Hello, World!

Mark Ricker
Owner, Host, Jedi Master

I started Beat the Geek Trivia in 2009 when I was recently divorced, unemployed, and bored out of my mind. I had always had a head full of trivial knowledge, but just knowing things like Albert Einstein’s middle name wasn’t getting me very far. I decided to put that useless knowledge to use. Since then, Beat the Geek Trivia has grown beyond my expectations and is now a full time job for me.

Before Beat the Geek, I worked in IT, sales and business development, and mortgage lending. I shaved my head in 2001 and never looked back. I don’t have any kids or pets, but I’ve kept a houseplant alive for over 10 years (I think I might be ready for a goldfish now). I was born in New York, but I’m a Chargers fan. In my spare time, I write hate mail to Justin Bieber and negative reviews of the movie Armageddon. My favorite drinks are rum & coke, Jack & ginger, and the legendary Marktini.

email Mark

Mike Faris
Host, Manager, protocol droid fluent in over 6 million forms of communication

I gave the worst performance of my life as an 18-year-old at summer camp while emceeing a talent show. After that night I may have never picked up a microphone again except that later that year my college dorm wanted me to host the school-wide lip-syncing contest. Not bad, but not all that good either. These days I’m pretty comfortable behind the microphone whether it’s as the public address announcer for high school basketball games, the master of ceremonies for more wedding receptions than I recall, or hosting trivia for years now.

Highlights in my life up to this point are riding the bike from the ET movie at Universal Studios, winning the grand prize in a radio station giveaway for a Felix Hernandez signed baseball and discovering I don’t like Waldorf salad. My geek credentials include that I’ve willingly been to a Star Trek convention, I read tech blogs every day, and that my mother-in-law says that I’m “good with the computers”. Next time you’re at trivia, fill me in on some of your geek cred.

email Mike

David Zazzo
Host, Marksman Stormtrooper

Hi there, I’m David – but most people call me Zazzo.

My best friend and I stumbled across Beat the Geek Trivia in 2016 at one of our guys’ nights and have loved it ever since. After playing for several months, I thought to myself, “it would be really fun to be a trivia host.” I talked to Mark, gave it a shot and auditioned, and here we are!

By day, I work at a “local software company” doing cloud-y things. By night, though, I indulge my strong passion for technical arts and production – lighting design, audio engineering, video engineering, etc. I enjoy building systems for auditoriums, mixing live sound, and generally making things look and sound good. When I’m not geeking out on that stuff, you can find me at Sounders FC home games cheering on the boys in Rave Green.

My weaknesses are a good vanilla latte, Captain and Coke, or just a good solid beer (but not too hoppy – no bitter beer face for me).

I’m excited to be your Beat the Geek Trivia host!

email Zazzo

Lou Torgessen
Host, Ewok Taxidermist

Howdy! I’m Imma Lou,

I recently left Portland, Oregon (my home of nearly 30 years) to move to Snohomish County for love and family. No regrets so far!

Things I’ve done for money in the past include running a wild west themed tourist attraction, picking vintage clothing for international markets, slinging booze at a music venue, and scheduling surgeries for the VA hospital.

Things I’d like to do for money in the future include building adult-sized playgrounds in every city in America, cooking food at McMurdo station in Antarctica, and writing a book about strange times I had traveling during the 1990s.

I love science, science fiction, cooking, gardening, a fine bourbon, and baby goats. (Pro tip, baby goats are NOT good companions for gardening, ok with bourbon as long as you don’t let them at it!) I hate cilantro, okra, romance novels, wearing high heels, and mornings.

email Lou

Brad Lakey
Host, Death Star Garbage Chute Maintenance Technician

I was born and raised in the PNW and have been all over the world since for a myriad of reasons. I’ve always had a problem forgetting things I really need to remember (like my wife’s name) and remembering things that bear absolutely no relevance to any real-life situation (Emperor Caligula’s name translates to “little booty”). I always chalk it up to multiple TBIs but that never really fixes anything. In 2012, I started playing Beat the Geek Trivia, and I suddenly found a use for all of my useless knowledge.

I enjoy the outdoors, board games, retro video games, tasty (and not tasty) beer, marksmanship, and geeking out about whatever tv or movie franchise I’m currently indulging in. I’m a huge Huskies and Mariners fan. I also enjoy sharing what little knowledge of consequence I possess with others and learning new things (which I’ll probably quickly forget). I’m fascinated with social themes and history and how we manage to keep messing it up. The tiny bright side of such a crazy story is that we get lots of cool trivia knowledge, which I get to read at local watering holes, and you can get rewarded for knowing.

See you there!

email Brad

Nic Wuest
Host, Yoda’s ear hair trimmer

Hi, my name is Nic.

I was raised in Orange County, CA. After that, I lived in San Diego. Now I’m here in beautiful Western Washington, and I love every bit of it.

I have always enjoyed playing trivia – even if I don’t know many answers, it is still a blast to play and test my knowledge of useless facts. Sports is my life! I am NOT a Seahawks fan (I absolutely can’t stand them). The Mariners are not my favorite team either. The Sounders, however, are the one Seattle team I cheer for. I’m a HUGE country music fan. Hee haw!

By day I drive people around and sit in this wonderful Seattle traffic. By night you could find me with a cold beer or a nice whiskey and Coke. I Look forward to seeing you out at a show.

email Nic

Lexi Montgomery
Host, Porg

Hi, my name is Lexi.

I was born and raised in Washington State. Oddly enough, I still love it here, and I love being part of an amazing community. Go Hawks and 12’s!!

Since I was young, I have loved possessing useless information. I could never remember what homework I did last night, but I always remembered how to get gum off any surface, what that random song on the radio was, and the total number of episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. Useless trivia just seemed to stick to me!

My hobbies include binge watching Grey’s Anatomy, reading whatever books I can get my hands on, and dancing like a fool to all kinds of music. By day I work at a commercial diving shop that provides gear for underwater welding, and I’m currently a full-time student. I spend most of my nights working feverously on homework. My favorite drink is Crown and Coke.

I’m excited to meet all of the amazing trivia teams and see if you can Beat the Geek!

email Lexi

Clint Cheves
Host, C-3P0’s Psychotherapist

Hey!

I’m Clint and I am one of those stupid millennials. I have a fear of change. I still live 15 minutes from where I was born, and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. Pop culture, movies, music, technology, ancient history, and general nerdom have always been a big part of my life; just ask the people that cheated off me in high school.

While the rest of my friends were scoring touchdowns, I spent my nights reading an episode-by-episode synopsis of Scrubs. It took until the seventh grade for me to get out of my pre-pubescent cocoon and, despite my Coke machine-like physique, I started playing sports. I never forgot my first love of knowing things that probably won’t matter, though, but it now included athletics.

I love sports, technology, religion, the Lakers, and [censored]. My other loves are Jameson, a good light beer, and [censored]. I’m super stoked to be doing trivia for you guys. Let’s get drinks and talk pop culture!

email Clint

Arielle Albinger
Host, Thala-Sirens Milkmaid

Hi!

My friend and I stumbled upon Beat the Geek Trivia years ago. We fell in love with Mark, the host, and the trivia is the best around. We were instantly hooked! Mark would occasionally mention that he was looking for new hosts and I would always say, “pick me!” Apparently, for years he thought I was kidding until he finally invited me to try out! It’s a blast hosting for a bar full of enthusiastic trivia players and meeting new people!

By day (and weekends, often) I am a realtor. I enjoy the negotiations and the wrangling, but the best part is getting the right home for my clients. However, drinking, reading trivia questions, and hanging with my friends is far superior!

I look forward to seeing you guys!

email Arielle

Jax Alspaugh
Host, Palpatine’s Cosmetician

I’ve worked in a variety of industries and positions – marketing, customer correspondent for a prostate supplement company, barista, birthday party hostess at a bowling alley, apartment complex manager, CNA, laser hair removal technician, snowboard instructor, and car saleswoman.

At my audition, I bragged about being the MC in 5th grade for my elementary school’s talent show. I love entertaining, having done both stand up comedy and performed with a band playing a mean cowbell. I also currently host karaoke on the weekends.

Besides trivia, I LOVE cheese, wine tasting, breweries, dancing, gaming, brunch, a GOOD bloody Mary, a well crafted/ironic mustache, live music, roller skating, vintage style/thrift store clothes shopping, supporting my community, and time with my family. Seeing my only son graduate from WSU in 2020 with his Bachelor’s in Social Sciences will be my proudest moment.

It should go without saying, but I’ll say it again, GO COUGS!

email Jax

You?
Host

Beat the Geek Trivia is always looking for energetic and funny trivia hosts. If you think you sound good on a microphone, you like talking in front of a crowd, and you’re not a moron, you should audition.

email Mark if you’re interested.