Severance with Jon Cassie

Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan

You wake up. You’re at work. You don’t know how you got there. You don’t know who you are outside of this fluorescent-lit, carpeted labyrinth. And worst of all—you have to attend a melon party. This week on Make Me A Nerd, Mandy takes a cubicle tour of Apple TV+'s Severance. Joining her is Jon Cassie, a certified nerd extraordinaire, former podcaster, and educational innovator, who has spent more time thinking about sci-fi and board games than most of us spend awake.

Together, they unravel Severance’s mind-melting mysteries—its eerie office culture, its unsettling cult parallels (Scientology, we see you), and its ability to make us question whether we should ever trust HR again. They marvel at the performances, particularly the shockingly terrifying Tramell Tillman (who, fun fact, is actually a warm and delightful human in real life) and the absolutely flawless Patricia Arquette, who could probably make reading a grocery list feel like a psychological thriller.

And because this show refuses to let anyone breathe, Mandy relives the moment her soul left her body upon discovering Miss Casey’s true identity. Spoiler: It involves screaming, existential dread, and a mild cardiac event.

And because no nerdy discussion is complete without a tangent, Jon drops some Black Mirror recommendations, Mandy reveals her undying obsession with cults, and they both agree that Severance is one of the most perfectly eerie shows ever made.

But wait—there’s more! For members only, Jon gives Mandy a crash course in Babylon 5, because why stop at one mind-bending sci-fi series when you can have two? Not a member? No worries! Just visit MakeMeANerd.com and join today! You’ll get to sign up to your very own personal podcast feed full of all the extended editions of the show!

So, grab your outdated work computer, stare longingly at your reflection in a darkened elevator, and press play. Welcome to Make Me A Nerd. You may not remember how you got here, but you’ll never want to leave.

Links & References:

• Become a member for bonus content: Monthy • Annually
• Follow Mandy on social media:
  • Instagram: @Mandy_Kaplan_Klavans
  • Blue Sky: @MandyMiscast
• Listen to Jon’s education podcast Many Windows
• Watch Severance on Apple TV+

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