Vitamins! Better Communication! Weird Animal Sex! February 20th
You may have the winter blues, but fear not, we have just the cure! Three fun-yet-informative visual presentations with music, prizes, refreshments and guaranteed good company. Tickets: bit.ly/NNHV-FEB20
We hear from Dr. Anthony Basile, Associate Professor of Biology at SUNY Sullivan with: “For the Love of Vitamins.” Did you hear the news? Vitamin D BOOSTS your metabolism of Nerd Nite! We all talk about the vitamins, see them written on our food labels, and eat them every day. Yet most people fail to appreciate how amazing the vitamins actually are. No, this talk is not about vitamin supplements. Instead, this talk is about the little bits of organic chemistry that we must eat every day to live. Why Because evolution has left us fully dependent on eating other species for nourishment. From A to K, this talk will present the vitamins as spectacles of human biology!
Dr. Anthony J. Basile is an Associate Professor of Biology at State University of New York (SUNY) Sullivan. As the only Evolutionary Biologist who is also a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, he holds a unique perspective on human nutrition. Anthony’s top three favorite foods are dark chocolate, plantains, and dried dates. As a musician from the Hudson valley, Anthony has surprisingly yet to perform in Beacon, so he is excited to be making his debut at Nerd Nite!
Next, we welcome Dawn Hunter, Nerd Nite St. Pete co-boss, with “Connection Before Content: The Secret Sauce to Better Communication.” Ever wondered why some conversations feel like a warm hug while others are as cold as a winter breeze? It’s all about connection! Think of it as the secret sauce to making your messages stick like glue. We’ll explore the magic of values-based messaging, setting the stage for communication that’s not just heard but felt. Then, we’ll sprinkle in some tools and strategies to help you discover your unique communication style. It’s like finding your inner superhero and learning how to use your powers for good! Remember, people want to know you care before they care what you know. Let’s make those connections count! Take the quiz at the bottom of this post for some fun participation.**
Dawn is one of the Nerd Nite St. Pete bosses, which means she’s usually behind the scenes troubleshooting tech, wrangling slide decks, and making sure the night runs smoother than your third drink. But for this event, she’s stepping out from behind the clipboard to nerd out about what makes communication actually work. By day, she runs a business focused on healthy boundaries, joyful living, and redefining the way we think about work and rest. By night, she’s probably reading three books at once, brainstorming podcast episode ideas, and indulging in cozy vibes. She believes data is sexy, naps are sacred, and life is too short to be ordinary.
Finally, Dr. Kate Weiss, urban wildlife ecologist and Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at Marist University, brings us “The Birds, the Bees, and the Bizarre: Weird Sex in the Animal Kingdom.” We all think we know how sex works… but do we really? Through this talk, we will learn about the wacky and wild world of how species across the animal kingdom “get it on.” This will include investigations of anatomy, sex determination, pleasure, and the age-old question of “how could childbirth possibly get worse” (surprise, it can!). Through this talk, listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity of approaches to sexual reproduction and understand that this variation is key to allowing life to always find a way.
Friday February 20th at 7:30pm at The Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY.
Doors at 7pm. Be there and be square! Tickets: bit.ly/NNHV-FEB20
**For some added fun, you can take this anonymous quiz (no personal information is collected). Make sure to save your score and bring it to the show! https://tinyurl.com/MFTsurvey-book Once you close the survey, we have no way of identifying you, so please save your score.
Friday March 20th, 2026 at The Howland Cultural Center
Women Warriors in the Middle Ages! How a Dictator is Built and Broken! Taxes suck, Economics is fun!
Friday April 17th, 2026 at Industrial Arts Brewing Co
Special Movie & a Talk!
Friday May 29th, 2026 at The Howland Cultural Center