The Nerd Nexus

Send us Fan Mail Hayley Canova is a mother of five, fitness enthusiast, and the author of Focus on Fitness, Not Thinness . In this episode of The Nerd Nexus, Hayley shares her journey from a teenager learning about health and exercise to becoming a published author determined to help others build sustainable habits. We dive into the difference between chasing thinness and pursuing true fitness, ho...

Send us Fan Mail Season 2 is here! For the premiere episode, James sits down with his father-in-law, Rob Walton—entrepreneur, investor, chef, and lifelong believer in creating opportunities rather than waiting for them. Rob shares stories from a lifetime of building businesses, taking risks, learning from failure, and following the lessons taught by his father. From delivering newspapers as a kid...

Send us Fan Mail In this sibling showdown, James is joined by his “younger, cooler, and allegedly more handsome” brother, Brandon Bullough. They dive deep into Brandon’s hidden (but undeniable) nerdiness—from his Halo Mega Construx obsession and miniature painting hobby to his disc golf deep dive. Whether you’re curious about the decline of Mega Bloks, intimidated by the world of mini painting, or...

Send us Fan Mail In this jam-packed episode of The Nerd Nexus , host James Bullough is joined by brother-in-law and certified Star Wars mega-nerd Thomas Walton for a wildly entertaining ride through fandom, footwear, and one unforgettable Facebook Marketplace deal gone wrong. From growing up on the original Star Wars trilogy to obsessing over Clone Wars lore, Thomas shares how the galaxy far, far...

Send us Fan Mail From Captain Planet to Hereditary , High School Musical to Spider-Punk Stitch , storyboard artist and cartoonist Jonathan Hallett has seen—and drawn—it all. In this episode, James sits down with the creative powerhouse behind StitchToons.com, FastStoryboards.com, and Cartoonist. MyPortfolio.com to talk about breaking into animation, drawing over 900 Stitch mashups, and what it’s l...

Send us Fan Mail  What happens when a die-hard Cowboys fan and a lifelong Niners sympathizer sit down to talk sports? A surprisingly heartfelt and hilarious conversation that blurs the lines between traditional nerd culture and sports fandom. In this episode, James is joined by his friend Josh Erickson—a self-proclaimed sports nerd—to explore how sports can be just as nerdy, community-building, an...

Send us Fan Mail  In this mind-bending episode of The Nerd Nexus , James welcomes magician, AV tech wizard, and negotiation nerd Ben Brown! 🎙️✨ From conjuring Coke bottles and setting wallets ablaze to tactfully talking your way to a better salary, Ben shares stories and strategies that blend the mystique of stage magic with the science of persuasion. They dive into hilarious past performances, n...

Send us Fan Mail  With no guest this week, James takes you on a solo journey through his latest geeky adventures. From roguelike potato mayhem and Old West outlaws to 3D printer disasters and obscure Pokémon knockoffs, this episode is packed with updates, opinions, and surprises. Plus, hear about a front-row seat at a Utah Hockey Club game, and a return to the runner's grind with some smartwa...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of The Nerd Nexus , we’re joined by Chellie Bowerman—partner in crime to past guest Marshall Bowerman! A lifelong Star Trek fan and a passionate creator, Chellie has crafted her very own Pokémon region, and she’s here to share all the details. From the inspirations behind her designs to the creative process that brought her vision to life, we dive deep into her wo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, James sits down with Shane Adams to discuss two of his greatest passions: barbecuing and 3D printing. Shane shares his love for cooking, particularly his experiences with smoking meats on his Traeger grill, and how barbecuing has become a personal expression of creativity. The conversation then shifts to Shane's world of 3D printing, where he dives into his e...

Send us Fan Mail Join me, James Bullough, as I chat with the incredible Amy Hallett—Disney superfan, true crime enthusiast, and collector of all things nerdy! We dive into her deep love for Disneyland (where she’s a two-time honorary citizen!), the thrill of solving murder mysteries, and the never-ending cycle of picking up new hobbies. Plus, Amy gives expert tips on planning the perfect Disney tr...

Send us Fan Mail  After a brief hiatus, The Nerd Nexus is back with a special guest—Tyler Esmay, a self-proclaimed "collector of hobbies." In this episode, we explore the ever-expanding world of Star Wars, from the impact of the Expanded Universe to ranking the trilogies and debating what went wrong with Episodes 7, 8, and 9. Tyler and James also discuss their early nerd obsessions, from...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of The Nerd Nexus , we dive into the world of plot holes, tabletop RPGs, and podcasting with special guest Richard Allred, co-host of Plot Spackle . We explore the art of dissecting movies, discuss what truly qualifies as a plot hole, and even attempt to patch up some classic film inconsistencies. Richard also shares his deep passion for tabletop role-playing game...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back, fellow nerds! In this solo episode of The Nerd Nexus , I’m diving into all things nerdy, from books and trading cards to video games and even a new hobby I’m hoping to get into—3D printing! 📚 Author Spotlight: Pierce Brown & Red Rising —why this series is a must-read for sci-fi fans! 📖 Recent Reads & TBR: My thoughts on Sun Eater (spoiler: Book 1 was rough)...

Send us Fan Mail Join James and special guest Marshall Bowerman on this episode of The Nerd Nexus , where they dive deep into the fascinating world of time travel in pop culture. From Doctor Who and Back to the Future to Tenet and The Flash , explore the diverse ways storytellers handle the complexities of time. Marshall shares his unique insights as a LEGO enthusiast, a participant in two Guinnes...

Send us Fan Mail  Join James and his guest, Taylor Jackson, as they dive into the worlds of superheroes, modern board games, and fantasy literature on this episode of The Nerd Nexus . Taylor, a school psychologist and lifelong fan of the Dark Knight, shares his insights on Batman’s enduring appeal, cheesy nostalgia from classic adaptations, and the art of storytelling in Brandon Sanderson's C...

Send us Fan Mail Join host James Bullough as he sits down with the talented voice actor and storytelling enthusiast, Dale Spaulding, for an engaging discussion on the intersection of voice acting, tabletop role-playing games, and creative storytelling. Dale shares his journey into voice acting, the unique art of creating character voices, and his memorable experiences in Dungeons & Dragons cam...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of The Nerd Nexus , host James Bullough kicks off a brand-new segment, Fantasy Author Spotlight , by diving into the world of Taran Matharu, the British author behind the Summoner series, the Contender trilogy, and his latest work, The Dragon Rider . James explores Matharu's unique journey to success, starting on the writing platform Wattpad, where his first...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nerd Nexus , James invites his wife, Claire, to share the mic as they explore the dynamic of a nerdy marriage. From Claire’s childhood love of The Magic Tree House and Star Wars to James’ obsession with Dungeons & Dragons and Pokémon cards, they dive into how their hobbies have shaped their relationship. Hear about basement pod-races, journaling TikTok t...

Send us Fan Mail In the very first episode of The Nerd Nexus , James dives into his personal journey of embracing nerd culture. From LAN parties in his basement and discovering Deltora Quest at a school book fair to creating his first Dungeons & Dragons character and rediscovering trading cards, James shares how these hobbies shaped his identity and fostered a love for storytelling and connect...