THE NERDS GO TO CONNECTICON XXIII

By A.J. Coppola,

Susy Cromwell-James,

& Jessica Coppola

July 24, 2026

 

This past weekend, the Nerds Doing Nerd Things Podcast was given an amazing opportunity to cover ConnectiCon as members of the press. Both hosts, Susy and A.J., took this as a fun, unique way to experience the Con, and bring it home to the viewers of the podcast. Below, you’ll find our recap of the fun experiences, panels, cosplays, and the iconic Cosplay Deathmatch!

 

Thursday marked the official start of ConnectiCon—kicking off with badge pickup, and panels located at the Hartford Downtown Marriott. The first panel both Susy and A.J. sat in on was “Super Sentai: The 50 Year Adventure,” hosted by James (Tri) Fair. As someone who isn't well-versed in Super Sentai, I have to give it to James: he kept the packed Marriott Ballroom completely entertained, with his quick humor and deep knowledge (A.J.). James utilized videos and self-made art to walk the audience through the journey of the franchise. Congratulations to James on a very fun, and successful, first panel ever at ConnectiCon! Next, we traveled down the hall to the “Intro to Kamen Rider” panel, presented by Will for his 7th year at the Con. Will provided long-time fans, and newcomers alike, with a well-rounded history description of each Rider. Since the first time I (A.J.) attended his panel years ago, I started watching Kamen Rider Drive—and I never looked back, as I am currently watching Kamen Rider Zero-One!

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On Friday, crowds started piling in early, as the convention center filled up fast! We started the day by hitting the Trivia Tavern, with returning hosts, Brian and Chris. Our first attempt of the weekend was Pokémon Trivia, and the room was as packed as we’ve ever seen it, with nearly 155 people competing. Afterward, we went to see friend of the show, Jon St. John, host a panel alongside Steve Blum (image B below). The conversation was warm and friendly, with Steve jokingly plugging his voice-over classes at blumvoxstudios.com, throughout the show. Together, Jon and Steve discussed how the voice acting industry has evolved since the two of them started, and how aspiring actors now have so many platforms at their disposal to get discovered. What really got the crowd rowdy, was when the topic shifted to AI—the amount of boos could be heard all the way down the hallway. Both actors shared that their voices had been replicated using AI, leading Steve to send a cease-and-desist order, resulting in their unauthorized AI voices being taken down. Later that night, the Nerds group reunited with Jon St. John and friends, for “Jon St. John's Sexy Naughty Late Night Party”—a hilarious 2.5 hours of adult Q&A, and adult-themed games! This panel is an absolute must if you are over 21, have a sense of humor, and want to step out of your comfort zone. Mind you, all the activities are standard party games, just with a naughty twist to them. Above all, the group preaches consent, which we love! If someone wants to opt out, they are free to do so at any time, with zero shame. Add this panel to your must-attend list!

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Saturday was the busiest day of the weekend for ConnectiCon, as badges were completely sold out. Before hitting any panels, we walked through the Dealer Room and Artist Alley. There were so many beautifully crafted goods! From homemade soaps and candles, to anime portraits, wooden mugs from Holzbecher Eber Wood, stunning cat ears and tails made by Silvered Fox Creations, card dealers, and vintage video game vendors. Over in Hall B, attendees enjoyed TCG tables, a full arcade, and Cosplay Championship Wrestling, with numerous matches throughout the weekend. In addition, Jon St. John brought his “Romp & Rescue" dog adoption back this year. We have the pleasure to say, 16 puppies have new homes, and raised $14,490 for Save All Dogs Rescue 501C3 Non Profit. Hall B is also where fans get to meet all the featured guests that ConnectiCon brings in every year. At 1:00 PM, it was time for “Please Let This Be A Normal Panel” (A Magic School Bus Q&A), which was a lighthearted, and delightful, show featuring Erica Luttrell (Keesha), Daniel DeSanto (Carlos), Danny Tamberelli (Arnold), and Stuart Stone (Ralphie). “We are all together for the first time in years,” Stone noted. The four stars fielded fan questions, like "What was your favorite behind-the-scenes moment?" Stone had fun teasing DeSanto, and reminded him of the time DeSanto's mother hit his car after a recording session! The group also reminisced about being able to record together in the same room for the series. Saturday night brought ConnectiCon's big event: the Cosplay Deathmatch, hosted every year by Mookie and the “Voice of God.” This unique Deathmatch pits cosplayers against each other, battling for the crowd’s cheers, and for “a one-eyed teddy bear with a sucking chest wound” (Mookie's words, not ours, Odin!). During each round, the audience reacts for their favorite, but if there is a tie, the real fun begins—we won't spoil it for you, you’ll have to experience it for yourself! Each year, this is such a fun event, and a must-do for all cosplay fans. A huge shoutout to eventual winner, Dio Brando, who truly embodied everything about his character—from the walk, stance, and even fighting style.

 

Now, like everything, on Sunday the Con had to end, but attendees still had some time within the convention center before the official 3:00 PM closure of the event. In this time, we hit an hour-long panel teaching people how to build their own competitive VGC Pokémon team, called “A Crap Guide to VGC.” It was a very informative, fun, and engaging show. The host, Will, even used his own team against real people over the internet to show how effective his team is, along with how there is still a chance of failure, even with the best strategy.

 

In conclusion, ConnectiCon is a Thursday through Sunday, multi-genre event, bringing people from all parts of the nerd community together. From the fellow Con-goers we met, to the vendors, the ConnectiCon staff, panel hosts, or even the convention center staff—everyone was so awesome. We truly love this Con community, and implore anyone in the area next July, to make this part of your calendar!