The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club Podcast
Hosted by The Nerdy
Two psychologists use fantasy and dystopian novels as case studies to explain clinical concepts like trauma, anxiety, and attachment.
This is a book club that doubles as a psychology lecture. Each month, the hosts select a popular YA, fantasy, or dystopian novel and dedicate a multi-episode arc to analyzing its characters and plot through specific clinical frameworks. They'll break down concepts like Post-Traumatic Growth, avoidance, or leadership styles, using characters as clear, practical examples. The show also features a newer 'Authors Corner' segment with more traditional author interviews.
“Unlike typical book review podcasts, this show uses fiction as a textbook. Its strength is translating formal psychological theories into accessible conversations by grounding them in the actions and motivations of well-known characters from popular books.”
Who hosts this show
Your hosts, Brandi Hawk and Deanna Boys, are two nerdy women who have been working in the field of psychology for over a decade as treatment developers, trainers, and providers. In the podcast, they dive into fantasy and dystopian books to make sense of the characters' behaviors through the lens of psychological concepts. The show is designed for book nerds, therapists seeking new ways to explain concepts to clients, or anyone interested in the intersection of psychology and genre fiction.
Credentials & credits
- Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
- Deanna Boys, M.A.
- Brandi Hawk: Licensed Psychologist in California (PSY28862)
- Brandi Hawk: Co-developer of Parent-Child Care (PC-CARE) intervention
- Brandi Hawk: Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Deanna Boys: Data Manager at UC Davis Children's Hospital
Other ventures
- Brandi Hawk: Red Leaf Psychology, Inc.
- Brandi Hawk: Clinical manager at UC Davis Children's Hospital CAARE Center
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Authors Corner with Christian HurstJun 26, 2026 · 25 min
- 02Authors Corner with Christian HurstJun 25, 2026 · 25 min
- 03They Both Die at the End: Pt. 4 Post-Traumatic GrowthJun 23, 2026 · 47 min
- 04They Both Die at the End: Part 3 AvoidanceJun 19, 2026 · 42 min
- 05They Both Die At The End: Part 2: Me and My AnxietyJun 10, 2026 · 53 min
- 06They Both Die At The End: Part 1-Talking About DeathJun 2, 2026 · 55 min
- 07So Let Them Burn: Pt 4-"The gods are liars"May 27, 2026 · 50 min
- 08So Let Let Them Burn: Pt 3-"If you go, I go" -The Reeve EpisodeMay 19, 2026 · 41 min
Notable episodes
- 01They Both Die at the End: Pt. 4 Post-Traumatic Growth
A prime example of the show's core format: applying a specific clinical concept (Post-Traumatic Growth) and its five domains to a popular YA novel's main character.
- 02Authors Corner with Christian Hurst
Represents the show's newer author interview format, focusing on the psychological underpinnings of world-building and character identity with the creator themselves.
- 03They Both Die At The End: Part 2: Me and My Anxiety
Demonstrates how the hosts bring in a guest expert (Dr. Brandi Liles) to add another layer of professional insight to their analysis of a book's themes.
What you'll be asked on this show
In the 'Authors Corner' segments, host Brandi Hawk begins by building personal rapport, often finding common ground on topics outside the book, such as shared hometowns. After establishing a connection, she transitions to the guest's work, asking them to pitch their series to the listeners. Her questions tend to be broad and philosophical, probing the core psychological or creative concepts behind the book's main themes, such as the nature of identity. The interview closes by giving the guest a chance to share where listeners can find them and their work.
The show has two main formats. The primary format is a casual, multi-episode book club discussion between the two hosts and sometimes a guest expert, where they analyze a book through a specific psychological lens. A newer format, 'The Authors Corner,' is a one-on-one interview with an author about their work. Both styles are relaxed, friendly, and often include personal anecdotes and a themed drink for the episode.
Questions The Nerdy keeps coming back to
8 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when The Nerdy reaches for it.
personal
4- Q.01
“Would you introduce yourself to our listeners?”
This is the standard opening question to allow the guest to provide their background.
- Q.02
“Where did you grow up?”
Asked early in the conversation to find personal connections and build rapport.
- Q.03
“Tell me how you feel about [a specific character]?”
An opening question for character analysis in the book club discussion format.
- Q.04
“Could you let our listeners know where they can find you?”
A standard closing question to allow the guest to promote their work and social media.
craft
2- Q.01
“Why would our listeners want to choose your series?”
This question serves as a transition from personal chat to the book, prompting the author's elevator pitch.
- Q.02
“Can you walk us through the thought process behind [a core concept in the book]?”
Used to probe the psychological and creative underpinnings of a central theme or character arc.
mindset
1- Q.01
“What do you think makes somebody themself?”
A broad, philosophical follow-up that stems from a book's specific themes on identity.
process
1- Q.01
“Have you ever heard of [a psychological concept] before?”
Used in book club episodes to introduce the clinical framework for the discussion.
Signature segments
- · The Authors Corner
- · Welcome to the Club
- · Themed 'fun drink' discussion
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically authors of young adult fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopian novels, or they are subject-matter experts like other psychologists and child development specialists who can speak to the specific themes of a book.
- Christian Hurston Authors Corner with Christian Hurst
- Lindsay Armendarizon They Both Die at the End: Pt. 4 Post-Traumatic Growth
- Dr. Brandi Lileson They Both Die At The End: Part 2: Me and My Anxiety
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast does not appear to have external sponsors; the evidence reviewed contained no advertisements.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch The Nerdy
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People also ask
- What are the hosts' real names and credentials?
- The hosts are Brandi Hawk, who holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and Deanna Boys, who holds an M.A. and works as a data manager at UC Davis Children's Hospital.
- What is the podcast's format?
- The main format is a book club discussion analyzing a fantasy or dystopian novel through a psychological lens. They also have a segment called 'The Authors Corner' which features one-on-one interviews with authors.
- Is this podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases episodes on a weekly basis, with a planned break between seasons.
- Who is this podcast for?
- It's for fans of fantasy/dystopian books, therapists, and anyone interested in psychology.
- How can I be a guest on the podcast?
- The hosts accept guest pitches through their PodMatch profile. They look for guests who enjoy fantasy books, are willing to be a bit silly, and are good conversationalists.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, and other major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Brandi Hawk, Psychologist, Sacramento, CApsychologytoday.com
- [02]Dr. Brandi Hawk Ph. D. | Red Leaf Psychology, Inc.redleafpsychology.com
- [03]Deanna Boys | ResearchGate Profileresearchgate.net
- [04]The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club - Podbeannerdypsychbookclub.com
- [05]The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club - PodMatchpodmatch.com
- [06]Dr. Brandi Hawk Biography | UC Davis Healthhealth.ucdavis.edu
- [07]The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club - YouTubeyoutube.com
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