Friends Talking Nerdy

Talking About Robert Redford - Episode 433

Episode 433 of Friends Talking Nerdy brings a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Robert Redford. Professor Aubrey and Tim the Nerd dive deep into the cinematic legacy of the late actor, director, and icon, exploring how his work shaped both Hollywood storytelling and 20th-century American culture. From the buddy brilliance of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting to the political intrigue of All the President’s Men and The Candidate, the duo traces Redford’s uncanny ability to capture the restless spirit of his time. They also tackle his turns in Jeremiah Johnson, Three Days of the Condor, The Natural, Out of Africa, Indecent Proposal, and even his surprising Marvel role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Equal parts nostalgia and cultural dissection, this episode reminds us why Robert Redford wasn’t just a movie star—he was an American art form in motion. As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/chrislazattack] for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms. Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://friendstalkingnerdy.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for more information on where to find us online.

Talking About The Monkees - Episode 432

This week on Friends Talking Nerdy, Professor Aubrey and Tim the Nerd swing from ‘60s pop brilliance to modern digital chaos with their signature mix of heart, humor, and deep nerdery. First up, the duo dives headfirst into their 12 favorite songs from The Monkees [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJgHbCZfRN-FrsIiTqIAMck9j02XffojY&si=IvArqU-5Yf3hMOkb] — a band that began as a TV creation and evolved into something genuinely magical. Expect stories, laughter, and a surprising amount of reverence for an underrated catalog that includes classics like Last Train to Clarksville, I’m A Believer, (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone, Daydream Believer, and deeper cuts like Porpoise Song and Me and Magdalena. The Professor and Tim wax nostalgic about the band’s legacy, the genius of Michael Nesmith, and how The Monkees managed to sneak counterculture weirdness into bubblegum pop. Next, they drift across the pond to talk about their new favorite binge: the BBC series Ghosts. It’s witty, heartfelt, and absolutely packed with charm — much like this very podcast. The pair trade laughs over their favorite spectral roommates, discuss the show’s mix of history and humor, and lament that American remakes rarely capture that British balance of clever and cozy chaos. Finally, Tim the Nerd takes aim at YouTube’s newest headache: the platform’s “Restricted Mode” being switched on by default. He argues that while keeping kids safe is essential, burying creators’ content behind algorithmic walls isn’t the way to do it. There’s a lively discussion about digital gatekeeping, the illusion of choice online, and how creators who use a few choice swear words shouldn’t be punished like they’re smuggling contraband. From Pleasant Valley Sunday to online policy outrage, Friends Talking Nerdy Episode 432 is a mix of pop nostalgia, media critique, and unabashed enthusiasm for all things weird and wonderful. As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/chrislazattack] for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms. Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://friendstalkingnerdy.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for more information on where to find us online.

Episode 431

In this week’s episode of Friends Talking Nerdy, Professor Aubrey returns from the dusty chaos of Burning Man 2025, where she traded her usual academic robes for goggles and glitter. She shares her first-hand tales from the playa — the surreal art installations, the radical self-expression, and the mysterious stranger who may or may not have tried to sell her a “quantum-enhanced grilled cheese.” Tim the Nerd listens with equal parts fascination and skepticism, asking the tough question: “Was it enlightenment or just really expensive camping?” After the desert dust settles, the duo dives back into the internet’s favorite moral battleground — Reddit’s Am I The Asshole (AITA). Professor Aubrey and Tim dissect fresh stories of social awkwardness, entitlement, and questionable ethics with their signature mix of humor and empathy. From petty roommate feuds to baffling wedding-day ultimatums, no AITA post escapes their critical (and comedic) eye. Meanwhile, Tim brings everyone up to speed on the backstage blow-up between independent wrestlers Sycho Stu and Raja Jackson — an incident that unfolded while the Professor was off-grid at Burning Man. With the flair of a true wrestling fan and the insight of someone who’s seen plenty of locker room politics, Tim breaks down what happened, what it says about indie wrestling culture, and how the fallout is rippling through the scene. By the end, listeners get a little bit of everything — desert philosophy, internet ethics, and wrestling mayhem — wrapped in the warm, witty banter that makes Friends Talking Nerdy a weekly highlight. As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/chrislazattack] for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms. Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://friendstalkingnerdy.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for more information on where to find us online.

Talking About Joan Jett - Episode 430

This week on Friends Talking Nerdy, Professor Aubrey and Tim the Nerd crank up the distortion and pay tribute to one of rock’s most unstoppable forces — Joan freakin’ Jett. From her trailblazing work with The Runaways to her solo anthems that defined rebellion for generations, the duo dives deep into the riffs, the attitude, and the pure rock heart that make Jett a legend. Professor Aubrey breaks down what makes Jett’s guitar tone so distinct — that raw, unapologetic crunch that says “I don’t need your approval.” Tim the Nerd, meanwhile, waxes poetic (and a little nostalgic) about the cultural punch of “Bad Reputation” and how “I Love Rock and Roll” became the rallying cry for every outsider with a beat-up leather jacket. The songs on the turntable this week include: “I Love Rock and Roll,” “Bad Reputation,” “Crimson and Clover,” “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah),” “Make Believe,” “Light of Day,” “Fake Friends,” and a trip back to her Runaways days with “Cherry Bomb,” “You Drive Me Wild,” “I Love Playing with Fire,” and “School Days.” Expect sharp insights, a few laughs, and a lot of love for the woman who turned raw energy into timeless empowerment. Whether you’ve been blasting Jett since the ‘70s or you’re just discovering her now, this episode is pure, high-voltage rock and roll. Because as Joan herself proved — you don’t have to give a damn about your bad reputation… you just have to turn it up. Listen to the songs on our YouTube Playlist [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJgHbCZfRN-H9CsAt7N3r2c6Y8EAXkKfn&si=K-PwnAe24lAPIRdo]. As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/chrislazattack] for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms. Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://friendstalkingnerdy.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for more information on where to find us online.

Talking About Overreacting - Episode 429

This week on Friends Talking Nerdy, Professor Aubrey and Tim the Nerd dive headfirst into a trio of wildly different but equally juicy topics. First, the dynamic duo ventures into the chaotic emotional jungle of Reddit’s Am I Overreacting? subreddit. They read and react to stories of everyday drama, wild overreactions, and moments of total self-awareness—or complete lack thereof. As always, they bring their own lived experiences, wit, and empathy to the table, offering grounded advice with a nerdy twist. Next, Tim puts on his wrestling historian hat to tackle the big news shaking up the sports entertainment world: WWE’s exclusive new deal with ESPN. With Premium Live Events moving to ESPN’s pricey new app, Tim breaks down what this means for fans’ wallets and for WWE’s future audience engagement. Expect a mix of passion, insight, and a few wrestling puns that would make The Rock raise an eyebrow. Finally, before heading off to Burning Man 2025, Professor Aubrey shares her excitement about the upcoming adventure. She opens up about what she’s looking forward to most—the art, the music, the community, and the delightful unpredictability of the desert. It’s a conversation that blends empathy, pop culture critique, and unfiltered enthusiasm for life’s strange corners—exactly what you’ve come to expect from Friends Talking Nerdy. 🎧 Tune in, laugh along, and maybe question if you’re overreacting too. As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/chrislazattack] for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms. Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://friendstalkingnerdy.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for more information on where to find us online.