Nerd Blog #1: Podcast: Nerdist Podcast

Good podcasts have this way of connecting to one another. I first heard Chris Hardwick’s sweet sweet voice while playing an episode of “Doug Loves Movies.” He sounds familiar, I thought, as images of Attack of the Show flashed in my head. I realized, I know this man. I know Chris Hardwick from TV.

At the end of his ride on the Lenard Maltin Game, Chris mentioned his own podcast: Nerdist. “Holy shit, I follow that podcast on twitter.” The Internet is a crazy messed up place.

The Nerdist Podcast regularly includes both Chris and Jonah Ray, usually talking to some famous guest that we can all geek over. This is a fairly common format among bored celebrities: famous person A asks famous person B to come and talk about famous-person-thing  X. However, what sets Nerdist apart is the simple fact that Chris Hardwick isn’t bored. Rather, he is engaging and candid, the conversations are organic and natural but still captivating and hilarious. It’s that feeling you get when you listen to two close friends riff, even though you aren’t a contributor of the conversation, you feel a part of it.

This works well with the lineup of guests on Nerdist. They are not always the most relevant or sought after persons, but they are always pivotal characters in Nerd culture. Chris brings you in, sits you down, and introduces you someone you’ve always wanted to meet. But the great thing is, this is all done with a sense of humility. Chris Hardwick loves these people, just as much as we do. Maybe that’s where this surprising sense of intimacy comes from. The audience hears conversations with Nathan Fillion and Stan Lee, but more importantly leaves the podcast feeling like they’ve had the conversations themselves. How could you not be addicted to something like that?

Interestingly, the episodes run together to form a sense of Chris’ past. He frequently invites comics he’s worked with during his rise to the middle, and in those instances they share old war stories from getting up on stage. If anything, hearing these bits of the Ballad of Hardwick can make us all hopeful. Work hard and get what you want, be it a career in comedy or a thinner waist line.

And, most importantly, Chris’ voice is audibly pleasing to listen to. There have been several podcasts I’ve unsubscribed from due completely to the grading voice of the personality behind the mic. Chris’ voice is like syrup, but a sound. I am not gay.

You can follow Chris at twitter.com/nerdist

Find the podcast at nerdist.com/category/podcast

Or enjoy the Nerdist blog at nerdist.com