Episodes
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The nerds are pressing pause on Balrogs & Blastbeats for just a little moment to focus on some pressing life matters. Hoping to return when the seas are a little calmer.
We love you. Stay nerdy.
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This week the nerds look at the the science of mind uploading. Where is the current technology at? How far are we away from being able to upload our minds to the digital space? How does pop culture handle this issue?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Sailor Moon One Piece - https://blackmilkclothing.com/collections/pretty-guardian-sailor-moon?page=1
Grant's Thing - John Wick 4 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wick:_Chapter_4
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - LOTS of new commander decks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K9PEeLG_6M&ab_channel=TheCommandZone
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Episodes manquant?
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This week the nerds look at the weird and wonderful places we find inspiration for creation. What are the wild stories of ways our staples of popular culture were inspired by less obvious means?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - DnD Character Creators - https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/character-creator
Grant's Thing - Coffee - https://www.instagram.com/caffeinemethod
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Shazam! Fury Of The Gods - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shazam!_Fury_of_the_Gods
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Northside Nerds presents: Balrogs & Blastbeats. A weekly dive into the larger world of nerd culture, heavy music, science, and psychology. Hosted by Joshua Redbeard, Grant, and Margy.
This week the nerds get their heavy metal nerd on as they walk through the history of heavy metal, it's roots, it's inspiration, and it's future.
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Dungeons & Daddies - https://open.spotify.com/show/5Sffly5o4mPetmnTR9zsWh?si=6b8550ca2a9f4d44
Grant's Thing -Dungeons & Daddies - https://open.spotify.com/show/5Sffly5o4mPetmnTR9zsWh?si=6b8550ca2a9f4d44
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Dungeons & Daddies - https://open.spotify.com/show/5Sffly5o4mPetmnTR9zsWh?si=6b8550ca2a9f4d44
OTHER LINKS
Knotfest "Fashion" Article - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11901189/Knotfest-revellers-dress-wild-outfits-Slipknot-festival-Centennial-Park-Sydney.html
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This week the nerds explore the representation of neurodivergence in media. How far have we come from films like Rainman and What's Eating Gilbert Grape? How does it reflect the real life experience of neurodivergence? Is this generation of TikTok Psychologists diagnosing everyone with ADHD and Autism helping or hindering?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Kafka On The Shore - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4929.Kafka_on_the_Shore
Grant's Thing - Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty - https://www.trueachievements.com/n53124/wo-long-xbox-first-boss-achievement
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Piccard - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Picard_(season_3)
OTHER LINKS
"Why Do They Have To Be Brilliant?" Article - https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/sep/15/why-do-they-have-to-be-brilliant-the-problem-of-autism-in-the-movies
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This week the nerds take aim at the age old argument that the book is always better than the film. Is that always the case? When did the paradigm shift? What are examples of times the films surpassed the book? And how good is the novelisation of Batman Returns?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - The Seven Wonders Of The World - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonders_of_the_World
Grant's Thing - The Mandalorian Season 3 - https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_cameos_in_Star_Wars
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Djunah's new album Femina Furens - https://djunah.bandcamp.com/album/femina-furens
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This week the nerds ask the important question, why are humans so drawn to a good conspiracy theory? Where do they come from? What is on the other side of the giant ice wall? And definitely no questions about alien probing because... No.
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Númenor is Atlantis https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/N%C3%BAmenor
Grant's Thing - Stardew Valley - https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150/Stardew_Valley/
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Johnathan Majors saved Ant-Man Quantumania - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Majors
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This week the nerds look at the imagery and representation of animals within pop culture. Looking at where the concept of the animal hybird comes from in human history, why do we find animals so damn cute, and ask the important question, if you could be any animal for 24 hours, what would you be and why?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction - https://www.librarything.com/work/46828
Grant's Thing - Dark & Darker - https://www.ironmace.com/
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - A Tolkein Bestiary - https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/A_Tolkien_Bestiary
OTHER LINKS
Puppies win the battle of cute - https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/neuroscience-of-cute/
Concept of virtual population https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/13/using-cute-animals-in-pop-culture-makes-public-think-theyre-not-endangered-study
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Northside Nerds presents: Balrogs & Blastbeats. A weekly dive into the larger world of nerd culture, heavy music, science, and psychology. Hosted by Joshua Redbeard, Grant, and Margy.
This week the nerds (mainly Margy let's face it) get their science on and dive into the scientific studies behind heavy metal music. Looking at the connections between heavy metal and mental heath issues, self confidence, and banging in the backseat of a car.
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Ayden Thomas - www.instagram.com/ayden_thomas
Grant's Thing - Snakes On A Train - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqi78frTL2Q&ab_channel=MovieCentral
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Dungeons & Daddies Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5Sffly5o4mPetmnTR9zsWh?si=717e9c602411414b
OTHER LINKS
NERD OF THE WEEK - Carmel Majidi - https://www.cmu.edu/bme/People/Faculty/profile/cmajidi.html
MAIN ARTICLE ON THE LIQUID ROBOT - https://www.newscientist.com/article/2356076-metal-robot-can-melt-its-way-out-of-tight-spaces-to-escape/
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT - https://www.cell.com/matter/fulltext/S2590-2385(22)00693-2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2590238522006932%3Fshowall%3Dtrue&fbclid=IwAR2MHDESpdqGy8V_Oe9z4UutwpTtdEGZI3WMivHpD0iX82VIjcWSQ09QgeA
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The nerds return for 2023 to catch up on their break and talk about what they're excited for in the year ahead from video games set in an alternative future for the glorious U.S.S.R., to a horror movie where Winnie The Pooh has had enough of your shit.
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Struggling With The Australian Medical System - https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifesto.pdf
Grant's Thing - Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Fortune:_Ruse_de_Guerre
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - World Of Warcraft (Not linking to that, so go learn about Leeroy Jenkins) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvXRcwcIJh4
OTHER LINKS
DND Shorts' Breakdown Of What's Happening Inside Wizards Of The Coast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4kGMsZSdbY&ab_channel=DnDShorts
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This week the nerds hang the mistletoe high for their Christmas special and talk about the capitalistic hellscape that is Christmas, but promise it's better than the Star Wars or Guardians Of The Galaxy Christmas special, but also maybe not as good as any Futurama Christmas specials.
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Starship Troopers - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/starship_troopers
Grant's Thing - Nerf Halo Needler - https://www.ign.com/articles/nerf-lmtd-halo-needler-is-now-available and Violent Night - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12003946/
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Anno 1800 - https://www.ubisoft.com/en-au/game/anno/1800
OTHER LINKS
FRAU PERCHTA - https://boroughsofthedead.com/frau-perchta/
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This week the nerds take a look at the dynamics of distopian futures presented in books, games, & other media, and how that is reflected in today's society through government, environment, and dating apps.
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Gojira Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBznKAOieHE&t=1s
Grant's Thing - Pokemon Scarlet & Violet - https://scarletviolet.pokemon.com/en-au/
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - The Lex Friedman Podcast w/ Todd Howard - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kh4ncuEGLHllaM5nXms0w?si=8e8f9e82a460433e
OTHER LINKS
DAMI LEE'S DYSTOPIAN MEGACITIES BREAKDOWN - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5GL836kpls&t=387s&ab_channel=DamiLee
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This week the nerds call out our short attention spans by putting a magnifying glass to fads, fifteen minute famers, and people who truly have just faded into obscurity.
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerdsTHE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Star Wars: Visions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtAsl-0o3O0&ab_channel=StarWarsGrant's Thing - Avengers: Endgame - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/avengers_endgame
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_panther_wakanda_forever
OTHER LINKS
CASPER VAN DIEN'S INFOMERCIAL FOR CHILD HELP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FgFbFKLF8A&ab_channel=Childhelp -
This week the nerds look at the concept of collecting. Why are nerds so mad for having epic collections of weird and wonderful things? Where does this drive come from? And when does it go from collecting to hoarding?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Lord Of The Rings Extended Edition - https://screenrant.com/lord-rings-extended-editions-all-extra-scenes/
Grant's Thing - Vatic - https://open.spotify.com/album/6eSyQdEzLe207n5TcOjx88?si=7AuG2K1MSVucMapZT3Q-qwJoshua Redbeard's Thing - Essentialism - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/18077875-essentialism
OTHER LINKS
ID SOFTWARE'S MARTY STRATTON’S OPEN LETTER - https://www.reddit.com/r/Doom/comments/gdg25y/doom_eternal_ost_open_letter/MICK GORDON’S REPLY - https://medium.com/@mickgordon/my-full-statement-regarding-doom-eternal-5f98266b27ce
BETHESDA CHIMING IN -
https://twitter.com/bethesda/status/1592971214817222656TL;DR - NIK NOCTURNAL SUMMING THINGS UP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS3yYqRA38c&ab_channel=NikNocturnal
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This week the nerds ask the question, with the rising popularity of the fantasy genre, of tattoos, of heavy music, etc. Are we still considered alternative? How far does one have to go to still be alternative? Where is the invisible line between the mainstream and the alternative?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - The Broken Earth Series - https://www.goodreads.com/series/112296-the-broken-earth
Grant's Thing - Team APS - https://www.youtube.com/c/TeamAPS/featured
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Every Fallout Vault Explained - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_MXyt9Ico&ab_channel=N_orte -
This week the nerds look deep into the various tropes of races throughout the fantasy world. Where do the concepts of orcs, elves, and dwarves come from? Who has done them well? Why do some believe this is tantamount to racism?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Mary Has Two Monitors - https://external-preview.redd.it/9Oa1toWwsRnnUVe1e-D3Gl0gNhVuxzTZToUOMwqVdDU.jpg?auto=webp&s=b3a58b476b7107611789d626ff87a3c79e9a5a98
Grant's Thing - Mr Ballen Scary Cabin Story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkFuZ-_sPP8&ab_channel=MrBallen
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Medieval Babies Are Ugly AF - https://www.vox.com/2015/7/8/8908825/ugly-medieval-babies
OTHER LINKS
Article on subconscious racism in fantasy - https://www.publicmedievalist.com/race-fantasy-genre/
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This week the nerds are joined by tattooist and film maker Josh Todaro, mastermind behind the horror short Button Man that's currently taking the film festival circut by storm. Josh joins the nerds to discuss the allure of all things macarbe, why are humans so drawn to the things that terrify us? What affect does this have on the human psyche? And of course the most important question... What's your favourite scary movie?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
Follow Josh Todaro - @josh_todaro / @Button Man Film
Button Man Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPX8Bw0EWWA&ab_channel=ButtonManFilm
THE SPOOKIEST THING
Josh Todaro's Thing - Universal Halloween Horror Nights - https://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/
Margy's Thing - All Killa No Filla Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NamVTJu1vtftpFQyOGLnx?si=5a559c726b49437d
Grant's Thing - Cabinet Of Curiosities - https://www.netflix.com/title/80209229
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Studio 666 - https://www.studio666movie.com/
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Northside Nerds presents: Balrogs & Blastbeats. A weekly dive into the larger world of nerd culture, heavy music, science, and psychology. Hosted by Joshua Redbeard, Grant, and Margy. This week the nerds take aim at those who continually flog a horse that's long dead. Why do people continue with things long after their expiry date? When should we throw in the towel? And what unexpected things did we find out about The Bold & The Beautiful along the way?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Robert Jordan's Home Town Street Names - https://www.reddit.com/r/WoT/comments/6wjfmt/robert_jordan_sites_in_charleston_sc/
Grant's Thing - Critical Hit Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/4AgKtzTqNdC5ukJ6nN61LI?si=6bc8213fef424929
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Being Tagged As A Huge Nerd Multiple Times - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjYR6ymg4Qi/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY
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This week, the nerds take a look at the ingrained cultures of trolling and online bullying rife in our communities. What is the psychology behind it? What has been their experiences? And how have they learned to push through it?
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - The Priory Of The Orange Tree - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40275288-the-priory-of-the-orange-tree
Grant's Thing - A Dog's Birthday Party - https://www.rover.com/blog/how-to-throw-dog-birthday-party/
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Medieval Hip Hop - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmoW-fNZxCY
OTHER LINKS
The Relentless Doppelganger - https://www.youtube.com/c/DADABOTS_official
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This week the nerds look at the representation of nerds and metalheads through pop-culture. They look at the psychology behind stereotyping, healthy and unhealthy tropes, and look at things that absolutely did not age well.
LINKS
Follow Northside Nerds on Socials & YouTube Here - https://linktr.ee/northsidenerds
THE NERDIEST THING
Margy's Thing - Post-hardcore - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_post-hardcore_bands
Grant's Thing - Pimp Tavarish's Ride - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX79IILLDlE
Joshua Redbeard's Thing - Fallout 4 Mods - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4
OTHER LINKS
Similarities & Differences Between Abed Nadir & Sheldon Cooper - https://bradhanford.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/abed-nadir-and-sheldon-cooper-what-makes-a-character-and-show-great/
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