A traveling variety show about
how to survive the apocalypse
Could your city survive the apocalypse?
A motley crew of artists, musicians, scientists and doctors hit the road to bring a hopeful message of survival and fun to small towns and big cities along (and adjacent to) Route 66. Our goal is to educate everyone about how to survive the apocalypse (including floods, fires, meteors, zombies and more!) through community events, workshops, and a variety show that includes apocalypse-themed music, comedy, and storytelling.
EVENTS
What's happening on the Apocalypse Road Show?
May 24th, 4pm
The Apocalypse Road Show Variety Show
Late for the Train, Flagstaff
Join author Athena Aktipis and The Apocalypse Roadshow for a Variety Show at Late for the Train in Flagstaff, Arizona! Join us on our journey as we travel the country in search of the perfect place to weather our apocalypt-ish times, guided by music, comedy and Aktipis’ new book “A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times,” a common sense field guide to understanding, surviving, and thriving in our time of complex chaos and crises. Featuring music from Julie Sullivan-Brace, the founder of Pickin' in the Pines music festival, sketch comedy, musical parodies, storytelling, improv, and surprise guests, this show is packed with fun and useful survival tips!
April 18th, 7pm
The Apocalypse Road Show Variety Show
Changing Hands, Phoenix
Join author Athena Aktipis for the kickoff of The Apocalypse Road Show Variety Show at Changing Hands in Phoenix, Arizona! Join our journey as we travel the country in search of the perfect place to weather our apocalypt-ish times, guided by music, comedy and Aktipis’ new book “A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times,” a common sense field guide to understanding, surviving, and thriving in our time of complex chaos and crises. Featuring apocalyptic music from local alt-country favorite Katie Mae, sketch comedy, musical parodies, storytelling, improv, and surprise guests, this show is packed with fun and useful survival tips! Ticket purchase will include a copy of Athena's book.
April 9th, 7pm
Stand-Up Science: Apocalypse Edition
Walter Studios, Phoenix
How can we survive the apocalypse? With brains and a good sense of humor!
Join Shane Mauss and Athena Aktipis for a night of apocalyptic hilarity as they chat about the challenges facing humanity and how we can use comedy, adaptability and a sense of adventure to deal - and do something to prevent utter disaster! Shane and Athena will talk about the funny side of Athena's new book “A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times,” a common sense field guide to understanding, surviving, and thriving in our time of complex chaos and crises. Come in your favorite apocalypse casual outfit and leave with survival tips to help you through whatever challenge is in your future, whether it's extreme heat in the valley or an music festival mudpit.
Why The Apocalypse Road Show?
To have fun while being real about the risks we face.
To indulge our morbid curiosity.
Like doom scrolling, but better and more social!
To learn about the world through traveling and making social connections.
To share what we know and learn through these travels.
ROADIES
We will be on the road starting May 2024, with our apocalypse vehicles and RVs, and band buses. We'll be playing music, talking about strategies for surviving the apocalypse, meeting people from all walks of life, doing shows and readings and events, and just having a blast. We'll share what we know and learn as we go, shake things up, bring together communities that might not otherwise come together (e.g., academics and off-road enthusiasts), and help everyone get more prepared for the challenges we are all facing as our world becomes more uncertain and risky.
Athena Aktipis
The Zombie Prof
Athena is the Executive Producer of Zombified Media, and Co-Director of the Human Generosity Project. She is an Associate Professor of Psychology at ASU and the author of "A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times."
Coltan Scrivner
Morbid Scientist
Coltan is the world's leading expert on morbid curiosity. He investigates the reasons behind our fascination with horror, true crime, and the apocalypse. He is also the director of the Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl.
Joe Alcock
Dr. Zed
Joe has first hand experience with the zombie apocalypse as an Emergency Medicine Physician. He is an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico, the host of the podcast Evolution Medicine, and the host of the talk show, Dr. Zed.
Pamela Winfrey
ArtSci Specialist
Pam defies the divisions between science and art. She has been a scientific research curator, worked at the Exploratorium for decades, and is also an author, playwright and director.
Neil Smith
Illustrator, Zombified Media
Neil has been illustrating the apoclaypse for years. He's also an experienced scientific illustrator, graphic designer, and he runs workshops to teach scientists how to communicate about thier ideas visually.
Shane Mauss
Comedian, Science Communicator
Shane is the creator of Stand-Up Science, the Here We Are podcast host, and has been featured on Comedy Central. Currently touring for his psychedelic stand-up show, A Better Trip, Shane will join the road show to share his hilarious outlook on life, the end, and a new apocalyptic beginning.
Jake Blackwell
Apocalypse Construction Specialist
Jake constructs sets for Westerns, builds out Land Cruisers, and can fix just about anything that might break when the shit hits the fan. When he's not working, you'll find him off-roading around the Four Corners region searching for the best place to survive the apocalypse.
Dianne Price
Outreach and Education, ASU
Dianne knows how to survive on the road, and is ready to share her knowledge with the rest of us. She's also an expert in outreach with general audiences and bridging the gap between science and the real world.
Andrew Maynard
Futurist, ASU
Andrew is the producer of the YouTube channel RiskBites and the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative. He is a world expert on the future of AI, and a thought leader on all topics related to risk and the apocalypse.
Oliver Hulme
The Tautological Poet
Ollie studies how quickly people adapt their risk taking according to what they are doing. He is mainly sensible whilst wearing his Associate Professor of Computational Neuroscience hat. By night he’s practicing his zombie escape routine by skateboarding away from security guards.
Benjamin Skjold
Zombie Bait
Ben studies how people make decisions when the world is unpredictable, especially how cooperation helps people manage risk. He is also a fast runner and decoy who can use this skill to lure zombies away from ARS camp, like a mother bird feigns injury to distract predators from the nest.
Lily Schenck
Mortuary Barbie
Lily is a mortician, actor, knife fighter, media expert and wandering soul who brings her love of all things morbid to the apoclaypse road show. She's the brains behind ARS's social media.
Rich Forsythe
Jack of All Trades
Rich is ready to get in there to do whatever needs to be done, from fixing a flat tire to organzing a fermented beverage tasting to ensuring that everyone is properly attired for the apocalyptic occasion.
Paola Baca
Psychology Research, U Austin
Paola is researcher studying human nature in the apocalypse, especially how people's preferences for social partners and mates change during uncertain times. She is also a storyteller and comedian.
Lindsay Mills
Photographer
Lindsay is a creative portrait photographer focusing on empowering the people she captures and highlighting the beauty of natural landscapes. She loves the road and the adventure that it brings to life.
Jose Maria Martinez
Hat Maker, Photographer
Jose is a custom hat maker in Flagstaff, Arizona. Not only does he custom-create handmade hats, but he also uses photography as an avenue of expression to capture beautiful portraits of interesting individuals. Jose can be found on Instagram @spurhats and @overlandphotocollective
Polly W Wiessner
Research Professor,
Anthropologist, Storyteller
A member of The National Academy of Sciences, Polly has conducted research among the !Kung Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert over the past forty years. Polly has also researched the origins of storytelling, looking at how the art and power of storytelling can be profound avenues of communication and persuasion.
Julie Sullivan Brace
Songwriter, Creative Director
Julie spreads love like a zombie spreads their contagion--relentlessly! She curates musical events and happenings to enrich communities and spread love. She is the founder of Pickin' in the Pines, an annual bluegrass festival located in the mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona.
HOME TEAM
The Apocalypse Road Show is possible because of our dope home team supporting us while safely sheltering in place.
Lee Cronk
Anthropology, Rutgers U
Lee has spent years of his life in the field doing research on cooperation in small scale societies. He is a Professor at Rutgers and Co-Director of the Human Generosity Project.
Diego Guevara Beltran
Psychology, U of Arizona
Diego sports the apocalypse casual look most days. He is a post-doc at U of Arizona studying empathy, fitness interdependence and food sharing.
Peter Todd
Psychology, Indiana U
Peter loves Braaains...
He is the Director of the Cognitive Science Program at Indiana University and Provost Professor in Psychological and Brain Sciences
Geoffrey Miller
Psychology, UNM
Geoffrey knows his existential risk. He is an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico and the author of several books.
Keith Tidball
Natural Resources, Cornell U
Keith's go bag is packed. He is the Assistant Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Program Leader of the New York State Extension Disaster Education Network.
Emily Zarka
English Literature, ASU
Emily's doctorate is in monsters. She is faculty at ASU and she is the host of the PBS show Monstrum.
Cristina Baciu
Project Management, ASU
Cristina is ready to take on all the zombies. She's an experienced project manager and specialist in building and supporting interdisciplinary teams.
Dave Lundberg-Kenrick
Author & Podcast Host
Jeff Shreve
Curious Minds Literary Agency
Diana S. Flieshman
Psychology, UNM
Akhil Jonnalagadda
Princeton University Press Speaking Agency
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© 2020 Cooperation in the Apocalypse Project