The Nerd Degree

Christchurch's favourite long-running currently dormant pop-culture panel show format podcast-live-show is making a comeback! Having dusted off his cobwebby hosting beard, Ben Allan is once again on a mission to discover who is the wittiest nerd and the nerdiest wit, putting two teams of some of the city's sharpest minds - or at least the sharpest ones that were readily available - to the test in a battle of knowledge and nonsense.

Featuring: Moata Tamaira, Jeff Clark, Brendon Bennetts, Andrew Todd, and Erin Harrington

In the lead up to Rise of Skywalker (so, no spoilers here) the nerds get together for another deep dive into all things Star Wars-y.

Hosted by Ben Allan, with Moata Tamaira, Scott Koorey, Jeff Clark, Centuri Chan, and Brendon Bennetts

Recorded live at Little Andromeda

An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, much like an episode of The Nerd Degree. In this episode, the nerds will fight over incendiary facts, detonate truth bombs about niche interests, and present homework so volatile it will need its own fume cupboard.

Featuring: Karen Healey, Andrew Kepple, Ray Shipley, Brendon Bennetts, Moata Tamaira, and Erin Harrington

Exactly 40 years ago, Alien burst out of a rubber egg and into our collective hearts/chest cavities. To celebrate this pop culture milestone the nerds do a deep dive into all things Alien from original fan fiction, to unexpected conspiracy theories and obscure behind the scenes trivia.

Hosted by Erin Harrington

Featuring: Andrew Todd, Moata Tamaira, Scott Koorey, Ben Allan, and Jeff Clark

Women. Non-men. We make up 51% of the population, and finally get an episode all to ourselves! It's 2019 after all. Join us as the nerds celebrate all of women's amazing historical and cultural achievements since the dawn of time til now, including all the stuff MEN DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT, by talking very very fast, which we're very good at doing, apparently.

Featuring Karen Healey, Erin Harrington, Moata Tamaira, Emma Cusdin, and 2019 Billy T Award nominee Ray Shipley

Nerd Degree Champions from episodes past go head to head to find the champion of champions.

Featuring: Brendon Bennetts, Dan Bain. Emma Cusdin, Andrew Kepple, Jeff Clark, Erin Harrington, and Laura Borrowdale

The nerds celebrate (or commiserate) the end of the year with a look and endings and end times. Will the nerds get their happily ever after? Will it be the end of the nerd as we know it? And - most importantly - will there be a post-credits scene that sets up the next series?

Hosted by Dr. Erin Harrington.

Featuring: Moata Tamaira and Ray Shipley vs Jeff Clark and Shen Mansell

It’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dork… In NERD DEGREE: MONSTER MASH the nerds go on an undead excursion to the garden of ghoulish delights. They’ll be (grave)digging monstrous facts, tearing the guts out of much-loved horror classics, and seeing who lasts til dawn, all in the hope of taking home the greatest prize of all: their lives. Or maybe just their pride. Definitely one of them. Hosted by Dr Erin Harrington, who did her PhD on women in horror films, because that’s a thing.

Featuring: Karen Healey and Andrew Kepple vs Jeff Clark and Moata Tamaira

The Nerd Degree returns to WORD Christchurch to help end the festival with a laugh. Taking up the theme of adventure, comedian Brendon Bennetts invites four brave writers, Karen Healey, Erin Harrington, Nic Low and Jolisa Gracewood to test their wits and journey into a world of obscure facts and esoteric arguments in a quest to find the nerdiest wit and the wittiest nerd.

Join the nerds as they explore the world of nomenclature and all things name-related. They’ll be getting a handle on their handles, sorting their sobriquets from their pseudonyms, and probably getting their monikers in a twist.

Hosted by Moata Tamaira

Moderator: Jeff Clark

Featuring: Erin Harrington & Karen Healey vs Todd Dixon & Brendon Bennetts