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, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thousands of hours of podcasts came out this year. But how many were actually good? The New Yorker’s Sarah Larson and Vulture’s Nick Quah give us a taste of the best of the best.
Dec 31, 2021•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast This month on Nerdette Book Club, we talk to two poets about Andrea Gibson’s poetry collection ‘You Better Be Lightning.’
Dec 28, 2021•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Linda Holmes and Aisha Harris, co-hosts of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, share their top TV shows of the year.
Dec 24, 2021•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast We take stock of the year in books with an editor from The New York Times Book Review and the host of The Stacks podcast.
Dec 17, 2021•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our panel dives into the maple syrup shortage. Plus, we take a look at the best cookbooks of 2021.
Dec 10, 2021•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast We talk to Andrea Gibson about their gorgeous new poetry collection, ‘You Better Be Lightning.’
Dec 07, 2021•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tre’vell Anderson and Jarrett Hill, co-hosts of the FANTI podcast, join us to discuss the pronunciation of Omicron, Spotify “Wrapped” playlists, and getting stuck in a British pub. Then, we hear from Grace Bonney about her new book Collective Wisdom: Lessons, Inspiration, and Advice from Women over 50.
Dec 03, 2021•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Romance enthusiasts Tia Williams and Jessica Pryde join the book club to dig into the feminist bodice ripper Bombshell by Sarah MacLean. It’s a romp!
Nov 30, 2021•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Athletic eating doesn’t need to stop with the Thanksgiving meal. New York Times Cooking experts Melissa Clark and Tejal Rao teach us how to make the best of our leftovers.
Nov 26, 2021•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Winter sure is coming, so Nerdette’s resident epidemiologist Dr. Emily Landon is back to answer all of your COVID questions.
Nov 19, 2021•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’ve all heard way more about supply chains this year than ever before, but how will the shortages and delays affect your holiday book haul? Nerdette goes on a journey through the publishing industry to find out. But first, the panel gets into vaccines for kids and People magazine’s choice for the sexiest man alive, Paul Rudd.
Nov 12, 2021•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast The panel debates daylight saving time, canceling classic rock, and how to stop your job from becoming your life. Plus, we learn how to make beans interesting every day of the week.
Nov 05, 2021•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast We talk to bestselling romance novelist Sarah MacLean about her feminist bodice ripper Bombshell.
Nov 02, 2021•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast To get into the Halloween spirit, Erik Larson tells us a ghost story and a monster expert explains why werewolves are hot right now.
Oct 29, 2021•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Nerdette Book Club unpacks Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki with book nerds Jenn Northington and Christina Orlando.
Oct 26, 2021•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, our panel takes a stab at renaming Facebook and mulls over the new Dune adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet. Then, we talk about two special guides for life, one on feminism for girls and non-binary teens and another on using tarot for self-care.
Oct 22, 2021•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast The duo behind Black Nerd Problems join the panel to unpack the week so you don’t have to. Plus, two authors share stories on women’s self portraits and coming out at any age.
Oct 15, 2021•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, our panel takes a look at some of the most complicated friendships in our lives: Facebook friends, unvaccinated friends, and ‘bad art friends.’ We even talk about some animal ones too, with bestselling author Mary Roach.
Oct 08, 2021•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast We discuss deals with the devil, intergalactic warfare, and defiant joy with author Ryka Aoki.
Oct 05, 2021•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s not easy being the first in any field. Just ask our two trailblazing guests, former NCAA swimmer Schuyler Bailar and tubist Richard Antoine White.
Oct 01, 2021•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lit Society Pod co-hosts Kari Herrera and Alexis Honoria join Greta to process Michelle Zauner’s devastating, delicious memoir. (Heads up: you might want tissues for this one.)
Sep 28, 2021•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's all TV and trees this week! We're joined by culture reporter Hannah Giorgis (The Atlantic), canopy ecologist Meg Lowman, and Chicago's finest "Bachelor"-ologists: Mina Bloom and Brandon Pope.
Sep 24, 2021•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast You asked, we delivered! Infectious disease expert Emily Landon is back to take your questions on variants, vaccines, and more.
Sep 17, 2021•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast This one’s all about anxiety! We talk about how Naomi Osaka is paving the way for all of us with WBEZ education reporter Susie An and Axios Today host Niala Boodhoo, then neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki talks to us about why anxiety is still so misunderstood. Plus, we catch up with Lauren Groff about her wonderfully weird novel, 'Matrix.'
Sep 10, 2021•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on Nerdette we're bringing you a fascinating interview from another WBEZ podcast - Art of Power. Leigh Bardugo is the author of the bestselling 'Shadow and Bone' trilogy. Leigh talks with Aarti Shahani about the many ups and downs she traversed before ultimately landing at success.
Sep 07, 2021•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast How is it September already?! We talk music news with Certified Music People™ Jasmine Garsd (NPR) and Jill Hopkins (Vocalo). Then, we check in with actor Harvey Guillén, who does all his own stunts as Guillermo de la Cruz in 'What We Do in the Shadows,' and walk through a recommendation from the American Medical Association that could make life a lot easier for trans and intersex folks.
Sep 03, 2021•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's our long-awaited episode on Kazuo Ishiguro’s 'Klara and the Sun'! We dive into the Nobel prize-winner’s latest with writer Anita Felicelli, who recently reviewed ‘Klara and the Sun’ for the Los Angeles Review of Books, and author Veronica Roth (‘Divergent,’ ‘Chosen Ones’).
Aug 31, 2021•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast WTTW anchor Brandis Friedman and WBEZ reporter Araceli Gómez-Aldana talk to us about Lil Nas X’s new gig with Taco Bell, if anything we watch is “good” in the age of armchair critics, and why the baby from the cover of Nirvana’s 'Nevermind' isn’t smiling anymore. Then, TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk christens a new genre we can get behind (White Man As Obstacle) and author Jess Zimmerman takes a feminist spin on Greek myths.
Aug 27, 2021•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re back with a panel! This week, we talk COVID, Jeopardy!, and #RushTok with WBEZ daily newsletter writer Hunter Clauss and New York Times TV critic Margaret Lyons. Then, Eve Ewing tells us about 'Maya and the Robot,' her lovely new book for middle grade readers. (Note: We recorded this week’s panel on Thursday, before the news broke about Mike Richards leaving Jeopardy!)
Aug 20, 2021•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast