BNQ: Big Nerdy Questions

Hello everyone! We are currently First Place in the Podible downloads contest, but we need your help to stay there. Listen to this short episode and find out how to help us win a new studio and a featured spot on Podible. We also raise the stakes by promising to watch one of the worst films in the history of nerd culture and provide a commentary track if we win. Find out your options for cinematically torturing us in this special short. Plus, Part II of Bad Fictional Universes comes out on Thursday!

Listen to us on Podible! https://play.podible.co/series/29454

We're back! Season 3 premieres with a twist on our traditional opener. Instead of discussing which fictional universe we want to live in, we flip the script and discuss which universes would constitute living nightmares. Learn how the world of "Berserk" might outdo the dark stories of George R.R. Martin, why Lord of the Rings isn't as idyllic as one might think, and why living in Dune would feel like your worst ever day at the beach. The whole crew of Colleen, Matt, Ed, Callie, Rachel, JP, and your intrepid host Josh are here. Welcome back to Big Nerdy Headquarters.

Big Nerdy Recommendation: The Quincunx by Charles Palliser

Podible is the official podcast listening service for BNQ. Find our show and others with similar themes today. You owe it to your brain to try it out.

Theme song credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Contact us! Twitter: @BNQFeedback | Email: [email protected]

A short announcement about why we are on an unplanned hiatus, plans for the future, and (in happy news) we announce the winner of the prize from CSE Games.

The truth is out there; you can find it by killing off the Gungan. Welcome to the 2017 Halloween Special where Josh, newcomer Lea, and special guest Greg from Rumor Flies talk about the classic series of conspiracies and creatures of the night, The X-Files. Instead of focusing on the mythology (which would require a much longer episode and some aspirin), we're tackling the funniest monster of the week episodes. We don't spoil the mythology of the show, but we do spoil the episodes we discuss. Come find out why Cher's music is way creepier than we ever imagined, how a tale about a man with a tail sparked a debate about misogynistic humor, and hear Josh's rendition of the COPS theme, Mulder and Scully style. 

Big Nerdy Recommendation: X-COM

Check out Greg and friends' shows! Rumor Flies and Jacks of Trades

Theme song credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Contact us! Twitter: @BNQPodcast | Email: [email protected]

And the Oscar goes to...well, not the nerdy films. For most of the history of the Academy Awards, nerdy genre films haven't got the love they so richly deserved. Josh and Colleen look to rectify these omissions with the help of special guest Steve from the OscarWatch Podcast as they discuss which nerdy films were most overlooked at the Academy Awards. Find out which classic horror film almost won two Razzies, why 2001 wasn't nominated for Costume Design, and why the Academy wanted to rescind the nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Linda Blair in The Exorcist. Plus, we talk about how to best watch older movies with content that is not ok from a modern perspective.

Big Nerdy Recommendation: Academy Awards: The Complete Unofficial History by Gail Kinn and Jim Piazza

Check out OscarWatch Podcast!

Theme song credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Contact us! Twitter: @BNQPodcast | Email: [email protected]

Whether it's tabletop, board, or in a video form, gaming is more than just a hobby. It's become an art unto itself. We at BNQ believe gaming deserves its own Mt. Rushmore. Callie, Ed, Matt, and Josh enlist the help of board gaming developer Fabio Del Rio to determine the four figures who most belong on the hallowed mountain of gaming. We guarantee you'll learn some interesting factoids as we dive deep into the limelights of all kinds of gaming.

Big Nerdy Recommendation: Photosynthesis (Board Game)

Theme song credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

CONTEST: Retweet this episode (1 entry) or review us and send a screenshot to [email protected] (10 entries) to enter to win a free game from Fabio Del Rio's game company, CSE Games!

Support CSE Games' newest project, Gridstones: Night Sky!

Contact us: Twitter: @BNQPodcast | Email: [email protected] 

"The only question I ever thought was hard/was do I like Kirk/or do I like Picard?" -Weird Al Yankovic

Welcome to the 50th Episode of BNQ! With a full panel consisting of Sarah, Ed, JP, Colleen, Matt, Josh, special guests Jay Sandlin and Orie from Dragon Fruit and a special appearance from Dr. Leah Brahms and Lt. Nuno from The Replicated Hat Podcast, this is the biggest BNQ to date. We discuss the timeless question of Star Trek: Kirk or Picard? Find out which captain most resembles General MacArthur, where you can find the Kirk Maneuver, and just how much patience Jean-Luc displayed in his diplomatic dealings with Lwaxana Troi. 

Big Nerdy Recommendation: Make It So: A Star Trek Podcast

Theme song credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Check out our guests' projects:

Dragon Fruit, the dating app by geeks for geeks 

#WhoWouldWin? from Jay Sandlin and James Gavsie

The Replicated Hat Podcast

Contact us: Twitter: @BNQPodcast | Email: [email protected]

Have you ever finished a book or comic and thought, "Gee, this really ought to be a movie!"? We certainly have--and it's time to tell you which book and comic heroes deserve the silver screen treatment. This week, Josh, Matt, and Ed go through the best of fantasy, science fiction, Marvel, and DC Comics and name the characters who are waiting for their close up, Mr. Spielberg. 

By the way, this is episode 49. Next week, expect something special.

Big Nerdy Recommendation: The Cat Who Series by Lillian Jackson Braun

Theme song credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Contact us! Twitter: @BNQPodcast | Email: [email protected]

Review us on your app of choice and email us a screenshot and you can pick an upcoming Big Nerdy Recommendation!

Josh doesn't watch anime yet. Luckily, Matt, Rachel, and Ed (filling in as guest host) will rectify this situation. They present nine recommendations for gateway animes, including three series that are guaranteed appropriate for kids and parents to watch together. As Matt says at the beginning of this episode, even if it's something weird from Japan, that doesn't mean it's not awesome.

Big Nerdy Recommendation: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Theme song credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Contact us: Twitter: @BNQPodcast | Email: [email protected]

Alternate realities: the spaces where the characters and histories we know are twisted into something not quite recognizable. This week, we put on our evil goatees as we analyze our favorite alternate realities and histories. On the panel we have Ed, JP, Matt, and Josh. We also welcome acclaimed author Jay Sandlin to BNQ to discuss his alternate history Outbreak Mutiny. Jay is a bona fide nerd and an amazing addition to the BNQ Roundtable. If you happen to manifest a superpower during the listening of this episode, please let us know.

Hashtag of the Week: #TheHanSoloCup

Big Nerdy Recommendation: Outbreak Mutiny (of course) by Jay Sandlin

Theme song credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Contact us! Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @BNQPodcast