What happens when obsession becomes a refuge, when a high score becomes a legacy, and when a rivalry turns into a morality play? This week on Make Me A Nerd, Mandy Kaplan goes deep into the pixelated world of Donkey Kong, a place where the stakes are high, the egos are massive, and the quarters just keep coming. Mandy is joined by Megan Isser, a former documentary filmmaker turned professor of film, who brings her nuanced lens to the unlikely drama chronicled in the cult-classic documentary The King of Kong.

This isn’t just a story about a video game—it’s a story about identity, community, and the fraught pursuit of greatness.

Billy Mitchell, the reigning champion with a penchant for arrogance and hot sauce, becomes the perfect foil for Steve Wiebe, the underdog science teacher whose life has been a series of almosts—almost a great athlete, almost a great musician, almost a winner. The film, directed by Seth Gordon, captures their rivalry with the precision of a Donkey Kong hammer smashing barrels, raising larger questions about what it means to devote yourself to something utterly niche, but deeply important.

Megan and Mandy dissect the film’s narrative structure, its unforgettable cast of characters (from Walter Day’s referee stripes to Brian Kuh’s kill-screen evangelism), and the fine line between celebrating nerd culture and mocking it. They also explore the documentary’s impact on the genre itself, as well as the ethical choices filmmakers face when portraying their subjects.

Is Billy Mitchell the villain we want him to be? Is Steve Wiebe the hero we need him to be? And what does it all say about the lengths we’ll go to for recognition, even in an arcade?

This episode is a love letter to obsession and the people who find meaning in the unlikeliest places. But it’s also a meditation on humanity, on what drives us to compete, to connect, and to care.

Press play. Because somewhere in the background, a Donkey Kong cabinet is still buzzing, and a potential kill screen is always looming.

Links & Notes

• Mandy Kaplan on Instagram (@mandy_kaplan_clavens)
• Make Me A Nerd – Official Website
• The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (IMDb)
• Twin Galaxies – Official Website

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This week, Mandy slays into Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a show she'd previously avoided. Joined by Pete Wright and Kyle Olson, she confronts her assumptions about vampires and the supernatural in stake and song.

Before the nostalgia kicks in, Kyle addresses the complicated legacy of Joss Whedon, emphasizing the importance of separating the art from the artist. This is a conversation about reclaiming the Buffy fandom as a source of joy, setting the stage for a more nuanced discussion.

Are Pete and Kyle, middle-aged straight white men, the right vessels for Buffy fandom? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. In fact, it's their experience that shines a spotlight on just how broad the fandom of this show reaches.

This is an exploration of that fandom, the power of nostalgia, and the complex relationship between art and its creators. Along the way, they patrol through S2E3: School Hard, S4E10: Hush, and S6E7: Once More With Feeling.

Links & Notes

• Evan Ross Katz's book, Into Every Generation a Slayer is Born
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Hulu/Disney+)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (JustWatch)

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Dive deep into the swirling vortex of nerddom with Mandy and Dana as they dissect the wildly popular A Court of Thorns and Roses. Mandy grapples with the thorny intricacies of faerie lore, romanticy, and the age-old question: just how does one maintain hygiene in a pre-modern, magically infused realm?

Dana, the seasoned reader and fantasy aficionado, acts as Mandy's Virgil, guiding her through the labyrinthine world of Sarah J. Maas's prose. They explore the surprising parallels to Beauty and the Beast, the allure of world-building (even when it leaves you scratching your head), and the irresistible pull of a good, old-fashioned, fairy-fueled romance.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever wondered about the finer points of faerie etiquette, the power of BookTok, or the enduring appeal of a story that blends romance, fantasy, and just a touch of good old-fashioned gore. You might even learn a thing or two about Taylor Swift along the way. Trust us, it's more connected than you think.

Links & Notes

• A Court of Thorns and Roses
• Sarah J. Maas
• Throne of Glass
• Fourth Wing
• BookTok

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