Travel, Culture, & Nerdy Writer
Kristina Manente is a freelance journalist, travel blogger, podcaster, and all around audio-nerd with a travel addiction and a fondness for cranberry juice. Her focus is travel, culture, music, and anything geeky.
Following her love of travel, she started The Nerdventurists, which provides guides and tales from around the world with a nerdy twist.
She’s been producing and co-presenting a Sherlock Holmes based podcast for the past three years called The Baker Street Babes, which was nominated for a Shorty Award in 2014 for Best Podcast. The BSB has been featured in the New York Times, The Today Show, USA Today, MTV Geek and more. It has 1 million unique listens and 100,000 followers across social media.
Portfolio
Most Recent
Are Idol-Making Reality Shows An Exploitive Bust?
Last month, YG Entertainment released an official statement apologizing for the cancellation of the debut of the final group from JTBC's "Mix Nine." The reality show, much like...
Geek Road Trip: The geekiest bars across America (and Canada)
Anyone who has ever been to a convention or LAN party knows that geeks can drink. However, now there are actual bars catering to the geek community. From Brooklyn to Austin to...
K-Pop & Korean Music
The Problem With Korean Music Award Shows
Music shows are plentiful in Korea. Award season makes this even more apparent as award show after award show is broadcasted and fandoms are pitted against one another in...
A K-pop concert is a spectacle so huge, it must be experienced to be believed.
The Lyrebird Quartet & Volstead Monday Night Jazz
Seoul and jazz music aren't two things you normally associate with one another, and yet there is a growing jazz scene in the city. Hearing the dulcet tones of saxophones and...
Born In New York, Made In Seoul
When I walk in to interview K-pop group EXP EDITION, they are having a Korean lesson; notebooks are out, notes scrawled, and a patient Korean teacher was commending them for...
On December 18, 2017, the world lost Kim Jonghyun, the main vocal of K-pop group Shinee, singer, songwriter, producer and artist. Devastated, distraught and searching for...
Musical Theater in Korea: Dorian Gray - The Nerdventurists
Living in a foreign country has its host of difficulties, especially when you don't know the language. However, I truly believe that music is international and you don't...
A Breath of Fresh Air To An Old Art
The Seoul Opera Festival ran June 20 to 30 at the special outdoor stage at Cheonho Park and at Gangdong Arts Center in Myeongil-dong. The festival was a celebration of all...
The (Re?)Rise of the Idol Band
There are new idol groups debuting every month at a rather alarming rate. The harsh judgement of time will reveal which make it through a year and which will fade into obscurity...
Gummy Returns After Nine Years
Gummy is finally back with her fifth album, "Stroke." While she came out with a mini album three years ago and has graced many a K-drama sound tracks, hit series "Descendants of...
J, Reborn: Welcoming back JYJ’s Kim Jaejoong with guitars and cake.
They say when an idol enlists in the military his popularity will plummet and he will be forgotten, that fans will flock to younger and newer acts. So, when JYJ’s Kim Jaejoong...
Travel
Getting An Illegal Tattoo in Korea - The Nerdventurists
The first thing to know about getting a tattoo in Korea is that it's most likely illegal. How's that for an opening line? See, tattooing is only legal in Korea if the tattoo...
The Mongol Rally: the Greatest Motor Adventure on the Planet
You must drive from England to Mongolia in a 1.2 liter engine car or less. You must raise at least £1,000 for charity. You are totally and absolutely on your own. This...
Meet Jeju: The Hawaii of Korea
Jeju Island is a hidden paradise not known to many outside of South Korea. Crystal clear waters, volcanic beaches, and mountains rolling along the horizon, this is a destination...
Why You Should Consider Teaching English Overseas
Teaching English overseas is a great way to not only see the world, but also to build up your resume, which could lead to a challenging and exciting career. If you're from a...
From robot cafes to ancient temples and shrines, the wonderful and wacky capital of Japan is a place everyone should visit at least once. With one of the best food scenes on the...