Share

Nerd Best Friends
Episode 101 - Live Action Nerds!
What happens when our favorite animated, comic, and fictional worlds jump into real life? Sometimes it’s epic… sometimes it’s cursed… and sometimes it’s so weird we can’t look away...
This week on the Nerd Best Friends Podcast, Rob and Analese dive headfirst into the wild world of live-action adaptations—the wins, the flops, and the “why did they do that?!” moments that live rent-free in our nerd brains.
From beloved characters getting the Hollywood treatment to adaptations that completely miss the mark, we’re breaking down:
- The live-action versions that actually nailed it
- The ones that made us yell at the screen
- And the adaptations we’re still waiting (and hoping) to see done right
Plus, as always, we bring the laughs, the hot takes, and a few unexpected deep cuts from across the nerdsphere.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of comic book movies, anime adaptations, or just love a good pop culture debate, this episode is for you.
Hit play now and join the conversation!
What’s YOUR favorite (or least favorite) live-action adaptation?
Don’t forget to follow/subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share with your fellow nerds! Join the Nerd Herd for bonus content, early access, and live episode chats on Patreon.
Visit us at www.nerdbestfriends.com
More episodes
View all episodes

103. Episode 103 - Top 5 BFFs in Pop Culture
01:07:42||Season 5, Ep. 103What’s the nerdiest thing you did this week? Because Rob and Analese are diving straight into the ultimate ride-or-die rankings—our Top 5 Best Friend Duos in all of nerd culture.From iconic partnerships that saved the world to chaotic besties who probably caused the problem in the first place, this episode is packed with debates, hot takes, and at least one pick that might get us canceled by the fandom (you’ve been warned). We’re talking legendary duos from movies, TV, comics, and beyond, mixing in a few deep cuts for the real ones, and breaking down what actually makes a “best friend” in the first place.So grab your co-op partner, your party member, your life-mate—however you define your BFF—and get ready to build your own Mount Rushmore of friendship. And fair warning… you’re definitely going to be yelling at us for who we left off.Hit play now and see if your favorite duo made the list.Love the episode? Follow/subscribe, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with your best friend (or the one who thinks they’re your best friend).Join the Nerd Herd on Patreon for early access, bonus content, and live studio chat invites!nerdbestfriends.com | @NerdBestFriends
102. Episode 102 - Project Hail Mary
01:02:43||Season 5, Ep. 102What happens when one of the most beloved modern sci-fi novels blasts its way onto the big screen? You already know…we get nerdy about it.This week on Nerd Best Friends, Analese and Rob launch headfirst into the upcoming film adaptation of Project Hail Mary—and let’s just say, the hype is very, very real. From big-screen expectations to casting buzz, emotional gut-punch moments, and the impossible task of translating Andy Weir’s science-heavy storytelling into cinematic magic…we’re breaking it all down.Will it stick the landing like The Martian?Will the science hit as hard on screen?And most importantly…are we ready for that friendship to absolutely wreck us emotionally?Expect laughs, theories, cautious optimism, and full-on nerd excitement as we explore what could be the next great sci-fi movie event.If you love space, science, unlikely heroes, and stories that sneak up and punch you right in the feels—this episode is your launch sequence.Hit play, hit subscribe, and join the Nerd Herd! Leave a 5-star review to help more nerds find the showWant early access, bonus content, and live episode chats? Join us on Patreon at nerdbestfriends.comBecause the only thing better than saving humanity…is getting nerdy about how it might happen.
100. Episode 100 - NERDSTRAVAGANZA!!
58:49||Season 5, Ep. 100We did it, nerd fam—100 episodes of the Nerd Best Friends Podcast! And you KNOW we’re not celebrating quietly… this is a full-blown NERDSTRAVAGANZA.From the nerdiest debates to deep dives, wild tangents to iconic Top 5s, Nerd Best Friends has been the place for the conversations you’re already having (or wish you could). And in this milestone episode, we’re going ALL IN:A look back at some of our favorite moments, chaos, and inside jokes from the first 100 episodesWhat we’ve learned about being nerds, creators, and best friends along the wayA hype-filled preview of what’s coming next for the showSpecial nerdsphere tributes to the legendary Chuck Norris and Nicholas Brendon—because no nerd universe is complete without honoring icons or iconic characters in our favorite showsWhether you’ve been with us since Episode 1 or just discovered your new favorite podcast, this episode is a celebration of YOU—the Nerd Herd that made it all possible.So grab your favorite fandom, turn the volume up, and let’s celebrate 100 episodes of nerdy greatness… with so much more ahead.CALL TO ACTION:If you’ve laughed, learned, or nerded out with us even once—hit that follow/subscribe button, drop us a 5-star rating, and share this episode with your fellow nerds.Want even MORE Nerd Best Friends?Join the Nerd Herd on Patreon for early access, bonus content, and live studio vibes nerdbestfriends.com@NerdBestFriendsHere’s to 100… and the next 100.
99. Episode 99 - GODDAMIT DONUT!
46:31||Season 5, Ep. 99Welcome back, nerds—and buckle up, because this week we’re diving headfirst into chaos, carnage, and one very opinionated cat. It’s Nerd Book Club time, and we’re breaking down Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman—the wildly addictive, darkly hilarious, “what did I just read and why can’t I stop?” phenomenon that has taken over the nerd multiverse.Carl didn’t ask for this. Earth didn’t ask for this. But the dungeon doesn’t care. And Donut? …Donut definitely has opinions about ALL of it.In this episode, your Nerd Best Friends crew dives into:Why this series hits that perfect sweet spot of absurd humor + brutal stakesThe unstoppable force that is Princess Donut (yes, we said it)The world-building that somehow keeps getting crazier—and betterOur favorite moments, characters, and “did that really just happen?!” scenesWhy fans of litRPG, sci-fi, fantasy, and chaos goblins will feel right at homeWhether you’re already deep in the dungeon, audiobook-ing your way through madness, or just hearing “GODDAMMIT DONUT!” for the first time—this episode is your invitation to join the crawl.If you’ve read it, come geek out with us. If you haven’t… consider this your warning AND your recommendation.As always—if you laugh, gasp, or immediately text a friend about this episode:Hit subscribe/followDrop us a 5-star ratingShare with your fellow dungeon crawlersAnd if you want early access, bonus content, and a seat in the live nerdy chaos—join the Nerd Herd on Patreon.What’s the nerdiest thing you did this week?
98. Episode 98 - Nerd Trivia 3: Roll for Knowledge!
57:31||Season 5, Ep. 98Think you’ve got what it takes to hang with the Nerd Best Friends in the ultimate battle of brains, bits, and bizarre pop culture facts? It’s time to prove it.We’re back with Nerd Trivia 3, where the questions are deep cuts, the answers are just on the tip of your tongue, and the competition is… let’s call it “passionately unhinged.” From iconic fandoms to obscure nerd lore, we’re throwing down trivia that will test your memory, your instincts, and your ability to shout answers at your speakers like that somehow helps.Play along in real time, keep score if you dare, and find out once and for all:Are you a casual nerd… or a certified Nerd Best Friend?Expect laughs, debates, questionable confidence, and at least one moment where someone says, “I KNEW THAT!”Press play, challenge your party, and let the nerd games begin.Join the Party:Got a perfect score? (We don’t believe you, but we respect you.)Tell us how you did and send us your favorite trivia questions—we might feature them in a future episode!Level Up Your Nerdom:Subscribe, follow, and share with your trivia crew.Bonus content and exclusive nerdiness await on Patreon!Join the NERD HERD today!
97. Episode 97 - Mount Rushmore of NERDS
46:17||Season 5, Ep. 97If the Nerd Best Friends had their own mountain… who would be carved into it forever?In this episode, the Nerd Best Friends take on the ultimate nerd debate: our personal Mount Rushmore of Nerds. We’re talking about the creators, storytellers, and visionaries who shaped the fandoms we love—the people whose ideas launched universes, defined genres, and gave nerd culture some of its most iconic moments.From legendary filmmakers and comic book masterminds to authors and world-builders, we each choose the four nerd icons we believe deserve a permanent place on the mountain of nerd greatness. But as you might expect… the debates get passionate, the picks get personal, and the definition of what makes someone a “true nerd legend” gets tested.Along the way we talk about:The creators who built the fandoms we grew up inThe storytellers whose ideas changed pop culture foreverThe writers and artists who shaped entire nerd generationsAnd the tough choices when only four faces can make the mountainPlus, we want to hear from YOU, Nerd Herd — who would be on your Mount Rushmore of Nerds?So grab your chisel, carve your picks in stone, and join us for one of the nerdiest debates yet.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Bonus content for the Nerd Herd on Patreon!
96. Episode 96 - The 30s: 1996
55:55||Season 5, Ep. 96What happens when your favorite nerds turn the nostalgia dial to 1996?In this episode, Analese and Rob continue their journey through the “30’s series” — revisiting the pop culture that shaped us 30 years ago. And wow… 1996 was absolutely stacked with nerdy goodness. We’re talking iconic movies, unforgettable TV, legendary music, and the moments that defined the mid-90s nerd landscape. From blockbuster films and cult classics to the shows we rushed home to watch after school, this episode is a time machine back to the era of dial-up internet, mall culture, and peak Gen-X/Millennial nerd energy.Expect plenty of nostalgia, laughs, and chaotic-good nerd energy as we revisit one of the most underrated pop culture years of the decade.If you grew up in the 90s, this episode will absolutely unlock some core memories. Analese voted for blue M&Ms and Rob swears tan and blue M&Ms were always there. Also in this episode: different styles of printed miniatures, does anyone still listen to the radio?, the horror movie SCREAM franchise, other nerd tangents. Bonus Nerdy GoodnessWant extra episodes, behind-the-scenes chaos, and exclusive nerd content? Join us on Patreon and become part of the Nerd Herd.
95. Episode 95 - What Are You Doing?
57:53||Season 5, Ep. 95What are you doing… and more importantly, what are you nerding out about right now?In Episode 95, your Nerd Best Friends hit pause on the rankings and deep dives to check in on the nerdiest things currently taking over our free time. From new fandom obsessions and tabletop adventures to hobby rabbit holes we swore we wouldn’t fall into (but absolutely did), this is your official Nerd Life Update.We’re talking:Current game tables and character chaosWhat we’re reading (and aggressively recommending)Shows we binged “just one episode” ofCreative projects, collections, and hyper-fixationsThe hobbies that are quietly stealing our sleepIt’s cozy. It’s chaotic-good. It’s that classic “what are you doing these days?” conversation—but make it nerd.So tell us: what are you into right now? Hit us up on social @NerdBestFriends or email podcast@nerdbestfriends.com and let us know what hobby has you in a headlock.Subscribe, follow, and share with a fellow member of the Nerd Herd—because the best part of being a nerd is finding your people.Roll for initiative. Let’s catch up. Bonus content on Patreon!