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Artwork for Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries

Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries

Brenda & Austin
Disney
Action Park
Smurfs
Olympic Mascots
Sonic the Hedgehog
Olympic Games
Cedar Point
Neopets
Superman
Laser Tag
Night Trap
Adult Swim
Prehistoric Forest
Otome Games
The Thief and the Cobbler
New Jersey
Nintendo
Cartoon Network
Shadow the Hedgehog
Sega

Two friends, Austin and Brenda, delve into the rich history of secret nerd mysteries near and dear to their hearts in their own loose, light-hearted way. If you've ever wondered "Why Saturday morning for cartoons?" or "How come Chuck E. Cheese cares so much about other people's birthdays?", this is the show for you!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes225Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHobbiesLeisure

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Artwork for Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries

Latest Episodes

Today Host Austin and Host Brenda are joined by comedian, television writing, and hopefully soon to be best-selling author Joey Clift to talk about that lasagna-loving orange cat, Garfield.

Pre-Order Joey's Book "We've Been Here the Whole Time! A... more

How does a simple carpet pattern come to be known and loved by thousands of convention attendees? When the Atlanta Mariott made the decision to replace their aging hotel carpet in 2015, they had no idea how important it was to a whole community, and... more

The greatest themepark in the United States isn't Disneyworld. It isn't Cedar Point. It's Dollywood, a family run passion project born from the remains of a defunct railway.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https... more

In the wake of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish citizens found a new way to make their voices heard:  Cinema.  Despite extreme poverty in a nation that was cut off from the rest of the world, Turkish filmmakers found a way to make movies u... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Rebecca Sugar
Creator of Steven Universe
Steven Universe
Episode: Steven Universe: Jailbreak (feat. Rebecca Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey)
Ian Jones-Quartey
Co-Executive Producer of Steven Universe
Steven Universe
Episode: Steven Universe: Jailbreak (feat. Rebecca Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey)

Hosts

Austin Hiweishi
Host of the show; co-host known for casual, analytical takes on nerd history and pop culture, with long-standing on-air chemistry with Brenda.
Brenda Sheher
Co-host with a warm, enthusiastic presence; brings cultural insight and strong chemistry with Austin, contributing thoughtful context to nerd-history topics.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 234 ratings
  • I liked this podcast immediately

    Not only do they talk about fascinating stories, the hosts are hilarious and have great chemistry. I jumped into a random episode with no context and their banter drew me in as much as the research.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Richlan Dyar
    United States5 months ago
  • At least they’re having fun

    It’s really great that anyone, regardless of talent or expertise, can have their own podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pod’o’soure
    United Statesa year ago
  • Audio fixed!

    Idk what you guys changed but honestly I can actually hear the show not at full volume at work so THANK YOU! This show is fantastic for a silly, informative look at nerd history! The women in games episode was amazing, learned a ton. Thank you guys for making my day better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    meh681
    United Statesa year ago
  • This show is so exactly my jam

    I LOVE to learn about the history of the stuff I like and the stuff that’s shaped pop culture, but this podcast is neat because it allows them to explore really small niches of content, and Austin and Brenda are also very good at making me interested in the history of stuff I otherwise don’t have any context for. (It was also a truly bizarre experience realizing we live in the same state and funny to hear it come up so often. I’m Spongebob pointing at his hat on TV any time they mention a place ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LopsidedGlasses
    United States2 years ago
  • Great show!

    I always find myself laughing out loud at the silly, nerdy jokes the to posts make. They have great chemistry, and it's obvious that they have been friends for a long time. I might not completely agree with their political worldview, but that's not why I tune in. thanks for letting me be part of your pop-culture-obsessed friend group! Hilarious!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Royce1629
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the blend of research and fun; topics feel accessible.
The hosts' passion shows, making complex nerd histories engaging for a broad audience.
Chemistry between the hosts is a key draw for listeners.
A few episodes trigger critiques about editing or tone but overall positive reception.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why do Books Come out on Tuesdays? feat. Reading Glasses
Q: So what do either of you know about how the New York Times bestseller list is compiled today?
It's a secretive process that involves a diverse group of sales from selected bookstores, but many details remain undisclosed.
Blind Box Figures; Sonny Angels, Smiskis, and Labubus
Q: What do you think about blind boxes and gambling?
Austin argues that blind boxes are not gambling because you are getting a physical item, and it serves a social aspect with trading among friends.
Blind Box Figures; Sonny Angels, Smiskis, and Labubus
Q: Do you collect any blind boxes?
Austin mentions he doesn't have a specific blind box that he collects, but he picks up random ones he likes.
Steven Universe: Jailbreak (feat. Rebecca Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey)
Q: What challenges did the creators face in depicting queer relationships?
The creators had to navigate network scrutiny and avoid direct portrayal of queer relationships until they established the character of Garnet, allowing for more authentic representation later on.
George Pal's Puppet Toons
Q: What do you think about George Pal's innovative techniques?
They were very emotive animations that were not like a still face puppet, on par with Rankin-Bass in the 60s.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries

What is Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two friends explore nerd history through a casual, chatty lens, pairing deep dives into obscure pop-culture topics with playful banter. Recent episodes span tween-era TV, theme parks, product placement, manga origins, and other cultural curiosities, all stitched together by warm host chemistry and a willingness to wander into tangents. Listeners often praise the duo's enthusiasm, accessibility, and knack for turning niche histories into entertaining stories, with occasional notes about editing or tone that some episodes could tighten up. The show stands out for turning nerd nostalgia into approachable, broadly appealing history of media and culture, making it a good fit for listeners who enjoy playful, well-researched explorations of pop-cu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries:

1. Free With Ads
2. My Brother, My Brother And Me
3. Secretly Incredibly Fascinating
4. E Pluribus Motto
5. Wonderful!

How many episodes of Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries are there?

Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries launched 6 years ago and published 225 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries?

Recent guests on Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries include:

1. Rebecca Sugar
2. Ian Jones-Quartey

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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