A decade of delight. The logo for Nerdette appears hand-drawn. There are colorful, zany blobbies.
Check out our new look! Laura Vergara / WBEZ
A decade of delight. The logo for Nerdette appears hand-drawn. There are colorful, zany blobbies.
Check out our new look! Laura Vergara / WBEZ

Way back in the year 2013, “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore was at the top of the charts, President Obama began his second term, and Disney released the blockbuster Frozen. But perhaps most importantly, the podcast Nerdette was born.

Co-founders Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda joke that they were “too socially awkward” to start a friendship, so they decided to make a podcast together instead. They came together over a shared philosophy that being a nerd isn’t about what you love, it’s about how much you love it.

Nerdette Legos + Lego figures look like Tricia and Greta.
A Nerdette listener made these remarkable Tricia and Greta Lego figures. WBEZ

Their first full-length episode featured an interview with Julie Shapiro, then-director of Third Coast International Audio Festival, about the lack of women in podcasting – at the time, Julie’s research found that only 9 of the top 100 podcasts on Stitcher were hosted by women.

In this anniversary episode, co-host emeritus Tricia rejoined Greta behind the mic to reflect on 10 whole years of the show. They also welcomed back Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, who co-hosted Nerdette Recaps with the pair. We also get the chance to hear from two 10-year-olds who discuss what it really means to be 10 years old.

Nerdette Recaps hosts + Greta Johnsen, Peter Sagal, and Tricia Bobeda pose together at a Nerdette event.
Hosts Greta Johnsen, Peter Sagal, and Tricia Bobeda agree that live events were one of the best parts of ‘Recaps.’ WBEZ

Everyone on the Nerdette team, past and present, agree that the best part of the show is the community of listeners. From sending voice memos for each month’s book club books to sharing recommendations in Nerdette Headquarters on Facebook, this group of listeners shows up for one another.

As part of the celebration, we are inviting listeners to our long-distance birthday party with a cake decorating contest! The winner will receive a $250 gift card to Bookshop.org. Plus, since we believe in participation awards, all entrants will receive a Nerdette bookmark. Click HERE for more information.

To mark the occasion, we’re also unveiling a new logo designed by WBEZ’s Laura Vergara!

Here’s to 10 more years!!!!

Nerdette team + Executive producer Brendan Banaszak, host Greta Johnsen, and producer Anna Bauman pose in front of a Nerdette background.
Meet the current Nerdette team! Executive producer Brendan Banaszak, host Greta Johnsen, and producer Anna Bauman. Vin Reed / WBEZ
A decade of delight. The logo for Nerdette appears hand-drawn. There are colorful, zany blobbies.
Check out our new look! Laura Vergara / WBEZ
A decade of delight. The logo for Nerdette appears hand-drawn. There are colorful, zany blobbies.
Check out our new look! Laura Vergara / WBEZ

Way back in the year 2013, “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore was at the top of the charts, President Obama began his second term, and Disney released the blockbuster Frozen. But perhaps most importantly, the podcast Nerdette was born.

Co-founders Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda joke that they were “too socially awkward” to start a friendship, so they decided to make a podcast together instead. They came together over a shared philosophy that being a nerd isn’t about what you love, it’s about how much you love it.

Nerdette Legos + Lego figures look like Tricia and Greta.
A Nerdette listener made these remarkable Tricia and Greta Lego figures. WBEZ

Their first full-length episode featured an interview with Julie Shapiro, then-director of Third Coast International Audio Festival, about the lack of women in podcasting – at the time, Julie’s research found that only 9 of the top 100 podcasts on Stitcher were hosted by women.

In this anniversary episode, co-host emeritus Tricia rejoined Greta behind the mic to reflect on 10 whole years of the show. They also welcomed back Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, who co-hosted Nerdette Recaps with the pair. We also get the chance to hear from two 10-year-olds who discuss what it really means to be 10 years old.

Nerdette Recaps hosts + Greta Johnsen, Peter Sagal, and Tricia Bobeda pose together at a Nerdette event.
Hosts Greta Johnsen, Peter Sagal, and Tricia Bobeda agree that live events were one of the best parts of ‘Recaps.’ WBEZ

Everyone on the Nerdette team, past and present, agree that the best part of the show is the community of listeners. From sending voice memos for each month’s book club books to sharing recommendations in Nerdette Headquarters on Facebook, this group of listeners shows up for one another.

As part of the celebration, we are inviting listeners to our long-distance birthday party with a cake decorating contest! The winner will receive a $250 gift card to Bookshop.org. Plus, since we believe in participation awards, all entrants will receive a Nerdette bookmark. Click HERE for more information.

To mark the occasion, we’re also unveiling a new logo designed by WBEZ’s Laura Vergara!

Here’s to 10 more years!!!!

Nerdette team + Executive producer Brendan Banaszak, host Greta Johnsen, and producer Anna Bauman pose in front of a Nerdette background.
Meet the current Nerdette team! Executive producer Brendan Banaszak, host Greta Johnsen, and producer Anna Bauman. Vin Reed / WBEZ