This week, your Nerd Best Friends take a VERY bold trip back to Oz… and wow, was it darker than we expected.

For Analese and Rob, this was a first-time watch of Return to Oz, and let’s just say—no one was prepared for wheelers, electroshock therapy vibes, or an alarming number of interchangeable heads. Meanwhile, Dr. Intern Joan revisits a childhood favorite and helps us unpack why this deeply unsettling sequel left such a lasting impression on a whole generation of nerds.

Is it a misunderstood masterpiece? A nightmare masquerading as a kids’ movie? Or the ultimate example of 80s films saying, “Sure, kids can handle this”? We break down the visuals, the themes, the lore, and the emotional damage—plus why this movie still lives rent-free in so many brains decades later.

Strap in, grab your ruby slippers (or chicken), and join us for a delightfully dark Nerdstalgia dive.

New episode out now—listen wherever you get your podcasts and don’t forget to follow, rate, and share with a fellow nerd who definitely remembers those Wheelers.

Bonus content on Patreon!

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A new year is here—and your Nerd Best Friends are making plans… the nerdy way.

In this episode, we’re setting 26 nerdy goals for 2026—from books we want to read and games we want to play to projects we want to finish, hobbies we want to try, and fandoms we want to spend more time with. Some goals are ambitious, some are cozy, and some are just an excuse to lean harder into the things that bring us joy.

This isn’t about productivity or perfection—it’s about intention, curiosity, and giving ourselves permission to be excited about what’s next. Whether you’re a list-maker, a goal-setter, or someone who just wants an excuse to buy more minis or crack open another comic, this episode is for you.

So grab your planner, your paintbrush, or your controller—and let’s talk about what we’re nerding out about in 2026.

Also in this episode: Nerd Mail, tangents, new apps for nerd organization, systems to optimize your nerd experience.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts

Rate, review, and share to help grow the Nerd Herd

Bonus content on Patreon!

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Great Scott! Your Nerd Best Friends are firing up the DeLorean and hitting 88 miles per hour as we travel back (and forward) through one of the most iconic nerd franchises of all time: Back to the Future.

Analese, Rob, and Dr. Intern Joan dive into why this trilogy still holds up decades later—from perfect casting and quotable lines to time-travel rules that somehow actually make sense. We talk favorite moments, the genius of Doc Brown, Marty McFly’s enduring cool factor, and how Back to the Future shaped pop culture, sci-fi storytelling, and the very idea of what “the future” was supposed to look like.

Is Back to the Future a flawless trilogy? Why does it hit so hard for Gen X, Millennials, and new nerds discovering it today? And what lessons can we learn from a movie that insists your future isn’t written yet?

Grab your hoverboard, avoid paradoxes, and join us for a nerdy joyride through time.

Also in this episode: After Prom, karaoke, hypnotists, tangents, Nerdstalgia, D&D 2024 leveling up, Bewitchin'

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts

Love the episode? Rate, review, and share to help grow the Nerd Herd

Follow us @NerdBestFriends for more pop culture deep dives and nerdy nonsense

Bonus content on Patreon!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.