• Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan

  • By: TruStory FM
  • Podcast

Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan

By: TruStory FM
  • Summary

  • Hey folks. Mandy Kaplan here. I’d like to share a bit about my intentions and mission for MMAN if you’ll indulge me. You will? Huzzah! Look, I am a lot of things. I’m a writer, actress, mother, and lover of musicals and cats, but NOT Cats, The Musical. Give me a little bit of credit, would ya? So...throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded (and intrigued) by all things nerd. A sister who plays D&D, a Star Wars-obsessed husband, friends who love anime, comic books, video games, and...well, you get the picture. Somehow, I have always held it all at arm's length. Not to get too deep, but maybe I never thought I was smart enough to follow it. Or maybe I have control issues and have never been able to embrace fantastical things like dragons and time travel. Until now! So, with an open mind and heart, I am ready to join this massive (and beautifully inclusive) club and GEEK THE #%$ OUT! It’s time for all my wonderfully strange friends to baptize me into NERD-DOM. Please join me on this journey. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover or remember a side of yourself along the way. Or at least make fun of me as I try!
    © TruStory FM
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Episodes
  • Breaking Into the MCU Through the TVA: Loki with Justin Jaeger
    Nov 18 2024

    In this delightfully nerdy episode, Mandy joins the ranks of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the (sort of) first time with podcaster and comic book aficionado Justin Jaeger. Like a modern-day anthropologist venturing into uncharted territory, Mandy explores the mystifying world of Loki, Marvel's mercurial trickster god, through the lens of a complete newcomer.

    Justin, whose personal comic collection once aspired to the likes of the Library of Alexandria with 8,000 volumes, guides Mandy through the intricacies of Marvel lore while accidentally turning their discussion into an impromptu therapy session. The pair pull apart the charming paradox of Tom Hiddleston's Loki—a villain so charismatic that Mandy initially mistakes him for the hero.

    From comparing the show to Silence of the Lambs to debating the state of Marvel's special effects budget, this episode offers a refreshingly uninitiated perspective on superhero culture. Whether you're a seasoned comic collector or someone who only knows Tom Hiddleston as "Taylor Swift's ex who dances on Graham Norton," this conversation bridges the gap between mainstream and nerd culture with wit and warmth.

    Links & Notes

    • Jayge’s Pages (Justin's YouTube book review channel)
    • Loki on Disney+
    • WandaVision on Disney+
    • The MCU Timeline Guide for Beginners
    • Tom Hiddleston's Thor Audition Tape



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    49 mins
  • Wynona Earp with Melody McCune
    Nov 11 2024

    This week, Mandy sits down with the Earp-erific Melody McCune from Geek Girl Authority, who's here to school Mandy (and all of us!) on the wild world of Wynonna Earp.

    Mandy bravely ventured into Season 3, Episode 7 before realizing she needed some serious backstory. So, like the true overachiever she is, she went back and watched the pilot (extra credit!). Now she's ready to chat all things Wynonna, from the show's surprising shift in tone (dark and atmospheric pilot vs. later seasons' campy fun) to the complicated family dynamics (vampire baby-daddies, anyone?).

    They unpack the sisterly love, the curse, the quippy humor, and the surprisingly addictive soap opera-esque drama that makes this show a must-watch. Plus, Mandy's got some theories about Wynonna's MIA older sister, Willow – spin-off alert?! And did we mention Doc Holliday? Because, Doc Holliday.

    Tune in for a hilarious deep dive into Purgatory, Revenants, and the joys of discovering new shows through podcasting. You might just become a little bit Earpy yourself.

    Links & Notes

    • Geek Girl Authority
    • Wynonna Earp (Syfy)
    • Wynonna Earp (Netflix)
    • Wynonna Earp Vengeance (Tubi)

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    Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

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    1 hr
  • Mommie Dearest with Abdi Nazemian
    Nov 4 2024

    Join Mandy and her favorite roommate of all time, Abdi Nazemian, for a deep dive into the gloriously campy world of Mommie Dearest! Mandy gets schooled by Abdi, an award-winning author and certified Mommie Dearest expert, on why this so-bad-it's-good film has become a gay cultural touchstone.

    They unpack Joan Crawford's over-the-top portrayal by Faye Dunaway, the unintentional camp that makes it so hilarious, and the surprisingly poignant way the film opened up conversations about abuse. Abdi shares hilarious anecdotes, including a legendary high school Mommie Dearest party and a personal encounter with Faye Dunaway (that didn't go so well).

    Plus, they brainstorm musical numbers for a Mommie Dearest musical – get ready for "Mad at the Dirt"! Whether you're a longtime fan or a Mommie Dearest newbie, this episode is guaranteed to make you look at this classic film with fresh—and maybe more forgiving—eyes.

    Links & Notes

    • Abdi Nazemian's website
    • Six Degrees of Joan Crawford from You Must Remember This
    • Susan Sontag's Notes on Camp

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    Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

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    1 hr and 3 mins

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