Nerd Hours

Nerd Hours

Follow Nerd Hours
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Follow hosts Dan and Alice as we explore the weird and wonderful. From technology to history, each episode delves into a new topic that's sure to fascinate! New episodes are released every Friday at 12pm PST (unless otherwise specified). Follow us on Twitter @nerdhourspod or email us at nerdhourspodcast@gmail.com.

Nerd Hours


    • Sep 30, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 16m AVG DURATION
    • 54 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Nerd Hours with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Nerd Hours

    Creation Story XVIII: Fulani

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 7:52


    Dan and Alice return to retelling creation stories, beginning with Africa. In this story, we discuss a cycle of creation and hubris. Find our sources @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Stories: Halfway Discussion Part III

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2022 20:27


    Dan and Alice finish the discussion about Season 1 creation stories. In this part, we review the creation of humans, as well as more common trends in the creation stories that we've covered.

    Creation Stories: Halfway Discussion Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2022 16:04


    Dan and Alice continue the discussion about creation stories covered in Season 1. We discuss the themes of gods and pantheons, in addition to concepts like the often chaotic state of the universe in creation story prologues.

    Creation Stories: Halfway Discussion Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2022 19:51


    In the inaugural episode of Season 2, Dan and Alice discuss what they've noticed about the creation stories thus far. This episode dissects the four elements discussed in every creation story.

    Creation Story XVII: Inca

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2022 18:41


    In the last creation story of the season, Dan and Alice review a myth from the Incan empire. We learn about the main god and his many trials in creating humans. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Story XVI: Aztec

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2022 14:06


    Dan and Alice delve into one of the creation stories from the ancient Aztec civilization. In it, we find some parallels to other creation stories we've covered, as well as the Aztecs' beliefs about doom and the need for sacrifice. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    The Six Servants

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2022 13:21


    Dan and Alice look into the Dutch version of a lesser-known Brothers Grimm story. Join us for a standard fairy tale with some characters who have interesting abilities, the likes of which you likely have never heard of before! Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Story XV: Mayan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2022 15:02


    Dan and Alice look into a creation story from the Mayan civilization. We talk about their belief in different levels of the world, as well as the creation of humans and some of the gods who were pivotal in the creation of their world. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Story XIV: Inuit

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 11:47


    Dan and Alice discuss one of the many Inuit creation stories. In it, we experience a new take on the creation of land and learn about values of speech and language that seem to be very specific to these people. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    The Brilliance of The Wall Part IV

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2022 35:08


    In the fourth and final part of The Wall series, Alice and Dan explore the the detriments of isolation and mental decay, starting with Pink's fascist alternate persona and continuing through his mental trial and tear down of the wall. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod. Trigger Warning: mild swearing, homophobia, racism, adultery/abuse, drug abuse, & suicide

    Creation Story XIII: Iroquois

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 9:53


    Dan and Alice discuss the Iroquois creation story as recorded by European settlers. While narrating the trials of a woman and many animals, we discuss significant similarities between the Iroquois creation story and other stories we've reviewed. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Story XIII: Iroquois

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022


    Dan and Alice discuss the Iroquois creation story as recorded by European settlers. While narrating the trials of a woman and many animals, we discuss significant similarities between the Iroquois creation story and other stories we've reviewed. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    A Bride of Thor

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 9:18


    In this episode, Dan and Alice discuss a funny story from Norse mythology: the entertaining saga of one of Thor's marriages. Find our sources on twitter @nerhourspod.

    Creation Story XII: Navajo

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2022 13:41


    Dan and Alice look into the Navajo creation story. We discuss the story of the creation of the original world, known as First World or Black World. In addition, we give some background to the people who believe in this world. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    The Brilliance of The Wall Part III

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2022 29:53


    In the third part of The Wall series, Alice and an even more reluctant Dan cover the inside of Pink's mental wall, self isolation, and the tragic inspiration for Pink's mental breakdown. Trigger Warning: themes of mental/physical isolation, mental illness, suicide, war trauma, & drug abuse

    Fun Facts: Jovian Planets Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 7:06


    Alice finishes her discussion about the planets in our solar system by covering Uranus and Neptune.

    Fun Facts: Height

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 4:20


    Dan reviews some world record tallest and shortest heights and the science behind why we've gotten taller.

    Creation Story XI: Arapaho

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2022 9:19


    Dan and Alice talk about the Arapaho creation story. We talk a bit about the Arapaho people and how their story is similar to and different from previous creation stories that we have discussed. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    The Brilliance of The Wall Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 31:42


    Alice and Dan return with the second installment in the series analyzing Pink Floyd's The Wall. We explore the darker themes of Pink's adulthood in Side 2 of the album and how his character mirrors the childhood traumas of Side 1. Trigger Warning: Mentions of adultery, drug abuse, physical and verbal abuse, suicide, and mental illness

    wall pink pink floyd brilliance trigger warning mentions
    Fun Facts: Jovian Planets Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2022 5:08


    Alice runs through some more planetary fun facts, starting with Jupiter and Saturn.

    Creation Story X: Cherokee

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 10:27


    Dan and Alice start looking into creation stories from Native Americans with that of the Cherokee tribe. We talk a bit about who the Cherokee are and discuss some of the vast differences between this story and some of the previous that we have discussed. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    The Brilliance of The Wall Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 36:49


    In the first part of a series on Pink Floyd's concept album The Wall, Alice and a reluctant Dan venture into a brief history of progressive rock and dive into the first part of the 1979 album. Trigger Warning: Mentions of war trauma, spousal/child abuse, death threats, and gore/body horror

    wall pink floyd brilliance trigger warning mentions
    Bisexuality Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2022 28:44


    In the second part of this Valentine's Day special, Alice and Alexi finish covering a few misconceptions and stereotypes about bisexuality and talk about their own experiences being/coming out as bi. Trigger Warning: Biphobia/Homophobia

    Bisexuality Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2022 31:11


    In this two part Valentines Day special, Alice and Alexi spill the tea on what it means to be "bi", from bisexuality in history and pop culture to common misconceptions.Trigger Warning: homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia

    Existential Crisis Part II: Distance, Space, and Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 24:41


    Dan and Alice pick up where we left off last time. We discuss vast distances and sizes both on our fair planet and in the universe, like Betlegeuse–a star with a name harder to spell than its size is to comprehend–as well as the length of time that the universe has existed. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod. Content warning: general discussion of the immense scale of our micro/macroverse could be upsetting for some listeners

    Creation Story IX: Slavic Regions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 8:43


    Dan and Alice take a look into a Slavic creation story from Poland. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Existential Crisis Part I: Size of the Universe Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2022


    In our first episode of the New Year, Dan and Alice decide to provide a free existential crisis for both themselves and our listeners (no refunds). We discuss the microscopic worlds living around (and within us), from atoms to bacteria to water bears. We even dip into the numbers of humans on our fair planet and just how little space we can all squeeze into! Find our sources on twitter @nerhourspod. Content warning: germaphobia/bacillophobia, general discussion of the immense scale of our micro/macroverse could be upsetting for some listeners

    The Origins of Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 12:09


    In this special episode, Alice and Dan discuss the Roman holiday of Saturnalia, one of the many contributors to our modern Christmas. From public drunkenness to murder, this is the pinnacle of family-friendly Christmas stories to add to your list of classics. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.Music by Dee Yan-Key

    The First Computer Worms

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 15:04


    In our latest example of why bored nerds shouldn't be underestimated, Dan and Alice, joined by our friend Alexi, talk about the first computer worm virus and what happens when a graduate prank goes a bit too far. We also discuss the thrilling first worm virus to be used as a political statement. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.Warning: mild profanity

    computers worms first computer
    Creation Story VIII: Lithuanian

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 12:21


    Dan and Alice look into the ancient Baltic religions with an ancient Lithuanian creation story. We discuss how their duotheistic story parallels some ideas from the bible and other interesting things. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod!

    Fun Facts: Japanese Myths

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2021 5:49


    In this bonus episode, Alice runs through two Japanese myths: the kitsune and the Shining Princess. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    The History of Whack Nitrogen Discoveries

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 20:42


    From caffeine to morphine to the air we breathe, nitrogen is present in many vital--and sometimes dangerous--substances. In this episode, Alice walks Dan through some of the most hilarious (and deadly) discoveries of nitrogenous substances. You might even come out of the discussion with an entirely different view on the origins of the Nobel Prize. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Story Episode VII: Wiccan

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 10:37


    Dan and Alice look into some of the beliefs of the Wiccan religion. We discuss some of the elements of this branch of neo-paganism and how there are so many different branches. We only go over a bare summary of the beliefs of the Wicca so if you want to know more, you can find our sources on Twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Milk

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 13:34


    Dan and Alice discuss the importance of milk in Europe and the development of lactose tolerance in adults. In addition, we look a bit into lactose intolerance and casein intolerance. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Story VI: Celtic

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 21:03


    Alice and Dan cover the longest creation story from Celtic Mythology. We make some comparisons to other creation stories we have already discussed and briefly review two other Celtic creation myths. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Fun Facts: Halloween

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2021 3:44


    Over airways lost to time, Dan quickly explains the origins of Halloween.

    LGBTQ+: A Summary

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 37:57


    In this episode, Alice and Dan review 11 of the more common gender identities and 15 of the more common sexual identities. We briefly define each of these identities, as well as give some examples from popular media. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Story V: Ancient Norse

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 10:22


    Dan and Alice cover the creation story from Norse Mythology. We make some comparisons to other creation stories that we have already discussed. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Artificial Intelligence in Astronomy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 14:10


    Dan explains to Alice some of the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as some of the potential applications of this technology in the field of astronomy. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Theories of Consciousness Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 27:43


    In the final part of this series, Alice and Dan cover the final two theories of consciousness, the Integrated Information Theory and the Higher Order Theory. We also discuss the takeaways from each theory and answer the question “what is consciousness and why do we have it?” Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Bonus Fun Facts: The Terrestrial Planets

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2021 6:44


    In this month's bonus episode, Alice quickly covers NASA's origins and the first four planets in our solar system--often called the terrestrial (or rocky) planets.

    nasa fun facts terrestrial planets
    Theories of Consciousness Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 18:22


    In the first part of this series, Alice and Dan review some of the most popular theories of consciousness in the world of cognitive science. We cover the Global Neuronal Workspace Theory and Recurrent Processing Theory. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Creation Story Episode IV: Ancient Egypt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 13:52


    In the final episode of creation stories in the Middle East, Dan and Alice discuss an Ancient Egyptian story of creation. This is just one of dozens of retellings of this story, so some details may vary from what you've heard before. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    LGBTQ+ Discussion: Aromantic & Asexuality

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2021 45:11


    In something of a different format than usual, Dan describes what it is to be aromantic and asexual and discuss what it's like in modern society to identify as such to Alice. We give an overview of what these terms are, anecdotal experiences, and common questions. Feel free to send any questions about being aro/ace to our twitter @nerdhourspod!

    Creation Story Episode III: Enuma Elish

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2021 10:45


    Dan and Alice explore the Babylonian myth of creation as told in the poem Enuma Elish. We discuss some of the parallels to the Ancient Greek story, as well as Genesis throughout the explanation. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.Warning: themes of violence - the Babylonians didn't care about “sanitization”

    Bonus Fun Facts: Hummingbirds

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2021 2:42


    Dan goes through some fun facts about hummingbirds in a quick bonus episode!

    The Many Forms of Depression

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2021 49:23


    Alice and Dan explore the many diagnoses that fall under unipolar depression and the many misconceptions of the mental disorder. We also talk a bit about the effects of social media and other diagnoses commonly paired with depressive disorders. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.Warning: This episode contains brief mentions of suicide, self-harm, and other serious symptoms of depression. Please watch at your discretion.

    Creation Story Anthology II: Ancient Greece

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2021 10:53


    Dan and Alice continue their tour of creation stories with the one from Ancient Greece. We review some of the common elements of creation stories and spend some time discussing the succession aspect with regards to the quality of the successor. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.Warning: Mild swearing and themes of violence--the Greek creation story isn't exactly “war-free”

    Caesar Cipher: The Beginning of Cryptography

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 13:56


    Dan, with the help of Alice, delves into the history of one of the most commonly known cipher - the caesar cipher. We discuss what type of code it is, the origins, and how it's been broken. We also talk a bit about the vigenère cipher and how it works. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    cryptography caesar cipher
    Creation Story Anthology I: Genesis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 21:40


    Dan and Alice start looking into world-wide creation stories with the well known creation story in Genesis. We discuss some of the common elements of creation stories, as well as some of the differences in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Extraterrestrial Life Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2021 19:24


    In Part II, Alice and Dan delve into the wacky world of extremophiles, the possibility of life on Jupiter's ice moon Europa, and some upcoming missions searching for extraterrestrial life. Small segues into Antarctica's ozone hole and life on Mars and Jupiter's other moons are also present. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.

    Claim Nerd Hours

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel