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The best punctuation book, period, with June Casagrande
Episode 1066
1066. Do you really need that comma? Should your dashes have spaces? Is there ever just one "right" way to punctuate? June Casagrande, author of "The…
1 year, 5 months ago
Why we say ‘OK.’ How tea shaped English slang. Poetry winner
Episode 1065
1065. Is it "OK" or "okay"? We look at the surprising history of one of the world’s most recognized English words and how a 19th-century election cam…
1 year, 5 months ago
Behind the scenes of Wikipedia: editing, accuracy, and notability, with Jonathan Rick
Episode 1064
1064. Is Wikipedia the last refuge on online truth? With AI-generated content and misinformation spreading online, Wikipedia is growing in esteem, bu…
1 year, 5 months ago
How did our holidays become so 'corny'? Why do some words have accent marks in English? Cubby hole
Episode 1063
1063. Why is it called "corned beef" when there’s no corn involved? We look at how the word "corn" evolved to mean different things over time. Then, …
1 year, 5 months ago
Why kids can't read (and what we can do about it), with Kate Crist
Episode 1062
1062. Did you know that 21% of U.S. adults struggle with basic literacy? In this eye-opening episode, literacy specialist Kate Crist talks about the …
1 year, 5 months ago
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, 5 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, 5 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, 5 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, 6 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, 6 months ago