Nerd Nite Los Angeles - February 2025

Nerd Nite is fun-yet-informative lectures at a bar. It's like TED Talks...but with beer.

We all know that learning is more fun when you’re drinking with friends and colleagues. Thus, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in more than 100 cities across the globe during which several folks give 20-minute fun-yet-informative and easily accessible presentations across all disciplines – while the audience drinks along.

https://linktr.ee/nerdnitela

FAQ's:

- Doors open at 7pm. Intro at 7:45pm. Presentations at 8pm.

- The Brewyard Beer Company is a 21+ venue.

- There is free street parking surrounding the bar, but we recommend utilizing a ride share service.

PRESENTATION LINE-UP:

PRESENTATION #1: We Don't Know Why Period Cramps Hurt: A Review of Frankly Not Enough Research on Women's Pain

By Kate Downey

Summary: Until 1994, the NIH employed more veterinarians than gynecologists. Women's health is severely understudied, and the result is that we don't have basic research on extremely common ailments like severe period cramps. In her presentation, producer and podcast host Kate Downey will show the extent of the problem, highlight the amazing research that IS being done, and show what the world could be like if the world gave a s**t about women's quality of life.

Bio: Kate Downey is a nerd a with a uterus and a microphone - she has a Simons Foundation grant-supported podcast releasing this month called CRAMPED about this very topic. A podcast and live show producer, Kate previously cofounded Caveat, NYC's home for live science comedy, and was the Creative Director at Museum Hack, where she ran around the Metropolitan Museum of Art telling everyone the art's dirty secrets.


PRESENTATION #2: A Mystical Journey to "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" : The Research and Development of Disney's Animated Classic

By Charles "Tab" Murphy

Summary: What do Plato, Edgar Cayce and a host of other famous mystics and spiritualists have in common? They all believed in the lost continent of Atlantis! Screenwriter Tab Murphy will take us behind the scenes of the research, development, and inspiration for Disney's mystical adventure classic - and explain why he believes Princess Kida doesn't belong in the canon of Disney princesses!

Bio: Tab attended USC Film School and has been a working screenwriter since 1983. His major break occurred with a writing credit on ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ in 1988, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. Tab wrote and directed the western fantasy ‘Last of the Dogmen’, starring Tom Berenger and Barbara Hershey, a love letter to his passion for Native American culture. Tab’s work in the world of animation is extensive. He spent ten years at Disney Animation, writing such feature length animated classics as ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’; ‘Tarzan’; ‘Atlantis: The Lost Empire’ and ‘Brother Bear’. He’s been nominated for several Annie Awards and ‘Brother Bear’ was additionally nominated for an Academy Award. To date, his Disney animated feature films have earned well over a billion dollars world-wide.


PRESENTATION #3: Strings Attached: The Enchantment & Legacy of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater

By Winona Bechtle

Summary: For over 60 years, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater has delighted audiences of all ages with its handcrafted puppets and whimsical performances. But behind the curtains, it’s also a story of artistic resilience, community building, and the fight to keep a beloved art form alive. From Hollywood’s golden age to the digital era, the Theater has evolved while staying true to its roots. Join Winona Bechtle as she unpacks the fascinating history, cultural impact, and ongoing magic of one of Los Angeles' most beloved institutions.

Bio: Winona Bechtle is the Director of Partnerships at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, where she has played a key role in expanding the Theater’s reach and securing its future. She has led fundraising campaigns that support the Theater's move to a new location and forged partnerships with institutions like the Academy Museum and the Natural History Museum. With a background in arts management and nonprofit strategy, she is dedicated to preserving LA’s cultural heritage while finding innovative ways to engage new audiences. When she’s not wrangling puppets and partnerships, she enjoys serving on the board of Los Angeles Filmforum and Vidiots, supporting nonprofit film in all forms!