Black Nerdy Scholars
In 'Black Nerdy Scholars,' hosts Elia and Darrell, two Black Literature PhD candidates with AuDHD, explore a wide range of topics spanning anime, video games, the challenges of academic life, and the Black cultural experience. Each episode blends thoughtful discussion with wit and academic cynicism, offering a unique perspective on both popular culture and scholarly pursuits. The show creates a space where Black nerd culture and intellectual rigor intersect, engaging listeners with deep dives and playful banter.
Episodes
You See How This Looks Right? PRIMETIME Review
Darrell and Elia overanalyze Lance Oppenheim's PRIMETIME and explore post-9/11 television and cultureBlack Nerdy Scholars #44Timeline:0:00 Spooky Season5:27 Charlie Brown and American Holidays9:33 Horror and The Gothic16:39 Teaching the Gothic20:06 _____slop24:46 Reading the Classics29:26 PRIMETIME1:07:34 Send OffsHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Take a Br
We Need To Talk About Hasan Piker...
Darrell and Elia overanalyze Marvel's Wolverine and Hasan Piker's role in American politicsBlack Nerdy Scholars #43Timeline:0:00 Explaining Marvel’s Wolverine8:06 The Problem with Playstation Exclusives12:43 Upcoming Woke Games16:24 Gendered Romance in Games18:36 Transactional Romance23:59 Fear of Domination29:19 Hasan Piker’s In The News Again…34:21 We Need To Talk About Hasan54:46 The Kingmaker1
John Stewart's Story MUST Be About Race
Darrell and Elia overanalyze Lanterns with its racial politics and critiques of authorityBlack Nerdy Scholars #42Timeline:0:00 Beach Episodes in Anime3:29 Growing Out of Anime13:28 Core Themes in Battle Shounen23:05 Lanterns Impressions28:23 John Stewart and Colorism32:05 Aaron Pierre’s Performance in Lanterns34:47 Race in Lanterns43:04 The Willpower to Self-Actualize45:46 Identity Under Authority
GTA Is The Beyoncé Of Video Games
Darrell and Elia overanalyze the GTA VI gameplay trailer and the industry drama surrounding itBlack Nerdy Scholars #41Timeline:0:00 Writing Practices5:11 Current Reads12:07 The Witcher19:06 Your Name26:42 More Current Reads31:18 GTA VI Drama36:57 Hacker Culture42:48 GTA VI Hacker45:50 GTA is the Beyoncé of Video Games52:12 GTA VI Gameplay Trailer1:13:12 Immersion in GTA VI1:16:00 Send OffsHosted b
Getting Bwicked Up For The Wicker (2026) Trailer
Darrell and Elia discuss book-to-screen adaptations and explore the reactions to the trailer for Wicker (2026)Black Nerdy Scholars #40Timeline:0:00 Hellos1:26 Reading Scripts3:21 Books to Screen Pipeline10:00 Unisex Books12:32 Harry Potter Vs Percy Jackson15:47 Boys Like Romance18:59 Fields of Mistria28:13 Metaphor ReFantazio35:51 Wicker 1:03:12 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdit
Is Marvel BACK?? Spider-Man Brand New Day Review
Darrell and Elia review Spider-Man Brand New Day and explore the current state of the Marvel Cinematic UniverseBlack Nerdy Scholars #39Timeline:0:00 Hellos5:04 Selling Lifestyles10:37 Psych16:50 Spider-Man Media22:06 Spider-Man Brand New Day Review1:09:37 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro m
The Paramount Warner Bros Merger Is Bad, And Here's Why...
Darrell and Elia discuss the current state of streaming and gaming before explaining why Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros must be stoppedBlack Nerdy Scholars #38Timeline:0:00 Hellos0:56 Woke Dora The Explorer1:58 Getting On Schedule3:33 Streamer Culture10:50 Video Game Language16:05 Elden Ring25:18 My Time At Sandrock31:55 Paramount Warner Acquisition1:03:12 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson
WOKE Is BACK!! The Odyssey Review
Darrell and Elia review Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Black Nerdy Scholars #37Timeline:0:00 Hellos0:37 DreamCon10:36 Cabernet16:29 Game of Thrones 23:47 The Odyssey Review1:16:00 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon:
Freedom 250 Perfectly Captures the State of America
Darrell and Elia look back on all of the failures of Trump's Freedom 250 State Fair and put them in the context of current American politicsBlack Nerdy Scholars #36Timeline:0:00 Hellos1:18 Firework Culture5:38 Childhood Fears9:06 Neon Genesis Evangelion11:39 Big O14:38 Darling in the Franxx17:08 Defending Gooner Anime18:54 X-Men ‘9722:04 Cloak & Dagger26:33 Elia’s Visual Novels33:23 Freedom 25
"It's Just A Movie" SUPERGIRL Review
Darrell and Elia review Craig Gillespie's SUPERGIRL and the current state of comic book moviesBlack Nerdy Scholars #35Timeline:0:00 Hellos1:46 Democratic Socialists of America5:27 Obsession8:44 High School Musical12:10 More Obsession14:44 Summer House18:24 The Adventures of Elliot22:40 Fields of Mistria26:35 Supergirl Spoiler-Free Review44:28 Supergirl SPOILER Review1:02:58 GoodbyesHosted by Darre
Is Steven Spielberg Out Of Touch? DISCLOSURE DAY Spoiler Free Review
Darrell and Elia review Steven Spielberg's DISCLOSURE DAY and discuss how it fits into the current film landscapeBlack Nerdy Scholars #34Timeline:0:00 Hellos1:41 ADHD Struggles7:49 Love Island USA Season 89:56 Interview With The Vampire21:03 Persona 5 Royal30:48 Disclosure Day Spoiler-Free Review50:07 Disclosure Day SPOILER Review1:08:54 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Pe
Anyways, Team Bea! LOVE ISLAND USA Review
Elia convinces Darrell to watch Love Island USA Season 8, and here's the initial breakdown!Black Nerdy Scholars #33Timeline:0:00 Hellos4:44 ADHD Advice12:22 Arcadia Fallen20:22 007 First Light25:43 Amazon Studios27:09 The Amazing Digital Circus32:20 Love Island USA Season 81:31:28 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://th
"I Love Boosters" Is As Absurd As It Is Relevant
Darrell and Elia review the weirdness and important messaging of Boots Riley's "I Love Boosters"Black Nerdy Scholars #32Timeline:0:00 Hellos0:26 Generational Divides14:17 Dead As Disco18:10 Hi-Fi Rush20:27 Critical Role Campaign 426:26 College Theatre29:27 I Love Boosters SPOILER-FREE Review43:59 SPOILERS1:04:58 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fin
"Mixtape" Makes Gamers Ruin Gaming...Again
Darrell and Elia Review Annapurna Interactive's "Mixtape" and address the obscene backlash.Black Nerdy Scholars #31Timeline:0:00 Hellos4:20 Post-Student Life7:24 The Watermelon Man11:42 Trouble Man13:28 Fledging16:06 Kagurabachi22:54 “Mixtape” Review1:03:29 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro
Y'all Are Hating The Odyssey Trailer Wrong
Darrell and Elia break down the newest trailer for Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" while exploring modern masculinity and the ethics of hating.Black Nerdy Scholars #30Timeline:0:00 Hellos3:04 Canvas Hack6:04 Literacy Crisis11:30 Hantavirus Outbreak15:17 “The Gunslinger”23:49 “Silent Hill F”28:39 “The Odyssey” Trailer Review1:07:02 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter P
"Euphoria" Season 3 Should Have Been A Spin-Off
Darrell and Elia explore gender in media interests before complaining about Euphoria Season 3Black Nerdy Scholars #29Timeline:0:00 Hellos2:30 Gym Talk5:27 Personal Thought Vs Fundamental Truth15:47 Tomodachi Life22:40 Witch Hat Atelier31:14 Euphoria Season 3 Review (So Far)1:08:30 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://th
"Michael" Has Nothing To Say
Darrell and Elia discuss creeps in nerd spaces before doing a full review of the Michael biopic movieBlack Nerdy Scholars #28Timeline:0:00 Hellos2:34 D4vd Arrest6:40 Sykkuno and Nerd Creeps15:14 Euphoria Season 318:23 Margo’s Got Money Troubles20:27 The Wire Season 422:35 Middle School Pantsing Story25:50 Pragmata29:44 Michael Biopic Review56:53 Expecting More From Fun Movies1:03:51 GoodbyesHosted
Sometimes, You Just Gotta Let It Burn
Darrell and Elia track the Ontario Warehouse Fire and the string of anti-capitalistic incidents that happened ion AprilBlack Nerdy Scholars #27Timeline:0:00 Hellos2:10 UGGs and TOMs8:37 Welcome To The Terrordome16:12 Project Hail Mary20:46 Riz Ahmed’s Hamlet28:02 The Wire30:21 Ontario Warehouse Fire36:29 No Kings Protest39:16 Economic Violence43:26 April’s Violent Timeline48:08 The Cost of Capital
Would You Stay With Emma? Reviewing "The Drama"
TW: Gun ViolenceDarrell and Elia give a spoiler-free AND a spoiler review of A24's The Drama starring Zendaya and Robert PattinsonBlack Nerdy Scholars #26Timeline:0:00 Hellos0:28 Wiggafication3:29 Child Actors Shedding Their Image12:42 Stepping on Shoes15:43 “The Drama” Spoiler-Free Discussion33:19 SPOILER WARNING34:40 “The Drama” SPOILER Discussion1:06:53 GoodbyesHosted by Darrell Hughson and Eli
We Should Play With Our Genders More
Darrell and Elia explore the tradition of gender-swapping in media before discussing how gender fluidity fits into their livesBlack Nerdy Scholars #25Timeline:0:00 Hellos01:07 Choosing Your College Life12:46 Keeping Up With Pop Culture14:28 Gender-Swapping And Bridgerton21:44 Gender-Swapping And Capitalism28:28 Queer Stories in Heterosexual Fandoms32:42 Growing Up With Cross-Dressing37:48 Learning
We Need To Talk About Euphoria...
Darrell and Elia look back and forward to Euphoria and interrogate media featuring Teenage PromiscuityBlack Nerdy Scholars #24Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesky: BNS - htt
We're Glad Sinners Lost Best Picture
Darrell and Elia catch up on recent political news before discussing the value of awards after the 98th Academy Awards ceremonyBlack Nerdy Scholars #23Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyS
When Parasocial Goes Too Far...
Darrell and Elia discuss the different levels to parasocial relationships and the different benefits (and harms) that followBlack Nerdy Scholars #22Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScho
Pokémon Is For Babies
Darrell and Elia discuss how internet misery has been affecting the Pokémon franchiseBlack Nerdy Scholars #21Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdysch
Here Lies Jonathan Majors' Career
Darrell and Elia chronicle Jonathan Major's downfall and turn towards griftingBlack Nerdy Scholars #20Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholars.b
Was America's Next Top Model Worth the Trauma?
Darrell and Elia discuss the America's Next Top Model documentary and its impact on American and Internet culturesBlack Nerdy Scholars #19Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesk
Black Nerd Culture Used To Be Different
Darrell and Elia discuss how fashion interacts with gender and race and connect it to the Black nerd culture we grew up withBlack Nerdy Scholars #18Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScho
Rosa Parks Chicken Jockey
Darrell and Elia Discuss race with Wuthering Heights and Minecraft before giving out some Black History Month book recommendationsBlack Nerdy Scholars #17Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNer
The ICE Raids Are History Repeating Itself
Darrell and Elia connect Black History to ICE raids and the current state of American politicsBlack Nerdy Scholars #16Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesky: BNS - http://blac
JJK Shows Us The Power of Gender
Darrell and Elia discuss the ways gender acts as a revolutionary power against conservatism in Jujutsu KaisenBlack Nerdy Scholars #15Timeline:0:00 Hellos2:16 Aristotelian Appeals5:20 The Importance of Craft6:15 Generative AI’s Failures8:08 Booktok and Anti-Intellectualism11:31 The Value of Romantasy12:52 The Tropification of Literature14:39 Identity and Reading Practices16:27 The Effect of Childho
Which Disney Characters Canonically Had Sex?
Darrell and Elia discuss sexuality through the lens of neurodivergence and Disney Films Black Nerdy Scholars #14Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdy
Is Fan Service Redeemable?
Darrell and Elia remember old Internet Culture before debating the ethics of Fan ServiceBlack Nerdy Scholars #13Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdy
Pluribus Explains Why AI Is Still Bad
Darrell and Elia catch up in the new year before analyzing Vince Gilligan's "Pluribus" Black Nerdy Scholars #12Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdys
We Can Finally Leave 2025 Behind Us
Darrell and Elia look back on 2025 and look forward to all the big plans in 2026!Black Nerdy Scholars #11Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyScholarsBluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholar
The Christmas Movies That Made Our Childhoods
Darrell and Elia remebmer the Christmas Movies they watched as kids before exploring the creative process of making video gamesBlack Nerdy Scholars #10Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackNerdyS
Diddy Caused All Of This To Hide The Fact He Is A Loser
Darrell and Elia congradulate Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on their Game of The Year Win before diving into the MANY crimes of Sean "Puffy" CombsBlack Nerdy Scholars #9Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - http://blackner
Dispatch Doesn't Understand Redemption
Darrell and Elia return from Thanksgiving Break to discuss redemption in AdHoc's DispatchBlack Nerdy Scholars #8Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholars.bsky.socialElia - http://femputer.blacksky.a
There are Some Problems with Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein...
Darrell and Elia discuss Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and the issues with contemporary adaptations of the gothic.Black Nerdy Scholars #7Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholars.bsky.socialElia
These Romance Tropes Are Getting Old...
Darrell and Elia discuss platonic love in media and decide on the romance tropes they like...and the ones they don'tBlack Nerdy Scholars #6Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholars.bsky.socialElia -
D&D Was My Destiny
Darrell and Elia discuss how D&D has become an important part of their livesBlack Nerdy Scholars #5Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholars.bsky.socialElia - http://femputer.blacksky.appDarrell
Southern Fried Rice? Fine! Gooning? Not Fine!
Darrell and Elia discuss why Keke Palmer's "Southern Fried Rice" isn't that bad and why "The Goon Squad" is worse than you can imagineBlack Nerdy Scholars #4Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholars
Tyler, The Creator Isn't Sorry About Those Old Tweets
Darrell and Elia recap the Amazon Web Services outage before going through Tyler, The Creator's old tweets and ranking his albumsBlack Nerdy Scholars #3Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholars.bsky
Assassin's Creed Isn't About Time Travel
Darrell and Elia remember D'Angelo, discuss Raven mascots, and recount the Assassin's Creed franchiseBlack Nerdy Scholars #2Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - http://blacknerdyscholars.bsky.socialElia - http://fempute
Taylor Swift Doesn't Know What a Showgirl Is
Darrell and Elia discuss Shakespeare and Tay-K in Taylor Swift's The Life of a ShowgirlBlack Nerdy Scholars #1Hosted by Darrell Hughson and Elia AgudoEdited by Peter PrietoIntro music: Fine Sounds - Bus Stop - https://thmatc.co/?l=FD3AA8A1Outro music: Fine Sounds - Dreamscape Drip - https://thmatc.co/?l=91F0D203Bluesky: BNS - blacknerdyscholars.bsky.socialElia - femputer.blacksky.appDarrell - pro
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