NerdBliss

This episode features the Patreon content from Episodes 65 & 73. In the first segment, Madison Metricula Roberts gets the standard round of questions, leading to some great about Star Wars among other topics. In the second segment, Chris, Tina, and Eric talk about changes to The Academy Awards, Ruby Rose being cast as Batwoman, and more than a bit of free association. Most of our episodes have a segment of bonus content like these. For as little as $1/month you'll get access to that content and help us with our productions costs! Go to https://www.patreon.com/nerdblisspod to become a patron.

In this episode, we reached out via the magic of Discord to talk to fellow ESO podcaster Jarod Cerf. Jarod is the host of Here Be Tygers and co-host on Geekly Oddcast. Both of which, can be found on the ESO Network. We had a very informative conversation about writing, interviewing, podcasting and more. Enjoy our first ESO Spotlight episode!

Jerod on Twitter / Instagram: @jcertherealist

Jerod on Medium: @jarodcerf

Jerod on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jarodcerf

Captain Jean Luc Picard is back, baby! Engage! We talk about the announcement of Patrick Stewart's return to Star Trek and what it could mean for the future of the franchise. And he's not the only one coming back. ALF, our favorite witty, cat-eating pal from Melmac, is getting a reboot as well. Did anyone want this? Will it be any good? Let's talk about it.

Topics:

• Introductions, call-ins, Heath's bands.
• Patrick Stewart returns to the role of Jean Luc Picard.
• The ALF reboot. What else can we reboot? M.A.S.K! And a moment of free association about He-Man.
• Original movies often means bad movies.

In this episode, we recap our trip to Spartanburg, SC to see Queens to the Rescue do their thing once more. After that, we welcome Kelly Caldwell of Drift - Float & Spa in Greenville, SC. Drift features float tanks that allow you to lie adrift in skin-temperature salt water inside a chamber that's insulated against sound and blocks all light. This results in reduced sensory input. Kelly tells about the theory and benefits of floating, and about studies into therapeutic uses for psychedelics.

Topics:

• Recap: Queens to the Rescue, Spartanburg, SC.
• What is "floating" and what does it do for you?
• Study into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
• Conspiracy theories, the moon landing, flat-earthers.

Drift - Float & Spa website

When San Diego Comic-Con is happening, you get more trailers and announcements than one geek brain can contain. We highlight our favorite ones in this episode (with even more on Patreon). Our friends Kate and Alex drove all the way from Missouri to join us, and as is our way, we put mics in front of them to add to the discussion.

Topics:

• Introductions and voicemails from the call-in line.
• DC Universe's Titans (F**k Batman).
• Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2
• DC's Shazam!
• Aquaman
• Godzilla: King of Monsters
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• Alex tells us about the musical Be More Chill

While Chris was off saving the city, Tina, Dan, Eric, and Heath welcomed Jessica Moser back as our guest. Remember Queens to the Rescue? They're doing another show at Ground Zero in Spartanburg SC on July 28th, 2018. Heath's band Barcode will be playing the event. Also in this episode is a poignant segment on toys we lost from our childhood that we wish we had back again. Jessica then gets a round of questions and tells all about the joys of accounting (no kidding).

Topics:

• We welcome Jessica Moser back to the show.
• Queens to the Rescue. Barcode. Unfortunate attitudes in twenty-fucking-eighteen.
• The Robotech timeline.
• Ground Zero, Unknown Hinson, Billy Joe Shaver
• Spay and neuter your pets and your humans.
• Toys we lost and wish we had back.
• Question #1: If you owned a billboard what would you put on it?
• Question #2: Favorite pizza toppings.
• Question #3: What is the ugliest vegetable?
• Question #4: What else are you geeky about?
• Question #5: Who inspires you?
• Question #6: Marvel or DC?
• Question #7: Doughnut, Muffin, or Bagel?
• Question #8: Any bullying for being a geek/nerd?
• Question #9: First movie you saw in the theater.
• The joy of accounting.
• Common Core and Junior Achievement

We take a break from our run of amazing guests to have a chilled out conversation about a plethora of topics. Dan tells about his visit to Pablo to see Revelator. Fanny packs are back. The Upstate Shakespeare Festival. More about Thunder Talk. And we hear about someone on social media who couldn't seem to wait to declare that Ant-Man & The Wasp was better than Black Panther...WHAT??

Topics:

• Introductions
• Dan's visit to "Pablo" to see Revelator
• Fanny packs vs messenger bags
• Upstate Shakespeare Festival - Greenville SC
• Your parent's music.
• Some ideas for high-level Patreon rewards.
• Guys, use a dating site!
• More on Thunder Talk.
• And suddenly, West Side Story.
• The passing of Steve Ditko
• Ant-Man and the Wasp
• Eric STILL hasn't seen Black Panther.
• Better than Black Panther?
• Gratuitous shirtless scenes.
• Nerdist's style of reporting.

We had a chance to talk to Heather Bradley of Cosplay & Warpaint and The SC Ghostbusters. Heather's make-up work is nothing short of amazing. She is a cosplayer and geek of the highest order. It was a great pleasure to talk to her about her craft and her passions.

Topics

• Heather's Joker makes a child cry and nearly wrecks a golf cart guy.
• How Heather learned to do such amazing work.
• The dangers of lifecasting and the handiness of thunder buddies.
• Advice on watching Castle.
• Thunder Talk with Sexy Thor and Lightning Lad.
• Voicemails from The NerdBliss Podcast Call-In Line
• The round of questions.

Our good friends James and Jessica Moser are finally on the show in a sober scenario! With them being such huge Disney fans, and Dan having just recently returned from Disney World vacation, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about all things Disney World and Disneyland.

Topics

• Drinking around 'The World' and the Coca-Cola 'ride'.
• The truth about the Disney World WalMart and the lawless swamp.
• The Disney Cruise, annual passes, and DVC.
• The Disney Sessions War Journal - Day 2: Disneyland Florida
• Carousel of Progress, The People Mover, and Space Mountain.
• Disneyland vs. The Magic Kingdom.
• Superstar Limo ride and California Adventure.
• The Disney Sessions War Journal - Day 3: Epcot
• Bad times at Dino Disney.

Don't forget that the rest of Dan's war journal will be in the Patreon content for this episode.

In this episode, it was our great pleasure to have Madison Metricula Roberts as our very first call-in guest. Madison is based out of Raleigh, NC and describes herself as a party clown for all ages 18 and up. Her music includes folk, parodies, and naughty nerdy ballads. We also talk a bit more about toxic fandom in light of what happened to Kelly Marie Tran. We also have a fair discussion about some of the things that happened with ConCarolinas.