Tag: Star Trek

DNA Podcast 116 – Leadership in Popular Culture

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 116 - Leadership in Popular Culture
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Star Trek': Kirk vs. Picard: Who is the ultimate captain?

In this episode, Rob and Don discuss the disconnect in popular culture between how leaders act in film and television and how they really act in real life. Along the way, they touch the third rail of geekdom – Kirk versus Picard – and even talk about why Optimus Prime is a bad leader. All this, and how Hitchhiking went from patriotic to evil in a generation, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Flash Gordon
Winner Take All
Bavarian Fire Drill
The Illuminatus Trilogy
Influence by Robert Cialdini
Culture Shock
Cheddar: Why Hitchhiking Ran Out of Favor
Hitchiking Robot Murdered
Epic of Gilgamesh
Master and Commander
The Saga of Tanya the Evil


DNA Podcast 094 – Gaming Tropes

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 094 - Gaming Tropes







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In this episode, Rob and Don dig into the concept of tropes and discuss how they connect with tabletop RPG gaming. Few people think about how Hit Points are actually an artificial idea created by games, and how they affect the way we think about games- this is an example of a gaming trope. Don and Rob also discuss many popular games like CHILL, TOON, and TORG, and how these genre-simulating games play on the tropes of other media. All this, and why the DC Heroes RPG was the best game ever, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed

DC HEROES RPG (Mayfair)
Call of Chthulhu RPG
Ninja Crusade
Champions RPG
Villains and Vigilantes
Superworld
Superhero 2044
GURPS:Supers
Chill RPG
Hammer House of Horror
TOON RPG
MAGE RPG
It Came from the Late Late Late Show RPG
TORG
Cabin the Woods (movie)
William Castle (B-Horror Movie maker, Don calls him Frank Castle by accident. Frank is The Punsher, William is the Tingler!)
The Magician’s Podcast #97 – Teller
litRPGs


DNA Podcast 074 – Toxic Fandom

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 074 - Toxic Fandom







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Image result for toxic fandom

In this episode, Rob and Don delve into the weird and wacky world of fandom. They talk about their own fandom backgrounds, explore modern fandom’s roots, and talk about how it evolved. Along the way, they discuss fandom’s positive side, and try to define toxic fandom. All this, and why the My Little Pony RPG is D&D for kids, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Zines
Fandom
Trekkies
USENET
Reddit
Anime London
Universal Monster Movies
Jeff Wood
Rowerbrazzle (Hey! I’m on the internets!)
Amateur Press Associations (APAs)
Dr. Who Preservation Society
Fangoria
Star Fleet/X-Bomber
Voltron Shiro Controversy
Doijinshi
Rule 34
Pendant Productions
Star Trek: Axanar
Fake Geek Girls Ty Templeton Comic
Shippers
Slash Fiction
Steven Universe Toxic Fandom
My Little Pony RPG
The Flumph
Cosmic Patrol RPG

 

 


DNA Podcast 049 – Star Trekking with Jack Ward

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 049 - Star Trekking with Jack Ward







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Leonard_Nimoy_William_Shatner_Star_Trek_1968

In this episode, Don and Rob are joined by Jack Ward to go where no man has boldly gone before! The past and future collide as the three discuss the history of Trek and whether or not it’s still relevant in today’s world. All this, and Jack and Rob’s big throwdown on Star Trek Enterprise, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

Star Trek
Star Trek the Next Generation
Star Trek Deep Space Nine
Star Trek Voyager
Star Trek Enterprise
Star Trek Discovery
Gene Roddenberry
Gene Roddenberry Crashlands Plane
Lucille Ball Star Trek Pilot
Inside Star Trek The Real Story Herb Solo
Star Trek was first TV show that started in Colour
Nichelle Nicols meets Martin Luther King
Solarpunk
Land of the Giants
Gene L. Coon
Gold Key Star Trek Comics
Leonard Nimoy Billboard Story (I can’t find the story, but I can find the ad)
Star Trek Phase II
Free Enterprise
Earth Final Conflict
In Defense of the Male Miniskirt Post on Rob’s Blog
Starlog Magazine
Babylon 5
The Origin of the BORG
Manny Coto
China Bans LGBT Content


DNA Podcast 037 – Death and the Nerdly Arts

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 037 - Death and the Nerdly Arts







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BillandTedBogus

Rob, Don and Jack Ward explore the place of death in the nerdly arts. From superheroes who never die, to the real life celebrities who do (for now), and how our own fears of death shape our entertainment of choice, the trio head down a funerary rabbit hole. It’s an episode of grave humour, and sober considerations about the future of the kind you’ll only find on the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

The Princess Diarist
Nicholas Hammond
Rocket Robin Hood
King Arthur
Edward Snowden
Bill and Ted play Chess with Death
Millenial Problems
Japanese Don’t Have Sex
Japanese VR Sex Toys
The Venus Project
Basic Minimum Income
Randi Cartier


DNA Podcast 028 – The Nature of Nerdliness

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 028 - The Nature of Nerdliness







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nutty-prof

In this episode, Rob and Don sit down with guest Jack Ward to discuss what it means to be a nerd. The trio discuss exactly what nerds are, where they came from, and whether nerds as a concept is even still relevant in modern culture.  All this, and why The Nutty Professor was the great nerd hero of the 20th century are waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:
Nerds
The Anarchist movement
The IT Crowd
Oscar Wilde
The Nutty Professor (trailer)
Trekkie
Science Fiction Conventions
Our Gang
Otaku
Zines
Fanzines
Fanfiction
Starfleet Command Fan Organization
Mysterious Universe
Snake Theory of Human Evolution
Metal- A Headbanger’s Journey (trailer)
Led Zeppelin and Tolkien
Star Wars and Flash Gordon
Easy Riders – Raging Bulls
Howard the Duck (movie review)
C-3PO’s Cereal (video review)
B.A.D.D.
Heavy Metal Magazine
Custer’s Revenge (video review)
The Nintendo Power Glove (video review)
Oliver Twist
The Picwick Papers
Hammy Hamster’s Adventures on the Riverbank (video)


DNA Podcast 019 – Ghosts of Saturday Mornings Past

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 019 - Ghosts of Saturday Mornings Past







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Crusader Rabbit

In this episode, Don and Rob discuss North American TV animation, tracing it from its roots in the 1950s to the rise of Saturday morning television and its eventual evolution in the age of Netflix. Along the way, they spend time with Huckleberry Hound, The Flintstones, Josie the Pussycats, the Micronauts, and Goober and the Ghost Chasers. All this, and why Fred and Barney sold cigarettes on air is waiting for you in this, the 19th episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

Crusader Rabbit Episode 1
Huckleberry Hound Show Intro
Rough and Ready
The Flintstones
DuMont TV Network
Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS)
1948 TV Freeze
Hanna-Barbera Productions
Wait til your Father Gets Home
The Barkleys
The Roman Holidays
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Action for Children’s Television Advocacy Group (note Don was wrong during the episode, Tipper Gore was in fact not involved with this organization that I could find, it was run by Peggy Charren and Judith “Judy” Chalfen)
Josie and the Pussycats
Filmation
Animated Star Trek
Return to the Planet of the Apes (animated)
Rocket Robin Hood
Battle of the Planets Episode 1
The Micronauts
Thundarr the Barbarian Clips
Larry Hama
Mighty Orbots Episode 1
Galaxy High Episodes
The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers Episode 1
Jem and the Holograms
Sunbow Entertainment
Batman the Animated Series
Japanese X-men Openings
Netflix Voltron Trailer


DNA Podcast Episode 011 – Teen Culture

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast Episode 011 - Teen Culture







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wild-in-the-streets-movie-poster-1968-1020189675

In this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs, Rob and Don discuss the dreaded creatures known as teenagers! Slouching their way from post-WWII suburbia, these strange beings have had a huge effect on culture and media, and the pair are joined by the Sonic Society’s Jack Ward to discuss their past, present and future. Along the way they discuss Archie, Star Trek, Social Justice and Slactivism, with a dose of Footloose to keep everyone dancing. All this and Mr. Skygack of Mars are waiting for you in this, the 11th episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs!

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

Archie
Andy Hardy Movies
Pole Sitting
CBC’s The Current: Genius Linked to Geography
CBC’s The Current: The Harry Potter Generation
Universal Income
Wild in the Streets (trailer)
Slactivism
Wall-E (trailer)
John Cleese on Political Correctness (video)
Social Justice
Footloose 1984 (trailer)
You are not… speech from Fight Club (video)
Science Fiction Conventions (1936 was the right answer!)
Mr. Skygack of Mars
MST3K- Give Uncle Scotor a Hug! (video)


DNA Podcast 008 – Are Superhero Movies Bad for Us?

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 008 - Are Superhero Movies Bad for Us?







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openforuminfantilization

Welcome Operatives to the Department of Nerdly Affairs. In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by indomitable Jack Ward, host of the Sonic Society Podcast, to discuss actor/writer Simon Pegg’s article about the infantalization of popular culture and society. The trio go deep into the topic, and come out having discussed Nazis, Adult Films of the 70s, and the Honeymooners. All this, and how “Free to Be You and Me” affected our childhoods in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:
The Sonic Society Podcast
Simon Pegg’s Infamous Article
Brave New World vs. 1984
Amusing Ourselves to Death (Video interview with the author.)
The Odessa File
Free to Be You and Me
Deep Throat
BADD
Flesh Gordon
Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Comedy
Caligula (film)
Episodes TV Series
Jackie Gleason and UFOs
The Canadian Conspiracy


DNA Podcast 007 – Welcome to Cyberpunk

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 007 - Welcome to Cyberpunk







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MaxHeadroom

Greetings Operatives! In this episode Rob and Don discuss the ways in which the reality has come to mirror Cyberpunk fiction. It’s 2016, and in the 1980’s Cyberpunk promised us Netrunning, Posergangs and Rockergirls! What did they get right? What did they get wrong? We also discuss why AKB48 are the perfect girl group, For-Profit Prisons and the glorious show that is Max Headroom! So jack into the net and let your avatar soar into the Department of Nerdly Affairs!

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Show Notes:

African American Culture
Cyberpunk
New Star Trek Series Premiers January 2017
William Gibson
Bruce Sterling
Walter John Williams
Greg Bear
Cyberpunk RPG
Pewdiepie (video)
Fred (video)
AKB48
Baby Metal
3 ways the Japanese entertainment industry keeps idol singers from dating
Hatsune Miku (video)
Vocaloids
My Girlfriend Got a Virus (lyrics because they’ve taken down the song)
Most American Pop Written by 2 Guys
American Flag
Rifftrax
Macross Plus
Datamining
Facebook and Polarization Study
Campus Activists Weaponize Safe Spaces
Posergangs
Horse Race Journalism
Max Headroom Promo Video
Max Headroom Episode One
League of Legends
“The Wizard” (video trailer)
The Wizard – Nintendo Powerglove (video)
Esports
Judge Dredd
Telephone Booth Stuffing
Ray J. Johnson
Uber
West Virginia’s Water Crisis
For Profit Prisons
Is Technology Making Society Safer?
EH: The Broad Street Pump (sanitation)
World’s Largest Clone Factory
Insurance company now offers discounts — if you let it track your Fitbit
Insurance Monitoring Drivers