NERD NITE returns Thurs, August 13th to the Villain Theater. Doors at 7. The show begins at 7:30pm. We’ll do a round of trivia in-between the talks. Beer and wine will be sold at concessions. Nerd Nite books will also be available.
Guest speakers:
Asha Elias
Aldrich Chan, Psy.D.
Malachi Fenn, M.A., RPA
Thursday, August 13, 2026, 7p
Villain Theater
5865 NE 2nd Ave,
Miami, FL 33137
PRESENTATION #1:
“7 Principles of Nature, How We Strayed and How We Return” by Dr. Aldrich Chan
For more than 2500 years, humans have strayed from nature, challenging humanity with immeasurable consequences. In this talk, I will unravel the roots of how have become misaligned with natures principles and introduce the way back via a discussion of neuropsychology, daoism, and hunter-gatherers.
Aldrich Chan, Psy.D., is a neuropsychologist, psychotherapist, and founder of the Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness. He is an adjunct professor for the doctoral and master’s program at Pepperdine University and author of the award-winning book Reassembling Models of Reality published with W.W. Nortons acclaimed Interpersonal Neurobiology Series. Dr. Chan has publications on mindfulness, trauma, creativity, and novel psychotherapeutic approaches. He hosts weekly meditation groups and has been practicing meditation with special interests in Daoism and Zen for over a decade.
PRESENTATION #2:
“Outlaw Archaeology: How Crime Shaped South Florida” by Malachi Fenn, M.A., RPA
For centuries, South Florida was America’s final frontier, and one of the last places folks could go to disappear. Its unique environment has attracted pirates, gangsters, rum-runners, and other interesting characters! Dodging the law is one of South Florida’s proudest traditions, and much of our state’s history involves organized crime and criminality. This landscape archaeology talk maps out what makes a pirate and what makes a privateer, a brief history of Floridians’ responses to Prohibition, notable organized crime landmarks, and more!
Before becoming Public Archaeology Coordinator for FPAN’s Southeast Region, Malachi Fenn worked on cultural resource management (CRM) and museum projects throughout South Florida. They earned their B.A. in Anthropology from New College of Florida. A lifelong visual artist, Malachi has provided archaeological illustrations for numerous publications. Their specializations include Pre-Hispanic Maya archaeology and epigraphy, Florida pre-colonial and historical archaeology, museum collections care, and scientific illustration.
PRESENTATION #3:
Asha Elias on her recent article: The “gold-digger Miami girl” stereotype harms all of us
Writer, mother, and reluctant socialite Asha Elias lives with her family in Miami Beach. She graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in print journalism and worked at Ocean Drive magazine. She has contributed to Cosmopolitan magazine, FT Globetrotter, and SheKnows, and is a regular columnist for Miami New Times. She is the author of Pink Glass Houses and The Namaste Club.