Best Nerds At The Cool Table Podcasts (2025)

That's right folks, the dramatic climax of this arc was so big it took up two whole episodes! With Seiko and Shiori down for the mutual count, Jiro squares off against Mina as the animosity between them erupts into a drag-down knockout brawl, but with guns and cyborg stuff. It's MLM vs WLW at its most action-packed!Content warning for the gun viole…

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Big Gay Nerds 313: Let's All Punch Each Other At Once (Shinobigami 4.3) 2:22:13

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2M ago2:22:13

2:22:13

It's our biggest, WILDEST PvP session yet! All four of our shinobi antiheroes, plus an evil undead witch, commit to a decisive battle for the cursed artifact! We've got SECRET MOVES! We've got TENSION! We've got DESPERATELY SCRAMBLING TO LEVERAGE EVERY ADVANTAGE SO YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPORTANT ROLL! We've got JIRO SPEAKING THROUGH GENNY LIKE THE GREEN…

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Big Gay Nerds 312: Ghosts and Girl Goons (Shinobigami 4.2) 1:01:39

2M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

In this episode, the four rival shinobi go about gathering intelligence and preparing for the inevitable confrontation. Jiro makes an aggressive play thanks to insider information, Seiko goes on a reverse field trip to Ninja School, Mina goes on the hunt, and Shiori commands her girl goons.Content warning for the undead and surveillance. Music is "…

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Big Gay Nerds 311: Rookie of the Year (Shinobigami 4.1) 1:56:03

3M ago1:56:03

1:56:03

Your favorite game of ninja espionage returns, and this time we finally have what BGN scholars would refer to as our current "core cast" in play! When rumors of a cursed artifact in a rural village surface, agents of the Shadow War converge like sharks, but could someone be chumming the waters to draw them out? Jiro, Seiko, and Mina return, alongsi…

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Big Gay Nerds 310: Ripsnake (GURPS Yonder Star 1.4) 1:43:16

4M ago1:43:16

1:43:16

Start up the music, it's time for the biggest space-captain fight since Kirk took on that lizard-man! River must survive an attempt on his life while he and Max grapple with an unexpectedly zealous foe--and the GURPS grappling rules. Will The Girls get there in time to help? And will this spell disaster for the Melchior's maiden voyage? Listen and …

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Big Gay Nerds 309: Fishing For Clues (GURPS Yonder Star 1.3) 1:29:49

5M ago1:29:49

1:29:49

The Melchior's officers keep looking for answers to the mysterious death, but the more information they unearth, the less sure they are of anything, including the victim's own identity! With a ticking clock hanging over them, the expedition itself could be in jeopardy--and might their own lives also be in danger? Content warning for discussion of i…

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Big Gay Nerds 308: What if General Grievous Was a Cool Dude (GURPS Yonder Star 1.2) 1:31:16

6M ago1:31:16

1:31:16

GASP! There's been a murder upon the Melchior! Unless her blood just Did That somehow. But just in case it IS murder, we'd better lock down the ship and look for suspects! The officers scramble to unravel this shocking mystery; will all their technology and training be enough to keep the maiden voyage on schedule?Content warning for discussion of i…

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Nerds at the Cool Table: Thunderbolts* No Ross 1:14:26

6M ago1:14:26

1:14:26

We assemble to break down Marvel’s latest entry, Thunderbolts, diving into its themes, character arcs, and the emotional weight carried by its ensemble cast. We explore how the film tackles mental health, the shifting dynamics within this new team of anti-heroes, and the implications of its explosive post-credit scene. The conversation touches on c…

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Big Gay Nerds 307: Motley Crew (GURPS Yonder Star 1.1) 1:50:51

6M ago1:50:51

1:50:51

It's time to get our most ambitious campaign yet underway! In the wake of brutal oppression and bloody rebellion, a coalition of different species and cultures attempts to repurpose the tools of violence for discovery and diplomacy. One such tool, Captain River La Rosa, is being led to his first command under the Alliance's peacetime navy, and he's…

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BGN Preview: Yonder Star 34:05

7M ago34:05

34:05

Take a glimpse of the future's past. A fungal acolyte examines an alien specimen. A weary turncoat recounts a brutal war. A soldier of fortune leaves his fortune behind. A captive outlaw takes some time to reflect. An uplifted entertainer sets foot among the stars. They do not know it, but their fates are intertwined...…

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BGN 306: It's Scary to Talk Back to Your Parents (Kids on Bikes 1.6) 1:45:32

8M ago1:45:32

1:45:32

It's the finale of our first Kids on Bikes episode! The kids (sans bikes) literally descend once more into the strange conspiracy beneath Davis, risking their own hides for the good of their new weird little friend. Can they free Duende's "parent," and when they do, could some kind of complication somehow arise from freeing a giant tentacled memory…

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BGN 305: Canadian Road Warriors (Kids on Bikes 1.5) 1:37:07

9M ago1:37:07

1:37:07

Having escaped the secret underground bunker with their new friend, the kids (sans bikes) need to come up with a plan for what to do next. Obviously Ryder's plan to jump the northern border and become itinerant highwaymen is GREAT, but we could at least use a Plan B. After splitting up for some side missions, the gang must break into somewhere even…

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BGN 304: Duende (Kids on Bikes 1.4) 1:20:30

10M ago1:20:30

1:20:30

Twist after twist! Our young heroes have discovered a strange series of hallways under the woods, of all places, and who do they find there but Ryder and Fiona's mother! Surely she'll have an explanation for all of this and we can trust her to be up-front about everything that's going on AND react calmly to a bunch of kids breaking into the secret …

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BGN 303: Mothmen Don't Build Secret Underground Bunkers (Kids on Bikes 1.3) 1:23:34

10M ago1:23:34

1:23:34

The meddling kids of Davis, WA are hot on the trail of a mysterious winged creature that may or may not have a sinister power over memory! But will their trusty bicycles be enough to help them when they're drawn into the woods and unsure of their own minds? Also what if one of them goes over a tree root and wipes out? There's so much at stake, and …

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BGN 302: The Mystery of the Scraped Knee (Kids on Bikes 1.2) 1:27:58

11M ago1:27:58

1:27:58

It's time for a good old-fashioned autumnal street fair in Davis, Washington! While Shelly works a fortune-telling side hustle and Terry tries to sniff out a case for Knife Money, the Whitehurst sisters literally stumble into a seemingly mundane incident that will lead all four of them down an unexpected path... Surely there isn't anything mysterio…

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BGN 301: Welcome to Davis (Kids on Bikes 1.1) 2:10:31

11M ago2:10:31

2:10:31

Back in the 90s, we were in a whole new tabletop campaign led by returning cast member Elliot! Genny, Elly, Sara, and Saturn are gearing up to play Kids on Bikes Second Edition, a game about strange goings-on in small-town America. This episode is mostly about designing the quirks of the specific small town we'll be playing in, and then working out…

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BGN 300: (Shinobigami 3.3) 2:51:51

11M ago2:51:51

2:51:51

For our three hundredth episode, we have almost three hours of intrigue and conflict both supernatural and interpersonal! There's almost too much to really summarize it, just rest assured that this really is one of our biggest, gayest, and nerdiest episodes yet. And this is coming from the person who ran MASKS, so the bar is pretty high.Content war…

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Nerds at the Cool Table: There Will Be Only One Blade 45:29

12M ago45:29

45:29

In this conversation, David and Julien discuss recent developments in the MCU and DC Universe, focusing on the delays of the Blade movie and the casting announcements for the Green Lantern series. They explore the implications of these changes, the challenges Marvel faces in storytelling, and the potential for future projects. The discussion highli…

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BGN 299: Ninja Fights and Frought Nights (Shinobigami 3.2) 1:18:11

12M ago1:18:11

1:18:11

As the clandestine cruise gets underway, the ninja of the Shadow War begin to clash, with tenuous alliances and deadly rivalries forming in instants. Blood will be drawn, secrets will be revealed, and the phrase "platonically cucked" will be uttered. Listen, things take a turn, I don't really know how to explain it without context, you'll just have…

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BGN 298: Three's a Cruise (Shinobigami 3.1) 1:20:30

1y ago1:20:30

1:20:30

We return to the Shadow War of modern Japan, where rival factions of ninja struggle for control of temporal and supernatural power. A symbol of both these things has fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous foreign businessman, and he wants to auction it to the highest bidder... on his personal cruise ship! Now, alongside countless criminals, mysti…

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BGN 297: Evicted! (Masks Epilogue) 2:01:05

1y ago2:01:05

2:01:05

Our Masks campaign may have reached its conclusion, but the stories of our four young heroes have only just begun! For this episode we're squarely in Freeform Mode as we explore the immediate and long-term futures of our cast. What kind of hero will Pate become with her newfound powers? Will Luka be able to have some normality? Which ties will Juno…

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BGN 296: Back to Where It All Began (Masks 6.23) 1:43:24

1y ago1:43:24

1:43:24

It's time for the final episode of Masks: a New Generation! At least for now. Just how big of a bang will it go out with? Will the New Wave become ascendant torch-bearers for superheroism or a bunch of vilified outlaws? What move will Agent Tan pull next? And what about that freaky robot? Forget all that, what the hell is a skrull? Listen on to fin…

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Nerds at the Cool Table: Post Hall H Marvel Future Speculation 40:40

1y ago40:40

40:40

We discuss what we know based off the Marvel Hall H Presentation at SDCC a few weeks ago. David was the last man standing at SDCC 2024 and gives his brief thoughts on the state of the con from his perspective.

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Nerds at the Cool Table: House of the Dragon Season 2 Discussion 22:57

1y ago22:57

22:57

We gather around and discuss our thoughts on the finale and overall second season of House of the Dragon. We speculate on the future of the series, predicting an all-out war and the death of many characters, including which one of us hates Criston Cole more.

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Nerds at the Cool Table: Deadpool & Wolverine Discussion 56:14

1y ago56:14

56:14

We assemble once again to discuss Marvel's latest film, Deadpool & Wolverine. We give our full thoughts on the movie, the cameos, and discuss the significance of the characters and the impact of the movie on the on the overall Multiverse Saga

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BGN 295: This Retirement Party's Getting Crazy! (Masks 6.22) 1:15:48

1y ago1:15:48

1:15:48

The dust has barely begun to settle after the New Wave's averted implosion when their reaffirmed comradery is threatened by an outside force: AEGIS! Did you really expect this campaign to end without us picking another fight with the cops? In this thrilling throw-down of an episode, Pate flexes her timeskip development, Juno is a friend 'til the en…

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BGN 294: The Kids Aren't Alright (Masks 6.21) 1:22:27

1y ago1:22:27

1:22:27

Now I know what you're wondering: is the title referencing the Offspring song, or the Fall Out Boy song? The answer is both, really. Unfortunately that's all I can say about this episode without spoiling things, but if you guessed you were in for some PVP you were right!Content warning for discussion of parental death, death threats, suicidal langu…

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BGN 293: (Don't) Turn the Page (Masks 6.20) 1:34:13

1y ago1:34:13

1:34:13

Well, things are looking pretty shaky over in Halcyon City. Juno is flickering on the edge of a meltdown and ready to go on the warpath, Pipa is struggling just to get back in the loop, Pate realizes just how many loose ends she has to tie, and Luke is... mostly okay, but confronting a lot about where his(?) principals have led him(?). But hey, don…

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BGN 292: Father, Brother, Mother (Masks 6.19) 1:36:54

1+ y ago1:36:54

1:36:54

Hooboy, things sure are messy for our rookie heroes! Luke has blood(?) on his(?) hands for the first time, Pate has to deal with an overbearing patriarch she thought she'd left behind, Pipa is fighting for her life with her cyber-assassin sibling, and Juno... Juno's got a lot on her shoulders and there's about to be a LOT more. Listen on for one of…

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BGN 291: Wedding Bells and Wrecking Balls (Masks 6.18) 1:35:55

1+ y ago1:35:55

1:35:55

Things are getting increasingly dire with our split narrative! In Halcyon City, the confrontation of Lady Photon gets hairy as Le Chat enters the arena; can Juno prevent more harm than she causes, and just what does Pipa have up her sleeves? Meanwhile, Under the Hill, Pate devises a cunning plan to foil Prince Briar's wedding plans, and Luke is the…

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BGN 290: Maybe We Can Talk This Out? (Masks 6.17) 1:02:54

1+ y ago1:02:54

1:02:54

In this episode, the New Wave's two couples find themselves in surprisingly similar situations despite being in other dimensions; both are facing down an antagonistic force in said force's home turf, and are doing their damnedest to Diplomacy and Deception their respective ways out of the problem. The difference is that Juno and Pipa are high-stake…

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BGN 289: Sucked Down to the Fae Realm (Masks 6.16) 1:10:08

1+ y ago1:10:08

1:10:08

The party is more split than ever before, in terms of both geography and individual goals! Pipa and Juno find themselves inside AEGIS HQ yet again, but this time there's more to contend with than simple threats; what comes first, team loyalty or not wanting your girlfriend to get assassinated? Meanwhile, Luke and Pate find themselves in Prince Bria…

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BGN 288: Crashing the Party (Masks 6.15) 1:12:01

1+ y ago1:12:01

1:12:01

The chaos of Burnheart's Day comes to a head as Pate and Luke try to find a way to get out of all this without anyone getting thrown into superprison. Is Luke willing to put himself on the line for Luka's sake, and just how far will Pate go to protect her Love? And will Pipa answer her damn phone already?!?Content warning for state surveillance, ar…

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BGN 287: Burnheart-to-Heart (Masks 6.14) 1:06:54

1+ y ago1:06:54

1:06:54

As the Burnheart's Day Saga continues, Luke confronts Lady Photon about her origins and plans for the future while Pate stands guard, both keenly aware that they have stepped into a carefully-constructed trap... meanwhile, Pipa and Juno have some tasty street food!Content warning for state surveillance, discussion of transphobiaMusic by Perennial S…

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BGN 286: AND BURNHEART DAY'S TODAY! (Masks 6.13) 1:31:44

1+ y ago1:31:44

1:31:44

Look, stuff like corporate partnerships, faerie curses, revolutionary praxis, and shadowy deals are important, I guess, but that's nothing compared to trying to have a nice date in your city's weird regional Valentine's Day variant! Which is what this episode is about. I'd blabber more but I wouldn't want to spoil all the romantic surprises, or the…

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BGN 285: AND BURNHEART DAY'S TOMORROW! (Masks 6.12) 1:21:35

1+ y ago1:21:35

1:21:35

As we jump from one out-of-date holiday season to another, it's time for some more Love Letters to see how everyone fares with their personal goals! Juno wins hearts and minds at the cost of her sanity, Pate does some research for one, Luke learns some more about Luka's role model, and Pipa makes a deal of the most devilish kind!Content warning for…

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BGN 284: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Briar (Masks 6.11) 1:19:41

1+ y ago1:19:41

1:19:41

Hey look, our episodes have titles now! And that's not the only thing that's new: it's time to introduce your new favorite Masks character! He sucks really bad.Content warning for arranged marriage engagement.Music by Perennial Sounds LLCBy Big Gay Nerds Podcast

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Big Gay Nerds Sampler Packet 2024 35:32

1+ y ago35:32

35:32

If you wanted an easy way to pitch Big Gay Nerds to friends and/or family, we've got just the thing for you! Our founder/editor gives you an overview of what BGN is all about, and backs it up with two prime examples of the kind of stuff we get up to.Clips are taken from Big Gay Nerds Episodes 255 and 260.Content warning for brief drugging mention a…

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Nerds at the Cool Table: WrestleMania 40 Reactions 1:12:25

1+ y ago1:12:25

1:12:25

A generational WrestleMania deserves its own special bonus episode. David sits down with friend of the podcast, Super Duper Jesus, to discuss all things WWE that lead to the incredible WrestleMania 40!By Nerds at the Cool Table

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 283 (Masks 6.10) 1:18:47

1+ y ago1:18:47

1:18:47

Three big fights come to a head! Luke is doing his damnedest to foil his father-figure's assassination, but is Le Chat just too much robot catboy to handle? Meanwhile, Juno's on the scene with Pipa and Luca, but the situation's only going to get messier, especially for Pipa. And of course, what will happen when Pate finds herself locked in combat w…

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 282 (Masks 6.9) 1:09:54

1+ y ago1:09:54

1:09:54

Things are poppin' off in many places at once as a solid 75% of the New Wave find themselves facing off against deadly adversaries! Pate has a close-quarters tangle with Bodach, for once unsure if she should stand her ground or try to get away; Pipa has to deal with Lady Photon's surprise attack, with Agent Tan as either an unexpected ally or a ser…

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 281 (Masks 6.8) 1:37:00

1+ y ago1:37:00

1:37:00

Our plucky young heroes are about to enter some very high-stakes situations with some very suboptimal positioning. Juno cuts some boardroom deals, Luke argues with the man whose life he's trying to save, Pate gets some answers she didn't want, and Pipa finds herself in quite the pickle.Content warning for prisons, arrests, breaking glass, and snipe…

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 280 (Masks 6.7) 1:14:52

1+ y ago1:14:52

1:14:52

Everyone in New Wave has their own issues to deal with, whether it's evil parallel selves, constant threats to their autonomy, or a mysterious past that overlaps unexpectedly with an uncertain present. Now, they're going to have opportunities to resolve those issues... and to really screw themselves over with some of the worst rolls we've ever witn…

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 279 (Masks 6.6) 1:06:59

1+ y ago1:06:59

1:06:59

Our young heroes have a lot to struggle with, whether it's their future selves, less-than-cooperative superheroes, concerned parental figures, or evil boys made out of cloud-stuff. Plenty happens in this episode but that's all I can think to say about it, so you've just gotta listen to learn more.Content warning for suffocation by gasMusic by Peren…

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 278 (Masks 6.5) 1:16:06

2y ago1:16:06

1:16:06

Just because we're over halfway through January IRL doesn't mean we can't keep the Christmas content rolling! The New Wave should be preparing to spend the big day together, but unfortunately, they're superheroes. That means they have to deal with annoying hassles like foiling cloudy criminals, inventing sci-fi doodads, tracking down their evil fut…

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 277 (Masks 6.4) 1:26:43

2y ago1:26:43

1:26:43

As the dust settles, sparks fly! Pipa may have put an end to Scratch's rampage, but her... question means have landed her soundly on Juno's bad side! How far will she go to try and make things right? Meanwhile, Luke is dedicated to giving his team some Christmas spirit no matter what violations of trust they may have endured/caused, and Pate tries …

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 276 (Masks 6.3) 1:12:06

2y ago1:12:06

1:12:06

Folks, it's another episode where I really can't say much without spoiling everything, which in my book always means it's a real humdinger of an episode. As Mark Four continues to rampage, Pipa gets in place to enact her master plan, but she's not letting anyone else in on what that actually is...Content warning for urban destruction, industrial ma…

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 275 (Masks 6.2) 1:14:21

2y ago1:14:21

1:14:21

Holiday preparations are disrupted when Ninelives Mark Four, also known as Scratch, makes landfall at Halcyon City! Pipa, naturally, has plans to take down her kaiju-sized older sibling, but it will be up to everyone else to make sure it doesn't flatten everything before that plan can be executed! How will our heroes fare against their biggest foe …

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Big Gay Nerds: Episode 274 (Masks 6.1) 1:24:46

2y ago1:24:46

1:24:46

Guess who's back for... a HOLIDAY SPECIAL? The rookie superheroes of Halcyon city still have loads on their plates--supervillains at large that may or may not be parallel versions of you, government agencies just waiting for you to slip up, rocky relationships and "will they won't they" dance numbers--but the stresses of the holiday season aren't g…