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The Functional Nerds Podcast

The Functional Nerds
Voidverse
The Subtle Art Of Folding Space
Satire
Obstetrix
Daggerheart
Common Saga
Korean Literature
Translation
Magic: the Gathering
Valet
Jeeves and Wooster
London
Harmotton's Season
Songs Of the Dead
Amber Diceless
The 13th Warrior
Molly Tanzer
Wolfskin
Strixhaven Omens Of Chaos
The Office

The weekly podcast from author/blogger Patrick Hester and author/teacher Tracy Townsend

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsNewsTech News

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Artwork for The Functional Nerds Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week on the podcast, Patrick and Tracy welcome A. David Lewis, author of Body, Soul, and Comics.

About Body, Soul, and Comics: Body, Soul, and Comics: Graphic Religion and Graphic Medicine follows A. David Lewis’s unique scholarly journey thro... more

This week on the podcast, Patrick and Tracy welcome David Ebenbach, author of The AI Suspects It Might Be a Hungry Ghost.

About The AI Suspects It Might Be a Hungry Ghost: The poems in David Ebenbach’s new poetry collection, The AI Suspects It Migh... more

This week on the podcast, Patrick and Tracy welcome Natalie Zina Walschots, author of VILLAIN.

About VILLAIN: The hench once called Anna, now known to her colleagues and enemies as the Auditor, has carved out a wicked name for herself. Any superher... more

This week on the podcast, Patrick and Tracy welcome Faith Hunter, author of Unpredictable Magic.

About Unpredictable Magic: Angelina Everhart-Trueblood and her brother Evan run Everhart Investigations, a PI firm in Chattanooga that solves paranorma... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Sam J. Miller
Author and storyteller
Author
Episode: Episode 708-With Sam J. Miller
William Bernhardt
Author of Justice for All; researching Superman history; writer of Batman Wars forthcoming
Author
Episode: Episode 707-With William Bernhardt
Peter Orullian
Author of Songs Of The Dead; musician and collaborator with Brandon Sanderson
Dragonsteel Entertainment/Author
Episode: Episode 706-With Peter Orullian
JP Lacrampe
Author of Valet
Author, Valet
Episode: Episode 705-With J.P. Lacrampe
Seanan McGuire
Guest author, known for Strixhaven Omens Of Chaos project
Self/Author
Episode: Episode 704-With Seanan McGuire
Naomi Kritzer
Author of Obstetrix
Naomi Kritzer
Episode: Episode 703-With Naomi Kritzer
Amal El-Mohtar
Author and editor featured on the episode
Episode: Episode 702-With Amal El-Mohtar
Anton Hur
Science fiction and fantasy author and translator
Self/Translator
Episode: Episode 701-With Anton Hur
Jeremy Szal
Author of the Common Saga, including Wolfskin
Author
Episode: Episode 700-With Jeremy Szal

Hosts

Patrick Hester
Host of The Functional Nerds Podcast; long-time author and podcaster known for in-depth author interviews and craft-focused discussions.
Tracy Townsend
Co-host and interviewer; author and educator with a focus on speculative fiction and engaging conversations with guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 67 ratings
  • Great conversations

    I’ve only listened to a few episodes because I only found about this podcast recently. I love the conversations and anecdotes I’ve heard so far. I recommend this podcast if you’re interested in writers and what makes them write.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    William Raillon
    Francea year ago
  • Awesome Podcast

    I love the discussion. They have interviews with some of my favorite writers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fammann
    Switzerlanda year ago
  • Just discovered the Functional Nerds

    The Mary Robinette Kowal interview brought me to this fun podcast. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and will listen to more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laura’s Grey
    United Statesa year ago
  • Dynamic Duo!

    The hosts, Patrick Hester and Tracy Townsend (both authors themselves) always do a great job of interviewing writers as well as others involved in speculative fiction. The podcast covers all sorts of media, including movies, books, television, and more. I find it informative and entertaining, and I think you will too! Patrick has vast experience in podcasting, and this shows in the high production values.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Prairie_Dog
    United Statesa year ago
  • The Dynamic Duo

    The Functional Nerds is a great listen if you like interesting interviews with some off topic squirreling. Patrick and Tracy have a great banter that lends to a great easygoing feel for the podcast. There is usually a great mix of guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    gnomicron
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note a mix of nerdy banter with insightful, craft-focused content.
Listeners praise high production values and strong guest lineups.
Fans enjoy the hosts' deep knowledge of speculative fiction and their rapport.
A few listeners mention strong recommendations and a sense of community around episodes.

Top Books Podcasts

The Book Club
The Book ClubGoalhanger
The Book Review
The Book ReviewThe New York Times
Myths and Legends
Myths and LegendsJason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy FangirlsFantasy Fangirls
Selected Shorts
Selected ShortsSymphony Space

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 701-With Anton Hur
Q: What drew you to translate this particular work (If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light) and how did your relationship with the author and text begin?
Hur recounts discovering the book through Korean publishers and a recommendation from Bora Chung, detailing a long, sometimes stalled journey to secure rights, assemble a compelling sample, and finally sell the English translation after numerous negotiations.
Episode 696-With Michael R. Underwood
Q: Mike, what do you think of the OSR revival kind of thing that's happening in TTRPG?
Mike notes that OSR is not his primary focus but there are impressive, concise materials in that space and he respects their design ideas while staying within the projects he loves, like Daggerheart.
Episode 697-With John Chu
Q: How does your engineering mindset influence your writing and translation work?
The guest explains that thinking like an engineer helps him build plausible systems in fiction and make informed creative choices when translating, ensuring consistency and depth in world-building across cultures.
Episode 697-With John Chu
Q: What is your pick for your episode and why that one?
John Chu discusses Harmotton's Season by Tochi Onyebuchi and why it resonates, highlighting its neo-noir vibe, the balance between fantasy and science fiction, and how it uses genre to explore identity and belonging.
Episode 697-With John Chu
Q: What is the engineering premise angle behind the book's concept?
The premise centers on nested universes generated by a machinery setup called the skunk works, creating an interdependent, infinite loop between outer and inner universes, with main characters who maintain this system much as engineers maintain a large-scale operation.

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 The Functional Nerds Podcast

What is The Functional Nerds Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show leans into deep-diberate conversations with prolific genre authors and creators, spanning literary craft, world-building, publishing shifts, and cross-media storytelling. It frequently explores how narrative voice, serialization, and IP ownership shape modern speculative fiction, with recurring emphasis on how authors navigate publishing ecosystems, collaborations with editors and studios, and the evolving landscape of comics, gaming, and fandom. Noteworthy is the mix of practical craft insights, industry context, and a playful, knowledge-forward banter between seasoned hosts that often appeals to aspiring writers, editors, and superfans seeking thoughtful, nerdy discussions.

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How many listeners does The Functional Nerds Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Functional Nerds Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Functional Nerds Podcast have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Functional Nerds Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Functional Nerds Podcast:

1. The Coode Street Podcast
2. Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities
3. Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. Science Magazine Podcast

How many episodes of The Functional Nerds Podcast are there?

The Functional Nerds Podcast launched 16 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Functional Nerds Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Functional Nerds Podcast?

Recent guests on The Functional Nerds Podcast include:

1. Sam J. Miller
2. William Bernhardt
3. Peter Orullian
4. JP Lacrampe
5. Seanan McGuire
6. Naomi Kritzer
7. Amal El-Mohtar
8. Anton Hur

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