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Season 5
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Rob and Analese continue their deep dive into disco decade nerdery, this time hitting books, comics, and pop culture that shaped the 1970s.
Books: Analese kicks things off with Stephen King’s early domination (Carrie, The Long Walk, The Running Man) while Rob realizes The Princess Bride was a ‘70s book, not just an endlessly quoted movie. Both are equally stunned by The Neverending Story being from 1979, because apparently no one reads German fantasy novels until the 80s.
Comics: Rob schools us all on Giant-Size X-Men #1, the Infinity Saga beginnings, and that classic “Speedy Is a Junkie” issue of Green Lantern/Green Arrow. Analese goes full horror nerd with Marvel’s underappreciated Tomb of Dracula, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, and Son of Satan—because who needs wholesome heroes when you can have swamp monsters and demon spawn?
Pop Culture: The birth of Dungeons & Dragons, the rise of Atari, Apple II, and the Sony Walkman. Analese reveals her family got an Apple III out of a repo car trunk (honestly, peak 70s energy).
Music: Fleetwood Mac cult members, Janis Joplin, The Jackson 5, and Rob’s ode to The Muppets—the true artistic triumph of the decade, according to him. Analese agrees, but only if Animal gets to play barbarian in her imaginary Muppet D&D one-shot.
Side Quests:
The “Five by Five” Buffy reference somehow turns into a lesson on radio codes and school admin procedures.
Rob and Analese re-litigate The State corrections from listeners (turns out it’s streaming on Paramount+ but still has busted music rights).
They reminisce about Porcupine Racetrack, Barry LaVon, and the penguins don’t do it sketch—possibly proving that memory is a social construct.
A brief existential crisis about how to spell “Tabitha” derails into Bewitched trivia and audience shout-outs to grandmas with “witchy” names.
Analese finally getting to the new Dexter shows - her free trial is ending soon!
ROB’S NIPPERS! He got new ones. It’s a tool, apparently. Get your heads out of the gutter.Nerd Shout Outs:
MTV’s The State Website (which has original sketches with original music)
The movie Almost Famous for showing, truly, what the 70s music vibe was like. -
This week, Rob and Analese put on their metaphorical bell bottoms and dove headfirst into the disco-ball chaos of the 1970s — the decade that gave us cult classics, government conspiracies, and fashion crimes so loud they could cause tinnitus.
Analese kicked things off by praising The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Facts of Life, Laverne & Shirley, and Good Times (plus more!) for proving you could mix heart, humor, and trauma in one half-hour — “basically the emotional support sitcoms of their time.” She declared the 70s “peak vibe confusion,” praising Saturday Night Fever, Charlie’s Angels, and Three’s Company while roasting Brady Bunch Variety Hour as the “accidental horror show of family television.”
Rob launched into a mini-lecture about 70s sci-fi aesthetics, managing to connect Logan’s Run, THX-1138, and “every bad couch color from 1974.” Happy Days, Chips and also made his list. He then took the cinematic route, listing Jaws, The Godfather, Taxi Driver, and Star Wars: A New Hope as proof that every 70s movie was either about moral decay or outer space. He also admitted Smokey and the Bandit may have been his sexual awakening.
Together, they debated whether MASH* was brilliant satire or just trauma with a laugh track, and concluded that disco wasn’t killed by punk — it was murdered by Disco Duck. The conversation ended with a spirited defense of Schoolhouse Rock! as both civic education and gateway drug to political cynicism.
Side Quests:
Analese went on a tangent about Charlie’s Angels, arguing it’s “camp, not feminism — and that’s okay.”
They spent too long wondering if The Love Boat was secretly the original workplace comedy.
The duo also briefly derailed into 70s snack lore (Pop Rocks, Tang, and Tab — the real Holy Trinity of poor life choices).Nerd Shout Outs:
Hoopla for keeping Rob busy on plane trips.
This foldable charging station keeping Analese’s devices charged while traveling.
IPIC fancy theater in Redmond WA where Analese and Dr. Intern Joan did their homework for a future episode.Shop the Nerd List – Support the Podcast:
Kindle e-reader
Mini-make up sponges for mini-painting
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Your favorite nerds time-traveled straight back to the 90s to worship at the altar of absurdist sketch comedy — MTV’s The State. Rob and Analese dissected the weird, the brilliant, and the “how was this ever on basic cable?” moments that shaped an entire generation’s sense of humor (and possibly ruined all of ours). Did you even watch The Long Live the State Documentary?!
Analese rewatched every sketch with the zeal of a grad student defending a thesis titled “Why 90s Weird Was Peak Weird.” She reminded us that The State gave us future comedy legends before they went corporate (cough Reno 911 cough). Rob came prepared with deep trivia and at least one unnecessary ranking of “Top Five Sketches That Would Get You Canceled Today.” Together they lovingly roasted MTV’s golden era — a time when the network still played music and thought giving a sketch show to 11 chaos goblins was a solid business plan.
Side Quests:
A side rant about TRL, because apparently Carson Daly still lives rent-free in everyone’s head.
A detour into 90s fashion trauma: JNCOs, frosted tips, and “why were we all shiny?”
Analese confessed to owning a Daria journal; Rob admitted to a Beavis & Butt-Head phase he’s still not emotionally over.
The hosts briefly considered a “Bring Back Liquid Television” campaign before remembering they both have jobs.Nerd Shout Outs:
Rob is playing Marvel United: Fantastic Four
Analese is back at it with Final Girl; her colleagues attended GenCon and she is jealous.
Dungeons & Lasers terrain kitsAnalese’s local game store, Sword and Board! One shot games played once a week! Free set of dice when you buy certain manuals/guides! Mystery loot bags!
Shop the Nerd List – Support the Podcast:
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We kicked off Season 5 by settling once and for all who has the better fictional pet collection — because every great hero needs a sidekick with fur, scales, or…opposable thumbs?
Analese’s picks: Miss Kitty Fantastico (Willow’s blink-and-you-miss-it cat in BtVS), Thing from Wednesday (basically a dog with a thumb), and her eternal #1, Snoopy (that dog makes the best snow-cones!), Hedwig (the overworked USPS of Hogwarts, single-wingedly keeping the wizarding world connected because no one thought to invent texting spells) and, of course, Scooby-Doo — sandwich demolisher, mystery solver, stoner icon.
Rob’s picks: Krypto the Superdog (laser eyes + bacon = chaos), Guenhwyvar (a D&D panther with a spelling nightmare), and Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon (the dragon-dog hybrid we all secretly want to adopt), Bait the GlowToad from The Dragon Prince and finally, the demon Pan (short for Pantalaimon) from His Dark Materials/Golden Compass.
Shared obsession neither nerd mentioned (except via BFF Telepathy): Flash (owned by Sheriff Roscoe in Dukes of Hazard).
Side Quests:
James Gunn just might be the one to bring us the DCU we’ve been waiting for.
Which Superman theme song is the best one?
Nerdy owl facts from Rob.
A mutual flashback to WB Store (the 90s temple of overpriced Looney Tunes streetwear and Scooby-Doo snow globes no one needed but everyone bought).
Analese is knee-deep into the Netflix series Wednesday and loving it!Nerd Shout Outs:
Ismael - thanks for keeping us accountable with The Engineer knowledge!
Patreon meet up (Rob, Maria, Ismael, and Julianna) to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.Shop the Nerd List – Support the Podcast:
Scooby Apocalypse Omnibus Comic
The Engineer appears in:
StormWatch Vol 1
Season 4
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Season 5 is coming in hot, and apparently, so are we. We’re diving headfirst into weekly episodes, because nothing says “thriving” like turning our hobby into a second job. By the end of the season, we’ll be hitting our 100th official episode — which is wild considering we still can’t figure out how to end a show without talking for 15 extra minutes. We’re shaking up the format to accommodate more guests, and giving ourselves more room for epic nerd debates. There’s also a new personal challenge: fewer instances of “Nerdsplaining,” though let’s be real… it’s probably going to happen anyway. Oh, and if you thought the Buffy references were bad before, buckle up — Season 5 might just turn into a Slayer-themed drinking game.
What are you most looking forward to in Season 5 of nerd Best Friends?
Side Quests:
“Mono-y-mono” is now officially part of our lexicon, don’t @ us.
Rob learned the Logitech Spotlight clicker is basically witchcraft.
Dr. Intern Joan’s goal to post daily means the algorithm will either love us or ban us.
Creatine powder ads? Pass… for now. (But “Nat 20 Energy Drink” still sounds like a solid side hustle.)Nerd Shout Outs:
Our Nerd Herd – You keep us caffeinated, weird, and mildly accountable.
@Threads – Who knew you’d be the social media MVP?
Riverside AI – For magically finding clips where we sound almost professional.Shop the Nerd List – Support the Podcast:
• Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote – because lasers are so last decade.
• Pro Acryl Fine Grain Texture Paste – stick your nerd projects together like your life depends on it.
• Makeup Sponges – for painting minis or your face, your call. -
In this episode of the Nerd Best Friends Podcast, hosts Analese and Rob, along with their guests/Patreon subscribers Maria, Julianna and Josh, dive into the whimsical world of the tabletop game 'The Great Goblin Argle Bargle’ by Snarling Badger Studios. They discuss the origins of the game, their personal experiences with gameplay, the mechanics involved, and the importance of terrain and strategy. The conversation also touches on character creation, game balance, and the overall enjoyment of the game, making it clear that this is a fun and accessible experience for all ages. The episode wraps up with recommendations for listeners interested in exploring this unique tabletop game.
What other games should we play and give immediate live-on-the-pod feedback?
Side Quests:
Avoidance of certain craft store brands (e.g., Hobby Lobby) for ethical reasons.
Mention of a USC Marching Band joke related to the Superman theme.
America’s Favorite Teen Nerd’s bookshelf clean-out, rediscovering childhood comic books.
Reading The Far Side comics (The Curse of Madam C collection).Nerd Shout Outs:
Ishmael - thanks for your feedback on our Reroll episode of Superman - stay tuned for a future Talk Nerdy to Me segment discussing the music.
Patreon subscribers and Argle Bargle participants Maria, Julianna and Josh - thank you for participating in our first experiential group episode.
Snarling Badger Games - what a great game that brought us together.
Snarling Badger’s Podcast, SNARLcast.Shop the Nerd List – Support the Podcast:
• Pet Sematary (Audible) narrated by Michael C. Hall• The Institute by Stephen King
• The Long Walk by Stephen King
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This week on Nerd Best Friends , the crew including America’s Favorite Teen Nerd, throw on their capes, grab their overpriced popcorn, and dive deep into opening weekend of the new Superman film. Was it the blockbuster we’ve been craving since the pandemic? Or just another CGI-powered cape flick with good intentions and weak execution?
Spoiler warning! This episode breaks the movie down stem to stern, including cameos, vibes, and whether Lex Luthor cried harder than your ex at graduation.
Rob kicks things off with full-on Superman glee, calling the film a return to form — trunks on the outside, a hopeful tone, and that iconic blue suit. We unpack how this version of Superman reflects a shift back to bright, noble storytelling, drawing heavily from All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison— a favorite of both Rob and James Gunn. That tonal shift echoes a broader trend, inspired by creators like Mark Waid and Brian Michael Bendis, who’ve spent the last decade returning Supes to his roots as the most human alien in the galaxy.
Other highlights:
-The Ultraman clone twist (complete with a 90s mullet wig ripped straight from comic lore)
- A tone that counters darker takes like The Boys, Injustice, and Invincible
- Rob’s nostalgia spikes when Metamorpho showed up
- A fiery debate about whether this is the best Lex Luthor ever or just an emotionally fragile tech bro in a hoodie.
- We also explore the Guardians of the Galaxy effect: how James Gunn turned forgotten comic characters into stars — and is doing it again with DC’s bench. (Looking at you, Mr. Terrific.)Final Verdict?
Rob’s enchanted. Analese is cautiously optimistic. Joan is… well, skeptical. But we all agree: seeing Superman save the day without a single visible death (RIP, falafel guy?) was weirdly refreshing. Is this the hopeful comic book renaissance we needed?Side Quests
- Remember the Barbenheimer summer of 2023? We do — but we didn’t go to either.
- We dunk on movie projectors, praise reserved seating, and argue over which nerd theaters reign supreme (Studio One in Portland, Oregon wins).Shoutouts
- Thanks to our podcast friends at Major Slayage for the Buffy x Dr. Dre remix.
- Thanks to the Nerd Herd gang for sending in MCU vs comic canon questions — we still need to dig out those Official Marvel Handbooks and settle it once and for all. -
In this special live episode of Nerd Best Friends, the 2025 Summer Nerd Games take center stage, complete with high-stakes trivia, enthusiastic heckling, and an unconventional scoring system courtesy of Dr. Intern Joan, whose criteria included everything from accuracy to “vibe points” and if the nerds can teach her something.
Contestants Rob and Analese battled through rounds of brainy pop culture trivia; Rob crushed the comic book and Star Wars rounds, pulling deep cuts and fast facts that left the crowd stunned. Meanwhile, Analese dominated pop culture and Stephen King trivia, proving she’s the queen of creepy and the 90s. Rob emerged victorious and he officially “took the company”. Dr. Intern Joan’s rubric might be unhinged, but it was unforgettable.
What other live steam ideas do you have for us to try?
Side Quests:
Dr. Intern Joan is WAY behind with Billy Madison quotes and references.
Church AND the Hellmouth at the same location?! It happened….
Rob lives his LaVerne & Shirley dreams in Milwaukee and nerds out for 45 seconds on his recent comic books read. Then, he steals Analese’s 45 seconds and nerds out on Andor Season 2.
DIJ’s favorite Star Wars Movie - Caravan of Courage: An Ewok AdventureNerd Shout Outs:
The mute button, which Analese discovered and used liberally against Rob!
Thanks to Josh and Juliana for hanging out for our first live stream! -
Analese and Rob hit HellmouthCon 2025 in Torrance, CA (aka Sunnydale High School, the Hellmouth) — to run a live panel and proceeded to immediately botch their live episode recording by not hitting record. Analese is still beating herself up about it but they learned a lot and can’t wait to do another LIVE episode!
The Buffy x Dungeons and Dragons panel was STELLAR! The nerds follow the 5-man band trope and match up 5 BtVS characters and create character sheets ready for use in an RPG campaign. Patreon subscribers and attendees get those sheets for FREE, so go find out the character profiles of Buffy, Spike, Giles, Willow and Xander.
The nerds also took in other panels, met actors and fans, including Analese’s epic photo op with not one, not two, but three Sunnydale High principals, and Rob shamelessly telling his teenage blonde-hair embarrassments directly to James Marsters himself (yes, that Spike).
Should we make HellmouthCon an annual NBF Roadtrip?
Side Quests:
Re: Neverending Story || Listener Juliana thinks the kids have it easy today with their close captioned streaming ability to pause! || Los 805 reminds us the mom is Moon Child
The Hollywood Hellmouth Quiz went over SWIMMINGLY live at HellmouthCon.
Practicing tabletop games solo is not the same as playing with friends - Rob is still preparing for the Great Goblin Argle Bargle.
Analese is busy painting goblins and she finished Never Flinch by Stephen King, which is not his best Holly Gibney story.Nerd Shout Outs:
All of the attendees at the Buffy x D&D panel - please send us any pictures or other content!
Fandom Charities for putting on HellmouthCon 2025 - see you next year!
Monster of the Week RPG -
This week Analese and Rob drag Dr. Intern Joan (DIJ) into the sparkly, traumatic, and occasionally nonsensical world of The Neverending Story—a film DIJ somehow missed during childhood despite being a Gen X nerd. First, they note how 1984 somehow gifted us much high fantasy content.
Analese gives aggressive side-eye to Bastian’s school principal, and Rob notices 12yo boy aspects of this movie and debates whether watching The Neverending Story II is a noble act of curiosity or a complete waste of time. They unpack the movie’s big emotional swings, like the infamous 90 seconds of pure soul-destruction (yes, that scene), and ponder why we all cried over a horse. DIJ realizes that overall it’s a movie about the magic of disappearing into a book and where is our California Soarin’-esque Falcon ride?!
What other fantasy films should we consider watching?
Side Quests:
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
Is Joe from “You” is a worse human than Dexter Morgan? Spoiler: it’s complicated.
DIJ reveals she created her ultimate “ cozy hobby nerd room.”
The Great Goblin Angle Bargle is coming!
Rob is reading Eisner-nominated graphic novels through Hoopla.
Stephen King is EVERYWHERE!Nerd Shout Outs:
Riverside has changed how we edit and interact with guests, and more, of the podcast.
If this episode made you want to relive your childhood trauma in HD, we’ve got you covered—snag The Neverending Story: 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Edition and prepare to cry about a swamp again. -
Summer Nerd Comic Book Club: Chew Vol 1 & 2
In this savory episode, our geeky gourmands sink their teeth into Chew Vol. 1 & 2, dishing on Tony Chu’s bizarre bite-powered detective work. Between food crimes, poultry prohibition, and psychic snackbacks, the crew digests the comic’s meaty plot and spicy satire. Come for the cannibal cop, stay for the umami undertones—and beware the beets. It’s a five-star flavor profile of noir, nonsense, and gnarly noshing and definitely not for children.Doctor Intern Joan took a deep dive into what foods inspired the names of the characters, settings, etc. Rob was reacquainted with the grossness (oh the bellybuttons!) and all the swears. Analese finds the background details GENIUS!
If you want to use the handy reading guide created specifically for Patreon subscribers by Dr. Intern Joan, head on over here and subscribe!
Will you keep reading past these two volumes?
Side Quests:
Sarah Michelle Gellar chooses a new Chosen One.
Superman is coming soon!
The Long Walk movie, original book by Stephen Kind, is coming a bit later….Costco doesn’t sell books anymore.
Booktok brought back Barnes & Noble
Rob is an old man building a goblin ship.
Dr. Intern Joan is celebrating Amazing Race 37 winners Carson McCalley and Jack Dodge, self-proclaimed nerds.
Analese geeked out at Universal Studio’s Fanfest with Back to the Future, D&D and other fun interactive exhibits.Nerd Shout Outs:
Geek Freaks Podcast episode on toxic Star Wars fans
Ishmael, thanks for sharing YOUR top 5 villains! They were not even on our radar.
Los805 - duh, of course we remember NBA Jam!
Juliana - Dr. Intern Joan wants to read Daredevil too! -
The nerds discuss the ride of Season 4.
Obviously, the addition of Dr. Intern Joan was the nerds’ best moment. She added another nerd voice, increased their social media presence (follow us on Threads!) and beefed up the show notes with links from things mentioned on-pod.
The initial episode of HellmouthCon with guest Frank Bonacci was a favorite for Analese and served as an intro and on-location training for Joan an her interning duties.
We all agree, the Top 5 Episodes are THE BEST. Applying the theme of Pop Culture really opened up the Cars and Villains episodes for good conversation and listener engagement. For listener engagement, the Ghostbuster’s episode was another fave, along with encouraging Analese and Dr. Intern Joan to explore more pieces of the multi-verse.
Our comic book episodes (Hellboy and Comic Book Club: Wonder Woman Historia) hit the mark for all of us as well - Analese loved being in the horror genre with Hellboy, Rob loved watching Crooked Man with his family and getting the First Annual Comic Book Club up and running, and Dr. Intern Joan heard book club and dove straight in!
Individually, other episodes we loved:
Rob waited so long for the new D&D, both to play and record the ep!
Analese loved the 30’s (1995) episode because nostalgia is just so good.
The 25 for 2025 Reboot episode had Dr. Intern Joan loving her ability to share a new perspective for accountability and rethinking goal-setting.Thank you to all of our guests:
Frank Bonacci (The Nightmare Collective podcast)
Ashley Oakbridge (creator of Oakbridge)
Robert C. Murray (author of the Titan Run Trilogy)
And special thanks to our trailer swap partners:
Total Conundrum
Play ComicsAnd of course, the nerds are thankful for their participation in episodes of:
Lore of the Rings podcast
“You Had to Be There” podcast -
The nerds discuss their top 5 villains (15 villains total!). Analese stays true to form with the horror genre, Dr. Intern Joan gets soapy and Rob leans into merchandise-able villains.
They cover villains from film, books, cartoons, comics and television and discuss which have stayed consistent across various portrayals and what truly scared them as children.
Plus, all villains have an origin story. Their Top 5 definitely pull heartstrings and the nerds extend sympathy while also reviling their actions.
For more villainous fun, join Patreon as the discussion continues. See if your faves were included!
What villains haunted your dreams?
Side Quests:
Drinking games: hockey themed and the infamous “Power Hour”
Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman out now on Disney+
Podcast process - recording, editing, etc.
The Psychology of Dexter
Amazing Race nerd pair
D&D: Vecna Eve of Ruin Special Edition
The Monkey filmNerd Shout Outs:
Neighbor Like Me by the Math Club - VERY CATCHY!
Give a listen to Total Conundrum - explore the true crime, supernatural and the unexplained with a good dose of dark humor! -
The nerds are back! It’s near the end of the season and it’s time to follow up on nerd goals, nerd goings-on and you know, we can’t let the humor go that we’ve reached episode 69.
Analese - watching Suits - playing Final Girl Series 3 - watching more horror movies - doing one thing every night to avoid being too sedentary - watching Women’s Basketball
Rob - playing D&D - finishing an 80’s D&D tetralogy - painting Warhammer minis of the month when he isn’t distracted and the store closes before he gets there - watching Arcane on Netflix and listening to the soundtrack in his car - downloading Storygraph
Dr. Intern Joan - reading Ghostbusters 101 comic book - crocheting herself and her cat a blanket - switching to her second planner of the year - making her reading space more cozy
What are YOU doing, nerds?
Side Quests:
Playstation used to be called the Nintendo Playstation until the two companies split apart and did two different consoles!
Dr. Intern Joan’s current reads: Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg, Agents of Change by Christina Hillsberg, and Emma of Aurora by Jane Kirkpatrick
Stephen King did some crime writing with pulp-crime-y covers like Colorado Kid and Joyland.
Talking to ourselves while playing solo games.
Do It Now app - your RPG to-do listNerd Shout Outs:
Thanks, Los805, for the Nintendo Playstation fact. NERD!
Ishmael - thanks for joining our Patreon! -
America’s Favorite Teen Nerd is back on NBF to discuss the 6th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. 6th edition takes D&D from High Fantasy to Heroic Fantasy.
All three books are now out (Players Handbook, the DM’s Guide and the Monster Manual) so it’s the perfect time to discuss the game. Analese can appreciate the Players handbook as the first one she’s owned, from the user-friendly language to the inclusive artwork while Rob geeked out on adding the section divider labels. The DM’s Guide is better than all the rest that came before, though it’s hard to find all the variant covers (Rob is watching eBay). It provides in depth background, tips, tables and charts to run a successful game. The Lore section acknowledges the last 50 years of D&D! The Monster’s Manual also provides first-time instructions on how to use a Monster! This has never been done before. Andrew loves the art in that each type of character has a definite vibe that helps bring its flavor to the game.
Andrew is running a 6th Edition game now; he loves that the characters come with some additional background options that aren’t based on basic character archetypes. Additionally, encounters are created by a flavor mix of 4th Edition and Baldur’s Gate rules. Rob’s excited that you can craft your own magic items and headquarters! What doesn’t sit well with Teen Nerd is that every class gets their subclass at level 3. Ugh.
Nerd tip: don’t call it One D&D! Listen to find out why, along with other details, likes and dislikes of D&D 6th Edition. Ultimately, there are no D&D police so you can play how you like. Do what you want!
What is your favorite or not so favorite part of the new 6th Edition D&D?
Side Quests:
Listeners want more Dr. Intern Joan! Follow her on IG @what.is.joan.reading and on @the.storygraph to see what she’s reading and get her recs.
Analese is deep in Final Girl 3; tear dice have changed the game.
Rob is in love with AI tools, including his newest obsession: Death Clock AI.
Andrew is recommending comic books to his girlfriend.Nerd Shout Outs:
Thanks, Aaron, from Lore of the Rings, for joining us! Give him a follow and listen as a companion podcast to your Lord of the Rings literature journey
Rob is obsessed with D&D book tabs like these for easy access to info! -
What makes reboots and remakes successful? Listen as the Nerds what works and what doesn’t for these methods of storytelling.
Definitions
Remake = retelling of the same story presented in a new way to update it or make it accessible.
Reboot = original cannon exists and the story is continued on in new characters, storylines etc.Remake Variations
Book -> Movie -> Movie
-Dune in 1965, 1984 and 2021
-Stephen King’s It in 1986, 1990, 2017
Movie -> Movie
-Ocean’s 11 in 1960 and 2001Reboot Variations
-Voltron (2016)
-Scream franchise
-Marvel and DC comics booksShould reboots and remakes exist? Are they overdone these days? There are so many stories to be told…
What do you wish would be remade or rebooted?
Side Quests:
SPRING IS COMING! That means painting minis and watching baseball!
Rob uses his Warhammer minis to play different games (e.g. not Warhammer).
Analese is trying to hold off opening Final Girl 3 but will likely give in.Nerd Shout Outs:
The 30something Movie Podcast loved our 1995 (30s) episode. Check them out and don’t forget to follow us there @nbfpodcast.bsky.social
Rob is loving Notebook LM - it has so many functions he hasn’t even discovered yet. -
1995 was THIRTY years ago. The nerds were in their late teens and gas was less than a dollar.
It was a sweet spot for movies with Jim Carey, Jackie Chan, and the start of Adam Sandler’s golden age. Analese and Rob will forever quote Billy Madison! Other mentions include a popular video game turned movie, weird special effects and cult classics. Rob also mentions a lesser known animated movie that can make you cry.
Television includes more fantasy, including a female-centric warrior, and book-to-tv teen “horror” series, and a popular Japanese series airing in America. The idea of a multi-verse enticed Rob via a sci-fi show that was his obsession. The nerds both love comedy and there were some gems during this time. And lest we forget a trial of the century airing for the majority of 1995!
Analese mentions Stephen King (of course), a book having a real pop culture moment in today times, and a film that became a cult classic with two new-at-the-time Stevie Nicks’ songs. Rob loves a trilogy book series (turned movie turned HBO mini-series) that brings the fantasy vibes and two comic series, including Batman (of course) and a lesser known series about a fantasy adventure.
90s music was really a mixed bag - rap, grunge, pop, alternative rock, R&B - how did we even dance to it all?
Honorable mentions for this year include a brand new gaming station, everyone’s favorite bidding website, the “bookseller” that is controversial today, clothing styles (flannel anyone?), electronic pets, cartoons geared towards adults, and Windows 95.
Listen to the bonus episode over on Patreon for more 1995 nerdiness!
Did the nerds cover your faves from 1995?
Side Quests:
Analese wears progressives for the first time “on her face” - will she ever adjust?
Fictional “sporting” events and games capture the nerds’ attention - Quidditch anyone?
What do TLC and Alanis Morisette have in common with Dave Coulier?
Rob played more Deth Wizards from Snarling Badger Studios. Check out pictures on Bluesky @@nbfpodcast.bsky.socialNerd Shout Outs:
Thanks to the listener for the Nerd Mail: Rob left stuff out of the Ghostbusters episode and now he has homework!
Fantasy Football for the nerds this season had a D&D theme; congrats to Chloe for winning the big prize!
Pinball Nancy flashback! -
Rob is into horror, if he knows what to expect and as long as it’s clearly fictional! Which means, in this episode, Hellboy and the Crooked Man.
The comic:
You can tell the time period based on the color palettes used (artwork by Richard Corben).
Mike Mignola (creator) researches folklore and uses them in his storylines and hits all the fine points of a horror genre story.The movie (direct to tv/on-demand):
If you haven’t read the comics you might be somewhat lost in the storyline.
Color use was on point, as with the comic.
Too much money was spent on effects vs actually taking time to tell the story.
Hellboy looks too human, and who played him was not who played him in the last movie.Final Verdict:
Read the comic and then watch the movie.Do you know the myth of the Crooked Man?
Side Quests:
Rob imagines tabletop games, etc. as comic book scenes in his head and Analese imagines real life scenarios.
The nerds take a journey into the 90s with some pop culture trivia.
Rob is priming some minis to paint! But he has not been varnishing them.
Final Girl Series 3 is almost in Analese’s hot little hands!
Analese has reorganized into categories her 25 for 2025 like Intern Joan and Rob.Nerd Shout Outs:
NBF is now on BlueSky! Follow us there @nerdbestfriends.bsky.social
The nerds have achieved 100+ followers on Instagram! Keep spreading the word! -
We ain’t afraid of no ghosts! Listen as the nerds discuss the Ghostbusters franchise.
Turns out, the 1985-86 Filmation Ghostbusters cartoon was COMPLETELY unrelated to the franchise!
The original 1984 movie was billed as a comedy due to the multiple SNL actors that starred.
The score and soundtrack for Ghostbusters I & II are stellar.
Extreme Ghostbusters (1997) was billed as a sequel to The Real Ghostbusters cartoon (1986-1991) and only lasted 3 months.
Ghostbusters by IDW quietly entered the comic book world in 2011. Look for the cross over issues with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
2016 showed us a remake with female comedians, again from SNL, written as if the original movie had never happened. Mostly a miss by critics but appreciated by many due to some callbacks to the original and Chris Hemsworth.
REBOOT: Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) = Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Also, Paul Rudd.
The Frozen Empire follows Afterlife and another is anticipated in this reboot series coming in 2026.
IDW comics has created a multiverse that combines all of these into ONE over several issues.Who you gonna call?
Side Quests:
Robert C. Murray rewatches the Lord of the Rings Extended version every new year.
Rob has been playing Deth Wizards from Snarling Badger Studios.
Analese guested on “You Had to Be There” podcast about her experience being at the recording of Fleetwood Mac’s album “The Dance.”Nerd Shout Outs:
Listener Brynn sent in her Spotify wrapped for 2024; she listened to 3989 minutes of Nerd Best Friends!
Thanks to Robert C. Murray, author of the Titan Run Trilogy, for talking nerdy with us. Find him @lefthandrob on Instagram and Threads. -
Dr. Intern Joan joins Analese and Rob as they recount their 24 for 2024 and anticipate their 25 of 2025. As a reminder, the nerds don’t have New Year’s Resolutions, they set goals they’ll ENJOY achieving.
2024 Highlights:
Rob enjoyed finishing painting and playing Master’s of the Universe, Clash of Eternia, taking walks with his wife and playing games with his son.
Analese reread THIRTEEN Stephen King novels and this reignited her passion for the genre, leading her to find related podcasts and revisiting movies/series.
Joan had a theme (My Comeback Era) and relished in quitting her job and starting her private practice.2024 Lowlights:
No more D&D-related goals for Rob, home improvement projects for Joan, or health and financial goals for Analese.2025 Most Anticipated:
Dr. Intern Joan working towards growing Nerd Best Friends alongside Analese and Rob and cooking some new cooky recipes
Analese will be cleaning out her garage and getting rid of lots of stuff and traveling!
Rob is shifting focus to professional development and will prioritize family and friend game time as a result.What are your goals for 2025?
Side Quests:
The Bush Push (USC vs Notre Dame) was in 2004, not 2001 like Analese said in a previous episode. Regardless, it wasn’t allowed across the football-verse and NOW IT IS.
Natural Paintbrushes (for minis) and the tariffs prohibiting shipment of them.
Ashley shares the origin story of her audioshow, Oakbridge (hint: Stranger Things, X-Files and Twin Peaks were her inspiration).
Scammers on Ebay take the fun out of selling nerd stuff and there’s something sketchy happening in the Santa Barbara Fed Ex and USPS delivery networks.
Fruit pies are just breakfast pastries if you try hard enough.
Wood-paneled station wagons in dreams and in real life.
Rob had a cookie challenge at work.Nerd Shout Outs:
Ashley, creator of Oakbridge, thank you for being on our show! Listen to her and co-host Jasmin on Ham Radio: A Stranger Things Podcast.
Our listeners! Keep calling us out on our mistakes. -
Join us as we dive into the sci-fi series Dollhouse (2009-2010), created by Joss Whedon and starring Eliza Dushku. The nerds have stored the details of this show in the deep recesses of their minds but join them as they rediscover the premise and two seasons of this mind-bendy show.
-Is this really a sci-fi show? It edges on horror in season 2!
-Season 1 didn’t get great ratings but fan support pushed it to get a 2nd season. As a result, some episodes didn’t air in the order they should have.
-Joss’ approach to this show was similar to other shows but it seems to have been complicated by the networks involvement (Fox).
-This show does NOT hold up today due to issues of consent.
-Actors we see in Dollhouse that show up many other places in the future: Alan Tudyk, Patton Oswalt, Felicia Day, Amy Acker, Alexis Denisov, Summer Glau, Dicen Lachman, Liza Lapira, Enver GjokajOverall, this show appears not to have made much impact but is worth watching if you’re a fan of Joss Whedon-verse, the associated actors and/or Eliza Dushku.
Would this show make it today if the issues were resolved?
Side Quests:
What cheesy old-school television show needs a dark, gritty modern reboot? And just how far does Rob take this answer?
Watching old-school shows on Nick at Nite
The Bush Push (USC v Notre Dame 2005)
Analese and Rob and their BOXES OF GOBLINS!Nerd Shout Outs:
Eliza Dushku’s post-Hollywood career path
Snarling Badger Studios - games to give your minis extra playing time
Only Games - a community for gamers to discover, buy and support Indie Creators -
Okay nerds, no show notes this episode. Instead, consider joining Patreon. Doing so will get you the exclusive NBF gift guide with gift ideas, links and Dr. Intern Joan’s Six Tips for Holiday Shopping.
What nerd gifts are you giving and hoping to receive?
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“It’s very Greeky.” - Rob
The nerds welcome Dr. Intern Joan (FINALLY!) to the podcast as they discuss their first Nerd Book Club pick: Wonder Woman History: The Amazons by Kelly Sue Deconnick and illustrated by Gene Ha, Phil Jimenez and Nicola Scott.
Listen as the trio discusses the writing, art and legendary origins of The Amazons as told in this Eisner award winning graphic novel, and how the socio-political issues represented are just as applicable today.
Did you read along with us? What did you think?
Side Quests:
Via Nerd Mail, Teen Nerd shares the tropes of “the 5 man band.”
Joan read her 134th book of the year. Whoa.
Rob played Castle Ravenloft at Halloween as a matter of tradition.
Analese is continuing on her Stephen King revisit with watching Mr. Mercedes on Peacock.Nerd Shout Outs:
Wonder Woman History: The Amazons by Kelly Sue Deconnick and illustrated by Gene Ha, Phil Jimenez and Nicola Scott
Read your comics from the library using Hoopla
Dave and Liam from the podcast “Watch It If You Can” share their British faves from the 2010s
Follow Dr. Intern Joan on IG @what.is.joan.reading to see what she’s reading -
“You can’t talk about Captain Marvel without Ms. Marvel and you can’t talk about Ms. Marvel without talking about ALL THE MARVELS from the new movie…” - Rob
Listen as the nerds discuss:
-the evolution of Captain Marvel, et al.
-superheroes existing within these universes for new superheroes to look up to
-which versions are the nerds’ favorite
-a stellar Janet Jackson reference
-female comic character tropes and strides in representation of women in comicsRob’s Captain Marvel Comic Book Recs
Captain Marvel Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More by Kelly Sue Deconnick
Captain Marvel Vol. 1: In Pursuit of Flight by Kelly Sue Deconnick
Captain Marvel Vol. 1: Rise of Alpha Flight
The Mighty Captain Marvel (2017-2018)
The Mighty Avengers (2013-2014)
Ms. Marvel (2014-2015)Is there a more recent Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) comic series that the nerds should read?
Side Quests:
Rob’s son is on a birthday trip, seeing two shows a day in NEW YORK CITY (including The Dungeons & Dragons Live Theatrical Experience)!
The kids these days and their interpretations of the 80s and 90s make the nerds chuckle.
Analese is called out for LOVING remakes when she clearly disavows them in a recent episode.
The nerds Internet Quiz each other on Spiderman and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
There is a fly interrupting Analese and Rob is very distracted by it. **karate chop**
Analese has finished listening to all 45 HOURS of the audiobook It by Stephen King
Rob took advantage of some rare Fall sun and primed 39 miniatures for painting.Nerd Shout Outs:
Marvel Superheroes Fantasy Jigsaw Puzzle (1983) for teaching Rob about the Marvel characters.Lastly, our listeners! We’ve received more fan interaction since our Pop Culture Cars episode than ever - keep it up! We love hearing from you.
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The nerds get into their faves from the ‘10s. This is the decade where things changed due to streaming services, and this is reflected in who is winning awards at the Oscars, etc.
First up, television. Rob stays on brand with shows adapted from comic books and novels, as well as expansions of existing space western universes. Analese also stays on brand going pop culture, from quirky comedy to nostalgia and true crime.
For movies, the nerds acknowledge the ‘10s as the decade of Marvel and Star Wars. They mention several of each, and also give some honorable mentions to a DC superhero and some sci-fi flicks.
There is so much to cover! Subscribe to our Patreon for additional content from Nerdwatching the 2010s.
Stay tuned for next season where they go back to the future (Nerdwatching the 70s!).
What shows and movies from the 2010s did you enjoy?
Side Quests:
The nerds use AI/ChatGPT to guess the name of a poorly explained movie plots and guess the movie title.
Analese is watching horror movies, listening to horror soundtracks and playing Final Girl for the entirety of October!
Is Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween or Christmas movie?
Rob found the exclusive BlitzBall and is lining up his fantasy football teams accordingly.Nerd Shout Outs:
Player One VR World
Access exclusive Nerd Best Friends content on Patreon. -
What does gatekeeping look like?
Why do people gatekeep?
How can nerd communities be more inclusive?
What is the most toxic, gatekept hobby?
What role does the media and influencers play in gatekeeping?Analese and Rob have both been gatekept. Their implicit biases have influenced them to gatekeep. This is why they actively self-reflect, talk to their communities and learn about the new developments. Join them in creating a safe, inclusive space for newcomers.
What can you do to break down gatekeeping and make hobby communities more inclusive?
Side Quests:
Metallica stands up for their music - they don’t care how and when you started listening to their music, they just care that YOU LISTEN.
RIP James Earl Jones - other than Star Wars, the nerds love him in Field of Dreams.
The Golden Girls as the ideal D&D adventuring party!
Analese still has her Napster mp3s on her ORIGINAL iPod Nano
Henry Cavill loves Warhammer and he’s not afraid to talk about it!
Hollywood is playing it SAFE by making reboots.Nerd Shout Outs:
Sandbox VR - lots of locations! Find one near you! -
IOHO, these cars are major characters in their respective shows/movies.
Are the Mystery Machine and the A-Team van really Tardises?
What do the Dukes of Hazard and the Fast and the Furious have in common?
Mr. Myagi and Danny Zuko have great taste!
Why were 50s cars build like boats?
Futuristic cars are not so realistic today…What vehicles did they miss?
Side Quests:
Fantastic Voyage by Coolio
What Star Wars character would make the best dungeon master?
The movie Grease is 46 years old and is performed ongoing in various places all the time.
David Hasseloff was quite the star in the 80s and Rob isn’t sure why….
Ghostbusters franchise - stay tuned for a future NBF episode!
D&D casts/parties based on the shows in this top 5.
Rob’s still painting figurines, and is on a quest for Target Exclusive Games Workshop Miniatures and Barnes and Noble Exclusive Games Workshop Miniatures.
Analese is prepping for Girls Just Wanna Weekend 6 and is looking at “travel hacks” to bring everything she can in a carry on.Nerd Shout Outs:
Brandi Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend 6
Access exclusive Nerd Best Friends content on Patreon. -
Season 4 is here! The nerds welcome Frank Bonacci, co-host of the podcast Slaying It! with Juliet Landau, to chat about their experience at HellmouthCon 2024, a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan event put on by the fans themselves.
Frank was focused on getting promos together for his podcast and was pleasantly surprised by how much was offered at the Con. Speaking of, Frank and Juliet have quite a few episodes “in the can” - including ones with interviews with Julie Benz (Darla) and Ken Lerner (Principle Flutie). Make sure you listen!
Trivia night got the best of our nerds, believe it or not.
The cosplay was on point, from Xander and Anya in Once More with Feeling to Joyce and Giles from Band Candy.Frank and the nerds discuss the most impactful scenes, episodes, seasons and characters in BtVS.
Buffy telling her mom she is the Slayer is SO personal for Analese.
Rob loves anything Nathon Fillion, including him as the Big Bad of Season 7.
Analese is more of a Flutie than a Snyder.
Frank and Rob’s favorite episode is “The Body.”
Analese loves “Innocence.”All in all, Frank, Analese and Rob are making the content they enjoy, and hope you all do too!
Will we see you at HellmouthCon 2025?
Side Quests:
Portland, OR gamer breaking records on Donkey Kong
Breaking in the Paris Olympics
San Diego ComicCon is HUGE and engulfs the city of San Diego
What parts of New York do all the Spidermans reside?
Creepshow comic book REBOOT!Nerd Shout Outs:
Special guest Frank Bonacci, Scooby and co-host of Slaying It! with Juliet Landau podcast.
Find him: Instagram: @hortmortigan, Facebook: Frank Bonacci
Juliet Landau (@julietlandau) - Drusilla of Buffy and Angel fame.
HellmouthCon 2025 - June 14-15, 2025 at Torrance High School in Torrance, CA
Vampyre Cosmetics x Buffy the Vampire Slayer - promos by Juliet Landau and Julie Benz
Slayers’ Scythe (@scythe_matters) - Official & Licensed Scythe from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rewatcher podcast - hosts Ash and Alaina are rewatching Buffy and discussing each episode.
Scare You to Sleep podcast hosted by Frank’s friend Shelby Novak (Instagram @shelbynovak, @scareyoutosleep)
Season 3
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Season 2
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Another season down! Thanks to you all for hanging out with us.
The nerds loved all the episodes with guests; Analese had to edit down 3 hours of content from the Firefly episode since they had TWO people on. Rob loved the Firefly episode because it was friends casually discussing what they love, and listeners felt the comradiere.
They introduced Cult Classic Film and Nerd Career special episodes which will get added into their regular episode rotation, and will return to their faves Nerdwatching and Superhero episodes next season.
Honestly, our favorite moments revolved around YOU, our listeners. We loved getting your pictures, e-mails and having you on the show.
Season 3 is COMING SOOOOOON!
What are you hoping we discuss next season?
Side Quests:
No one agrees with Rob about his D&D dragon opinion.
Rob finished printing his Heroquest board and loved playing the game with it.
Analese went to Lagerville in Buellton, CA.
Rob’s summer plans include reorganizing the nerd room.
Analese is moving and doing all things associated with this massive endeavor.Nerd Shout Outs:
Thomas and Rachel Solar create nostalgia themed one-shots, published for free on dmsguild.com
Dapper Boi - Analese found a style she likes and has invested in the company! -
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The nerds don’t set New Year’s Resolutions, they use their Trello Boards to lay out their aspirations and what they’re looking forward to in the new year. As you may have guessed, the number of aspirations (loosely) match the number of the year.
Rob made 3 columns on his Trello board in 2022 (ideas, in progress, finished). Analese also uses the column method and adds one additional column, “wishlist.”
Listen as Analese and Rob recap their 22 for 2022 and look onward to the 23 for 2023. You can be sure there is a lot of painting minis and playing games for Rob and Analese.
Nerd tips:
It’s okay to hold over from one year to the next (e.g., watch 22 new shows turns into watch 23 new shows) or get more specific to make the goal less intense (e.g., watch 22 new episodes of a show).
It’s okay to have a mix of practical and fun aspirations!
Once the number gets too high, you can do the last number (23 = 3 things) or add them together (23 = 5) or go monthly like Analese and set 12 as a goal for a certain thing.
To avoid carryover from year to year, find your WHY.Listen to see what goals the Nerds achieved, and share yours! #2023NerdGoals
Side Quests:
Microdungeons as quick games that are laid out for you! Similar to one-shots.
Do the Bartman
Rob and his wife are starting a Spicy Chicken Sandwich Challenge, and he’s using Trello to organize the endeavor.
Analese finally watched Wednesday on Netflix and loved it.Nerd Shout Outs:
Board Game Stats App - track your games and keep up with your friends.
Fans are sending in memes and reels - we love it! Keep it up! -
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The nerds discuss their respective top 5 Tabletop Games that are NOT D&D or Warhammer.
Rob and Analese mention a variety of games that range in complexity and time it takes to play. They also discuss appropriate ages to play, and cooperative vs. competitive games. Truly, there is a game theme for everyone, from sci-fi to kid-friendly Dinos.
They hope these games serve as an entry point to new players and bring fun to your tables.
What game didn’t make our list? What are you going to play next?
Side Quests:
Dungeons and Dragons comic books by Jim Zub
Sarah Michelle Gellar in Wolfpack announced at Comic-Con
Rob is loving Rogue One
Analese finished painting the Mansions of Madness minis!
Rob’s wife got him Heroquest, and now he’s printing a 3D board!Nerd Shout Outs:
Buy games from Powell’s Books in Portland, OR like Analese does when she visits.
Use Board Game Geek to get the ratings/reviews of a game you’re considering.
Game Seeker store in Santa Barbara, CA - visit and pick up a game if you’re there! -
Welcome to Season 2, Nerds!
Tabletop games with minis are more popular than ever. And now you don’t have to risk them becoming discontinued; you can make them at home using a 3D printer and/or buy sets and paint them yourself to personalize your game play. Additionally, there are games beyond your Warhammer and D&D games. Smaller games themed to your interest may be a great entry point for your mini-painting adventure.
Analese and Rob paint to the “Tabletop Standard,” which is suitable for tabletop gaming, and agree on two essential steps.
Prep: you’ll need primer - choose from rattle can (easiest), spray or brush methods
Rob’s recs - black first, then a zenithal technique in a lighter color like white, cream or light gray. Restoration minis already come with a first coat. Make sure you secure your mini during this process!Paint: most companies have starter kits, and you can use regular paint or specialty (contrast colors, transparent, ink washes, etc).
Rob’s recs - first block color with transparent paint, then layer on metallic, third add ink washes, next dress up the base, and lastly touch up more intricate parts like faces. Don’t buy expensive brushes if painting to Tabletop Standard.
Analese’s rec - dry brushing as another step to enhance those minis, for example to “age” an item, and using a “paint puck” to stay organized.Finish (optional): varnish, let dry, and store.
Rob’s recs - use spray varnish, and once dry, store in a box with a magnetic bottom (adhere a magnet to the underside of the mini base), or use your 3D printer to make specialty mini holders.
What is your favorite painting technique or product?
Side Quests:
Rob listened to and consumed all the D&D things after the most recent announcement.
Magic the Gathering Tournaments
Analese went to the Hollywood Bowl and saw Back to the Future with accompanying orchestra music, wearing her shirt from Ground Kontrol.Nerd Shout Outs:
Gaming Geek on YouTube
MyMiniFactory - A Tabletop, Toys & Games 3D Printing Community
The Army Painter’s Warpaints Fanatic: Starter Set
Warhammer/Games Workshop is he biggest mini company around, and they have many paining starter sets, such as Warhammer 40,000: Paints + Tools Set
Smaller games with minis: Back to the Future - Back in Time, Mansions of Madness
Season One
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Nerd Best Friends Season 2 starts September 14, 2022! Don’t forget to tune in!
The nerds continue their casual conversation about the remainder of their summer nerd activities…
Analese and Rob both attended free RPG day - they had to travel SIXTY-NINE miles to find a participating store! They ended up at BGE TableTop Games in West Hills, CA. Thanks for showing us a good time, Dustin!
Return to Dark Tower is still playing a HUGE part of the nerds’ summer.Rob took inventory of what he’s 3D printed over time, and finished up all outstanding projects because he ordered a NEW printer!
Him and the fam started playing Marvel United and look forward to the expansions.
New contrast paints have Rob very excited, along with HIGH anticipation for all the Marvel goodness coming up, not to mention the Dungeons & Dragons movie trailer..Analese’s biggest highlight - Nerd Travels to Portland, Oregon! She and the fam took a trip to Portland, Oregon. Of course they visited Powells, and actually picked up a few games, including Back to the Future and House of Danger. Then they visited Mox Boarding House to eat and peruse their gargantuan array games for purchase and play. Analese also stumbled into a pinball tournament at Ground Kontrol on her birthday and placed 12th of 27.
She has also been playing some games, including Cobble & Fog, and rewatching Friday Night Lights. -
The nerds have a casual conversation of how their summer is going…but first, a shout out to Jim at Metro Comics in Santa Barbara who is MOST helpful and knowledgeable! Thank you Jim.
Rob and his family attended Free Comic Book Day - the first Saturday in May - and are watching lots of Disney+ shows (Marvel, Star Wars).
He’s also deep in running his second Call of Cthulhu game.
Never fear, he’s also painting all the minis and revisiting his D&D faves.
Finally, Rob makes a color-coded summer schedule for his nerd activities and isThe nerds went on a quest for paint supplies, oh what an adventure that was!
Their next adventure is to a Games Workshop store.
Analese and Rob are also anticipating free RPGday.Analese went to her first Con! Nerdville in Watsonville, CA.
She’s finally playing Return to Dark Tower with others!
Final Girl is stalled in a China warehouse but her first Backerkit (Skeptics) is making progress.
Her nerd room is getting a makeover!
Catching up on Stranger Things, Analese thinks season 2 is “alright” but LOVES season 3.
Lastly, Analese is painting Buffy minis!What nerdy things are you doing this summer?
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“If you build it, they will come.”
Analese and Rob recap their first adventures in podcasting: meeting their goal of building nerd community, favorite episodes, topics, and pace/frequency of One Shots.
The nerds discuss their summer plans: Rob reflects on how to maximize time with his pre-teen son, Analese hopes to collect some more Hard Rock pins on location, they may or may not want to attend a Con or go to Vegas.
Stay tuned next season for a more finely tuned, well-oiled nerd podcast machine!
What feedback do you have for them?
As always, let them know:
podcast@nerdbestfriends.com
Instagram, Threads, Facebook, YouTubeSide Quests:
How to travel with beer.
Analese stands corrected, Teri Hatcher was in Desperate Housewives not The Real Housewives.
Analese and Rob watched baseball and painted many minis.Nerd Shout Outs:
Maui Brewing Company - Bikini Blonde Lager
Board Game States App - track your games progress!
Pinball Hall of Fame -
The nerds have a casual conversation of what nerdy things they’ve been doing. Specifically, what they’re watching, reading, playing, listening, painting and planning.
What have YOU been doing?
Side Quests:
The nerds got an intern! However, spoiler, she wont’ start until season 4 because life got in the way.
Accessibility issues in gaming and adjustments to accessories so everyone can play. Analese taught hand exercises to musicians in a past career, and thinks this applies to gaming as well. Try some here!
King Richard (movie)
Rob’s 3D printer is broken.Nerd Shout Outs:
Dust Bowl Brewing Company - Taco Trip Lager
Conan the Cimmerian: The Tower of the Elephant -
Rob’s son, Andrew, joins the nerds to discuss role playing games, better known as RPGs. Analese posits that playing a non-D&D game first helped her be a better D&D player.
The most famous RPG is Dungeons & Dragons but there are so many others to enjoy! You can enter the world of superheroes, be a bear stealing honey, adventure in space, be a teen in your neighborhood or an investigator 1920s.
You can also use an RPG framework and apply it to any kind of genre your mind can create.Nerd Glossary:
RPG is a game where players take on the role of a character in a fictional world and interact with the game’s narrative. There is usually a game master and for the tabletop version includes a combination of game boards, dice, and models (or minis).
NPCs (non-player characters) are not controlled by players but pre-programmed to behave or speak in a certain way.
One Shot is a game that ca be completed in a single session.Listen to find out if your favorites made it to the conversation.
What RPGs are you playing?
Side Quests:
Analese stands corrected - Creepshow was a movie first before a graphic novel!
Andrew lost himself in Call of Cthulhu after his group put a D&D campaign on hold while a member fulfills Army obligations.
Rob has so many game accessories that people are asking him to borrow them.
Return to Dark Tower has arrived; Analese is playing solo and loving it!Nerd Shout Outs:
NIght Lizard Brewing Company - Girl Scout Cookie and Beer Pairing - Thin Mints with Lupine Porter
Savi’s Workshop - Handbill Lightsabers at Disneyland -
No episode this week! Some updates: Analese confirms Return to Dark Tower is in her hot little hands, and she’s LOVING it. And the hype for Final Girl is BUILDING!
The nerds discuss how the Tennessee School Board banned the Comic Book Maus.
Maus is author Art Spiegelman's graphic novel that tells the story of how his Jewish parents survived the Holocaust in Poland.
Nerds, go out and buy/borrow/read this comic!
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…the nerds continue their discussion of non-superhero comic books, and are closing in on their Top 4 in this part 2 episode.
Analese’s top 4 includes a comic by her favorite author, a serial killer-based story, a Lesbian autobiography and a new take on a crime procedural.
Rob’s top 4 includes comic book themes of WWII, apocalypse, monster symbolism for real life issues, and western horror.
There are so many honorable mentions! For Rob, most are comics with animals as the main characters or sidekicks. Analese stays consistent with themes of crime-solving and makes solid recommendations in the social justice and anti-hero comic categories.
What comics are you inspired to read?
Side Quests:
Rob was wrong on his number 1 Batman.
Analese backed two new kickstarter campaigns, Final Girl (second edition) and Marvel Zombies (of which she roped Rob into paying half).
Rob has finally organized his game room, from the parking lot of Staples.
Analese is conducting the junior high honor band soon, and the nerds reflect on playing in that very band when they were younger.
Walk Through the Middle Ages at Rob’s son school is highly interactive and they are going full-on for the costume.Nerd Shout Outs:
Liquid Gravity Brewing Company - Pale from the Crypt
Hoopla App for comics - support your local libraries!
American Comics: A History by Jeremy Dauber
Final Girl Series 2
Marvel Zombies
Really Useful Boxes - endless storage options for all your games -
Visual storytelling is very appealing to the nerds. So much so this is a two-part episode!
Listen as they discuss:
-comics with intersectional representation
-the supernatural, sci-fi/fantasy, goofy fantasy, drama, crime, and horror genres of comics
-the extended universe in comics of a popular TV series based on books
-cartoons and tv series rebooted/remade/retold in comics
-comics they’ve been gifted and will gift to othersNerd Tip: if you like a certain creator or illustrator, try other their other titles.
What was your gateway into comic books?
Side Quests:
Analese and Rob reflect on the newspaper comic strips, superhero cartoons and non-traditional pathways that started out their love of comic books.
Rob uses a digital album as a screen saver on the TV in his game room so he can see all the cover art of his comic books; Analese uses Goodreads to track what she’s read.
|Analese can’t stop watching Return to Dark Tower unboxing videos.
Rob and some nerd friends have committed to painting a mini a week, and of course have a Trello board to track their progress.
Analese’s dog turns ONE and they’re having a party.Nerd Shout Outs:
Stone Brewing - Enjoy by IPA Series.
Santa Barbara Bookmobile - Analese discovered the magic of comics through this program!
Support your local library! They have graphic novels!
Board Game Stats App -
“The funnier the name, the hoppier the beer.”
This is a Rob-centric episode! He considers him a craft beer connoisseur. Analese brings the curiosity and asks tons of clarifying questions, as well as sharing her own beer preferences.
Listen as they cover the following topics:
-the variety and nuisances of Pale Ales, Ales, Wheats, Lagers, Sours, Porters and Stouts.
-macro- vs. micro- breweries
-drinking a good beer at a craft brewery vs. overseas
-what type of beer is best to pair with food?
-what ingredient in beer made it suitable for long distance transport
-what beer is a good start for someone just starting out in the craft beer world?Follow the nerds on Untapped to see what they’re drinking! (Rob, Analese)
Side Quests:
Rob finished painting all three boxes of the Batman Gotham Chronicles minis!
Analese is writing a course for education administrators.
Deck-building games are a toss-up for Rob but he keeps trying them.
Analese is traveling with her foreign exchange student to show her some of the U.S.Nerd Shout Outs:
Modern Times Beer + Coffee - Dungeon Map West Coast IPA
Firestone Walker Brewery - 805 Beer
Untappd - an app to track your beer adventures
DC Deck Building Game
GI Joe Deck Building Game -
The nerds discuss “New Year Projects” instead of New Year Resolutions. Resolutions are aspirational, or what you “should” do, whereas Projects are actionable and enjoyable!
They touch on the history of resolutions and what they’ve learned since starting this approach in 2019. They also note that January 1 has historically been a halfway point in their career environments (education) so resolutions don’t make sense for them.
Listen as they review their 22 projects for 2022, and the use of Trello to track their progress.
Will you try this new twist on New Year’s Resolutions?
Side Quests:
Rob painted SO MANY minis over the holiday break. And watched LotR movies and related content while he did it.
Analese played a lot of Nintendo Switch and watched the new Westside Story movie.
The nerds organized and reorganized their spaces for better functionality.Nerd Shout Outs:
Kona Brewing Co. - Spiked Island Seltzers
Trello
The Happier Podcast -
Listen as Analese recounts her visit to Universal Studios, Universal Citywalk and the Stranger Things Pop-Up in Los Angeles.
What Pop-Up Shop would want to visit?
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Analese reminisces how she got her college roommates into BtVS with an episode callback mention of Xander and the hyenas.
The nerds finish off their conversation from Episode 9 (Top 5: Buffy the Vampire Slayer), discussing their Top 5 Episode Callbacks and general jokes/nerd references in the series.
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Rob pops in to share this “Stars, they’re just like us” moment.
Henry Cavill loves Warhammer and isn’t afraid to talk about it with whomever will listen! Enjoy this clip of him discussing it on Graham Norton (spoiler: Tom Holland invites himself over to play).
Listen to the Graham Norton Clip on TikTok.
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Analese’s brother bought an ORIGINAL Return to Dark Tower game off of eBay back in the day. The nerds wanted to play the original before the NEW RtDT came out (Return to Dark Tower, original campaign on Kickstarter). This reminds Rob of Hero Quest, a game that got everyone into tabletop games. The newly remade edition has all the 80s kids in their feels.
The main question is: will Analese and Rob play Return to Dark Tower with or without painting the minis?!
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This is an Analese-centric episode! She loves Buffy*. Listen as they discuss their top 5 favorite villains and episodes.
Analese challenges what we consider a villain.
When does Evil Willow or Vampire Willow get her spinoff?
What episode was nominated for an Emmy?
Silent, musical, alternative universe and historical episodes, oh my!*Disclaimer: we know Joss Whedon is problematic and we stand with the women who have spoken up. It’s a constant conversation in the nerd community to separate the art from the artist.
Tell us your Buffy faves!
Side Quests:
TMNT Change is Constant game and additional components ($80-$550)
Analese stands corrected, “M” is what she said and “Q” is what she meant!
They killed Strahd!
Analese is revisiting the Scream franchise in anticipation of the latest installment coming to theaters.Nerd Shout Outs:
Dogfish Head Brewing - Beer for Breakfast
Den Of Geek’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episode Roadmap for Beginners -
Analese and Rob discuss “The Bell Curve of Batman” (tm).
Listen as they explore the following topics:
Best Origin Stories
Most Complete Batman Stories
Best Villains (“Some men just want to watch the world burn.”)
Most Entertaining Batman Stories
Best Sidekicks
Best Batman GadgetsDo you agree with them?
Side Quests:
Sports/Baseball Hat Nerd
Sneaker-Heads
High School D&D Clubs
Practicing TrumpetNerd Shout Outs:
Transmission Brewing and Toppers Pizza - two stellar stops while in Ventura, CA!
War Game Vault - largest online marketplace devoted to RPGs and RPG-related materials.
3D Printable Dice Tower Patterns on Kickstarter -
The nerds welcome guests Andrea Avila and Tamara Brooks to talk all things comic book conventions. Andrea Avila is a tech nerd in her day job and a dilettante nerd in general. Tamara Books is a freelance journalist and an omni-nerd.
With intersectionality emerging in nerd spaces, this conversation is particularly salient as host and guests are women of color. Tamara has been in attendance as well as on panels at Cons and is sure to advocate and highlight diversity, and lack thereof.
Conventions are a way to commune with fellow nerds over common interests, see and partake in cosplay culture, meet and greet with fan favorite artists, celebrities, etc., learn about new products and media, meet new friends and immerse yourself in all things nerd culture.
San Diego ComicCon is the most famous Con but there are many others, from single interest cons to local and regional-specific cons.
Nerd Insight:
Cosplay is very different than “just wearing a costume.”
Start with a smaller convention first, to decide if a larger one suits your personality.
You don’t need a full-convention pass. Sometimes a 1-day pass can be just as beneficial.What is your favorite Con?
Side Quests:
The etiquette of seeing a celebrity
Pokemon Oreos
Austin Powers references and inflation
Writing D&D One-Shots
Nerd Room adjustments for show and functionality
Buffy rewatchNerd Shout Outs:
Golden Road Brewery in Los Angeles (of note, they participate in Heal the Bay conservation efforts)
Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
Wikipedia List of Comic Conventions -
“Every hero has someone who has guided them into their hero-dom.” - Michael Dumlao
Michael Dumlao (He/They) join the nerds to discuss common history (they were all in high school marching band together) and his upcoming book, The Wisdom of Guncles.
There is a black sheep in all of us, and Michael posits that it’s not always a bad thing, that this gives queer folx an opportunity to create their own families, traditions and rituals that ARE inclusive and safe.
We hope you listen, learn and take something away to support someone in your life who is the black sheep, or if you’re the black sheep, that you have and/or seek support that feels like home.
Have you/will you read The Wisdom of Guncles?
Side Quests:
Analese and Rob take trips to get that good ice!
The Venn diagram is the perfect nerd graphic.
Michael started watching Star Wars: The Bad Batch - who would Michael cosplay?
Rob and the fam do Free Comic Book Day
Michael is attending Awesome-Con in Washington DC
Rob is tearing through Hellboy comics by Mike Mignola
Analese is reading memoir-style comics by Alison BechdelNerd Shout Outs:
Special Guest Michael Dumlao, IG @michaeldumlao
Artist Kyle Marcus Bryant, IG @caelpictor
Firestone Brewery and their 805 beer -
Analese and Rob welcome second generation Nerd, Andrew Cooper, their FIRST GUEST!
His nerd cred includes D&D, Warhammer, Marvel, theatre and books.Listen as the trio discuss the eerie similarities of The Lego Movie and The Matrix:
Emmet vs Neo, Morpheus vs Vitruvius, Trinity vs Wyldstyle
Who is the equivalent of Batman in The Matrix?Are The Lego Movie and The Matrix the SAME movie?
Side Quests:
Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes - do you know all the lyrics?
The Lego Batman Movie was well received by all, give it a watch!
Would you sleep in/on a double decker couch?
Rob drove 90 minutes each way to teach marching band - FOR FUN.
Analese also volunteered with the same marching band and makes all sorts of nerd connections.
Andrew watched Black Widow for the first time. Is there a Kraven the Hunter Easter Egg?
Andrew is going to play Pokémon Unite on Nintendo Switch.Nerd Shout Outs:
New Belgium Brewing and their Summer Bliss Tropical Wheat -
Kickstarter is an updated version of the 90s Infomercial!
Rob is obsessed with Kickstarter; he’s backed over 142 projects! He uses Trello to track the progress and his impressions of the projects.
Analese is a novice backer and enjoys discovering new games on Kickstarter.
Kickstarter started in 2009 as a way for lesser known creators to get their project funded via crowd sourcing. As of 2018 over 200 million dollars and 3 million people pledged toward gaming products!
Listen as Rob extols the magnificence of Kickstarter, including feeling like you’re part of the product creation process.
Have you backed any projects on Kickstarter or other crowdsourcing sites?
Side Quests:
Rob loves craft beer - strong hoppy IPAs, cool label art and punny beer names.
Follow him! Robo22 on UntappdNerd Shout Outs:
Sierra Nevada and their Pale Ale
Trello
Dapperboi
Marvel United
Marvel United: X-Men
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures: Change is Constant
Joe Hill Graphic Novels
Basket Full to Heads Graphic Novel -
“There’s a zany misunderstanding or overheard sexual innuendo and the characters spend the episode trying to clear it up.”
Analese and Rob discuss popular and less known cartoons and family sitcoms from the 80s.
Turns out, there were a lot of sexual innuendoes, robots and aliens on family sitcoms back then.
*They are again aware that some of these sitcoms would not and should not be made today. They are true 80s time capsules.
Did your favorite show get a mention?
Side Quests:
Analese discusses a show from the 90s that showcases the nerd high school experience.
Analese backed her first project on Kickstarter!Nerd Shout Outs:
Dungeons & Dragons Adventure System Board Games -
Over is the era of Leave It to Beaver and Mary Poppins!
The 80s was a time was a time when nerds could:
-disappear into stories and be the hero in fantastical worlds that had epic adventures
-see their worlds reflected back to them with shows about single moms and dysfunctional families
-explore taboo topics without adult supervision
-fall under the spell of The Spielberg Effect
-see fantastic continuity and story arcs through a movie series*They are aware that many of these movies would not and should not be made today. They are time capsules of the 80s.
Did they mention your favorite 80s movies?
Side Quests:
Analese is urged to watch the MCU shows and movies IN ORDER!
Rob discusses two movies from 1999. -
“Being a Nerd with adult purchase power is cool.”
Analese and her best friend Rob introduce themselves and the podcast. Their analog childhoods, digital adulthoods and tendency to go “all-in” make them a unique duo to bring nerd topics to the podcast-verse.
What type of nerd are you?
(Hint: It’s on a spectrum, and anything is nerdy if you try hard enough!)Listen to discover what Analese and Rob nerd out about, what they hope to cover in future episodes and why they decided to enter the podcast world. Plus, the nerdiest thing they did last week and plans for the upcoming week!
Nerd Shout Outs:
Return to Dark Tower - the Nerds highly anticipate this game coming out!
Powell’s Books - when Analese travels to Portland, OR stopping here is a MUST.
Masks RPG - rated Teen, 3-5 players, 2-4 hour run time
Metro Entertainment - Santa Barbara’s one-stop shop for all things nerd