Rum & Nerdy

Episode 6.06: Rum Trek: Nerdfleet Academy: This week we jump to warp and dig into Star Trek: Starfleet Academy on Paramount+, and spoiler alert—we actually like it. The show tackles some genuinely compelling sci-fi questions, especially how societies evolve over 800 years, with 130 of those in the post-Burn era. That long-view look at cultural reset, institutional memory, and rebuilding after collapse feels very Star Trek, and it’s where the series is at its strongest.

That said… let’s talk about programmable matter. We get it. It’s clever. It’s flexible. It can turn into whatever the plot needs this week. And honestly? It’s kind of meh. When everything can become anything, the tech loses its magic—and sometimes its stakes. Give us constraints, buttons, levers, and blinking lights we can argue about. Not everything needs to be space Silly Putty.

More importantly, we use this episode to speak up about something we’ve officially had enough of: toxic fandom. Criticism is fair. Debate is healthy. But harassment, review-bombing, and screaming that a franchise is “ruined” every time it tries something new? That’s not fandom—that’s just noise. Sci-fi is supposed to explore empathy, growth, and better futures… so maybe act like it. And while we’re here: bring back Star Wars: The Acolyte. Seriously.

Snarky? Absolutely. But we’re dead serious about protecting the space for new stories to exist. Pour a rum, roll your eyes at programmable matter, and join us for a Trek-forward, no-nonsense episode of Rum & Nerdy. 🖖🥃

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

Episode 6.05: Plus-RUM-bus: This week, the guys dive into Pluribus, the new series from Vince Gilligan starring the always-excellent Rhea Seehorn. We break down the premise, the vibes, the Gilligan fingerprints all over the storytelling—and ask the most important question of all: was this idea quietly lifted from Rick and Morty… or is that just our brains being terminally online?

We talk character, tone, world-building, and why Rhea Seehorn continues to be one of the most compelling performers working today. There’s speculation, side-eye, enthusiastic praise, and just enough skepticism to keep things properly Rum & Nerdy.

Is Pluribus brilliant? Familiar? Accidentally multiversal? Pour a drink and join us as we try to figure it out—because sometimes the fun isn’t knowing the answer… it’s arguing about it with friends.

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

Episode 6.04 -The Rum: In this episode, the guys dive into The Rum, our totally intentional play on Netflix’s The Rip starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, because nothing pairs better with morally questionable characters than a solid pour and strong opinions.

We break down the movie’s greatest achievement: making everyone look guilty… but somehow still likable. It’s a masterclass in “We think that person is absolutely guilty, but I’m still rooting for them,” and we unpack all those deliciously messy story beats along the way. Add in some surprisingly solid behind-the-scenes respect (including the stars going out of their way to protect the crew), and there’s more to talk about here than just cool guys doing cool-guy crimes.

This is a high-energy, fast-moving episode with plenty of laughs, hot takes, side tangents, and the usual Rum & Nerdy chaos. Grab a drink, embrace the moral ambiguity, and join us for a really fun ride because if everyone’s guilty, no one’s innocent… and that’s half the fun.

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

Episode 6.03: Rum World is a continuation from last week, because when you stumble into a fantastic bottle you don’t just move on like a responsible adult you pour another round and pretend it’s “continuity.”

This week we keep sipping last episode’s rum, The Privateer Letter of Marque New England Single Cask / Florida Rum Society, and yes, it’s still excellent. Then we shift into Nerd Trivia mode, where Greg comes prepared with a suspicious amount of questions and Garrick is forced to defend his nerd credentials in real time. No pressure, buddy. Just your entire identity on the line.

Expect rapid-fire trivia, questionable confidence, a few solid victories, a few brutal misses, and plenty of snark along the way. Grab a drink, play along, and see if you’d survive the gauntlet better than Garrick.

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

Rum and Nerdy Episode 6.02: Jurassic Rum is here, and we kick things off with an absolute winner The Privateer Letter of Marque New England Single Cask / Florida Rum Society. It was fantastic, and we spend some time digging into why it hit so well.

From there, we wrap up the NFL regular season chaos Chiefs out, Green Bay in and talk through what that means heading into the next phase.

Then we bounce through the usual Rum and Nerdy grab bag Greg is officially running out of LEGO display space, we talk new shows, home office setups, and the strangely satisfying world of displaying your NFL owner shares.

Cheers, and welcome back to Season 6.

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

Episode 6.01 - Stranger Nerdy: Happy New Year and welcome to Season 6 of Rum & Nerdy. 

We kick things off with a brand-new season intro from Demo Dave—and it is, without question, bad ass. From there, things take an immediate turn when Garrick absolutely tricks Greg into drinking Malört Egg Nog, a decision that will be remembered… and regretted.

We then take some time to wrap up 2025, reflecting on the year behind us, the moments that defined it and icons we lost along the way. Naturally, we dive deep into the Stranger Things finale, breaking down the ending of a show that’s been part of our lives for nearly a decade.

To close it out, we look forward to what 2026 has in store—new adventures, new projects, new travels, and whatever chaos we manage to create next.

New year. New season. Questionable drinks.
Same Rum & Nerdy energy. 

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

Rum & Nerdy – Episode 5.48: The Queen Family Truckster: As 2025 starts rolling toward the garage, we pile everyone in for a holiday-fueled episode full of cheer, chaos, and just a little questionable decision-making—The Family Truckster style.

This week we’re sipping on a Hemingway Daiquiri (sort of) while talking through our Christmas plans, favorite gifts, holiday recipes, and the seasonal art of binging… shows, food, and probably both at the same time. We reflect on traditions old and new, what makes the holidays feel like the holidays, and why snacks somehow taste better this time of year.

We also share our experience getting to see the new Fragile Rock: A Space-y Adventure at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, because nothing says festive quite like space exploration, storytelling, and a little nerdy wonder mixed in with your end-of-year reflections.

It’s a relaxed, laugh-heavy episode filled with tomfoolery, gratitude, and looking ahead. As 2025 comes to a close, we take time to celebrate our friends and family, appreciate the journey so far, and get excited about the adventures still waiting down the road.

Hop in, buckle up, and don’t touch the radio.

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

The Christmas countdown continues as the guys roll into Episode 5.47 with holiday vibes, end-of-season chaos, and early planning for the big Rum & Nerdy Weekend 2026. This week’s rum is Mamajuana Carbeno Premium Blend from the Dominican Republic—festive, herbal, and just questionable enough for December. Greg and Garrick also dive into a spoiler-free chat about Alien Earth on Hulu, because nothing says “holiday spirit” like existential sci-fi. All aboard the Pere Marquette 1225… next stop: Christmas and the end of Season 5!

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

Episode 5.46 - 1974 Ford Falcon XB Interceptor: This week the guys go full Aussie as they crack open two rums from The New Norfolk Distillery in Tasmania: Near Horizon Spiced and Project Furiosa. Greg and Garrick also dive into some Batch Espresso Martini—while absolutely roasting Garrick’s ongoing obsession with mushroom coffee. The chaos continues as they wrap up the episode debating NFL color commentator Tony Romo, his hot takes, and whether he’s predicting plays or just yelling excitedly into the void. It’s rum, nerdiness, caffeine, and confused sports commentary… so, basically, a normal week.

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.

Episode 5.45 – “1976 Pinto: This week, Rum & Nerdy gets back to doing what we do best: drinking rum and nerding out. We kick things off with an Australian import, Railyard Timboon Rum – a gift from our buddy Mike from the New Zealand road trip. It’s smooth, it’s surprising, and it definitely sparks some opinions.

Then we shift gears into full Stranger Things mode. (Spoiler Alert!) We dive into Season 5, Episodes 1–4 and talk about how Stranger Things: The First Shadow has now been officially confirmed as canon. The play’s storyline fills in some major gaps and adds layers that change how the first half of the season hits. Consider this your warning: if you’re not caught up, pause the episode… or embrace the chaos.

Rum, theories, plot connections, and one or two references that may cause your metaphorical Pinto to explode. Classic Rum & Nerdy.

Two rambling idiots—Greg and Garrick—bring you the *Rum & Nerdy Podcast*, a weekly dive into the world of nerd culture through the eyes of late 40s/early 50s dads who still can't get enough of their favorite movies, TV shows, and theme parks. With a deep love of all things nerdy and a shared passion for good rum, these two buddies mix laid-back humor, nostalgic memories, and plenty of laughs as they discuss everything from classic sci-fi to the latest pop culture trends.