<description>&lt;p&gt;This week, your Nerd Best Friends take a VERY bold trip back to Oz… and wow, was it darker than we expected. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Analese and Rob, this was a&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;first-time watch&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;of&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Return to Oz&lt;/strong&gt;, and let’s just say—no one was prepared for wheelers, electroshock therapy vibes, or an alarming number of interchangeable heads. Meanwhile, Dr. Intern Joan revisits a childhood favorite and helps us unpack why this deeply unsettling sequel left such a lasting impression on a whole generation of nerds.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Is it a misunderstood masterpiece? A nightmare masquerading as a kids’ movie? Or the ultimate example of 80s films saying, “Sure, kids can handle this”? We break down the visuals, the themes, the lore, and the emotional damage—plus why this movie still lives rent-free in so many brains decades later.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Strap in, grab your ruby slippers (or chicken), and join us for a delightfully dark Nerdstalgia dive.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;New episode out now—listen wherever you get your podcasts and don’t forget to follow, rate, and share with a fellow nerd who&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;definitely&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;remembers those Wheelers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bonus content on Patreon! &lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

What's the nerdiest thing you did this week? 

This week, your Nerd Best Friends take a VERY bold trip back to Oz… and wow, was it darker than we expected. For Analese and Rob, this was a&nbsp;first-time watch&nbsp;of&nbsp;Return to Oz, and let’s just say—no one was prepared for wheelers, electroshock therapy vibes, or an alarming number of interchangeable heads. Meanwhile, Dr. Intern Joan revisits a childhood favorite and helps us unpack why this deeply unsettling sequel left such a lasting impression on a whole generation of nerds. Is it a misunderstood masterpiece? A nightmare masquerading as a kids’ movie? Or the ultimate example of 80s films saying, “Sure, kids can handle this”? We break down the visuals, the themes, the lore, and the emotional damage—plus why this movie still lives rent-free in so many brains decades later. Strap in, grab your ruby slippers (or chicken), and join us for a delightfully dark Nerdstalgia dive.New episode out now—listen wherever you get your podcasts and don’t forget to follow, rate, and share with a fellow nerd who&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;remembers those Wheelers.Bonus content on Patreon! <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Episode 90 - Return to Oz

<description>&lt;p&gt;A new year is here—and your Nerd Best Friends are making plans… the&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;nerdy&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;way.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we’re setting&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;26 nerdy goals for 2026&lt;/strong&gt;—from books we want to read and games we want to play to projects we want to finish, hobbies we want to try, and fandoms we want to spend more time with. Some goals are ambitious, some are cozy, and some are just an excuse to lean harder into the things that bring us joy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;This isn’t about productivity or perfection—it’s about intention, curiosity, and giving ourselves permission to be excited about what’s next. Whether you’re a list-maker, a goal-setter, or someone who just wants an excuse to buy more minis or crack open another comic, this episode is for you.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;So grab your planner, your paintbrush, or your controller—and let’s talk about what we’re nerding out about in 2026.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Also in this episode: Nerd Mail, tangents, new apps for nerd organization, systems to optimize your nerd experience. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Listen now wherever you get your podcasts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rate, review, and share to help grow the Nerd Herd&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bonus content on Patreon! &lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

What's the nerdiest thing you did this week?

A new year is here—and your Nerd Best Friends are making plans… the&nbsp;nerdy&nbsp;way. In this episode, we’re setting&nbsp;26 nerdy goals for 2026—from books we want to read and games we want to play to projects we want to finish, hobbies we want to try, and fandoms we want to spend more time with. Some goals are ambitious, some are cozy, and some are just an excuse to lean harder into the things that bring us joy. This isn’t about productivity or perfection—it’s about intention, curiosity, and giving ourselves permission to be excited about what’s next. Whether you’re a list-maker, a goal-setter, or someone who just wants an excuse to buy more minis or crack open another comic, this episode is for you. So grab your planner, your paintbrush, or your controller—and let’s talk about what we’re nerding out about in 2026. Also in this episode: Nerd Mail, tangents, new apps for nerd organization, systems to optimize your nerd experience. Listen now wherever you get your podcastsRate, review, and share to help grow the Nerd HerdBonus content on Patreon! <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Episode 89 - 26 for 2026 Nerd Goals

<description>&lt;p&gt;Great Scott! Your Nerd Best Friends are firing up the DeLorean and hitting&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;88 miles per hour&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;as we travel back (and forward) through one of the most iconic nerd franchises of all time:&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Back to the Future&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Analese, Rob, and Dr. Intern Joan dive into why this trilogy still holds up decades later—from perfect casting and quotable lines to time-travel rules that somehow&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;actually&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;make sense. We talk favorite moments, the genius of Doc Brown, Marty McFly’s enduring cool factor, and how Back to the Future shaped pop culture, sci-fi storytelling, and the very idea of what “the future” was supposed to look like.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Is Back to the Future a flawless trilogy? Why does it hit so hard for Gen X, Millennials,&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;and&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;new nerds discovering it today? And what lessons can we learn from a movie that insists your future isn’t written yet?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Grab your hoverboard, avoid paradoxes, and join us for a nerdy joyride through time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Also in this episode: After Prom, karaoke, hypnotists, tangents, Nerdstalgia, D&amp;amp;D 2024 leveling up, Bewitchin'&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Listen now wherever you get your podcasts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Love the episode? Rate, review, and share to help grow the Nerd Herd&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow us @NerdBestFriends for more pop culture deep dives and nerdy nonsense&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bonus content on Patreon!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Great Scott! Your Nerd Best Friends are firing up the DeLorean and hitting&nbsp;88 miles per hour&nbsp;as we travel back (and forward) through one of the most iconic nerd franchises of all time:&nbsp;Back to the Future. Analese, Rob, and Dr. Intern Joan dive into why this trilogy still holds up decades later—from perfect casting and quotable lines to time-travel rules that somehow&nbsp;actually&nbsp;make sense. We talk favorite moments, the genius of Doc Brown, Marty McFly’s enduring cool factor, and how Back to the Future shaped pop culture, sci-fi storytelling, and the very idea of what “the future” was supposed to look like. Is Back to the Future a flawless trilogy? Why does it hit so hard for Gen X, Millennials,&nbsp;and&nbsp;new nerds discovering it today? And what lessons can we learn from a movie that insists your future isn’t written yet? Grab your hoverboard, avoid paradoxes, and join us for a nerdy joyride through time. Also in this episode: After Prom, karaoke, hypnotists, tangents, Nerdstalgia, D&amp;D 2024 leveling up, Bewitchin' Listen now wherever you get your podcastsLove the episode? Rate, review, and share to help grow the Nerd HerdFollow us @NerdBestFriends for more pop culture deep dives and nerdy nonsenseBonus content on Patreon!<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Episode 88 - Back to the Future

<description>&lt;p&gt;First of all, I'M THE MARY. Second, it's more NERDSTALGIA coming your way in a throwback to December of 2022. Let's NERD OUT about the cult classic &lt;em&gt;Romy and Michele's High School Reunion&lt;/em&gt; and special guest Stacy Burcham. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Happy new year, NERDS! New episode next week, and bonus content on Patreon!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

NERDY CULT CLASSICS! 

First of all, I'M THE MARY. Second, it's more NERDSTALGIA coming your way in a throwback to December of 2022. Let's NERD OUT about the cult classic Romy and Michele's High School Reunion and special guest Stacy Burcham. Happy new year, NERDS! New episode next week, and bonus content on Patreon!<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

NERSTALGIA: Episode 25 - Romy & Michele's High School Reunion

<description>&lt;p&gt;While your Nerd Best Friends take time off for the holidays, take time to NERD OUT with some NERDSTALGIA. In this case, we are Nerdwatching the Aughts! Episode 40, from October 2023, will take you back to the era of millennialism and what was hip to be square. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Don't forget to subscribe, follow, and join the NERD HERD! Bonus content on Patreon! &lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Happy Holidays, NERDS! 

While your Nerd Best Friends take time off for the holidays, take time to NERD OUT with some NERDSTALGIA. In this case, we are Nerdwatching the Aughts! Episode 40, from October 2023, will take you back to the era of millennialism and what was hip to be square. Don't forget to subscribe, follow, and join the NERD HERD! Bonus content on Patreon! <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

NERDSTALGIA: Episode 40 - Nerdwatching the Aughts

The podcast that covers all of the NERDY conversations you are already having.... OR WISH YOU COULD! What's the NERDIEST thing you did this week? <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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