Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchWhy is there an N in "passenger"? | TRANSPORTATION
Episode 43
It's time to hit the road with Rob and Jess as they journey through the origins of words from road and rail.
🚃 Why do Brits say "transport" and Americans "transportation"?
🚊 What's the difference bet…
Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Why were hatters mad? | IDIOM ORIGINS
Episode 42
Rob and Jess "pull out all the stops" in this episode explaining idiom origins.
✈️ Why do we say "balls to the wall" and "push the envelope"?
🐘 What's so useless about a "white elephant"?
👕 Where …
Published on 5 months, 4 weeks ago
Is it a restroom or a loo? | UK v. US English
Episode 41
Let's explore British English and American English. In another transatlantic war of words, Rob (a Brit) and Jess (an American) debate the differing words for the same things either side of the pond.
…
Published on 6 months ago
Did Shakespeare write all his plays? | THE BARD
Episode 40
We're back for a new 🇬🇧series/🇺🇸season of Words Unravelled. In this episode, transatlantic word nerds Rob and Jess tackle the truth and lies surrounding Williams Shakespeare.
✍️ Did the Bard really i…
Published on 6 months, 1 week ago
How do you pronounce lieutenant? | MILITARY WORDS
Episode 39
There's fightin' talk in this episode of Words Unravelled, in which Jess and Rob discuss words of warcraft.
🔫 Which woman are all guns named after?
🪖 Where does the word "war" come from?
👮 Is lieuten…
Published on 7 months ago
Why do we mind our Ps and Qs? | PRINTING TERMS
Episode 38
In this printing special of Words Unravelled, Jess proves herself a font of knowledge on names for typefaces and Rob makes a bit impression with the history of the printing press.
🆎 What's the diffe…
Published on 7 months, 1 week ago
Where the f*** do swear words come from?
Episode 37
It's here: the much-requested swearing episode of Words Unravelled. Join Rob and Jess as they explore the origins of all manner of profanity.
#️⃣ Where did the F word come from?
📍 Which place names …
Published on 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Which flower makes you wet the bed? | FLOWER NAME ORIGINS
Episode 36
Welcome to another bloomin' wonderful episode of Words Unravelled. This time, Rob and Jess are discussing the origins of all manner of flower name.
🌻Which flower makes you wet the bed?
👁️Which flower…
Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Is this a rhetorical question? | RHETORIC & LITERARY DEVICES
Episode 35
Who wants to learn how to talk pretty? In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the clever tricks used by poets, novelists and speechwriters to surprise, move and persuade us. Join them as they discuss …
Published on 8 months ago
How did our naughty bits get their names? | BODY ETYMOLOGY
Episode 34
Let's discuss the etymology of the body from "head" to "toe". Join Rob and Jess on an adventure through anatomical word origins.
👅 Why is tongue spelt that way?
🍎 What did we originally call our Adam…
Published on 8 months, 1 week ago