Rum & Nerdy

 It’s our Halloween episode, and Kim Gromoll joins Greg and Garrick for a spirited trip through Halloween memories, old stories, and the kind of nostalgia that gets better with every retelling. We’re sipping Johnny Depp’s Three Hearts rum, because apparently even the rum needs a backstory.

Kim also shows up bearing gifts: a new Wicket the Ewok for Greg and a zombie football figure for Garrick, inspired by the legendary Ice Bowl in Green Bay. Naturally, we take a moment to admire the loot—and let the stories wander.

Check out Kim’s work on h...

Episode 6.39: Football, Floats, and Fall TV: We’re about a third of the way through the NFL regular season, so naturally Greg and Garrick have some football thoughts. Whether those thoughts are insightful, questionable, or just an excuse to talk about the Chiefs remains to be seen.

Then it’s time to wrap up last week’s adventures at SATE and Explores, talk about our Podfest application, and catch up on the new fall TV season. What’s worth watching? What’s worth skipping? And how much television can two nerds realistically keep up with before their brains tur...

Episode 6.38: SATE North America 2026

Laissez les nerdy temps rouler!

It's the morning of Day 2 at SATE North America 2026 in New Orleans, and what a week it's been!

With one final day of Storytelling, Architecture, Technology, and Experience ahead, we're taking a moment to catch up with friends, reflect on the highlights so far, and enjoy a little New Orleans hospitality.

Special guests stop by to say hello, share their favorite moments and memories from the conference, and offer their thoughts on an incredible gathering of creative minds.

...

Episode 6.37 — Zero Prep, Questionable Direction

Greg and Garrick are flying without a flight plan this week. Shocking, we know. The boys talk about next week’s SATE conference, throwing their hats into the ring for Podfest 2027, and the fascinating world of podcast download metrics — including where, exactly, people are listening to two guys talk about nerdy stuff and rum.

They also get into authenticity, finding your voice, and having enough confidence on the mic to stop second-guessing every word. Greg contemplates life after serving on a TEA board, which apparently involves figuring out what to do wit...

Episode 6.36: Strange New Worlds, Strange Old Nerds: It’s time to wrap up Season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and naturally Greg and Garrick have thoughts. Lots of them. The guys also wander through the latest movie and TV news, talk about a few documentaries that have caught their attention, and take a look at the return of the fall network TV season—because apparently people still watch television on a schedule.

And as the episode draws to a close, the boys take a moment to prepare for the inevitable rise of our AI over...

Episode 6.35 — Level 99

It’s another Rum & Nerdy adventure, and this time Greg and Garrick are leveling up!

Fresh off a TEA event at Disney Springs, the guys dive into Level 99, the new immersive gaming attraction where competition, creativity, and just a little bit of chaos collide. Greg had already gotten a taste of Level 99 a few weeks earlier at the Virginia location, so naturally, the two compare notes, talk about some of their favorite games, and discuss why they both had such a ridiculously good time.

Then it’s time t...

Episode 6.34 - We the Nerds: This week Greg and Garrick are on the road, recording from Williamsburg, Virginia at the TEA Explores Williamsburg event.

After a full first day exploring Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, apparently Greg and Garrick are feeling a little patriotic. So naturally, the Preamble to the United States Constitution becomes the theme of the show. Because nothing says "We the People" quite like two guys drinking rum and talking about nerdy stuff.

We are also joined by a couple of special guests who came prepared with two...

Episode 6.33: Roll Out: Roll out! This week, Kelly joins us as a special guest as we pay tribute to the legendary Peter Cullen, the unmistakable voice of Optimus Prime, and talk about the impact Transformers had on all of us growing up.

From there, things go exactly where you’d expect a Rum & Nerdy conversation to go. We talk a little TEA, somehow get into feeding Garrick’s daughter’s pet snake, and crack open Johnny Depp’s new Three Hearts Rum. Our review: great rum, possibly an even better bottle.

Kelly and Greg reminisce about gr...

Episode 6.32: Replaced by Muppets: This week, we start with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4, Episode 5, where almost the entire crew gets replaced by puppet versions of themselves. Except Spock, because apparently even the Muppets have rules.

That somehow takes us all the way back to the original Star Trek pilot and how those characters and stories connect to Strange New Worlds. From there, puppets naturally lead to Muppets, as we work our way through the various Muppet movies, their casts, and the many different versions of the show over the years.

Eventually we wander...

Episode 6.31: Conspiracy Update: This week, Greg and Garrick put on their tinfoil hats and head down a few rabbit holes with a Conspiracy Update.

The guys dig into some favorite conspiracy theories, questionable evidence, things that make you go “hmmm,” and even make the potentially terrible decision to let ChatGPT contribute a conspiracy theory of its own. What could possibly go wrong?

We also take a break from connecting imaginary dots to celebrate Dave’s birthday, because apparently birthdays are becoming a recurring segment around here.

And...

Episode 6.30: The Odyssey:  This week, the guys dive headfirst into one of the most anticipated movies in years: The Odyssey. Greg and Garrick share their thoughts on the film, the performances, the spectacle, and whether this epic retelling lives up to the legend.

Joining the conversation is special guest (and longtime friend) Andy, who helps keep the discussion just barely on course as the guys enjoy a pour of Bumbu Rum.

Naturally, the conversation doesn't stay on one topic for long. The guys somehow end up debating which entertainment f...

Episode 6.29: KoHana - This week, Greg is back from Hawaii after celebrating his 10th anniversary, attending his sister’s wedding, and doing all the usual tropical vacation things. But let’s be honest—the real reason we’re here is rum.

Greg tells Garrick all about his visit to the KoHana Hawaiian Agricole Rum Company in Kunia on the island of Oahu, where he learned how Hawaiian sugar cane is grown, harvested, and transformed into a truly unique agricole-style rum.

He also came home with plenty of knowledge, three bottles of KoHana ru...

Episode 6.28: European Excursion: This week it's all about planes, parks, pubs, and a whole lot of passport stamps.

Greg is fresh back from Europe and gives Garrick the full rundown on an incredible week that started in Gothenburg, Sweden, at Liseberg, where he attended and spoke at the TEA SATE Europe & Middle East Conference. From exploring one of Europe's premier amusement parks to reconnecting with friends from around the world, it's a week packed with stories from one of the industry's best gatherings.

But the adventure doesn't end there.

On the way home...

Episode 6.27: Mid-Season Pivot: This week the guys hit the pause button on their usual format... sort of.

Greg and Garrick take an online pop culture nerd quiz to see just how nerdy they really are. The results? Let’s just say the internet may need a fact-checker because a couple of those questions were flat-out wrong. Naturally, this leads to spirited debates, questionable scoring, and the kind of nerd outrage only a bad quiz can create.

Greg also gives a quick take on The Madison... or as he has renamed it, “The Sadison.” It’s b...

Episode 6.26: Rum Sawyer: This week the guys are all over the map... literally.

Garrick kicks things off with a visit to the brand-new Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas. From the attractions to the overall experience, the guys discuss Universal's newest park, who it's really for, and what it says about the future of family entertainment.

Next, Greg shares stories from a whirlwind trip to Chicago, including a deeply moving visit to the Anne Frank exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. The conversation turns to how great storytelling can educate, inspire, and leave...

Episode 6.25: Impressions of Nerd: This week, Greg and Garrick have the privilege of sitting down with one of the true legends of themed entertainment, Bob Rogers, founder of BRC Imagination Arts, for what became one of their favorite conversations they've ever recorded.

Broadcast from the BRC offices, the discussion explores Bob's remarkable career, the experiences that shaped his approach to storytelling, and the lessons he's learned from decades of creating some of the world's most memorable attractions, museums, and branded experiences.

The conversation also dives into Bob's upcoming book, Deep Story, releasing September 8, 2026...

Episode 6.24 - Rum and Villainy: This week Greg and Garrick record live from the legendary Scum & Villainy Cantina in Hollywood, California, proving once again that if there's a nerdy location nearby, they will eventually find a way to podcast from it.

Recorded in the middle of a California adventure, the guys soak in the atmosphere of one of the most immersive nerd bars around while discussing everything from Star Wars and fandom to themed entertainment, travel stories, and whatever other topics happen to wander into the cantina.

As always, the conversation takes a...

Episode 6.23: Nerd Rock Park: This week the guys take a trip back to one of the most fascinating “what if” stories in themed entertainment.

Greg and Garrick kick things off after discovering a buddy of theirs was featured on a 2009 episode of Mega Builderscovering the rise (and very fast fall) of Hard Rock Park. That leads into a conversation about the project, including one of their favorite TEA presentations centered around the uncomfortable but important topic of great projects that fail.

From there, the conversation turns personal as both Greg and Garrick reflect on p...

Episode 6.22: Maul – Shadow Rum: This week the guys go dark side.

Greg and Garrick dive into Season 1 of Maul: Shadow Lord on Disney+, breaking down the story, the tone, and just how deep into the shadows Star Wars is willing to go. From character arcs to overall impact on the larger universe, they unpack what worked, what didn’t, and where this series lands in the growing Star Wars lineup.

Of course, no conversation stays on the rails for long. The discussion jumps into classic Star Wars tangents, theories, and a few “wait… did you k...

Episode 6.21: The Rumdalorian & Grogu: This week the guys head to a galaxy far, far away… with a glass in hand.

Greg and Garrick dive deep into The Mandalorian & Grogu, breaking down their thoughts on the film, what worked, what surprised them, and where it fits in the ever-expanding Star Wars universe. From character moments to story choices, they unpack it all with the usual mix of insight, sarcasm, and nerdy enthusiasm.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Rum and Nerdy episode without chasing down Easter eggs, callbacks, and hidden details. The conve...

Episode 6.20: Garrick’s B-Day

Alright… we’re a little late on this one. But hey, better late than never.

This week, it’s all about Garrick’s birthday… and somehow, underwear becomes a major plot point.

Greg steps in to help Garrick maintain his long-standing (and highly questionable) streak of not having to buy his own underwear—because nothing says friendship like enabling bad habits with good intentions.

The guys are sipping on Planetary Cut & Dry and Stiggins’ Fancy Rum as they bounc...

Episode 6.19: House of Nerdy: This week, Greg and Garrick settle into a slightly more refined chaos… or at least a different kind of buzz.

The guys kick things off by addressing the obvious—why there’s been less rum lately (yes, it’s Greg’s fault) and the unexpected rise of Guinness as the drink of choice. Naturally, this turns into a detailed breakdown of how to properly pour a pint, complete with the realization that some things really should be a video podcast.

From there, the conversation shifts into full gearhead mode, with a deep dive...

Episode 6.18: Rum Encabulator - This week, Greg and Garrick lean all the way into beautifully engineered nonsense.

Kicking things off with the latest evolution of the legendary “Retro Encabulator”, now upgraded to the “Hyper Encabulator”—the guys revel in peak technobabble and the kind of fake engineering that somehow feels… convincing.

From there, things take a surprisingly thoughtful turn with a discussion of the 1963 Canadian short film 21-87, exploring its influence on Star Wars and the long-debated origins of “the Force.”

The episode then wraps up the TEA Thea Awards Gala, with a look at the set...

Episode 6.17: TEA Inspire 2026 Review: This week, Greg and Garrick are fresh off TEA Inspire 2026 and ready to break it all down—joined by a couple of quick guest drop-ins along the way.

From the Leadership Forum to Inspire the Night, the guys recap the moments, conversations, and connections that made this year’s conference stand out. They dig into the themes shaping the industry, the people driving it forward, and a few behind-the-scenes takes you won’t get anywhere else.

With the Thea Awards Gala just ahead, Greg and Garrick also talk through their favorite winner...

Episode 6.16: Rum and Loathing in Las Vegas

We can’t stop here… this is pool country.

This week, Greg and Garrick take the show to Las Vegas, recording in the pool while hanging with Shannon and Dave—because of course that’s how this episode was always going to go. Dave hooks the guys up with VIP access to the Las Vegas 20th Annual Celtic Festival and Highland Games, where things quickly escalate to world records being broken, meat pies being devoured, and a steady flow of Guinness and Irish whiskey keeping the chaos properly fueled.<...

Episode 6.15: Rum and Prejudice

This week, things get a little more refined… and then immediately not.

Greg and Garrick are joined by Erin, who might be one of the busiest humans alive. She’s building her own hobbit hole (yes, an actual backyard nerdy she-shed), has a book signing on the horizon for her Jane Austen-inspired writing, sings in a Big Band, and somehow still finds time for what feels like 500 other full-time hobbies.

The conversation bounces between creativity, fandom, and the kind of passion projects that make you wonder if you’re doing...

Episode 6.14: Nerdy PI

Cue the theme music… Typhoon Tommy is back.

This week’s episode leans into full island vibes as Greg, Garrick, and Tommy talk tiki projects, rum culture, and what it actually means to call something your “favorite” rum—all while sipping on Facundo Paradiso XA like civilized degenerates.

From there, things take a hard left into music nerd territory. Greg dives into his Ibanez Artist and Fender Super Champ X2, sparking a broader conversation about guitars, amps, tone chasing, and the very real possibility (threat?) of starting a cover band. As expecte...

This week, Greg and Garrick almost stay on topic.

Kicking things off with a brief dive into Peaky Blinders, the conversation quickly takes a turn when the guys crack open a deck of Chat Pack cards and let fate decide the direction of the episode. What follows is a completely unpredictable mix of questions, answers, side tangents, and the kind of random nonsense that somehow still feels very on-brand.

The usual rum takes a back seat this week as the drink of choice is a classic Guinness, proving that sometimes you’ve got to mix th...

Andy’s back… and somehow we still couldn’t come up with a proper title.

This week is exactly what you’d expect when Andy joins the show: a free-flowing, completely unstructured conversation that manages to cover absolutely nothing and somehow everything at the same time. Fueled by pours of Planetary Stiggins’ Fancy, the guys bounce from topic to topic with zero regard for transitions, logic, or staying on point.

Along the way, Andy receives a birthday gift, which only adds fuel to the chaos, and we’re treated to an ongoing stream of confidently incorrect no...

This week, Greg and Garrick go full Rum Trek, bouncing from real-world travel to deep space and back again.

Greg recaps his trip to Baltimore for the Building Museums Conference, sharing highlights, conversations, and a few takeaways from being in the room with industry leaders (even if technically… not in the room). From there, the guys wrap up their thoughts on the standout first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, diving into what worked, what surprised them, and where the broader Star Trek franchise could be headed next.

The conversation shifts gears with a look at...

Episode 6.10: Rum in 60 Seconds: This week Greg and Garrick attempt the impossible: keeping anything to 60 seconds. Spoiler alert… it doesn’t work.

The conversation jumps from iconic cars in movies to films and documentaries centered on famous musicians, as Greg and Garrick talk about the recent wave of artist-focused movies hitting theaters and streaming. Along the way, the guys also discuss the upcoming return of the original Star Wars to theaters next year, and what it means for fans to experience the film on the big screen again.

From there things shift into the business side...

Episode 6.09: Rum-Gyver: This week we channel our inner duct-tape-and-paperclip energy with Rum-Gyver, a throwback episode packed with stories that probably should have stayed buried.

Garrick’s longtime friend Anthony joins us in studio, all the way from Garrick’s very first theme park job. The result? A wildly unfiltered walk down memory lane filled with Six Flags stories, questionable decisions, and the kind of chaos that only happens when underpaid theme park kids are left unsupervised.

We dive into the weird social ecosystems of early park life, where friendships form fast, legends grow fast...

Rum & Nerdy – Episode 6.08: 11.22.6-Rum: This week we dive into 11.22.63 — the Stephen King time travel story that proves one very important rule: if you try to fix the past, the past will absolutely punch back. We watched it on Netflix, it technically belongs to Hulu, and either way it is peak King energy. Big ideas, emotional swings, and a very clear message that time is less of a river and more of a vindictive bouncer.

From there, the conversation does what it always does and drifts into the wasteland. We talk Fallout season 2 hype, a few other...

Episode 6.07: RumPlane: Andy is back in the co-pilot seat this week as we talk travel, airports, delays, upgrades, and all the strange rituals that come with voluntarily hurling yourself through the sky in a metal tube.

Naturally, the conversation quickly descends into references to Airplane! and the Zucker brothers’ particular brand of chaos. There may or may not be repeated jokes about “surely” and absolutely unnecessary dramatic readings of lines that still hold up disturbingly well. We also veer into 1980s SNL territory and make a few completely appropriate Monty Python detours, because once you start quoting absurd...

Episode 6.06: Rum Trek: Nerdfleet Academy: This week we jump to warp and dig into Star Trek: Starfleet Academy on Paramount+, and spoiler alert—we actually like it. The show tackles some genuinely compelling sci-fi questions, especially how societies evolve over 800 years, with 130 of those in the post-Burn era. That long-view look at cultural reset, institutional memory, and rebuilding after collapse feels very Star Trek, and it’s where the series is at its strongest.

That said… let’s talk about programmable matter. We get it. It’s clever. It’s flexible. It can turn into whatever the plot needs t...

Episode 6.05: Plus-RUM-bus: This week, the guys dive into Pluribus, the new series from Vince Gilligan starring the always-excellent Rhea Seehorn. We break down the premise, the vibes, the Gilligan fingerprints all over the storytelling—and ask the most important question of all: was this idea quietly lifted from Rick and Morty… or is that just our brains being terminally online?

We talk character, tone, world-building, and why Rhea Seehorn continues to be one of the most compelling performers working today. There’s speculation, side-eye, enthusiastic praise, and just enough skepticism to keep things proper...

Episode 6.04 -The Rum: In this episode, the guys dive into The Rum, our totally intentional play on Netflix’s The Rip starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, because nothing pairs better with morally questionable characters than a solid pour and strong opinions.

We break down the movie’s greatest achievement: making everyone look guilty… but somehow still likable. It’s a masterclass in “We think that person is absolutely guilty, but I’m still rooting for them,” and we unpack all those deliciously messy story beats along the way. Add in some surprisingly s...

Episode 6.03: Rum World is a continuation from last week, because when you stumble into a fantastic bottle you don’t just move on like a responsible adult you pour another round and pretend it’s “continuity.”

This week we keep sipping last episode’s rum, The Privateer Letter of Marque New England Single Cask / Florida Rum Society, and yes, it’s still excellent. Then we shift into Nerd Trivia mode, where Greg comes prepared with a suspicious amount of questions and Garrick is forced to defend his nerd credentials in real time. No pressure, buddy. Just your entire ident...

Rum and Nerdy Episode 6.02: Jurassic Rum is here, and we kick things off with an absolute winner The Privateer Letter of Marque New England Single Cask / Florida Rum Society. It was fantastic, and we spend some time digging into why it hit so well.

From there, we wrap up the NFL regular season chaos Chiefs out, Green Bay in and talk through what that means heading into the next phase.

Then we bounce through the usual Rum and Nerdy grab bag Greg is officially running out of LEGO display space, we talk new shows, home...

Episode 6.01 - Stranger Nerdy: Happy New Year and welcome to Season 6 of Rum & Nerdy. 

We kick things off with a brand-new season intro from Demo Dave—and it is, without question, bad ass. From there, things take an immediate turn when Garrick absolutely tricks Greg into drinking Malört Egg Nog, a decision that will be remembered… and regretted.

We then take some time to wrap up 2025, reflecting on the year behind us, the moments that defined it and icons we lost along the way. Naturally, we dive d...