO
July 2015
Speaker, “The Power of Pivot”
Presented by Super Heroines, Etc. and Nerd For A Living
Planet Comicon – Kansas City, MO
March 2015
Panel Moderator, “The Business of Self-Promotion: Marketing Your Art or Small Business Online”
With Victoria Gedvillas, Alexi Vandenberg
Panel Moderator, “How to be a Nerd For A Living”
With Ande Parks, Monika Lee, Dayton Ward, Kevin Mellon
Panel Moderator, “The Making of Archer”
With Kevin Mellon
Wizard World Comic Con – Chicago, IL
August 2014
Panelist, “What’s the Story? Creating Stories that Captivate”
With Adam Simon, Jon Schnepp, Allen Turner
Panel Moderator, “How to Be a Nerd For a Living: Career Paths Within Nerd Culture”
With Jenny Frison, Jon Schnepp, Josh Blaylock, Kurt Lehner
Panelist, “Building your Creative Platform: Everything You Need to Know About Self Promotion”
With Ryan Morrow
Wizard World Comic Con – St. Louis, MO
April 2014
Panelist, “The Hero’s Journey: Exploring Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and More”
With Genese Davis, Rhiannon Paille, Jeffrey Johnson, Christopher Boll
Panelist, “Turning Your Art Into an Online Business: Branding & Marketing for Creators”
With Ashley Schonberg, Rhiannon Paille, Amanda Nuckolls
Wizard World Comic Con – Chicago, IL
August 2013
Panelist, “Online Marketing for Artists & Creators”
With Wendy Buske, Kelly Stephenson
C2E2 – Chicago, IL
April 2013
Panelist, “Art as Business Online”
With Amanda Nuckolls, Kelly Stephenson, Wendy Buske
Wizard World Comic Con – St. Louis, MO
March 2013
Panelist, “Creating and Marketing Web-Comics”
With Rick Burchett, Yale Stewart, Gene Kelly, Matthew Seniour