Nerd Nite Austin 173: Whale Tales and Life Lessons

Name: Nerd Nite Austin 173: Whale Tales and Life Lessons
Start: 2025-08-28T19:30:00-05:00
Location: 1911 Aldrich Street, Suite 120, Austin, TX, United States, Texas 78723

Schedule

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025 at 07:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

1911 Aldrich Street, Suite 120, Austin, TX, United States, Texas 78723 | Austin, TX

Let’s learn new ways of looking at life from tales featuring our aquatic cousins of the cetacean persuasion.
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The talks:
“Money, Mayhem, and Manipulation: What Moby Dick Tells Us About Surviving in Troubled Times” By Meredith Volk
Most people either hate this book or feel obligated to read it “someday.” And those who love it often do a terrible job of explaining why they do. Is it an adventure on the high seas or an obsessive compendium on whaling? Or is is it a meditation on dignity and human connection when life gets hard?
Meredith Volk is a UX content design leader at a financial technology company. She’s read Moby Dick 11 times just trying to make sense of it.
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“The Tale of the Loneliest Whale” by Patrick Harris, PhD, LPC
In this talk, the story of the world’s loneliest whale who calls at a frequency no other whale can to hear is used as a powerful metaphor for the human experience of loneliness. It explores how moments of isolation can feel like unanswered calls, yet also reveal the beauty of our unique voices and perspectives. By learning to embrace what sets us apart, we can navigate loneliness with resilience and connect more deeply with others who are willing to truly listen.
Patrick Harris is a licensed therapist, professor, and public speaker residing in Austin, TX. He holds a BA in Psychology and religious studies, MA in Counseling, and a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, as well as harboring an appropriate fear of the dark and not understanding how taxes work.
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The Boilerplate:
You can join us live and in person, or watch the show stream on Twitch.
We're delighted to be bringing you the show from Barrel O' Fun in the Alamo Drafthouse Mueller. Menu, map, parking info and more on the Barrel website at https://drafthouse.com/austin/theater-bar/mueller. The venue is open from 4:00 pm to 10:30 pm. As always, Nerd Nite Austin is free, so arrive early to get a good seat. Grab a drink, order some food, tip your servers, and enjoy the show!
Talks may not be given in the order listed. There will be an intermission between the speakers.
There will be volunteer trainee ASL interpreters at the show.

If you want to, you can RSVP to our Facebook event, just show up, or watch on our Twitch stream... which will eventually end up posted on our YouTube! Keep an eye on our website and our Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram accounts, too.
Since COVID-19 hasn't gone away (and getting the cold/flu/crud/measles isn't fun, either), we ask that you stay home if you aren't feeling well or have had a known exposure. We also encourage vaccination and frequent testing. Mask-wearing nerds are welcome.