New to the show? Check out these essential episodes based upon popularity, feedback, and how much we enjoyed making them.
Episode 50: What is a Nerd, Nerds VS. Geeks, Top Nerdy Moments of 2014
It’s our 50th episode spectacular! We bring back your favorite guests to answer the essential question of what is a nerd? How are nerds different from geeks? Has our understanding of these terms changed over time? What is geek culture? How is it liberating and in what ways do the “fake geek girl/boy” backlash limit fans? What does the mainstreaming of science fiction, fantasy, and comic books mean for the future of nerdery and geekdom? We share our favorite nerdy moments from 2014. Special guests: Diana Chang (host of Without a License), Derek Bishop (speculative fiction writer), Bill Wadman (photographer, cohost of On Taking Pictures), Nhu-An (lover of learning).
COSMOS: A Spacetime Odyssey, Neil deGrasse Tyson VS. Carl Sagan, Top 5 Science Documentaries
We are made of star-stuff! Join us for a conversation about all things COSMOS. We discuss the legacy of the original COSMOS: A Personal Voyage, the long road to the new COSMOS: A Spacetime Odyssey, why people deny science, and what makes for effective scientific communication. The Spaceship of the Imagination enters the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER for a scientific duel between Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson. We share our top 5 science documentaries. Special guest, photographer and space geek Bill Wadman.
Geek Relationships, Bill VS. Nhu-An, Top 5 Geek Power Couples
It's the Valentine's Day Super Fantastic Nerd Hour special! Our real life partners join us for a conversation about love, geekery, and everything in between. Bill and Nhu-An battle for the title of ultimate nerd partner in the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER. We list our top 5 geek power couples.
Doctor Who Series 8 Premiere, Eleventh Doctor VS. Twelfth Doctor, Top 5 Regeneration Moments
"I don't think I know who The Doctor is anymore." We explore the wibbly wobbly world of Doctor Who! What's the impact of the 50th anniversary on the series 8 premiere? Is the Twelfth Doctor really as dark as everyone claims? How has Clara's relationship with The Doctor changed? And what's up with that new intro and TARDIS? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, who would you rather be a companion to – the Eleventh Doctor or Twelfth Doctor? We enter the time vortex as we share our top 5 Doctor Who regeneration moments. Special guests, speculative fiction writer Derek Bishop and photographer/lifelong Whovian Bill Wadman.
Mental Health
“Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Join us for a conversation about mental health and geek culture. We discuss the healing power of the geek community, why nerds stand up for each other, and how geek culture can challenge the stigma of mental illness. We share our top 5 mental health stories. Special guest, geek therapist Josué Cardona.
The State of Nintendo, Nintendo VS. Sony PlayStation, Top 5 Nintendo Products
"It's me, Mario!" From its humble origins as a playing card company to its decades of innovation, we discuss the history and future of Nintendo! How did Nintendo defeat Atari? Who is Shigeru Miyamoto and how did he influence the video game industry? Will the 3DS survive competition from Apple and Android's smartphones and tablets? Why did the Wii U launch fail? Will Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Kirby, Yoshi, Zelda, and Starfox return Nintendo to its glory? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, which company is here to stay – Nintendo or Sony PlayStation? We press start on our top 5 Nintendo products. Special guest, Nintendo superfan Moira Fogarty.
Episode 35: LOST's 10th Anniversary, LOST VS. Battlestar Galactica, Top 5 LOST Characters
“Live together, die alone.” 10 years after its television premiere, we revisit LOST! How did the show get its start? What made it a success among critics and audiences alike? Why did so many people stop watching LOST? Why all the fan outrage over the series finale? After all these years, have we finally figured out what’s behind those numbers, the Dharma Initiative, and the island?!? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, what’s the better mystery box — LOST or Battlestar Galactica? We share our candidates for top 5 LOST characters. Special guest, speculative fiction writer Derek Bishop.
Her, Samantha VS. HAL 9000, Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Films
Come with us if you want to live! We discuss Her, Spike Jonze's new film, breakdown its social commentary, and debate the film's depiction of the technological singularity. It's a computerized battle royal in the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER with Her's Samantha against 2001: A Space Odyssey's HAL 9000. We wrap up with our top 5 favorite AI films.
Culture in Comics, Marvel VS. DC, Top 5 Social Commentary Comics
“With great power comes great responsibility!” We explore how culture is depicted in comic books, discuss why diversity matters, outline how rigid character representations are bad for everyone, and describe how multiculturalism leads to better business and cooler stories. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, Marvel Comics VS. DC Comics. We share our top 5 social commentary comic book stories.
Singularity & Co. Bookstore, Kirk VS. Picard, Top 5 SciFi Books for Newbies
Save the scifi! The Super Fantastic Nerd Hour visits the Singularity & Co bookstore for a conversation with its cofounder Cici James. We discuss Singularity's origins, how its mission to save out of print science fiction stories got started, the community that has developed around this project, and the current state of science fiction. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, who's a better bookseller - Captain Kirk or Captain Picard? Cici shares her top 5 science fiction books for those new to the genre.
Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones VS. Lord of the Rings, Top 5 Fantasy Epics
"Winter is coming." We discuss all things Game of Thrones! What makes the story so unique? Why is the relationship between George R.R. Martin and fandom so complicated? What's the impact of the show's controversial sexual and racial content? And who will win the Iron Throne of Westeros? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, what's the better adaptation - Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings? We share our top 5 fantasy epics. Special guest, geeky psychologist John G.
Why the Oscars Hate Geeks, 2001: A Space Odyssey VS. Star Wars, Top 5 Oscar Snubs
And the Oscar for Best Picture goes to…no science fiction film EVER! We explore how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences works, why genre films keep getting ignored during award season, and why this matters. The two biggest science fiction Oscar losers, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars, battle for intergalactic glory in the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER! We share our top 5 Oscar snubs.
All Things Sherlock, Sherlock VS. House M.D., Top 5 Detectives
The game is afoot! We dive into all things Sherlock Holmes by exploring the character's origins, discussing how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle influenced the procedural genre, and debating modern versions including the Sherlock Holmes films, BBC's Sherlock, and CBS's Elementary. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, it's a battle of wits between Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock and Hugh Laurie's House, M.D. We deduce our top 5 detectives.
Ready Player One, Wade "Parzival" Watts VS. Scott Pilgrim, Top 5 Nostalgia Media
“Going outside is highly overrated" so join us as we nerd out on Ernest Cline's Ready Player One! We dive into the novel's expansive world of 1970s and 80s pop culture, explore why it makes us nostalgic, and debate if the story is more than just a mashup of nerdy references. It's a street fight between Ready Player One's Wade "Parzival" Watts VS. Scott Pilgrim in the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER and we get all the feels with our top 5 nostalgia media.
Independence Day
"Welcome to Earth!" In honor of July 4th, we celebrate the 1996 scifi blockbuster Independence Day with a full length film commentary! We discuss what made Roland Emmerich's film so successful, debate if ID4 still holds up 18 years later, and explore what it would look like if it was made today. Grab a Fruitopia, fire up your VHS, and enjoy this wisecracking Super Fantastic Nerd Hour holiday episode. Special guest, speculative fiction writer Derek Bishop.