WonderCon is an annual three-day comic book, science fiction, and film convention held at the Anaheim Convention Center. This sister convention to San Diego Comic-Con is smaller and, therefore, easier to navigate and obtain tickets for. One of the biggest allures of WonderCon is its panel presentations, which consist of a collection of cast and creatives behind some of today's biggest films and TV shows.

This year, I was honored to participate in three panels geared towards mental health, diversity, and community development from fandom. This new experience taught me a lot about coordination, planning, and going with the flow.

Check out recordings of the three panels below:

Why Diverse Stories Matter: Voices from the BIPOC/LGBTQ+/Neurodiverse Community

Date: Friday, April 1, 2022
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: Room 213AB at the Anaheim Convention Center
A panel of eccentric writers, artists, and mental health therapists hold a lively discussion on why diverse stories matter and why your story matters. How do writers and artists weave their lived experiences into their stories? How do mental health therapists support geeky fans in their therapeutic practices? Lorran Garrison (school psychologist, Little Brainstorm) and Ariel Landrum (therapist, Happiest Pod on Earth) lead a discussion on how pop culture can and should support mental health wellness. Panelists include Mark Nazal (Diwata Komiks), Robert Rice (Demonhuntr, Amazon Prime), Tara Madison Avery (Stacked Deck Press), Chance Calloway (Pretty Dudes, Amazon Prime), and Natasha Lee (Insomniac Games).

Celebrating AAPI Voices in Media

Date: Friday, April 1, 2022
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Room 208 at the Anaheim Convention Center
Trung Nguyen (artist), Mark Nazal (filmmaker), Leo Partible (comic book creator, filmmaker, Nello Bravo Arts), Ariel Landrum (therapist), Stefanie Bautista (educator), and Lorran Garrison (school psychologist and co-author of Little Brainstorm) come together to lift the voices of AAPI creators, AAPI representation, and their hopes for AAPI media in the future.

Coming Together: Honoring AAPI Voices in Pop Culture

Date: Saturday, April 2, 2022
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: Room 213AB at the Anaheim Convention Center
Stefanie Bautista (educator, co-host of The Happiest Pod on Earth), Ariel Landrum (therapist, co-host of The Happiest Pod on Earth), Angela Luong (co-founder of CalmOn!), Farrah Wong (co-founder of CalmOn!), Elizabeth 방실 Smith (PsyD), and Lorran Garrison (school psychologist, author, and co-founder of Little Brainstorm) come together to lift up the voices of female AAPI creators and their hopes for AAPI media in the future. Link to Presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAE7cJVq13c/UD188mLk1eB64bq9ymQvJA/view?utm_content=DAE7cJVq13c&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink Panelists: Stefanie Bautista Ariel Landrum Lorran Garrison Elizabeth 방실 Smith Angela Luong Farrah Wong

If you haven’t already, check out the podcast that I cohost with my friend Stefanie, Happiest Pod On Earth, where we discuss how we use Disney in the therapeutic and educational settings.

What did you think of the panels? Did you learn anything new? Let us know in the comment section below!



Ariel Landrum, LMFT, ATR

Ariel is the Director of Guidance Teletherapy. She runs the day-to-day operations, and is one of our treating clinicians. She writes about mindfulness, coping skills, and navigating the private practice world.

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