by Jen “Lil’ Bit” Schleusner
What am I doing here?
Dragon Con is always an exciting ride, but this year it took me somewhere new — onto two panels focused on women in digital spaces, both under the Digital Media Track. While I’ve been in front of crowds before, hosting events and spinning tunes, sitting alongside such accomplished women was a whole new level. And, wow, did my imposter syndrome kick in. I kept thinking: What am I doing here? But as I leaned into the discussions and connected with these incredible women, I started to see my place more clearly.
Panel 1: Female Presenting in the Digital Space
The first panel, Female Presenting in the Digital Space, was moderated by Faydra Black, who seems to do everything! She’s a digital content creator tackling topics such as mental health, parenting, cosplay, video gaming and more. Our lineup included:
- Heather Boddy: A fitness pro from NYC who’s all about creating body-positive spaces for nerds to work out and geek out at the same time.
- Chelsea Bytes: A Twitch partner, computer scientist, and lead of the Twitch Unity Women’s Guild.
- Katharine E. Wibell: Fantasy author of The Incarn Saga series, Djed Chronicles, and Guardian’s Speaker novella.
We dove into how being a woman in digital spaces can shape your experience—whether you’re a gamer, content creator, or writer. Faydra’s insights into juggling all the things resonated with me. And hearing about Heather’s inclusive fitness spaces and Chelsea’s work in tech was so inspiring. Katherine’s passion for storytelling also struck a chord—especially since I know firsthand how storytelling can connect people, whether through books, podcasts, or radio.
Panel 2: Awesome Women in Digital Media
My second panel, Awesome Women in Digital Media, was just as enlightening. Chelsea Bytes was back, this time moderating, and the energy was incredible. The panelists were:
- Jess L.M. Anderson: Author of the fantasy series The Source Keepers and a content creator.
- Bethany Brookshire: A neuroscientist with a PhD, science writer, and podcaster.
- Bethany DJ Kesler (DJ Gray): Historian, writer, and podcaster.
This discussion focused on navigating digital media—how we balance creative projects with professional lives and the challenges women face in these spaces. From fantasy worlds to neuroscience podcasts, these women were all doing fascinating work. I couldn’t help but feel a little out of my depth at times, but I reminded myself: I have something to contribute, too.
Wrestling with Imposter Syndrome
Sitting on those stages, surrounded by all these brilliant women, I kept having moments where I thought, Do I really belong here? I’ve spent years DJing, podcasting, costuming, and building community, but somehow, being up there with published authors, tech leaders, and PhDs made me second-guess myself.
But as the conversations unfolded, I realized I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. Everyone on those panels had faced self-doubt at some point. Chelsea shared the pressure of navigating tech as a woman. Bethany DJ Kesler spoke about balancing history and creative work. Even these impressive women wrestled with the same nagging insecurities I was feeling.
Takeaways from Both Panels
Both panels left me with a lot to think about, and these are the things that really stuck with me:
We All Wear Many Hats: Faydra’s ability to juggle so many roles really hit home. Like many of us, I wear a lot of hats, and it’s okay if they don’t all fit perfectly at once.
Representation Matters: Whether it’s in gaming, fitness, science, or storytelling, it’s powerful to see women making their mark in spaces that haven’t always welcomed us.
Community is Everything: The importance of safe, inclusive spaces came up in both panels. It reminded me of why I love what I do—creating spaces for people to connect and feel seen.
Storytelling Connects Us: From fantasy novels to science podcasts, storytelling is how we make sense of the world and inspire others.
Talking Back to Imposter Syndrome
By the end of the panels, I realized that imposter syndrome isn’t something you “beat” once and for all. It sneaks up on you, but you can talk back to it. My journey as a DJ, costumer, podcaster, and community-builder matters. It might not look the same as the women next to me on those panels, but it’s just as valid.
These panels gave me a chance to own my voice. I didn’t have to be the smartest person in the room—I just had to show up, share my story, and connect. And that, I think, is what really matters.
This year’s Dragon Con reminded me that everyone feels like an imposter sometimes. Even the most impressive people struggle with self-doubt. But the key is to keep showing up. Sharing our stories, connecting with others, and lifting each other up—that’s how we find our place, even when we feel out of place.
I walked away from these panels feeling inspired, not just by the amazing women I sat alongside, but by the reminder that I do belong. And if you’ve ever felt like an imposter, here’s a little reminder for you, too: You belong. Your voice matters. And the world is better with you in it.
