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Send us Fan Mail Tonight, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of our usual format, Geoffrey flips the script and puts Zig in the hot seat for a special Nerdery episode. With the release of his book, Firesign: An Elvish War Chronicle, Zig walks us through the origins of the story, the world behind it, and what it took to bring it to life. From inspiration and worldbuilding to the highs and lows of actually finishing a book, this is a deeper look at the creative side of something that’s been a long time coming. If you’ve ever heard Zig go all-in on a topic… this is that energy, turned into an entire world. A different kind of episode but one we think you’ll enjoy. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Some weeks are about discovery. Others are about reckoning. In this episode of Nerdery & Murdery, Zig kicks things off in the Nerdery by stepping through the gate and into Stargate SG-1, exploring what made the series such a lasting cornerstone of science fiction television and why it still resonates with fans decades later. Then, in the Murdery, we continue our A–Z journey across America’s serial killers with Arkansas. This week’s case is Charles Ray Hatcher — a story not defined by spectacle or immediate fear, but by silence, hesitation, and missed connections. Over the course of years, multiple women died under circumstances that raised questions but failed to trigger urgency. It wasn’t until one woman survived that the pattern could no longer be ignored. This episode isn’t about shock value. It’s about recognition. About who gets seen, who gets overlooked, and how long it can take for truth to surface when cases are allowed to stand alone. Two very different conversations. One unforgettable episode. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Not all stories unfold quickly. Some take decades to reveal themselves. This week on Nerdery & Murdery, the Nerdery leads off as Zig explores The Man in the High Castle, diving into both the original novel by Philip K. Dick and the television adaptation. From alternate history to moral ambiguity, Zig breaks down what makes this story unsettling, thought-provoking, and still relevant. On the Murdery side, we return to our A–Z journey across America’s serial killers with Arizona, focusing on the case of Bryan Patrick Miller, known as the Canal Killer. Two murders in the early 1990s, decades of silence, and a case that went cold not because it was forgotten, but because the science needed to solve it didn’t yet exist. This episode examines time, evidence, and what justice looks like when it arrives years too late. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another week of the highs and the lows, the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, and the Nerd and the Murd. This week on Nerdery & Murdery, the Nerdery leads off as Zig dives into the origins of one of science fiction’s most enduring franchises, covering Planet of the Apes and Beneath the Planet of the Apes. From Cold War anxieties to bold social commentary, Zig explores how these films reshaped sci-fi storytelling and left a legacy that still resonates today. On the Murdery side, we take a different approach with a paired episode examining the deaths of Tamla Horsford and Shanquella Robinson. These are two separate cases, years apart and in different locations, but they share troubling similarities in how quickly explanations were offered and how many questions were left behind. This episode isn’t about speculation or assigning guilt. It’s about process, transparency, and why some cases continue to surface long after they are officially closed. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Nerdery and Murdery! This week, on the Nerdery side of the house, Zig saddles up for Part Two of his Country and Western deep dive, affectionately titled “We Got BOTH Kinds: Country AND Western.” Zig continues exploring the music, the culture, and the stories that shaped an American sound. Then Geoffrey steps away from the A–Z of American Serial Killers for just one episode to bring you a dark and twisting case that defies expectations. What begins as a mysterious murder unfolds into something far more layered, unsettling, and stranger than it first appears. This is not a passive listen. Details matter. Threads overlap. And nothing is quite what it seems. You might even want to take notes. Two very different journeys. One unforgettable episode. Welcome to Episode 242. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another week of the highs and the lows, the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, and the Nerd and the Murd. This week on Nerdery & Murdery, the Nerdery comes first as Zig kicks off Part 1 of Country and Western music, perfectly summed up with the line: “We got BOTH kinds: Country AND Western.” From early roots to defining sounds, this is the start of a deep dive into the music that shaped generations. On the Murdery side, we continue our A–Z journey across America’s serial killers, moving from Alaska to Alabama. This episode examines the case of Joseph Paul Franklin, an ideologically driven serial killer whose crimes spanned multiple states. Rather than focusing on where his story ended, we look at where it began, and how early acts of violence, treated as isolated and random, allowed something far more dangerous to grow unnoticed. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Nerdery and Murdery! This week, on the Nerdery side of the house, Zig continues his chronological journey through the Star Wars universe with a deep dive into Rogue One. He explores the rebellion, the sacrifice, the storytelling choices, and why this film stands as one of the most grounded and emotional entries in the entire saga. Then Geoffrey takes us north - far north - to Alaska for the next installment in the Murdery side of the A–Z of American Serial Killers and Unsolved Cases. This time, it is The Pipeline Murders: a chilling cluster of disappearances and homicides that unfolded during the Trans-Alaska Pipeline boom of the 1970s. Women vanished. Bodies appeared in remote places. Multiple killers may have been at work. And through it all, the wilderness swallowed the answers. Two worlds. One episode. Welcome to Episode 240 - where rebellion meets the cold silence of the Last Frontier. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Nerdery and Murdery! This week, on the Nerdery side of the house, Zig fires up the squad car and takes us on a wild ride through four of the greatest Buddy Cop movies ever made. Explosions, banter, reluctant partnerships, and that perfect blend of chaos and camaraderie that defined an entire generation of action films. These movies did not just entertain us. They helped shape modern action cinema, and Zig is here to break down why they still hit so hard. Then Geoffrey kicks off a brand-new Murdery series: The A–Z of American Serial Killers, starting in Alabama with the chilling case of Daniel Lee Siebert, a man who hid in plain sight while leaving a trail of devastation across multiple states. Siebert was not loud. He was not flamboyant. He slipped through life quietly, reshaping himself with aliases and drifting from job to job… until the murders in Tuscaloosa exposed the monster behind the mask. Geoffrey breaks down the crimes, the manhunt, the trial, and the unsettling ways Siebert exploited cracks in 1980s law enforcement systems. Two worlds. One episode. Welcome to Episode 239 where high octane action meets the darkest shadows. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week on Nerdery & Murdery, we move between two worlds shaped by belief. Zig opens the show with a deep dive into Impressionism, the art movement that shattered convention and changed how the world understands light, color, and emotion. These artists did not just paint what they saw. They painted what it felt like to be alive inside a moment. Then Geoffrey brings the Murdery with one of the most disturbing cult cases in modern history. Superior Universal Alignment, the group behind the Altamira child murders in Brazil. A story of manipulation, spiritual obsession, and how ideology can be used to justify the unthinkable. One side of this episode shows how creativity can free the human spirit. The other shows how belief, when twisted, can destroy it. This is Nerdery & Murdery at its most powerful. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week on Nerdery and Murdery, we explore storytelling through style, symmetry, and tragedy. In the Nerdery segment, Zig dives into the unique cinematic world of Wes Anderson. From meticulously framed visuals to deadpan humor and emotionally layered characters, we discuss what defines his films and why his distinct style continues to resonate with audiences. In the Murdery segment, Geoffrey covers The Murder of Gizzell Ford, a heartbreaking and disturbing case involving manipulation, exploitation, and devastating loss. It is a story that forces difficult conversations about trust, abuse, and the warning signs that are often missed. Two very different forms of storytelling. One powerful episode. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week on Nerdery and Murdery, we take a sharp turn into the strange, the unsettling, and the unexpectedly human. On the Nerdery side, Zig continues the Doctor Who journey with The 13th Doctor, portrayed by Jodie Whittaker breaking new ground for the Doctor and sparking plenty of debate along the way. What worked, what didn’t, and why this era still matters. Then on the Murdery side, Geoffrey counts down his Top Ten Weird or Strange Murders. Cases so bizarre they sound fictional…but absolutely aren’t. From decapitation love triangles and killer clowns to cannibalism by consent, locked-room hotel deaths, ritual panic, and Cold War assassinations, this list goes far beyond the usual true-crime fare. Inspired by a tip from Mike Shanks of 2 Geeks and a Microphone, this episode dives headfirst into the rabbit hole examining not just the crimes, but the unsettling circumstances that make them linger in your mind. Dark. Strange. Thought-provoking.  Let’s get weird.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Every week, we walk the line between imagination and reality, and this episode is no exception. On Nerdery and Murdery, Zig takes us deep into some of the most fascinating and lesser-explored corners of the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse. From the rich eastern-inspired setting of Kara-Tur, to the desert fantasy of Al-Qadim, the jungle-filled lands of Maztica, and the mysterious continent of Anchorome, we explore how these worlds expanded D&D beyond traditional medieval fantasy and why they still matter today. In the Murdery segment, Geoffrey covers The Lin Family Murder, a disturbing and tragic case that left a community shaken and raised haunting questions about violence, motive, and loss. As always, the story is approached with care and respect for those affected. Different worlds. Dark truths. One unforgettable episode. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another week of the highs and the lows, the good and the bad, and the Nerd and the Murd. This week on Nerdery and Murdery, Zig explores the darker side of music with a deep dive into gothy-ish, doom-metally, darkwave-inspired sounds. From brooding atmospheres to heavy emotional weight, we talk about what defines these genres, why they resonate with so many listeners, and how darkness in music can be just as expressive as light. Then in the Murdery segment, Geoffrey covers the chilling story of Mary Ann Cotton, one of history’s earliest and most disturbing serial poisoners. It is a case rooted in deception, tragedy, and the slow unraveling of a horrifying pattern, told with care and historical context. Moody music. Dark history. One unforgettable episode. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another week of the highs and the lows, the good and the bad, and the Nerd and the Murd. This week on Nerdery and Murdery, we’re joined by our good friend Keith, back on the show as a special guest. In the Nerdery segment, Zig dives into the classic board game Axis and Allies, exploring why this decades-old strategy game still holds such a strong place in tabletop gaming history. From global tactics to long game planning, it is a deep look at what makes the game endure. Then in the Murdery segment, Geoffrey covers the murder of Nicole Porcello, a heartbreaking case that raises difficult questions and leaves a lasting impact. As always, we approach the story with care, respect, and a focus on understanding what happened. Two very different stories. One unforgettable episode. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Nerdery and Murdery. We are happy you are here for another week of stories that bring the highs and the lows, the light and the dark, and a little something for everyone. On the Nerdery, Zig steps into a world of armor, craftsmanship, and imagination with a look at the Society for Creative Anachronism. From medieval reenactment to historical study to full contact combat, the SCA builds an entire community around exploring the Middle Ages as they should have been. It is a celebration of creativity, skill, and fellowship that continues to grow around the world. Then Geoffrey takes over the Murdery with the haunting disappearance of Zachary Bernhardt. A young boy vanished from his Clearwater home in the middle of the night, leaving behind a tangle of theories and a case that still troubles investigators and the community to this day. Settle in and enjoy another week of the Nerd and the Murd. Support the show