Podcast Episodes

Monday, February 16, 2026 - Ian Livengood is baaaaaack!

Season 15 Episode 66

Ian Livengood had written a SLEW of NYTimes crosswords between 2010 and 2016. Then, most mysteriously, he vanished — nary a puzzle in sight until, af…

8 months, 1 week ago

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Sunday, February 15, 2026 - A masterpiece in a 21x21 grid

Season 15 Episode 65

Michael Lieberman and Rebecca Goldstein are, individually, great crossword constructors: together they are greater, as today's puzzle makes abundantl…

8 months, 1 week ago

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Saturday, February 14, 2026 - A *lovely* Saturday crossword 🫶

Season 15 Episode 64

This was a fine crossword by David Carp, his sixth for the NYTimes and his third to appear on a Saturday. The crossword was not outrageously difficul…

8 months, 1 week ago

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Friday, February 13, 2026 - In which we celebrate a great crossword *and* the Winter Olympics ⛸️

Season 15 Episode 63

This was just what we want out of a Friday crossword: daunting, deliciously deceptive cluing and not an iota of crosswordese anywhere in the grid. Ev…

8 months, 1 week ago

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Thursday, February 12, 2026 - An early Valentine's Day present 💝

Season 15 Episode 62

Kareem Ayas has delivered a Valentine's Day present two days early, and both cohosts fell in love with it. The theme is a real chef's kiss, and the r…

8 months, 1 week ago

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Wednesday, February 11, 2026 — A walrus, a carpenter and an oyster walk into a bar ...

Season 15 Episode 61

This was a terrific mid-week crossword by Joseph Gangi, number seven since his auspicious debut in March of 2022. The theme was ... magnificent. It i…

8 months, 2 weeks ago

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Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - A round of applause for the ol' CLAPOMETER! 👏

Season 15 Episode 60

Any time a Hasbro toy makes an appearance in the grid it puts a smile on our faces, and so we are grinning as a consequence of today's crossword — a …

8 months, 2 weeks ago

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Monday, February 9, 2026 - SADIE Jones is in the grid (and ought to be on your reading list!)

Season 15 Episode 59

It never ceases to amaze, how crossword constructors can take a simple phrase and spin it out into as good a puzzle as, say, this one, by Matthew Sto…

8 months, 2 weeks ago

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Sunday, February 8, 2026 - Go, [Insert your favorite team here], Go!

Season 15 Episode 58

This was a Super Crossword for a Super Bowl Sunday. The theme was straightforward but cute, and the rest of the puzzle featured a SEA of crafty clues…

8 months, 2 weeks ago

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Sunday, February 7, 2026 - Mark Diehl is back, and better than ever!

Mark Diehl has been writing NYTimes Crosswords - predominantly Friday and Saturday puzzles - since 1984. He's eased off as of late, his last appearin…

8 months, 2 weeks ago

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