BNQ: Big Nerdy Questions

BNQ: Big Nerdy Questions

By Josh HagerSociety & Culture
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BNQ: Big Nerdy Questions episodes

  • Who is worthy to lift Thor’s hammer?

    Mjölnir: It's the hammer that Thor uses to dispense his brand of Norse justice on those who threaten Asgard and Earth. We know that Thor is worthy to lift Mjölnir, but what characters from non-Marvel franchises would have the same ability? This week, the panel of Matt, Josh P, and Josh H tackle who is worthy to lift Thor's hammer. We jump to the worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly, Game of Thrones, The Simpsons, The West Wing, and more in our journey to find the next great Norse warrior. Stick around until the end for our rapid fire section and guaranteed hilarity!


    Big Nerdy Recommendation: Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke


    Hashtags of the Week: #RIPFirefly, #SpongeThorSquareHammer, #HanShotFirst


    SPOILER WARNING: Major spoilers for all of the franchises we discuss this week, but we especially spoil the most recent season of Game of Thrones.


    THEME CREDIT: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


    Twitter: @BNQPodcast / Email: [email protected]

    1 hr 6 min
  • Who is the most powerful mutant in X-Men: The Animated Series?

    Welcome to the biggest event in BNQ history to date! In this special episode, we welcome to BNQ Eric and Julia Lewald, two of the minds behind X-Men: The Animated Series. Our format this week is a bit different: With such amazing guests, we had to talk to them for half the show about X-Men: TAS and its legacy. Of course, we are Big Nerdy Questions, so the second half of the show we address the question of which mutant in X-Men: TAS was the most powerful. Considering that "powerful" can mean very different things to each of us on the panel, our discussion gets rather interesting. We are really proud of this episode and we hope you all enjoy it!


    Thank you Eric and Julia for appearing on our little show! We are incredibly grateful. Also, thanks to all of our listeners for making such an amazing event a reality. We wouldn't have a show without you.


    Big Nerdy Recommendation (courtesy of Eric Lewald): Exosquad


    Hashtag of the Week: #Stormverine 


    Check out our sponsor, Dragon Fruit! The dating app for geeks by geeks, available at www.dragonfruitapp.com.


    THEME CREDIT: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


    Twitter: @BNQPodcast | Email: [email protected]


     

    1 hr 11 min
  • What is the best film of the Disney Renaissance?

    Come be a part of our world as we go the distance to a whole new world of nerdy media. Beware the puns, for on this episode, BNQ goes to the Wonderful World of Disney. Ed, Josh, and newcomer Sarah look at the films of the Disney Renaissance. From The Little Mermaid to Tarzan and all of the films in between, we discuss plots, animation, music, and villains before choosing our best of the best. Upon reflection, we hope you enjoy our takes on these animated classics.


    Big Nerdy Recommendation: The Dark Tower by Stephen King


    Hashtag of the Week: #Fantasia1978


    Spoiler policy: BNQ does not avoid spoilers! Please be aware that we spoil every Disney film of the '90s in the episode along with Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen.


    Theme credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


    Twitter: @BNQPodcast / Email: [email protected]

    1 hr 15 min
  • Which video game has the best story?
    Video games have come a long way from jumping across chasms to rescue a princess. The plots of video games are intricate, filled with characters who become your temporary friends through a dangerous journey. In this week's BNQ, our panel of five (Matt, Rachel, Ed, Josh P, and Josh H) break down the video games with the best stories. If you want a game to take you on a roller coaster of feels, this is the episode for you. Plus, find out which games made all of us "gamers" in the first place.



    SPOILER WARNING: This entire episode is one big spoiler for a bunch of great games. Here's what we spoil in the episode:
    -Uncharted
    -Final Fantasy IV
    -Final Fantasy VI
    -Final Fantasy VII
    -Fallout 3
    -Mass Effect Trilogy
    -Persona series
    -The Last of Us
    -Chrono Trigger



    Big Nerdy Recommendation: Space Engineers



    BNQ Theme Song Credit: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/



    BNQ is a proud member of the Tangent Bound Network!



    Contact us!
    Twitter: @BNQPodcast


    57 min
  • What is the best Treehouse of Horror story from The Simpsons?

    Truly this episode brings you to a disturbing universe. It's our first Halloween Special and we couldn't think of any better subject for our first special of any kind than the institution that is The Simpsons. Specifically, Josh P and Josh H look at Treehouses of Horror and bring you their picks for the best segments over the past twenty-plus years of comic frights. From a certain parody of a Jack Nicholson film to mascots come to life and everything in between, we invite you to join this Simpsons tribute as part of your Halloween festivities.


     
    This week's hashtags:
    #WalkingNonSequitor
    #GonnaHaveToWaitAndSee
     
    BNQ's theme is "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


    Reminder: BNQ is rated PG-13 for dialogue and mild language.


    Contact us!
    Twitter: @BNQPodcast
     
    1 hr 3 min
  • What happens if Anakin doesn’t turn dark…and what if Obi-Wan does?
    One of the best parts of nerd life is looking at your favorite franchise and asking the question, "What if?" In this week's episode, Colleen and newcomer Ed join Josh to tackle a great "what if" question from Star Wars. What if Anakin Skywalker never turned dark? What could have caused this change and how would it effect the Star Wars universe? Of course, we have to look at the yin to Anakin's yang and also examine the consequences of Obi-Wan Kenobi turning to the Dark Side. Get ready for a deep dive into the nooks and crannies of Star Wars as we put our best nerdy analytical minds to work on these counterfactual scenarios.

    This week's hashtags:
    #MyEvilSithDiary
    #LetsMakeASith
    #JediTherapy

    Big Nerdy Recommendation: The Youtube Channel Nigahiga

    Reminder: BNQ does not avoid spoilers. All things Star Wars are spoiled in this episode. Also watch out for spoilers for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Angels and Demons. 

    Contact us!
    Twitter: @BNQPodcast
    1 hr 5 min
  • Which Pokemon would you choose as a companion in The Elder Scrolls?
    For lucky number 13, BNQ ventures into the world of gaming! Never fear, we still bring our quirky crossovers to the party. In this episode, Josh P, Matt, Rachel, and Josh H determine which Pokemon would make the best companion in The Elder Scrolls. Is Charizard a formidable foe in the Dwemer ruins? Is Snorlax too big to get into the buildings of Morrowind? Get ready for hilarious hijinks as two of most beloved gaming franchises combine in ways that nature and their respective developers never intended. If ever a BNQ will inspire a new mod, this is it.



    Hashtag: #DepressedSquirtle (You'll soon understand why he's so glum.)



    Big Nerdy Recommendation: Hello From the Magic Tavern



    Reminder: BNQ does not avoid spoilers! BNQ is rated PG-13 for mild language and dialogue.



    Theme song: "Adventure Meme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/



    BNQ is now a proud member of the Tangent Bound Network! 



    Contact us!
    Twitter: @BNQPodcast
    50 min
  • Which megavillain scheme really should have succeeded?
    Have you ever watched or read something and thought, "You know, that villain really should have won. His plan was foolproof. I don't think I buy the heroes pulling this one out." We know we have this realization from time to time, so we've tasked ourselves with identifying the times when megavillain schemes really should have worked. This week, Matt and Josh take down the deus ex machinas of our favorite franchises, including Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Batman, Fantastic Four, and The X-Files. As a bonus, find out why the band "Narcissistic Bastards" would take it all the way to 11!

    Hashtags:
    #NarcissisticBastards
    #DoctorCoyote

    Big Nerdy Recommendation: Hyperion by Dan Simmons

    Reminder: BNQ is rated PG-13 for dialogue and language. We also do not avoid spoilers on BNQ, so please be forewarned.

    Contact us!
    Twitter: @BNQPodcast
    43 min
  • What would you do if you had the Delorean for a day?
    It's time (pun certainly intended) for the BNQ Panel to address one of the biggest questions not only of nerd culture but one of the largest "what ifs" of human existence. If given the power to travel through time (in this case using the totally rad Delorean), what would you do? Do you go to the past, and if so, do you go as an observer or to change the course of human events? Do you go to the future--and is it a one-way trip? Matt, Colleen, and Josh take on this question in our most thought-provoking episode to date. 

    Hashtags of the week:
    #PompeiiPhone
    #GetYourAssToMars
    #NonBurningPointedSticks

    Big Nerdy Recommendation: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

    Special shoutout to Simply Syndicated & Richard Smith - "Prepare the Night Arrows!"

    Reminder: BNQ does not avoid spoilers, so please be forewarned.

    Contact us!
    Twitter: @BNQPodcast
    52 min
  • Which US Presidents would you cast as The Avengers?
    Imagine a world where you were an omnipotent movie producer who has decided to recast The Avengers with former US Presidents. Sure, it's unlikely, but it makes for a great topic for the 10th episode of BNQ. This week, Colleen, Matt, and Josh combine their nerdy credentials with their historians' training to produce this most unique mash-up. Find out why James Madison is like Black Widow without the leather catsuit and why William Henry Harrison and Andrew Johnson might soon hoist Mjolnir. When you have all this plus discussions of unsung hero Edith Wilson and the man, the myth, the legend that is Teddy Roosevelt, you know you're in for a treat.

    Hashtag of the week: #AbeSmash


    Big Nerdy Recommendation: The Rogue One Trailer

    Reminders: We are rated PG-13 for language and dialogue. We do not avoid spoilers on BNQ, so please keep in mind that all of the MCU is fair game in this episode.

    Contact us!
    Twitter: @BNQPodcast
    1 hr 2 min

About BNQ: Big Nerdy Questions

From the publisher's feed

A show that's not afraid to answer the great questions of Nerd Life.