Date: Saturday, July 20th
Time: Doors at 6, show at 6:30
Where: DC9 Nightclub

Get ready to dive into a world where glitter and geopolitical drama collide on stage, interstellar captains are secretly criminal masterminds of the cosmos, and a cryptic, fabulous maritime language sails back into the spotlight.

July Talks:

“Eurovision: United by Music, Glitter, Fire, and Geopolitical Machinations” by Kate Debelack
Talk Description: Sure, you know that ABBA came from Eurovision. But what the hell IS Eurovision? This Eurovision 101 talk covers the beginnings, the rules, and some of the most glorious, cheesy, and gloriously cheesy entries of the last 68 years.
Bio: Kate Debelack is a DC based theater artist and educator, and host of DC9’s annual Eurovision Watch Party. She loves a Eurovision competitor who knows who they are and commits to the bit.

“Captain Kirk: Intergalactic Wildlife Criminal” by Chris Parsons
Talk Description: The illegal trade of wildlife is one of the major issues in wildlife conservation. This talk highlights the case of one Captain James Tiberius Kirk, intertemporal whale smuggler.
Bio: Professor, scientist, podcaster, pirate, bunny-hugger, writer, sculptor, underwear model & dolphin savior. Slytherin. Smells like the sea with just a whiff of adventure.

“Polari: the lost secret sea language of the gays” by Caroline Carter
Talk Description: Did you know there was a secret gay language spoken until the mid 20th century at sea? There is a rich, hidden history of queer folks on ships from the age of sail on, and a legacy of LGBTQ+ sailors that lives in today.
Bio: Caroline is an actor, presenter, a sailor, and a semi-reluctant historian. With a degree in biology, you can now find her on Tall Ship Providence in Alexandria, VA in silly costumes teaching folks about history. She’s also a part of local sketch comedy group Grace and the Gang, so she’s putting that degree to good use.

Date: Saturday, June 15th
Time: Doors at 6, show at 6:30
Where: DC9 Nightclub

This time around, we’re diving into the world of fungi, challenging WebMD’s doom-and-gloom diagnoses, and discovering why some worms are more hardcore than a heavy metal concert. Yes, you heard right: we’ve got fungi that could make your bread look suspicious, worms that would make a headbanger proud, and WebMD’s uncanny ability to convince you that a common cold is actually the plague. Because who doesn’t want to laugh while learning about their imminent doom??

So, join us, fellow nerdlings, for an evening of laughter and enlightenment, where you’ll find out just how many ways you might not die from fungi and worms (despite what WebMD says). Trust us, it’s going to be a wild, educational ride!

June Talks:
“A Fungus Among Us” by Drew Drozynski
Description: A whirlwind tour through the magical kingdom of fungi touching on its role in the environment, its impact on our daily lives, and how to not die if you try foraging for them yourself. Plus we’ll answer the age-old question, “Could The Last of Us really happen?”

“A Way with Worms: how are polychaete worms so small yet so heavy metal at the same time” by Kody Muhic
Description: The aliens are below us. Here we dive to the bottom of the sea to examine some of the elongated, boneless weirdos who live there, from the aptly named bone-eating snot-flower worm, to the scifi horror creature that is the Bobbit worm. (Key words: death-jawed, sexually ambiguous, exceptionally phallic, death orgy, sci-fi nightmare fuel).

“Everything Hurts and I’m Dying: WebMD vs an actual pathologist in a game of Worst Case Scenarios” by Kali Holder and Rae Pendergrass
Description: You know when you have some random mild symptom, search the internet to find out what it might be, and immediately regret it because you apparently have cancer, molybdenum toxicity, and/or network connectivity issues? That was a bad idea. This is a worse idea. This is what happens when a comedian asks a pathologist, “How bad could it be?”

Date: Saturday, May 18th
Time: Doors at 6, show at 6:30
Where: DC9 Nightclub

“You gotta rub me the right way: rectifying the pleasure gap one orgasm at a time” by Tiffany Atkinson
Description: Everyone deserves to have toe curling, mind shattering “what plane of existence did I just go to” sex, but vulva owners often get the shaft (and not in a good way). Let’s talk about the pleasure gap, why penis AND vulva owners are part of the problem, and how YOU can be part of the solution.
Bio: Tiffany (she/her) believes wholeheartedly in living life with childhood wonder. She is a self-proclaimed semi-professional chef who loves cheese, making peace signs, and dancing without a care in the world.

“Grass: An Ecological Nightmare, And How Mother Earth Needs Us To Make Better Choices” by Rachel Hager
Description: Grass lawns are the largest crop in the U.S.! But they serve no productive purpose other than to make us feel good. Come explore why grass is a terrible choice for your neighborhood and the planet. Let’s learn about how you can make small swaps that make a big difference.
Bio: Rachel (she/her) has a Masters in Ecology from Utah State University, where she also found her passion for science communication. She gets excited by new plants, good food, and outdoor adventures. Rachel is in the process of converting her bland lawn into a productive landscape filled with native plants, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden.

“That Time We Discovered The Proof for a Major Open Question in Mathematics in a 4chan Post About Anime from 2011” by Quill Nebeker
Description: Yes, 4chan. Really.
Bio: Quill Nebeker (she/her) used to produce strange theater things in DC like The Tarot Reading, The Internet: LIVE!! (with Rae Pendergrass) and SHRINES with The Arcanists. Now, she’s at NC State studying mathematics. This summer, she’s doing research in spectral graph theory with Dr. Fulton Gonzalez at Tufts. You can still see her once in a blue moon when she gets conscripted by the classically-minded reprobates of Shakespeare in the Pub. She may appear slightly different than you remember.