Superhero Ethics

Matthew and Riki welcome special guest Mandy Kaplan, comedian and host of the Make Me a Nerd podcast. They explore the journey of discovering nerd culture later in life, breaking down stereotypes about who gets to be a "nerd," and examining how mainstream and geek culture continue to merge in surprising ways.What defines someone as a "nerd" in today's culture?Mandy describes herself as a "mainstream mom" who loves Taylor Swift and Housewives but had always shied away from Star Wars, Star Trek, and other traditional nerd culture. Approaching 50, she decided to explore this world through her podcast, where guests introduce her to their favorite nerdy media. Matthew and Riki discuss how the definition of "nerd" has evolved, suggesting it's less about what you're interested in and more about how deeply you engage with it—whether that's creating charts about Star Trek planets or Top Chef recipes.How accessible should nerd media be to newcomers?The hosts discuss the balance between creating media for longtime fans