https://www.nerdologues.com/ MBS (Mary Beth Smith) and a friend cut the BS out of conversation by discussing a topic her guest loves. RSS Feed Subscribe on iTunes en yesMBS (Mary Beth Smith) and a friend cut the BS out of conversation by discussing a topic her guest loves. RSS Feed Subscribe on iTunes MBS (Mary Beth Smith) and a friend cut the BS out of conversation by discussing a topic her guest loves. RSS Feed Subscribe on iTunes Mary Beth Smith of The Nerdologues https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-257-mbsing-shelby-plummer-kurt-vonnegut Shelby Plummer first heard of Slaughterhouse-Five from an internet boyfriend. After being grounded for having an internet boyfriend, she got to actually read the book as an AP English assignment and has been a Vonnegut devotee ever since. She devoured his novels and short stories in a way she had never really engaged with reading. He made a fellow Hoosier feel less alone for thinking it was OK to want everyone to be treated well through life, to read and write about aliens, and to make dirty jokes along the way. Shelby carried those philosophies through an expedient college career and still apples them all the time to her comedy writing and performing. Notes: Check out the lineup of the upcoming Bentwood Comedy Festival at iO Chicago, where Shelby serves as Creative Director The James Conklin Memorial Scholarship Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsorships and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring this episode OtyGF8bN1z4zoOXMzaST Wed, 08 Aug 2018 13:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-257-mbsing-shelby-plummer-kurt-vonnegut MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 2523 Shelby Plummer first heard of Slaughterhouse-Five from an internet boyfriend. After being grounded for having an internet boyfriend, she got to actually read the book as an AP English assignment and has been a Vonnegut devotee ever since. She devoured his novels and short stories in a way she had never really engaged with reading. He made a fellow Hoosier feel less alone for thinking it was OK to want everyone to be treated well through life, to read and write about aliens, and to make dirty jokes along the way. Shelby carried those philosophies through an expedient college career and still apples them all the time to her comedy writing and performing. Notes: Check out the lineup of the upcoming Bentwood Comedy Festival at iO Chicago, where Shelby serves as Creative Director The James Conklin Memorial Scholarship Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsorships and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring this episode OtyGF8bN1z4zoOXMzaST Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesShelby Plummer first heard of Slaughterhouse-Five from an internet boyfriend. After being grounded for having an internet boyfriend, she got to actually read the book as an AP English assignment and has been a Vonnegut devotee ever since. She devoured his novels and short stories in a way she had never really engaged with reading. He made a fellow Hoosier feel less alone for thinking it was OK to want everyone to be treated well through life, to read and write about aliens, and to make dirty jokes along the way. Shelby carried those philosophies through an expedient college career and still apples them all the time to her comedy writing and performing. Notes: Check out the lineup of the upcoming Bentwood Comedy Festival at iO Chicago, where Shelby serves as Creative Director The James Conklin Memorial Scholarship Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsorships and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring this episode OtyGF8bN1z4zoOXMzaST https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-256-mbsing-stephanie-anderson-group-dynamics Stephanie Anderson cut her teeth as a group leader working in an acute psychiatric inpatient facility at a children's hospital. The taxing environment led her to explore improv as a way to unwind outside of work. After some experience bringing improv exercises into her work environment with patients and coworkers alike, she set off to Chicago to pursue more improv learning and teaching opportunities. Now, she can speak to how all of these different groups pass through forming, storming, norming, and performing phases influenced by their members' actions. Notes: See Stephanie perform at iO with Cecilia Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and lending a legitimacy to this whole thing, and thanks to Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. Thu, 26 Jul 2018 16:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-256-mbsing-stephanie-anderson-group-dynamics MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4844 Stephanie Anderson cut her teeth as a group leader working in an acute psychiatric inpatient facility at a children's hospital. The taxing environment led her to explore improv as a way to unwind outside of work. After some experience bringing improv exercises into her work environment with patients and coworkers alike, she set off to Chicago to pursue more improv learning and teaching opportunities. Now, she can speak to how all of these different groups pass through forming, storming, norming, and performing phases influenced by their members' actions. Notes: See Stephanie perform at iO with Cecilia Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and lending a legitimacy to this whole thing, and thanks to Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesStephanie Anderson cut her teeth as a group leader working in an acute psychiatric inpatient facility at a children's hospital. The taxing environment led her to explore improv as a way to unwind outside of work. After some experience bringing improv exercises into her work environment with patients and coworkers alike, she set off to Chicago to pursue more improv learning and teaching opportunities. Now, she can speak to how all of these different groups pass through forming, storming, norming, and performing phases influenced by their members' actions. Notes: See Stephanie perform at iO with Cecilia Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and lending a legitimacy to this whole thing, and thanks to Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-255-mbsing-casey-toney-audio-editing Casey has put his general health and wellbeing on the line as he works up to 30 hours editing each episode of NeoScum, an actual-play podcast in which five Chicago improvisers (including Casey himself as well as past MBSing guest Mike Migdall) play the tabletop RPG Shadowrun. A longtime lover and performer of musicals, Casey's level of perfectionism and lack of self-confidence launched him into editing the show and the rest, as they say, is history. In spite of the occasional pains from nerve damage and Twitter complaints, the show has been a source for absolute passion and pride in Casey and it means everything to him to be honoring the magic he creates with his friends while giving listeners a heartfelt journey. Notes: NeoScum! Casey says the editing really took off at around episode 14 or 15 and his favorites so far are around 18 or 19.  A nice visualization of Ira Glass's thoughts on taste vs. skill  Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and Overcast for sponsoring this episode.   Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-255-mbsing-casey-toney-audio-editing MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6700 Casey has put his general health and wellbeing on the line as he works up to 30 hours editing each episode of NeoScum, an actual-play podcast in which five Chicago improvisers (including Casey himself as well as past MBSing guest Mike Migdall) play the tabletop RPG Shadowrun. A longtime lover and performer of musicals, Casey's level of perfectionism and lack of self-confidence launched him into editing the show and the rest, as they say, is history. In spite of the occasional pains from nerve damage and Twitter complaints, the show has been a source for absolute passion and pride in Casey and it means everything to him to be honoring the magic he creates with his friends while giving listeners a heartfelt journey. Notes: NeoScum! Casey says the editing really took off at around episode 14 or 15 and his favorites so far are around 18 or 19.  A nice visualization of Ira Glass's thoughts on taste vs. skill  Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and Overcast for sponsoring this episode.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCasey has put his general health and wellbeing on the line as he works up to 30 hours editing each episode of NeoScum, an actual-play podcast in which five Chicago improvisers (including Casey himself as well as past MBSing guest Mike Migdall) play the tabletop RPG Shadowrun. A longtime lover and performer of musicals, Casey's level of perfectionism and lack of self-confidence launched him into editing the show and the rest, as they say, is history. In spite of the occasional pains from nerve damage and Twitter complaints, the show has been a source for absolute passion and pride in Casey and it means everything to him to be honoring the magic he creates with his friends while giving listeners a heartfelt journey. Notes: NeoScum! Casey says the editing really took off at around episode 14 or 15 and his favorites so far are around 18 or 19.  A nice visualization of Ira Glass's thoughts on taste vs. skill  Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and Overcast for sponsoring this episode.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-254-mbsing-tom-dyke-pokemon-go Tom Dyke has known the original 151 by heart since he was a preschooler, his pure fandom being born along with the Pokémon franchise itself. He has played the video games since he could hold a Game Boy, and his dad was the only adult in the neighborhood who would help he and his friends play the trading card game. So one can imagine his delight at the advent of a mobile game that would allow him, and potentially his friends, to catch Pokémon all over the world. Tom unpacks the ups and downs of being a Pokémon Go devotee, how its gameplay fits into the larger picture of the franchise and gaming in general, and how far the game has come since its bare bones launch. Finally, Tom and MBS become official Poképals by trading some 'mons on mic. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating our sponsorships and to Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-254-mbsing-tom-dyke-pokemon-go MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5469 Tom Dyke has known the original 151 by heart since he was a preschooler, his pure fandom being born along with the Pokémon franchise itself. He has played the video games since he could hold a Game Boy, and his dad was the only adult in the neighborhood who would help he and his friends play the trading card game. So one can imagine his delight at the advent of a mobile game that would allow him, and potentially his friends, to catch Pokémon all over the world. Tom unpacks the ups and downs of being a Pokémon Go devotee, how its gameplay fits into the larger picture of the franchise and gaming in general, and how far the game has come since its bare bones launch. Finally, Tom and MBS become official Poképals by trading some 'mons on mic. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating our sponsorships and to Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTom Dyke has known the original 151 by heart since he was a preschooler, his pure fandom being born along with the Pokémon franchise itself. He has played the video games since he could hold a Game Boy, and his dad was the only adult in the neighborhood who would help he and his friends play the trading card game. So one can imagine his delight at the advent of a mobile game that would allow him, and potentially his friends, to catch Pokémon all over the world. Tom unpacks the ups and downs of being a Pokémon Go devotee, how its gameplay fits into the larger picture of the franchise and gaming in general, and how far the game has come since its bare bones launch. Finally, Tom and MBS become official Poképals by trading some 'mons on mic. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating our sponsorships and to Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-253-mbsing-yazmin-ramos-horror One of Yazmin's earliest memories is her family watching one of their favorite movies: Killer Clowns from Outer Space. From Michael Myers to the Redfields of Resident Evil, her family came together to experience horror, for better or worse (too many zombies have been known to keep kids from sleeping well). She even enjoyed when they would gather around to scare one another with stories of their own crafting and has witnessed a few paranormal events that she's never been able to shake or explain. All of this has influenced her ability to deal with fear and being open to new experiences, though she admits she has opted to feel closed off from any other paranormal activities... except when it comes to the characters she plays onstage. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for community and the coordination of sponsorships, like this week's sponsor, Overcast. Wed, 27 Jun 2018 14:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-253-mbsing-yazmin-ramos-horror MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3948 One of Yazmin's earliest memories is her family watching one of their favorite movies: Killer Clowns from Outer Space. From Michael Myers to the Redfields of Resident Evil, her family came together to experience horror, for better or worse (too many zombies have been known to keep kids from sleeping well). She even enjoyed when they would gather around to scare one another with stories of their own crafting and has witnessed a few paranormal events that she's never been able to shake or explain. All of this has influenced her ability to deal with fear and being open to new experiences, though she admits she has opted to feel closed off from any other paranormal activities... except when it comes to the characters she plays onstage. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for community and the coordination of sponsorships, like this week's sponsor, Overcast. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOne of Yazmin's earliest memories is her family watching one of their favorite movies: Killer Clowns from Outer Space. From Michael Myers to the Redfields of Resident Evil, her family came together to experience horror, for better or worse (too many zombies have been known to keep kids from sleeping well). She even enjoyed when they would gather around to scare one another with stories of their own crafting and has witnessed a few paranormal events that she's never been able to shake or explain. All of this has influenced her ability to deal with fear and being open to new experiences, though she admits she has opted to feel closed off from any other paranormal activities... except when it comes to the characters she plays onstage. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for community and the coordination of sponsorships, like this week's sponsor, Overcast. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-252-mbsing-alyssa-simari-colonialism Alyssa was born a rebel, as evidenced by her refusal to accept an "Indian" name in place of her own as a kindergartener on Columbus Day. This small rebellion opened the door to an interest in eking out the truth about colonialism, imperialism, and revolutions throughout her schooling. In college, she declared a Middle-Eastern Studies and Political Theory double major to feed her thirst for knowledge on how the history of colonialism influences the sociology of current cultures. There are mentions of many modern political implications, suggestions for specific books and periods one might seek out to study further, and ads for soap. Notes: Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued coordination of sponsorships. This week, it's Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice. Wed, 20 Jun 2018 16:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-252-mbsing-alyssa-simari-colonialism MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4015 Alyssa was born a rebel, as evidenced by her refusal to accept an "Indian" name in place of her own as a kindergartener on Columbus Day. This small rebellion opened the door to an interest in eking out the truth about colonialism, imperialism, and revolutions throughout her schooling. In college, she declared a Middle-Eastern Studies and Political Theory double major to feed her thirst for knowledge on how the history of colonialism influences the sociology of current cultures. There are mentions of many modern political implications, suggestions for specific books and periods one might seek out to study further, and ads for soap. Notes: Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued coordination of sponsorships. This week, it's Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAlyssa was born a rebel, as evidenced by her refusal to accept an "Indian" name in place of her own as a kindergartener on Columbus Day. This small rebellion opened the door to an interest in eking out the truth about colonialism, imperialism, and revolutions throughout her schooling. In college, she declared a Middle-Eastern Studies and Political Theory double major to feed her thirst for knowledge on how the history of colonialism influences the sociology of current cultures. There are mentions of many modern political implications, suggestions for specific books and periods one might seek out to study further, and ads for soap. Notes: Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued coordination of sponsorships. This week, it's Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-251-mbsing-gary-pascal-engineering Gary Pascal grew up in a home operated like an engineering firm thanks to his ME father. This nature and nurture led to all four of the family's kids also becoming mechanical engineers. After choosing BEST Robotics to fulfill a graduation requirement for his STEM high school, Gary was well on his way to serving as an engineer for Mars Chocolate right out of college. In spite of the inherent fun-factor of being the project manager for a couple of Fun-Sized Snickers assembly lines, Gary admits that he wasn't very good at this high-stress position. He's since found a great balance between drafting custom furniture designs and leaning into his analytical approach to comedy writing. Notes: Check out Gary's newest comedy project, Murdertown.  Here's an explanation of Gary's robotics teacher's bumper sticker (and it was red).  Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship with Overcast, MBS's personal favorite podcast player.   Wed, 13 Jun 2018 15:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-251-mbsing-gary-pascal-engineering MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4795 Gary Pascal grew up in a home operated like an engineering firm thanks to his ME father. This nature and nurture led to all four of the family's kids also becoming mechanical engineers. After choosing BEST Robotics to fulfill a graduation requirement for his STEM high school, Gary was well on his way to serving as an engineer for Mars Chocolate right out of college. In spite of the inherent fun-factor of being the project manager for a couple of Fun-Sized Snickers assembly lines, Gary admits that he wasn't very good at this high-stress position. He's since found a great balance between drafting custom furniture designs and leaning into his analytical approach to comedy writing. Notes: Check out Gary's newest comedy project, Murdertown.  Here's an explanation of Gary's robotics teacher's bumper sticker (and it was red).  Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship with Overcast, MBS's personal favorite podcast player.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesGary Pascal grew up in a home operated like an engineering firm thanks to his ME father. This nature and nurture led to all four of the family's kids also becoming mechanical engineers. After choosing BEST Robotics to fulfill a graduation requirement for his STEM high school, Gary was well on his way to serving as an engineer for Mars Chocolate right out of college. In spite of the inherent fun-factor of being the project manager for a couple of Fun-Sized Snickers assembly lines, Gary admits that he wasn't very good at this high-stress position. He's since found a great balance between drafting custom furniture designs and leaning into his analytical approach to comedy writing. Notes: Check out Gary's newest comedy project, Murdertown.  Here's an explanation of Gary's robotics teacher's bumper sticker (and it was red).  Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship with Overcast, MBS's personal favorite podcast player.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-250-mbsing-live-box-brown-andre-giant-andy-kaufmans-wrestling Box Brown has been a pro wrestling fan since his first PPV experience: Hulk Hogan lost at Wrestlemania VI, and the friend he was watching with cried. He was hooked by the characters and the facade of it all, so it's no wonder that he became attracted to two huge cults of personality in André and Andy. André left a bevy of stories in his wake, one of which inspired Box to draw the first comic of what eventually became his book, André the Giant: Life and Legend. Later, Box was hooked by the way Andy borrowed the idea of wrestlers being enveloped by their characters into comedy, and his antics with Jerry Lawler on Letterman secured him a place in the history of wrestling's secrets and Box's interest. Notes: Box's most recent book, Is This Guy For Real?: The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman is a fascinating read for fans of comedy and wrestling alike. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity, the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and C2E2 for making this happen, and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring the episode. Fri, 08 Jun 2018 12:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-250-mbsing-live-box-brown-andre-giant-andy-kaufmans-wrestling MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 2860 Box Brown has been a pro wrestling fan since his first PPV experience: Hulk Hogan lost at Wrestlemania VI, and the friend he was watching with cried. He was hooked by the characters and the facade of it all, so it's no wonder that he became attracted to two huge cults of personality in André and Andy. André left a bevy of stories in his wake, one of which inspired Box to draw the first comic of what eventually became his book, André the Giant: Life and Legend. Later, Box was hooked by the way Andy borrowed the idea of wrestlers being enveloped by their characters into comedy, and his antics with Jerry Lawler on Letterman secured him a place in the history of wrestling's secrets and Box's interest. Notes: Box's most recent book, Is This Guy For Real?: The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman is a fascinating read for fans of comedy and wrestling alike. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity, the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and C2E2 for making this happen, and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring the episode. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBox Brown has been a pro wrestling fan since his first PPV experience: Hulk Hogan lost at Wrestlemania VI, and the friend he was watching with cried. He was hooked by the characters and the facade of it all, so it's no wonder that he became attracted to two huge cults of personality in André and Andy. André left a bevy of stories in his wake, one of which inspired Box to draw the first comic of what eventually became his book, André the Giant: Life and Legend. Later, Box was hooked by the way Andy borrowed the idea of wrestlers being enveloped by their characters into comedy, and his antics with Jerry Lawler on Letterman secured him a place in the history of wrestling's secrets and Box's interest. Notes: Box's most recent book, Is This Guy For Real?: The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman is a fascinating read for fans of comedy and wrestling alike. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity, the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and C2E2 for making this happen, and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring the episode. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-249-mbsing-meredith-stepien-jane-austen Meredith discovered the world of Jane Austen's novels in college and has since reread them many times over in addition to listening to them as audiobooks and rewatching the film/TV adaptations (at least the ones she likes). There is something to the simplicity of daily life, the rules that governed socializing, and the fashion and furnishings of the era that Meredith finds herself constantly drawn to and daydreaming about, so much so that she has ventured into writing her own as-yet-unfinished Austen-style novel.  Notes: Meredith's most recent production with Team StarKid, Firebringer Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode.   Wed, 14 Mar 2018 15:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-249-mbsing-meredith-stepien-jane-austen MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4678 Meredith discovered the world of Jane Austen's novels in college and has since reread them many times over in addition to listening to them as audiobooks and rewatching the film/TV adaptations (at least the ones she likes). There is something to the simplicity of daily life, the rules that governed socializing, and the fashion and furnishings of the era that Meredith finds herself constantly drawn to and daydreaming about, so much so that she has ventured into writing her own as-yet-unfinished Austen-style novel.  Notes: Meredith's most recent production with Team StarKid, Firebringer Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMeredith discovered the world of Jane Austen's novels in college and has since reread them many times over in addition to listening to them as audiobooks and rewatching the film/TV adaptations (at least the ones she likes). There is something to the simplicity of daily life, the rules that governed socializing, and the fashion and furnishings of the era that Meredith finds herself constantly drawn to and daydreaming about, so much so that she has ventured into writing her own as-yet-unfinished Austen-style novel.  Notes: Meredith's most recent production with Team StarKid, Firebringer Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-248-mbsing-chels-harvey-wb-shows Chels studied WB shows like Felicity and Gilmore Girls like they were homework, at one point in life staying up until 11 PM to watch a rerun of Gilmore Girls only to watch it again at 3 AM. They also began to mentally catalog the writers and actors from each show, faithfully seeking out trivia from DVD commentaries and social media accounts to feel more like a part of the fictional teen-aged worlds being created. Now, Chels prides themselves on creating worlds professionally as a B2B content specialist and creatively as a host of Sell Me A Pup, a show where comedians review made-up media. There's a lot of talk about how much pickier we tend to be with media now, relishing in representation and prickling at problematic jokes and storylines. There's also mention of Tarzan, Roswell, Buffy, and a few non-WB TV delights like The OC, Grey's Anatomy, and... West Wing? Notes: Check out Chels's contributions to Your Stories Vlog Brothers, Hank and John Green Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast.   Wed, 07 Mar 2018 16:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-248-mbsing-chels-harvey-wb-shows MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6362 Chels studied WB shows like Felicity and Gilmore Girls like they were homework, at one point in life staying up until 11 PM to watch a rerun of Gilmore Girls only to watch it again at 3 AM. They also began to mentally catalog the writers and actors from each show, faithfully seeking out trivia from DVD commentaries and social media accounts to feel more like a part of the fictional teen-aged worlds being created. Now, Chels prides themselves on creating worlds professionally as a B2B content specialist and creatively as a host of Sell Me A Pup, a show where comedians review made-up media. There's a lot of talk about how much pickier we tend to be with media now, relishing in representation and prickling at problematic jokes and storylines. There's also mention of Tarzan, Roswell, Buffy, and a few non-WB TV delights like The OC, Grey's Anatomy, and... West Wing? Notes: Check out Chels's contributions to Your Stories Vlog Brothers, Hank and John Green Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesChels studied WB shows like Felicity and Gilmore Girls like they were homework, at one point in life staying up until 11 PM to watch a rerun of Gilmore Girls only to watch it again at 3 AM. They also began to mentally catalog the writers and actors from each show, faithfully seeking out trivia from DVD commentaries and social media accounts to feel more like a part of the fictional teen-aged worlds being created. Now, Chels prides themselves on creating worlds professionally as a B2B content specialist and creatively as a host of Sell Me A Pup, a show where comedians review made-up media. There's a lot of talk about how much pickier we tend to be with media now, relishing in representation and prickling at problematic jokes and storylines. There's also mention of Tarzan, Roswell, Buffy, and a few non-WB TV delights like The OC, Grey's Anatomy, and... West Wing? Notes: Check out Chels's contributions to Your Stories Vlog Brothers, Hank and John Green Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-247-mbsing-make-believe-money-personal-finance Financial coach Dan Wood and his creative, funny friends Elizabeth Seidt and Damon Taylor love exploring the actual finances of fictional worlds on their podcast Make-Believe Money (e.g. - Ron Swanson's net worth, the value of the company Willy Wonka passes on to Charlie Bucket, how much all that sensory deprivation chamber salt would've cost in the first season of Stranger Things, etc). Some of that fictional world stuff made it into this conversation, but it's mostly focused on Dan's profession, how his influence has made Damon and Liz more financially aware, and how all of them view finances as a necessary if difficult conversation to have with your loved ones. Weddings are being planned, houses are being purchased, needs, wants, & savings are being allocated... A lot is happening here, and ultimately it's a fun, encouraging conversation about an often sticky subject. Notes: Dan's professional info, Liz's Harold team, and Damon's place of work Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-247-mbsing-make-believe-money-personal-finance MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5098 Financial coach Dan Wood and his creative, funny friends Elizabeth Seidt and Damon Taylor love exploring the actual finances of fictional worlds on their podcast Make-Believe Money (e.g. - Ron Swanson's net worth, the value of the company Willy Wonka passes on to Charlie Bucket, how much all that sensory deprivation chamber salt would've cost in the first season of Stranger Things, etc). Some of that fictional world stuff made it into this conversation, but it's mostly focused on Dan's profession, how his influence has made Damon and Liz more financially aware, and how all of them view finances as a necessary if difficult conversation to have with your loved ones. Weddings are being planned, houses are being purchased, needs, wants, & savings are being allocated... A lot is happening here, and ultimately it's a fun, encouraging conversation about an often sticky subject. Notes: Dan's professional info, Liz's Harold team, and Damon's place of work Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFinancial coach Dan Wood and his creative, funny friends Elizabeth Seidt and Damon Taylor love exploring the actual finances of fictional worlds on their podcast Make-Believe Money (e.g. - Ron Swanson's net worth, the value of the company Willy Wonka passes on to Charlie Bucket, how much all that sensory deprivation chamber salt would've cost in the first season of Stranger Things, etc). Some of that fictional world stuff made it into this conversation, but it's mostly focused on Dan's profession, how his influence has made Damon and Liz more financially aware, and how all of them view finances as a necessary if difficult conversation to have with your loved ones. Weddings are being planned, houses are being purchased, needs, wants, & savings are being allocated... A lot is happening here, and ultimately it's a fun, encouraging conversation about an often sticky subject. Notes: Dan's professional info, Liz's Harold team, and Damon's place of work Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-246-mbsing-mike-jando-immigrants Jando's parents immigrated to the US from Iraq and Syria in their early 20s, making the first two decades of their lives vastly different from his even though he's only ever known them as quiet suburb-dwellers. He ruminates on how this has shaped his family and their Assyrian community via food, ceremony, language, religion, and a plethora of other small ways that he often forgets are considered different because it's all just his own American experience. Notes: The Assyrian collection at The Oriental Institute, featuring a winged bull from Sargon II. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. Wed, 21 Feb 2018 15:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-246-mbsing-mike-jando-immigrants MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5037 Jando's parents immigrated to the US from Iraq and Syria in their early 20s, making the first two decades of their lives vastly different from his even though he's only ever known them as quiet suburb-dwellers. He ruminates on how this has shaped his family and their Assyrian community via food, ceremony, language, religion, and a plethora of other small ways that he often forgets are considered different because it's all just his own American experience. Notes: The Assyrian collection at The Oriental Institute, featuring a winged bull from Sargon II. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJando's parents immigrated to the US from Iraq and Syria in their early 20s, making the first two decades of their lives vastly different from his even though he's only ever known them as quiet suburb-dwellers. He ruminates on how this has shaped his family and their Assyrian community via food, ceremony, language, religion, and a plethora of other small ways that he often forgets are considered different because it's all just his own American experience. Notes: The Assyrian collection at The Oriental Institute, featuring a winged bull from Sargon II. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-245-mbsing-tiffany-keane-schaefer-live-action-role-playing-larp Tiffany discovered the possibilities of LARPing via putting on immersion theatre as the Artistic Director of Otherworld Theatre Company. After their own production of Gone Dark and attending Sleep No More in New York, she was inspired to take the interest even further by producing a series of 2-day LARPs in the Midwest called Chronicles of the Realm. Find out about the levels of experiential gaming and theatre that can be achieved as well as the work and talent it takes to plan characters and re-plan scenarios on the fly as players discover the path they want the LARP to take. Notes: Otherworld Theatre is buying their own space. Check out their IndieGoGo to contribute to the cause. Past episodes featuring themes surrounding Otherworld Theatre productions include: Vampires, Shakespeare, Pen and Paper RPGs, and Sci-Fi/Fantasy Theatre. Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and community. Wed, 14 Feb 2018 13:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-245-mbsing-tiffany-keane-schaefer-live-action-role-playing-larp MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4954 Tiffany discovered the possibilities of LARPing via putting on immersion theatre as the Artistic Director of Otherworld Theatre Company. After their own production of Gone Dark and attending Sleep No More in New York, she was inspired to take the interest even further by producing a series of 2-day LARPs in the Midwest called Chronicles of the Realm. Find out about the levels of experiential gaming and theatre that can be achieved as well as the work and talent it takes to plan characters and re-plan scenarios on the fly as players discover the path they want the LARP to take. Notes: Otherworld Theatre is buying their own space. Check out their IndieGoGo to contribute to the cause. Past episodes featuring themes surrounding Otherworld Theatre productions include: Vampires, Shakespeare, Pen and Paper RPGs, and Sci-Fi/Fantasy Theatre. Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTiffany discovered the possibilities of LARPing via putting on immersion theatre as the Artistic Director of Otherworld Theatre Company. After their own production of Gone Dark and attending Sleep No More in New York, she was inspired to take the interest even further by producing a series of 2-day LARPs in the Midwest called Chronicles of the Realm. Find out about the levels of experiential gaming and theatre that can be achieved as well as the work and talent it takes to plan characters and re-plan scenarios on the fly as players discover the path they want the LARP to take. Notes: Otherworld Theatre is buying their own space. Check out their IndieGoGo to contribute to the cause. Past episodes featuring themes surrounding Otherworld Theatre productions include: Vampires, Shakespeare, Pen and Paper RPGs, and Sci-Fi/Fantasy Theatre. Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-244-mbsing-carley-moseley-wrinkle-time Carley Moseley loved to read so much as a kid she thought one of the coolest things about Matilda was that she had a wagon for her library books. One of her greatest loves is A Wrinkle in Time, and she's revisiting the novel now and unpacking all of these feelings about whimsy, family, and the upcoming film adaptation along the way. Expect emotions about everyone from Oprah to CS Lewis, and maybe pick up a book from your past that you haven't read in a while to figure out why it's still with you. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship by Backblaze. Try Backblaze online backup for free at backblaze.com/cpc. Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-244-mbsing-carley-moseley-wrinkle-time MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4532 Carley Moseley loved to read so much as a kid she thought one of the coolest things about Matilda was that she had a wagon for her library books. One of her greatest loves is A Wrinkle in Time, and she's revisiting the novel now and unpacking all of these feelings about whimsy, family, and the upcoming film adaptation along the way. Expect emotions about everyone from Oprah to CS Lewis, and maybe pick up a book from your past that you haven't read in a while to figure out why it's still with you. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship by Backblaze. Try Backblaze online backup for free at backblaze.com/cpc. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCarley Moseley loved to read so much as a kid she thought one of the coolest things about Matilda was that she had a wagon for her library books. One of her greatest loves is A Wrinkle in Time, and she's revisiting the novel now and unpacking all of these feelings about whimsy, family, and the upcoming film adaptation along the way. Expect emotions about everyone from Oprah to CS Lewis, and maybe pick up a book from your past that you haven't read in a while to figure out why it's still with you. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship by Backblaze. Try Backblaze online backup for free at backblaze.com/cpc. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-243-mbsing-henry-birdseye-making-friends-and-jokes-online Henry figured out how to use the internet to chat with friends and strangers alike at a young, desktop dial-up age. He's remained at the forefront of users for new platforms, networks, and apps due to some combo of an innate desire to connect online, a genuine curiosity at what the internet can do, and a relatively-innocent streak of trolling and shit-posting. From Geocities to Facebook frames, Smash Boards to Echo Skills, Henry's made some viral gags and met some lifelong friends as "jackasskid" and "tehawesome." And as "someone who goes by Henry Stinson Birdseye III." Notes: Henry has a pretty good compendium of his goofs on Tumblr Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships, and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring. MBS has listened to all podcasts on Overcast since before they paid money for her support. Wed, 31 Jan 2018 16:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-243-mbsing-henry-birdseye-making-friends-and-jokes-online MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5852 Henry figured out how to use the internet to chat with friends and strangers alike at a young, desktop dial-up age. He's remained at the forefront of users for new platforms, networks, and apps due to some combo of an innate desire to connect online, a genuine curiosity at what the internet can do, and a relatively-innocent streak of trolling and shit-posting. From Geocities to Facebook frames, Smash Boards to Echo Skills, Henry's made some viral gags and met some lifelong friends as "jackasskid" and "tehawesome." And as "someone who goes by Henry Stinson Birdseye III." Notes: Henry has a pretty good compendium of his goofs on Tumblr Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships, and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring. MBS has listened to all podcasts on Overcast since before they paid money for her support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHenry figured out how to use the internet to chat with friends and strangers alike at a young, desktop dial-up age. He's remained at the forefront of users for new platforms, networks, and apps due to some combo of an innate desire to connect online, a genuine curiosity at what the internet can do, and a relatively-innocent streak of trolling and shit-posting. From Geocities to Facebook frames, Smash Boards to Echo Skills, Henry's made some viral gags and met some lifelong friends as "jackasskid" and "tehawesome." And as "someone who goes by Henry Stinson Birdseye III." Notes: Henry has a pretty good compendium of his goofs on Tumblr Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships, and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring. MBS has listened to all podcasts on Overcast since before they paid money for her support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-242-mbsing-eunji-kim-anne-green-gables In her youth, Eunji was very into reading stories about girls with spunk, and Anne of Green Gables was always the prime example. She screamed through all eight of L. M. Montgomery's books and now returns to them often to access their surprisingly forward-thinking ideas about women, satisfying female friendships and other emotional relationships, and inspirational themes regarding coming from nothing. Anne showed a young Eunji it was possible for a woman to get great schooling, be a writer, and build a family and home over 100 years ago, so it's sure as hell possible now. Notes: http://www.thebesteunji.com/ Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a collective.   Wed, 24 Jan 2018 14:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-242-mbsing-eunji-kim-anne-green-gables MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3441 In her youth, Eunji was very into reading stories about girls with spunk, and Anne of Green Gables was always the prime example. She screamed through all eight of L. M. Montgomery's books and now returns to them often to access their surprisingly forward-thinking ideas about women, satisfying female friendships and other emotional relationships, and inspirational themes regarding coming from nothing. Anne showed a young Eunji it was possible for a woman to get great schooling, be a writer, and build a family and home over 100 years ago, so it's sure as hell possible now. Notes: http://www.thebesteunji.com/ Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a collective.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIn her youth, Eunji was very into reading stories about girls with spunk, and Anne of Green Gables was always the prime example. She screamed through all eight of L. M. Montgomery's books and now returns to them often to access their surprisingly forward-thinking ideas about women, satisfying female friendships and other emotional relationships, and inspirational themes regarding coming from nothing. Anne showed a young Eunji it was possible for a woman to get great schooling, be a writer, and build a family and home over 100 years ago, so it's sure as hell possible now. Notes: http://www.thebesteunji.com/ Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a collective.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-241-mbsing-charles-pettitt-shreveport-louisiana Charles Clark Pettitt was born and raised “where cowboy meets Cajun” and still has a deep love for the region in spite of knowing he had to escape its rampant pick up truck and Coors Light lifestyle. His Pettitt ancestors settled in Askansas seeking oil, his grandfather Arkansas (...for real...there’s a Jr and a Sr...) ate a raw onion from their Louisiana farm at every meal after they had to ghost the oil boom towns, and thanks to a high school break up that inspired an ill-fated visit to Texas A&M, Charles eventually landed in Chicago to develop his performance skills. From the perfect queso to riverboat casinos to sporting to the Bossier Strip, Charles packs Schreveport’s personality into every tale he shares. Notes: See Charles in Shark Tank: The Musical at the Annoyance Theatre before he skips town. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship by Backblaze. Try Backblaze online backup for free at backblaze.com/cpc. Wed, 17 Jan 2018 17:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-241-mbsing-charles-pettitt-shreveport-louisiana MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6730 Charles Clark Pettitt was born and raised “where cowboy meets Cajun” and still has a deep love for the region in spite of knowing he had to escape its rampant pick up truck and Coors Light lifestyle. His Pettitt ancestors settled in Askansas seeking oil, his grandfather Arkansas (...for real...there’s a Jr and a Sr...) ate a raw onion from their Louisiana farm at every meal after they had to ghost the oil boom towns, and thanks to a high school break up that inspired an ill-fated visit to Texas A&M, Charles eventually landed in Chicago to develop his performance skills. From the perfect queso to riverboat casinos to sporting to the Bossier Strip, Charles packs Schreveport’s personality into every tale he shares. Notes: See Charles in Shark Tank: The Musical at the Annoyance Theatre before he skips town. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship by Backblaze. Try Backblaze online backup for free at backblaze.com/cpc. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCharles Clark Pettitt was born and raised “where cowboy meets Cajun” and still has a deep love for the region in spite of knowing he had to escape its rampant pick up truck and Coors Light lifestyle. His Pettitt ancestors settled in Askansas seeking oil, his grandfather Arkansas (...for real...there’s a Jr and a Sr...) ate a raw onion from their Louisiana farm at every meal after they had to ghost the oil boom towns, and thanks to a high school break up that inspired an ill-fated visit to Texas A&M, Charles eventually landed in Chicago to develop his performance skills. From the perfect queso to riverboat casinos to sporting to the Bossier Strip, Charles packs Schreveport’s personality into every tale he shares. Notes: See Charles in Shark Tank: The Musical at the Annoyance Theatre before he skips town. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship by Backblaze. Try Backblaze online backup for free at backblaze.com/cpc. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-240-mbsing-andrew-knox-new-york-giants Andrew Knox has been a Giants fan since his mom's side of the family adopted the team while they had a training camp in their home state, Vermont. He's lived for the building of the team and the fight to the finish every season, even when the Super Bowl victories have felt admittedly anticlimactic. He loves getting a sense of who the players are and having fellow fans to share the games with. It's more about the community of fandom for Knox, as evidenced by his being more than willing to unpack the nature of the NFL and sports fandom as opposed to laser-focused Giants talk. Stick around for his thoughts on how they may bounce back after a rough season. Notes: Knox on Twitter, at Second City, and winning MoveOn's contest Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. Wed, 10 Jan 2018 16:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-240-mbsing-andrew-knox-new-york-giants MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5437 Andrew Knox has been a Giants fan since his mom's side of the family adopted the team while they had a training camp in their home state, Vermont. He's lived for the building of the team and the fight to the finish every season, even when the Super Bowl victories have felt admittedly anticlimactic. He loves getting a sense of who the players are and having fellow fans to share the games with. It's more about the community of fandom for Knox, as evidenced by his being more than willing to unpack the nature of the NFL and sports fandom as opposed to laser-focused Giants talk. Stick around for his thoughts on how they may bounce back after a rough season. Notes: Knox on Twitter, at Second City, and winning MoveOn's contest Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAndrew Knox has been a Giants fan since his mom's side of the family adopted the team while they had a training camp in their home state, Vermont. He's lived for the building of the team and the fight to the finish every season, even when the Super Bowl victories have felt admittedly anticlimactic. He loves getting a sense of who the players are and having fellow fans to share the games with. It's more about the community of fandom for Knox, as evidenced by his being more than willing to unpack the nature of the NFL and sports fandom as opposed to laser-focused Giants talk. Stick around for his thoughts on how they may bounce back after a rough season. Notes: Knox on Twitter, at Second City, and winning MoveOn's contest Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-239-mbsing-joe-underbakke-photography Joe took his aspirations of comedy filmmaking all the way to a passion for photography. He discusses how a more serious interest in photography came into his life (along with a new DSLR camera and a broken ankle), what he's learned from working with models, friends who are performers, and other photographers, and how his passion has changed what kind of photography gear he travels with and how he perceives the entire package of designing a shoot. If Joe makes his subjects laugh a fraction as much as he did MBS, he's a natural at putting them at ease. Notes: Joe's website and Instagram. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. Wed, 03 Jan 2018 18:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-239-mbsing-joe-underbakke-photography MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5315 Joe took his aspirations of comedy filmmaking all the way to a passion for photography. He discusses how a more serious interest in photography came into his life (along with a new DSLR camera and a broken ankle), what he's learned from working with models, friends who are performers, and other photographers, and how his passion has changed what kind of photography gear he travels with and how he perceives the entire package of designing a shoot. If Joe makes his subjects laugh a fraction as much as he did MBS, he's a natural at putting them at ease. Notes: Joe's website and Instagram. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJoe took his aspirations of comedy filmmaking all the way to a passion for photography. He discusses how a more serious interest in photography came into his life (along with a new DSLR camera and a broken ankle), what he's learned from working with models, friends who are performers, and other photographers, and how his passion has changed what kind of photography gear he travels with and how he perceives the entire package of designing a shoot. If Joe makes his subjects laugh a fraction as much as he did MBS, he's a natural at putting them at ease. Notes: Joe's website and Instagram. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-238-embsing-mary-beth-smith-once-2007 The tables turn once again in a holiday hangover edition of eMBSing. This time Eric “EMB” Braband unpacks MBS’s love of Irish indie movie musical Once. After 10 years of expounding her love of her favorite film, there are now a plethora of cultural and personal reasons the story and her love of it endures. Hear their thoughts on the Broadway musical adaptation and lead actor Glen Hansard’s continued solo career, and close out with a live verse from one of MBS’s favorite songs from the films musical duo. Give Once a watch, and have fun finding your band. Notes: Thanks the Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring the show and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support.     Thu, 28 Dec 2017 14:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-238-embsing-mary-beth-smith-once-2007 MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4119 The tables turn once again in a holiday hangover edition of eMBSing. This time Eric “EMB” Braband unpacks MBS’s love of Irish indie movie musical Once. After 10 years of expounding her love of her favorite film, there are now a plethora of cultural and personal reasons the story and her love of it endures. Hear their thoughts on the Broadway musical adaptation and lead actor Glen Hansard’s continued solo career, and close out with a live verse from one of MBS’s favorite songs from the films musical duo. Give Once a watch, and have fun finding your band. Notes: Thanks the Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring the show and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support.     Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThe tables turn once again in a holiday hangover edition of eMBSing. This time Eric “EMB” Braband unpacks MBS’s love of Irish indie movie musical Once. After 10 years of expounding her love of her favorite film, there are now a plethora of cultural and personal reasons the story and her love of it endures. Hear their thoughts on the Broadway musical adaptation and lead actor Glen Hansard’s continued solo career, and close out with a live verse from one of MBS’s favorite songs from the films musical duo. Give Once a watch, and have fun finding your band. Notes: Thanks the Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring the show and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support.     https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-237-mbsing-lisa-beasley-greys-anatomy Some time in or shortly after college, Lisa Beasley binge-watched the first few seasons of Grey's Anatomy in a matter of days. She hasn't stopped rewatching the series since. The show has become her background sounds, and she cites the comfort level a diverse cast of characters who only discuss their jobs brings her. Meredith Grey's progression as a character, the passionate monologuing throughout the show, and the knack Shonda Rhimes has for presenting powerful women have been the backdrop for Lisa's career as a writer/performer and as Creative Director for the Nova Collective. Disclaimer: MBS says some stuff about Callie Torres thinking she was talking about Erica Hanh. She remembers not liking Hanh. She remembers liking Torres. It's been a long time since she watched this show. Notes: Lisa's website and The Nova Collective Gossip Girls, a member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Thanks to Backblaze for sponsoring. Try their online backup service free!   Wed, 20 Dec 2017 12:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-237-mbsing-lisa-beasley-greys-anatomy MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4917 Some time in or shortly after college, Lisa Beasley binge-watched the first few seasons of Grey's Anatomy in a matter of days. She hasn't stopped rewatching the series since. The show has become her background sounds, and she cites the comfort level a diverse cast of characters who only discuss their jobs brings her. Meredith Grey's progression as a character, the passionate monologuing throughout the show, and the knack Shonda Rhimes has for presenting powerful women have been the backdrop for Lisa's career as a writer/performer and as Creative Director for the Nova Collective. Disclaimer: MBS says some stuff about Callie Torres thinking she was talking about Erica Hanh. She remembers not liking Hanh. She remembers liking Torres. It's been a long time since she watched this show. Notes: Lisa's website and The Nova Collective Gossip Girls, a member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Thanks to Backblaze for sponsoring. Try their online backup service free!   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSome time in or shortly after college, Lisa Beasley binge-watched the first few seasons of Grey's Anatomy in a matter of days. She hasn't stopped rewatching the series since. The show has become her background sounds, and she cites the comfort level a diverse cast of characters who only discuss their jobs brings her. Meredith Grey's progression as a character, the passionate monologuing throughout the show, and the knack Shonda Rhimes has for presenting powerful women have been the backdrop for Lisa's career as a writer/performer and as Creative Director for the Nova Collective. Disclaimer: MBS says some stuff about Callie Torres thinking she was talking about Erica Hanh. She remembers not liking Hanh. She remembers liking Torres. It's been a long time since she watched this show. Notes: Lisa's website and The Nova Collective Gossip Girls, a member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Thanks to Backblaze for sponsoring. Try their online backup service free!   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-236-mbsing-maria-ranahan-cooking-her-mom Maria Ranahan was named after her Italian grandmother, Mary (whose name was Anglicanized at Ellis Island). She has recently been cataloging her Italian mom's recipes for the first time, but she's had trouble translating things like "between these lines on my hand" into teaspoons and "up to here on your grandmother's pot" into cups. Food culture, rebelling against (or conforming to) your parents' norms, and how eating habits (and other behaviors) evolve throughout your life all get a lot of play in this loving conversation about moms and food. Notes: Maria is the director of Cards Against Humanity's Science Ambassador Scholarship. Support and spread the word. She also played a major role in planning Cards Against Humanity Saves America. Here's Maria on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show Roboism. Wed, 13 Dec 2017 12:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-236-mbsing-maria-ranahan-cooking-her-mom MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4667 Maria Ranahan was named after her Italian grandmother, Mary (whose name was Anglicanized at Ellis Island). She has recently been cataloging her Italian mom's recipes for the first time, but she's had trouble translating things like "between these lines on my hand" into teaspoons and "up to here on your grandmother's pot" into cups. Food culture, rebelling against (or conforming to) your parents' norms, and how eating habits (and other behaviors) evolve throughout your life all get a lot of play in this loving conversation about moms and food. Notes: Maria is the director of Cards Against Humanity's Science Ambassador Scholarship. Support and spread the word. She also played a major role in planning Cards Against Humanity Saves America. Here's Maria on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show Roboism. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMaria Ranahan was named after her Italian grandmother, Mary (whose name was Anglicanized at Ellis Island). She has recently been cataloging her Italian mom's recipes for the first time, but she's had trouble translating things like "between these lines on my hand" into teaspoons and "up to here on your grandmother's pot" into cups. Food culture, rebelling against (or conforming to) your parents' norms, and how eating habits (and other behaviors) evolve throughout your life all get a lot of play in this loving conversation about moms and food. Notes: Maria is the director of Cards Against Humanity's Science Ambassador Scholarship. Support and spread the word. She also played a major role in planning Cards Against Humanity Saves America. Here's Maria on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show Roboism. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-235-mbsing-andy-kushnir-writing Andy Kushnir started his Chicago journey as an improviser and sketch comedian, but he slowly realized that the anxiety he felt was not worth the performing, especially when he found himself so much happier at a keyboard writing scripts for others to perform. He still loves being a part of the process on set and in editing film and has done plenty of it with his own film projects, but his writing 3-4 hours a day for 6-7 days a week combined with his experience in writers' rooms at Cards Against Humanity and Freeform have certainly shaped his life into the one-track mind of a writer. Hear his thoughts on getting back into writing after a break, what kinds of stories he finds himself drawn to watch and write, and what medium he's itching to explore. Notes: AndyKushnir.com Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a collective. Wed, 06 Dec 2017 12:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-235-mbsing-andy-kushnir-writing MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5420 Andy Kushnir started his Chicago journey as an improviser and sketch comedian, but he slowly realized that the anxiety he felt was not worth the performing, especially when he found himself so much happier at a keyboard writing scripts for others to perform. He still loves being a part of the process on set and in editing film and has done plenty of it with his own film projects, but his writing 3-4 hours a day for 6-7 days a week combined with his experience in writers' rooms at Cards Against Humanity and Freeform have certainly shaped his life into the one-track mind of a writer. Hear his thoughts on getting back into writing after a break, what kinds of stories he finds himself drawn to watch and write, and what medium he's itching to explore. Notes: AndyKushnir.com Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a collective. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAndy Kushnir started his Chicago journey as an improviser and sketch comedian, but he slowly realized that the anxiety he felt was not worth the performing, especially when he found himself so much happier at a keyboard writing scripts for others to perform. He still loves being a part of the process on set and in editing film and has done plenty of it with his own film projects, but his writing 3-4 hours a day for 6-7 days a week combined with his experience in writers' rooms at Cards Against Humanity and Freeform have certainly shaped his life into the one-track mind of a writer. Hear his thoughts on getting back into writing after a break, what kinds of stories he finds himself drawn to watch and write, and what medium he's itching to explore. Notes: AndyKushnir.com Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a collective. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-234-mbsing-stanley-sievers-jack-reacher Stanley is a self-proclaimed Reacher Creature. Having read most of the Lee Child novels with intentions of continuing (he recently took a break to read about the history of the FBI, so there's a bit of a theme), he can recognize how gripping the stories become and how ready-made they are for film thrillers (even if the second installment fell short... this is not a Tom Cruise joke, but it could be). A lot of time is spent unpacking the nature of characters like Jack Reacher: Professionally trained but acting entirely outside of what appears to be a broken establishment. One man on a mission to solve all of society's problems from the outside. Is Jack Reacher a superhero? Or just a dangerous display of the American Dream gone rogue? Stanley's not quite sure, but he knows he has to read all of Jack's seemingly-identical adventures to find out. Notes: Stanley's film work A hilariously appropriate article re the appeal of Jack Reacher that came out the same day as this ep Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. Wed, 29 Nov 2017 14:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-234-mbsing-stanley-sievers-jack-reacher MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4177 Stanley is a self-proclaimed Reacher Creature. Having read most of the Lee Child novels with intentions of continuing (he recently took a break to read about the history of the FBI, so there's a bit of a theme), he can recognize how gripping the stories become and how ready-made they are for film thrillers (even if the second installment fell short... this is not a Tom Cruise joke, but it could be). A lot of time is spent unpacking the nature of characters like Jack Reacher: Professionally trained but acting entirely outside of what appears to be a broken establishment. One man on a mission to solve all of society's problems from the outside. Is Jack Reacher a superhero? Or just a dangerous display of the American Dream gone rogue? Stanley's not quite sure, but he knows he has to read all of Jack's seemingly-identical adventures to find out. Notes: Stanley's film work A hilariously appropriate article re the appeal of Jack Reacher that came out the same day as this ep Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesStanley is a self-proclaimed Reacher Creature. Having read most of the Lee Child novels with intentions of continuing (he recently took a break to read about the history of the FBI, so there's a bit of a theme), he can recognize how gripping the stories become and how ready-made they are for film thrillers (even if the second installment fell short... this is not a Tom Cruise joke, but it could be). A lot of time is spent unpacking the nature of characters like Jack Reacher: Professionally trained but acting entirely outside of what appears to be a broken establishment. One man on a mission to solve all of society's problems from the outside. Is Jack Reacher a superhero? Or just a dangerous display of the American Dream gone rogue? Stanley's not quite sure, but he knows he has to read all of Jack's seemingly-identical adventures to find out. Notes: Stanley's film work A hilariously appropriate article re the appeal of Jack Reacher that came out the same day as this ep Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-233-mbsing-caroline-jane-davis-travel-mishaps Caroline fell for traveling from the first time she flew on an airplane to big NYC from South Carolina as a high schooler. Between traveling abroad as an undergraduate and returning to Europe as a grad student, she has [inflicted] some battle scars, had her fair share of TSA troubles, and accrued an impressive list of places she's peed in public. Hear how her time traveling to other countries has shaped her as a theatremaker, and try not to hold anything against her (or MBS for that matter). Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Wed, 22 Nov 2017 17:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-233-mbsing-caroline-jane-davis-travel-mishaps MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4002 Caroline fell for traveling from the first time she flew on an airplane to big NYC from South Carolina as a high schooler. Between traveling abroad as an undergraduate and returning to Europe as a grad student, she has [inflicted] some battle scars, had her fair share of TSA troubles, and accrued an impressive list of places she's peed in public. Hear how her time traveling to other countries has shaped her as a theatremaker, and try not to hold anything against her (or MBS for that matter). Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCaroline fell for traveling from the first time she flew on an airplane to big NYC from South Carolina as a high schooler. Between traveling abroad as an undergraduate and returning to Europe as a grad student, she has [inflicted] some battle scars, had her fair share of TSA troubles, and accrued an impressive list of places she's peed in public. Hear how her time traveling to other countries has shaped her as a theatremaker, and try not to hold anything against her (or MBS for that matter). Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-232-mbsing-thomas-jefferson-8-mile In the studio with Abraham Lincoln AGAIN and this time with fellow former president Thomas Jefferson?! For the unfamiliar, last year past guest of MBSing Timothy Dunn took a trip to Springfield, IL, and Abraham Lincoln appeared before him. They've been making a podcast together ever since. Tim's even producing a rap album Thomas and Abe are making together. This episode is about how 8 Mile inspired them to make that album. Or maybe about how they inspired 8 Mile to be a movie. It's pretty unclear, but there's an unfortunate amount of freestyle rapping.  For more backstory and fun with Lincoln, listen to Tim and Abe's show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy. Wed, 15 Nov 2017 15:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-232-mbsing-thomas-jefferson-8-mile MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 1444 In the studio with Abraham Lincoln AGAIN and this time with fellow former president Thomas Jefferson?! For the unfamiliar, last year past guest of MBSing Timothy Dunn took a trip to Springfield, IL, and Abraham Lincoln appeared before him. They've been making a podcast together ever since. Tim's even producing a rap album Thomas and Abe are making together. This episode is about how 8 Mile inspired them to make that album. Or maybe about how they inspired 8 Mile to be a movie. It's pretty unclear, but there's an unfortunate amount of freestyle rapping.  For more backstory and fun with Lincoln, listen to Tim and Abe's show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIn the studio with Abraham Lincoln AGAIN and this time with fellow former president Thomas Jefferson?! For the unfamiliar, last year past guest of MBSing Timothy Dunn took a trip to Springfield, IL, and Abraham Lincoln appeared before him. They've been making a podcast together ever since. Tim's even producing a rap album Thomas and Abe are making together. This episode is about how 8 Mile inspired them to make that album. Or maybe about how they inspired 8 Mile to be a movie. It's pretty unclear, but there's an unfortunate amount of freestyle rapping.  For more backstory and fun with Lincoln, listen to Tim and Abe's show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-231-mbsing-colt-cabana-being-wrestler After years of loving pro wrestling and knowing it's what he wanted to do with his life, a 14-year-old Colt Cabana found a way to get dirt sheets - all the insider info on what was happening behind the scenes and on smaller stages than what he could watch on TV. From there he quit being a bad Division I-A football player to focus on wrestling in college, then he quit a teaching assistant job to fully commit to wrestling at 23. Colt has been hustling his way through training and touring, a stint with the WWE, and cultivating a fan base via comedy and podcasting to support himself ever since. He's even recently authored a children's book called Wrestling Dreams loosely based on his love of wrestling and fight against naysayers as a kid. Notes: Colt's podcast The Art of Wrestling Colt on fellow Chicago Podcast Coop show Hello From the Magic Tavern ColtMerch.com Wed, 08 Nov 2017 16:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-231-mbsing-colt-cabana-being-wrestler MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5012 After years of loving pro wrestling and knowing it's what he wanted to do with his life, a 14-year-old Colt Cabana found a way to get dirt sheets - all the insider info on what was happening behind the scenes and on smaller stages than what he could watch on TV. From there he quit being a bad Division I-A football player to focus on wrestling in college, then he quit a teaching assistant job to fully commit to wrestling at 23. Colt has been hustling his way through training and touring, a stint with the WWE, and cultivating a fan base via comedy and podcasting to support himself ever since. He's even recently authored a children's book called Wrestling Dreams loosely based on his love of wrestling and fight against naysayers as a kid. Notes: Colt's podcast The Art of Wrestling Colt on fellow Chicago Podcast Coop show Hello From the Magic Tavern ColtMerch.com Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAfter years of loving pro wrestling and knowing it's what he wanted to do with his life, a 14-year-old Colt Cabana found a way to get dirt sheets - all the insider info on what was happening behind the scenes and on smaller stages than what he could watch on TV. From there he quit being a bad Division I-A football player to focus on wrestling in college, then he quit a teaching assistant job to fully commit to wrestling at 23. Colt has been hustling his way through training and touring, a stint with the WWE, and cultivating a fan base via comedy and podcasting to support himself ever since. He's even recently authored a children's book called Wrestling Dreams loosely based on his love of wrestling and fight against naysayers as a kid. Notes: Colt's podcast The Art of Wrestling Colt on fellow Chicago Podcast Coop show Hello From the Magic Tavern ColtMerch.com https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-230-mbsing-frank-spiro-new-orleans-sports Frank Spiro fell in love with the Saints, the Pelicans (née Hornets), and the atmosphere surrounding them when he landed in New Orleans for college. Forever loyal to Drew Brees and Anthony Davis, the New Orleans fan base seems unwavering to Frank in spite of their recent struggles and general lack of media coverage. As a frequent contributor to The Bird Writes, Frank is given the opportunity to stretch his comedic muscles while writing about a team he loves, a privilege he attributes to the overall c'est la vie attitude that seems to pervade New Orleans in general. Don't sleep on the hilarious and adorable minor league Baby Cakes, and remember, you only get to visit New Orleans for the first time once. Notes: The Harold Ramis Film School In Defense of Boogie MBSing is a part of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring. If you like MBSing, please check out the coop's other shows. Wed, 01 Nov 2017 13:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-230-mbsing-frank-spiro-new-orleans-sports MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4511 Frank Spiro fell in love with the Saints, the Pelicans (née Hornets), and the atmosphere surrounding them when he landed in New Orleans for college. Forever loyal to Drew Brees and Anthony Davis, the New Orleans fan base seems unwavering to Frank in spite of their recent struggles and general lack of media coverage. As a frequent contributor to The Bird Writes, Frank is given the opportunity to stretch his comedic muscles while writing about a team he loves, a privilege he attributes to the overall c'est la vie attitude that seems to pervade New Orleans in general. Don't sleep on the hilarious and adorable minor league Baby Cakes, and remember, you only get to visit New Orleans for the first time once. Notes: The Harold Ramis Film School In Defense of Boogie MBSing is a part of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring. If you like MBSing, please check out the coop's other shows. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFrank Spiro fell in love with the Saints, the Pelicans (née Hornets), and the atmosphere surrounding them when he landed in New Orleans for college. Forever loyal to Drew Brees and Anthony Davis, the New Orleans fan base seems unwavering to Frank in spite of their recent struggles and general lack of media coverage. As a frequent contributor to The Bird Writes, Frank is given the opportunity to stretch his comedic muscles while writing about a team he loves, a privilege he attributes to the overall c'est la vie attitude that seems to pervade New Orleans in general. Don't sleep on the hilarious and adorable minor league Baby Cakes, and remember, you only get to visit New Orleans for the first time once. Notes: The Harold Ramis Film School In Defense of Boogie MBSing is a part of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring. If you like MBSing, please check out the coop's other shows. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-229-mbsing-symphony-sanders-celebrity-gossip Symphony Sanders has been interested in the personal stories behind her favorite performers since she was a kid. She likes being informed on what goes on in artists lives at least partially because she feels it brings important interpersonal and sociopolitical realities into public conversations, but also because she has a good time with it and likes being expressive about her own life on social media as well. Expect some talk about the Knowles-Carter family, Bill Murray, Cardi B, the Kardashians, Will and Jada, Mark Hammill, and some other hot topic celebrity news that fills social media with articles and takes. And, of course, there's plenty of frustration aimed at the celebrity news that became the POTUS. Notes: Symphony's first appearance on Welcome to Nightvale Our Fair City in the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Live Wire with Luke Burbank podcast recording 10/28 The Fishbowl at the Annoyance Theatre Wed, 25 Oct 2017 10:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-229-mbsing-symphony-sanders-celebrity-gossip MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5416 Symphony Sanders has been interested in the personal stories behind her favorite performers since she was a kid. She likes being informed on what goes on in artists lives at least partially because she feels it brings important interpersonal and sociopolitical realities into public conversations, but also because she has a good time with it and likes being expressive about her own life on social media as well. Expect some talk about the Knowles-Carter family, Bill Murray, Cardi B, the Kardashians, Will and Jada, Mark Hammill, and some other hot topic celebrity news that fills social media with articles and takes. And, of course, there's plenty of frustration aimed at the celebrity news that became the POTUS. Notes: Symphony's first appearance on Welcome to Nightvale Our Fair City in the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Live Wire with Luke Burbank podcast recording 10/28 The Fishbowl at the Annoyance Theatre Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSymphony Sanders has been interested in the personal stories behind her favorite performers since she was a kid. She likes being informed on what goes on in artists lives at least partially because she feels it brings important interpersonal and sociopolitical realities into public conversations, but also because she has a good time with it and likes being expressive about her own life on social media as well. Expect some talk about the Knowles-Carter family, Bill Murray, Cardi B, the Kardashians, Will and Jada, Mark Hammill, and some other hot topic celebrity news that fills social media with articles and takes. And, of course, there's plenty of frustration aimed at the celebrity news that became the POTUS. Notes: Symphony's first appearance on Welcome to Nightvale Our Fair City in the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Live Wire with Luke Burbank podcast recording 10/28 The Fishbowl at the Annoyance Theatre https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-228-mbsing-matthew-manning-cosmology Once Matt had wrestled with the big Qs of "Where do we go after this?" and "Why do we do what we do?" in his youth, he found himself more focused on the even bigger picture as as adult: "Where did this all come from?" Now, oscillating between all three and folding these big questions into being a psychiatric nurse, writer, and improviser, he finds the idea that all of existence came from cosmic "shrapnel" inordinately comforting. If it makes no sense as to how we got here in the first place, why not see it through? Matt unpacks how these big questions shape his life as a caretaker, performer, and adult. Notes: One of the stories Matt brought to the show he created at the Annoyance, Sad Clown. Wed, 18 Oct 2017 15:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-228-mbsing-matthew-manning-cosmology MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5033 Once Matt had wrestled with the big Qs of "Where do we go after this?" and "Why do we do what we do?" in his youth, he found himself more focused on the even bigger picture as as adult: "Where did this all come from?" Now, oscillating between all three and folding these big questions into being a psychiatric nurse, writer, and improviser, he finds the idea that all of existence came from cosmic "shrapnel" inordinately comforting. If it makes no sense as to how we got here in the first place, why not see it through? Matt unpacks how these big questions shape his life as a caretaker, performer, and adult. Notes: One of the stories Matt brought to the show he created at the Annoyance, Sad Clown. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOnce Matt had wrestled with the big Qs of "Where do we go after this?" and "Why do we do what we do?" in his youth, he found himself more focused on the even bigger picture as as adult: "Where did this all come from?" Now, oscillating between all three and folding these big questions into being a psychiatric nurse, writer, and improviser, he finds the idea that all of existence came from cosmic "shrapnel" inordinately comforting. If it makes no sense as to how we got here in the first place, why not see it through? Matt unpacks how these big questions shape his life as a caretaker, performer, and adult. Notes: One of the stories Matt brought to the show he created at the Annoyance, Sad Clown. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-227-mbsing-shay-degrandis-mortification Ready for a dense chat about embarrassment, purpose, and fear of death? Good, because it’s coming for you! Shay went from being an artist and coproducer of Mortified Chicago to adding a more recent passion for being a death doula and funeral celebrant. Throughout those projects, she's asked others how they want to be perceived and remembered by audiences and loved ones, what story they want to be telling. And after leaving her job of 20 years and moving into a van a year and a half ago, she's been working on her answers to those questions, too. Garner some orphan wisdom from a caring presence in our new village structure, friends. Notes: Mortified's podcast and live shows are all worth a visit MBS in Ben Plays the Mayor and the Fishbowl   Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-227-mbsing-shay-degrandis-mortification MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6456 Ready for a dense chat about embarrassment, purpose, and fear of death? Good, because it’s coming for you! Shay went from being an artist and coproducer of Mortified Chicago to adding a more recent passion for being a death doula and funeral celebrant. Throughout those projects, she's asked others how they want to be perceived and remembered by audiences and loved ones, what story they want to be telling. And after leaving her job of 20 years and moving into a van a year and a half ago, she's been working on her answers to those questions, too. Garner some orphan wisdom from a caring presence in our new village structure, friends. Notes: Mortified's podcast and live shows are all worth a visit MBS in Ben Plays the Mayor and the Fishbowl   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesReady for a dense chat about embarrassment, purpose, and fear of death? Good, because it’s coming for you! Shay went from being an artist and coproducer of Mortified Chicago to adding a more recent passion for being a death doula and funeral celebrant. Throughout those projects, she's asked others how they want to be perceived and remembered by audiences and loved ones, what story they want to be telling. And after leaving her job of 20 years and moving into a van a year and a half ago, she's been working on her answers to those questions, too. Garner some orphan wisdom from a caring presence in our new village structure, friends. Notes: Mortified's podcast and live shows are all worth a visit MBS in Ben Plays the Mayor and the Fishbowl   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-226-mbs-blank-cassette-erics-i-have-been-talked-u2 Dive in to this inception of a podcast: MBS was on Blank Cassette to talk to Eric Garneau about U Talkin' U2 To Me. On a week by week basis, Eric uses Blank Cassette to interview a guest about a mixtape or playlist they've made in the past and what went into its construction. MBS has been recommending the podcast UTU2TM to him for a while, and after Eric took her up on it, he made a U2 playlist in response to the show. They talk about what makes UTU2TM work so well, how MBS came to love U2, PLUS which U2 album MBS felt was really hers. Notes: Garn on Bruce Springsteen on MBSing Tickets to CAH Live at UCB Chelsea Tickets to Ben Plays the Mayor at iO Chicago Wed, 04 Oct 2017 12:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-226-mbs-blank-cassette-erics-i-have-been-talked-u2 MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 2306 Dive in to this inception of a podcast: MBS was on Blank Cassette to talk to Eric Garneau about U Talkin' U2 To Me. On a week by week basis, Eric uses Blank Cassette to interview a guest about a mixtape or playlist they've made in the past and what went into its construction. MBS has been recommending the podcast UTU2TM to him for a while, and after Eric took her up on it, he made a U2 playlist in response to the show. They talk about what makes UTU2TM work so well, how MBS came to love U2, PLUS which U2 album MBS felt was really hers. Notes: Garn on Bruce Springsteen on MBSing Tickets to CAH Live at UCB Chelsea Tickets to Ben Plays the Mayor at iO Chicago Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesDive in to this inception of a podcast: MBS was on Blank Cassette to talk to Eric Garneau about U Talkin' U2 To Me. On a week by week basis, Eric uses Blank Cassette to interview a guest about a mixtape or playlist they've made in the past and what went into its construction. MBS has been recommending the podcast UTU2TM to him for a while, and after Eric took her up on it, he made a U2 playlist in response to the show. They talk about what makes UTU2TM work so well, how MBS came to love U2, PLUS which U2 album MBS felt was really hers. Notes: Garn on Bruce Springsteen on MBSing Tickets to CAH Live at UCB Chelsea Tickets to Ben Plays the Mayor at iO Chicago https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-225-mbsing-melzer-wes-anderson Melzer has been mesmerized by Wes Anderson's style since he saw The Royal Tenanbaums in high school, but it was his ability to relate to Rushmore's Max Fischer that cemented Anderson in his pile of people to intake, praise, and emulate. Wander through Wes's filmography with an aspiring filmmaker and learn about how important storyboarding is for Anderson's films, the ways he has brought back classic filmmaking techniques, and the distinctive dialog and powerful aesthetic choices that craft his unique and endearing style. Get on board with Team Zissou, don your Khaki Scout uniform, grab your lobby boy hat, and get into this convo. Notes: Watch The Street Wizard's Apprentice, especially to catch all of the borrowed Wes techniques. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Coop for their continued support. Wed, 27 Sep 2017 10:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-225-mbsing-melzer-wes-anderson MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5645 Melzer has been mesmerized by Wes Anderson's style since he saw The Royal Tenanbaums in high school, but it was his ability to relate to Rushmore's Max Fischer that cemented Anderson in his pile of people to intake, praise, and emulate. Wander through Wes's filmography with an aspiring filmmaker and learn about how important storyboarding is for Anderson's films, the ways he has brought back classic filmmaking techniques, and the distinctive dialog and powerful aesthetic choices that craft his unique and endearing style. Get on board with Team Zissou, don your Khaki Scout uniform, grab your lobby boy hat, and get into this convo. Notes: Watch The Street Wizard's Apprentice, especially to catch all of the borrowed Wes techniques. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Coop for their continued support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMelzer has been mesmerized by Wes Anderson's style since he saw The Royal Tenanbaums in high school, but it was his ability to relate to Rushmore's Max Fischer that cemented Anderson in his pile of people to intake, praise, and emulate. Wander through Wes's filmography with an aspiring filmmaker and learn about how important storyboarding is for Anderson's films, the ways he has brought back classic filmmaking techniques, and the distinctive dialog and powerful aesthetic choices that craft his unique and endearing style. Get on board with Team Zissou, don your Khaki Scout uniform, grab your lobby boy hat, and get into this convo. Notes: Watch The Street Wizard's Apprentice, especially to catch all of the borrowed Wes techniques. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Coop for their continued support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-224-mbsing-benjamin-vigeant-pinball Ever since Ben learned to ace Jungle King and Fireball in his family's basement as a kid, he's been a pinball fiend, seeking out machines on boardwalks and at bars so enthusiastically that he eventually founded Pinball Chicago, a league of competitive gamers and compendium of spots in the city that offer pinball. He starts by unpacking the older electromechanical machines versus the much more numerous and modern solid-state machines that brought the replacement of the characteristic bells and chimes and rounds out the conversation by listing the plethora options of barcades that have popped up around the city and some of his favorite tournament experiences.    Notes: This was recorded outside of Clark St. Dog in Chicago, IL. Apologies in advance for the street sounds, unless you really like street sounds. Then you're welcome in advance for the street sounds. See Ben's show The Funny Papers this Thursday and next at 8 PM at the Prop Theatre. See Ben's show (of which MBS is a fellow cast member) Ben Plays the Mayor on Wednesdays in October at 8:30 PM at iO Chicago. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. Wed, 20 Sep 2017 15:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-224-mbsing-benjamin-vigeant-pinball MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5813 Ever since Ben learned to ace Jungle King and Fireball in his family's basement as a kid, he's been a pinball fiend, seeking out machines on boardwalks and at bars so enthusiastically that he eventually founded Pinball Chicago, a league of competitive gamers and compendium of spots in the city that offer pinball. He starts by unpacking the older electromechanical machines versus the much more numerous and modern solid-state machines that brought the replacement of the characteristic bells and chimes and rounds out the conversation by listing the plethora options of barcades that have popped up around the city and some of his favorite tournament experiences.    Notes: This was recorded outside of Clark St. Dog in Chicago, IL. Apologies in advance for the street sounds, unless you really like street sounds. Then you're welcome in advance for the street sounds. See Ben's show The Funny Papers this Thursday and next at 8 PM at the Prop Theatre. See Ben's show (of which MBS is a fellow cast member) Ben Plays the Mayor on Wednesdays in October at 8:30 PM at iO Chicago. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEver since Ben learned to ace Jungle King and Fireball in his family's basement as a kid, he's been a pinball fiend, seeking out machines on boardwalks and at bars so enthusiastically that he eventually founded Pinball Chicago, a league of competitive gamers and compendium of spots in the city that offer pinball. He starts by unpacking the older electromechanical machines versus the much more numerous and modern solid-state machines that brought the replacement of the characteristic bells and chimes and rounds out the conversation by listing the plethora options of barcades that have popped up around the city and some of his favorite tournament experiences.    Notes: This was recorded outside of Clark St. Dog in Chicago, IL. Apologies in advance for the street sounds, unless you really like street sounds. Then you're welcome in advance for the street sounds. See Ben's show The Funny Papers this Thursday and next at 8 PM at the Prop Theatre. See Ben's show (of which MBS is a fellow cast member) Ben Plays the Mayor on Wednesdays in October at 8:30 PM at iO Chicago. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-223-mbsing-eli-mandel-jackie-chan Ever since he saw Jackie Chan's First Strike at the age of 7, Eli has been a huge fan of Chan. Seeking out every film of his, starting from his vast catalog in China and his American-made films as he became more of a domestic success, Eli is in awe of Chan's martial arts abilities as a performer, stunt choreographer, and director. All of Eli's favorite fights and films are covered as well as some fun facts about the Chinese opera school friends Chan has made the most movies with and his penchants for singing the theme songs to his movies and making blooper reels of outtakes and stunt failures. Celebrate someone Eli refers to as one of the greatest entertainers of all time with this conversation paired with a viewing of your biggest Jackie blind spot. Notes: Check out Eli's work on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show Improvised Star Trek. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode.   Wed, 13 Sep 2017 22:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-223-mbsing-eli-mandel-jackie-chan MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5959 Ever since he saw Jackie Chan's First Strike at the age of 7, Eli has been a huge fan of Chan. Seeking out every film of his, starting from his vast catalog in China and his American-made films as he became more of a domestic success, Eli is in awe of Chan's martial arts abilities as a performer, stunt choreographer, and director. All of Eli's favorite fights and films are covered as well as some fun facts about the Chinese opera school friends Chan has made the most movies with and his penchants for singing the theme songs to his movies and making blooper reels of outtakes and stunt failures. Celebrate someone Eli refers to as one of the greatest entertainers of all time with this conversation paired with a viewing of your biggest Jackie blind spot. Notes: Check out Eli's work on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show Improvised Star Trek. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEver since he saw Jackie Chan's First Strike at the age of 7, Eli has been a huge fan of Chan. Seeking out every film of his, starting from his vast catalog in China and his American-made films as he became more of a domestic success, Eli is in awe of Chan's martial arts abilities as a performer, stunt choreographer, and director. All of Eli's favorite fights and films are covered as well as some fun facts about the Chinese opera school friends Chan has made the most movies with and his penchants for singing the theme songs to his movies and making blooper reels of outtakes and stunt failures. Celebrate someone Eli refers to as one of the greatest entertainers of all time with this conversation paired with a viewing of your biggest Jackie blind spot. Notes: Check out Eli's work on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show Improvised Star Trek. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-222-mbsing-maria-randazzo-astrology Maria Randazzo starts her week by perusing a couple of horoscope sources, so this conversation starts with signs (sun and rising) and continues through how these messages permeate her day-to-day life and thoughts on spirituality and the world beyond the physical Earth. Just like being a cafeteria Catholic, Maria has learned to pick and choose the things she takes to heart from astrology, mostly via the influence of a very spiritual mentor. She's also looking for someone to sponsor her interest in getting more frequest psychic readings, so inquire within. Notes: Maria's favorite horoscope spots, The Numinous and Chani Nicholas. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative and Cards Against Humanity for sponsorship. Wed, 06 Sep 2017 10:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-222-mbsing-maria-randazzo-astrology MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4883 Maria Randazzo starts her week by perusing a couple of horoscope sources, so this conversation starts with signs (sun and rising) and continues through how these messages permeate her day-to-day life and thoughts on spirituality and the world beyond the physical Earth. Just like being a cafeteria Catholic, Maria has learned to pick and choose the things she takes to heart from astrology, mostly via the influence of a very spiritual mentor. She's also looking for someone to sponsor her interest in getting more frequest psychic readings, so inquire within. Notes: Maria's favorite horoscope spots, The Numinous and Chani Nicholas. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative and Cards Against Humanity for sponsorship. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMaria Randazzo starts her week by perusing a couple of horoscope sources, so this conversation starts with signs (sun and rising) and continues through how these messages permeate her day-to-day life and thoughts on spirituality and the world beyond the physical Earth. Just like being a cafeteria Catholic, Maria has learned to pick and choose the things she takes to heart from astrology, mostly via the influence of a very spiritual mentor. She's also looking for someone to sponsor her interest in getting more frequest psychic readings, so inquire within. Notes: Maria's favorite horoscope spots, The Numinous and Chani Nicholas. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative and Cards Against Humanity for sponsorship. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-221-mbsing-clint-worthington-film-criticism Clint Worthington developed a love for film as an Illinois farm boy who was admittedly more of an inside, MST3K boy than anything else. Since those days of pirated satellite, he's spent years watching film with a critical eye producing reviews for his own podcasting network at Alcohollywood.com and for Consequence of Sound as well as becoming a member of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle. He cites Ebert and Roeper as big influences of course, but there's also a lot of love for some smaller reviewers and YouTube channels (and a lack of love for some bigger sources like Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaSins). Clint talks movies as empathy machines, reviewing film through the lens of an audience and not just as one critic, and being a Michael Bay apologist. Notes: Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for bringing Clint and MBS together as coop-mates. Wed, 30 Aug 2017 16:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-221-mbsing-clint-worthington-film-criticism MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5566 Clint Worthington developed a love for film as an Illinois farm boy who was admittedly more of an inside, MST3K boy than anything else. Since those days of pirated satellite, he's spent years watching film with a critical eye producing reviews for his own podcasting network at Alcohollywood.com and for Consequence of Sound as well as becoming a member of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle. He cites Ebert and Roeper as big influences of course, but there's also a lot of love for some smaller reviewers and YouTube channels (and a lack of love for some bigger sources like Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaSins). Clint talks movies as empathy machines, reviewing film through the lens of an audience and not just as one critic, and being a Michael Bay apologist. Notes: Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for bringing Clint and MBS together as coop-mates. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesClint Worthington developed a love for film as an Illinois farm boy who was admittedly more of an inside, MST3K boy than anything else. Since those days of pirated satellite, he's spent years watching film with a critical eye producing reviews for his own podcasting network at Alcohollywood.com and for Consequence of Sound as well as becoming a member of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle. He cites Ebert and Roeper as big influences of course, but there's also a lot of love for some smaller reviewers and YouTube channels (and a lack of love for some bigger sources like Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaSins). Clint talks movies as empathy machines, reviewing film through the lens of an audience and not just as one critic, and being a Michael Bay apologist. Notes: Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for bringing Clint and MBS together as coop-mates. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-220-mbsing-jamison-webb-marx-brothers Jamison Webb started watching Marx Brothers movies as an ill-sleeping 7-year-old. Since then he's written sketches in their style (The Inappropriate ReMarx Brothers) and spotted their influence in other acts he loves (Stella) as well as becoming aware that they're like The Beatles of comedy: Their influence flows under everything thanks to some of the first comedy films translating the success of their vaudeville stage acts to the screen. All the brothers are broken down by their style and presence in the act (including Zippo and Gummo), some of their costars are discussed (Margaret Dumont), and some unlikely writers of unproduced Marx Brothers scripts are unearthed. Notes: Jamison on Your Stories re his Weezer fandom. Thanks to Card Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. Wed, 23 Aug 2017 11:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-220-mbsing-jamison-webb-marx-brothers MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5020 Jamison Webb started watching Marx Brothers movies as an ill-sleeping 7-year-old. Since then he's written sketches in their style (The Inappropriate ReMarx Brothers) and spotted their influence in other acts he loves (Stella) as well as becoming aware that they're like The Beatles of comedy: Their influence flows under everything thanks to some of the first comedy films translating the success of their vaudeville stage acts to the screen. All the brothers are broken down by their style and presence in the act (including Zippo and Gummo), some of their costars are discussed (Margaret Dumont), and some unlikely writers of unproduced Marx Brothers scripts are unearthed. Notes: Jamison on Your Stories re his Weezer fandom. Thanks to Card Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJamison Webb started watching Marx Brothers movies as an ill-sleeping 7-year-old. Since then he's written sketches in their style (The Inappropriate ReMarx Brothers) and spotted their influence in other acts he loves (Stella) as well as becoming aware that they're like The Beatles of comedy: Their influence flows under everything thanks to some of the first comedy films translating the success of their vaudeville stage acts to the screen. All the brothers are broken down by their style and presence in the act (including Zippo and Gummo), some of their costars are discussed (Margaret Dumont), and some unlikely writers of unproduced Marx Brothers scripts are unearthed. Notes: Jamison on Your Stories re his Weezer fandom. Thanks to Card Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-219-mbsing-becca-levine-japan Ever since a "Hiking and Haikus" elective course took her to Japan for a month in college, Becca Levine has been enamored with the landscapes and culture of the island nation. She returned post college to teach English to high school students in a small town outside Nagano, and has done everything from traverse a mountain in a monsoon to keep her toothpaste in the fridge to prevent it from freezing during their harsh winters. From the importance placed on natural beauty expressed via poetry to the aesthetic notion of "Wabi-sabi" emphasizing the beauty of imperfections, Becca has used her experiences as a teacher, outdoors-woman, and tourist in Japan to color her life in the US a bit brighter and more roundly. Notes: See Becca perform with Baby Wine at the Annoyance Theatre Your Stories At the Movies Wed, 16 Aug 2017 11:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-219-mbsing-becca-levine-japan MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4147 Ever since a "Hiking and Haikus" elective course took her to Japan for a month in college, Becca Levine has been enamored with the landscapes and culture of the island nation. She returned post college to teach English to high school students in a small town outside Nagano, and has done everything from traverse a mountain in a monsoon to keep her toothpaste in the fridge to prevent it from freezing during their harsh winters. From the importance placed on natural beauty expressed via poetry to the aesthetic notion of "Wabi-sabi" emphasizing the beauty of imperfections, Becca has used her experiences as a teacher, outdoors-woman, and tourist in Japan to color her life in the US a bit brighter and more roundly. Notes: See Becca perform with Baby Wine at the Annoyance Theatre Your Stories At the Movies Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEver since a "Hiking and Haikus" elective course took her to Japan for a month in college, Becca Levine has been enamored with the landscapes and culture of the island nation. She returned post college to teach English to high school students in a small town outside Nagano, and has done everything from traverse a mountain in a monsoon to keep her toothpaste in the fridge to prevent it from freezing during their harsh winters. From the importance placed on natural beauty expressed via poetry to the aesthetic notion of "Wabi-sabi" emphasizing the beauty of imperfections, Becca has used her experiences as a teacher, outdoors-woman, and tourist in Japan to color her life in the US a bit brighter and more roundly. Notes: See Becca perform with Baby Wine at the Annoyance Theatre Your Stories At the Movies https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-218-mbsing-angela-anjee-o-oliver-being-old-soul Since she spawned the nickname "Miss Ann" as a child thanks to her behavior beyond her years, Angela Oliver has known she was an old soul. Passing time with her grandmothers watching TCM and church gossiping, she never stood a chance and only had her perception as an older woman exacerbated by fancy attire from her mother's dress shop. Now, she uses her love of jazz, Rockabilly fashion, and vaudeville antics to influence her comedy and add diversity among diversity in her performance endeavors. She's also never going to fully understand technology and will always be carrying Tums. Notes: Matt Damon Improv at the Annoyance Your Stories At the Movies Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and organization.   Wed, 09 Aug 2017 10:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-218-mbsing-angela-anjee-o-oliver-being-old-soul MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5565 Since she spawned the nickname "Miss Ann" as a child thanks to her behavior beyond her years, Angela Oliver has known she was an old soul. Passing time with her grandmothers watching TCM and church gossiping, she never stood a chance and only had her perception as an older woman exacerbated by fancy attire from her mother's dress shop. Now, she uses her love of jazz, Rockabilly fashion, and vaudeville antics to influence her comedy and add diversity among diversity in her performance endeavors. She's also never going to fully understand technology and will always be carrying Tums. Notes: Matt Damon Improv at the Annoyance Your Stories At the Movies Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and organization.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSince she spawned the nickname "Miss Ann" as a child thanks to her behavior beyond her years, Angela Oliver has known she was an old soul. Passing time with her grandmothers watching TCM and church gossiping, she never stood a chance and only had her perception as an older woman exacerbated by fancy attire from her mother's dress shop. Now, she uses her love of jazz, Rockabilly fashion, and vaudeville antics to influence her comedy and add diversity among diversity in her performance endeavors. She's also never going to fully understand technology and will always be carrying Tums. Notes: Matt Damon Improv at the Annoyance Your Stories At the Movies Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and organization.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-217-mbsing-ed-soderberg-rec-league-sports Post law school, Ed wasn't sure how he was supposed to make and maintain adult friendships without the benefit of forced socialization with other lawyers. So, he decided to organize a(n unfortunately large) 12" softball team to add an activity to at least one night of his week (even though he didn't really know much about softball). Now, he's been in enough softball, kickball (?), floor hockey, and 3v3 and full ice hockey leagues that he should probably stop referring to himself as "not an athlete." MBS and Ed uncover the biggest victories, defeats, and revelations of starting to play a sport as an adult, especially when a lot of the people you're up against feel like they have something to prove.  Notes: Ironrise Games. Get on board now and Kickstart later! Go Nordiques! (MBS is waaaaay biased on this one as her betrothed is a member, too) Doppelgängers R Us Thanks to CAH for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. Wed, 02 Aug 2017 11:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-217-mbsing-ed-soderberg-rec-league-sports MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4544 Post law school, Ed wasn't sure how he was supposed to make and maintain adult friendships without the benefit of forced socialization with other lawyers. So, he decided to organize a(n unfortunately large) 12" softball team to add an activity to at least one night of his week (even though he didn't really know much about softball). Now, he's been in enough softball, kickball (?), floor hockey, and 3v3 and full ice hockey leagues that he should probably stop referring to himself as "not an athlete." MBS and Ed uncover the biggest victories, defeats, and revelations of starting to play a sport as an adult, especially when a lot of the people you're up against feel like they have something to prove.  Notes: Ironrise Games. Get on board now and Kickstart later! Go Nordiques! (MBS is waaaaay biased on this one as her betrothed is a member, too) Doppelgängers R Us Thanks to CAH for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesPost law school, Ed wasn't sure how he was supposed to make and maintain adult friendships without the benefit of forced socialization with other lawyers. So, he decided to organize a(n unfortunately large) 12" softball team to add an activity to at least one night of his week (even though he didn't really know much about softball). Now, he's been in enough softball, kickball (?), floor hockey, and 3v3 and full ice hockey leagues that he should probably stop referring to himself as "not an athlete." MBS and Ed uncover the biggest victories, defeats, and revelations of starting to play a sport as an adult, especially when a lot of the people you're up against feel like they have something to prove.  Notes: Ironrise Games. Get on board now and Kickstart later! Go Nordiques! (MBS is waaaaay biased on this one as her betrothed is a member, too) Doppelgängers R Us Thanks to CAH for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-216-mbsing-claire-linic-real-housewives-and-kardashians Claire Linic has never been calmer than when she is watching middle-aged women foster friendships, fight, host events, and try to sell things on the shows in the Real Housewives franchise. She tells MBS about all of the best and worst wives, the plethora of series and spinoffs, and how she found Keeping Up With the Kardashians to be a gateway into the world of Bravo reality television (and continues to watch Kim's silent contouring videos as a form of relaxation). There's talk of Skinnygirl, the Countess, Kelsey Grammar's ex-wife, NeNe and Kenya, Ramona Singer, Lisa Vanderpump, Andy Cohen, and the reunions. Plus MBS's favorite part, the burgeoning music careers across the board. Notes:  Check out Our Perfect Marriage, cowritten with husband Alan from episode 214. She also cowrote The Awkward Phase. Claire's Real Housewives Spotify playlist   Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-216-mbsing-claire-linic-real-housewives-and-kardashians MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5132 Claire Linic has never been calmer than when she is watching middle-aged women foster friendships, fight, host events, and try to sell things on the shows in the Real Housewives franchise. She tells MBS about all of the best and worst wives, the plethora of series and spinoffs, and how she found Keeping Up With the Kardashians to be a gateway into the world of Bravo reality television (and continues to watch Kim's silent contouring videos as a form of relaxation). There's talk of Skinnygirl, the Countess, Kelsey Grammar's ex-wife, NeNe and Kenya, Ramona Singer, Lisa Vanderpump, Andy Cohen, and the reunions. Plus MBS's favorite part, the burgeoning music careers across the board. Notes:  Check out Our Perfect Marriage, cowritten with husband Alan from episode 214. She also cowrote The Awkward Phase. Claire's Real Housewives Spotify playlist   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesClaire Linic has never been calmer than when she is watching middle-aged women foster friendships, fight, host events, and try to sell things on the shows in the Real Housewives franchise. She tells MBS about all of the best and worst wives, the plethora of series and spinoffs, and how she found Keeping Up With the Kardashians to be a gateway into the world of Bravo reality television (and continues to watch Kim's silent contouring videos as a form of relaxation). There's talk of Skinnygirl, the Countess, Kelsey Grammar's ex-wife, NeNe and Kenya, Ramona Singer, Lisa Vanderpump, Andy Cohen, and the reunions. Plus MBS's favorite part, the burgeoning music careers across the board. Notes:  Check out Our Perfect Marriage, cowritten with husband Alan from episode 214. She also cowrote The Awkward Phase. Claire's Real Housewives Spotify playlist   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-215-mbsing-erin-mcgathy-tilda-swinton Ever since she witnessed the aura surrounding Tilda while sitting across the aisle from her on a plane, Erin McGathy has not been able to shake her fascination with Swinton's presence, lifestyle, and approach to art. Admittedly a fairly casual fan of Tilda's film work, Erin still cites the way Swinton discusses acting as a collaborative effort and less selfish endeavor as an inspiration to not be too hard on herself as a creator and performer. She even credits Swinton's ability to live happily in Scotland as a working actor for inspiring her to take the leap and move to Dublin from LA. We needed to talk about Kevin, David Bowie, and Michael Clayton, as well as a bit about how Tilda became a character in Erin's upcoming Edinburgh/Dublin Fringe festival show, MurderTown. Notes: Erin's one-woman murder mystery, MurderTown at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Dublin Fringe Festival This Feels Terrible, Erin's relationship podcast on Feral Audio Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-215-mbsing-erin-mcgathy-tilda-swinton MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4419 Ever since she witnessed the aura surrounding Tilda while sitting across the aisle from her on a plane, Erin McGathy has not been able to shake her fascination with Swinton's presence, lifestyle, and approach to art. Admittedly a fairly casual fan of Tilda's film work, Erin still cites the way Swinton discusses acting as a collaborative effort and less selfish endeavor as an inspiration to not be too hard on herself as a creator and performer. She even credits Swinton's ability to live happily in Scotland as a working actor for inspiring her to take the leap and move to Dublin from LA. We needed to talk about Kevin, David Bowie, and Michael Clayton, as well as a bit about how Tilda became a character in Erin's upcoming Edinburgh/Dublin Fringe festival show, MurderTown. Notes: Erin's one-woman murder mystery, MurderTown at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Dublin Fringe Festival This Feels Terrible, Erin's relationship podcast on Feral Audio Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEver since she witnessed the aura surrounding Tilda while sitting across the aisle from her on a plane, Erin McGathy has not been able to shake her fascination with Swinton's presence, lifestyle, and approach to art. Admittedly a fairly casual fan of Tilda's film work, Erin still cites the way Swinton discusses acting as a collaborative effort and less selfish endeavor as an inspiration to not be too hard on herself as a creator and performer. She even credits Swinton's ability to live happily in Scotland as a working actor for inspiring her to take the leap and move to Dublin from LA. We needed to talk about Kevin, David Bowie, and Michael Clayton, as well as a bit about how Tilda became a character in Erin's upcoming Edinburgh/Dublin Fringe festival show, MurderTown. Notes: Erin's one-woman murder mystery, MurderTown at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Dublin Fringe Festival This Feels Terrible, Erin's relationship podcast on Feral Audio https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-214-mbsing-alan-linic-dungeons-dragons If you're looking for a DM, send a DM to Alan Linic. He's only gotten into D&D in the last few years, but his childhood knack of adding environmental elements to every playground game has paid off in spades both as an improviser and a dungeon master. After unloading how the structure of gameplay unfolds, Alan speaks to how he and his friends make D&D a unique adventure each time they convene, the gymnastics he may have to perform if a group is being particularly probing in an area he may not have fleshed out pre-game, and how many of the instincts used in playing D&D and DMing are similar to those used to find the most fun game in an improv set. There's also a long conversation about The Cheesecake Factory for some ungodly reason. Notes: Alan and Tyler's D&D live play and discussion podcast, TL;DM   Wed, 12 Jul 2017 13:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-214-mbsing-alan-linic-dungeons-dragons MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5786 If you're looking for a DM, send a DM to Alan Linic. He's only gotten into D&D in the last few years, but his childhood knack of adding environmental elements to every playground game has paid off in spades both as an improviser and a dungeon master. After unloading how the structure of gameplay unfolds, Alan speaks to how he and his friends make D&D a unique adventure each time they convene, the gymnastics he may have to perform if a group is being particularly probing in an area he may not have fleshed out pre-game, and how many of the instincts used in playing D&D and DMing are similar to those used to find the most fun game in an improv set. There's also a long conversation about The Cheesecake Factory for some ungodly reason. Notes: Alan and Tyler's D&D live play and discussion podcast, TL;DM   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIf you're looking for a DM, send a DM to Alan Linic. He's only gotten into D&D in the last few years, but his childhood knack of adding environmental elements to every playground game has paid off in spades both as an improviser and a dungeon master. After unloading how the structure of gameplay unfolds, Alan speaks to how he and his friends make D&D a unique adventure each time they convene, the gymnastics he may have to perform if a group is being particularly probing in an area he may not have fleshed out pre-game, and how many of the instincts used in playing D&D and DMing are similar to those used to find the most fun game in an improv set. There's also a long conversation about The Cheesecake Factory for some ungodly reason. Notes: Alan and Tyler's D&D live play and discussion podcast, TL;DM   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-213-mbsing-brad-pike-cults Brad Pike finds a morbid curiosity in exploring books and documentaries about cults at least in part because he believes he's a part of one. After spending a lot of time discussing Jonestown and the Order of the Solar Temple, Brad and MBS dig into the cult of improv comedy, Chicago style. Get ready to give up your possessions, pledge your loyalty to the leader, and be reminded that there are people who had to help their parents self-immolate. Notes: Devil's Daughter at iO Chicago Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-213-mbsing-brad-pike-cults MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5043 Brad Pike finds a morbid curiosity in exploring books and documentaries about cults at least in part because he believes he's a part of one. After spending a lot of time discussing Jonestown and the Order of the Solar Temple, Brad and MBS dig into the cult of improv comedy, Chicago style. Get ready to give up your possessions, pledge your loyalty to the leader, and be reminded that there are people who had to help their parents self-immolate. Notes: Devil's Daughter at iO Chicago Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBrad Pike finds a morbid curiosity in exploring books and documentaries about cults at least in part because he believes he's a part of one. After spending a lot of time discussing Jonestown and the Order of the Solar Temple, Brad and MBS dig into the cult of improv comedy, Chicago style. Get ready to give up your possessions, pledge your loyalty to the leader, and be reminded that there are people who had to help their parents self-immolate. Notes: Devil's Daughter at iO Chicago Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-212-mbsing-susan-glynn-interior-design Thanks to model home furnishings in the house she grew up in, Susan Glynn has rebelled against the status quo of design from a young age. After accomplishing her Limited Too-fueled dream of having a room with bright orange walls, yellow trim, and a blue clouded sky ceiling, she was set off on a journey of thrifty vision and bold choices. Having graduated to living with roommates and now to a significant other, adult Susan finds herself curating her living spaces as a middle ground with her cohabitants while using ways to keep it all affordable and aesthetically pleasing for her. And yes, she will judge your apartment, especially if there are far too many design relics from your college dorm room. Notes: Shebeast at the Annoyance Theatre, check out MBSing episodes from team members Becca Slack, Mary Catherine Curran, and Jacqueline Felker Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Wed, 28 Jun 2017 11:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-212-mbsing-susan-glynn-interior-design MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5339 Thanks to model home furnishings in the house she grew up in, Susan Glynn has rebelled against the status quo of design from a young age. After accomplishing her Limited Too-fueled dream of having a room with bright orange walls, yellow trim, and a blue clouded sky ceiling, she was set off on a journey of thrifty vision and bold choices. Having graduated to living with roommates and now to a significant other, adult Susan finds herself curating her living spaces as a middle ground with her cohabitants while using ways to keep it all affordable and aesthetically pleasing for her. And yes, she will judge your apartment, especially if there are far too many design relics from your college dorm room. Notes: Shebeast at the Annoyance Theatre, check out MBSing episodes from team members Becca Slack, Mary Catherine Curran, and Jacqueline Felker Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThanks to model home furnishings in the house she grew up in, Susan Glynn has rebelled against the status quo of design from a young age. After accomplishing her Limited Too-fueled dream of having a room with bright orange walls, yellow trim, and a blue clouded sky ceiling, she was set off on a journey of thrifty vision and bold choices. Having graduated to living with roommates and now to a significant other, adult Susan finds herself curating her living spaces as a middle ground with her cohabitants while using ways to keep it all affordable and aesthetically pleasing for her. And yes, she will judge your apartment, especially if there are far too many design relics from your college dorm room. Notes: Shebeast at the Annoyance Theatre, check out MBSing episodes from team members Becca Slack, Mary Catherine Curran, and Jacqueline Felker Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-211-mbsing-nicole-carter-2016-chicago-cubs Nicole may not be a lifelong, generations of season tickets Cubs fan, but she is a lifelong baseball fan and she does cite the first time she turned the corner in Wrigleyville to stumble upon Wrigley Field as the moment that cemented her move to Chicago and kick-started her journey to being a Cubs devotee. She swaps dads who love baseball stories with MBS (including the first time they each took their old man to Wrigley), cites all the tiny oddities and large unknowns that make baseball fun for her, and gets into the nitty gritty on each of the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series games she attended (and how she dealt with watching the others in bars). It gets teary, yelly, and giggly in spades. Notes: All of MLB's walk off balks Man in headdress - Sad Nicole's comrades in improv and baseball fandom, Big Spoon Nerdologues 7th Anniversary Show and Party 6/24/17 Wed, 21 Jun 2017 10:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-211-mbsing-nicole-carter-2016-chicago-cubs MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 7305 Nicole may not be a lifelong, generations of season tickets Cubs fan, but she is a lifelong baseball fan and she does cite the first time she turned the corner in Wrigleyville to stumble upon Wrigley Field as the moment that cemented her move to Chicago and kick-started her journey to being a Cubs devotee. She swaps dads who love baseball stories with MBS (including the first time they each took their old man to Wrigley), cites all the tiny oddities and large unknowns that make baseball fun for her, and gets into the nitty gritty on each of the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series games she attended (and how she dealt with watching the others in bars). It gets teary, yelly, and giggly in spades. Notes: All of MLB's walk off balks Man in headdress - Sad Nicole's comrades in improv and baseball fandom, Big Spoon Nerdologues 7th Anniversary Show and Party 6/24/17 Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesNicole may not be a lifelong, generations of season tickets Cubs fan, but she is a lifelong baseball fan and she does cite the first time she turned the corner in Wrigleyville to stumble upon Wrigley Field as the moment that cemented her move to Chicago and kick-started her journey to being a Cubs devotee. She swaps dads who love baseball stories with MBS (including the first time they each took their old man to Wrigley), cites all the tiny oddities and large unknowns that make baseball fun for her, and gets into the nitty gritty on each of the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series games she attended (and how she dealt with watching the others in bars). It gets teary, yelly, and giggly in spades. Notes: All of MLB's walk off balks Man in headdress - Sad Nicole's comrades in improv and baseball fandom, Big Spoon Nerdologues 7th Anniversary Show and Party 6/24/17 https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-210-mbsing-savannah-million-harvest-moon-and-animal-crossing Savannah Million has put in so much time farming, harvesting, and upgrading you'd think she'd have some fields to show for it. WHICH SHE DOES, but they're all of the digital variety. A longtime fan of the admittedly-flawed Harvest Moon franchise and newer convert to the Animal Crossing games, Savannah unpacks what it is that makes these game mechanics so satisfying and even how the min-maxing of certain traits of the game makes them less fun to traverse though more easily conquered. Stick around for a breakdown of MBS's Pokémon Go habits as well as the influence Harvest Moon and Animal crossing have had on her cartooning and web development. Notes: Listen to Savannah and past MBSing guest Alex Cox talk robots and feminism on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show, Roboism. Wed, 14 Jun 2017 12:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-210-mbsing-savannah-million-harvest-moon-and-animal-crossing MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4376 Savannah Million has put in so much time farming, harvesting, and upgrading you'd think she'd have some fields to show for it. WHICH SHE DOES, but they're all of the digital variety. A longtime fan of the admittedly-flawed Harvest Moon franchise and newer convert to the Animal Crossing games, Savannah unpacks what it is that makes these game mechanics so satisfying and even how the min-maxing of certain traits of the game makes them less fun to traverse though more easily conquered. Stick around for a breakdown of MBS's Pokémon Go habits as well as the influence Harvest Moon and Animal crossing have had on her cartooning and web development. Notes: Listen to Savannah and past MBSing guest Alex Cox talk robots and feminism on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show, Roboism. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSavannah Million has put in so much time farming, harvesting, and upgrading you'd think she'd have some fields to show for it. WHICH SHE DOES, but they're all of the digital variety. A longtime fan of the admittedly-flawed Harvest Moon franchise and newer convert to the Animal Crossing games, Savannah unpacks what it is that makes these game mechanics so satisfying and even how the min-maxing of certain traits of the game makes them less fun to traverse though more easily conquered. Stick around for a breakdown of MBS's Pokémon Go habits as well as the influence Harvest Moon and Animal crossing have had on her cartooning and web development. Notes: Listen to Savannah and past MBSing guest Alex Cox talk robots and feminism on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show, Roboism. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-209-mbsing-tawny-newsome-natural-hair Tawny Newsome has left behind the world of relaxers and weaves in favor of her naturally curly black hair, and she's here to extoll the virtues (and explain the difficulties) of a natural hair life. From how it's affected the roles she's called in to audition for to how strangers interact with her, Tawny's cosmetic choice to assimilate less to the general cultural ideal of straight hair has pervaded her day to day life in ways one may not expect. There's also some dissection of how LA's public interpersonal vibe differs from Chicago's, how most fans of comedy are sweethearts who understand boundaries, and how white people figuring out and dispersing the info that it's rude to ask to touch someone's natural hair is like kids realizing that cats don't like to be petted against the direction their fur grows. Notes: There are some Get Out spoilers for a wee minute or two at around the 35:30 mark All three seasons of Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ are available at Seeso.com and all the ways you stream TV Tawny's appearances on the Earwolf network Eric Garneau's Blank Cassette with comic writer Kieron Gillen Elizabeth Cambrige's Random Conversations, fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Wed, 07 Jun 2017 13:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-209-mbsing-tawny-newsome-natural-hair MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4895 Tawny Newsome has left behind the world of relaxers and weaves in favor of her naturally curly black hair, and she's here to extoll the virtues (and explain the difficulties) of a natural hair life. From how it's affected the roles she's called in to audition for to how strangers interact with her, Tawny's cosmetic choice to assimilate less to the general cultural ideal of straight hair has pervaded her day to day life in ways one may not expect. There's also some dissection of how LA's public interpersonal vibe differs from Chicago's, how most fans of comedy are sweethearts who understand boundaries, and how white people figuring out and dispersing the info that it's rude to ask to touch someone's natural hair is like kids realizing that cats don't like to be petted against the direction their fur grows. Notes: There are some Get Out spoilers for a wee minute or two at around the 35:30 mark All three seasons of Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ are available at Seeso.com and all the ways you stream TV Tawny's appearances on the Earwolf network Eric Garneau's Blank Cassette with comic writer Kieron Gillen Elizabeth Cambrige's Random Conversations, fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTawny Newsome has left behind the world of relaxers and weaves in favor of her naturally curly black hair, and she's here to extoll the virtues (and explain the difficulties) of a natural hair life. From how it's affected the roles she's called in to audition for to how strangers interact with her, Tawny's cosmetic choice to assimilate less to the general cultural ideal of straight hair has pervaded her day to day life in ways one may not expect. There's also some dissection of how LA's public interpersonal vibe differs from Chicago's, how most fans of comedy are sweethearts who understand boundaries, and how white people figuring out and dispersing the info that it's rude to ask to touch someone's natural hair is like kids realizing that cats don't like to be petted against the direction their fur grows. Notes: There are some Get Out spoilers for a wee minute or two at around the 35:30 mark All three seasons of Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ are available at Seeso.com and all the ways you stream TV Tawny's appearances on the Earwolf network Eric Garneau's Blank Cassette with comic writer Kieron Gillen Elizabeth Cambrige's Random Conversations, fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-208-mbsing-mary-cait-walthall-human-communication Due to a background of study ranging from psychology to physical theater, Mary Cait Walthall has become incredibly mindful of how people communicate with one another. She actively works to impliment nonviolent communication and restorative practices in Chicago Public Schools, and she is always using the wisdom she gleaned from LISPA to be aware of nonverbal communication as a performer, teacher, and restorative justice specialist. The conversation ranges from doing improvisational theatre with ESL actors using their first language to acknowledging privilege within conversations about social justice to the can of worms that is communicating on the Internet. Notes: Mary Cait is a member of the Improvised Star Trek and Superhuman. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and providing a recording facility. Wed, 31 May 2017 16:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-208-mbsing-mary-cait-walthall-human-communication MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6413 Due to a background of study ranging from psychology to physical theater, Mary Cait Walthall has become incredibly mindful of how people communicate with one another. She actively works to impliment nonviolent communication and restorative practices in Chicago Public Schools, and she is always using the wisdom she gleaned from LISPA to be aware of nonverbal communication as a performer, teacher, and restorative justice specialist. The conversation ranges from doing improvisational theatre with ESL actors using their first language to acknowledging privilege within conversations about social justice to the can of worms that is communicating on the Internet. Notes: Mary Cait is a member of the Improvised Star Trek and Superhuman. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and providing a recording facility. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesDue to a background of study ranging from psychology to physical theater, Mary Cait Walthall has become incredibly mindful of how people communicate with one another. She actively works to impliment nonviolent communication and restorative practices in Chicago Public Schools, and she is always using the wisdom she gleaned from LISPA to be aware of nonverbal communication as a performer, teacher, and restorative justice specialist. The conversation ranges from doing improvisational theatre with ESL actors using their first language to acknowledging privilege within conversations about social justice to the can of worms that is communicating on the Internet. Notes: Mary Cait is a member of the Improvised Star Trek and Superhuman. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and providing a recording facility. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-207-mbsing-ali-barthwell-smash Ali Barthwell sank her teeth into the sometimes-ridiculous NBC musical drama Smash from its premiere, and she continues to curl up under the blanket of its creative process years after its two season run. She walks the listener through [most of] the many story lines and breaks down the plot holes of the original musical added in the second season, Hit List. Beyond the delicious stretches they ask the audience to be on board for in order to have all the singing happening diegetically, there's a lot of discussion to be had surrounding talented females in music and how the show responds to some of these ingenues. This is a fun conversation of a fan embracing what's great about a show and exploring ways it could've been pared down. Notes: Ali's One Shot appearances and Vulture recaps CAH Live tickets Wed, 24 May 2017 13:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-207-mbsing-ali-barthwell-smash MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6387 Ali Barthwell sank her teeth into the sometimes-ridiculous NBC musical drama Smash from its premiere, and she continues to curl up under the blanket of its creative process years after its two season run. She walks the listener through [most of] the many story lines and breaks down the plot holes of the original musical added in the second season, Hit List. Beyond the delicious stretches they ask the audience to be on board for in order to have all the singing happening diegetically, there's a lot of discussion to be had surrounding talented females in music and how the show responds to some of these ingenues. This is a fun conversation of a fan embracing what's great about a show and exploring ways it could've been pared down. Notes: Ali's One Shot appearances and Vulture recaps CAH Live tickets Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAli Barthwell sank her teeth into the sometimes-ridiculous NBC musical drama Smash from its premiere, and she continues to curl up under the blanket of its creative process years after its two season run. She walks the listener through [most of] the many story lines and breaks down the plot holes of the original musical added in the second season, Hit List. Beyond the delicious stretches they ask the audience to be on board for in order to have all the singing happening diegetically, there's a lot of discussion to be had surrounding talented females in music and how the show responds to some of these ingenues. This is a fun conversation of a fan embracing what's great about a show and exploring ways it could've been pared down. Notes: Ali's One Shot appearances and Vulture recaps CAH Live tickets https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-206-mbsing-katy-jenkins-dylan-schaefer-and-molly-southgate-sci Katy, Dylan, and Molly share a love for watching and performing within the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres as well as sharing the stage in Otherworld Theatre Company's forthcoming original play, The Rogue Aviator. Dylan is an Otherworld (and MBSing) vet, Katy is a cast member of OTC's ongoing Sailor Moon parady series called Moon! Prism! Power!, and 10-year-old Molly is Otherworld's first child actor and was previously the youngest podcast host in the iTunes store. We spend some time on each of their favorite entries in the genres, the joys and frustrations of being a fan of these novels/films/TV shows, and the desire of the cast and company to bring more of these escapes to the stage. Notes: Rogue Aviator info and tickets Your Stories with Smashcoven at the Beat Kitchen Cards Against Humanity Live at the Greenhouse New Nerdologues podcast Let's Get It On and tour ep from LA Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for having MBSing as a part of their crop of shows. Wed, 17 May 2017 10:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-206-mbsing-katy-jenkins-dylan-schaefer-and-molly-southgate-sci MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6575 Katy, Dylan, and Molly share a love for watching and performing within the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres as well as sharing the stage in Otherworld Theatre Company's forthcoming original play, The Rogue Aviator. Dylan is an Otherworld (and MBSing) vet, Katy is a cast member of OTC's ongoing Sailor Moon parady series called Moon! Prism! Power!, and 10-year-old Molly is Otherworld's first child actor and was previously the youngest podcast host in the iTunes store. We spend some time on each of their favorite entries in the genres, the joys and frustrations of being a fan of these novels/films/TV shows, and the desire of the cast and company to bring more of these escapes to the stage. Notes: Rogue Aviator info and tickets Your Stories with Smashcoven at the Beat Kitchen Cards Against Humanity Live at the Greenhouse New Nerdologues podcast Let's Get It On and tour ep from LA Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for having MBSing as a part of their crop of shows. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesKaty, Dylan, and Molly share a love for watching and performing within the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres as well as sharing the stage in Otherworld Theatre Company's forthcoming original play, The Rogue Aviator. Dylan is an Otherworld (and MBSing) vet, Katy is a cast member of OTC's ongoing Sailor Moon parady series called Moon! Prism! Power!, and 10-year-old Molly is Otherworld's first child actor and was previously the youngest podcast host in the iTunes store. We spend some time on each of their favorite entries in the genres, the joys and frustrations of being a fan of these novels/films/TV shows, and the desire of the cast and company to bring more of these escapes to the stage. Notes: Rogue Aviator info and tickets Your Stories with Smashcoven at the Beat Kitchen Cards Against Humanity Live at the Greenhouse New Nerdologues podcast Let's Get It On and tour ep from LA Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for having MBSing as a part of their crop of shows. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-205-mbsing-andrew-bentley-english-monarchs Andrew has been an Anglophile since his Nana and Papa's living in Great Britain meant they passed along bits of its influence, pop culture, and kids books and toys on to him. Specifically citing Terry Deary's Horrible Histories series as the spark, Bentley's interest in the monarchy knows few bounds. He can rattle them off in order, expound upon their specific legacies, and cite both inspirations and inaccuracies in pop culture created about monarchs from before and after the creation of the UK.  Notes: The Street Wizard's Apprentice webseries from Muscular Clown Competition Kitchen Kickstarter Attend the Tale of Danny Tanner, directed by Andrew   Wed, 10 May 2017 13:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-205-mbsing-andrew-bentley-english-monarchs MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4510 Andrew has been an Anglophile since his Nana and Papa's living in Great Britain meant they passed along bits of its influence, pop culture, and kids books and toys on to him. Specifically citing Terry Deary's Horrible Histories series as the spark, Bentley's interest in the monarchy knows few bounds. He can rattle them off in order, expound upon their specific legacies, and cite both inspirations and inaccuracies in pop culture created about monarchs from before and after the creation of the UK.  Notes: The Street Wizard's Apprentice webseries from Muscular Clown Competition Kitchen Kickstarter Attend the Tale of Danny Tanner, directed by Andrew   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAndrew has been an Anglophile since his Nana and Papa's living in Great Britain meant they passed along bits of its influence, pop culture, and kids books and toys on to him. Specifically citing Terry Deary's Horrible Histories series as the spark, Bentley's interest in the monarchy knows few bounds. He can rattle them off in order, expound upon their specific legacies, and cite both inspirations and inaccuracies in pop culture created about monarchs from before and after the creation of the UK.  Notes: The Street Wizard's Apprentice webseries from Muscular Clown Competition Kitchen Kickstarter Attend the Tale of Danny Tanner, directed by Andrew   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-204-mbsing-james-damato-independent-rpg-design James has been GMing RPGs like a boss for four years as the host of the One Shot Podcast, and he brings his love of tabletop RPG design to MBSing with the same kindness and fervor that pervades their network. From finding the most basic of rules to honing in on how to bring about specific attributes in characters via their abilities, so much design ground is covered. If you're into D&D but have never ventured outside of the dungeon OR if you've always thought tabletop RPGs were only for serious gamer geeks and fantasy nerds, this conversation is absolutely for you. Games like Fiasco, Feng Shui, Honey Heist, Everyone is John, and a few of James's own creations get some air time.  One Shot Podcast Network Your Stories Tour Kick Off Event James played Competition Kitchen! The Kickstarter is still open James and Kat's Talking Tabletop interview Noisy Person Cards Wed, 03 May 2017 11:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-204-mbsing-james-damato-independent-rpg-design MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4890 James has been GMing RPGs like a boss for four years as the host of the One Shot Podcast, and he brings his love of tabletop RPG design to MBSing with the same kindness and fervor that pervades their network. From finding the most basic of rules to honing in on how to bring about specific attributes in characters via their abilities, so much design ground is covered. If you're into D&D but have never ventured outside of the dungeon OR if you've always thought tabletop RPGs were only for serious gamer geeks and fantasy nerds, this conversation is absolutely for you. Games like Fiasco, Feng Shui, Honey Heist, Everyone is John, and a few of James's own creations get some air time.  One Shot Podcast Network Your Stories Tour Kick Off Event James played Competition Kitchen! The Kickstarter is still open James and Kat's Talking Tabletop interview Noisy Person Cards Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJames has been GMing RPGs like a boss for four years as the host of the One Shot Podcast, and he brings his love of tabletop RPG design to MBSing with the same kindness and fervor that pervades their network. From finding the most basic of rules to honing in on how to bring about specific attributes in characters via their abilities, so much design ground is covered. If you're into D&D but have never ventured outside of the dungeon OR if you've always thought tabletop RPGs were only for serious gamer geeks and fantasy nerds, this conversation is absolutely for you. Games like Fiasco, Feng Shui, Honey Heist, Everyone is John, and a few of James's own creations get some air time.  One Shot Podcast Network Your Stories Tour Kick Off Event James played Competition Kitchen! The Kickstarter is still open James and Kat's Talking Tabletop interview Noisy Person Cards https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-203-mbsing-hal-lublin-professional-wrestling Hal's enthusiasm knows few bounds, especially when it comes to the joys and silliness of professional wrestling. From his childhood fandom when WWF was only regional wrestling in the Northeast to having every match every week immediately available via the WWE Network, Hal's seen a lot of facets of wrestling at home, ringside, and even during one backstage endeavor (!!). There's talk of wrestler's music endeavors, the wonderful Aronofsky film The Wrestler, and what Hal would try to get over on audiences if he had the chance. Notes: SB Nation piece from a first-time watcher of wrestling Hal's shows Tights and Fights and We Got This The Nerdologues Kickstarter for Competition Kitchen Savvy MBSing listeners will note that Alex Trepka talked about pro wrestling on episode 23, but MBS and Hal are both aware of that and OK with it. PLUS this is ep 203, so that's uncanny, huh?? Wed, 26 Apr 2017 13:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-203-mbsing-hal-lublin-professional-wrestling MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5051 Hal's enthusiasm knows few bounds, especially when it comes to the joys and silliness of professional wrestling. From his childhood fandom when WWF was only regional wrestling in the Northeast to having every match every week immediately available via the WWE Network, Hal's seen a lot of facets of wrestling at home, ringside, and even during one backstage endeavor (!!). There's talk of wrestler's music endeavors, the wonderful Aronofsky film The Wrestler, and what Hal would try to get over on audiences if he had the chance. Notes: SB Nation piece from a first-time watcher of wrestling Hal's shows Tights and Fights and We Got This The Nerdologues Kickstarter for Competition Kitchen Savvy MBSing listeners will note that Alex Trepka talked about pro wrestling on episode 23, but MBS and Hal are both aware of that and OK with it. PLUS this is ep 203, so that's uncanny, huh?? Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHal's enthusiasm knows few bounds, especially when it comes to the joys and silliness of professional wrestling. From his childhood fandom when WWF was only regional wrestling in the Northeast to having every match every week immediately available via the WWE Network, Hal's seen a lot of facets of wrestling at home, ringside, and even during one backstage endeavor (!!). There's talk of wrestler's music endeavors, the wonderful Aronofsky film The Wrestler, and what Hal would try to get over on audiences if he had the chance. Notes: SB Nation piece from a first-time watcher of wrestling Hal's shows Tights and Fights and We Got This The Nerdologues Kickstarter for Competition Kitchen Savvy MBSing listeners will note that Alex Trepka talked about pro wrestling on episode 23, but MBS and Hal are both aware of that and OK with it. PLUS this is ep 203, so that's uncanny, huh?? https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-202-mbsing-drew-krehel-fermi-paradox Enrico Fermi posed to his colleagues in 1950 that if aliens exist, where the heck are they? The Fermi paradox is a conflict between arguments of scale and probability that seem to favor intelligent life being common in the universe and a total lack of evidence of intelligent life having ever arisen anywhere else. Drew has been pondering this pseudoparadox since he was a science-interested young person devouring Sci-Fi novels and films, and as an adult he's been able to explore more of both the stats that have gone into the probability of ET life and the filters that life has to pass through into continued existence. The result is his structuring a wonderfully interesting dialogue about the existence of non-Earth-based intelligent life and why we may not have seen it yet.  The Street Wizard's Apprentice from Muscular Clown Competition Kitchen from The Nerdologues Wed, 19 Apr 2017 09:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-202-mbsing-drew-krehel-fermi-paradox MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6068 Enrico Fermi posed to his colleagues in 1950 that if aliens exist, where the heck are they? The Fermi paradox is a conflict between arguments of scale and probability that seem to favor intelligent life being common in the universe and a total lack of evidence of intelligent life having ever arisen anywhere else. Drew has been pondering this pseudoparadox since he was a science-interested young person devouring Sci-Fi novels and films, and as an adult he's been able to explore more of both the stats that have gone into the probability of ET life and the filters that life has to pass through into continued existence. The result is his structuring a wonderfully interesting dialogue about the existence of non-Earth-based intelligent life and why we may not have seen it yet.  The Street Wizard's Apprentice from Muscular Clown Competition Kitchen from The Nerdologues Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEnrico Fermi posed to his colleagues in 1950 that if aliens exist, where the heck are they? The Fermi paradox is a conflict between arguments of scale and probability that seem to favor intelligent life being common in the universe and a total lack of evidence of intelligent life having ever arisen anywhere else. Drew has been pondering this pseudoparadox since he was a science-interested young person devouring Sci-Fi novels and films, and as an adult he's been able to explore more of both the stats that have gone into the probability of ET life and the filters that life has to pass through into continued existence. The result is his structuring a wonderfully interesting dialogue about the existence of non-Earth-based intelligent life and why we may not have seen it yet.  The Street Wizard's Apprentice from Muscular Clown Competition Kitchen from The Nerdologues https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-201-mbsing-alex-kliner-musical-composition Alex Kliner has wanted to write film scores since he found out his biggest musical idol (Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails) was getting into the business himself. This self-proclaimed former "mall goth" went from taking piano lessons from an uber Christian teacher to writing music for friends' shows in college to touring with the Second City as a musical director to scoring a crowd-funded feature film and beyond. Get into his influences, methods, and favorite projects to work on as a composer and enjoy your own ability to passively listen to music without deconstructing everything you hear in order to mimic the style. Notes: Kliner did not send those pics of himself as a mall goth. Inquire via Twitter? Alex's film scoring debut Competition Kitchen Kickstarter Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Coop for a home.   Wed, 12 Apr 2017 10:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-201-mbsing-alex-kliner-musical-composition MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5303 Alex Kliner has wanted to write film scores since he found out his biggest musical idol (Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails) was getting into the business himself. This self-proclaimed former "mall goth" went from taking piano lessons from an uber Christian teacher to writing music for friends' shows in college to touring with the Second City as a musical director to scoring a crowd-funded feature film and beyond. Get into his influences, methods, and favorite projects to work on as a composer and enjoy your own ability to passively listen to music without deconstructing everything you hear in order to mimic the style. Notes: Kliner did not send those pics of himself as a mall goth. Inquire via Twitter? Alex's film scoring debut Competition Kitchen Kickstarter Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Coop for a home.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAlex Kliner has wanted to write film scores since he found out his biggest musical idol (Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails) was getting into the business himself. This self-proclaimed former "mall goth" went from taking piano lessons from an uber Christian teacher to writing music for friends' shows in college to touring with the Second City as a musical director to scoring a crowd-funded feature film and beyond. Get into his influences, methods, and favorite projects to work on as a composer and enjoy your own ability to passively listen to music without deconstructing everything you hear in order to mimic the style. Notes: Kliner did not send those pics of himself as a mall goth. Inquire via Twitter? Alex's film scoring debut Competition Kitchen Kickstarter Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Coop for a home.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-200-mbsing-jenn-bane-neopets Jenn Bane feels she wouldn't be the woman she is today without Neopets; It introduced her to gaming, message boards, and friends she still keeps in touch with. What started as and could have easily remained a conversation about the land of Neopia awaiting users at Neopets.com ends up being a discussion about Jenn and MBS's social habits as young people and how Neopets and youth have changed over the life of the Internet. There's talk of brands, business acumen, and the Disney Channel Original Movie Brink! (there's always time for Brink!). Notes: Jenn is a cohost of the Friendshipping podcast along with MBSing episode 100 guest Trin Garritano. They made a friendship sandwich across 100 episodes of MBSing. Heck yeah. There was A LOT of coverage of The Day The Neopets Message Boards Went Mod-less. MBS's favorite post is, "Y'ALL NEED JESUS." Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for all their hard work. Wed, 05 Apr 2017 14:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-200-mbsing-jenn-bane-neopets MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3746 Jenn Bane feels she wouldn't be the woman she is today without Neopets; It introduced her to gaming, message boards, and friends she still keeps in touch with. What started as and could have easily remained a conversation about the land of Neopia awaiting users at Neopets.com ends up being a discussion about Jenn and MBS's social habits as young people and how Neopets and youth have changed over the life of the Internet. There's talk of brands, business acumen, and the Disney Channel Original Movie Brink! (there's always time for Brink!). Notes: Jenn is a cohost of the Friendshipping podcast along with MBSing episode 100 guest Trin Garritano. They made a friendship sandwich across 100 episodes of MBSing. Heck yeah. There was A LOT of coverage of The Day The Neopets Message Boards Went Mod-less. MBS's favorite post is, "Y'ALL NEED JESUS." Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for all their hard work. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJenn Bane feels she wouldn't be the woman she is today without Neopets; It introduced her to gaming, message boards, and friends she still keeps in touch with. What started as and could have easily remained a conversation about the land of Neopia awaiting users at Neopets.com ends up being a discussion about Jenn and MBS's social habits as young people and how Neopets and youth have changed over the life of the Internet. There's talk of brands, business acumen, and the Disney Channel Original Movie Brink! (there's always time for Brink!). Notes: Jenn is a cohost of the Friendshipping podcast along with MBSing episode 100 guest Trin Garritano. They made a friendship sandwich across 100 episodes of MBSing. Heck yeah. There was A LOT of coverage of The Day The Neopets Message Boards Went Mod-less. MBS's favorite post is, "Y'ALL NEED JESUS." Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for all their hard work. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-199-mbsing-mark-gagliardi-rent It's always a treat for MBS to share the love of a topic with her guest, and this RENT-head reunion was no exception. Mark saw the show on Broadway with its original cast as a high school southerner doing college visits, and it kinda changed his life. In addition to introducing him to a world of artists and diversity (and disease) he had no concept of, it "reaffirmed and maybe even instilled [his] love of a big ensemble of people trying to tell a meaningful story together." For this hour, there's only us, there's only this, and this is talking about how great Rent is. PS - Somehow we managed to not discuss Jonathan Larson's passing the morning of the show's first preview. If you want a good cry and a sense of how emotional and passionate those performances were, read Rapp's book for a first hand account of the process without him. We Got This with Mark and Hal International Tom Hanks Day Chicago Podcast Cooperative Wed, 29 Mar 2017 14:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-199-mbsing-mark-gagliardi-rent MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4052 It's always a treat for MBS to share the love of a topic with her guest, and this RENT-head reunion was no exception. Mark saw the show on Broadway with its original cast as a high school southerner doing college visits, and it kinda changed his life. In addition to introducing him to a world of artists and diversity (and disease) he had no concept of, it "reaffirmed and maybe even instilled [his] love of a big ensemble of people trying to tell a meaningful story together." For this hour, there's only us, there's only this, and this is talking about how great Rent is. PS - Somehow we managed to not discuss Jonathan Larson's passing the morning of the show's first preview. If you want a good cry and a sense of how emotional and passionate those performances were, read Rapp's book for a first hand account of the process without him. We Got This with Mark and Hal International Tom Hanks Day Chicago Podcast Cooperative Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIt's always a treat for MBS to share the love of a topic with her guest, and this RENT-head reunion was no exception. Mark saw the show on Broadway with its original cast as a high school southerner doing college visits, and it kinda changed his life. In addition to introducing him to a world of artists and diversity (and disease) he had no concept of, it "reaffirmed and maybe even instilled [his] love of a big ensemble of people trying to tell a meaningful story together." For this hour, there's only us, there's only this, and this is talking about how great Rent is. PS - Somehow we managed to not discuss Jonathan Larson's passing the morning of the show's first preview. If you want a good cry and a sense of how emotional and passionate those performances were, read Rapp's book for a first hand account of the process without him. We Got This with Mark and Hal International Tom Hanks Day Chicago Podcast Cooperative https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-198-mbsing-mary-robinette-kowal-puppetry Author and professional puppeteer Mary Robinette Kowal describes her love of puppetry as an interest in the boundless nature of the medium. She can play any type of character, there are countless ways to present the puppets themselves, and combinations of puppet actors and "fleshies" are ripe for new experiences and metaphors for audiences. She even tells a great story about the unfortunate(?) place her hand ended up while on set for Sesame Street. Garner a new appreciation for how the craft of writing overlaps with the entry point for puppeteering and how many puppeteers are making the puppets they perform with while you count how many times MBS says "cool!" or "that's amazing!" Notes Center for Puppetry Arts on Czeck Black Puppeteers of America UNIMA-USA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) 2 Eps of Jim Hensen Presents The World of Puppetry Wed, 22 Mar 2017 14:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-198-mbsing-mary-robinette-kowal-puppetry MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4501 Author and professional puppeteer Mary Robinette Kowal describes her love of puppetry as an interest in the boundless nature of the medium. She can play any type of character, there are countless ways to present the puppets themselves, and combinations of puppet actors and "fleshies" are ripe for new experiences and metaphors for audiences. She even tells a great story about the unfortunate(?) place her hand ended up while on set for Sesame Street. Garner a new appreciation for how the craft of writing overlaps with the entry point for puppeteering and how many puppeteers are making the puppets they perform with while you count how many times MBS says "cool!" or "that's amazing!" Notes Center for Puppetry Arts on Czeck Black Puppeteers of America UNIMA-USA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) 2 Eps of Jim Hensen Presents The World of Puppetry Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAuthor and professional puppeteer Mary Robinette Kowal describes her love of puppetry as an interest in the boundless nature of the medium. She can play any type of character, there are countless ways to present the puppets themselves, and combinations of puppet actors and "fleshies" are ripe for new experiences and metaphors for audiences. She even tells a great story about the unfortunate(?) place her hand ended up while on set for Sesame Street. Garner a new appreciation for how the craft of writing overlaps with the entry point for puppeteering and how many puppeteers are making the puppets they perform with while you count how many times MBS says "cool!" or "that's amazing!" Notes Center for Puppetry Arts on Czeck Black Puppeteers of America UNIMA-USA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) 2 Eps of Jim Hensen Presents The World of Puppetry https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-197-mbsing-tricia-bobeda-time-travel-pop-culture Tricia takes a break from cohosting her own inordinately entertaining podcast Nerdette to talk long form about a topic that gets inevitably philosophical. She has adored the idea of exploring time travel since she noticed it popping up in her favorite things to consume (Doctor Who, Harry Potter, etc). We talk some of her new favorite examples (she knows other people are watching Travelers) and spend a lot of time discussing why we as creators and consumers have become even more interested in exploring the idea of going to the past or future in recent years.  Notes: Tony Curran played Van Gogh, and Bill Nighy was unbilled as the museum currator. MBS was thinking of Timeless but on further consideration could not find a promo with a train in it. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-197-mbsing-tricia-bobeda-time-travel-pop-culture MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3829 Tricia takes a break from cohosting her own inordinately entertaining podcast Nerdette to talk long form about a topic that gets inevitably philosophical. She has adored the idea of exploring time travel since she noticed it popping up in her favorite things to consume (Doctor Who, Harry Potter, etc). We talk some of her new favorite examples (she knows other people are watching Travelers) and spend a lot of time discussing why we as creators and consumers have become even more interested in exploring the idea of going to the past or future in recent years.  Notes: Tony Curran played Van Gogh, and Bill Nighy was unbilled as the museum currator. MBS was thinking of Timeless but on further consideration could not find a promo with a train in it. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTricia takes a break from cohosting her own inordinately entertaining podcast Nerdette to talk long form about a topic that gets inevitably philosophical. She has adored the idea of exploring time travel since she noticed it popping up in her favorite things to consume (Doctor Who, Harry Potter, etc). We talk some of her new favorite examples (she knows other people are watching Travelers) and spend a lot of time discussing why we as creators and consumers have become even more interested in exploring the idea of going to the past or future in recent years.  Notes: Tony Curran played Van Gogh, and Bill Nighy was unbilled as the museum currator. MBS was thinking of Timeless but on further consideration could not find a promo with a train in it. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-196-mbsing-nico-carter-breath In. Out. Repeat. while listening to this great conversation with Nico Carter, the host encourages you to center yourself, breathe, and soft focus on what's around you. Nico starts by elaborating on the lung issues that befell him to make him more aware of his own breath in the first place, then takes MBS on a journey through the awareness that breath has given him in improv (musically, comedically, and where acting and writing are concerned) and day to day life. From Eckhart Tolle to Thích Nhất Hạnh, this is a fun and interesting theoretical and philosophical exploration of breath and art you will not soon forget. Thanks to Nico's [and my sometimes] employer Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for the coordination of sponsors etc. Wed, 08 Mar 2017 13:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-196-mbsing-nico-carter-breath MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3727 In. Out. Repeat. while listening to this great conversation with Nico Carter, the host encourages you to center yourself, breathe, and soft focus on what's around you. Nico starts by elaborating on the lung issues that befell him to make him more aware of his own breath in the first place, then takes MBS on a journey through the awareness that breath has given him in improv (musically, comedically, and where acting and writing are concerned) and day to day life. From Eckhart Tolle to Thích Nhất Hạnh, this is a fun and interesting theoretical and philosophical exploration of breath and art you will not soon forget. Thanks to Nico's [and my sometimes] employer Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for the coordination of sponsors etc. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIn. Out. Repeat. while listening to this great conversation with Nico Carter, the host encourages you to center yourself, breathe, and soft focus on what's around you. Nico starts by elaborating on the lung issues that befell him to make him more aware of his own breath in the first place, then takes MBS on a journey through the awareness that breath has given him in improv (musically, comedically, and where acting and writing are concerned) and day to day life. From Eckhart Tolle to Thích Nhất Hạnh, this is a fun and interesting theoretical and philosophical exploration of breath and art you will not soon forget. Thanks to Nico's [and my sometimes] employer Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for the coordination of sponsors etc. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-195-mbsing-asher-perlman-and-john-sabine-decision-making John and Asher are close friends who write and perform together a lot, so they naturally have to make a lot of decisions together. We unpack the possible topics they both brought to the table and discover a lot of them are related to the subject (the Mandela Effect, heuristics), we dig into the way our personalities (as determined by ourselves and some personality tests we discuss) and thought processes affect the decisions we make, and we get into how an obsession with decision-making can make improv both a daunting task and a freeing gift of an art from. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for continuing to sponsor and allow the use of their studios and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for support. Wed, 01 Mar 2017 11:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-195-mbsing-asher-perlman-and-john-sabine-decision-making MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6285 John and Asher are close friends who write and perform together a lot, so they naturally have to make a lot of decisions together. We unpack the possible topics they both brought to the table and discover a lot of them are related to the subject (the Mandela Effect, heuristics), we dig into the way our personalities (as determined by ourselves and some personality tests we discuss) and thought processes affect the decisions we make, and we get into how an obsession with decision-making can make improv both a daunting task and a freeing gift of an art from. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for continuing to sponsor and allow the use of their studios and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJohn and Asher are close friends who write and perform together a lot, so they naturally have to make a lot of decisions together. We unpack the possible topics they both brought to the table and discover a lot of them are related to the subject (the Mandela Effect, heuristics), we dig into the way our personalities (as determined by ourselves and some personality tests we discuss) and thought processes affect the decisions we make, and we get into how an obsession with decision-making can make improv both a daunting task and a freeing gift of an art from. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for continuing to sponsor and allow the use of their studios and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-194-mbsing-luis-cortes-universal-studios-hollywood Luis put in his years as a Universal Studios tour guide so that you, the listener, could be regaled with tales ranging from giving a VIP tour to a certain CA Governator to the ridiculous costume his union rep was wearing when he was let go from the job (dude had to go back to Duloc after the meeting). From Courthouse Square (downtown Hill Valley in Back to the Future) to Colonial Street (Wisteria Lane in Desperate Housewives), Luis knows the ins and outs of the lot so well it often distracts him when he's watching one of the plethora of projects that have shot there. He's got plenty of battle stars, but he knows how much the experience trained him to roll with the punches while commanding the attention of 200 confused tourists. And he has a killer Simpsons story to boot. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for allowing MBSing to be a part of a bigger podcasting picture. Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-194-mbsing-luis-cortes-universal-studios-hollywood MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5339 Luis put in his years as a Universal Studios tour guide so that you, the listener, could be regaled with tales ranging from giving a VIP tour to a certain CA Governator to the ridiculous costume his union rep was wearing when he was let go from the job (dude had to go back to Duloc after the meeting). From Courthouse Square (downtown Hill Valley in Back to the Future) to Colonial Street (Wisteria Lane in Desperate Housewives), Luis knows the ins and outs of the lot so well it often distracts him when he's watching one of the plethora of projects that have shot there. He's got plenty of battle stars, but he knows how much the experience trained him to roll with the punches while commanding the attention of 200 confused tourists. And he has a killer Simpsons story to boot. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for allowing MBSing to be a part of a bigger podcasting picture. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesLuis put in his years as a Universal Studios tour guide so that you, the listener, could be regaled with tales ranging from giving a VIP tour to a certain CA Governator to the ridiculous costume his union rep was wearing when he was let go from the job (dude had to go back to Duloc after the meeting). From Courthouse Square (downtown Hill Valley in Back to the Future) to Colonial Street (Wisteria Lane in Desperate Housewives), Luis knows the ins and outs of the lot so well it often distracts him when he's watching one of the plethora of projects that have shot there. He's got plenty of battle stars, but he knows how much the experience trained him to roll with the punches while commanding the attention of 200 confused tourists. And he has a killer Simpsons story to boot. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for allowing MBSing to be a part of a bigger podcasting picture. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-193-mbsing-doubleclicks-comedy-duos-kids-media Musical comedy duo The Doubleclicks remote in to chat with MBS about their favorite duos - from Fozzie and Kermit to R2-D2 and C-3PO, the ladies covered tons of kid-focused partners and compared and contrasted themselves along the way. As sisters Angela and Aubrey have a built-in partnership and reference base, and as artists they enjoy having music to explore their relationship to the world around them. Aubrey brings the heat with lots of love for Steven Universe and all of its pairs and partnerships, and Angela breaks down their newest video, Women Know Math, that launched this week with their now-successfully-funded-but-still-running Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming album, Love Problems.  The Doubleclicks YouTube Channel JoCo Cruise Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this week and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community of shows and causes. Wed, 15 Feb 2017 12:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-193-mbsing-doubleclicks-comedy-duos-kids-media MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4783 Musical comedy duo The Doubleclicks remote in to chat with MBS about their favorite duos - from Fozzie and Kermit to R2-D2 and C-3PO, the ladies covered tons of kid-focused partners and compared and contrasted themselves along the way. As sisters Angela and Aubrey have a built-in partnership and reference base, and as artists they enjoy having music to explore their relationship to the world around them. Aubrey brings the heat with lots of love for Steven Universe and all of its pairs and partnerships, and Angela breaks down their newest video, Women Know Math, that launched this week with their now-successfully-funded-but-still-running Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming album, Love Problems.  The Doubleclicks YouTube Channel JoCo Cruise Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this week and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community of shows and causes. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMusical comedy duo The Doubleclicks remote in to chat with MBS about their favorite duos - from Fozzie and Kermit to R2-D2 and C-3PO, the ladies covered tons of kid-focused partners and compared and contrasted themselves along the way. As sisters Angela and Aubrey have a built-in partnership and reference base, and as artists they enjoy having music to explore their relationship to the world around them. Aubrey brings the heat with lots of love for Steven Universe and all of its pairs and partnerships, and Angela breaks down their newest video, Women Know Math, that launched this week with their now-successfully-funded-but-still-running Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming album, Love Problems.  The Doubleclicks YouTube Channel JoCo Cruise Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this week and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community of shows and causes. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-192-embsing-mary-beth-smith-wuves The tables turn in a special ep featuring past guest (and significant other) Eric "EMB" Braband interviewing MBS about her love of wolves. That's what wuves means. The interest mostly stems from reading and pet choices made as a kid, was cultivated via gifts and articles from family members over the years, and was reinvigorated thanks to an amazingly thoughtful gift from the guest host last year. MBS compares herself to wuves as a fellow feast or famine eater, Eric says she's loyal, and they both agree she has a big pack to run in. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Wed, 08 Feb 2017 13:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-192-embsing-mary-beth-smith-wuves MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5014 The tables turn in a special ep featuring past guest (and significant other) Eric "EMB" Braband interviewing MBS about her love of wolves. That's what wuves means. The interest mostly stems from reading and pet choices made as a kid, was cultivated via gifts and articles from family members over the years, and was reinvigorated thanks to an amazingly thoughtful gift from the guest host last year. MBS compares herself to wuves as a fellow feast or famine eater, Eric says she's loyal, and they both agree she has a big pack to run in. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThe tables turn in a special ep featuring past guest (and significant other) Eric "EMB" Braband interviewing MBS about her love of wolves. That's what wuves means. The interest mostly stems from reading and pet choices made as a kid, was cultivated via gifts and articles from family members over the years, and was reinvigorated thanks to an amazingly thoughtful gift from the guest host last year. MBS compares herself to wuves as a fellow feast or famine eater, Eric says she's loyal, and they both agree she has a big pack to run in. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-191-mbsing-bill-bullock-being-stand-chicago After growing up in the area as a fan of Pryor & Cosby, Bill Bullock has now spent many years in the Chicago comedy community and thinks a ton about finding one's way through it. From being asked if he wanted to go up for the first time at Cole's open mic by then-host Cameron Esposito because he'd been showing up week after week without actually going on stage to booking an agent after a recent appearance at the Laugh Factory, Bill has had many ups and downs while usually balancing a job or three in a city that doesn't have much to offer its performers in the professional realm. We discuss a lot of the good and bad about getting your comedy chops honed in Chicago and the more common it becomes to see your "elders" and peers set off for the coasts for bigger things.  Bill's Twitter is @BillRBullock, and you should be following it for jokes and plugs.  Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued existence of the Chicago Podcast Coop.    Wed, 01 Feb 2017 15:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-191-mbsing-bill-bullock-being-stand-chicago MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5689 After growing up in the area as a fan of Pryor & Cosby, Bill Bullock has now spent many years in the Chicago comedy community and thinks a ton about finding one's way through it. From being asked if he wanted to go up for the first time at Cole's open mic by then-host Cameron Esposito because he'd been showing up week after week without actually going on stage to booking an agent after a recent appearance at the Laugh Factory, Bill has had many ups and downs while usually balancing a job or three in a city that doesn't have much to offer its performers in the professional realm. We discuss a lot of the good and bad about getting your comedy chops honed in Chicago and the more common it becomes to see your "elders" and peers set off for the coasts for bigger things.  Bill's Twitter is @BillRBullock, and you should be following it for jokes and plugs.  Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued existence of the Chicago Podcast Coop.    Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAfter growing up in the area as a fan of Pryor & Cosby, Bill Bullock has now spent many years in the Chicago comedy community and thinks a ton about finding one's way through it. From being asked if he wanted to go up for the first time at Cole's open mic by then-host Cameron Esposito because he'd been showing up week after week without actually going on stage to booking an agent after a recent appearance at the Laugh Factory, Bill has had many ups and downs while usually balancing a job or three in a city that doesn't have much to offer its performers in the professional realm. We discuss a lot of the good and bad about getting your comedy chops honed in Chicago and the more common it becomes to see your "elders" and peers set off for the coasts for bigger things.  Bill's Twitter is @BillRBullock, and you should be following it for jokes and plugs.  Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued existence of the Chicago Podcast Coop.    https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-190-mbsing-aisha-leverett-crime-procedurals Aisha knows what she likes, and what she likes is a good crime show. She wants there to be a self-contained story arc of whodunit, who found em, and what their fate is, and she'll check out pretty much anything your auntie watches on TV as a result. Law and Order (Original Recipe), Criminal Minds, NCIS, and even the new Elementary (which she marks as a better actual procedural than Sherlock in spite of her deep love of Benedict Cumberbatch) all make her watch list, and it's a blast to hear her break them down. It's about a simple story, some escapism, and learning what it is as a writer that you like in what you watch. Here's the Sam Waterston AV Club interview with an entire Law & Order ep in the comments, and here's the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis wiki. Check out Aisha's monthly live show, The Sipping Hour. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Wed, 25 Jan 2017 10:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-190-mbsing-aisha-leverett-crime-procedurals MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6138 Aisha knows what she likes, and what she likes is a good crime show. She wants there to be a self-contained story arc of whodunit, who found em, and what their fate is, and she'll check out pretty much anything your auntie watches on TV as a result. Law and Order (Original Recipe), Criminal Minds, NCIS, and even the new Elementary (which she marks as a better actual procedural than Sherlock in spite of her deep love of Benedict Cumberbatch) all make her watch list, and it's a blast to hear her break them down. It's about a simple story, some escapism, and learning what it is as a writer that you like in what you watch. Here's the Sam Waterston AV Club interview with an entire Law & Order ep in the comments, and here's the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis wiki. Check out Aisha's monthly live show, The Sipping Hour. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAisha knows what she likes, and what she likes is a good crime show. She wants there to be a self-contained story arc of whodunit, who found em, and what their fate is, and she'll check out pretty much anything your auntie watches on TV as a result. Law and Order (Original Recipe), Criminal Minds, NCIS, and even the new Elementary (which she marks as a better actual procedural than Sherlock in spite of her deep love of Benedict Cumberbatch) all make her watch list, and it's a blast to hear her break them down. It's about a simple story, some escapism, and learning what it is as a writer that you like in what you watch. Here's the Sam Waterston AV Club interview with an entire Law & Order ep in the comments, and here's the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis wiki. Check out Aisha's monthly live show, The Sipping Hour. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-189-mbsing-laura-ann-jacobs-all-you-can-eat Laura-Ann Jacobs knows her way around an AYCE joint better than anyone I've ever met. She not a monster, she just appreciates a challenge. If she's not eating double to triple the value of the cost of the buffet, then why did she pay for it? We mostly cover the art of the Chinese buffet, but there are also thoughts on AYCE sushi restaurants, a nice Indian buffet, and maximizing your sample eating at Costco. Laugh, take notes, and PLEASE send recommendations for your favorite AYCE joints all over the country. Always trust the process. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Wed, 18 Jan 2017 15:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-189-mbsing-laura-ann-jacobs-all-you-can-eat MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4757 Laura-Ann Jacobs knows her way around an AYCE joint better than anyone I've ever met. She not a monster, she just appreciates a challenge. If she's not eating double to triple the value of the cost of the buffet, then why did she pay for it? We mostly cover the art of the Chinese buffet, but there are also thoughts on AYCE sushi restaurants, a nice Indian buffet, and maximizing your sample eating at Costco. Laugh, take notes, and PLEASE send recommendations for your favorite AYCE joints all over the country. Always trust the process. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesLaura-Ann Jacobs knows her way around an AYCE joint better than anyone I've ever met. She not a monster, she just appreciates a challenge. If she's not eating double to triple the value of the cost of the buffet, then why did she pay for it? We mostly cover the art of the Chinese buffet, but there are also thoughts on AYCE sushi restaurants, a nice Indian buffet, and maximizing your sample eating at Costco. Laugh, take notes, and PLEASE send recommendations for your favorite AYCE joints all over the country. Always trust the process. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-188-mbsing-fin-coe-hockey Being born in Canada and moving to the San Jose area around when the Sharks franchise was started there solidified Fin Coe's interest in hockey. All it took was a former high school sweetheart to bring him back to NHL fandom in college and some intrepid hockey-playing beginners in Chicago to keep his passion alive and spread it into actually playing recreationally himself. There's talk of some of his favorite players (like Arturs Irbe.... hockey has all the best names), how the league is shifting to a more "Moneypuck" strategy, and how freaking good the movie Goon is. If you take nothing else away from this conversation, give it a watch. An excerpt from Fin's upcoming Tartans Hockey Live performed at a Your Stories recording last year. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and use of their facilities. And their monies. Bless their monies. Wed, 11 Jan 2017 13:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-188-mbsing-fin-coe-hockey MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4818 Being born in Canada and moving to the San Jose area around when the Sharks franchise was started there solidified Fin Coe's interest in hockey. All it took was a former high school sweetheart to bring him back to NHL fandom in college and some intrepid hockey-playing beginners in Chicago to keep his passion alive and spread it into actually playing recreationally himself. There's talk of some of his favorite players (like Arturs Irbe.... hockey has all the best names), how the league is shifting to a more "Moneypuck" strategy, and how freaking good the movie Goon is. If you take nothing else away from this conversation, give it a watch. An excerpt from Fin's upcoming Tartans Hockey Live performed at a Your Stories recording last year. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and use of their facilities. And their monies. Bless their monies. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBeing born in Canada and moving to the San Jose area around when the Sharks franchise was started there solidified Fin Coe's interest in hockey. All it took was a former high school sweetheart to bring him back to NHL fandom in college and some intrepid hockey-playing beginners in Chicago to keep his passion alive and spread it into actually playing recreationally himself. There's talk of some of his favorite players (like Arturs Irbe.... hockey has all the best names), how the league is shifting to a more "Moneypuck" strategy, and how freaking good the movie Goon is. If you take nothing else away from this conversation, give it a watch. An excerpt from Fin's upcoming Tartans Hockey Live performed at a Your Stories recording last year. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and use of their facilities. And their monies. Bless their monies. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-187-mbsing-alison-banowsky-soft-pretzels-cheese Alison Banowsky loves a nice, soft pretzel with some nasty fake cheese more than most things in the world, and she doesn't care if you think that's gross because that's who she is. We get into how this started (being a mall rat) and how it continues (the frozen food section at Walgreens) and the nice, fancy beer cheeses that Alison ignores in favor of the kind of cheese you'd inject into a pretzel. Stick around for a fun romp into dream interpretation wherein Alison reads an actual dream description that's very, very funny. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and such. Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-187-mbsing-alison-banowsky-soft-pretzels-cheese MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4522 Alison Banowsky loves a nice, soft pretzel with some nasty fake cheese more than most things in the world, and she doesn't care if you think that's gross because that's who she is. We get into how this started (being a mall rat) and how it continues (the frozen food section at Walgreens) and the nice, fancy beer cheeses that Alison ignores in favor of the kind of cheese you'd inject into a pretzel. Stick around for a fun romp into dream interpretation wherein Alison reads an actual dream description that's very, very funny. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and such. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAlison Banowsky loves a nice, soft pretzel with some nasty fake cheese more than most things in the world, and she doesn't care if you think that's gross because that's who she is. We get into how this started (being a mall rat) and how it continues (the frozen food section at Walgreens) and the nice, fancy beer cheeses that Alison ignores in favor of the kind of cheese you'd inject into a pretzel. Stick around for a fun romp into dream interpretation wherein Alison reads an actual dream description that's very, very funny. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and such. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-186-mbsing-william-howard-taft-and-andrew-jackson-cant-hardly-wait If you thought the recent conversation MBS had with Abraham Lincoln about his love of Weezer was too good to be true, wait until you get a load of past presidents William Howard Taft and Andrew No-Middle-Name Jackson chatting about the beloved teen party romp, Can't Hardly Wait. AJ counts down his top 5 baseball movies, Taft pines for Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Abe crashes the party before past guest of the show Tim Dunn shows up pretty upset that MBS "stole" his guests again. Boy do these prezes really give Tim the runaround. For more fun with Lincoln, definitely listen to Tim and Abe’s show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to this whole endeavor.    Wed, 28 Dec 2016 13:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-186-mbsing-william-howard-taft-and-andrew-jackson-cant-hardly-wait MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 2021 If you thought the recent conversation MBS had with Abraham Lincoln about his love of Weezer was too good to be true, wait until you get a load of past presidents William Howard Taft and Andrew No-Middle-Name Jackson chatting about the beloved teen party romp, Can't Hardly Wait. AJ counts down his top 5 baseball movies, Taft pines for Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Abe crashes the party before past guest of the show Tim Dunn shows up pretty upset that MBS "stole" his guests again. Boy do these prezes really give Tim the runaround. For more fun with Lincoln, definitely listen to Tim and Abe’s show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to this whole endeavor.    Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIf you thought the recent conversation MBS had with Abraham Lincoln about his love of Weezer was too good to be true, wait until you get a load of past presidents William Howard Taft and Andrew No-Middle-Name Jackson chatting about the beloved teen party romp, Can't Hardly Wait. AJ counts down his top 5 baseball movies, Taft pines for Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Abe crashes the party before past guest of the show Tim Dunn shows up pretty upset that MBS "stole" his guests again. Boy do these prezes really give Tim the runaround. For more fun with Lincoln, definitely listen to Tim and Abe’s show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to this whole endeavor.    https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-185-mbsing-kevin-reader-dikembe-mutombo Ho ho ho? Uh, try no no no! Nerdologues co-founder Kevin Reader finally came on the show to chat about his favorite athlete. From being a nerdy kid in jr high who got into basketball because it's what his friends were into (and because he grew up in IL in the 90s) to playing pickup basketball with Deron Williams in college, Kevman found an idol in Mutombo when he got his story and stats in a physical, chapter-a-month encyclopedia mailing. Can't deny a guy who didn't start playing basketball until he was 15 in DR Congo and started college at 21 (even though he denied players on the court for 18 seasons in the NBA). Better late than never! Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors.   Wed, 21 Dec 2016 10:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-185-mbsing-kevin-reader-dikembe-mutombo MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4416 Ho ho ho? Uh, try no no no! Nerdologues co-founder Kevin Reader finally came on the show to chat about his favorite athlete. From being a nerdy kid in jr high who got into basketball because it's what his friends were into (and because he grew up in IL in the 90s) to playing pickup basketball with Deron Williams in college, Kevman found an idol in Mutombo when he got his story and stats in a physical, chapter-a-month encyclopedia mailing. Can't deny a guy who didn't start playing basketball until he was 15 in DR Congo and started college at 21 (even though he denied players on the court for 18 seasons in the NBA). Better late than never! Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHo ho ho? Uh, try no no no! Nerdologues co-founder Kevin Reader finally came on the show to chat about his favorite athlete. From being a nerdy kid in jr high who got into basketball because it's what his friends were into (and because he grew up in IL in the 90s) to playing pickup basketball with Deron Williams in college, Kevman found an idol in Mutombo when he got his story and stats in a physical, chapter-a-month encyclopedia mailing. Can't deny a guy who didn't start playing basketball until he was 15 in DR Congo and started college at 21 (even though he denied players on the court for 18 seasons in the NBA). Better late than never! Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-184-mbsing-chris-rathjen-doctor-who Lifelong fan of the classics and passionate supporter of the continued seasons, Chris Rathjen is a Whovian of epic proportions. From watching black and white episodes on Iowa public television every Friday night ad infinitum to appreciating newfound BBC production quality and emotional nuance, Chris loves the humanity behind the otherworldliness of the show and has never missed an episode (to the point of enjoying ones that have recently been reconstructed from found audio and newly-produced animations). In spite of not spending too much time on the villains of Doctor Who, we cover a lot of ground on Doctors, companions, and the show runners and writing that tie them all together. Check out Chris's work on Improvised Star Trek, Hello From the Magic Tavern, and The Probe. Thanks to the Second City for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their fellowship and sponsor coordination. Wed, 14 Dec 2016 14:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-184-mbsing-chris-rathjen-doctor-who MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6040 Lifelong fan of the classics and passionate supporter of the continued seasons, Chris Rathjen is a Whovian of epic proportions. From watching black and white episodes on Iowa public television every Friday night ad infinitum to appreciating newfound BBC production quality and emotional nuance, Chris loves the humanity behind the otherworldliness of the show and has never missed an episode (to the point of enjoying ones that have recently been reconstructed from found audio and newly-produced animations). In spite of not spending too much time on the villains of Doctor Who, we cover a lot of ground on Doctors, companions, and the show runners and writing that tie them all together. Check out Chris's work on Improvised Star Trek, Hello From the Magic Tavern, and The Probe. Thanks to the Second City for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their fellowship and sponsor coordination. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesLifelong fan of the classics and passionate supporter of the continued seasons, Chris Rathjen is a Whovian of epic proportions. From watching black and white episodes on Iowa public television every Friday night ad infinitum to appreciating newfound BBC production quality and emotional nuance, Chris loves the humanity behind the otherworldliness of the show and has never missed an episode (to the point of enjoying ones that have recently been reconstructed from found audio and newly-produced animations). In spite of not spending too much time on the villains of Doctor Who, we cover a lot of ground on Doctors, companions, and the show runners and writing that tie them all together. Check out Chris's work on Improvised Star Trek, Hello From the Magic Tavern, and The Probe. Thanks to the Second City for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their fellowship and sponsor coordination. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-183-mbsing-adam-kempenaar-hamilton Filmspotting cohost Adam Kempenaar takes a break from film reviews to chime in on the hit musical Hamilton and why he feels it has moved him so much since he saw it on Broadway in February (and subsequently in Chicago in October). While there is plenty of time spent on how Lin-Manuel Miranda's artistic feat shines from Burr's opening number to Eliza's closer, there's also exploration of the magic and singular nature of live theatre that has been reinvigorated for Adam this year. In his mind, Hamilton is a story about greatness and those who aspire to it. Listen up, get all the songs stuck in your head forever, and feel the warmth of Adam's anecdotes about how this show has brought him closer to his children in a way maybe nothing else has before. Buy tickets for the Fifth Anniversary of Your Stories here and listen to The Probe here. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued sponsorship coordination and support. Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-183-mbsing-adam-kempenaar-hamilton MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5302 Filmspotting cohost Adam Kempenaar takes a break from film reviews to chime in on the hit musical Hamilton and why he feels it has moved him so much since he saw it on Broadway in February (and subsequently in Chicago in October). While there is plenty of time spent on how Lin-Manuel Miranda's artistic feat shines from Burr's opening number to Eliza's closer, there's also exploration of the magic and singular nature of live theatre that has been reinvigorated for Adam this year. In his mind, Hamilton is a story about greatness and those who aspire to it. Listen up, get all the songs stuck in your head forever, and feel the warmth of Adam's anecdotes about how this show has brought him closer to his children in a way maybe nothing else has before. Buy tickets for the Fifth Anniversary of Your Stories here and listen to The Probe here. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued sponsorship coordination and support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFilmspotting cohost Adam Kempenaar takes a break from film reviews to chime in on the hit musical Hamilton and why he feels it has moved him so much since he saw it on Broadway in February (and subsequently in Chicago in October). While there is plenty of time spent on how Lin-Manuel Miranda's artistic feat shines from Burr's opening number to Eliza's closer, there's also exploration of the magic and singular nature of live theatre that has been reinvigorated for Adam this year. In his mind, Hamilton is a story about greatness and those who aspire to it. Listen up, get all the songs stuck in your head forever, and feel the warmth of Adam's anecdotes about how this show has brought him closer to his children in a way maybe nothing else has before. Buy tickets for the Fifth Anniversary of Your Stories here and listen to The Probe here. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued sponsorship coordination and support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-182-mbsing-will-biby-mel-brooks-movies From Puttin' on the Ritz to a shitload of dimes, Will Biby has loved all things Mell Brooks since he caught Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles as a young man thanks to the gentle prodding of his father. Since then, Will has dug into the deeper cuts of Mel's career and went so far as to host a staged reading of Mel's first film and one of his personal favorites, The Producers, to celebrate his own 30th birthday. Will and MBS attempt to discuss some modern comedy that has Brooks's influence all over it and what exactly it is that Mel did so right.  Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for its coordination of sponsorships and so much more. EDIT - MBS noticed some lost words in this episode upon a relisten, and it turns out the raw audio is fuckity and thus unfixable. Big bummer, but CERTAINLY doesn't make it unlistenable. Just a word or part of one lost every so often. Sincere apologies as this is certainly not up to the standard the show hopes to keep. Wed, 30 Nov 2016 13:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-182-mbsing-will-biby-mel-brooks-movies MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5953 From Puttin' on the Ritz to a shitload of dimes, Will Biby has loved all things Mell Brooks since he caught Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles as a young man thanks to the gentle prodding of his father. Since then, Will has dug into the deeper cuts of Mel's career and went so far as to host a staged reading of Mel's first film and one of his personal favorites, The Producers, to celebrate his own 30th birthday. Will and MBS attempt to discuss some modern comedy that has Brooks's influence all over it and what exactly it is that Mel did so right.  Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for its coordination of sponsorships and so much more. EDIT - MBS noticed some lost words in this episode upon a relisten, and it turns out the raw audio is fuckity and thus unfixable. Big bummer, but CERTAINLY doesn't make it unlistenable. Just a word or part of one lost every so often. Sincere apologies as this is certainly not up to the standard the show hopes to keep. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFrom Puttin' on the Ritz to a shitload of dimes, Will Biby has loved all things Mell Brooks since he caught Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles as a young man thanks to the gentle prodding of his father. Since then, Will has dug into the deeper cuts of Mel's career and went so far as to host a staged reading of Mel's first film and one of his personal favorites, The Producers, to celebrate his own 30th birthday. Will and MBS attempt to discuss some modern comedy that has Brooks's influence all over it and what exactly it is that Mel did so right.  Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for its coordination of sponsorships and so much more. EDIT - MBS noticed some lost words in this episode upon a relisten, and it turns out the raw audio is fuckity and thus unfixable. Big bummer, but CERTAINLY doesn't make it unlistenable. Just a word or part of one lost every so often. Sincere apologies as this is certainly not up to the standard the show hopes to keep. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-181-mbsing-live-david-pasquesi-italy [Recorded live as part of the first annual Chicago Podcast Festival] Noted actor-improviser David Pasquesi fell deeply in love with living in Italy when he spent a year "studying" there as a college student (by slowly convincing his parents he was considering joining the priesthood so they'd let him stay). From the general demeanor of its residents to its remarkable food to its storied, centuries-long history, Dave cannot separate himself from the nation of his ancestors. The country and his time spent there has colored his life from his grandfather's immigration to the states as a teenager to living there with his own wife and sons as they wait through the process of becoming dual citizens. He's even still performing with a pair of the students he studied abroad with - a lasting connection from a formative time. Huge thanks are owed to the Chicago Podcast Festival, the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and this week's sponsor, The Second City. These events and organizations are lending legitimacy to an artform, and MBSing is overwhelmed with pride and humility to be a part of it all. Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-181-mbsing-live-david-pasquesi-italy MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 1945 [Recorded live as part of the first annual Chicago Podcast Festival] Noted actor-improviser David Pasquesi fell deeply in love with living in Italy when he spent a year "studying" there as a college student (by slowly convincing his parents he was considering joining the priesthood so they'd let him stay). From the general demeanor of its residents to its remarkable food to its storied, centuries-long history, Dave cannot separate himself from the nation of his ancestors. The country and his time spent there has colored his life from his grandfather's immigration to the states as a teenager to living there with his own wife and sons as they wait through the process of becoming dual citizens. He's even still performing with a pair of the students he studied abroad with - a lasting connection from a formative time. Huge thanks are owed to the Chicago Podcast Festival, the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and this week's sponsor, The Second City. These events and organizations are lending legitimacy to an artform, and MBSing is overwhelmed with pride and humility to be a part of it all. Mary Beth Smith of The Nerdologues[Recorded live as part of the first annual Chicago Podcast Festival] Noted actor-improviser David Pasquesi fell deeply in love with living in Italy when he spent a year "studying" there as a college student (by slowly convincing his parents he was considering joining the priesthood so they'd let him stay). From the general demeanor of its residents to its remarkable food to its storied, centuries-long history, Dave cannot separate himself from the nation of his ancestors. The country and his time spent there has colored his life from his grandfather's immigration to the states as a teenager to living there with his own wife and sons as they wait through the process of becoming dual citizens. He's even still performing with a pair of the students he studied abroad with - a lasting connection from a formative time. Huge thanks are owed to the Chicago Podcast Festival, the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and this week's sponsor, The Second City. These events and organizations are lending legitimacy to an artform, and MBSing is overwhelmed with pride and humility to be a part of it all. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-180-mbsing-nnamdi-ngwe-moving-movies Nnamdi is a man after MBS's own heart: he's a movie crier. He unpacks the highbrow and lowbrow films that have inspired and moved him throughout his life. From Forrest Gump to Creed, Nnamdi has always emotionally responded to incredible storytelling via filmmaking, acting, and character work and strives to do the same in his own life as a performer. Herein lies Oscar talk, actor-director pairings, and Masters of the Universe for some reason. Also, from the bottom of both of our cinephilic hearts: go see Arrival ASAP. MBS at the Chicago Podcast Festival THIS WEEKEND. Use promo code CHICAGO for 1/2 off tickets! Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for making a vast majority of this possible and way more worth the time and energy spent on it. Wed, 16 Nov 2016 12:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-180-mbsing-nnamdi-ngwe-moving-movies MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4896 Nnamdi is a man after MBS's own heart: he's a movie crier. He unpacks the highbrow and lowbrow films that have inspired and moved him throughout his life. From Forrest Gump to Creed, Nnamdi has always emotionally responded to incredible storytelling via filmmaking, acting, and character work and strives to do the same in his own life as a performer. Herein lies Oscar talk, actor-director pairings, and Masters of the Universe for some reason. Also, from the bottom of both of our cinephilic hearts: go see Arrival ASAP. MBS at the Chicago Podcast Festival THIS WEEKEND. Use promo code CHICAGO for 1/2 off tickets! Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for making a vast majority of this possible and way more worth the time and energy spent on it. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesNnamdi is a man after MBS's own heart: he's a movie crier. He unpacks the highbrow and lowbrow films that have inspired and moved him throughout his life. From Forrest Gump to Creed, Nnamdi has always emotionally responded to incredible storytelling via filmmaking, acting, and character work and strives to do the same in his own life as a performer. Herein lies Oscar talk, actor-director pairings, and Masters of the Universe for some reason. Also, from the bottom of both of our cinephilic hearts: go see Arrival ASAP. MBS at the Chicago Podcast Festival THIS WEEKEND. Use promo code CHICAGO for 1/2 off tickets! Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for making a vast majority of this possible and way more worth the time and energy spent on it. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-179-mbsing-bill-green-redux-politics-2016 Regular listeners may remember Bill's first MBSing appearance right after Election Day 2014. At the time he worked with United Way and Get Covered Illinois. He returns to unpack Election Day 2016 as a first year law student driven by the desire to affect policy. This conversation was recorded about six hours after the presidential race was called. It is raw, biased, and comes from a place of privilege. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for supporting this show and giving me a place to write down my hopes, fears, and dumb ideas. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for helping me and others more marginalised than I am feel our voices are important. Wed, 09 Nov 2016 14:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-179-mbsing-bill-green-redux-politics-2016 MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6734 Regular listeners may remember Bill's first MBSing appearance right after Election Day 2014. At the time he worked with United Way and Get Covered Illinois. He returns to unpack Election Day 2016 as a first year law student driven by the desire to affect policy. This conversation was recorded about six hours after the presidential race was called. It is raw, biased, and comes from a place of privilege. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for supporting this show and giving me a place to write down my hopes, fears, and dumb ideas. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for helping me and others more marginalised than I am feel our voices are important. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesRegular listeners may remember Bill's first MBSing appearance right after Election Day 2014. At the time he worked with United Way and Get Covered Illinois. He returns to unpack Election Day 2016 as a first year law student driven by the desire to affect policy. This conversation was recorded about six hours after the presidential race was called. It is raw, biased, and comes from a place of privilege. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for supporting this show and giving me a place to write down my hopes, fears, and dumb ideas. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for helping me and others more marginalised than I am feel our voices are important. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-178-mbsing-emily-labbe-volunteering Volunteering has been so integral for Emily's life that she didn't realize it was the perfect topic for her to chat about. From the Appalachia Service Project to The Ronald McDonald House, Emily has found causes she can contribute her time and energy to that make people's lives tangibly better. The real story here is about her time with REALITY Theatre, a local group that used the actual experiences of young people to reach school audiences on topic like substance use and bullying. Starting as a student in the program and slowly phasing into running the thing for not enough pay, Emily outlines how she unknowingly racked up thousands of volunteer hours and how bureaucracy, her schooling, and her own actual employment factored into her experience with REALITY. Emily and MBS in Attend the Tale of Danny Tanner Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to something laced with passion. Wed, 02 Nov 2016 11:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-178-mbsing-emily-labbe-volunteering MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6673 Volunteering has been so integral for Emily's life that she didn't realize it was the perfect topic for her to chat about. From the Appalachia Service Project to The Ronald McDonald House, Emily has found causes she can contribute her time and energy to that make people's lives tangibly better. The real story here is about her time with REALITY Theatre, a local group that used the actual experiences of young people to reach school audiences on topic like substance use and bullying. Starting as a student in the program and slowly phasing into running the thing for not enough pay, Emily outlines how she unknowingly racked up thousands of volunteer hours and how bureaucracy, her schooling, and her own actual employment factored into her experience with REALITY. Emily and MBS in Attend the Tale of Danny Tanner Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to something laced with passion. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesVolunteering has been so integral for Emily's life that she didn't realize it was the perfect topic for her to chat about. From the Appalachia Service Project to The Ronald McDonald House, Emily has found causes she can contribute her time and energy to that make people's lives tangibly better. The real story here is about her time with REALITY Theatre, a local group that used the actual experiences of young people to reach school audiences on topic like substance use and bullying. Starting as a student in the program and slowly phasing into running the thing for not enough pay, Emily outlines how she unknowingly racked up thousands of volunteer hours and how bureaucracy, her schooling, and her own actual employment factored into her experience with REALITY. Emily and MBS in Attend the Tale of Danny Tanner Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to something laced with passion. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-177-mbsing-abraham-lincoln-weezer WOW what an exciting episode! Past guest of the show Timothy Dunn recently took a trip to Springfield, IL, and Abraham Lincoln appeared before him and said he’s returned to earth to guide the American people through this election. Tim convinced him to do a podcast for 15 minutes every week to discuss current events. President Lincoln reached out to MBS personally (!!!) to take a break from discussing the 2016 election to talk about his new favorite band, Weezer, on MBSing. But don't worry, for some reason he thinks they only have two albums. For more fun with Lincoln, definitely listen to Tim and Abe's show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to something that constantly feels like a thankless practice! Wed, 26 Oct 2016 12:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-177-mbsing-abraham-lincoln-weezer MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 1619 WOW what an exciting episode! Past guest of the show Timothy Dunn recently took a trip to Springfield, IL, and Abraham Lincoln appeared before him and said he’s returned to earth to guide the American people through this election. Tim convinced him to do a podcast for 15 minutes every week to discuss current events. President Lincoln reached out to MBS personally (!!!) to take a break from discussing the 2016 election to talk about his new favorite band, Weezer, on MBSing. But don't worry, for some reason he thinks they only have two albums. For more fun with Lincoln, definitely listen to Tim and Abe's show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to something that constantly feels like a thankless practice! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWOW what an exciting episode! Past guest of the show Timothy Dunn recently took a trip to Springfield, IL, and Abraham Lincoln appeared before him and said he’s returned to earth to guide the American people through this election. Tim convinced him to do a podcast for 15 minutes every week to discuss current events. President Lincoln reached out to MBS personally (!!!) to take a break from discussing the 2016 election to talk about his new favorite band, Weezer, on MBSing. But don't worry, for some reason he thinks they only have two albums. For more fun with Lincoln, definitely listen to Tim and Abe's show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy to something that constantly feels like a thankless practice! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-176-mbsing-jacqueline-felker-kanye-west Jack Felker has been a fan of Kanye before Kanye was Kanye thanks to her brother playing Through the Wire for her before College Dropout dropped and became a became a musical phenomenon. Through thick and thin (except maybe his defending Cosby), Jack has stood by his musical brilliance, his resulting ego, and his marriage ("I felt an overwhelming sense of calm when I found out they were together"). She believes that to be a true fan of his, one has to accept everything that is his persona. To Jack, Kanye is a hero, and her explanation as to why may sway you to read The Book of Ye as well. Get tickets for Cards Against Humanity Live here, Shebeast here, and my show at the Chicago Podcast festival here. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for its existance and coordination of sponsorships including this week's sponsor, Basecamp.  Wed, 19 Oct 2016 12:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-176-mbsing-jacqueline-felker-kanye-west MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5195 Jack Felker has been a fan of Kanye before Kanye was Kanye thanks to her brother playing Through the Wire for her before College Dropout dropped and became a became a musical phenomenon. Through thick and thin (except maybe his defending Cosby), Jack has stood by his musical brilliance, his resulting ego, and his marriage ("I felt an overwhelming sense of calm when I found out they were together"). She believes that to be a true fan of his, one has to accept everything that is his persona. To Jack, Kanye is a hero, and her explanation as to why may sway you to read The Book of Ye as well. Get tickets for Cards Against Humanity Live here, Shebeast here, and my show at the Chicago Podcast festival here. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for its existance and coordination of sponsorships including this week's sponsor, Basecamp.  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJack Felker has been a fan of Kanye before Kanye was Kanye thanks to her brother playing Through the Wire for her before College Dropout dropped and became a became a musical phenomenon. Through thick and thin (except maybe his defending Cosby), Jack has stood by his musical brilliance, his resulting ego, and his marriage ("I felt an overwhelming sense of calm when I found out they were together"). She believes that to be a true fan of his, one has to accept everything that is his persona. To Jack, Kanye is a hero, and her explanation as to why may sway you to read The Book of Ye as well. Get tickets for Cards Against Humanity Live here, Shebeast here, and my show at the Chicago Podcast festival here. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for its existance and coordination of sponsorships including this week's sponsor, Basecamp.  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-175-mbsing-cody-melcher-american-enlightenment-revolution While we focus mainly on the politics of the time (and of ours), this conversation with Cody certainly reveals in him a broad, deep-seeded love of this time in our nation's history and a ton of insight on how it got us where we are as a nation. Cody just got back from some touring through the colonial states, so be prepared for more delightful Marquis de Lafayette stories than you can shake a musket at. There's also plenty of chatting about how we would fix the current political landscape (because clearly we are experts) and how the Internet Age has become its own Enlightenment of sorts. Check out In Falsitas Veritas and/or Star-Spangled Sitcoms for the fruits of Cody's creative labor, all in some way inspired by these topics. Ticket link for Cody and I's shared slot at the Chicago Podcast Festival. Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and community. Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-175-mbsing-cody-melcher-american-enlightenment-revolution MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6477 While we focus mainly on the politics of the time (and of ours), this conversation with Cody certainly reveals in him a broad, deep-seeded love of this time in our nation's history and a ton of insight on how it got us where we are as a nation. Cody just got back from some touring through the colonial states, so be prepared for more delightful Marquis de Lafayette stories than you can shake a musket at. There's also plenty of chatting about how we would fix the current political landscape (because clearly we are experts) and how the Internet Age has become its own Enlightenment of sorts. Check out In Falsitas Veritas and/or Star-Spangled Sitcoms for the fruits of Cody's creative labor, all in some way inspired by these topics. Ticket link for Cody and I's shared slot at the Chicago Podcast Festival. Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWhile we focus mainly on the politics of the time (and of ours), this conversation with Cody certainly reveals in him a broad, deep-seeded love of this time in our nation's history and a ton of insight on how it got us where we are as a nation. Cody just got back from some touring through the colonial states, so be prepared for more delightful Marquis de Lafayette stories than you can shake a musket at. There's also plenty of chatting about how we would fix the current political landscape (because clearly we are experts) and how the Internet Age has become its own Enlightenment of sorts. Check out In Falsitas Veritas and/or Star-Spangled Sitcoms for the fruits of Cody's creative labor, all in some way inspired by these topics. Ticket link for Cody and I's shared slot at the Chicago Podcast Festival. Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-174-mbsing-mike-jimerson-drumming Mike Jimerson is set on how much he loves the drums. From the driving forces of bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and The Jimmy Hendrix Experience to Jazz drummers like Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, and Buddy Rich, Mike loves what different drum sounds and skills bring to the music as a whole. He plays a bit and can even elaborate on the five-way independence training it takes to be really good, but mostly he fixates on watching and appreciating the best of the best. Get tickets for my upcoming Chicago Podcast Festival show here. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support and coordination of sponsorships. Wed, 05 Oct 2016 14:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-174-mbsing-mike-jimerson-drumming MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5977 Mike Jimerson is set on how much he loves the drums. From the driving forces of bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and The Jimmy Hendrix Experience to Jazz drummers like Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, and Buddy Rich, Mike loves what different drum sounds and skills bring to the music as a whole. He plays a bit and can even elaborate on the five-way independence training it takes to be really good, but mostly he fixates on watching and appreciating the best of the best. Get tickets for my upcoming Chicago Podcast Festival show here. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support and coordination of sponsorships. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMike Jimerson is set on how much he loves the drums. From the driving forces of bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and The Jimmy Hendrix Experience to Jazz drummers like Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, and Buddy Rich, Mike loves what different drum sounds and skills bring to the music as a whole. He plays a bit and can even elaborate on the five-way independence training it takes to be really good, but mostly he fixates on watching and appreciating the best of the best. Get tickets for my upcoming Chicago Podcast Festival show here. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support and coordination of sponsorships. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-173-mbsing-nick-mestad-pixar-films From Toy Story to Finding Dory and everything in between, Nick Mestad has been a die hard Pixar fun since he was eight. He can rattle off the films, their directors, and other fun facts no problem, but the real joy of this conversation is how invested Nick has been as a fan and an aspiring creator all along. Pixar's fascination with effective storytelling has been a huge driving force in Nick's personal life and creative endeavors. Join us as we celebrate how Pixar has perfected making unique, believable worlds for over two decades. Check out MBS's new podcast with a bunch of past MBSing guests, The Probe. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring the podcast via the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Wed, 28 Sep 2016 14:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-173-mbsing-nick-mestad-pixar-films MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6510 From Toy Story to Finding Dory and everything in between, Nick Mestad has been a die hard Pixar fun since he was eight. He can rattle off the films, their directors, and other fun facts no problem, but the real joy of this conversation is how invested Nick has been as a fan and an aspiring creator all along. Pixar's fascination with effective storytelling has been a huge driving force in Nick's personal life and creative endeavors. Join us as we celebrate how Pixar has perfected making unique, believable worlds for over two decades. Check out MBS's new podcast with a bunch of past MBSing guests, The Probe. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring the podcast via the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFrom Toy Story to Finding Dory and everything in between, Nick Mestad has been a die hard Pixar fun since he was eight. He can rattle off the films, their directors, and other fun facts no problem, but the real joy of this conversation is how invested Nick has been as a fan and an aspiring creator all along. Pixar's fascination with effective storytelling has been a huge driving force in Nick's personal life and creative endeavors. Join us as we celebrate how Pixar has perfected making unique, believable worlds for over two decades. Check out MBS's new podcast with a bunch of past MBSing guests, The Probe. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring the podcast via the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-172-mbsing-chrissi-hartigan-hookah Grab a hose and take some sweet sips of the shisha my friends because Chrissi is here to school us all on what goes into a good hookah session. From coals to bowls to holes in the aluminum foil, there's a TON of ways to affect the taste and quality of smoking a hookah that Chrissi navigates every day as a server at a hookah bar. We also get some insight into the culture surrounding hookah (www.reddit.com/r/hookah), the art of mixing tobacco flavors, and a general commentary on how the average customer treats someone in the service industry. Tip your servers, people. Christ. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring (check out their scholarship for young women in STEM) and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and creating community. Wed, 21 Sep 2016 15:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-172-mbsing-chrissi-hartigan-hookah MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5158 Grab a hose and take some sweet sips of the shisha my friends because Chrissi is here to school us all on what goes into a good hookah session. From coals to bowls to holes in the aluminum foil, there's a TON of ways to affect the taste and quality of smoking a hookah that Chrissi navigates every day as a server at a hookah bar. We also get some insight into the culture surrounding hookah (www.reddit.com/r/hookah), the art of mixing tobacco flavors, and a general commentary on how the average customer treats someone in the service industry. Tip your servers, people. Christ. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring (check out their scholarship for young women in STEM) and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and creating community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesGrab a hose and take some sweet sips of the shisha my friends because Chrissi is here to school us all on what goes into a good hookah session. From coals to bowls to holes in the aluminum foil, there's a TON of ways to affect the taste and quality of smoking a hookah that Chrissi navigates every day as a server at a hookah bar. We also get some insight into the culture surrounding hookah (www.reddit.com/r/hookah), the art of mixing tobacco flavors, and a general commentary on how the average customer treats someone in the service industry. Tip your servers, people. Christ. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring (check out their scholarship for young women in STEM) and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and creating community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-171-mbsing-bill-stern-cars Ever since he realized how small cars made the world, Bill Stern has been obsessed with these sweet methods of transpo. Whether it was cautiously attending street races back in Texas or working on a project car that met a tragic end, Bill explores the world of automobiles with an interest that isn't always met by his peers. By the end we're comparing cars to everything from dating to Beanie Babies and exploring how the Fast and the Furious franchise took the car world by storm (kind of). Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued efforts for bringing together a bunch of small artists and businesses. Wed, 14 Sep 2016 17:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-171-mbsing-bill-stern-cars MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6780 Ever since he realized how small cars made the world, Bill Stern has been obsessed with these sweet methods of transpo. Whether it was cautiously attending street races back in Texas or working on a project car that met a tragic end, Bill explores the world of automobiles with an interest that isn't always met by his peers. By the end we're comparing cars to everything from dating to Beanie Babies and exploring how the Fast and the Furious franchise took the car world by storm (kind of). Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued efforts for bringing together a bunch of small artists and businesses. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEver since he realized how small cars made the world, Bill Stern has been obsessed with these sweet methods of transpo. Whether it was cautiously attending street races back in Texas or working on a project car that met a tragic end, Bill explores the world of automobiles with an interest that isn't always met by his peers. By the end we're comparing cars to everything from dating to Beanie Babies and exploring how the Fast and the Furious franchise took the car world by storm (kind of). Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued efforts for bringing together a bunch of small artists and businesses. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-170-mbsing-casey-whitaker-feminism-reborn Casey has always been a strong woman and a passionate performer, but a series of unfortunate events last year including one night of multiple break-ins and a long legal journey that resulted have made her rethink her own feminism. Hence: Feminism: REBORN. She's now turbo-charged and "feminist as fuck," and she has been writing, directing, and performing pieces and projects with women's issues at the forefront ever since. She even got a student note after her recent entry into teaching a writing class: "Clear she has a Feminist agenda." A+ Thanks to our sponsor, and one of Casey's employers, The Second City, and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Wed, 07 Sep 2016 10:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-170-mbsing-casey-whitaker-feminism-reborn MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4499 Casey has always been a strong woman and a passionate performer, but a series of unfortunate events last year including one night of multiple break-ins and a long legal journey that resulted have made her rethink her own feminism. Hence: Feminism: REBORN. She's now turbo-charged and "feminist as fuck," and she has been writing, directing, and performing pieces and projects with women's issues at the forefront ever since. She even got a student note after her recent entry into teaching a writing class: "Clear she has a Feminist agenda." A+ Thanks to our sponsor, and one of Casey's employers, The Second City, and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCasey has always been a strong woman and a passionate performer, but a series of unfortunate events last year including one night of multiple break-ins and a long legal journey that resulted have made her rethink her own feminism. Hence: Feminism: REBORN. She's now turbo-charged and "feminist as fuck," and she has been writing, directing, and performing pieces and projects with women's issues at the forefront ever since. She even got a student note after her recent entry into teaching a writing class: "Clear she has a Feminist agenda." A+ Thanks to our sponsor, and one of Casey's employers, The Second City, and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-169-mbsing-shantira-jackson-white-girl-music Kate Nash, Adele, Robyn, Tori Kelly, Hayley Williams... if you're a white lady with solid pipes and a story to tell, Shantira is probably going to invite you in to help her feel. As a woman whose "heart is like the ocean" and performances must have an array of experiences to reflect on, Shantira loves to be in touch with a wide range of emotions even though she's never had her ocean of a heart broken. Having a good cry to some powerful lady lyrics is one of her favorite ways to feel. After all, don't we all just want to know that we're not alone? Shantira's Spotify playlist, White Tears. New podcast venture from The Nerdologues, Blank Cassette, hosted by Eric Garneau. One of Shantira's employers, Cards Against Humanity, is the sponsor of this episode. How fun is that? Thanks Chicago Podcast Cooperative! Tue, 30 Aug 2016 23:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-169-mbsing-shantira-jackson-white-girl-music MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5669 Kate Nash, Adele, Robyn, Tori Kelly, Hayley Williams... if you're a white lady with solid pipes and a story to tell, Shantira is probably going to invite you in to help her feel. As a woman whose "heart is like the ocean" and performances must have an array of experiences to reflect on, Shantira loves to be in touch with a wide range of emotions even though she's never had her ocean of a heart broken. Having a good cry to some powerful lady lyrics is one of her favorite ways to feel. After all, don't we all just want to know that we're not alone? Shantira's Spotify playlist, White Tears. New podcast venture from The Nerdologues, Blank Cassette, hosted by Eric Garneau. One of Shantira's employers, Cards Against Humanity, is the sponsor of this episode. How fun is that? Thanks Chicago Podcast Cooperative! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesKate Nash, Adele, Robyn, Tori Kelly, Hayley Williams... if you're a white lady with solid pipes and a story to tell, Shantira is probably going to invite you in to help her feel. As a woman whose "heart is like the ocean" and performances must have an array of experiences to reflect on, Shantira loves to be in touch with a wide range of emotions even though she's never had her ocean of a heart broken. Having a good cry to some powerful lady lyrics is one of her favorite ways to feel. After all, don't we all just want to know that we're not alone? Shantira's Spotify playlist, White Tears. New podcast venture from The Nerdologues, Blank Cassette, hosted by Eric Garneau. One of Shantira's employers, Cards Against Humanity, is the sponsor of this episode. How fun is that? Thanks Chicago Podcast Cooperative! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-168-mbsing-hannah-parsons-exercise From tap dancing to the My Little Pony Theme Song to biking from Zipcar lot to Zipcar lot all over Chicago, Hannah has always enjoyed being an active person. She had a carefree journey through youth sports and became a dang triathlete while she was in college. For her, it's about mind-clearing and feeling good, which she carries into her life as a performer (with a dream goal of having a gym/comedy venue all in one). What a great convo to throw on during a jog, riiiiight?! Fitness Blender Hannah is a part of the Improvised Star Trek, another show in the wonderful Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Thanks to the CPC, we get support from great small business in Chicago like the Busy Beaver Button Company. Check them all out! Wed, 24 Aug 2016 12:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-168-mbsing-hannah-parsons-exercise MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4848 From tap dancing to the My Little Pony Theme Song to biking from Zipcar lot to Zipcar lot all over Chicago, Hannah has always enjoyed being an active person. She had a carefree journey through youth sports and became a dang triathlete while she was in college. For her, it's about mind-clearing and feeling good, which she carries into her life as a performer (with a dream goal of having a gym/comedy venue all in one). What a great convo to throw on during a jog, riiiiight?! Fitness Blender Hannah is a part of the Improvised Star Trek, another show in the wonderful Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Thanks to the CPC, we get support from great small business in Chicago like the Busy Beaver Button Company. Check them all out! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFrom tap dancing to the My Little Pony Theme Song to biking from Zipcar lot to Zipcar lot all over Chicago, Hannah has always enjoyed being an active person. She had a carefree journey through youth sports and became a dang triathlete while she was in college. For her, it's about mind-clearing and feeling good, which she carries into her life as a performer (with a dream goal of having a gym/comedy venue all in one). What a great convo to throw on during a jog, riiiiight?! Fitness Blender Hannah is a part of the Improvised Star Trek, another show in the wonderful Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Thanks to the CPC, we get support from great small business in Chicago like the Busy Beaver Button Company. Check them all out! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-167-mbsing-abby-mcenany-being-queer-fat-failure If there's anything Abby McEnany is better at than making people laugh, it may be laughing at herself. Don't be fooled by the self-deprecating title: This conversation is about how Abby has embraced the person she is, how she has used it to influence her comedy, and how so much of one's path and career has to be about being happy in the place you are. In the same way that "improv is all about reframing," Abby is affecting change she wants to see by reframing and being true to herself, a "queer fat failure." See Abby's one-woman show, Work In Progress, 8/19 or 9/2 at 10:30 at the iO Theatre. Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating a community of podcasts and making them feel legit. Wed, 17 Aug 2016 12:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-167-mbsing-abby-mcenany-being-queer-fat-failure MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4811 If there's anything Abby McEnany is better at than making people laugh, it may be laughing at herself. Don't be fooled by the self-deprecating title: This conversation is about how Abby has embraced the person she is, how she has used it to influence her comedy, and how so much of one's path and career has to be about being happy in the place you are. In the same way that "improv is all about reframing," Abby is affecting change she wants to see by reframing and being true to herself, a "queer fat failure." See Abby's one-woman show, Work In Progress, 8/19 or 9/2 at 10:30 at the iO Theatre. Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating a community of podcasts and making them feel legit. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIf there's anything Abby McEnany is better at than making people laugh, it may be laughing at herself. Don't be fooled by the self-deprecating title: This conversation is about how Abby has embraced the person she is, how she has used it to influence her comedy, and how so much of one's path and career has to be about being happy in the place you are. In the same way that "improv is all about reframing," Abby is affecting change she wants to see by reframing and being true to herself, a "queer fat failure." See Abby's one-woman show, Work In Progress, 8/19 or 9/2 at 10:30 at the iO Theatre. Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating a community of podcasts and making them feel legit. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-166-mbsing-allison-reese-basketball Allison Reese used to ball so hard she'd make enemies on the court, but now she mostly uses her love of basketball to create analogies for other aspects of her life (read: comedy). A total gem and softy when not shooting hoops, Allison shares some personal stories ranging from attending Phoenix Suns games with her dad to the kinds of things her mostly Mormon high school teammates would bring to conversations in the locker room to who she sees as the Steve Nash of Chicago comedy. Be glad she didn't opt for her life's alternate timeline of playing college ball or she may not be gracing the comedy scene with her wonderful presence. Comedy owes one to coaches who ruin things for athletes. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Wed, 10 Aug 2016 07:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-166-mbsing-allison-reese-basketball MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4993 Allison Reese used to ball so hard she'd make enemies on the court, but now she mostly uses her love of basketball to create analogies for other aspects of her life (read: comedy). A total gem and softy when not shooting hoops, Allison shares some personal stories ranging from attending Phoenix Suns games with her dad to the kinds of things her mostly Mormon high school teammates would bring to conversations in the locker room to who she sees as the Steve Nash of Chicago comedy. Be glad she didn't opt for her life's alternate timeline of playing college ball or she may not be gracing the comedy scene with her wonderful presence. Comedy owes one to coaches who ruin things for athletes. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAllison Reese used to ball so hard she'd make enemies on the court, but now she mostly uses her love of basketball to create analogies for other aspects of her life (read: comedy). A total gem and softy when not shooting hoops, Allison shares some personal stories ranging from attending Phoenix Suns games with her dad to the kinds of things her mostly Mormon high school teammates would bring to conversations in the locker room to who she sees as the Steve Nash of Chicago comedy. Be glad she didn't opt for her life's alternate timeline of playing college ball or she may not be gracing the comedy scene with her wonderful presence. Comedy owes one to coaches who ruin things for athletes. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-165-mbsing-ali-keirn-disney-world Ali Keirn has been such a big fan of Walt Disney World since her first visit at three years old that she can trace her desire to study and perform musical theatre back to seeing the highly produced parades and stage shows the park had to offer. Since then she's been back to the park, seen all of the classic animated movies Disney has to offer, ventured to Disneyland in California, and become a performer still driven by her favorite Imagineer (Joe Rohde) and her favorite lyricist (Howard Ashman). Ali has ridden the wave of being a fan of the park as a kid to a full-on Disney World nerd watching YouTube videos of new attractions and scouring news stories about the evolution of the parks over the years. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating a podcasting community. Wed, 03 Aug 2016 06:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-165-mbsing-ali-keirn-disney-world MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4858 Ali Keirn has been such a big fan of Walt Disney World since her first visit at three years old that she can trace her desire to study and perform musical theatre back to seeing the highly produced parades and stage shows the park had to offer. Since then she's been back to the park, seen all of the classic animated movies Disney has to offer, ventured to Disneyland in California, and become a performer still driven by her favorite Imagineer (Joe Rohde) and her favorite lyricist (Howard Ashman). Ali has ridden the wave of being a fan of the park as a kid to a full-on Disney World nerd watching YouTube videos of new attractions and scouring news stories about the evolution of the parks over the years. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating a podcasting community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAli Keirn has been such a big fan of Walt Disney World since her first visit at three years old that she can trace her desire to study and perform musical theatre back to seeing the highly produced parades and stage shows the park had to offer. Since then she's been back to the park, seen all of the classic animated movies Disney has to offer, ventured to Disneyland in California, and become a performer still driven by her favorite Imagineer (Joe Rohde) and her favorite lyricist (Howard Ashman). Ali has ridden the wave of being a fan of the park as a kid to a full-on Disney World nerd watching YouTube videos of new attractions and scouring news stories about the evolution of the parks over the years. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating a podcasting community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-164-mbsing-james-t-green-anxiety-social-justice James T. Green is a coder, designer, podcaster, and all around creative type whose generalized anxiety has driven his work habits for his entire career. He has recently had to explore how his anxiety effects the way he can ennact social justice. As someone who doesn't feel comfortable or useful in a march, rally, or protest setting, he has learned to use his skills as a creative to raise money and awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement and amplify the voices of other marginalized groups. James spoke of his experience as a young black man in modern America, his relationship with social media, and some habits he uses to manage his anxiety on a daily basis. Check out the shows on the podcast collective James cofounded with past guests Alex Cox and Cher Vincent, Postloudness and the BLM shirt he designed and sells to support Black Lives Matter's Chicago chapter. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and Board Game Bento (use code NERDS for $5 off a box subscription) for sponsoring this episode as well as the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and building a podcasting community. Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-164-mbsing-james-t-green-anxiety-social-justice MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5095 James T. Green is a coder, designer, podcaster, and all around creative type whose generalized anxiety has driven his work habits for his entire career. He has recently had to explore how his anxiety effects the way he can ennact social justice. As someone who doesn't feel comfortable or useful in a march, rally, or protest setting, he has learned to use his skills as a creative to raise money and awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement and amplify the voices of other marginalized groups. James spoke of his experience as a young black man in modern America, his relationship with social media, and some habits he uses to manage his anxiety on a daily basis. Check out the shows on the podcast collective James cofounded with past guests Alex Cox and Cher Vincent, Postloudness and the BLM shirt he designed and sells to support Black Lives Matter's Chicago chapter. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and Board Game Bento (use code NERDS for $5 off a box subscription) for sponsoring this episode as well as the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and building a podcasting community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJames T. Green is a coder, designer, podcaster, and all around creative type whose generalized anxiety has driven his work habits for his entire career. He has recently had to explore how his anxiety effects the way he can ennact social justice. As someone who doesn't feel comfortable or useful in a march, rally, or protest setting, he has learned to use his skills as a creative to raise money and awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement and amplify the voices of other marginalized groups. James spoke of his experience as a young black man in modern America, his relationship with social media, and some habits he uses to manage his anxiety on a daily basis. Check out the shows on the podcast collective James cofounded with past guests Alex Cox and Cher Vincent, Postloudness and the BLM shirt he designed and sells to support Black Lives Matter's Chicago chapter. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and Board Game Bento (use code NERDS for $5 off a box subscription) for sponsoring this episode as well as the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and building a podcasting community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-163-mbsing-tim-heurlin-pursuit-success As a performer and teacher in Chicago, Tim continues to define and redefine what success means to him as an actor and person. A lifelong cinephile, he thought for sure he would spend three years studying in Chicago before shipping off to be a big time movie star in LA. He's now passed the ten year mark here and has a world of friends and experience he never could have fathomed. We discuss striving for success (and happiness) in whatever forms your career and personal life take and how his goals were shaped as a young person, an actor with representation, and now as an improv teacher. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a creative community. Wed, 20 Jul 2016 16:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-163-mbsing-tim-heurlin-pursuit-success MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5404 As a performer and teacher in Chicago, Tim continues to define and redefine what success means to him as an actor and person. A lifelong cinephile, he thought for sure he would spend three years studying in Chicago before shipping off to be a big time movie star in LA. He's now passed the ten year mark here and has a world of friends and experience he never could have fathomed. We discuss striving for success (and happiness) in whatever forms your career and personal life take and how his goals were shaped as a young person, an actor with representation, and now as an improv teacher. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a creative community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAs a performer and teacher in Chicago, Tim continues to define and redefine what success means to him as an actor and person. A lifelong cinephile, he thought for sure he would spend three years studying in Chicago before shipping off to be a big time movie star in LA. He's now passed the ten year mark here and has a world of friends and experience he never could have fathomed. We discuss striving for success (and happiness) in whatever forms your career and personal life take and how his goals were shaped as a young person, an actor with representation, and now as an improv teacher. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a creative community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-162-mbsing-gale-smith-parenthood-tv Mom and I break down nearly every branch of the Braverman family tree as we discuss her favorite TV show, Parenthood. We mostly focus on how the casting, writing, and even music of the show make it such a strong, emotional exploration of a variety of hardships and heartfelt moments in the life of a big family. We spend more time on the moments we can relate to more directly, and my mom shares a lot of insight on how the homemaker priorities of her generation and her mother's are examined in the show. Fans of the show will especially enjoy this ep, and non-fans won't be able to resist checking it out and sharing it with their families. Notes: We neglect to credit Sam Jaeger as Joel, Savannah Paige Rae as Sydney, Max Burkholder as Max, Joy Bryant as Jasmine, Tyree Brown as Jabbar, Sarah Ramos as Haddie, and Xolo Maridueña as Victor. I think we caught everybody else, but just because I couldn't rattle off these names doesn't mean they don't deserve some credit. This didn't make the mic, but Parenthood is a loose adaptation of the 1989 film of the same name and was preceded by a star-studded show that lasted a season in 1990. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for providing sponsors and creating a podcasting community. Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-162-mbsing-gale-smith-parenthood-tv MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5874 Mom and I break down nearly every branch of the Braverman family tree as we discuss her favorite TV show, Parenthood. We mostly focus on how the casting, writing, and even music of the show make it such a strong, emotional exploration of a variety of hardships and heartfelt moments in the life of a big family. We spend more time on the moments we can relate to more directly, and my mom shares a lot of insight on how the homemaker priorities of her generation and her mother's are examined in the show. Fans of the show will especially enjoy this ep, and non-fans won't be able to resist checking it out and sharing it with their families. Notes: We neglect to credit Sam Jaeger as Joel, Savannah Paige Rae as Sydney, Max Burkholder as Max, Joy Bryant as Jasmine, Tyree Brown as Jabbar, Sarah Ramos as Haddie, and Xolo Maridueña as Victor. I think we caught everybody else, but just because I couldn't rattle off these names doesn't mean they don't deserve some credit. This didn't make the mic, but Parenthood is a loose adaptation of the 1989 film of the same name and was preceded by a star-studded show that lasted a season in 1990. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for providing sponsors and creating a podcasting community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMom and I break down nearly every branch of the Braverman family tree as we discuss her favorite TV show, Parenthood. We mostly focus on how the casting, writing, and even music of the show make it such a strong, emotional exploration of a variety of hardships and heartfelt moments in the life of a big family. We spend more time on the moments we can relate to more directly, and my mom shares a lot of insight on how the homemaker priorities of her generation and her mother's are examined in the show. Fans of the show will especially enjoy this ep, and non-fans won't be able to resist checking it out and sharing it with their families. Notes: We neglect to credit Sam Jaeger as Joel, Savannah Paige Rae as Sydney, Max Burkholder as Max, Joy Bryant as Jasmine, Tyree Brown as Jabbar, Sarah Ramos as Haddie, and Xolo Maridueña as Victor. I think we caught everybody else, but just because I couldn't rattle off these names doesn't mean they don't deserve some credit. This didn't make the mic, but Parenthood is a loose adaptation of the 1989 film of the same name and was preceded by a star-studded show that lasted a season in 1990. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for providing sponsors and creating a podcasting community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-161-mbsing-cher-vincent-radiohead Cher has loved Thom York's Radiohead since she heard a track from Kid A on a joy ride with her dad during a difficult time in middle school. She built out her collection of their early albums thanks to the cashier at her local record store in Hyde Park, IL, giving her recommendations upon her purchasing Kid A, and she's now seen Radiohead (or Thom York solo) a followed-a-band-on-tour number of times and touts a tattoo of the Modified Bear. We talk her emotional attachment to their work, how internet culture has changed how fans of a band interact, and being a fan of something as an atypical member of its demographic. Check out Cher's podcast collective Postloudness, which includes shows she cohosts Gossip Girls and Open Ended. Open Ended is a fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Wed, 06 Jul 2016 16:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-161-mbsing-cher-vincent-radiohead MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4622 Cher has loved Thom York's Radiohead since she heard a track from Kid A on a joy ride with her dad during a difficult time in middle school. She built out her collection of their early albums thanks to the cashier at her local record store in Hyde Park, IL, giving her recommendations upon her purchasing Kid A, and she's now seen Radiohead (or Thom York solo) a followed-a-band-on-tour number of times and touts a tattoo of the Modified Bear. We talk her emotional attachment to their work, how internet culture has changed how fans of a band interact, and being a fan of something as an atypical member of its demographic. Check out Cher's podcast collective Postloudness, which includes shows she cohosts Gossip Girls and Open Ended. Open Ended is a fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCher has loved Thom York's Radiohead since she heard a track from Kid A on a joy ride with her dad during a difficult time in middle school. She built out her collection of their early albums thanks to the cashier at her local record store in Hyde Park, IL, giving her recommendations upon her purchasing Kid A, and she's now seen Radiohead (or Thom York solo) a followed-a-band-on-tour number of times and touts a tattoo of the Modified Bear. We talk her emotional attachment to their work, how internet culture has changed how fans of a band interact, and being a fan of something as an atypical member of its demographic. Check out Cher's podcast collective Postloudness, which includes shows she cohosts Gossip Girls and Open Ended. Open Ended is a fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-160-mbsing-friends-part-five On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. The guest list filled quickly, and there were a handful of interested parties who wanted to catch me on another day (and a couple people I specifically reached out to as I knew they had incredible follow-up tales). Here are those six stragglers: Rob Grabowski, who humored me with a discussion about the new Ghostbusters film and decried Clue and Hook as beloved films that do not hold up. For more of Rob's film thoughts, check out his show The Remake. Matt Young, who talked about our mutual love of Paul F. Tompkins, the success of Hello From the Magic Tavern, and our fRiEnDsHiP. Bret Dorman, who expounded on his move to Austin and the successful completion of his short film, Godzilla P.I. Which everyone reading these words should watch because how fucking cool is it that he made that happen? Mel Evans, who lamented the tragic loss of Michelle MacNamera, shared some thoughts on the return of the OJ Simpson trial to the zeitgeist, and let me talk at her about how ill-regulated forensic science is across the country. Rosie Moan, who shared how therapy has changed how she views her sexuality and her relationship since we spoke on them at length less than a year ago. Check out her podcast, Obsessed. Jo Feldman, who recently appeared as the guest for a live recording of Gilmore Guys (!!!) and reflected on the upcoming Netflix season of her beloved Gilmore Girls.  Wed, 29 Jun 2016 17:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-160-mbsing-friends-part-five MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5184 On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. The guest list filled quickly, and there were a handful of interested parties who wanted to catch me on another day (and a couple people I specifically reached out to as I knew they had incredible follow-up tales). Here are those six stragglers: Rob Grabowski, who humored me with a discussion about the new Ghostbusters film and decried Clue and Hook as beloved films that do not hold up. For more of Rob's film thoughts, check out his show The Remake. Matt Young, who talked about our mutual love of Paul F. Tompkins, the success of Hello From the Magic Tavern, and our fRiEnDsHiP. Bret Dorman, who expounded on his move to Austin and the successful completion of his short film, Godzilla P.I. Which everyone reading these words should watch because how fucking cool is it that he made that happen? Mel Evans, who lamented the tragic loss of Michelle MacNamera, shared some thoughts on the return of the OJ Simpson trial to the zeitgeist, and let me talk at her about how ill-regulated forensic science is across the country. Rosie Moan, who shared how therapy has changed how she views her sexuality and her relationship since we spoke on them at length less than a year ago. Check out her podcast, Obsessed. Jo Feldman, who recently appeared as the guest for a live recording of Gilmore Guys (!!!) and reflected on the upcoming Netflix season of her beloved Gilmore Girls.  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOn the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. The guest list filled quickly, and there were a handful of interested parties who wanted to catch me on another day (and a couple people I specifically reached out to as I knew they had incredible follow-up tales). Here are those six stragglers: Rob Grabowski, who humored me with a discussion about the new Ghostbusters film and decried Clue and Hook as beloved films that do not hold up. For more of Rob's film thoughts, check out his show The Remake. Matt Young, who talked about our mutual love of Paul F. Tompkins, the success of Hello From the Magic Tavern, and our fRiEnDsHiP. Bret Dorman, who expounded on his move to Austin and the successful completion of his short film, Godzilla P.I. Which everyone reading these words should watch because how fucking cool is it that he made that happen? Mel Evans, who lamented the tragic loss of Michelle MacNamera, shared some thoughts on the return of the OJ Simpson trial to the zeitgeist, and let me talk at her about how ill-regulated forensic science is across the country. Rosie Moan, who shared how therapy has changed how she views her sexuality and her relationship since we spoke on them at length less than a year ago. Check out her podcast, Obsessed. Jo Feldman, who recently appeared as the guest for a live recording of Gilmore Guys (!!!) and reflected on the upcoming Netflix season of her beloved Gilmore Girls.  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-159-mbsing-friends-part-four On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the fourth installment of nine calls from friends: Nick Johnson, who shared a story about the worst NOFX concert experience he has ever had.  Bryan Duff, who addressed some FAQs he gets about his episode re gluten, food allergies, and paying attention to what your body wants and needs nutritionally.  Claire Friedman, who realized her life changed pretty drastically mere days after recording her episode. Eileen Tull, who gets to rejoice over The Force Awakens surpassing her expectations for it. Kevin Budnik, who ran me through a Kid's Choice Awards ballot from a 1998 issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. Erin Lann, who talked to me about giant, penis-resembling ocean worms.  Julie Marchiano, who asked me about my dad in Cats and explored the change her gluten allergy has had on her hot dog enjoyment. Mark Colomb, who questioned my continued enjoyment of podcasting and speaks to the effect his change in environment and employment has had on his own podcasting habits.  Lee Russell, who asked me if I'd seen any horror films recently and recommended The Invitation, Green Room, and The Lobster. Thanks to Iron Galaxy and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Wed, 22 Jun 2016 07:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-159-mbsing-friends-part-four MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6294 On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the fourth installment of nine calls from friends: Nick Johnson, who shared a story about the worst NOFX concert experience he has ever had.  Bryan Duff, who addressed some FAQs he gets about his episode re gluten, food allergies, and paying attention to what your body wants and needs nutritionally.  Claire Friedman, who realized her life changed pretty drastically mere days after recording her episode. Eileen Tull, who gets to rejoice over The Force Awakens surpassing her expectations for it. Kevin Budnik, who ran me through a Kid's Choice Awards ballot from a 1998 issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. Erin Lann, who talked to me about giant, penis-resembling ocean worms.  Julie Marchiano, who asked me about my dad in Cats and explored the change her gluten allergy has had on her hot dog enjoyment. Mark Colomb, who questioned my continued enjoyment of podcasting and speaks to the effect his change in environment and employment has had on his own podcasting habits.  Lee Russell, who asked me if I'd seen any horror films recently and recommended The Invitation, Green Room, and The Lobster. Thanks to Iron Galaxy and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOn the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the fourth installment of nine calls from friends: Nick Johnson, who shared a story about the worst NOFX concert experience he has ever had.  Bryan Duff, who addressed some FAQs he gets about his episode re gluten, food allergies, and paying attention to what your body wants and needs nutritionally.  Claire Friedman, who realized her life changed pretty drastically mere days after recording her episode. Eileen Tull, who gets to rejoice over The Force Awakens surpassing her expectations for it. Kevin Budnik, who ran me through a Kid's Choice Awards ballot from a 1998 issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. Erin Lann, who talked to me about giant, penis-resembling ocean worms.  Julie Marchiano, who asked me about my dad in Cats and explored the change her gluten allergy has had on her hot dog enjoyment. Mark Colomb, who questioned my continued enjoyment of podcasting and speaks to the effect his change in environment and employment has had on his own podcasting habits.  Lee Russell, who asked me if I'd seen any horror films recently and recommended The Invitation, Green Room, and The Lobster. Thanks to Iron Galaxy and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-158-mbsing-friends-part-three On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the third installment of nine calls from friends: Vernon Mina, who remarked on how much we made each other laugh and offered a clarification of his parents' roles in his life.  Eric Braband, who made a Spotify playlist of Rustic Overtones songs and remarked on our newfound cohabitation.  Katie Wadsworth, who updated myself and the listeners on her transition from moving back in with her folks to making the move to LA. Max Temkin, who laments our grounded Animorphs podcasting endeavor and pitches a few substitutes. Katie Utke, who speaks her thoughts on Harry Potter and the Sacred Child, the film adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Emma Watson's turn in a live-action Beauty and the Beast. Mark Logsdon, who updated on his status with new dad life becoming the new normal after almost a year of it. Alex Talavera, who scolded me for not checking out someone I know being on No Reservations and updated me on US passport holder stats. Matt Visconage, who confirmed the truth of all of his proposed conspiracies including the marking up of momentarily popular Mighty Muggs. Bill Green, who got so fed up by the political system that he's going to law school at Notre Dame in the fall to tackle the issues as much as he can. (PS sorry my side of the audio for this one is VERY low.) Thanks to Iron Galaxy, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-158-mbsing-friends-part-three MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5110 On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the third installment of nine calls from friends: Vernon Mina, who remarked on how much we made each other laugh and offered a clarification of his parents' roles in his life.  Eric Braband, who made a Spotify playlist of Rustic Overtones songs and remarked on our newfound cohabitation.  Katie Wadsworth, who updated myself and the listeners on her transition from moving back in with her folks to making the move to LA. Max Temkin, who laments our grounded Animorphs podcasting endeavor and pitches a few substitutes. Katie Utke, who speaks her thoughts on Harry Potter and the Sacred Child, the film adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Emma Watson's turn in a live-action Beauty and the Beast. Mark Logsdon, who updated on his status with new dad life becoming the new normal after almost a year of it. Alex Talavera, who scolded me for not checking out someone I know being on No Reservations and updated me on US passport holder stats. Matt Visconage, who confirmed the truth of all of his proposed conspiracies including the marking up of momentarily popular Mighty Muggs. Bill Green, who got so fed up by the political system that he's going to law school at Notre Dame in the fall to tackle the issues as much as he can. (PS sorry my side of the audio for this one is VERY low.) Thanks to Iron Galaxy, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOn the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the third installment of nine calls from friends: Vernon Mina, who remarked on how much we made each other laugh and offered a clarification of his parents' roles in his life.  Eric Braband, who made a Spotify playlist of Rustic Overtones songs and remarked on our newfound cohabitation.  Katie Wadsworth, who updated myself and the listeners on her transition from moving back in with her folks to making the move to LA. Max Temkin, who laments our grounded Animorphs podcasting endeavor and pitches a few substitutes. Katie Utke, who speaks her thoughts on Harry Potter and the Sacred Child, the film adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Emma Watson's turn in a live-action Beauty and the Beast. Mark Logsdon, who updated on his status with new dad life becoming the new normal after almost a year of it. Alex Talavera, who scolded me for not checking out someone I know being on No Reservations and updated me on US passport holder stats. Matt Visconage, who confirmed the truth of all of his proposed conspiracies including the marking up of momentarily popular Mighty Muggs. Bill Green, who got so fed up by the political system that he's going to law school at Notre Dame in the fall to tackle the issues as much as he can. (PS sorry my side of the audio for this one is VERY low.) Thanks to Iron Galaxy, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-157-mbsing-friends-part-two On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the second installment of nine calls from friends: Stephen Kropa, who caught me up on all things Harmon and Wright since our first chat. Jessie Stegner, who started a podcast of her own recently and was looking forward to Little Mermaid at the Hollywood Bowl. Becca Taubel, who completed The Tanners trio and talked time. Tim Swindle, who went on morning radio to judge players of his game Utter Nonsense and teased an upcoming expansion. Tim Dunn, of Talking Games, who spoke of being less busy and comparing notes on living with a SO. Alex Trepka, who reminisced our times on Squall and compared the turnover in the wrestling world to the improv world we are a part of. Nate Bechtel, who honors his dad's time with the State Dept that caused a lot of their travel and reflects on travel he's done since our chat. Meg Johns, who asked about my dad being in Cats and let me pour some stories at her. Brendan Dowling, who enjoyed the mystery of The Whites (and doesn't know it yet but is waiting for me to catch up on UnReal for a chat about that). Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-157-mbsing-friends-part-two MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5558 On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the second installment of nine calls from friends: Stephen Kropa, who caught me up on all things Harmon and Wright since our first chat. Jessie Stegner, who started a podcast of her own recently and was looking forward to Little Mermaid at the Hollywood Bowl. Becca Taubel, who completed The Tanners trio and talked time. Tim Swindle, who went on morning radio to judge players of his game Utter Nonsense and teased an upcoming expansion. Tim Dunn, of Talking Games, who spoke of being less busy and comparing notes on living with a SO. Alex Trepka, who reminisced our times on Squall and compared the turnover in the wrestling world to the improv world we are a part of. Nate Bechtel, who honors his dad's time with the State Dept that caused a lot of their travel and reflects on travel he's done since our chat. Meg Johns, who asked about my dad being in Cats and let me pour some stories at her. Brendan Dowling, who enjoyed the mystery of The Whites (and doesn't know it yet but is waiting for me to catch up on UnReal for a chat about that). Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOn the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the second installment of nine calls from friends: Stephen Kropa, who caught me up on all things Harmon and Wright since our first chat. Jessie Stegner, who started a podcast of her own recently and was looking forward to Little Mermaid at the Hollywood Bowl. Becca Taubel, who completed The Tanners trio and talked time. Tim Swindle, who went on morning radio to judge players of his game Utter Nonsense and teased an upcoming expansion. Tim Dunn, of Talking Games, who spoke of being less busy and comparing notes on living with a SO. Alex Trepka, who reminisced our times on Squall and compared the turnover in the wrestling world to the improv world we are a part of. Nate Bechtel, who honors his dad's time with the State Dept that caused a lot of their travel and reflects on travel he's done since our chat. Meg Johns, who asked about my dad being in Cats and let me pour some stories at her. Brendan Dowling, who enjoyed the mystery of The Whites (and doesn't know it yet but is waiting for me to catch up on UnReal for a chat about that). Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-156-mbsing-friends-part-one On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here are the first eight sandwiched between some sweet voicemails: Sarah Shockey, whose new show Marty and Sarah Love Wrestling you should give a listen. Mike Gifford, who laments the passing of Shake, Rattle, and Read in Uptown Stephanie Corkery, who has nowhere near enough time to describe our colonic experience Andy Herren, who edits his love of lying to include always lying to Big Brother fans and not being mean to people Mike Migdall, who called from the eye of a chill storm Wyn Evans, who beautifully spoke on human connectedness and empathy Adam Levin, who thinks our conversation about failure helped him move on and values uninterrupted conversation Jon Pernisek, who has his own How Rude podcast and chatted with me about NBC's The Wiz and upcoming Emerald City Steve Nelson, who applied to grad school poetry programs since his ep. Jimmy Pennington, who is now thinking he should've spent his ep talking about Harry Potter. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. Wed, 01 Jun 2016 11:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-156-mbsing-friends-part-one MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5160 On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here are the first eight sandwiched between some sweet voicemails: Sarah Shockey, whose new show Marty and Sarah Love Wrestling you should give a listen. Mike Gifford, who laments the passing of Shake, Rattle, and Read in Uptown Stephanie Corkery, who has nowhere near enough time to describe our colonic experience Andy Herren, who edits his love of lying to include always lying to Big Brother fans and not being mean to people Mike Migdall, who called from the eye of a chill storm Wyn Evans, who beautifully spoke on human connectedness and empathy Adam Levin, who thinks our conversation about failure helped him move on and values uninterrupted conversation Jon Pernisek, who has his own How Rude podcast and chatted with me about NBC's The Wiz and upcoming Emerald City Steve Nelson, who applied to grad school poetry programs since his ep. Jimmy Pennington, who is now thinking he should've spent his ep talking about Harry Potter. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOn the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here are the first eight sandwiched between some sweet voicemails: Sarah Shockey, whose new show Marty and Sarah Love Wrestling you should give a listen. Mike Gifford, who laments the passing of Shake, Rattle, and Read in Uptown Stephanie Corkery, who has nowhere near enough time to describe our colonic experience Andy Herren, who edits his love of lying to include always lying to Big Brother fans and not being mean to people Mike Migdall, who called from the eye of a chill storm Wyn Evans, who beautifully spoke on human connectedness and empathy Adam Levin, who thinks our conversation about failure helped him move on and values uninterrupted conversation Jon Pernisek, who has his own How Rude podcast and chatted with me about NBC's The Wiz and upcoming Emerald City Steve Nelson, who applied to grad school poetry programs since his ep. Jimmy Pennington, who is now thinking he should've spent his ep talking about Harry Potter. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-155-mbsing-chris-blake-straight-edge In a world of drugs and sex, a straight edge hardcore punk fan arose in Virginia and continued to maintain his abstinence for a number of years as a part of the Chicago comedy scene. Chris and I discuss his turn to the Dark Side, how even with the best of tenets and intentions, most movements have negative extremists, and how it feels to align oneself with a lifestyle choice to be a part of a bigger community. We even get into the history of the subculture and the current state of punk and sXe. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support and excellent company.   Wed, 25 May 2016 11:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-155-mbsing-chris-blake-straight-edge MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4476 In a world of drugs and sex, a straight edge hardcore punk fan arose in Virginia and continued to maintain his abstinence for a number of years as a part of the Chicago comedy scene. Chris and I discuss his turn to the Dark Side, how even with the best of tenets and intentions, most movements have negative extremists, and how it feels to align oneself with a lifestyle choice to be a part of a bigger community. We even get into the history of the subculture and the current state of punk and sXe. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support and excellent company.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIn a world of drugs and sex, a straight edge hardcore punk fan arose in Virginia and continued to maintain his abstinence for a number of years as a part of the Chicago comedy scene. Chris and I discuss his turn to the Dark Side, how even with the best of tenets and intentions, most movements have negative extremists, and how it feels to align oneself with a lifestyle choice to be a part of a bigger community. We even get into the history of the subculture and the current state of punk and sXe. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support and excellent company.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-154-mbsing-bennett-botero-and-brendan-stallings-pen-and-paper-rpgs Grab a D20 and roll up a character sheet because we are gonna go on a softly-guided journey, listeners. Bennett and Brendan have both had a love for tabletop RPGs since being looped into campaigns as teenagers. After years of different game groups and editions of Dungeons and Dragons, they've joined forces with other members of their theatre company, Otherworld, to create a staged version of their beloved pastime, Fight Quest, that recruits an audience member at the top of the show to be their hero. Lots of talk about other fun RPGs (Fiasco, Lasers and Feelings, Vampire: The Masquerade, etc) and the life lessons gleaned from dealing with all types of gaming personalities. Check out the other members of Otherworld Theatre Company who've joined me for MBSing, too! Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and putting us all under one warm podcast roof. Check out One Shot and Campaign for RPG podcasting fun.   Wed, 18 May 2016 09:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-154-mbsing-bennett-botero-and-brendan-stallings-pen-and-paper-rpgs MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6272 Grab a D20 and roll up a character sheet because we are gonna go on a softly-guided journey, listeners. Bennett and Brendan have both had a love for tabletop RPGs since being looped into campaigns as teenagers. After years of different game groups and editions of Dungeons and Dragons, they've joined forces with other members of their theatre company, Otherworld, to create a staged version of their beloved pastime, Fight Quest, that recruits an audience member at the top of the show to be their hero. Lots of talk about other fun RPGs (Fiasco, Lasers and Feelings, Vampire: The Masquerade, etc) and the life lessons gleaned from dealing with all types of gaming personalities. Check out the other members of Otherworld Theatre Company who've joined me for MBSing, too! Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and putting us all under one warm podcast roof. Check out One Shot and Campaign for RPG podcasting fun.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesGrab a D20 and roll up a character sheet because we are gonna go on a softly-guided journey, listeners. Bennett and Brendan have both had a love for tabletop RPGs since being looped into campaigns as teenagers. After years of different game groups and editions of Dungeons and Dragons, they've joined forces with other members of their theatre company, Otherworld, to create a staged version of their beloved pastime, Fight Quest, that recruits an audience member at the top of the show to be their hero. Lots of talk about other fun RPGs (Fiasco, Lasers and Feelings, Vampire: The Masquerade, etc) and the life lessons gleaned from dealing with all types of gaming personalities. Check out the other members of Otherworld Theatre Company who've joined me for MBSing, too! Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and putting us all under one warm podcast roof. Check out One Shot and Campaign for RPG podcasting fun.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-153-mbsing-eric-schinzer-synthwave Eric Schinzer is no musical sheep waiting around for the sounds he loves to pop up in the lame stream. He knew he loved the sweet sound of synth from a young age (citing Dire Straights's Walk of Life as an early intro) and became a fan of midi, 80s sounds (and styles) from then on. A recent resurgence of synth came with a heavy dose of love of 80s-style scoring and turned into this specific Synthwave genre. It's mostly taking off in France and the UK, driven by soundtracks like Drive and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, and makes Eric tingle like an ASMR fan. He even enjoys creating his own music and using his favorite synthwave bands, including Perterbator, Power Glove, Dynatron, and Gunship, to score his trudges through a city he feels determined to prepare in and spring off from. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring. MBSing is a proud member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, so you should check out more of those shows if you like this one. Here's a Soundcloud of Eric's that has funny stuff on it. Wed, 11 May 2016 12:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-153-mbsing-eric-schinzer-synthwave MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6246 Eric Schinzer is no musical sheep waiting around for the sounds he loves to pop up in the lame stream. He knew he loved the sweet sound of synth from a young age (citing Dire Straights's Walk of Life as an early intro) and became a fan of midi, 80s sounds (and styles) from then on. A recent resurgence of synth came with a heavy dose of love of 80s-style scoring and turned into this specific Synthwave genre. It's mostly taking off in France and the UK, driven by soundtracks like Drive and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, and makes Eric tingle like an ASMR fan. He even enjoys creating his own music and using his favorite synthwave bands, including Perterbator, Power Glove, Dynatron, and Gunship, to score his trudges through a city he feels determined to prepare in and spring off from. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring. MBSing is a proud member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, so you should check out more of those shows if you like this one. Here's a Soundcloud of Eric's that has funny stuff on it. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEric Schinzer is no musical sheep waiting around for the sounds he loves to pop up in the lame stream. He knew he loved the sweet sound of synth from a young age (citing Dire Straights's Walk of Life as an early intro) and became a fan of midi, 80s sounds (and styles) from then on. A recent resurgence of synth came with a heavy dose of love of 80s-style scoring and turned into this specific Synthwave genre. It's mostly taking off in France and the UK, driven by soundtracks like Drive and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, and makes Eric tingle like an ASMR fan. He even enjoys creating his own music and using his favorite synthwave bands, including Perterbator, Power Glove, Dynatron, and Gunship, to score his trudges through a city he feels determined to prepare in and spring off from. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring. MBSing is a proud member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, so you should check out more of those shows if you like this one. Here's a Soundcloud of Eric's that has funny stuff on it. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-152-mbsing-vernon-mina-hispanic-family-life Honduran hunk Vernon Mina has been living a Hispanic family life his whole life... because... it's... his family. But there's way more to it than that! From entertaining his uncles as a young boy with bits borrowed from his Latino entertainment heroes (Don Francisco anyone?) to meeting his wonderful Mexican wife in high school and accidentally enrolling in a military school to follow her out of state to starting a family of his own and choosing to speak Spanish at home with his son, so much of Vernon's life on stage and off is influenced by his background. Heck, he wouldn't have even found comedy if it weren't for his siblings signing him up for classes and helping pay his way. This was a lovely, world-broadening chat, and I encourage everyone to enjoy Vernon's warm outlook on bringing his culture into his characters as a reflection on his life and the importance of representation. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsorship coordination and community-building. Check out fellow CPC member Open Ended and the rest of the Postloudness lineup for more POC, female, and queer-identified voices in podcasting.   Wed, 04 May 2016 15:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-152-mbsing-vernon-mina-hispanic-family-life MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5702 Honduran hunk Vernon Mina has been living a Hispanic family life his whole life... because... it's... his family. But there's way more to it than that! From entertaining his uncles as a young boy with bits borrowed from his Latino entertainment heroes (Don Francisco anyone?) to meeting his wonderful Mexican wife in high school and accidentally enrolling in a military school to follow her out of state to starting a family of his own and choosing to speak Spanish at home with his son, so much of Vernon's life on stage and off is influenced by his background. Heck, he wouldn't have even found comedy if it weren't for his siblings signing him up for classes and helping pay his way. This was a lovely, world-broadening chat, and I encourage everyone to enjoy Vernon's warm outlook on bringing his culture into his characters as a reflection on his life and the importance of representation. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsorship coordination and community-building. Check out fellow CPC member Open Ended and the rest of the Postloudness lineup for more POC, female, and queer-identified voices in podcasting.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHonduran hunk Vernon Mina has been living a Hispanic family life his whole life... because... it's... his family. But there's way more to it than that! From entertaining his uncles as a young boy with bits borrowed from his Latino entertainment heroes (Don Francisco anyone?) to meeting his wonderful Mexican wife in high school and accidentally enrolling in a military school to follow her out of state to starting a family of his own and choosing to speak Spanish at home with his son, so much of Vernon's life on stage and off is influenced by his background. Heck, he wouldn't have even found comedy if it weren't for his siblings signing him up for classes and helping pay his way. This was a lovely, world-broadening chat, and I encourage everyone to enjoy Vernon's warm outlook on bringing his culture into his characters as a reflection on his life and the importance of representation. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsorship coordination and community-building. Check out fellow CPC member Open Ended and the rest of the Postloudness lineup for more POC, female, and queer-identified voices in podcasting.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-151-mbsing-mary-catherine-curran-saturday-night-live Want to hear how Saturday Night Live played a hand in Mary Catherine Curran's journey to Chicago? Of course you do. She's a total badass. It starts with falling for Phill Hartman as a cast member thanks to her first and biggest comedy love, The Simpsons. There's a time in there where impersonating Mary Catherine Gallagher got her through middle school. It continued with having the opportunity to meet cast members and attend show tapings while working with Sketch Up at University of Maryland. It culminates in her time in Chicago where she continues to learn about herself and what it means to be a performer you can be proud of. Lots of love for the women of the aughts (Tina F, Amy P, Rachel D, Maya R, et al) because how could there not be? We also cover how the era of SNL you were in late middle school to early college for will always be your favorite because you are the target audience. SNL is always catering to that window. They'll always have good stuff regardless of whether it's for you. And don't forget: You're only remembering the good sketches. The episode must go on. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and giving this project a modicum of legitimacy and to Cards Against Humanity for being the mother of that brainchild as well as sponsoring this ep. Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-151-mbsing-mary-catherine-curran-saturday-night-live MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 8495 Want to hear how Saturday Night Live played a hand in Mary Catherine Curran's journey to Chicago? Of course you do. She's a total badass. It starts with falling for Phill Hartman as a cast member thanks to her first and biggest comedy love, The Simpsons. There's a time in there where impersonating Mary Catherine Gallagher got her through middle school. It continued with having the opportunity to meet cast members and attend show tapings while working with Sketch Up at University of Maryland. It culminates in her time in Chicago where she continues to learn about herself and what it means to be a performer you can be proud of. Lots of love for the women of the aughts (Tina F, Amy P, Rachel D, Maya R, et al) because how could there not be? We also cover how the era of SNL you were in late middle school to early college for will always be your favorite because you are the target audience. SNL is always catering to that window. They'll always have good stuff regardless of whether it's for you. And don't forget: You're only remembering the good sketches. The episode must go on. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and giving this project a modicum of legitimacy and to Cards Against Humanity for being the mother of that brainchild as well as sponsoring this ep. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWant to hear how Saturday Night Live played a hand in Mary Catherine Curran's journey to Chicago? Of course you do. She's a total badass. It starts with falling for Phill Hartman as a cast member thanks to her first and biggest comedy love, The Simpsons. There's a time in there where impersonating Mary Catherine Gallagher got her through middle school. It continued with having the opportunity to meet cast members and attend show tapings while working with Sketch Up at University of Maryland. It culminates in her time in Chicago where she continues to learn about herself and what it means to be a performer you can be proud of. Lots of love for the women of the aughts (Tina F, Amy P, Rachel D, Maya R, et al) because how could there not be? We also cover how the era of SNL you were in late middle school to early college for will always be your favorite because you are the target audience. SNL is always catering to that window. They'll always have good stuff regardless of whether it's for you. And don't forget: You're only remembering the good sketches. The episode must go on. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and giving this project a modicum of legitimacy and to Cards Against Humanity for being the mother of that brainchild as well as sponsoring this ep. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-150-mbsing-nathan-brewer-home-alone-3 Along with likely being the first person to ever tell me I should host my own podcast, Nathan Brewer is also the first person I've ever met who would defend Home Alone 3 as the best film of the Home Alone series. He champions the follow up to the first two [similar] films as a successful spy movie with a child protagonist, calling it both the Tootsie of Home Alone films (for it's tight, three-act structure) and the John Wick of Home Alone films (for getting each individual aspect of the genre right and thus working well as a unit). He's watched the movie at least once a year with his family since its 1997 release and even got a girlfriend out of his devotion to defending its honor. Check out Nathan's group, Legends in the Game. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and community.   Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-150-mbsing-nathan-brewer-home-alone-3 MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5345 Along with likely being the first person to ever tell me I should host my own podcast, Nathan Brewer is also the first person I've ever met who would defend Home Alone 3 as the best film of the Home Alone series. He champions the follow up to the first two [similar] films as a successful spy movie with a child protagonist, calling it both the Tootsie of Home Alone films (for it's tight, three-act structure) and the John Wick of Home Alone films (for getting each individual aspect of the genre right and thus working well as a unit). He's watched the movie at least once a year with his family since its 1997 release and even got a girlfriend out of his devotion to defending its honor. Check out Nathan's group, Legends in the Game. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and community.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAlong with likely being the first person to ever tell me I should host my own podcast, Nathan Brewer is also the first person I've ever met who would defend Home Alone 3 as the best film of the Home Alone series. He champions the follow up to the first two [similar] films as a successful spy movie with a child protagonist, calling it both the Tootsie of Home Alone films (for it's tight, three-act structure) and the John Wick of Home Alone films (for getting each individual aspect of the genre right and thus working well as a unit). He's watched the movie at least once a year with his family since its 1997 release and even got a girlfriend out of his devotion to defending its honor. Check out Nathan's group, Legends in the Game. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and community.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-149-mbsing-brian-hooli-hoolahan-beer Hooli beers me times two as we chat about his favorite brand of beverage, beer. From sours to stouts and malts to hops, Hooli knows his brews as a Cicerone-certified beer server. He's basically the beer equivalent of a base-level sommelier. On top of learning a ton, enjoy hearing about his endeavors in home brewing and his finely-honed service industry skills.  Check out Sports Retorts with Hooli and The Joe for more Hooli and MBS on-mic endeavors.  Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community where there wasn't one.    Wed, 13 Apr 2016 16:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-149-mbsing-brian-hooli-hoolahan-beer MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5631 Hooli beers me times two as we chat about his favorite brand of beverage, beer. From sours to stouts and malts to hops, Hooli knows his brews as a Cicerone-certified beer server. He's basically the beer equivalent of a base-level sommelier. On top of learning a ton, enjoy hearing about his endeavors in home brewing and his finely-honed service industry skills.  Check out Sports Retorts with Hooli and The Joe for more Hooli and MBS on-mic endeavors.  Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community where there wasn't one.    Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHooli beers me times two as we chat about his favorite brand of beverage, beer. From sours to stouts and malts to hops, Hooli knows his brews as a Cicerone-certified beer server. He's basically the beer equivalent of a base-level sommelier. On top of learning a ton, enjoy hearing about his endeavors in home brewing and his finely-honed service industry skills.  Check out Sports Retorts with Hooli and The Joe for more Hooli and MBS on-mic endeavors.  Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community where there wasn't one.    https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-148-mbsing-jules-sims It's easy to think there's some sort of god complex going on with Jules, but it seems more like a genuinely joyous and creative person genuinely interested in the goings-on of the people around her. What better way to entertain that than playing in a Sims world? From Sims Tumblrs to How Addicted to The Sims Are You BuzzFeed lists to stealing away in a Boston coffee shop to download Sims 3 to refusing to playing on her iPhone because there's not enough room to interact with the world, Jules is just obsessed with the simulated families and situations the game brings. Listen in to find out how many different ways Sims can die, what their sex lives are like, and the tragic/odd otherworldly things that can befall them whether brought on my a game glitch or a particularly evil overlord. Plus, some hot tips on the best music options within The Sims. Thanks to Basecamp and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their sponsorship and support.   Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-148-mbsing-jules-sims MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4047 It's easy to think there's some sort of god complex going on with Jules, but it seems more like a genuinely joyous and creative person genuinely interested in the goings-on of the people around her. What better way to entertain that than playing in a Sims world? From Sims Tumblrs to How Addicted to The Sims Are You BuzzFeed lists to stealing away in a Boston coffee shop to download Sims 3 to refusing to playing on her iPhone because there's not enough room to interact with the world, Jules is just obsessed with the simulated families and situations the game brings. Listen in to find out how many different ways Sims can die, what their sex lives are like, and the tragic/odd otherworldly things that can befall them whether brought on my a game glitch or a particularly evil overlord. Plus, some hot tips on the best music options within The Sims. Thanks to Basecamp and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their sponsorship and support.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIt's easy to think there's some sort of god complex going on with Jules, but it seems more like a genuinely joyous and creative person genuinely interested in the goings-on of the people around her. What better way to entertain that than playing in a Sims world? From Sims Tumblrs to How Addicted to The Sims Are You BuzzFeed lists to stealing away in a Boston coffee shop to download Sims 3 to refusing to playing on her iPhone because there's not enough room to interact with the world, Jules is just obsessed with the simulated families and situations the game brings. Listen in to find out how many different ways Sims can die, what their sex lives are like, and the tragic/odd otherworldly things that can befall them whether brought on my a game glitch or a particularly evil overlord. Plus, some hot tips on the best music options within The Sims. Thanks to Basecamp and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their sponsorship and support.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-147-mbsing-jo-scott-chicago-park-district Jo Scott has boys. Jo Scott takes the boys places. The Chicago Park District has the best places to take them. Hear about all of the possible classes, programs, and settings the park district has to offer everyone in Chicago and remember that going outside and being active is both fun and affordable. Some of my favorite moments are Jo's descriptions of the people teaching the classes and the ways the boys have taken to organized sports. Stick around for some thoughts on internet culture, identical twins, hoop dreams, and Wiggleworms. Check out Jo's webseries with past guest Jeff Murdoch, Curfeud. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for giving the podcast a literal and figurative home. Please support the other shows. Here's Jo on An Hour with Your Ex and Hello From the Magic Tavern. Fantastic places to start. Mon, 28 Mar 2016 23:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-147-mbsing-jo-scott-chicago-park-district MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5868 Jo Scott has boys. Jo Scott takes the boys places. The Chicago Park District has the best places to take them. Hear about all of the possible classes, programs, and settings the park district has to offer everyone in Chicago and remember that going outside and being active is both fun and affordable. Some of my favorite moments are Jo's descriptions of the people teaching the classes and the ways the boys have taken to organized sports. Stick around for some thoughts on internet culture, identical twins, hoop dreams, and Wiggleworms. Check out Jo's webseries with past guest Jeff Murdoch, Curfeud. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for giving the podcast a literal and figurative home. Please support the other shows. Here's Jo on An Hour with Your Ex and Hello From the Magic Tavern. Fantastic places to start. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJo Scott has boys. Jo Scott takes the boys places. The Chicago Park District has the best places to take them. Hear about all of the possible classes, programs, and settings the park district has to offer everyone in Chicago and remember that going outside and being active is both fun and affordable. Some of my favorite moments are Jo's descriptions of the people teaching the classes and the ways the boys have taken to organized sports. Stick around for some thoughts on internet culture, identical twins, hoop dreams, and Wiggleworms. Check out Jo's webseries with past guest Jeff Murdoch, Curfeud. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for giving the podcast a literal and figurative home. Please support the other shows. Here's Jo on An Hour with Your Ex and Hello From the Magic Tavern. Fantastic places to start. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-146-mbsing-ilana-gordon-writing-tv Ever since her first taste of unlimited television, Ilana Gordon has been obsessed (though maybe not with the shows you'd think). After getting a degree in writing for TV/film, she relocated to Chicago and snagged some writing gigs after a bunch of fun with improv and sketch. We talk about her time working for the Steve Harvey Show, ways she motivates herself to write, and a bunch of shows we like. Don't worry, we do talk about that whole Miss Universe thing, too. Notes: Mike Gifford on Your Stories. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship and helping this 'cast be a part of something. Wed, 23 Mar 2016 02:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-146-mbsing-ilana-gordon-writing-tv MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5967 Ever since her first taste of unlimited television, Ilana Gordon has been obsessed (though maybe not with the shows you'd think). After getting a degree in writing for TV/film, she relocated to Chicago and snagged some writing gigs after a bunch of fun with improv and sketch. We talk about her time working for the Steve Harvey Show, ways she motivates herself to write, and a bunch of shows we like. Don't worry, we do talk about that whole Miss Universe thing, too. Notes: Mike Gifford on Your Stories. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship and helping this 'cast be a part of something. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEver since her first taste of unlimited television, Ilana Gordon has been obsessed (though maybe not with the shows you'd think). After getting a degree in writing for TV/film, she relocated to Chicago and snagged some writing gigs after a bunch of fun with improv and sketch. We talk about her time working for the Steve Harvey Show, ways she motivates herself to write, and a bunch of shows we like. Don't worry, we do talk about that whole Miss Universe thing, too. Notes: Mike Gifford on Your Stories. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship and helping this 'cast be a part of something. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-145-mbsing-warren-arnold-mystery-science-theater-3000 Warren Arnold has got it bad for bad movies. Ever since his childhood in rural Arkansas forced him to choose between televangelists or the one movie airing on cable, he's taken the low road (high road? who can say) of watching hilariously bad films. This led him to a very specific appreciation for poking fun at these horrible projects via MST3K. We talk about the ideas of joking without tearing down, rebooting beloved properties, and getting at the crux of where a hilariously bad movie went off the rails. Pod People, Manos: The Hands of Fate, The Room, Troll 2, and Werewolf all get some love (hate?) as well as a bad film Warren spent a day on set for witnessing firsthand where projects can go wrong (bonus points for anyone who can track it down). Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and recording space.   Wed, 16 Mar 2016 10:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-145-mbsing-warren-arnold-mystery-science-theater-3000 MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5492 Warren Arnold has got it bad for bad movies. Ever since his childhood in rural Arkansas forced him to choose between televangelists or the one movie airing on cable, he's taken the low road (high road? who can say) of watching hilariously bad films. This led him to a very specific appreciation for poking fun at these horrible projects via MST3K. We talk about the ideas of joking without tearing down, rebooting beloved properties, and getting at the crux of where a hilariously bad movie went off the rails. Pod People, Manos: The Hands of Fate, The Room, Troll 2, and Werewolf all get some love (hate?) as well as a bad film Warren spent a day on set for witnessing firsthand where projects can go wrong (bonus points for anyone who can track it down). Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and recording space.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWarren Arnold has got it bad for bad movies. Ever since his childhood in rural Arkansas forced him to choose between televangelists or the one movie airing on cable, he's taken the low road (high road? who can say) of watching hilariously bad films. This led him to a very specific appreciation for poking fun at these horrible projects via MST3K. We talk about the ideas of joking without tearing down, rebooting beloved properties, and getting at the crux of where a hilariously bad movie went off the rails. Pod People, Manos: The Hands of Fate, The Room, Troll 2, and Werewolf all get some love (hate?) as well as a bad film Warren spent a day on set for witnessing firsthand where projects can go wrong (bonus points for anyone who can track it down). Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and recording space.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-144-mbsing-bryson-howard-france It's a very special college reunion episode of MBSing with dear friend, former improv teammate, and playwright Bryson Howard who has more love for France than anyone I've ever met. We talk about his early years in French classes, spending a semester abroad in Versailles, and his current stay as a teacher in a program called TAPIF just outside of Paris. It's many, many laughs, some pep talks, and a sobering conversation towards the end regarding his experience during and thoughts on the Paris attacks in 2015. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsorship and camaraderie. Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-144-mbsing-bryson-howard-france MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 7394 It's a very special college reunion episode of MBSing with dear friend, former improv teammate, and playwright Bryson Howard who has more love for France than anyone I've ever met. We talk about his early years in French classes, spending a semester abroad in Versailles, and his current stay as a teacher in a program called TAPIF just outside of Paris. It's many, many laughs, some pep talks, and a sobering conversation towards the end regarding his experience during and thoughts on the Paris attacks in 2015. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsorship and camaraderie. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIt's a very special college reunion episode of MBSing with dear friend, former improv teammate, and playwright Bryson Howard who has more love for France than anyone I've ever met. We talk about his early years in French classes, spending a semester abroad in Versailles, and his current stay as a teacher in a program called TAPIF just outside of Paris. It's many, many laughs, some pep talks, and a sobering conversation towards the end regarding his experience during and thoughts on the Paris attacks in 2015. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsorship and camaraderie. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-143-mbsing-megan-johns-creative-collaboration Megan Johns has been creatively collaborating in some capacity for what seems to be her entire life. After thriving in programs like Odyssey of the Mind as a young person fueled by her parents' creative encouragement, Meg has been a part of bringing people together to create shows in Chicago (mainly at the Annoyance Theatre and as a part of The New Colony theatre company) for over a decade. We chat about how personality types, fear and anxiety, and finding a balance between healthy compromise and pushing one's own ideas all play into these projects. Meg strives to actively, joyfully, and adventurously make theatre happen, and she's an inspiration to me (and has been since right after my move to Chicago, as you'll find out herein). Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring (incredibly pertinent... Basecamp is excellent for project management) and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating support and a community where there wasn't one. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 03:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-143-mbsing-megan-johns-creative-collaboration MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 7206 Megan Johns has been creatively collaborating in some capacity for what seems to be her entire life. After thriving in programs like Odyssey of the Mind as a young person fueled by her parents' creative encouragement, Meg has been a part of bringing people together to create shows in Chicago (mainly at the Annoyance Theatre and as a part of The New Colony theatre company) for over a decade. We chat about how personality types, fear and anxiety, and finding a balance between healthy compromise and pushing one's own ideas all play into these projects. Meg strives to actively, joyfully, and adventurously make theatre happen, and she's an inspiration to me (and has been since right after my move to Chicago, as you'll find out herein). Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring (incredibly pertinent... Basecamp is excellent for project management) and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating support and a community where there wasn't one. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMegan Johns has been creatively collaborating in some capacity for what seems to be her entire life. After thriving in programs like Odyssey of the Mind as a young person fueled by her parents' creative encouragement, Meg has been a part of bringing people together to create shows in Chicago (mainly at the Annoyance Theatre and as a part of The New Colony theatre company) for over a decade. We chat about how personality types, fear and anxiety, and finding a balance between healthy compromise and pushing one's own ideas all play into these projects. Meg strives to actively, joyfully, and adventurously make theatre happen, and she's an inspiration to me (and has been since right after my move to Chicago, as you'll find out herein). Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring (incredibly pertinent... Basecamp is excellent for project management) and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating support and a community where there wasn't one. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-142-mbsing-meghan-sullivan-booking-show Meghan has been booking performers for and hosting Thunderdome, an irreverent comedy variety show, for almost a year. We get into a lot of the frustrations and revelations that have arisen as a result, including the inevitability of a weekly show happening regardless of being ready for it, balancing life (school, love, self) with being an aspiring performer, and the energy necessary to book the best, most diverse acts. There's some talk in here on the current state of the Chicago comedy community where women and show density are concerned, and we explore what it's like to take over a show and maintain its voice while being true to and discovering your own. Plus, there's a story in here about when Thunderdome became an impromptu one-woman show that is EASILY worth the price of admission ($3). Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring. Visit EmporiumChicago.com/cpc for a free drink or game tokens. Special thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a supportive community where there wasn't one. Wed, 24 Feb 2016 02:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-142-mbsing-meghan-sullivan-booking-show MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5129 Meghan has been booking performers for and hosting Thunderdome, an irreverent comedy variety show, for almost a year. We get into a lot of the frustrations and revelations that have arisen as a result, including the inevitability of a weekly show happening regardless of being ready for it, balancing life (school, love, self) with being an aspiring performer, and the energy necessary to book the best, most diverse acts. There's some talk in here on the current state of the Chicago comedy community where women and show density are concerned, and we explore what it's like to take over a show and maintain its voice while being true to and discovering your own. Plus, there's a story in here about when Thunderdome became an impromptu one-woman show that is EASILY worth the price of admission ($3). Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring. Visit EmporiumChicago.com/cpc for a free drink or game tokens. Special thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a supportive community where there wasn't one. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMeghan has been booking performers for and hosting Thunderdome, an irreverent comedy variety show, for almost a year. We get into a lot of the frustrations and revelations that have arisen as a result, including the inevitability of a weekly show happening regardless of being ready for it, balancing life (school, love, self) with being an aspiring performer, and the energy necessary to book the best, most diverse acts. There's some talk in here on the current state of the Chicago comedy community where women and show density are concerned, and we explore what it's like to take over a show and maintain its voice while being true to and discovering your own. Plus, there's a story in here about when Thunderdome became an impromptu one-woman show that is EASILY worth the price of admission ($3). Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring. Visit EmporiumChicago.com/cpc for a free drink or game tokens. Special thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a supportive community where there wasn't one. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-141-mbsing-mike-gifford-companionship Mike Gifford graced MBSing with his presence for a frank conversation on companionship, or lack thereof. We cover ground from Mike's (late) introduction to masterbation, a peer into his soul-searching as a lifelong single person, a recent experience of the grass not being green at all on the other side, and his feelings about late Justice Scalia. Wed, 17 Feb 2016 16:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-141-mbsing-mike-gifford-companionship MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6270 Mike Gifford graced MBSing with his presence for a frank conversation on companionship, or lack thereof. We cover ground from Mike's (late) introduction to masterbation, a peer into his soul-searching as a lifelong single person, a recent experience of the grass not being green at all on the other side, and his feelings about late Justice Scalia. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMike Gifford graced MBSing with his presence for a frank conversation on companionship, or lack thereof. We cover ground from Mike's (late) introduction to masterbation, a peer into his soul-searching as a lifelong single person, a recent experience of the grass not being green at all on the other side, and his feelings about late Justice Scalia. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-140-mbsing-mary-kate-arnold-dylan-schaefer-and-elliott-sowards Lovelies Mary-Kate, Dylan, and Elliot have inciteful ways that Billy Shakes entered their lives and remains an inspiration for them and across the world of theatre and culture, and we get to spend a lot of time dissecting their new show with Otherworld Theatre, Messina3004, a futuristic adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. After I chat with them as actors (and director/adaptor in Mary-Kate's case), we delve into Shakespeare plays we love, like, hate, and hate that we like to round out a conversation on how influential he truly is even after 400 years. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community where there wasn't one. Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-140-mbsing-mary-kate-arnold-dylan-schaefer-and-elliott-sowards MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5860 Lovelies Mary-Kate, Dylan, and Elliot have inciteful ways that Billy Shakes entered their lives and remains an inspiration for them and across the world of theatre and culture, and we get to spend a lot of time dissecting their new show with Otherworld Theatre, Messina3004, a futuristic adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. After I chat with them as actors (and director/adaptor in Mary-Kate's case), we delve into Shakespeare plays we love, like, hate, and hate that we like to round out a conversation on how influential he truly is even after 400 years. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community where there wasn't one. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesLovelies Mary-Kate, Dylan, and Elliot have inciteful ways that Billy Shakes entered their lives and remains an inspiration for them and across the world of theatre and culture, and we get to spend a lot of time dissecting their new show with Otherworld Theatre, Messina3004, a futuristic adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. After I chat with them as actors (and director/adaptor in Mary-Kate's case), we delve into Shakespeare plays we love, like, hate, and hate that we like to round out a conversation on how influential he truly is even after 400 years. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community where there wasn't one. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-139-mbsing-shannon-noll-being-tour-guide Shannon's been giving tours of Chicago for about a year now, and she gave an hour of her time in the off season to tell me about what works, what doesn't, and who the biggest troublemakers are on her laissez-faire bus tours. She gets the opportunity to cater tours however she wants, so she's had a great time diving into more of Chicago's darker, more realistic history. I love that one of Shannon's favorite aspects of touring is finding out about the customers and what brought them to Chicago. I can see why the Venn diagram of comedians to guides overlaps quite a bit. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support. Check out Shannon's writing and voicework on the Koch Brothers Mystery Show. Wed, 03 Feb 2016 12:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-139-mbsing-shannon-noll-being-tour-guide MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4755 Shannon's been giving tours of Chicago for about a year now, and she gave an hour of her time in the off season to tell me about what works, what doesn't, and who the biggest troublemakers are on her laissez-faire bus tours. She gets the opportunity to cater tours however she wants, so she's had a great time diving into more of Chicago's darker, more realistic history. I love that one of Shannon's favorite aspects of touring is finding out about the customers and what brought them to Chicago. I can see why the Venn diagram of comedians to guides overlaps quite a bit. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support. Check out Shannon's writing and voicework on the Koch Brothers Mystery Show. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesShannon's been giving tours of Chicago for about a year now, and she gave an hour of her time in the off season to tell me about what works, what doesn't, and who the biggest troublemakers are on her laissez-faire bus tours. She gets the opportunity to cater tours however she wants, so she's had a great time diving into more of Chicago's darker, more realistic history. I love that one of Shannon's favorite aspects of touring is finding out about the customers and what brought them to Chicago. I can see why the Venn diagram of comedians to guides overlaps quite a bit. Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support. Check out Shannon's writing and voicework on the Koch Brothers Mystery Show. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-138-mbsing-lisa-burton-science Stand back as Lisa and I get down and dirty into why she loves science. From her first visit to the beach (not a lake) to sailing various seas as a cruise ship entertainer, Lisa has loved marine biology since she was around 10. Along with learning about Rosalind Franklin and Sunflower Seastars, I had a grand time chatting about how we both navigated our love for performing as science majors in college. Also, Lisa challenges me to name things that make my tummy hurt and how far my corpse would go in feeding natural predators. She's a blast. Kristen Schaal is a horse There's a Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago! Here's Lisa on that BMW test track Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing sponsorship coordination and support. Wed, 27 Jan 2016 16:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-138-mbsing-lisa-burton-science MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5331 Stand back as Lisa and I get down and dirty into why she loves science. From her first visit to the beach (not a lake) to sailing various seas as a cruise ship entertainer, Lisa has loved marine biology since she was around 10. Along with learning about Rosalind Franklin and Sunflower Seastars, I had a grand time chatting about how we both navigated our love for performing as science majors in college. Also, Lisa challenges me to name things that make my tummy hurt and how far my corpse would go in feeding natural predators. She's a blast. Kristen Schaal is a horse There's a Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago! Here's Lisa on that BMW test track Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing sponsorship coordination and support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesStand back as Lisa and I get down and dirty into why she loves science. From her first visit to the beach (not a lake) to sailing various seas as a cruise ship entertainer, Lisa has loved marine biology since she was around 10. Along with learning about Rosalind Franklin and Sunflower Seastars, I had a grand time chatting about how we both navigated our love for performing as science majors in college. Also, Lisa challenges me to name things that make my tummy hurt and how far my corpse would go in feeding natural predators. She's a blast. Kristen Schaal is a horse There's a Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago! Here's Lisa on that BMW test track Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing sponsorship coordination and support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-137-mbsing-adam-schreck-boy-scouts-america Be prepared for an excellent MBSing episode full of campfires, merit badges, and Eagle Scouts with my friend Adam. He loves how much he learned as a scout, the time he got to spend with some of his best friends and father, and all the nights spent around a campfire (that he built) cooking for and otherwise entertaining his troop. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that the BSA was a very formative aspect of young Adam’s life as he’s only ever treated me and the audiences I’ve seen him entertain with the kindness and respect one would expect from a card-carrying Eagle Scout. A fun promo for Tiny Fascists, the show we spend a decent amount of time reminiscing about. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for ongoing support and community. Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-137-mbsing-adam-schreck-boy-scouts-america MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6153 Be prepared for an excellent MBSing episode full of campfires, merit badges, and Eagle Scouts with my friend Adam. He loves how much he learned as a scout, the time he got to spend with some of his best friends and father, and all the nights spent around a campfire (that he built) cooking for and otherwise entertaining his troop. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that the BSA was a very formative aspect of young Adam’s life as he’s only ever treated me and the audiences I’ve seen him entertain with the kindness and respect one would expect from a card-carrying Eagle Scout. A fun promo for Tiny Fascists, the show we spend a decent amount of time reminiscing about. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for ongoing support and community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBe prepared for an excellent MBSing episode full of campfires, merit badges, and Eagle Scouts with my friend Adam. He loves how much he learned as a scout, the time he got to spend with some of his best friends and father, and all the nights spent around a campfire (that he built) cooking for and otherwise entertaining his troop. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that the BSA was a very formative aspect of young Adam’s life as he’s only ever treated me and the audiences I’ve seen him entertain with the kindness and respect one would expect from a card-carrying Eagle Scout. A fun promo for Tiny Fascists, the show we spend a decent amount of time reminiscing about. Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for ongoing support and community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-136-mbsing-caitlin-stephan-wedding-planning Caitlin's going to the [theatre] and she's gonna get married [in October], so she took this opportunity to express her love for wedding planning and how much that interest shifted when she had to think about the reality of getting the details nailed down for her own. From saving pages of Martha Stewart magazines in college to carefully curating four different Pinterest boards today, Caitlin has scoured plenty of sources for wedding options and has a good grasp on what she wants, doesn't want, and wishes she had the budget for when it comes to her own big day. We spend some time discussing priorities and the merits of actually spending who knows how much money on one day of your life, and I contribute the one detail that I already have nailed down for my own hypothetical nuptials. Want some sports talk to balance the bridal shower? Check out the new podcast I do announcing and commentary for, Sports Retorts with Hooli and The Joe. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Field Notes teamed up with Cards Against Humanity and WBEZ to pull off this very cool thing at the holidays. Support all parties dutifully.   Wed, 13 Jan 2016 16:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-136-mbsing-caitlin-stephan-wedding-planning MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4640 Caitlin's going to the [theatre] and she's gonna get married [in October], so she took this opportunity to express her love for wedding planning and how much that interest shifted when she had to think about the reality of getting the details nailed down for her own. From saving pages of Martha Stewart magazines in college to carefully curating four different Pinterest boards today, Caitlin has scoured plenty of sources for wedding options and has a good grasp on what she wants, doesn't want, and wishes she had the budget for when it comes to her own big day. We spend some time discussing priorities and the merits of actually spending who knows how much money on one day of your life, and I contribute the one detail that I already have nailed down for my own hypothetical nuptials. Want some sports talk to balance the bridal shower? Check out the new podcast I do announcing and commentary for, Sports Retorts with Hooli and The Joe. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Field Notes teamed up with Cards Against Humanity and WBEZ to pull off this very cool thing at the holidays. Support all parties dutifully.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCaitlin's going to the [theatre] and she's gonna get married [in October], so she took this opportunity to express her love for wedding planning and how much that interest shifted when she had to think about the reality of getting the details nailed down for her own. From saving pages of Martha Stewart magazines in college to carefully curating four different Pinterest boards today, Caitlin has scoured plenty of sources for wedding options and has a good grasp on what she wants, doesn't want, and wishes she had the budget for when it comes to her own big day. We spend some time discussing priorities and the merits of actually spending who knows how much money on one day of your life, and I contribute the one detail that I already have nailed down for my own hypothetical nuptials. Want some sports talk to balance the bridal shower? Check out the new podcast I do announcing and commentary for, Sports Retorts with Hooli and The Joe. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Field Notes teamed up with Cards Against Humanity and WBEZ to pull off this very cool thing at the holidays. Support all parties dutifully.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-135-mbsing-grant-cordes-music-videos His Name is Grant, and he wants wants Everybody to grab a seat and take in some sweet musical vids (actually, No Scrubs allowed). From the time of daily Daly fixes to the gift that was YouTube, music videos have shaped how Grant consumes music, spends time with friends, gets ready in the morning, and views musical artists' artistic desires. We cover everything from angry white boy anthems from Limp Bizkit to the soft, sad jams of Grimes and TLC. I love the insight that on at least some level, a musical artist has to have signed on for THIS video to represent their song and that they only have your attention for three minutes (but if you're Bowie, you may take 10).  Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for support. Wed, 06 Jan 2016 11:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-135-mbsing-grant-cordes-music-videos MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4587 His Name is Grant, and he wants wants Everybody to grab a seat and take in some sweet musical vids (actually, No Scrubs allowed). From the time of daily Daly fixes to the gift that was YouTube, music videos have shaped how Grant consumes music, spends time with friends, gets ready in the morning, and views musical artists' artistic desires. We cover everything from angry white boy anthems from Limp Bizkit to the soft, sad jams of Grimes and TLC. I love the insight that on at least some level, a musical artist has to have signed on for THIS video to represent their song and that they only have your attention for three minutes (but if you're Bowie, you may take 10).  Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHis Name is Grant, and he wants wants Everybody to grab a seat and take in some sweet musical vids (actually, No Scrubs allowed). From the time of daily Daly fixes to the gift that was YouTube, music videos have shaped how Grant consumes music, spends time with friends, gets ready in the morning, and views musical artists' artistic desires. We cover everything from angry white boy anthems from Limp Bizkit to the soft, sad jams of Grimes and TLC. I love the insight that on at least some level, a musical artist has to have signed on for THIS video to represent their song and that they only have your attention for three minutes (but if you're Bowie, you may take 10).  Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-134-mbsing-leah-frires-motown Leah Frires brought some much needed soul to MBSing with talk about her love of all things Motown. We spent time talking The Temptations, Steve Wonder, Diana Ross, and plenty of others PLUS we chatted about the cool bands her parents have been members of over the years that kept Leah passionate about music. I try to uncover how watching a modern version of The Temptations crushed Leah's spirit, but she was just too taken by them. We may meander here and there, but talk about how the Motown musical glazes over some important issues leads us into explorations of things like Straight Outta Compton and Avenue Q. It all ties back somehow. I think. Stick around for Leah helping us remember to KISS. Pure and Weary's contribution to the Nerdologues Nerd Wars II Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support and community. Wed, 30 Dec 2015 11:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-134-mbsing-leah-frires-motown MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6571 Leah Frires brought some much needed soul to MBSing with talk about her love of all things Motown. We spent time talking The Temptations, Steve Wonder, Diana Ross, and plenty of others PLUS we chatted about the cool bands her parents have been members of over the years that kept Leah passionate about music. I try to uncover how watching a modern version of The Temptations crushed Leah's spirit, but she was just too taken by them. We may meander here and there, but talk about how the Motown musical glazes over some important issues leads us into explorations of things like Straight Outta Compton and Avenue Q. It all ties back somehow. I think. Stick around for Leah helping us remember to KISS. Pure and Weary's contribution to the Nerdologues Nerd Wars II Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support and community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesLeah Frires brought some much needed soul to MBSing with talk about her love of all things Motown. We spent time talking The Temptations, Steve Wonder, Diana Ross, and plenty of others PLUS we chatted about the cool bands her parents have been members of over the years that kept Leah passionate about music. I try to uncover how watching a modern version of The Temptations crushed Leah's spirit, but she was just too taken by them. We may meander here and there, but talk about how the Motown musical glazes over some important issues leads us into explorations of things like Straight Outta Compton and Avenue Q. It all ties back somehow. I think. Stick around for Leah helping us remember to KISS. Pure and Weary's contribution to the Nerdologues Nerd Wars II Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support and community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-133-mbsing-kevin-budnik-redux-nicktoons-holiday-specials It's an MBSing holiday special as I welcome back Kevin Budnik 100 episodes later to talk about a very specific, festive corner of his original topic, cartoons. We cover a lot of ground (Catdog, As Told By Ginger, The Wild Thornberrys, Fairly Odd Parents, etc.), but we spend the most time dissecting Rugrats Chanukkah and the Christmases of Doug, Hey Arnold, and Rocko. My favorite part is not the nostalgia but how we view these specials as adults and the lasting themes they have for us. Kevin's got some fun insight as to more serious inspiration for certain silly storylines and a podcast of his own to share with listeners about fellow cartoonists and creators. Wed, 23 Dec 2015 10:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-133-mbsing-kevin-budnik-redux-nicktoons-holiday-specials MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5820 It's an MBSing holiday special as I welcome back Kevin Budnik 100 episodes later to talk about a very specific, festive corner of his original topic, cartoons. We cover a lot of ground (Catdog, As Told By Ginger, The Wild Thornberrys, Fairly Odd Parents, etc.), but we spend the most time dissecting Rugrats Chanukkah and the Christmases of Doug, Hey Arnold, and Rocko. My favorite part is not the nostalgia but how we view these specials as adults and the lasting themes they have for us. Kevin's got some fun insight as to more serious inspiration for certain silly storylines and a podcast of his own to share with listeners about fellow cartoonists and creators. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIt's an MBSing holiday special as I welcome back Kevin Budnik 100 episodes later to talk about a very specific, festive corner of his original topic, cartoons. We cover a lot of ground (Catdog, As Told By Ginger, The Wild Thornberrys, Fairly Odd Parents, etc.), but we spend the most time dissecting Rugrats Chanukkah and the Christmases of Doug, Hey Arnold, and Rocko. My favorite part is not the nostalgia but how we view these specials as adults and the lasting themes they have for us. Kevin's got some fun insight as to more serious inspiration for certain silly storylines and a podcast of his own to share with listeners about fellow cartoonists and creators. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-132-mbsing-jacob-horn-farming Jacob Eugene Horn grew up not ON a farm, but surrounded by farms in small town Wisconsin. His helping his neighbors over the years before he struck off for Chicago the day he graduated from college inspired a passion that evades his life. Between a Master's program in Sustainable Urban Development, jobs with the Chicago Park District and Windy City Harvest, and a general interest in and passion for knowledge of zoning laws and urban farming, Jacob's making Chicago a greener place. What a nobel pursuit! So much more interesting info and nobel notes herein. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating community and coordinating sponsorships. Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-132-mbsing-jacob-horn-farming MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6497 Jacob Eugene Horn grew up not ON a farm, but surrounded by farms in small town Wisconsin. His helping his neighbors over the years before he struck off for Chicago the day he graduated from college inspired a passion that evades his life. Between a Master's program in Sustainable Urban Development, jobs with the Chicago Park District and Windy City Harvest, and a general interest in and passion for knowledge of zoning laws and urban farming, Jacob's making Chicago a greener place. What a nobel pursuit! So much more interesting info and nobel notes herein. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating community and coordinating sponsorships. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJacob Eugene Horn grew up not ON a farm, but surrounded by farms in small town Wisconsin. His helping his neighbors over the years before he struck off for Chicago the day he graduated from college inspired a passion that evades his life. Between a Master's program in Sustainable Urban Development, jobs with the Chicago Park District and Windy City Harvest, and a general interest in and passion for knowledge of zoning laws and urban farming, Jacob's making Chicago a greener place. What a nobel pursuit! So much more interesting info and nobel notes herein. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating community and coordinating sponsorships. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-131-mbsing-shawn-bowers-and-stephen-winchell-garfield Shawn and Steve share an interesting and important bond: a fascination with the ongoing phenomenon that is Garfield. As almost lifelong comic fans, they can both recognize the broad appeal The Garf had early in their lives that got them hooked and the gratitude they have for his role as an entry point as consumers and producers of comics. We spend time exploring the business acumen behind Jim Davis's creation and curation of the Garfield brand and trying to find a comparable character (or set of characters, you Minions). There's also talk about the nature of newspaper and web-based comics and how they've progressed as a medium. Too Nuts for Donuts, an OfficialGarfield YouTube creation Garfield Minus Garfield Garfbert Steve's Little Boys Room Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsors and support. Wed, 09 Dec 2015 10:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-131-mbsing-shawn-bowers-and-stephen-winchell-garfield MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5584 Shawn and Steve share an interesting and important bond: a fascination with the ongoing phenomenon that is Garfield. As almost lifelong comic fans, they can both recognize the broad appeal The Garf had early in their lives that got them hooked and the gratitude they have for his role as an entry point as consumers and producers of comics. We spend time exploring the business acumen behind Jim Davis's creation and curation of the Garfield brand and trying to find a comparable character (or set of characters, you Minions). There's also talk about the nature of newspaper and web-based comics and how they've progressed as a medium. Too Nuts for Donuts, an OfficialGarfield YouTube creation Garfield Minus Garfield Garfbert Steve's Little Boys Room Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsors and support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesShawn and Steve share an interesting and important bond: a fascination with the ongoing phenomenon that is Garfield. As almost lifelong comic fans, they can both recognize the broad appeal The Garf had early in their lives that got them hooked and the gratitude they have for his role as an entry point as consumers and producers of comics. We spend time exploring the business acumen behind Jim Davis's creation and curation of the Garfield brand and trying to find a comparable character (or set of characters, you Minions). There's also talk about the nature of newspaper and web-based comics and how they've progressed as a medium. Too Nuts for Donuts, an OfficialGarfield YouTube creation Garfield Minus Garfield Garfbert Steve's Little Boys Room Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsors and support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-130-mbsing-mark-logsdon-being-new-dad Mark Logsdon has been a father for almost six months. Meanwhile, I can barely get myself out of bed in the morning. We talk a lot about the tangible and intangible ways your life and the way you interact with the world changes when you have a child. We hear the birth story, some trials that have already had to be overcome, and how overall Mark's capacity for love has increased every day. Having a kid has forced Mark to recognize what is important to him. I wish the best of luck to Mark, his amazing wife Sarah, little Rosie, and all other new parents bringing good people into the world. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring. The Jackbox Party Pack is very, very cool. Thanks also to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for organizing sponsorships and creating a community. Check out the other shows.   Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-130-mbsing-mark-logsdon-being-new-dad MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6958 Mark Logsdon has been a father for almost six months. Meanwhile, I can barely get myself out of bed in the morning. We talk a lot about the tangible and intangible ways your life and the way you interact with the world changes when you have a child. We hear the birth story, some trials that have already had to be overcome, and how overall Mark's capacity for love has increased every day. Having a kid has forced Mark to recognize what is important to him. I wish the best of luck to Mark, his amazing wife Sarah, little Rosie, and all other new parents bringing good people into the world. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring. The Jackbox Party Pack is very, very cool. Thanks also to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for organizing sponsorships and creating a community. Check out the other shows.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMark Logsdon has been a father for almost six months. Meanwhile, I can barely get myself out of bed in the morning. We talk a lot about the tangible and intangible ways your life and the way you interact with the world changes when you have a child. We hear the birth story, some trials that have already had to be overcome, and how overall Mark's capacity for love has increased every day. Having a kid has forced Mark to recognize what is important to him. I wish the best of luck to Mark, his amazing wife Sarah, little Rosie, and all other new parents bringing good people into the world. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring. The Jackbox Party Pack is very, very cool. Thanks also to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for organizing sponsorships and creating a community. Check out the other shows.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-129-mbsing-dave-maher-self-help-literature Dave Maher has been interested in reading self-help lit since before he feels he'd even established a sense of self to help. Early interest in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Bible started him down a road of reading about ways to improve his spiritual, mental, and creative health. Three or four years ago, Dave found himself totally embedded in a search for a return to spiritual rituals (like the church-going days of his youth) and a transition from one creative medium to another as he found what made him happy to experience and create. Check out Dave Maher Coma Show the next four Fridays at The Annoyance Theatre to see a heartfelt, funny show about the last year+ of Dave's life. Notes Dave on the wonderful Wrestling with Depression and his own show The Sweetness. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and community. Wed, 25 Nov 2015 10:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-129-mbsing-dave-maher-self-help-literature MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4394 Dave Maher has been interested in reading self-help lit since before he feels he'd even established a sense of self to help. Early interest in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Bible started him down a road of reading about ways to improve his spiritual, mental, and creative health. Three or four years ago, Dave found himself totally embedded in a search for a return to spiritual rituals (like the church-going days of his youth) and a transition from one creative medium to another as he found what made him happy to experience and create. Check out Dave Maher Coma Show the next four Fridays at The Annoyance Theatre to see a heartfelt, funny show about the last year+ of Dave's life. Notes Dave on the wonderful Wrestling with Depression and his own show The Sweetness. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesDave Maher has been interested in reading self-help lit since before he feels he'd even established a sense of self to help. Early interest in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Bible started him down a road of reading about ways to improve his spiritual, mental, and creative health. Three or four years ago, Dave found himself totally embedded in a search for a return to spiritual rituals (like the church-going days of his youth) and a transition from one creative medium to another as he found what made him happy to experience and create. Check out Dave Maher Coma Show the next four Fridays at The Annoyance Theatre to see a heartfelt, funny show about the last year+ of Dave's life. Notes Dave on the wonderful Wrestling with Depression and his own show The Sweetness. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-128-mbsing-arnie-niekamp-hard-recommend-tv Arnie Niekamp wants you to watch television shows he likes, but he's apprehensive about blanket recommendations of inconsistent shows. Some of his favorite television is wrapped up in shows that have ups and downs (Fringe, Twin Peaks, X-Files...), and we all know how hard it is to get into a new show that starts slow AND how hard it is to turn one's back on an old favorite. We explore episodic TV vs. serial stories, how hard it is to make a good sitcom pilot (or hell, first season), and the merits of rebooting shows that have been off the air for ages. We also peel back how TV and Arnie's inability to give up on it has seeped into his work on Hello From the Magic Tavern thus far. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and community. Arnie's appearance on Your Stories. Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-128-mbsing-arnie-niekamp-hard-recommend-tv MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4440 Arnie Niekamp wants you to watch television shows he likes, but he's apprehensive about blanket recommendations of inconsistent shows. Some of his favorite television is wrapped up in shows that have ups and downs (Fringe, Twin Peaks, X-Files...), and we all know how hard it is to get into a new show that starts slow AND how hard it is to turn one's back on an old favorite. We explore episodic TV vs. serial stories, how hard it is to make a good sitcom pilot (or hell, first season), and the merits of rebooting shows that have been off the air for ages. We also peel back how TV and Arnie's inability to give up on it has seeped into his work on Hello From the Magic Tavern thus far. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and community. Arnie's appearance on Your Stories. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesArnie Niekamp wants you to watch television shows he likes, but he's apprehensive about blanket recommendations of inconsistent shows. Some of his favorite television is wrapped up in shows that have ups and downs (Fringe, Twin Peaks, X-Files...), and we all know how hard it is to get into a new show that starts slow AND how hard it is to turn one's back on an old favorite. We explore episodic TV vs. serial stories, how hard it is to make a good sitcom pilot (or hell, first season), and the merits of rebooting shows that have been off the air for ages. We also peel back how TV and Arnie's inability to give up on it has seeped into his work on Hello From the Magic Tavern thus far. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and community. Arnie's appearance on Your Stories. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-127-mbsing-mary-kate-arnold-and-moira-begale-vampires Mary-Kate and Moira might as well have some sort of blood oath as they are such sweet friends and cocreators, and it was a true joy to chat with them about why they feel drawn to vampire stories. From strong female blood suckers (Carmilla, Dracula's Daughter) to lamer lady vampire loves (I'm looking at you, Twilight), these two bad asses can't get enough of the exploration of what makes vampires, and in turn humans, tick. Check out their work with The Otherworld Theatre company (where Mary-Kate is also the Managing Director) in Gone Dark or more from the company Moira is the Managing Director of, WildClaw. Thanks to JackBox Games for their sponsorship and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsors and support.   Wed, 11 Nov 2015 10:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-127-mbsing-mary-kate-arnold-and-moira-begale-vampires MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5398 Mary-Kate and Moira might as well have some sort of blood oath as they are such sweet friends and cocreators, and it was a true joy to chat with them about why they feel drawn to vampire stories. From strong female blood suckers (Carmilla, Dracula's Daughter) to lamer lady vampire loves (I'm looking at you, Twilight), these two bad asses can't get enough of the exploration of what makes vampires, and in turn humans, tick. Check out their work with The Otherworld Theatre company (where Mary-Kate is also the Managing Director) in Gone Dark or more from the company Moira is the Managing Director of, WildClaw. Thanks to JackBox Games for their sponsorship and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsors and support.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMary-Kate and Moira might as well have some sort of blood oath as they are such sweet friends and cocreators, and it was a true joy to chat with them about why they feel drawn to vampire stories. From strong female blood suckers (Carmilla, Dracula's Daughter) to lamer lady vampire loves (I'm looking at you, Twilight), these two bad asses can't get enough of the exploration of what makes vampires, and in turn humans, tick. Check out their work with The Otherworld Theatre company (where Mary-Kate is also the Managing Director) in Gone Dark or more from the company Moira is the Managing Director of, WildClaw. Thanks to JackBox Games for their sponsorship and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsors and support.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-126-mbsing-eileen-tull-expectations Expect a good episode from Eileen Tull as we unpack why she gets wrapped up in anticipation of things like a new Star Wars film or a first date with a guy she met online. Rest assured she's already got [three separate sets of] tickets for The Force Awakens and plenty to talk about where Harrison Ford is concerned (that factors into the dating stuff, too). Turns out if you have sky high expectations for someone you only know a checklist of things about and are trying to compare him to a Hollywood romantic lead, the outcome may not live up to the hype. Check out her Solo show Bad Dates, Or What Killed That Monkey in Indiana Jones Only Makes Me Stronger for more on all of the above. If you listen to the show, please give it a star rating on iTunes! That shit helps other people listen to it! Thanks to Brew Pass for sponsoring (use PODCAST01 to get $15 off your first month) and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community. Wed, 04 Nov 2015 10:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-126-mbsing-eileen-tull-expectations MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5986 Expect a good episode from Eileen Tull as we unpack why she gets wrapped up in anticipation of things like a new Star Wars film or a first date with a guy she met online. Rest assured she's already got [three separate sets of] tickets for The Force Awakens and plenty to talk about where Harrison Ford is concerned (that factors into the dating stuff, too). Turns out if you have sky high expectations for someone you only know a checklist of things about and are trying to compare him to a Hollywood romantic lead, the outcome may not live up to the hype. Check out her Solo show Bad Dates, Or What Killed That Monkey in Indiana Jones Only Makes Me Stronger for more on all of the above. If you listen to the show, please give it a star rating on iTunes! That shit helps other people listen to it! Thanks to Brew Pass for sponsoring (use PODCAST01 to get $15 off your first month) and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesExpect a good episode from Eileen Tull as we unpack why she gets wrapped up in anticipation of things like a new Star Wars film or a first date with a guy she met online. Rest assured she's already got [three separate sets of] tickets for The Force Awakens and plenty to talk about where Harrison Ford is concerned (that factors into the dating stuff, too). Turns out if you have sky high expectations for someone you only know a checklist of things about and are trying to compare him to a Hollywood romantic lead, the outcome may not live up to the hype. Check out her Solo show Bad Dates, Or What Killed That Monkey in Indiana Jones Only Makes Me Stronger for more on all of the above. If you listen to the show, please give it a star rating on iTunes! That shit helps other people listen to it! Thanks to Brew Pass for sponsoring (use PODCAST01 to get $15 off your first month) and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-125-mbsing-katie-utke-harry-potter Katie [Bell] and I get all witchy with it as we discuss her mad [eye] love of Harry Potter. We share a mutual favorite book (Goblet of Fire), which Katie tells me is the pivotal book of the series - the others mirror one another in themes and storylines (1 and 7, 2 and 6, 3 and 5). She learned this from an entire course on Harry Potter she got to take as a student at Columbia College. Dope. She also covers how the series taught her the importance of representation in media and conquering one's fears. We also dig into what the film series got mostly right about the books (Katie's one of THOSE Harry Potter fans who tried to resist the books until he saw the first film and realized she had no choice but to read Chamber of Secrets as soon as the credits rolled), who Katie's favorite characters are, and how the series has influenced her to write everything from scholarly papers to song parodies (one of which we get to hear at the end! Eat your Heart out, Mary Zee.) Sea Dog Cruises Haunted Tour Redmoon's Boneshaker CG2 Thanks to MakeSpace for sponsoring, and use code CHICAGO50 to get $50 off their storage service! Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support and coordination of sponsorships. Wed, 28 Oct 2015 13:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-125-mbsing-katie-utke-harry-potter MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6133 Katie [Bell] and I get all witchy with it as we discuss her mad [eye] love of Harry Potter. We share a mutual favorite book (Goblet of Fire), which Katie tells me is the pivotal book of the series - the others mirror one another in themes and storylines (1 and 7, 2 and 6, 3 and 5). She learned this from an entire course on Harry Potter she got to take as a student at Columbia College. Dope. She also covers how the series taught her the importance of representation in media and conquering one's fears. We also dig into what the film series got mostly right about the books (Katie's one of THOSE Harry Potter fans who tried to resist the books until he saw the first film and realized she had no choice but to read Chamber of Secrets as soon as the credits rolled), who Katie's favorite characters are, and how the series has influenced her to write everything from scholarly papers to song parodies (one of which we get to hear at the end! Eat your Heart out, Mary Zee.) Sea Dog Cruises Haunted Tour Redmoon's Boneshaker CG2 Thanks to MakeSpace for sponsoring, and use code CHICAGO50 to get $50 off their storage service! Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support and coordination of sponsorships. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesKatie [Bell] and I get all witchy with it as we discuss her mad [eye] love of Harry Potter. We share a mutual favorite book (Goblet of Fire), which Katie tells me is the pivotal book of the series - the others mirror one another in themes and storylines (1 and 7, 2 and 6, 3 and 5). She learned this from an entire course on Harry Potter she got to take as a student at Columbia College. Dope. She also covers how the series taught her the importance of representation in media and conquering one's fears. We also dig into what the film series got mostly right about the books (Katie's one of THOSE Harry Potter fans who tried to resist the books until he saw the first film and realized she had no choice but to read Chamber of Secrets as soon as the credits rolled), who Katie's favorite characters are, and how the series has influenced her to write everything from scholarly papers to song parodies (one of which we get to hear at the end! Eat your Heart out, Mary Zee.) Sea Dog Cruises Haunted Tour Redmoon's Boneshaker CG2 Thanks to MakeSpace for sponsoring, and use code CHICAGO50 to get $50 off their storage service! Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their ongoing support and coordination of sponsorships. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-124-mbsing-jake-grafstein-lists I could easily make a list of ways Joke Laughstein is a total bundle of giggles and joys, but I'd rather let him show you with his own bevy of lists. These lists, that he visits and maintains on at least a daily basis, run the gamut from ridiculous ideas to self betterment to consumption recommendations. Joke's seriously silly attitude for projects and life in general make him a wonderful guest only topped by a dog wearing roller blades (<--- an actual entry from one of Jake's lists). Demetri Martin's special If I... that inspired Jake to live in lists. Thanks to Field Notes Brand, a great place to make lists, and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, a great list of podcasts and sponsors. Wed, 21 Oct 2015 11:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-124-mbsing-jake-grafstein-lists MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5372 I could easily make a list of ways Joke Laughstein is a total bundle of giggles and joys, but I'd rather let him show you with his own bevy of lists. These lists, that he visits and maintains on at least a daily basis, run the gamut from ridiculous ideas to self betterment to consumption recommendations. Joke's seriously silly attitude for projects and life in general make him a wonderful guest only topped by a dog wearing roller blades (<--- an actual entry from one of Jake's lists). Demetri Martin's special If I... that inspired Jake to live in lists. Thanks to Field Notes Brand, a great place to make lists, and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, a great list of podcasts and sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesI could easily make a list of ways Joke Laughstein is a total bundle of giggles and joys, but I'd rather let him show you with his own bevy of lists. These lists, that he visits and maintains on at least a daily basis, run the gamut from ridiculous ideas to self betterment to consumption recommendations. Joke's seriously silly attitude for projects and life in general make him a wonderful guest only topped by a dog wearing roller blades (<--- an actual entry from one of Jake's lists). Demetri Martin's special If I... that inspired Jake to live in lists. Thanks to Field Notes Brand, a great place to make lists, and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, a great list of podcasts and sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-123-mbsing-caitlin-costello-st-patricks-day For Caitlin Costello, St. Patrick's Day has more significance than plastic hats and green beer. The holiday means corned beef and potato dishes with her huge family at her grandmother's house in Notre Dame, IN. They all lived close enough to the stadium that their addresses were Notre Dame, not South Bend. She never stood a chance against falling in love with her family's Irish roots. Hearing about how the holiday has changed in her life since she came to school in Chicago (to defy her Notre Dame surroundings!) was a real joy. Thanks to Utter Nonsense for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship and support. Here's Uh, Was That Jazz?, my most recent appearrance on Improvised Star Trek. And Match 3, our guests for the next Your Stories. Wed, 14 Oct 2015 00:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-123-mbsing-caitlin-costello-st-patricks-day MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5268 For Caitlin Costello, St. Patrick's Day has more significance than plastic hats and green beer. The holiday means corned beef and potato dishes with her huge family at her grandmother's house in Notre Dame, IN. They all lived close enough to the stadium that their addresses were Notre Dame, not South Bend. She never stood a chance against falling in love with her family's Irish roots. Hearing about how the holiday has changed in her life since she came to school in Chicago (to defy her Notre Dame surroundings!) was a real joy. Thanks to Utter Nonsense for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship and support. Here's Uh, Was That Jazz?, my most recent appearrance on Improvised Star Trek. And Match 3, our guests for the next Your Stories. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFor Caitlin Costello, St. Patrick's Day has more significance than plastic hats and green beer. The holiday means corned beef and potato dishes with her huge family at her grandmother's house in Notre Dame, IN. They all lived close enough to the stadium that their addresses were Notre Dame, not South Bend. She never stood a chance against falling in love with her family's Irish roots. Hearing about how the holiday has changed in her life since she came to school in Chicago (to defy her Notre Dame surroundings!) was a real joy. Thanks to Utter Nonsense for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship and support. Here's Uh, Was That Jazz?, my most recent appearrance on Improvised Star Trek. And Match 3, our guests for the next Your Stories. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-122-mbsing-meaghan-strickland-fundamentals-basketball Meaghan Strickland spent every summer of her youth bouncing around from basketball camp to basketball camp due to her dad's position as a high school/college basketball coach. Her own journey as a player from childhood through her high school days was always colored by his insistence on mastering the fundamentals, so we pass stories back and forth of our summers: hers being bball camp-learned skills, mine being getting (mostly cross-) cast in numerous community theatre productions. We most certainly meandered topic-wise, but I cannot stress how much fun this was to record. Meaghan makes me laugh as easily as LeBron James makes a routine layup. We also cover how types of improvisers compare to basketball (and baseball) positions, how Meaghan finds herself thinking about characters and athletes as men and why we think that's the case, how sports camps should have pointed us towards creative pursuits earlier in our lives, and the Justin Timberlake film In Time. Sorry I brag a bunch about a mediocre set of awards. Dusty Muffins and Jennifer Anniston's Country compilation sketch Jonathan Papelbon choking Bryce Harper during a game Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship, support, and community. Wed, 07 Oct 2015 10:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-122-mbsing-meaghan-strickland-fundamentals-basketball MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 7216 Meaghan Strickland spent every summer of her youth bouncing around from basketball camp to basketball camp due to her dad's position as a high school/college basketball coach. Her own journey as a player from childhood through her high school days was always colored by his insistence on mastering the fundamentals, so we pass stories back and forth of our summers: hers being bball camp-learned skills, mine being getting (mostly cross-) cast in numerous community theatre productions. We most certainly meandered topic-wise, but I cannot stress how much fun this was to record. Meaghan makes me laugh as easily as LeBron James makes a routine layup. We also cover how types of improvisers compare to basketball (and baseball) positions, how Meaghan finds herself thinking about characters and athletes as men and why we think that's the case, how sports camps should have pointed us towards creative pursuits earlier in our lives, and the Justin Timberlake film In Time. Sorry I brag a bunch about a mediocre set of awards. Dusty Muffins and Jennifer Anniston's Country compilation sketch Jonathan Papelbon choking Bryce Harper during a game Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship, support, and community. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMeaghan Strickland spent every summer of her youth bouncing around from basketball camp to basketball camp due to her dad's position as a high school/college basketball coach. Her own journey as a player from childhood through her high school days was always colored by his insistence on mastering the fundamentals, so we pass stories back and forth of our summers: hers being bball camp-learned skills, mine being getting (mostly cross-) cast in numerous community theatre productions. We most certainly meandered topic-wise, but I cannot stress how much fun this was to record. Meaghan makes me laugh as easily as LeBron James makes a routine layup. We also cover how types of improvisers compare to basketball (and baseball) positions, how Meaghan finds herself thinking about characters and athletes as men and why we think that's the case, how sports camps should have pointed us towards creative pursuits earlier in our lives, and the Justin Timberlake film In Time. Sorry I brag a bunch about a mediocre set of awards. Dusty Muffins and Jennifer Anniston's Country compilation sketch Jonathan Papelbon choking Bryce Harper during a game Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship, support, and community. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-121-mbsing-alex-cox-robots Alex Cox, Deputy Events Manager at Cards Against Humanity and cohost of the Roboism podcast, came on MBSing to talk of her love of all the little robots in her life. From R2D2 to Siri and an MIT robotics lab to Ex Machina, we cover a lot of AI and Sci-Fi robot ground all within a discussion of gender, feminism, and general altruism and humanity as it relates to robotics and the empathy that makes us humans.  Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and support. Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-121-mbsing-alex-cox-robots MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5521 Alex Cox, Deputy Events Manager at Cards Against Humanity and cohost of the Roboism podcast, came on MBSing to talk of her love of all the little robots in her life. From R2D2 to Siri and an MIT robotics lab to Ex Machina, we cover a lot of AI and Sci-Fi robot ground all within a discussion of gender, feminism, and general altruism and humanity as it relates to robotics and the empathy that makes us humans.  Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAlex Cox, Deputy Events Manager at Cards Against Humanity and cohost of the Roboism podcast, came on MBSing to talk of her love of all the little robots in her life. From R2D2 to Siri and an MIT robotics lab to Ex Machina, we cover a lot of AI and Sci-Fi robot ground all within a discussion of gender, feminism, and general altruism and humanity as it relates to robotics and the empathy that makes us humans.  Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar for sponsoring and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-120-mbsing-lee-russell-horror-movies Time for some spooky scary movie talk with dear friend Lee Russell. Lee and I have taken the stage together in the Annoyance Theatre's send up of slasher movies, Splatter Theatre, for three years now, and in this ep we get to really break down the source material. From Nightmare on Elm Street to It Follows, Lee has grown up with horror films from a probably too early age and is willing to get into the why of his love for them. The emotions and drive behind these scary stories intrgue him more than the startles and blood, and he aspires to one day make a horror film of his own. Thanks to Basecamp and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsoring, organizing, and supporting.. Wed, 23 Sep 2015 12:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-120-mbsing-lee-russell-horror-movies MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5718 Time for some spooky scary movie talk with dear friend Lee Russell. Lee and I have taken the stage together in the Annoyance Theatre's send up of slasher movies, Splatter Theatre, for three years now, and in this ep we get to really break down the source material. From Nightmare on Elm Street to It Follows, Lee has grown up with horror films from a probably too early age and is willing to get into the why of his love for them. The emotions and drive behind these scary stories intrgue him more than the startles and blood, and he aspires to one day make a horror film of his own. Thanks to Basecamp and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsoring, organizing, and supporting.. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTime for some spooky scary movie talk with dear friend Lee Russell. Lee and I have taken the stage together in the Annoyance Theatre's send up of slasher movies, Splatter Theatre, for three years now, and in this ep we get to really break down the source material. From Nightmare on Elm Street to It Follows, Lee has grown up with horror films from a probably too early age and is willing to get into the why of his love for them. The emotions and drive behind these scary stories intrgue him more than the startles and blood, and he aspires to one day make a horror film of his own. Thanks to Basecamp and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsoring, organizing, and supporting.. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-119-mbsing-john-hartman-smiths John Hartman's love of The Smiths was kindled in college but really seems to have reached its pinnacle in recent memory: John tells stories of finally catching a Morrissey show that wasn't cancelled, getting pranked by the MD at Second City who slipped a song from the morose, Manchester band into a show, and connecting with other huge fans of the band via comedy. John speaks on how the dark humor of Morrissey's lyrics his affected his own comedy and how he's come to appreciate The Smiths as artists and musicians more than just appreciating the emotions they evoked in him early on. I speak on how I'm only really familiar with them via popular culture (500 Days of Summer, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, etc.). John still humored me very well. What a guy. Thanks to Busy Beaver Button Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and support. Wed, 16 Sep 2015 11:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-119-mbsing-john-hartman-smiths MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4491 John Hartman's love of The Smiths was kindled in college but really seems to have reached its pinnacle in recent memory: John tells stories of finally catching a Morrissey show that wasn't cancelled, getting pranked by the MD at Second City who slipped a song from the morose, Manchester band into a show, and connecting with other huge fans of the band via comedy. John speaks on how the dark humor of Morrissey's lyrics his affected his own comedy and how he's come to appreciate The Smiths as artists and musicians more than just appreciating the emotions they evoked in him early on. I speak on how I'm only really familiar with them via popular culture (500 Days of Summer, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, etc.). John still humored me very well. What a guy. Thanks to Busy Beaver Button Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and support. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJohn Hartman's love of The Smiths was kindled in college but really seems to have reached its pinnacle in recent memory: John tells stories of finally catching a Morrissey show that wasn't cancelled, getting pranked by the MD at Second City who slipped a song from the morose, Manchester band into a show, and connecting with other huge fans of the band via comedy. John speaks on how the dark humor of Morrissey's lyrics his affected his own comedy and how he's come to appreciate The Smiths as artists and musicians more than just appreciating the emotions they evoked in him early on. I speak on how I'm only really familiar with them via popular culture (500 Days of Summer, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, etc.). John still humored me very well. What a guy. Thanks to Busy Beaver Button Company for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and support. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-118-mbsing-becca-brown-going-concerts Becca Brown has been attending concerts since she was five or six watching Carlos Santana with her father and realized that was an actual thing people could do for a living: be a performing rock musician. (Yes, she IS young enough that this was around the time of Santana's collaboration on "Smooth" with Rob Thomas, and yes we DO both unironically enjoy that song.) From here through more concerts (Elton John) and more exploring of strong women in rock (Janis Jopin), Becca solidified that she wanted performing and watching rock music to top her list of priorities. Her experience acting in School of Rock sealed the deal: she had "sold her soul" to rock. She asked her classical guitar teacher to help with an AC/DC medley for the school talent show (which didn't go over well with the broad, pop-loving student body), and she watched musicals and other performances from she knew with a more keen eye for things like stage presence and the emotion behind the music. Over the years her concert attendance has remained a constant (even though the company and illicit activities may have shifted a bit as she got older), and she hasn't missed a Lollapalooza since 2006. After developing a love for Green Day's American Idiot in high school and seeing them live six times, she's currently gracing the stage herself with the first Chicago production of the stage musical of the same name with The Hypocrites. Rock is a flat circle.  Thanks to Utter Nonsense for sponsoring and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Wed, 09 Sep 2015 07:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-118-mbsing-becca-brown-going-concerts MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5907 Becca Brown has been attending concerts since she was five or six watching Carlos Santana with her father and realized that was an actual thing people could do for a living: be a performing rock musician. (Yes, she IS young enough that this was around the time of Santana's collaboration on "Smooth" with Rob Thomas, and yes we DO both unironically enjoy that song.) From here through more concerts (Elton John) and more exploring of strong women in rock (Janis Jopin), Becca solidified that she wanted performing and watching rock music to top her list of priorities. Her experience acting in School of Rock sealed the deal: she had "sold her soul" to rock. She asked her classical guitar teacher to help with an AC/DC medley for the school talent show (which didn't go over well with the broad, pop-loving student body), and she watched musicals and other performances from she knew with a more keen eye for things like stage presence and the emotion behind the music. Over the years her concert attendance has remained a constant (even though the company and illicit activities may have shifted a bit as she got older), and she hasn't missed a Lollapalooza since 2006. After developing a love for Green Day's American Idiot in high school and seeing them live six times, she's currently gracing the stage herself with the first Chicago production of the stage musical of the same name with The Hypocrites. Rock is a flat circle.  Thanks to Utter Nonsense for sponsoring and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBecca Brown has been attending concerts since she was five or six watching Carlos Santana with her father and realized that was an actual thing people could do for a living: be a performing rock musician. (Yes, she IS young enough that this was around the time of Santana's collaboration on "Smooth" with Rob Thomas, and yes we DO both unironically enjoy that song.) From here through more concerts (Elton John) and more exploring of strong women in rock (Janis Jopin), Becca solidified that she wanted performing and watching rock music to top her list of priorities. Her experience acting in School of Rock sealed the deal: she had "sold her soul" to rock. She asked her classical guitar teacher to help with an AC/DC medley for the school talent show (which didn't go over well with the broad, pop-loving student body), and she watched musicals and other performances from she knew with a more keen eye for things like stage presence and the emotion behind the music. Over the years her concert attendance has remained a constant (even though the company and illicit activities may have shifted a bit as she got older), and she hasn't missed a Lollapalooza since 2006. After developing a love for Green Day's American Idiot in high school and seeing them live six times, she's currently gracing the stage herself with the first Chicago production of the stage musical of the same name with The Hypocrites. Rock is a flat circle.  Thanks to Utter Nonsense for sponsoring and to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-117-mbsing-brandon-shockney-spider-man Your friendly neighborhood Brandon Shockney swung by MBSing with some sweet Spider-Man knowledge in tow. From the uber '90s animated series to the current Ultimate Spider-Man comic series with Miles Morales to the next remounting of Spidey's story on the big screen, Brandon and I explore what it is about Spider-Man that makes him an accessible hero. I learned a ton about the different iterations of the character while Brandon humored my critiques of the more recent additions to the Marvel film universe (as well as voicing his own frustrations and desires for bigger risks to be taken). We even take apart the recent phenomenon of indie director darlings being brought on to helm huge film series installments and how undeniably hot Marisa Tomei (the future Aunt May...) is. Jon Watts, the next Spider-Man director Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. Tue, 01 Sep 2015 23:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-117-mbsing-brandon-shockney-spider-man MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6078 Your friendly neighborhood Brandon Shockney swung by MBSing with some sweet Spider-Man knowledge in tow. From the uber '90s animated series to the current Ultimate Spider-Man comic series with Miles Morales to the next remounting of Spidey's story on the big screen, Brandon and I explore what it is about Spider-Man that makes him an accessible hero. I learned a ton about the different iterations of the character while Brandon humored my critiques of the more recent additions to the Marvel film universe (as well as voicing his own frustrations and desires for bigger risks to be taken). We even take apart the recent phenomenon of indie director darlings being brought on to helm huge film series installments and how undeniably hot Marisa Tomei (the future Aunt May...) is. Jon Watts, the next Spider-Man director Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesYour friendly neighborhood Brandon Shockney swung by MBSing with some sweet Spider-Man knowledge in tow. From the uber '90s animated series to the current Ultimate Spider-Man comic series with Miles Morales to the next remounting of Spidey's story on the big screen, Brandon and I explore what it is about Spider-Man that makes him an accessible hero. I learned a ton about the different iterations of the character while Brandon humored my critiques of the more recent additions to the Marvel film universe (as well as voicing his own frustrations and desires for bigger risks to be taken). We even take apart the recent phenomenon of indie director darlings being brought on to helm huge film series installments and how undeniably hot Marisa Tomei (the future Aunt May...) is. Jon Watts, the next Spider-Man director Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-116-mbsing-john-thibodeaux-gasoline When TBox told me he planned to discuss gasoline, I was all, "whaaaaat?" Then he outlined his work history with various responsibilities at refineries and rigs, and I was all, "coooooool!" A couple science nerds get to break down the chain that creates gasoline and other products from crude oil and the work that goes into getting that "devil jizz" out of the ground. TBox and I exist in the middle of a lot of very specific Venn diagrams, and this ep was a delight to relish in the details. Stick around for some excellent baseball talk at the end that's a preview of our hypothetical future baseball podcast. (If I find a guest who enjoys baseball, you cannot escape it being discussed, listener. And for this I will not apologize.) Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. This is the published article on my college research project. At least you can look at the pictures? More about the gasoline/sodium cyanide explosion in Tianjin, China.   Wed, 26 Aug 2015 15:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-116-mbsing-john-thibodeaux-gasoline MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4878 When TBox told me he planned to discuss gasoline, I was all, "whaaaaat?" Then he outlined his work history with various responsibilities at refineries and rigs, and I was all, "coooooool!" A couple science nerds get to break down the chain that creates gasoline and other products from crude oil and the work that goes into getting that "devil jizz" out of the ground. TBox and I exist in the middle of a lot of very specific Venn diagrams, and this ep was a delight to relish in the details. Stick around for some excellent baseball talk at the end that's a preview of our hypothetical future baseball podcast. (If I find a guest who enjoys baseball, you cannot escape it being discussed, listener. And for this I will not apologize.) Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. This is the published article on my college research project. At least you can look at the pictures? More about the gasoline/sodium cyanide explosion in Tianjin, China.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWhen TBox told me he planned to discuss gasoline, I was all, "whaaaaat?" Then he outlined his work history with various responsibilities at refineries and rigs, and I was all, "coooooool!" A couple science nerds get to break down the chain that creates gasoline and other products from crude oil and the work that goes into getting that "devil jizz" out of the ground. TBox and I exist in the middle of a lot of very specific Venn diagrams, and this ep was a delight to relish in the details. Stick around for some excellent baseball talk at the end that's a preview of our hypothetical future baseball podcast. (If I find a guest who enjoys baseball, you cannot escape it being discussed, listener. And for this I will not apologize.) Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. This is the published article on my college research project. At least you can look at the pictures? More about the gasoline/sodium cyanide explosion in Tianjin, China.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-115-mbsing-brendan-dowling-mysteries Brendan Dowling stopped by MBSing to weave tales of mystery and intrigue. We covered the books, television, and film he grew up with and continues to enjoy all in the vein of whodunits (The Westing Game, Marple, and Clue, to name a few), and I love the insight into what draws him to the genre and how it feeds into his life as a performer. Some personal highlights include that Brendan knows he's immediately interested in something if it's set at a boarding school, that he developed a love for a PBS Masterpiece series at an age that has to have been decades younger than its target audience, and that he enjoys falling down YouTube rabbit holes of a single song from the musical Hairspray even though he's never seen anything else from the show. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship.   Wed, 19 Aug 2015 07:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-115-mbsing-brendan-dowling-mysteries MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 1304 Brendan Dowling stopped by MBSing to weave tales of mystery and intrigue. We covered the books, television, and film he grew up with and continues to enjoy all in the vein of whodunits (The Westing Game, Marple, and Clue, to name a few), and I love the insight into what draws him to the genre and how it feeds into his life as a performer. Some personal highlights include that Brendan knows he's immediately interested in something if it's set at a boarding school, that he developed a love for a PBS Masterpiece series at an age that has to have been decades younger than its target audience, and that he enjoys falling down YouTube rabbit holes of a single song from the musical Hairspray even though he's never seen anything else from the show. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBrendan Dowling stopped by MBSing to weave tales of mystery and intrigue. We covered the books, television, and film he grew up with and continues to enjoy all in the vein of whodunits (The Westing Game, Marple, and Clue, to name a few), and I love the insight into what draws him to the genre and how it feeds into his life as a performer. Some personal highlights include that Brendan knows he's immediately interested in something if it's set at a boarding school, that he developed a love for a PBS Masterpiece series at an age that has to have been decades younger than its target audience, and that he enjoys falling down YouTube rabbit holes of a single song from the musical Hairspray even though he's never seen anything else from the show. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-114-mbsing-amy-sumpter-beastie-boys MCAmy (AKA Ms Sumpta if ya nasty) joined me for a second time (I LOST THE FIRST ONE. AN MBSing FIRST. SHE TALKED ABOUT THE WHITE SOX AND IT WAS A GREAT EP, TOO) to talk her love of everyone's favorite hip hop group featuring three Jewish dudes from NYC. After laying down the truth on how the Boys' gear change around '94 to clean up their lyrics turned her into a feminist, Amy breaks down the origins of her all-female Beastie Boys tribute band, She's Crafty. Yeah. You read that right, and it's the best. They have performed all over Chicago and a bit beyond, and they have hosted MCA Day celebrations for the past couple years to honor the memory of Adam "MCA" Yauch, who passed away in 2012 due to cancer. All the acts are Beastie related, and all of the ticket sales go to two different cancer charities. You should go after you listen to this 2 legit ep. Tickets to MCA Day 2015 - August 15th at Lincoln Hall My guest spot on An Hour With Your Ex, a fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Coop. Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring this episode. Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-114-mbsing-amy-sumpter-beastie-boys MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5369 MCAmy (AKA Ms Sumpta if ya nasty) joined me for a second time (I LOST THE FIRST ONE. AN MBSing FIRST. SHE TALKED ABOUT THE WHITE SOX AND IT WAS A GREAT EP, TOO) to talk her love of everyone's favorite hip hop group featuring three Jewish dudes from NYC. After laying down the truth on how the Boys' gear change around '94 to clean up their lyrics turned her into a feminist, Amy breaks down the origins of her all-female Beastie Boys tribute band, She's Crafty. Yeah. You read that right, and it's the best. They have performed all over Chicago and a bit beyond, and they have hosted MCA Day celebrations for the past couple years to honor the memory of Adam "MCA" Yauch, who passed away in 2012 due to cancer. All the acts are Beastie related, and all of the ticket sales go to two different cancer charities. You should go after you listen to this 2 legit ep. Tickets to MCA Day 2015 - August 15th at Lincoln Hall My guest spot on An Hour With Your Ex, a fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Coop. Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring this episode. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMCAmy (AKA Ms Sumpta if ya nasty) joined me for a second time (I LOST THE FIRST ONE. AN MBSing FIRST. SHE TALKED ABOUT THE WHITE SOX AND IT WAS A GREAT EP, TOO) to talk her love of everyone's favorite hip hop group featuring three Jewish dudes from NYC. After laying down the truth on how the Boys' gear change around '94 to clean up their lyrics turned her into a feminist, Amy breaks down the origins of her all-female Beastie Boys tribute band, She's Crafty. Yeah. You read that right, and it's the best. They have performed all over Chicago and a bit beyond, and they have hosted MCA Day celebrations for the past couple years to honor the memory of Adam "MCA" Yauch, who passed away in 2012 due to cancer. All the acts are Beastie related, and all of the ticket sales go to two different cancer charities. You should go after you listen to this 2 legit ep. Tickets to MCA Day 2015 - August 15th at Lincoln Hall My guest spot on An Hour With Your Ex, a fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Coop. Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring this episode. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-113-mbsing-tim-swindle-brunch Tim Swindle of Utter Nonsense stopped by for brunch talk, and we had the best time exploring our favorite things about everyone's favorite weekend meal. From preferences on how we like everything cooked to what we like to drink to how we like to socialize, we cover a lot of ground [coffee]. Probably not the best idea to listen on an empty stomach. In the last year, Tim turned a penchant for providing entertainment for his brunch guests into a party-perfect card game called Utter Nonsense. As of this week, it's available in all Target stores. It's very cool! Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsoring. Wed, 05 Aug 2015 14:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-113-mbsing-tim-swindle-brunch MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5195 Tim Swindle of Utter Nonsense stopped by for brunch talk, and we had the best time exploring our favorite things about everyone's favorite weekend meal. From preferences on how we like everything cooked to what we like to drink to how we like to socialize, we cover a lot of ground [coffee]. Probably not the best idea to listen on an empty stomach. In the last year, Tim turned a penchant for providing entertainment for his brunch guests into a party-perfect card game called Utter Nonsense. As of this week, it's available in all Target stores. It's very cool! Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsoring. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTim Swindle of Utter Nonsense stopped by for brunch talk, and we had the best time exploring our favorite things about everyone's favorite weekend meal. From preferences on how we like everything cooked to what we like to drink to how we like to socialize, we cover a lot of ground [coffee]. Probably not the best idea to listen on an empty stomach. In the last year, Tim turned a penchant for providing entertainment for his brunch guests into a party-perfect card game called Utter Nonsense. As of this week, it's available in all Target stores. It's very cool! Thanks to Emporium Arcade Bar and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for sponsoring. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-112-mbsing-jon-pernisek-wizard-oz Jon Pernisek knows all things Wizard of Oz, and we had a delightful time talking a heap of silly adaptations of the book that mostly just rip off or repurpose the iconic 1939 film. While Jon has an appreciation for things like The Wiz, Return to Oz, and Wicked, he can also recognize when things are LAZY or BAD, so we have fun lambasting some projects that were probably doomed from the start. The Wizard of AIDS, 50 Shades of Oz, and a Thanksgiving special where Dorothy meets a mince meat pie in Oz are all REAL THINGS THAT EXIST. Jon also covers how The Wizard of Oz is always something he's clung and come back to as an aspiring writer (in spite of the fact that L. Frank Baum publically called for the horrible slaughter of all Native Americans. Woof.) Wed, 29 Jul 2015 13:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-112-mbsing-jon-pernisek-wizard-oz MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6308 Jon Pernisek knows all things Wizard of Oz, and we had a delightful time talking a heap of silly adaptations of the book that mostly just rip off or repurpose the iconic 1939 film. While Jon has an appreciation for things like The Wiz, Return to Oz, and Wicked, he can also recognize when things are LAZY or BAD, so we have fun lambasting some projects that were probably doomed from the start. The Wizard of AIDS, 50 Shades of Oz, and a Thanksgiving special where Dorothy meets a mince meat pie in Oz are all REAL THINGS THAT EXIST. Jon also covers how The Wizard of Oz is always something he's clung and come back to as an aspiring writer (in spite of the fact that L. Frank Baum publically called for the horrible slaughter of all Native Americans. Woof.) Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJon Pernisek knows all things Wizard of Oz, and we had a delightful time talking a heap of silly adaptations of the book that mostly just rip off or repurpose the iconic 1939 film. While Jon has an appreciation for things like The Wiz, Return to Oz, and Wicked, he can also recognize when things are LAZY or BAD, so we have fun lambasting some projects that were probably doomed from the start. The Wizard of AIDS, 50 Shades of Oz, and a Thanksgiving special where Dorothy meets a mince meat pie in Oz are all REAL THINGS THAT EXIST. Jon also covers how The Wizard of Oz is always something he's clung and come back to as an aspiring writer (in spite of the fact that L. Frank Baum publically called for the horrible slaughter of all Native Americans. Woof.) https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-111-mbsing-tyler-paterson-ghosts Tyler Paterson is a more than a guy sharing an urban legend around a campfire. Though he and his family do enjoy this pastime, they're only telling stories of their own experiences. Tyler has experienced constant unsettling dreams and various unexplainable events with ghosts in his life, and as a result he has essentially academically studied ghosts and used his experiences as inspiration for multiple supernatural romance ebooks published under a pen name and a published novel of his own called Dark Satellites coming out in August. This is a really fun, interesting, creepy chat. I'm not much for the spooky stuff myself, so a lot of Tyler's tales are new, weird territory for me. I loved it, and he really brought home the way it has affected his life creatively by tying his writing career to the search for knowledge on the paranormal: "that quest for the unknown creates opportunities for what becomes the known." How Rude Podcast with Jon Pernisek and Brandon Shockney.  Previous Previews with the hosts of Cinema Jaw, fellow Chicago Podcast Coop members.  Buy tickets for Chicago's Summer WingFest at WingFest.net using the promo code "podcast" to get a free t-shirt! Wed, 22 Jul 2015 00:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-111-mbsing-tyler-paterson-ghosts MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5604 Tyler Paterson is a more than a guy sharing an urban legend around a campfire. Though he and his family do enjoy this pastime, they're only telling stories of their own experiences. Tyler has experienced constant unsettling dreams and various unexplainable events with ghosts in his life, and as a result he has essentially academically studied ghosts and used his experiences as inspiration for multiple supernatural romance ebooks published under a pen name and a published novel of his own called Dark Satellites coming out in August. This is a really fun, interesting, creepy chat. I'm not much for the spooky stuff myself, so a lot of Tyler's tales are new, weird territory for me. I loved it, and he really brought home the way it has affected his life creatively by tying his writing career to the search for knowledge on the paranormal: "that quest for the unknown creates opportunities for what becomes the known." How Rude Podcast with Jon Pernisek and Brandon Shockney.  Previous Previews with the hosts of Cinema Jaw, fellow Chicago Podcast Coop members.  Buy tickets for Chicago's Summer WingFest at WingFest.net using the promo code "podcast" to get a free t-shirt! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTyler Paterson is a more than a guy sharing an urban legend around a campfire. Though he and his family do enjoy this pastime, they're only telling stories of their own experiences. Tyler has experienced constant unsettling dreams and various unexplainable events with ghosts in his life, and as a result he has essentially academically studied ghosts and used his experiences as inspiration for multiple supernatural romance ebooks published under a pen name and a published novel of his own called Dark Satellites coming out in August. This is a really fun, interesting, creepy chat. I'm not much for the spooky stuff myself, so a lot of Tyler's tales are new, weird territory for me. I loved it, and he really brought home the way it has affected his life creatively by tying his writing career to the search for knowledge on the paranormal: "that quest for the unknown creates opportunities for what becomes the known." How Rude Podcast with Jon Pernisek and Brandon Shockney.  Previous Previews with the hosts of Cinema Jaw, fellow Chicago Podcast Coop members.  Buy tickets for Chicago's Summer WingFest at WingFest.net using the promo code "podcast" to get a free t-shirt! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-110-mbsing-rosie-moan-sexuality Rosie Moan was a sexy little baby. Wait. No. Um. Rosie discovered her own sexuality at a fairly young age and has never looked back. Fueled by curiosity and a slightly hippy, open upbringing, she has never had much of an issue removing the stigmas from sexual pleasure, partners, patterns, etc., and we had a great time discussing our own experiences with sexuality as well as bigger picture steps forward in accepting everyone's sexuality because in the end who gives a shit we should all just be happy and healthy. RIGHT?! Also we made it through the whole show without making a joke about Rosie's last name ONCE and deserve a medal of some sort. fiverr.com, where MB has NOT set up a page to be a paid audience member...yet Buy tickets for Chicago's Summer WingFest at WingFest.net using the promo code "podcast" to get a free t-shirt! Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and being a cool, supportive thing.   Wed, 15 Jul 2015 11:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-110-mbsing-rosie-moan-sexuality MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6454 Rosie Moan was a sexy little baby. Wait. No. Um. Rosie discovered her own sexuality at a fairly young age and has never looked back. Fueled by curiosity and a slightly hippy, open upbringing, she has never had much of an issue removing the stigmas from sexual pleasure, partners, patterns, etc., and we had a great time discussing our own experiences with sexuality as well as bigger picture steps forward in accepting everyone's sexuality because in the end who gives a shit we should all just be happy and healthy. RIGHT?! Also we made it through the whole show without making a joke about Rosie's last name ONCE and deserve a medal of some sort. fiverr.com, where MB has NOT set up a page to be a paid audience member...yet Buy tickets for Chicago's Summer WingFest at WingFest.net using the promo code "podcast" to get a free t-shirt! Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and being a cool, supportive thing.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesRosie Moan was a sexy little baby. Wait. No. Um. Rosie discovered her own sexuality at a fairly young age and has never looked back. Fueled by curiosity and a slightly hippy, open upbringing, she has never had much of an issue removing the stigmas from sexual pleasure, partners, patterns, etc., and we had a great time discussing our own experiences with sexuality as well as bigger picture steps forward in accepting everyone's sexuality because in the end who gives a shit we should all just be happy and healthy. RIGHT?! Also we made it through the whole show without making a joke about Rosie's last name ONCE and deserve a medal of some sort. fiverr.com, where MB has NOT set up a page to be a paid audience member...yet Buy tickets for Chicago's Summer WingFest at WingFest.net using the promo code "podcast" to get a free t-shirt! Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and being a cool, supportive thing.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-109-mbsing-katie-wadsworth-moving-back-parents Chicago expat Katie Wadsworth has spent the last year in Dallas, Texas, living with her parents and girlfriend as she went to school to become an EMT to save money for a big move to LA. I had the best time Skyping with her as she covered what the year has been like back under her parents' roof, how she looks back on the time she spent in Chicago, and the anxieties and excitement of picking up and moving forward to LA. Her older sister has twin toddlers, and all three of them lived in her parents' house for a while in the past year, too, so there are a lot of calamitous and fun stories to share. Katie is downright unbearably funny. There are times that even from afar she has me crying laughing via a text or a Facebook post. This was a real joy for me to do and a great window into the way this period of Katie's life has affected her comedy and outlook. Check out Katie's webseries interviewing Chicago couples, On Bed Your Stories at Adler After Dark submission form Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. Tue, 07 Jul 2015 23:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-109-mbsing-katie-wadsworth-moving-back-parents MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5358 Chicago expat Katie Wadsworth has spent the last year in Dallas, Texas, living with her parents and girlfriend as she went to school to become an EMT to save money for a big move to LA. I had the best time Skyping with her as she covered what the year has been like back under her parents' roof, how she looks back on the time she spent in Chicago, and the anxieties and excitement of picking up and moving forward to LA. Her older sister has twin toddlers, and all three of them lived in her parents' house for a while in the past year, too, so there are a lot of calamitous and fun stories to share. Katie is downright unbearably funny. There are times that even from afar she has me crying laughing via a text or a Facebook post. This was a real joy for me to do and a great window into the way this period of Katie's life has affected her comedy and outlook. Check out Katie's webseries interviewing Chicago couples, On Bed Your Stories at Adler After Dark submission form Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesChicago expat Katie Wadsworth has spent the last year in Dallas, Texas, living with her parents and girlfriend as she went to school to become an EMT to save money for a big move to LA. I had the best time Skyping with her as she covered what the year has been like back under her parents' roof, how she looks back on the time she spent in Chicago, and the anxieties and excitement of picking up and moving forward to LA. Her older sister has twin toddlers, and all three of them lived in her parents' house for a while in the past year, too, so there are a lot of calamitous and fun stories to share. Katie is downright unbearably funny. There are times that even from afar she has me crying laughing via a text or a Facebook post. This was a real joy for me to do and a great window into the way this period of Katie's life has affected her comedy and outlook. Check out Katie's webseries interviewing Chicago couples, On Bed Your Stories at Adler After Dark submission form Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-108-mbsing-liz-caradonna-advice-columns Liz is SO WISE and full of great advice and the desire to listen and bestow advice. She's also totally willing to admit that some of that desire comes from a place of voyeurism, which is part of why she loves devouring advice columns. We chat about the idea that all advice is autobiographical, most of it is timeless, and a vast majority of good advice points out things you already knew about the situation but were not willing to face on your own. Liz is also an expert on discerning punishments fitting of crimes, from Facebook faux pas to dog doo doo, and clears up a lot of advice requests by clarifying that one cannot teach an adult how to be considerate. Listen up, let things go, and ask Liz. Ask Polly's The Hampton House and "Give Me One Reason" Thatz Not Okay Ask a Fancy Person Ask a Manager Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-108-mbsing-liz-caradonna-advice-columns MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5934 Liz is SO WISE and full of great advice and the desire to listen and bestow advice. She's also totally willing to admit that some of that desire comes from a place of voyeurism, which is part of why she loves devouring advice columns. We chat about the idea that all advice is autobiographical, most of it is timeless, and a vast majority of good advice points out things you already knew about the situation but were not willing to face on your own. Liz is also an expert on discerning punishments fitting of crimes, from Facebook faux pas to dog doo doo, and clears up a lot of advice requests by clarifying that one cannot teach an adult how to be considerate. Listen up, let things go, and ask Liz. Ask Polly's The Hampton House and "Give Me One Reason" Thatz Not Okay Ask a Fancy Person Ask a Manager Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesLiz is SO WISE and full of great advice and the desire to listen and bestow advice. She's also totally willing to admit that some of that desire comes from a place of voyeurism, which is part of why she loves devouring advice columns. We chat about the idea that all advice is autobiographical, most of it is timeless, and a vast majority of good advice points out things you already knew about the situation but were not willing to face on your own. Liz is also an expert on discerning punishments fitting of crimes, from Facebook faux pas to dog doo doo, and clears up a lot of advice requests by clarifying that one cannot teach an adult how to be considerate. Listen up, let things go, and ask Liz. Ask Polly's The Hampton House and "Give Me One Reason" Thatz Not Okay Ask a Fancy Person Ask a Manager Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-107-mbsing-wyn-evans-well-being Wyn Evans is more present, happy, and aware than he has probably ever been in his life, and he came on MBSing to share some of his relatively-newfound peace and understanding with me. Wyn found this "persistent nonsymbolic experience" through spirituality, meditation, and other exercises in The Finders Course on human well being, but the biggest takeaway here is loving yourself and knowing you deserve love and happiness. We discuss the fine lines between awareness and meditation that can fill you with optimism and gratitude versus soul searching that leads to codependency and "dark nights of the soul." We also get into Wyn's view of improvisation as a microcosm of life and its infinite possibilities. Stick around until the end for thoughts on meditation ("harmony of relaxation and concentration") and helpful affirmations for happiness.   More info on the global spiritual awakening, The Power of Now, and Adyashanti. Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-107-mbsing-wyn-evans-well-being MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5640 Wyn Evans is more present, happy, and aware than he has probably ever been in his life, and he came on MBSing to share some of his relatively-newfound peace and understanding with me. Wyn found this "persistent nonsymbolic experience" through spirituality, meditation, and other exercises in The Finders Course on human well being, but the biggest takeaway here is loving yourself and knowing you deserve love and happiness. We discuss the fine lines between awareness and meditation that can fill you with optimism and gratitude versus soul searching that leads to codependency and "dark nights of the soul." We also get into Wyn's view of improvisation as a microcosm of life and its infinite possibilities. Stick around until the end for thoughts on meditation ("harmony of relaxation and concentration") and helpful affirmations for happiness.   More info on the global spiritual awakening, The Power of Now, and Adyashanti. Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWyn Evans is more present, happy, and aware than he has probably ever been in his life, and he came on MBSing to share some of his relatively-newfound peace and understanding with me. Wyn found this "persistent nonsymbolic experience" through spirituality, meditation, and other exercises in The Finders Course on human well being, but the biggest takeaway here is loving yourself and knowing you deserve love and happiness. We discuss the fine lines between awareness and meditation that can fill you with optimism and gratitude versus soul searching that leads to codependency and "dark nights of the soul." We also get into Wyn's view of improvisation as a microcosm of life and its infinite possibilities. Stick around until the end for thoughts on meditation ("harmony of relaxation and concentration") and helpful affirmations for happiness.   More info on the global spiritual awakening, The Power of Now, and Adyashanti. Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-106-mbsing-blair-beeken-being-honest We came to the studio to talk about her love of pizza, but Blair Beeken likes to tell it like it is. She confessed she considered talking about being honest, so we changed gears. Whether it's friends, improv teammates, family, dentists, or people who need to be told what everyone is thinking about what they post on Facebook, she prefers honesty to sugar coating. And after this conversation, I'm thinking it really is the best policy. Even though it can lead to some anxiety, Blair feels (and I agree) that we could all be a bit more open with one another and ourselves. Self awareness talk at the end ties it all together. Plus, there is a little mini ep about pizza. Let's be honest, there will always be pizza. Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Tue, 16 Jun 2015 22:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-106-mbsing-blair-beeken-being-honest MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3600 We came to the studio to talk about her love of pizza, but Blair Beeken likes to tell it like it is. She confessed she considered talking about being honest, so we changed gears. Whether it's friends, improv teammates, family, dentists, or people who need to be told what everyone is thinking about what they post on Facebook, she prefers honesty to sugar coating. And after this conversation, I'm thinking it really is the best policy. Even though it can lead to some anxiety, Blair feels (and I agree) that we could all be a bit more open with one another and ourselves. Self awareness talk at the end ties it all together. Plus, there is a little mini ep about pizza. Let's be honest, there will always be pizza. Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWe came to the studio to talk about her love of pizza, but Blair Beeken likes to tell it like it is. She confessed she considered talking about being honest, so we changed gears. Whether it's friends, improv teammates, family, dentists, or people who need to be told what everyone is thinking about what they post on Facebook, she prefers honesty to sugar coating. And after this conversation, I'm thinking it really is the best policy. Even though it can lead to some anxiety, Blair feels (and I agree) that we could all be a bit more open with one another and ourselves. Self awareness talk at the end ties it all together. Plus, there is a little mini ep about pizza. Let's be honest, there will always be pizza. Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-105-mbsing-perm-animals The ladies of The Perm (Amy Haeussler and Atra Asdou) love lil cuddly creatures almost as much as they love writing and performing excellent sketch shows. We cover pets, vets, zoos, and who's whos of their favorite animals and why they find themselves returning to their love of them as they produce comedy. The idea that animals are inspiring and interesting because they only ever operate from a place of clear intention comes up at the end as well as their naturally hilarious nature. There's probably way too much Animorphs talk in here from me, but whatever. File a complaint with the manager.  Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Wed, 10 Jun 2015 10:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-105-mbsing-perm-animals MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5580 The ladies of The Perm (Amy Haeussler and Atra Asdou) love lil cuddly creatures almost as much as they love writing and performing excellent sketch shows. We cover pets, vets, zoos, and who's whos of their favorite animals and why they find themselves returning to their love of them as they produce comedy. The idea that animals are inspiring and interesting because they only ever operate from a place of clear intention comes up at the end as well as their naturally hilarious nature. There's probably way too much Animorphs talk in here from me, but whatever. File a complaint with the manager.  Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThe ladies of The Perm (Amy Haeussler and Atra Asdou) love lil cuddly creatures almost as much as they love writing and performing excellent sketch shows. We cover pets, vets, zoos, and who's whos of their favorite animals and why they find themselves returning to their love of them as they produce comedy. The idea that animals are inspiring and interesting because they only ever operate from a place of clear intention comes up at the end as well as their naturally hilarious nature. There's probably way too much Animorphs talk in here from me, but whatever. File a complaint with the manager.  Google Form to submit an Ask Liz advice request for an upcoming recording. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-104-mbsing-mykele-callicutt-television In West Chicago, born and raised, in front of a TV is where Mykele spent most of his days. He still finds plenty of time to devour television in between Chicago theatre and podcast appearances, though his focus has shifted from Pokemon, Good Times, and Blossom to shows like Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and The Following, and the medium itself has shifted from tuning in to Nick at Nite and watching whatever was airing to being able to have pretty much whatever show he wants available to him at pretty much any time. We cover a TON of ground in this bad boy, and Mykele watches a TON of television. It was a joy to rap about some mutual loves and annoyances in television as well as some differing opinions (I checked out of GOT after the first season... sorry nerds). Tune in! Thanks to Maxistentialism for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-104-mbsing-mykele-callicutt-television MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5640 In West Chicago, born and raised, in front of a TV is where Mykele spent most of his days. He still finds plenty of time to devour television in between Chicago theatre and podcast appearances, though his focus has shifted from Pokemon, Good Times, and Blossom to shows like Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and The Following, and the medium itself has shifted from tuning in to Nick at Nite and watching whatever was airing to being able to have pretty much whatever show he wants available to him at pretty much any time. We cover a TON of ground in this bad boy, and Mykele watches a TON of television. It was a joy to rap about some mutual loves and annoyances in television as well as some differing opinions (I checked out of GOT after the first season... sorry nerds). Tune in! Thanks to Maxistentialism for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIn West Chicago, born and raised, in front of a TV is where Mykele spent most of his days. He still finds plenty of time to devour television in between Chicago theatre and podcast appearances, though his focus has shifted from Pokemon, Good Times, and Blossom to shows like Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and The Following, and the medium itself has shifted from tuning in to Nick at Nite and watching whatever was airing to being able to have pretty much whatever show he wants available to him at pretty much any time. We cover a TON of ground in this bad boy, and Mykele watches a TON of television. It was a joy to rap about some mutual loves and annoyances in television as well as some differing opinions (I checked out of GOT after the first season... sorry nerds). Tune in! Thanks to Maxistentialism for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-103-mbsing-jo-feldman-gilmore-girls Jo and I love food and chatting, so I think that makes us a regular ol' pair of Gilmore Girls. As far as I can gleen, anyway. I have never seen Gilmore Girls. But Jo has seen it all dozens of times and enjoys exploring its strengths and weaknesses (there's no way every person in Stars Hollow, CT, has that deep of a reference chamber in conversation, but it sure is fun to witness the writing anyway) as well as appreciating some of its biggest themes in her own life. Enjoying food, company, family, and communication certainly play major roles on the show for her along with Rory's annoying foibles and the saga of Luke and Lorelai. It all makes for a gem of a conversation about liking what you like and never feeling guilty about your pleasures. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Wed, 27 May 2015 13:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-103-mbsing-jo-feldman-gilmore-girls MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3900 Jo and I love food and chatting, so I think that makes us a regular ol' pair of Gilmore Girls. As far as I can gleen, anyway. I have never seen Gilmore Girls. But Jo has seen it all dozens of times and enjoys exploring its strengths and weaknesses (there's no way every person in Stars Hollow, CT, has that deep of a reference chamber in conversation, but it sure is fun to witness the writing anyway) as well as appreciating some of its biggest themes in her own life. Enjoying food, company, family, and communication certainly play major roles on the show for her along with Rory's annoying foibles and the saga of Luke and Lorelai. It all makes for a gem of a conversation about liking what you like and never feeling guilty about your pleasures. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJo and I love food and chatting, so I think that makes us a regular ol' pair of Gilmore Girls. As far as I can gleen, anyway. I have never seen Gilmore Girls. But Jo has seen it all dozens of times and enjoys exploring its strengths and weaknesses (there's no way every person in Stars Hollow, CT, has that deep of a reference chamber in conversation, but it sure is fun to witness the writing anyway) as well as appreciating some of its biggest themes in her own life. Enjoying food, company, family, and communication certainly play major roles on the show for her along with Rory's annoying foibles and the saga of Luke and Lorelai. It all makes for a gem of a conversation about liking what you like and never feeling guilty about your pleasures. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-102-mbsing-shit-hole-skateboarding The Shit Hole is a renegade comedy space all about going hard until you get better and supporting one another along the way. Its creators/producers/heart (Zach Bartz, Kevin Gerrity, and Dan Wilcop) can't find the end of the list that compares these ideals to those of skateboarding. They've each had their own journey with the way of the board (Zach had trouble finding friends to skate with when he moved to a hotel Kansas, Kevin didn't skate much through most of his teens, and Dan kept with it the whole time making him the best though possibly most humble skater of the three), but they continue to skate together before and after shows as a way of checking in, find small ways to feel like a champ while skating to work, and were willing to dissect how awesome the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games are with me. Tue, 19 May 2015 22:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-102-mbsing-shit-hole-skateboarding MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4575 The Shit Hole is a renegade comedy space all about going hard until you get better and supporting one another along the way. Its creators/producers/heart (Zach Bartz, Kevin Gerrity, and Dan Wilcop) can't find the end of the list that compares these ideals to those of skateboarding. They've each had their own journey with the way of the board (Zach had trouble finding friends to skate with when he moved to a hotel Kansas, Kevin didn't skate much through most of his teens, and Dan kept with it the whole time making him the best though possibly most humble skater of the three), but they continue to skate together before and after shows as a way of checking in, find small ways to feel like a champ while skating to work, and were willing to dissect how awesome the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games are with me. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThe Shit Hole is a renegade comedy space all about going hard until you get better and supporting one another along the way. Its creators/producers/heart (Zach Bartz, Kevin Gerrity, and Dan Wilcop) can't find the end of the list that compares these ideals to those of skateboarding. They've each had their own journey with the way of the board (Zach had trouble finding friends to skate with when he moved to a hotel Kansas, Kevin didn't skate much through most of his teens, and Dan kept with it the whole time making him the best though possibly most humble skater of the three), but they continue to skate together before and after shows as a way of checking in, find small ways to feel like a champ while skating to work, and were willing to dissect how awesome the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games are with me. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-101-mbsing-sean-cooley-idiots   I had never heard the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox referred to as The Idiots until right before recording with Sean, but after the chat, I can certainly say the name is fitting. A term of endearment for a bunch of lovable weirdos who somehow managed a series of miraculous occurrences after 80+ years of the Curse of the Bambino, the Idiots are surely worth chatting about as they were probably the most unlikely candidates to break the curse that had been in place since the Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Sean was already a budding journalist (check out his columns at Thrillist!) during the series, so his interest and involvement as a college student surrounded by fellow Sox fans was at a prime time to be entrenched in the season. Along the way we come up with some new definitions for DFA, PED, and the Hot Stove season. It's more fun than making Jungle Juice in the locker room. Play ball!   Wed, 13 May 2015 12:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-101-mbsing-sean-cooley-idiots MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6120   I had never heard the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox referred to as The Idiots until right before recording with Sean, but after the chat, I can certainly say the name is fitting. A term of endearment for a bunch of lovable weirdos who somehow managed a series of miraculous occurrences after 80+ years of the Curse of the Bambino, the Idiots are surely worth chatting about as they were probably the most unlikely candidates to break the curse that had been in place since the Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Sean was already a budding journalist (check out his columns at Thrillist!) during the series, so his interest and involvement as a college student surrounded by fellow Sox fans was at a prime time to be entrenched in the season. Along the way we come up with some new definitions for DFA, PED, and the Hot Stove season. It's more fun than making Jungle Juice in the locker room. Play ball!   Mary Beth Smith of The Nerdologues  I had never heard the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox referred to as The Idiots until right before recording with Sean, but after the chat, I can certainly say the name is fitting. A term of endearment for a bunch of lovable weirdos who somehow managed a series of miraculous occurrences after 80+ years of the Curse of the Bambino, the Idiots are surely worth chatting about as they were probably the most unlikely candidates to break the curse that had been in place since the Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Sean was already a budding journalist (check out his columns at Thrillist!) during the series, so his interest and involvement as a college student surrounded by fellow Sox fans was at a prime time to be entrenched in the season. Along the way we come up with some new definitions for DFA, PED, and the Hot Stove season. It's more fun than making Jungle Juice in the locker room. Play ball!   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-100-mbsing-live-trin-garritano-parks-and-recreation Oh Trin, you beautiful tropical fish. You’re smart as a whip, and you’re cool under pressure. You cunning, pliable, chestnut-haired sunfish. You poetic, noble land-mermaid. Thank you for joining [read: enabling] me to talk about Parks and Recreation in front of an audience of friends, past guests, and fellow contributors to this incredible live celebration of the first 100 episodes of MBSing. Before a backdrop of an early edition of the Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness graciously provided by Sarah Shockey, Trin and I babbled about as much of Parks as we could cover, but damn if there aren't 1,000,000 things I wish we'd talked more about. Parks and Recreation is the greatest show of all time, Trin is a true gem for agreeing and for lending her thoughts about the show and what she continues to get out of it. Special appearances by Nick Johnson, Jimmy Pennington, Claire Friedman, and Kevin Budnik in various, delightful capacities. Thank you for your continued listenership and support, citizens of Pawnee. I love you and I like you. Wed, 06 May 2015 00:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-100-mbsing-live-trin-garritano-parks-and-recreation MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6731 Oh Trin, you beautiful tropical fish. You’re smart as a whip, and you’re cool under pressure. You cunning, pliable, chestnut-haired sunfish. You poetic, noble land-mermaid. Thank you for joining [read: enabling] me to talk about Parks and Recreation in front of an audience of friends, past guests, and fellow contributors to this incredible live celebration of the first 100 episodes of MBSing. Before a backdrop of an early edition of the Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness graciously provided by Sarah Shockey, Trin and I babbled about as much of Parks as we could cover, but damn if there aren't 1,000,000 things I wish we'd talked more about. Parks and Recreation is the greatest show of all time, Trin is a true gem for agreeing and for lending her thoughts about the show and what she continues to get out of it. Special appearances by Nick Johnson, Jimmy Pennington, Claire Friedman, and Kevin Budnik in various, delightful capacities. Thank you for your continued listenership and support, citizens of Pawnee. I love you and I like you. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOh Trin, you beautiful tropical fish. You’re smart as a whip, and you’re cool under pressure. You cunning, pliable, chestnut-haired sunfish. You poetic, noble land-mermaid. Thank you for joining [read: enabling] me to talk about Parks and Recreation in front of an audience of friends, past guests, and fellow contributors to this incredible live celebration of the first 100 episodes of MBSing. Before a backdrop of an early edition of the Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness graciously provided by Sarah Shockey, Trin and I babbled about as much of Parks as we could cover, but damn if there aren't 1,000,000 things I wish we'd talked more about. Parks and Recreation is the greatest show of all time, Trin is a true gem for agreeing and for lending her thoughts about the show and what she continues to get out of it. Special appearances by Nick Johnson, Jimmy Pennington, Claire Friedman, and Kevin Budnik in various, delightful capacities. Thank you for your continued listenership and support, citizens of Pawnee. I love you and I like you. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-99-mbsing-rachel-farmer-growing-south The appropriately named Rachel Farmer lights up and chats with me on the porch about life below the Mason-Dixon Line. After spending most of her life in LA (Lower Alabama) and the past nine years in Chicago, she's recently relocated back to Mobile. We talk about all the ways family, Chik-fil-a, church, and life in general have gotten more complicated since our simpler Southern days and how all of those complications have been invaluable in our lives in Chicago and our friendship. It was a joy. Plus Rachel and I defined our friendship as Obi Wan and Luke at the top of the show. It was the best. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-99-mbsing-rachel-farmer-growing-south MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5371 The appropriately named Rachel Farmer lights up and chats with me on the porch about life below the Mason-Dixon Line. After spending most of her life in LA (Lower Alabama) and the past nine years in Chicago, she's recently relocated back to Mobile. We talk about all the ways family, Chik-fil-a, church, and life in general have gotten more complicated since our simpler Southern days and how all of those complications have been invaluable in our lives in Chicago and our friendship. It was a joy. Plus Rachel and I defined our friendship as Obi Wan and Luke at the top of the show. It was the best. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThe appropriately named Rachel Farmer lights up and chats with me on the porch about life below the Mason-Dixon Line. After spending most of her life in LA (Lower Alabama) and the past nine years in Chicago, she's recently relocated back to Mobile. We talk about all the ways family, Chik-fil-a, church, and life in general have gotten more complicated since our simpler Southern days and how all of those complications have been invaluable in our lives in Chicago and our friendship. It was a joy. Plus Rachel and I defined our friendship as Obi Wan and Luke at the top of the show. It was the best. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-98-mbsing-logan-dean-hp-lovecraft Grab your Necronomicon and find a well-lit area because it's about to get allllll Lovecraftian on MBSing! Logan is a huge HPL aficionado to the extent that he's written an entire biographical play about him and descended into madness during the process (much like a Lovecraft protagonist!). If that doesn't get you onboard the 'craft, I don't know what will. We chat a ton about his enormous influences in spite of his short life and limited, scattered works mostly made up of short stories written for pulp magazines, but we also get into the way art can tend to be influenced and cyclical in a way that folks often overlook. Gather around, sea monsters. You're in for a creepy treat. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. Wed, 22 Apr 2015 12:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-98-mbsing-logan-dean-hp-lovecraft MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4680 Grab your Necronomicon and find a well-lit area because it's about to get allllll Lovecraftian on MBSing! Logan is a huge HPL aficionado to the extent that he's written an entire biographical play about him and descended into madness during the process (much like a Lovecraft protagonist!). If that doesn't get you onboard the 'craft, I don't know what will. We chat a ton about his enormous influences in spite of his short life and limited, scattered works mostly made up of short stories written for pulp magazines, but we also get into the way art can tend to be influenced and cyclical in a way that folks often overlook. Gather around, sea monsters. You're in for a creepy treat. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesGrab your Necronomicon and find a well-lit area because it's about to get allllll Lovecraftian on MBSing! Logan is a huge HPL aficionado to the extent that he's written an entire biographical play about him and descended into madness during the process (much like a Lovecraft protagonist!). If that doesn't get you onboard the 'craft, I don't know what will. We chat a ton about his enormous influences in spite of his short life and limited, scattered works mostly made up of short stories written for pulp magazines, but we also get into the way art can tend to be influenced and cyclical in a way that folks often overlook. Gather around, sea monsters. You're in for a creepy treat. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-97-mbsing-trevor-martin-messing-people Trevor Martin is not a prankster. He's too afraid of the consequences. Nor is he someone who messes with strangers on the regular. He's too much of a "prissy boy" afraid of the retribution. But he does love creating small, devious misunderstandings among his friends and family. The kind of things you'd see kicking off a web of hijinks on a sitcom episode. From bounding into sleeping roommates' rooms to announcing he was a father on Facebook as a "Mother's Daypril Fool's Day" prank, Trevor lands on themes of wanting some kind of control in these social situations and that it's hard to be his friend. Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  Wed, 15 Apr 2015 11:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-97-mbsing-trevor-martin-messing-people MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5570 Trevor Martin is not a prankster. He's too afraid of the consequences. Nor is he someone who messes with strangers on the regular. He's too much of a "prissy boy" afraid of the retribution. But he does love creating small, devious misunderstandings among his friends and family. The kind of things you'd see kicking off a web of hijinks on a sitcom episode. From bounding into sleeping roommates' rooms to announcing he was a father on Facebook as a "Mother's Daypril Fool's Day" prank, Trevor lands on themes of wanting some kind of control in these social situations and that it's hard to be his friend. Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTrevor Martin is not a prankster. He's too afraid of the consequences. Nor is he someone who messes with strangers on the regular. He's too much of a "prissy boy" afraid of the retribution. But he does love creating small, devious misunderstandings among his friends and family. The kind of things you'd see kicking off a web of hijinks on a sitcom episode. From bounding into sleeping roommates' rooms to announcing he was a father on Facebook as a "Mother's Daypril Fool's Day" prank, Trevor lands on themes of wanting some kind of control in these social situations and that it's hard to be his friend. Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-96-mbsing-julie-marchiano-hot-dogs Julie Marchiano is a hoot and a half, and we had a doggone good time talking 'dogs, 'za, and passions in this ep dedicated to Julie's love of encased meats. Julie has an interesting and hilarious relationship with hot dogs where comedy, her personality, and her own health are concerned, but we share that we've learned it's best to just embrace who and what you are, who and what you love, and let everything else fall into place. This episode is so much fun, but I'd venture to guess you'll want a snack by the end. Or a copy of Julie's headshot signed "Raw Dog." Or both. Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  Wed, 08 Apr 2015 15:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-96-mbsing-julie-marchiano-hot-dogs MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4966 Julie Marchiano is a hoot and a half, and we had a doggone good time talking 'dogs, 'za, and passions in this ep dedicated to Julie's love of encased meats. Julie has an interesting and hilarious relationship with hot dogs where comedy, her personality, and her own health are concerned, but we share that we've learned it's best to just embrace who and what you are, who and what you love, and let everything else fall into place. This episode is so much fun, but I'd venture to guess you'll want a snack by the end. Or a copy of Julie's headshot signed "Raw Dog." Or both. Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJulie Marchiano is a hoot and a half, and we had a doggone good time talking 'dogs, 'za, and passions in this ep dedicated to Julie's love of encased meats. Julie has an interesting and hilarious relationship with hot dogs where comedy, her personality, and her own health are concerned, but we share that we've learned it's best to just embrace who and what you are, who and what you love, and let everything else fall into place. This episode is so much fun, but I'd venture to guess you'll want a snack by the end. Or a copy of Julie's headshot signed "Raw Dog." Or both. Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-95-mbsing-jay-sukow-improv-filmmaking Jay Sukow came by to drop some firsthand knowledge on the use of improvisation in film. Jay and his production company, Group Mind Films, have made multiple features using [mostly] written scripts in conjunction with excellent improvisers to lead into and out of scenes, find unique, hilarious moments in scenes, and even at times improvise entire exchanges. Major themes include all of the creative and business prep involved in independent filmmaking, knowing when to strike out on your own away from established institutions and methods others have used in the past, and not hesitating to make a physical product or ask people to collaborate.  Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  Wed, 01 Apr 2015 12:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-95-mbsing-jay-sukow-improv-filmmaking MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6000 Jay Sukow came by to drop some firsthand knowledge on the use of improvisation in film. Jay and his production company, Group Mind Films, have made multiple features using [mostly] written scripts in conjunction with excellent improvisers to lead into and out of scenes, find unique, hilarious moments in scenes, and even at times improvise entire exchanges. Major themes include all of the creative and business prep involved in independent filmmaking, knowing when to strike out on your own away from established institutions and methods others have used in the past, and not hesitating to make a physical product or ask people to collaborate.  Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJay Sukow came by to drop some firsthand knowledge on the use of improvisation in film. Jay and his production company, Group Mind Films, have made multiple features using [mostly] written scripts in conjunction with excellent improvisers to lead into and out of scenes, find unique, hilarious moments in scenes, and even at times improvise entire exchanges. Major themes include all of the creative and business prep involved in independent filmmaking, knowing when to strike out on your own away from established institutions and methods others have used in the past, and not hesitating to make a physical product or ask people to collaborate.  Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-94-mbsing-charley-carroll-chicago-history Even though he's a transplant from the ATL, Charley fell in love with Chicago history somewhere between watching PBS and reading Devil in the White City in the mid aughts. He's been on countless architectural boat tours, taken architectural courses around and about the city for funsies, and was supposed to be a tour guide at some point, but got hired by some Kennedys... so... yeah he worked for Kennedys instead.  Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.    Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-94-mbsing-charley-carroll-chicago-history MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5494 Even though he's a transplant from the ATL, Charley fell in love with Chicago history somewhere between watching PBS and reading Devil in the White City in the mid aughts. He's been on countless architectural boat tours, taken architectural courses around and about the city for funsies, and was supposed to be a tour guide at some point, but got hired by some Kennedys... so... yeah he worked for Kennedys instead.  Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.    Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEven though he's a transplant from the ATL, Charley fell in love with Chicago history somewhere between watching PBS and reading Devil in the White City in the mid aughts. He's been on countless architectural boat tours, taken architectural courses around and about the city for funsies, and was supposed to be a tour guide at some point, but got hired by some Kennedys... so... yeah he worked for Kennedys instead.  Thanks to Base Camp for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.    https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-92-mbsing-chris-kervick-reality-tv 2 friends. 1 mic. An hour and a half in a kitchen to cover all the fun ground of reality competition shows. Chris and I were up to the challenge, and I think we survived this amazing race. Listen to find out how Chris feels he has truly been shaped by reality shows since he started watching them at 13, which show he'd love to be on if he could choose any one with any set of circumstances (and which one I'd throw my name in the hat for), and how we both think we'd respond to the pressure and strategy of these shows. Stick around for a VERY fun Voice-esque set of blind auditions wherein Chris and I act as judges aided by our friend Liz Bell who made us a playlist complete with commentary on each actual Voice contestant. This was a joy, and Chris has such a passion for life and his relationships with people because he's always playing for day 39. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. Wed, 11 Mar 2015 02:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-92-mbsing-chris-kervick-reality-tv MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5733 2 friends. 1 mic. An hour and a half in a kitchen to cover all the fun ground of reality competition shows. Chris and I were up to the challenge, and I think we survived this amazing race. Listen to find out how Chris feels he has truly been shaped by reality shows since he started watching them at 13, which show he'd love to be on if he could choose any one with any set of circumstances (and which one I'd throw my name in the hat for), and how we both think we'd respond to the pressure and strategy of these shows. Stick around for a VERY fun Voice-esque set of blind auditions wherein Chris and I act as judges aided by our friend Liz Bell who made us a playlist complete with commentary on each actual Voice contestant. This was a joy, and Chris has such a passion for life and his relationships with people because he's always playing for day 39. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. Mary Beth Smith of The Nerdologues2 friends. 1 mic. An hour and a half in a kitchen to cover all the fun ground of reality competition shows. Chris and I were up to the challenge, and I think we survived this amazing race. Listen to find out how Chris feels he has truly been shaped by reality shows since he started watching them at 13, which show he'd love to be on if he could choose any one with any set of circumstances (and which one I'd throw my name in the hat for), and how we both think we'd respond to the pressure and strategy of these shows. Stick around for a VERY fun Voice-esque set of blind auditions wherein Chris and I act as judges aided by our friend Liz Bell who made us a playlist complete with commentary on each actual Voice contestant. This was a joy, and Chris has such a passion for life and his relationships with people because he's always playing for day 39. Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-91-mbsing-jude-tedmori-room Oh hi Jude! Thanks for coming to do the show about your fascination with Tommy Wiseau's 2003 disaster The Room. This episode is a total blast and explores everything from what makes The Room so awful, how Wiseau may just be living his dream of Hollywood fame, and how much Jude has garnered joy, jokes, and absurdity from going to countless viewings of the film. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-91-mbsing-jude-tedmori-room MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5379 Oh hi Jude! Thanks for coming to do the show about your fascination with Tommy Wiseau's 2003 disaster The Room. This episode is a total blast and explores everything from what makes The Room so awful, how Wiseau may just be living his dream of Hollywood fame, and how much Jude has garnered joy, jokes, and absurdity from going to countless viewings of the film. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOh hi Jude! Thanks for coming to do the show about your fascination with Tommy Wiseau's 2003 disaster The Room. This episode is a total blast and explores everything from what makes The Room so awful, how Wiseau may just be living his dream of Hollywood fame, and how much Jude has garnered joy, jokes, and absurdity from going to countless viewings of the film. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and Chicago Podcast Cooperative for facilitating sponsors.  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-90-mbsing-josiah-jenkins-law Josiah Jenkins is a FOR REAL lawyer while simultaneously being an improviser! And he came to talk some for real law talk with me. It makes me anxious to think about having to take such a definitive stance on things that don't have clear sides, so that coupled with the amount of time cases can take make me not envy the position Josiah enjoys and thrives in. Josiah specifically works in employment law (discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, etc.), and it's totally fascinating to hear about and think about the ins and outs of this side of civil law.  At the top we discuss our shared experiences as podcast hosts, so check out Josiah's show The Remake!   Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-90-mbsing-josiah-jenkins-law MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5100 Josiah Jenkins is a FOR REAL lawyer while simultaneously being an improviser! And he came to talk some for real law talk with me. It makes me anxious to think about having to take such a definitive stance on things that don't have clear sides, so that coupled with the amount of time cases can take make me not envy the position Josiah enjoys and thrives in. Josiah specifically works in employment law (discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, etc.), and it's totally fascinating to hear about and think about the ins and outs of this side of civil law.  At the top we discuss our shared experiences as podcast hosts, so check out Josiah's show The Remake!   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJosiah Jenkins is a FOR REAL lawyer while simultaneously being an improviser! And he came to talk some for real law talk with me. It makes me anxious to think about having to take such a definitive stance on things that don't have clear sides, so that coupled with the amount of time cases can take make me not envy the position Josiah enjoys and thrives in. Josiah specifically works in employment law (discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, etc.), and it's totally fascinating to hear about and think about the ins and outs of this side of civil law.  At the top we discuss our shared experiences as podcast hosts, so check out Josiah's show The Remake!   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-89-mbsing-shawn-boyle-parenting Shawn Boyle is a proud father of a two-year-old son, and this encapsulates pretty well his experience thus far. From coming around to wanting to have children at all to being with his wife during childbirth to watching his son experience eating a cookie for the first time, Shawn has a lot to share from his firsthand love of parenting. He's also a film lover and filmmaker, so we have a good time talking about how that has factored in thus far, too.  Check him out @shawnpboyle, and check out the podcast he'll be doing video production for, Zen Parenting Radio.   Wed, 18 Feb 2015 13:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-89-mbsing-shawn-boyle-parenting MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6205 Shawn Boyle is a proud father of a two-year-old son, and this encapsulates pretty well his experience thus far. From coming around to wanting to have children at all to being with his wife during childbirth to watching his son experience eating a cookie for the first time, Shawn has a lot to share from his firsthand love of parenting. He's also a film lover and filmmaker, so we have a good time talking about how that has factored in thus far, too.  Check him out @shawnpboyle, and check out the podcast he'll be doing video production for, Zen Parenting Radio.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesShawn Boyle is a proud father of a two-year-old son, and this encapsulates pretty well his experience thus far. From coming around to wanting to have children at all to being with his wife during childbirth to watching his son experience eating a cookie for the first time, Shawn has a lot to share from his firsthand love of parenting. He's also a film lover and filmmaker, so we have a good time talking about how that has factored in thus far, too.  Check him out @shawnpboyle, and check out the podcast he'll be doing video production for, Zen Parenting Radio.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-88-mbsing-eric-braband-rustic-overtones At its heart, this is a podcast about love. So at some point this was bound to happen. Eric Braband is both my significant other and a huge fan of a little Maine-based band called Rustic Overtones. I got to learn about a band he loves and the larger effect that discovery had on his search for the things he loves in music, movies, and other aspects of culture, and I suppose you all will get a window into our relationship. FUNNNNN. We do a lot of bits from other podcasts we like, I share the birth of my own critical eye for film, and Eric admits that he used to think he knew everything but now he's not so sure. This ep really meant a lot for me to get to do. Eric, despite not knowing everything, is very smart and makes me laugh so much, and I'm very glad to get to share his joy with listeners. Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-88-mbsing-eric-braband-rustic-overtones MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5885 At its heart, this is a podcast about love. So at some point this was bound to happen. Eric Braband is both my significant other and a huge fan of a little Maine-based band called Rustic Overtones. I got to learn about a band he loves and the larger effect that discovery had on his search for the things he loves in music, movies, and other aspects of culture, and I suppose you all will get a window into our relationship. FUNNNNN. We do a lot of bits from other podcasts we like, I share the birth of my own critical eye for film, and Eric admits that he used to think he knew everything but now he's not so sure. This ep really meant a lot for me to get to do. Eric, despite not knowing everything, is very smart and makes me laugh so much, and I'm very glad to get to share his joy with listeners. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAt its heart, this is a podcast about love. So at some point this was bound to happen. Eric Braband is both my significant other and a huge fan of a little Maine-based band called Rustic Overtones. I got to learn about a band he loves and the larger effect that discovery had on his search for the things he loves in music, movies, and other aspects of culture, and I suppose you all will get a window into our relationship. FUNNNNN. We do a lot of bits from other podcasts we like, I share the birth of my own critical eye for film, and Eric admits that he used to think he knew everything but now he's not so sure. This ep really meant a lot for me to get to do. Eric, despite not knowing everything, is very smart and makes me laugh so much, and I'm very glad to get to share his joy with listeners. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-87-mbsing-kate-kershaw-hosting The host with the most coasts as MBS hosts and boasts! Kate tells me all about some of her favorite aspects of hosting people at her place. She can cook. She secretly cleans. She can kind of bake. She doesn't need a fucking Pinterest for creative ideas. From her Kentucky roots of watching as her grandmother expertly fried chicken for family and friends to her Chicago days of serving a Thanksgiving meal to 32 people, Kate knows how to navigate all the aspects of having people over as guests. She knows the things to prioritize and what to shortcut, and she loves the creativity and presentation involved in figuring all that out. She may be a great host, but she's a hell of a guest, too. Wed, 04 Feb 2015 14:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-87-mbsing-kate-kershaw-hosting MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5005 The host with the most coasts as MBS hosts and boasts! Kate tells me all about some of her favorite aspects of hosting people at her place. She can cook. She secretly cleans. She can kind of bake. She doesn't need a fucking Pinterest for creative ideas. From her Kentucky roots of watching as her grandmother expertly fried chicken for family and friends to her Chicago days of serving a Thanksgiving meal to 32 people, Kate knows how to navigate all the aspects of having people over as guests. She knows the things to prioritize and what to shortcut, and she loves the creativity and presentation involved in figuring all that out. She may be a great host, but she's a hell of a guest, too. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThe host with the most coasts as MBS hosts and boasts! Kate tells me all about some of her favorite aspects of hosting people at her place. She can cook. She secretly cleans. She can kind of bake. She doesn't need a fucking Pinterest for creative ideas. From her Kentucky roots of watching as her grandmother expertly fried chicken for family and friends to her Chicago days of serving a Thanksgiving meal to 32 people, Kate knows how to navigate all the aspects of having people over as guests. She knows the things to prioritize and what to shortcut, and she loves the creativity and presentation involved in figuring all that out. She may be a great host, but she's a hell of a guest, too. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-86-mbsing-tyler-langford-folkbluegrass-music Grab a stool and get ready to slap your knee: Tyler Langford is in the house (with his own banjo!) to weave some tales and tunes about his love of bluegrass, banjo, ragtime, etc. Mountain music! Man this is fun. Tyler tells me about his first band (he's a founding member of UCB!), demonstrates a few different ways to play the banjo (clawhammer being his method of choice), and has lots and lots of favorite artists to share insight on. It's easy to see how Tyler's love of the music and culture surrounding it has influenced his comedic voice. Based on the podcast alone, he's always looking for fun ways to incorporate the two loves giving him a fairly unique voice in Chicago comedy. Enjoy! Wed, 28 Jan 2015 12:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-86-mbsing-tyler-langford-folkbluegrass-music MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4909 Grab a stool and get ready to slap your knee: Tyler Langford is in the house (with his own banjo!) to weave some tales and tunes about his love of bluegrass, banjo, ragtime, etc. Mountain music! Man this is fun. Tyler tells me about his first band (he's a founding member of UCB!), demonstrates a few different ways to play the banjo (clawhammer being his method of choice), and has lots and lots of favorite artists to share insight on. It's easy to see how Tyler's love of the music and culture surrounding it has influenced his comedic voice. Based on the podcast alone, he's always looking for fun ways to incorporate the two loves giving him a fairly unique voice in Chicago comedy. Enjoy! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesGrab a stool and get ready to slap your knee: Tyler Langford is in the house (with his own banjo!) to weave some tales and tunes about his love of bluegrass, banjo, ragtime, etc. Mountain music! Man this is fun. Tyler tells me about his first band (he's a founding member of UCB!), demonstrates a few different ways to play the banjo (clawhammer being his method of choice), and has lots and lots of favorite artists to share insight on. It's easy to see how Tyler's love of the music and culture surrounding it has influenced his comedic voice. Based on the podcast alone, he's always looking for fun ways to incorporate the two loves giving him a fairly unique voice in Chicago comedy. Enjoy! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-85-mbsing-paul-jurewicz-roommates-and-garth-brooks Paul could probably start a country music career of his own inspired by tales of various and sundry "rooms" and roommates from his five years spent in Eugene, Oregon, before landing back in his home state of Illinois. He prefers telling the stories through the lens of Garth Brooks songs, and we have a wonderful time singing the megastar's classic lyrics in between Paul's memories of living with bandmates, rats, and the cougar-esque manager of the coffee shop he worked at (look into the song That Summer for more details on their relationship). We eventually get into his Chicago roommate experiences (including when he was my roommate for about a month) and some other country/rock superstars we both enjoy. This is a story about a young man and his love for living with creative people and his longtime crush on/worship of/emulation of Garth. Wed, 21 Jan 2015 09:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-85-mbsing-paul-jurewicz-roommates-and-garth-brooks MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5520 Paul could probably start a country music career of his own inspired by tales of various and sundry "rooms" and roommates from his five years spent in Eugene, Oregon, before landing back in his home state of Illinois. He prefers telling the stories through the lens of Garth Brooks songs, and we have a wonderful time singing the megastar's classic lyrics in between Paul's memories of living with bandmates, rats, and the cougar-esque manager of the coffee shop he worked at (look into the song That Summer for more details on their relationship). We eventually get into his Chicago roommate experiences (including when he was my roommate for about a month) and some other country/rock superstars we both enjoy. This is a story about a young man and his love for living with creative people and his longtime crush on/worship of/emulation of Garth. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesPaul could probably start a country music career of his own inspired by tales of various and sundry "rooms" and roommates from his five years spent in Eugene, Oregon, before landing back in his home state of Illinois. He prefers telling the stories through the lens of Garth Brooks songs, and we have a wonderful time singing the megastar's classic lyrics in between Paul's memories of living with bandmates, rats, and the cougar-esque manager of the coffee shop he worked at (look into the song That Summer for more details on their relationship). We eventually get into his Chicago roommate experiences (including when he was my roommate for about a month) and some other country/rock superstars we both enjoy. This is a story about a young man and his love for living with creative people and his longtime crush on/worship of/emulation of Garth. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-84-mbsing-chris-crotwell-libraries Dear friend and bibliophile Chris Crotwell sat down with me to chat freely and at any volume we chose about his home away from home, libraries. Chris happens to be a librarian with a Master's of Library Science, so he's not just a card-carrying member. He has a ton of first-hand library experience from the other side of the circ desk, and he is even a part of a new teen program being instated at public libraries all over Chicago. We focus a lot on Chris's belief that library workers must function as helpfully and kindly as possible in the face of frequent lunacy and apathy. We also go off on a long YA novel tangent, but I don't mind in the least. Chris's assertion that if he is kind in the face of aggression, that aggression stops with him is one that I will not soon forget and is incredibly telling about his larger love of people and goodness.   Wed, 14 Jan 2015 12:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-84-mbsing-chris-crotwell-libraries MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5760 Dear friend and bibliophile Chris Crotwell sat down with me to chat freely and at any volume we chose about his home away from home, libraries. Chris happens to be a librarian with a Master's of Library Science, so he's not just a card-carrying member. He has a ton of first-hand library experience from the other side of the circ desk, and he is even a part of a new teen program being instated at public libraries all over Chicago. We focus a lot on Chris's belief that library workers must function as helpfully and kindly as possible in the face of frequent lunacy and apathy. We also go off on a long YA novel tangent, but I don't mind in the least. Chris's assertion that if he is kind in the face of aggression, that aggression stops with him is one that I will not soon forget and is incredibly telling about his larger love of people and goodness.   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesDear friend and bibliophile Chris Crotwell sat down with me to chat freely and at any volume we chose about his home away from home, libraries. Chris happens to be a librarian with a Master's of Library Science, so he's not just a card-carrying member. He has a ton of first-hand library experience from the other side of the circ desk, and he is even a part of a new teen program being instated at public libraries all over Chicago. We focus a lot on Chris's belief that library workers must function as helpfully and kindly as possible in the face of frequent lunacy and apathy. We also go off on a long YA novel tangent, but I don't mind in the least. Chris's assertion that if he is kind in the face of aggression, that aggression stops with him is one that I will not soon forget and is incredibly telling about his larger love of people and goodness.   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-83-mbsing-mike-migdall-chillin Have some relaxing #chilltime with Mike and I as he tells me all about his deep love of the enigma that chillin' can be. It can't always be planned. It doesn't always have to be alone. It's best done with one wall of the room being replaced by a giant aquarium. Mike loves chillin' to find creative inspiration and also to unwind after a long day at work. Mike and I have chilled before and even chill during the whole podcast after experiencing two #chilltime miracles before recording. This is a very fun, silly ep with some sincere reflections on our own commitment to chillin'. Wed, 07 Jan 2015 04:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-83-mbsing-mike-migdall-chillin MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4687 Have some relaxing #chilltime with Mike and I as he tells me all about his deep love of the enigma that chillin' can be. It can't always be planned. It doesn't always have to be alone. It's best done with one wall of the room being replaced by a giant aquarium. Mike loves chillin' to find creative inspiration and also to unwind after a long day at work. Mike and I have chilled before and even chill during the whole podcast after experiencing two #chilltime miracles before recording. This is a very fun, silly ep with some sincere reflections on our own commitment to chillin'. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHave some relaxing #chilltime with Mike and I as he tells me all about his deep love of the enigma that chillin' can be. It can't always be planned. It doesn't always have to be alone. It's best done with one wall of the room being replaced by a giant aquarium. Mike loves chillin' to find creative inspiration and also to unwind after a long day at work. Mike and I have chilled before and even chill during the whole podcast after experiencing two #chilltime miracles before recording. This is a very fun, silly ep with some sincere reflections on our own commitment to chillin'. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-82-mbsing-becca-slack-suburbs Becca Slack settled on chatting with me about the 'burbs after she realized the nexus of a lot of her interests (going to the mall, chain restaurants, etc) was living most of her life in towns just outside NYC and Denver. She loves the big city life of Chicago, but she also fondly and nostalgically looks back on simpler, suburb living. We chat about trying to fit in and be cool, sincerely vs. ironically enjoying seemingly crappy suburb perks, the cyclical nature of parents and their kids, the Grateful Dead, and quoting Austin Powers. It was a joy. Wed, 31 Dec 2014 11:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-82-mbsing-becca-slack-suburbs MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5635 Becca Slack settled on chatting with me about the 'burbs after she realized the nexus of a lot of her interests (going to the mall, chain restaurants, etc) was living most of her life in towns just outside NYC and Denver. She loves the big city life of Chicago, but she also fondly and nostalgically looks back on simpler, suburb living. We chat about trying to fit in and be cool, sincerely vs. ironically enjoying seemingly crappy suburb perks, the cyclical nature of parents and their kids, the Grateful Dead, and quoting Austin Powers. It was a joy. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBecca Slack settled on chatting with me about the 'burbs after she realized the nexus of a lot of her interests (going to the mall, chain restaurants, etc) was living most of her life in towns just outside NYC and Denver. She loves the big city life of Chicago, but she also fondly and nostalgically looks back on simpler, suburb living. We chat about trying to fit in and be cool, sincerely vs. ironically enjoying seemingly crappy suburb perks, the cyclical nature of parents and their kids, the Grateful Dead, and quoting Austin Powers. It was a joy. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-81-mbsing-kyle-talley-santa-claus Twas the night before Christmas/ And all through the ‘net, MBS posts a podcast: She didn’t forget. Kyle Talley came over/ With his luscious beard hairs. His love of St. Nicholas/ Soon will be shared. When your family is nestled/ All snug in their beds, Tune into this episode/ With earbuds in your head. While Kyle’s a believer/ And I’m a skeptic, We both laughed and cried/ As he spoke of St. Nick. From foreign traditions/ To movie portrayals, Kyle’s wealth of Santa knowledge/ Has zero betrayals. He believes in him still, And it’s all a delight, So Happy MBS-mas to all, And to all a good night! Wed, 24 Dec 2014 11:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-81-mbsing-kyle-talley-santa-claus MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6263 Twas the night before Christmas/ And all through the ‘net, MBS posts a podcast: She didn’t forget. Kyle Talley came over/ With his luscious beard hairs. His love of St. Nicholas/ Soon will be shared. When your family is nestled/ All snug in their beds, Tune into this episode/ With earbuds in your head. While Kyle’s a believer/ And I’m a skeptic, We both laughed and cried/ As he spoke of St. Nick. From foreign traditions/ To movie portrayals, Kyle’s wealth of Santa knowledge/ Has zero betrayals. He believes in him still, And it’s all a delight, So Happy MBS-mas to all, And to all a good night! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTwas the night before Christmas/ And all through the ‘net, MBS posts a podcast: She didn’t forget. Kyle Talley came over/ With his luscious beard hairs. His love of St. Nicholas/ Soon will be shared. When your family is nestled/ All snug in their beds, Tune into this episode/ With earbuds in your head. While Kyle’s a believer/ And I’m a skeptic, We both laughed and cried/ As he spoke of St. Nick. From foreign traditions/ To movie portrayals, Kyle’s wealth of Santa knowledge/ Has zero betrayals. He believes in him still, And it’s all a delight, So Happy MBS-mas to all, And to all a good night! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-80-mbsing-steve-nelson-poetry Two roads diverged in a wood, and Steve Nelson chose the one that led to us having an awesome conversation about his love of reading, listening to, and writing poetry. We discuss the way his love of the art form kind of snuck up on him in the sense that he was intrigued by his early experiences of poems popping up in unexpected places and enjoyed writing poems for school assignments, but it took starting a blog a few years ago and challenging himself to write and read more poetry to fully develop his appreciation (and skill!). Enjoy his thoughts on the use of poetry in films, some of his favorite poems and poets, and even some of his own works he was kind enough to share with me and the listeners. Notes: Steve's blog, which features a weekly original poem Wed, 17 Dec 2014 19:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-80-mbsing-steve-nelson-poetry MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6475 Two roads diverged in a wood, and Steve Nelson chose the one that led to us having an awesome conversation about his love of reading, listening to, and writing poetry. We discuss the way his love of the art form kind of snuck up on him in the sense that he was intrigued by his early experiences of poems popping up in unexpected places and enjoyed writing poems for school assignments, but it took starting a blog a few years ago and challenging himself to write and read more poetry to fully develop his appreciation (and skill!). Enjoy his thoughts on the use of poetry in films, some of his favorite poems and poets, and even some of his own works he was kind enough to share with me and the listeners. Notes: Steve's blog, which features a weekly original poem Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTwo roads diverged in a wood, and Steve Nelson chose the one that led to us having an awesome conversation about his love of reading, listening to, and writing poetry. We discuss the way his love of the art form kind of snuck up on him in the sense that he was intrigued by his early experiences of poems popping up in unexpected places and enjoyed writing poems for school assignments, but it took starting a blog a few years ago and challenging himself to write and read more poetry to fully develop his appreciation (and skill!). Enjoy his thoughts on the use of poetry in films, some of his favorite poems and poets, and even some of his own works he was kind enough to share with me and the listeners. Notes: Steve's blog, which features a weekly original poem https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-79-mbsing-danny-groh-chicago-improv-community Danny Groh is about to PowerSlam his journey from being a misbegotten salesman in Wisconsin to leaving the Chicago improv community behind for the creative allures of The Big Apple RIGHT into your earholes. He's warm, enthusiastic, and an absolute powerhouse on stage and as an MBSing guest, and I'm excited to share this man's experience in the community I'm a part of with the listeners. Danny achieved an MBSing first of telling MULTIPLE stories that made me openly cry. The man can tell a story, but he's also really had some wonderful people in his life helping him find himself over the past decade. I'd argue that those people have been drawn to his genuine, loving nature, but he'd hate that. I'd also argue that he's better than most at counting his blessings and following his heart. SO SWEET! Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-79-mbsing-danny-groh-chicago-improv-community MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 7475 Danny Groh is about to PowerSlam his journey from being a misbegotten salesman in Wisconsin to leaving the Chicago improv community behind for the creative allures of The Big Apple RIGHT into your earholes. He's warm, enthusiastic, and an absolute powerhouse on stage and as an MBSing guest, and I'm excited to share this man's experience in the community I'm a part of with the listeners. Danny achieved an MBSing first of telling MULTIPLE stories that made me openly cry. The man can tell a story, but he's also really had some wonderful people in his life helping him find himself over the past decade. I'd argue that those people have been drawn to his genuine, loving nature, but he'd hate that. I'd also argue that he's better than most at counting his blessings and following his heart. SO SWEET! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesDanny Groh is about to PowerSlam his journey from being a misbegotten salesman in Wisconsin to leaving the Chicago improv community behind for the creative allures of The Big Apple RIGHT into your earholes. He's warm, enthusiastic, and an absolute powerhouse on stage and as an MBSing guest, and I'm excited to share this man's experience in the community I'm a part of with the listeners. Danny achieved an MBSing first of telling MULTIPLE stories that made me openly cry. The man can tell a story, but he's also really had some wonderful people in his life helping him find himself over the past decade. I'd argue that those people have been drawn to his genuine, loving nature, but he'd hate that. I'd also argue that he's better than most at counting his blessings and following his heart. SO SWEET! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-78-mbsing-mike-lara-football Mike Lara was hard-hitting as we discussed his days as a high school football player and his continued fandom of the Denver Broncos. We cover the highs and lows of making it to things like Super Bowls and state championships only to have the posibility of your hopes being crushed even if you worked hard to get there. Mike is warm and "dopey" and had to learn how to be mean on the field. It's not the mean stuff he took away from being a football player, though. It was the work ethic, and I love that. He's a wonderful, football-loving human. Wed, 03 Dec 2014 02:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-78-mbsing-mike-lara-football MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6090 Mike Lara was hard-hitting as we discussed his days as a high school football player and his continued fandom of the Denver Broncos. We cover the highs and lows of making it to things like Super Bowls and state championships only to have the posibility of your hopes being crushed even if you worked hard to get there. Mike is warm and "dopey" and had to learn how to be mean on the field. It's not the mean stuff he took away from being a football player, though. It was the work ethic, and I love that. He's a wonderful, football-loving human. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMike Lara was hard-hitting as we discussed his days as a high school football player and his continued fandom of the Denver Broncos. We cover the highs and lows of making it to things like Super Bowls and state championships only to have the posibility of your hopes being crushed even if you worked hard to get there. Mike is warm and "dopey" and had to learn how to be mean on the field. It's not the mean stuff he took away from being a football player, though. It was the work ethic, and I love that. He's a wonderful, football-loving human. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-77-mbsing-mantas-dumcius-jimmy-stewart Mantas! You want the moon, Mantas? I can't give you the moon, Mantas, but I can give you the opportunity to chat with me about your favorite actor, James "Jimmy" Stewart. Everyman. Classic talent. Inspiration!Mantas can remember wanting to be like JImmy Stewart from when he was a young boy watching It's a Wonderful Life, and his interest in him as an actor has only grown since then. From Hitchcock to Harvey, Mantas loves his earnest and ability to make the even craziest characters seem believable and grounded.  Wed, 26 Nov 2014 15:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-77-mbsing-mantas-dumcius-jimmy-stewart MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 7211 Mantas! You want the moon, Mantas? I can't give you the moon, Mantas, but I can give you the opportunity to chat with me about your favorite actor, James "Jimmy" Stewart. Everyman. Classic talent. Inspiration!Mantas can remember wanting to be like JImmy Stewart from when he was a young boy watching It's a Wonderful Life, and his interest in him as an actor has only grown since then. From Hitchcock to Harvey, Mantas loves his earnest and ability to make the even craziest characters seem believable and grounded.  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMantas! You want the moon, Mantas? I can't give you the moon, Mantas, but I can give you the opportunity to chat with me about your favorite actor, James "Jimmy" Stewart. Everyman. Classic talent. Inspiration!Mantas can remember wanting to be like JImmy Stewart from when he was a young boy watching It's a Wonderful Life, and his interest in him as an actor has only grown since then. From Hitchcock to Harvey, Mantas loves his earnest and ability to make the even craziest characters seem believable and grounded.  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-76-mbsing-bill-green-politics Bill Green for president 2016! That's how great this episode is! I promise we don't just gab on about each individual issue, Bill tells some wonderful first-hand accounts of being inspired to change his major [and the world!], working on a presidential campaign, and continuing to be on the front lines politically as the employee of a nonprofit organization with a grant for implementing ObamaCare. We talk about how your personal stories and experiences shape your political views (and that those can change!), how EVERYONE NEEDS TO REGISTER TO VOTE and stay informed even in small ways (this was recorded two days after the midterm elections...), and how politics are portrayed in pop culture. Though long, this episode was so much fun. I wouldn't have kept it rolling if it wasn't. Wed, 19 Nov 2014 01:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-76-mbsing-bill-green-politics MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 8390 Bill Green for president 2016! That's how great this episode is! I promise we don't just gab on about each individual issue, Bill tells some wonderful first-hand accounts of being inspired to change his major [and the world!], working on a presidential campaign, and continuing to be on the front lines politically as the employee of a nonprofit organization with a grant for implementing ObamaCare. We talk about how your personal stories and experiences shape your political views (and that those can change!), how EVERYONE NEEDS TO REGISTER TO VOTE and stay informed even in small ways (this was recorded two days after the midterm elections...), and how politics are portrayed in pop culture. Though long, this episode was so much fun. I wouldn't have kept it rolling if it wasn't. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBill Green for president 2016! That's how great this episode is! I promise we don't just gab on about each individual issue, Bill tells some wonderful first-hand accounts of being inspired to change his major [and the world!], working on a presidential campaign, and continuing to be on the front lines politically as the employee of a nonprofit organization with a grant for implementing ObamaCare. We talk about how your personal stories and experiences shape your political views (and that those can change!), how EVERYONE NEEDS TO REGISTER TO VOTE and stay informed even in small ways (this was recorded two days after the midterm elections...), and how politics are portrayed in pop culture. Though long, this episode was so much fun. I wouldn't have kept it rolling if it wasn't. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-75-mbsing-bryan-duff-nutrition Bryan Duff? More like Bryan BUFF because this guy is a well-oiled machine of nutrition facts and practices. He's not here to get preachy or make anybody feel guilty, he just has a genuine interest and passion in the fuel that makes our bodies tick in the healthiest, most efficient way. There's so much fascinating stuff in here that it's hard to even highlight particular topics, but some favorites are how much your ancestry affects what your body processes the best, some various pitfalls or misconceptions of diets traditionally considered very healthy (i.e. Paleo, Vegan, Raw), and the nutritional difference present in higher quality, more naturally raised meats. Enjoy the episode, and perhaps improve the quality of your life! Note: I meantion DHEA in the intro... Bryan might have been referring to DHA. I truly don't know. I can't afford a fact checker. Wed, 12 Nov 2014 22:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-75-mbsing-bryan-duff-nutrition MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6147 Bryan Duff? More like Bryan BUFF because this guy is a well-oiled machine of nutrition facts and practices. He's not here to get preachy or make anybody feel guilty, he just has a genuine interest and passion in the fuel that makes our bodies tick in the healthiest, most efficient way. There's so much fascinating stuff in here that it's hard to even highlight particular topics, but some favorites are how much your ancestry affects what your body processes the best, some various pitfalls or misconceptions of diets traditionally considered very healthy (i.e. Paleo, Vegan, Raw), and the nutritional difference present in higher quality, more naturally raised meats. Enjoy the episode, and perhaps improve the quality of your life! Note: I meantion DHEA in the intro... Bryan might have been referring to DHA. I truly don't know. I can't afford a fact checker. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBryan Duff? More like Bryan BUFF because this guy is a well-oiled machine of nutrition facts and practices. He's not here to get preachy or make anybody feel guilty, he just has a genuine interest and passion in the fuel that makes our bodies tick in the healthiest, most efficient way. There's so much fascinating stuff in here that it's hard to even highlight particular topics, but some favorites are how much your ancestry affects what your body processes the best, some various pitfalls or misconceptions of diets traditionally considered very healthy (i.e. Paleo, Vegan, Raw), and the nutritional difference present in higher quality, more naturally raised meats. Enjoy the episode, and perhaps improve the quality of your life! Note: I meantion DHEA in the intro... Bryan might have been referring to DHA. I truly don't know. I can't afford a fact checker. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-74-mbsing-cynthia-bangert-childrens-books Cynthia is the sweetest gal on the block, so it was no surprise she wanted to chat about fun children's books with me. From her days as an actual child to her daytime nanny gig, she's run the gamut of being into good stories and good characters and good fun in books for kids. We talk about her favorite book as a child, some of her favorite working authors of children's books, A Visitor For Bear, and, of course, the obligatory Dr. Seuss worshiping. I loved getting into what kinds of things she thinks are important for kids to get out of books and what kinds of stories she loves. Pop a squat and open up this audio book, listeners! Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-74-mbsing-cynthia-bangert-childrens-books MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5296 Cynthia is the sweetest gal on the block, so it was no surprise she wanted to chat about fun children's books with me. From her days as an actual child to her daytime nanny gig, she's run the gamut of being into good stories and good characters and good fun in books for kids. We talk about her favorite book as a child, some of her favorite working authors of children's books, A Visitor For Bear, and, of course, the obligatory Dr. Seuss worshiping. I loved getting into what kinds of things she thinks are important for kids to get out of books and what kinds of stories she loves. Pop a squat and open up this audio book, listeners! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCynthia is the sweetest gal on the block, so it was no surprise she wanted to chat about fun children's books with me. From her days as an actual child to her daytime nanny gig, she's run the gamut of being into good stories and good characters and good fun in books for kids. We talk about her favorite book as a child, some of her favorite working authors of children's books, A Visitor For Bear, and, of course, the obligatory Dr. Seuss worshiping. I loved getting into what kinds of things she thinks are important for kids to get out of books and what kinds of stories she loves. Pop a squat and open up this audio book, listeners! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-73-mbsing-pony-patrol-paranormal Three times the guests produced three times the fun with the wonderful ladies of Pony Patrol (Michelle Davey, Sarah Porter, and Charly Williams) telling me sPoOkY, firsthand tales of the paranormal. They all met in my home state of South Carolina, they all have at least one encounter with the paranormal, and they all got into trying to figure out what was up in their brain/the cosmos during the experience they had. The paranormal activity talk led us down a path of discussing mysticism, spirituality, and, eventually, religion (which was also brought about by our Southern backgrounds), making this a really interesting ep all around. Turn out the lights, put a brew of over the fire, and enjoy the dulcet southern tones of four ladies rapping about the unknown.    Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-73-mbsing-pony-patrol-paranormal MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 7235 Three times the guests produced three times the fun with the wonderful ladies of Pony Patrol (Michelle Davey, Sarah Porter, and Charly Williams) telling me sPoOkY, firsthand tales of the paranormal. They all met in my home state of South Carolina, they all have at least one encounter with the paranormal, and they all got into trying to figure out what was up in their brain/the cosmos during the experience they had. The paranormal activity talk led us down a path of discussing mysticism, spirituality, and, eventually, religion (which was also brought about by our Southern backgrounds), making this a really interesting ep all around. Turn out the lights, put a brew of over the fire, and enjoy the dulcet southern tones of four ladies rapping about the unknown.    Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThree times the guests produced three times the fun with the wonderful ladies of Pony Patrol (Michelle Davey, Sarah Porter, and Charly Williams) telling me sPoOkY, firsthand tales of the paranormal. They all met in my home state of South Carolina, they all have at least one encounter with the paranormal, and they all got into trying to figure out what was up in their brain/the cosmos during the experience they had. The paranormal activity talk led us down a path of discussing mysticism, spirituality, and, eventually, religion (which was also brought about by our Southern backgrounds), making this a really interesting ep all around. Turn out the lights, put a brew of over the fire, and enjoy the dulcet southern tones of four ladies rapping about the unknown.    https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-72-mbsing-becca-taubel-saved-bell Becca Taubel is full to the brim of Saved by the Bell knowledge, and I could not wait to entice as much of it out of her as possible. She confesses to have been a fan of pretty much every high-school-set TV show of the era (90210, Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, etc), but SBTB was easily her crowning jewel. One of my favorite bits of trivia involves Miss Bliss, Tori, and The Parent Trap films, but there are many laughs and facts to be had. We get into what we got out of the things we watched growing up, who we think is the most successful cast member currently, and how casting your friend group into the SBTB cast is inevitable. I even posit that Becca had an early penchant for school-set entertainment that foretold her passion for education later in life. Notes: My college improv group as the SBTB cast including last week's guest, Stephanie Corkery, as Lisa Turtle Snow White and the Seven Dorks rap Tori's "Keep the teen line open" line but with an unsettling twist   Wed, 22 Oct 2014 04:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-72-mbsing-becca-taubel-saved-bell MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5145 Becca Taubel is full to the brim of Saved by the Bell knowledge, and I could not wait to entice as much of it out of her as possible. She confesses to have been a fan of pretty much every high-school-set TV show of the era (90210, Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, etc), but SBTB was easily her crowning jewel. One of my favorite bits of trivia involves Miss Bliss, Tori, and The Parent Trap films, but there are many laughs and facts to be had. We get into what we got out of the things we watched growing up, who we think is the most successful cast member currently, and how casting your friend group into the SBTB cast is inevitable. I even posit that Becca had an early penchant for school-set entertainment that foretold her passion for education later in life. Notes: My college improv group as the SBTB cast including last week's guest, Stephanie Corkery, as Lisa Turtle Snow White and the Seven Dorks rap Tori's "Keep the teen line open" line but with an unsettling twist   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBecca Taubel is full to the brim of Saved by the Bell knowledge, and I could not wait to entice as much of it out of her as possible. She confesses to have been a fan of pretty much every high-school-set TV show of the era (90210, Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, etc), but SBTB was easily her crowning jewel. One of my favorite bits of trivia involves Miss Bliss, Tori, and The Parent Trap films, but there are many laughs and facts to be had. We get into what we got out of the things we watched growing up, who we think is the most successful cast member currently, and how casting your friend group into the SBTB cast is inevitable. I even posit that Becca had an early penchant for school-set entertainment that foretold her passion for education later in life. Notes: My college improv group as the SBTB cast including last week's guest, Stephanie Corkery, as Lisa Turtle Snow White and the Seven Dorks rap Tori's "Keep the teen line open" line but with an unsettling twist   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-71-mbsing-stephanie-corkery-poop Stephanie Corkery is my very best friend. After attending college with her for three years and living with her for two, I may very well be the person who has heard her talk about poop more than anyone else. We decided to share this gift with the world. This episode made me laugh constantly, much like Stephanie does. We talk close calls, not making it, poop jokes, good poops, bad poops, what your poo is saying about you, and many other facets of our BM lives. She has also sat through countless MBSing recordings while being respectfully quiet in her own home, so any regular listener owes her this episode. Come for the funny, stay for the heartwarming tales of friendship and dumps (including a story she has never told anyone!)   Wed, 15 Oct 2014 02:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-71-mbsing-stephanie-corkery-poop MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5676 Stephanie Corkery is my very best friend. After attending college with her for three years and living with her for two, I may very well be the person who has heard her talk about poop more than anyone else. We decided to share this gift with the world. This episode made me laugh constantly, much like Stephanie does. We talk close calls, not making it, poop jokes, good poops, bad poops, what your poo is saying about you, and many other facets of our BM lives. She has also sat through countless MBSing recordings while being respectfully quiet in her own home, so any regular listener owes her this episode. Come for the funny, stay for the heartwarming tales of friendship and dumps (including a story she has never told anyone!)   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesStephanie Corkery is my very best friend. After attending college with her for three years and living with her for two, I may very well be the person who has heard her talk about poop more than anyone else. We decided to share this gift with the world. This episode made me laugh constantly, much like Stephanie does. We talk close calls, not making it, poop jokes, good poops, bad poops, what your poo is saying about you, and many other facets of our BM lives. She has also sat through countless MBSing recordings while being respectfully quiet in her own home, so any regular listener owes her this episode. Come for the funny, stay for the heartwarming tales of friendship and dumps (including a story she has never told anyone!)   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-70-mbsing-mel-evans-female-committed-true-crimes Fellow podcaster Mel Evans drops by MBSing for some October-appropriate scary killer talk! She is as delightful as she is knowledgeable about women who have committed murders. From Lizzie Borden to Snapped, we cover a lot of killer ground and have a total blast along the way. I don't think I ever would have pondered the different ways/reasonings females commit such crimes or the disparity between how they're treated for such sprees versus the drive behind male-committed killings and the way most are shrugged off as chemical imbalances. It's a weird thing we do as a society to slap a "crazy" label on any woman acting out of sorts. More of that talk and plenty of lighter fare in this truly wonderful ep.   Notes: An Hour With Your Ex Mel's Bro Jackson guide to lady serial killers Michelle McNamara's True Crime Diary That Mexican murder episode of Snapped Mr. Nanny ep of How Did This Get Made? The Good Nurse author Charles Graeber on How Was Your Week? Wed, 08 Oct 2014 12:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-70-mbsing-mel-evans-female-committed-true-crimes MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5372 Fellow podcaster Mel Evans drops by MBSing for some October-appropriate scary killer talk! She is as delightful as she is knowledgeable about women who have committed murders. From Lizzie Borden to Snapped, we cover a lot of killer ground and have a total blast along the way. I don't think I ever would have pondered the different ways/reasonings females commit such crimes or the disparity between how they're treated for such sprees versus the drive behind male-committed killings and the way most are shrugged off as chemical imbalances. It's a weird thing we do as a society to slap a "crazy" label on any woman acting out of sorts. More of that talk and plenty of lighter fare in this truly wonderful ep.   Notes: An Hour With Your Ex Mel's Bro Jackson guide to lady serial killers Michelle McNamara's True Crime Diary That Mexican murder episode of Snapped Mr. Nanny ep of How Did This Get Made? The Good Nurse author Charles Graeber on How Was Your Week? Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFellow podcaster Mel Evans drops by MBSing for some October-appropriate scary killer talk! She is as delightful as she is knowledgeable about women who have committed murders. From Lizzie Borden to Snapped, we cover a lot of killer ground and have a total blast along the way. I don't think I ever would have pondered the different ways/reasonings females commit such crimes or the disparity between how they're treated for such sprees versus the drive behind male-committed killings and the way most are shrugged off as chemical imbalances. It's a weird thing we do as a society to slap a "crazy" label on any woman acting out of sorts. More of that talk and plenty of lighter fare in this truly wonderful ep.   Notes: An Hour With Your Ex Mel's Bro Jackson guide to lady serial killers Michelle McNamara's True Crime Diary That Mexican murder episode of Snapped Mr. Nanny ep of How Did This Get Made? The Good Nurse author Charles Graeber on How Was Your Week? https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-69-mbsing-marie-maloney-kennedys Marie Maloney can tell you more about Jackie O than most people can tell you about themselves. This chat was a total blast [from the past] and a uniquely historical MBSing. Listen to me struggle to keep up as my historical knowledge specifically politically is feeble at best. But I did manage to recommend some great Kennedy-related pop culture recommendations. Marie has been fascinated by the Kennedys since the first or second grade when she read some god-forsaken children's book about presidential assassinations. Who writes that?? Also, she went totally method as Jackie for a class presentation the next year and has been hooked on the fam ever since. We talk about the family's drive and overall appeal, Jackie's wit and poise, Jack's philandering and progress, and Marie's Jackie-inspired fashion sense among a plethora of other tangents. Enjoy! Notes: Looks like most if not all of Clone High is on YouTube!!! Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-69-mbsing-marie-maloney-kennedys MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5429 Marie Maloney can tell you more about Jackie O than most people can tell you about themselves. This chat was a total blast [from the past] and a uniquely historical MBSing. Listen to me struggle to keep up as my historical knowledge specifically politically is feeble at best. But I did manage to recommend some great Kennedy-related pop culture recommendations. Marie has been fascinated by the Kennedys since the first or second grade when she read some god-forsaken children's book about presidential assassinations. Who writes that?? Also, she went totally method as Jackie for a class presentation the next year and has been hooked on the fam ever since. We talk about the family's drive and overall appeal, Jackie's wit and poise, Jack's philandering and progress, and Marie's Jackie-inspired fashion sense among a plethora of other tangents. Enjoy! Notes: Looks like most if not all of Clone High is on YouTube!!! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMarie Maloney can tell you more about Jackie O than most people can tell you about themselves. This chat was a total blast [from the past] and a uniquely historical MBSing. Listen to me struggle to keep up as my historical knowledge specifically politically is feeble at best. But I did manage to recommend some great Kennedy-related pop culture recommendations. Marie has been fascinated by the Kennedys since the first or second grade when she read some god-forsaken children's book about presidential assassinations. Who writes that?? Also, she went totally method as Jackie for a class presentation the next year and has been hooked on the fam ever since. We talk about the family's drive and overall appeal, Jackie's wit and poise, Jack's philandering and progress, and Marie's Jackie-inspired fashion sense among a plethora of other tangents. Enjoy! Notes: Looks like most if not all of Clone High is on YouTube!!! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-68-mbsing-graham-elwood-crime-dramamob-movies Stand up comedian/podcaster/documentarian Graham Elwood joins me for an excellent MBSing exploring one of his favorite film genres, crime and mob movies. Upon moving from Madison, Wisconsin, to Evanston, Illinois when he was 11, Graham garnered a unique perspective on the films as he watched mobsters and crooked cops rule the streets both on his family's newly-acquired color TV and in his new hometown of Chicago. Graham is not just a film enthusiast, he cohosts the Comedy Film Nerds podcast, cowrote The Comedy Film Nerds Guide to Movies, and has directed two documentary films, Laffghanistan about his multiple stand up tours for US troops in the Middle East and Ear Buds: The Podcasting Documentary set to be released in Spring of 2015. He was a total joy to talk films, Chicago, and life with, and he had some wonderful insights on how his life as a kid bouncing between privileged suburban kids and hard knock ruffians isn't all that different from his life as a touring stand up comic who also enjoys surfing and health food. Enjoy, nerds! Notes: LA Podfest Live Streams! [promo code nerd] Vulture article on the effect Thief had on modern crime films Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-68-mbsing-graham-elwood-crime-dramamob-movies MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4266 Stand up comedian/podcaster/documentarian Graham Elwood joins me for an excellent MBSing exploring one of his favorite film genres, crime and mob movies. Upon moving from Madison, Wisconsin, to Evanston, Illinois when he was 11, Graham garnered a unique perspective on the films as he watched mobsters and crooked cops rule the streets both on his family's newly-acquired color TV and in his new hometown of Chicago. Graham is not just a film enthusiast, he cohosts the Comedy Film Nerds podcast, cowrote The Comedy Film Nerds Guide to Movies, and has directed two documentary films, Laffghanistan about his multiple stand up tours for US troops in the Middle East and Ear Buds: The Podcasting Documentary set to be released in Spring of 2015. He was a total joy to talk films, Chicago, and life with, and he had some wonderful insights on how his life as a kid bouncing between privileged suburban kids and hard knock ruffians isn't all that different from his life as a touring stand up comic who also enjoys surfing and health food. Enjoy, nerds! Notes: LA Podfest Live Streams! [promo code nerd] Vulture article on the effect Thief had on modern crime films Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesStand up comedian/podcaster/documentarian Graham Elwood joins me for an excellent MBSing exploring one of his favorite film genres, crime and mob movies. Upon moving from Madison, Wisconsin, to Evanston, Illinois when he was 11, Graham garnered a unique perspective on the films as he watched mobsters and crooked cops rule the streets both on his family's newly-acquired color TV and in his new hometown of Chicago. Graham is not just a film enthusiast, he cohosts the Comedy Film Nerds podcast, cowrote The Comedy Film Nerds Guide to Movies, and has directed two documentary films, Laffghanistan about his multiple stand up tours for US troops in the Middle East and Ear Buds: The Podcasting Documentary set to be released in Spring of 2015. He was a total joy to talk films, Chicago, and life with, and he had some wonderful insights on how his life as a kid bouncing between privileged suburban kids and hard knock ruffians isn't all that different from his life as a touring stand up comic who also enjoys surfing and health food. Enjoy, nerds! Notes: LA Podfest Live Streams! [promo code nerd] Vulture article on the effect Thief had on modern crime films https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-67-mbsing-nate-bechtel-travel Nate Bechtel has been everywhere, man. Well, he's at least lived and traveled abroad quite a bit over the course of his life. His dad works for the US State Department, thus he often lives overseas and had his family overseas (specifically in Athens, Munich, and Vienna) for months at a time in Nate's life. He has a unique perspective on life in the US as a result and shares with me many of his favorite stories and impressions of life overseas. Nate spent some tumultuous time in Saudi Arabia, his parents are currently in Mali, and we even got to go tit for tat on our time spent in London. Take a trip! Notes: Gust Avrakotos, IRL Mark Rylance Richard III/Twelfth Night NYT reviews Wed, 17 Sep 2014 02:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-67-mbsing-nate-bechtel-travel MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5520 Nate Bechtel has been everywhere, man. Well, he's at least lived and traveled abroad quite a bit over the course of his life. His dad works for the US State Department, thus he often lives overseas and had his family overseas (specifically in Athens, Munich, and Vienna) for months at a time in Nate's life. He has a unique perspective on life in the US as a result and shares with me many of his favorite stories and impressions of life overseas. Nate spent some tumultuous time in Saudi Arabia, his parents are currently in Mali, and we even got to go tit for tat on our time spent in London. Take a trip! Notes: Gust Avrakotos, IRL Mark Rylance Richard III/Twelfth Night NYT reviews Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesNate Bechtel has been everywhere, man. Well, he's at least lived and traveled abroad quite a bit over the course of his life. His dad works for the US State Department, thus he often lives overseas and had his family overseas (specifically in Athens, Munich, and Vienna) for months at a time in Nate's life. He has a unique perspective on life in the US as a result and shares with me many of his favorite stories and impressions of life overseas. Nate spent some tumultuous time in Saudi Arabia, his parents are currently in Mali, and we even got to go tit for tat on our time spent in London. Take a trip! Notes: Gust Avrakotos, IRL Mark Rylance Richard III/Twelfth Night NYT reviews https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-66-mbsing-dora-vitalone-alcoholism Oh man. What a doozy. Dora is very new to battling the possibility of alcoholism, and when I asked what she wanted to talk to me about, that's what she said. So I acquiesced. Because who am I to say no to an interesting, heartfelt, and at times difficult conversation. Dora and I also made a decent attempt at keeping it light while we delved into her realization within the last month that she needed to make a serious change in her life where drinking is concerned. Dora is a total sweetheart, and I am so glad she came on to talk about this with me. I have a feeling some of her stories will resonate with listeners, so let's try keeping our hands through the doors to our friends, shall we? Notes: Malort. How? Wed, 10 Sep 2014 03:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-66-mbsing-dora-vitalone-alcoholism MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4724 Oh man. What a doozy. Dora is very new to battling the possibility of alcoholism, and when I asked what she wanted to talk to me about, that's what she said. So I acquiesced. Because who am I to say no to an interesting, heartfelt, and at times difficult conversation. Dora and I also made a decent attempt at keeping it light while we delved into her realization within the last month that she needed to make a serious change in her life where drinking is concerned. Dora is a total sweetheart, and I am so glad she came on to talk about this with me. I have a feeling some of her stories will resonate with listeners, so let's try keeping our hands through the doors to our friends, shall we? Notes: Malort. How? Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOh man. What a doozy. Dora is very new to battling the possibility of alcoholism, and when I asked what she wanted to talk to me about, that's what she said. So I acquiesced. Because who am I to say no to an interesting, heartfelt, and at times difficult conversation. Dora and I also made a decent attempt at keeping it light while we delved into her realization within the last month that she needed to make a serious change in her life where drinking is concerned. Dora is a total sweetheart, and I am so glad she came on to talk about this with me. I have a feeling some of her stories will resonate with listeners, so let's try keeping our hands through the doors to our friends, shall we? Notes: Malort. How? https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-65-mbsing-ben-larrison-happiness Enjoy the joy that is Ben Larrison in this week's episode wherein he expounds upon all things he loves, strives towards, and pursues where happiness is concerned. Yeah, we all like happiness. Duh. But Ben has a special brand of interest in producing happiness in himself and others whenever possible and in the most playful of ways. Check out The Dunk Contest of the Century of the World and The Chicago Transit Project if you don't want to take my word for it (and while you're checking it out, back the Chicago Transit Project). He even started a Happiness Club while a student at Northwestern that gained notoriety on campus and beyond by performing random acts of kindness and joy around NWU. Come on get happy, listeners! Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-65-mbsing-ben-larrison-happiness MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5738 Enjoy the joy that is Ben Larrison in this week's episode wherein he expounds upon all things he loves, strives towards, and pursues where happiness is concerned. Yeah, we all like happiness. Duh. But Ben has a special brand of interest in producing happiness in himself and others whenever possible and in the most playful of ways. Check out The Dunk Contest of the Century of the World and The Chicago Transit Project if you don't want to take my word for it (and while you're checking it out, back the Chicago Transit Project). He even started a Happiness Club while a student at Northwestern that gained notoriety on campus and beyond by performing random acts of kindness and joy around NWU. Come on get happy, listeners! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEnjoy the joy that is Ben Larrison in this week's episode wherein he expounds upon all things he loves, strives towards, and pursues where happiness is concerned. Yeah, we all like happiness. Duh. But Ben has a special brand of interest in producing happiness in himself and others whenever possible and in the most playful of ways. Check out The Dunk Contest of the Century of the World and The Chicago Transit Project if you don't want to take my word for it (and while you're checking it out, back the Chicago Transit Project). He even started a Happiness Club while a student at Northwestern that gained notoriety on campus and beyond by performing random acts of kindness and joy around NWU. Come on get happy, listeners! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-64-mbsing-stephen-kropa-dan-harmon-and-edgar-wright Stephen Kropa is a big fanboy for two artisans (directors/writers/show runners/comedians...) who would probably consider themselves fanboys as well, Dan Harmon and Edgar Wright. Their bevy of pop culture influences on their own projects is a constant comfort and inspiration for Kropa, and I can't find any room to disagree with him on the ways they are similar creators when it comes to the blending of homages and nods with their own unique, very specific voices and visions as artists. Wed, 27 Aug 2014 10:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-64-mbsing-stephen-kropa-dan-harmon-and-edgar-wright MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4942 Stephen Kropa is a big fanboy for two artisans (directors/writers/show runners/comedians...) who would probably consider themselves fanboys as well, Dan Harmon and Edgar Wright. Their bevy of pop culture influences on their own projects is a constant comfort and inspiration for Kropa, and I can't find any room to disagree with him on the ways they are similar creators when it comes to the blending of homages and nods with their own unique, very specific voices and visions as artists. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesStephen Kropa is a big fanboy for two artisans (directors/writers/show runners/comedians...) who would probably consider themselves fanboys as well, Dan Harmon and Edgar Wright. Their bevy of pop culture influences on their own projects is a constant comfort and inspiration for Kropa, and I can't find any room to disagree with him on the ways they are similar creators when it comes to the blending of homages and nods with their own unique, very specific voices and visions as artists. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-63-mbsing-erin-lann-ocean Dive in to this episode with the indomitable Erin Lann for tons of ocean chat! We delve into her three favorite animals of all time (all sea beasts), and eventually meander into some deeper philosophical territories like bio-dome conservation and world politics. Erin gets into some deep cut ocean animal facts, and it was a true joy to learn from her. Wed, 20 Aug 2014 14:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-63-mbsing-erin-lann-ocean MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5316 Dive in to this episode with the indomitable Erin Lann for tons of ocean chat! We delve into her three favorite animals of all time (all sea beasts), and eventually meander into some deeper philosophical territories like bio-dome conservation and world politics. Erin gets into some deep cut ocean animal facts, and it was a true joy to learn from her. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesDive in to this episode with the indomitable Erin Lann for tons of ocean chat! We delve into her three favorite animals of all time (all sea beasts), and eventually meander into some deeper philosophical territories like bio-dome conservation and world politics. Erin gets into some deep cut ocean animal facts, and it was a true joy to learn from her. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-62-mbsing-allison-talavera-firefly I'm pretty ashamed of myself for never having seen Joss Whedon's beloved, taken-before-its-time sci-fi series, and dear Allison only heightened my shame with her excellent weaving of thoughts and feelings on this series and many other Whedon properties. We explore themes ranging from dealing with grief to accepting your inner nerd-dom all via Whedon's 14-episode work (plus some Serenity talk). Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-62-mbsing-allison-talavera-firefly MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5346 I'm pretty ashamed of myself for never having seen Joss Whedon's beloved, taken-before-its-time sci-fi series, and dear Allison only heightened my shame with her excellent weaving of thoughts and feelings on this series and many other Whedon properties. We explore themes ranging from dealing with grief to accepting your inner nerd-dom all via Whedon's 14-episode work (plus some Serenity talk). Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesI'm pretty ashamed of myself for never having seen Joss Whedon's beloved, taken-before-its-time sci-fi series, and dear Allison only heightened my shame with her excellent weaving of thoughts and feelings on this series and many other Whedon properties. We explore themes ranging from dealing with grief to accepting your inner nerd-dom all via Whedon's 14-episode work (plus some Serenity talk). https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-61-mbsing-sean-kelley-x-men Sean Kelley is super into a lot of things because he's a super knowledgeable dude and fan, but he's especially super into the superheroes that make up the X-Men. He's been on board since X-Men #1 came out in 1991 (the best-selling comic book of all time!) and has been ravenously consuming the comics since then. Thus, of course, he has some stellar thoughts about what has worked and what hasn't in the film adaptations of said comics (and some other Marvel and non-Marvel properties just as some fun, relevant tangents). He also covers how his love of X-Men has evolved with age and authors and the different aspects of the series and characters that he has found to be enjoyable over the years. The conversation made me remember that I really need to see Days of Future Past and helped me discover a decent place to start if I want to get into X-Men comics, so maybe you'll have a similar experience. Get into it! Notes: Video of an entire Doop storyline in the comics  Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic Episode 1 Complete description of Fridge Logic Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-61-mbsing-sean-kelley-x-men MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4441 Sean Kelley is super into a lot of things because he's a super knowledgeable dude and fan, but he's especially super into the superheroes that make up the X-Men. He's been on board since X-Men #1 came out in 1991 (the best-selling comic book of all time!) and has been ravenously consuming the comics since then. Thus, of course, he has some stellar thoughts about what has worked and what hasn't in the film adaptations of said comics (and some other Marvel and non-Marvel properties just as some fun, relevant tangents). He also covers how his love of X-Men has evolved with age and authors and the different aspects of the series and characters that he has found to be enjoyable over the years. The conversation made me remember that I really need to see Days of Future Past and helped me discover a decent place to start if I want to get into X-Men comics, so maybe you'll have a similar experience. Get into it! Notes: Video of an entire Doop storyline in the comics  Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic Episode 1 Complete description of Fridge Logic Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSean Kelley is super into a lot of things because he's a super knowledgeable dude and fan, but he's especially super into the superheroes that make up the X-Men. He's been on board since X-Men #1 came out in 1991 (the best-selling comic book of all time!) and has been ravenously consuming the comics since then. Thus, of course, he has some stellar thoughts about what has worked and what hasn't in the film adaptations of said comics (and some other Marvel and non-Marvel properties just as some fun, relevant tangents). He also covers how his love of X-Men has evolved with age and authors and the different aspects of the series and characters that he has found to be enjoyable over the years. The conversation made me remember that I really need to see Days of Future Past and helped me discover a decent place to start if I want to get into X-Men comics, so maybe you'll have a similar experience. Get into it! Notes: Video of an entire Doop storyline in the comics  Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic Episode 1 Complete description of Fridge Logic https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-60-mbsing-andy-junk-batman Andy Junk may have mad love for the Caped Crusader, but he is far from a Dark Knight. Brimming with kindness and enthusiasm, Andy covered all eras and all mediums of Batman fandom (comics, films, live action and animated TV series, video games, collectables... the works). There were no stones left unturned in this delightful romp through the bat cave. After rapidly consuming most of MBSing in a few weeks, Andy has become a super fan, so it's easy to see how he was able to become a buff on all things Batman after plowing through all the comics he could find in the library in high school. If you're ever looking for a gift for the guy or a topic of conversation, anything Batman-related is more than welcome. Andy deserves only gifts and joyous conversations as he flies through life staying true to his core values just like the Batman himself. PS I SAY BAGHEAD INSTEAD OF TOWELHEAD AS A NAME OF AN AARON ECKHARDT MOVIE AND I'M SORRY I FELT TOO MUCH PRESSURE AND I CHOKED I LOVE YOU AARON. Notes: Drunk in a Trunk with Andy Junk TJ Miller on working with Michael Bay The Mark of Zorro IS the film young Bruce Wayne saw with his parents before their murders Every page of the Chris Ware book Andy loaned me on one wall More info on The Seduction of the Innocent The evolution of the Bat symbol in the comics and films Wed, 30 Jul 2014 14:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-60-mbsing-andy-junk-batman MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5537 Andy Junk may have mad love for the Caped Crusader, but he is far from a Dark Knight. Brimming with kindness and enthusiasm, Andy covered all eras and all mediums of Batman fandom (comics, films, live action and animated TV series, video games, collectables... the works). There were no stones left unturned in this delightful romp through the bat cave. After rapidly consuming most of MBSing in a few weeks, Andy has become a super fan, so it's easy to see how he was able to become a buff on all things Batman after plowing through all the comics he could find in the library in high school. If you're ever looking for a gift for the guy or a topic of conversation, anything Batman-related is more than welcome. Andy deserves only gifts and joyous conversations as he flies through life staying true to his core values just like the Batman himself. PS I SAY BAGHEAD INSTEAD OF TOWELHEAD AS A NAME OF AN AARON ECKHARDT MOVIE AND I'M SORRY I FELT TOO MUCH PRESSURE AND I CHOKED I LOVE YOU AARON. Notes: Drunk in a Trunk with Andy Junk TJ Miller on working with Michael Bay The Mark of Zorro IS the film young Bruce Wayne saw with his parents before their murders Every page of the Chris Ware book Andy loaned me on one wall More info on The Seduction of the Innocent The evolution of the Bat symbol in the comics and films Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAndy Junk may have mad love for the Caped Crusader, but he is far from a Dark Knight. Brimming with kindness and enthusiasm, Andy covered all eras and all mediums of Batman fandom (comics, films, live action and animated TV series, video games, collectables... the works). There were no stones left unturned in this delightful romp through the bat cave. After rapidly consuming most of MBSing in a few weeks, Andy has become a super fan, so it's easy to see how he was able to become a buff on all things Batman after plowing through all the comics he could find in the library in high school. If you're ever looking for a gift for the guy or a topic of conversation, anything Batman-related is more than welcome. Andy deserves only gifts and joyous conversations as he flies through life staying true to his core values just like the Batman himself. PS I SAY BAGHEAD INSTEAD OF TOWELHEAD AS A NAME OF AN AARON ECKHARDT MOVIE AND I'M SORRY I FELT TOO MUCH PRESSURE AND I CHOKED I LOVE YOU AARON. Notes: Drunk in a Trunk with Andy Junk TJ Miller on working with Michael Bay The Mark of Zorro IS the film young Bruce Wayne saw with his parents before their murders Every page of the Chris Ware book Andy loaned me on one wall More info on The Seduction of the Innocent The evolution of the Bat symbol in the comics and films https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-59-mbsing-joe-gennaro-magic-gathering Fellow member of the Nerdologues Joe Gennaro sits down with me to tap some lands and cast some spells as we weave tales about the incredibly popular deck-building card game Magic: The Gathering. I learn what WUBRG means, how awesome a God pack is, and a bunch of other nerdy fun things along the way (this game has the possibility of creating an infinite number of squirrels....). Joe and about half of the other members of the Nerdologues have been raving about and obsessing over MtG for almost a year now, so it was fun to get even more insight on this game they love so much. I'll probably end up sitting down to play a game or two myself at some point in the not too distant future, but until then I'll continue to enjoy making up fake magic cards with Joe's guidance for all the hypothetical possibilities of gameplay. Wed, 23 Jul 2014 12:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-59-mbsing-joe-gennaro-magic-gathering MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6004 Fellow member of the Nerdologues Joe Gennaro sits down with me to tap some lands and cast some spells as we weave tales about the incredibly popular deck-building card game Magic: The Gathering. I learn what WUBRG means, how awesome a God pack is, and a bunch of other nerdy fun things along the way (this game has the possibility of creating an infinite number of squirrels....). Joe and about half of the other members of the Nerdologues have been raving about and obsessing over MtG for almost a year now, so it was fun to get even more insight on this game they love so much. I'll probably end up sitting down to play a game or two myself at some point in the not too distant future, but until then I'll continue to enjoy making up fake magic cards with Joe's guidance for all the hypothetical possibilities of gameplay. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFellow member of the Nerdologues Joe Gennaro sits down with me to tap some lands and cast some spells as we weave tales about the incredibly popular deck-building card game Magic: The Gathering. I learn what WUBRG means, how awesome a God pack is, and a bunch of other nerdy fun things along the way (this game has the possibility of creating an infinite number of squirrels....). Joe and about half of the other members of the Nerdologues have been raving about and obsessing over MtG for almost a year now, so it was fun to get even more insight on this game they love so much. I'll probably end up sitting down to play a game or two myself at some point in the not too distant future, but until then I'll continue to enjoy making up fake magic cards with Joe's guidance for all the hypothetical possibilities of gameplay. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-58-mbsing-nick-hassebrock-david-copperfield-magician Nick Hassebrock was mesmerised by David Copperfield from the first time he saw one of his specials at six years old and has loved and been inspired by him ever since. It wasn't just about the illusions, it was the whole package; from lighting to music to showmanship, Nick points out that Copperfield is truly at the top of his field and helps magic seem less "dorky." After having to clarify I was never making fun of Nick and truly just got giddy at how much he loves good ol' DC, I sat back as he was able to absolutely regale me with some of his favorite Copperfield tricks, stories, facts, and live shows (of which he has seen six). It was a true delight full of laughs, magicians who give others a bad name, and that one time Nick could have maybe had a friend in magic but he decided to be a magic snob/bully instead. Listen while you watch some of these classic Copperfield moments. Notes: Jon Daly's fake Red Hot Chili Peppers website and song The Floating Rose Heaven on the Seventh Floor, the first trick of the special in which Copperfield flew for the first time Reddit AMA with Val Valentino, the Masked Magician Grandpa's Aces, a sick card trick by DC Compilation of David's close up magic Compilation of David's big illusions The first special that Nick saw at age six Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-58-mbsing-nick-hassebrock-david-copperfield-magician MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4256 Nick Hassebrock was mesmerised by David Copperfield from the first time he saw one of his specials at six years old and has loved and been inspired by him ever since. It wasn't just about the illusions, it was the whole package; from lighting to music to showmanship, Nick points out that Copperfield is truly at the top of his field and helps magic seem less "dorky." After having to clarify I was never making fun of Nick and truly just got giddy at how much he loves good ol' DC, I sat back as he was able to absolutely regale me with some of his favorite Copperfield tricks, stories, facts, and live shows (of which he has seen six). It was a true delight full of laughs, magicians who give others a bad name, and that one time Nick could have maybe had a friend in magic but he decided to be a magic snob/bully instead. Listen while you watch some of these classic Copperfield moments. Notes: Jon Daly's fake Red Hot Chili Peppers website and song The Floating Rose Heaven on the Seventh Floor, the first trick of the special in which Copperfield flew for the first time Reddit AMA with Val Valentino, the Masked Magician Grandpa's Aces, a sick card trick by DC Compilation of David's close up magic Compilation of David's big illusions The first special that Nick saw at age six Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesNick Hassebrock was mesmerised by David Copperfield from the first time he saw one of his specials at six years old and has loved and been inspired by him ever since. It wasn't just about the illusions, it was the whole package; from lighting to music to showmanship, Nick points out that Copperfield is truly at the top of his field and helps magic seem less "dorky." After having to clarify I was never making fun of Nick and truly just got giddy at how much he loves good ol' DC, I sat back as he was able to absolutely regale me with some of his favorite Copperfield tricks, stories, facts, and live shows (of which he has seen six). It was a true delight full of laughs, magicians who give others a bad name, and that one time Nick could have maybe had a friend in magic but he decided to be a magic snob/bully instead. Listen while you watch some of these classic Copperfield moments. Notes: Jon Daly's fake Red Hot Chili Peppers website and song The Floating Rose Heaven on the Seventh Floor, the first trick of the special in which Copperfield flew for the first time Reddit AMA with Val Valentino, the Masked Magician Grandpa's Aces, a sick card trick by DC Compilation of David's close up magic Compilation of David's big illusions The first special that Nick saw at age six https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-57-mbsing-molly-jones-summer-camp Molly Jones is the happiest of campers. She's always rallying the troops and weaving tales on and off stage. It’s no surprise that she wanted to talk to me about her love of summer camp. She still counts her summers as a camper (and later counselor) at Camp Laurel South as some of her greatest times. A California girl who went to college in Florida and eventually landed in Chicago, Molly knows that it was her summer months spent in beautiful Maine that shaped her fun, creative, and event-planning nature. She shares some specific parallels from her camp life to her life in the Chicago improv community (Anyone played Kitty Cat Careers as a warm up recently? How about attending an Incubator Night at the Playground Theatre?) and tells me about what it's like to follow fifth grade girls through their camp journey over the course of five summers (then get calls from them years later asking for college sorority advice). It was a delightful, camp-filled conversation only lacking a fire. Enjoy! Wed, 09 Jul 2014 02:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-57-mbsing-molly-jones-summer-camp MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4560 Molly Jones is the happiest of campers. She's always rallying the troops and weaving tales on and off stage. It’s no surprise that she wanted to talk to me about her love of summer camp. She still counts her summers as a camper (and later counselor) at Camp Laurel South as some of her greatest times. A California girl who went to college in Florida and eventually landed in Chicago, Molly knows that it was her summer months spent in beautiful Maine that shaped her fun, creative, and event-planning nature. She shares some specific parallels from her camp life to her life in the Chicago improv community (Anyone played Kitty Cat Careers as a warm up recently? How about attending an Incubator Night at the Playground Theatre?) and tells me about what it's like to follow fifth grade girls through their camp journey over the course of five summers (then get calls from them years later asking for college sorority advice). It was a delightful, camp-filled conversation only lacking a fire. Enjoy! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMolly Jones is the happiest of campers. She's always rallying the troops and weaving tales on and off stage. It’s no surprise that she wanted to talk to me about her love of summer camp. She still counts her summers as a camper (and later counselor) at Camp Laurel South as some of her greatest times. A California girl who went to college in Florida and eventually landed in Chicago, Molly knows that it was her summer months spent in beautiful Maine that shaped her fun, creative, and event-planning nature. She shares some specific parallels from her camp life to her life in the Chicago improv community (Anyone played Kitty Cat Careers as a warm up recently? How about attending an Incubator Night at the Playground Theatre?) and tells me about what it's like to follow fifth grade girls through their camp journey over the course of five summers (then get calls from them years later asking for college sorority advice). It was a delightful, camp-filled conversation only lacking a fire. Enjoy! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-56-mbsing-sarah-shockey-princess-tutu Sarah Shockey is warm, funny, and passionate in general, but when it comes to her love of Princess Tutu, all those traits are simply intensified. Anime fans can rejoice in this episode topic's slight obscurity, but everyone can appreciate how much fun we have as she explains the ins and outs of this wonderful little show. I don't have too much of a working knowledge of anime (I think I manage to mention everything anime-related that I've ever seen), but I think the description of the workings of the show really hit home the nature of how intricate and layered it can be in the best ways. I don't think Sarah would even consider herself a huge anime person in general, which I think makes it all the more interesting that this is a show she loves so much. We cover the romances, attention to animation in dance sequences, and odd humor that made her fall for the show in the first place, and it was all a delight.  Notes: Flagship Women, Sarah's new blog where she talks to women she admires about comedy and all sorts of things Ushicon Q&A with show creator Ikuko Itoh Fakir meme... I'm sure there are more where this came from Tumblr tags for Princess Tutu cosplay Pixar Writing Rules The Xander/Biker Mice from Mars fanfic... set in Chicago? This is an old article... but we may get a CGI Brave Little Toaster whether we want it or not   Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-56-mbsing-sarah-shockey-princess-tutu MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4504 Sarah Shockey is warm, funny, and passionate in general, but when it comes to her love of Princess Tutu, all those traits are simply intensified. Anime fans can rejoice in this episode topic's slight obscurity, but everyone can appreciate how much fun we have as she explains the ins and outs of this wonderful little show. I don't have too much of a working knowledge of anime (I think I manage to mention everything anime-related that I've ever seen), but I think the description of the workings of the show really hit home the nature of how intricate and layered it can be in the best ways. I don't think Sarah would even consider herself a huge anime person in general, which I think makes it all the more interesting that this is a show she loves so much. We cover the romances, attention to animation in dance sequences, and odd humor that made her fall for the show in the first place, and it was all a delight.  Notes: Flagship Women, Sarah's new blog where she talks to women she admires about comedy and all sorts of things Ushicon Q&A with show creator Ikuko Itoh Fakir meme... I'm sure there are more where this came from Tumblr tags for Princess Tutu cosplay Pixar Writing Rules The Xander/Biker Mice from Mars fanfic... set in Chicago? This is an old article... but we may get a CGI Brave Little Toaster whether we want it or not   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSarah Shockey is warm, funny, and passionate in general, but when it comes to her love of Princess Tutu, all those traits are simply intensified. Anime fans can rejoice in this episode topic's slight obscurity, but everyone can appreciate how much fun we have as she explains the ins and outs of this wonderful little show. I don't have too much of a working knowledge of anime (I think I manage to mention everything anime-related that I've ever seen), but I think the description of the workings of the show really hit home the nature of how intricate and layered it can be in the best ways. I don't think Sarah would even consider herself a huge anime person in general, which I think makes it all the more interesting that this is a show she loves so much. We cover the romances, attention to animation in dance sequences, and odd humor that made her fall for the show in the first place, and it was all a delight.  Notes: Flagship Women, Sarah's new blog where she talks to women she admires about comedy and all sorts of things Ushicon Q&A with show creator Ikuko Itoh Fakir meme... I'm sure there are more where this came from Tumblr tags for Princess Tutu cosplay Pixar Writing Rules The Xander/Biker Mice from Mars fanfic... set in Chicago? This is an old article... but we may get a CGI Brave Little Toaster whether we want it or not   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-55-mbsing-matt-kidd-playing-sports Put down your cleats and sit inside for a while to get into this sporty sports time ep of MBSing with Matt Kidd! Matt's a software engineer by day, so he's no normal brute, he just super loves sports from track to volleyball to that game you made up in high school at the lunch table. We cover a lot of ground where Matt's sports-playing history and future are concerned, but we also get into why we find sports so entertaining to play and watch even though the whole thing can seem silly and baffling at times. Come for the talk of who our superiors at work awkwardly remind us of and stick around for our take on the Redskins mascot controversy. Matt even came to realize he had more of a through line in his love of sports than he thought, and that very through line may have been what drove him to his current love of improv. Breakthroughs! Wed, 25 Jun 2014 01:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-55-mbsing-matt-kidd-playing-sports MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4530 Put down your cleats and sit inside for a while to get into this sporty sports time ep of MBSing with Matt Kidd! Matt's a software engineer by day, so he's no normal brute, he just super loves sports from track to volleyball to that game you made up in high school at the lunch table. We cover a lot of ground where Matt's sports-playing history and future are concerned, but we also get into why we find sports so entertaining to play and watch even though the whole thing can seem silly and baffling at times. Come for the talk of who our superiors at work awkwardly remind us of and stick around for our take on the Redskins mascot controversy. Matt even came to realize he had more of a through line in his love of sports than he thought, and that very through line may have been what drove him to his current love of improv. Breakthroughs! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesPut down your cleats and sit inside for a while to get into this sporty sports time ep of MBSing with Matt Kidd! Matt's a software engineer by day, so he's no normal brute, he just super loves sports from track to volleyball to that game you made up in high school at the lunch table. We cover a lot of ground where Matt's sports-playing history and future are concerned, but we also get into why we find sports so entertaining to play and watch even though the whole thing can seem silly and baffling at times. Come for the talk of who our superiors at work awkwardly remind us of and stick around for our take on the Redskins mascot controversy. Matt even came to realize he had more of a through line in his love of sports than he thought, and that very through line may have been what drove him to his current love of improv. Breakthroughs! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-54-mbsing-sean-price-muppets It's time to start the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to listen to this hot off the presses episode of MBSing with my guest Sean Price who lovably gets into his fandom of the always lovable Muppets! Logically, we begin by touching on Muppet Babies (which is, fairly shamefully, some of my only real, consistent exposure to the whole Muppet thing), and move on to which films Sean likes the most, how we feel about the new Muppet movies, and work in some important Labyrinth/Dark Crystal talk. One of my favorite aspects was some discussion of the genius that was Jim Henson (who died at 53) and how Sean thinks his visionary status compares to some other filmmakers. We even had a brief appearance from a special celebrity guest! Stick around for a sweet story of Sean's own young attempts at puppetry in filmmaking. Woo! Notes: Ginger Price's Facebook and Twitter Couldn't find the specific scene Sean mentioned from The Happening, but here's the shitty trailer Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-54-mbsing-sean-price-muppets MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4979 It's time to start the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to listen to this hot off the presses episode of MBSing with my guest Sean Price who lovably gets into his fandom of the always lovable Muppets! Logically, we begin by touching on Muppet Babies (which is, fairly shamefully, some of my only real, consistent exposure to the whole Muppet thing), and move on to which films Sean likes the most, how we feel about the new Muppet movies, and work in some important Labyrinth/Dark Crystal talk. One of my favorite aspects was some discussion of the genius that was Jim Henson (who died at 53) and how Sean thinks his visionary status compares to some other filmmakers. We even had a brief appearance from a special celebrity guest! Stick around for a sweet story of Sean's own young attempts at puppetry in filmmaking. Woo! Notes: Ginger Price's Facebook and Twitter Couldn't find the specific scene Sean mentioned from The Happening, but here's the shitty trailer Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIt's time to start the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to listen to this hot off the presses episode of MBSing with my guest Sean Price who lovably gets into his fandom of the always lovable Muppets! Logically, we begin by touching on Muppet Babies (which is, fairly shamefully, some of my only real, consistent exposure to the whole Muppet thing), and move on to which films Sean likes the most, how we feel about the new Muppet movies, and work in some important Labyrinth/Dark Crystal talk. One of my favorite aspects was some discussion of the genius that was Jim Henson (who died at 53) and how Sean thinks his visionary status compares to some other filmmakers. We even had a brief appearance from a special celebrity guest! Stick around for a sweet story of Sean's own young attempts at puppetry in filmmaking. Woo! Notes: Ginger Price's Facebook and Twitter Couldn't find the specific scene Sean mentioned from The Happening, but here's the shitty trailer https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-53-mbsing-katie-johnston-smith-tom-hanks Chicago's sweetheart Katie Johnston-Smith makes a splash on MBSing by talking America's sweetheart, Tom Hanks. Seriously, who doesn't like that guy? Nobody. But I don't know anyone who likes him as much as KJS. At least not young Tom Hanks. Yeah, she specifically loves that scrawny, charming leading man, and we get into a discussion on whether that kind of guy even exists anymore in Hollywood and how he sometimes overcame the dreaded "80s pacing" of films and other times... not so much (we're looking at you, The Burbs). Come for the background on her "movement" surrounding Young Tom Hanks on Twitter, and stick around for such conversations as "you never wanna meet your heroes, and in this case..." "my hero is Tom Hank's weiner."  That's a thing Katie said among other very funny, charming things about a funny, charming actor. It was all wonderful, and I think Katie lives up to what she thinks Tom does by having "the light always on." Notes: @FreeYngTomHanks and the Young Tom Hanks Tumblr All of the things Playtone has produced. Tom's Philadelphia Oscar acceptance speech. Things That You Think video with Nick Hornby, who I mistakenly called Nick HornSby a few times. Wed, 11 Jun 2014 12:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-53-mbsing-katie-johnston-smith-tom-hanks MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3786 Chicago's sweetheart Katie Johnston-Smith makes a splash on MBSing by talking America's sweetheart, Tom Hanks. Seriously, who doesn't like that guy? Nobody. But I don't know anyone who likes him as much as KJS. At least not young Tom Hanks. Yeah, she specifically loves that scrawny, charming leading man, and we get into a discussion on whether that kind of guy even exists anymore in Hollywood and how he sometimes overcame the dreaded "80s pacing" of films and other times... not so much (we're looking at you, The Burbs). Come for the background on her "movement" surrounding Young Tom Hanks on Twitter, and stick around for such conversations as "you never wanna meet your heroes, and in this case..." "my hero is Tom Hank's weiner."  That's a thing Katie said among other very funny, charming things about a funny, charming actor. It was all wonderful, and I think Katie lives up to what she thinks Tom does by having "the light always on." Notes: @FreeYngTomHanks and the Young Tom Hanks Tumblr All of the things Playtone has produced. Tom's Philadelphia Oscar acceptance speech. Things That You Think video with Nick Hornby, who I mistakenly called Nick HornSby a few times. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesChicago's sweetheart Katie Johnston-Smith makes a splash on MBSing by talking America's sweetheart, Tom Hanks. Seriously, who doesn't like that guy? Nobody. But I don't know anyone who likes him as much as KJS. At least not young Tom Hanks. Yeah, she specifically loves that scrawny, charming leading man, and we get into a discussion on whether that kind of guy even exists anymore in Hollywood and how he sometimes overcame the dreaded "80s pacing" of films and other times... not so much (we're looking at you, The Burbs). Come for the background on her "movement" surrounding Young Tom Hanks on Twitter, and stick around for such conversations as "you never wanna meet your heroes, and in this case..." "my hero is Tom Hank's weiner."  That's a thing Katie said among other very funny, charming things about a funny, charming actor. It was all wonderful, and I think Katie lives up to what she thinks Tom does by having "the light always on." Notes: @FreeYngTomHanks and the Young Tom Hanks Tumblr All of the things Playtone has produced. Tom's Philadelphia Oscar acceptance speech. Things That You Think video with Nick Hornby, who I mistakenly called Nick HornSby a few times. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-52-mbsing-live-max-temkin-animorphs I wanted to do something big for my 1-year anniversary, and boy was this night one of my favorites in a long time. Max Temkin and I got to carry on about our mutual love of the long-running young adult novel series Animorphs for an hour while getting laughs from a live audience and being flanked by some other incredible past guests along the way. If you've never read Animorphs, there's no need to fret: Max covers the plot basics before diving into his favorite aspects of the novels and the many, many qualms he had with the short-lived television show (I realize at some point that I overlooked them for the dreamy Shawn Ashmore and Christopher Ralph). Along with the observation that "If you had told me that all of my hours of consuming Nickelodeon things would lead to me reading a science-fiction series and then get to talk to a girl about it for an hour, I would have not believed me if I said that... that would've blown my mind as a kid," Max also dropped the lovely Ebert quote, "It's not what a movie is about, it's how it is about it," which also applies to how people like things, an MBSing theme. Along the way we get an apology to Auburn football from Chandler Goodman and Spencer Smith, a Bio-Dome complaint in the form of a ridiculous song from Tim Dunn with a rebuttal from Rob Grabowski, the settling of an off-mic poke war with Matt Young, a lovely MBSing-based game show (called Matt, Mark, Julia, Jeff) from Adam Levin, and a heartfelt thanks from Nick Johnson that made me straight up cry. Thanks for a great year everyone. Here's to many more. Notes: Penn and Teller's How to Play With Your Food Max's tweet about the Animorphs pullout in Nickelodeon Magazine that was one of the only things he could find when trying to actually Google to find the issue. A wikifur entry for Animorphs. Animorphs ebooks. All of them. Space Cases intro. Fake Animorphs covers. Tue, 03 Jun 2014 22:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-52-mbsing-live-max-temkin-animorphs MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5809 I wanted to do something big for my 1-year anniversary, and boy was this night one of my favorites in a long time. Max Temkin and I got to carry on about our mutual love of the long-running young adult novel series Animorphs for an hour while getting laughs from a live audience and being flanked by some other incredible past guests along the way. If you've never read Animorphs, there's no need to fret: Max covers the plot basics before diving into his favorite aspects of the novels and the many, many qualms he had with the short-lived television show (I realize at some point that I overlooked them for the dreamy Shawn Ashmore and Christopher Ralph). Along with the observation that "If you had told me that all of my hours of consuming Nickelodeon things would lead to me reading a science-fiction series and then get to talk to a girl about it for an hour, I would have not believed me if I said that... that would've blown my mind as a kid," Max also dropped the lovely Ebert quote, "It's not what a movie is about, it's how it is about it," which also applies to how people like things, an MBSing theme. Along the way we get an apology to Auburn football from Chandler Goodman and Spencer Smith, a Bio-Dome complaint in the form of a ridiculous song from Tim Dunn with a rebuttal from Rob Grabowski, the settling of an off-mic poke war with Matt Young, a lovely MBSing-based game show (called Matt, Mark, Julia, Jeff) from Adam Levin, and a heartfelt thanks from Nick Johnson that made me straight up cry. Thanks for a great year everyone. Here's to many more. Notes: Penn and Teller's How to Play With Your Food Max's tweet about the Animorphs pullout in Nickelodeon Magazine that was one of the only things he could find when trying to actually Google to find the issue. A wikifur entry for Animorphs. Animorphs ebooks. All of them. Space Cases intro. Fake Animorphs covers. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesI wanted to do something big for my 1-year anniversary, and boy was this night one of my favorites in a long time. Max Temkin and I got to carry on about our mutual love of the long-running young adult novel series Animorphs for an hour while getting laughs from a live audience and being flanked by some other incredible past guests along the way. If you've never read Animorphs, there's no need to fret: Max covers the plot basics before diving into his favorite aspects of the novels and the many, many qualms he had with the short-lived television show (I realize at some point that I overlooked them for the dreamy Shawn Ashmore and Christopher Ralph). Along with the observation that "If you had told me that all of my hours of consuming Nickelodeon things would lead to me reading a science-fiction series and then get to talk to a girl about it for an hour, I would have not believed me if I said that... that would've blown my mind as a kid," Max also dropped the lovely Ebert quote, "It's not what a movie is about, it's how it is about it," which also applies to how people like things, an MBSing theme. Along the way we get an apology to Auburn football from Chandler Goodman and Spencer Smith, a Bio-Dome complaint in the form of a ridiculous song from Tim Dunn with a rebuttal from Rob Grabowski, the settling of an off-mic poke war with Matt Young, a lovely MBSing-based game show (called Matt, Mark, Julia, Jeff) from Adam Levin, and a heartfelt thanks from Nick Johnson that made me straight up cry. Thanks for a great year everyone. Here's to many more. Notes: Penn and Teller's How to Play With Your Food Max's tweet about the Animorphs pullout in Nickelodeon Magazine that was one of the only things he could find when trying to actually Google to find the issue. A wikifur entry for Animorphs. Animorphs ebooks. All of them. Space Cases intro. Fake Animorphs covers. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-51-mbsing-andy-herren-lying Dear friend Andy Herren swings by MBSing today to tell me a bunch of hilariously true stories about times he's [mostly innocently] lied to some unwitting victims. Buckle up and enjoy the ride, and look out for some sweet nods to his time on Big Brother 15 where he used his love of lying to win buckets of money. Andy legitimately has some of the funniest stories I've ever heard a person share, and this episode is packed with them. Keep an ear out for multiple mentions to the Legally Blonde films (yes... both of them) and a time he may have cosmically caused a death. Andy is one of the quickest guys I know, and this ep was no exception. Get into it! Notes: Maria RiRi's still active Facebook page. Note the URL. Tilikum's ponytail-related killing of a trainer at Sea World. A very NSFW video of Andy on Big Brother playing his games with GM. The pic of us I mention that Andy lovingly cationed. Wed, 28 May 2014 09:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-51-mbsing-andy-herren-lying MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4114 Dear friend Andy Herren swings by MBSing today to tell me a bunch of hilariously true stories about times he's [mostly innocently] lied to some unwitting victims. Buckle up and enjoy the ride, and look out for some sweet nods to his time on Big Brother 15 where he used his love of lying to win buckets of money. Andy legitimately has some of the funniest stories I've ever heard a person share, and this episode is packed with them. Keep an ear out for multiple mentions to the Legally Blonde films (yes... both of them) and a time he may have cosmically caused a death. Andy is one of the quickest guys I know, and this ep was no exception. Get into it! Notes: Maria RiRi's still active Facebook page. Note the URL. Tilikum's ponytail-related killing of a trainer at Sea World. A very NSFW video of Andy on Big Brother playing his games with GM. The pic of us I mention that Andy lovingly cationed. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesDear friend Andy Herren swings by MBSing today to tell me a bunch of hilariously true stories about times he's [mostly innocently] lied to some unwitting victims. Buckle up and enjoy the ride, and look out for some sweet nods to his time on Big Brother 15 where he used his love of lying to win buckets of money. Andy legitimately has some of the funniest stories I've ever heard a person share, and this episode is packed with them. Keep an ear out for multiple mentions to the Legally Blonde films (yes... both of them) and a time he may have cosmically caused a death. Andy is one of the quickest guys I know, and this ep was no exception. Get into it! Notes: Maria RiRi's still active Facebook page. Note the URL. Tilikum's ponytail-related killing of a trainer at Sea World. A very NSFW video of Andy on Big Brother playing his games with GM. The pic of us I mention that Andy lovingly cationed. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-50-mbsing-susan-messing-ex-scientologists-and-ex-mormons Susan Messing is an improv deity, and she was nice enough to come on the show and tackle some subjects she cannot stop reading about fueled by anger and curiosity. We focus more on the Scientology side of things than anything else, but the whole thing is fascinating and hilarious just like Susan. She's a big advocate of practicing what you preach when it comes to being improv teacher, so it makes a lot of sense that her frustrations with the topic lie mostly with misinformation and mistreatment of followers. Look forward to a couple of great cameos from Michael McCarthy, Susan's husband, to whom she got engaged while I was in her class at Annoyance. I'm pretty sure I said "bullshit" when she told us she got engaged since the last class. Don't call bullshit on Susan Messing, friends.  Notes: Susan's TEDx talk on Braving the Unknown Tony Ortega's piece in the Village Voice on "The Hole" as well as a comprehensive What is Scientology? article The 1991 Time Magazine cover story The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power Mark Headley's Blown for Good Leah Remini's departure from the church The death of Lisa McPherson Dan Telfer's Best Dinosaur bit on The Pete Holmes Show Wed, 21 May 2014 01:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-50-mbsing-susan-messing-ex-scientologists-and-ex-mormons MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4577 Susan Messing is an improv deity, and she was nice enough to come on the show and tackle some subjects she cannot stop reading about fueled by anger and curiosity. We focus more on the Scientology side of things than anything else, but the whole thing is fascinating and hilarious just like Susan. She's a big advocate of practicing what you preach when it comes to being improv teacher, so it makes a lot of sense that her frustrations with the topic lie mostly with misinformation and mistreatment of followers. Look forward to a couple of great cameos from Michael McCarthy, Susan's husband, to whom she got engaged while I was in her class at Annoyance. I'm pretty sure I said "bullshit" when she told us she got engaged since the last class. Don't call bullshit on Susan Messing, friends.  Notes: Susan's TEDx talk on Braving the Unknown Tony Ortega's piece in the Village Voice on "The Hole" as well as a comprehensive What is Scientology? article The 1991 Time Magazine cover story The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power Mark Headley's Blown for Good Leah Remini's departure from the church The death of Lisa McPherson Dan Telfer's Best Dinosaur bit on The Pete Holmes Show Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSusan Messing is an improv deity, and she was nice enough to come on the show and tackle some subjects she cannot stop reading about fueled by anger and curiosity. We focus more on the Scientology side of things than anything else, but the whole thing is fascinating and hilarious just like Susan. She's a big advocate of practicing what you preach when it comes to being improv teacher, so it makes a lot of sense that her frustrations with the topic lie mostly with misinformation and mistreatment of followers. Look forward to a couple of great cameos from Michael McCarthy, Susan's husband, to whom she got engaged while I was in her class at Annoyance. I'm pretty sure I said "bullshit" when she told us she got engaged since the last class. Don't call bullshit on Susan Messing, friends.  Notes: Susan's TEDx talk on Braving the Unknown Tony Ortega's piece in the Village Voice on "The Hole" as well as a comprehensive What is Scientology? article The 1991 Time Magazine cover story The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power Mark Headley's Blown for Good Leah Remini's departure from the church The death of Lisa McPherson Dan Telfer's Best Dinosaur bit on The Pete Holmes Show https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-49-mbsing-steve-persch-making-websites Nerdologues member/webmaster/genius Steve Persch graces the MBSing hot seat to jam about all things website building. Or at least as many things we had time for plus some other tangents. Listen to my gears churn as I try to keep up with the details, and stand in awe as you listen to someone with a theatre degree describe how he turned a challenge into a career (and a hobby) through self-teaching. Steve is such a jack of all trades, and hearing him compare certain aspects of website building to certain aspects of improv was especially interesting. He really does an excellent job explaining the way each of those passions informs the other in his life.   Notes: NURD - Northwestern University Radio Drama The Vietnam of Computer Science @drupalhaikus Wed, 14 May 2014 18:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-49-mbsing-steve-persch-making-websites MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4968 Nerdologues member/webmaster/genius Steve Persch graces the MBSing hot seat to jam about all things website building. Or at least as many things we had time for plus some other tangents. Listen to my gears churn as I try to keep up with the details, and stand in awe as you listen to someone with a theatre degree describe how he turned a challenge into a career (and a hobby) through self-teaching. Steve is such a jack of all trades, and hearing him compare certain aspects of website building to certain aspects of improv was especially interesting. He really does an excellent job explaining the way each of those passions informs the other in his life.   Notes: NURD - Northwestern University Radio Drama The Vietnam of Computer Science @drupalhaikus Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesNerdologues member/webmaster/genius Steve Persch graces the MBSing hot seat to jam about all things website building. Or at least as many things we had time for plus some other tangents. Listen to my gears churn as I try to keep up with the details, and stand in awe as you listen to someone with a theatre degree describe how he turned a challenge into a career (and a hobby) through self-teaching. Steve is such a jack of all trades, and hearing him compare certain aspects of website building to certain aspects of improv was especially interesting. He really does an excellent job explaining the way each of those passions informs the other in his life.   Notes: NURD - Northwestern University Radio Drama The Vietnam of Computer Science @drupalhaikus https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-48-mbsing-chris-smith-and-nathan-smith-atlanta-braves Any regular listener of MBSing (or friend of mine) knows how much I love the Atlanta Braves, and a vast majority of that love is due to my father and my brother. I had the opportunity to sit down with them to chat about our mutual love for the Bravos and how it has flourished over the years. Eyes got teary, metrics got sabered, and fun was had. My dad, Chris, gets into how his love of the Atlanta Braves has existed ever since the team was the Atlanta Braves. Civil rights becomes an interesting aspect of the conversation, he tells us we should all watch 42, and I learn exactly what his relationship was with Hank Aaron's sons (?!??!). My brother, Nathan, gets into how many Braves blogs he reads on a daily basis and what time he goes to Twitter to refresh feeds in order to know what the day's line up will be. It's all a total, unbiased(?) delight. Notes: My parents drove 5 hours to Atlanta to see a Braves game and get one of these for my birthday (and one for my brother) two years ago. The Atlanta Crackers Out of My League about some dude's "Cup of coffee" Wed, 07 May 2014 18:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-48-mbsing-chris-smith-and-nathan-smith-atlanta-braves MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4018 Any regular listener of MBSing (or friend of mine) knows how much I love the Atlanta Braves, and a vast majority of that love is due to my father and my brother. I had the opportunity to sit down with them to chat about our mutual love for the Bravos and how it has flourished over the years. Eyes got teary, metrics got sabered, and fun was had. My dad, Chris, gets into how his love of the Atlanta Braves has existed ever since the team was the Atlanta Braves. Civil rights becomes an interesting aspect of the conversation, he tells us we should all watch 42, and I learn exactly what his relationship was with Hank Aaron's sons (?!??!). My brother, Nathan, gets into how many Braves blogs he reads on a daily basis and what time he goes to Twitter to refresh feeds in order to know what the day's line up will be. It's all a total, unbiased(?) delight. Notes: My parents drove 5 hours to Atlanta to see a Braves game and get one of these for my birthday (and one for my brother) two years ago. The Atlanta Crackers Out of My League about some dude's "Cup of coffee" Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAny regular listener of MBSing (or friend of mine) knows how much I love the Atlanta Braves, and a vast majority of that love is due to my father and my brother. I had the opportunity to sit down with them to chat about our mutual love for the Bravos and how it has flourished over the years. Eyes got teary, metrics got sabered, and fun was had. My dad, Chris, gets into how his love of the Atlanta Braves has existed ever since the team was the Atlanta Braves. Civil rights becomes an interesting aspect of the conversation, he tells us we should all watch 42, and I learn exactly what his relationship was with Hank Aaron's sons (?!??!). My brother, Nathan, gets into how many Braves blogs he reads on a daily basis and what time he goes to Twitter to refresh feeds in order to know what the day's line up will be. It's all a total, unbiased(?) delight. Notes: My parents drove 5 hours to Atlanta to see a Braves game and get one of these for my birthday (and one for my brother) two years ago. The Atlanta Crackers Out of My League about some dude's "Cup of coffee" https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-47-mbsing-wolfgang-stein-storytelling Pop a squat on a campfire log, listeners. Wolf has been telling me stories since shortly after I moved to Chicago, and I couldn't have been happier to have him weaving tales with me on MBSing. Wolf's love of storytelling was born at summer camp, and he continues to entertain audiences with a passion ignited there by Mountain Mike, a tall tale telling counselor. Wolf is incredibly warm and kind, and I imagine the people he got this love from are, too. He shares his love all over the city in many different ways and even feels unsure if he's fit to tell a story he's chosen for a show opening soon along with The Annoyance Theatre. (An uncertainty he shared in a story at a recent event! Storytelling about storytelling!) Eat your heart out, This American Life. Notes: This American Life: Death and Taxes Here's the Story Stein Time  Story Lab    Wed, 30 Apr 2014 11:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-47-mbsing-wolfgang-stein-storytelling MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4452 Pop a squat on a campfire log, listeners. Wolf has been telling me stories since shortly after I moved to Chicago, and I couldn't have been happier to have him weaving tales with me on MBSing. Wolf's love of storytelling was born at summer camp, and he continues to entertain audiences with a passion ignited there by Mountain Mike, a tall tale telling counselor. Wolf is incredibly warm and kind, and I imagine the people he got this love from are, too. He shares his love all over the city in many different ways and even feels unsure if he's fit to tell a story he's chosen for a show opening soon along with The Annoyance Theatre. (An uncertainty he shared in a story at a recent event! Storytelling about storytelling!) Eat your heart out, This American Life. Notes: This American Life: Death and Taxes Here's the Story Stein Time  Story Lab    Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesPop a squat on a campfire log, listeners. Wolf has been telling me stories since shortly after I moved to Chicago, and I couldn't have been happier to have him weaving tales with me on MBSing. Wolf's love of storytelling was born at summer camp, and he continues to entertain audiences with a passion ignited there by Mountain Mike, a tall tale telling counselor. Wolf is incredibly warm and kind, and I imagine the people he got this love from are, too. He shares his love all over the city in many different ways and even feels unsure if he's fit to tell a story he's chosen for a show opening soon along with The Annoyance Theatre. (An uncertainty he shared in a story at a recent event! Storytelling about storytelling!) Eat your heart out, This American Life. Notes: This American Life: Death and Taxes Here's the Story Stein Time  Story Lab    https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-46-mbsing-chris-geiger-pokemon Want to listen to two adults sitting down for a chat about a child's pocket monster game and having a damn good time doing it? Good, because fellow member of The Nerdologues Chris Geiger tells me a ton about his love of catching 'em all. After spending a bit of time discussing the current pervasive nature of nerd culture in general, Chris and I explore a video game (and anime... but mostly we talk about the video game) that has become the second-most successful video game-based franchise in the world (besides Mario). Chris has (somewhat) quietly spent hours of his life playing games from every generation of the franchise (there are six generations each with at least three games), and he gets into why he loves all of the intricate details of the challenges, storylines, and monsters involved in the gameplay. As a fun twist I tell him a way I think his love of Pokémon has affected his life creatively! We also both agree on our favorite Pokémon (because I beat Pokémon Red as a kid and thus have a decent working knowledge of the franchise), so that's a fun moment to look forward to. Notes: Sean Kelley's blog post about Fake Geeks (or lack thereof) I found this weird thing after falling into a Wikihole.  Twitch Plays Pokémon and Ask The Almighty Helix Fossil  The Nerdologues's Pokémon Creation vs. Evolution Debate Wed, 23 Apr 2014 11:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-46-mbsing-chris-geiger-pokemon MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4996 Want to listen to two adults sitting down for a chat about a child's pocket monster game and having a damn good time doing it? Good, because fellow member of The Nerdologues Chris Geiger tells me a ton about his love of catching 'em all. After spending a bit of time discussing the current pervasive nature of nerd culture in general, Chris and I explore a video game (and anime... but mostly we talk about the video game) that has become the second-most successful video game-based franchise in the world (besides Mario). Chris has (somewhat) quietly spent hours of his life playing games from every generation of the franchise (there are six generations each with at least three games), and he gets into why he loves all of the intricate details of the challenges, storylines, and monsters involved in the gameplay. As a fun twist I tell him a way I think his love of Pokémon has affected his life creatively! We also both agree on our favorite Pokémon (because I beat Pokémon Red as a kid and thus have a decent working knowledge of the franchise), so that's a fun moment to look forward to. Notes: Sean Kelley's blog post about Fake Geeks (or lack thereof) I found this weird thing after falling into a Wikihole.  Twitch Plays Pokémon and Ask The Almighty Helix Fossil  The Nerdologues's Pokémon Creation vs. Evolution Debate Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWant to listen to two adults sitting down for a chat about a child's pocket monster game and having a damn good time doing it? Good, because fellow member of The Nerdologues Chris Geiger tells me a ton about his love of catching 'em all. After spending a bit of time discussing the current pervasive nature of nerd culture in general, Chris and I explore a video game (and anime... but mostly we talk about the video game) that has become the second-most successful video game-based franchise in the world (besides Mario). Chris has (somewhat) quietly spent hours of his life playing games from every generation of the franchise (there are six generations each with at least three games), and he gets into why he loves all of the intricate details of the challenges, storylines, and monsters involved in the gameplay. As a fun twist I tell him a way I think his love of Pokémon has affected his life creatively! We also both agree on our favorite Pokémon (because I beat Pokémon Red as a kid and thus have a decent working knowledge of the franchise), so that's a fun moment to look forward to. Notes: Sean Kelley's blog post about Fake Geeks (or lack thereof) I found this weird thing after falling into a Wikihole.  Twitch Plays Pokémon and Ask The Almighty Helix Fossil  The Nerdologues's Pokémon Creation vs. Evolution Debate https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-45-mbsing-matt-barbera-being-out-oholic His name is Matt Barbera, and he's a recovering out-oholic. Matt, currently in his tenth year of being president of the Playground Theatre, loves going out and being social so much he adopted (coined?) a term for it. He's of the opinion that this existence colors the lives of most 22-30ish year olds who venture to Chicago post college in search of jobs, apartments, adventure, and friendships, especially when one is "raised on the precipice of being a bro," and he has absolutely defined and excelled at what it means to be addicted to going out on the town. He tells me some stories from his years of outoholism (there's drunken fence jumping involved), favorite spots to frequent, people he knows he can always count on to bring out his outoholic tendencies, what outoholism looks like as one gets older, and how it ultimately is a big help in a lot of aspects of his life including being the proprietor of a successful comedy theatre. Matt even has a Buzz Management System (BMS) that he has perfected over the years. We had a total blast, and we appropriately offed a bottle of wine [mostly] during the recording. Notes: The Playground Theatre and more specifically Out of Character A Tribune piece about Sumo at the Elbo Room RIP Melvin B's Truck Stop   Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-45-mbsing-matt-barbera-being-out-oholic MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5134 His name is Matt Barbera, and he's a recovering out-oholic. Matt, currently in his tenth year of being president of the Playground Theatre, loves going out and being social so much he adopted (coined?) a term for it. He's of the opinion that this existence colors the lives of most 22-30ish year olds who venture to Chicago post college in search of jobs, apartments, adventure, and friendships, especially when one is "raised on the precipice of being a bro," and he has absolutely defined and excelled at what it means to be addicted to going out on the town. He tells me some stories from his years of outoholism (there's drunken fence jumping involved), favorite spots to frequent, people he knows he can always count on to bring out his outoholic tendencies, what outoholism looks like as one gets older, and how it ultimately is a big help in a lot of aspects of his life including being the proprietor of a successful comedy theatre. Matt even has a Buzz Management System (BMS) that he has perfected over the years. We had a total blast, and we appropriately offed a bottle of wine [mostly] during the recording. Notes: The Playground Theatre and more specifically Out of Character A Tribune piece about Sumo at the Elbo Room RIP Melvin B's Truck Stop   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHis name is Matt Barbera, and he's a recovering out-oholic. Matt, currently in his tenth year of being president of the Playground Theatre, loves going out and being social so much he adopted (coined?) a term for it. He's of the opinion that this existence colors the lives of most 22-30ish year olds who venture to Chicago post college in search of jobs, apartments, adventure, and friendships, especially when one is "raised on the precipice of being a bro," and he has absolutely defined and excelled at what it means to be addicted to going out on the town. He tells me some stories from his years of outoholism (there's drunken fence jumping involved), favorite spots to frequent, people he knows he can always count on to bring out his outoholic tendencies, what outoholism looks like as one gets older, and how it ultimately is a big help in a lot of aspects of his life including being the proprietor of a successful comedy theatre. Matt even has a Buzz Management System (BMS) that he has perfected over the years. We had a total blast, and we appropriately offed a bottle of wine [mostly] during the recording. Notes: The Playground Theatre and more specifically Out of Character A Tribune piece about Sumo at the Elbo Room RIP Melvin B's Truck Stop   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-44-mbsing-sawyer-heppes-sitcoms Sawyer Heppes (of the Otherworld Theatre ensemble and host of his own podcast, OC Dweeb) tunes in to MBSing to share his love of and long-standing fandom for television sitcoms. What started with TGIF (Boy Meets World, Step by Step, Full House, Family Matters, etc.) was bolstered by Nick at Night (Bewitched, I Love Lucy, ...Fresh Prince, etc.) and continues with the most recently syndicated shows (HIMYM, Big Bang Theory, Community, etc.), and Sawyer has a lot of insights as to how he feels those shows affected his family life growing up and his creative tastes now. My favorites include his idea that Cheers marks an important existence of nerd culture-esque discussions entering the main stream and that the best shows are "about the journey, not the destination." Notes: Cheers decided the sweatiest movie of all time is Cool Hand Luke The Beach Boys on Full House An AV Club nod to Donald Glover's last Community Wed, 09 Apr 2014 02:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-44-mbsing-sawyer-heppes-sitcoms MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4940 Sawyer Heppes (of the Otherworld Theatre ensemble and host of his own podcast, OC Dweeb) tunes in to MBSing to share his love of and long-standing fandom for television sitcoms. What started with TGIF (Boy Meets World, Step by Step, Full House, Family Matters, etc.) was bolstered by Nick at Night (Bewitched, I Love Lucy, ...Fresh Prince, etc.) and continues with the most recently syndicated shows (HIMYM, Big Bang Theory, Community, etc.), and Sawyer has a lot of insights as to how he feels those shows affected his family life growing up and his creative tastes now. My favorites include his idea that Cheers marks an important existence of nerd culture-esque discussions entering the main stream and that the best shows are "about the journey, not the destination." Notes: Cheers decided the sweatiest movie of all time is Cool Hand Luke The Beach Boys on Full House An AV Club nod to Donald Glover's last Community Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSawyer Heppes (of the Otherworld Theatre ensemble and host of his own podcast, OC Dweeb) tunes in to MBSing to share his love of and long-standing fandom for television sitcoms. What started with TGIF (Boy Meets World, Step by Step, Full House, Family Matters, etc.) was bolstered by Nick at Night (Bewitched, I Love Lucy, ...Fresh Prince, etc.) and continues with the most recently syndicated shows (HIMYM, Big Bang Theory, Community, etc.), and Sawyer has a lot of insights as to how he feels those shows affected his family life growing up and his creative tastes now. My favorites include his idea that Cheers marks an important existence of nerd culture-esque discussions entering the main stream and that the best shows are "about the journey, not the destination." Notes: Cheers decided the sweatiest movie of all time is Cool Hand Luke The Beach Boys on Full House An AV Club nod to Donald Glover's last Community https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-43-mbsing-adam-levin-failure Adam Levin is a Chicago improviser not afraid to air out his failures, and it made for a really compelling, funny episode to record. He tells so many stories of improv, romantic, and work-related failures that, if nothing else, this will be a fun ep to commiserate with (or make you feel better about your own, less awkward failings?). Adam is determined and kind throughout all of these anecdotes, and he never tries to point fingers and blame others for his stumbling blocks. His honesty is refreshing, and his thoughts on his own situations are so new and present he still doesn't know how to fully process some or how they'll all have an effect on him in the end. He defines the worst question he has publicly asked in an obviously strained romantic situation ("Is this awkward right now?"), after which he heightened his own hilariously tragic circumstance (by doing a cartwheel). That gem is the tip of the iceberg, so enjoy these tales (and the delightful shout outs to things Adam loved in past MBSing episodes). Notes: Michael and Michael Have Issues take on one man shows. The Your Stories I reference wherein I talk about some of my own failings in the love department. How Was Your Week. Julie Klausner is genuinely an inspiration for me. Check this out if you love MBSing. Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-43-mbsing-adam-levin-failure MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 8793 Adam Levin is a Chicago improviser not afraid to air out his failures, and it made for a really compelling, funny episode to record. He tells so many stories of improv, romantic, and work-related failures that, if nothing else, this will be a fun ep to commiserate with (or make you feel better about your own, less awkward failings?). Adam is determined and kind throughout all of these anecdotes, and he never tries to point fingers and blame others for his stumbling blocks. His honesty is refreshing, and his thoughts on his own situations are so new and present he still doesn't know how to fully process some or how they'll all have an effect on him in the end. He defines the worst question he has publicly asked in an obviously strained romantic situation ("Is this awkward right now?"), after which he heightened his own hilariously tragic circumstance (by doing a cartwheel). That gem is the tip of the iceberg, so enjoy these tales (and the delightful shout outs to things Adam loved in past MBSing episodes). Notes: Michael and Michael Have Issues take on one man shows. The Your Stories I reference wherein I talk about some of my own failings in the love department. How Was Your Week. Julie Klausner is genuinely an inspiration for me. Check this out if you love MBSing. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAdam Levin is a Chicago improviser not afraid to air out his failures, and it made for a really compelling, funny episode to record. He tells so many stories of improv, romantic, and work-related failures that, if nothing else, this will be a fun ep to commiserate with (or make you feel better about your own, less awkward failings?). Adam is determined and kind throughout all of these anecdotes, and he never tries to point fingers and blame others for his stumbling blocks. His honesty is refreshing, and his thoughts on his own situations are so new and present he still doesn't know how to fully process some or how they'll all have an effect on him in the end. He defines the worst question he has publicly asked in an obviously strained romantic situation ("Is this awkward right now?"), after which he heightened his own hilariously tragic circumstance (by doing a cartwheel). That gem is the tip of the iceberg, so enjoy these tales (and the delightful shout outs to things Adam loved in past MBSing episodes). Notes: Michael and Michael Have Issues take on one man shows. The Your Stories I reference wherein I talk about some of my own failings in the love department. How Was Your Week. Julie Klausner is genuinely an inspiration for me. Check this out if you love MBSing. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-42-mbsing-mark-colomb-podcasting Fellow Chicago podcast host Mark Colomb comes over to talk shop on podcasting in the Chicago comedy community. Like all of my guests, he is far more experienced and insightful on the topic than I am, but Mark specifically covers what he has put into and gotten out of being a podcast host. Mark's Poor Choices show was the first of its kind in this community and provides an amazing amount of background for so many beloved Chicago performers who continue to play here or have gone on to bigger stages and screens. Mark continues his podcasting endeavors with his fiancée, Mel Evans, on An Hour With Your Ex wherein they challenge each other's taste in film and television. He also talks about how their first date was on the Poor Choices show! He's basically getting a wife out of being the host of a podcast! I truly admire so much of what Mark has accomplished and continues to work on, and his thoughts on his shows and how podcasting provides a basis for more thoughtful conversations are really intriguing. Notes: We'll Be Right Back With Ruby Streak Giant Bombcast The Chicago Sessions with host Seth Weitberg Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-42-mbsing-mark-colomb-podcasting MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5339 Fellow Chicago podcast host Mark Colomb comes over to talk shop on podcasting in the Chicago comedy community. Like all of my guests, he is far more experienced and insightful on the topic than I am, but Mark specifically covers what he has put into and gotten out of being a podcast host. Mark's Poor Choices show was the first of its kind in this community and provides an amazing amount of background for so many beloved Chicago performers who continue to play here or have gone on to bigger stages and screens. Mark continues his podcasting endeavors with his fiancée, Mel Evans, on An Hour With Your Ex wherein they challenge each other's taste in film and television. He also talks about how their first date was on the Poor Choices show! He's basically getting a wife out of being the host of a podcast! I truly admire so much of what Mark has accomplished and continues to work on, and his thoughts on his shows and how podcasting provides a basis for more thoughtful conversations are really intriguing. Notes: We'll Be Right Back With Ruby Streak Giant Bombcast The Chicago Sessions with host Seth Weitberg Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesFellow Chicago podcast host Mark Colomb comes over to talk shop on podcasting in the Chicago comedy community. Like all of my guests, he is far more experienced and insightful on the topic than I am, but Mark specifically covers what he has put into and gotten out of being a podcast host. Mark's Poor Choices show was the first of its kind in this community and provides an amazing amount of background for so many beloved Chicago performers who continue to play here or have gone on to bigger stages and screens. Mark continues his podcasting endeavors with his fiancée, Mel Evans, on An Hour With Your Ex wherein they challenge each other's taste in film and television. He also talks about how their first date was on the Poor Choices show! He's basically getting a wife out of being the host of a podcast! I truly admire so much of what Mark has accomplished and continues to work on, and his thoughts on his shows and how podcasting provides a basis for more thoughtful conversations are really intriguing. Notes: We'll Be Right Back With Ruby Streak Giant Bombcast The Chicago Sessions with host Seth Weitberg https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-sum-41-mbsing-jeff-murdoch-high-school-music The ever-hilarious Jeff Murdoch comes by MBSing to talk about not only the music he loved while he was in high school but also the universal idea of music and things everyone liked when we were in high school in order to seem "cool."  As well as doling out some totally solid life advice ("Don't sleep. Eat cookies."), Jeff gets into why he thinks he continues to like a lot of those high-school-favorite bands.  DJ Jazzy Jeff spins jams as we chat and professes that if at the end of the day, someone asks him if he wants to listen to Wilco or Blink-182, he's going to go with Blink-182.  I can't blame the guy.   Notes: PatricHa Comedy The lead singer of Sum 41 in 2013 The car commercial that uses One Week   Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-sum-41-mbsing-jeff-murdoch-high-school-music MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5480 The ever-hilarious Jeff Murdoch comes by MBSing to talk about not only the music he loved while he was in high school but also the universal idea of music and things everyone liked when we were in high school in order to seem "cool."  As well as doling out some totally solid life advice ("Don't sleep. Eat cookies."), Jeff gets into why he thinks he continues to like a lot of those high-school-favorite bands.  DJ Jazzy Jeff spins jams as we chat and professes that if at the end of the day, someone asks him if he wants to listen to Wilco or Blink-182, he's going to go with Blink-182.  I can't blame the guy.   Notes: PatricHa Comedy The lead singer of Sum 41 in 2013 The car commercial that uses One Week   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThe ever-hilarious Jeff Murdoch comes by MBSing to talk about not only the music he loved while he was in high school but also the universal idea of music and things everyone liked when we were in high school in order to seem "cool."  As well as doling out some totally solid life advice ("Don't sleep. Eat cookies."), Jeff gets into why he thinks he continues to like a lot of those high-school-favorite bands.  DJ Jazzy Jeff spins jams as we chat and professes that if at the end of the day, someone asks him if he wants to listen to Wilco or Blink-182, he's going to go with Blink-182.  I can't blame the guy.   Notes: PatricHa Comedy The lead singer of Sum 41 in 2013 The car commercial that uses One Week   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-40-mbsing-shelby-mongan-tattoos Even though Shelby considers herself the kind of nerd who is "so into things people are embarrassed for you," she chose a very traditionally cool, rebellious passion to talk to me about, tattoos.  Shelby has 6 (or more if you start counting them individually instead of grouping), and they all mean a great deal to her.  Shelby described the need for tattoos by saying that she loves the things that she loves so much that she has to have them on her body, and I just don't know whether anyone can define passion and nerdiness more intensely than that.  She's got tattoos to represent Chicago, her family, some friendships, and her religion, but beyond that she is a proponent of women using tattoos to embrace their own bodies and do with them as they choose.  Shelby's energy, genuine nature, and passion are contagious, so you may find yourself pondering what important thing you could get emblazoned on your bicep soon.   Notes: Shelby's Tumblr post outlining all her tattoos and reasonings behind them The Strength's Quest personality test The Mind of a Chef The Improvised Star Trek, which I will continue to bring up Welcome to Nightvale, which I know I need to check out Shelby's Your Stories about her hair and pop punk Shelby's friend who has been in Disney Channel Original Movies with Sarah Hyland Wed, 12 Mar 2014 03:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-40-mbsing-shelby-mongan-tattoos MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4782 Even though Shelby considers herself the kind of nerd who is "so into things people are embarrassed for you," she chose a very traditionally cool, rebellious passion to talk to me about, tattoos.  Shelby has 6 (or more if you start counting them individually instead of grouping), and they all mean a great deal to her.  Shelby described the need for tattoos by saying that she loves the things that she loves so much that she has to have them on her body, and I just don't know whether anyone can define passion and nerdiness more intensely than that.  She's got tattoos to represent Chicago, her family, some friendships, and her religion, but beyond that she is a proponent of women using tattoos to embrace their own bodies and do with them as they choose.  Shelby's energy, genuine nature, and passion are contagious, so you may find yourself pondering what important thing you could get emblazoned on your bicep soon.   Notes: Shelby's Tumblr post outlining all her tattoos and reasonings behind them The Strength's Quest personality test The Mind of a Chef The Improvised Star Trek, which I will continue to bring up Welcome to Nightvale, which I know I need to check out Shelby's Your Stories about her hair and pop punk Shelby's friend who has been in Disney Channel Original Movies with Sarah Hyland Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesEven though Shelby considers herself the kind of nerd who is "so into things people are embarrassed for you," she chose a very traditionally cool, rebellious passion to talk to me about, tattoos.  Shelby has 6 (or more if you start counting them individually instead of grouping), and they all mean a great deal to her.  Shelby described the need for tattoos by saying that she loves the things that she loves so much that she has to have them on her body, and I just don't know whether anyone can define passion and nerdiness more intensely than that.  She's got tattoos to represent Chicago, her family, some friendships, and her religion, but beyond that she is a proponent of women using tattoos to embrace their own bodies and do with them as they choose.  Shelby's energy, genuine nature, and passion are contagious, so you may find yourself pondering what important thing you could get emblazoned on your bicep soon.   Notes: Shelby's Tumblr post outlining all her tattoos and reasonings behind them The Strength's Quest personality test The Mind of a Chef The Improvised Star Trek, which I will continue to bring up Welcome to Nightvale, which I know I need to check out Shelby's Your Stories about her hair and pop punk Shelby's friend who has been in Disney Channel Original Movies with Sarah Hyland https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-39-mbsing-chris-white-power-ballads   Independent filmmaker Chris White's request to be on the show prompted a need for the first call-in MBSing, and the results made for one of my favorite episodes! Chris shared his top five power ballads in film with me, and we got off on a ton of other film (and reminiscent) tangents.  I really loved working with Chris while I was in college and have enjoyed following his filmmaking career from afar since I moved to Chicago, so getting him on the show to preach the merits (and broad definition) of power ballads was a real treat.  We cover from R Kelly to Cher and from Paganini to Lonestar, so rest assured we left few stones unturned.  Check out some of Chris's work in the links below, and definitely go to LookingforBillMurray.com. Notes: Watch two of Chris's films and a trailer for his newest, Cinema Purgatorio, at WeMadeTheseFilms.com Chris is also a director for Star Trek Continues. Rutledge Cab Company, the restaurant in Charleston Bill Murray frequents. Part 1 of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken Fri, 07 Mar 2014 15:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-39-mbsing-chris-white-power-ballads MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6149   Independent filmmaker Chris White's request to be on the show prompted a need for the first call-in MBSing, and the results made for one of my favorite episodes! Chris shared his top five power ballads in film with me, and we got off on a ton of other film (and reminiscent) tangents.  I really loved working with Chris while I was in college and have enjoyed following his filmmaking career from afar since I moved to Chicago, so getting him on the show to preach the merits (and broad definition) of power ballads was a real treat.  We cover from R Kelly to Cher and from Paganini to Lonestar, so rest assured we left few stones unturned.  Check out some of Chris's work in the links below, and definitely go to LookingforBillMurray.com. Notes: Watch two of Chris's films and a trailer for his newest, Cinema Purgatorio, at WeMadeTheseFilms.com Chris is also a director for Star Trek Continues. Rutledge Cab Company, the restaurant in Charleston Bill Murray frequents. Part 1 of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken Mary Beth Smith of The Nerdologues  Independent filmmaker Chris White's request to be on the show prompted a need for the first call-in MBSing, and the results made for one of my favorite episodes! Chris shared his top five power ballads in film with me, and we got off on a ton of other film (and reminiscent) tangents.  I really loved working with Chris while I was in college and have enjoyed following his filmmaking career from afar since I moved to Chicago, so getting him on the show to preach the merits (and broad definition) of power ballads was a real treat.  We cover from R Kelly to Cher and from Paganini to Lonestar, so rest assured we left few stones unturned.  Check out some of Chris's work in the links below, and definitely go to LookingforBillMurray.com. Notes: Watch two of Chris's films and a trailer for his newest, Cinema Purgatorio, at WeMadeTheseFilms.com Chris is also a director for Star Trek Continues. Rutledge Cab Company, the restaurant in Charleston Bill Murray frequents. Part 1 of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-38-mbsing-scott-braidman-charlie-chaplin Scott Braidman is an amazing performer and artist, and he shared his love of another amazing performer and artist (and director and producer and visionary...) with me in this excellent episode.  I had only ever seen one Chaplin film before this, but Scott's passion for the subject has certainly inspired me to check out a lot of his other work.  After sharing with me perhaps one of my favorite inception of a love for a topic stories in the history of the show, Scott shows he is so in touch with what it is he loves about Chaplin and how he feels he tries to emulate him (and ways he will never/does not want to be like him).  Scott's intelligence and kindness shine through in a big, entertaining way (like the thoughts "good art comes from a desire to change things" and "real life isn't genre"), then we talk about dick jokes to even things out.   Notes: Codzilla Thrillboat Fan Video. Yes. Trailer for Chaplin I've added Chaplin and Co and Charlie Chaplin Collection to My List!   Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-38-mbsing-scott-braidman-charlie-chaplin MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5139 Scott Braidman is an amazing performer and artist, and he shared his love of another amazing performer and artist (and director and producer and visionary...) with me in this excellent episode.  I had only ever seen one Chaplin film before this, but Scott's passion for the subject has certainly inspired me to check out a lot of his other work.  After sharing with me perhaps one of my favorite inception of a love for a topic stories in the history of the show, Scott shows he is so in touch with what it is he loves about Chaplin and how he feels he tries to emulate him (and ways he will never/does not want to be like him).  Scott's intelligence and kindness shine through in a big, entertaining way (like the thoughts "good art comes from a desire to change things" and "real life isn't genre"), then we talk about dick jokes to even things out.   Notes: Codzilla Thrillboat Fan Video. Yes. Trailer for Chaplin I've added Chaplin and Co and Charlie Chaplin Collection to My List!   Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesScott Braidman is an amazing performer and artist, and he shared his love of another amazing performer and artist (and director and producer and visionary...) with me in this excellent episode.  I had only ever seen one Chaplin film before this, but Scott's passion for the subject has certainly inspired me to check out a lot of his other work.  After sharing with me perhaps one of my favorite inception of a love for a topic stories in the history of the show, Scott shows he is so in touch with what it is he loves about Chaplin and how he feels he tries to emulate him (and ways he will never/does not want to be like him).  Scott's intelligence and kindness shine through in a big, entertaining way (like the thoughts "good art comes from a desire to change things" and "real life isn't genre"), then we talk about dick jokes to even things out.   Notes: Codzilla Thrillboat Fan Video. Yes. Trailer for Chaplin I've added Chaplin and Co and Charlie Chaplin Collection to My List!   https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-37-mbsing-clayton-margeson-sex Yup.  Clayton chose to talk about sex.  And it wasn't as terrible and uncomfortable as I thought it might have been!  It was actually quite the interesting, personal, and honest conversation.  We both call each other out for crappy things we've done in past relationships.  (Clayton said I date like an improv boy!)  We talk about how we're glad we're both into socially acceptable sex stuff and touch on a few other frustratingly taboo aspects of sex and relationships.  We even role play! For real! It's towards the end! Notes: I brought this up at one point, but I couldn't remember what it was called. Janeane Garofalo does consider herself asexual. Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-37-mbsing-clayton-margeson-sex MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4688 Yup.  Clayton chose to talk about sex.  And it wasn't as terrible and uncomfortable as I thought it might have been!  It was actually quite the interesting, personal, and honest conversation.  We both call each other out for crappy things we've done in past relationships.  (Clayton said I date like an improv boy!)  We talk about how we're glad we're both into socially acceptable sex stuff and touch on a few other frustratingly taboo aspects of sex and relationships.  We even role play! For real! It's towards the end! Notes: I brought this up at one point, but I couldn't remember what it was called. Janeane Garofalo does consider herself asexual. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesYup.  Clayton chose to talk about sex.  And it wasn't as terrible and uncomfortable as I thought it might have been!  It was actually quite the interesting, personal, and honest conversation.  We both call each other out for crappy things we've done in past relationships.  (Clayton said I date like an improv boy!)  We talk about how we're glad we're both into socially acceptable sex stuff and touch on a few other frustratingly taboo aspects of sex and relationships.  We even role play! For real! It's towards the end! Notes: I brought this up at one point, but I couldn't remember what it was called. Janeane Garofalo does consider herself asexual. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-36-mbsing-tim-dunn-being-busy Tim Dunn (of the fellow Nerdologues-produced podcast Talking Games with Tim and Clayton) is on the show to talk about a relatively new-found love of being busy. We never really spend much time defining what we think being busy is, but we do get into a LOT of topics and aspects of our lives affected by our levels of commitments and plans (dating, working, comedy we see and work on, what we do when we aren't busy, etc). It ends up being a great, fairly stripped down conversation about what we like and don't like about our lives as they are. At one point Tim apologizes for choosing a bummer topic, and I apologize for talking about myself too much. He didn't need to apologize because it is not a bummer topic. I still feel like I did! But I really love this ep.  Notes: The Shock T's Opener I reference Some of Joan Rivers's joke archive. Also, watch A Piece of Work Tim's most recent Your Stories appearance My appearance on Talking Games with Tim and Clayton Wed, 12 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-36-mbsing-tim-dunn-being-busy MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4700 Tim Dunn (of the fellow Nerdologues-produced podcast Talking Games with Tim and Clayton) is on the show to talk about a relatively new-found love of being busy. We never really spend much time defining what we think being busy is, but we do get into a LOT of topics and aspects of our lives affected by our levels of commitments and plans (dating, working, comedy we see and work on, what we do when we aren't busy, etc). It ends up being a great, fairly stripped down conversation about what we like and don't like about our lives as they are. At one point Tim apologizes for choosing a bummer topic, and I apologize for talking about myself too much. He didn't need to apologize because it is not a bummer topic. I still feel like I did! But I really love this ep.  Notes: The Shock T's Opener I reference Some of Joan Rivers's joke archive. Also, watch A Piece of Work Tim's most recent Your Stories appearance My appearance on Talking Games with Tim and Clayton Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesTim Dunn (of the fellow Nerdologues-produced podcast Talking Games with Tim and Clayton) is on the show to talk about a relatively new-found love of being busy. We never really spend much time defining what we think being busy is, but we do get into a LOT of topics and aspects of our lives affected by our levels of commitments and plans (dating, working, comedy we see and work on, what we do when we aren't busy, etc). It ends up being a great, fairly stripped down conversation about what we like and don't like about our lives as they are. At one point Tim apologizes for choosing a bummer topic, and I apologize for talking about myself too much. He didn't need to apologize because it is not a bummer topic. I still feel like I did! But I really love this ep.  Notes: The Shock T's Opener I reference Some of Joan Rivers's joke archive. Also, watch A Piece of Work Tim's most recent Your Stories appearance My appearance on Talking Games with Tim and Clayton https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-35-mbsing-amy-thompson-simpsons This episode was bound to happen because people effing LOVE The Simpsons, and I'm so pleased that it happened with gem-of-a-person Amy Thompson.  She's such a sweetheart that I dare you not to be warmed by her silly antics in this conversation.  I haven't seen much Simpsons (I know, I know...) so I can't get too deep into references and such with Amy, so I try to unpack why the iconic show IS so iconic and, of course, why it means so much to her. Notes: wtso.tv is shut down :( Hurricane Neddy Planet Simpson Wed, 05 Feb 2014 06:30:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-35-mbsing-amy-thompson-simpsons MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3915 This episode was bound to happen because people effing LOVE The Simpsons, and I'm so pleased that it happened with gem-of-a-person Amy Thompson.  She's such a sweetheart that I dare you not to be warmed by her silly antics in this conversation.  I haven't seen much Simpsons (I know, I know...) so I can't get too deep into references and such with Amy, so I try to unpack why the iconic show IS so iconic and, of course, why it means so much to her. Notes: wtso.tv is shut down :( Hurricane Neddy Planet Simpson Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThis episode was bound to happen because people effing LOVE The Simpsons, and I'm so pleased that it happened with gem-of-a-person Amy Thompson.  She's such a sweetheart that I dare you not to be warmed by her silly antics in this conversation.  I haven't seen much Simpsons (I know, I know...) so I can't get too deep into references and such with Amy, so I try to unpack why the iconic show IS so iconic and, of course, why it means so much to her. Notes: wtso.tv is shut down :( Hurricane Neddy Planet Simpson https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-34-mbsing-padraic-connelly-jeopardy What is a great episode of MBSing?  In this week's episode, Pad tells me of his long-standing love for Jeopardy! that recently culminated in an appearance on the show.  His episode won't air for another month or so, but Padraic explains the process, describes some of the true characters he encountered along the way, and covers why he thinks the show and a love of trivia have remained as important as they are to him.  We also get to unpack what Pad's fun fact introduction on the show was and how it later came back to haunt him in Double Jeopardy! Notes: The weird not-Trebek Jeopardy! for NES host @KenJennings http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2010/12/08/interview-royal-caribbean-performer-padraic-connelly Wed, 29 Jan 2014 11:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-34-mbsing-padraic-connelly-jeopardy MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4110 What is a great episode of MBSing?  In this week's episode, Pad tells me of his long-standing love for Jeopardy! that recently culminated in an appearance on the show.  His episode won't air for another month or so, but Padraic explains the process, describes some of the true characters he encountered along the way, and covers why he thinks the show and a love of trivia have remained as important as they are to him.  We also get to unpack what Pad's fun fact introduction on the show was and how it later came back to haunt him in Double Jeopardy! Notes: The weird not-Trebek Jeopardy! for NES host @KenJennings http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2010/12/08/interview-royal-caribbean-performer-padraic-connelly Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWhat is a great episode of MBSing?  In this week's episode, Pad tells me of his long-standing love for Jeopardy! that recently culminated in an appearance on the show.  His episode won't air for another month or so, but Padraic explains the process, describes some of the true characters he encountered along the way, and covers why he thinks the show and a love of trivia have remained as important as they are to him.  We also get to unpack what Pad's fun fact introduction on the show was and how it later came back to haunt him in Double Jeopardy! Notes: The weird not-Trebek Jeopardy! for NES host @KenJennings http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2010/12/08/interview-royal-caribbean-performer-padraic-connelly https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-33-mbsing-kevin-budnik-cartoons Sit back and actually enjoy some 90s nostalgia for a change (we promise this is nothing like a cloying BuzzFeed list) as my friend Kevin and I unpack his love of cartoons!  Kevin is a comic artist and illustrator who grew up in the city of Chicago as an only child with a penchant for spending time with Nickelodeon and trying to figure out how to best draw the characters he loved.  We explore a lot of why we like the specific cartoons we like and even get into some of the shifts in style over the last few decades.  I loved it, and you will, too.  And check out Kevin's work below! Notes: Kevin's tumblr, former blog, and website The Yeti Press site, where you can purchase Our Ever Improving Living Room and Dust Motes Volumes 1 & 2 This is the excellent Nerdist episode we reference with Rob Paulson and Maurice LaMarche Star Wars with voice actors from Emerald City Comicon I Know that Voice, John DiMaggio's documentary Slimed Nickreboot.com Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-33-mbsing-kevin-budnik-cartoons MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3917 Sit back and actually enjoy some 90s nostalgia for a change (we promise this is nothing like a cloying BuzzFeed list) as my friend Kevin and I unpack his love of cartoons!  Kevin is a comic artist and illustrator who grew up in the city of Chicago as an only child with a penchant for spending time with Nickelodeon and trying to figure out how to best draw the characters he loved.  We explore a lot of why we like the specific cartoons we like and even get into some of the shifts in style over the last few decades.  I loved it, and you will, too.  And check out Kevin's work below! Notes: Kevin's tumblr, former blog, and website The Yeti Press site, where you can purchase Our Ever Improving Living Room and Dust Motes Volumes 1 & 2 This is the excellent Nerdist episode we reference with Rob Paulson and Maurice LaMarche Star Wars with voice actors from Emerald City Comicon I Know that Voice, John DiMaggio's documentary Slimed Nickreboot.com Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSit back and actually enjoy some 90s nostalgia for a change (we promise this is nothing like a cloying BuzzFeed list) as my friend Kevin and I unpack his love of cartoons!  Kevin is a comic artist and illustrator who grew up in the city of Chicago as an only child with a penchant for spending time with Nickelodeon and trying to figure out how to best draw the characters he loved.  We explore a lot of why we like the specific cartoons we like and even get into some of the shifts in style over the last few decades.  I loved it, and you will, too.  And check out Kevin's work below! Notes: Kevin's tumblr, former blog, and website The Yeti Press site, where you can purchase Our Ever Improving Living Room and Dust Motes Volumes 1 & 2 This is the excellent Nerdist episode we reference with Rob Paulson and Maurice LaMarche Star Wars with voice actors from Emerald City Comicon I Know that Voice, John DiMaggio's documentary Slimed Nickreboot.com https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-32-mbsing-julia-weiss-food Anyone who knows Julia knows she's an incredibly passionate person, and I couldn't wait to get her on MBSing to chat about one of the many things she's passionate about. Possible topics included feminism, childhood/nannying, social networks, drinking, Beyoncé, family, and a handful of others, but at the top of the episode my lovely roommate Stephanie drew Julia's topic out of a hat as an unbiased observer. Thus sealing our topic of discussion: food. We explored the good and bad emotions attached to food (comfort, joy, guilt...), the progression of Julia's tastes from exploratory meals she made as a child to Chicago's fine dining options, and a hypothetical restaurant where Julia would expertly pair a TV show or film with her patrons' meals. I laughed until my stomach hurt during this recording because Julia is just incredibly funny and also there were probs some hunger grumbles after all the food talk. Eat a sandwich, then listen to us dish! Notes: Alinea, who topically had some baby-related drama this weekend. Next, whose current menu is Chicago Steak EL Ideas and up-to-date whereabouts of Andrew Brochu Wed, 15 Jan 2014 15:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-32-mbsing-julia-weiss-food MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4449 Anyone who knows Julia knows she's an incredibly passionate person, and I couldn't wait to get her on MBSing to chat about one of the many things she's passionate about. Possible topics included feminism, childhood/nannying, social networks, drinking, Beyoncé, family, and a handful of others, but at the top of the episode my lovely roommate Stephanie drew Julia's topic out of a hat as an unbiased observer. Thus sealing our topic of discussion: food. We explored the good and bad emotions attached to food (comfort, joy, guilt...), the progression of Julia's tastes from exploratory meals she made as a child to Chicago's fine dining options, and a hypothetical restaurant where Julia would expertly pair a TV show or film with her patrons' meals. I laughed until my stomach hurt during this recording because Julia is just incredibly funny and also there were probs some hunger grumbles after all the food talk. Eat a sandwich, then listen to us dish! Notes: Alinea, who topically had some baby-related drama this weekend. Next, whose current menu is Chicago Steak EL Ideas and up-to-date whereabouts of Andrew Brochu Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesAnyone who knows Julia knows she's an incredibly passionate person, and I couldn't wait to get her on MBSing to chat about one of the many things she's passionate about. Possible topics included feminism, childhood/nannying, social networks, drinking, Beyoncé, family, and a handful of others, but at the top of the episode my lovely roommate Stephanie drew Julia's topic out of a hat as an unbiased observer. Thus sealing our topic of discussion: food. We explored the good and bad emotions attached to food (comfort, joy, guilt...), the progression of Julia's tastes from exploratory meals she made as a child to Chicago's fine dining options, and a hypothetical restaurant where Julia would expertly pair a TV show or film with her patrons' meals. I laughed until my stomach hurt during this recording because Julia is just incredibly funny and also there were probs some hunger grumbles after all the food talk. Eat a sandwich, then listen to us dish! Notes: Alinea, who topically had some baby-related drama this weekend. Next, whose current menu is Chicago Steak EL Ideas and up-to-date whereabouts of Andrew Brochu https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-31-mbsing-rob-grabowski-pop-culture Break out the Entertainment Weekly and pull up IMDb and AV Club in different browser tabs because Rob and I are about to get deep into some pop culture goodness.  Rob is an incredibly nice guy and an excellent actor/improviser, and he goes into some really interesting details on how he became a fan of pop culture in general (Looney Toons played a big role!) and how it continues to feed into his creative life (the phrase "Comedy Cops" is used!).  Tune in, people. Notes: The hosts of Pop My Culture are Cole Stratton and Vanessa Ragland, but I won't link it because Rob wasn't really recommending it. Doug Loves Movies! My personal favorite podcast. The Escape From Tomorrow episode is October 9th with Adam Scott and Marc Maron. The first episode of Jeeves and Wooster Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova on The Simpsons Wed, 08 Jan 2014 13:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-31-mbsing-rob-grabowski-pop-culture MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3837 Break out the Entertainment Weekly and pull up IMDb and AV Club in different browser tabs because Rob and I are about to get deep into some pop culture goodness.  Rob is an incredibly nice guy and an excellent actor/improviser, and he goes into some really interesting details on how he became a fan of pop culture in general (Looney Toons played a big role!) and how it continues to feed into his creative life (the phrase "Comedy Cops" is used!).  Tune in, people. Notes: The hosts of Pop My Culture are Cole Stratton and Vanessa Ragland, but I won't link it because Rob wasn't really recommending it. Doug Loves Movies! My personal favorite podcast. The Escape From Tomorrow episode is October 9th with Adam Scott and Marc Maron. The first episode of Jeeves and Wooster Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova on The Simpsons Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBreak out the Entertainment Weekly and pull up IMDb and AV Club in different browser tabs because Rob and I are about to get deep into some pop culture goodness.  Rob is an incredibly nice guy and an excellent actor/improviser, and he goes into some really interesting details on how he became a fan of pop culture in general (Looney Toons played a big role!) and how it continues to feed into his creative life (the phrase "Comedy Cops" is used!).  Tune in, people. Notes: The hosts of Pop My Culture are Cole Stratton and Vanessa Ragland, but I won't link it because Rob wasn't really recommending it. Doug Loves Movies! My personal favorite podcast. The Escape From Tomorrow episode is October 9th with Adam Scott and Marc Maron. The first episode of Jeeves and Wooster Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova on The Simpsons https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-30-mbsing-matt-young-board-games It's fitting Matt chose to talk about board games because I think this episode has the fun and enthusiasm of sitting down for a rousing game with friends.  Matt tells the best stories and so aptly applies his love of board games to his job with gamification AND to his passion for improv in the search for the game and beyond.  This is an excellent ep especially for fellow gamers and follows Klingon Christmas Carol's Christopher Kidder-Mostrom well as Matt is a member of Improvised Star Trek (and Improvised Shakespeare).  Play it, my babies! Notes: The creator of Settlers of Catan is, indeed, Klaus Teuber. NogginLabs, where Matt works. Jane McGonigal's TED Talks The Cones of Dunshire from Parks and Recreation THIS is what Matt referred to that gamers figured out. VERY cool. Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-30-mbsing-matt-young-board-games MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4383 It's fitting Matt chose to talk about board games because I think this episode has the fun and enthusiasm of sitting down for a rousing game with friends.  Matt tells the best stories and so aptly applies his love of board games to his job with gamification AND to his passion for improv in the search for the game and beyond.  This is an excellent ep especially for fellow gamers and follows Klingon Christmas Carol's Christopher Kidder-Mostrom well as Matt is a member of Improvised Star Trek (and Improvised Shakespeare).  Play it, my babies! Notes: The creator of Settlers of Catan is, indeed, Klaus Teuber. NogginLabs, where Matt works. Jane McGonigal's TED Talks The Cones of Dunshire from Parks and Recreation THIS is what Matt referred to that gamers figured out. VERY cool. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesIt's fitting Matt chose to talk about board games because I think this episode has the fun and enthusiasm of sitting down for a rousing game with friends.  Matt tells the best stories and so aptly applies his love of board games to his job with gamification AND to his passion for improv in the search for the game and beyond.  This is an excellent ep especially for fellow gamers and follows Klingon Christmas Carol's Christopher Kidder-Mostrom well as Matt is a member of Improvised Star Trek (and Improvised Shakespeare).  Play it, my babies! Notes: The creator of Settlers of Catan is, indeed, Klaus Teuber. NogginLabs, where Matt works. Jane McGonigal's TED Talks The Cones of Dunshire from Parks and Recreation THIS is what Matt referred to that gamers figured out. VERY cool. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-29-mbsing-christopher-kidder-mostrom-translating Hola mis amigos! Enjoy this sweet ep with my new friend Christopher Kidder-Mostrom who explores his passion for translating that started in a grad program and has culminated in his theatre company Commedia Beauregard.  Chris and his company have an incredible mission statement to bring important works of theatre from other languages into English while keeping the essence of the pieces intact.  He also goes into some of the history on the company's production of A Klingon Christmas Carol, a fun version of the Dickens classic that marks the first play ever performed in the Star Trek language, Klingon.  Live long and prosper, MBSheads! Notes: Commedia Beauregard Lope de Vega is the prolific Spanish writer of La Dragontea Pope John Paul II's The Jeweller's Shop has been adapted into a film, too Christopher's "I Killed Roger" at Your Stories Fri, 27 Dec 2013 02:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-29-mbsing-christopher-kidder-mostrom-translating MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4133 Hola mis amigos! Enjoy this sweet ep with my new friend Christopher Kidder-Mostrom who explores his passion for translating that started in a grad program and has culminated in his theatre company Commedia Beauregard.  Chris and his company have an incredible mission statement to bring important works of theatre from other languages into English while keeping the essence of the pieces intact.  He also goes into some of the history on the company's production of A Klingon Christmas Carol, a fun version of the Dickens classic that marks the first play ever performed in the Star Trek language, Klingon.  Live long and prosper, MBSheads! Notes: Commedia Beauregard Lope de Vega is the prolific Spanish writer of La Dragontea Pope John Paul II's The Jeweller's Shop has been adapted into a film, too Christopher's "I Killed Roger" at Your Stories Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHola mis amigos! Enjoy this sweet ep with my new friend Christopher Kidder-Mostrom who explores his passion for translating that started in a grad program and has culminated in his theatre company Commedia Beauregard.  Chris and his company have an incredible mission statement to bring important works of theatre from other languages into English while keeping the essence of the pieces intact.  He also goes into some of the history on the company's production of A Klingon Christmas Carol, a fun version of the Dickens classic that marks the first play ever performed in the Star Trek language, Klingon.  Live long and prosper, MBSheads! Notes: Commedia Beauregard Lope de Vega is the prolific Spanish writer of La Dragontea Pope John Paul II's The Jeweller's Shop has been adapted into a film, too Christopher's "I Killed Roger" at Your Stories https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-28-mbsing-elliott-serrano-star-wars-and-nerd-rage A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away A few days ago in my kitchen, Elliott and I had a delightful chat about his favorite film franchise, Star Wars.  Unlike most fans, Elliott doesn't feel as much of a need to exclude those pesky prequels, and his defense essentially began with "shut the fuck up about Jar Jar Binks."  Strap in for a fun, nerdy romp around the Indy films, some Star Trek talk, and Elliott's proposal for how to fix the Ewok ending of Return of the Jedi.  I'm on board. Notes: Comic Culture Warrior on YouTube Geek to Me, Elliott's all-encompassing Nerd culture Red Eye column/blog My friend Hunter Whitworth's exploration of the Manic Grumpy Dream Fellow and The New Girl on Paste Wed, 18 Dec 2013 10:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-28-mbsing-elliott-serrano-star-wars-and-nerd-rage MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 4187 A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away A few days ago in my kitchen, Elliott and I had a delightful chat about his favorite film franchise, Star Wars.  Unlike most fans, Elliott doesn't feel as much of a need to exclude those pesky prequels, and his defense essentially began with "shut the fuck up about Jar Jar Binks."  Strap in for a fun, nerdy romp around the Indy films, some Star Trek talk, and Elliott's proposal for how to fix the Ewok ending of Return of the Jedi.  I'm on board. Notes: Comic Culture Warrior on YouTube Geek to Me, Elliott's all-encompassing Nerd culture Red Eye column/blog My friend Hunter Whitworth's exploration of the Manic Grumpy Dream Fellow and The New Girl on Paste Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesA long time ago in a galaxy far, far away A few days ago in my kitchen, Elliott and I had a delightful chat about his favorite film franchise, Star Wars.  Unlike most fans, Elliott doesn't feel as much of a need to exclude those pesky prequels, and his defense essentially began with "shut the fuck up about Jar Jar Binks."  Strap in for a fun, nerdy romp around the Indy films, some Star Trek talk, and Elliott's proposal for how to fix the Ewok ending of Return of the Jedi.  I'm on board. Notes: Comic Culture Warrior on YouTube Geek to Me, Elliott's all-encompassing Nerd culture Red Eye column/blog My friend Hunter Whitworth's exploration of the Manic Grumpy Dream Fellow and The New Girl on Paste https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-27-mbsing-claire-friedman-drawing Claire and I tackle the task of talking about a visual medium on an audio podcast, and we succeeded with flying colors. Claire is such a smart, kind lady who I consistently find myself lucky to have the pleasure of collaborating with regularly. She loves art and MBSing and did an excellent job sharing her love of both with me. Get into it to hear us gab about Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the superlatives we did and did not get in high school (that we are still inexplicably holding on to), and the growth of her love for and hours of time she has spent drawing. Notes: I couldn't find the Traveling Pants scene Claire cites, but here's one from America Ferrera's storyline. You get the idea. Claire's Tumblr wherein she regularly posts sketchbook pages old and new (along with a lot of comedy-related things... which makes sense). School of the Art Institute of Chicago The Department of Prints and Drawings at The Art Institute of Chicago (Fun Fact: Nerdologues member Steve Persch's company produces the online database for the department.  Cool!) Wed, 11 Dec 2013 10:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-27-mbsing-claire-friedman-drawing MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3720 Claire and I tackle the task of talking about a visual medium on an audio podcast, and we succeeded with flying colors. Claire is such a smart, kind lady who I consistently find myself lucky to have the pleasure of collaborating with regularly. She loves art and MBSing and did an excellent job sharing her love of both with me. Get into it to hear us gab about Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the superlatives we did and did not get in high school (that we are still inexplicably holding on to), and the growth of her love for and hours of time she has spent drawing. Notes: I couldn't find the Traveling Pants scene Claire cites, but here's one from America Ferrera's storyline. You get the idea. Claire's Tumblr wherein she regularly posts sketchbook pages old and new (along with a lot of comedy-related things... which makes sense). School of the Art Institute of Chicago The Department of Prints and Drawings at The Art Institute of Chicago (Fun Fact: Nerdologues member Steve Persch's company produces the online database for the department.  Cool!) Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesClaire and I tackle the task of talking about a visual medium on an audio podcast, and we succeeded with flying colors. Claire is such a smart, kind lady who I consistently find myself lucky to have the pleasure of collaborating with regularly. She loves art and MBSing and did an excellent job sharing her love of both with me. Get into it to hear us gab about Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the superlatives we did and did not get in high school (that we are still inexplicably holding on to), and the growth of her love for and hours of time she has spent drawing. Notes: I couldn't find the Traveling Pants scene Claire cites, but here's one from America Ferrera's storyline. You get the idea. Claire's Tumblr wherein she regularly posts sketchbook pages old and new (along with a lot of comedy-related things... which makes sense). School of the Art Institute of Chicago The Department of Prints and Drawings at The Art Institute of Chicago (Fun Fact: Nerdologues member Steve Persch's company produces the online database for the department.  Cool!) https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-26-mbsing-bearded-ones-improv This is a v. exclusive MBSing first: a podcast crossover episode!  The first half is The Bearded Ones podcast hosted by my dear friends hailing from Greenville, South Carolina, Evan Harris and Jason Underwood.  I tell them one of my most embarrassing performance stories that happened a few weeks ago, a tale about Clark Gregg's actor's nightmare, and an assortment of other fun things.  The second half is me interviewing them about a mutual passion of theirs, improv comedy!  They're on a team in South Carolina together called Laughing Stock and weave some tales of woe and triumph from their experiences with that and other improv endeavors.  So grab some laundry or plan a long car trip/work out because this is a long but great ep! Notes: The Bearded Ones! Also available on iTunes and Stitcher. Laughing Stock!  Alchemy Improv! Mock Turtle Soup, Jason's college improv team at Clemson University Halloween Night at Lodge 20, the video the boys tragically struggled to screen at Coffee Underground Wed, 04 Dec 2013 15:15:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-26-mbsing-bearded-ones-improv MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 6872 This is a v. exclusive MBSing first: a podcast crossover episode!  The first half is The Bearded Ones podcast hosted by my dear friends hailing from Greenville, South Carolina, Evan Harris and Jason Underwood.  I tell them one of my most embarrassing performance stories that happened a few weeks ago, a tale about Clark Gregg's actor's nightmare, and an assortment of other fun things.  The second half is me interviewing them about a mutual passion of theirs, improv comedy!  They're on a team in South Carolina together called Laughing Stock and weave some tales of woe and triumph from their experiences with that and other improv endeavors.  So grab some laundry or plan a long car trip/work out because this is a long but great ep! Notes: The Bearded Ones! Also available on iTunes and Stitcher. Laughing Stock!  Alchemy Improv! Mock Turtle Soup, Jason's college improv team at Clemson University Halloween Night at Lodge 20, the video the boys tragically struggled to screen at Coffee Underground Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThis is a v. exclusive MBSing first: a podcast crossover episode!  The first half is The Bearded Ones podcast hosted by my dear friends hailing from Greenville, South Carolina, Evan Harris and Jason Underwood.  I tell them one of my most embarrassing performance stories that happened a few weeks ago, a tale about Clark Gregg's actor's nightmare, and an assortment of other fun things.  The second half is me interviewing them about a mutual passion of theirs, improv comedy!  They're on a team in South Carolina together called Laughing Stock and weave some tales of woe and triumph from their experiences with that and other improv endeavors.  So grab some laundry or plan a long car trip/work out because this is a long but great ep! Notes: The Bearded Ones! Also available on iTunes and Stitcher. Laughing Stock!  Alchemy Improv! Mock Turtle Soup, Jason's college improv team at Clemson University Halloween Night at Lodge 20, the video the boys tragically struggled to screen at Coffee Underground https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-25-mbsing-mary-zee-buffy-vampire-slayer Set aside those turkey carving knives and pick up your wooden stakes: It's time to chat about Buffy.  This episode has some INCREDIBLE moments of truth about passion and friendship surrounding fandom that I absolutely adore and don't make a point to hide my adoration.  Mary is so, so funny and really exemplifies what it means to love a thing so hard that you do the weirdest (read: BEST) stuff.  (Mary neglected to mention that she had a Buffy-themed birthday party one year complete with costumes and a graveyard cake.  NBD.) Notes: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is required viewing for all people who like things. Anthony Stewart Head's Taster's Choice commercial.  Because why not? Pics of Mary's "Getting the Wiggens", "I have lots of money and acid", "This is quite the bonus!" Wed, 27 Nov 2013 18:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-25-mbsing-mary-zee-buffy-vampire-slayer MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3950 Set aside those turkey carving knives and pick up your wooden stakes: It's time to chat about Buffy.  This episode has some INCREDIBLE moments of truth about passion and friendship surrounding fandom that I absolutely adore and don't make a point to hide my adoration.  Mary is so, so funny and really exemplifies what it means to love a thing so hard that you do the weirdest (read: BEST) stuff.  (Mary neglected to mention that she had a Buffy-themed birthday party one year complete with costumes and a graveyard cake.  NBD.) Notes: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is required viewing for all people who like things. Anthony Stewart Head's Taster's Choice commercial.  Because why not? Pics of Mary's "Getting the Wiggens", "I have lots of money and acid", "This is quite the bonus!" Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesSet aside those turkey carving knives and pick up your wooden stakes: It's time to chat about Buffy.  This episode has some INCREDIBLE moments of truth about passion and friendship surrounding fandom that I absolutely adore and don't make a point to hide my adoration.  Mary is so, so funny and really exemplifies what it means to love a thing so hard that you do the weirdest (read: BEST) stuff.  (Mary neglected to mention that she had a Buffy-themed birthday party one year complete with costumes and a graveyard cake.  NBD.) Notes: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is required viewing for all people who like things. Anthony Stewart Head's Taster's Choice commercial.  Because why not? Pics of Mary's "Getting the Wiggens", "I have lots of money and acid", "This is quite the bonus!" https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-24-mbsing-jeremy-kanne-self-teaching Jeremy came on the show to discuss a unique but totally applicable and interesting topic, and I can't believe the ways teaching himself various skills and hobbies has changed his life. One of my favorite pull quotes from this episode is, "you don't have to be unhappy with something just because it's present."  What an empowering, encouraging mantra!  What a guy!  Jeremy is intelligent and incredibly determined, and I think everyone could stand to take a page out of his book.  And then learn from it.  You know.  It's a whole teaching joke thing. Ooook... Notes: Facebook evidence of The Malignant Humor Festival. I found this, and it is hilarious. Wed, 20 Nov 2013 07:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-24-mbsing-jeremy-kanne-self-teaching MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3365 Jeremy came on the show to discuss a unique but totally applicable and interesting topic, and I can't believe the ways teaching himself various skills and hobbies has changed his life. One of my favorite pull quotes from this episode is, "you don't have to be unhappy with something just because it's present."  What an empowering, encouraging mantra!  What a guy!  Jeremy is intelligent and incredibly determined, and I think everyone could stand to take a page out of his book.  And then learn from it.  You know.  It's a whole teaching joke thing. Ooook... Notes: Facebook evidence of The Malignant Humor Festival. I found this, and it is hilarious. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJeremy came on the show to discuss a unique but totally applicable and interesting topic, and I can't believe the ways teaching himself various skills and hobbies has changed his life. One of my favorite pull quotes from this episode is, "you don't have to be unhappy with something just because it's present."  What an empowering, encouraging mantra!  What a guy!  Jeremy is intelligent and incredibly determined, and I think everyone could stand to take a page out of his book.  And then learn from it.  You know.  It's a whole teaching joke thing. Ooook... Notes: Facebook evidence of The Malignant Humor Festival. I found this, and it is hilarious. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-23-mbsing-alex-trepka-pro-wrestling Ladieeeeeeeees and gentlemeeeeen.  Please welcome to the ring ALEX TREPKA AKA The Road Pupp for a glorious conversation about his love of professional wrestling.  This was an absolute blast, and no stone of my own pro wrestling knowledge was left unturned.  Fans of the sport will CERTAINLY dig this, and non-fans get a lot to chew on about why both of us find it incredibly entertaining.  Get into it, brotherrrrrrr! Notes (From Trepka!): Undertaker vs Mankind Hell in a cell match. Gets going very quickly, you also see the WWF symbol blurred out. Try and watch the whole thing. Pretty violent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKny0KW4ODM The higher power revealed to be Vince McMahon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQfzp9qCing Stone Cold Steve Austin beer truck (It was a Coors Light truck): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjz3u8KgLRg Here's a random sampling of stuff for your own pleasure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LBvUVR8PJk Attached is the picture with all the wrestling swag. Also, I'm serious about going to Squared Circle. My notes:   My friend Hunter's piece involving The Hurricane Alcoholics Eponymous with Xander O'Connor OC Dweeb with Sawyer Heppes The Bearded Ones, some Greenville, SC, buds of mine who I may guest with soon! Wed, 13 Nov 2013 11:45:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-23-mbsing-alex-trepka-pro-wrestling MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3821 Ladieeeeeeeees and gentlemeeeeen.  Please welcome to the ring ALEX TREPKA AKA The Road Pupp for a glorious conversation about his love of professional wrestling.  This was an absolute blast, and no stone of my own pro wrestling knowledge was left unturned.  Fans of the sport will CERTAINLY dig this, and non-fans get a lot to chew on about why both of us find it incredibly entertaining.  Get into it, brotherrrrrrr! Notes (From Trepka!): Undertaker vs Mankind Hell in a cell match. Gets going very quickly, you also see the WWF symbol blurred out. Try and watch the whole thing. Pretty violent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKny0KW4ODM The higher power revealed to be Vince McMahon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQfzp9qCing Stone Cold Steve Austin beer truck (It was a Coors Light truck): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjz3u8KgLRg Here's a random sampling of stuff for your own pleasure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LBvUVR8PJk Attached is the picture with all the wrestling swag. Also, I'm serious about going to Squared Circle. My notes:   My friend Hunter's piece involving The Hurricane Alcoholics Eponymous with Xander O'Connor OC Dweeb with Sawyer Heppes The Bearded Ones, some Greenville, SC, buds of mine who I may guest with soon! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesLadieeeeeeeees and gentlemeeeeen.  Please welcome to the ring ALEX TREPKA AKA The Road Pupp for a glorious conversation about his love of professional wrestling.  This was an absolute blast, and no stone of my own pro wrestling knowledge was left unturned.  Fans of the sport will CERTAINLY dig this, and non-fans get a lot to chew on about why both of us find it incredibly entertaining.  Get into it, brotherrrrrrr! Notes (From Trepka!): Undertaker vs Mankind Hell in a cell match. Gets going very quickly, you also see the WWF symbol blurred out. Try and watch the whole thing. Pretty violent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKny0KW4ODM The higher power revealed to be Vince McMahon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQfzp9qCing Stone Cold Steve Austin beer truck (It was a Coors Light truck): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjz3u8KgLRg Here's a random sampling of stuff for your own pleasure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LBvUVR8PJk Attached is the picture with all the wrestling swag. Also, I'm serious about going to Squared Circle. My notes:   My friend Hunter's piece involving The Hurricane Alcoholics Eponymous with Xander O'Connor OC Dweeb with Sawyer Heppes The Bearded Ones, some Greenville, SC, buds of mine who I may guest with soon! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-22-mbsing-daniel-duval-bowling Put on some rented shoes and button up your embroidered shirt because Daniel Duval came on the podcast to talk about his life in the fast lane(s).  Daniel's a total sweetheart and big fan of the podcast and The Nerdologues, so it was a pleasure to be able to invite him to be a guest and to have such a great time recording.  We get into hot deets on strategy, leagues, and the pinnacle of Daniel's bowling career.  DIG IT. Notes: ESPN's profile of two-handed bowler Jason Belmonte. I have to assume Daniel's Pin Pals shirt looks something like this. New podcast logo? I couldn't find the Simpsons clip of Lisa/Homer's stubby fingers, so someone should leave it in the comments if they do.  Please.  Thanks. Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:00:00 -0600 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-22-mbsing-daniel-duval-bowling MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3481 Put on some rented shoes and button up your embroidered shirt because Daniel Duval came on the podcast to talk about his life in the fast lane(s).  Daniel's a total sweetheart and big fan of the podcast and The Nerdologues, so it was a pleasure to be able to invite him to be a guest and to have such a great time recording.  We get into hot deets on strategy, leagues, and the pinnacle of Daniel's bowling career.  DIG IT. Notes: ESPN's profile of two-handed bowler Jason Belmonte. I have to assume Daniel's Pin Pals shirt looks something like this. New podcast logo? I couldn't find the Simpsons clip of Lisa/Homer's stubby fingers, so someone should leave it in the comments if they do.  Please.  Thanks. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesPut on some rented shoes and button up your embroidered shirt because Daniel Duval came on the podcast to talk about his life in the fast lane(s).  Daniel's a total sweetheart and big fan of the podcast and The Nerdologues, so it was a pleasure to be able to invite him to be a guest and to have such a great time recording.  We get into hot deets on strategy, leagues, and the pinnacle of Daniel's bowling career.  DIG IT. Notes: ESPN's profile of two-handed bowler Jason Belmonte. I have to assume Daniel's Pin Pals shirt looks something like this. New podcast logo? I couldn't find the Simpsons clip of Lisa/Homer's stubby fingers, so someone should leave it in the comments if they do.  Please.  Thanks. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-21-mbsing-jimmy-pennington-great-american-novel Jimmy Pennington came on the show to talk about novels, and, while we may have strayed away from the topic at times, I truly dug this conversation.  We got into some neuroses of our own and how those feelings affect what the Great American Novel must mean to its readers.  We also deconstruct what it may mean that I avoid watching scary movies and the things Jimmy needs to watch even though he doesn't have internet access in his windowless apartment. Notes: Mike Schur's Decemberists video and Parks and Recreation episode odes to Infinite Jest. August: Osage County trailer The Snows of Kilimanjaro text Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-21-mbsing-jimmy-pennington-great-american-novel MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3840 Jimmy Pennington came on the show to talk about novels, and, while we may have strayed away from the topic at times, I truly dug this conversation.  We got into some neuroses of our own and how those feelings affect what the Great American Novel must mean to its readers.  We also deconstruct what it may mean that I avoid watching scary movies and the things Jimmy needs to watch even though he doesn't have internet access in his windowless apartment. Notes: Mike Schur's Decemberists video and Parks and Recreation episode odes to Infinite Jest. August: Osage County trailer The Snows of Kilimanjaro text Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesJimmy Pennington came on the show to talk about novels, and, while we may have strayed away from the topic at times, I truly dug this conversation.  We got into some neuroses of our own and how those feelings affect what the Great American Novel must mean to its readers.  We also deconstruct what it may mean that I avoid watching scary movies and the things Jimmy needs to watch even though he doesn't have internet access in his windowless apartment. Notes: Mike Schur's Decemberists video and Parks and Recreation episode odes to Infinite Jest. August: Osage County trailer The Snows of Kilimanjaro text https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-20-mbsing-bret-dorman-godzilla Oh nooooo!  It's Bret Dorman!!!  Talking about Godzilla!  Look out!  Man.  What a delight this chat was.  We covered a plethora of topics including some discussion on liking the things you like and not knowing or caring how other people feel about them, "bad" films vs. "good" films, and the way already existing content (books, other films, comics, etc) affects the way movies are made and for which type of audience.  It's a blast, and I knew it would be. Notes (Bret sent me these because he knew I was going to use them.  What a guy!): Drunk King Kong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbpvF99ehkA Miami Connection Mailbox Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R_0xBRsjlg A great recap of the '91 film Godzilla vs King Ghidorah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9gNQimjs0A Bret's film blog. Be sure to check out his podcast, too! Wed, 23 Oct 2013 13:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-20-mbsing-bret-dorman-godzilla MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3771 Oh nooooo!  It's Bret Dorman!!!  Talking about Godzilla!  Look out!  Man.  What a delight this chat was.  We covered a plethora of topics including some discussion on liking the things you like and not knowing or caring how other people feel about them, "bad" films vs. "good" films, and the way already existing content (books, other films, comics, etc) affects the way movies are made and for which type of audience.  It's a blast, and I knew it would be. Notes (Bret sent me these because he knew I was going to use them.  What a guy!): Drunk King Kong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbpvF99ehkA Miami Connection Mailbox Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R_0xBRsjlg A great recap of the '91 film Godzilla vs King Ghidorah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9gNQimjs0A Bret's film blog. Be sure to check out his podcast, too! Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOh nooooo!  It's Bret Dorman!!!  Talking about Godzilla!  Look out!  Man.  What a delight this chat was.  We covered a plethora of topics including some discussion on liking the things you like and not knowing or caring how other people feel about them, "bad" films vs. "good" films, and the way already existing content (books, other films, comics, etc) affects the way movies are made and for which type of audience.  It's a blast, and I knew it would be. Notes (Bret sent me these because he knew I was going to use them.  What a guy!): Drunk King Kong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbpvF99ehkA Miami Connection Mailbox Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R_0xBRsjlg A great recap of the '91 film Godzilla vs King Ghidorah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9gNQimjs0A Bret's film blog. Be sure to check out his podcast, too! https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-19-mbsing-chandler-goodman-and-spencer-smith-college-football There's a lot of MBSing firsts in this ep, guys!  Two guests!  Over one hour of conversation (because there were two guests)!  So many bros talking about so much football in this, and I love every second of it.  Chandler says a thing about sixth graders playing chess that is still making me laugh every time I think about it.  Spencer informed me that Nebraska football games become the third-largest city in Nebraska whenever they take place.  This.  Episode.  Is.  Glorious. Notes: Here's Squall's site with an updated list of all of our shows. I deathly afraid this is what we sounded like the entire time. Wed, 16 Oct 2013 02:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-19-mbsing-chandler-goodman-and-spencer-smith-college-football MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 5166 There's a lot of MBSing firsts in this ep, guys!  Two guests!  Over one hour of conversation (because there were two guests)!  So many bros talking about so much football in this, and I love every second of it.  Chandler says a thing about sixth graders playing chess that is still making me laugh every time I think about it.  Spencer informed me that Nebraska football games become the third-largest city in Nebraska whenever they take place.  This.  Episode.  Is.  Glorious. Notes: Here's Squall's site with an updated list of all of our shows. I deathly afraid this is what we sounded like the entire time. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThere's a lot of MBSing firsts in this ep, guys!  Two guests!  Over one hour of conversation (because there were two guests)!  So many bros talking about so much football in this, and I love every second of it.  Chandler says a thing about sixth graders playing chess that is still making me laugh every time I think about it.  Spencer informed me that Nebraska football games become the third-largest city in Nebraska whenever they take place.  This.  Episode.  Is.  Glorious. Notes: Here's Squall's site with an updated list of all of our shows. I deathly afraid this is what we sounded like the entire time. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-18-mbsing-james-allen-rap My dear friend and teammate James Allen came into the studio to lay down some SICK tracks with me in this episode!  If you are expecting us to actually rap, change your expectations because we do not.  If you are expecting me to make a fool of myself around the 12:30 mark, keep those expectations high because that happens.  This was a goofy, fun one.  James is a delight. Notes: The lead singer of Thin Lizzy is Phil Lynott. Apl.de.ap's mom actually looks quite nice. It delighted me when James mentioned www.datpiff.com as though it was common knowledge. The first single, Prom Queen, off of Lil Wayne's rock album, Rebirth. It features Korn and is absolute garbage. Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-18-mbsing-james-allen-rap MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3592 My dear friend and teammate James Allen came into the studio to lay down some SICK tracks with me in this episode!  If you are expecting us to actually rap, change your expectations because we do not.  If you are expecting me to make a fool of myself around the 12:30 mark, keep those expectations high because that happens.  This was a goofy, fun one.  James is a delight. Notes: The lead singer of Thin Lizzy is Phil Lynott. Apl.de.ap's mom actually looks quite nice. It delighted me when James mentioned www.datpiff.com as though it was common knowledge. The first single, Prom Queen, off of Lil Wayne's rock album, Rebirth. It features Korn and is absolute garbage. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMy dear friend and teammate James Allen came into the studio to lay down some SICK tracks with me in this episode!  If you are expecting us to actually rap, change your expectations because we do not.  If you are expecting me to make a fool of myself around the 12:30 mark, keep those expectations high because that happens.  This was a goofy, fun one.  James is a delight. Notes: The lead singer of Thin Lizzy is Phil Lynott. Apl.de.ap's mom actually looks quite nice. It delighted me when James mentioned www.datpiff.com as though it was common knowledge. The first single, Prom Queen, off of Lil Wayne's rock album, Rebirth. It features Korn and is absolute garbage. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-17-mbsing-jennifer-baird-dyslexia Check it out, people.  Jennifer's interest in dyslexia is one she had no choice on:  after battling with her learning disabilities for years without knowing why she could not do school work like her classmates, she was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 15.  Her story is a delightful one in spite of this difficulty.  At one point, Jennifer says she had to stop letting her dyslexia define her, she had to define her dyslexia.  She's a hero and one of the hardest working people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and chatting with. Links: This is Jennifer's mom's artwork. Here's the NPR story on improv for Alzheimer's patients. Wed, 02 Oct 2013 23:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-17-mbsing-jennifer-baird-dyslexia MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3402 Check it out, people.  Jennifer's interest in dyslexia is one she had no choice on:  after battling with her learning disabilities for years without knowing why she could not do school work like her classmates, she was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 15.  Her story is a delightful one in spite of this difficulty.  At one point, Jennifer says she had to stop letting her dyslexia define her, she had to define her dyslexia.  She's a hero and one of the hardest working people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and chatting with. Links: This is Jennifer's mom's artwork. Here's the NPR story on improv for Alzheimer's patients. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCheck it out, people.  Jennifer's interest in dyslexia is one she had no choice on:  after battling with her learning disabilities for years without knowing why she could not do school work like her classmates, she was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 15.  Her story is a delightful one in spite of this difficulty.  At one point, Jennifer says she had to stop letting her dyslexia define her, she had to define her dyslexia.  She's a hero and one of the hardest working people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and chatting with. Links: This is Jennifer's mom's artwork. Here's the NPR story on improv for Alzheimer's patients. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-16-mbsing-kellen-terrett-coffee Kellen and I appropriately enjoyed cups of joe he brewed for us as we chatted about one of his favorite things, coffee.  His entrance to the interest in coffee is fun to hear about, his knowledge of the subject is fascinating, and our digression to a general discussion of having passions and routines is goddamned lovely if I do say so myself. I apologize in advance for how many times I compare the way he talks about coffee to the way I think about booze (wine, beer, and whiskey all come up).  No shame.  I just really like booze I guess. Notes: Kellen in action before our talk brewing us some Stumptown Coffee. One of Kellen's favorite spots in Chicago, Heritage General Store. Kellen's gorgeous new hand grinder, The Comandante from Able Brewing. The excellent essay I mention by Megan Amram, Anniversary. Wed, 25 Sep 2013 18:30:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-16-mbsing-kellen-terrett-coffee MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3303 Kellen and I appropriately enjoyed cups of joe he brewed for us as we chatted about one of his favorite things, coffee.  His entrance to the interest in coffee is fun to hear about, his knowledge of the subject is fascinating, and our digression to a general discussion of having passions and routines is goddamned lovely if I do say so myself. I apologize in advance for how many times I compare the way he talks about coffee to the way I think about booze (wine, beer, and whiskey all come up).  No shame.  I just really like booze I guess. Notes: Kellen in action before our talk brewing us some Stumptown Coffee. One of Kellen's favorite spots in Chicago, Heritage General Store. Kellen's gorgeous new hand grinder, The Comandante from Able Brewing. The excellent essay I mention by Megan Amram, Anniversary. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesKellen and I appropriately enjoyed cups of joe he brewed for us as we chatted about one of his favorite things, coffee.  His entrance to the interest in coffee is fun to hear about, his knowledge of the subject is fascinating, and our digression to a general discussion of having passions and routines is goddamned lovely if I do say so myself. I apologize in advance for how many times I compare the way he talks about coffee to the way I think about booze (wine, beer, and whiskey all come up).  No shame.  I just really like booze I guess. Notes: Kellen in action before our talk brewing us some Stumptown Coffee. One of Kellen's favorite spots in Chicago, Heritage General Store. Kellen's gorgeous new hand grinder, The Comandante from Able Brewing. The excellent essay I mention by Megan Amram, Anniversary. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-15-mbsing-jessie-stegner-musicals Caution:  If you do not like singing AND fun, you will not like this episode because there is a ton of both.  Jessie Stegner (the third member of my improv team Raygun Reagan to be on MBSing) and I gab like gal pals about a favorite topic of both of ours: musical theatre.  She spoke more than once about how important musical theatre is to performance in general and why she thinks some people wrongfully write it off.  Now let's go on with the show! Notes: Like the Ray Rea Wednesday page on Facebook for updates about our weekly show on Wednesdays at 8 PM at the One Group Mind Theatre. Facebook evidence that Jessie and former MBSing guest Nick Johnson wrote a musical together. Wed, 18 Sep 2013 15:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-15-mbsing-jessie-stegner-musicals MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3498 Caution:  If you do not like singing AND fun, you will not like this episode because there is a ton of both.  Jessie Stegner (the third member of my improv team Raygun Reagan to be on MBSing) and I gab like gal pals about a favorite topic of both of ours: musical theatre.  She spoke more than once about how important musical theatre is to performance in general and why she thinks some people wrongfully write it off.  Now let's go on with the show! Notes: Like the Ray Rea Wednesday page on Facebook for updates about our weekly show on Wednesdays at 8 PM at the One Group Mind Theatre. Facebook evidence that Jessie and former MBSing guest Nick Johnson wrote a musical together. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesCaution:  If you do not like singing AND fun, you will not like this episode because there is a ton of both.  Jessie Stegner (the third member of my improv team Raygun Reagan to be on MBSing) and I gab like gal pals about a favorite topic of both of ours: musical theatre.  She spoke more than once about how important musical theatre is to performance in general and why she thinks some people wrongfully write it off.  Now let's go on with the show! Notes: Like the Ray Rea Wednesday page on Facebook for updates about our weekly show on Wednesdays at 8 PM at the One Group Mind Theatre. Facebook evidence that Jessie and former MBSing guest Nick Johnson wrote a musical together. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-14-mbsing-bill-meincke-mlb I jawed with White Sox fan Bill Meincke in this super fun meeting of two baseball minds.  I hope we didn't get TOO inside baseball (oh... that's what that means...) to prevent this conversation from being enjoyable for non-fans, but honestly I loved it so much and think everyone can.  We really delved into what makes this game mean so much to us, and we share some really vulnerable baseball nerdiness.  One of my favorite moments comes towards the end when Bill outlines a fine line between composure and frustration in being a baseball fan we can apply to our lives every day.  Also, the fact that a popular White Sox motto is "Win or Die Trying" is totally bad ass.  Play ball! Notes: Billy Wagner, Braves closer for the 2010 season, also came out to Enter Sandman and is who I was actually thinking of (not Mariano Rivera). Beasts from the East music video. The story behind the origin and return of Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox. Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-14-mbsing-bill-meincke-mlb MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3354 I jawed with White Sox fan Bill Meincke in this super fun meeting of two baseball minds.  I hope we didn't get TOO inside baseball (oh... that's what that means...) to prevent this conversation from being enjoyable for non-fans, but honestly I loved it so much and think everyone can.  We really delved into what makes this game mean so much to us, and we share some really vulnerable baseball nerdiness.  One of my favorite moments comes towards the end when Bill outlines a fine line between composure and frustration in being a baseball fan we can apply to our lives every day.  Also, the fact that a popular White Sox motto is "Win or Die Trying" is totally bad ass.  Play ball! Notes: Billy Wagner, Braves closer for the 2010 season, also came out to Enter Sandman and is who I was actually thinking of (not Mariano Rivera). Beasts from the East music video. The story behind the origin and return of Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesI jawed with White Sox fan Bill Meincke in this super fun meeting of two baseball minds.  I hope we didn't get TOO inside baseball (oh... that's what that means...) to prevent this conversation from being enjoyable for non-fans, but honestly I loved it so much and think everyone can.  We really delved into what makes this game mean so much to us, and we share some really vulnerable baseball nerdiness.  One of my favorite moments comes towards the end when Bill outlines a fine line between composure and frustration in being a baseball fan we can apply to our lives every day.  Also, the fact that a popular White Sox motto is "Win or Die Trying" is totally bad ass.  Play ball! Notes: Billy Wagner, Braves closer for the 2010 season, also came out to Enter Sandman and is who I was actually thinking of (not Mariano Rivera). Beasts from the East music video. The story behind the origin and return of Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-13-mbsing-eric-garneau-bruce-springsteen Don your sleeveless shirts and tie your bandannas, folks, because this MBSing has a dress code.  I sat down with my friend and fellow Nerdologues member Eric Garneau (and his sweet doggie AC) to chat about his musical hero, Bruce Springsteen. Eric has actually written a scholarly paper and been to a symposium about The Boss (both of which I'd think are MBSing guest firsts).  As a result, he has some gloriously well-worded thoughts and feelings about Springsteen.  Phrases like "the magic of Springsteen's music is elevating the mundane to the epic" left me feeling at a loss for words to respond to him.  Get into it! Also, this is the first episode of MBSing under the umbrella of the new Nerdologues podcast network!  I'm so excited and honored to be a part of this group and this network, so please check out fellow 'casts Your Stories and The Nerdologuecast.  Also, check out our next sketch show this Sunday, September 8th at 7:00 PM at The Public House Theatre. Links: The Boss with U2 at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert as discussed. The Boss with Billy Joel at the same HOF concert. The Your Stories where Eric performed Thunder Road. Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-13-mbsing-eric-garneau-bruce-springsteen MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3270 Don your sleeveless shirts and tie your bandannas, folks, because this MBSing has a dress code.  I sat down with my friend and fellow Nerdologues member Eric Garneau (and his sweet doggie AC) to chat about his musical hero, Bruce Springsteen. Eric has actually written a scholarly paper and been to a symposium about The Boss (both of which I'd think are MBSing guest firsts).  As a result, he has some gloriously well-worded thoughts and feelings about Springsteen.  Phrases like "the magic of Springsteen's music is elevating the mundane to the epic" left me feeling at a loss for words to respond to him.  Get into it! Also, this is the first episode of MBSing under the umbrella of the new Nerdologues podcast network!  I'm so excited and honored to be a part of this group and this network, so please check out fellow 'casts Your Stories and The Nerdologuecast.  Also, check out our next sketch show this Sunday, September 8th at 7:00 PM at The Public House Theatre. Links: The Boss with U2 at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert as discussed. The Boss with Billy Joel at the same HOF concert. The Your Stories where Eric performed Thunder Road. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesDon your sleeveless shirts and tie your bandannas, folks, because this MBSing has a dress code.  I sat down with my friend and fellow Nerdologues member Eric Garneau (and his sweet doggie AC) to chat about his musical hero, Bruce Springsteen. Eric has actually written a scholarly paper and been to a symposium about The Boss (both of which I'd think are MBSing guest firsts).  As a result, he has some gloriously well-worded thoughts and feelings about Springsteen.  Phrases like "the magic of Springsteen's music is elevating the mundane to the epic" left me feeling at a loss for words to respond to him.  Get into it! Also, this is the first episode of MBSing under the umbrella of the new Nerdologues podcast network!  I'm so excited and honored to be a part of this group and this network, so please check out fellow 'casts Your Stories and The Nerdologuecast.  Also, check out our next sketch show this Sunday, September 8th at 7:00 PM at The Public House Theatre. Links: The Boss with U2 at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert as discussed. The Boss with Billy Joel at the same HOF concert. The Your Stories where Eric performed Thunder Road. https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-12-mbsing-alex-talavera-anthony-bourdain-no-reservations Wherein I sat down with my dear friend and (former) fellow member of The Nerdologues, Alex Talavera.  I've never seen No Reservations, but I want to start after hearing Alex talk about it for a little under an hour (even though it seems like most of what Alex gets from the show is rage jealousy).  I'd take hanging out with Alex and/or watching him eat and drink things in cool places over Anthony Bourdain personally. Notes: Anthony Bourdain's current wife's name is Ottavia, and she and Julie Klausner have TOTALLY gotten into it on Twitter.  I AM JUSTIFIED. It would appear this is probably the first show Alex saw Anthony host: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cook%27s_Tour_(TV_series) This MIGHT be the Izakaya Alex went to in Arlington Heights: http://www.yelp.com/biz/kayaba-arlington-heights#query:Izakaya Wed, 28 Aug 2013 10:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-12-mbsing-alex-talavera-anthony-bourdain-no-reservations MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3554 Wherein I sat down with my dear friend and (former) fellow member of The Nerdologues, Alex Talavera.  I've never seen No Reservations, but I want to start after hearing Alex talk about it for a little under an hour (even though it seems like most of what Alex gets from the show is rage jealousy).  I'd take hanging out with Alex and/or watching him eat and drink things in cool places over Anthony Bourdain personally. Notes: Anthony Bourdain's current wife's name is Ottavia, and she and Julie Klausner have TOTALLY gotten into it on Twitter.  I AM JUSTIFIED. It would appear this is probably the first show Alex saw Anthony host: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cook%27s_Tour_(TV_series) This MIGHT be the Izakaya Alex went to in Arlington Heights: http://www.yelp.com/biz/kayaba-arlington-heights#query:Izakaya Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesWherein I sat down with my dear friend and (former) fellow member of The Nerdologues, Alex Talavera.  I've never seen No Reservations, but I want to start after hearing Alex talk about it for a little under an hour (even though it seems like most of what Alex gets from the show is rage jealousy).  I'd take hanging out with Alex and/or watching him eat and drink things in cool places over Anthony Bourdain personally. Notes: Anthony Bourdain's current wife's name is Ottavia, and she and Julie Klausner have TOTALLY gotten into it on Twitter.  I AM JUSTIFIED. It would appear this is probably the first show Alex saw Anthony host: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cook%27s_Tour_(TV_series) This MIGHT be the Izakaya Alex went to in Arlington Heights: http://www.yelp.com/biz/kayaba-arlington-heights#query:Izakaya https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-11-mbsing-stephanie-weber-playwriting This week I sat down with a real life Billy Shakes!  I also made the dumbest joke I could've possibly made (you just read it... it's that Billy Shakes thing).  This episode is truly wonderful.  Stephanie shares how she came to write and publish numerous plays that have been produced all over the country and touches on how her Cuban heritage has been an inspiration for her throughout her life.  Play on! Notes: Stephanie's The City That Talks podcast with her brother, Mark: https://soundcloud.com/the-city-that-talks Poet Derek Brown's website: http://www.brownpoetry.com/ Pics from the first production of Stephanie's first play, Legitimate Geniuses: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.219287164791929.59536.219184814802164&type=3 Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-11-mbsing-stephanie-weber-playwriting MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3603 This week I sat down with a real life Billy Shakes!  I also made the dumbest joke I could've possibly made (you just read it... it's that Billy Shakes thing).  This episode is truly wonderful.  Stephanie shares how she came to write and publish numerous plays that have been produced all over the country and touches on how her Cuban heritage has been an inspiration for her throughout her life.  Play on! Notes: Stephanie's The City That Talks podcast with her brother, Mark: https://soundcloud.com/the-city-that-talks Poet Derek Brown's website: http://www.brownpoetry.com/ Pics from the first production of Stephanie's first play, Legitimate Geniuses: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.219287164791929.59536.219184814802164&type=3 Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThis week I sat down with a real life Billy Shakes!  I also made the dumbest joke I could've possibly made (you just read it... it's that Billy Shakes thing).  This episode is truly wonderful.  Stephanie shares how she came to write and publish numerous plays that have been produced all over the country and touches on how her Cuban heritage has been an inspiration for her throughout her life.  Play on! Notes: Stephanie's The City That Talks podcast with her brother, Mark: https://soundcloud.com/the-city-that-talks Poet Derek Brown's website: http://www.brownpoetry.com/ Pics from the first production of Stephanie's first play, Legitimate Geniuses: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.219287164791929.59536.219184814802164&type=3 https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-10-mbsing-lauren-oprah-walker-veronica-mars Lauren in the house for a good times episode about her favorite TV show, Veronica Mars.  I hope you all enjoy me not being able to grasp some simple concepts about the show as Lauren explains them.  Yet again this ep gets extra "crispy" as we delve into the effect VMars has had on her life.  Some poignant and hysterical moments in this one, people. Notes:  Here's a San Diego Comic-Con sneak peak of the Veronica Mars movie coming out next year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVJhjV3EOY4 Sat, 10 Aug 2013 20:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-10-mbsing-lauren-oprah-walker-veronica-mars MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3523 Lauren in the house for a good times episode about her favorite TV show, Veronica Mars.  I hope you all enjoy me not being able to grasp some simple concepts about the show as Lauren explains them.  Yet again this ep gets extra "crispy" as we delve into the effect VMars has had on her life.  Some poignant and hysterical moments in this one, people. Notes:  Here's a San Diego Comic-Con sneak peak of the Veronica Mars movie coming out next year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVJhjV3EOY4 Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesLauren in the house for a good times episode about her favorite TV show, Veronica Mars.  I hope you all enjoy me not being able to grasp some simple concepts about the show as Lauren explains them.  Yet again this ep gets extra "crispy" as we delve into the effect VMars has had on her life.  Some poignant and hysterical moments in this one, people. Notes:  Here's a San Diego Comic-Con sneak peak of the Veronica Mars movie coming out next year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVJhjV3EOY4 https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-9-mbsing-meghan-babbe-south-dakota Grab a seat, folks, and settle in for my guest Meghan Babbe's delightful tales of growing up in a small town in South Dakota.  Babbe first came to Chicago as a part of The Second City's Comedy Studies program (http://www.comedystudies.com/), and she shares with me that it totally changed her life.  Get into this silly fun episode! Notes: Babbe mentions being a fan of this podcast towards the top of the show: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-night-vale/id536258179 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 17:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-9-mbsing-meghan-babbe-south-dakota MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3594 Grab a seat, folks, and settle in for my guest Meghan Babbe's delightful tales of growing up in a small town in South Dakota.  Babbe first came to Chicago as a part of The Second City's Comedy Studies program (http://www.comedystudies.com/), and she shares with me that it totally changed her life.  Get into this silly fun episode! Notes: Babbe mentions being a fan of this podcast towards the top of the show: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-night-vale/id536258179 Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesGrab a seat, folks, and settle in for my guest Meghan Babbe's delightful tales of growing up in a small town in South Dakota.  Babbe first came to Chicago as a part of The Second City's Comedy Studies program (http://www.comedystudies.com/), and she shares with me that it totally changed her life.  Get into this silly fun episode! Notes: Babbe mentions being a fan of this podcast towards the top of the show: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-night-vale/id536258179 https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-8-mbsing-ryan-ben-backdraft Buckle up, podcast listeners, and bring your fire hoses.  This discussion with Ryan Ben about one of his favorite films is a total delight.  Even someone who doesn't know Ryan can get a good sense of his character from his breakdown of Backdraft.  He acknowledges its weaknesses and silliness while praising its themes and simplicity.  Get into it! Notes: The Superman episode of The Nerdologues Your Stories Podcast curated by Eric Garneau: http://yourstories.podbean.com/2013/07/22/july-2013-bonus-superman/  Sat, 20 Jul 2013 13:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-8-mbsing-ryan-ben-backdraft MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3269 Buckle up, podcast listeners, and bring your fire hoses.  This discussion with Ryan Ben about one of his favorite films is a total delight.  Even someone who doesn't know Ryan can get a good sense of his character from his breakdown of Backdraft.  He acknowledges its weaknesses and silliness while praising its themes and simplicity.  Get into it! Notes: The Superman episode of The Nerdologues Your Stories Podcast curated by Eric Garneau: http://yourstories.podbean.com/2013/07/22/july-2013-bonus-superman/  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesBuckle up, podcast listeners, and bring your fire hoses.  This discussion with Ryan Ben about one of his favorite films is a total delight.  Even someone who doesn't know Ryan can get a good sense of his character from his breakdown of Backdraft.  He acknowledges its weaknesses and silliness while praising its themes and simplicity.  Get into it! Notes: The Superman episode of The Nerdologues Your Stories Podcast curated by Eric Garneau: http://yourstories.podbean.com/2013/07/22/july-2013-bonus-superman/  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-7-mbsing-brandon-jerger-nba Hoop it up, dudes!  My friend Brandon is an NBA fanatic who has faithfully followed the Chicago Bulls and the NBA in general for almost 20 years.  He has a ton of incredible insight on the way the league has changed in that time and the way his own life has been affected by his love of the game.  I forgot to mention this in the intro, but before every show that Brandon does with his improv team Quiet Wyatt, he leads them in the Chicago Bulls' "What time is it?" "Game time, hoo!" Enjoy! Notes: This is the horrendous Pistons jersey he brought up: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MD5xtnDbpo8/TUOxWbg2YuI/AAAAAAAAAB8/9rPcYnhrZ… Here's a terrible Raptors jersey, too: http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/371/583/Pup…  Sat, 13 Jul 2013 16:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-7-mbsing-brandon-jerger-nba MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3544 Hoop it up, dudes!  My friend Brandon is an NBA fanatic who has faithfully followed the Chicago Bulls and the NBA in general for almost 20 years.  He has a ton of incredible insight on the way the league has changed in that time and the way his own life has been affected by his love of the game.  I forgot to mention this in the intro, but before every show that Brandon does with his improv team Quiet Wyatt, he leads them in the Chicago Bulls' "What time is it?" "Game time, hoo!" Enjoy! Notes: This is the horrendous Pistons jersey he brought up: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MD5xtnDbpo8/TUOxWbg2YuI/AAAAAAAAAB8/9rPcYnhrZ… Here's a terrible Raptors jersey, too: http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/371/583/Pup…  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesHoop it up, dudes!  My friend Brandon is an NBA fanatic who has faithfully followed the Chicago Bulls and the NBA in general for almost 20 years.  He has a ton of incredible insight on the way the league has changed in that time and the way his own life has been affected by his love of the game.  I forgot to mention this in the intro, but before every show that Brandon does with his improv team Quiet Wyatt, he leads them in the Chicago Bulls' "What time is it?" "Game time, hoo!" Enjoy! Notes: This is the horrendous Pistons jersey he brought up: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MD5xtnDbpo8/TUOxWbg2YuI/AAAAAAAAAB8/9rPcYnhrZ… Here's a terrible Raptors jersey, too: http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/371/583/Pup…  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-6-mbsing-jay-bee-hanna-british 'Ello govnas! Cheerio pip pip an' all dat!  I sat down with my friend Jay Bee Hanna to discuss his love for all things British: accents, culture, comedy, music, Doctor Who, etc.  It was a silly blast of a chat all will enjoy.  My roommate Stephanie Corkery was home for this one, so she inevitably makes a number of appearances. As discussed: Here's the isolated vocal track of Under Pressure separated from the background music. It's amazing: http://youtu.be/uMQb9LCNGxs Here's The Who performing A Quick One While He's Away as a part of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.  Shit is it great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuCQvK66OhA  Sun, 07 Jul 2013 16:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-6-mbsing-jay-bee-hanna-british MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3504 'Ello govnas! Cheerio pip pip an' all dat!  I sat down with my friend Jay Bee Hanna to discuss his love for all things British: accents, culture, comedy, music, Doctor Who, etc.  It was a silly blast of a chat all will enjoy.  My roommate Stephanie Corkery was home for this one, so she inevitably makes a number of appearances. As discussed: Here's the isolated vocal track of Under Pressure separated from the background music. It's amazing: http://youtu.be/uMQb9LCNGxs Here's The Who performing A Quick One While He's Away as a part of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.  Shit is it great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuCQvK66OhA  Mary Beth Smith of The Nerdologues'Ello govnas! Cheerio pip pip an' all dat!  I sat down with my friend Jay Bee Hanna to discuss his love for all things British: accents, culture, comedy, music, Doctor Who, etc.  It was a silly blast of a chat all will enjoy.  My roommate Stephanie Corkery was home for this one, so she inevitably makes a number of appearances. As discussed: Here's the isolated vocal track of Under Pressure separated from the background music. It's amazing: http://youtu.be/uMQb9LCNGxs Here's The Who performing A Quick One While He's Away as a part of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.  Shit is it great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuCQvK66OhA  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-5-mbsing-nick-johnson-nofx Open your ears for the first music episode, nerds.  I sat down for a chitty-chat with friend and improv teammate Nick Johnson to discuss his favorite band, NOFX.  He's got a deep love for these guys, and it was really fun to unpack why.  Turns out Nick has been incredibly musically and artistically influenced by NOFX, and I think it shows in the best way. Notes: Here's a clip from their behind the scenes DVD we discuss, Backstage Passport http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aa9aIoorJ8  Sat, 29 Jun 2013 17:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-5-mbsing-nick-johnson-nofx MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3589 Open your ears for the first music episode, nerds.  I sat down for a chitty-chat with friend and improv teammate Nick Johnson to discuss his favorite band, NOFX.  He's got a deep love for these guys, and it was really fun to unpack why.  Turns out Nick has been incredibly musically and artistically influenced by NOFX, and I think it shows in the best way. Notes: Here's a clip from their behind the scenes DVD we discuss, Backstage Passport http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aa9aIoorJ8  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesOpen your ears for the first music episode, nerds.  I sat down for a chitty-chat with friend and improv teammate Nick Johnson to discuss his favorite band, NOFX.  He's got a deep love for these guys, and it was really fun to unpack why.  Turns out Nick has been incredibly musically and artistically influenced by NOFX, and I think it shows in the best way. Notes: Here's a clip from their behind the scenes DVD we discuss, Backstage Passport http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aa9aIoorJ8  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-4-mbsing-megan-brennan-mentally-challenged Get all up into this honest, funny conversation with my friend Megan Brennan, people! Her older brother is mentally challenged, so she has an incredibly unique window into understanding the challenges and joys of what that brings to someone's life and the life of his or her family. Towards the end of the episode, she says (in the best way), "This is your life. Fucking deal with it." I loved that too much not to write it down. PS- I say 5B class when I meant to say 5B show once in the intro. I also say every night of the week when I meant to say the same night of each week. That's what I get for recording while in the iO box office... Sat, 22 Jun 2013 19:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-4-mbsing-megan-brennan-mentally-challenged MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 2997 Get all up into this honest, funny conversation with my friend Megan Brennan, people! Her older brother is mentally challenged, so she has an incredibly unique window into understanding the challenges and joys of what that brings to someone's life and the life of his or her family. Towards the end of the episode, she says (in the best way), "This is your life. Fucking deal with it." I loved that too much not to write it down. PS- I say 5B class when I meant to say 5B show once in the intro. I also say every night of the week when I meant to say the same night of each week. That's what I get for recording while in the iO box office... Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesGet all up into this honest, funny conversation with my friend Megan Brennan, people! Her older brother is mentally challenged, so she has an incredibly unique window into understanding the challenges and joys of what that brings to someone's life and the life of his or her family. Towards the end of the episode, she says (in the best way), "This is your life. Fucking deal with it." I loved that too much not to write it down. PS- I say 5B class when I meant to say 5B show once in the intro. I also say every night of the week when I meant to say the same night of each week. That's what I get for recording while in the iO box office... https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-3-mbsing-matt-visconage-action-figures This podcast thing is still happening, and this week it happened in the form of a chat with my friend Matt Visconage about his love of action figures and, more specifically, Hasbro’s Mighty Muggs line. This whole thing is an amazing hodgepodge of Bit City pop. 2 and some trips down to Honest Town.  I super loved it, and I hope you all do, too. Notes: Matt’s Hulk Mini Mugg: https://twitter.com/TheTokenGinger/status/345963213499813888/photo/1 Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:15:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-3-mbsing-matt-visconage-action-figures MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 3234 This podcast thing is still happening, and this week it happened in the form of a chat with my friend Matt Visconage about his love of action figures and, more specifically, Hasbro’s Mighty Muggs line. This whole thing is an amazing hodgepodge of Bit City pop. 2 and some trips down to Honest Town.  I super loved it, and I hope you all do, too. Notes: Matt’s Hulk Mini Mugg: https://twitter.com/TheTokenGinger/status/345963213499813888/photo/1 Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesThis podcast thing is still happening, and this week it happened in the form of a chat with my friend Matt Visconage about his love of action figures and, more specifically, Hasbro’s Mighty Muggs line. This whole thing is an amazing hodgepodge of Bit City pop. 2 and some trips down to Honest Town.  I super loved it, and I hope you all do, too. Notes: Matt’s Hulk Mini Mugg: https://twitter.com/TheTokenGinger/status/345963213499813888/photo/1 https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-2-mbsing-whitney-golden-80s More MBSing for your ear holes!  Listen to Whitney Golden and me discuss her favorite decade:  The 1980s!  The music, the movies, and the jean jackets... you name it, we gabbed about it.  Blondie would've wanted you to listen! Notes: I reference this in the introduction (Patton Oswalt on birthdays): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJnCHy0p6n4 Whitney references this in the interview (a-ha's Take on Me video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914 (It's awesome, and I had never seen it!)  Sat, 08 Jun 2013 11:00:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-2-mbsing-whitney-golden-80s MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 2801 More MBSing for your ear holes!  Listen to Whitney Golden and me discuss her favorite decade:  The 1980s!  The music, the movies, and the jean jackets... you name it, we gabbed about it.  Blondie would've wanted you to listen! Notes: I reference this in the introduction (Patton Oswalt on birthdays): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJnCHy0p6n4 Whitney references this in the interview (a-ha's Take on Me video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914 (It's awesome, and I had never seen it!)  Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesMore MBSing for your ear holes!  Listen to Whitney Golden and me discuss her favorite decade:  The 1980s!  The music, the movies, and the jean jackets... you name it, we gabbed about it.  Blondie would've wanted you to listen! Notes: I reference this in the introduction (Patton Oswalt on birthdays): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJnCHy0p6n4 Whitney references this in the interview (a-ha's Take on Me video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914 (It's awesome, and I had never seen it!)  https://www.nerdologues.com/podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-1-exercise-failure-brought-you-samson-go-mic I've wanted to start a podcast with this title since September.  I used an Amazon gift card that I got for Christmas to buy a decent podcasting microphone. I finally recorded an episode. Listen. Comment. Share. Volunteer to be a guest (seriously). The topic could be as simple and pointed as one particular film or band or something as broad and loose as a sport or your college major. Thanks for visiting, and thanks even more if you give it a listen. Sat, 25 May 2013 08:45:00 -0500 /podcasts/mbsing/episodes/episode-1-exercise-failure-brought-you-samson-go-mic MBSing https://www.nerdologues.com/sites/default/files/field_image/podcast/Nerdologues-2017-refresh-16.png 1521 I've wanted to start a podcast with this title since September.  I used an Amazon gift card that I got for Christmas to buy a decent podcasting microphone. I finally recorded an episode. Listen. Comment. Share. Volunteer to be a guest (seriously). The topic could be as simple and pointed as one particular film or band or something as broad and loose as a sport or your college major. Thanks for visiting, and thanks even more if you give it a listen. Mary Beth Smith of The NerdologuesI've wanted to start a podcast with this title since September.  I used an Amazon gift card that I got for Christmas to buy a decent podcasting microphone. I finally recorded an episode. Listen. Comment. Share. Volunteer to be a guest (seriously). The topic could be as simple and pointed as one particular film or band or something as broad and loose as a sport or your college major. Thanks for visiting, and thanks even more if you give it a listen.