Hot off the heels of learning how not to solve climate change, we’ve got practical ways you can save energy and make a difference. Plus a bona fide doctor of play will tell us how being playful improves the world, and Asheville’s favorite councilmember, the legendary Kim Roney, will demystify what your local government actually does.
September 10th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Ever consider that the best and cheapest way to save energy is not to waste the energy you have? It’s all about keeping it airtight baby–but let it breathe too! In the face of extreme temperatures due to climate change, it is time to think about how to save money on your energy bill through simple at-home weatherization techniques including our free blower door assessment, upgrading to a heat pump with subsidies, and how to get your hands dirty helping others in need while having fun with some sexy carpentry puns.
Steffi Rausch is the Director of Operations for the non-profit Energy Savers Network who has had many dirty-talking carpenter boyfriends who taught her the art of using tools. She likes to get her hands dirty in more ways than one, so dive in with this hardcore climate activist, college sex-educator math major, and land developing hobbit home dweller. www.energysaversnetwork.org, facebook.com/EnergySaversNetwork
Dr. Amieris Lavender
Play Will Change The World
Want to make the world a better place? You probably need to play more. Play is scientifically proven to make you smarter, more creative, and a problem solver. Play is a stress reliever and community builder. Together we’ll explore intergenerational and multicultural play as a powerful force for world building, personal, and collective liberation.
Dr. Amieris Lavender is an Education Policy PhD, strategist, implementation and culture specialist ready for a revolution. Dr. L thrives when planning an event (virgo stellium), and is a writer and gardener. She is an attentive party host, adventurer, traveler, and lives to play.
As the founder of LoveJoyLiberation Community Relations Firm, she leads a values driven, forward thinking, and effective team of multi-disciplinary freelance professionals.
Website: lovejoyliberation.com Email: Facebook: Lovejoyliberation Community Relations Firm Instagram: @LoveJoyLiberation
Kim Roney
How Your Local Government Works
Every day, Asheville City Hall makes decisions that impact our lives–from housing and roads to parks, trash pickup, emergency response, and keeping the water on. So who actually decides where our money goes, and how do regular people get a say? We’ll pull back the curtain on how our city works, why local government matters, and how Asheville can work better for the people who call it home. Because it’s our freaking city, y’all!
Kim Roney is a small business owner, music educator, transit rider, your Asheville neighbor for the past 20 years, a current City Council member, and a candidate for Mayor on your Nov. 3rd ballot. She was a founding member and Station Manager at 103.3 AshevilleFM where she was covering the news before she was in the news. She enjoys music, a good story, Tetris for Nintendo 64, and the process of growing, cooking, and sharing food with friends & neighbors. KimRoney4Asheville.com Instagram: @kimroneyforasheville (campaign IG: @electkimroney)
With your host, Von
We’re hosting an extended Q&A at the end of Kim’s presentation!
To make the most of our opportunity to learn about the inner workings of Asheville politics, Kim will be answering all of your nerdy questions (or at least many–y’all can ask questions for hours). Bring questions to better know your local government!
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
Allamaraine, nerds! It’s our three year anniversary! Come celebrate with three epic Nerd Nite All Stars. Your favorite NOAA nerd, Jared Rennie, is back to teach you how to forecast the weather. Your favorite supermodel(er), Drew Jones, is back to tell you ten of the worst climate change solutions. And your favorite Polynesian cultural expert, Tavi, is back after literally stealing the show last month to give us another spectacular demonstration of culture while examining Chief of War.
August 13th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Are you upset when the forecast calls for 65 degrees but it’s actually 67? Do you yell at the sky when it’s raining even though the app said there was only a 20% chance? Do you write a sternly worded social media post when your plans fell through because there was a tornado warning yet no tornado? Have no fear because your friendly neighborhood meteorologist is here to guide you through the jargon and acronyms. Come learn about how weather models work, learn some useful tips, and have fun while being prepared for nature’s worst.
Jared Rennie (he/him) is a research meteorologist for NOAA who sits on a treasure trove of data. Originally from Boston, he moved to Asheville in 2010 to perform climate research, primarily focusing on heat waves. Recently, he has shifted efforts towards science communication, bridging the gap between climate extremes and vulnerable communities. Threads/IG: @jjrenniewx | BlueSky/Twitter: @jjrennie | Signal: @jjrennie.19
Drew Jones
The Top Ten Dumbest Ways to Solve Climate Change
As the planet heats up, so does our appetite for miracle cures. Carbon-sucking vacuum cleaners. A trillion trees. Giant space mirrors. We’ll put ten of the wildest ideas to the test using a surprisingly addictive climate simulator.
Is Apple TV’s Chief of War a great representation of Hawaiian History or is it just an excuse to see Jason Momoa’s butt? The Unification of the Hawaiian Islands is a long and arduous story to tell. How does the Historical Drama compare to History itself? Tavi will explain the key historical figures and events as well as the cultural traditions that inspired Chief of War through props, costumes, language, videos, music, dance, and FIRE
Tavi grew up in WNC and moved to Hawaii for school, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics. This journey also included a career in Polynesian Performance. Now, he is a Middle School Math and Science Teacher at Odyssey Community School located here in Asheville. When Tavi isn’t teaching, he is creating his next cosplay, dancing with fire, or myriad of other random things. You can find him on Socials as Tavi Does Stuff! Instagram @tavi.does.stuff
With your host, Von
This month we look back at season three!
Three whole years of Nerd Nite Asheville! Wow! That’s 36 presentations, hundreds of Star Trek references, thousands of nerds, and millions of Allamaraines!Probably, who knows. This month, we’ll look back at the presentations from the past year, but only briefly, because Tavi’s in the show, which that means he’s going to do the absolute most. Anniversary Allamaraine!
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
Did your grandmother give you diabetes before you were even born? How do linguists make sense of dead languages? And what the hell is Wakfu?? This month, we’re answering some very nerdy questions with three fantastic presentations. And absolutely nothing out of the ordinary will happen. This is surely going to be a totally normal show with no surprises.
July 9th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Can your grandparents’ experiences affect your health today? Maybe. Epigenetics is the study of how life experiences can turn genes on and off, and sometimes this is passed across generations. We’ll explore famous studies linking grandma’s famine to your diabetes, the fierce debate over trans-generational epigenetic inheritance, and research using folate to protect offspring from spinal cord injuries. We’ll also separate science from hype with epigenetic treatments that promise to rewrite your destiny—for a price. All the science is fascinating, but some of it is probably nonsense. Come find out which is which.
Laura Borth is a Registered Dietitian and nutrition nerd who loves talking about data. While her professional work focuses on advocating for older adult nutrition programs including Meals on Wheels, she enjoys exploring nutrition research and the science behind how our bodies work. She holds a Master of Science in Nutritional Science with a minor in Life Sciences Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her free time you can find her on the ultimate frisbee field or upside down in a whitewater rapid. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels Buncombe County or your favorite anti-hunger cause https://www.mowabc.org/volunteer; https://www.unitedwayabc.org/food-resources
Grant Hardy
Deciphering Dead Languages
It can be a challenge to learn to read a language you already speak, even with a teacher. Learning to read a language that no one else in the world knows seems almost impossible, yet this feat has been accomplished several times in the last two centuries. Dead languages such as Egyptian hieroglyphs, Mesopotamian cuneiform, Greek Linear B, and Mayan glyphs have all been deciphered. How was this done? And how did scholars know they had succeeded? Come learn more about these dead languages, and how they were brought back to life.
Grant Hardy is a Professor of History and Religious Studies at UNC-Asheville. He has published books and articles on early Chinese history and Mormon Studies, in addition to studying several dead languages, including Ancient Greek, Latin, and Classical Chinese. He has also recorded two lecture series for the Great Courses company: “Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition” and “Sacred Texts of the World.”
Z Hawkwood
What the Hell Is Wakfu?
In 2004, a French internet marketing agency called Ankama decided to create an ambitious MMO in a browser with Adobe Flash. It should have been a failure. Instead, it became the sixth most played MMO in the world, spawning a franchise that continues to this day. For their second game, they created a companion TV show, forming a cross-media marketing ouroboros. It’s name is Wakfu. It’s beautiful, unique, and confusing as hell. And very, very French.
Z. Hawkwood is a novelist, Youtuber, and game designer. He’s the creator of the Hawkwood Youtube Channel, where he focuses on detailed retrospectives of older media. You might like his videos on Homestuck, the history of Dropout.TV, or the wild origin of the 1993 Super Mario Bros movie. https://youtube.com/@Hawkwood
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: 1001 Reasons Star Trek Is the Best Sci-Fi Franchise
Star Trek: greatest sci-fi franchise of all time? Or greatest thing ever created? Because no one has ever complained about Von talking about Star Trek too much, Von thought this month would be a great time to talk about Star Trek more than ever before! With over one thousand reasons why Star Trek is superior to every other science fiction franchise (and everything else, really)–in alphabetical order–what could go wrong!
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
Asheville is a delight for the senses and a place for strong community, but it also has created a habitat for some pretty nasty bugs. This month, we’re learning about the 13 (?!) senses you use to interact with our environment, how to make public speaking feel like a fresh summer breeze, and the icky ticks and other bugs you should watch out for while enjoying the nature of WNC.
June 11th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
We all are familiar with the five senses and how humans experience the world differently through sight, sound or taste. We even talk about a sixth sense, but often which sense is the sixth sense is debated. What if there were more than six senses? How about as many as 13 (or more!)? Natalie will go through the human sensory experience, one sense at a time, as she defines what our physical senses are computing and how to possibly get to know yourself better by tuning into each one. She hopes to equip you with new insight of how these senses gather information and organize it into how we uniquely perceive the world around us.
Natalie Wolfe, LCMHC is an Asheville native who provides mental health counseling to all ages of the neurodivergent community. She is obsessed with asking “why”, and feels grateful and privileged to engage with those questions about the human brain, the way it works and how we can better connect as humans in her work as a therapist at Out of the Woods Therapy.
Dr. David O. Freedman
Infections from Summertime Bugs in WNC
Ticks and Mosquitos are out in full force already. This month, David will talk about insects and other arthropods native to the local ecosystem in WNC and the infectious that they can transmit to humans. Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, West Nile, and Lacrosse Encephalitis are most prevalent. Scrub typhus and Chaga’s (“kissing bug disease”) have emerged recently. Manifestations of illness, diagnosis, and treatment will be covered. Warning: some photos may be very gross!
David O. Freedman, MD, is a retired Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He has spent his career traveling around the world in search of new infectious diseases organisms and how travelers spread them. He was also Medical Director of a leading Clinical Decision Support provider supporting employees and dependents of multinational corporate, diplomatic, USG, and military entities operating globally. He continues as a contracted advisor to CDC and WHO. https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travelers-with-additional-considerations/immunocompromised-travelers.html
Katie Phillips
You’re Better At Public Speaking Than You Think
Whether you run excitedly up to the stage or puke before leading a Teams Call, we’ve got all a stance on public speaking. It’s as personal as it is public, and while it ends in delivery, it starts as an inside job. Maybe you hate presenting because you think you’re bad it, or because it’s a miserable experience for you.
But what if you’re wrong? What if it could be not just easier, but actually fun?
By providing verbal and non-verbal tools, stories of personal and professional speaking experience, a passionate tirade on the virtue of vocal fillers, and questions to raise your self-awareness, public speaking coach Katie Phillips is here to minimize the suffering and increase the fun that comes with speaking and convince you that you are way better at public speaking than you think.
Katie Phillips loves people, stories, and solving problems. For 10 years and counting she has professionally united those passions as a Presentation Coach, where she helps clients and teams solve their unique (yet also universal) problems with organizing and telling stories, interviewing and being interviewed, presenting, and communicating with others and themselves. She is a TEDx speaker and TEDx coach, a facilitator, and the current President of Asheville Toastmasters 8215 (Speechcrafters). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, a Masters of Education in Training & Development, and a Completion of the Art in Taboada Balintawak Eskrima. The only thing she loves more than a good haunted house book is her family, including her handsome husband, feral children, and many, many creatures. http://www.abracommunication.com/
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: The Gay Klingon (aka “What are conservative Star Trek haters upset about this time?”)
The latest new Star Trek series to launch is Starfleet Academy, which features–in an *extremely* minor way–an openly gay Klingon who wears a skirt as part of his school uniform. Predictably, a certain demographic of men who claim to like Star Trek have lost their minds about it. This Pride month, we’ll have a look at Jay-Den and all the [checks notes] seconds of his gay romance that has homophobes crying about diversity being shoved down their throats. Because when Gene Roddenberry talked about embracing diversity in all its forms, surely he didn’t mean a singular male Klingon liking other boys, right???
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
Spring has not only sprung, she has bloomed, pollenated, and given us all a headache. But we know there’s still room in that cranium of yours for knowledge. This month, you’ll learn about various famous scientists who were guest teachers at Black Mountain College, get psyched about puzzle games, and meet an Appalachian Indiana Jones.
May 14th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Black Mountain College (BMC) is famous for the artists who were teachers and students at the school. While the production of art played a key role in the curriculum, BMC was not an art school. It was a liberal arts college with courses in humanities and the sciences. Just as with the artists, there are several famous scientists who taught and visited the college. Many people know that Buckminster Fuller built his first geodesic dome on the Lake Eden campus. However, few are aware that two of Albert Einstein’s assistants taught at BMC at the beginning of prestigious careers in Physics. Einstein himself visited the campus in 1941. This talk will examine the lives of some of the famous scientists who taught at BMC and explore how the sciences played a part at this famous college.
David Peifer loves mathematics. In fact, some have called him the Ambassador of Math. He believes that mathematics is part of nature and is a universal language that reflects the truth and beauty of the world around us. For over 30 years, he has professed about Calculus, Abstract Algebra, and Geometry to his students in the Mathematics Department at UNCA. He has published research in topology — specifically he is interested in knots and braids. When he learned that the great topologist Max Dehn had taught for seven years at Black Mountain College — a very small liberal arts college now famous for the artists who lived and taught there — Peifer became intrigued. Why had this great mathematician been at BMC? Since then, Peifer has published several papers about the sciences at Black Mountain College.
Emilee Harper
Your Brain’s Guide to Puzzle Games
The world of video games is vast and, to some, extremely polarizing and confusing. Some people say that video games are damaging and should be avoided at all costs. Others say that if you find the right ones, they can be extremely beneficial to your mental and emotional health. Emilee is in agreement with the latter opinion and is more than happy to explain how the genre of puzzle games can be beneficial to your brain. Game recommendations are included!
Emilee was born and raised in AVL, got her Bachelors’ Degree in Elementary Education, and is now a first year teacher at Odyssey Community School. In her free time, she likes to play Dungeons and Dragons, partake in video gaming, create art of all kinds, and read books. Her #1 book recommendation is The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch from the Gentleman Bastards Sequence.
Ben Steere
How Do Archaeologists Find “Lost” Sites?
How does an archaeological site become “lost,” and how do archaeologists know how to find them? Archaeology professor Ben Steere will share first-hand accounts of how he and his colleagues relocate and record archaeological sites, and will talk about the role you can play in protecting these important cultural places. Along the way, you’ll learn about fascinating archaeology sites in western North Carolina, what the Indiana Jones movies get right and wrong about archaeology, and hear the true story of how Ben helped relocate a mound site looted by the sons of a nineteenth-century Virginia meat-juice baron.
Ben Steere lives in Asheville and has worked on archaeological research projects across western North Carolina since 2004, along with some forays into piedmont Georgia and Oaxaca, Mexico. He loves learning and teaching about the human past through the study of the things people leave behind. He would love to answer your questions about eighteenth-century Indigenous architecture in the Southeastern United States.
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Ferengi or Alpha Bro? (aka the origins of Machete Bear)
Last month was your once-yearly explanation of Allamaraine! But who the heck is Machete Bear? Why is a bear with a machete the mascot of this nerd-focused event? And what does it have to do with the Ferengi from Star Trek and… Andrew Tate??All these questions and more will be answered as Von reprises one of the show’s oldest and best loved mini-features, Ferengi or Alpha Bro.
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
This month, we’re going from ancient Earth history to Middle Earth history, to our dystopian present with three wildly different subjects. Come learn about the good ol’ French Broad River, why you should never fuck with Hobbits, and how the government is in bed with Flock to watch us at all times.
April 9th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
If you have spent any amount of time in Western North Carolina, you have probably heard that the French Broad is the “Third Oldest” River in the world. But what does this actually mean? How are scientists able to determine this? Is it even the truth or another instance of social media misinterpreting science? Today we will put on our private investigator caps and dive into this mystery through examination of geological, hydrological, and topographical evidence. By the end of our investigation, you will come out with a broader understanding of both our Appalachian Mountains, as well as the Greater Asheville area that we call home and the river that carved it.
Matt Cole is an Earth Science educator and all around Rock Lover at Christ School in Arden. He is passionate about teaching his students the secrets of the Earth around us, and fostering a love and care for protecting our planet. He also coaches in the EYBL Scholastic Basketball Program at Christ School and enjoys fly fishing and exploring the outdoors when he isn’t nerding out about rocks. IG @mccole224
Eric Bridges
Why I Feel Bad for the Witch King (aka Don’t Fuck with Hobbits)
The Lord of the Rings’s Witch King of Angmar is a bad dude. There’s no two ways about it. But even the worst among us can have a bad day from time to time, and in the months leading up to his demise (spoiler alert), the Witch King had just a tremendously awful run of bad luck, ill-informed decisions, and strokes of doom that even the most hard-hearted among us can’t help but to chuckle at out of sympathy. We’ll run the gamut of Middle-earth lore, from the distant echoes of the triumphs of the First Age, to the living legends of the Second, to the simple joys of a quiet life in the Third. And most importantly, we’ll learn why, as the Witch King discovered the hard way, you just don’t fuck with hobbits.
Eric Bridges is a guy who thinks about Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings at what could generously be described as an above-average rate. He’s worked in marketing for a long time, and he’s a soon-to-be newly-minted real estate broker. He’s got kids and a partner and other people important to him, and he enjoys the smell of good tilled earth, though a green thumb he has not. He wears shoes as seldom as he can, and he is hospitable and good-natured; and he laughs and he eats and he drinks, often and heartily.
colonel panic
Flock Surveillance in Asheville
The government has spent decades perfecting the art of watching you — and if you’ve driven through Asheville lately, the Flock cameras lining our streets are proof it’s only getting closer to home. Those same cameras have been used by ICE to track and target immigrants, turning local infrastructure into a federal surveillance tool. This presentation is about the people who decided to watch back: from hacker culture to grassroots counter-surveillance, we’ll explore who’s keeping an eye on the panopticon and what you can do about it. Snoop unto them as they snoop unto us.
Colonelpanic is allegedly a maker and hacker based in Asheville nc. Those familiar with the matter claim that colonel is an avid sci fi fan and is obsessed with rapid prototyping.
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Allamaraine!
Allamaraine: it’s not just a rallying cry, it’s a way of life. But what does it mean? Where is it from? And why is everyone always yelling it at Nerd Nite Asheville?? April is the one time per year Von explains Allamaraine. Get into it.
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
We’ve got a life and death lineup this month! Our resident infectious disease expert is back to tell us what’s up with COVID-19 these days. Plus we’re demystifying the work of a death doula, and a physician is here to vent about the ways our bodies evolved quite badly. Be there like your life depends on it!
March 12th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
COVID is still with us. In NC approximately 500 patients a week are currently being admitted to hospital with COVID. Nationally, the wastewater viral activity level is currently moderate. What does that mean for you? Nerd Nite Asheville’s go-to guy for infectious disease facts will update you on the current events of this illness that is now part of our daily lives, including virus mutations, infectiousness, current symptoms, severity, drugs, vaccines, and developments with long COVID.
David O. Freedman, MD, is a retired Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama. He has spent his career traveling around the world in search of new infectious diseases organisms and how travelers spread them. During the pandemic he was Medical Director of a leading Clinical Decision Support provider supporting employees and dependents of multinational corporate, diplomatic, USG, and military entities operating globally. In 1988, he published the first ever paper on the original use of ivermectin to treat human intestinal worms. https://buncombe.librarycalendar.com/tb
Amy Wright Glenn
What Does a Death Doula Do?
We are all going to die. Yes, that means you, and me, and everyone we know. Death doulas are here to help us deal, make peace with, and process the bittersweet fact of our inescapable mortality. Through ritual, reconciliation, remembrance, and courage, death doulas show up as we bow out. Join Amy Wright Glenn, the founder of the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death and discover what death doulas do!
Amy Wright Glenn taught for eleven years in The Religion and Philosophy Department at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey earning the Dunbar Abston Jr. Chair for Teaching Excellence. Amy is birth and death doula (DONA and INELDA trained), hospital chaplain, published author, and founder/director of the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death, known for its innovative course design and teacher training programs. Amy teaches 7th and 8th grade ELA and Social Studies at The Odyssey School, in Asheville and ~ most importantly ~ is the mom of an amazing 13-year-old boy who loves theater, hiking, canoeing, and 3D printing. 🙂 www.birthbreathanddeath.comwww.facebook.com/birthbreathanddeath
Dr. Alyssa Colombo
Evolution Gone Wrong
Like any great design, the human body has its flaws. What makes back pain so common? Why do we suffer through periods when most mammals don’t menstruate? And why do we all need glasses? Many of these flaws helped our ancestors survive, even if they left us with imperfect bodies today. Alyssa will take the viewer on a deep dive into human anatomy, discussing the weird, wacky, and unusual traits that make us who we are. Along the way, she’ll compare human anatomy and evolution to the clever solutions other animal species developed. Tune in and decide for yourself who did it best!
Alyssa Colombo (she/they) is a resident physician at MAHEC. In her day-to-day job, she cares for patients from Asheville and the surrounding areas. She has loved anatomy since she was young and enjoys finding new and innovative ways to combine her love of art, science, and education. Outside of work, she likes to spend time outdoors and can often be found at Asheville Community Yoga.
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Star Trek vs. Women
In Gene Roddenberry’s utopian vision of an egalitarian Earth, were women truly seen as equals? This Women’s History Month, we’re going to look at some of the behind the scenes conflict between Gene and the studio execs, Gene’s weird original vision for Deanna Troi (three breasts??), the visionary moments and cringe-worthy blind spots of the predominantly male writers and producers, and the Bechdel Test scores of every Star Trek series.
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
It may be cold outside, but we’re feeling exxxtra hot this month. In our first ever collaboration, we’re teaming up with Vino & Vulvas to present a Valentine’s Day show that proves nerdy is sexy.
February 12th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Most of us carry around a confusing mix of half-remembered sex ed, porn tropes, and social-media misinformation when it comes to vulvas and vaginas. It’s time to lay down the truth. We’ll first get warmed up with a clear anatomical map of what’s actually down there, then explore how the vulva and vagina change with arousal (with pro tips to help the process along). As the discussion heats up, you’ll learn why lube and vibration are universal upgrades. By the presentation’s climax, we’ll have filled in the gaps left by traditional sex ed—or the total lack thereof—and learned how to talk about vulvo-vaginal arousal correctly and unapologetically, leaving you educated and satisfied.
Dr Kiran Sigmon is an OBGYN and founder of the MAHEC Vulvar Clinic. She loves teaching her patients and their partners as well as other medical providers about the many functions and wonders of the vulva and vagina and how best to care for it, in sickness and in health. When not practicing medicine, she may be spotted jumping a creek in the back woods far from civilization. http://mahec.net/Vulvar
Whitni Miller
How To Get Laid In Your Long Term Relationship
If desire had a Yelp review in long term relationships, it would read: “Loved it at first, vibes changed, not sure why.” This talk takes a playful but nerdy look at what actually happens in the brain when relationships move from hot novelty to cozy companionship, and why that shift quietly tanks libido for so many couples. Blending neuroscience, relationship research, and real-life bedroom truths, Whitni breaks down why wanting less sex is incredibly normal and very fixable. Expect laughs, lightbulb moments, and science-backed ways to make your long-term relationship a more frequent stop on the “getting laid” tour.
Whitni Miller is a lesbian couples intimacy coach, sex educator, and the founder of BDEmoves, LLC. Her career started as an enthusiastic sex nerd and grew into a comprehensive coaching practice that supports long-term lesbian couples in rebuilding desire and creating deeply satisfying sex lives. Whitni also brings pleasure-focused education to a wider audience on Instagram (@bde.moves). Website: www.bde-moves.com
Heather Edwards
Making Dirty Talk Less Awkward
Do you think dirty talk is just awkward mumbling and recycled lines that are supposed to sound hot? Think again. Not only can it help you set the vibe, test-drive your desires, get on the same page with your playmate and get you all hot and bothered, but it can also feel authentically you. Heather will bring her background as an erotica writer (with a clinical career in genital anatomy, sexuality, and relationships) to break down dirty talk into something more accessible that you might actually be excited to try. Bring a sense of adventure (and humor) and prepare to boldly access your inner erotica voice.
Heather Edwards (she/they) is a sex educator and enjoys using out-of-the-box ways of communicating answers to the big questions about relationships and sexuality. From coloring books, to live panel discussions (Vino & Vulvas!), to game shows, to writing erotica, she laces her education in pelvic floor physical therapy, sexuality counseling, power dynamics, and coaching into each of her endeavors to help her audience find what lights them up and then achieve it. Find her at heatheredwardscreations.com or email . www.vinoandvulvas.com, IG @vinoandvulvas and @heatheredwardscreations
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: The Two-Day Love Affair
It’s a running joke among the fandom that in the Star Trek universe, all love affairs take approximately two (2) days. From Wesley Crusher accidentally falling in love with a shape-changing princess to Jadzia Dax giving up her lives as a Trill (and her Starfleet career) for a guy she just met on a disappearing planet, we’ll take a look at this hilariously predictable Star Trek trope.
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
Happy new year to you and your big brain! We’re back to our normal schedule of the second Thursday of the month, and we’ve starting the new year with myths about capitalism, where to start with anime, and the tea on infidelity in the animal kingdom.
January 8th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Is our economy a living system or a highly controlled and rigged shell game? Our capitalistic system is held up by personal, psychological, and systemic myths and hidden truths that cloud and distort how we all see and approach investing, wealth accumulation, and giving back. Justin will share data and real world examples from his decade studying and working in the world of impact investing and social justice to reveal uncomfortable truths about asset ownership, access to investment opportunities, and the complicated and messy intersection of philanthropy and wealth management.
Justin Belleme has been a serial entrepreneur since his early childhood and was honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce in 2014. Between 2015 and 2022 he worked on marketing for several of the largest social impact investing, venture philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and catalytic capital events, organizations, media, and industry associations in the world. He is currently the Publisher of RomanticAsheville.com while also exploring creative ways to use his network and impact capital experience to build more affordable housing in Asheville and other gentrifying communities.
He is a Western NC native who loves the Asheville area. Beyond all things internet marketing, Justin enjoys exploring nature, rock climbing, playing sports, and cooking delicious meals for family and friends. https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinbelleme/
Tavi
How to Start Watching Anime
In the modern age of the Internet, Anime is something that everyone is aware of… so why are you not watching any?!?!? Anime is a medium of Japanese film and animation that caters to all ages. Tavi will help you navigate some of the Greatest Hits, and tell you what to avoid, from a wide range of genres. This will include some history, anime nomenclature, addressing stereotypes, beautiful art, and amusing videos.
Tavi grew up in WNC and moved to Hawaii for school, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics. This journey also included a career in Polynesian Performance. Now, he is a Middle School Math and Science Teacher at Odyssey Community School located here in Asheville. When Tavi isn’t teaching, he is creating his next cosplay, dancing with fire, or myriad of other random things. You can find him on Socials as Tavi Does Stuff! IG: @tavi.does.stuff http://tavidoesstuff.com
Jeremy Morris
Monogamy in the Animal World (Barely Exists)
Monogamy: what a sweet romantic idea. Despite our society’s desire to hold dear those animal species that form monogamous pairs, almost none of them are actually monogamous. While many animals form “socially” monogamous pairs, DNA evidence from parents and offspring shows that genetic monogamy barely exists. In this talk, you’ll learn how widespread this is and why both males and females are driven to sneak around. We’ll also talk about humans–can you guess what’s common for us?
Dr. Jeremy Morris is an evolutionary biologist and professor at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. His research focuses on anatomy and physiology related to animal performance. Jeremy is also an advocate for public engagement in science and has brought science talks and conservation projects to audiences in prisons, museums, and other venues. He spends much of his free time trail running, rock climbing, skiing, and pursuing other adventures.
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Celebrity Cameos in Star Trek
What do Iggy Pop, Sarah Silverman, Jason Alexander, Carol Kane, Tig Notaro, Tom Morello, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson all have in common? Star Trek, naturally. This month, we’re revisiting Von’s favorite celebrity cameo moments from the past 40 years of Star Trek.
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
Wrapping up a phenomenal year of learning, our December 4th show is bringing more Asheville lore, more birds, and—if you’re nasty—Miss Janet Jackson. Join us for our last show of the year and decorate your brain with knowledge.
December 4th, 2025 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Asheville has been using the slogan “Land of the Sky” since 1875, when a novel with that title was published. So, who was its pseudonymous author and how did a forgotten nineteenth-century rom-com become our city’s entire personality? We’ll follow its characters as they explore western North Carolina via stagecoach, horseback, and on foot, visiting familiar landmarks (Mount Mitchell! Bridal Veil Falls!) as well as some unexpected detours (throwing an all-night rager at an unsuspecting family’s home in Marshall!). We’ll see what Asheville looked like before the advent of the railroad or Biltmore, and discover why this book that was credited with launching Asheville’s tourism industry has now–perhaps rightfully–been forgotten.
Elizabeth has a PhD in Victorian literature and has lived in WNC for the past decade. She passes a “Welcome to Asheville: Land of the Sky” sign every time she goes to the Woodfin Y and finally got curious about it. She was surprised to find that our namesake novel The Land of the Sky had never been digitized, so this summer she worked to transcribe the novel and get it up on Project Gutenberg, where you can now read it for free: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76690
Danny Raleigh
California Condors Are Back from the Brink
The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is the largest land bird of North America that once ranged over broad swaths of the continent during the Pleistocene. Various pressures reduced their range and numbers until only a few dozen individuals remained in the 1980s. Captive breeding programs have allowed these birds to free-range again across the American Southwest with the assistance of government and nonprofit organizations that monitor and maintain their health, habits, and breeding success. Danny will share personal experiences, observations, and photos from his time monitoring this species while he volunteered in California in the early 2010s.
Danny is a nerd who has been fascinated with birds from a young age. As an adult, he has tracked and monitored avian fauna around the country for various organizations and agencies, adventuring from Alaska to Texas and Nova Scotia to Hawaii. His journey has led him this year to Asheville, and he has been exploring the Blue Ridge hoping to find any bird that will sit still for a photograph.
Nex Millen
Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814
Rhythm Nation 1814 takes center stage in this exploration of the 1989 album that reshaped pop, music videos, and social commentary forever. Nex will blend behind-the-scenes details of the album’s creation with the cultural forces that fueled its message, revealing how Janet’s producers and cutting edge studio technology forged its iconic sound, along with the innovations, risks, and breakthroughs that propelled it. Rhythm Nation 1814 was a masterpiece that proved world-class pop music and social justice could share the same beat.
Nex is a Hip Hop artist, scholar, and cultural curator. He moved to Asheville eleven years ago thinking it would be a great place to raise his daughter while taking nature hikes and practicing yoga. Instead, he became an intricate part of the Black community, teaching after-school workshops on financial literacy, serving on the YMI Cultural Center Board of Directors, and dismantling racism one conversation at a time as a facilitator for Building Bridges of Asheville. IG: @NexMillen @OGSynergy
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: A Very Merry Starfleet
Do you have any idea how many holiday Star Trek edits there are on the internet? Von didn’t either, until going down the merriest, nerdiest wormhole of sci-fi holiday cheer. (Don’t worry–Worf is still not a merry man.)
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)
Be there and be square!
Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !
