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!

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

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.

First of all, I'M THE MARY. Second, it's more NERDSTALGIA coming your way in a throwback to December of 2022. Let's NERD OUT about the cult classic Romy and Michele's High School Reunion and special guest Stacy Burcham.

Happy new year, NERDS! New episode next week, and bonus content on Patreon!

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While your Nerd Best Friends take time off for the holidays, take time to NERD OUT with some NERDSTALGIA. In this case, we are Nerdwatching the Aughts! Episode 40, from October 2023, will take you back to the era of millennialism and what was hip to be square.

Don't forget to subscribe, follow, and join the NERD HERD! Bonus content on Patreon!

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It’s officially cozy-season, Nerd Herd!

This week, your Nerd Best Friends are diving headfirst into their Top 5 Holiday Must-Watch lists — the movies, specials, and episodes that absolutely DEFINE the season. From nostalgic classics to chaotic comfort watches, we’re breaking down the stories that make our nerd hearts glow like a retro string of Christmas lights. Analese decks the halls and Rob snacks through the fa-la-las.

Whether you're a lover of cozy classics, campy holiday chaos, or deep-cut seasonal gems — you will find yourself right at home with this one.

Listen now and tell us YOUR holiday must-watch list!

Don’t forget to rate the podcast, follow us on social media, and share the nerdy joy with a friend. Bonus content on Patreon!

Happy holidays, Nerd Herd!

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Think you know your fandoms? Your Nerd Best Friends are BACK with an all-new episode, and this time…

it’s NERD TRIVIA night! In this chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly intense showdown, Analese, Rob, and Dr. Intern Joan put their nerd knowledge to the test across movies, TV, comics, gaming, nostalgia, and all the weird little corners of pop culture we’ve been storing in our brains for decades. Analese chose Bizness Ethics for Rob and Rob chose anything but Buffy for Analese.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Analese flexes obscure knowledge no human should have
• Rob takes some big swings (and even bigger misses)
• Dr. Intern Joan becomes the trivia chaos agent we didn’t know we needed
• The Herd gets a brand-new set of inside jokes

If you love pop culture, pointless knowledge, and friends talking nerdy, this is YOUR episode.

Listen now and play along — tell us your score!

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share the podcast so we can keep growing the Nerd Herd! Bonus content and other giveaways on Patreon.

Also in this episode: favorite games shows of all time, character-themed fast food gimmicks, jammy advent calendars, slowing inventory of weasel-hair brushes for painting, getting gifts from our family that are things the nerds talk about during the show!

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

This week, Analese, Rob, and Dr. Intern Joan check in on their Nerd Goals for the year — the wins, the works-in-progress, and the “oh wow, we definitely forgot that was even on the list.” Analese doubled down on reading and Rob focused on becoming C3TO (or, a CTO, to be sure).

In this episode, Analese, Rob, and Dr. Intern Joan:

• Review their 2025 Nerd Goals (with honesty and chaos)
• Celebrate the little victories and the big ones
• Share what they’re excited to tackle next
• Admit which goals have been… temporarily benched
• Encourage YOU to jump back into your own nerdy passions

Whether you're crushing your goals or riding the procrastination dragon, you’re in good company.

Also in this episode: becoming a WNBA Inaugural season ticket holder, Nerd Stores in California's state capital, and insane endings to football games.

Join the Nerd Herd, hit play, and let’s level up those nerd goals together!

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share the podcast — it helps our little nerdy universe grow!

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