The weekend of September 28th, 2024, Nerd Nite Asheville was set to host the annual Nerd Nite boss retreat, including a special show featuring three Nerd Nite bosses and a special musical act called Extra Lives. Well… you know the rest of that story.
But we’re back! The bosses chose Asheville for the boss retreat again, and with it comes BOSS-STRAVAGANZA 2: Revenge of the Nerds!
SATURDAY October 18th, 2025 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Pre-sale tickets $13*, door $18* (cash, Venmo etc. accepted). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-october-2025
(*Regular ticket prices are not increasing. This month’s show has an additional performer. The extra $3 will ensure fair pay for everyone!)
This month’s lineup:
Senne Van Loon
Quantum Revolution at Ultracold Temperatures
Put on your hats, because it’s going to get cold! At temperatures close to absolute zero, we enter the world of quantum physics, where we discover exciting new phases of matter, beyond just gases, liquids, and solids. Rather than diving into mathematical equations, Senne will explain the basic principles of quantum physics using the curious duality between particles and waves. With that knowledge, we can begin to grasp the quantum phenomena that are essential for designing new quantum technologies, technologies that emerge from a world fundamentally different from our everyday experience, yet have the power to transform our own.
Senne got his PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Antwerp (Belgium) in 2020. There, he explored the physics of near-zero temperatures. After a postdoc at Georgia Tech, he decided to leave the quantum world behind and move to Colorado. Now, he’s a climate scientist at Colorado State University investigating how warm our planet will get. IG: @nerd_nite_fort_collins Nerd Nite Fort Collins Facebook fortcollins.nerdnite.com
Dawn Hunter
The Secret Sauce to Better Communication
We’ve all had conversations that feel like a warm hug, but with the good comes conversations that make us feel bored, distant, angry, or in desperate need of an escape route. The difference? It’s all about connection! Think of it as the secret sauce to making your messages stick like glue.
We’ll explore the magic of values-based messaging, setting the stage for communication that’s not just heard but felt. Then, we’ll sprinkle in some tools and strategies to help you discover your unique communication style. It’s like finding your inner superhero and learning how to use your powers for good! Remember, people want to know you care before they care what you know. Let’s make those connections count!
Dawn is one of the Nerd Nite St. Pete bosses, which means she’s usually behind the scenes troubleshooting tech, wrangling slide decks, and making sure the night runs smoother than your third drink. But for this event, she’s stepping out from behind the clipboard to nerd out about what makes communication actually work. By day, she runs a business focused on healthy boundaries, joyful living, and redefining the way we think about work and rest. By night, she’s probably reading three books at once, brainstorming podcast episode ideas, and indulging in cozy vibes. She believes data is sexy, naps are sacred, and life is too short to be ordinary. Work is Third Podcast: on IG and TT @workisthirdlife; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkIsThird
Matt Wasowski
Weird and Potentially Breakable World Records
While none of you can grow the world’s longest fingernails in the next few days or become the shortest living adult, there are actually a few recent world records that are potentially within reach. And also plenty of weirdo ones as well. Enjoy a quick overview of some of the strangest world records set over the last couple of years and take a crack at breaking two of them. Note: your butt may be needed.
Matt is the Big Boss of Nerd Nite and is genuinely surprised, albeit pleasantly, that it has remained a thing for 22 years. nerdnite.com youtube.com/nerdnite
With extra special guest EXTRA LIVES
Extra Lives: Audience-Led Musical RPG
Extra Lives is the world’s first audience-led, fully narrated, inclusive choose-your-own-adventure game where you are the main character. Plunge into an exciting story with visuals, music, sound effects and footage drawn from the legendary console games of the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s… and a live score provided by the lovable nerds of Extra Lives. At key junctures you’ll get to vote on how the character proceeds, leading to special story branches. With multiple endings and 60+ possible variations depending on the audience’s in-game choices, this immersive feast for the imagination will transport you back to your childhood. To the next level!
Michael Kohl is a touring musician, root beer enthusiast and bonafide Nerd Nite fanboy from Milwaukee. Last year he gave his first-ever Nerd Nite talk–a highly researched defense of the common street pigeon–in Los Angeles, CA. Tonight Michael will run a solo version of Extra Lives, an interactive video game concert experience that collaborates with Nerd Nite chapters around the world. IG: @michaelmaxkohl @extralivesmusic extralives.band https://vimeo.com/826516705
With your host, Von
This month, Von is giving a big middle finger to Helene by hosting the Nerds of Nerd Nite for a second time. Revenge of the Nerds baybeeee!
Von (they/them) is a local performer known for their radioactive style, political commentary, and inability to shut up about Star Trek. A lifelong nerd of both science and theater, they were an avid lover of Nerd Nite in Los Angeles before moving to Asheville and starting the local Nerd Nite Chapter.
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)