Podcast Episodes

Monday, October 13, 2025 - YOSHI, Everyone's favorite pixel-based lifeform 😉

Season 14 Episode 41

This was an intriguing debut crossword by Katherine Xiong. Both cohosts -- solving independently as usual -- found it to be a tad longer than one might expect for a Monday. That just means more time …

Published on 2 weeks, 6 days ago

Sunday, October 12, 2025 - FENNELBULBS: when LCDs just aren't bright enough 🙄😎

Both cohosts found today's puzzle to be particularly crunchy due to cruciverbial challenges in different areas of the grid. Jean struggled mightily in the southeast corner, while Mike was temporarily…

Published on 3 weeks ago

Saturday, October 11, 2025 - Another Sam Ezersky Thriller

Season 14 Episode 39

Sam Ezersky crosswords can be quite thrilling, as he is renowned for making highly challenging puzzles. He certainly does not disappoint this Saturday, quite the contrary. However, he has managed to …

Published on 3 weeks, 1 day ago

Friday, October 10, 2025 - Another fun-filled Friday frolic of a crossword

Colin Adams seems to have hit the sweet spot with Friday crosswords chock-full of cracklingly good clues. Besides those mentioned in today's podcast, we also have such notables as 14D, Locales for so…

Published on 3 weeks, 2 days ago

Thursday, October 9, 2025 - Soyonora, LEONORA 🙄😀

Season 14 Episode 37

This was Freddie Cheng's 18th NYTimes crossword. He mainly publishes earlier in the week, but he has had a crossword published on every day, no mean feat. Today's puzzle had some awesome cluing, incl…

Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - Will you enjoy this crossword? Signs point to yes 🔮

Season 14 Episode 36

This was an enjoyable Wednesday crossword, with a warm, uplifting, nostalgia-centric theme that both cohosts greatly appreciated. 

We were glad to see Jules VERNE in the grid for his 77th time, in 48A…

Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - TESCO: the best in-store prices, but delivery charges are *insane*

Season 14 Episode 35

This was a fine debut crossword by Corry Cropper. It felt a little crunchier than usual for a Tuesday, but not overwhelmingly so; and it revolved around a mythological theme, which both cohosts found…

Published on 3 weeks, 5 days ago

Monday, October 6, 2025 - TEVAs, the favorite footwear of divas 🙄

Season 14 Episode 34

This was a straightforward Monday crossword, as Monday crosswords tend to be, and an enjoyable crossword, as all NYTimes crosswords edited by Will Shortz are destined to be. We were glad to spot the …

Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago

Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Once upun a crossword ...

Season 14 Episode 33

For those who like puns, you are in for a treat; and for those who do not, you still are, because in a 21x21 Sunday grid there's room for all manner of entertaining / educational clues. If the name o…

Published on 4 weeks ago

Saturday, October 4, 2025 - The lore and the allure of LORELEI 🧜🏾‍♀️

Season 14 Episode 32

This was an enthralling Goldilocks of a Saturday crossword: not too hard, not too easy, but just right. For that we can thank Ryan McCarty, edited by the seemingly indefatigable Will Shortz. There we…

Published on 4 weeks, 1 day ago