Podcast Episodes

Thursday, July 24, 2025 - Name notwithstanding, OBELI is *not* an ancient Star Wars race

Season 13 Episode 70

This was a delightfully crunchy crossword by Ginny Too - her third NYTimes crossword in about a year. There were a boatload of novel clues†, which made the solve just that much more satisfying. We ha…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - Joseph Gangi, Wizard of the Wednesday Crossword!

Season 13 Episode 69

Joseph Gangi has had 4 NYTimes crosswords published, all of them Wednesdays. He clearly has the difficulty level down pat, and his themes are always inventive: today's crossword being a case in point…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 - A scrumpdelicious Tuesday crossword!

Season 13 Episode 68

In honor of the heatwave that some of you may be experiencing, Jeremy Newton has crafted a cool crossword to cool you down. ☃️ You are cordially invited to chill out with us as we frolic through the …

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

Monday, July 21, 2025 - Fear not, ENOLA Holmes is on the case!

Season 13 Episode 67

Alright, here's a challenge: what word has appeared in the NYTimes crossword grid a whopping 926 times, counting today? We'll let you ponder that, and wait until the end of these show notes for the "…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Famed mystery author ... Mary Westmacott???

Season 13 Episode 66

This was a fun crossword by Michael Schlossberg. The theme gave us an opportunity to -- at last! -- use the word "idiom" in a sentence without sounding like an idiot 🙄, and the clues gave us a chance…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

Saturday, July 19, 2025 - Another Erik Agard spectacular

Season 13 Episode 65

In the pantheon of great cruciverbalists, there clearly needs to be a pedestal with Erik Agard's name on it. Why? Just check out today's crossword (and podcast!), or any of Erik's 81 other crosswords…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

Friday, July 18, 2025 - This was a CORKER of a crossword!

Season 13 Episode 64

Kelly Morenus has crafted a superb Friday crossword, challenging but not overwhelming (although YMMV depending upon your life experiences, how many crosswords you have solved previously, and, at leas…

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Thursday, July 17, 2025 - Sam Brody doesn't just knock it out of the ball park, he clears the parking lot, too 😀

Season 13 Episode 63

Thesauri will have to be cracked open to do justice to today's crossword, it was that extraordinary/astonishing/engrossing/ingenious/delightful. It was, of course, the theme that made it so, one that…

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - BESTIR, BESTIR, there's a crossword to tackle!

Season 13 Episode 62

This was a highly elegant Wednesday crossword, featuring that most elegant of drinks (and one of the most famous letters in the English alphabet 😉). If you haven't figured it out by now, then we'll k…

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Tuesday, July 15, 2025 - Daniel Britt's DeBut 😉

Season 13 Episode 61

For those of you pondering the episode title, no, our quality control department has not dropped the ball, but rather made a wry (but not awry 🙄) joke that is highly germane to today's crossword. 

We …

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago