Morgan welcomes back Matt Eicheldinger, the acclaimed author of the Matt Sprout series. They discuss the successes and challenges Matt has faced since their last conversation, including the unexpected success of his books and his newfound status as a New York Times bestselling author. The discussion highlights Matt's expanding career into new book contracts, his experiences with social media, public speaking, and the intricate balance of being a full-time author. Matt also shares his recent nerd...
Dec 16, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 45
*We are back after a brief hiatus! Thank you all for your patience!* In this episode, Morgan welcomes Jason, aka Agent Palmer, from The Palmer Files podcast. They discuss Jason's long-form conversational podcast that features a diverse range of guests including authors, business people, and friends. Jason shares his journey into podcasting, his initial intimidation with the format, and his passion for creating content. Aside from podcasting, he talks about his deep interest in blogging, his expl...
Dec 09, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, Morgan welcomes special guest Liz Wilcox. They dive into Liz's journey and experience becoming a contestant on Survivor. Liz shares her nerdy origins with Teddy Ruxpin, her profound connection with the show Survivor, and how it has impacted her life through various stages. The discussion also touches on the intricacies of TV editing, the magic of 90s boy bands, hip hop, comedy, and being a Disney adult. Liz offers insights on embracing one’s nerdy passions authentically and disc...
Nov 04, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this special Halloween message, Morgan shares her love for the season, highlighting Halloween's blend of fun, imagination, and community. She emphasizes how Halloween allows people to embrace different aspects of their identity through costumes, stories, and fandoms. With no guest interview this week, listeners are encouraged to celebrate in their own unique ways and are thanked for being part of the podcast community. Regular guest interviews will resume next week. Follow That Nerd Thing at:...
Oct 28, 2024•2 min
In this episode, Morgan welcomes Marina Laurendi, an author and musician, to discuss her debut book Heir of Blood and Fire. The episode explores Marina's rapid journey from concept to publication, her background in musical theater, and her love for art and creativity. Additionally, they delve into her favorite books, TV shows, and admiration for Sarah J. Maas. Marina shares her transition from bartending to self-publishing, highlighting the role of TikTok and reader reactions in her success. She...
Oct 21, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Nik Walker is BACK for his second episode on That Nerd Thing ! Join Morgan and Nik as they dive into the enchanting world of fandoms and theme parks. Nik shares his experiences with fans, his recent role in the musical Bull Durham , and offers a behind-the-scenes look into the unpredictable life of performing. He also talks about his love for Disney parks and his current nerdy obsessions, like Agatha All Along and The Penguin . Plus, Nik opens up about the audition process and gives us a glimpse...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode, Morgan chats with Ben Stimpson, a therapist and author specializing in folklore and spiritualism, to discuss the intersection of therapy, fandom, and nerd culture. Ben shares insights into his work with narrative therapy, fandoms, and the magical worlds of The Elder Scrolls, emphasizing the immersive nature of these games. The conversation traverses topics such as the impact of fandom on personal growth, the complexities of character association over time, and the significance o...
Oct 07, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Yes - the set is now complete and ALL of the MuggleCast hosts have now been on That Nerd Thing!! In this episode, Morgan delves into the world of podcasting and fandom with special guest Micah Tannenbaum, co-host of the longstanding MuggleCast and the newer What the Hype?! podcast. Micah shares insights into his passion for various fandoms, the challenges and joys of podcasting, and his unexpected journey into becoming a voice in the Harry Potter community. The episode also delves into the value...
Sep 30, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In this episode, Morgan delves into the transformative power of book clubs with guests Ileana, founder of the Spine Benders Society Bookclub, and Carrie, Community and Partnerships Director for BookClubs.com. The discussion reveals the origins of the bookclubs app, highlights the community and organizational benefits it offers, and shares personal anecdotes and tips for leading and participating in successful book clubs. The episode underscores how book clubs foster community, especially for new...
Sep 23, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 38
In this episode, Morgan interviews Rachel, the host of The Menuscript Podcast which combines love for books and food. Rachel shares the journey of starting her podcast, balancing it with her career in education research, and her deep-rooted passions from childhood interests like horses to current obsessions such as football and Harry Potter. The conversation dives into Rachel's unique podcast format which includes discussing books along with related meals, and her experiences connecting with the...
Sep 16, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode, Morgan is joined by her friend Maggie known for her work in the childfree community. Maggie delves into her childfree life and community, highlighting meetups and vacations she organizes. The conversation transitions into Maggie’s experiences with music fandoms, particularly Taylor Swift and Hanson. Maggie recounts her groupie days and the impact of music on her emotional journey. They explore how fandoms evolve and their significance in personal and communal growth. Morgan and ...
Sep 09, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In this episode, Morgan chats with Christine Giver, the host of the Outside of the Box podcast. Christine shares her journey into combat robotics, a niche within the larger STEM field, inspired by her daughter's interest in STEM and her nostalgic love for old school BattleBots. She reveals the creativity and innovation of the combat robotics community, addresses the importance of failures for growth, and describes the rewarding yet challenging process of building and battling robots. The convers...
Sep 02, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode, Morgan chats with Suzanne, one of the current leaders of the South Florida Chapter of the Spine Benders Society Bookclub. They discuss the impact of book clubs and the importance of themes in creating an immersive book club experience. Suzanne shares her journey into nerdy interests, notably fantasy elements like fairies and unicorns, and her deep affection for Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. They delve into current interests in world history, t...
Aug 26, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 34
In this episode, Morgan interviews Mel Saavedra, the founder of the Steamy Lit bookstore and the host of the Romance Unleashed podcast. They discuss Mel's journey from being an avid reader to creating a successful romance literary collective that includes a specialty bookstore, subscription boxes like the Steam Box, and events like Steamy Lit Con. Mel shares insights into her favorite fandoms as well as her favorite romance tropes and book recommendations. The discussion also delves into the imp...
Aug 19, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Morgan welcomes back her niece Leanna, co-host of the Long Live Taylor podcast to discuss Leanna's experience reading the first four Harry Potter books for the first time. They delve into favorite and least favorite aspects, characters, shocking moments, and their interpretations of the stories. Leanna shares her initial hesitation and eventual commitment to reading the series while recounting key plot points and differences between the books and movies. They discuss Leanna's Hogwarts house, Hou...
Aug 12, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In this episode, Morgan is joined by Demond from the Demond Does podcast. The discussion begins with Demond sharing the origins and focus of his podcast, which centers around six fixed questions that reveal unique stories from various creatives. The conversation delves into Demond's personal nerdy interests, such as martial arts, professional wrestling, Star Wars, and tabletop role-playing games. Demond recounts his journey into professional wrestling and his WWE experiences. He emphasizes the i...
Aug 05, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this episode, Morgan welcomes Illy, the founder of the Spine Benders Society book club. The discussion centers around the creation, growth, and profound impact of book clubs. Illy shares her journey from starting the Spine Benders Society in South Florida to expanding it to Orlando, highlighting the importance of fostering a passionate community. The conversation touches on tips for starting and joining book clubs and the rewarding experiences that come with shared reading. Illy also discusse...
Jul 29, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Join Morgan and Eric Scull from MuggleCast and What the Hype?! in a riveting discussion about the profound impact of fandoms. They reflect on the early days of MuggleCast, live show experiences, the evolution of fandom culture, and Eric's experiences with X-Men, Harry Potter, and LARPing. They discuss the transformative impact of fandoms, the history and evolution of fandom culture, and the importance of embracing nerdy passions. 00:46 Introducing Eric Scull 07:13 Nerdy Beginnings: X-Men and Har...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 29
*This episode contains explicit language* In this episode, Morgan chats with Evel Dick, the famed Big Brother 8 winner. The conversation spans a variety of intriguing themes such as Dick's surprise rise to popularity, his interactions with fans, and efforts to remain approachable. He shares anecdotes from his Hollywood life, including encounters with celebrities like Timothy Dalton, Keanu Reeves, and Paul McCartney, and provides insights into reality TV production and critiques current strategie...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Morgan interviews Will from The Nerd Federation Podcast . They delve into the intersection of pro wrestling and video games and discuss the emotional connections and storytelling elements in both. Will shares his background as a journalist and his journey in starting his podcast, emphasizing his passion for nerdy interests. They chat about classic video games, earth science (volcanoes and earthquakes!), and the never ending list of movies, TV shows, games, and books that they want to check out. ...
Jul 08, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Join Morgan as she interviews author Briana Lawrence, the senior feature editor at Crunchyroll and a passionate anime fan. Briana shares her journey from a childhood love of anime and manga to a career that she never anticipated. They also explore Briana's personal journey into fandom, how she met her wife through writing fanfiction, and her passion for writing. Briana shares her experience working at Crunchyroll, her favorite nerdy interests (like gaming, Power Rangers, Gundam Wing, manga), and...
Jul 01, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Join Morgan and special guest Pam from What the Hype?! and #Millennial Podcast for an engaging and *spoiler-filled* discussion on the final four episodes of Bridgerton Season 3. In this bonus episode, they explore character dynamics, plot twists, and emotional arcs. They discuss the Penelope and Colin *mirror scene* and talk about changes they would have made to the show. They discuss the Lady Whistledown reveal, redemption arcs, and potential future storylines. Check out the episode for unfilte...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr 28 min
In this episode, Morgan interviews musician and composer Henry Koperski. Together, they discuss Henry's journey in the music industry, his love for jazz, and the impact of being a music nerd. They discuss Henry's experience performing with Alan Cumming, his early influences in music, and his favorite nerdy things (like Sex and the City, baked goods, and music). The conversation touches on the transformative power of music, memorable performances, and the beauty of connecting through creative exp...
Jun 24, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 25
In this special episode, host Morgan is interviewed by her niece and Long Live Taylor podcast co-host, Kaylan. The unscripted episode covers Morgan's personal journey as a nerd from childhood to her current role as a podcast host. Morgan and Kaylan share anecdotes, like pretending to travel through time and attending book premieres. She discusses the inspiration and challenges behind starting her podcast, emphasizing the empowering effect of embracing one’s passions. The conversation also touche...
Jun 17, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this episode, Morgan interviews Tiara, a content creator focused on fashion and midsize representation who also has a deep passion for various fandoms. They discuss the personal impact of podcasts, Tiara's deep connection to horror, Formula 1, and Harry Potter, favorite books and genres, and the inclusive power of fandoms. Tiara shares her journey into fandom, her favorite books by Sarah J. Maas, and how fandoms have offered her solace and connections during life's challenges. 00:36 Guest Int...
Jun 10, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Join Morgan as she interviews Nik Walker, the actor who portrayed Aaron Burr in Hamilton (on tour and on Broadway) and is one of her dream guests (!!!). Nik is also known for his roles in Spamalot and Ain’t Too Proud. In this candid and heartwarming episode, Nik shares his experiences from his Hamilton Tour days, his favorite nerdy things, such as Mark Twain's work, Jurassic Park, and theme parks, and his recent projects. Morgan and Nik also explore what being a nerd means, the impact of fandom,...
Jun 03, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In this episode, host Morgan, a psychologist and self-proclaimed nerd, interviews humor and pop culture writer Terrence Crawford. They discuss Terrence's journey into fandoms, including his early love for the Power Rangers and current obsessions with Spider-Man and The Boys. Terrence shares his experiences working on popular properties like Harry Potter and Marvel's Miles Morales, and offers valuable tips for attending conventions. 00:55 Meet Terrence Crawford: A Humor and Pop Culture Writer 02:...
May 27, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Join Morgan and special guest Pam from Millennial Podcast for an engaging and *spoiler-filled* discussion on the first four episodes of Bridgerton Season 3. In this bonus episode, they explore character developments, romantic tropes, and scene breakdowns, including the much-anticipated and juicy carriage scene. They explore the evolving dynamics and character development, particularly focusing on the friends-to-lovers trope between Colin and Penelope. They highlight the intricate dynamics within...
May 24, 2024•1 hr 31 min
This week, Morgan chats with Chloe Laverson, known for her work as a social media manager for multiple podcasts and her passion for everything girly, pink, and nerdy. They discuss Chloe's early connection to fandom through Harry Potter and Webkinz and how fandom served as a refuge and source of joy. They explore Chloe's professional journey in the world of fandom, experiences with celebrities at conventions, and the importance of being true to oneself. The conversation also covers the importance...
May 20, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In this episode, Morgan interviews Andrea Towers , an accomplished author, editor, and writer with extensive experience in the entertainment industry, having worked with TV Guide Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Nerdist, and Marvel Entertainment. Andrea shares her journey through various fandoms, from her early obsession with The Phantom of the Opera and The X-Files to Rent and writing Geek Girls Don’t Cry and the Gamer Girls series. She offers insights into the intersection of her professional l...
May 13, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 19
