Aftershock promises a post-apocalyptic story about an earthquake that devastates Los Angeles, leaving hundreds of thousands of Americans either dead or missing, and a mysterious island that appears off the coast in its aftermath. Callies plays Cassie Williams, a woman who forges through the island in search of her missing daughter. Looking more deeply into the podcast’s story, it is, for Callies, about forgiveness, something she believes the world needs more of right now.

In our interview below, Callies talks about the challenges of recording during the pandemic, the exhilaration that you feel when you “step off into nothingness,” and her newfound love for podcasting.

Aftershock can be found on iHeartRadio and anywhere podcasts are heard.

Congratulations on Aftershock’s release! You’ve said before that it’s a story about “forgiveness and second chances”—would you tell us more about what you mean by that?

It feels like we all need a big dose of forgiveness right now, don’t we? Giving it, receiving it… Somewhere along the way I feel like our culture got so wrapped up in judgment and outrage that we lost sight of how deeply we all need to be forgiven in life – and so then how deeply we all need to practice forgiveness. I wanted to explore that – to put characters into ‘unforgivable’ situations and then see how they could find their way to atonement from there. Particularly with Cassie and McKayla, who are the spine of the series.  

In addition to acting, you’re also the series’ director, writer, and co-creator. How did you initially become involved with the project? Where did the story come from? What inspired you to take on multiple roles throughout its production?

Well, I took on multiple roles for two reasons – first because that kind of creative input is a gift for someone like me. To be able to have a hand in so many aspects of the storytelling is thrilling and a first in my career. I loved every second of it. But then, practically, podcasts don’t have big budgets. So if something needed doing, I just did it so that, you know, it would get done. The initial kernel of the idea came to me from Patrick Carman, a YA author I was put in touch with through my producing partner Ben Haber. He was interested in telling a story about an island that rose up out of the sea,  and since I grew up on one, that fascinated me. I’m from Hawai’i, and we have stories there about Maui pulling the islands up with his fishhook as his brothers paddled their canoe. Origin stories are powerful, as are the explorations of who goes to that new land and why.  

I understand that you recorded the series during the pandemic, which seems like it would have been such an emotional undertaking! In addition to your character’s experience of literally earth-shattering change, you (and the rest of the world) experienced a similarly seismic, though less cataclysmic, change as well—what was it like to flit between Aftershock’s post-apocalyptic world and our world’s pandemic-ridden reality?

Actually, having a creative project to focus on was a gift during the pandemic. It made everything harder, of course, because the pandemic just had that effect on life. But at the end of our recording sessions, even through the technical headaches and the scheduling challenges and the covid safety of it all, we were all so grateful to feel like artists for a while. It was a part of ourselves we knew and valued and missed during lockdown. It was a kind of nourishment, like a kind of heart food. 

You’re no stranger to stories that explore what worlds would look like after mass devastation. From zombies in The Walking Dead to aliens in Colony. And now: Aftershock. What is it about this genre that interests you and keeps you wanting to explore? How did your previous work inform how you approached Aftershock?

I think we learn a tremendous amount about who we really are when our world falls apart. But Aftershock is a very focused crisis – it’s not a zombie apocalypse or an alien invasion – it’s a localized event that destroys Los Angeles but leaves the rest of the world intact.  It’s also a very grounded disaster in that, unlike zombies and aliens, an earthquake is something scientists have been telling us for a long time is going to happen – it’s just a matter of when, there’s a feeling of inevitability about it.  And so set against that disaster, our characters turn into people they didn’t know they could be.  That’s a fascinating space – when you step off into nothingness and leave your old self behind.  

The cast is truly impressive! What was it like to get everyone together? What surprised you the most throughout the process of collaborating with and directing them?

What surprised me was that everyone said yes! I put together a dream team – mostly of friends and colleagues i’d worked with before – and got to play them all. It was such a generous thing for them to do. And such a joy. There were moments that just took my breath away. Michael O’Neill and Tati Gabrielle did a scene together that made the mixer in the booth where Michael was recording weep. That was pretty cool. They left everything on the field and I’m so grateful. 

Now that production is essentially over and the first few episodes have been released, would you return to the podcast format for future stories? Can we expect more seasons of Aftershock?

I’d do another scripted pod in a heartbeat. It’s an exciting medium – telling a story that keeps the audience blind, but engages their full imaginative attention. It’s such a cool set of creative challenges. As for more aftershock seasons – that’s a question for iHeart… and let me know if you get an answer!

What’s next for you?

I’m directing a couple of episodes of TV this fall, so that’s where my attention is right now. I head off Friday to the first one! 

The post ‘Aftershock’ Podcast: A Conversation with Sarah Wayne Callies appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

For fans of the weird and undiscovered, step inside the world of Conner Creek in the YouTube series and narrative podcast, Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye. The series is created by the Tin Can Brothers, Corey Lubowich, Brian Rosenthal, and Joey Richter, who are known for hits such as Spies are Forever, Solve It Squad, and many other live and virtual sketches, short films, and stage shows. This project was backed on Kickstarter by over 2,000 people and released in the fall of 2020. I have been a fan of the Tin Can Brothers for years for their innovative and accessible work, and Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye did not disappoint!

The show follows a twin podcasting team, Artemis and Paul Schue-Horyn (Mary Kate Wiles and Steve Zaragoza) as they venture into the small mining town of Connor Creek to follow a corporate corruption story brought to them by Ryan Reynolds (Darren Criss), who isn’t that Ryan Reynolds but is still well known in his town. All they want is to sink their teeth into the story to find the truth, impress their boss (Sean Astin) and prove that they can be the top podcasting team at American Podcasting Network. The corporate corruption investigation turns into more of a hairy situation as the eccentric townspeople begin dying under mysterious circumstances. As rumours of werewolves begin flying around an already divided town, Artemis and Paul must figure out what is going on, who they can trust, and if running this story is worth risking their lives.

The entire narrative is exhilarating from start to finish. It blends horror, mystery, and comedy and feels like a cross between Twin Peaks and the popular game One Night Ultimate Werewolf. The series’ voice is completely new and exciting, leaning into the weird and supernatural while also touching on social and political division. You won’t be able to stop watching, as each episode hooks you in right away and leaves you in suspense. The innovative multimedia narrative consists of 10 YouTube episodes and 11 podcast episodes that create an immersive experience. Depending on your preferences, you can either watch just the webseries, or listen to the podcast, but to get the best experience in my opinion, you’d experience them together in the release date order. The podcast is the polished version of what Artemis and Paul release to the world after their adventures, and the webseries acts as a behind the scenes of their journey and so together you have access to backstories, other perspectives and lots of other juicy details.

The YouTube videos are bingeworthy and a quick enjoyable watch. The dialogue flies fast and strong, with lots of witty bits. They are able to pack lots of Connor Creek lore and fun into the roughly ten minute long episodes without rushing anything, which is a huge testament to the writing. The cinematography is stunning and I don’t want to venture too far into spoiler territory but the special effects and action sequences are Hollywood quality and dazzling. Every detail is intentional to aid in the mystery or add depth to the world and it is beneficial to pay attention to everything if you want to sleuth alongside Artemis and Paul. The release became very interactive as fans would work together to come up with theories and the Tin Can Brothers would chat with viewers before each episode premiere. They also offer lots of behind the scene information and footage if you join their Patreon or check out their website.

The podcast is so well put together that if you close your eyes, you’ll feel like you are right there with the team exploring the town. It also adds a lot of humour and background to an already rich story. There’s new characters to round out the world beyond Conner Creek and the characters you already know from the screen get more of a chance to shine. You really get to know the twins and their dynamic in a different way. They’ve had time to reflect, and it’s fun to see the differences of how they report the events vs how everything actually plays out in the moment. What do they choose to include and leave out? What does the world know about this mystery?

The ensemble of characters is one of my favourite parts and what I find myself coming back to when I think about the show. Everyone is incredibly weird in the most delightful way, with their own accents and role in the town. The cast is extremely talented and come from various mediums from digital, Broadway, television and companies like Starkid Productions and Shipwrecked Comedy. They clearly have fun working together which just amplifies their performances. Mary Kate Wiles and Steve Zaragoza have realistic sibling energy and play off of each other so well. Then some of the other townsfolk you will meet include Madison Reynolds (Joanna Sotomura), the noble sheriff, Dr. Henry Edwards (Carlos Valdez), the drunk doctor, Rita Waldeburg (Sinead Persaud), the passionately morbid mortician, and Mary Jo and Ellis Walker (Ashley Clements and Gabe Greenspan), a couple of gossipy florists, just to name a few. Every character is memorable and endearingly ridiculous in their own way.

So what are you waiting for? The Tin Can Brothers have done an incredible job of creating an immersive series that is a real howl. I have now rewatched/relistened multiple times and every time, I’m on the edge of my seat. I hope that a second season is in store, but in the meantime, you can find all the video and podcast episodes of Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye on YouTube and the podcast episodes also on most streaming platforms.

The post Dive Into ‘Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi is a career homicide prosecutor. She spent 21 years (1995 – 2017) at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, in New York, the last 16 of which were in the office’s Homicide Bureau, where she served as Chief of Trials. Specializing in multiple defendant, double-jury and other complex cases, Anna-Sigga has worked on hundreds of investigations and tried well over 50 felonies, 35 of which were homicides. Currently, Anna-Sigga is the television host and Co-EP of the series, True Conviction, which is currently in production for its 3rd season on Investigation Discovery. She has appeared frequently as a legal analyst on many of the national television networks and also lectures and teaches nationally.

Scott Weinberger has spent his career focused on crime. He is a three-time Emmy-award winning investigative Journalist, previously at WNBC-TV and WCBS-TV in New York. Before that, he served for close to a decade in law enforcement in Florida. He is currently CEO and Executive Producer at Weinberger Media, which he founded in 2007 to create unique content for television. Weinberger Media specializes in producing and developing non-scripted television programming that brings viewers into the world of crime, investigations, police and the judicial system. Best known for creating and launching On the Case with Paula Zahn, the highly popular series is now celebrating its 21st season on Investigation Discovery, and is close to a record 300 episodes. His company also produces the successful series True Conviction, now going into its 3rd season, also on Investigation Discovery.

How did the podcast come to be?

Anna-Sigga: We have been friends and colleagues for a long time.  Over the years we’ve discussed that we wished there was a format to take the many conversations we have about these cases, and highlight them to the public. Doing a podcast was our answer. We can talk about the cases, and the factors influencing the investigation and prosecution in a bit more depth.

Scott: I’ve known Anna-Sigga for many years, when I was a Reporter in NYC I had the privilege to see her in action inside a courtroom. Fast forward several years, I convinced her to be interviewed for one of my shows and after she retired from the DA’s office I was back on the convincing end, to take her passion for victims’ rights by creating her own TV show. As the Executive Producer of True Conviction, we spend a lot of time together talking about the critical decisions that prosecutors and Law Enforcement make in Homicide cases. Those discussions became popular with our crew. A podcast was born.

Take us behind the scenes of creating a podcast. How long does it take to bring an episode together and what is involved?

Anna-Sigga: A lot more than we originally realized! First we each do our own research, a combination of investigative reports, medical reports, articles, studies, photos etc. Then we interview someone involved in the case. We incorporate that interview and our own research into the actual conversation we record. We don’t work off scripts, but our executive producer, the very talented Sumit David, lays out an outline for each story and we use that to guide us, as we talk through each case. Our conversation is then intermixed with the actual interviews, and laid out through the edit into the episodes you eventually hear.

Scott: This podcast is not scripted, it requires both of us to look at these cases at a granular level. That takes hours of reviewing, police reports, ME reports, witness statements, crime scene photos and diagrams. Each podcast included one on one interviews with a victim’s family member, and case detective or prosecutor. Once we have a real feel for the case from all perspectives, talking about the case becomes natural for us.

Within the episodes, you gain insight from various individuals involved, including a victim’s family member, the prosecutor, or a member of law enforcement directly. Was there any process behind deciding which individuals you would have within the episode?

Anna-Sigga: There is no bright line rule. We look at each case and decide who makes sense to us for that particular story. We want the voices of all three – victims’ family members, law enforcement and the prosecutors involved – to be heard. We try to rotate them, but not necessarily in equal measure. Each individual case serves as our guide.

Scott: We decide on a case by case basis, literally!  For us, honoring the victims is crucial and any voice that helps us weave that along with what I believe is our authentic perspective is what AoM is all about.

Out of the episodes currently released, which has been the most interesting to delve into?

Anna-Sigga: There would be no way to pick one. Each and every case we feature stands out to us in some way. Each case matters. Each victim matters. Each case presents various challenges that are worthy of dissecting. That’s why we created Anatomy of Murder, the podcast – because we care about them all and are intrigued to learn about each one.

Scott: While every case matters, it’s the cases that highlight the family members who never give up until justice is served, or the detective who delays retirement until he solves a cold case. We have several of those!

What do you believe makes Anatomy of Murder stand out from other true crime podcasts?

Anna-Sigga: There are many great true crime podcasts out there. What ours brings to the table is this: We approach each story from our backgrounds, and then take listeners behind the scenes, delving into the many Whys of each case. Our respective careers span a pretty full spectrum, Scott as an investigative journalist and former deputy sheriff, and me (Anna-Sigga), as a former Homicide prosecutor. We intertwine our insights with the story and perspective of those interviewed and actually involved in each case. We want to tell these stories in a way that honors the memory of each victim and explain how these cases unfolded, and  the journeys to justice for each life lost.

Scott:  I believe It’s the authentic perspective, a passion for telling true crime stories with insider knowledge that every case is complicated, every victim deserves justice, every podcast episode will deliver the insight on how those all come together.

Will you be checking out Anatomy of Murder? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi & Scott Weinberger From The ‘Anatomy of Murder’ Podcast appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

For this spooky season, I had the honour of talking with ‘And That’s Why We Drink’ about all things paranormal true crime, reflect on their success and see where they are going next.

“And That’s Why We Drink” has been über-successful in the podcast industry, what’s next on this journey? Do you have any fun projects in the works you could hint at?

Em: For Halloween we have some new merch coming out that we have been working on, and we’re hosting a virtual Halloween party on the 19th for our Patreon members! We also have our 200th episode coming up in December, and we have some fun things planned for then! For both our Halloween episode and our 200th, we also have some special cases we will be reporting on.

Christine: Part of the fun is that Em and I don’t tell each other our stories beforehand… But it’s frustrating not being able to announce our plans in advance! Just know we have some big stories planned for Halloween, as well as our 200th episode. We’ve also been trying to make the most of quarantine… We’ve done a couple virtual live shows that raised money for causes close to our heart, and we are hoping to do more!

When was the moment you both realized you had made it in the podcasting industry?

Em: I think it hit me in waves. It first happened when our download numbers and social media followers jumped pretty quickly, and then it happened again the first time I was recognized in public. I think it officially hit me at our first live show, when I saw with my own eyes how many people came out just to support us.

Christine: I still remember the first time we heard from a listener that neither of us knew. I called Em and said, “Do you know this lady?” And Em said, “No, do you?!” It was so surreal at the time! The other moment was winning the Webby Award. It was so validating!

Looking back on everything you both have achieved in the past three years, what advice would you give your past selves or someone just starting in the industry?

Em: I’d tell new podcasters to make sure they have clear audio, and to pick both a topic they love and a co-host they like being around. I think us having done all three of those is what made our show so successful.

Christine: My advice is to pick a topic you are truly passionate about. Something that you’re willing to talk about for free (because that’s most likely what you’ll do, at least for a while!) Listeners can tell when you’re not passionate about something, so find something you never want to stop talking about!

What is the most rewarding thing about having a successful podcast? What is the most challenging?

Em: The most rewarding thing is knowing that people enjoy something we have created and put out for them. It’s a great feeling that people share our interests, find us entertaining, and want to hear what we have to say. The most challenging part to me is making sure that we’re always doing enough to keep the momentum of our show going. My biggest hope is that people continue to love the podcast and that And That’s Why We Drink stays successful for a long time.

Christine: I always dreamed of working from home, in a creative role, and owning my own business. I truly didn’t think it was possible. It’s extremely hard work but I’m endlessly grateful for it. It’s also incredible to be part of such an awesome, creepy, and boozy community. I know I’m biased, but I think our listeners are the best of the best. As for challenges, there are definitely some downsides. It’s hard being in the public eye, and I still struggle with it. I’m way too sensitive!

On the podcast you both cover such a large variety of topics, is there a certain topic you would consider to be your favorite?

Em: Any time I get to report on a haunted doll, I’m thrilled. My favorite stories Christine covers are the unsolved cases. I love going back and forth on what could’ve happened and picking apart the mystery.

Christine: I love covering unsolved cases because it leaves so much room for theorizing. There’s something about a mystery that pulls me in every time.

Throughout the history of “And That’s Why We Drink” both of you have covered close to 382 stories, not including live shows and listener stories, are there any stories that have made a lasting impact on you guys, or any stories you guys’ would consider your favorites?

Em: I think my favorite stories have been the Winchester Mystery House, Project Pegasus, and any haunted doll cases. The Winchester Mystery House was the first story I ever covered on ATWWD, Project Pegasus is the story I most wanted to cover, and the haunted doll stories are the scariest ones that seem to get the biggest response from our audience.

Christine: Two stories I’ve covered that have stuck with me ever since are the disappearances of Bryce Laspisa and Maura Murray. Those stories in particular are just so unsettling. Another favorite is the Golden State Killer. It was so cool to have covered it, and then watch as the case was solved and Joseph DeAngelo was brought to justice. Doing a “follow-up” episode on the case was definitely a highlight for me! And finally, in an upcoming episode I cover a man who some call “the scariest serial killer you’ve never heard of,” Israel Keyes. Researching that story actually kept me up at night for several days. Still gives me shivers to think about.

Now, for a few fun and goofy questions!

Em, if you were able to assemble a paranormal investigation dream team, who would be on it, and why?

Definitely Christine and Eva, but also Ed and Lorraine Warren, Harry Houdini, and someone whose only job is to provide snacks.

Similarly, Christine if you were able to assemble a crime-fighting dream team, who would be on it and why?

Oh my goodness. I’m a huge fan of these “armchair detectives” who have helped solve cases like the Golden State Killer! I’d love to learn tips and tricks from those folks and develop a civilian dream team to crack cold cases that authorities have since given up on.

If each of you could choose a special guest for the podcast, who would they be?

Em: This might be an obvious answer, but I would chose Zak Bagans or Karen and Georgia from My Favorite Murder.

Christine: Not gonna lie, I kind of want to copy Em’s answers for this one. But I’d also love to collab with the Buzzfeed Unsolved guys some day! They crack me up.

With Halloween around the corner, the festivities are underway. Do you have any Halloween traditions?

Em: Christine and I actually have our friendiversary the day before Halloween, so I like to try and surprise her with something then. I think last year we celebrated by going back to the harvest festival where we first became friends. Personally, I try to go to all of the big jump-scare attractions in LA. My 4 spots I hit every year are the LA Haunted Hayride, Dark Harbor, Knott’s Scary Farm, and Universal Horror Nights.

Christine: I’m a big baby – I don’t love jump scares or horror movies! I do love candy, though. And costumes. So I’ll partake in those things. As for the podcast, Em and I try to do something special each year. This year we’re throwing a virtual Halloween party for our patrons, and we have some special releases planned for the week of Halloween!

In the spirit of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to do a Spooky “Would You Rather”:

Would you rather have a tea party with haunted dolls or spend a whole weekend in a haunted house?

Em: A whole weekend in a haunted house! No haunted dolls staring at me please!

Christine: Tea party with haunted dolls, hands down! I hate jump scares! And I love tea…

Would you rather be abducted by aliens or chased by a serial killer?

Em: If anyone is chasing me, I’m going to give up pretty quickly, so abducted by aliens.

Christine: Oh god, this is a tough one. I’m terrified of aliens… but I think serial killers are a more obvious threat? I think I’d have to risk it and go with aliens, with the hopes that the aliens were friendly…

Would you rather come face to face with: the Black Eyed Kids or Zak “Bagelbites” Bagans?

Em: 1000% I would prefer meeting Zak, but only after apologizing for all of the jokes we’ve made about his acid-wash jeans.

Christine: My biggest fear is running into ZB and having to explain myself. So that’s a big nope. My intense anxiety leads me to never answer my door anyway, so those Black Eyed Kids aren’t getting into my house no matter how hard they try. Bring it on!

Would you rather hold a seance with anyone in the world or participate in Project Pegasus and be able to time travel anywhere?

Em: I have wanted to be a part of Project Pegasus since I first heard of it. I would pick joining them over almost anything!

Christine: This is a toughie, but I think I’m going with Em on this one… Time traveling would be incredible. Maybe – just maybe! – we’d be able to help fix a few of the world’s problems…

Have you checked out the And That’s Why We Drink Podcast? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz From The ‘And That’s Why We Drink’ Podcast appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

There’s nothing like seeing popular heteronormative fairytale tropes turned on their heads to raise your sprits, right? The Two Princes is a story full of magic and mystery, princes and knights, dragons and curses, and prophecies, balls, and royal weddings. However, the lovers at the core of the story are two boys, and this is a diverse and inclusive world.

The Two Princes centres around… well, two princes from enemy kingdoms who go on a magical adventure together and fall in love along the way. We follow Prince Rupert (Noah Galvin) as he sets out to break the mysterious curse that’s destroying his kingdom. He’s ready to face whatever dastardly villain or vile monster stands in his way, but what he isn’t prepared for are the bewildering new emotions he feels when he meets the strikingly handsome Amir (Ari’el Stachel), a rival prince on a quest to save his own realm. Forced to team up on a swashbuckling adventure, the two princes soon discover that the only thing more difficult than saving their kingdoms is following their hearts.

Here are a few reasons you should give this incredible, funny and utterly wholesome podcast a listen!

1. A truly epic LGBTQ+ romance that ends happily! The star crossed lovers, Princes Rupert and Amir are opposites who attract; Rupert is eccentric, has a wry sense of humour, and is easy to identify with. Meanwhile, Amir is reserved and calm and his grounding presence balances Rupert’s impulsiveness out. Rupert’s attraction to Amir is obvious from the beginning, while it’s more of a slow burn on Amir’s side. You can practically hear the tension, you can almost see the loaded glances, and they are a couple you’ll definitely be shipping hard.

2. A dragon named Porridge! Rupert and Amir adopt a baby dragon, name him Porridge, and call each other his mamas!

3. Strong female characters! From the Queens of the East and the West who have been running whole kingdoms in the absence of their husbands (and doing far better jobs than they ever did) to the fearless knight Joan and her army of women who go into the forbidden forest to save the princes, The Two Princes includes quite a few badass ladies who sometimes even steal the spotlight from Rupert and Amir.

4. Complex parent/child relationship that’s handled exceptionally well! Now this is something rare. Rupert has a complicated relationship with his mother; she clearly never understood him well and even kept some secrets from him, that ultimately resulted in Rupert feeling pressured and running away. But eventually the narrative handles their relationship with a level of maturity you don’t usually find in a show aimed at kids and teens.

5. The sound effects really stand out! While admittedly there isn’t much when it comes to environmental or atmospheric sound effects, the battle scenes are phenomenal. You can clearly visualise the back and forth of sword fighting as the blades clang and clash.

6. The narrative never gets overwhelming. Even though there’s a lot going on, the plotlines blend seamlessly into one another, creating a narrative that flows and is easy to follow, and before you know it you’ve reached the end of the story.

 7. All the members of the star-studded cast deliver delightful performances! You’ll find yourself gleeful and absolutely charmed throughout the whole experience.

With The Two Princes headed to the screen as a 60-minute animated special, this might just be the perfect time for you to binge on the whole show. Then when you are thoroughly obsessed and have finished texting all your friends to GO LISTEN IMMEDIATELY, you can join the rest of us Heartlanders as we wait in eager anticipation for the adaptation coming on HBO Max. Seasons 1 and 2 are available for free on Spotify, Soundcloud, and several other platforms.

Do you love The Two Princes or will you be checking it out? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 7 Reasons To Check Out ‘The Two Princes’ Podcast appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Podcasting has become mainstream. Beginning in the early to mid 2000’s, podcasting has grown to a point where there are over 750,000 active shows available online on a multitude of platforms. There are podcasting conventions held worldwide and hosts of popular shows have garnered a sort of celebrity. A broad range of companies, like Hello Fresh and Wix, have begun sponsoring episodes to promote their services on the platform as more and more people subscribe to the service.

Within the massive volume of shows there is a large section of the podcasting world dedicated to nerdy subjects. The low production cost and easily available technology have encouraged many to create shows about their favourite hobby or pastime. These include shows featuring popular culture, fandoms and tabletop RPGs to name a few. Here is a list of 10 highly rated Nerdy Shows that inspire AND entertain!

POP CULTURE

Bad Science by Seeker pairs a scientist and a comedian together to break down the scientifically inaccurate elements of our favourite movies and TV shows. Think Avengers, The Martian, Finding Nemo, and Star Wars.

Personal Favourite: “Back to the Future”- Comedian Doug Benson discusses the logistics of time travel, wormholes and electricity with physicist Robert Hurt and string theorist Christoph Uhlemann.

The Arkham Sessions hosted by Dr Andrea Letamendi and Brian Ward takes a clinical look at the psychology of the characters found in the Batman: The Animated Series. What really goes on in the brain of our beloved Dark Knight and how he interacts with the villain of the week.

Personal Favourite: “Mad Love”- It’s an extra long episode delving into the backstory of the one and only Dr Harleen Quinzel aka Harley Quinn. Harley Quinn is iconic in the Arkhamverse and her troubled relationship with The Joker is infamous.

Honourable Mentions

1. Faculty of Horror: Two female horror journalists deep dive into everything that goes bump in the night.
2. Hackable?: Actual hackers share just what is required for a hack dispelling myths from movies and tv shows along the way.
3. The Losers Club: All things Stephen King.

FANDOM

Hosted by Michael Schubert (Schubes), Potterless by Multitude follows the journey of a grown man reading the Harry Potter series for the first time. To help him along the journey he enlists the help of Harry Potter fanatics to poke holes in the plot and world JK Rowling has created, has a go at predicting major plot events to come and rants about how terrible Quidditch is.

It is hard to pick a personal favourite due to the nature of this podcast, but a strong contender is Episode 68 with David Gordon. This episode features David Gordon from the one man Wizard Rock band Alas Earwax! It treats the listener to the epic electronic rap song “Enter Thicknesse.

Buffering The Vampire Slayer is hosted by professional musician and Whedonverse aficionado in her spare time, Jenny Owen Youngs, along with professional writer and former goth teen, Kristin Russo guide you through the *Spoiler Alert* Hell Mouth known as Sunnydale. Deep diving into the Buffyverse one episode at a time, they discuss the plot points, supernatural lore, and even have special guests like James Marsters who played Spike. Each episode includes and original song recapping each episode!

Personal Favourite: “Never Kill a Boy on the First Date”- This episode talks about the difficulties of dating when you are The Slayer and how the lovable Xander has a case of being The Worst!

Honourable Mentions:

1. Binge Mode
2. The Babysitters Club Club
3. Lords of the Sith

FAN FICTION

Fanfiction is a modern spectacle consisting of fan made stories based off an existing media. Fangasm Podcast, formerly known as Potterotica, is hosted by Allie LaFevere, Lyndsay Rush, and Danny Chapman and it’s an anthology of fics where beloved characters get into horned up scenarios. With an emphasis on comedy within each story fandoms include Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and The Office. While definitely NSFW (and if you are listening at work, make sure you have your earphones plugged in tight and have disconnected from the work wifi), this podcast is also filled with 90s comedic references, consent and comedy gold. Consent you ask? The hosts of Fangasm have so much respect for the authors of the stories the read they ensure they get permission from every writer prior to using their work. This pod has created a massive family of inclusiveness and support and has multiple sub groups within their Facebook community.

Personal Favourite: Season 12. A Game of Thrones fic based in an alternate reality where Sansa and Arya are University students and its Guy Fawkes Night. The pairing you ask? Sansa Stark and Sandor Clegane (The Hound).

Fanatical Fics, hosted by Sequoia and Kim Harris, finds and reads the craziest and funniest Harry Potter fanfiction on the internet. The hosts have a strong love for Harry Potter: having written their own fanfiction, acted in an unofficial musical based on the final 200 pages of Deathly Hallows and reading Goblet of Fire 11 times. They focus on keeping this podcast accessible to Harry Potter fans of all ages and celebrate and relive the stories written 10 or more years ago- the stuff that was written in response to the 2 year gap between publishing Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix.

Personal Fave: Acceptance? Which features guest host Mike Schubert from Potterless! No spoilers but it is insane.

Honourable Mentions:

1. Slash & Burn
2. My First Fanfiction
3. Death By Fanfic

RPG

Join The Party by Multitude is a collaborative adventure podcast that teaches listeners the rules to Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) as well as creating an entertaining story. Hosted by Dungeon Master, Eric Silver, and players Amanda McLoughlin and Brandon Grugle, we follow the journey of Rogue Moon Elf Inara and Barbarian Warforged TR8c as they become unlikely friends and crash a wedding to save the Royal Wedding and the Prince. Throughout the seasons there are game and story based episodes and afterparty episodes which go into and break down game play, rules and players decisions. Great for beginners and seasoned players there is something for everyone at Join the Party.

Personal Favourite: Wedding Party 1. I love that this episode has two versions. One for beginner D&D players, explaining the rules and one for pros of the game.

Hosted by the McElroy brothers Justin, Travis and Griffin along with their dad, Clint, The Adventure Zone is a D&D podcast filled with adventure and good natured banter. Building the world and characters as they go we follow this band of heroes through a number of challenges- the first being the kidnapping of their employer. The attention to detail in their world building and detailed character descriptions and the thought put into creating individual voices for each of the characters allows the listener to be absorbed into the world.

Personal Favourite: Live- Halloween Special. This episode is a wild ride! Full of the appropriate spookiness and a LIVE audience it is a hell of a time.

Honourable Mentions:

1. Critical Role
2. Dragon Talk
3. 20 Sided Stories

OBSCURE NERDY GOODNESS

Imaginary Worlds is hosted by radio host Eric Molinsky and focuses on the craft of world building in the science fiction and fantasy genres as a whole. Special guests include novelists, screenwriters, game developers and comic book artists discussing their process as well as the fan experience.

Personal Favourite: Actors with Pencils. A look at the new Disney live action remake phenomenon. Do they stack up against their animated counterparts or do they fail to ignite the nostalgia flame?

Hosted by the mega talented and award winning Alie Ward, Ologies is a comedic science podcast. Having studied film AND science Alie talks with a different expert (-ologists) each episode. 108 episodes with everything you’ve ever wanted to know (and never wanted to know) about things like Mars missions, beer science and slug sex. Alie asks smart people dumb questions and the answers will probably change the way you view the world around you.

Personal Fave: Egyptology. A history lesson with Egyptologist Dr Kara Cooney about the pyramids, curses and the monarchy. Very Brendan Frasier’s The Mummy.

Honourable Mentions:

1. Science Rules! With Bill Nye
2. Those Happy Places: A podcast about Theme Park rides, attractions and lands focusing on the stories they tell and why it matters
3. Hello from the Magic Tavern: An improv audio drama about a dimensional portal behind a Burger King

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

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Something I am forever finding intriguing is the use of podcasts and social media within books and most recently, as a complement to a book (Sadie) or a new way to listen to a mystery – as is the case with Lethal Lit, a Tig Torres mystery.

Lethal Lit is a fictional true crime podcast that follows Tig Torres, a teenager who has returned to her home town after living away in the city for years. She and her family left because her beloved aunt who was murdered was thought to have been the Lit killer, a serial killer that terrorised Hollow Falls by killing victims through methods from classic literature.

So what is a fictional true crime podcast? Well, that’s how Tig is going to clear her aunt’s name and unmask the real killer – she arrives in town and immediately starts her investigation, interviewing people and annoying most of them (especially the cops) for her podcast as she goes about trying to resurrect something everyone would prefer she left dead. But Tig believes in her aunt, and armed with her aunt’s tapes of her own investigation, she sets about trying to find the truth.

Along the way she finds herself making friends with the students at the high school newspaper who help her on her investigation, and there’s a hint of romance, but no real idea yet of where Tig stands on whether she prefers girls or boys, or both.

Tig herself is headstrong, and still filled with grief at her aunt’s death. The podcast format lends an intimacy to those moments when talks about her, and her abuela, and why she is convinced of her aunt’s innocence. There are moments where you get the sense that Tig is careful about protecting herself with this flippant coolness that masks who she is deep down. It makes for a compelling enough character to follow along in this somewhat short-than-expected podcast.

The characters around her are all distinct, and engaging in their own way. The podcast chooses the characters to focus on wisely, and ties them in closely to Tig.

What I liked about this medium as well, is when Tig is in danger, you can feel it just as profoundly as if you were running with her in the dark.

So what do you think of Lethal Lit? Would you listen to a ‘book’ like this? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Podcast Review: Lethal Lit – A Tig Torres Mystery appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Though it is produced by Whit Missildine of the Permatemp Corporation, his presence in This Is Actually Happening is relatively minimal, only appearing to introduce the episode, plug sponsors, and sign off at the end. Aside from these minor intrusions, each episode dedicates its entire run time to letting its subject speak for themselves. While it is clear that there is an interviewer asking questions to prompt the subject along, these are seamlessly edited out so that each account sounds like an uninterrupted monologue.

It is important to remember that as these are true anecdotes, they don’t always come with neat, tied-up conclusions that the entertainment industry has conditioned us to expect. The interviewed subjects are often still in the midst of dealing with unresolved personal issues, and so the catharsis we expect at the end of a tension-fuelled story isn’t necessarily guaranteed. While its bleakness can make for a gruelling listen, this commitment to presenting these stories in their purest form without any attempts to sanitise the truth or make them more appealing is what This Is Actually Happening does so well. The problems we face don’t always have easy solutions, and the experiences we live through don’t always have natural endings.

In its early days the episodes were shorter and hovered around the 10 to 20 minute mark, but now over five years later the episodes are much more fleshed out and can run anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. Although he is never heard during the interviews it is clear that Missildine has grown more comfortable over time interviewing his subjects, allowing them to open up on personal topics without fear of judgement. These longer run times don’t just make it easier for us to invest in the stories, but they also allow space for the subjects to divulge contextual information, process their emotions, and ease us into the more harrowing parts of their experiences.

Though the episodes often share similar themes such as mental illness, abuse, suicide, and childhood trauma, no two accounts are ever the same. Far too often in the media we hear of these stories either as part of a statistic or from an impassive news source, but This Is Actually Happening reveals the lives of the people at their centre. The podcast’s desire to understand and empathise with its subjects inspires us to do the same as listeners, and it does so in a manner that is respectful, reflective, and captivating.

You can listen to This Is Actually Happening on Soundcloud.

Do you listen to This Is Actually Happening? Or do you have any other podcast recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

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There are no formalities or forced structure to these conversations. In fact, they could barely even be called interviews. Instead the chatter flows freely between David and his guest, often dipping into their personal lives and their career struggles, like old friends catching up. In every single episode, Tennant goes to the effort of meeting with his guest face to face, whether it is in a recording studio or at their home. There are no stale phone calls here – Tennant draws out the openness and warmth that one could only get from direct conversation.

Tennant’s guests so far have ranged from actors, to TV personalities, to politicians. In an early episode he bonds with Jodie Whittaker over their shared experience in playing the title role in Doctor Who, while in another he strips back the layers of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and digs into the pressures of working as a public servant. But arguably his most illuminating discussion yet has come from his episode with Sir Ian McKellen, in which McKellen reveals his experiences of hiding his sexuality while rising up in the entertainment industry. The fears he had in making this leap, along with the affirmation he received from other young gay men, led to a turbulent and sometimes scary process of self-discovery for him. As such, McKellen’s episode reveals a more vulnerable side to an esteemed actor in a way that has rarely been captured in other media.

Although the podcast has Tennant’s name in the title, he is really only there as a catalyst for his guests to open up. His speaking in each episode probably only adds up to about a tenth of its entire running time, as he prefers to let his guests talk at length and lead themselves on a stream of consciousness. He interjects with questions at the right times, asking only what we were wondering ourselves, but he never hogs the spotlight or attempts to relate his own experiences with his guest’s.

The conversations in David Tennant Does A Podcast With… generally stay light and funny, making it a great podcast to switch your brain off and relax to. Although it never becomes the focus, Tennant’s natural charm drives the discussions and elicits some incredibly thoughtful responses from his guests. The podcast is still quite young however, and even if its structure gradually changes over the time as most podcasts ten to do, it will be interesting to see just how long and diverse Tennant’s celebrity contact list is.

Find David Tennant Does A Podcast With… on Twitter, Spotify, and iTunes.

Do you listen to the podcast? Tell us in the comments below!

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Run by Wisecrack, an online video production company made up of comedians, academics, and filmmakers, Show Me The Meaning brings together a range of profound perspectives that rarely agree on any given film. Austin’s insights in particular are a joy to listen to, as his background in philosophy brings genuinely thought-provoking readings of movies to the foreground. The role of philosophy is to spur on thoughtful discussion, not to lay down hard truths, and it is clear that this is always Austin’s intention when engaging with his fellow hosts and listeners. He is clearly very knowledgeable when it comes to the teachings of famous academics, but it is in his delivery of this information that he turns what could be dry musings into stimulating explorations of cinema.

While the podcast sometimes looks at current movies that stand out above the competition, the bulk of the episodes look back on films from the past 30 years, particularly those with cult followings. They have tackled each instalment of The Matrix franchise and their religious undertones, The Big Lebowski as an unintended source of inspiration for the ‘Dudeism’ movement, and even Borat’s boundary-pushing approach to constructing cinema narratives. Sometimes Show Me The Meaning will run special episodes outside their ordinary film analyses, like pitting Star Trek and Star Wars fans against each other in friendly, well-researched debates, or responding to specific film culture phenomena like the backlash to The Last Jedi.

Of particular note is their celebration of Nicolas Cage month this January, which attempted to nail down the actor’s unique style that keeps him in the public eye despite our constant ridicule of him. By looking specifically at Vampire’s Kiss, Face/Off, Adaptation, and Con Air, the Show Me The Meaning team indeed somehow managed to find meaning even in Cage’s most nonsensical roles.

Every movie is a reflection of the culture it was born in, and the ability to find these nuances and express them so eloquently is a massive strength of Wisecrack’s Show Me The Meaning. The way we interact with film on an artistic and psychological level can drive our desire to understand society and, by extension, ourselves as individuals. This isn’t a new or particularly niche idea, but you would be hard-pressed to find any podcast that explores it as thoroughly as Show Me The Meaning.

Do you listen to the Show Me The Meaning podcasts? Tell us in the comments below!

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