Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan

TruStory FM

Hey folks. Mandy Kaplan here. I’d like to share a bit about my intentions and mission for MMAN if you’ll indulge me. You will? Huzzah! Look, I am a lot of things. I’m a writer, actress, mother, and lover of musicals and cats, but NOT Cats, The Musical. Give me a little bit of credit, would ya? So...throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded (and intrigued) by all things nerd. A sister who plays D&D, a Star Wars-obsessed husband, friends who love anime, comic books, video games, and...well, you get the picture. Somehow, I have always held it all at arm's length. Not to get too deep, but maybe I never thought I was smart enough to follow it. Or maybe I have control issues and have never been able to embrace fantastical things like dragons and time travel. Until now! So, with an open mind and heart, I am ready to join this massive (and beautifully inclusive) club and GEEK THE #%$ OUT! It’s time for all my wonderfully strange friends to baptize me into NERD-DOM. Please join me on this journey. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover or remember a side of yourself along the way. Or at least make fun of me as I try!

  1. Spirited Away with Kynan Dias

    2 DGN GELEDEN

    Spirited Away with Kynan Dias

    This 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” manages to be both terrifying and adorable, and why Miyazaki’s entire vibe can be summed up as “life is fleeting, please cry into your ramen now.” Mandy, of course, raises the obvious questions: is this secretly a cult film, why does it feel like a divorce metaphor, and how is any of this for children? Kynan, patient as ever, explains concepts like mono no aware while Mandy wonders if this movie is just better enjoyed while high.It’s chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly moving—basically the cinematic equivalent of a fever dream where origami tries to kill you. And honestly? You’ll come away realizing that maybe being “spirited away” isn’t such a bad thing… provided you survive the pigs.Links & NotesFind Kynan on his shows: Every Minute of Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Devil's Details, Sitting in the Dark --- Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

    59 min
  2. Charmed with Patrick Gomez

    22 SEP

    Charmed with Patrick Gomez

    This week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy is joined by the magnificent, the glamorous, the slightly crop-top-obsessed Patrick Gomez—yes, that Patrick Gomez, the Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment Weekly. Together they dust off the spell book, step into a suspiciously San Francisco-looking Paramount backlot, and dive headlong into the world of Charmed.Patrick confesses his original entry into the fandom was less about WB primetime devotion and more about syndicated reruns sandwiched between USA High and “some other show whose title he swears is real.” What followed was a lifelong affection for the Halliwell sisters, midriff tops, and the idea that maybe, just maybe, witchcraft was a safe place for a Texas teen trying to figure out who he was.From Lori Rom’s mysterious disappearance from the unaired pilot to Aaron Spelling’s tyrannical hair rules (no updos for six episodes, thank you very much), Mandy and Patrick relive the highs, the spell-casting lows, and the “why is there suddenly so much blood” shocks of the series. Along the way, they geek out over soap opera casting crossovers, Julian McMahon smoldering in the underworld, Rose McGowan’s fierce arrival, and that whole “season seven was secretly the finale, season eight is just a glamour we all politely ignore” situation.It’s nostalgia, it’s camp, it’s actual tears at Shannon Doherty’s swan song. Plus: paparazzi tangents, Britney theories, and the eternal truth that if you’re not hot for Alyssa Milano, you probably don’t have a pulse.So light a candle, chant “The Power of Three Will Set Us Free” approximately 9 billion times, and join Mandy and Patrick as they prove that sometimes being a nerd means admitting you cried at Charmed. --- Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

    1u 3m
  3. Black Mirror with Tara Sands

    15 SEP

    Black Mirror with Tara Sands

    This 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 hilarious “USS Callister,” and its follow-up “Into Infinity.” Along the way, they debate whether fake niceness is better than no niceness, confess to cyberstalking sins (don’t pretend you haven’t done it), and admit that VR gaming makes them feel like toddlers lost in a Best Buy. It’s a conversation about friendship, fandom, and how being a nerd isn’t about what you love—it’s about how much you love it. Also: Tara may or may not call Mandy perfect. Several times. We’re still fact-checking.By the end, Mandy has officially made Tara a nerd… or at least made her watch Black Mirror without hiding under the blanket. And if that isn’t cultural progress, I don’t know what is.Links & NotesMandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content --- Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

    1u 2m
  4. Freaks and Geeks with Jeffrey Nicholas Brown

    8 SEP

    Freaks and Geeks with Jeffrey Nicholas Brown

    This 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 to hell. Together they relive dodgeball terror, disastrous crushes, and the eternal question: how much would you need to be paid to do the “blender challenge” now? (Spoiler: more than scale.)They don’t shy away from calling out the show’s one-note characters or its lack of diversity, but they also revel in Martin Starr’s deadpan, Linda Cardellini’s flawless sincerity, and Jason Segel’s gloriously mediocre drumming. Along the way you’ll get behind-the-scenes tidbits about Busy Philipps’ billing, Franco’s inexplicable accent, and why Freaks and Geeks is still considered to have filmed the most accurate Dungeons & Dragons scene in television history. It’s nostalgia, it’s critique, it’s two grown-ups confessing their teenage traumas on mic—and it’s glorious. Links & NotesMandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content --- Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

    1u 2m
  5. Godzilla Minus One with Riki Hayashi

    1 SEP

    Godzilla Minus One with Riki Hayashi

    This 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 is not only a triumph of visual storytelling and emotional depth, but also a sharp departure from the campy traditions of kaiju past. Mandy, entering the Godzilla-verse for the first time, is floored—not just by the monster’s expressive eyes or bejeweled back spikes—but by the profound humanity at the movie’s core.The conversation covers everything from the history of the Godzilla franchise and its shifting eras, to the film’s subtle criticism of wartime nationalism and kamikaze legacy. Mandy and Riki explore how Minus One balances terrifying spectacle with unexpected tenderness, including a found-family storyline and a main character who’s more haunted than heroic. They celebrate the film’s quieter moments—the Spielbergian tension on the open sea, the war-torn melancholy of post-1945 Tokyo, the critique of institutional cruelty—and gasp together at that final chilling neck bruise (yes, they talk theories).It’s a rich discussion full of history, heartbreak, and atomic breath, peppered with rom-com ethics and a pitch-perfect Rock impression. And if Riki has his way, Mandy’s next nerdy adventure might involve tear-jerking anime and body-swapping teenagers.Links & NotesMandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content --- Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

    59 min
  6. The Rehearsal with Megan Parlen

    25 AUG

    The Rehearsal with Megan Parlen

    What 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 curiosity.From $60 million airplane sets to uncomfortable experiments on unsuspecting hopefuls, the conversation pulls back the curtain on what Fielder’s strange vision might really be saying about humanity, neurodivergence, and our need to feel in control. Bonus: Mandy coins the term “disgustipating,” and Megan wins a metaphorical mic drop with a Game of Thrones budget comparison. This is not a rehearsal — it’s a must-listen.Links & Notes📖 Bloomsbury Books – support Megan’s Bookstore!Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content --- Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

    55 min
  7. Jurassic Park with Tommy Metz III, Andy Nelson, & Pete Wright

    18 AUG

    Jurassic Park with Tommy Metz III, Andy Nelson, & Pete Wright

    Mandy 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 confesses what really scared her (spoiler: it was the car), learns what the deal is with Sam Neill’s accent, and discovers a whole new appreciation for Jell-O quivering in fear. Whether you’re team Velociraptor or ride-or-die for the Triceratops, this episode is your guided tour through the park. And yes—hold on to your butts.Find the Guests!Pete Wright (Headstone, Sitting in the Dark): trustory.fm/headstoneAndy Nelson (CinemaScope, The Next Reel): trustory.fm/cinemascopeTommy Metz III (Sitting in the Dark): trustory.fm/sittinginthedark Links & Notes📖 Bloomsbury Books – support Megan’s Bookstore!Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content --- Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

    1u 4m
  8. Showgirls with Jessica Jimenez

    11 AUG

    Showgirls with Jessica Jimenez

    What 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 queer cult staple.The two unpack every absurd plot twist, every sequined meltdown, and yes — even Penny’s from Heaven. Is it empowering? Is it exploitative? Is it secretly genius? (No.) Is it fun to yell “Versayce” in public? (Yes.) Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a horrified first-timer, this episode is a campy celebration of a movie so bad, it’s iconic.Links & NotesWatch Storage Wars!Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content --- Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

    53 min
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Hey folks. Mandy Kaplan here. I’d like to share a bit about my intentions and mission for MMAN if you’ll indulge me. You will? Huzzah! Look, I am a lot of things. I’m a writer, actress, mother, and lover of musicals and cats, but NOT Cats, The Musical. Give me a little bit of credit, would ya? So...throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded (and intrigued) by all things nerd. A sister who plays D&D, a Star Wars-obsessed husband, friends who love anime, comic books, video games, and...well, you get the picture. Somehow, I have always held it all at arm's length. Not to get too deep, but maybe I never thought I was smart enough to follow it. Or maybe I have control issues and have never been able to embrace fantastical things like dragons and time travel. Until now! So, with an open mind and heart, I am ready to join this massive (and beautifully inclusive) club and GEEK THE #%$ OUT! It’s time for all my wonderfully strange friends to baptize me into NERD-DOM. Please join me on this journey. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover or remember a side of yourself along the way. Or at least make fun of me as I try!

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  • Kanaal
    TruStory FM
  • Maker
    TruStory FM
  • Jaren actief
    2024 - 2025
  • Afleveringen
    67
  • Beoordeling
    Expliciet
  • Copyright
    © TruStory FM
  • Website van aflevering
    Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan
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