Nerdette

WBEZ

Hosted by Greta Johnsen

  • 59 minutes 55 seconds
    MSCL TV Club: Looking for crumbs (Episodes 7 and 8)

    On this week’s podcast, Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 7 and 8 --”Why Jordan Can’t Read” and “Strangers in the House” -- with Joanna Robinson and Kristin Russo. They’re the perfect guests to talk about MSCL because they hosted their own rewatch podcast, The Boiler Room!

    The group chats about Angela’s amazing detective skills, the crumbs of Jordan’s personality we are all subsisting on, and the undeniable relatability of the show’s exquisitely flawed characters.


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

    Tile art: Lou Lovisek

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    13 February 2026, 9:00 am
  • 55 minutes 38 seconds
    MSCL TV Club: Adjectives! WOO! (Episodes 5 and 6)

    Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzerdiscuss My So-Called Life episodes 5 and 6 --”The Zit” and “The Substitute” -- with Anna Sale!

    They talk about the messiness of teenage desire and objectification, self-esteem and insecurity, and whether Anna Sale is Patty-ing her children. 


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

    Tile art: Lou Lovisek


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    6 February 2026, 9:00 am
  • 51 minutes 46 seconds
    MSCL TV Club: A girl named Pop Tart (Episodes 3 and 4)

    The My So-Called Life rewatch continues! Greta Johnsen and Kristin Meinzer discuss episodes 3 and 4 with Jason Concepcion. They talk about the devastating quaintness of a school gun violence episode from the ‘90s, whether Graham is a good dad, and Sharon and Rayanne’s burgeoning … friendship? Plus, Jason calls for MORE JORDAN CATALANO, Greta becomes an accidental Graham apologist, and Kristen questions Brian's role in the gossip mill.  


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

    Tile art: Lou Lovisek

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    30 January 2026, 9:00 am
  • 58 minutes 20 seconds
    MSCL TV Club: High school is a battlefield!!!! (Episodess 1 and 2)

    The My So-Called Life rewatch begins! Greta Johnsen and Kristin Meinzer discuss episodes 1 and 2 with Ronald Young, Jr. They talk about the nostalgic power of the series, how the pilot holds up as a pilot, and the extreme angst of it all. 


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

    Tile art: Lou Lovisek

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    23 January 2026, 9:00 am
  • 51 minutes 55 seconds
    TV Club: Let’s watch My So-Called Life!

    In a very special miniseries, Greta joins forces with podcast host Kristen Meinzer to unpack every single episode of the 1994 ABC teen drama My So-Called Life. In this episode, before they begin their rewatch, Kristen and Greta discuss the cultural impact of the show with New Yorker TV critic Emily Nussbaum. Then, Greta talks to her best friend Marty, who binged the show with her when they were in high school. 


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

    Tile art: Lou Lovisek

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    16 January 2026, 9:00 am
  • 27 minutes 8 seconds
    The 87% Club

    Consider this episode a friendly nudge to stop giving everything 100% all the time. It's the 87% Club, and you're invited! Greta talks to two dear friends about perfectionism, trying too hard, and embracing rest. Guests are art activist and author Shannon Downey, aka Badass Cross Stitch, and Ellen Wessel, Greta's laziness accountability coach.


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy Thal

    Show art: Mac Maclean

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    9 January 2026, 9:00 am
  • 24 minutes 55 seconds
    New year, new TBR: What to read in 2026!!!

    Book Riot’s Liberty Hardy and NPR’s Andrew Limbong share some of the books they’re most excited to read this year. (Here's the full list of books, along with about 20 others!)


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy Thal

    Show art: Mac Maclean

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    2 January 2026, 6:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 41 seconds
    No burden, all delight: Good news from 2025

    This week, City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran and pop culture writer Margaret H. Willison share their favorite news stories of the year. From real-life magicians to ficiton demon hunters, and museum detectives to Da Pope, there's plenty of good news to go around.


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy Thal

    Show art: Mac Maclean

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    26 December 2025, 8:30 am
  • 31 minutes 40 seconds
    Bake Until Done

    This week, professional pastry chef Faith Fedash stops by host Greta Johnsen's kitchen to make pumpkin pie cookies. (Find the full recipe for the cookies here!)


    SHOW CREDITS

    Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

    Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

    Composers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy Thal

    Show art: Mac Maclean

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    19 December 2025, 9:00 am
  • 1 minute 24 seconds
    Introducing Happy To Be Here!

    Welcome to Happy To Be Here, the show for the perpetually curious!

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    6 November 2025, 10:30 pm
  • 35 minutes 7 seconds
    Goodbye for now!

    As y’all probably know, we’re calling this the “goodbye for now” episode of Nerdette because it’s our last episode while we’re employees at WBEZ. So, we thought it was the perfect time to call up Nerdette co-creator Tricia Bobeda and Nerdette Recaps co-host Peter Sagal to play our favorite game, Burden or Delight.


    Then, we hear from YOU about what Nerdette has meant to you for the past 11 years.


    We ultimately hope to find a new home for Nerdette! You can keep in touch with the team by joining our Facebook group, following Anna (@annabaumanation) and Greta (@gretamjohnsen) on Instagram, and subscribing to Greta’s newsletter.


    Thank you for 11 amazing years. We love you!

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    28 May 2024, 8:00 am
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