Nerdoween Bonus #3
This week, Kyle talks about some of his favorite family and kids movies from his youth that were absolutely terrifying. Kids today ought to be scared more often.
Oct 17, 2023•17 min
Laser Focus
Watched the latest big movie, binged a whole TV season, or read comics from 25 years ago and want more? Need to hear people go very, very deep on the dorkiest things we all love? Then Laser Focus, the new podcast from Nerdist, is for you. Every week, Senior Editor and film critic Kyle Anderson will welcome other members of the Nerdist expert staff to get all up in every bit of the pop culture, from the latest thing to your nostalgic faves. Join and enjoy!
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Episodes
Cozy Spooky Stuff
Not every person who enjoys the Halloween season likes horror movies, or even being scared. How can that be? Well, with a phenomenon called Cozy Spooky of course! To discuss liking the trappings of Halloween without particularly liking scary stuff, Kyle is joined by Nerdist Editor-in-Chief Amy Ratcliffe, a self-proclaimed wimp. What constitutes Cozy Spooky? Is there a criteria or is it in the eye of the boo-holder?
Oct 12, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 17
Nerdoween Bonus #2
This week, Kyle talks about his love of a series of British anthology horror films from Amicus Productions. Most of them feature the late, great Peter Cushing, and one of them, Tales from the Crypt , was the first adaptation of the EC Comics classics.
Oct 10, 2023•19 min
10 Horror Movies You Should Watch ASAP
Happy October, friends! We here at Laser Focus love Halloween, and we love horror movies, and we want you to love them too. In this episode, to give your spooky season a kick, Kyle and Adam Murray each give five recommendations for underseen horror gems to add to your watchlist. They’re very creepy and eerie and so on.
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Nerdoween Bonus #1
It’s the spookiest time of year, and the most fun for us! Every week in October, Kyle will bring you a bonus episode of Laser Focus to give some horror recommendations. First up, it’s all Italian! Kyle offers five of his favorite giallo movies and five of his favorite Euro Gothic movies.
Oct 03, 2023•17 min
Avatar: The Last Airbender
This week, Ro Rusak returns to Laser Focus to discuss Avatar: The Last Airbender, and specifically how Zuko’s arc represents one of the best antihero’s journeys in all of fiction. Kyle is lucky to speak on the subject with a literal connoisseur of antiheroism. They also talk about the future of ATLA, its upcoming animated movie, and live-action remake. Will Aang save the world again?!
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
This week’s Laser Focus heads to the wild, weird, and wonderful world of Mr. David Lynch. Joining Kyle to discuss the 1992 film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is Nerdist writer and resident Lynch-and-Peaks-Expert Eric Diaz. Look out for creamed corn, blue roses, and David Bowie doing a bad southern accent.
Sep 21, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Best I Think You Should Leave Sketches
This week, Laser Focus looks for good car ideas as Kyle and returning champion Mikey Walsh give their top five sketches from each season of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson . We highly recommend you watch the show otherwise this episode will make no sense. Actually, kind of like I Think You Should Leave .
Sep 14, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Doctor Who in 2023
It’s only taken 11 episodes but Kyle finally lets loose and discusses his favorite show, Doctor Who. And who better to talk about all things Time Lord, and where the franchise sits just before its 60th anniversary, than another Doctor Who superfan, Tai Gooden! How well did Jodie Whittaker’s era wrap up, what do we think will happen with David Tennant’s return, and who could possibly look better in any costume than Ncuti Gatwa?!
Sep 07, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 12
The Current State of the MCU
This week, Kyle is joined by none other than Dan Casey to get into the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What do we like and dislike about the post-Endgame Marvel movie and TV landscape? What do we hope for in the future? And will it ever get back to where it was in 2019?
Aug 31, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 11
The Venture Bros.
This week, Kyle is joined by Nerdist video writer-producer-editor-“occasional talent” Adam Murray to discuss the cult animated favorite, The Venture Bros , and more specifically the exhaustive, hour-long timeline video Adam made about it. Kyle sits and marvels at Adam’s knowledge of the show and his ability to remember specific episodes and lines. Adam’s a true nerd, and perfect for Laser Focus!
Aug 24, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 10
National Treasure (2004)
We’re big fans of comfort media here on Laser Focus. Those shows, books, games, and movies that always give you the warm fuzzies. Joining Kyle this week to talk about her comfort watch, the 2004 Nicolas Cage adventure flick National Treasure, is none other than returning champion, Nerdist Editor-in-Chief Amy Ratcliffe! Never before has historical theft been this enjoyable.
Aug 17, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 9
X-MEN
Buckle up, Bub! This week’s Laser Focus is all about those Merry Mutants, the X-Men. Kyle is once again joined by Eric Diaz to sing the praises of the current roster of X-books from Marvel, as well as why the 1990s X-Men Animated Series is so iconic, and what (and when) they might show up in the MCU. It’s possibly our nerdiest episode yet!
Aug 10, 2023•1 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Pokémon
This week, Kyle goes deep into a subject he only knows from 25 years ago. It’s Pokémon, everyone’s favorite monster-catching franchise! Joining him is Nerdist’s Digital Platform Manager and verified Poke-expert, Alison Mattingly, who discusses not only the video games and anime, but also the collectible card game which has consumed her life. Does Kyle have to catch them all or is he all set? Find out!
Aug 03, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The Walking Dead: Dead City
This week, Kyle delves into a fictional universe he left behind ages ago as he and Nerdist’s resident Dead Head Tai Gooden discuss the new AMC spinoff series, The Walking Dead: Dead City . The six-episode first season (hey! No fair!) brought Maggie and Negan together in New York City to face a new deadly foe, but is the show up to snuff? Is it worth watching for anyone who noped out of the franchise? And is Rick Grimes fiction’s most put-upon hero? Listen and find out, and leave us feedback at l...
Jul 27, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Mission: Impossible Franchise
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, listen to this week’s Laser Focus! In honor of the release of Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1, Kyle is welcoming back returning champion Michael Walsh to discuss everything having to do with the latest movie, plus the franchise as a whole. Best action sequences, best villains, best Ethan Hunt running, plus they give their complete series ranking. It’s a lot of fun in this IMFer.
Jul 20, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Nostalgia Trip – Power Rangers in Space
Welcome back to Laser Focus! This week, we take our first Nostalgia Trip, looking at shows and movies we loved as kids (or young adults). This time, Nerdist News Editor Ro Rusak has chosen Power Rangers in Space, which Kyle had never seen! They go into why it’s considered by many to be the best season of Power Rangers, why Andros is the most compelling Ranger of all time, and whether or not serialized storytelling of this kind works (or works better) today!
Jul 13, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”
This week, Kyle welcomes author and Nerdist’s Editor-in-Chief Amy Ratcliffe to discuss the third episode of Star Trek: Strange New World’s second season, the time-travel mystery-romance “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.” They go into the show from a Starfleet perspective, discuss the complex character of La’an Noonien Singh, and marvel at James T. Kirk’s unending swagger.
Jul 06, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Welcome to Laser Focus! This brand new podcast from Nerdist features deep-dive, spoiler-filled discussions about all the stuff you love. In our inaugural episode, your host, Nerdist Senior Editor Kyle Anderson, welcomes longtime Nerdist staff writer Michael Walsh to go into the many dimensions of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Is Miguel O’Hara a villain? Is Gwen the real protagonist? Why is Spider-Punk so cool? And should you ever buy ice cream if you think you might get stuck in traffic? ...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 1
The Flash (2023)
Welcome back to Laser Focus! This time, Nerdist Senior Editor Kyle Anderson talks all things speed force with staff writer and diehard DC Comics fan Eric Diaz. How well does the new Flash movie depict Barry Allen’s most famous comics story? Does Michael Keaton’s Batman belong here? And will we ever see this Supergirl again? Get ready for a deep-dive, spoiler-filled discussion of the movie and the comics!
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Laser Focus (Trailer)
A new podcast from Nerdist?! Yes, Laser Focus is on the way. Host Kyle Anderson tells you what to expect from this new weekly pop culture deep-dive.
Jun 28, 2023•44 sec
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