Blerds and Nerds Podcast

Blerds and Nerds is the nerd podcast where we talk about comics, games, and everything else nerdy! Blerds = black nerds, and our multicultural cast gives their perspective on everything geek!

Is Steam Machine the Future of Gaming? Plus, AI in Gaming and Other Nerd News 11/18/2025

Is Steam Machine the Future of Gaming? Plus, AI in Gaming and Other Nerd News Your favorite Blerds are back bringing you all of their thoughts on everything happening in nerd culture. In this episode, Shannon, Jaja and James dive into various topics surrounding nerd culture, including personal updates on their gaming and reading experiences, the announcement of Valve's Steam Machine, and the upcoming Game Awards. They discuss workplace issues in the gaming industry, particularly regarding unionization, and share their thoughts on the anticipated Metroid Prime 4. The conversation also touches on the increasing role of AI in gaming and content creation, raising ethical questions about its use. The conversation also touches on upcoming games, adaptations of popular books into shows, and the cultural impact of trends like Labubu. Timestamps 00:00-Introduction to Nerd Culture 02:32-Personal Nerdy Updates 05:31-Steam Machine Announcement 10:54-Steam Machine Features and Specs 16:37-Market Impact and Competition 19:16-Target Audience for Steam Machine 20:28-The Anticipation for New Gaming Consoles 22:09-The Game Awards and Its Growing Popularity 23:32-Grammys Snubs in Video Game Soundtracks 28:36-Unionization Efforts in Gaming Companies 30:58-Excitement for Metroid Prime 4 36:47-Exploring Arch Raiders and Its Unique Gameplay 40:51-AI in Creative Industries 45:24-The Future of Work and AI 50:18-AI and Gaming Companies 55:15-Upcoming Games and Nostalgia 57:08-Podcast Homework and Game Backlogs 57:31D-C Studios Announcements 58:40-The Anticipation of Robin's Live Action Debut 59:22-Exploring New DC Projects 01:00:57-The Allure of Fantasy Adaptations 01:04:27-The Rise of Romantic Fantasy in Media 01:05:32-Debating the Appeal of Dragons 01:06:36-The Controversial La Boo Boo Movie 01:11:44-The Future of Death Stranding in Anime 01:15:54-Live Action Adaptations: Sakamoto Days Check out full episodes of the Blerds and Nerds Podcast on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcast app of choice! Follow Us! National Resources List Youtube Email us: Blerdsnerds@gmail.com Follow Our Social: https://www.instagram.com/blerdsnerds/ https://twitter.com/BlerdsNerds Shannon: https://www.instagram.com/luv_shenanigans James: Jaja: https://www.instagram.com/jajasmith3 /episode/index/show/blerdsnerds/id/39070595

GTA 6 Delayed AGAIN Plus, Funko Pops: The End of an Era? And More Nerd News 11/11/2025

GTA 6 Delayed AGAIN Plus, Funko Pops: The End of an Era? And More Nerd News The Blerds are back bringing you all of their thoughts on everything happening in nerd culture. This week, Shannon, Jaja and James discuss a variety of topics including the biggest news of the delay of GTA 6 yet again. They also discuss Nintendo's upcoming titles for the Switch 2, the restructuring and layoffs at Square Enix, and the impact of AI on game development. They also touch on issues surrounding digital game ownership, the ongoing console wars between Xbox and PlayStation, and the announcement of a new animated spin-off of Stranger Things. Additionally, they discuss the upcoming season of Jujutsu Kaisen, casting news for One Piece, and the future of Funko Pops in the collectibles market. 00:00-Introduction to Nerd Culture 02:47-Anime Discussions: Gachiyakuta and More 05:46-Gaming Adventures: Ninja Gaiden 4 and Astro Bot 08:13-Stranger Things and Manga Updates 11:04-Anime and Gaming: One Punch Man and Ghost of Tsushima 13:51-Weather Talk and Comic Book Collecting 16:43-Reading Adventures: Hunger Games and Chainsaw Man 19:32-Video Game News: GTA 6 Delayed Again 22:20-The Impact of Game Delays 27:58-The Future of Marvel Games 29:57-Cloud Gaming on the Portal 32:12-Nintendo's Upcoming Releases 36:42-Square Enix Layoffs and AI Integration 42:24-The Debate on Game Ownership and Accessibility 44:24-Console Wars: The PlayStation Portal vs. ROG Ally 48:58-Fanboy Wars and Community Dynamics 49:52-Stranger Things: Animation and Spin-Offs 53:47-Anime News: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 56:55-Live Action Adaptations: One Piece Casting 58:03-The Decline of Funko Pops 01:05:39-The Future of Collectibles Make sure to subscribe to us on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcast app of choice! Follow Us! National Resources List Youtube Email us: Blerdsnerds@gmail.com Follow Our Social: https://www.instagram.com/blerdsnerds/ https://twitter.com/BlerdsNerds Shannon: https://www.instagram.com/luv_shenanigans James: Jaja: https://www.instagram.com/jajasmith3 /episode/index/show/blerdsnerds/id/38981745

One Piece is Becoming a Regular Anime! Plus, Pokemon, The Sims, Crash Bandicoot and Other Nerd News! 11/04/2025

Is Pokemon a Scam? Plus, Xbox, Chainsaw Man, Spooky Anime Recs and Other Nerd News 10/28/2025

Anime Gems and the latest in Video Game News Plus, What is the Value of a Video Game? 10/21/2025

Anime Gems and the latest in Video Game News Plus, What is the Value of a Video Game? The Blerds are back bringing you all of their thoughts on everything happening in nerd culture. This week, Shannon and James dive deep into their nerdy things including anime recommendations like 'Paprika' and 'Gachiakuta', video game experiences with titles like 'Ghost of Yotei' and 'Astrobot', and discussions on popular shows like 'Peacemaker' and 'Gen V'. They also explore the complexities of anime narratives, particularly in 'Chainsaw Man', and share their ongoing journey with 'One Piece'. They also talk about anime filler episodes and reading recommendations to the ongoing legal battle between Sony and Tencent over game similarities. They discuss the potential impact of copycat games on established franchises, the pricing of upcoming games like GTA 6, and the value of video games in general. The conversation also touches on the future of beloved franchises like Sly Cooper and the importance of game demos. Finally, they wrap up with recommendations for Halloween-themed anime. Chapters 00:00 -Introduction to Nerdy Things for the Week 00:31-Anime Discussions: Kaiju Number Eight and Paprika 03:10 - Exploring Sci-Fi Thrillers: Paprika and Its Creator 04:35 -Gen V: Catching Up 06:24 -Video Game Adventures: Ghost of Yotei and Astro Bot 11:43 -Controller Troubles and Gaming Experiences 17:06 - Astrobot: A Fun Platformer Experience 20:44 - Gen V and Peacemaker: Series Reviews 22:56 - Gachiakuta: A Dark Episode Discussion 24:45 - Chainsaw Man: Embracing the Dub 27:41 - One Piece: The Journey Begins 30:27 - Reading Cat's Eye: A Thief's Tale 31:38 - Sony vs. Tencent: The Horizon Lawsuit 38:28 -Live Action Horizon: Movie Plans 40:34 -Marvel Rivals: Player Base Decline 42:40 - GTA 6: The $100 Game Debate 43:29 -The Pricing Dilemma of GTA 6 53:33 -Sucker Punch Studio's Future Projects 01:01:28 -The Value of Video Games and Demos Subscribe to us on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcast app of choice! Follow Us! National Resources List Youtube Email us: Blerdsnerds@gmail.com Follow Our Social: https://www.instagram.com/blerdsnerds/ https://twitter.com/BlerdsNerds Shannon: https://www.instagram.com/luv_shenanigans James: Jaja: https://www.instagram.com/jajasmith3 /episode/index/show/blerdsnerds/id/38636565

Comic Con, One Piece Adventures and Other Nerd News! 10/14/2025

Game Pass is Getting Out of Hand, Plus Ghost of Yotei, EA, Joystick Awards and More! 10/07/2025

Tokyo Game Showcase, Palfarm, Marvel and Anime News! 09/30/2025

Gaming Lawsuits, Price Hikes, Anime News and More 09/23/2025

Gaming Lawsuits, Price Hikes, Anime News and More The Blerds are back bringing you all of their thoughts on everything happening in nerd culture. James is back, though only for a little bit to bring us his update from Japan! Hear what he's been up to. Later in the pod, Shannon and Jaja discuss the stagnation in gaming innovation, particularly focusing on franchises like Pokemon, Madden and NBA 2K, which continue to thrive despite a lack of creativity. They explore the implications of modding and fan creations in the gaming industry, as well as the ongoing legal battles surrounding copyright and competition. The conversation shifts to the success of Demon Slayer at the box office, highlighting its wide audience appeal. They also touch on the rise of new anime titles and the potential future of Naruto. Make sure to subscribe to our youtube channel or listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcast app of choice! Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome Back to Nerd Culture 00:53 James' Adventures in Japan 02:36 Exploring Tokyo's Anime Scene 05:28 Universal Studios Japan Experience 08:16 Streaming Challenges in Japan 09:10 Jaja's Recent Nerdy Activities 11:00 DandaDan's Season Finale Discussion 12:43 Revisiting Marvel and Upcoming Plans 14:53 Video Game News: Xbox Price Hikes 17:44 The Price Hike Dilemma 24:57 Nintendo's Legal Battles and Modding Concerns 31:00 The State of Gaming Innovation 38:56 Palworld: A New Contender 46:03 Tencent's Controversial Copycat Claims 47:52 The Stop Killing Games Petition Update 49:18 Demon Slayer: Box Office Success and Movie Review 58:22 Anime News: DandaDan Season 3 and Attack on Titan's Popularity 59:44 Exploring New Anime: Freerun and Naruto Sequel Speculations Follow Us! National Resources List Youtube Email us: Blerdsnerds@gmail.com Follow Our Social: https://www.instagram.com/blerdsnerds/ https://twitter.com/BlerdsNerds Shannon: https://www.instagram.com/luv_shenanigans James: Jaja: https://www.instagram.com/jajasmith3 /episode/index/show/blerdsnerds/id/38316025

Demon Slayer, Nintendo Direct and Other Nerd News 09/16/2025

Gamescom, Palland and Other Nerd News 08/26/2025

Is Censorship Ruining Art? And Other Nerd News 08/19/2025

Is Censorship Ruining Art? And Other Nerd News The Blerds are back brining you all of their thoughts on everything happening in nerd culture. Shannon, Jaja and James delve into the complexities of Roblox, discussing its vast sandbox environment and the safety concerns surrounding it, particularly for children. They emphasize the importance of parental guidance in monitoring kids' interactions on the platform. The conversation shifts to censorship in gaming, highlighted by PETA's request to remove a character's nose ring in Mario Kart, and the implications of such actions. They also celebrate the success of Red Dead Redemption, explore the significance of sales metrics in gaming, and address the recent plagiarism controversy involving Pokemon. Plus, we're talking the merging of Disney+ and Hulu, and Delta's new partnership with Crunchyroll to offer anime on flights. Chapter Notes 00:00-Introduction to Nerd Culture 02:38-Personal Updates and Recent Activities 11:20-Jaja's 'Tokopi's Original Sin' Review 17:01-Upcoming Shows and Recommendations 19:28-Comics and Gaming Updates 19:51-Anime Maintenance and Current Shows 22:13-Gaming Experiences and Astro Bot 26:06-Blind Box Culture and Collectibles 32:12-Censorship in Gaming and Cultural Sensitivity 41:43-Understanding Roblox 45:53-The Safety Concerns of Roblox 48:3-Legal Actions and Community Reactions 50:31-Censorship and Animal Rights in Gaming 55:28-Red Dead Redemption 2: A Gaming Phenomenon 01:02:59-Sales Metrics: What They Mean for Games 01:03:45-The Legacy of Classic Games 01:05:18-Upcoming Game Releases and Anticipations 01:06:58-Controversies in Gaming: Plagiarism and Ethics 01:09:16-Disney Plus and Censorship in Advertising 01:10:55-The Future of Streaming: Disney Plus and Hulu Integration 01:13:27-Crunchyroll's New Offerings and Airline Partnerships Follow Us! National Resources List Youtube Email us: Blerdsnerds@gmail.com Follow Our Social: https://www.instagram.com/blerdsnerds/ https://twitter.com/BlerdsNerds Shannon: https://www.instagram.com/luv_shenanigans James: Jaja: https://www.instagram.com/jajasmith3 /episode/index/show/blerdsnerds/id/37872350