Podcasting

All thx to the sponsor! **Line-Up:** 👉 *TBD* by TBD **Speaker Bios:** 🗣 *TBD*

**✨ A Warm Winter Gathering--Community, Energy & New Connections** “Let’s come together in a chic and calm space to enjoy wine, good vibes and shared moments.” Join our community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IvY0P9u9c1X8wqbargHqAD Please sent me a message to comfirm your coming, **🍇About the Wine World Journey** Each event explores a new wine region, with its own stories, grape varieties, and traditions. We’ll taste carefully selected wines, made from typical grape varieties that express the true character of the region. **🍷 Taste, Learn, and Truly Feel the Terroir** Part 1: Introduction to the Region * Why this region is famous in the wine world * A virtual tour to explore the landscape * Typical grape varieties, wineries, and wine labels Part 2: Tasting the wines together \- Making tasting notes to explore aromas and structure\, and sharing impressions to truly feel the character of the terroir. \- Blind Tasting game for the last glass\( region \+ grape variety\) Part 3: Communication and Connections 📌 **NOTIFICATION**: * 15.00 EUR to share the Wines ( including 2 glasses)+ Wine tasting note+ Snack * Please bring cash, and a pen to write tasting notes * The venue is inside a residential building reception lobby. Please enter through the main entrance gate, then turn right to reach the venue. You may enter together with other residents, or feel free to call me upon arrival.

📆 Agenda * 19:00 Welcome to the PUB (Python Users Berlin) – setting up * 19:15 Main talk * 20:00 Lightning talks * 20:30 Social gathering 🎙 Main talk by [@esc](https://github.com/esc): Whirlwind tour of [Numba](https://github.com/numba/numba) In this talk I will take you on a whirlwind tour of Numba -- the Python just-in-time (JIT) compiler. I will equip you with with a mental model of how Numba works and what it is good at. At the end, you will be able to decide if Numba could be useful for you. 📚 Resources * https://github.com/esc/numba-talk ⚡️ Lightning talks Time will be open at the end of the night for lightning talks (short 5 minute presentations). Please bring your ideas and inspirations with.

Join us this Thursday and watch four experienced comedians perform longer sets in Berlin Wedding. Cake and tuxedos are not guaranteed - but laughter and plenty of booze definitely is! Host: Gino Christofaro @gino.comedy Gino is a stand up comedian and comedy writer based in Berlin. Aside from performing all around Europe, he has also written or performed for Comedy Central, ZDF, SWR, Amazon, Paramount+ and more! Venue: Kulturpalast Wedding International Right on the border between Gesundbrunnen and Prenzlauer Berg, this cozy cultural club has been putting on shows for over 15 years. Kulturpalast is owned by artists and is run for the love of art - so come down and support the amazing dedication they've put into it! Time: Doors open: 20:00 Show starts at: 20:30 Entry: This is a donation based show. We recommend 10-15 EUR but pay what you can afford. Seating is very limited, so make sure to RSVP guaranteed entry! \*\*\* by reserving a ticket and entering this venue, we hereby give you membership access to the E.v. / club \*\*\*

Come along, grab a coffee, shut up, and write! We will do at least two sessions of each 45 minutes of writing and two breaks. We will start the first writing session at 10:45. For space reasons we only allow a limited number of attendees, so please update your RSVP if you can't come. We'll probably be grouped around the large table in the back room's center. In the summer, also outside. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Join us for the next Spring User Group Berlin meetup! This time, we are bridging the gap between rock-solid operations and developer joy. **Talk 1: Secure and Seamless: Injecting Kubernetes Secrets into Spring Applications** *Speaker: Dmitriy Goi, Deutsche Bank* Look, we’ve all done it. You need a database password, so you throw it into an environment variable and call it a day. It works, it’s fast, and your app starts up. But then the security audit hits, or your credentials rotate and suddenly your logs are full of connection errors because your Spring context is stuck in the past. At Deutsche Bank, "good enough" usually isn't. I’ve spent the last few years moving Spring apps into Kubernetes and realizing that most tutorials lie to you. They show you the easy way, not the way that survives in production. I’m going to show you why environment variables are a security trap and how mounting secrets as files actually works (and where it breaks). We’ll get into the mess of secret rotation, why you probably need a CSI driver or an External Secret operator, and how to make Spring Boot actually pick up those changes without a manual restart. **About the speaker:** A passionate software engineer at Deutsche Bank, Dmitriy brings 8 years of development experience to his focus on modernizing application development. He specializes in Spring Boot and Kubernetes and is currently helping lead the charge on migrating key applications to a hybrid cloud environment, emphasizing secure and efficient engineering practices. \-\-\- **Talk 2: Adopting Kotlin for Spring 7: Cleaner Code, Fewer Bugs, Some Tradeoffs** *Speaker: Daniil Tsarev, JetBrains* Kotlin is becoming a first-class citizen in the Spring ecosystem, especially with the latest features in Spring 7. In this talk, we'll explore how easy it is to adopt Kotlin in existing Spring projects, what tangible benefits it brings to everyday development, and where some edges still are. Expect practical examples, real-world tradeoffs, and an honest look at whether Kotlin is the right choice for your Spring stack. **About the speaker:** Daniil Tsarev is a Software Developer at JetBrains with over 10 years of experience working with the Spring ecosystem. Previously was developing a Spring-based full-stack framework for enterprise solutions. Now passionate about developer productivity, he’s dedicated to creating tools and solutions that make developers’ lives easier. **📅 Agenda** [**18:30**]: Doors open, food, drinks & networking [**19:00**]: Talk 1: Secure and Seamless (K8s Secrets) [**19:45**]: Short break [**20:00**]: Talk 2: Adopting Kotlin for Spring 7 [**21:00**]: Q&A and more networking [**22:00**]: Closing the doors Come for the knowledge, stay for the community. See you there! \-\-\- 📍 Venue Details 📌 Postal address: Otto-Suhr-Allee 16, 10585 Berlin 🚪 Entrance: Otto-Suhr-Allee 16: New Building 🚆 Getting there by public transport 🔴 Subway: U2, stop "Ernst-Reuter-Platz" 🚌 Bus: 245, M45, stop "Ernst-Reuter-Platz" 🚶‍♀️🚶 How to find the right entrance: 1️⃣ From Ernst-Reuter-Platz (U2 station or bus stop), walk towards the high-rise Deutsche Bank building with a bank branch. 2️⃣ To the left of this building, you’ll see Otto-Suhr-Allee 16: New Building. 3️⃣ At the very front of the building, you’ll see Dave B. café☕ , which means you’re almost there, yay! 🎉 4️⃣ Walk past the café Dave B. and head to the first entrance of the office building with glass rotating doors (it will be on your left). 5️⃣ Signage with the event name will be placed near the entrance. 6️⃣ You made it! Enter and proceed to check-in at the reception. \-\-\- **IMPORTANT** ⚠️ Check-In Procedure ‼️ Your full name must be correctly listed in your RSVP (e.g., Max Mustermann). ❌ Incomplete or unclear names (e.g., j, j k, Happy Cat) will not be allowed entry due to strict security policies. ✅ Please bring a valid ID 🆔 for name verification at the entrance. If you'd rather not change it here, just message me your name on LinkedIn or via email so I can add you to the guest list. You can find all my contact info at [https://asm0dey.site](https://asm0dey.site.)

Drunk driving is not cool, but drunk writing is! This is a community event for writers, with drinks! Work on your own projects or use the creative writing prompts provided. Join us at Das Gift, where we will have focused 20 minute writing sprints, with breaks in between. Das Gift is at Donaustraße 119, 12043, Berlin.

Cure the comedown and celebrate humanity with 1 hour of standup comedy in English by local legends, rising stars and seasoned pros. At the early show on Sunday at The Wall Comedy, we got what you neeeeed. Get loose for a tight hour of distraction, vulnerability, togetherness and joy. **Entry: FREE** Reserve via **https://www.annaberos.com/berlin** or https://afterpartycomedyenglishstandup.eventbrite.de to secure your seat. Recommended donation 7-10€ cash/card Entry is free so you can leave if nothing's giving you joy. If you stay, pay. Doors: 17:30 **Show starts: 18:00** Show ends: 19:00 **produced & usually hosted by ANNA BEROS** (AUS) Anna’s a Kiwi born, Melbourne raised, Berlin based full-time independent standup comedian, YouTube host, podcaster and producer. She celebrates life’s struggles with incisive standup and playful audience interaction. Her new standup solo, High Hoe enjoyed a successful full run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025 and her previous solos, Creampie Curious and Creampie Clarity played at numerous comedy festivals through the UK and Australia in 2023 and 2024. She tours Europe and produces and hosts 5 weekly shows in Berlin. In 2025, she opened for Jeff Arcuri at Admiralspalast, in 2024 for April Macie on US army bases in Germany and for Ian Fidance in Berlin in 2019. She hosts the comedy channel, Ersties Nonsense, has the podcast Adults ONLY Comedy Berlin and has written for Comedy Central DE. **https://www.instagram.com/afberos/** Lineup via IG @adultsonlycomedyberlin **https://www.instagram.com/adultsonlycomedyberlin/**

Hey everyone! I’m organising a co-working + socialising session for all of us who like to work on something (e.g. our own project, freelance or remote work) but don't feel like sitting alone at home. 🙂 To ensure that we have both **socialising** AND **working**, we will be using the so called “Pomodoro” technique: **50min of deep work** (silent), followed by **10min of break** to socialise. Then repeat! If you get into flow, you're also welcome to skip the breaks. It’s an effective way to stay focused - you can read more about it [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique). Anyone from any background is welcome, whatever project you are working on or whatever is your personal background. I (the host) speak English and German, so either is fine :-) ——————————————————- AGENDA: * **15min Intro** * Get to know everyone, talk about what you will work on today * **Pomodoro Session** (3x) - *Each Pomodoro session consists* *of...* * ...**50min** of uninterrupted “deep work” (no talking, no interruptions, no phones) * ...**10min** of break: share your progress with others, talk about what you are stuck on etc. * Repeat * Conclude and celebrate your progress Share your progress, socialise and get to know others 😊 ———— We'll be at the Social Hub Berlin (they have a food menu in case you get hungry). The structured part will end at 2:30pm, but you're welcome to stay longer, go for lunch together, or leave earlier. See you there 🩵 **\*\*We'll reserve the long table. Please update your RSVP in advance if you can't attend!\*\***

**Founders Running Club** (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family, are welcome. 🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022 🌍 Now in 35+ cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community **Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats) **Stay updated**: Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/) Podcast [http://podcast.foundersrc.com/](http://podcast.foundersrc.com/) LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/) Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC) Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)

Curious what we do? Check our [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/filmmakersandmovienerds/) ♥️ Would you like to meet some like-minded filmmakers? Start a project? Or do you need help with a movie you are currently working on? Are you new in the city and you'd like to meet people tinkering with movies? **Then you should join us!** We meet every Sunday. It’s important to us that we get to know each other in person. To create a community of connected people, work, learn and grow together. For film making you need a crew of reliable people with a positive can-do-attitude. This is the place to find them. Together, we will talk about these topics: * What you are currently working on * What you need help with * What would you like to help with * What you you would like to learn This is event is great for: * filmmakers * movie nerds * writers * camera operators * editors * actors * sound recorders * composers * gaffers * producers We are limiting the amount of people, so we can have a structured introduction and discussion. After that we get together loosely with some drinks and chats. And then we mostly go for dinner with a couple of us. **Important information**: *To sustain and grow this amazing community, we started a member contribution that is due every month. The money we collect is used solely for the purpose of the community. Of course you can come once or twice without contributing to check us out!*

**A slick hour of standup with professional comedians and the finest spirits and cocktails.** Bar open from 7pm, show seating from 8:30pm, show 9 - 10pm no break. Start your weekend with an hour of undiluted comedy excellence. **produced by and often featuring ANNA BEROS** (AUS) Anna’s a Kiwi born, Melbourne raised, Berlin based full-time independent standup comedian, YouTube host, podcaster and producer. She celebrates life’s struggles with incisive standup and playful audience interaction. Her new standup solo, High Hoe enjoyed a successful full run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025 and her previous solos, Creampie Curious and Creampie Clarity played at numerous comedy festivals through the UK and Australia in 2023 and 2024. She tours Europe and produces and hosts 5 weekly shows in Berlin. In 2025, she opened for Jeff Arcuri at Admiralspalast, in 2024 for April Macie on US army bases in Germany and for Ian Fidance in Berlin in 2019. She hosts the comedy channel, Ersties Nonsense, has the podcast Adults ONLY Comedy Berlin and has written for Comedy Central DE. "Beros is a full-time standup and her hours on stage are evident in her skill at taking the temperature of the audience and bringing them along with her as she veers into darker material." – The Age, Melbourne Australia [https://www.instagram.com/afberos/](https://www.instagram.com/afberos/) **featured COMEDIANS** updated on instagram stories @adultsonlycomedyberlin [https://www.instagram.com/adultsonlycomedyberlin/](https://www.instagram.com/adultsonlycomedyberlin/) **MEIN FREUND HARVEY** S/U-Yorckstraße, U-Kleistpark, U-Bülowstraße Your new favourite bar in Schöneberg - cosy, friendly and sophisticated with an impressive range of spirits, cocktails (non-alcoholic too) and wines. No beer, so treat yourself. Seasonal bar snacks available. Arrive early to enjoy something special. Non-smoking inside. Seating out front for smoking. Card payment preferred [https://www.instagram.com/meinfreundharveybar/](https://www.instagram.com/meinfreundharveybar/) **Prepurchase your tickets** via https://www.annaberos.com/berlin – limited capacity of 22 seats If sold out here, tickets may still be available via https://comedyneat.eventbrite.de Remaining seats may be available at the door with cash or card

Join us for an upcoming in-person Lean Coffee meetup. Lean Coffee is a lightly-structured meeting format where the attendees create the agenda. Bring your management challenges; whether you're managing people, products, processes or beyond, and solve them together with peers from a diverse set of backgrounds. This event is great for anybody trying to create better ways of working and wants to share with + learn from others trying to do the same.

**Come together. Write. Support each other.** • Du schreibst einfach gern – egal ob Buch, Blog, Poesie oder Tagebuch? • Du vermisst Gespräche über das Schreiben und das, was dabei entsteht? • Du wünschst dir mehr Zeit zum Schreiben – und Menschen, die ähnlich ticken? Kreativ sein verbindet — und genau dafür ist dieser *Social Writing Club* da. Dieser Club ist für Menschen, die gerne schreiben und Lust haben, das nicht immer allein zu tun: gemeinsam Zeit verbringen, schreiben, sich austauschen und ganz nebenbei neue Menschen kennenlernen – in einem entspannten, offenen Rahmen. Ganz gleich, wo du gerade mit dem Schreiben stehst: Du bist willkommen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wir treffen uns einmal im Monat in einem Café am Platz der Luftbrücke in Kreuzberg/ Tempelhof. **Es gibt kein Thema, keinen Input, kein Feedback.** Jede\*r schreibt für sich, an dem, was gerade da ist – im eigenen Tempo, auf die eigene Art. Zwischendurch und danach gibt es Raum für Gespräche: über das Schreiben selbst oder einfach über das Leben. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **So läuft ein Treffen ab** Wir kommen entspannt an, bestellen etwas und richten uns ein. Der Vormittag besteht aus **einer Schreibeinheit**. Wir schreiben in Stille – nebeneinander, konzentriert, jede\*r für sich. Zum Abschluss gibt es Zeit zum Ankommen miteinander: Kennenlernen, Austauschen, Zuhören. Alles kann, nichts muss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **ℹ️ Hinweise** * Wir treffen uns in einem Café und sind dort normale Gäste. Also plane bitte ein, dort etwas zu bestellen. * Die Teilnahme selbst ist kostenlos. Um die monatlichen Meetup-Gebühren zu decken, freue ich mich über einen freiwillige **Spende** **von** **2 € bis 5 €** – vor Ort in **bar** oder per **PayPal**. * Eine Vorbereitung ist nicht erforderlich. Alles, was du brauchst, ist das, woran du schreiben willst – handschriftlich oder digital. * Die Treffen finden auf Deutsch statt. 🇩🇪 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 🗓️ **Agenda** **11:00 – 11:15 Uhr** Ankommen, Begrüßung, Einrichten & etwas bestellen **11:15 – 12:45 Uhr** Stille Schreibeinheit (konzentriertes Schreiben, jede\*r für sich – gerne Kopfhörer mitbringen, falls es im Café etwas lauter wird) **12:45 – 13:30 Uhr** Austausch & Ausklang

**TURN UP THE VOLUME: Do You Want To Learn How To Create a Podcast** **Fairfax Public Access** **Wednesday\, March\. 4th\, 2026 \| 7:00pm \(2hr est\.\)** Got a voice? A story? A podcast idea you’ve been sitting on? Pull up and join us at our Community Media Station for a vibe-filled meetup made for podcasters, radio hosts, voice artists, and audio creatives. Whether you’re already dropping episodes or just thinking about starting, this is your chance to connect, learn, and tap into real resources that can take your content to the next level. **What’s going down:** • Meet and connect with local creators • Tour our radio studios and creative spaces • Learn how to launch, grow, and level up your podcast or show • Discover training, membership perks, and collaboration opportunities • Open convo + Q&A with our team **Location:** 2929 Eskridge Rd., Suite S, Fairfax, VA 22031 **RSVP or for Questions Contact us at**: FPAtraining@fcac.org / 571-749-1132 / www.fcac.org/orienation

⚡ **Reset your mindset. Meet someone unexpected. Walk away with new clarity.** Join us for a free, small-group event held in our **Startup Garage** — a **spacious, bright, comfortable living-room style space** inside a single-family home. Think couches, coffee, and real conversation — **not an actual garage 😊** 🔁 You’ll be **paired** with different attendees throughout the event for short, energizing rounds — each sparked by a simple **opening line** designed to make you laugh, reflect, and think bigger about what comes next. You won’t just talk about what’s behind you — You’ll begin to **picture what’s ahead** in a way that actually excites you. *** **☕ Coffee and snacks are on me.** Just show up with a curious mind — and a willingness to laugh. We’ll guide you through questions that blend **wisdom and humor** — the kind that help you see your story through a new lens. *** **🔍 What You’ll Experience** • One-on-one rounds to explore purpose, identity, and new possibilities • Light, energizing activities designed to shift your mindset in under 10 minutes • Fresh insights from people you’ve never met — but may never forget • A laid-back, thoughtful space to connect without pressure *** **💼 Who It’s For** • Divorced/Separated or midlife professionals figuring out what’s next • Entrepreneurs, builders, and creatives in a season of reinvention • Men and women who prefer **meaningful conversation** over surface level talk Whether you’re starting over, scaling up, or just ready for something more aligned — this space is for you. *** 📊 *Most attendees are in their 30s, 40s, or 50s — navigating life and growth with curiosity, clarity, and a sense of humor.* 🛋️ **Hosted in a spacious living-room setting** inside a single-family home (Ashburn). Full address shared after RSVP. 🌐 Explore more: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co) 🎥 Curious about the 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 vs 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰 concept before attending? Here’s a short 10-minute explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI&feature=youtu.be

**How To Live From Higher Love Master Class** A Free Live Zoom Experience \| February 22nd at 2:22pm RSVP Info@AscensionAlchemists.com **Celebrate Our Anniversary With Our Master Class** and step into the remembrance of love as God intended. We lovingly invite you into a sacred experience devoted to **Living from Higher Love** \- the love of God Almighty \- embodied and aligned within a relationship\. Higher Love is not about fixing your partner, perfecting yourself, or performing love “the right way.It is about **anchoring into God’s love within you** and allowing that love to become the foundation from which you relate, communicate, and choose one another — day by day, moment by moment. In this free **LIVE MASTER CLASS,** we will share from our lens how to live in a relationship from Higher Love. A way of loving that is rooted in presence, devotion, truth, safety, and divine alignment — rather than fear, ego, or unconscious patterns. Whether you are: • In a committed relationship • Calling in a sacred partnership • Or desiring to elevate the love you already share This experience is designed to **open your heart, expand your awareness, and reconnect you to love as a living truth**. A return to love as **presence, devotion, and choice**. Come as you are. Come with your partner or on your own. Come if you feel the call to love more consciously, more deeply, and more divinely.  **To RSVP for this FREE Master Class, please email:** **info@ascensionalchemists.com** We look forward to sharing this sacred day on our Anniversary With You. With the Joy of God ALMighty's Pure Love, Rev. HoniB & Michael of Ascension Alchemists™ Podcast 🎧 FOLLOW & LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ascension-alchemists-podcast-assisting-individuals/id1838325380

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – February 25 Business Presentation** **Featuring Seeman Saeed, Founder of LeakzAlert** **Wednesday\, February 25 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** We’re excited to welcome **Seeman Saeed**, founder of **LeakzAlert**, to the 1 Million Cups Loudoun stage to share an innovative solution focused on prevention, protection, and smarter property management. **About the Business** LeakzAlert provides **water leak detection and monitoring services** designed to identify issues early and help prevent costly damage. By delivering proactive alerts and monitoring, LeakzAlert supports property owners and managers in protecting their assets, reducing risk, and avoiding unexpected disruptions. **Who Seeman Is Looking to Hear From** Seeman is eager to connect with professionals across: * Property management * Property maintenance companies * Home insurance providers * Hotels and hospitals * Homeowners * Anyone responsible for facility or property oversight **Current Focus** As LeakzAlert gains traction, Seeman is seeking feedback on: * Sales scalability * Sustainable growth strategies * Expanding market reach * Building strong industry partnerships **Why Attend?** * Learn about a service that directly impacts workplace success * Provide valuable feedback to a growing business * Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and community leaders * Be part of a collaborative, solutions-focused conversation **What is 1 Million Cups?** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through presentations and discussion. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us on **February 25 at 9:00 AM** for coffee, connection, and a meaningful conversation about communication, workforce development, and business growth. We look forward to seeing you there!

See http://fairfaxtoastmasters.org for details, including any possible last-minute change to the meeting place. (Hover or click on "Next Meeting" in the left-side navbar, then click on "View Meeting".) If you RSVP "yes" and then find you can't make it after all, please change your RSVP to "no".

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Satanic Panics,”** a look at waves of fear of demonic activity as an American tradition, with Luxx Mishou, cultural historian and former instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and area community colleges. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics2](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics2) .] The 1980s found the United States gripped by fear of Satanic cults targeting children. They were believed to be corrupting young ones in daycare centers and tempting teens through subliminal messages on heavy metal albums or through the quiet inclusion of demonic rituals in role-playing games. Satanic serial killers supposedly stalked the suburbs. Doctors helped patients uncover what were claimed to be repressed memories of ritualistic satanic abuse. Parents, police, and politicians were urged to protect impressionable youths from both moral and physical danger. With Satanic cults deemed to be a real and material threat, it was a frightening time for everyone, including those who suddenly came under suspicion for doing evil deeds. Then, suddenly, it all faded from public consciousness, just as surely as did eighties fads such mullet haircuts, leg warmers, and Cabbage Patch Kids. Why did it all start? Why did it stop? And has this happened before or since? Hear such questions tackled by Luxx Mishou, a cultural historian and media specialist who has long researched the devious and villainous in cultural artifacts. She’ll discuss moral panics as a longstanding cultural tradition, with each new one stemming from fear of cultural shifts and shaped by the time and place where it occurred. Among the panics we’ll look into are the Red Scare of the 1950s and the public response to the gruesome 1969 murders committed by the Manson Family. Delving into the 1980s panic, Mishou will describe how it began with the 1980 publication of psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder’s memoir *Michelle Remembers*, detailing the suppressed memories of ritualistic abuse reportedly suffered by a patient. As that book quickly became a best seller, its ideas saturated American culture. A California daycare center became the focus of a three-year investigation, followed by three years of trials, based on allegations that its owner had engaged in secret ritualistic abuse of the children in its care. Mishou will lead you through the media that convinced the public that devil worshipers were among them, and she’ll talk about how reactions to imagined threats can have very real social costs. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

Dulles South Toastmasters club meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month at Gum Spring Library, with the meeting hours 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm. Club Officers will be in the room at 3:15 pm to answer your questions and provide information. Guests are welcome. Pleas join us!