Episodios

  • Freaks and Geeks with Jeffrey Nicholas Brown

    Freaks and Geeks with Jeffrey Nicholas Brown
    Sep 8 2025
    This week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy Kaplan welcomes actor, drummer, writer, and all-time Blue Man Grouper Jeffrey Nicholas Brown—yes, an actual Blue Man.The two dive headfirst into Freaks and Geeks, the show that lasted only one season but somehow altered the DNA of television comedy forever. Jeffrey confesses he was both a freak and a geek in high school—which is really just a polite way of saying “I was constantly confused and occasionally sticky”—while Mandy proudly claims her kinship with Millie, the choir-loving buzzkill who warns that French kissing too soon will send you straight to hell. Together they relive dodgeball terror, disastrous crushes, and the eternal question: how much would you need to be paid to do the “blender challenge” now? (Spoiler: more than scale.)They don’t shy away from calling out the show’s one-note characters or its lack of diversity, but they also revel in Martin Starr’s deadpan, Linda Cardellini’s flawless sincerity, and Jason Segel’s gloriously mediocre drumming. Along the way you’ll get behind-the-scenes tidbits about Busy Philipps’ billing, Franco’s inexplicable accent, and why Freaks and Geeks is still considered to have filmed the most accurate Dungeons & Dragons scene in television history. It’s nostalgia, it’s critique, it’s two grown-ups confessing their teenage traumas on mic—and it’s glorious.
    Links & Notes
    • Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)
    • Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content

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    1 h y 2 m
  • Godzilla Minus One with Riki Hayashi

    Godzilla Minus One with Riki Hayashi
    Sep 1 2025
    This week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy welcomes fellow TruStory podcaster and kaiju enthusiast Riki Hayashi for a dive into one of the most critically acclaimed monster movies in decades: Godzilla Minus One. If you’ve ever thought Godzilla was just a big lizard with anger issues, think again.Riki brings his lifelong passion for Japanese nerd culture to the table, from his days as a Magic: The Gathering judge to his Twitch battles in Pokémon Go. But it’s his love for Godzilla that takes center stage here. Together, he and Mandy break down how Godzilla Minus One is not only a triumph of visual storytelling and emotional depth, but also a sharp departure from the campy traditions of kaiju past. Mandy, entering the Godzilla-verse for the first time, is floored—not just by the monster’s expressive eyes or bejeweled back spikes—but by the profound humanity at the movie’s core.The conversation covers everything from the history of the Godzilla franchise and its shifting eras, to the film’s subtle criticism of wartime nationalism and kamikaze legacy. Mandy and Riki explore how Minus One balances terrifying spectacle with unexpected tenderness, including a found-family storyline and a main character who’s more haunted than heroic. They celebrate the film’s quieter moments—the Spielbergian tension on the open sea, the war-torn melancholy of post-1945 Tokyo, the critique of institutional cruelty—and gasp together at that final chilling neck bruise (yes, they talk theories).It’s a rich discussion full of history, heartbreak, and atomic breath, peppered with rom-com ethics and a pitch-perfect Rock impression. And if Riki has his way, Mandy’s next nerdy adventure might involve tear-jerking anime and body-swapping teenagers.Links & Notes
    • Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)
    • Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content

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    59 m
  • The Rehearsal with Megan Parlen

    The Rehearsal with Megan Parlen
    Aug 25 2025
    What happens when comedy meets ethics, performance art meets aviation safety, and a TV host decides to build an airport just to see what happens? This week, Mandy is joined by her brilliant and ever-curious friend Megan Parlen to dig deep into The Rehearsal — Nathan Fielder’s surreal and provocative HBO series that defies easy categorization. Is it satire? Is it social commentary? Is it trauma with a laugh track? Mandy isn’t sure, but Megan has some thoughts, and the two wrestle through their opposing reactions in a wildly entertaining exploration of cringe, consent, creative license, and the cost of curiosity.From $60 million airplane sets to uncomfortable experiments on unsuspecting hopefuls, the conversation pulls back the curtain on what Fielder’s strange vision might really be saying about humanity, neurodivergence, and our need to feel in control. Bonus: Mandy coins the term “disgustipating,” and Megan wins a metaphorical mic drop with a Game of Thrones budget comparison. This is not a rehearsal — it’s a must-listen.Links & Notes
    • 📖 Bloomsbury Books – support Megan’s Bookstore!
    • Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)
    • Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content

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    55 m
  • Jurassic Park with Tommy Metz III, Andy Nelson, & Pete Wright

    Jurassic Park with Tommy Metz III, Andy Nelson, & Pete Wright
    Aug 18 2025
    Mandy Kaplan has never seen Jurassic Park. We know. Breathe. She’s finally corrected this cinematic sin, and to walk her through the prehistoric magic, she’s joined by Pete Wright, Andy Nelson, and Tommy Metz III—three full-grown nerds whose love for Spielberg’s dinosaur masterpiece borders on religious. This is the movie that changed blockbuster filmmaking forever, and the guys are here to help Mandy understand the science, the spectacle, and the T. Rex-sized cultural impact.They dive into Stan Winston’s groundbreaking effects, John Williams’s unforgettable score, and the tightrope Spielberg walks between horror and adventure. Mandy confesses what really scared her (spoiler: it was the car), learns what the deal is with Sam Neill’s accent, and discovers a whole new appreciation for Jell-O quivering in fear. Whether you’re team Velociraptor or ride-or-die for the Triceratops, this episode is your guided tour through the park. And yes—hold on to your butts.Find the Guests!
    • Pete Wright (Headstone, Sitting in the Dark): trustory.fm/headstone
    • Andy Nelson (CinemaScope, The Next Reel): trustory.fm/cinemascope
    • Tommy Metz III (Sitting in the Dark): trustory.fm/sittinginthedark

    Links & Notes
    • 📖 Bloomsbury Books – support Megan’s Bookstore!
    • Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)
    • Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content

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    Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.
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    1 h y 4 m
  • Showgirls with Jessica Jimenez

    Showgirls with Jessica Jimenez
    Aug 11 2025
    What do you get when you cross Elizabeth Berkley, a pile of glitter, and the worst pool sex scene ever committed to film? Showgirls, of course — and this week, Mandy dives headfirst into the chaotic, cringe-glittery mess with TV producer and camp connoisseur Jessica Jimenez. Jess has seen the cult classic more times than she can count (or admit), while Mandy might have lost a small piece of her soul watching it for the first time. What follows is a cocktail-fueled breakdown of the film’s misguided ambition, baffling dialogue, and bizarre legacy as both a Razzie-sweeping disaster and beloved queer cult staple.The two unpack every absurd plot twist, every sequined meltdown, and yes — even Penny’s from Heaven. Is it empowering? Is it exploitative? Is it secretly genius? (No.) Is it fun to yell “Versayce” in public? (Yes.) Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a horrified first-timer, this episode is a campy celebration of a movie so bad, it’s iconic.Links & Notes
    • Watch Storage Wars!
    • Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)
    • Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content

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    Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.
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    53 m
  • K-Pop Demon Hunters with Jimmy Aquino

    K-Pop Demon Hunters with Jimmy Aquino
    Aug 4 2025
    Jimmy Aquino is back and brings K-Pop Demon Hunters, the surprise Netflix hit that blends idol culture with demon-fighting destiny and music bangers that have conquered the Billboard charts. Mandy and Jimmy break down the film’s animation style, Buffy-meets-BTS premise, Korean cultural foundations, and the epic vocal range of EJAE (seriously, a D3 to an A5 in one breath?).Jimmy dives deep into the 10-year journey to production, the real K-pop industry legends behind the soundtrack, and how the film’s creators brought sincerity, slapstick, and subversion to every glitter-drenched frame. The two gush about Derpy the tiger, decode the chibi-inspired gags, and debate the film’s third-act shift into emotional territory. Is it an instant classic? According to Rotten Tomatoes (96%) and Jimmy’s soul (100%), yes. And Mandy may or may not be working on a cover of “Golden” as Derpy. You’ve been warned.Links & Notes
    • Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)
    • Jimmy Aquino’s Comic News Insider Podcast
    • Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content

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    57 m
  • X-Men with JP Karliak

    X-Men with JP Karliak
    Jul 28 2025
    He’s back and nerdier than ever! Mandy welcomes voice actor, activist, and self-proclaimed snappy dresser JP Karliak to discuss X-Men (2000)—the film that helped launch the modern superhero era and still sparks passionate debate among comic fans, queer viewers, and nerdy newcomers alike. JP, who now voices Morph in X-Men ’97, breaks down the emotional legacy of the franchise, its deep ties to marginalized identities, and what makes a mutant story resonate decades later.The conversation bounces from childhood toys (Floam and Gak, anyone?) to ASMR triggers, to how comic book metaphors land differently for trans and queer communities in 2025. They unpack Rogue’s controversial casting, Mystique’s unapologetic nudity, and why every fight scene feels a bit like a prelude to kissing. Oh, and they definitely play a round of “F-Marry-Kill: Wolverine vs. Cyclops Edition.”
    Links and Mentions:
    • Join the Nerd Herd for Bonus Content
    • X-Men ’97 on Disney+
    • JP Karliak’s Instagram
    • Adam Pascal performing in Hawkeye’s in-show musical

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    50 m
  • The Big Bang Theory with Lisa Arch

    The Big Bang Theory with Lisa Arch
    Jul 21 2025
    In this delightfully nerdy episode, Mandy Kaplan welcomes actor and host Lisa Arch to discuss The Big Bang Theory, the show that launched Mandy’s “nerdification” and hooked Lisa over time with its layered friendships, character arcs, and perfect comedic timing. From dissecting the show’s legendary pilot to marveling at Sheldon’s emotional growth in “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis,” Lisa and Mandy revel in how a sitcom about theoretical physicists managed to become deeply human—and deeply hilarious.They tackle the show’s depiction of neurodivergence, its cautious navigation of LGBTQ+ tropes, and the impressive way it integrated new characters like Amy Farrah Fowler and Bernadette into an already thriving ensemble. Lisa brings emotional insight to Amy’s evolution and drops expert-level takes on sitcom chemistry, all while fielding urgent commentary about Trader Joe’s discontinued items and her mom’s housecoat game.Stay tuned until the end for a tribute to the show’s genius writing, an ode to Zach the lovable himbo, and a bonus members-only segment where Lisa and Mandy recreate that scene from Legally Blonde. Spoiler: coitus is mentioned.Links & Notes
    • Join the Nerds – Become a Member
    • Lisa Arch on IMDb
    • Follow Mandy on Instagram
    • Follow Mandy on BlueSky

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    Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.
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    55 m