Hot Topic, Nerdist Industries and Her Universe Get Irrational for Pi Day

with Contest and New Nerdist Pi Shirt

Instagram Contest will send one winner and a guest to San Diego Comic-Con

LOS ANGELES, CA- March 11th, 2014 - Pi day is coming and to help fans celebrate this ultimate nerd holiday, Hot Topic, Nerdist Industries and Her Universe have joined forces on a "Be Irrational for Pi Day" contest that will send one special fan plus a guest to San Diego Comic-Con in July. The contest is a part of a new merchandise agreement between Nerdist and Her Universe.

Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical irrational number π observed on March 14th. "I adore Pi," said Chris Hardwick, Nerdist Founder and CEO. "I memorized 150 digits of Pi. I co-wrote a song about Pi. It is a human imperative to give Pi the celebration it deserves! Thanks to Her Universe and Hot Topic for helping me realize this irrational dream."
The "Be Irrational for Pi Day" contest runs March 14th through March 31st and requires fans to create a clever Instagram video featuring their favorite ways to celebrate Pi Day using the hashtag #BeIrrational. An official video with ways to enter, contest rules and other information can be found at www.hottopic.com/PiDay on 3/14/14. The contest is open to anyone living in the United States and who is 18 years or older. The winning video will be chosen for it's creativity by Nerdist's Chris Hardwick with support from Hot Topic and Her Universe, and the winner plus a guest will win a trip to San Diego Comic-Con which includes two 4-day badges, flight, hotel and two tickets to the Nerdist Podcast Live.
"It's been really exciting to design this shirt with Chris Hardwick," said Her Universe Founder Ashley Eckstein. "There is no better way to begin our merchandise partnership than with a Pi shirt for Pi day! Plus a chance to win a trip to the biggest and best comic convention, San Diego Comic-Con. It's perfectly irrational."
The special Nerdist Pi shirt is available for men and women exclusively at Hot Topic stores across the country and online at hottopic.com. The shirt features the Nerdist logo, Pi symbol and the words "Be Irrational" - the perfect equation for fans of Pi.
"We love all things nerdy, and it doesn't get much better than a celebration of Pi Day," said Cindy Levitt, vice president and general merchandise manager at Hot Topic. "We're especially thrilled to be working so closely with Nerdist and Her Universe. These guys get it and we love it."

Photo credit: - Kelsey Edwards Photography- http://www.kelseyedwardsphoto.com/
About Hot Topic 
Hot Topic is a mall-and web-based specialty retailer beloved by rebellious and expressive teens for 25 years. Hot Topic offers music and pop culture junkies band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise, and fashion apparel and accessories. Hot Topic operates 635 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and an online store at hottopic.com. Find Hot Topic on Twitter (twitter.com/hottopic), Facebook (facebook.com/hottopic), YouTube (youtube.com/hottopic) and Instagram (instagram.com/hottopic).
About Nerdist Industries 
Nerdist Industries is a multi-platform creator of genre and popular culture content. Its online presence includes a website at Nerdist.com; a premium YouTube channel (youtube.com/nerdist) featuring Nerdist News hosted by Jessica Chobot; 2.1 million Twitter followers; a Podcast Network including the flagship Nerdist Podcast; The Nerdist School comedy training program; and the Nerdist Alliance, a community of curated partnerships with some of YouTube's most talented and passionate creators. Nerdist also produces content for television including All Star Celebrity Bowling for AMC and In the Name of Science for National Geographic Channel. Further, Nerdist hosts live events around the country such as The Nerdist Podcast Live! and Course of the Force, an annual lightsaber relay in partnership with Lucasfilm LTD and Octagon which leads up to San Diego Comic-Con International.
About Her Universe 
Her Universe was launched in 2010 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein and The Araca Group, a leading theatrical production and brand management company. Ashley and Araca created Her Universe to address the expanding market of female sci-fi and fantasy fans. They entered their first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for BBC Worldwide for Doctor Who, CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek and AMC for The Walking Dead. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein & Her Universe on Facebook (facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse)

Chloe Dykstra and Nerdist's Chris Hardwick model the new Nerdist Pi day T-shirt, produced by Her Universe and available at Hot Topic, just in time to celebrate this ultimate nerd holiday. Hot Topic, Nerdist Industries and Her Universe have joined forces on a "Be Irrational for Pi Day" contest that will send one special fan plus a guest to San Diego Comic-Con in July. For details visit: www.hottopic.com/PiDay.