Showgirls with Jessica Jimenez
Mandy tries to survive Showgirls with help from her friend Jessica Jimenez, who has watched the film more times than she’s willing to admit. It’s all glitter, thrusting, and animated bras in this chaotic love letter to cinema’s most infamous NC-17 trainwreck.
K-Pop Demon Hunters with Jimmy Aquino
K-Pop demon slayers, musical numbers that slap, and one cartoon tiger to rule them all—this week, Mandy is joined by returning nerd champ Jimmy Aquino to dive deep into Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters. From lore to lyrics, this episode is a glittering ode to why this animated musical deserves all the hype and at least one Broadway adaptation.
X-Men with JP Karliak
Voice actor and queer nerd icon JP Karliak returns to Make Me a Nerd to talk X-Men, childhood cartoons, and why Morph is the perfect mutant for 2024. From Bryan Singer’s controversial direction to who they’d rather cuddle—Wolverine or Cyclops—JP and Mandy go deep, weird, and wildly entertaining.
The Big Bang Theory with Lisa Arch
Lisa Arch joins Mandy to celebrate the unexpected brilliance of The Big Bang Theory—a show that turned skeptics into superfans, one signed Leonard Nimoy napkin at a time. They break down the joy, the cringe, and the character arcs that somehow made “coitus” a household word.
Suit up for Squad 20 D&D with Justine Huxley
What happens when a professional voice actor steps into a gnome costume and starts casting plant spells for a live audience? Mandy Kaplan welcomes Justine Huxley back to nerd out over the wild, wonderful world of live-action D&D—and the glorious chaos of Squad 20.
SEGA v Nintendo with Danny Brown
What happens when a self-proclaimed non-gamer dives headfirst into the blood-soaked battleground of Sega vs. Nintendo? Mandy Kaplan teams up with podcasting pro Danny Brown to unpack the Great Console War—and discovers that beneath the pixels lies a story of culture, identity, and surprisingly emotional hedgehogs.
Thunderbolts* & Trauma: Marvel Gets Mental
Mandy and Justin dissect Thunderbolts in all its messy, meaningful glory—from psychological scars to post-credit surprises. Come for the Marvel talk, stay for the Jaeger bombs.
Dragon Smut & Lightning Kisses: Fourth Wing with Misty Stinnett
Mandy welcomes Misty Stinnett for a deep dive into Fourth Wing, the romantasy blockbuster full of dragons, death drops, and sexual tension. It’s nerdy, flirty, and full of spoilers—including how hot Zayden actually is.
Captain America: The First Avenger with John Mundy
What happens when a Marvel newbie watches Captain America: The First Avenger for the very first time? Mandy Kaplan teams up with super-nerd John Mundy to unpack skinny Steve, swoony romance, and the CGI that launched a thousand crushes.
The Nerd Who Wrote Everything: A Conversation with Bruce Vilanch
Comedy legend and award-show whisperer Bruce Vilanch joins Mandy for a wild ride through the glittery wreckage of ‘70s TV, the secret history of the Star Wars Holiday Special, and his Broadway bow in Hairspray. Come for the Wookiee thirst traps, stay for the red carpet to hell.