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The mystery of ‘it’ in English. The most dramatic moments in grammar history. Ghost Town Mad, the song
Episode 1061
1061. Ever wonder why we say "It's raining" even though "it" doesn't refer to anything? We explain the logic behind this quirky English rule. Then, w…
1 year, 3 months ago
From 'Parasite' to 'Emilia Pérez': How movies shape language, with Andrew Cheng
Episode 1060
1060. Why do villains always have British accents? Why was "Parasite" a game-changer for non-English films? And how is AI secretly shaping the voices…
1 year, 4 months ago
Why Americans write 'canceled' but still write 'cancellation.' How printing history gave us 'fine print.' Fluff.
Episode 1059
1059. Ever wonder why Americans use "canceled" with one L but still write "cancellation" with two? We explore how spelling rules, stress patterns, an…
1 year, 4 months ago
Writing Motivation Hacks, with Mary Robinette Kowal
Episode 1058
1058. If you struggle to sit down and write, you’ll love this conversation with award-winning author and podcaster Mary Robinette Kowal. Learn how to…
1 year, 4 months ago
Why we misuse ‘literally.’ How ham radio got its name. District
Episode 1057
1057. Why do people use "literally" when they mean "figuratively"? This week, we look at how the meaning of "literally" changed over time. Plus, we l…
1 year, 4 months ago
How to be a ghostwriter, with Dan Gerstein
Episode 1056
1056. Ghostwriting is more than just anonymous book writing — it’s a thriving industry. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, shares how writ…
1 year, 4 months ago
Why some holidays have apostrophes. Why Californians say ‘the 405.’ MIGD
Episode 1055
1055. Ever wonder why some holidays have apostrophes while others don’t? We look at Mother’s Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents’ Day. Then, we look at…
1 year, 4 months ago
Word games and the joy of playing every day, with Lex Friedman
Episode 1054
1054. Ever wonder what goes into designing daily word games? Lex Friedman, creator of Lex.games, shares his journey from puzzle lover to puzzle maker…
1 year, 4 months ago
'Toeing' the line. Metonymy versus synecdoche. Ghost town mad
Episode 1053
1053. If you’ve ever hesitated between ‘toe the line’ and ‘tow the line,’ this episode is for you. We look at the phrase's history to clear up the co…
1 year, 4 months ago
Wordplay and cartoons: Inside the making of 'AB@C,' with Rob Meyerson and Dan Misdea
Episode 1052
1052. What do “CDB” and “U11 2” have in common? They’re both examples of gramograms!
This week, I chat with writer Rob Meyerson and New Yorker cartoo…
1 year, 5 months ago