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

Look for Ah My Guys wherever you get your podcasts.

Jimmy Aquino is back and brings K-Pop Demon Hunters, the surprise Netflix hit that blends idol culture with demon-fighting destiny and music bangers that have conquered the Billboard charts. Mandy and Jimmy break down the film’s animation style, Buffy-meets-BTS premise, Korean cultural foundations, and the epic vocal range of EJAE (seriously, a D3 to an A5 in one breath?).

Jimmy dives deep into the 10-year journey to production, the real K-pop industry legends behind the soundtrack, and how the film’s creators brought sincerity, slapstick, and subversion to every glitter-drenched frame. The two gush about Derpy the tiger, decode the chibi-inspired gags, and debate the film’s third-act shift into emotional territory. Is it an instant classic? According to Rotten Tomatoes (96%) and Jimmy’s soul (100%), yes. And Mandy may or may not be working on a cover of “Golden” as Derpy. You’ve been warned.

Links & Notes

• Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_klavins)
• Jimmy Aquino’s Comic News Insider Podcast
• Join Make Me A Nerd for Bonus Content

He’s back and nerdier than ever! Mandy welcomes voice actor, activist, and self-proclaimed snappy dresser JP Karliak to discuss X-Men (2000)—the film that helped launch the modern superhero era and still sparks passionate debate among comic fans, queer viewers, and nerdy newcomers alike. JP, who now voices Morph in X-Men ’97, breaks down the emotional legacy of the franchise, its deep ties to marginalized identities, and what makes a mutant story resonate decades later.

The conversation bounces from childhood toys (Floam and Gak, anyone?) to ASMR triggers, to how comic book metaphors land differently for trans and queer communities in 2025. They unpack Rogue’s controversial casting, Mystique’s unapologetic nudity, and why every fight scene feels a bit like a prelude to kissing. Oh, and they definitely play a round of “F-Marry-Kill: Wolverine vs. Cyclops Edition.”

Links and Mentions:

• Join the Nerd Herd for Bonus Content
• X-Men ’97 on Disney+
• JP Karliak’s Instagram
• Adam Pascal performing in Hawkeye’s in-show musical

In this delightfully nerdy episode, Mandy Kaplan welcomes actor and host Lisa Arch to discuss The Big Bang Theory, the show that launched Mandy’s “nerdification” and hooked Lisa over time with its layered friendships, character arcs, and perfect comedic timing. From dissecting the show’s legendary pilot to marveling at Sheldon’s emotional growth in “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis,” Lisa and Mandy revel in how a sitcom about theoretical physicists managed to become deeply human—and deeply hilarious.

They tackle the show’s depiction of neurodivergence, its cautious navigation of LGBTQ+ tropes, and the impressive way it integrated new characters like Amy Farrah Fowler and Bernadette into an already thriving ensemble. Lisa brings emotional insight to Amy’s evolution and drops expert-level takes on sitcom chemistry, all while fielding urgent commentary about Trader Joe’s discontinued items and her mom’s housecoat game.

Stay tuned until the end for a tribute to the show’s genius writing, an ode to Zach the lovable himbo, and a bonus members-only segment where Lisa and Mandy recreate that scene from Legally Blonde. Spoiler: coitus is mentioned.

Links & Notes

• Join the Nerds – Become a Member
• Lisa Arch on IMDb
• Follow Mandy on Instagram
• Follow Mandy on BlueSky

Let’s say you’re a respected voice actor. You’ve brought beloved characters to life in video games, animation, and probably at least one fan convention that smelled vaguely of beef jerky and dry-erase markers. Then one day, someone says: “Would you like to improvise a high-stakes fantasy quest in front of a live audience of howling D&D nerds… and also do it in costume… on stage… with dice… on YouTube?” What do you say?

If you’re Justine Huxley, the answer is “yes”—and then you glue leaves to your body and become a gnome druid named Finia.

This week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy Kaplan welcomes back Justine for her third (yes, third!) appearance, this time to unravel the improbably nerdy tale of how a casual convention invite led to a starring role on Squad 20, a full-fledged Dungeons & Dragons series featuring voice actors, cosplay, and the occasional improvised musical number. It’s a story involving suspiciously attractive bards, aggressively vegetarian gnomes, and the kind of collaborative nerdery that only works when the DM knows exactly how many hit points are in your armor class. Mandy dives headfirst into this world—confused, delighted, and possibly a little drunk (not really, but let’s not rule anything out).

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when trained professionals take their theater degrees and aim them at a gelatinous cube, this is your episode.

Links & Notes

• Watch Squad 20 on YouTube
• Justine Huxley on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @JustineHuxley
• Six Sides of Gaming: https://www.sixsidesofgaming.com

In 1991, a small blue hedgehog in red sneakers launched a cultural revolution. But the story of Sonic—and the rise and fall of Sega—isn’t just about pixels and processors. It’s about loyalty, rebellion, and the strange way that consumer technology becomes a reflection of who we are.

This week on Make Me a Nerd, Mandy Kaplan sits down with Danny Brown—host of Five Random Questions and Head of Podcast Support and Experience at Captivate—to talk about the Great Console War: Sega versus Nintendo. It’s a conversation that ricochets between nostalgia and insight, from Michael Jackson-inspired character design to why Mortal Kombat forced the U.S. Senate to care about pixelated spleens. Along the way, they explore how companies adapt to extinction-level threats (1940s slot machines, anyone?), the absence of queer and diverse representation in early games, and the weird social currency of being the kid with the good console. Danny isn’t just a Sega loyalist—he’s a walking reminder that the fight for market dominance is always a proxy battle for identity.

And here’s the twist: Mandy, a self-professed non-gamer, brings just enough outsider perspective to make us question why we play at all. What do we escape when we mash buttons? What do we reveal? What do we remember?

Sometimes the nerdiest things turn out to be the most human.

Links to Add to Show Notes:

• Danny Brown’s shows and socials: https://dannypod.com
• Five Random Questions podcast: https://5randomquestions.com
• Watch The Great Console War
• Watch The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters