LTN Pulse

Michael welcomes Bill Ivie, Love Thy Nerd’s new Director of IRL Events, to talk about the communities that brought him to LTN and what he hopes to build next. They get into Dungeon Crawler Carl, the shows Bill keeps up with, and the board games he’s playing, including The Game Makers. Bill also shares how Meepleathon, local game nights, and a Christian board game retreat shaped his approach to hospitality and serving people through nerd culture.

Luke and Michael welcome Daniel Cobin back to LTN Pulse—this time as Love Thy Nerd’s new Associate Director of Missions! Daniel shares what his new role looks like, from recruiting volunteers and preparing convention teams to teaching games and building relationships with publishers. The crew also recaps an unforgettable board game cabin weekend, including Slay the Spire, Sidereal Confluence, Ascending Empires, Last Light, Wolf Street, and plenty of late-night gaming chaos. Plus, Daniel and Luke look ahead to Essen Spiel, Daniel previews Game Conjunction in Louisville, and the conversation explores how Love Thy Nerd uses conventions, games, and genuine relationships to love and serve nerds. 

LTN founding member Kate Kadowaki joins Luke and Michael for a wildly unfiltered catch up covering coffee straws, Sims drama with a clingy Father Winter, a zoo’s worth of reptiles and chickens, Thrawn lore, and the eternal question of where to start with Star Trek. Somewhere in there they actually talk about LTN’s history, the brand new merch store, and what Kate would bring back if she ever returned. Mostly though, this one is just three nerds being nerds. Buckle up.

Luke flies solo this episode with two first-time LTN missionaries fresh off the Gen Con show floor: Ethan and Phillip. They talk nerves, belly laughs, sore feet, and the games that stole the whole convention (hint: something involving mice and a whole lot of trash talk). Between cosplay run-ins, celebrity sightings, and a few genuinely awesome God-moments, this one's got all the chaos and heart you'd expect from a mission trip disguised as a board game convention. Grab your dice bag and settle in.

Luke and Michael return for LTN Pulse Season 5 to discuss Dungeon Crawler Carl, Project Hail Mary, the World Cup, The Pitt, Overwatch, board games, Gen Con, and everything they experienced over the summer. 

Season 4 of The Pulse goes out exactly how you’d expect: with board game hype, convention chaos, emotional support trains, theme park rankings, Kickstarter confessions, and a deeply passionate debate about secondhand embarrassment in television.

Luke, Michael, and returning guest Kyle wander through basically every nerdy rabbit trail imaginable, from Gen Con anticipation and PAX Unplugged memories to Universal Studios butterbeer theology and why board game companies continue to own everyone’s wallets. Along the way, they discuss giant board game hauls, upcoming releases, travel nightmares, church busy seasons, anime channels hidden in the Discord, and whether Luke can emotionally survive watching The Pitt.

This week on LTN Pulse, Luke and Michael sit down with longtime Love Thy Nerd community member and volunteer Michael “MDB” Brown for a deep dive into all things nerdy.

From a massive Gundam collection and Star Wars Legends novels to anime recommendations and replaying Starfield multiple times, MDB shares what he’s been reading, watching, and playing lately. The crew also talks about why fandom matters, how nerd culture creates connection, and the surprising community impact of something as simple as a bracket challenge in Discord.

Whether you love giant robots, sci-fi epics, RPGs, or just hearing nerds passionately nerd out together, this episode has something for you.

Luke and Michael welcome longtime Love Thy Nerd volunteer and missionary Kyle Matthews to LTN Pulse for a laid-back conversation about nerd culture, local ministry, and what it looks like to serve people through shared interests. Kyle talks about life in Bend, Oregon, his history with GameChurch and Love Thy Nerd, his “Kyle’s Nerdy Mission” updates, reading Hellboy and Love Does, watching Daredevil: Born Again and Star Wars Maul content, playing Blood on the Clocktower, Hogwarts Legacy, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and serving through community college tabletop nights, church game nights, NCMS, and upcoming convention outreach like Gen Con. It’s a fun, honest episode about comics, games, community, burnout, mission trips, and why nerdy spaces can become meaningful places of care and connection. 

• Join the Discord: https://lovethynerd.com/discord
• Serve with us at events: https://lovethynerd.com/outreach
• Volunteer with LTN: https://lovethynerd.com/volunteer
• Support the mission: https://lovethynerd.com/partner

In this episode of LTN Pulse, Luke and Michael are joined by Joe Bragg for a conversation that starts with lawnmowers and allergies before moving into board games, retreats, discipleship, and hospitality.

The crew talks about what they’ve been watching lately, shares a few game recommendations, and reflects on some underrated titles that deserve more attention. The core of the episode centers on Game Changer, the board game retreat Joe helps lead, and the ways gaming, worship, friendship, and meaningful conversation can create space for real connection and encouragement.

It’s a fun, thoughtful episode with plenty of tangents, laughs, and a strong reminder that presence and hospitality really do matter.

Hosts: Luke & Michael
Guest: Joe Bragg
Website: https://lovethynerd.com/podcastnetwork/the-ltn-pulse/

In this episode of LTN Pulse, Luke and Michael are joined by first-time guest Joe Taylor for a conversation packed with convention stories, Pokémon nostalgia, board games, and plenty of unexpected detours. What begins with haircut updates and accidental train collecting turns into a deeper discussion about Joe’s first convention experience, finding community through LTN, and the impact of simply showing up and serving.

Along the way, they swap thoughts on movies, anime, retro gaming, handheld consoles, online board games, late-night gaming habits, and even pizza. Underneath the humor and rabbit trails is a meaningful thread about connection and how shared interests can lead to real friendships both online and in person.

Hosts: Luke & Michael
Guest: Joe Taylor
Website: https://lovethynerd.com/podcastnetwork/the-ltn-pulse/