Rum & Nerdy is a podcast about Theme Parks (plus Amusement Parks and other themed entertainment), TV, movies, and the wonderful world of rum. The show was started in 2021 by hosts Greg Senner and Garrick Hansen, two friends with backgrounds in entertainment and theme park design (including for major parks like Disney or Universal) who met through the Themed Entertainment Association
and have been inseparable ever since.
The podcast's format is as relaxed as its hosts, featuring unscripted conversations punctuated by tangents on pop culture, travel, and whatever else captures their interest. Each episode features the two hosts reviewing a rum or rum-adjacent beverage and sharing their thoughts before embarking on whatever tangent the hosts have in store, with many focused around a certain theme like Legos, Star Wars, or jumping the shark. Their free-flowing, comedic banter seamlessly weaves between discussions of upcoming projects, random musings, and insights into the entertainment industry (at least the stuff that isn't under NDA).
While Rum & Nerdy maintains a lighthearted tone, it also delves into deeper topics, drawing from the hosts' professional experiences to provide engaging insights into the world of entertainment. Whether you're a seasoned rum connoisseur or just a casual fan of all things nerdy, Rum & Nerdy offers a delightful blend of entertainment and education that's as smooth as a well-aged rum.
Episodes are released weekly on Fridays. Additional content is occasionally posted on their Instagram and YouTube.
Rum & Nerdy provides examples of:
- Associated Composer: Demo Dave is the creator of both versions of the Rum & Nerdy intro, the IAAPA Week specialty episode intros, the 100th Episode intro, AND the Central Florida Rum Council PS As. He makes many of the original audio bits himself with little to no direction from Greg or Garrick, who also shout him out at the end of each episode in their closing spiel.
- Berserk Button:
- Greg: Any mention of Malort. He will either rant about how disgusting it is or cringe in disgust, and he claims that he can taste it in his mouth when it is mentioned. Around Season 4, he finally put his foot down and refused to try any new variations of it.
- Garrick has two:
- People chewing loudly. It annoys him to no end.
- Guests that complain loudly about OR news agencies that run stories about theme parks restricting guests from experiencing an attraction due to being above/below the height or weight requirement or not fulfilling basic safety prerequisites (like having certain limbs to hold onto a restraint) when those parks are doing it for the guests' own safety because those guests could DIE if they ride and fly out. As a professionally licensed engineer, he knows a thing or two because he's seen a thing or two.
- Catchphrase: "Stay Nerdy, My Friends", said at the conclusion of each episode before the "post-credit" clip.
- Christmas Special: There have been three so far: "The One with the H Os," "The Second Annual Christmas Special," and "The Holiday Special," the latter of which featured guests Cheese Mule, Scott, and Intern Tyler. All three cover family or holiday traditions, with Season 3's episode featuring holiday trivia.
- Odd Name Out: Greg and Garrick are alliterative, as is Demo Dave(pro.com). All was well in the world...until Intern Tyler broke the scheme.
- Sitcom Arch-Nemesis: Malort, one of the running jokes on the podcast due to Greg and Garrick hating it with a passion. The guys first encountered it in Chicago, where it melted the wax paper cups from their hotel room. Greg despises it, claiming he can taste it in his mouth whenever it comes up. Garrick hates it a bit less but still enjoys finding new versions, to Greg's chagrin.
- The Smurfette Principle: After teasing about her in a few episodes, the crew welcomed "The Official Rum and Nerdy Intern", Tyler, in November 2023. She is the only recurring female crew member.
- Viva Las Vegas!: Hometown of Demo Dave, venue for SATE 2022 (think TED Talks but about themed experiences). Greg visits often.
- Finally the focus of an episode when Dave and Shannon take over while Greg and Garrick have overlapping work trips.
