The Nerd Degree

Six nerds. Two teams. No Wikipedia

Shows recorded live at Little Andromeda

S06E11: The A.I. Episode (100th episode)

Monday 5 June 2023

Join the Nerds for their 100th and final episode as they prepare to be replaced by AI versions of themselves. Did an AI write this blurb? Are we heading for a Bot Girl Summer? In our 100th episode the nerds face the inevitable and spill the ChatGPT about our new robot overlords. Thanks for listening! Host: Erin Harrington Moderator: Brendon Bennetts Panel: Moata Tamaira, Ben Allan, Karen Healey, and James Kupa

S06E10: Star Wars Special

Tuesday 9 May 2023

Somehow Andrew Todd returns to host our fifth Star Wars spectacular. Expect detailed discussion of all the lore on Andor and/or Mandalore. Panel: Moata Tamaira and Jeff Clark vs Ben Kent and Centuri Chan with James Kupa as moderator

S06E09: Dungeons & Dragons

Wednesday 19 April 2023

In a cross-over with our sister show ‘Dungeons & Comedians’, Dungeon/Quiz Master Brendon Bennetts delves greedily and deeply into all things related to both dungeons and dragons. Panel: James Kupa, Tilly Walbom, Ben Kent, Ben Allan Mod: Karen Healey

S06E08: Food!

Tuesday 4 April 2023

Nerds gotta eat, right? Grab your games night gang and come on down to the 24-hour nerd diner for a tasty all-you-can-eat* night of foodie facts. Yummy. *Within reason, Homer. Host: Erin Harrington Panel: Karen Healey, Daniel Pengelly, Brendon Bennetts, Andrew Todd

S06E07: Eight Legged Geeks

Monday 21 November 2022

Arachnophiles rejoice as your favourite nerds weave a web of intrigue around pop-culture creepy crawlies big and small. Expect an amazing, spectacular saga that will leave your spider-sense tingling! Host: Jeff Clark Panelists: Moata Tamaira and Andrew Todd vs James Kupa and Ray Shipley

S06E06: Spies!

Thursday 29 September 2022

You Only Nerd Twice Pay close attention, because this message will self-destruct. In a high-stakes game of wit and wiles, our well-disguised nerds will be tested on spycraft, subterfuge and surveillance. Who will get smart, who will be spooked, and who will find their mission… unpossible? Host: Erin Harrington Panelists: Kathleen Burns and James Kupa vs Brendon Bennetts and Karen Healey With Jeff Clark from Q Branch

S06E05: The Sex Episode (R18)

Saturday 3 September 2022

Who says nerds can’t be sexy? The Nerd Degree is getting lubed up for one night in Little Andromeda, and you’re invited to watch. Taboos will be busted, horizons will be expanded, and the moderator will do their best to comply with Apple’s podcast content guidelines, as the esoteric meets the erotic for the first and possibly last time. Host: Andrew Todd Moata Tamaira and Karen Healey vs Erin Harrington and Daniel Pengelly Scorekeeper: Brendon Bennetts

S06E04: All At Sea

Saturday 9 July 2022

Hosted by Ben Allan, with Jeff Clark, Brendon Bennetts, Laura Borrowdale, Andrew Todd, and Kathleen Burns.

The oceans! Vast and deep and unfathomable, but also literally fathomable. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the theatre, the nerds are back and putting to sea to set sail for the far off shores of Esoterica, tackling cursed voyages, wild weather and the weird and horrifying denizens of the benthic depths along the way.

S06E03: Mysteries

Tuesday 22 March 2022

We solve the mystery of who is the biggest nerd. Host: Brendon Bennetts, Mod: Andrew Todd Teams: Erin Harrington and Moata Tamaira vs James Kupa and Andrew Kepple Watch Andrew’s video here: https://youtu.be/NLugcNHnEto

S06E02: Mocktober

Wednesday 20 October 2021

It’s Mock-mock-mocktober! Who can say what is real, and what’s a load of nerdy bollocks? Join the nerds (but are they really?) in quest for absolute truth as they fight fakes and frauds with bluffs and bluster. Host: Erin Harrington Scorekeeper: Jeff Clark Featuring: Ray Shipley, Kathleen Burns, Brendon Bennetts, and Andrew Todd

S06E01: The Comeback!

Monday 19 July 2021

Christchurch’s favourite long-running currently dormant pop-culture panel show format podcast-live-show is making a comeback! Having dusted off his cobwebby hosting beard, Ben Allan is once again on a mission to discover who is the wittiest nerd and the nerdiest wit, putting two teams of some of the city’s sharpest minds - or at least the sharpest ones that were readily available - to the test in a battle of knowledge and nonsense. Featuring: Moata Tamaira, Jeff Clark, Brendon Bennetts, Andrew Todd, and Erin Harrington

S05E04: Star Wars Spectacular!

Friday 27 December 2019

In the lead up to Rise of Skywalker (so, no spoilers here) the nerds get together for another deep dive into all things Star Wars-y. Hosted by Ben Allan, with Moata Tamaira, Scott Koorey, Jeff Clark, Centuri Chan, and Brendon Bennetts Recorded live at Little Andromeda

S05E03: Explosions

Monday 18 November 2019

An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, much like an episode of The Nerd Degree. In this episode, the nerds will fight over incendiary facts, detonate truth bombs about niche interests, and present homework so volatile it will need its own fume cupboard. Featuring: Karen Healey, Andrew Kepple, Ray Shipley, Brendon Bennetts, Moata Tamaira, and Erin Harrington

S05E02: Alien Anniversary

Monday 3 June 2019

Exactly 40 years ago, Alien burst out of a rubber egg and into our collective hearts/chest cavities. To celebrate this pop culture milestone the nerds do a deep dive into all things Alien from original fan fiction, to unexpected conspiracy theories and obscure behind the scenes trivia. Hosted by Erin Harrington Featuring: Andrew Todd, Moata Tamaira, Scott Koorey, Ben Allan, and Jeff Clark

S05E01: International Women's Day Special

Wednesday 20 March 2019

Women. Non-men. We make up 51% of the population, and finally get an episode all to ourselves! It’s 2019 after all. Join us as the nerds celebrate all of women’s amazing historical and cultural achievements since the dawn of time til now, including all the stuff MEN DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT, by talking very very fast, which we’re very good at doing, apparently.

Featuring Karen Healey, Erin Harrington, Moata Tamaira, Emma Cusdin, and 2019 Billy T Award nominee Ray Shipley

s04e11: Champions Edition

Wednesday 9 January 2019

Nerd Degree Champions from episodes past go head to head to find the champion of champions. Featuring: Brendon Bennetts, Dan Bain. Emma Cusdin, Andrew Kepple, Jeff Clark, Erin Harrington, and Laura Borrowdale

S04E10: Famous Last Nerds

Wednesday 12 December 2018

The nerds celebrate (or commiserate) the end of the year with a look and endings and end times. Will the nerds get their happily ever after? Will it be the end of the nerd as we know it? And - most importantly - will there be a post-credits scene that sets up the next series? Hosted by Dr. Erin Harrington. Featuring: Moata Tamaira and Ray Shipley vs Jeff Clark and Shen Mansell

S04E09: Monsters!

Wednesday 7 November 2018

It’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dork… In NERD DEGREE: MONSTER MASH the nerds go on an undead excursion to the garden of ghoulish delights. They’ll be (grave)digging monstrous facts, tearing the guts out of much-loved horror classics, and seeing who lasts til dawn, all in the hope of taking home the greatest prize of all: their lives. Or maybe just their pride. Definitely one of them. Hosted by Dr Erin Harrington, who did her PhD on women in horror films, because that’s a thing.

Featuring: Karen Healey and Andrew Kepple vs Jeff Clark and Moata Tamaira

WORD Christchurch Festival Special: Adventures!

Saturday 29 September 2018

The Nerd Degree returns to WORD Christchurch to help end the festival with a laugh. Taking up the theme of adventure, comedian Brendon Bennetts invites four brave writers, Karen Healey, Erin Harrington, Nic Low and Jolisa Gracewood to test their wits and journey into a world of obscure facts and esoteric arguments in a quest to find the nerdiest wit and the wittiest nerd.

S04E07: Names and Nomenclature

Tuesday 7 August 2018

Join the nerds as they explore the world of nomenclature and all things name-related. They’ll be getting a handle on their handles, sorting their sobriquets from their pseudonyms, and probably getting their monikers in a twist. Hosted by Moata Tamaira Moderator: Jeff Clark Featuring: Erin Harrington & Karen Healey vs Todd Dixon & Brendon Bennetts

S04E06: 1968

Wednesday 11 July 2018

Age of Nerdquarius Hey, like, what’s happening man? Don’t bogart that mint condition Batgirl #1. It’s fifty years on from the rise of the counterculture, so the nerds are gonna smear on some patchouli, chuck on some Ravi Shankar, and take you on the ultimate trip down the pop culture rabbit hole. Groovy. Host: Erin Harrington, Moderator: Andrew Kepple Panel: Shen Mansell and Liv Mckenzie vs Moata Tamaira and Ray Shipley

S04E05: The Young and the Wrestlers

Tuesday 12 June 2018

Can you smell what the Nerd Degree is cooking? Lace up your boots, ready your gimmicks, and grab your tag-team partner - it’s time for us to lay the smackdown. Join us ringside and find out: what’s the difference between a swanton bomb and a senton bomb? What do neon lightbulbs, folding chairs, and sledgehammers have in common? And just how backyard can backyard wrestling get? Only one team will walk away with the gold. Hosted by Jennifer O'Sullivan Featuring: Jeff Clark and Moata Tamaira vs Karen Healey and Brendon Bennetts Special Guests: AK Sweet and a Masked Nerd

S0404: Cooking!

Wednesday 9 May 2018

Fee-fi-fo-fum, the time for nerds to cook has come! Since humans first realised that putting stuff on a fire made it taste better, we’ve tried to make food our mouths enjoy. Join our nerds on a culinary adventure as they explore the often delicious and occasionally terrifying world of cooking. Hosted by Brendon Bennetts and Karen Healey Featuring: Dan Bain and Laura Borrowdale vs Erin Harrington and Emma Cusdin

S04E03: Fads

Wednesday 11 April 2018

Put down your fidget spinners, hunt out your stirruped Adidas trackies and fire up the fondue pot – in this episode the nerds will be grappling with trends, crazes and fads. Why is the 80s so hot right now? What’s with those cold shoulder shirts? Is finesse a good or a bad thing? We honestly don’t know, but we can say that nerds are always in style!*

*Nerds may not always be in style – capitalise while you can.

Hosted by Erin Harrington and Moata Tamaira Featuring: Brendon Bennetts and Liv Mckenzie vs Andrew Kepple and Ben Allan

S04E02: Fights!

Wednesday 14 March 2018

Take off your glasses and roll up your sleeves as the nerds are faced with any nerd’s worst nightmare: fights. From gunfights to bunfights and barroom brawls to Dragon uppercuts (Hadouken!), it’s gonna be a bareknuckled-knockdown-drag-out-no-holds-barred slapfest, and the only rule is no eye gouging (this goes for you too, audience). No quarter will be given until we prove that contrary to what you may have heard, violence in fact solves everything. So angry up your blood and hit a piece of celery with a mallet in a recording studio; this is gonna get bloody. Hosted by Ben Allan and Brendon Bennetts Featuring: Jeff Clark and Aaron Jelley vs Ray Shipley and Emma Cusdin

S04E01: Pun and Games

Tuesday 13 February 2018

Christchurch 2017 Pun Battle Champion Jeff Clark (no withering comments, he already got a trophy) hosts a punderful show dealing with all things game: video games, board games, throne… games. Featuring: Javier Jarquin, Karen Healey, Brendon Bennetts, Moata Tamaira, and Trubie-Dylan Smith NOTE: We are changing back to once a month for episodes (but they will be longer)

S03E26: The New Adventures of Nerd Degree

Wednesday 24 January 2018

The New Adventures of the Nerd Degree we ring in the nerdly year with a highly novel celebration of the new and the new-ish. We’ll be pitting original series and much-loved canon against new generations and reboots, to ask: is there really such as a thing as a new idea? Hosted by Erin Harrington Featuring: Andrew Kepple and Matt Powell vs Jen O'Sullivan and Javier Jarquin

S03E25: 2017 in Review

Wednesday 10 January 2018

Nerd Degree: New! Yeah! Brendon Bennetts hosts 2017 In Review, in which our Nerds take a look back over the last year to investigate the highs, the lows, and the general weirdness that was 2017. Featuring: Javier Jarquin and Centuri Chan vs Jennifer O'Sullivan and Matt Powell

S03E24: Christmas. Special.

Saturday 23 December 2017

Holodeck the Halls. It is the Nerd Degree Christmas special! Things get very nerdy, and very christmasy. Hosted by Brendon Bennetts Featuring: Erin Harrington and Moata Tamaira vs Karen Healey and Jeff Clark

S03E23: Star Wars Special III

Wednesday 13 December 2017

Our Third Annual Star Wars Special! Recorded just a few hours before we all went to the midnight screening of The Last Jedi. Hosted by Brendon Bennetts Featuring: Andrew Kepple, Moata Tamaira, Centuri Chan, and Ben Allan

S03E22: Roles

Wednesday 22 November 2017

Join Brendon for an episode all about…roles. Also…rolls.

Featuring: Dan Bain and Kathleen Burns vs Moata Tamaira and Jeff Clark

S03E21: Rocks

Wednesday 8 November 2017

Ben Allan gets the nerds to tackle the exciting world of rocks. Yes, rocks! From just sitting there to lying motionless, rocks can do it all. Did you know our planet is mostly made of them? That’s the only rock fact we’ve got so far, but we’re sure we’ll find more.

Featuring: Karen Healey and Jared Corbin vs Dan Bain and Andrew Kepple (plus the musical stylings of Michael Bell)

The Blurred Degree: Part 2

Wednesday 25 October 2017

The party rages on for our three year anniversary show.

The Blurred Degree: Part 1

Wednesday 11 October 2017

To celebrate our three year anniversary we recorded a special episode that is both alcohol themed and alcohol fuelled. Enjoy responsibly.

S03E18:Festivals

Wednesday 27 September 2017

What’s your idea of a nerd festival? Something nice, like video game easter eggs or very special Christmas episodes? Or something nasty, like an airing of the spoiler grievances, or the crucifixion of a newbie? Join us for a very nerdy movable feast, as Erin Harrington guides you through the torching of ‘THE WICKER NERD’. Featuring: Ben Allan, Andrew Kepple, Centuri Chan, and Andrew Todd

S03E17: Arts

Wednesday 13 September 2017

Join Brendon Bennetts for ‘Defence Against the Daft Arts’. Whether it be fine arts, martial arts, arts and crafts, or even the art of the deal; our nerds will prove that comedy is more of an art than a science. Featuring: Ben Allan and Centuri Chan vs Andrew Todd and Andrew Kepple

S03E16: Barbarians

Sunday 27 August 2017

Lock up your daughters, valuables, and perishable foodstuffs, because the Nerds are opening up the gates to let the BARBARIANS in to help them answer a burning (village) question: what’s so great about civilisation, anyway? Grab your ridiculously large, probably-compensating-for-something sword, oil up your abs, and prepare your most culturally ignorant remarks; we’ll get to the bottom of this, by hook or by Crom.

Hosted by Ben Allan Featuring: Jeff Clark and Erin Harrington vs Andrew Todd and Brendon Bennetts

S03E15: Librarians

Thursday 10 August 2017

It’s a catalogue of errors (but maybe some right answers too), as the Nerds delve into the arcane mysteries of that most intimidating of professions, LIBRARIANS. Will they dewey decimate their enemies in the ultimate librarian bun fight or will they play it by the book and reach shelf awareness? Hosted by Moata Tamaira Featuring: Jeff Clark and Karen Healey vs Brendon Bennetts and Andrew Kepple

S03E14: Wonders

Thursday 27 July 2017

WONDERNERDS ARE GO Wonders of the world, Wonder Woman, Wonderland, even One Direction… our nerds’ minds will wander through them all. Join a wondrous whimsical once over of the wonderful wizardry of odd. Hosted by Jeff Clark Featuring: Centuri Chan and Andrew Todd vs Laura Borrowdale and Brendon Bennetts

S03E13: Medicine

Wednesday 12 July 2017

I’M NOT A DOCTOR BUT I PLAY ONE ON THE NERD DEGREE: Hi, everybody! Feeling under the weather? Suffering from an irony deficiency? The nerds have just the prescription: a trip through the pop culture medicine cabinet. First do no harm (but bad puns don’t count though, right?). Hosted by Dr. Erin Harrington Featuring: Ben Allan and Tara Swadi vs Laura Borrowdale and Henri Nelis

S03E12: Spaceships

Thursday 29 June 2017

Arm the proton/photon/plasma/transphasic torpedoes and stagger from side to side slightly as we celebrate that most quintessential of nerdly transportation methods, the spaceship. Can the nerds make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, or has the power coupling on their negative axis been polarised? (Not to worry; there’s a course of pills you can take). Join the nerds as they attempt to sort out Apollo’s Viper from Armstrong’s Apollo and the Enterprise from, er, all the other Enterprises.

Hosted by Ben Allan Featuring: Scott Koorey and Andrew Kepple vs Moata Tamaira and Brendon Bennetts

S03E11: Friends

Tuesday 13 June 2017

It’s mate against mate as the nerds debate whether Legolas would be prepared to help Gimli move house (mine?) and if Harry’s BFF was Ron or Hermione, or maybe the Sorting Hat. Will friends will be friends, as Freddie Mercury would have us believe, or are we going to end up with one of those complicated Professor X / Magneto situations? Only one team can win, but is it even possible to keep both a championship and a friendship? Surely you’d need some sort of marina. Hosted by Brendon Bennetts Featuring: Andrew Kepple and Moata Tamaira vs Henri Nelis and Centuri Chan

S03E10: Cake

Wednesday 24 May 2017

Marcel Proust’s madelines, or the Queen of Hearts’ jam tarts? Icing or frosting? Cake or death? This trip to the nerdy bakery is a wonderland of carbs, gluten, and culinary trickery. We’ll be catering for an ‘unexpected party’ and hankering for some of Sansa Stark’s lemon cakes, so even if you think it’s all a croq(uembouche) we’ll have something tasty for you.

Hosted by Erin Harrington Featuring: Tara Swadi and Ben Allan vs Moata Tamaira and Jeff Clark

S03E09: Lies

Tuesday 9 May 2017

This episode is all about lies. Or is it? (It is)

Hosted by Brendon Bennetts Featuring: Moata Tamaira and Ben Allan vs Jeff Clark and Scott Koorey

S03E08: A Pizza The Action

Tuesday 25 April 2017

Andrew Todd serves up an episode all about pizza, any way you slice it, it’s gonna be fascinating.

Featuring: Henri Nelis and Tara Swadi vs Erin Harrington and Jeff Clark

S03E07: Cats

Wednesday 12 April 2017

In this episode, Brendon Bennetts will lie in a patch of sunlight until the panellists either pat his tummy, or answers his questions about the history and cultural significance of cats.

Featuring: Karen Healey and Henri Nelis vs Ben Allan and Andrew Kepple

S03E06: Time Travel

Monday 20 March 2017

What year is it?! Who’s the president?! (…Wait, really? Goddamn.) Then I’m not too late. I’ve returned from the dystopian future with a warning; the Nerd Degree episode on time travel on March the 1st, 2017 was the beginning of the end for human civilisation. But it’s not too late! I need you to monitor Andrew Todd, Erin Harrington vs Jeff Clark, Moata Tamaira and ensure that The Event never occurs. You’ll know it when you see it. Hosted by Ben Allan.

S03E05: Fairy Tales

Wednesday 8 March 2017

Once Upon a Time, in a studio far, far away (well, Ferrymead), four little nerds were tempted by the big bad quiz show host to stray from the path of common knowledge into the strange and frightening world of trivia. Will they be eaten alive, or find a question that is just right?

Hosted by Brendon Bennetts Featuring: Andrew Kepple and Andrew Todd vs Karen Healey and Erin Harrington

S03E04: Brains Ajar

Wednesday 22 February 2017

Minds are our business in THE NERD DEGREE: BRAINS AJAR, an odyssey into what goes on inside your skulls and ours. Join us as we tease, rack, pick, and probably ultimately fry our brains through forcing them to think about themselves. Mind. Blown.

Hosted by Andrew Todd Featuring: Andrew Kepple and Jeff Clark vs Brendon Bennetts and Moata Tamaira

S03E03: Heart of Dorkness

Saturday 11 February 2017

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single nerd in possession of a good stash of limited edition collectibles, must be in want of a quality comedy podcast. In this warm and fuzzy romantic episode the nerds will slash their way through bromances, pash their way through rom coms, and smash their way through the greatest love stories of our time to find out who will say “I love you”, and who will reply, “I know”. Featuring: Erin Harrington, Brendon Bennetts, Rosie Cann, Karen Healey, and Moata Tamaira

S03E02: 2017 in Preview

Wednesday 25 January 2017

In this episode the nerds finish reviewing 2016 and begin to look ahead to what the future holds. Including the 2016 Fan Fiction Challenge, and a thorough analysis of the possibility of The Running Man coming true. Hosted by Brendon Bennetts Featuring: Karen Healey, Javier Jarquin, Jeff Clark, and Andrew Todd

S03E01: 2016 in Review

Wednesday 11 January 2017

2016: a phenomenal success or Worst. Year. Ever? Our nerds look at the highs, lows, wins, losses, Civil Wars and Stranger Things that have happened in pop culture and the real world over the past twelve months. Who won? Who lost? Our nerds battle it out to have the last word on the last year. One thing’s for sure, though: no-one is allowed to play the Trump card.

Hosted by Brendon Bennetts Featuring: Karen Healey, Ben Allan, Dan Bain, and Javier Jarquin

S02E20: Stars at War

Wednesday 28 December 2016

In our traditional follow up to our Star Wars special, we examine STARS and WARS, but never STAR WARS.

Featuring: Brendon Bennetts, Andrew Kepple, Henri Nelis, Laura Borrowdale, Dan Bain, and Karen Healey

S02E19: Star Wars Special II

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Do or do not. There is no try. So no pressure there for the nerds to answer all of our mind melting questions about the Star Wars universe. Who can tell their Bith from their Bothans, their Rodians from their Rancors, and their Gungans from their Gundarks (this is a crucial distinction), their Wampas from their Womp Rats, their Mandalorians from their Midichlorians.

Featuring: Brendon Bennetts, Ben Allan, Moata Tamaira, Jennifer O'Sullivan, Jeff Clark, and Centuri Chan

S02E18: Bite Night

Thursday 24 November 2016

Vampires! Whether you like them creepy and crawly or gorgeous and sparkly, soulless killing machines or tortured wanderers of the night, we’ve got the Nerd Degree for you. Sharpen your stakes as renowned vampire defender Karen Healey leads the nerds through the seductive realm of all things bloodsucker.

Featuring: Moata Tamaira, Brendon Bennetts, Andrew Todd, Laura Borrowdale, and Scott Koorey

S02E17: Destination Unknown

Wednesday 9 November 2016

In this geography-themed episode the worldly nerds will grab their passports and ask: where be dragons? They may be some latitude given in terms of their answers but whether they’re climbing the Mountains of Madness, plumbing the depths of The Abyss or galloping across the Dothraki Sea, the nerds are Ghana have a good time.

Featuring: Erin Harrington, Ben Allan, Jeff Clark, Emma Cusdin, and Dan Bain

S02E16: The Texas Brain Saw Massacre

Wednesday 26 October 2016

Do you have the guts to face your greatest fears? Can you handle the terror of four nerds bent on scaring up laughs from history’s most frightening pop culture? Do you cower at the dreadful thought of horror trivia too obscure to even comprehend? The Nerd Degree will not be liable for fainting, seizures, or death caused by this show. Audience discretion advised! Featuring: Andrew Todd, Emma Cusdin, Erin Harrington, Andrew Kepple, Jeff Clark, and Ben Allan

S02E15: THAT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM

Thursday 13 October 2016

Join the nerds as they become tomb raiders (of the lost ark) in an unsanctioned delve into all things archaeological. Can they escape deadly traps, treacherous guides, and pesky official government regulations about who actually owns the valuable antiquities of a sovereign nation to emerge with the fabled Golden Ankh of Comedic Respectability? Is it even possible to recover an ancient treasure without gunning down more people than Liam Neeson? And what’s this tiger been eating down here this whole time, anyway? Finally, all of the fedora action you crave with none of the latterly-associated rubbish MRA stuff. Featuring: Ben Allan, Karen Healey, Andrew Kepple, Erin Harrington, and Jeff Clark

S02E14: Prime Detective

Wednesday 28 September 2016

The questions will be far from elementary for our Nerds who must use their little grey cells to piece together the fiendish clues host Laura Borrowdale has prepared for them. Tune in to find out which of these criminally underrated masterminds will prove they are the true detective. Featuring: Andrew Kepple, Ben Allan, Brendon Bennetts, Andrew Todd, and Erin Harrington

S02E13: Animated Discussions

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Host Jeff Clark comes out of his cell to look at the world of animation - discussing everything from Anime to Animaniacs; My Little Pony to Bojack Horseman; or even that obscure cartoon show “The Simpsons”. These nerds will need to be quick on the draw - you’ll get Disney spells with all of their sketchy details!

Featuring: Erin Harrington, Ben Allan, Andrew Kepple, Andrew Todd, and Justin White

Live from WORDchch: Life and Death

Friday 9 September 2016

A special bonus episode recorded at the WORD Christchurch Writers & Readers Festival. It’s about life and death (but mostly death). Featuring your host Brendon Bennetts, YA author Karen Healey, alternative mortician Caitlin Doughty, director Andrew Todd, and ITV science correspondent Alok Jha.

S02E12: DULY NOTED

Friday 26 August 2016

From the Four Seasons to One Direction, from Bach to the future, hear two bands of nerds sound off, and find out who gets the fanfare of triumph and who goes home feeling crotchety.

Featuring: Matt Powell, Jeff Clark, Katie Cowan, Brendon Bennetts, Jennifer O'Sullivan, Ben Allan, and the music talents of Michael Bell

S02E11: Teen Girl Squad

Wednesday 10 August 2016

Jennifer O'Sullivan just wants to have fun as she chaperones the nerds through the mystery of the Surfer Ghost, Karen’s disturbingly encyclopedic knowledge of teen girl movies, and the electoral showdown between Katniss Everdeen and Joan of Arc.

Featuring: Karen Healey, Laura Borrowdale, Matt Powell, Emma Cusdin, and Ben Allan

S02E10: There and Back Again

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Ben Allan leads the Nerds on a journey to the very limits of their knowledge. Find out how far Frodo really travelled, meet the most impressively named polar explorers, and prepare for the ultimate Mars expedition.

Featuring: Andrew Todd, Wiremu Tuhiwai, Laura Borrowdale, and Henri Nelis

S02E09: Final Frontiers

Wednesday 13 July 2016

Andrew Todd hosts our celebration of 50 years of Star Trek. Our nerds debate the relative merits of the Borg versus the Klingons, speculate as to why Bones was such a dick, and bring a five year old’s Picard fan fiction to life.

Featuring: Henri Nelis, Wiremu Tuhiwai, Karen Healey, and Ben Allan

S02E08: The Little Things

Wednesday 22 June 2016

In this episode the nerds take time to appreciate the little things in life: arguing about sky prawns, the smurfs, and what MODOK really stands for.

Featuring: Jeff Clark, Erin Harrington, Ben Allan, Dan Bain, and Andrew Kepple

Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic.

S02E07: Big Ideas

Wednesday 8 June 2016

This episode of Nerd Degree is all about size, as we discuss: Godzilla in a bikini, the big sperm paradox, how to kill a dog with time travel, and who would win between King Kong and the BFG.

Featuring: Brendon Bennetts, Jeff Clark, Katie Cowan, Dan Bain, Scott Koorey, and Erin Harrington

S02E06: A Series of NOOBS

Wednesday 25 May 2016

In this internet themed episode, our panel of experts speed down the information superhighway, miss the information super turnoff, and end up driving all the way to information super-Ashburton.

Featuring: Brendon Bennetts, Andrew Kepple, Erin Harrington, Kathleen Burns, Andrew Todd, and Ben Allan

Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic.

S02E05: May I AI?

Tuesday 10 May 2016

In this episode Brendon challenges our nerds to use all their artifice and intelligence, to explain what is going on with artificial intelligence. Featuring: Erin Harrington, Andrew Todd, Kathleen Burns, Ben Allan, and Andrew Kepple. Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic.

S02E04: COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

Wednesday 27 April 2016

In this episode Karen Healey challenges the nerds to decode fan fiction tags, discover the origin of feels, and debate the benefits of telepathy. Featuring: Erin Harrington, Laura Borrowdale, Ben Allan, and Brendon Bennetts

S02E03: FLIGHT CLUB

Wednesday 13 April 2016

With a spate of movies pitting heroes against one another, Jeff Clark asks the teams: why can’t all the superheroes just get along? Featuring: Brendon Bennetts, Erin Harrington, Ben Allan, and Laura Borrowdale.

Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic.

THE NERD DEGREE: BUCCANEER UP YOUR IDEAS

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Splice your mainbrace, shiver your timbers and suck a lime to stave off scurvy as the Nerd Degree broadsides easily the most popular category of murderers among small children: pirates. Which team will plunder a king’s ransom in Spanish gold, which team will be detained at His Majesty’s pleasure until they dance the hemp jig at Execution Dock, and what does a bo’sun even do, anyway? We know of a one-eyed man in Tortuga with a mysterious map who may have the answers you seek… Featuring: Ben Allan, Katie Cowan, Andrew Todd, Centuri Chan, and Jeff Clark

S02E01: Waiter waiter, there's a nerd in my soup!

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Jiminy Cricket! This episode looks at all things creepy crawly, from the microscopic to the world-destroying, all delivered in a breathy, Attenborough whisper. The Nerd Degree: lifting 5000 times its own weight since whenever ago. Featuring: Erin Harrington, Dan Bain, Henri Nelis, Brendon Bennetts, Laura Borrowdale, and Katie Cowan

NZ Skeptics Special: Apocalypse How?

Monday 4 January 2016

Jeff Clark took the Nerd Degree gang to the 2015 NZ Skeptics conference. The theme was The Apocalypse, and for some reason they weren’t willing to take some of our more outrageous claims at face value, but it turned out that wasn’t the end of the world.

Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic.

Episode 25: Stars and/or Wars

Friday 25 December 2015

In this episode, host Brendon Bennetts studiously avoids anything related to that popular movie about space violence. Instead this episode deals with questions relation to stars, and questions relating to wars, but never BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic.

Episode 24: STAR WARS SPECIAL

Wednesday 9 December 2015

It is a period of civil war. Nerdy comedians, striking from a hidden base (well, a couple of desks with microphones), have answered their first questions posed by their evil host: Brendon Bennetts. Yup, it’s STAR WARS time. All STAR WARS, all the time. STAR WARS STAR WARS STAR WARS.

Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic.

Episode 23: Beastmasters

Thursday 3 December 2015

From radioactive spiders to damn dirty apes, nerd culture is a sprawling petting zoo of animal antics. Join Andrew Todd and the Nerd Degree pack, as we examine the killer and cuddly sides of the geek bestiary. Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic.

Episode 22: November Reign

Saturday 28 November 2015

Who rules in Nerd Culture? Guided by Jeff Clark, our panellists consider a range of candidates to decide the supreme Emperor/Khaleesi/Overlord – and whether they’ll use PC or Mac Theme music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic

Episode 21: Dude, Where's My Flying Car?

Friday 6 November 2015

The world of tomorrow is calling! (Will you accept the charges?) This episode, the nerds (featuring special guest Ned the Nerdbot) venture into an exciting future filled with killer A.I., Martian butterflies, and Kevin Costner.

Episode 20: Big Sports Match Game

Friday 30 October 2015

Host Ben Allan leads the teams onto the field to see which team ultimately has what it takes to take out this year’s League Cup Premiership, and tackles the nerd sports pantheon from Ground Quidditch to Battlemech Duelling. Centuri Chan and Henri Nelis vs Scott Koorey and Karen Healey. Announcer: Cameron McLeod.

Episode 19: Rivals (NZIF Special)

Friday 16 October 2015

In our New Zealand Improv Festival special episode, Brendon Bennetts challenges improvisers from Melbourne and Wellington to resolve some of the classic rivalries from science and pop culture. Featuring: Jen O’Sullivan, Dianne Pulham, Rik Brown vs. Jason Geary, Matt Powell, April Seymore

Episode 18: Symbolic Gestures

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Host Brendon Bennetts challenges the nerds to deal with stories in different languages. From Shakespeare in its original Klingon to International Maritime Signal Flags Erotica

Centuri Chan and Ben Allan vs Erin Harrington and Karen Healey Announcer: Henri Nelis

Episode 17: Name Games

Monday 21 September 2015

Host Brendon Bennetts introduces the nerds to big names like Scarbrous Scrotus, Manmeet Colon, Infinite Grover, and Arthurdactylus Conandoylei.

Ben Allan and Karen Healey vs Jeff Clark and Henri Nelis

Announcer: Erin Harrington

Episode 16: Mything Persons

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Karen Healey and the nerds go where angels fear to tread, into the underworld of humanity’s origin stories, where heroes smash skulls and gods are forever on the prowl. It’s the Myths and Legends episode!

Host: Karen Erin and Jeff vs Cen and Brendon Voice: Andrew

Episode 15: Electoral Dysfunction

Wednesday 12 August 2015

The Soylent Green Party (Brendon Bennetts and Henri Nelis) and the Knights Of The Old Republican Party (Ben Allan and Erin Harrington) debate all the tough issues, from coal-mine monsters to North Korean cartoons to youth death arenas. Moderated by Andrew Todd, with analysis by Karen Healey.

Episode 14: Ghost Protocol

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Brendon Bennetts is haunted by ECTO-1 (Jeff Clark and Karen Healey), The Mystery Machine (Matt Powell and Grain of Truth host David Innes), and Cusdin the Friendly Ghost.

(Sorry this episode is up late: Matt vanished and nobody else could solve the mystery of how to upload the file. Turns out Old Man Withers stole the password. Also sorry about the previously-missing final 17 minutes or so of this episode. Hopefully everything is fixed now.)

Episode 13: Humerus Edition

Monday 22 June 2015

Team Spleen (Jeff and Cen) face off against Team Bad Blood (Brendon and Jen) under the watchful eye of Dr Erin Harrington and right-hand man Ben Allan, and explore a body of knowledge while trying not to make dicks of themselves.

Episode 12: Goodness Cretaceous Me

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Journey back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth and 6-year-old you gazed at them in wonder. Ben Allan hosts the Thag Simmons Institute for Empirical Research (Matt Powell and Jen O'Sullivan) and the KT Extinction (Scott Koorey and Andrew Todd).

Episode 11: Family Values

Monday 1 June 2015

Family is everything. Host: Andrew Todd House Tanner (Derek Flores, Brendon Bennets, and Karen Healey) versus House Cunningham (Kav P, Dan Bain, and Ben Allan) Announcer: Jeff Clark

Episode 10: Mock Heroics

Wednesday 6 May 2015

Bam! Pow! Ba-throom!

Jeff Clark assembles two teams of Earth’s mightiest heroes: The New Worriers (Dan Bain, Brendon Bennetts, and Karen Healey) versus The Social Justice League (Kav P, Matt Powell, and Derek Flores).

Episode 9: Monster Grill

Tuesday 21 April 2015

Erin and the nerds take on the world of monsters. Team Jekyll (Centuri Chan, Jeff Clark, and Karen Healey) versus Team Hyde (Wiremu “Woody” Tuhiwai, Matt Powell, and Ben Allan) with Brendon Bennetts under the bed.

Episode 8: Fools

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Brendon Bennetts takes the teams through all things foolish. Featuring Team Hawk (Woody Tuhiwai, Ben Allan, and Karen Healey) versus Team Handsaw (Matt Powell, Jeff Clark, and Centuri Chan) with Erin Harrington in the box.

Episode 7: The March Of Progress

Monday 23 March 2015

Guest host Matt Powell, with the help of the severed head of Ben Allan in a jar, takes the nerds through the world of science and science fiction. Featuring Team Live Cat (Jeff Clark, Erin Harrington, Andrew Todd) and Team Dead Cat (Centuri Chan, Derek Flores, and Brendon Bennetts).

Episode 6: March Madness

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Guest hosts Ben Allan and Igor explore the mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Featuring teams from Miskatonic University (Brendon Bennetts, Erin Harrington, and Andrew Todd) and the Kuato Wellness Centre (Centuri Chan, Derek Flores, and Jeff Clark)

Episode 5: Is Alive!

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Episode 5 Is Alive! Toys For Bots (Dan Bain, Jeff Clark, and Centuri Chan) versus Doctors Without Borders Between Realities (Karen Healey, Ben Allan and Scott Koorey). When will the machines finally take over, and will there be anything left?

Episode 4: A Nerd Hope

Wednesday 7 January 2015

Episode 4 of The Nerd Degree takes on time travel, as The Cyberdyne Army (Erin Harrington, Andrew Todd, and Karen Healey) take on The Emmett L Brown Orphanage and Juvenile Correctional Facility (Matt Powell, Derek Flores, and Jennifer O'Sullivan).

Intro music: “Another beek beep beer please” by Rolemusic

Nerd Degree Holiday Special

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Brendon Bennets sits down with Andrew Todd, Matt Powell, Jeff Clark, and newcomer Karen Healey to go over some nerdly highs and lows of 2014.

Episode 3: Dork Of The Moon

Wednesday 3 December 2014

Our third episode introduces some new players, with Jeff Clark, Scott Koorey, and Centuri Chan playing for the Terminator Salvation Army, and Henri Nelis, Erin Harrington, and Derek Flores playing for the McCallister Foundation. Find out what everyone thinks of the new Star Wars trailer, and learn some valuable parenting tips.

Episode 2: Great Balls Of Fire

Wednesday 5 November 2014

Our second episode, where we discuss celebrity paradoxes, green-skinned love, and chaos. This month: Brendon Bennetts pits Matt Powell, Erin Harrington, and Jeff Clark (playing for the Krueger Foundation) against Centuri Chan, Andrew Todd, and Ben Allan (playing for Once Were Warriors).

Episode 1: Great White Privilege

Wednesday 1 October 2014

Welcome to The Nerd Degree, a brand new panel show recorded live at Orange Studio in Christchurch, New Zealand. This month: Brendon Bennetts hosts Erin Harrington, Ben Allan, and Jeff Clark against Andrew Todd, Centuri Chan, and Matt Powell.