Presenters

Click on the Names below to see a detailed biography and photos.

Presenters

Michael Rizzo

Mike Rizzo is a lifetime Star Trek and SciFi Fan. He grew up watching classic SciFi TV like Star Trek the original series, Lost in Space, and Space 1999. Of course, in 1977 his world changed when Star Wars hit the theaters. Throughout the years he has collected and created props and memorabilia from the […]

Kent Schmidt

Kent Schmidt was born in South Carolina, but was relocated to Upstate NY when he was a teenager. He graduated college with a degree in Political Science. He began working in retail environments until he started a 22-year career selling and leasing automobiles. A lifelong computer and electronic enthusiast, he transitioned into an IT management […]

Phil Merkel

Phil Merkel aka “Captain Phil” is a DJ on WUSB 90.1 fm radio and host of “Captain Phil’s Planet.” The Planet airs alternate Thursdays 3 pm to 5 pm and streams at www.wusb.fm if you are out of the WUBS listening area. Captain Phil embraces all music genres on his planet and most other planets […]

802 Ghostbusters

802 Ghostbusters is a group of Ghostbusters cosplayers based in Rutland, Vermont. We attend several events over the course of the year, including conventions, fundraising events, parades, and other community activities. We are happy to help with cosplay and prop-building questions. We are a group for fans and members alike and we support anyone who wants […]

Dr. Ronald Held

Ronald Held has a Ph. D in astrophysics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. As a fan since TOS, Star Tek has inspired his research and presentation topics.

Jim Yager “Uncle Jim”

My name is Uncle Jim, I’ve been doing a Star Trek podcast, Trek Talking, since 2015. I’m a Klingon fan, and have been, and always shall be a Trekkie.

Dave McOwen & Dani Riedel

Seriously Nerdy Comedy is a group of East Coast stand-up comedians dedicated to telling the nerdiest jokes at all the nerdiest places. Dave McOwen is a professional museum nerd, DC-based comedian, and retired US Air Force flight medic. He has performed at the DC Improv, at an assortment of comic/sci-fi conventions across the country (including […]

Andrew Liptak

Andrew Liptak is a writer and historian from Vermont. He is the author of Cosplay: A History (Saga Press, 2022), and his work has appeared in Clarkesworld Magazine, Gizmodo, io9, Kirkus Reviews, Lifehacker, Slate, Tor.com, VentureBeat, The Verge, and other publications. He writes a newsletter, Transfer Orbit, which explores the state of science fiction, reading, […]

Dr. David Alexander

Dr Alexander was selected as a NASA Flight Surgeon in November 2004. His NASA Flight Surgeon Training included orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training. He is a certified Flight Controller for the […]

Professor Matthew Szydagis

Dr. Matthew Szydagis grew up with Star Trek: The Next Generation and after watching Lt. Cmdr. Data he realized that science officer was the position for him. He received his B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 2005, 2006, and 2011 respectively, then continued his work in physics as a postdoctoral scholar […]