Happy Summer, nerds! On this week's episode of the podcast, Rachel is joined by friends of the show, Emily and Alyssa, to nerd out about one of our favorite summertime activities: reading. Reading on vacation, at a campsite, by the pool, next to your grandma, or stuck on a plane. We talk about our favorite genres for every situation, play a little "this or that: book edition", dive into the Nerdiverse and their literary picks, and talk all about our Bookstagram.  There is no Second Controller this week, per say. Just go and read something!  --- You can follow the podcast @whatsupnerdspod across all platforms, and you can follow me @racheywoody.  You can follow our Bookstagram @thethreebookshelves.  --- Music from www.zapsplat.com 

On this week's episode, we are joined by special guest, Arianna Meurlott, to talk about something Rachel didn't know existed: sports anime! Specifically, we are talking about the hit show, "Haikyuu!!" We discuss why this show feels so wholesome, our experiences with sports in real life (read: almost none), and what other media we'd compare this show to. We also get into tangents on Tom Cruise, yard games, and Adam name dropping My Little Ponies (?!) All that and more, on the podcast.  --- If you'd like to pick up the second controller, we recommend watching Haikyuu!! Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2. For bonus points, add on episodes 6, 20, and 21.  --- You can find us on all social media @whatsupnerdspod, @racheywoody, and @adamdamon. You can email us at [email protected] with any episode suggestions (or with your vote in the bags vs. cornhole debate.)  --- Music from www.zapsplat.com 

Do you hear that sound, coming from the darkness? They say it's the last thing a devil hears before being sent back to hell...and no, before you make the joke, it's not our podcast.   On this week's episode, we cover what is guaranteed to be one of the biggest, most popular anime adaptations of 2022, and I'd stake our nerd cred on that prediction - that's right folks, we're talking Chainsaw Man.   What lengths would you go to sacrifice for power? What does it mean to be a human, living a life worth living? And how the hell is a series about a boy with chainsaws for a head and arms so damn good?   Start your engines, rev up, and join us as we bring you into an overview of Shonen Jump's smash hit. Get in early and make your pacts before the anime releases later this year! Quick content warning: Chainsaw Man is definitely a very intense, violent, and at times NSFW story, although everything is handled tactfully. It just may not be the kind of thing you'd want young children reading, although we highly recommend it for anyone who can stomach it. --- If you'd like to pick up the second controller to play along with us, Chapters 1-3 are available to read for free at viz.com/shonenjump. The definitive anime trailer is also on the official Crunchyroll YouTube account! --- Follow us on social at @whatsupnerdspod - we won't even request you make a pact or sign a contract for our content. What does that mean? You'll just have to listen to find out! __ Music from www.zapsplat.com

On the first episode of Season Two, we talk about something that's become very near and dear to Rachel's heart: Heartstopper. Netflix turned the beloved webcomic turned graphic novel into a hit series that caused the world to fall in love. Rach & Adam discuss why it is the Heartstopper characters make us feel so connected, what the show is doing for representation in the LGBTQ+ community, and why anyone would love it.  We also talk about our favorite wholesome activities, Nerdiverse first date disasters, and Rachel's awkward high school crush on a *gasp* boy in a band.  That, and more, on the pod!  --- If you'd like to pick up the Second Controller, you have two options:  1. The Full Rachel (Watch the entire series twice and read the first two graphic novels.)  2. The Adam (Watch episodes 1-3 of Heartstopper on Netflix.)  --- Find us all over social media @whatsupnerdspod, @racheywoody, and @adamdamon.  Music from www.zapsplat.com

Well, folks, it's been an entire year of Nerdiverse-building, second controllers, VR games, and fantastic* impressions. This week's episode is a celebration of the first year of What's Up, Nerds?  In this week's episode, we look back at year one, dive into the Nerdiverse, and give out Superlatives to all of our amazing guests. It's all thanks to them and you, the listener, for keeping us going these first 52 weeks. Your superlative is MOST AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL LISTENER. Yes, you, specifically.  --- Find us everywhere @whatsupnerdspod! You can also email us at [email protected]  Guest plugs: Andi Ortiz (@really_andi) Alex Traynor (@alexandertraynor) Emily & Alyssa (@thethreebookshelves) Elliott Serrano ("Shaken, Not Stirred" @elliottserrano)  Nick Kovari ("Was That a Sweep?" and "Stuart and Stephanie") Katie Royer ("Cremation The Play")  Joe Diamond (@joediamondlive)  -- Music from www.zapsplat.com  

Hello there! Welcome to the world of POKEMON! My name is OAK! People call me the POKEMON PROF! This world is inhabited by creatures called POKEMON! For some people, POKEMON are pets. Others use them for fights. Myself...I study POKEMON as a profession. First, what are your names? "Adam & Rachel" Right! So your names are both RED! This is my grandson. He's been your rival since you were a baby. ...Erm, what is his name again? "You don't know your own grandson's name?" That's right! I remember now! His name is BLUE! RED! Your very own POKEMON legend is about to unfold! A world of dreams and adventures with POKEMON awaits! Let's go! __ Join your favorite nerds in the business as they discuss Adam's longest-running wonderful vice - Pokemon. Will Adam talk too long about his nostalgic passion? Will Rachel create the wildest Fake-emon to date? You'll just have to listen. Come join us on this adventure for this week's What's Up, Nerds! ____ If you'd like to pick up the second controller to play along with us, Adam recommends the 4-part series "Pokemon Origins" available on Amazon Video. There's also "Pokemon Generations" available for free on YouTube - either are true to the spirit of what Pokemon so great. They want to be the best! ____ Follow us across all social @whatsupnerdspod, or email us your thoughts at [email protected]. When it comes to opinions, let's just say...we want to catch them all. Music from www.zapsplat.com

Immortal animals and men in meat suits, killers disguised as cute old women, imaginary music festivals, and enemies chasing us around the globe... Binge watchers, it's your time to shine! One of Rachel's favorite things to do is binge-watch a good doc about a scandal or some true crime: Worst Roommate Ever, Bad Vegan, Tiger King, Tinder Swindler, Fyre Fest... We've got a bit of everything. This week, Rachel & Adam nerd out about binge-watching in general and specifically about the above titles. Who would be the worst roommate ever? Who's worst date involved actual FIRE? Would you rather have an octopus or a gorilla? All this and more on the pod.   --- If you'd like to pick up the second controller, we will be discussing: Worst Roommate Ever, Bad Vegan, Tiger King, Tinder Swindler, Fyre Fest. These are all available on Netflix.  --- Follow us across all social @whatsupnerdspod. Music from www.zapsplat.com 

What's up, friends? If you've been wondering what we are all about, you're in  the right place. Happy Gaming! 

On this week's episode, your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to follow along on this tale of the length a spy would go to capture a villain. In this case, these lengths include adopting a child and taking a wife. If that's not zany enough for you, the fake wife happens to be an assassin, and the fake daughter is a telepath that knows about it all! Yes, folks, this week we are talking Spy x Family, a manga and now anime series.  Rachel and Adam talk about different genres of comedy, "filler" in anime, and what the heck they'd do if they each had a telepathic child. Plus, what secret  skills do members of the Nerdiverse have?  That, and more, on the show.  --- If you'd like to pick up the second controller, read Chapters 1-10 of the Spy x Family manga, watch the pilot of the anime, or - heck- do them both! --- Follow us on social at @whatsupnerdspod. Music from www.zapsplat.com 

Your favorite nerds are heating up this week, folks, and it may just be a real problem. We're attempting to take on our own nerd heat gauntlet in challenging each other to the Nerd Chicken Challenge - we grill each other as we take on progressively hotter chicken wings doused in various hot sauces. What's that, this idea sounds familiar? No idea what you're talking about.   In our first show with a LIVE studio audience, we'll blast through six wings (well, okay, technically dinosaur chicken nuggets. We had to put a spin on it somehow), taking each other to task. Will we make it all the way through? Will the infamous Da Bomb: Beyond Insanity finally break us? Is Rachel going to live to see the end of the week? You'll just have to listen to find out. Pucker up and join us on this week's What's Up, Nerds!   --- If you'd like to pick up that second controller to play along with us, there are about a billion hot sauces available on Amazon, although Adam specifically recommends ordering what you can from Tears of Joy in Austin, TX - they're not affiliated with your favorite nerds, we're just a fan of their shop (and they ship all over!). They can be found at tearsofjoysauces.com. Support local pain-bringing businesses, y'all!   For this week's challenge, we used: 1) Cholula (original) 2) Valentina Black Label 3) Queen Majesty Scotch Bonnet & Ginger 4) Samyang Buldak  5) Da Bomb: Beyond Insanity 6) The Last Dab: Apollo   --- Find us @whatsupnerdspod across all social platforms. You can email us at [email protected] to suggest any topics that you just want to gush about to a captive audience! Maybe if you're hot enough (ha), we'll have you on too!   --- Music from www.zapsplat.com