Happy To Be Here

We talk to bestselling romance novelist Sarah MacLean about her feminist bodice ripper Bombshell. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To get into the Halloween spirit, Erik Larson tells us a ghost story and a monster expert explains why werewolves are hot right now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Nerdette Book Club unpacks Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki with book nerds Jenn Northington and Christina Orlando. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, our panel takes a stab at renaming Facebook and mulls over the new Dune adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet. Then, we talk about two special guides for life, one on feminism for girls and non-binary teens and another on using tarot for self-care. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The duo behind Black Nerd Problems join the panel to unpack the week so you don’t have to. Plus, two authors share stories on women’s self portraits and coming out at any age. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, our panel takes a look at some of the most complicated friendships in our lives: Facebook friends, unvaccinated friends, and ‘bad art friends.’ We even talk about some animal ones too, with bestselling author Mary Roach. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We discuss deals with the devil, intergalactic warfare, and defiant joy with author Ryka Aoki. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s not easy being the first in any field. Just ask our two trailblazing guests, former NCAA swimmer Schuyler Bailar and tubist Richard Antoine White. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lit Society Pod co-hosts Kari Herrera and Alexis Honoria join Greta to process Michelle Zauner’s devastating, delicious memoir. (Heads up: you might want tissues for this one.) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's all TV and trees this week! We're joined by culture reporter Hannah Giorgis (The Atlantic), canopy ecologist Meg Lowman, and Chicago's finest "Bachelor"-ologists: Mina Bloom and Brandon Pope. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You asked, we delivered! Infectious disease expert Emily Landon is back to take your questions on variants, vaccines, and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This one’s all about anxiety! We talk about how Naomi Osaka is paving the way for all of us with WBEZ education reporter Susie An and Axios Today host Niala Boodhoo, then neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki talks to us about why anxiety is still so misunderstood. Plus, we catch up with Lauren Groff about her wonderfully weird novel, 'Matrix.' See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

Today on Nerdette we're bringing you a fascinating interview from another WBEZ podcast - Art of Power. Leigh Bardugo is the author of the bestselling 'Shadow and Bone' trilogy. Leigh talks with Aarti Shahani about the many ups and downs she traversed before ultimately landing at success. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-n...

How is it September already?! We talk music news with Certified Music People™ Jasmine Garsd (NPR) and Jill Hopkins (Vocalo). Then, we check in with actor Harvey Guillén, who does all his own stunts as Guillermo de la Cruz in 'What We Do in the Shadows,' and walk through a recommendation from the American Medical Association that could make life a lot easier for trans and intersex folks. See Privac...

It's our long-awaited episode on Kazuo Ishiguro’s 'Klara and the Sun'! We dive into the Nobel prize-winner’s latest with writer Anita Felicelli, who recently reviewed ‘Klara and the Sun’ for the Los Angeles Review of Books, and author Veronica Roth (‘Divergent,’ ‘Chosen Ones’). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my...

WTTW anchor Brandis Friedman and WBEZ reporter Araceli Gómez-Aldana talk to us about Lil Nas X’s new gig with Taco Bell, if anything we watch is “good” in the age of armchair critics, and why the baby from the cover of Nirvana’s 'Nevermind' isn’t smiling anymore. Then, TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk christens a new genre we can get behind (White Man As Obstacle) and author Jess Zimmerman takes a fe...

We’re back with a panel! This week, we talk COVID, Jeopardy!, and #RushTok with WBEZ daily newsletter writer Hunter Clauss and New York Times TV critic Margaret Lyons. Then, Eve Ewing tells us about 'Maya and the Robot,' her lovely new book for middle grade readers. (Note: We recorded this week’s panel on Thursday, before the news broke about Mike Richards leaving Jeopardy!) See Privacy Policy at...

This week, it’s all about SUMMER MOVIES. First, we check in with TIME’s Eliana Dockterman about what’s been good, what to avoid, and what the deal is with that whole ScarJo/Disney lawsuit situation. Then, we ask film critic Robert Daniels about his favorite movies of 2021 so far. His list may surprise you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art...

This week, two of our favorite eaters — Bon Appetit senior staff writer Alex Beggs and New York Times restaurant critic Tejal Rao — tell us why the best picnics might just be the least photogenic ones. They’re all about tiny swimsuits, big sandwiches, cold wine in insulated water bottles, and minimal, minimal effort. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...

Welcome back to Nerdette Book Club! It’s just like a regular book club only we have our own hashtag! This month we’re reading ‘Klara and the Sun’ by Nobel prize-winning Kazuo Ishiguro. Stay tuned for the panel discussion of the book later this month -- in the meantime, as if you didn’t need more books to add to our to-read list, Greta talks with book nerds Liberty Hardy and Bethanne Patrick about...

This week we check in with Jacoby Cochran, host of City Cast Chicago, and WBEZ politics reporter Mariah Woelfel about the CDC’s re-masking guidelines, the Jan. 6 hearing, and that Adam Driver centaur ad. Then, Carleton University journalism professor Sarah Everts joins to talk about her new book ‘The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration.’ AND, Gabrielle Bluestone (aka the VICE reporte...

Welcome back to Nerdette Book Club! It’s just like a regular book club only we have our own hashtag! This month we’re reading ‘Version Zero’ by David Yoon (‘Frankly In Love,’ ‘Super Fake Love Song’). In this fast-paced genre-defying tale, three friends team up to take down Big Tech. When they gain the support of a mysterious benefactor, the trio take their schemes to new heights -- only to realize...

We unpack the week that was with Joanne Freeman, a historian and co-host of ‘Now & Then’ podcast, and Kat Chow, a reporter and writer formerly with ‘Code Switch’ who now has an upcoming memoir called ‘Seeing Ghosts.’ Then, theoretical physicist Dr. Avi Loeb tells us why extraterrestrial intelligence is more likely than you think. AND! This month’s Book Club author David Yoon gives us a preview of...

We unpack the week that was with Joanne Freeman, a historian and co-host of ‘Now & Then’ podcast, and Kat Chow, a reporter and writer formerly with ‘Code Switch’ who now has an upcoming memoir called ‘Seeing Ghosts.’ Then, theoretical physicist Dr. Avi Loeb tells us why extraterrestrial intelligence is more likely than you think. AND! This month’s Book Club author David Yoon gives us a preview of...

We unpack the week that was with Arionne Nettles and Meha Ahmad, including the Euro Cup controversy, billionaires in space, and the latest (not greatest) food trend: mac and cheese ice cream. Then, Jenn Northington and Swapna Krishna tell us about ‘Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices.’ They’re the editors of this incredible new anthology of King Arthur stories retold by writers who hold mar...