Frantic Nerdcast
Embark on an epic journey into the heart of all things nerdy and geeky with Aj and Brock on Frantic Nerdcast. Immerse yourself in the realms of movies, anime, comics, cartoons, board games, and trading card games as we explore the geek culture universe. About Us: We are lifelong enthusiasts of everything from the silver screen to the pages of graphic novels. As self-proclaimed pop culture aficionados, we bring you insightful discussions, hilarious banter, and a passion for all things geek. Each episode is a deep dive into the worlds that captivate us, filled with the latest news, reviews, and...
Episode 133 - DC's Big change, The Longest Day, Vision Quest is over, Red Rising and much more!
This week on Frantic Nerdcast Episode 133, we start with something different: all three of us just played 72 holes of golf in one day for The Longest Day, raising money for the Cancer Council. We tee off at 5:30am, hit a lot of balls into the water, and AJ plays six holes in a 20kg weighted vest.
Then it’s on to the nerd news. James Gunn and Peter Safran are out as heads of DC Studios after the Warner Bros. merger. We look at what it means for Man of Tomorrow, Batman Part Two and the R-rated DC...
Episode 132 - Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG Rules, Gundam Assemble, Vision Quest Ep 7
In Episode 132, the Frantic Nerdcast crew kick things off with some channel news: nearly 1,000 videos on YouTube, TikTok finally behaving, and the first Vault X packs arriving.
Then it’s straight into tabletop territory. We look at the Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG, including its mob-first combat, simultaneous player actions, hotbars, split health bars and grinding system, plus the frustrations of the Godzilla RPG’s app-only digital rulebook and a first look at the Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition starter set.
From there we cover a Pokémon gambling scheme in America, Pokémon cards in McDona...
Episode 131 - Our Mount Rushmore of TV Sitcoms! Scrubs, Community, South Park & More
In Episode 131 the crew picks their Mount Rushmore of TV sitcoms, and the arguments start fast. Scrubs, Blackadder, Big Bang Theory, Community, South Park, Schitt’s Creek, Frasier and Will & Grace all get a look, plus plenty of honourable mentions. Along the way they work out which classics have aged badly and who gets a face on the mountain.
Before that, they cover the Cancer Council Longest Day golf fundraiser (72 holes in one day) and recommend Miracle Workers, the Daniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi anthology comedy. Later they dive into the Fourth Wing books, with dragons, obvious pl...
Episode 130 - Street Fighter & Lanterns Review & The Ultimate Game Character Mount Rushmore!
Welcome to Frantic Nerdcast episode 130 baby! In today’s episode, we are over our PAX disease and ready to dive into some amazing content. We discuss our final thoughts on the interviews and footage we have up on our channel from our weekend at PAX. We start by discussing our latest video game character Mount Rushmores including Mario, Banjo and Kazooie, Marcus Phoenix and Pac-Man. We give our non-spoiler review of the Amazon Prime series Lanterns. AJ provides us with a spoiler review of the new Street Fighter movie. We have a chat about Super Troopers 3 and give our re...
Episode 129 - Our PAX Australia 2026 Recap Episode
Brock, Aj and Zac chat all about the awesome things we got to do at pax Australia 2026. Make sure to check out the rest of our interviews from PAX 2026.
Episode 128 - The BEST Travel Board Games, Top Miniature Wargames & PAX Prep!
Welcome back to Episode 128 of the Frantic Nerdcast! This week, AJ, Zach, and Brock are gearing up for PAX Australia with a packed episode full of tabletop recommendations, gaming news, and movie-to-game pitches
First up, we cover our final preparations for PAX Australia, including booth setups, promo cards, and Nintendo booth expectations. Then, we share our favorite travel-sized board games and card games to keep you entertained on flights and trips. Later, we brainstorm movies that desperately need video game adaptations—from heist thrillers to high-stakes comedies. Finally, we break down our absolute favorite miniature war...
Episode 127 - The Best Modern Movie Trilogies (2000s to Now) & Transformers Hot Takes
With PAX just two weeks away, the crew sits down to talk tabletop games, retro video games, and modern cinema. We kick things off with a recap of our latest TCG Tuesday match in Illustrals, share early thoughts on the top-down turn-based game Canvas City, and preview upcoming matches in DC Deck Builder: Rivals.
Then, the conversation devolves into a full Transformers marathon breakdown—examining Optimus Prime's ruthless kill count, the missed potential of Galvatron, and why the animated Netflix trilogy (War for Cybertron) gets the characters right. Finally, we debate the best movie trilogies from the 2000s...
Episode 126 - Cyperpunk TCG, Pokemon 30 is bad, PAX26, Silo and More!!
It's that time of the week again. This week we chat about the Cyberpunk TCG, We talk all things PAX Australia 26, we talk the series 3 of Silo, We talk the upcoming Australian tv show Gnomes, Blizcon and much more.
Episode 125 - Zelda Switch 2 Remake, Hollow Knight, & PAX Prep!
Welcome to Episode 125 of the Frantic Nerdcast! On this week's episode, the crew breaks down the latest news around the rumored Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for the Switch 2, including proposed quality-of-life changes like a manual jump button. We also dive into hands-on impressions of Hollow Knight, talk TV with updates on Silo, The Gentlemen Season 2, and Bookish, and catch up on book reading lists including Three-Body Problem and Horus Heresy. Plus, we discuss our upcoming trip to PAX and showcase a custom physical DIY shuffle baseball game!
Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Sponsor: Monsters at War C...
Episode 124 - Green Lanterns Breakdown, Street Fighter & Hogwarts HBO Trailers!
Welcome back to Episode 124 of the Frantic Nerdcast! In this episode, AJ, Brock, and Zach break down the latest episodes of DC's Lanterns and dive into the recent trailers for the Hogwarts HBO series and the new live-action Street Fighter movie. The guys also talk about Silo Season 3, the Cyberpunk TCG initial thoughts, their upcoming appearance at PAX, and run through a pop culture binge-watch quiz!
Grab a copy of Monsters at War : https://franticnerdcast.com/product/monsters-at-war-physical-version/
Episode 123 - CollectorCon Haul, Pokemon Cards, PAX Australia 2026 & Toxic Avenger Review
Welcome to episode 120 of the Frantic Nerdcast! In this episode, the guys break down their experience at CollectorCon in Newcastle, discuss trading and completing Pokemon TCG master sets, and talk local card grading with TCG and PCG. Plus, we pay tribute to the legendary Tim Curry, talk about upcoming plans for PAX Australia 2026, dive into board game recommendations (Zombicide: Marvel & DC Deceased), and share our thoughts on the latest Toxic Avenger movie!
Episode 122 - MCU D23 Leaks & Castings, Spider-Man Review, Directing Obsession, & Pokemon Cards w/ Viking!
Welcome back to the Frantic Nerdcast! On this episode, the boys break down all things pop culture, MCU, horror movies, and TCG collecting. First up, we tackle Spider-Man, diving deep into our review, character development, and hidden Easter eggs. Then, we react to the massive D23 announcements, including the official X-Men cast (Sadie Sink, Adam Driver, Samara Weaving, Kit Connor), the insane Avengers: Doomsday trailer breakdown, Vision Quest updates, and controversial news like 3D Bluey and Frozen 3. Later, we review Blumhouse's latest horror hit Obsession directed by Curry Barker, touch on new TV shows like Reacher and Lanterns, and...
Episode 121 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day Spoiler Review, Gundam Deckbuilder & PAX Australia!
Welcome to episode 121 of the Frantic Nerdcast! We're down a host (missing Zach), so AJ and Brock are taking a slightly more "casual" approach this week—even if AJ's intro voice threw everyone off! In this episode, we dive deep into a FULL SPOILER REVIEW of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'. We break down the arachnid hormone mechanics, the Jean Grey reveal, the Hulk/Frank Castle dynamics, and how this sets up Weapon X, mutant inhibitor collars, and Secret Wars! We also discuss: • AJ’s resin 3D printing disaster and recovery • Updates on our in-development skirmish game, Rift Chaos • Board Game of th...
Episode 120 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review (Spoiler Free!) & The Beauty FX Review
The boys are back for Episode 120, coming to you in full monochromatic green style! 🟢 This week, we’re opening up with some high-stakes local bin chat before diving straight into the big pop culture releases.
We give our initial (mostly!) spoiler-free thoughts on Spider-Man: Brand New Day—is it truly the best MCU Spider-Man movie yet? We also dive into Ryan Murphy's The Beauty (and how it compares to the graphic novel), Netflix’s The Boroughs, Peacemaker Season 2, a nostalgic Mortal Kombat marathon, and early impressions of Silo Season 3.
Plus, Brock gets put on the hot seat f...
Episode 119 - SDCC 2026 Breakdown, Palworld 1.0, & Rift Chaos Playtest!
We are shaking up the schedule this week with an early Tuesday recording because Thursday is reserved for Spider-Man: Brand New Day!
In this jam-packed episode, the boys dive into their early impressions of Palworld 1.0, recent progress on Diddy Kong Racing, and a fresh playtest report for our upcoming 3D printable skirmish game, Rift Chaos! Plus, we break down Christopher Nolan’s epic three-hour film The Odyssey, jump into Horus Heresy book chatter, and discuss big news for Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Finally, we react to all the massive SDCC drops—from Marvel’s big Avengers and Gh...
Episode 118 - Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Breakdown + The Hawk & Duel of Meloch Review!
We are officially back and fully legal to drink again for Episode 118! This week, the boys break down the internet-breaking trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. We discuss Gambit taking on Shang-Chi, comic-accurate Mystique, Thor's ominous warnings about Doom, and how Secret Wars is being set up.
Later, AJ takes on a blind ranking challenge of classic board games (Ticket to Ride, Wingspan, Carcassonne, and Game of Thrones), and we give an in-depth review of Stonemaier Games' asymmetrical standalone game, Duel of Meloch.
Episode 117 - EB Games Scalping Drama, Sam Neill Tribute, & Pop Culture Deaths That Broke Us
The lads are back for another rambling journey through the chaotic world of nerd culture. In Episode 117, Zachary recounts his trip to the brand-new Grindzone TCG brick-and-mortar storefront in Brookvale before the conversation shifts to the corporate blunder of the week: EB Games. The guys break down the retailer's baffling statement defending their inflated Pokémon 30th Anniversary pre-order prices as an "anti-scalping strategy".
Following a tragic, sudden loss in the local acting community, the crew pays tribute to the iconic New Zealander (whom Australia proudly claims), Sam Neill, sharing their ultimate favorite performances from Event Horizon t...
Episode 116 - he Pokemon 30th Anniversary Pre-Order Disaster! + Dune Part 3 & Anime Rants
The boys are back for Episode 116, and Zach is kicking things off with a massive rant about the absolute disaster that was the Pokémon 30th Anniversary pre-order drop. From major Australian retailers testing the waters with scalper-level pricing to website crashes forcing collectors to check out one item at a time, it was a total mess.
Once the rage settles, the guys dive into a massive pop culture breakdown. They dissect the new Dune Part 3 trailer, theorizing on how the film will blend Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, before pivoting to the anime world to d...
Episode 115 - The Death of Physical Gaming & Our Ultimate 80s & 90s Movie Tier List!
In Episode 115, the boys sit down to rant about the state of next-gen gaming and celebrate the golden era of cinema.
We kick things off by venting our frustrations over Sony and the push toward disc-less, all-digital consoles. Between inflated store prices, mandatory multi-gigabyte day-one updates, and upcoming AI-driven hardware shortages, are modern consoles shooting themselves in the foot? We break down why the plug-and-play magic of old consoles is officially dead.
Next, we open up the vault for a massive nostalgia trip through the best (and most obscure) movies of the 80s and 90s...
Episode 114 - Unpacking Stonemaier’s Duel of Meloch & Our Ultimate Non-Disney Animated Masterpieces!
With Brock out traveling the wilderness this week, the dynamic duo teams up to deliver a jam-packed episode of nerdy deep dives. The guys kick things off with a countdown to PAX Australia before losing their minds over Stonemaier Games' newly announced title, Duel of Melok—an ambitious asymmetrical game allowing Scythe and Expeditions systems to battle head-to-head.
Then, they step into the designer shoes to pitch how iconic anime IPs like Dr. Stone and One Piece could naturally fit complex resource management and dungeon-crawling board game systems without just being cheap reskins. Finally, they step into th...
Episode 113 - Master of the Universe, Mortal kombat, Zac Giveaway Winners and more!
In this episode we chat, Masters of the Universe, Mortal Kombat II, Michael, Send Help, Pokemon Giveaway and much much more.
Episode 112 - Warhammer Slogs, Monster Hunt VR, & Our Top 5 TV Theme Intros!
Welcome to Episode 112 of the Frantic Nerdcast! Brock is back and recovered from the family sickness, and we are diving headfirst into a massive week of TCG drama, book reviews, tabletop gaming, and a heavy dose of TV nostalgia. In this episode, we go on a much-needed rant about the absolute chaos surrounding recent Pokémon TCG drops (seriously, pick your act up, community!) and look ahead to the highly controversial "futuristic" 30th-anniversary celebration set. We also break down why the first half of Warhammer 40k's 'False Gods' is a massive slog, review the illegal VR world of 'Monster H...
Episode 111 - Dungeon Crawl Carl, Monster Hunt NYC, X-Men '97, & The Burrows!
Welcome to episode 111 of the Frantic Nerdcast! This week, we’re diving deep into our current reads, watches, and gaming obsessions. We discuss the latest in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, our thoughts on Monster Hunter NYC, and get hyped for the new X-Men '97 season 2 trailer. Plus, we’re talking all things TCG, including the exciting Cataclysm Arcade Kickstarter and a major giveaway announcement with Grind Zone TCG! We also break down our latest watch, the Netflix series The Burrows, and catch up on Clarkson’s Farm season 5.
Episode 110: Slogging Through Horus Heresy & Dropping the Truth on Spider-Man Noir
We hit Episode 110! This week on the Frantic Nerdcast, the boys are celebrating two and a half years of broadcasting by diving headfirst into a massive week of tabletop, book, and screen media.
First up, Brock accepts a challenge and begins the notorious name-dumping slog of the Warhammer 40k Horus Heresy books, while simultaneously tearing through the back half of Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 8.
Then, it's screen time. We share our thoughts on the premiere of Spider-Man Noir on Prime Video—explaining why it's gorgeous for cinema nerds but potentially a total snooze-fest for comic bo...
Episode 109 - Devil May Cry Season 2 Review & The Boys Season 5 Finale Spoilers
Welcome back to another frantic episode! In Episode 109 of the Frantic Nerdcast, we are diving deep into the massive television finales, upcoming gaming news, and the latest drops in the Trading Card Game (TCG) world.
First up, we are breaking down the action-packed release of Devil May Cry Season 2 from Adi Shankar. From the jaw-dropping Virgil vs. Dante fights to that incredible, heavy-hitting soundtrack featuring Papa Roach and Korn, we talk about why this show absolutely slaps (and our few gripes with the demon forms).
Next, we shift gears to the chaotic and controversial series...
Episode 108 - 2 Player Board Games, Rooster, Young Sherlock, Warhammer 40k books and much more
In this weeks Episode, the team talks 2 Player Boardgames and which ones you should get.
Aj Chats the new HBO Show Rooster, starring Steve Carrell and also the new Prime show Young Sherlock.
Aj Shows of his latest Pokémon painting, which is part of his 151 Pokémon painting challenge.
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...Episode 107 - Dungeon Crawler Carl Obsession, 151 Pokemon Painting Challenge & Daredevil: Born Again Review
Welcome back to the Frantic Nerdcast! In episode 107, the crew dives deep into the addictive world of audiobooks (or "audio plays"), a massive new art project, and the latest from the MCU on Disney+.
We start with a heavy discussion on Dungeon Crawler Carl and the unmatched voice acting of Jeff Hayes. We also explore the difference between standard audiobooks and full-scale audio dramas like The Sandman.
AJ reveals his ambitious new creative goal: painting the original 151 Pokemon on individual canvases, starting with Charmander and Diglett. Plus, we give our honest, mixed reviews on Daredevil...
Episode 106 - Pax Aus, Scrubs, Pokemon Master Sets, Collector Con, Anime, TCGs and more
Welcome back to the Frantic Nerdcast! In episode 102, the crew returns after a short break to dive deep into everything nerdy. We kick things off with an exclusive look at a brand-new solo survival board game prototype set on Mars—featuring astronauts, monoliths, and oxygen hazards.
If you're an anime fan, we’ve got you covered with deep dives into Hell’s Paradise Season 2, the world-building of Jujutsu Kaisen, and a look at the new Digimon Liberator. We also revisit the nostalgia of the Scrubs revival and discuss why it still holds the original magic.
For th...
Episode 105 - Golf Fails, Anime Debates & Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG Hype!
Welcome back to the Frantic Nerd Cast! In Episode 105, the boys are back from their chaotic golf trip to recap all the action, injuries, and hilarious punishments. From back spasms to walking par-fives backwards, find out who actually took home the trophy (and who just got their KFC first).
In this episode, we dive deep into:
The Golf Trip Recap: A look at the "punishment rounds," including mango jalapeño tequila shots and skipping vigorously across the green.
Anime’s Bad Rap: We discuss why some people "poo-poo" anime as just "cartoons for kids" and s...
Episode 104 - Reboots: Masterpieces or Cash Grabs?
Welcome to Episode 104 of the Frantic Nerdcast! This week, the crew is fresh (or maybe not so fresh) from their bi-annual golf trip and ready to tackle the complicated legacy of the "Reboot".
In this episode:
The Golf Trip Recap: We talk about the "Trophy of Destiny," 72-hole charity marathons, and the creative punishments waiting for Brock on the course.
Reboots That Worked: A deep dive into why Battlestar Galactica is a gold standard for reboots, plus our thoughts on the Star Trek movie trilogy and the Rise of the Planet of the...
Episode 103 - Best & Worst Anime Adaptations: Did Live Action Ruin These?
Welcome to Episode 103 of the Frantic Nerdcast! This week, we are tackling a massive topic:
Anime Adaptations. We break down the hits, the misses, and the reboots that should have stayed in the vault.
In this episode:
The Best Adaptations: We discuss why Alice in Borderland is a masterpiece of game-to-screen storytelling and explore the high-tier action of the Rurouni Kenshin films.
The Controversial Hits: Is the live-action Cowboy Bebop actually better than the anime? We get into a heated debate over Netflix’s recent attempts at classic IPs.
Wi...
102 - Firefly is BACK! + Cyberpunk TCG Makes $19 Million?!
Welcome back to the Frantic Nerdcast! In Episode 102, the boys are back from Bali and diving straight into the biggest news in nerd culture.
We kick things off with the massive announcement of a new Firefly animated series set between the original show and Serenity, plus the news that Wheel of Time is getting the animation treatment. We also break down the staggering success of the Cyberpunk TCG on Kickstarter, which has already cleared $19 million Aussie dollars.In this episode:
TV & Film: Our deep-dive reviews of One Piece Season 2, Invincible Season 4, and Peaky Blinders: Immortal...
Episode 101 - New Kickstarters, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Tv Shows that where long and good and much more
In this episode we chat TV shows that went for a long time, but got better with age, we chat the amazingness that is Dungeon Crawler Carl, Upcoming Kickstarters and much more.
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Episode 100 - Our New Game, One Piece Season 2, Pokémon 30, Blood Drive & look back at 100 episodes
Hello and welcome to our 100th EPISODE. That's right we have made it to 100 episodes. In this very special episode, we chat about the lacklustre Pokémon 30th announcements, The unforgettable show Blood Drive from SyFy, Season 2 of One piece and talk all about our brand new game Monsters at War.
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Zac's I...
Episode 99 - Cartoons in the Zombie Apocalypse, News and rumours, Pokemon and much more
In this episode we chat Which Cartoon characters would be the best in a zombie apocalypse, Is nostalgia ruining the hobby, Pokemon's anniversary, News and Rumours and much, much more.
Episode 98 - Fringe, Stargate, Honey Don't, Tron, Absolute Batman, Witchblade & More
In this episode we chat Absolute Batman, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Fringe, Stargate, Witchblade, The Darkness, Gundam TCG, Pokemon tcg, Honey Don't, Wonderman, Tron Ares, Anaconda and much, much more.
Episode 97 - Tomb Raider Live Action, TCG prices, World of Warcraft, Zelda, Pokémon, Mistborn
In this episode we chat the craziness of TCG prices by stores, Live streaming Zelda, Our New Pokémon Challenge, The new World of Warcraft expansion and Sophie Turner as the new Tomb Raider.
Episode 96 - Dungeon Crawler Carl, Hijack, Shoresy, Highlander and More
In this Frantic episode we chat Dungeon Crawler Carl, Highlander reboots and the originals The Apple+ series Hijack and much much more.
Episode 95 - Man-goat & Bunny-man, Starfleet Academy, Hololive TCG, The Last Ronin & More
In this episode Aj and Brock chat about Man-Goat and Bunny-Man from Zenascope Comics, Star Trek Starfleet Academy, HoloLive TCG, The Last Ronin Cancellation, Darth Maul Trailer, Stormlight archives, Dungeon Crawler Carl and much more.
Episode 94 - Frantic Nerdcast is Back in 2026
#strangerthings5 #pokemon #megaevolution
Frantc Nercast is back in 2026 and we have an episode for you. In this one we Talk news, We chat Stranger things Season 5, We talk Pokemon Mega Evolutions set and we interview @Viking_collects about how the challange went