Nerdy Romantics Podcast

Y. M. Nelson and co-hosts discuss Bridgerton, season four's female friendships, Benedict perceptions, what we might see next season, and wrap up with a star rating.

TOPICS WE DISCUSS

• Side Stories: Lady Danbury and Queen Charlotte
• Female Friendships
• Is this the steamiest season so far?
• Benedict strikes a romantic chord
• Francesca and ... Michaela?
• Star Rating

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THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS! We've got the whole gang here to talk about season 4 of the Netflix TV show Bridgerton. In this part 1 we talk expectations for the show, the main couple, and some other couples we saw this season. 

TOPICS WE DISCUSS:

• Were we excited for Season 4?
• Lady Whistledown reveal aftermath
• The elusive Daphne and the Duke
• Upstairs/Downstairs Trope and Cinderella re-telling
• The mystery of Sophie's past
• The Mis...

Tanvier Peart talks about her rugby romance One Knight's Stand, the first in the Buffalo Steele rugby romance series, and nerdy female MCs, thick thighs, and why friends to lovers is not her jam. She also gives us a long list for our TBRs. No spoilers, so hang out with us!

TOPICS WE DISCUSS:

• The Buffalo Steel Rugby Series - why rugby?
• Trope talk: no friends-to-lovers?
• Miriam is the Blerd we love
• The characters we love to see
• The rugb...

We weren't surprised when Wonder Man got a season 2. On this episode find out why we think so, including our ratings for the season. 

Topics we Discuss:

• Wonder Man in the Comics
• Simon's family dynamic
• Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, aka Simon's buddy
• The agent and the rest of the great cast
• Trevor Slattery in the MCU. Who is he, again?
• Cameos!
• Scheduling mishaps, but bingeable TV
• Star Ratings
• Wonder Man in Avengers Doomsday?

Sh...

Staci, Marcie and I (Y. M. Nelson) didn't know anything about this Marvel character going in, nor did we know about the series. But we were filled with wonder (I know, bad pun) at this highly entertaining series. Hear what we have to say about this great show. This review of Marvel's Wonder Man has spoilers.

TOPICS WE DISCUSS:

• First impressions/how we found out about this show
• Overall thoughts/First Episode Fake-Out
• Meta Actor show...

Y. M. Nelson shares her best books, movies, and TV that celebrate the nerdy and the romantic. She delves into superhero, sci-fi, fantasy, and romance genres to pick the best reads, listens and watches of the year.

• Best Books of 2025
  • Curvy Girl Summer
  • Losing Sight
  • Children of Blood and Bone
  • Can't Get Enough
  • Only for the Week
• My release for 2025: The Accidental Proposal
• Best Movies of 2025
  • Sinners
  • Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as H...

 Jen and host Y. M. Nelson recommend 7 holiday romances for 2025 that will keep you in the holly jolly spirit. Y. M. Nelson also has an announcement for a new mini-series in the new year! 

Books We Recommend:

• Single and Ready to Jingle by Piper Rayne
• Brown Sugar this Christmas by Lula White
• Not So Merry in Maldives by Mia Heintzelman
• Wrapped by Rebekah Weatherspoon
• A Man for Mrs. Claus by Rebekah Weatherspoon
• The Ex-mas Brea...

Y. M. Nelson hosts the second part of a review of the Fantastic Four: First Steps with guests Marcie and Perry. They talk an award-worthy performance of Sue Storm, the Richards' kid, Villains in the 828, and rate the movie with a star rating.

Topics We Discuss

• Sacrificing too much for the greater good
• Superhero movies and award worthy performances
• City comes together with Mr. Elder (that rhymed!) The Villains
• How to beat a villain (...

Y. M. Nelson hosts a deep dive into the Marvel movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps. She and guests Perry and Marcie discuss the fantastic four characters, movie pacing, and why this is the best version of them all.

TOPICS:

• How did we discover /first watch the movie?
• What was with the "Jetsons" look?
• Character Portrayls: Mr. Fantastic and others
• The rest of the Fantastic Four: Ben, Johnny and Sue
• Fave characters
• Storyline in the movi...

Y. M. Nelson hosts the continuing discussion of Thunderbolts. She and Jen, Perry and Marcie talk about female led Marvel movies, depression and grief, standout characters in a fun ensemble cast, and we give the movie a star rating.

TOPICS WE DISCUSS:

• Marketing Thunderbolts*
• A Greenlit surprise
• Standout characters in the Thunderbolts* ensemble
• The Thunderbolts v. Valentina
• Bob aka The Sentry/The Void and depression
• Perry clears up some...

Jen, Perry, Marcie and host Y. M. Nelson talk about why Thunderbolts* was a great character study in a superhero disguise.

TOPICS WE DISCUSS:

• Perry's Update
• First thoughts on Thunderbolts*/viewing experience
• Is this the connector movie we needed?
• The Reluctant Hero Trope
• The dramatic side of the movie
• Family relationships: Yelena and Alexi
• Marketing and reception of Thunderbolts*

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Host Y. M. Nelson and guests Staci, Perry, and Jen continue to review and then rate James Gunn’s version of Superman. In this episode, we talk about the “Justice Gang” – Mr. Terrific, Guy Gardner, and Hawkgirl – Superman’s posse, and we talk about the Daily Planet gang – notably Lois, Perry, Jimmy and Steve – Clark Kent’s posse. We also give this one a star rating.

Topics We Disc...

Host Y. M. Nelson and guests Staci, Perry, and Jen review James Gunn's version of Superman. We went political, we went comic book, we went totally nerdy with this review of the new DCU iteration. This was one lively discussion you can't miss.

Topics We Discuss:

• How excited were we about James Gunn's Superman?
• A Comic Book Feel - The James Gunn Effect
• The Origin Story Omission
• If you know the story, why are you upset that Superman is...

Staci and host Y. M. Nelson wrap up discussion of this YA fantasy with a little politics, world building, and look ahead to what the movie version of this book may entail. We finish our review with a Goodreads rating.

Topics we discuss:

0:47 When magic means power - The politics of the story

9:13 The politics of the book - The Author's Note

15:23 The World of Children of Blood and Bone

21:50 Musing on the movie version

30:24 The audi...

Y. M. Nelson and guest Staci discuss the folklore, the appeal, and the plot of the best selling fantasy Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

Topics we discuss:

• First impressions of the book
• The lack of African folklore in American culture
• Zelie and the heroine's journey
• Racism and Colorism in Children of Blood and Bone
• Growing into a leader - The reluctant hero trope
• Coming of Age for other main characters and their arcs
• How the...

Jen G and host Y. M. Nelson recommend books that will scare you, or if you prefer, that will make you feel cozy while drinking your pumpkin spice latte and cuddling in your sweater. We also pay tribute to two romance authors we lost this summer: Carla Luna, who was also a guest on the show, and Twyla Turner.

Books we Discuss:

1:05 A Personal Moment: In Memorium - Carla Luna and Twyla Turner

6:59 Jen's new podcast and Bootcamp

10:39 Blo...

Staci, Marcie, and host Y. M. Nelson talk the secondary characters of Ironheart, including a long-awaited surprise character, and give the show a Goodreads star rating.

Topics we discuss:

• The timing of Riri's story
• The Hood, aka Parker Robbins and his crew
• Magic in the Neighborhood - Zelma, Madeline, and ... Dr. Strange?
• The SURPRISE GUEST
• Joe, aka Ezekiel Stane, aka Iron Monger
• GoodReads rating

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Y. M. Nelson and guests Marcie and Staci talk about the Marvel TV series Ironheart. All of us had something to say about Riri Williams and her status as a legacy hero. And in light of the censorship and extortion of Jimmy Kimmel, what I say about a certain media company's IP is particularly relevant right now. 

Topics discussed:

• How we found the show and the controversy around that
• Rotten Tomatoes Review bombing
• Are we "Marvel...

We wrap up our discussion of Superman and Lois with a chat about season 4, the final season of the series. We talk about the correlation between the Death of Superman comic and  the show, villains Lex Luthor and Doomsday, the last episode, and we give this one a GoodReads rating.

Topics We Discuss:

1:30 Lex Luthor

10:29 Doomsday v. Superman

12:12 A rushed ending

23:55 The Clark Kent reveal to the world

31:42 Kids with superpowers

35:...