Look for Ah My Guys wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Look for Ah My Guys wherever you get your podcasts.

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/headstone
• Andy Nelson (CinemaScope, The Next Reel): trustory.fm/cinemascope
• Tommy 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

Look for Ah My Guys wherever you get your podcasts.

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 & Notes

• Watch Storage Wars!
• Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)
• Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content