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Wise_N_Nerdy: Where Fatherhood Meets Fandom

Roll for Wisdom: Writing, Parenting & Fandom with Bob McGough

·1 hr 27 min·5 clips
Bob McGough explains why no one cares about your book plot and how that can actually help you.
The episode begins with hosts Charles and Joe catching up and introducing guest Bob McGough, an author. They start with the 'question of the week': favorite book series. Joe names The Black Company by Glen Cook, explaining its grimdark fantasy roots. Charles chooses the Dark Elf trilogy by R.A. Salvatore, highlighting themes of conscience and racism. Bob mentions the Daemon series by Daniel Suarez, describing its tech-thriller plot. The hosts then share their children's favorite books, like The Bad Guys and Percy Jackson. Bob discusses his Dragon Con plans, balancing book sales, panels, and personal time. A listener question asks how to keep a book plot secret when excited to share it. Bob advises that most people won't care about the plot and suggests exploring other creative outlets if sharing kills motivation. Joe asks if Bob ever bought a bad book from a friend, leading to a story about a poorly written novel involving underground wrestling. Bob mentions his IT job in corrections and basing a character on his incarcerated cousin. Joe then details a stressful weekend where his car broke down en route to a comic con, requiring repairs and leaving him to unexpectedly moderate panels. He later emailed feedback to the con organizers, sparking a debate with Charles about timing. The conversation shifts to nerding out: Charles talks about his coffee motivation quotes, Bob discusses watching Taskmaster season 19 with Jason Mantzoukas, and Joe describes the anime The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity. They share bad dad jokes and analyze a Reddit post where a boyfriend tells his girlfriend to give up writing after a rejection. Bob emphasizes supporting creative partners and shares his own rejection story, where a harsh critic promoted her own book. The episode ends with promotions for their Patreon and Bob's website.

As heard by us

A last-minute DragonCon reshuffle that turns book talk, travel, and car trouble into one loose conversation.

Wise and Nerdy settles into a relaxed episode built around a last-minute DragonCon reshuffle, with Bob Magoo stepping in after the hosts had to sort out plans and replacements on short notice.

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Why you'd press play

You get a DragonCon scramble, a favorite-book-series prompt, and car trouble that keeps barging into the conversation.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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