The Fastball Special, and Other Reasons Ensembles are Awesome | UYNC S3 Ep 1

The Fastball Special, and Other Reasons Ensembles are Awesome | UYNC S3 Ep 1

After a surprise hiatus, Up Your Nerd Cred is back — and we’re kicking things off with the first half of a two-part conversation about why ensembles hit harder than one-off team-ups. This week, CiCi and AM dig into the difference between a fun crossover and a true ensemble: the kind of team where the characters don’t just fight together, but learn each other’s rhythms, weaknesses, emotional damage, and extremely questionable coping mechanisms. From the Avengers and X-Men to the Bat-Family, Teen Titans, and Young Avengers, we look at why some characters become more interesting when they have people around to challenge, balance, roast, and occasionally throw them like a fastball special. We also get into why Captain America is so effective with a team, why Batman should not be left unsupervised, why Wolverine keeps pretending he doesn’t love the X-Men, and why Hawkeye standing next to gods with nothing but arrows and audacity is actually part of the point. Available in podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms. 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @UpYourNerdCredPod @ciracdavis @Amdiaz_art 💬 Got a question you want us to tackle? Drop it in the comments—you might get a shoutout! #UpYourNerdCred, #NerdCred, #ComicBookPodcast, #MarvelComics, #DCComics, #TheAvengers, #XMen, #BatFamily, #TeenTitans, #YoungAvengers, #CaptainAmerica, #Wolverine, #Cyclops, #Hawkeye, #GreenArrow, #JusticeLeagueUnlimited, #ComicBooks, #NerdCulture, #SuperheroTeams, #FoundFamily, #PodcastRecommendations, #SpotifyPodcasts, #ApplePodcasts, #YouTubePodcasts

You Swear You Want Originals… But Nostalgia Keeps Winning | UYNC S2 Ep15

You say you want original characters… but do you actually support them? This week on Up Your Nerd Cred, we’re digging into one of the biggest contradictions in fandom: everyone claims they’re tired of reboots, remakes, and multiverses—but when brand new characters show up, they rarely get the same attention, time, or support. From characters like Moon Girl and Naomi to Mosaic, Sideways, and Escapade, we take a look at what happens when comics actually do create original heroes—and why so many of them struggle to stick. We also break down: * Why the early MCU was a much bigger gamble than people remember * How nostalgia shapes what audiences actually show up for * The gap between what fans say they want and what they watch, read, and buy * How review bombing and media coverage impact new and different stories And ultimately, we ask: Is the problem really a lack of originality—or the way we respond to it? ---------------------------------------- 🎧 Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @UpYourNerdCredPod @ciracdavis @Amdiaz_art 💬 Got a question you want us to tackle? Drop it in the comments—you might get a shoutout! #comics, #marvel, #dccomics, #originalcharacters, #nerdculture, #podcast, #blackcomics, #representationmatters, #geekculture, #comicbooks, #mcu, #indiefilm, #filmdiscussion, #popculture, #upyournerdcred

How to Survive Comic-Con Without Missing Everything (Comic-Con 2: Electric Boogaloo) | UYNC S2 Ep14

How to Survive Comic-Con Without Missing Everything | UYNC S2 Ep __ What actually happens when you go to a comic convention—and how do you make sure you don’t waste the experience? In Part 2 of our con series, we’re breaking down what it really feels like to step onto the floor of a Comic-Con for the first time. From panels vs the show floor, to the chaos of con lines, to the unspoken rules of cosplay etiquette, this episode is your survival guide to navigating the madness without missing what matters. CiCi turns AM into the “guest expert” to walk through the real con experience—what to prioritize, what to avoid, and why you cannot do everything (no matter how hard you try). Whether you’re planning your first con or you’re a seasoned attendee trying to level up your strategy, this episode will help you walk away feeling like you actually did Comic-Con right. ---------------------------------------- 📍 FOLLOW & SUPPORT 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upyournerdcredpod [https://www.instagram.com/upyournerdcredpod] https://www.instagram.com/amdiaz_art/ [https://www.instagram.com/amdiaz_art/] https://www.instagram.com/ciracdavis/ [https://www.instagram.com/ciracdavis/] Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more Want bonus content, behind-the-scenes access, and our upcoming drunk movie nights? Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UpYourNerdCredPod [https://www.patreon.com/c/UpYourNerdCredPod]

Cons and Pros: How Comic-Con Built Nerd Culture (Part 1) | UYNC S 2 Ep 13

This week we're time traveling from early sci-fi meetups and zines to the massive spectacle of modern Comic-Con culture. We’re talking about how fandom sustained itself before the internet, how conventions like San Diego Comic-Con became industry powerhouses, and why studios now treat cons as targeted marketing goldmines. From Hall H reveals to regional cons across the country, this episode dives into how community-driven spaces became global cultural events. And of course, not every con is a success. We’re looking at the logistical chaos behind DashCon and the infamous Willy Wonka Experience in Glasgow, where expectations and reality could not have been further apart. Next week, AM Diaz is back to break down what con culture actually feels like from the inside—because there’s a difference between knowing the history and living the experience (especially if it involves a lot of blue paint). LISTEN & FOLLOW: This show is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and other major platforms. Follow the show: Instagram: @upyournerdcredpod Follow CiCi: @ciracdavis Follow AM Diaz: @amdiazart ---------------------------------------- SUPPORT THE POD: Join the Patreon for behind-the-scenes content, solo scripts, and exclusive extras: https://www.patreon.com/UpYourNerdCredPod [https://www.patreon.com/UpYourNerdCredPod] ---------------------------------------- HASHTAGS: #comiccon, #sdcc, #nycc, #fandomculture, #nerdculture, #marvel, #dccomics, #hallh, #dashcon, #cosplaylife, #geekculture, #popculturepodcast, #podcastlife, #womeninnerdculture, #fanconventions, #scifi, #comicbooks

We’ve Been Here the Whole Time: Women in Nerd Culture | UYNC S2 Ep 12

Who built nerd culture? If you’ve ever been made to feel like women “entered” comics, fandom, or nerd spaces late, this episode is here to gently (and not-so-gently) correct the record. Because women didn’t just show up—we’ve been reading, writing, editing, organizing, and sustaining nerd culture from the beginning. This week, CiCi and AM Diaz dig into the history that gets overlooked, from the rise of romance comics in the 1940s and 50s, to the steady presence of readers who kept shops afloat, to the fandom spaces where women created the stories they weren’t being given. We’re talking about the editors, writers, and fans who helped shape the industry, even when they weren’t centered in it. We also highlight the impact of creators like Naoko Takeuchi, whose work expanded global fandom, and the legacy of Lucille Ball, whose support helped Star Trek become one of the most influential franchises in sci-fi history. And yes—we talk about the “Women in Refrigerators” trope, but more importantly, we look at how women in comics have always been more than just plot devices. This episode is less about “women entering nerd culture” and more about recognizing the people who were always here. ---------------------------------------- FOLLOW THE HOSTS CiCi: @ciracdavis AM Diaz: @amdiaz ---------------------------------------- FOLLOW THE SHOW Instagram: @UpYourNerdCredPod Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UpYourNerdCredPod [https://www.patreon.com/c/UpYourNerdCredPod] #WomenInComics, #NerdCulture, #ComicsHistory, #WomenInFandom, #SailorMoon, #NaokoTakeuchi, #StarTrek, #LucilleBall, #ArchieComics, #ComicBooks, #GeekCulture, #Fandom, #WomenInGeekCulture, #PopCulturePodcast, #Marvel, #DCComics, #UYNC