Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchWhat was so "complex" about Oedipus? | PSYCHOLOGY TERMS
Episode 84
This episode is all in the mind, as Rob and Jess explore the origins of psychological terms.
💕 What did Oedipus doe to his mother?
🛋️ What did Sigmund…
5 months, 3 weeks ago
The literal meaning of 'tiramisu' | WORLD FOODS
Episode 83
Rob and Jess are touring the world and translating the names of popular foods.
🍝 What does "chow mein" mean?
👅 Which pasta is "little tongues"?
🌭 What …
6 months ago
Why is a false clue a "red herring"? | IDIOM ORIGINS
Episode 82
Rob and Jess explore the origins of common sayings in another episode dedicated to the stories behind idioms.
🐟 What was the first "red herring"?
🪿 Is…
6 months, 1 week ago
Why does Berlin mean 'swamp'? | CITY NAME ORIGINS
Episode 81
What's in a names? Jess and Rob are exploring why major cities are called what they're called and what their names literally mean.
🇩🇪 Why does BERLIN…
6 months, 2 weeks ago
Why do Brits eat their entrees first? ? UK v US ENGLISH
Episode 80
Rob and Jess are engaged in another transatlantic war of words, pitting their British and American accents against one another.
🍽️ Why do Brits eat t…
6 months, 3 weeks ago
Slurs and taboos with Professor John McWhorter
Episode 79
Rob and Jess are joined by the brilliant John McWhorter to discuss words you're not allowed to use. Professor McWhorter has written extensively abou…
7 months, 1 week ago
What was Pepsi originally called? | BRAND NAME ORIGINS
Episode 78
What does IKEA mean? What language is Häagen-Dasz? Who came up with the name Adidas? Why is Danone spelled Dannon in the US? These questions answere…
7 months, 2 weeks ago
What does 'philosophy' even mean? | PHILOSOPHICAL WORDS
Episode 77
Jess and Rob are digging into the origins of the words behind some of history’s biggest ideas – from stoicism and cynicism to logic, ethics, and met…
7 months, 4 weeks ago
Why so many terms for 'doing it'? | SEX & LOVE
Episode 76
Jess and Rob are discussing "the shaking of the sheets". Join them to explore the origins of words for 'doing it' and a host of historic terms for f…
8 months ago
The words English forgot to invent | LEXICAL GAPS
Episode 75
Why doesn't English have a word for someone who is alive? Or a general term for your aunties and uncles? Should we bring back the word 'uhtceare' fr…
8 months, 1 week ago