Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan TruStory FM

In this week's episode of "Make Me A Nerd," host Mandy Kaplan welcomes her friend and fellow podcaster Kyle Olson to discuss his deep love for all things Star Wars. Kyle, a self-proclaimed geek who considers his fandom a core part of his identity, shares his passion for George Lucas's groundbreaking 1977 space epic, Star Wars: A New Hope.
As children of the 80s, both Mandy and Kyle grew up in the era of Spielberg and Lucas blockbusters that brought a new level of cinematic entertainment to the masses. Kyle explains how Star Wars and other "nerd" properties have since become mainstream pop culture juggernauts, with comic conventions drawing crowds rivaling the populations of small cities.
For their discussion, Kyle had Mandy watch the "4K77" version of Star Wars - a fan restoration of the original 1977 theatrical cut, before Lucas's controversial later changes and additions. Mandy recalls her own early Star Wars memory, amazing her mom as a toddler by pointing out Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca in a store window display.
Join Mandy and Kyle as they dive deep into the Star Wars that started it all, and Kyle attempts to awaken the Force within his friend and indoctrinate her into the ways of this landmark sci-fi saga. It's a heartfelt and humorous conversation about childhood nostalgia, the mainstreaming of geek culture, and how the universal themes and iconography of Star Wars continue to captivate audiences over four decades later.

This week, Mandy is joined by voice actor, writer and activist JP Karliak to discuss the animated Netflix series Castlevania.
JP, a self-described "voiceover artist, queer activist, snappy dresser", has voiced characters like Morph in X-Men 97, Boss Baby, and Green Goblin on Spidey and His Amazing Friends. He also co-founded the organization Nerds Vote to encourage gamers, cosplayers, and pop culture fans to get out and vote, and Queer Vox  to provide training and professional support for LGBTQIA+ voice actors in the entertainment industry while advocating for equitable opportunities and authentic representation in voice performance work.
JP brought Castlevania as an entry point for Mandy because of its manageable 4-episode first season and gothic horror themes, which he thought might appeal to Mandy's sensibilities. The series, based on a long-running video game franchise, follows monster hunter Trevor Belmont as he battles Dracula and his demon army.
Will JP’s thorough exploration be enough to make Mandy a convert? Listen in and find out … maybe it’ll be just as enticing for you!
Learn more about JP on his website at JPKarliak.com.

What does it mean to be a nerd today? That's the question explored in the premiere episode of Mandy Kaplan's new show, "Make Me A Nerd.” To help out, she’s joined by filmmaker and frequent collaborator Tommy Metz III who brings something he nerds all over: Marvel’s Legion on FX.
First, it’s memory time. They reminisce about their own nerdy interests growing up, from Mandy’s childhood crush on Batman's sidekick Robin, to Metz's love of horror comics over traditional superhero fare. They examine how properties like The Big Bang Theory and Stranger Things have brought elements of geek culture to the mainstream.
Despite this mainstreaming, Tom’s pronouns are “outsider” when it comes to hugely popular franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To quantify his nerd factor, Mandy has him take a Buzzfeed quiz on the topic. Questions range from his Harry Potter bona fides to his video gaming prowess. In the end, Metz scores an impressive 86% on the nerd scale, which will be immediately documented in his permanent record.
The conversation then turns to homework: Legion, based on the Marvel character. While normally averse to superhero adaptations, Tom is obsessed with it, which of course makes it the perfect fodder for helping Mandy on her own nerd journey.

Watch Legion on FX/Hulu

Make Me a Nerd is a podcast for full-blown nerds and those who are nerd-curious. Its host, Mandy Kaplan, is a mainstream middle-aged mom who loves all things Football, Taylor Swift, and Housewives. Each week, she will be introduced to some form of nerdery way outside her comfort zone. By who, you ask? (we know it's whom, that was a "nerd test," and you passed it) A full-blown sci-fi/D&D/Ren Fair-loving geek guest determined to expand her horizons and recruit her to nerd-dom. You know what they say: "May the forest be with you"!