Shows
Movie FriendsThe Bride! w/ Mandy KaplanHere comes The Bride! Seth and Michelle are joined by Mandy Kaplan to discuss Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut, all of it's film history references, the incredible Jessie Buckley, bringing 10 year old's to see the movie and how to insult a horse while leading it to water. Also: Ida Lupino! Buster Keaton! Annette Benning! Check it out! Follow this link to check out Mandy's podcast, her caberet and more! Do it! Now! Ad-free versions of all of our episodes are available on our Patreon When you sign up you also get access to our b...
2026-03-1041 min
Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanWe Need to Talk About The Traitors (And Also Michael Rapaport)The Traitors is, at its core, a game you play at birthday parties when someone's kid really wants to be a detective. You sit in a circle. Some people are secret murderers. Everyone points fingers based on vibes alone. This should not be compelling television. And yet — here we are, with millions of people staying up past their bedtimes on a Tuesday because they cannot possibly let it get spoiled.Patrick Gomez, editor-in-chief of Entertainment Weekly and a man who has watched competitive reality television with the devotion most people reserve for religion, joins Mandy to explain exactly how a gl...
2026-03-091h 00Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanWhere's the Food? The Hunger Games Book-to-Movie Breakdown with Mona ChatterjeeHere's the thing about watching a movie one week after reading the book it's based on: you become the world's most insufferable viewing companion. And Mandy—who consumed Suzanne Collins's novel and then immediately sat down for the 2012 film like some kind of dystopian speed-run—has NOTES. Guest Mona Chatterjee is back for what is officially Make Me A Nerd's first-ever adaptation episode, and together they discover that reading the book first is both a gift and a curse, because now you know exactly what's missing and you will not shut up about it.What's missing, weirdly, is food. In a st...
2026-02-2346 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanMay the Odds Ever Smell of Sweat: A Hunger Games Deep Dive with Mona Chatterjee • The NovelYes, I know—it's 2026, Hunger Games came out almost two decades ago, and we've all moved on now to whatever fresh dystopian nightmare is currently trending. But here's the thing: Suzanne Collins' story about state-sponsored child murder dressed up as entertainment has only gotten MORE relevant, and that should terrify us all.Mandy welcomes back Mona Chatterjee (Miscast alum, Billboard chart artist, international beauty brand impresario) to explore why a book that opens with "the day of the reaping" manages to hook readers from age 12 to 52, and why its themes of inequality, complicity, and manufactured spectacle feel less like fiction an...
2026-02-1650 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanIt’s Our Time Down Here: A Goonies Comfort Rewatch with Krissy LenzThis week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy Kaplan does the bravest thing a grown adult can do: she prescribes herself a medically unnecessary, emotionally essential dose of The Goonies—because sometimes “self-care” is a bubble bath, and sometimes it’s screaming “HEY YOU GUYS” into the void until the void screams back. Joined by recurring fan-favorite guest Krissy Lenz (of The Most Excellent 80s Movies), Mandy revisits Richard Donner’s chaotic, sweet, frequently-overlapping-yelling masterpiece and marvels at how it manages to be simultaneously a kids’ adventure film and a movie that opens with a fake suicide and drops the S-word roughly n...
2026-02-0953 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanThe Great Pottery Throw Down: British, Boring, & Bang-On Perfect with Jeremy KlavensMandy’s latest “please turn me into a nerd” assignment comes disguised as the most harmless thing imaginable: a British competition show about pottery. And yes, at first it feels like the TV equivalent of a warm cup of tea you forgot you made. But then Jeremy Klavens (return guest, television editor, and the father of Mandy’s child—pending) walks her into The Great Pottery Throw Down and suddenly everyone is emotionally invested in cheese sets, kiln drama, and whether it’s legally possible for one judge to cry at this many objects in one lifetime.What follows is a cozy, gent...
2026-01-261h 07Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanSuperman... with Homework: Smallville with John MundyMandy continues her noble quest to become the kind of nerd who can say “Smallville” without immediately being asked which season she started with, and she brings in returning guest John Mundy to guide her through this corn-fed, meteor-soaked origin story of Clark Kent. What starts as “Is this just Superman: The Homeschool Years?” turns into a surprisingly thoughtful tour of what the show is really selling: not invulnerability, but adolescence—awkwardness, secrecy, and the exhausting burden of being good while everyone around you is making being normal look like a competitive sport. Along the way, Mandy clocks the show’s high-schoo...
2026-01-2650 min
Gank That Drank: A Supernatural Drinking Game PodcastLive Free or TwiHardFangs, Feels, and Fake IDs: A Twilight Parody Done RightWelcome to this episode of Gank That Drank: A Supernatural Drinking Game Podcast! Hosts Krissy Lenz and Nate McWhortor are joined by special guest Mandy Kaplan (podcaster, voice actor, and self-proclaimed genius) to tackle one of Supernatural's most delightfully campy episodes—Season 6, Episode 5, "Live Free or TwiHard." If you've ever wondered what happens when the Winchester brothers meet sparkly vampire culture, this is the episode for you. Spoiler alert: it involves fake IDs, poetry-writing bloodsuckers, and Dean getting turned into a vampire while Sam just... watches.The trio breaks down the dr...
2026-01-2157 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanThe Big Lebowski with David IsserMandy Kaplan continues her slow, deliberate march into Nerd Territory by taking on one of the most sacred cows in cult-movie history: The Big Lebowski. Joining her is editor, bookstore owner, and self-described “hobbyist nerd” David Isser, who arrives armed with deep affection for the film, a working knowledge of Raymond Chandler, and a willingness to calmly explain why a movie that makes Mandy deeply uncomfortable has inspired conventions, philosophies, and a small but devoted bowling-industrial complex.What follows is less a review and more a thoughtful standoff. Mandy interrogates the film’s aggressively masculine energy, its simmering threat of violen...
2026-01-1258 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanXanadu with Jonas VailThis week on Make Me A Nerd, Mandy Kaplan bravely roller-skates into the glittery fever dream that is Xanadu, joined by writer, brand strategist, and lifelong apologist for questionable cinema, Jonas Vail. Jonas has loved Xanadu since kindergarten.What follows is a spirited interrogation of how a movie with no functional script, no clear protagonist goals, and no apparent understanding of what a musical is managed to spawn multiple chart-topping hits, a Broadway redemption arc, and the literal invention of the Razzies. Mandy presses the case against the film with surgical precision: Olivia Newton-John as a confused hostage, Michael Beck...
2026-01-0557 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanVeronica Mars with Sloan JustMandy brings on longtime friend Sloan Just—former Broadway performer, professional quote-reciter, and unapologetic teen-drama connoisseur—to finally introduce her to Veronica Mars. Somehow, Mandy has made it through adulthood without seeing a single minute of the show, which feels as statistically likely as living in New York City and never seeing a pigeon.They start with the pilot and immediately collide with the thing Veronica Mars does better than most shows: it looks light, talks fast, and then suddenly gets very serious without asking permission. One minute you’re watching a snarky teenager rescue a kid from a flagpole; the ne...
2025-12-221h 05Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanHangman Adam Page with Kevin RyanThis week, Mandy dives into one of the most intimidating corners of nerd culture she’s ever faced: professional wrestling. Yes. Wrestling. AEW wrestling. The one with the hair flips, the pyrotechnics, the questionable fashion choices, the crowd chanting things you can’t say in front of your kids… that wrestling.And she didn’t do it alone. Mandy is joined by Kevin Ryan, creator and host of the improv-comedy podcast Tyrant in Training, a show in which guests build and rule their own fictional country while Kevin shape-shifts into various advisors, bureaucrats, and chaos agents. (Mandy herself recently appeared as a Sup...
2025-12-1556 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanReturn to Oz with Jessica JimenezThere are childhood movies that sparkle like nostalgia-soaked comfort food… and then there’s Return to Oz, the 1985 fever dream that terrified an entire generation and somehow ended up beloved anyway. This week, Mandy reconnects with returning guest — and one of her favorite humans on planet Earth — Jessica Jimenez, a TV producer, musical-theater mischief-maker, and scholar of the pop-culture deep cut. Together, they dive into the gloriously weird, unexpectedly dark, and unmistakably cult-classic world of Oz’s most misunderstood sequel.Jessica grew up watching Return to Oz on repeat in the Caribbean, where VHS tapes were the lifeline to American pop cultur...
2025-12-0853 min
Tyrant In TrainingMandy Kaplan- The Supermodel of MandasiaThis week's tyrant is Actress. VO Artist. Producer of Miscast. Writer. Podcaster. Mandy Kaplan, who likes to be known as the Supermodel of MandasiaAn island paradise for cheese and cat lovers. If you get on the wrong side of the Supermodel, you may get beheaded, privately, and cloned. Rule one: never listen, mention or acknowledge the existence of that lying, non-sexy man Rod Stewart.Say hello to Mandy on her website: And on Instagram And listen to Mandy's own podcast Make Me A Nerd With Mandy...
2025-12-0448 min
Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanClose Encounters of the Third Kind with Steve SarmentoIf there was ever an episode that proves how deeply a movie can tattoo itself onto someone’s soul, it’s this one. Mandy is joined by beloved TruStory FM collaborator and film analyst Steve Sarmento, a man whose heart has apparently been shaped like Devil’s Tower since 1977. Together, they dive into Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Steven Spielberg’s symphonic ode to curiosity, obsession, government lies, blinking lights, and questionable parenting. It’s a conversation equal parts nerdy reverence and incredulous side-eye.Steve opens by explaining why this film imprinted on him. He recalls watching space capsules dock overh...
2025-12-0156 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanGame Changer with Kyle OlsonThis week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy Kaplan welcomes back certified nerd-whisperer Kyle Olson—creator of The Swashbuckling Ladies Debate Society and co-host of Craft and Chaos—to induct her into the gloriously absurd and deeply inventive world of Game Changer on Dropout TV. And if you’ve never heard of Game Changer, think of it as Whose Line Is It Anyway? if it were run by a slightly deranged Willy Wonka with a subscription model and a vendetta against YouTube algorithms. And also: there’s a lot of butthole jokes.Kyle walks Mandy through the origin story of Dropout—...
2025-11-2456 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanYuri on Ice with Zehra FazalYou might think figure skating is all glitter, grace, and emotional piano music — but Yuri!!! on Ice says, “Oh no, my friend, this is a blood sport with sequins.” This week, Mandy Kaplan is joined by actor and voice powerhouse Zehra Fazal (Borderlands 3 & 4, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, The Chosen Adventures) to unpack the cult anime that somehow manages to combine Olympic-level athleticism, emotional breakdowns, and gay hot tub scenes.Mandy, bless her open heart, has only recently dipped her toe — or skate — into anime. Zehra, meanwhile, is the kind of person who can tell you the real-life skater each character is based o...
2025-11-171h 02Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanTruth or Dare with Abdi NazemianYou know how some documentaries just happen and others ignite a cultural revolution in a cone bra? This week, Mandy reunites with her former roommate, award-winning author, screenwriter, and Madonna scholar-in-chief Abdi Nazemian, to talk about the pop documentary that practically reinvented fame itself: Madonna: Truth or Dare.Abdi literary résumé is already Hall of Fame (Only This Beautiful Moment, Like a Love Story, Exquisite Things)— and he returns to Make Me a Nerd to nerd out about the film that shaped him, inspired his art, and very nearly ruined his high-school Spanish play. (That’s right: the man skippe...
2025-11-101h 00Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanThe Last Kingdom with Matt BorenThis week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy Kaplan straps on her metaphorical codpiece and dives headfirst into the sword-swinging, land-grabbing, god-invoking world of The Last Kingdom with guest Matt Boren¹—actor, author, screenwriter, and senior prom date emeritus. And if you’re wondering how the man who wrote Folded Notes from High School and Minister of Loneliness became obsessed with decapitations, Danish warlords, and subtitles thick with blood and Old English vowels—well, Mandy is too. But it turns out: it’s all just General Hospital with furs and beards.Matt lays out the appeal of The Last Kingdom not as a...
2025-11-031h 01Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanDracula with Lester Ryan ClarkDracula is a book where the title character shows up for roughly four chapters and then just... leaves. It's like if "Jaws" spent most of its runtime following insurance adjusters filing claims about boat damage. And yet, somehow, this 1897 novel created pop culture's most enduring monster. That's the central mystery Mandy and guest Lester Ryan Clark tackle in this Halloween extravaganza.Lester teaches Dracula to high schoolers every year (and gradually transforms into Gary Oldman's Dracula throughout Halloween week because he's clearly the best kind of teacher). He confirms what Mandy discovered reading the novel for the first time: Bram...
2025-10-2758 min
Once and Future ParentBaby Showers, Gender, & SexThree expecting/experienced parents dive into the evolving world of baby showers, gender reveals, and how modern families are reshaping traditional parenting ceremonies. Matthew Fox, expecting his first child, joins veteran parents Pete Wright and Mandy Kaplan for an honest conversation about navigating family expectations while staying true to your values.The hosts explore the tension between honoring family traditions and creating new approaches that reflect modern understanding of gender, identity, and family dynamics. Matthew shares their decision to reveal biological sex after the baby shower to avoid gendered gifts, and a statement they posted on Facebook...
2025-10-221h 03
Once and Future ParentBabies Come in Purple?Welcome to The Once & Future Parents, where three podcasters navigate the wild world of parenting from completely different stages of the journey. Matthew Fox is two months away from becoming a first-time parent at 47, Mandy Kaplan is raising a 15-year-old theater kid, and Pete Wright's adult children are out saving lives and helping the elderly.When does parental influence actually end, and how much control do we really have? The hosts grapple with the tension between accepting limited control and continuing to guide their children through example.What happens when reality doesn't match the parenting...
2025-10-1550 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanSpirited Away with Kynan DiasThis week, Mandy Kaplan discovers that “family road trip” in Japan doesn’t mean stopping at a rest area for gas and Funyuns. No, it means your parents turn into pigs and you’re suddenly employed at a haunted bathhouse run by a chain-smoking witch with the voice of Suzanne Pleshette. And who better to guide Mandy through the bewildering fever dream of Spirited Away than returning guest, film professor, and actual delight, Kynan Dias?Together they unpack everything: how Disney’s doe-eyed Snow White accidentally inspired anime’s giant eyes, why a sludge monster is secretly about environmentalism, how “No-Face” manag...
2025-09-2959 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanBlack Mirror with Tara SandsThis week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy is joined by someone who has been part of her life nearly forever—voiceover legend and dear friend Tara Sands. You might know Tara from her work bringing Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and countless anime characters to life, but today she’s here to get properly nerdy about Black Mirror. Yes, the series that makes you both fascinated and slightly horrified about the future of technology, also known as “Tuesday” in Silicon Valley.Together, Mandy and Tara dive into some of Black Mirror’s most unforgettable episodes: the pastel-colored nightmare of “Nosedive,” the darkly hilariou...
2025-09-151h 01Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanFreaks and Geeks with Jeffrey Nicholas BrownThis 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 t...
2025-09-081h 02Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanGodzilla Minus One with Riki HayashiThis 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 i...
2025-09-0159 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanThe Rehearsal with Megan ParlenWhat 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 cur...
2025-08-2554 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanJurassic Park with Tommy Metz III, Andy Nelson, & Pete WrightMandy 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 confes...
2025-08-181h 04Make Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanShowgirls with Jessica JimenezWhat 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 quee...
2025-08-1153 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanK-Pop Demon Hunters with Jimmy AquinoJimmy 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...
2025-08-0456 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanThe Big Bang Theory with Lisa ArchIn 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 lik...
2025-07-2155 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanThunderbolts* & Trauma: Marvel Gets MentalWho knew anti-heroes could teach us about healing?This week, Mandy sits down with Justin Jaeger—True Story film board favorite, book reviewer, and passionate MCU buff—to break down Thunderbolts. If you’re expecting a by-the-numbers action flick, think again. This Marvel installment has trauma, therapy metaphors, moral ambiguity, and exactly zero romantic subplots (finally). They talk about how the film blends superhero spectacle with emotional weight, highlighting characters who wrestle with their past instead of simply punching through it. Justin brings his deep knowledge of the MCU to explain how Thunderbolts fits into the Marvel mythos, while Mandy brings...
2025-06-3048 min
5 Random QuestionsMandy Kaplan: The Embarrassing Night I Bit a TeenOn this week's 5 Random Questions, Mandy Kaplan talks about her need for frequent showers, why she's not afraid to be alone in the house, how she ended up biting a teenager, and much more.Answering the questions this week: Mandy KaplanMandy Kaplan is an actress, vo artist, singer, writer, podcast host and stinky cheese addict living in LA. Her voice can be heard in hundreds of commercials/video games/website videos and more. Onscreen, she can be seen starring in the feature film 30 Nights of Sex to Save Your Marriage available on Tubi (and...
2025-06-1237 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanCaptain America: The First Avenger with John MundyLet’s talk about America. No—not that America ... Captain America, who—despite being a science experiment in high-waisted pants—somehow manages to be the most grounded Avenger in a sea of flying metal suits and literal gods with hammer fetishes.This week, Mandy invites longtime friend and deep-level comic nerd John Mundy to hold her hand as she dives headfirst into Captain America: The First Avenger. And, it’s an episode that is more packed than Chris Evans’ post-serum pecs.Together, Mandy and John embark on a cinematic journey that includes the ethics of weaponized patriotism, or as we like to call...
2025-05-2649 min
the Most Excellent 80s Movies PodcastThe Little Mermaid (1989)A Disney Renaissance ClassicJoin hosts Krissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell with special guest Mandy Kaplan as they dive under the sea to explore Disney's animation breakthrough The Little Mermaid. This 1989 film marked the beginning of the Disney Renaissance and set the template for modern Disney princess stories with its memorable songs and colorful characters.The trio discusses how this film revolutionized Disney animation, introducing the now-standard "I Want" song with "Part of Your World" (which executives initially wanted to cut!). They explore how Ariel represented a new kind of Disney princess: rebellious, independent, and actively pursuing her dreams, even if...
2025-05-2156 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanThe Nerd Who Wrote Everything: A Conversation with Bruce VilanchWelcome to the show, everybody! In this very special episode of Make Me a Nerd, Mandy Kaplan sits down with Bruce Vilanch—Emmy-winning writer, cultural historian of kitsch, and the man behind some of the strangest, most infamous moments in television history. You may know him as the guy who put Bea Arthur in a space cantina or paired Paul Lynde with KISS on national TV, but there’s so much more to Bruce’s story.Together, they dive headfirst into the murky glitter of The Star Wars Holiday Special, exploring its Wookiee problem (they don’t talk, dance, or sing), i...
2025-05-1946 min
The Story Well with Kyle OlsonExtra Frothy with Mandy KaplanIt’s always a good time when Mandy Kaplan stops by to visit. We’ll discuss the wonderful surprises she’s found doing her podcast Make Me A Nerd, plus the one that still baffles her. Then we’ll head back to the time of Gatsby to spin a story. It’s a timeless tale, about learning to appreciate how the other half live. Then it’s up to you to tell us how it ends...
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2025-05-1847 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanLabyrinth with Krissy LenzDo you remember a time when David Bowie’s pants were tighter than your schedule, owls were CGI nightmares, and puppets had a suspicious amount of emotional range? No? WELL, YOU’RE IN FOR A TREAT. Because this week, Mandy steps right into the sparkly, slightly confusing fever dream that is Labyrinth. And she does so with none other than fan-favorite, tattoo-wearing, La Croix-powered 80s movie expert Krissy Lenz.Yes, Krissy is back, and she’s brought the power of voodoo (who do? SHE DO.) along with enough trivia and nostalgia to flood the Goblin City. Together, Mandy and Krissy explor...
2025-05-1252 min
Superhero EthicsThe Making of a NerdMatthew and Riki welcome special guest Mandy Kaplan, comedian and host of the Make Me a Nerd podcast. They explore the journey of discovering nerd culture later in life, breaking down stereotypes about who gets to be a "nerd," and examining how mainstream and geek culture continue to merge in surprising ways.What defines someone as a "nerd" in today's culture?Mandy describes herself as a "mainstream mom" who loves Taylor Swift and Housewives but had always shied away from Star Wars, Star Trek, and other traditional nerd culture. Approaching 50, she decided to explore this world through her podcast...
2025-05-0549 min
Superhero EthicsThe Making of a NerdMatthew and Riki welcome special guest Mandy Kaplan, comedian and host of the Make Me a Nerd podcast. They explore the journey of discovering nerd culture later in life, breaking down stereotypes about who gets to be a "nerd," and examining how mainstream and geek culture continue to merge in surprising ways.What defines someone as a "nerd" in today's culture?Mandy describes herself as a "mainstream mom" who loves Taylor Swift and Housewives but had always shied away from Star Wars, Star Trek, and other traditional nerd culture. Approaching 50, she decided to explore this world...
2025-05-0548 minMake Me A Nerd with Mandy KaplanBlack Mirror with Tommy Metz III & Pete WrightWelcome back, nerdlings, to Make Me A Nerd — the show where one mainstream mom dares to plummet headfirst into the gelatinous pit of sci-fi anthologies, death anxiety, and…digital pigs. This week, Mandy Kaplan reunites with podcast übermensch Pete Wright and returning mensch Tommy Metz III to tackle Black Mirror — that show that asks the critical question: “What if your phone hated you as much as you hate yourself?”Together, Mandy, Pete, and Tommy trudge through techno-paranoia, pastel dystopias, virtual beach towns where nobody drinks a full cocktail, and simulated space-faring hellscapes hosted by Jesse Plemons’ terrifying smirk. From “Nosedive” to “San Junipero”...
2025-05-051h 03
Go Help Yourself: A Comedy Self-Help Podcast to Make Life Suck LessAging Sucks... But You're Gonna Love It!: A Woman's Survival Guide to Getting Older by Brenda AckermanThis week on Go Help Yourself, Misty is joined by special guest Mandy Kaplan to review the book Aging Sucks... But You're Gonna Love It!: A Woman's Survival Guide to Getting Older by Brenda Ackerman.Mandy Kaplan is an actress, voiceover artist, singer, writer, podcast host and stinky cheese addict living in LA. Her voice can be heard in hundreds of commercials/video games/website videos and more. Onscreen, she can be seen starring in the feature film 30 Nights of Sex to Save Your Marriage available on Tubi (and other streamers). She also co-wrote and produced the mo...
2025-04-2234 min