Extreme Vocabulary
51 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago - ★★★★ - 18 ratingsThey started by trying to make a vocabulary podcast. They ended up saving the world.
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Episodes
Ep. 50: Dictate
August 15, 2023 08:43 - 1 hour - 73.9 MBLadies and gentlemen, boys and girls, gather around to hear the latest word from our great leaders, Aaron, Abraham, Efren, and Josh as they talk about today's word, dictate. Their word goes, so make sure to take dictation so you can catch every delicious and deadly implication. Marvel as they weave Hitler into the conversation in a mere 11 minutes. Be amazed as they discuss dictatorial cities, governments, and more. Efren brings a poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca that reminds us all that poems ar...
Ep. 49: Gothic
April 23, 2022 15:43 - 51 minutes - 70.6 MBJoin us on this episode to learn how those goth girls you were attracted to in high school are a commentary on the Roman Empire. Yeah, Abe's research is just that good. Efren brings a poem by Rickey Laurentiis and we choose a song from the Crow soundtrack.
Ep. 48: Delicious
March 11, 2022 08:43 - 52 minutes - 71.9 MBStop what you're listening to. Is it really yummy enough? If not, why not join us on a tasty adventure through the history of our week's word, delicious. Learn what types of food the Extreme Vocabulary gang likes to eat, how they make their syllabi, and what their rhymes taste like. Abe's research will get your tastebuds rocking, while Efren brings a delectable piece of literature from a little known author named Herman Melville. Put that low-calorie podcast down, and pick up the juiciest pie...
Ep. 47: Persuasion
January 07, 2022 07:20 - 1 hour - 102 MBWe are here to convince, urge, strong-arm, and maybe just order at gunpoint you into appreciating the depths of today's word. Don't worry, when we're done, you will think it was your idea. If you can be persuaded to listen to this episode, you will hear all about the history of suasion, what words it is and isn't related to, as well as a conversation about the role of persuasion in today's bifurcated landscape. Dr. Efren P.H.D. brings a poem by Li-Young Lee, and we go out on a sixties classic.
EP. 46: Revenge
June 16, 2021 07:20 - 1 hour - 110 MBHave you ever wished that you could punish all those other podcasts who waste your time with pointless speculation? Welcome back to Extreme Vocabulary, where our success has caused such consternation among our peers that our very existence is vengeance itself. On today’s episode we take revenge out on all the other podcasts with Abe’s research on today’s word as well as a poetry reading by Efren of a work by Heid E. Erdrich titled “Ghost Prisoner.” And just in case you still demand satisfacti...
Ep. 46: Revenge
June 16, 2021 07:20 - 1 hour - 110 MBHave you ever wished that you could punish all those other podcasts who waste your time with pointless speculation? Welcome back to Extreme Vocabulary, where our success has caused such consternation among our peers that our very existence is vengeance itself. On today’s episode we take revenge out on all the other podcasts with Abe’s research on today’s word as well as a poetry reading by Efren of a work by Heid E. Erdrich titled Ghost Prisoner. And just in case you still demand satisfaction...
EP. 45: Conundrum
January 24, 2021 09:20 - 1 hour - 78.1 MBYou are at a crossroads. Should you listen to this podcast, where we take a deep-dive into our word of the day, which was created as a joke? Or should you watch another episode of Cobra Kai, where every time you try to do the right thing, things just get worse? Some might call this some kind of conundrum, and we hope that you choose to do the right thing, and listen to us as we answer some classic conundrums before discussing the conundrums of our times. Abe does the research, and Efren brin...
EP. 44: Maudlin
November 24, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 101 MBHave you ever had a friend who seems to show up at all the most important moments of your life? If your name is Jesus, that friend is probably Mary Magdalene; or so the story goes. But what does Mary Magdalene have to do with today's word? Well, as it turns out, everything and almost nothing at all. Sometimes we give birth to things that have nothing to do with us. It's enough to make you cry, really. Efren brings a poem by Linda Gregerson. And we read a letter by Joshua Clover, whose poetry ...
Ep. 43: Mezzanine
September 20, 2020 15:24 - 1 hour - 84 MBWhat do John Wilkes Booth, Home Depot workers, and Pinterest Boards have in common? Mezzanine, of course. In the middle of our life's journey, we sometimes encounter fancy and laborious words like mezzanine. But we're here to help. In this episode, we talk about elevated floors and why upper-middle class people fantasize about them on Pinterest Boards, and why Home Depot workers fall from them, and why John Wilkes Booth had to traverse one to commit his horrible deed. Efren brings a poem abo...
Ep. 42: Miracle
July 24, 2020 16:24 - 1 hour - 106 MBWhat if I told you that miracles happen everyday? What if Abe also told you that's really not a big deal because the etymology of the word reveals that miracles aren't about anything unusual anyways? In today's episode, we venture into discussions of consciousness, the Christmas story, and the power of movies. Efren brings a piece of literature from Jorge Luis Borges, and Aaron does the hosting. This was a liveshow so thanks go out to anybody who joined us on our Zoom call, especiall...
Ep. 41: Loot
July 02, 2020 16:00 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBOn today's episode we look at the history of this rich word. Aaron hosts the guys as they react to recent news events by looking up a word. Abraham has done the research revealing its various definitions over the years, and discovers that the Oxford English Dictionary has not updated its entry to show how the word is often used today. Efren brings us a great poem by Lenelle Moise, and Josh edits out a curseword, all on this episode of Extreme Vocabulary.
Ep. 40: Sartorial
June 02, 2020 16:11 - 54 minutes - 74.7 MBOn today's episode we ask you a sexy question: What are you wearing? As we talk about the word Sartorial, we discuss scientifically engineered clothes, TC Surf Designs, pretending to be upper class, comfortability, double-breasted suits, kimonos, hamstrings, the ridiculousness of rock star clothing, and the philosophy of clothes in general. We also discuss how COVID-19 has changed our clothing style. Efren brings a fashionable poem by Eileen R. Tabios about the white-collar working class. Jo...
Ep. 39: Commune
April 03, 2020 19:20 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBIn this second of our two-part series, we think about communism's root word commune. We ask, what can humans commune with? What is left of the commons? Air? Water? Desert? And Efren offers Planet Fitness as a utopian model of communism. Wait! Hear us out! Efren brings a poem by Brian Komei Dempster, Abe tells us about the Paris commune, Josh tells us about the E.T. Atari games in the desert, and Aaron teaches us how to commune with each other here on Extreme Vocabulary!
Ep. 38: Capital
February 28, 2020 03:36 - 55 minutes - 76.4 MBToday's episode is the first of a two part discussion on the opposing terms CAPITAL and COMMUNE, roots of the words capitalism and communism. And you bet that our discussion will rattle your head as we take on the debate between capital and commune! Abraham looks at the many definitions of capital from head, to pillar, to manuscripts, to economic value. Meanwhile, Efren brings us poem by Joshua Clover. Who will win the debate between capital and commune? It depends. What do you value, dear l...
Ep. 37: No Word
December 08, 2019 20:24 - 1 hour - 91 MBToday we take a break from our normal format to reveal tiny slivers of our identities and lives. Also, some number of impressions are made. Don't get knocked down, get up again, and enjoy this episode.
Ep. 36: Blunt
October 27, 2019 23:24 - 54 minutes - 74.7 MBOn today's episode, we are missing Aaron so we lose our edge as we discuss today's not-so-sharp word, BLUNT. So join us as we consider the history of how warfare generates our metaphors, insults make us dance, and salsa inspires the salivary glands for us all. Abe takes us back in time through the origins of this word, while Efren brings a recent example from a work of literature by Justin Torres.
Ep. 35: Abstract
September 29, 2019 21:24 - 50 minutes - 69.7 MBToday we find ourselves at the precipice between what is symbol and what is phenomena, and we discuss how words and numbers help us crossover from our crude matter into our minds and back out into the cosmos. Art itself supports and is supported by today's word. We also discuss weighty philosophical matters such as, what is the best time to eat a banana? And what the definition of is is. Abe did the researdch, while Efren brings us a piece of literature from Hector Tobar, and we choose a pie...
Ep. 34: Skulduggery
August 18, 2019 14:28 - 48 minutes - 67.2 MBThis is no act of deceit or treachery, this is a real episode of Extreme Vocabulary, where we define one of the least rooted words we've ever had. Join us to learn the tale of how a Scottish word came to be used to describe a sex crime in old catholic documents, only to be later used to describe financial crimes in our own century. Then join us for one two many impressions, a poem by Vachel Lindsay, and our most musical moment ever.
Ep. 33: Ubiquitous
July 28, 2019 17:21 - 46 minutes - 64 MBPsst! It's us. We're right behind you. And in front of you. And also in these tiny wafers. That's right we are using our godlike powers to reach you yet again for another episode of Extreme Vocabulary. On this episode, we study another word with its roots in religious history. Then, we take a listen to some wise words by Borges.
Ep. 32: Sonder
June 26, 2019 17:00 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBOn this episode, The Extreme Vocabularians find a recently-coined word and critique its poetic, philosophical, and psychological possibilities. In other words, we hate it. But even though this word is new, it has a mysterious and disputed history that you may have insight into. And in the spirit of coining new words, Abe and Josh decide to coin their own with interesting results. Efren finds a tumblr blog, and Aaron wisely curates today's music selection. But don't just feel the depths of ou...
Ep. 31: Defenestrate
May 19, 2019 05:00 - 48 minutes - 66.2 MBWord recommender and guest host, Renee joins Extreme Vocabulary this week for a discussion on one of the deadliest words we've ever featured. Tracing this word's histories back to the time of the Reformation, we learn about how people used DEFENESTRATION as a particularly effective way to remove a religious authority from power? Is there a way to DEFENESTRATE things in our own time? Efren brings us a meditation on today's word from Elijah Matthew Tubbs, author of In Through a Door, out a Win...
Ep. 30: Us and Them
April 14, 2019 20:00 - 49 minutes - 68.5 MBHey it’s US again! But if we’re US, then who is everybody else? In our great tradition of defining words that we already know, we are going with a couple of the first words we learn. Are they also some of the first words humans conceptualized? If so, what does that mean for the way we build society around us? Efren brings a poem by David Tomas Martinez, and we choose a straight classic jam to go out with. To find out, don’t listen to THEM, listen to US!
Ep. 29: Breath
March 16, 2019 16:00 - 54 minutes - 74.2 MBBy now, you can probably see where this is going. By analyzing the origins of today's word, we uncover some ancient associations with it that exist to this day in some magical way. Yeah, we've been doing this for a while now, so it's almost as easy as BREATHING. Efren brings some poetry from Walt Whitman, Aaron brings Andre the Giant, Josh forgets his lines, and Abe reveals his vulnerabilities, all on today's EXTREME VOCABULARY.
Ep. 28: Party
February 12, 2019 16:00 - 48 minutes - 67.2 MBCowabunga! We're here to PARTY and do our best to explore the mystery of words. Today's word has lots of definitions and tons of applications. So whether you are a member of a party, at a party, interested in hunting, or a just person who just likes, you may have enjoyed using today's very fun word. Efren is here once again with some poetry by William E. Stafford, and we answer emails. Don't worry if you didn't bring any snacks, we got everything you need on EXTREME VOCABULARY.
Ep. 27: Antidisestablishmentarianism
January 03, 2019 05:00 - 51 minutes - 88.2 MBToday’s episode tells the story of how the King of England set in motion a series of events that would create what is arguably the longest word in the English language (even if it’s mostly suffixes and prefixes). Then, we pluck this word from its historical context and see if it holds any relevance for the hip kids of today. Efren brings us a short story by Gayle Pemberton, Aaron shows off his knowledge of history, Abe does the research, Josh does bad accents, and we all get together to tell...
Ep. 26: Fetish
November 10, 2018 05:00 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBThe Extremers are three-legged in this episode, without the mighty aid and insight of Efren. Abraham, Josh, and Aaron shuffle forward in order to try and figure out the mysteries and mystique of the word fetish. Abe crunches away at our brains with his deep research and encyclopedic knowledge of all things word-y while Josh and Aaron add their unique perspectives to this titillating word and its many implications. Meanwhile, due to the absence of our steadfast literature maven (Efren), Aaron...
Ep. 25: Cult
October 03, 2018 05:00 - 40 minutes - 55.5 MBHere at Extreme Vocabulary, we are tools of the devil because we ask for your CULTISH devotion, dear listener. Today's word, CULT, reminds us back when civilization was a mere gardening religion thankful to unknown gods for a full stomach. But how did we get from cult as gardening to cult as drinking the cyanide kool-aid? And was it even Kool-Aid? And did Nike sponsor the Heaven's Gate cult? We answer these and other questions because we are your sole authority. Pontiff Efren brings THE MORR...
Ep. 24: Intelligence
September 06, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 83.4 MBHey smarty pants, everybody in class thinks your smart, but is it just because you're holding a book in your hands? Join us on a discovery and decide for yourself who is qualified to expound on the meaning of intelligence. Abe brings us the etymology of the word, as usual, but we also consider some topics like animals, culture, books, and... French? Efren brings a poem by Stanley Kunitz, and of course we choose a song as usual. Don't listen to us because it's cool, listen to us because it's ...
Ep. 23: Right
August 07, 2018 05:00 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MBOn today's episode of Extreme Vocabulary, we take a look at a very common word with very ancient origins. Unlike left, it's opposite, it has numerous definitions. In fact, the very essence of this word suggests that morality is based on strength. It's weird. Then, Efren brings a piece of literature from Tahia Muhammed Ali, and in a rare feat for this podcast, we never once go off topic. Too good to be true, you say? Well, plug in your earphones and see if I'm right.
Ep. 22: Loss
June 05, 2018 05:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBYou may have felt at a LOSS this past month without an episode of EXTREME VOCABULARY to keep you company, but don't worry, we are back with another fascinating etymological journey. Our captain is Abe, who, as usual, leads us through the historical and modern meanings of the word loss. He, along with Josh, Efren, and a remarkably off-mic Aaron, explore the loss of culture, loss of weight, and Alex Jones's cult of lost masculinity. Also, there's a lynx in here for some reason. Efren brings a ...
Ep. 21: Veil
May 02, 2018 05:00 - 58 minutes - 79.8 MBExtreme Vocabulary is not your typical word-of-the-day podcast. On Extreme Vocabulary, we hide behind our VEIL of secrecy. But just what are we hiding? And from whom are we hiding? Death, sex, marriage, religion, and more get teased through the mesh of our conversation but, one thing we don’t hide is our piece of literature, which Efren, as usual, brings. Today he brings a poem by Dennis Johnson, appropriately named VEIL. What will you see when you pierce this episode? The priest is waiting ...
Ep. 20: Drive
April 03, 2018 05:00 - 47 minutes - 65 MBDriving is pretty prevalent in our society, but the word itself is older than the Model T. Join us on a journey of discovery as we talk about what humans used to drive as well as what drives humans (you know, like sex and death and stuff). Efren brings a piece of literature from Sandra Cisneros that you may have read very well, and we choose the song of the day. Will we steer you to new understanding, or will we drive you mad? It's worth the price of admission, so join us again on EXTREME VO...
Ep. 19: Dude
March 06, 2018 05:00 - 39 minutes - 54.5 MBHear ye! Hear ye! All Yankee dudes and dudettes! Our Lord, Jeffrey Lebowski, and our sacred religion of Dudeism, demands that at your leisure (and only really of you have time, if not, whatevers, don't worry about it, everything's cool) you listen to Extreme Vocabulary as the team discusses the American origin of the word DUDE. They ask, who is a dude? Who is the Dude? Can women be dudes or should we call them dudettes? Is dude an insult, compliment, or like whatever? And is dude East coast...
Ep. 18: Troll
February 08, 2018 05:00 - 54 minutes - 75.5 MBOne day Josh crossed a bridge *watched a YouTube video* and decided to look under it *read the comments section*, and there he discovered an ugly troll *an insulting ranter*. The troll threatened to eat him *engage him in a verbal rant about nothing*, but Josh was clever *trollish* and killed the troll with a kick *ignored him completely*. And Josh lived happily ever after *continued reading the comments section*. Troll is the word, and it seems there's a bit of troll in us all thanks to t...
Ep. 17: Nerd
January 02, 2018 05:00 - 56 minutes - 77.4 MBNNEEERRRRDDDSSS!!! In this episode of Extreme Vocabulary we nerd out on the word NERD. Who or what is a nerd? Is it now cool to be a nerd? And what credentials can you show to prove your nerdhood? Listen in as Efren challenges our nerdhood by siding with Pokémon the Trading Card Game, while Josh sides with Pokémon GO, and Abe stays conservative with the main series Pokémon games. But aren't nerds really just social conformists intent on ruling the world? And aren't they the jerkiest gate ke...
Ep. 16: Edict
December 05, 2017 05:00 - 47 minutes - 64.6 MBJoin us on our new time and location (the first Tuesday of the month) for our final EDICT. But just what is an edict, you may ask? As it turns out, some of us are learning for the first time as well. Be a part of the learning experience as Abe takes us from this declarative's latin roots through its history with the Catholic church and beyond. After all, even Buddhists can make edicts apparently. As usual, Efren provides the literary reference, this time a poem from Raymond McDaniel's Assault...
Ep. 15: Strategem
October 15, 2017 05:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MBWhat exactly was the strategy in having Ashley be our special guest host today? Or was it a strategem? What’s the difference, anyways? What are you employing in your life? Ashley joins Abe, Aaron, Efren, (and maybe Josh is hiding somewhere in the room as well) to dig into the roots of this cunning word which leads them into a discussion about war and military. Efren brings a quote from 1820 called Traits of Indian Character by Washington Irving. We are, of course, all triggered. But don’t wor...
Ep. 14: Adventure
September 16, 2017 05:00 - 50 minutes - 69.1 MBThe boy is back in town and ready for action! Welcome the return of Abe as he brings us on an adventure of the mind. How do you know if you're on an adventure? Does Zelda qualify? What about a trip to Vegas? Efren then brings one of the most classic classic pieces of literature for analysis. So, strap in and saddle out (is that a thing people say?) and push the accelerator on Episode 14 of EXTREME VOCABULARY!
Ep. 13: Vertigo
August 15, 2017 05:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBFor our second year as a podcast, we thought we would try something a little different. Now, we're all involved in the conversation from front to back, except... Abe wasn't able to make this recording in person. Hopefully, you can feel his spirit, though as we discuss today's dizzying word, VERTIGO. Aaron does the research, Efren brings a piece of literature from Jorge Luis Borges.
Ep. 12: Eccentric
July 15, 2017 05:00 - 35 minutes - 49.4 MBWhat does Pluto have in common with Oscar Wilde? Find out on our anniversary episode of Extreme Vocabulary where we try to get to the tootsie roll center of an ECCENTRIC word. Abe has done the research and Aaron has not. Efren brings Ana Castillo's So Far From God and Josh is there too! Thanks for a great year!
Ep. 11: Accost
June 15, 2017 05:00 - 43 minutes - 60.1 MBI hope you don't mind if we accost your ears for another episode of Extreme Vocabulary. We promise to return them to you unmolested and in the meantime, you'll learn about the history of this month's arresting word. Abe drops knowledge about Juno Diaz, Efren brings a piece of literature by Richard Wright, Aaron is his normal brilliant self, and Josh seems, well, a little confused. But don't worry, you'll get your ears right back and hopefully with something new in-between on this episode of ...
Ep. 10: Boring
May 15, 2017 05:00 - 38 minutes - 72.2 MBOh, yeah... this again. So, Extreme Vocabulary does everything it can to stay, well, extreme, but sometimes they can't keep up that energy level. I'm not saying this episode is BORING, far from it. Abe tells Aaron about the Germanic origins of this week's word, deconstructs its usage among children, and even talks about watching ants crawl on his arm. Then Efren comes by with a bundle of joy from Raymond Carver's short story, FEATHERS But there's something (yawn) about this episode, that just...
Ep. 9: Video
April 15, 2017 05:00 - 40 minutes - 56.1 MBWhy is VIDEO the word of a tyrant? Join Abe and Aaron as they discuss the ancient roots of this word, and its recent revival. Abe wonders if our ability to reproduce visual information has restructured the hierarchy of our senses while Aaron continues to mesmerize us with his beauty. Then, join Josh and Efren as Efren shares a passage from a short story by Junot Diaz. Hey, what are you looking at? It's Extreme Vocabulary, let's go!
Ep. 8: Clairvoyant
March 15, 2017 05:00 - 39 minutes - 53.8 MBWhat's the matter? Didn't see this coming? Perhaps you could have used the magic of clairvoyance to anticipate today's word. Or maybe it's not so much magic, as it is just the ability to write Science Fiction. Join in as Abe and Aaron ponder the clairvoyants of the past, and the predictions they made for our future. Stay tuned as Efren reads from Ana Castillo's So far from God. Josh is doing his hosting duties as usual, but you already knew that would happen, right?
Ep. 7: Pathetic
February 15, 2017 05:00 - 36 minutes - 49.5 MBYou had to go a whole month without Extreme Vocabulary? You poor thing! But have no fear, Abe and Aaron are here to make sure you feel better; sometimes by making themselves look worse! But who will have empathy for our dear etymologists? Later, Efren joins Josh to read from The Tattooed Soldier by Hector Tobar. We hope that you join us too. After all, we're all alone without you!
Ep. 6: Corn
January 15, 2017 05:00 - 28 minutes - 39.7 MBAfter a whole month, you might have been getting hungry for the sustenance that only Extreme Vocabulary can provide. Fortunately, Abe never disappoints us with his well-researched and unique takes on our words. He and Aaron come to the conclusion that we have overcorned corn, so tune in to find out what that even means. Efren brings Josh an especially big book by John Steinbeck. Prepare to have your minds blown, or popped, as the case may be.
Ep. 5: Onomatopoeia
December 15, 2016 05:00 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBOh snap! Is that the sound of a new podcast, or the explosion of ideas on this month's episode? Join Abe and Aaron who bring the bang for your buck, while Efren shares another work of literature with Josh. It's all yours and just a clickity-clack away.
Ep. 4: Clandestine
November 15, 2016 05:00 - 38 minutes - 53.5 MBPssst! This month's word is a secret! However, despite our best efforts to keep it under wraps, rumors of it have been circulating, creating a culture of discourse that imagines everything you know to be false. At least there is one thing we all know to be true: Extreme Vocabulary rules!
Ep. 3: Wizard
October 15, 2016 05:00 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MBThis isn't a trick. In fact, we hope that it's a treat. In the spirit of the season, our word of the month is wizard. Listen in as Abe and Aaron stir the cauldron and discuss the evolution of this enchanting little word. Meanwhile, Josh and Efren discuss The Wizard of Oz. What is the source of the wizard's powers? Wisdom or magic? Find out on this episode of Extreme Vocabulary!
Ep. 2: It
August 18, 2016 05:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBTag! You're listening to Extreme Vocabulary, which means that you are, are doing, and have today's word. Confused? Well, you shouldn't be, after all you've known what you are since birth right? Join Abe and Aaron as they discuss the nature of this excitable little pronoun while Efren shares a passage from Wuthering Heights. Think you know everything there is to know about it? Take a listen and find out!