Join Nerd Nite Orlando on Thursday, March 14th for NERD NITE DAY 2024 at the Orlando Science Center** and celebrate 11 years of “the most fun public speaking event in town”. Click here to purchase your tickets.
Hosted by Ricardo Williams
Each speaker will be giving a 10-minute presentation.
Guest speakers include: Emilee Speck Rachel Cooper Eliza Harris Juliano Sharife Gacel Anna V. Eskamani Jim Hobart Joshua “TechDev” Walker Max Jackson
Orlando Science Center 777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803 **The event will take place in the Digital Adventure Theater.
BEER & WINE will be available for sale. However, there WON’T BE HOT FOOD FOR SALE this evening. So it’s recommended that you have dinner before you arrive.
PRESENTATION #1: “Road Trippin’ to Totality” by Emilee Speck
Emilee Speck is a space journalist and FOX Weather digital producer based in Florida. Emilee’s reporting has included covering historic milestones in spaceflight such as the return to human spaceflight from U.S. soil in 2020, the Artemis I launch to the Moon and driving across the country documenting the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse. She previously hosted the Edward R. Murrow Award-winning podcast Space Curious.
PRESENTATION #2: “Busting Myths About Booze” by Rachel Cooper
What you think you know about your favorite beverage might not be true. Here’s what decades of research on alcohol tell us about how alcohol actually impacts us.
Rachel is currently a PhD student at UCF, studying clinical psychology. Her research focuses broadly on sexual violence and more specifically on sexual aggression, sexual communication, such as consent and rejection, and the role substance use plays in perpetration and victimization. She is also interested in the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence as well as the development of intervention and prevention programs for sexual violence among both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ communities. When Rachel is not drowning in grad school work she loves doing any craft project she can get her hands on, checking out all the amazing restaurants and bars in Orlando, reading psychological thrillers and Buddhist philosophy (she was a double psychology and religion major in undergrad).
PRESENTATION #3: “Math for a Better City” by Eliza Harris Juliano
Learn how math can help us make better decisions about how we design and build our cities; and better understand how good (or bad) city planning affects your everyday life in sometimes counterintuitive ways.
Eliza Harris Juliano is an advocate for better cities. She provides professional planning services at Kimley-Horn where she works with local governments to develop community plans and rewrite regulations to enable a broader range of sustainable neighborhoods. She serves on the board of Bike/Walk Central Florida and is a former board chair of the Congress for the New Urbanism. You can find her on twitter at @myurbangen.
PRESENTATION #4: “Cosmic Conversations: The Overview Effect as an Analog Astronaut” by Sharife Gacel
Sharife Gacel is an Analog Astronaut, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a passion for sharing space with others. As an Analog Astronaut, she served as the Medical Officer and her ongoing research is titled “The Impact of Crew Isolation and Lunar Simulation on Human Behavior.” Her background is in Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Veterinary Medicine, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Sharife has a private practice with her adopted greyhound, Cosmos, that she founded over 10 years ago and specializes in life transitions, anxiety, and general mental health concerns. You can learn more about Sharife and her work on her website, www.thespacetherapist.com.
PRESENTATION #5: “Florida Politics as Star Wars” by Rep. Anna V. Eskamani
Anna V. Eskamani is a UCF grad and a nonprofit professional currently seeking her PhD in Public Administration. Anna ran for public office as a first time candidate in 2018, flipped a legislative seat, and is proud to serve as a State House Representative for District 42 winning both of her re-election campaigns in a landslide. When she’s not serving the good people of Florida, she’s probably watching Star Wars (if she has time).
PRESENTATION #6: “Lights, Camera, Legacy: A Guide to Preserving Family Stories + Why It’s so Important” by Jim Hobart
This talk will focus on the technical considerations and sentimental value of creating a personal documentary of your loved ones, crafting your own treasured and irreplaceable keepsake that can be cherished for generations. Jim Hobart, the founder of Legacy Life Project, will share his passion for this meaningful undertaking and guide you through the professional process he uses to develop high-quality biographies. You’ll also learn about the importance of selecting the right interviewer to capture your loved ones’ unique stories and experiences, so you can get started on your own video documentary today.
Jim Hobart is a creative Orlando business owner with a passion for videography, stories, and a deep love for dogs. Jim came to realize the profound value of his own recordings of his loved ones after losing his father, and decided to focus his talent and experience on creating high-quality biographical documentaries through the Legacy Life Project. These video heirlooms capture the unique narratives and legacies of the everyday people who mean the world to us, preserving family histories for generations to come.
PRESENTATION #7: Amazon Web Services Explained Through Politics and $hi++y Pop Culture 2024 by Joshua “TechDev” Walker
Josh returns to Nerd Nite, ready to demystify the elusive Amazon Premiere Platform! Buckle up for another bipartisan laugh riot as he blends “shitty pop culture” and “shitty politics” (his words, not mine!) to tackle this technical beast. This talk promises to be an update to his last raved-about presentation, but instead of Steve Urkel, get ready for a wild ride through AWS, all while potentially ruffling some feathers (but hey, at least it’ll be bipartisan fun!). So join Josh as he connects the dots between the familiar and the unknown, making AWS accessible and maybe even raising some awareness along the way!
Joshua “TechDev” Walker is an Army Vet turned self-taught Cloud Solutions Architect, Diversity Pioneer, and Author of “Venti Fried Chicken”. Joshua has been featured on Deloitte’s “Uncensored” series, and Deloitte’s “On Cloud Podcast ” and has frequently been covered by the Orlando Business Journal for his work in Diversity, Equity, and, Inclusion as one of the Black Orlando Tech founders. Joshua continues to serve his clients and community to make the maximum impact through cloud delivery, online tech education, and in-person tech talks. His mantra is to train, inspire, and relate. #cloudGang
PRESENTATION #8: “Haus Wittgenstein: The Life of Meaning and the Meaning of Life” by Max Jackson
Max is a data scientist by day and an actor and improvisor by night – his lifelong passion of making people laugh and clap when he talks has taken him every stage he could stand on, from TED talks to improv comedy shows and from New York to Miami to Seattle and back.
Nerd Nite RETURNS to the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee on Thurs, Feb 8th at 7pm with new speakers and new presentations. Be there & be square.
Hosted by Ricardo Williams
Guest speakers: Waldo Grunenwald Victor Hurlburt
After multiple wins, Nerd Nite veteran Ed Petersen returns to ‘Jeopardy!’ Thursday night. We will kick off Nerd Nite with a watch party and cheer on Ed while he competes in the Jeopardy Champions Wildcard!
PRESENTATION #1: “Little Known Facts About Machu Picchu” by Victor Hurlburt
This is neither a travelogue, nor a boring vacation slide show, nor does it provide answers to probing questions like “how’d they do that?” Instead, the focus of this presentation is to share information about numerous interesting features to be aware of at the same time you are being overwhelmed by the grandeur, mystery, and mystique of the amazingly fascinating Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Pay attention – don’t miss seeing (not just looking but seeing) features no matter how small. The experience of visiting one of the seven wonders of the world is certainly awe inspiring just on its own, but there are also interesting features hidden in plain sight that can easily be overlooked.
Victor is a semi-retired environmental engineer with over 54 years of experience in water and wastewater conveyance and treatment projects in the US and Puerto Rico. He has been summoned to Nerd Nite to explore Machu Picchu and admits that there’s an engineering skew to the subject matter, but there are also historical facts thrown in along with pop culture information as well.
PRESENTATION #2: “Argue Better with Active Listening” by Waldo Grunenwald
Have you ever gotten into an argument because the statement that you made wasn’t understood as you meant it? Have you ever seen a simple disagreement go rapidly off the rails, and turn into a shouting match?
Rather than quipping at one-another (like UDP), there is a technique for resolving disputes or conflicts that is more akin to TCP. It is called “Active Listening”.
In this talk, I’ll show you how this technique reduces the likelihood of a shouting match by drastically slowing the escalation and forcing each side to listen & comprehend what the other person is trying to say.
Waldo is a geek, and if you find him odd, there are plenty of things you could blame that on. He’s a long-time Sys/Ops Engineer, enjoys leading teams, and is active in the DevOps community. He may or may not be Batman. He is pretty keen on helping orgs stop hurting themselves, insight tooling (trending / monitoring / alerting), and automation in general. He takes joy in helping teams and orgs to stop hurting themselves. Despite being a raging introvert, he enjoys public speaking. In his spare time, he enjoys collecting hobbies that he doesn’t have the time to engage in. He hates writing about himself in the third person, and aspires to one day be a better bio writer.
NERD NITE DAY 2023 Join Nerd Nite Orlando on March 14th, 7pm at Mead Botanical Garden** to celebrate 10 years of “the most fun public speaking event in town” with presentations, trivia, the dry t-shirt contest, and a special recap of the last decade of nerdy fellowship.
Doors at 6:30pm Event start at 7pm
Event is FREE to attend
Hosted by Ricardo Williams
Guest speakers: Derek Demeter, Max Jackson, & Josh Manning
Food + Beverage: Romay Ethiopian Kitchen The Tap Room at Dubsdread
Contributing Sponsors Sampaguita Ice Cream Winter Park Pie Company
**The event will take place inside at the Azalea Lodge (formerly known as The Clubhouse)
Sponsorships available, contact
PRESENTATION #1: “Finding F*cking Fossils in Florida” by Derek Demeter
Description: While Derek has given many space talks over the years at Nerd Nite, he is also an avid SCUBA diver and enjoys battling alligators and sharks in Florida’s waterways in search for prehistoric fossil remains. Derek will take us on a 45 million year old adventure through time and space, showcasing some of his many fossils finds. After the program, you’ll have a chance to come up and check out the fossils yourself.
Bio: Derek began working at the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida in 2003. In 2007, Mr. Demeter became the Planetarium Director and immediately began the process of writing and producing shows for the Planetarium. Since then, his passion for teaching people about the wonders of the universe has earned him many accolades and worldwide recognition. Derek recently served as president of the Southeastern Planetarium Association and currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the International Planetarium Society. Outside of his role as planetarium director, Derek loves to share his passion for geology and paleontology. Derek has been featured in the news about several discoveries he and his friends have found in the rivers of Florida.
PRESENTATION #2: “Being a Nerd in the Age of AI” by Max Jackson
Max is a data scientist by day and an actor and improvisor by night – his lifelong passion of making people laugh and clap when he talks has taken him every stage he could stand on, from TED talka to improv comedy shows and from New York to Miami to Seattle and back. He is a proud founding member of two improv troupes, Uncle Richard’s Niblings and Malice Improv.
Nerd Nite Orlando returns to the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee on Thursday, February 9th
Guest speakers: Ian Cole, Eliza Juliano, & Shaun Marshall
PRESENTATION #1: “Making Friends In Orlando” by Ian Cole
Ian’s nerdy friends make fighting robots, costumes for wheelchairs, giant cosplays, tiny electric race cars, and much more. Hear their stories and learn how you can choose your own adventure to make new friends in Orlando while making the world a little better along the way!
Ian Cole is an avid learner who has spent his career working at the intersection of technology, marketing and leadership in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. In his role as the Chief Innovation Officer for Give Kids The World (GKTW) in Central Florida, Ian is responsible for the creation and execution of initiatives designed to deliver unforgettable experiences for critically-ill children and their families. This includes major capital and construction projects around the 89-acre campus and technology functions including end-user computing, software applications, security, and entertainment / show technology. As part of his community service, Ian has also founded and led several non-profits related to STEM / STEAM education including The Maker Effect Foundation (Orlando, FL), where he currently serves on the board and as part of the production team for Maker Faire Orlando and the leadership committee of MakerFX Makerspace (Orlando, FL). He was recognized for his role in Maker community leadership by the White House in 2016. Ian received his Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from Florida State University, and his Master of Business Administration from Crummer School of Business at Rollins College.
PRESENTATION #2: “The Secret Lives of Cities: How Theory, Culture, and Accident Shape the Places Where We Live, Work, and Play” by Eliza Harris Juliano
Eliza Harris Juliano is an urban planner and advocate for better cities. She serves on the board of Bike/Walk Central Florida, is a former board member with the Congress for New Urbanism, and provides professional planning services at Kimley-Horn. You can find her on twitter at @myurbangen.
PRESENTATION #3: “Buhurt: Don’t Get Hurt, Medieval Armored Combat as a Sport” by Shaun Marshall
It’s been a spectacular year. Nerd Nite returned, Artemis 1 finally launched, and (fingers crossed) we might even get some of our student loans forgiven. There’s a lot to be thankful for so let’s celebrate!
We’ve got drinks, we’ve got food, we’ve got games, and we’ve got music. All we need is to bring together remarkable people like you.
Join us for A Very Nerdy Christmas party on December 16th.
Nerd Nite will return Sept. 8th at the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee.
PRESENTATION #1: “How Pokémon Helps Us Learn to Be Our Very Best Selves” by Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D. (@DrGameology)
DESCRIPTION: Video games provide an amazing opportunity for us to learn about ourselves and what motivates us to pursue various kinds of goals in life. The Pokémon series of games is no exception to this. With each new region, players around the world explore far and wide to assemble a Pokémon party that feels special to them. This talk will review a few basic insights these games offer from a psychological perspective, and will share some models a person can explore to better understand what makes the play of video games become a fulfilling activity for them from a psychological perspective.
BIO: Dr. Kaufmann, PHD is an Assistant Professor, researcher, licensed counselor, Twitch streamer, and podcaster who focuses on using insights from video games and other fandom properties to aid our mental health journey and discover our strengths. His research on the psychology of player types has been presented internationally and continues to evolve with each new world players can inhabit across PC’s and consoles. He also continues to share a never-ending analysis on who we become when we play games at fan conventions, in published books, and through collaborations with other professional who share a passion for video games and the messages they offer each of us who play!
PRESENTATION #2: “A brief taxonomy of ‘Speculative Fiction’ SUBGENRES… major historical variations, evolutions＆innovations” by Ben Forbes Griffith
DESCRIPTION: “Science-Fiction”＆“Fantasy” are merely the most obvious, oversimplified for “genre” fiction bookstore cataloguing, and recently increasingly mainstream tip of a very deep＆broad “iceberg” of imaginative worldbuilding by a plethora of significantly diverse authors!Learn how to tell if your Sci-Fi is “hard” or “soft” or if your Fantasy is “high” or “low” or grimdark, and so much more! If your awareness of “punk” style speculative fiction subgenres is limited to Cyberpunk 2020 or some Steampunk cosplay you saw at a festival with some dapper mustaches＆top hats, elaborately customized goggles, and elegant Victorian clothes, then this is precisely the talk you need to seriously punk up your fiction intake!
BIO: Ben Forbes Griffith is just another middle-aged nerdy intellectual with too many hobbies and never enough time for them all… His day job paying the bills in recent years is as a web-developer, but he is a former history teacher and lifelong learner who spends much of his free time happily dwelling in the past (or in fantastical worlds of his own imagining); toward that end, he is an insatiably curious bibliophile, experienced tabletop-roleplaying gamer, and aspiring creative writer. Twitter = @BFGriffith
Kick off season 10 of Nerd Nite with us this Thursday, August 11th at the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee.
PRESENTATION #1:
“The Nuclear Niche: Fungi that Survive and Thrive in the Heart of Chernobyl” by Matt Luby
The resilience of many species of fungi to various adverse conditions has been known to biologists for many years. It is only in the past three decades that we have begun to evaluate the ability of some fungi to not only survive extremely high doses of harmful radiation, but also to tap into it as an energy source. We’ll discuss not only how it happens, but what we might be able to do with our knowledge of this unique adaptation.
PRESENTATION #2:
“Blood & Treasure: Modern Politics and the Golden Age of Piracy” by J.D. Casto
We tend to think of pirates as bloodthirsty thieves, brutal rapists, and vicious murderers, concerned only with indulging their every whim and amassing as much wealth as possible, forever living at the expense of others. And this is absolutely true. However, in some ways, pirates were strangely ahead of the societal curve. In fact, some of their viewpoints would be heartily endorsed by liberal politicians today – health insurance for all, democratic elections (typically without collusion), and even gay marriage. This presentation will focus on the incredible true stories of pirates and their modern policies.
Join us tonight for a special pop-up Nerd Nite at Bynx Cafe. Enjoy presentations from some of your favorite Nerd Nite speakers Max Jackson and Jimmy Waldron.
Nerd Nite Orlando recently celebrated its 5-year anniversary and announced production of a documentary film.
This documentary will explore the decentralized structure of Nerd Nite, its infectious spreading to new cities all around the world and how it has helped people gain confidence, discover their identity, and build meaningful relationships.
The modest budget will help to cover production costs; including equipment rentals, staff hires, travel, and festival submissions.
Production of the project will begin June 2018 with an expected completion by September 2018.
This morning, Ricardo was on the air at 91.5 FM WPRK for Bess Auer’s new show, “Smarketing News” to talk about cool new apps, Central Florida parks, infrastructure, Juice Bike Share, the origins of Nerd Nite, why the event is so important, and so much more.
“hard” or 
“soft” or if your Fantasy is “high” or “low” or grimdark, and so much more! If your awareness of “punk” style speculative fiction subgenres is limited to Cyberpunk 2020 or some Steampunk cosplay you saw at a festival with some dapper mustaches＆top hats, elaborately customized goggles, and elegant Victorian clothes, then this is precisely the talk you need to seriously punk up your fiction intake!
