The Mandcave with Mandy Kaplan & Mandy Fabian

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 Fa...

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 o...

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 m...

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...

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 s...

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....

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,...

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 f...

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.  Delvin...

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 fo...

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.  (00:00) - Welcome t...

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." (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (00:32) - The Miscast Report (03:12) - Theater Camp Bonus Episode Update and Assignment Chat (04:58) - I Want to Be Where the Norma...

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. (00:00) - Welcome to the Mandcave (02:13) - Huge News. 🤦‍♂️ (07...

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 o...

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 lett...

The Mandys check out Chelsea Handler's live show and along the way get a lesson in note-taking from the pros. (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (00:32) - The Search for an English Teacher (01:10) - The Road Review (03:23) - The Golden Follow-up (08:53) - "Little Big Bitch" • Chelsea Handler (32:43) - Reviews... but even better? How about becoming a member! (34:53) - Games! (41:11) - Coming Attract...

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. (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (00:35) - The Monster In a Box Sexy Pre-apology (02:21) - Golden Bachelor (37:27) - Find us! Review us! Become a Fandy! (39:13) - Games! Mandy's Celebrity Soulmate (48:28) -...

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! (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (01:41) - Dept. of Corrections (03:05) - Mandy's Travelogue (05:55) - The Talent Show Troubles (08:43) - Programme Pivot: Heavyweight: T...

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! (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (00:37) - Boho Journaling (03:03) - The Serial Killer Connundrum (06:37) - The Dream (35:29) - Support the show! Write...

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. (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (00:30) - The Talk (02:49) - The right amount of Jesus in music (05:58) - Two Bears, One Cave (16:02) - P...

The Mandy's talk travel, music festivals, wildlife, and the bizzare life of Seth Rogan as they dig into his "Year Book." (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (00:36) - Trip Report (02:36) - The Bear Music Festival: Brought to you by ... Nature (04:14) - Seth Rogan's Yearbook (30:52) - Support the Show: Become a Fandy! (33:04) - Games! (39:26) - Coming Attractions: Two Bears, One Cave

The Mandys are plowing through "Now is Not the Time to Panic" this week, but first, Mandy forgets some stuff, Mandy is selling all of her earthly possessions (but don't worry, she's fine), and Mandy brings a game that will teach you more about your hosts than you could ever want to know. Want to read the book for free? Sign up for an Audible account using this link and pick the book of your choice...

The Mandys interrogate an accidental crime podcast and try to get to the bottom of the mystery of "Who shat on the floor at my wedding?" Along the way, Mandy starts selling clothes, Mandy digs an upstart Chicks trio with … different chicks, and they have a marriagability quiz straight out of a magazine. (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (03:16) - Mandy Kondo (06:11) - Chapel Hart (10:37) - Who Sha...

The Mandys head into the deep, existential podcast waters with the central question: Is Julia Louis Dreyfus Wiser than Me? Dreyfus certainly has the guests to help her case, and the Mandys face questions of age, life, death, and Madlibs along the way. (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandcave (03:18) - Lessons in Chemistry (09:29) - "Wiser than Me" (30:17) - Support the show! Become a Fandy! Get some Merc...

The Mandys are back! Season five kicks off with plumbing troubles, the worst acronym ever, and a review of "Romantic Comedy" by Curtis Sittenfeld . Along the way, they attempt to auction off one of their children (the tall one), see some musical theater, and wrap up with a game of mismatched celebrity couples that will have you willing relationships into existence.  (00:00) - Welcome to The Mandca...