Remembering Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy as Spock Prime, Star Trek (2009)

On February 27th, Leonard Nimoy died at the age of 83.

I was heartbroken. 

He was an actor, director, poet, singer, and photographer.

But we’ll always be remember him as Spock.

Today on THE PSYCH SHOW I remember the life of Leonard Nimoy and celebrate the psychology of Spock.

To learn more about Star Trek’s Spock, check out my full psychological profile of the character's past, present, and future. My cohost and I also dedicated this week's episode of Super Fantastic Nerd Hour to the memory of Leonard Nimoy.

Why Diversity in Media Matters

Star Wars: The Force Awaken's John Boyega, Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Orphan Black's Cosima

Oscar nominations are out and we’ve got THE LEAST DIVERSE group of nominees since 1998! 

The nominations are part of a larger problem with how Hollywood works, who gets hired to produce content, and who ends up starring in it. 

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn summarized it nicely: 

The thing I want to talk to you about is why diversity in media matters. Find out how diversity is good for fans, content creators, and the bottom line on this week’s THE PSYCH SHOW.

From Back to the Future to Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Psychology of Nostalgia

Ali Mattu as Back to the Future's Marty McFly

Nostalgia keeps coming up in science fiction. It was a big part of the success behind Guardians of the Galaxy and is why the original Star Trek series is making a comeback. 

This year Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are relying on our love of their source material to reboot franchises that have seen better days. 2015 also marks the year we commemorate Back to the Future: Part II's hoverboard vision of the future.

Everything from my childhood is cool again and it’s giving me all the feels!

What’s going on here? What is nostalgia? Why are the 80s making a comeback? And what purpose does nostalgia even serve? Find out on this week’s THE PSYCH SHOW!


Why Nerds Rage!

In New York City this week? Join me at the December 5th Nerd Nite! I'll be discussing the psychology of nerd rage. Here's a sneak peak: 

Nerds are awesome people. We’re advocates of science, want freedom of information, and defend the marginalized. But there’s a dark side to nerdery. Every now and then, nerds become bullies. We flood the internet with hateful comments about Ben Affleck becoming Batman, yell at people for mistaking Star Trek and Star Wars, and break controllers when noobs mess with our World of Warcraft guild. Join veteran Nerd Nite presenter Ali Mattu as he outlines his universal theory on the psychological condition of nerd rage and what can be done to stop this epidemic.

12/22/2014 Update: Below is a video of the talk.