Nerdy Folks Podcast

Adepticon With Jeremy Owen

Matt caught up with his old friend Jeremy Owen at Adepticon. Jeremy is an experienced competitive tabletop gamer with a lot of insight into the culture of tabletop war games. Adepticon is the San Diego Comic Con of the table top world. It was a blast to get to hang out at the event! 

Top Games of 2024 (so far)

Matt discusses the video games of 2024 and about his figure skating debut, which really just amounts to skating circles around the ice with his daughter. What's your favorite game of the year so far? 

How Has Video Game Story Telling Evolved?

Matt and Ethan disucss video games as a medium for story telling. They also talk old school arcade games, the benefits of gaming, share some stories of years gone by and talk about how Jesus used story telling as an incredile way to teach. 

Video Games Coming To Theaters

Video games are amazing vehicles for storytelling, and now, many of these stories are being adapted for the big and small screen. Matt, Katie and Ethan have some fun on this episode tring to guess the names of some of these games based on their description. How many can you guess? 

Greatest Games / Is Life Just V.R.?

Matt and Ethan discuss flying bugs in Helldivers. They also go through a list of the top grossing games of all time including Mario Cart, Tetris, PUGB, the Witcher 3, Overwatch, Grand Theft Auto and Minecraft. Finally, they discuss the possibility that life is just a Virtual Reality.

A Gaming Memoir: From NES to Hell Divers

Matthew and guest co-host Ethan kick off a new series on gaming! They share their personal history with gaming and wax nostalgic about playing on an old-school PC and Sega. They also discuss current games like the Hell Divers, which took the gaming world by storm this year. 

Does The Villain Create The Hero?

On this episode, we discuss some of the best hero and villain matchups. We also dive into some movie and TV news for Dune, Marvel, Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Alita Battle Angel. Finally, we hit the idea that villains often become the catalysts for heroes to rise up. Similarly, adversity can grow us in amazing ways if we let it.    Movie News Marvel Releases     1. "X-Men '97" (March 20)     2. "Deadpool & Wolverine" (July 26)     3. "Agatha" (Fall 2024)     4. "Your...

Fantastic 4, Madame Web, Sinister 6 and Thunderbolts Have This In Common

They all involve teamwork! This week Matt and Katie talk about teams and why you need them in your life. They also recap Marvel's Fantastic Four announcement, discuss Sony's Spiderverse and specu

Villains, The Marvel and Your Comments

Matt and Katie continue their discussion on The Marvels on and discuss our fascination with villains on this episode. You'll also get to hear our facebook community share who their favorite villains are and why.  Matt and Katie read from the Offical DCU Encyclopedia and try to guess if less known heroes are heroes or villains. 

Chat GPT, The Marvels and Making A Great Hero

On this episode of the show, we share our thought on the latest MCU movie the Marvels. We also share some of your responses to the question of what makes a great hero. Chat GPT makes into and even ranks the conversation. We share some ways we can all be heros and even dig into an official Marvel character guide to discover some unsung heroes who will probably never make it to the silver screen. If you're a fan of the Great Lakes Avengers, check this episode out!

Our First Live Podcast: Heroes pt. 1

We had the priviledge of recording this live episode of the podcast at Edge Church in January of 2024! The episode kicks off our series about heroes! We talk about Marvel, DC, Superpowers, Superheroes and we pay special attention to Captain America. We had fun playing "would you rather" with audience members and interacting with everyone. 

Christmas and Christmas Specials

Indiana Jones Goes Back To The Future

Matt and Katie discuss how Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny relates to using our time to the fullest. Realizing that our time is limited can be an amazing source of wisdom if we let it. 

What’s Your Favorite Time Machine?

On this episode, Matt and Katie discuss time machines. The DeLaurian, Tardis, and Time Map are just a few of the great time machines we encounter in our favorite sci-fi flicks. We also hear an interview from Twin Cities Convention about time travel. Let us know in the comments what your favorite mode of time travel is! 

There's A Time Machine In Your Pocket

Einstein's theory of general relativity showed that different observers experience time differently! This theory has real-world implications. No matter how we each experience time, the amount of time we have is limited. Therefore, be thankful and make the most of it. 

Loki In A Time Loop

This is the second episode in a series on time. For this episode Matt and katie discuss Loki choosing to continuously loop back in time in order to save his friends and the multiverse. Matt and Katie also discuss getting stuck in loops or patterns of behavior and thinking and about how the self-sacrifice of Jesus can disrupt those negative patterns. 

"Time" @ Twin Cities Con

Nerdy Folks was recently at Twin Cities Con! We had a blast meeting people and taking in the offerings at this amazing convention in Minneapolis, MN. We kicked off this new series on time by interview folks about where they would go if they could travel to the future, to the past and anywhere in time on a one-way ticket! Here the article Matt references about types of time travel:  https://www.almostanauthor.com/the-eight-types-of-time-travel/  

Are Aliens From A Spiritual Dimension?

The traditional view of what aliens are holds that aliens are simply other forms of sentient life that evolved elsewhere and have traveled through space to reach us. Other theories do exist, including the idea that aliens might be from another dimension. Many cultures belief systems, including Christianity, believe there is an unseen spiritual dimension to our everyday physical reality. Could aliens be from or be connected to a spiritual reality? On this episode, Matt and Katie discuss this ...

Alien Abduction or Memory of Our Own Birth?

Matt and katie discuss two famous Alien Abduction stories. The Barney and Betty Hill case and the case of Deputy Sheriff Val Johnson both made a splash in the media and brought alien abduction into the national zeigeist. Matt and Katie also listen to a story told by one of Matt's youth group students and  try to guess if the story is proportedly true or completely fictionalized. How does all this tie into memories of our birth. Listen and find out!

Would Aliens Destroy Us Or help Us?

Why do we assume that aliens would show up and annihilate us? Maybe aliens would take pitty on us and actually help us.   Conflicts around the world: Crisis Group International: https://www.crisisgroup.org/visual-explainers/10-conflicts-2023/   Global Conflict Tracker: https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker   Geneva Academy: https://geneva-academy.ch/galleries/today-s-armed-conflicts  

Alien Tech, Ahsoka and Loki

Is the U.S. Government in possession of alien technology? Are products we use everyday the result of secret programs working to reverse engineer that alien tech? These are real question being asked by members of congress and by faculty at Harvard university.  Harvard Professor Story:  https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/avi-loeb-harvard-professor-alien-technology-fragments/ Congressional Hearing https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-house-oversight-committee-probes-ufos-a...

Aliens Series pt. 1: Alien Encounters

NASA has an alien Czar. Congress holds a public hearing on UAP sightings. Aliens have been a stable of sci-fi for decade, but it appears that aliens have gone mainstream. Matt and Katie also share 8 noteable alien encounters from a list courated by Chat GPT, who may or may not be an alien intellegence.   Whether or not aliens are out there, many of us and perhaps all of us feel lonly and alien at times. How do we handle periods of lonliness? 

New Series Preview

The Telescope Show is now the Nerdy Folks Podcast! We are so excited to be back after a summer hiatus and rebrand! We are kicking off this new season with a series on aliens. This preview offers a taste of what is to come. 

Marvel's Secret Invasion

Nick Fure engages in a personal war against a Skrull faction threatening earth, and Matt and Katie are so excited to watch it all go down! They share their thoughts and even make a few predictions. Reminder: this is the final episode before our summer hiatus. By the end of summer the podcast will be rebranded as the Nerdy Folks Podcast! 

Super Mario Bros. 2023

Matt and Katie discuss Super Mario Bros. 2023 on this episode, which has now raked in over 1 billion dollars at the box office! They share their kid's reactions along with their own parental perspectives. Which NES game will make it's way to the big screen next? With success like this, there are sure to be more video game characters and stories appearing in movies. 

What is Jean-Luc's Legacy? Picard Season 3

On this episode, Matt and Katie discuss Picard Season 3 and the legacy of the titular character. Was the season a hit or a miss? What happened to Agnes from season 2, and what does the future look like for these characters, who we love despite their occasionally stiff dialoge? 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Matt and Katie talk about Gaurdians of the Galaxy Volume 3 and share a special announcement! 

Summer Preview

Matt and Katie take a look at what's on the horizon for summer movies and TV. 

Grogu, Adoption and New Identity

Matt and Katie talk all about the Mandalorian Season 3 Finale, particularly about what it means to be adopted. They also laugh about the fact that most of their predictions did not come true, though it does not stop them for making more predictions for the future of Star Wars. 

Mandalorian S3 Finale (NO Spoilers!)

Matt woke up and watched the Mandalorian season 3 finale at 4:00 a.m. This episode contains his first thoughts. This is a spoiler-free episode! 

Rey and Asoka Get Movies So Do the OG Jedi

Star Wars Celebration left the world awash in announcements for new Star Wars content. Matt and katie talk through some of the biggest news and share their thoughts on the Mandelorian. 

Antman Quantumania & The Avengers

Matt is joined by co-host Ethan Palmer for this episode. The duo discuss their favorite moments from Antman: Quantumania and speculate about how the events of the film could play into the next Avenger's Film, which is titled Avengers: Kang Dynasty. 

New LOTR Movies Announced!

Whether we want them or not, Warner Brothers has announced plans to create new Lord of the Rings movies. What will these like? Who will direct them? Are they roboots or something different? Matt and Katie share what they know about this huge announcement that has been polorizing and provoking many fans. 

Mario Bros 2023: A Mario Multiverse?

Matt and Katie discuss Super Mario Brothers, which is set to release on April 5th, 2023. It's got a stellar cast and looks poised to catapault Mario, Luigi and the gang back to the forefront of pop culture. Will this film be a one-shot event, or is this just the beginning of the Marioverse? Time will tell!

Will Bo Katan Ride The Mythosaur?

On this epidose Matt and Katie discuss riding ostriches, water buffalo and Mythosaurs. Will Bo Katan ride the mythosaur? We will have to keep watching to find out. One thing is certain though. Her faith in the past and in her people's future is being reignited as she learns that many of the old stories are true. The same kind of faith renewal can happen in our lives as we learn how Jesus fulfilled many prophecies from the Jewish writings. 

Comic Book Legend: Ralph Miley

Matt and Katie had the privelege of interview comic book legend Ralph Miley. Ralph has been instrumental in bringing together Christian artists from around the globe. His work can be found at New Creation Comics. Ralph is also a long-time member of the Chirstian Comic Arts Society and has represented them at San Diego Comic Con for many, many years. We also talk briefly about our impressions of the Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1.    Here is a Fox News article abou the Christian Comic Art...

The Mandalorian S3 Predictions

Matt and Katie dive headlessly into the waters of prognostication, making some bold predictions for the Mandalorian season 3. Will Grogu get the Dark Sabre? Will Asoka show up? Will Sabine become a villian or a valliant leader? Check out this episode to hear our thoughts, and leave your thoughts in the comments if you're listening on social media! It's an exciting to for Star Wars Fans! We can't wait for the Premier of The Mandalorian season 3!

Antman, Picard and MODOK For The Win

On this episode of the show, Matt and Katie give a spoiler-free review of Antman & Wasp: Quantumania, and they talk about the first episode of Picard: the final season. It's an action packed 150th episode! 

Picard, Antman and Wasp: Picard-Um-Mania

On this episode, Matt and Katie discuss two of the biggest releases in the Geek world: Antman 3 and Picard Season 3. It's Picard-Um-Mania! Does Kang steal the show? How do the members of the Next Generation Cast show up without it feeling contrived? We don't know the answers, but we have fun talking about it. We also discuss the vital importance that f

Dominion: Rise of the House of Saul pt. 2

Matt and Katie continue their conversation with Dr. Barron Bell and Danie Hancock. On this episode, we discuss how using anthropomorphic characters helps the story resonate with a wider audience, the next phase of the Dominion Series and some exciting spinoffs and other Terminus Media projects. Check out part one of the conversation here: www.thetelescopeshow.com  The Dominion Series can be found here: https://www.terminusmedia.com/dominion  

Dominion: Rise of the House of Saul pt. 1

Matt and Katie interview Dr. Barron Bell and Daniel Hancock about the hit comic series Dominion: Rise of the House of Saul, which is put out by Terminus Media.  "Star Wars meets Narnia in this timeless story of war and family reimagined for a new generation!" Head over to the Terminus Media Website to learn more. 

Comics & Cons With Carl Borg

Carl Borg sells Christian Comic Books at Comic Conventions, but he didn't start there. This episode takes a dive into the life a Star Trek Club Memeber turned Christian Comic promoter. Carls's website is http://www.wonder-ministries.com. 

Joshua Zapata-Palmer & The Epic Journey of Making Hidden Falls

Has a friend ever asked you to help make an eight-part fantasy web series during a global pandemic? Joshua Zapata-Palmer has, and with a ton of help, they did it! Hidden Falls is a crowd-funded project that was shot in Minnesota. The outpouring of love and support for the project is truely inspiring!  https://www.hiddenfallsfilm.com https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hiddenfallsfilm/hidden-falls-a-fantasy-series  

Black Adam & DC's Big Shakeup

Matt and Katie reminisce about -60 degree weather in Northern Minnesota, share their thoughts on Black Adam and contemplate what the leadership changes at DC mean for the future of that universe. If you want to know more about what's going on over at DC Studios, check out this article: https://movieweb.com/james-gunn-why-dcu-leadership-refreshing/

The 2023 Preview Extravaganza

Matt and Katie discuss all the things they are looking forward to in 2023. With the MCU becoming so spread out, will some fans turn to DC in 2023? We also talk about Star Wars, Star Trek, Rings of Power and Alita Battle Angel. Share what you're looking for in the comments below! 

The Princess Bride and KFC in Japan

On this episode, Matt and Katie gush over one of the most beloved, cult-classics of all time: The Princess Bride. There are pleanty of fights, narrow escapes, fencing scenes and of course true love. 

Figgy Spam and Astrophotography With Dr. Hammar

This is part 3 of our interview with Dr. Richard Hammar. We discuss the intricacies and frustrations involved in photographing distant objects in space.    Santacon: https://www.npr.org/2022/12/10/1142094732/santacon-new-york-city Figgy Spam: https://www.spam.com/figgypudding fusion: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/science/nuclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough.html Artimus 1: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-1  

Do You Like the New Willow?

The internet is awash with people throwing shade at the new Willow series. Matt and Katie discuss a few of the show's critics and defenders and share their own thoughts on the new Willow Series. They also discuss National Cotton Candy day and the oddity that is the Duckbill Platypus. 

Andor & The Guardians of the Galaxy

Matt and Katie discuss the Andor season finale and the Gaurdians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. There is some speculation about the funeral band going on tour with the band from Jaba's palace, some musings about the morality of spying and a bit of laughter at the fact that Groot is voiced by Vin Disel. What does Andor say about our head and our hearts getting on the same page, and how can that apply to faith? Listen to find out! 

Grief, Healing and Black Panther 2

Grief is a part of life. Grief is also one of the strongest themes of Black Panther 2. How do we find healing and the strength to move beyond seasons of mourning? Jesus experienced loss and pain and sympathizes with us when we are suffering and struggling.