That Nerd Thing

Yes - the set is now complete and ALL of the MuggleCast hosts have now been on That Nerd Thing!! In this episode, Morgan delves into the world of podcasting and fandom with special guest Micah Tannenbaum, co-host of the longstanding MuggleCast and the newer What the Hype?! podcast. Micah shares insights into his passion for various fandoms, the challenges and joys of podcasting, and his unexpected journey into becoming a voice in the Harry Potter community. The episode also delves into the value of nerdy communities, the positive impact of being passionate about one's interests, and tips for aspiring content creators.

Check out MuggleCast and What the Hype?!:

https://mugglecast.com/

https://www.whatthehypepodcast.com/

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

In this episode, Morgan delves into the transformative power of book clubs with guests Ileana, founder of the Spine Benders Society Bookclub, and Carrie, Community and Partnerships Director for BookClubs.com. The discussion reveals the origins of the bookclubs app, highlights the community and organizational benefits it offers, and shares personal anecdotes and tips for leading and participating in successful book clubs. The episode underscores how book clubs foster community, especially for newcomers and introverts, and how the BookClubs app simplifies management and enhances the book club experience.

*Please note that bookclubs is not a sponsor and I'm not getting paid for this episode. I just love the app!*

Links from the episode: 

https://bookclubs.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bookclubshq/

https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_orlando/

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

In this episode, Morgan interviews Rachel, the host of The Menuscript Podcast which combines love for books and food. Rachel shares the journey of starting her podcast, balancing it with her career in education research, and her deep-rooted passions from childhood interests like horses to current obsessions such as football and Harry Potter. The conversation dives into Rachel's unique podcast format which includes discussing books along with related meals, and her experiences connecting with the nerd community. 

Follow Rachel and Check out The Menuscript Podcast: 

https://linktr.ee/menuscript

https://www.instagram.com/themenuscript/

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod

⁠⁠YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

In this episode, Morgan is joined by her friend Maggie known for her work in the childfree community. Maggie delves into her childfree life and community, highlighting meetups and vacations she organizes. The conversation transitions into Maggie’s experiences with music fandoms, particularly Taylor Swift and Hanson. Maggie recounts her groupie days and the impact of music on her emotional journey. They explore how fandoms evolve and their significance in personal and communal growth. Morgan and Maggie touch on the normalization of nerdiness and the importance of embracing unique passions and hobbies, wrapping up with reflections on living life on one’s own terms.

Follow Maggie: 

http://unapologeticallychildfree.com/

https://www.instagram.com/childfree_communities

https://www.instagram.com/childfree_communities

https://www.youtube.com/@unapologeticallychildfree/videos

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod

⁠⁠YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

In this episode, Morgan chats with Christine Giver, the host of the Outside of the Box podcast. Christine shares her journey into combat robotics, a niche within the larger STEM field, inspired by her daughter's interest in STEM and her nostalgic love for old school BattleBots. She reveals the creativity and innovation of the combat robotics community, addresses the importance of failures for growth, and describes the rewarding yet challenging process of building and battling robots. The conversation also delves into other nerdy interests such as X-Men, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Dungeons and Dragons. She provides insights into her podcasting adventures, including interviewing her heroes and connecting with like-minded individuals. 

Check out Outside of the Box Podcast: https://outsideofthebox.podbean.com/

Follow Christine on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/outsideoftheboxpodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/TheOOTBShowBB/

Mentioned on the show…https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pawsitivelyhissterical

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

In this episode, Morgan chats with Suzanne, one of the current leaders of the South Florida Chapter of the Spine Benders Society Bookclub. They discuss the impact of book clubs and the importance of themes in creating an immersive book club experience. Suzanne shares her journey into nerdy interests, notably fantasy elements like fairies and unicorns, and her deep affection for Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. They delve into current interests in world history, the therapeutic nature of singing, and fostering community through passions. Suzanne offers advice for those hesitant about joining book clubs and highlights the personal growth and friendships she gained through her involvement. The episode emphasizes the value of embracing nerdy identities and pursuing hobbies for fulfillment.

Follow the Spine Benders Society Book Club: 

https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_orlando/

https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_sfl/

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

In this episode, Morgan interviews Mel Saavedra, the founder of the Steamy Lit bookstore and the host of the Romance Unleashed podcast. They discuss Mel's journey from being an avid reader to creating a successful romance literary collective that includes a specialty bookstore, subscription boxes like the Steam Box, and events like Steamy Lit Con. Mel shares insights into her favorite fandoms as well as her favorite romance tropes and book recommendations. The discussion also delves into the importance of creating inclusive spaces for marginalized voices in literature and the impact of romance books on personal relationships. Mel also talks about her future aspirations, including possibly becoming a publisher and expanding Steamy Lit's presence.

Check out all things Steamy Lit: https://www.steamylit.com/

https://www.instagram.com/steamylit

https://www.tiktok.com/@steamylit

Follow Mel:

https://www.tiktok.com/@bookrecsbymel

https://www.instagram.com/bookrecsbymel

Listen to Romance Unleashed Podcast and follow on socials: 

https://www.youtube.com/@RomanceUnleashedPod/videos

https://open.spotify.com/show/6PoQIiBNvepjK39xcEKWwH?si=07978a72b0384608

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/romance-unleashed/id1749282502

https://www.instagram.com/romanceunleashedpod/

https://www.tiktok.com/@romanceunleashedpod

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

Morgan welcomes back her niece Leanna, co-host of the Long Live Taylor podcast to discuss Leanna's experience reading the first four Harry Potter books for the first time. They delve into favorite and least favorite aspects, characters, shocking moments, and their interpretations of the stories. Leanna shares her initial hesitation and eventual commitment to reading the series while recounting key plot points and differences between the books and movies. They discuss Leanna's Hogwarts house, House-Elf rights, potential spoilers and predictions for future books, and the enduring impact of the Harry Potter community. 

00:26 Welcoming Special Guest Leanna

00:49 Discussing Harry Potter Books and Author Disclaimer

01:59 Long Live Taylor Podcast Update

03:08 Leanna's Initial Hesitation and Experience with Harry Potter

05:39 Summary of the First Four Harry Potter Books

06:33 Hogwarts House Discussion

11:47 Favorite and Least Favorite Books

15:06 Favorite Characters and Predictions

17:52 Magical Objects and Universal Studios

21:13 Shocking Moments in the Harry Potter Series

22:50 Thoughts on the Dursleys and Weasleys

26:08 Harry and Voldemort's Connection

28:26 Debating Hermione's S.P.E.W. Campaign

32:49 Predictions and Excitement for Future Books

35:26 Entering the Harry Potter Fandom

36:47 Conclusion and Podcast Information

Follow Long Live Taylor Podcast! 

Tiktok: @longlivetaylorpod

Instagram: @longlivetaylorpod

Listen to Long Live Taylor Podcast:

Spotify // Apple Podcasts // YouTube

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

In this episode, Morgan is joined by Demond from the Demond Does podcast. The discussion begins with Demond sharing the origins and focus of his podcast, which centers around six fixed questions that reveal unique stories from various creatives. The conversation delves into Demond's personal nerdy interests, such as martial arts, professional wrestling, Star Wars, and tabletop role-playing games. Demond recounts his journey into professional wrestling and his WWE experiences. He emphasizes the importance of community within fandoms and how his fandom experiences have enriched his life and connections with others, especially his children. The episode concludes with valuable advice on embracing and pursuing one’s nerdy interests, the significance of being patient and kind to oneself, and the communal aspects of fandom.

00:55 Welcoming Demond

03:49 Martial Arts and Early Influences

04:56 Pro Wrestling Adventures

07:56 Current Nerdy Interests

10:18 Podcasting and Community

12:58 Role-Playing Games and Subcultures

17:30 WWE Experience and Reflections

29:39 Fandom and Family

31:28 Embracing Your Nerdiness

36:48 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Listen to Demond’s Podcast, Demond Does:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7rzZtk6w0Qw2PtIm5cWHUf?si=adb84e24aea546ea

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demond-does/id1501532377

Follow Demond on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/demonddoes/

https://www.threads.net/@demonddoes

https://www.tiktok.com/@demonddoes

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!

In this episode, Morgan welcomes Illy, the founder of the Spine Benders Society book club. The discussion centers around the creation, growth, and profound impact of book clubs. Illy shares her journey from starting the Spine Benders Society in South Florida to expanding it to Orlando, highlighting the importance of fostering a passionate community. The conversation touches on tips for starting and joining book clubs and the rewarding experiences that come with shared reading. Illy also discusses her personal nerdy interests, including her immersive experiences, Big Brother, solo travel adventures, and love for book-related merch. 

Are you looking to either join or start your own chapter of the Spine Benders Society? Be sure to reach out to Illy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_orlando/

00:51 Meet Illy: The Book Club Queen

02:52 The Birth of the Spine Benders Society

04:40 Challenges and Triumphs

13:08 Nerdy Beginnings

17:35 Book Club Adventures

24:15 Immersive Experiences

27:34 World of Warcraft

29:13 The Evolution of Book Club Management

31:26 Starting and Growing a Book Club: Tips and Insights

38:23 Navigating Book Clubs as an Introvert

45:05 The Power of Book Club Communities

50:14 Final Thoughts

Follow the Spine Benders Society Bookclub: 

https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_orlando/

https://www.instagram.com/spinebenderssociety_sfl/

Follow That Nerd Thing at:

⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!