Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchSon of a B*tch on a Hot Mic
Episode 231
A hot mic caught President Biden using the epithet to describe a Fox News reporter. Where did “son of a bitch” come from, and why are modern speakers…
4 years, 2 months ago
RIP: Sidney Poitier, Lani Guinier, Max Julien
Episode 230
Actors Sidney Poitier and Max Julien and law professor Lani Guinier — all of whom died this month — have last names that reveal fascinating stories a…
4 years, 2 months ago
300 Years of Language Peevery
Episode 229
Self-styled language experts have lamented the decline of English for centuries. From shifting pronunciations to newfangled words to evolving grammar…
4 years, 3 months ago
Four Calling Birds? Not Exactly.
Happy New Year! In the generous spirit of the holidays, we’re making this week’s bonus segment free to all. But there’s more: Until the end of the ye…
4 years, 3 months ago
Why Does the Letter A Look That Way?
Episode 228
An alphabet, one of humanity’s greatest innovations, is far from intuitive. Our own English lettering was borrowed from the Romans, of course, but wh…
4 years, 3 months ago
BONUS: Lexiconundrum #1
Presenting the fan-favorite “Lexiconundrum” — a portmantastic puzzle for the ages. This week, an homage to Bob’s ancestors.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
…4 years, 4 months ago
Happy Days Are Here
Episode 227
Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo discuss what it means to be happy, both lexicographically and philosophically.
Visit Lex…
4 years, 4 months ago
But Wait, There's More!
We’re giving John McWhorter a well-deserved day off. But the show must go on, so we’re bringing back a couple of Lexicon Valley legends for a special…
4 years, 4 months ago
In Language, Context Is King
The late philosopher Paul Grice formulated four brief maxims by which conversations are generally governed. Most humans find it relatively easy to ob…
4 years, 4 months ago
That's Not What Irony Means, Alanis
Episode 226
Language doesn't often do what you think it should. It’s as messy as almost anything that’s created by natural selection, but that’s what makes it so…
4 years, 4 months ago