NW NERD: Fandom-powered geek magazine

Ming Chen spends a lot of time on the road, traveling to different pop culture conventions as a guest and a host. In doing so, he has become familiar with many cities across the USA, getting to know the local restaurants, cafes, dive bars, and more. When he is visiting the Northwest (Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Puyallup), he has a few spots he always returns to. In this episode, Min

You may know Alicia Marie from comic conventions where she is often a guest, but this cosplayer is more than meets the eye. Alicia Marie lives many lives: Cosplayer, fitness expert, social media influencer, advocate for the deaf community, author, and more. With so much going on, it's no wonder that some information has been stretched online. So we set the record straight by g

Beau Johnson organizes events for PlayTest NW, so game designers can test their creations. But when the pandemic struck in 2020, prompting lockdowns and social distancing, the gaming organization had to evolve overnight. How did PlayTest NW change, and what does it look like today. Beau Johnson with PlayTest NW took time to chat with NW NERD at a previous Washington State Summer Co

How to describe Captain Slinky? Well, for starters, he makes these lamps. They're one-of-a-kind and you just have to see them to believe them. They certainly fit in at an event called "The Oddmall." Captain Slinky took the helm of The Oddmall in Washington and has been featuring crafters and vendors that don't always fit in at your generic craft fair. Here, you

Cosplay is not just about crafting screen-accurate costumes for Rogues Gallery Cosplay. It's also about fitness. NW NERD presents a feature profile on this Northwest couple who builds their attire along with their bodies.This feature is an audio version of a profile on Rogues Gallery Cosplay published in the first edition of NW NERD Magazine. Find a digital copy of the magazin

Cosplayer Ani-Mia has taken her cosplay to new heights as a writer who has been featured in Otaku Magazine and Cosplay Central. She didn't let her passions end there and also penned a series of comics for Dynamite's Betty Page series. But these stories may not be what you would assume. Also in this episode: Random Fandom with Comic Dad Andrew. Andrew reaches back into his

Do you have a comic book idea you want to see in print? Woody Arnold is a DIY, indie comic creator who has navigated the tricky world of self publishing. He has had to adapt to many challenges, which he hasn't let stop his current project, Cybersymbiosis. Woody is taking Cybersymbiosis to a whole new level with his latest Kickstarter effort. Check that out here. Also, a new se

Beverly Downen wears many hats ... or helmets, horns ... and crowns? She's a cosplayer, competitor, judge, and now an author!You may know Beverly as a skilled cosplayer who crafts impressive costumes for the Northwest's many comic cons. You may know her from competitions she has participated in or judged. You may know her from the SheProp! community (celebrating female, n

The Hero Initiative is a federally recognized non profit with a simple mission – help comic creators in need. It's been around nearly 20 years and during that time it has distributed more than $1 million to such comic creators. But what does helping "comic creators in need" mean anyway? We're pulling in Cullen Stapleton, Hero Initiative's volunteer in the

A chat with actor Russell Hodgkinson of "Z Nation" fame. The actor discusses the film scene in Spokane, whether or not he should shave his beard, projects he's working on, cats, and gardening ... and more. This interview was recorded at Spokane's Lilac City Comic Con.And check out the first time Russell spoke with NW NERD. This episode is brought to you by Rose