Nerdette - podcast cover

Nerdette

WBEZ Chicagowww.wbez.org
Nerdette is a weekly interview show that helps you unwind with fun conversations, inspiring ideas, and delightful recommendations. And join us every month for the Nerdette Book Club!

Episodes

Nerdette Book Club: ‘This Thing Between Us’

Ready or not, book club is taking on the horror novel ‘This Thing Between Us’ by Gus Moreno. We chat with two horror enthusiasts, Chicago bookseller Javier Ramirez and writer Gabino Iglesias.

May 31, 202229 min

Masks are still a good idea

Yes, COVID is still a thing. Nerdette’s “resident epidemiologist” Dr. Emily Landon gets us up to speed.

May 27, 202226 min

Aim for just okay

Writer Amil Niazi tells us why ditched ambition for mediocrity. Plus, we talk to Emma Straub, author of one of this year's most anticipated books, 'This Time Tomorrow.'

May 20, 202226 min

What to eat right now

We round up the best cookbooks of the year so far. Plus, chefs give us their recommendations for cooking with late spring vegetables.

May 13, 202229 min

Music dance experience!

Here is an episode that you can dance to! J.P. Brammer and Daniel Lavery unpack the week in pop culture. Then, Sofía Valdés tells us about her lush new EP. Plus, we have the soundtrack for your summer!

May 06, 202233 min

What's happening?

Elon Musk attempts a Twitter takeover. Plus, Julia Child’s legacy 60 years after her television debut.

Apr 29, 202233 min

Grow Along With Us

We unwind from another tumultuous almost-spring with the producer and host of the podcast ‘Normal Gossip.’ Topics include our (irrational?) love of houseplants, our ambivalence about Season 2 of ‘Russian Doll’ after a perfect Season 1, and what we love about banned books.

Apr 22, 202215 min

Vibe shift, anyone?

The planets are aligning. Are you ready for a new vibe? Kat Chow and Margaret Willison discuss. Then, Jennifer Egan tells us about her new book ‘The Candy House.’ Plus, the history behind the “adopt don’t shop” dog rescue movement.

Apr 15, 202232 min

Is it a podcast or is it cake?

We talk to Dylan Marron about his podcast ‘Conversations with people who hate me.’ Plus, are travel guidebooks dead? Or are they cake?

Apr 01, 202231 min

Whole grain flour is in bloom

Is whole grain flour the secret to the best chocolate chip cookie? Plus, the woman who swims in Lake Michigan every day.

Mar 25, 202219 min

Free the f-word

Nerdette’s “resident epidemiologist” answers your questions on the lifting of mask mandates. Plus, we listen to the pop stars singing “F U.”

Mar 11, 202227 min

The beauty of “Big Emotions”

We talk about the catharsis of crying at the movies and trade recommendations for what to watch this weekend.

Mar 04, 202231 min

Pandemic plot points: a dilemma

Are you ready to read or watch content about the pandemic? Plus, we take a look at equal pay in soccer and beyond.

Feb 25, 202229 min

Should the Winter Olympics exist?

Today Explained podcast hosts Noel King and Sean Rameswaram round up the news of the week with us. Then, we talk to one of the showrunners behind the bear hug of a show Somebody Somewhere from HBO. Plus, did you know that you could binge watch Netflix for a living?

Feb 18, 202229 min

What not to wear: Olympics edition

We talk about the Olympics and the Oscars with the hosts of Slate’s ICYMI podcast, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher. Plus, two delightful interviews with the singer Shamir and the board game designer Elizabeth Hargrave.

Feb 11, 202234 min

Money is a 5 letter word

Did Wordle sell out? And what’s going on with banned books? We get into it. Plus, three delightful knitting designers tell us about their craft.

Feb 04, 202227 min

January continues

“For Colored Nerds” hosts Eric Eddings and Brittany Luse discuss some weird and wonderful things from the week. Book Riot’s Liberty Hardy shares some of the best books coming out in the early months of 2022. Her list includes… “Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?” by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn (1/18) “Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow” (4/5) “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel (4/5) “Unlikely Animals” by Annie Hartnett (4/12) “Nettle & Bone” by T. Kingfisher (4/26) And WHAT IS TIME?! We ask Cha...

Jan 28, 202232 min

Let them eat crow

This week, we pay tribute to the late fashion icon André Leon Talley, discuss a troublesome murder of crows and dive into the new book How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu. Plus, we talk to a conservation biologist with a delicious solution to the issue of invasive species.

Jan 21, 202230 min

New year, new apocalypse!

We ring in the new year with a panel discussion on the huge snowstorm in the mid Atlantic and the death of the BlackBerry. Author Catherine Price explains why fun is an essential part of life. And what does the sun actually sound like? One of the scientists behind the first spacecraft to touch the sun’s atmosphere tells us all about it.

Jan 07, 202229 min

Nerdette Book Club: Xochitl Gonzalez on ‘Olga Dies Dreaming’

We are kicking off 2022 with Xochitl Gonzalez’s dazzling debut novel about political scandal, family bonds, gentrification and a whole lot more. Xochitl joins us for a spoiler-free chat about how her former career as a wedding planner inspired her to write this story.

Jan 04, 202223 min