conference | Polygamer

Polygamer #38: Ashe Dryden of AlterConf

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Ken Gagne

Ashe Dryden is the creator of AlterConf, a traveling conference series of marginalized voices from the tech and gaming industries. Since its founding in 2014, AlterConf has been held at a dozen cities throughout the United States and Canada, hosting talks and panels that go beyond Diversity 101. And in 2016, AlterConf will expand internationally, with events in South Africa, France, India, Australia, Germany, and more.

In this podcast, Ashe discusses how AlterConf will address global issues of diversity while respecting local values; how the Code of Conduct applies in different cultures; why all AlterConf speakers and organizers are paid, not volunteers; and whether AlterConf will ever exhaust the range of topics at the Diversity 201 level. Finally, Ashe also mentions her new project, The Fund Club, which uses crowdfunding to inject significant financial boosts into non-profits supporting marginalized voices in tech.

Stream the audio edition of this interview below or from Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, Pandora, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, RadioPublic, or the Internet Archive. Click past the jump for links to resources mentioned in this episode.

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Polygamer #30: GeekGirlCon’s Alyssa Jones & Danielle Gahl

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Ken Gagne

GeekGirlCon 2015, happening October 10–11 in Seattle, celebrates and honors the legacy of women contributing to gaming, comics, art, science, and technology. This five annual convention creates a safe space at which all geeks are welcome.

I chatted with Alyssa Jones, Manager of Gaming, and Danielle Gahl, Public Relations Manager, about what makes GeekGirlCon unique, including its career fair-like GeekGirlConnections room; the inaugural fashion show, and how this event co-exists with the “attire is not consent” code of conduct; the family-friendly DIY Science area; Introvert Alley, a place for geeks to catch a breather; and the panels, which cover Diversity 101 topics before delving into more complex issues of intersectionality, how to enjoy problematic media, and more.

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Unheard Voices at GX3

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Ken Gagne

I’m honored to be moderating a panel at the GX3 conference in San Jose this December 11–13. “Unheard Voices” will feature podcasters Anna Tarkov (Unconsoleable), Tanya DePass (Fresh Out of Tokens), John James (Minus World), and Polygamer alumnus Shawn Alexander Allen (Nuchallenger) on the following topic:

“Get heard with podcasting! The past two years have seen an explosion of diverse voices taking to the airwaves to discuss race, gender, and equality in gaming. This panel will examine the motivations, equipment, and challenges to getting heard.”

Formerly GaymerX, GX3 is an annual convention of games and gaming culture for marginalized voices and their allies. The event was co-founded by Matt Conn, Polygamer‘s first guest and recent guest of Less Than or Equal. This panel will mark my first time speaking on the West Coast and my first conference panel on equality and diversity since “Sex, Sexy & Sexism” at PAX East 2014.

Tickets for GX3 are still available. Come hear our panel on Saturday, December 12, at 11:01 AM PST!