Stay ConnectedMorgan, a psychologist by day, and a nerd at her core, speaks with fellow nerds, fans, and experts to uncover the magical impact that fandoms have on our lives.
Every episode, you can expect a deep dive into the world of fandoms. We’ll explore our nerdy identities and our personal journeys into specific fandoms, delving into the fandom’s evolution and its life-altering influence on us. Tune in for a nerdy, insightful, and fun-filled exploration.
Copyright: © That Nerd Thing
Yes - the set is now complete and ALL of the MuggleCast hosts have now been on That Nerd Thing!! In this episode, Morgan delves into the world of podcasting and fandom with special guest Micah Tannenbaum, co-host of the longstanding MuggleCast and the newer What the Hype?! podcast. Micah shares insights into his passion for various fandoms, the challenges and joys of podcasting, and his unexpected journey into becoming a voice in the Harry Potter community. The episode also delves into the value of nerdy communities, the positive impact of being passionate about one's interests, and tips for aspiring content creators.
Check out MuggleCast and What the Hype?!:
https://www.whatthehypepodcast.com/
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
In this episode, Morgan delves into the transformative power of book clubs with guests Ileana, founder of the Spine Benders Society Bookclub, and Carrie, Community and Partnerships Director for BookClubs.com. The discussion reveals the origins of the bookclubs app, highlights the community and organizational benefits it offers, and shares personal anecdotes and tips for leading and participating in successful book clubs. The episode underscores how book clubs foster community, especially for newcomers and introverts, and how the BookClubs app simplifies management and enhances the book club experience.
*Please note that bookclubs is not a sponsor and I'm not getting paid for this episode. I just love the app!*
Links from the episode:
https://www.instagram.com/bookclubshq/
https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_orlando/
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
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In this episode, Morgan interviews Rachel, the host of The Menuscript Podcast which combines love for books and food. Rachel shares the journey of starting her podcast, balancing it with her career in education research, and her deep-rooted passions from childhood interests like horses to current obsessions such as football and Harry Potter. The conversation dives into Rachel's unique podcast format which includes discussing books along with related meals, and her experiences connecting with the nerd community.
Follow Rachel and Check out The Menuscript Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/themenuscript/
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
In this episode, Morgan is joined by her friend Maggie known for her work in the childfree community. Maggie delves into her childfree life and community, highlighting meetups and vacations she organizes. The conversation transitions into Maggie’s experiences with music fandoms, particularly Taylor Swift and Hanson. Maggie recounts her groupie days and the impact of music on her emotional journey. They explore how fandoms evolve and their significance in personal and communal growth. Morgan and Maggie touch on the normalization of nerdiness and the importance of embracing unique passions and hobbies, wrapping up with reflections on living life on one’s own terms.
Follow Maggie:
http://unapologeticallychildfree.com/
https://www.instagram.com/childfree_communities
https://www.instagram.com/childfree_communities
https://www.youtube.com/@unapologeticallychildfree/videos
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
In this episode, Morgan chats with Christine Giver, the host of the Outside of the Box podcast. Christine shares her journey into combat robotics, a niche within the larger STEM field, inspired by her daughter's interest in STEM and her nostalgic love for old school BattleBots. She reveals the creativity and innovation of the combat robotics community, addresses the importance of failures for growth, and describes the rewarding yet challenging process of building and battling robots. The conversation also delves into other nerdy interests such as X-Men, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Dungeons and Dragons. She provides insights into her podcasting adventures, including interviewing her heroes and connecting with like-minded individuals.
Check out Outside of the Box Podcast: https://outsideofthebox.podbean.com/
Follow Christine on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/outsideoftheboxpodcast/
https://www.facebook.com/TheOOTBShowBB/
Mentioned on the show…https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pawsitivelyhissterical
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
In this episode, Morgan chats with Suzanne, one of the current leaders of the South Florida Chapter of the Spine Benders Society Bookclub. They discuss the impact of book clubs and the importance of themes in creating an immersive book club experience. Suzanne shares her journey into nerdy interests, notably fantasy elements like fairies and unicorns, and her deep affection for Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. They delve into current interests in world history, the therapeutic nature of singing, and fostering community through passions. Suzanne offers advice for those hesitant about joining book clubs and highlights the personal growth and friendships she gained through her involvement. The episode emphasizes the value of embracing nerdy identities and pursuing hobbies for fulfillment.
Follow the Spine Benders Society Book Club:
https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_orlando/
https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_sfl/
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
In this episode, Morgan interviews Mel Saavedra, the founder of the Steamy Lit bookstore and the host of the Romance Unleashed podcast. They discuss Mel's journey from being an avid reader to creating a successful romance literary collective that includes a specialty bookstore, subscription boxes like the Steam Box, and events like Steamy Lit Con. Mel shares insights into her favorite fandoms as well as her favorite romance tropes and book recommendations. The discussion also delves into the importance of creating inclusive spaces for marginalized voices in literature and the impact of romance books on personal relationships. Mel also talks about her future aspirations, including possibly becoming a publisher and expanding Steamy Lit's presence.
Check out all things Steamy Lit: https://www.steamylit.com/
https://www.instagram.com/steamylit
https://www.tiktok.com/@steamylit
Follow Mel:
https://www.tiktok.com/@bookrecsbymel
https://www.instagram.com/bookrecsbymel
Listen to Romance Unleashed Podcast and follow on socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@RomanceUnleashedPod/videos
https://open.spotify.com/show/6PoQIiBNvepjK39xcEKWwH?si=07978a72b0384608
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/romance-unleashed/id1749282502
https://www.instagram.com/romanceunleashedpod/
https://www.tiktok.com/@romanceunleashedpod
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
Morgan welcomes back her niece Leanna, co-host of the Long Live Taylor podcast to discuss Leanna's experience reading the first four Harry Potter books for the first time. They delve into favorite and least favorite aspects, characters, shocking moments, and their interpretations of the stories. Leanna shares her initial hesitation and eventual commitment to reading the series while recounting key plot points and differences between the books and movies. They discuss Leanna's Hogwarts house, House-Elf rights, potential spoilers and predictions for future books, and the enduring impact of the Harry Potter community.
00:26 Welcoming Special Guest Leanna
00:49 Discussing Harry Potter Books and Author Disclaimer
01:59 Long Live Taylor Podcast Update
03:08 Leanna's Initial Hesitation and Experience with Harry Potter
05:39 Summary of the First Four Harry Potter Books
06:33 Hogwarts House Discussion
11:47 Favorite and Least Favorite Books
15:06 Favorite Characters and Predictions
17:52 Magical Objects and Universal Studios
21:13 Shocking Moments in the Harry Potter Series
22:50 Thoughts on the Dursleys and Weasleys
26:08 Harry and Voldemort's Connection
28:26 Debating Hermione's S.P.E.W. Campaign
32:49 Predictions and Excitement for Future Books
35:26 Entering the Harry Potter Fandom
36:47 Conclusion and Podcast Information
Follow Long Live Taylor Podcast!
Tiktok: @longlivetaylorpod
Instagram: @longlivetaylorpod
Listen to Long Live Taylor Podcast:
Spotify // Apple Podcasts // YouTube
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
In this episode, Morgan is joined by Demond from the Demond Does podcast. The discussion begins with Demond sharing the origins and focus of his podcast, which centers around six fixed questions that reveal unique stories from various creatives. The conversation delves into Demond's personal nerdy interests, such as martial arts, professional wrestling, Star Wars, and tabletop role-playing games. Demond recounts his journey into professional wrestling and his WWE experiences. He emphasizes the importance of community within fandoms and how his fandom experiences have enriched his life and connections with others, especially his children. The episode concludes with valuable advice on embracing and pursuing one’s nerdy interests, the significance of being patient and kind to oneself, and the communal aspects of fandom.
00:55 Welcoming Demond
03:49 Martial Arts and Early Influences
04:56 Pro Wrestling Adventures
07:56 Current Nerdy Interests
10:18 Podcasting and Community
12:58 Role-Playing Games and Subcultures
17:30 WWE Experience and Reflections
29:39 Fandom and Family
31:28 Embracing Your Nerdiness
36:48 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Listen to Demond’s Podcast, Demond Does:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7rzZtk6w0Qw2PtIm5cWHUf?si=adb84e24aea546ea
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demond-does/id1501532377
Follow Demond on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/demonddoes/
https://www.threads.net/@demonddoes
https://www.tiktok.com/@demonddoes
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
In this episode, Morgan welcomes Illy, the founder of the Spine Benders Society book club. The discussion centers around the creation, growth, and profound impact of book clubs. Illy shares her journey from starting the Spine Benders Society in South Florida to expanding it to Orlando, highlighting the importance of fostering a passionate community. The conversation touches on tips for starting and joining book clubs and the rewarding experiences that come with shared reading. Illy also discusses her personal nerdy interests, including her immersive experiences, Big Brother, solo travel adventures, and love for book-related merch.
Are you looking to either join or start your own chapter of the Spine Benders Society? Be sure to reach out to Illy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_orlando/
00:51 Meet Illy: The Book Club Queen
02:52 The Birth of the Spine Benders Society
04:40 Challenges and Triumphs
13:08 Nerdy Beginnings
17:35 Book Club Adventures
24:15 Immersive Experiences
27:34 World of Warcraft
29:13 The Evolution of Book Club Management
31:26 Starting and Growing a Book Club: Tips and Insights
38:23 Navigating Book Clubs as an Introvert
45:05 The Power of Book Club Communities
50:14 Final Thoughts
Follow the Spine Benders Society Bookclub:
https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_orlando/
https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_sfl/
Follow That Nerd Thing at:
TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod
Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod
Email: thatnerdthingpod@gmail.com
Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!
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