You should know – not only because they are awesome, but because you might need them, who the Podcasting: Now and Beyond staffers are.  To be a track staffer means you become a Dragon*Con volunteer.  Volunteers receive a badge for their time, but they must work at least 25 hours during the Convention.  Our staffers actually average closer to 35 hours each during the Convention.  That’s almost a full work week over three and a half days.  If you see a tired staffer, maybe you should give them a hug – and maybe a coffee.

This year’s Podcasting track staff are:

Robynn McCarthy (aka Swoopy), Track Director. Responsible for shenanigans AND good stuff too.  Host of Skepticality: The Official Podcast of Skeptic Magazine.

Thomas Gideon (aka CMDLN), Second in Command. If this track was about Star Trek, he’d be Number 1.  Which we all agree is better than Number 2. Tireless tech advisor, fixer of problems. Works the morning shift.  Claim to fame is the Command Line Podcast.

Jonathan Strickland, who you may have seen in the recent PBS documentary Four Days at Dragon*Con is a Senior Writer at How Stuff Works.Com blogging about Tech Stuff.  Thus, when Stuff breaks during Dragon*Con, he’ll be charged with fixing it. Because it’s literally his job to know Stuff.

Sam Chupp is a veteran podcaster and the author of the podcast novel Heart of the Hunter, and is also an avid gamer with several podcasts like The Bear’s Grove, Square One and the Bear’s Cast because he’s obviously nuts and has too much free time.

Laura Ross is a veteran podcaster whose shows include The Flyswatter Show, and the Coffee and Tea Show and local skeptical activist with the Atlanta Skeptics.  She has been volunteering at Dragon*Con since before most of us had ever heard of it.

Kreg Steppe is hilarious. He provides not only technical expertise but comic relief when needed.  You can verify this hilarity by listening to the Technorama podcast. You may want to put on an absorbent undergarment first, just in case.

Andrew Wilson looks good in a Fez.  He’s a skeptic. That’s all you’re allowed to know – for now.

These folks may well be wearing a T-shirt that says STAFF – just like that in huge letters on the back.  They probably won’t be wearing a Fez. But it was discussed. Because Fezzes are cool. But then the new Doctor figured that out – and we didn’t want people getting us confused with Time Travelers.  We don’t have a Tardis. Yet.

There are usually at least two of them around during any given panel.  If you need something, if you have presentation materials, if you have a problem – and you can find them, you absolutely should ask the Podcasting Track staffers.