Asheville was chosen to be the destination of the 2024 Nerd Nite Boss retreat, and so we will be hosting 20 bosses from other Nerd Nite cities! Our September show will be a Boss-stravaganza on a Saturday night, instead of our usual Thursday show.
Saturday, September 28th, 2024. Doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a stark reality: we cannot solely rely on the government to come to our rescue in times of crisis, especially when it comes to food. This realization has sparked a growing need for self-sufficiency. In urban environments, it may be challenging to envision agricultural possibilities, especially when we’re far removed from traditional food production. However, there is hope. This presentation will explore various ways you can become a farmer, even without access to a conventional farm.
Von Barnes (@FarmerVonSaid) is the founder of Kentuckiana Backyard Farms (@KentuckianaBF), a micro urban demonstration farm in the Louisville metro area. On that farm he has managed goat, chicken, duck, quail, rabbit, and BSF (black soldier flies). He serves on the steering committee for Food In Neighborhoods, a city network that has been doing food justice work. He is one of the co-leads for Louisville Urban League Project Kilimo. Most notably was the Ted Talk that was presented in early 2023 on solving food insecurity in Kentucky with micro gardens.
He earned his B.S. in Mass Communication from the University of South Florida., and plans to enroll in a master program in agriculture.
Cat Aboudara
The Rabble Rousing Mary Dyer
Cat was gobsmacked when she came across Winona Ryder portraying her ancestor Mary Dyer on Drunk History. But of course, there were creative licenses taken in the portrayal. Let’s untangle fact from fiction while enjoying the poetic comedy that is Drunk History. Hopefully, you’ll understand after this talk why Mary Dyer has statues erected in her honor at the Boston Commons and downtown Philly: because she is a beloved, bad-ass boss bitch.
Cat Aboudara has overseen adult programs that posit learning through play for over two decades in museums and science centers across the country and has had such fun working with scientists, astronauts, inventors, octopi, jungle cats, comedians, and robots. She also moonlighted as the Nerd Nite DC Boss even though she had to trek down from Philly for over a year to do it! She has retired from bossing in DC (and the commute) and is now full-time at an Arts + Culture CoWorking Hub in Philly.
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 21 years.
With very special guest Extra Lives
Extra Lives is the world’s first Audience RPG: a 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 week 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.bandhttps://vimeo.com/826516705
And your host, Von
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: @von.infinity)
Even though Asheville is in the mountains of North Carolina, we still experience extreme heat in the summertime. It might not get as hot as Charlotte or Atlanta, but it gets warm enough to cause problems, especially for our underserved communities. Come and learn about the latest research on heat and what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is (or isn’t) doing when talking about heat in Western North Carolina.
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: @jjrenniewx. BlueSky/Twitter: @jjrennie
Lee Johnson
It’s About Vacuum Tubes!
This tubular presentation will give an introduction to vacuum tubes and their pivotal role in launching the electronic age of radios, televisions, and computers. The presentation will cover how these remarkable devices work, their various applications, and the ways they revolutionized communication and entertainment. Samples of different types of vacuum tubes will be passed around, allowing participants to see and touch these historic components firsthand. And some eager participants will even have the chance to take home a vacuum tube as a souvenir!
Professor Johnson is retired from IBM (20 years) and retired from teaching at A-B Tech and UNCA (20+ years) teaching computer science. He is an officer in the Asheville Radio Museum (https://www.avlradiomuseum.org/) and is active in ham radio there. Lee loves photography using film cameras and practices Zen regularly.
Colonel Panic
Malwars
While Microsoft rules enterprise computing, linux runs the Internet. The nature of the internet and the connectivity it offers provides a large attack surface for malicious actors. In this presentation we explore what real malware looks like in the wild and the motivations behind the threat actors that disseminate it.
Colonel Panic is a hacker, musician, malware researcher, and a robotics and iot developer working as a lead threat researcher in the cybersecurity industry. His interests are transhumanism, futurism, biohacking, ai, tech, malware, philosplophy, physics, sci-fi mythology, music, art, and the ineffable spirit of the hacker mindset.
With your host, Von
Von’s Star Trek mini feature:
Celebrating Nerd Nite Asheville’s One Year Anniversary
What do cartoon voices, superpowers, beer, cryptids, Moana, telescope lenses and genital piercings have in common? Nerd Nite Asheville! Take a look back on our wild first year as we celebrate our anniversary.
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: @von.infinity)
Ever been curious about the brilliant bioluminescent fireflies lighting up the night sky? Come be enlightened and learn about their crazy worlds filled with sex, deceit, cannibalism, and pure magic!
Sara Rivera (they/she) is a Masters student at Western Carolina University studying tropical fireflies. Out of the lab, they perform nerdy drag as Rubella Werk (@rubella.werk) and Syd Phyllis (@syd.phyllis). They also have a science communication organization called THEM in STEM (@them.instem) with Science Storytimes and local firefly walks in Sylva.
Anna Diemer
The Science of Gender Affirming Voice Training
Gender-affirming care is vital to the wellness of transgender people, and having a voice that aligns with one’s gender presentation can be a significant part of that care. Trans voice teacher Anna Diemer is here to explain the science behind why we perceive voices the way we do and the how-tos of voice training. And yes, we will be making sounds together!
Anna Diemer (they/them) is a voice teacher, Singing Voice Specialist, PAVA-Recognized Vocologist, and professional soprano based in Asheville, NC. Their private studio consists primarily of avocational adult singers, many of whom present with a vocal pathology, and members of the LGBTQ+ community training their voices in times of transition. When they’re not in the voice studio, Anna enjoys cooking, reading fantasy novels, and gaming on their Switch. Insta and Facebook: @diemervoicestudio Website: diemervoicestudio.com
James L. Fuller
Infanticide and the Weirder Side of Natural Selection
Fact: baby monkeys are frickin’ adorable. Also Fact: adaptive behaviors are shaped by natural selection, which requires passing genes on to the next generation. So … why is infanticide (killing young of one’s own species) a thing? We’ll take a look at the not-so-cute side of primate behavior and learn how an evolutionary perspective can make sense of some very odd things.* * NOTE: Though this topic might be a bit unsettling, the presentation will not be gruesome or graphic (just good ol’ fashioned science!).
Dr. Fuller is an evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecologist, specializing in African primates. For nearly three decades, he has researched the social, mating, and communication systems of great apes and monkeys, with long term field studies in Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. He is a member of the New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, an adjunct professor at Columbia University and also Mars Hill University, and is profoundly mediocre at playing the ukulele.
With your host, Von
Von’s Star Trek mini feature:
Welcome to Risa: The Star Trek Pleasure Planet
It’s vacation season, and time for you to learn about the Star Trek universe’s favorite retreat, Risa. With technologically climate controlled weather calibrated to perfection, and scantily clad locals offering Jamaharon, it’s the perfect destination for relaxation–for everyone except Worf, who briefly joined a terrorist group on Risa to protest his girlfriend having fun. But the water was still warm, and the air still smelled sweet. All that is ours is yours!
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: @von.infinity)
Awkward Social and Sexual Interactions in One Handy Chart
Have you ever had a social interaction that you just couldn’t get the vibe right for? Or maybe you were really wanting to have some sexy time with someone and the chemistry was good, but you just couldn’t seem to be on the right wavelength? Fellow nerds, I’ve got a chart for you to help understand when this happens and how to avoid it!
Heather Edwards (she/they), author of June Full Moon (2023), is a nationally certified sex counselor and educator as well as a pelvic physical therapist. They utilize erotica and art as an extension of her inclusive sex ed mission. They founded Vino & Vulvas (sex-ed-in-a-bar) in 2015. They co-teach, along with Dr. Uchenna Ossai, medical sexuality counseling to provide comprehensive, inclusive sexual health care internationally. www.vinoandvulvas.com IG: @vinoandvulvas
Amanda Wray
“The Cage,” Hookups at the Grove Arcade
Built in the early 1920s, The Grove Arcade was considered one of the earliest shopping malls. Repurposed during WWII for war efforts, it became the Federal Building, and from 1951 to 1995 it was home to the National Weather Records. By day, that is. By night, this area of town was called “the cage,” a cruising spot for people (mostly gay men) that also became in the late 1990s and early 2000s a hotspot for harm reduction and AIDS prevention.
Amanda Wray earned a PhD in Rhetoric from the University of Arizona before moving to Asheville in 2011 to begin a career in higher education. In 2019, she launched the Blue Ridge Pride LGBTQIA+ Archive, which is a physical artifacts and oral history repository dedicated to LGBTQ+ history of the South. IG: @wnc_lgbtqia See our oral histories: https://specialcollections.unca.edu/collections/oral-histories/296-2/549-2/
Von Infinity
Ketamine Infusion Therapy and The Higgs Boson (in drag!)
About six years ago, Von spent $8000 on a relatively new medical treatment called Ketamine Infusion Therapy: a highly unregulated treatment purported to help with a variety of psychological and neurological symptoms. This presentation will give a patient’s perspective on being a guinea pig for the procedure, and a psychedelic retelling of Von’s experience listening to audiobooks about the Higgs Boson particle, rogue planets and other astronomical phenomena while in a medically induced K hole–featuring a performance the world’s first and probably only Ketamine Infusion Therapy and Higgs Boson themed drag number.
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: @von.infinity)
Are you ever curious about what a honey bee does during her day? What excitement awaits her the moment the sun rises until she rests her tiny head on her waxed comb pillow at night? We will discuss the many adventures that await a honey bee forager throughout the year. Focusing primarily on specific pollinator plants that attract honey bees throughout the seasons; we will explore the very short, yet full life of a Western Honey Bee living in Western North Carolina. Beeware! Bee puns await.
Knox (he/him) is the hive and store manager at Honey & the Hive in Weaverville, NC. Knox is the steward of the store apiary and is responsible for inspecting over 300 deep nucleus colonies in the early spring. He has been keeping bees for over 4 years. Beyond being found huddled over observing honey bees or collecting honey, Knox enjoys opening portals with his small collection of jaw harps and loves writing music on guitar and mandolin. IG: @honeyandthehivenc
Douglas Yuhan Rao
Help wanted! Seeing Plant Stress from the Sky
Have you used Google Maps to plan for your hiking trips in the mountains? Then you have used satellite data! With satellite data from more than five decades, we can monitor the stress signals sent by plants caused by drought and human activities like logging. Come learn how we can use satellite data (including some spy satellite data too) to intervene to support ecosystem health!
Douglas is a research scientist with the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies. His education in applied mathematics, statistics, and cartography (aka how to make maps) earns him major nerd bragging rights. His daytime job mostly involves (sometimes boring) virtual meetings and exciting computer programming. When he is not working, he enjoys good beer, fun hikes, relaxing birding, and delicious food!
Tavi
Cultural References in Disney’s Moana
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month! At this panel, Tavi will play and pause scenes and clips from Disney’s Moana, explaining the cultural aspects and inspirations of the film. Explanations include demonstrations of dance, playing of drums and other instruments, and presenting of various costumes and implements. What culture does Moana’s costume come from? What dances are they performing in their village? What are all the legends that Maui refers to during his song? All these questions and more will be answered at Cultural References in Disney’s Moana. And as a special bonus, Tavi will be performing the Siva Afi fire dance after the show!
Raised in Western North Carolina, Tavi didn’t learn of his Māori Heritage until he was 17. This discovery led him to the decision to move to Hawaii to go to school and learn of his culture. In 2015, Tavi started training, dancing and performing at the Polynesian Cultural Center. His extensive training included multiple Pacific Cultures such as Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Aotearoa (New Zealand, the home of the Māori) and the Siva Afi (Samoan Fire Dance.) While performing at the PCC at night, Tavi attended Brigham Young University – Hawaii where he received a Degree in Mathematics and a minor in Pacific Island Studies. He now lives in Asheville, NC and continues to perform and train all over the South including; North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia under the name ‘NCFireknife’. He also volunteers his time during Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month to present at various Public Schools and teach Students about Pacific Culture. IG: @tavi.does.stuff
With your host, Von
Von’s Star Trek mini feature:
SAVE LOWER DECKS!
Did you know that J.J. Abrams, director of the Star Trek reboot movies of the 2010s, proudly proclaimed on the interview circuit that he never liked Star Trek? Well, it showed. The reboot movies had very little Star Trek in them for actual fans to enjoy. By contrast, Lower Decks is Star Trek written by fans and made for fans. But it’s so much more than fan service. It is a comedic love letter to the entire breadth of the franchise (except those reboot movies), full of callbacks and inside jokes paying homage to 60 years of Star Trek history along with new storylines and characters, and it’s being cancelled. Paramount also cancelled its other animated series, Prodigy, but it was rescued by demand from the fans. We’re hoping to do the same for this animated comedic masterpiece. LOWER DECKS! LOWER DECKS! LOWER DECKS!
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: @von.infinity)
April 11th, 2024 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
RED ALERT! OUR ENTRY FEE IS CHANGING!
We are thrilled that our shows have started reaching capacity! This means that we now need to know how many people will be attending, and to do that, we need pre-sale tickets.
Pre-sale tickets will still be $10 (plus obnoxious but non optional ticketing fee of $1.83), but the door cover will be increasing to $15. So save money and guarantee entry* by getting your tickets at: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-april
(*Please arrive before the show begins. Late arrivals may be standing room only.)
I hate ticketing fees with a passion. Last month, I tried to absorb the ticketing fees for our pre-sale tickets, thinking we would make up for those fees with the increased door cover. Well, we sold out the pre-sale tickets, which is awesome! Thank you! It also meant that absorbing the fees cost nearly 20% of our revenue. So unfortunately, absorbing the ticket fees is not sustainable. The silver lining is that Humantix donates the profit from their fees to charity. So, ticket fees still suck, but at least it’s not Ticketmaster.
Meet your presenters for April’s Nerd Nite:
Tavi Does Stuff
How to Become a Mandalorian with 3D Printing
Learn the basics of 3D printing and what it takes to make a Mandalorian Cosplay! Does making a Mandalorian Cosplay seem intimidating? Don’t worry! Tavi is here to help! With enough filament, anyone can take the Creed!
My name is Tavi, and I like to do Stuff!! Top favorite things to include Polynesian and Fire Performance and 3D Printed Cosplay! Tavi is an Award Winning Cosplayer, loves Star Wars and is an Ally AF! “Love is Love, This is the Way!”
IG: @tavi.does.stuff Etsy: TaviTaonga
Sarah Daniels
Raccoon Shenanigans
Hate ’em in your trash, but love ’em in your internet videos, raccoons are legendary for their hijinks. Sarah will take you through some of what we know about raccoon intelligence and behavior, interesting findings from her Master’s research on raccoon problem solving, and (of course) show you cute pics/videos of those wily trash pandas.
Sarah is a psychology enthusiast. After studying psychology in undergrad, she worked as a research assistant in a cognitive aging lab. While working there, she found the incredible world of animal cognition and animal behavior. Pivoting from humans to animals for a while was a fun and rewarding interlude. She studied zoology, specifically animal behavior, at the University of Wyoming where she worked with raccoons to earn her MS. While in WY, she also worked in the University of Wyoming Museum of Vertebrates, preserving specimens for long term scientific study. When she realized academia was not for her, she took another pivot back to the human side of things, and now works at Headspace providing guidance and content for mental health coaching. In addition to these nerdy pursuits, she also loves Neil Gaiman, witchy shit, and board games.
Jared Rennie
What NOAA is Doing in Asheville
Ever wonder what’s going on in that federal building in downtown Asheville? You see the NOAA logo, but don’t know why NOAA is here, or maybe even what NOAA stands for (it’s either National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or Nerdy Order who Annunciate Allamaraine). It may come as a surprise that we are the world’s largest archive of environmental data, from the bottom of the ocean floor to the surface of the sun. Come learn more about the types of data we have, what we do with it, and how hope is not all lost in the climate crisis.
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: @jjrenniewx BlueSky/Twitter: @jjrennie
With your host, Von
Von’s Star Trek mini feature: Plot or Not
Star Trek has explored some of the most profound questions imaginable: What does it mean to be a person? Is it ethical to intervene in other cultures’ wars? Can diplomacy conquer all, or is violence an inevitability?
It also had a bunch of wacky shit that you probably wouldn’t believe if you haven’t seen it. This month, Von will present a series of hilarious premises and ask, is this a real Star Trek plot or not?
Von (they/them) is a local drag 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: @von.infinity)
March 14th, 2024 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
RED ALERT! OUR ENTRY FEE IS CHANGING!
We are thrilled that our shows have started reaching capacity! This means that we now need to know how many people will be attending, and to do that, we need pre-sale tickets.
(*Please arrive before the show begins. Late arrivals may be standing room only.)
Meet your presenters for March’s Nerd Nite:
Paulina Schau
The Power of Oxytocin
You might know that the “love hormone” can play a part in making babies, but do you know about its role in getting babies out? From labor contractions, to lactation, to “amnesia” of childbirth pains, and more! We’ll go into just a few of these during our time together, but you’ll leave with a new appreciation and understanding of the power of oxytocin!
Paulina Schau (they/them) is a Certified Full-Spectrum Doula, a Perinatal Yoga Teacher, and an all around birth nerd. They’re passionate about supporting and empowering all Asheville-area families through the journey of pregnancy and birth. They also have a special interest in supporting queer and trans parents as well as families beyond the binary. IG: @anam.cara.birth.wellness Web: www.anamcarabirthandwellness.com
Bethany Perron
Bad Photoshop 101
Have you ever looked at a photo and thought something just seems “off”? Most people can recognize when a bunch of images are poorly composited in Photoshop, but what about the uncanny valley, where something looks wrong but you’re not sure what? Come learn some tell-tale signs that a photo has been altered. Using real images found in the wild, we’ll talk about what the perps did wrong, and how to fix the problems. You’ll never look at skies the same way!
Bethany (she/her) has spent the past few decades studying photography and Photoshop, and currently blends the two to create fantasy portraiture. Her work has been published extensively in Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine, and has been shown in galleries in North Carolina. She recently completed a year-long road trip around the country, couchsurfing with strangers and making fantasy portraits of them. Her book recounting the adventure is due out this year. IG: @bethanyperronfineart
Katherine Cutshall
The Bootlegging Ladies of Asheville
When most people think about a moonshiner, an image of a gangly, bearded man in overalls smoking a corncob pipe might come to mind. But the fact of the matter is a large number of women were involved in the bootlegging business, too. Far from the gangly mountaineer featured on the Mountain Dew can, these badass business women worked hard to support their families and communities. This presentation is one part true crime, one part true love, all Moonshine. Chug-a-lug!
Katherine is an aggressively enthusiastic public historian and Asheville native (Yes! We exist!) currently managing the Buncombe County Special Collections library in Downtown Asheville. Almost nothing brings her more joy than engaging folks with the past and helping them to realize that history is more than dates and “important people” – it’s the foundation of our collective memory and a roadmap for our future. IG: @yunz.are.sumthinelse ; @AVLHistory Web: Specialcollections.buncombecounty.org
With your host, Von
Von’s Star Trek mini feature: Ferengi or Alpha Bro
There’s a race in the Star Trek universe historically known for their misogyny, treachery, and unapologetic avarice: humans. There’s also the Ferengi, a race of goofy aliens who hold the same outdated values as the average alpha male podcaster. Can you tell them apart? Find out in this hilarious mini-game!
Von (they/them) is a local drag 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: @von.infinity)
February 8th, 2024 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Meet your presenters for February’s Nerd Nite:
Isaac Khaneles
GPS, and How Space Clocks Detect Nukes
GPS is a space-based service that is used by billions of people around the world for positioning, navigation, and timing. We will be learning about the beauty of how this infrastructure works, and discussing one of its lesser known features — detecting NUDETS (Nuclear Detonations).
Isaac is your typical “weird” Asheville resident, with a career and passion in the space industry. After five years of working as a Systems Engineer on the next generation of GPS ground control, he started a space industry engineering recruitment firm — finding niche people to work on special projects. Find him out and about in town, or on the trails.
Dr. Rider Barnum
Science Fails of The Dark Knight Trilogy
Whether you loved the comics or the movies, Batman is a classic superhero. And the Dark Knight trilogy was a brilliant piece of cinema history… with some TERRIBLE science moments! From microwave death rays to impossible physics and even fusion reactors, grab a seat and nerd out as we break down some visually amazing yet horribly inaccurate “cinema science” that has been living rent-free in my brain since the mid-2000’s.
Rider Barnum holds a PhD in Chemistry as well as a BA in Theatre Arts. Originally from north Louisiana, he currently lives in northeast Tennessee with his wife and daughter. Professionally he has been an industrial research and development chemist for over ten years. In his spare time he enjoys doing science demonstrations for education outreach ever since grad school, as well as performing in community theatre productions. He is excited to be collaborating with Nerd Nite as part of spreading interest in STEM to a wide range of audiences in a way that is WAY more fun than your average class in school. IG: @DramaticChemist
G. Inez Figueroa
Piercing and Pleasure
Tired of partners not hittin’ your spot? Yearning for bedazzled privates? Or maybe you’ve always been curious about why people would ever pierce their junk in the first place! This is your opportunity to find out all the deets! Inez will take you on a safari of all the intimate piercings, their functions in pleasure, and some funny stories from the piercing room. No piercings required to attend.
Inez (They/Them) is a professional piercer and member of the Association of Professional Piercers) with a background in anatomy and kinesiology. With an ambition to provide a safe space for all walks of life, they found their passion in piercing. Inez aspires to always place autonomy back into the client’s hands. Ready to adorn your body and soul? They are here to help. IG: @inezwithsharps https://linktr.ee/inezwithsharps
With your host, Von
Von’s Star Trek mini feature: “That’s Why I’m a Trekkie”: Star Trek’s Wokest Moments
After denouncing Star Wars for being “too woke and feminist”, Fox News personality Emily Compagno flashed a backwards Vulcan salute and proudly proclaimed, “That’s why I’m a Trekkie.” Actual Star Trek fans found this hilarious, considering that Star Trek broke some of media’s “wokest” barriers decades ago. Learn about some of these great moments while laughing at Fox News’s ongoing absurdity in this month’s mini-feature.
Von (they/them) is a local drag 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: @von.infinity)
January 11th, 2024 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
We have changed the start time for our events! The show will start at 7pm sharp. Early arrival recommended.
Meet your presenters for January’s Nerd Nite:
Sara Rivera
Life on the Ocean’s Surface
We know that the ocean hides secrets deep in its depths, but how much do we know about the creatures living on the ocean’s surface, on the precarious border between water and air? Join us as we learn about snails that build bubble rafts, barnacles with buoys, blue dragons that eat vicious man o’ war jellyfish, and other wild creatures that live in this unique habitat. How do they survive in this strange, upside down world? How are they affected by efforts to clean up ocean plastic? And how do they relate to Roman fashion choices?
Sara Rivera (they/she) is a Masters student at Western Carolina University studying tropical fireflies. Out of the lab, they perform nerdy drag as Rubella Werk (@rubela.werk) and Syd Phyllis (@syd.phyllis). They also have a science communication organization called THEM in STEM (@them.instem) with Science Storytimes and local firefly walks in Sylva.
Cris Bettis
The Archer’s Paradox
The Archer’s Paradox is a mesmerizing blend of physics and skill that archers navigate to hit their targets. We’ll talk about bows, arrows and all the funky things the arrows do when they are let loose.
Cris is a lifelong nerd, computer scientist, avid gamer, archer and artist. He likes spending his free time painting nerf blasters and cooking.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory uses lasers for deep space communication, and they need many large telescope mirrors to do it. Terry will tell you how researchers in South Carolina have contributed to this effort by spin-casting telescope mirrors using epoxy.
T. R. Richardson is Professor emeritus of Physics and Astronomy at the College of Charleston. He began teaching at the College as an adjunct instructor in 1978. He was promoted over the years and finally was appointed to the William Mebane Chair in Physics and Astronomy in 2005 and was presented with the campus wide Distinguished Teaching Award at the graduation ceremonies in 2006. He retired to West Asheville in 2022 where he resides with his cat Piccolo while conducting workshops for kids making a unique Safe Solar Viewer (SSV) of his design.
With your host, Von
Von’s Star Trek mini feature for December: The best celebrity guests of Star Trek.
Did you know Iggy Pop had a guest role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine? Well, he did, and it was hilarious. Find out more fantastic stars who trekked through space in Von’s favorite franchise.
Von (they/them) is a local drag 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: @von.infinity)
December 7th, 2023 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
We have changed the start time for our events! The show will start at 7pm sharp. Early arrival recommended.
Meet your presenters for December’s Nerd Nite:
Katherine Cutshall
Fictitious “Facts” of Asheville’s Past
If you’ve lived in Asheville very long, you’ve probably heard more than one eyebrow raising claim about the city’s history. In this talk Katherine will highlight three of these commonly repeated myths to examine their origins and set the record straight.
Katherine is an aggressively enthusiastic public historian and Asheville native (Yes! We exist!) currently managing the Buncombe County Special Collections library in Downtown Asheville. Almost nothing brings her more joy than engaging folks with the past and helping them to realize that history is more than dates and “important people” – it’s the foundation of our collective memory and a roadmap for our future. @yunz.are.sumthinelse @AVLHistory Specialcollections.buncombecounty.org
Alyssa Bolter, MS, PA-C, AAHIVS
How COVID Helped HIV Research: Modern Advancements in the Management and Prevention of HIV
While once a deadly disease that claimed the lives of most who were diagnosed, HIV is now considered a chronic condition. The past 30 years of scientific advancement has resulted in a “functional cure,” and the advent of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 has provided a new approach towards one for HIV as well. Join me in learning about how these newest treatments work, options for prevention, and current progress towards a vaccine.
Alyssa Bolter is a Physician Assistant working at a community health center where she manages the care of those living with HIV, transgender individuals on hormone therapy, treatment for those with opiate addiction, and general primary care. She is passionate about identifying social determinants of health, harm reduction, increased access to care, and equity in health.
Rich Casella
The AirSynth
The AirSynth is a motion detection based musical instrument that reads the location of the player’s arms and attaches sounds to them using snazzy mathematics and computer coding. Prerecorded gestures will also activate sounds as well. Rich will demonstrate this fascinating math based instrument, accompanied by guitar loops and even some musical virtuosity.
Rich Casella is a professional touring musician and founder of the Guitar Den. He has 2000 live shows to date and took a deep interest in technology and how it influences and works with music. IG: @guitardennj guitar-den.com facebook: www.facebook.com/guitarden
With your host, Von
Von’s Star Trek mini feature for December: Remembering Nichelle Nichols’s final event
Von (they/them) is a local drag 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: @von.infinity)
