The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club

Episode 6: How a "Hero" becomes a "Villain" With the book "Heir"

What really makes someone a villain? Is it ignorance, manipulation, or the moment we knowingly choose the wrong path? 
In this episode of The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club, hosts Brandi Hawk and Deanna Boys continue their discussion about Heir by Sabaa Tahir and tackle one of the book’s most fascinating and frustrating characters: Aiz.  
With their signature mix of humor, psychology, and bookish enthusiasm (plus a spicy margarita-style drink called “Tragic Consequences”), Brandi and Deanna talk about the psychological forces behind Aiz’s transformation (Brandi says Aiz was a hero....Deanna is not so sure). They break down concepts like belief perseverance, confirmation bias, and ego defense to explain how people can cling to beliefs, even when the evidence clearly shows they’re wrong.  
Listen or watch along to hear some deep thoughts, fun book club banter, memorable quotes from the novel, and real-life reflections about how these same mental patterns show up in everyday relationships, belief systems, and even the way we consume information online.  
Grab your drink, bring your curiosity, and get ready for a lively book club conversation with your favorite nerdy psychologists.  
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Original Animation-Sounds-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
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Episode 5: What does it mean to be an "Heir" with the book "Heir"

This month we are starting a brand-new Nerdy Psych book club pick! We are picking apart and diving real deep into Heir by Sabaa Tahir.  
Set roughly 20 years after the Ember in the Ashes series, Heir follows three unforgettable characters: 
Aiz, an orphan forged by the brutality of the slums and fueled by vengeance. 
Sirsha, a sharp-tongued tracker bound by blood oath and battling her own complicated legacy. 
Quil, the reluctant crown prince who fears inheriting not just a throne, but the corruption that comes with it. 
With our themed cocktail called Desire & Sacrifice in hand, we explore what it really means to be an heir. Is it just about crowns and kingdoms—or is it about the expectations, belief systems, and family pressures we all inherit? 
If you love:  ✨ Big, immersive fantasy worlds  ✨ Morally complex characters  ✨ Psychology meets YA/adult fantasy 
then this episode is your perfect entry into our Nerdy Psychologist Book Club! 
Grab your copy of Heir, brace yourself for spoilers, and get ready to question what you’ve inherited… and what you’re willing to become. 
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Original Animation-Sounds-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 

Episode 4: The Illusory Truth in Sunrise on the Reaping

What if everything you believed about peace… was just really good marketing? 
In this episode of Nerdy Psychologist Book Club, we finish up our discussion Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins with our fun themed cocktail in hand, and dive into the psychology of propaganda and the illusory truth effect. With “Peacekeepers” who definitely do not keep peace, and Panem residents being fed the consistent message of “No Hunger Games, No Peace,” we talk about why the more you hear something, the more you believe it (even when you know it’s false). 
We unpack: 
How repetition turns lies into “truth” 
Why Haymitch never really had a chance to not let them "paint his poster" 
How edited reality, yes, even like House Hunters, shapes what we accept as fact 
And why “implicit submission” might be the Capitol’s most effective weapon 
It’s dystopia. It’s trauma psychology. It’s Broadway references with a bit of cognitive dissonance and a side of mimosas. 
Cheers. 🥂 
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Original Animation-Sounds-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 
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Episode 3: Cognitive Dissonance in Sunrise on the Reaping

It can be difficult to understand a character like Effie. How can she keep working for the Games despite all she knows? The answer is she's just like us, and we all struggle with cognitive dissonance. Join Brandi Hawk and Deanna Boys as they explore how cognitive dissonance shapes our beliefs and our behaviors through Effie Trinkett and what that means for us in real life. OH! And also find out why Deanna had nightmares reading this book!  
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A. 
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi 
Original Animation-Sounds-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens 
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A. 

Episode 2: Power and Control in Sunrise on the Reaping

We might not be in a relationship with President Snow, but many unhealthy relationships share some of the same power and control dynamics he uses with Haymitch. Join Brandi Hawk, Deanna Boys and special guest Dr. Brandi Liles as they dive deeper into the world of Sunrise on the Reaping to explore the creepy power dynamics used by President Snow on all of the citizens of Panem. 
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A.
Special Guest: Brandi Liles, Ph.D.
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi
Original Animation-Sounds-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A.
 
If you would like to support the show and see some cool resources and videos, check out our Patreon
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Episode 1: Trauma Responses in Sunrise on the Reaping

Our first book is Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, and in our first episode, we discuss the many ways Haymitch responds to traumatic events. Join Brandi Hawk and Deanna Boys and their special guest, Dr. Brandi Liles as they talk about fight, flight, freeze, appease and tend and befriend and how it comes up in the character of Haymitch. 
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The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club is produced by Brandi Hawk, Ph.D. and Deanna Boys, M.A.
Special Guest: Brandi Liles, Ph.D.
Photography-Lighting-Audio Mixer: Matthew Kadi
Original Animation-Sounds-Bartender/Mixologist: Lee Klemens
Original Music-Editing: Deanna Boys, M.A.
 
If you would like to support the show and see some cool resources and videos, check out our Patreon
We are on the socials too:
Watch us on Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Reddit

Episode 0: The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club Trailer (audio)

Coming Tuesday February 10th, a new weekly podcast where psychology experts Brandi Hawk & Deanna Boys explore trauma and questionable choices in YA fantasy and dystopian fiction. Join them as they armchair diagnose fictional characters, talk about what that means for us in the real world, drink fancy book-themed cocktails and have very nerdy conversations. 
(audio version!)