The Bearded Nerd Podcast

About The Bearded Nerd Podcast

You grew up. Your hobbies didn’t have to. The Bearded Nerd Podcast is for adults balancing careers, families, responsibilities—and a lifelong love of nerd culture. Join Brian, aka The Bearded Nerd, for conversations about tabletop RPGs, Pokémon, gaming, TCGs, comics, anime, collecting, worldbuilding, and whatever nerdy rabbit hole comes next. Some episodes dive deep into the games and hobbies we love. Others explore what it means to actually make time for them when you're juggling work, marriage, parenthood, and everything else adulthood throws at you. Expect stories, opinions, interviews, practical advice, and conversations with people who never stopped loving this stuff either. Because growing up doesn't mean growing out of the things that bring us joy. Much Love & Keep Gaming.

Publisher

Brian

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Mar 2020

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

171 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   How to Improvise When Your Players Go Off Script

   Your players ignored the quest, skipped the encounter you prepared, and suddenly went somewhere you never expected. What do you do now? In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian breaks down how Game Masters can handle players going completely off script without panicking, railroading the party, or preparing for every possible choice. We talk about how to understand what your players are actually trying to accomplish, improvise locations and NPCs, reuse skipped encounters and unused preparation, create meaningful consequences, and make quick rulings that keep the session moving. You’ll also learn why knowing what your NPCs want is more useful than scripting dialogue, why unused prep is future prep, and how asking “What happens because they did that?” can make improvisation much easier. Whether you’re a new Dungeon Master, experienced GM, or busy adult trying to spend less time preparing while still running memorable tabletop RPG sessions, this episode will help you feel more confident when your players inevitably do something you never expected. The Bearded Nerd helps busy players and GMs learn, play, and grow their love for tabletop RPGs. --- Check out the links below to join a community of new and experiences players to help you on your gaming journey: Discord ➡️ https://discord.gg/uqfUzg3aH5 Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/brianthebeardednerd/ TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeardednerd1 Do you finally want to try playing Dungeons & Dragons? Do you want to learn how to play in a more relaxed environment? Feel free to book a session with me here: https://www.ttrpgacademy.life/store

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   When Did D&D Get So Expensive? How to Save Money on TTRPGs

   Tabletop RPGs are getting more expensive, but does enjoying Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and other TTRPGs actually have to cost that much? In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian breaks down why tabletop roleplaying games feel more expensive than ever, how crowdfunding, premium editions, minis, subscriptions, and hobby FOMO can drive up spending, and how busy adults can enjoy the hobby without wrecking their budget. We talk about when it makes sense to buy new versus used, why supporting your local game store can still matter, how PDFs and digital tools can save money, and why you probably don’t need every new rulebook, miniature set, Kickstarter, or accessory that comes out. Whether you’re a new D&D player, longtime Game Master, or busy adult trying to balance gaming with family, work, and real-life expenses, this episode is about spending intentionally and getting more value out of the hobby you already love. Topics include: Why D&D and TTRPGs have become more expensive How to save money on RPG books and miniatures Buying used TTRPG books and accessories Local game stores vs. Amazon Crowdfunding and Kickstarter FOMO PDFs vs. physical RPG books Budget-friendly alternatives to minis and terrain How Game Masters can avoid unnecessary hobby spending How to enjoy tabletop RPGs on a budget The Bearded Nerd helps busy adults stay connected to the games and hobbies they love—without letting real life pass them by. Subscribe for more conversations about tabletop RPGs, gaming, Pokémon, nerd culture, and making time for hobbies as an adult.

3. 

   5 Oct 2026

   You Don't Have to Keep Up With Your Hobbies | TTRPGs for Busy Adults

   Do you ever feel like you're falling behind on your own hobbies? There's another RPG to learn, another sourcebook to read, another campaign to prepare, another miniature to paint, and another actual play everyone says you need to watch. For busy adults, something that's supposed to be recreation can slowly start feeling like another job. In this episode of The Bearded Nerd, Brian talks about why your TTRPG collection isn't a backlog, why you don't need to experience everything the hobby has to offer, and how gaming can change as careers, marriage, kids, and other responsibilities take up more of life. Because maybe the goal isn't figuring out how to keep up. Maybe it's figuring out what you actually want from your hobbies in the season of life you're in now. The Bearded Nerd is about staying connected to the games, hobbies, and communities we love without letting real life pass us by. Listener question: What's one part of your hobby you've stopped trying to keep up with as you've gotten older?

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

263,710

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

66

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

32

Contact The Bearded Nerd Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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