Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan

This week in nerddom, Mandy Kaplan embarks on a pixelated journey to the 1980s with special guest Zehra Fazal, a renowned voice actor known for her roles in countless animated series and video games. Zehra, a self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for retro gaming, guides Mandy through the world of Sierra Games' classic "King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella."

As Mandy navigates the text-based commands and dated graphics of this beloved adventure game, she finds herself equal parts frustrated and fascinated. With Zehra's expert guidance (and a little help from Mandy's husband), our intrepid host manages to clean the dwarves' house and acquire a mysterious blue pouch. But the real challenge lies ahead - can Mandy unravel the puzzles and save both Princess Rosella's father and the enigmatic Genesta?

Throughout the episode, Mandy and Zehra bond over their shared love of cooking, baking, and the Bachelor franchise. They even make tentative plans for a future culinary collaboration. But beneath the laughter and nostalgia lies a darker question - is Princess Rosella's quest a charming fairy tale or a thinly-veiled kidnapping scheme? Tune in to find out if Mandy can conquer "King's Quest IV" and emerge victorious in her quest to embrace nerd culture.

Members are in for a treat as Mandy and Zehra dig into their shared love of Iron Chef and it’s many cultural problems over the years, and the notable feminist bent in modern video games. Want to hear it? Easy! Join for $5/month or $55/year today!

Follow Zehra on Instagram and here she is on IMDB!

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What is Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan?

Hey folks. Mandy Kaplan here. I’d like to share a bit about my intentions and mission for MMAN if you’ll indulge me. You will? Huzzah!

Look, I am a lot of things. I’m a writer, actress, mother, and lover of musicals and cats, but NOT Cats, The Musical. Give me a little bit of credit, would ya? So...throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded (and intrigued) by all things nerd. A sister who plays D&D, a Star Wars-obsessed husband, friends who love anime, comic books, video games, and...well, you get the picture. Somehow, I have always held it all at arm's length. Not to get too deep, but maybe I never thought I was smart enough to follow it. Or maybe I have control issues and have never been able to embrace fantastical things like dragons and time travel. Until now!

So, with an open mind and heart, I am ready to join this massive (and beautifully inclusive) club and GEEK THE #%$ OUT! It’s time for all my wonderfully strange friends to baptize me into NERD-DOM. Please join me on this journey. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover or remember a side of yourself along the way. Or at least make fun of me as I try!