Author: asheville

Bird Migration, The Pitfalls of Dewey Decimal, and AI Security Fails: Nerd Nite July!

What do you do for fun when it’s hot outside? You learn about birds, library classification systems, and AI security fails, of course. This month at Nerd Nite Asheville, we’ve got a line up of mega-nerds, bringing some of the nerdiest facts you’ve ever heard. Bring a fan to cool your steaming hot brain.

July 10th, 2025 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-july-2025

This month’s lineup:

Danny Raleigh

Adapting New Technologies for Tracking Bird Migration

For millennia, humanity has marveled at the ebb and flow of the seasons while pondering why certain bird species leave before winter and return at the advent of spring. We will explore wild hypotheses concerning their whereabouts, the clues that led to improved understanding, and review the tools and techniques that have offered humans a broader view of bird migration into modern times. Danny will share personal experiences with various species and show what professionals have been conducting for modern, scientific research.

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.

Leah Worster

The Pitfalls of Dewey Decimal

Every library, from school libraries to special research libraries, uses a classification system to organize their collection. There’s often an assumption that whatever organizational system the library uses, it must be the most appropriate way to organize their collection. Join Leah for a quick journey through the history of Dewey Decimal Classification, the most widely used library classification system, and then delve into the traps and pitfalls of its use.

Leah (she/her) is a third generation librarian, after a detour through software engineering. She is passionate about information access and digital divide issues. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys cuddling her cats, going on adventures with her husband, and knitting.

Sarah Kent

Epic AI Security Fails in the Early Days of Skynet

Hollywood warned us about an AI that would become self-aware, launch nuclear missiles, and terminate humanity. Instead, we got a drunk intern with great grammar who is easily tricked into misbehaving. The #1 threat against AI is prompt injection, an exploit that tricks large language models (LLMs) into breaking rules if you just ask nicely enough. Discover why the real threat isn’t robots taking over the world. It’s humans realizing how embarrassingly easy it is to make multi-billion-dollar AIs do exactly what they’re not supposed to. We’re probably safe from the robot apocalypse, but maybe not from watching our most advanced technology get hoodwinked by anyone with too much time and questionable life choices.

Sarah Kent is a Senior Application Security Consultant at GuidePoint Security. When she isn’t hacking the planet and learning about emerging technologies, Sarah is hiking in the Pisgah Forest and attending concerts with friends. Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-e-kent/

With your host, Von

This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Worf Low-key Sucks (aka That Time Worf Joined A Terrorist Group To Ruin Dax’s Vacation)

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)

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

Making Silly Voices, How the Brain Reads, and Adventures in Prototyping: Nerd Day Returns!

Saturday, June 21st, Nerd Nite Asheville presents: Nerd Day!

Nerd Day is a family-friendly version of Nerd Nite for all ages. The presenters are curated to be suitable for kids, but interesting to everyone!

Door 11am, show starts 12pm sharp. As always at The River Arts District Brewing Co. No cover! Reserve free tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-day-asheville-june-2025

(Limited space available.)

Meet your presenters for Nerd Day:

Anna Diemer

The Science of Silly Voices

Ever wondered why your voice sounds like you? Or how your favorite cartoon characters get their voices? Anna of Diemer Voice Studio will take you through a crash course in the science of voices and how to explore all of the types of voices you can make. Come prepared to make some silly sounds!

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

Jessica McLean

Reading and the Brain

Reading feels passive, but your brain is actually working hard! This talk will break down the science of reading, revealing how four brain processors work together to turn squiggles on a page into meaning. We’ll also explore the BIG 5 areas of reading – phonics, phonological awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension – and celebrate the amazing hard work are brains do when we learn!

Jess is an Asheville native and Nerd Nite superfan. As Co-Executive Director of Read 2 Succeed Asheville/Buncombe (R2S), Jess has spent years studying the science of reading and applying that knowledge as a reading instructor and education advocate. When not at the office, you can probably find Jess watching Star Trek with her husband, gardening, cooking a delicious vegetarian meal, or texting everyone she knows about getting tickets for the next Nerd Nite!

TJ Johnson

Fun Adventures in Prototyping

Get ready for a fun-filled exploration into the world of prototyping, where wild ideas become awesome inventions! You’ll meet two hilarious and interactive creations:

The Fart Detector: An invention that’s sure to get giggles! Learn how sensors and circuits can sniff out something funny in the air.

The Interactive Instrument: Make music just by waving your hands! Discover how simple electronics and clever coding turn everyday objects into magical musical instruments.

Come ready to laugh, learn, and get inspired to create your own wacky and wonderful inventions!

TJ 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 is thrilled to bring back Nerd Nite Asheville’s family friendly event!

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.

As a kid, Von had a pass to the Museum of Science in Boston, and would hang out among the exhibits for hours every week. Von hopes to help the next generation of kids fall in love with learning.

Doors 11am show 12pm sharp at The River Arts District Brewing Co! 13 Mystery St, Asheville NC 28801.

Be there and bring your little squares!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

Everything Opera, The Physics of Portraits, and Why Lesbians Do It Better: Nerd Nite June!

This Pride month is bittersweet, with attacks on LGBTQ+ people coming from the highest levels of government. But we are bringing some shine to this month’s show with opera singer Anna Diemer sharing the magic behind the classic opera voice. Plus pleasure coach Whitni Miller teaches us about why lesbians don’t experience the “pleasure gap”, and photographer Russ Watkins demonstrates live photography physics so you can create your own beautiful portraits.

June 12th, 2025 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-june-2025

This month’s lineup:

Anna Diemer

Why the Heck Does Opera Sound Like That?

Have you ever wondered how opera singers perform without microphones and can still be heard, sometimes in a massive hall over the sound of an orchestra? Vocologist Anna Diemer gets nerdy about the voice science behind opera’s signature sound and how singers train for and create it. Be prepared to sing along!

Anna Diemer (they/them) is a voice teacher, Singing Voice Specialist, PAVA-Recognized Vocologist, and professional soprano based in Asheville, NC. They primarily work with singers who are in times of vocal transition, whether that’s maintaining singing throughout the lifespan or guiding a voice through a gender journey. When they aren’t in the studio, they’re singing opera in drag as Drag Dad of Asheville Milo Mawile. @diemervoicestudio on instagram Website: http://voicelessons.gay

Russ Watkins

The Physics of Portrait Photography

Let’s make photos, rather than take them, shall we? Russ will explain the foundational principles of modern portrait photography and demonstrate how the inverse square law can completely transform a portrait environment. We’ll travel back to the Dutch golden age of the 17th century and briefly visit 1930s Hollywood to reveal the origins of lighting patterns still used in modern portrait photography that help us create images that evoke emotion, drama and aesthetic appeal. Then the audience will use flashlights (provided for you) to recreate all of the lighting patterns in a hands-on, live demonstration using your phone to make your own outstanding portraits.

Russ is an Asheville-based Creative and Marketing Director that constantly tests the limits of his work in photography—learning, developing and defining a style that is truly unique. Although his role in the creative profession has changed much in the past 20 years, Russ admits that the greatest level of inspiration and drive come from his passion for photography. Last year, Russ challenged himself further by creating the 50/24 project where he photographed 50 people in 2024, each in their own unique way. This year, he’s focused on creating dark, bold and inquisitive images that tell a story. Website: rwphotographics.com IG: @rwphotographics

Whitni Miller

Lesbians Do It Better

Turns out the rumors are true—lesbians are having better sex. This talk breaks down the research on why queer women report higher sexual satisfaction and what all orientations can learn from their pleasure-positive, communication-forward approach. Get ready for a mix of sass, stats, and strategies you can take home to your own sex life.

Whitni Miller is a queer couples intimacy coach, sex educator, and founder of BDEmoves, LLC. She helps queer couples deepen connection and explore all facets of intimacy through pleasure-focused coaching and group programs. Whether she’s leading a workshop or posting spicy education on Instagram (@bdemoves), Whitni is on a mission to make authentic pleasure more accessible for everyone. www.bde-moves.com

With your host, Von

This month’s Star Trek mini feature: LGBTQ+ representation in Star Trek

By now it should come as no surprise that Star Trek made bold statements about LGBTQ+ topics for a set of primetime network series. While queer and trans representation wasn’t fully normalized in the main casts until recently, older series like The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine had groundbreaking episodes that explicitly denounced conversion therapy and other forms of anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry, plus gave us our first openly queer (and trans-coded) character in Jadzia Dax.

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)

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

The Life of a Male Mouse, Librarians Fighting Censorship, and the Science of Reading: Nerd Nite April!

Spring is here, the blossoms are blooming, and so is your brain! This month you will learn everything you never knew you wanted to know about male mice. Plus badass Black librarians who fought censorship and improved libraries forever, and what actually happens in your brain when you read. And Von will explain that “Allamaraine!” thing everyone is always yelling.

April 10th, 2025 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-april-2025

This month’s lineup:

Jeremy Morris

The Challenging Life of a Male Mouse

Male mice have a tough life. They have to travel extensively to find food, patrol their territory, find mates, and avoid predators. In addition, they have to fight other males to control territories and gain opportunities to reproduce. However, many of the anatomical traits that make a mouse good at running or fighting directly conflict with each other, leading to trade-offs between these important behaviors. In this talk, you’ll learn about these trade-offs and how they interact with ever-changing environmental factors, leading to an evolutionary scenario for which there is no ideal solution.

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. Dr. Morris is also very interested in public engagement in science and has brought science and conservation projects to public audiences in prisons, museums, and other venues. Dr. Morris is an avid traveler and has spent several years traveling abroad and spends much of his free time trail running, rock climbing, skiing, and pursuing other adventures.

Zoe Bergmire-Sweat

How Black Librarians Fought Censorship (and Improved Your Life)

Librarians have been subverting censorship efforts for centuries! And yet, over the span of 50 years, librarians’ efforts and the effects of their work rippled beyond library walls into American society. Their names and identities did not. 5 female black librarians of the 20th century decolonized library shelves, preserved black history, spoke truth to power, set the standards for library collections, and created a brand new library service. How they managed to do all of that is instrumental in standing up to censorship efforts today!

Zoe is a current Youth Services librarian at Buncombe County Public Libraries. She has been paid for working in libraries for 8 years, but she has been in libraries for over two decades! She has a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies, and an undergraduate in creative writing. When she’s not surrounded by literature, or attending Nerd Nites she can be found with a crafting group which meets at Purl’s Yarn Emporium to work on their creations while watching nerdy shows. IG: @pistachio_poet BlueSky: @zoeelizab-s.bsky.social

Jess McLean

Reading and the Brain

Ever wonder what your brain actually does when you read? This talk will break down the science of reading, revealing how four brain processors work together to turn squiggles on a page into meaning. We’ll explore why learning letter sounds (phonics!) is essential for cracking the alphabetic code—and why the literacy crisis in the U.S. is a problem we can’t afford to ignore.

Jess is an Asheville native and Nerd Nite superfan. As Co-Executive Director of Read 2 Succeed Asheville/Buncombe (R2S), Jess has spent years studying the science of reading and applying that knowledge as a reading instructor and education advocate. When not at the office, you can probably find Jess watching Star Trek with her husband, gardening, cooking a delicious vegetarian meal, or texting everyone she knows about getting tickets for the next Nerd Nite! https://www.r2sasheville.org/

With your host, Von

This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Allamaraine!?

You’ve heard it at every show. You’ve maybe even yelled it yourself. Now you will get to see the origin… the legend… the iconic episode of Deep Space Nine that gave us our rallying cry, Move Along Home. An episode so infamous that it has Star Trek fans debating whether it is one of the best or worst episodes of all time. (Spoiler: it’s both.) Allamaraine!

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)

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

Archiving Helene, Our Post-Modernist Lives, and Surveillance Self-Defense: Nerd Nite March!

Have you felt lately as though we’re living the plot of some absurdist novel? Well, you’re not alone, and this month, our presenters will take you from preserving history to analyzing the absurdity of it, to protecting yourself from the all-seeing eyes of dystopian surveillance. Buckle up, because this month’s show is a trip!

March 13th, 2025 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-march-2025

This month’s lineup:

Katherine Cutshall

Documenting a Disaster

Archives are how we create and preserve the events that unfold around us every day, but the work that goes into archiving what will be referred to as historical events in the future is largely invisible. In this talk you’ll learn about how 21st century archivists work alongside community members to ensure that we build a robust and diverse archive of materials that will help us understand the past and plan for a better future, and how archivists are documenting and preserving the events around Helene.

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 Website: Specialcollections.buncombecounty.org

Ashley Allen

Our Current Reality is Multimodal Post-Modernist Literature

Join Ashley as she draws parallels between our current lived experiences and the literary subgenre of multimodal Postmodernist Literature. Is it the next big Literary Theory? A social commentary? Or the next iteration of simulation conspiracy theories? Who knows, but buckle up! Taking a closer look at the genre tenets of Postmodernist literature and its representation through multiple modalities, this presentation will hopefully entertain and inform in equal measure.

Ashley Allen (she/her) is an advocate for literacy, both personally as an avid reader and professionally as the Co-Executive Director of local nonprofit Read 2 Succeed. When not nerding out on all things literary, Ashley enjoys rollerblading, diamond art, learning about reptile husbandry, and a good D&D Campaign. Check out R2S’ website here- https://www.r2sasheville.org/

Nicole Lopez

Surveillance Self-Defense for the Current Panopticon

We live in a constant state of surveillance. We carry tiny computers with cameras and microphones around in our pockets that ping cell towers and join wifi networks while the apps we use track and sell our personal data. We trade in our privacy for convenience, personalized advertisements, and perceived wins in public safety. This talk will provide an overview of the current state of surveillance from creepy adtech to law enforcement surveillance to more advanced threats of spyware. Surveillance can be scary, especially in this moment of political upheaval, but fear not! We’ll cover the tools at our disposal to take back our privacy, so that everybody leaves feeling more informed and less powerless to the panopticon!

Nicole Lopez (she/her) is Director of Technology at Midwest Access Coalition, a practical support abortion fund supporting people traveling to, from, and within the Midwest to access abortion care, where she straddles software development, IT management, and digital security. A seasoned digital security trainer, she previously worked at Digital Defense Fund, which specializes in digital security and tech support for the abortion access movement. Nicole is also a co-organizer for two communities of techies, Code with Asheville and Techies for Reproductive Justice. When not nerding out about tech, you can find her petting one of her cats, salsa dancing, or playing classical piano works by women and people of color ignored by the classical music canon.

With your host, Von

This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Captain Kathryn F*king Janeway

What makes Captain Janeway an incredible Starfleet captain? Her bravery, self-sacrifice, diplomacy, love for science and ability to keep her crew united while isolated in the Delta Quadrant?

Think again.

Coffee, murder, and triggering the self destruct on her ship like it’s a fetish. This month you’ll see why Janeway is a not just a brilliant leader, but a goddamned menace. Janeway pi one one zero, motherf*ckers!

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)

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

Asheville’s Sanitarium Era, Sign Science, and the History of Hip Hop: Nerd Nite February!

It’s time to fall in love… with learning! Join us this month to learn about Asheville’s tuberculosis sanitarium boom era, everything you’ve ever wanted to know about signs, and the rich cultural background of Hip Hop.

February 13th, 2025 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-february-2025

This month’s lineup:

David O. Freedman

Asheville’s Tuberculosis Tourism Era

Asheville’s rapid growth and wealth prior to the Great Depression was based on its reputation as a wellness destination that began in 1870. The very lucrative Tuberculosis Sanitarium Era was followed by vigorous efforts to promote Asheville as a healthy place for healthy people that were led by the Vanderbilts and Grove. Many current buildings, such as BPR, sit on the locations of former TB sanitaria. Efforts to control spitting in the early 1900’s were comical.

David O. Freedman, MD, originally from Montreal, Canada, birthplace of William Shatner, is a recently retired Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama (UAB). He has spent his career traveling around the world in search of new infectious diseases organisms and how travelers spread them. He remains as an Editor of CDC’s Health Information for International Travel (the Yellow Book). He is thrilled to have moved to Asheville in 2023 after vacationing frequently here for over 25 years.

Super Rob

The Super Signguy Presents the Science of Signs

This engaging presentation dives into how shapes, colors, and fonts influence our decisions and behavior, from navigating traffic to choosing a product. With fun anecdotes, interactive elements, and surprising insights, you’ll discover the power of signs in shaping our daily lives and the future of branding and design.

With over 30 years in the sign industry, I’ve learned signage isn’t just about trends—it’s a science. My career started in Chicago, took me to Florida, and eventually landed me in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where the scenery hooked me, and the people made me stay. I jokingly call what I do “advanced kindergarten” because signage is a basic business need that’s often overlooked, but my superpower is making it simple, effective, and affordable. When I’m not creating super solutions, you’ll find me and my superhero crew in parades, hosting 12V rallies, or out in the community helping local businesses shine. FB/IG: @thesupersignguy http://thesupersignguy.com/

Nex Millen

The Elements and Principles of Hip Hop Culture

Hip Hop is a distinctly American art form birthed from the ingenuity of Black youth in the 1970s. Today, the cultural roots of Hip Hop have been obscured by stereotypes, corporate greed, and a preoccupation with image. In this presentation, we will learn the eight elements of Hip Hop and seven principles of the culture, how they worked in harmony together in the golden era, and the disconnect created by corporate control today.

Nex Millen is a Hip Hop Scholar and Cultural Curator from Philadelphia. He is also a music producer whose career spans three decades. In Asheville, Nex is on the board of directors for the YMI Cultural Center, the oldest operating Black Cultural Center in the country. He also leads a successful lifestyle and cultural arts brand called OG Synergy. OG Synergy, along with music business consulting, nightlife curating, creates middle school to collegiate level lectures, workshops and activities to bring awareness to the culture of Hip Hop. IG: @nexmillen

With your host, Von

This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Far Beyond the Stars

Deep Space Nine, the second series of the 80s-90s Star Trek revival era, gave us many fun, campy episodes (including the episode that gave Nerd Nite Asheville its rallying cry–Allamaraine!). But in its sixth season, it delivered possibly the most moving episode in Star Trek history, Far Beyond the Stars, which turns Captain Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek’s first Black captain, into a segregation-era science fiction writer who dreams up the story of Deep Space Nine.

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)

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

Rapid Prototyping, Word Crimes, and the Kingdom of Hawaii: Nerd Nite January!

It’s a fresh new year, and we’ve got fresh fun facts. Resolve to exercise your brain with our January lineup!

January 9th, 2025 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-january-2025

Meet your presenters for January’s Nerd Nite:

Colonel Panic

Pushing the Limits of Creativity with Rapid Prototyping

The exponential growth and complexity of technology has been a defining force in our modern societal landscape. The increasing accessibility and lessening cost of small electronic devices and microcontrollers has made tech development and prototyping accessible for the hobbyist! No longer do we creators rely on a university, corporation, or defense agency to fund our endeavors. In this way, the creation of new tech is becoming democratized. Join me as we learn about how ANYONE can develop IoT (Internet of Things) devices and robotics technology in their free time with minimal code knowledge and how this bolsters the burgeoning tech landscape with fresh ideas and creations.

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, philosophy, physics, sci-fi mythology, music, art, and the ineffable spirit of the hacker mindset.

Russell Pirkle

Investigating Common Word Crimes

Is talking good important to you? In this presentation Russell will explore some common grammar and language pet peeves, how they came about, and other things we say which are equally “wrong” but don’t bother us for some reason. From literally to aks to fewer vs. less, Russell will explore all the greatest hits of grammar school teachers.

Russell is an English second language teacher and speech language pathologist currently teaching at AB Tech Community College and completing SLP clinical rotations. Russell also hosts a podcast about music and language called Getting Down & Wordy and just generally spends a lot of time obsessing over words. IG/tiktok: @gettingdownandwordy podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-down-wordy/id1581316249

Tavi

The Kingdom of Hawaii

In 1959, Hawaii officially became the 50th American State. But before Western contact, Hawaii was a thriving society with its own culture, governance, and traditions. Its history transitioned from warring tribes to an independent kingdom, followed by American occupation, designation as a U.S. territory, and eventually statehood. Despite its significance, this history is often overlooked or ignored. Tavi will share Hawaii’s incredible history, along with some live cultural demonstrations you won’t want to miss!

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 ans 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 this area of thr country. Tavi is now a Math & Science Teacher at Odyssey School located right here in Asheville. On top of a first year of teaching, he runs a small 3D Printing Business, and just had a newborn in September. IG: @tavi.does.stuff

With your host, Von

This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: New Year, Strange New Worlds

The very first episode of Star Trek was a pilot called The Cage, which featured a different crew from the crew you know from the original series. Instead of Captain Kirk, there was Captain Pike and his first officer, the original “Number One”, Una Chin-Riley. While the world wasn’t ready for that story in the 1960s, we’re now getting to know Pike and Number One–along with a younger Uhura and Spock, and a motley crew of other talented oddballs–through Strange New Worlds. This month, Von will give you an introduction to SNW, a show that is currently airing, and which is currently the best place to start on a Star Trek journey for the first time.

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)

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

Nerd Nite September BOSS-STRAVAGANZA!!!

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.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-september-boss-stravaganza

Meet your presenters for the Boss-stravaganza:

Von Barnes

Farming without a Farm

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.band https://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)

Join us September 28th, doors 6pm show 7pm sharp at The River Arts District Brewing Co! 13 Mystery St, Asheville NC 28801. Presale tickets $10, door $15, 18+

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

Heatwaves, Hackers, and Vacuum Tubes: Nerd Nite August!

IT’S OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, ALLAMARAINE!!

August 8th, 2024 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-august

Meet your presenters for August’s Nerd Nite:

Jared Rennie

Communicating Extreme Heat in Asheville

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)

Join us August 8th, doors 6pm show 7pm sharp at The River Arts District Brewing Co! 13 Mystery St, Asheville NC 28801. Presale tickets $10, door $15, 21+

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !

Fireflies, Vocal Training, and Primate Infanticide: Nerd Nite July!

July 11th, 2024 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.

Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash preferred, Venmo etc. available). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-july

Meet your presenters for July’s Nerd Nite:

Sara Rivera

Illuminating the Fabulous World of Fireflies

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)

Join us July 11th, doors 6pm show 7pm sharp at The River Arts District Brewing Co! 13 Mystery St, Asheville NC 28801. Presale tickets $10, door $15, 21+

Be there and be square!

Want to present at Nerd Nite Asheville? Check out our presenter info page, or email !