The 12 Best Nerds Podcasts (2026)

Jason Inman and Ashley Victoria Robinson have been running this show since 2014, and the depth of their research is genuinely impressive. Each week, they pick a pop culture character or franchise and walk you through its full fictional biography -- origins, key storylines, retcons, the works. Think of it as a guided tour through comic book and superhero history, hosted by two people who clearly love arguing about which era of X-Men was the best.

The format works because Jason and Ashley bring real chemistry. They debate, crack jokes, do terrible impressions (their words, not mine), and occasionally drop recommended reading lists so you can go deeper on your own. Episodes cover Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and pretty much anything with a dedicated fanbase. Some installments run as standard 45-minute episodes, while their MEGA EPISODES combine multiple character spotlights into 3-5 hour marathons for long drives or binge sessions.

With over 600 episodes and a 4.7-star rating from nearly 1,200 reviews, this show has earned its audience. It works equally well for newcomers trying to understand why everyone cares about a specific character and for longtime fans who want to compare notes. The educational angle sets it apart from pure opinion shows -- you actually learn something, even if you thought you already knew the lore inside out.

Running strong since 2009 with over 830 episodes, Geek Shock bills itself as the most amazing podcast on the planet and backs that up with a 4.9-star rating from 50 reviewers. That kind of longevity in podcasting is rare, and the hosts have clearly figured out a formula that keeps people coming back every week.

The show covers basically everything a self-respecting nerd cares about: movies, TV, board games, video games, D&D, comics, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Each weekly episode blends entertainment news discussion with personal anecdotes and comedic games that keep things from getting too serious. Recent episodes have tackled everything from Star Trek conventions to video games like Deep Rock Galactic Survivor and commentary on Predator Badlands.

What makes Geek Shock work is its irreverent energy. The hosts clearly know their stuff, but they never take themselves too seriously. It feels like eavesdropping on a group of well-informed friends who happen to have strong opinions about whether the latest Marvel show actually landed. The explicit content tag is earned -- they are not filtering their reactions. If you want a weekly catch-up on geek culture that feels natural rather than scripted, this one has more than a decade of proof that it delivers.

ThisWeekInGeek has been pumping out episodes since 2007, racking up over 1,400 installments. That is not a typo. Hosted by Mike The Birdman Dodd with rotating co-hosts like Alex The Producer and Damien for specialty segments, this Canadian show operates more like a mini network than a single podcast.

The variety is where things get interesting. Beyond the main news and review episodes that drop multiple times per week, you get specialty shows like Earth vs Soup (classic sci-fi film deep dives), The Spellbook (tabletop RPG coverage), and Loose Cannon (movie analysis). It is basically a buffet for geeks, gamers, and nerds -- you can pick the segments that match your interests and skip what does not land.

The show sits at 4.4 stars from 31 reviews, with listeners praising the insightful hosts and fun facts sprinkled throughout. Some reviewers mention occasional audio quality hiccups, which is fair for a show that produces this much content. But the sheer volume and range make it a strong pick if you want a geek culture show that covers ground most single-host podcasts simply cannot. It is the kind of show where you start with one episode about a gaming release and end up three hours deep in a discussion about 1960s sci-fi cinema.

Gregr, Branden, and Ceej started Nerd Talk+ on Seattle radio station 107.7 The End, and it has since grown into a standalone show distributed through Audacy with over 500 episodes. The tagline promises a deeper, longer, dumber look into the things that make this world nerdier, and honestly, that is a pretty accurate summary of the vibe.

Each weekly episode runs about 55 to 75 minutes and covers topics that range from centaurs and artificial intelligence to giant robots and Godzilla. The hosts openly admit they are rarely right but ready to make you laugh through your anger, which tells you exactly what you are getting into. This is not a carefully researched lecture. It is three friends riffing on nerdy subjects with genuine enthusiasm and questionable accuracy, and the comedy is the whole point.

One reviewer described the experience as like listening to your older brother and his idiot friends, and that is meant as high praise. The show holds a perfect 5.0-star rating from 26 reviews, which suggests the audience knows exactly what they signed up for and loves it. If you want nerd culture discussion that prioritizes laughs over authority, and you appreciate humor that is a bit offbeat and tangential, this is your show.

If you are tired of 90-minute podcast episodes when you just want to know what happened in geek culture today, this daily show from GeekSideshow.com is built for you. Each episode clocks in at just 3 to 6 minutes and delivers curated entertainment news without any celebrity gossip filler. Film trailers, TV announcements, video game reveals, comic book releases, streaming news -- it all gets covered in bite-sized daily drops.

With over 2,000 episodes and a perfect 5.0-star rating from 22 reviewers, the format clearly resonates. Listeners specifically praise the show for being to the point and ad-free, which makes it ideal for a quick morning catch-up while making coffee or during a short commute. The focus stays on franchises and properties that matter to fans -- Star Wars updates, Batman news, Marvel developments -- without veering into TMZ territory.

The daily cadence is the real differentiator here. Most geek podcasts are weekly affairs, which means news can feel stale by the time it gets discussed. Let Your Geek SideShow bridges that gap with fresh content every single day, functioning more like a personalized news brief than a traditional podcast. It pairs perfectly with a longer weekly show for deeper analysis, giving you the headlines fast and leaving the extended debates to other podcasts in your rotation.

Chris and DK cover comics, film, music, and pretty much anything else that catches their attention -- hence the kitchen sink in the title. With 161 episodes and a strong 4.8-star rating from 22 reviewers, this biweekly show has carved out a loyal following among nerd culture fans who want genuine enthusiasm without overly polished production.

The format is conversational and loose. Recent episodes cover Super Bowl trailer breakdowns, horror film discussions, and takes on the latest streaming releases. Chris and DK have real chemistry as co-hosts, and their banter makes episodes feel less like a structured show and more like listening in on two knowledgeable friends catching up. They are not trying to be authoritative -- they are just genuinely excited about the things they talk about.

The show also maintains an active Discord community and YouTube presence, so there is a real back-and-forth with listeners that shapes the content. If you have ever wanted a podcast that treats nerd culture as a conversation rather than a broadcast, this is a solid pick. The biweekly schedule means episodes tend to be packed with material rather than stretched thin, and the range of topics means you never quite know what Chris and DK will pull out of that metaphorical kitchen sink next.

Shannon, Jaja, and James bring Black voices and multicultural perspectives to nerd culture conversations in a way that feels natural rather than forced. The show covers gaming news, anime releases, Marvel projects, streaming updates, and entertainment industry trends through weekly episodes that typically run 45 minutes to an hour.

What sets Blerds and Nerds apart from other geek podcasts is the perspective. The hosts discuss the same properties everyone else covers -- PlayStation State of Play announcements, new One Piece trailers, classic cartoon reboots -- but they bring experiences and viewpoints that are underrepresented in the nerd podcasting space. Listeners consistently describe the vibe as sitting with friends, which is the highest compliment a podcast like this can get.

With 100 episodes, a 4.8-star rating from 37 reviewers, and new episodes dropping weekly through 2026, the show has found its groove. The hosts balance genuine critique with obvious affection for the properties they discuss, and they are not afraid to call out when something does not work. Episodes covering gaming industry layoffs sit alongside excited breakdowns of new anime trailers, giving you a well-rounded view of nerd culture from people who are deeply invested in it.

Stolendroids has been described as a pop culture convention in your pocket, and after 376 episodes, that comparison holds up. The show runs a panel-style format where multiple hosts bring their individual takes on movies, television, comic books, video games, and technology news. It is the kind of show that feels like sitting in on a particularly good convention panel, minus the uncomfortable folding chairs.

The hosts approach each topic with informed opinions but zero pretentiousness. They are upfront about not treating entertainment news as world-historically important, which paradoxically makes their analysis more enjoyable. When they break down the latest Marvel release or debate a streaming show, you get honest reactions rather than hot takes designed for clicks. Reader feedback segments add a community feel, and the audio production quality has been consistently praised by reviewers.

The show earned award recognition in the geek podcasting space, and its 4.3-star rating from a small but dedicated reviewer base reflects a core audience that has stuck around through years of weekly episodes. Stolendroids works best for listeners who want substantive pop culture discussion that does not take itself too seriously -- the kind of show where hosts can go deep on a comic book storyline one minute and crack jokes about convention experiences the next.

Geekstorians takes a completely different approach from most nerd podcasts. Instead of reviewing the latest releases, host David Elliott traces the actual history of how geek culture was built -- from the first science fiction fan clubs and magazine letter pages to comic conventions, gaming communities, and streaming fandoms. It is a documentary-style show, and the narrative storytelling gives it a quality that feels closer to a well-produced audio series than a casual chat.

Season 1 spans 12 episodes that cover ground most fans have never thought about. How did VHS distribution change film culture? What really happened during the D&D Satanic Panic of the 1980s? How did the underground movement bring anime to Western audiences? Each episode makes a convincing argument that fans built the worlds we love, not just the corporations that marketed them. The grassroots creativity and community connections at the heart of geek culture get their due here.

This is a newer show -- it launched in late 2025 -- but it is already publishing weekly through its first season with a clear vision. If you have ever wondered how conventions went from small gatherings of enthusiasts to massive industry events, or how cosplay evolved from a niche hobby into a global movement, Geekstorians has the receipts. It fills a gap in the nerd podcast space that nobody else is really addressing.

Nick and Mike take the rewatch format and apply it across TV series, movies, and pop culture franchises with 137 episodes of entertaining commentary. Their weekly show includes character draft picks, Geek Out highlight segments, and occasional musical parodies that are exactly as silly as they sound. The format keeps things structured enough to be focused but loose enough to let the hosts personalities come through.

Recent episodes have covered Fallout Season 2, MCU projects, and retrospective looks at genre classics like Wicked. The hosts also bring in guests for special formats including commentary tracks and competitive debates, which keeps the show from falling into a predictable rhythm. Their 5.0-star rating from 7 reviews is a small sample, but the consistency of praise suggests they are doing something right for their audience.

The rewatch angle is what makes this show distinctive. Rather than just reviewing new releases and moving on, Nick and Mike go back and spend real time with properties, noting details and connections they missed the first time around. If you are the kind of person who rewatches shows and notices new things each time, this podcast basically does that work for you. Active social media engagement and email correspondence with listeners round out a show that feels like a genuine community rather than a one-way broadcast.

Senor Nerd launched this show in 2023, and it has already racked up 134 episodes with a perfect 5.0-star rating from 24 reviewers. The focus leans heavily into anime, video games, and streaming content, making it a natural fit for fans whose nerd interests skew toward Japanese animation and gaming culture rather than strictly Western comics and superheroes.

Recent episodes feature detailed commentary on series like Jujutsu Kaisen and its Culling Games arc, and the host clearly watches and plays the things being discussed rather than just summarizing press releases. Listeners have noted that the show works well as workout or commute listening because the pacing stays engaging throughout. Each episode covers current and past pop culture developments, so you get a mix of timely news and retrospective analysis.

The show maintains an active Discord community, which creates a feedback loop between the host and audience that shapes episode topics. For a relatively young podcast, the engagement numbers are solid. If your nerd interests land more in the anime and gaming space -- if you have opinions about whether a particular power-up was earned or if the latest PlayStation State of Play delivered -- this one speaks your language. The casual conversational style makes it accessible even if you are behind on a particular series.

James Bullough created The Nerd Nexus as a gathering point for every flavor of nerd interest, and the guest-driven format means each episode takes you somewhere different. One week it is a deep conversation about storyboard art and the creative process behind animation. The next, you are hearing from a miniature painter about the meditative quality of spending hours on a single Warhammer figure. Then a Star Wars lore expert stops by to settle debates you did not know existed.

The range of topics is the real draw here -- video games, trading cards, D&D campaigns, fantasy novels, 3D printing, voice acting, board games. Rather than trying to cover everything himself, Bullough brings in people who actually live these hobbies and lets them explain what makes their particular corner of nerd culture compelling. Episodes range from tight 30-minute conversations to nearly two-hour extended interviews, depending on how much ground the guest wants to cover.

With 18 episodes and a 5.0-star rating (from a small but enthusiastic reviewer base), this is a newer show that is still finding its audience. The interview format gives it a different feel from news-and-opinion shows. It is less about staying current and more about understanding why people get obsessed with the things they love. If you have ever spent way too long painting miniatures or sorting a card collection and wanted a podcast that gets why that matters, The Nerd Nexus is built for you.