Broadcasting from Eagle Pass, I kicked off an unplanned Monday show with a candid mood check, some playful banter about “pop-ins,” and a quick riff on why we’ve recently shifted away from heavy politics toward more author and creator interviews. Then we dove into a lively conversation with guest Dannie Mendoza, president of Eagle Pass PopCon. Danny announced a special mini Eagle Pass PopCon event slated for January 31 at the Eagle Pass Mall (free admission, open-to-close), featuring professional cosplayers, a “mini” celebrity guest (wrestler or voice actor), vendors, family activities, and a three-tier costume contest (kids, teens, adults) judged by pro cosplayers. He also teased a big reveal at the mini event: the date, location, and star guest for the main Eagle Pass PopCon 3 later in the year. Danny explained how PopCon grew from a marketing initiative connected to his energy/solar business into a community-centric, family-friendly celebration that draws visitors from beyond Texas. We covered vendor and sponsor opportunities, special limited-time discounts, and how supporting PopCon can also support this show. Audience Q&A touched on collectibles (yes, action figures), desired 3D-printed originals, and how out-of-town interest is shaping the event. We closed with where to follow PopCon news, a reminder that admission is free, and notes on upcoming guests and show schedule. Join us Wednesday for author Russell Little and the return of Blue Cat (Bob Lement)! Joe's GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/raise-funds-to-cover-mortgage-escrow-shortage FOLLOW US ON: RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/joerooz YouTube: https://youtube.com/@joerooz TWITCH: https://twitch.tv/joerooz X: https://x.com/joerooz Facebook: https://facebook.com/joeroozpodcast Minds: https://minds.com/joerooz GETTR: https://gettr.com/joerooz Want to be a guest on The Joe Rooz Show? Send Joe a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/joe Music: https://youtube.com/@pogo (00:04:21) Kickoff from Eagle Pass and Monday mood (00:05:41) Weekend recap and Bible study follow-up (00:06:41) Crypto psychic scheduling and holiday plans (00:07:25) Pet peeve chat: unannounced pop-ins (00:08:09) Show format shift and less politics lately (00:09:51) Grading the administration and missed promises (00:11:54) Cost of living frustrations and everyday prices (00:13:59) Tariffs, taxes, and IRS talk (00:14:03) Foreign policy, non-intervention, and borders (00:16:09) National Guard tragedy and midterms urgency (00:17:40) Transition to housekeeping and sponsors (00:17:44) Sponsor segment: podcast platform and site demo (00:20:11) Energy sponsor and show support options (00:23:06) Guest intro: Danny Mendoza of Eagle Pass Popcon (00:26:46) Mini Popcon concept and goals (00:31:37) What to expect: cosplayers, guest, contests (00:34:59) Vendors lineup and community partners (00:39:09) Light banter, food talk, and show chemistry (00:45:37) Listener Q&A: show scope and audience (00:48:37) Popcon preview details and vendor specials (00:54:20) How Popcon is funded and why it began (01:00:38) Danny’s origin story and impact on community (01:03:44) Out-of-town interest and hotel tie-ins (01:07:21) Support the show and local partnerships (01:12:42) Host to emcee the event and media plans (01:13:59) How the hosts met and wrapping Popcon pitch (01:15:50) Venue shout-outs and veterans tribute (01:17:45) Brief geopolitics back-and-forth (01:21:43) Final Popcon reminders and contact info (01:24:04) Closing segment: sponsors, schedule, and sign-off - Joe "Rooz" Russiello - Marisa Lee - Wayne Rankin - Rosanna Rankin - Angela Wetuski - Carolina Jimenez https://www.joerooz.com/support https://www.joerooz.com
