Make Me a Nerd is a podcast for full-blown nerds and those who are nerd-curious. Its host, Mandy Kaplan, is a mainstream middle-aged mom who loves all things Football, Taylor Swift, and Housewives. Each week, she will be introduced to some form of nerdery way outside her comfort zone. By who, you ask? (we know it's whom, that was a "nerd test," and you passed it) A full-blown sci-fi/D&D/Ren Fair-loving geek guest determined to expand her horizons and recruit her to nerd-dom. You know what they say: "May the forest be with you"!
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This is it, folks. The final bonus episode that the Mandys recorded before deciding to pull the plug on the podcast. But hold your tears, they didn't know they'd be pulling the plug, so instead of a somber farewell to a worn-out joke, it's a lively discussion about cults and kidnapping in Netflix's latest offering: The Program.
Huge thanks to everyone who has joined us on this rollercoaster ride over the past three years. It's been an absolute joy, and we're thrilled to present this one last episode. Stick around for some laughs, insights, and maybe a few tears (of joy, we hope).
The Mandys dish on adult nocturnal surprises, Mandy's London adventures, and what's coming next for each of them... and this show.
OK, so that last part isn’t all roses. The Mandcave is officially coming to an end. Thanks to everyone for your support and participation these last three years.
Nuts and bolts: We’re canceling any recurring membership charges effective today. But we’re not canceling memberships themselves so you’ll still be able to access member and bonus content if you want to trip down memory lane with old episodes. As long as you members don’t unsubscribe from the member podcast, you’re golden.
As we mentioned, Mandy’s new film, Jess Plus None, is coming out this summer. Please head over to the website and follow the socials for details as they’re released. And Mandy’s new show, “Make Me A Nerd,” is launching soon on TruStory FM. The webpage isn’t built yet, but we’ll let you know when it is. VERY SOON!
If you have any questions about membership, hit up Pete and the TruStory guys at shows@trustory.fm. Otherwise, thanks again and we’ll be seeing you in that great podcast farm upstate!
Mandy and Mandy are back with a heated discussion on the new Prime Video series "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"... or is it? The intercontinental BFFs dive into the confusing world of Hollywood IP and question if this show has anything to do with the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie blockbuster. (Hardly) Sparks fly as the Mandys debate the merits of this slow-burn spy drama. Will Donald Glover's charisma be enough to keep Mandy invested? Can Maya Erskine win over a skeptical Mandy? And what's up with Paul Dano being credited as "Hot Neighbor"?! Tune in for laughs, rants, and a rare moment of agreement over the ongoing hot flash saga and which audiobook is leaving Mandy cold.
Mandy and Mandy dive into the lush yet emotionally detached world of Emerald Fennell’s latest film Saltburn. With its stylish cinematography and shocking moments, is this a movie for everyone? Is it even for the Mandys?
The debate gets all sexy when they discuss whether the beautiful actors and scenery make up for the lack of character development and sometimes-cringey plot twists. Get ready for some spicy takes as they discuss the merits (and occasional misfires) of Fennell's satirical approach.
Strap in for Mandy v Mandy as they alternately rave and rant about this polarizing psychosexual thriller. Will you love it or loathe it? Tune in and get ready… because you’re never leaving Saltburn!
Also, it’s possible Mandy fights the British accent on the pod.
The Mandys are back for book club! This week, Britney Spears and “The Woman In Me.” By the time you hear this, Mandy will be in London. But before she left, she recorded this last missive to celebrate the continually crumbling relationship she has on this podcast. Maybe next month, she’ll tune in eating some sort of crumpet or fish from old newspaper. Until then, we talk Tay, Brit, and Christina. Also, the show may be targeted by Russian hackers.
The Mandys end the fifth season with a banger: the dynamic duo finally tell the truth about their love of bottoms. Also, they watch the movie of the same name and may not disagree so much.
The big news is twofold... first, this is the season wrap for the big number five. Great season. Fun fights. But we’re coming back! Which brings us to the second news: Mandy’s moving to LONDON for a while. So, the break might be a touch longer than our usual hiatus, but fear not! Member and bonus eps are still coming around so hang out and know your patience will be rewarded.
Happy Holidays from all of us in The Mandcave! This week, the Mandys are taking on Eddie Murphy's latest try at holiday cheer, "Candy Cane Lane." The lesson? The movie is really all about Pentatonix.
Ok, that’s not entirely fair. While Pentatonix Puppets are superlative, in classic Mandcave Smackdown Style, the Mandys disagree on some stuff. Whether or not Eddie’s grimaces kindle your nostalgic flames, this special holiday jam should be right up your chimney.
Mandy and Mandy are back with another lively debate on their hit podcast The Mandcave. In this week's episode, "To Pull or Not to Pull," the Mandys square off over the new sci-fi film Fingernails. Mandy describes it as "very artistic" exploring "interesting themes" around technology and love. So linger, listener on that, if you find you like the film. Because things take a turn from there.
Delving into the bizarre plot involving a dystopian institute that tests predestined love via matching fingernails, they cringe as near-naked couples participate in a "sniffing" exercise to identify their match solely by scent. Should art challenge us or entertain us? What role should technology play in romance? Some of those big questions are probably rooted in this episode. But, yeah, it’s mostly cringe. Oh, and children’s theater sex toys. Did we mention that?
The latest episode of The Mandcave finds co-hosts Mandy and Mandy diving into the comedy The D Train. Mandy assigns the indie film, convinced its boundary-pushing humor around sexuality will delight her co-host. Will the movie bomb for Mandy in her search for warmth in her cringe comedy?
“I like to explore sexuality in dangerous, unseen ways,” says Mandy in what has to be a perfect litmus test for some sort of undiscovered maladaptive behavior.
Through it all, the Mandys offer a storytime about their own high school reunions and hijinks. Some questions answered include: How do you prank call a teacher? How often did you successfully use your fake ID? And how easy is it to fake your mom’s signature?
OK, ok, you know you did this stuff, too. But don’t worry, this week’s episode has a not-too-secret method for absolution buried in it! But you have to listen VERY closely... all the way to the end... or you might miss it! (It’s Project Angel Food. And you should pause the podcast and sign up to do it yourself, too. Seriously.)
The Mandys are all birthdays and smiles this week as they join Awkwafina and Sandra Oh for a road trip to stardom in "Quiz Lady," the new Sandra Oh/Awkwafina comedy jam. Surprises abound.
Along the way, we get a Golden Bachelor update, a debate on the merits of American Vandal, and a signature game of "I'm Trying Out for Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" involving a ketchup chip run.
The Mandys remind us once again that, even as actors, they do know how to read as they explore the comic scribblings of classical funny lady Rachel Bloom in her book, "I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are: Essays and Other Stuff."
The Mandys finally decide to stop toying around with the word “narcissist” this week because they get to go inside the mind of a real one and learn that the real one ain’t f#*king around. Things get real as they check out the hit new podcast “How to Destroy Everything” and talk to the show’s creators, Danny Jacobs and Darren Grodsky.
So, the Mandy’s saw the Taylor Swift movie. I’m sitting here writing these notes, and I have not seen the Taylor Swift movie. In fact, until I was sitting down to edit this podcast, I hadn’t even watched the trailer for this movie. And I’m kind of a movie guy.
Listen... It’s not that I don’t like Taylor. Who doesn’t like Taylor, for God’s sake? But another concert film? Prince had the final word on concert films with Sign o’ the Times, amIright? Do I look like a guy who saw Glee: The 3D Concert Movie? Don’t answer that.
So, here we find ourselves, dear reader, saddled with the responsibility of listening to the Mandy’s gush about a film that has come out within weeks of TayTay becoming a billionaire. Wonder how that old manager of hers is feeling now? Whatever. Old news. We’re all Taylor’s Version people now.
I guess I spoiled it. Yeah, the Mandys liked the movie. I’ll spoil it again: THEY ARE ALREADY PLANNING ON SEEING IT AGAIN TOGETHER. So let’s just call these show notes a review of the Mandys review of Eras. It’s funny! And charming. These two white ladies really know how to celebrate their emo-pop. And, for someone who hasn’t seen the movie, I’ll go ahead and put it out there: I thought the podcast nailed Taylor’s vibe. I give it four mandjobs.
Here’s an interesting test... do you think the Mandys will even read these show notes? Stay Tuned, dear reader!
Welcome to another steamy episode of Mandcave starring your two favorite twin flame pals, Mandy and Mandy! This week the Mandys dive into the tantalizing world of cults like they're diving into a hot tub full of soulmates. Hold onto your singing bowls, listeners; things are about to get spicy.
Mandy is shocked — shocked, I tell you — to learn that Mandy still owns her unsent psychotic stalker letters to her college ex-boyfriend. But that does make for a nice segue into today's show. The Mandys take us on a wild ride through the outrageous documentary "Desperately Seeking Soulmates." Jeff and Shaleia Divine are the cult leader equivalents of Ross and Rachel, if Ross was a deranged narcissist and Rachel pathological enabler.
The Mandys are dying to see Jeff and Shaleia's actual classes. Maybe Mandy will get Mandy a class for Christmas! Nothing says holiday spirit like joining a cult. Mandy coins the perfect title for Mandy's autobiographies. Plural. There will be several.
In the new segment "Cult or Not," Mandy quizzes Mandy on real and fake cults. They all sound plausible when you're talking about the Mandys' wild Friday nights. Let's all join the Universal Medicine cult together! According to Mandy, whatever happens happens, especially when it comes to breast massages. She's a healer, after all.
The Mandcave is clearly the cult for us. Come for the disagreements, stay for the sashes and robes at the mountain retreat.
The Mandys check out Chelsea Handler's live show and along the way get a lesson in note-taking from the pros.
The Mandys are diving back into what has become a classic Mandcave oeuvre: The Reality Show. And this week, it's time to play the classics with the heat just oozing out of The Golden Bachelor.
The Mandys dive into the arcane world of curses and hexes as they listen along to this episode of the podcast, "Heavyweight." Plus, a report from the Department of Corrections, Mandy's Travelogue, and a curse you can use at home!
It's all Life Coaching this week as the Mandys follow the trail of season three of The Dream podcast. What's real? What's a scam? What's it look like when Mandy completely kneecaps one of Mandy's jokes? All that and more this week in The Mandcave!
The Mandys try their best to get into the Two Bears, One Cave podcast. But things happen, moods change, and pivots are revealed. The result: an epic week of favorites that includes best music to get it on to... or at the very least FIRST music to get it on to.