Latest Puzzling Podcast Episodes
Fill Me In #447: When was the height of balls?
Fill Me In - June 18, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian learn about international cuisine, discover more music involving cheese, and celebrate the reunion of a man and his stopwatch. Phew, that's a lot to get through in 90 minutes. Stuff to click: The Saucy Nugs Guy Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese Dead Milkmen - B...
Fill Me In #446: Too much California and not enough airplanes.
Fill Me In - June 11, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian analyze some music (this, this, and this), attempt to clarify when exactly this particular episode of FMI was published, and return to the NYT crosswords for what will certainly once have been a cranky Thunder Round. If you get bored (how could you?!), write somethin...
Fill Me In #445: Ice cream with the added impact of root beer.
Fill Me In - June 04, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian dig into some fusion cuisine (we sincerely hope the chewing sounds aren't disgusting), learn a little more about the English horn (though not enough), and imbue two scoops of Kealoa into something of a cola war. Also, a non-NYT Thunder Round (featuring Wyna Liu's 5/14 ...
Fill Me In #444: If you don’t have a baby, you have a problem.
Fill Me In - May 28, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian hang out in the Viewer Mail bag for an extended length of time, but all in the name of education! Lessons include: Crosswords via Kickstarter: A-to-Z Crosswords Noodles: Nongshim and Buldak M*A*S*H: the cast and the music Creole: the language, the peoples, and t...
Fill Me In #443: I have about ten years until I reach double Papelbon.
Fill Me In - May 21, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian learn the history of language, the dangers of potassium, and (maybe?) the gender identity of Chat GPT. This week's Baker-Grapevine scores: baseball 2, sandwiches 7, kealoa 0. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're f...
Fill Me In #442: Permanently distanced from perfection.
Fill Me In - May 14, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian review the days of the months, attempt to choreograph a song that doesn't exist, and learn a few letters of Morse code. Yikes, was that a woodpecker? If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, do...
Fill Me In #441: Protected vellum out of a sleeve.
Fill Me In - May 07, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian are each a little pestier than usual, and ... okay, being real, Brian was super grumpy and Ryan wasn't making things any better. No Kealoa this week, but there is a useless fact, plus a Thunder Round of non-NYT puzzles: "Permanent Record" by Daniel Bodily (Universal, A...
Fill Me In #440: They mask their torpidity in a veneer of cleverness.
Fill Me In - April 30, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian don't have iPads, don't have endorsement deals, don't enjoy meaningless facts or guessing games, and don't really like most of the puzzles they solved. Honestly, if you're looking to take a week off from FMI, this might be the week to take. If you get bored (how coul...
Fill Me In #439: I am not going to enjoy the end of this.
Fill Me In - April 23, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian speak over music, customize their burgers, share more McCartneys than Jesuses, and offer one of the most nail-biting thrillers Kealoa has ever known -- but we won't harp on it, give a listen yourself. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill ...
Fill Me In #438: Once the tiger goes extinct, you’re left with Gena Rowlands.
Fill Me In - April 16, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, reigning ACPT champion Paolo Pasco stops by for a chat, but not before Ryan and Brian learn a few new facts about defiant bagel slingers, George Lopez, and the curious lives of Captain and Tennille. Here are links to Paolo's work at the Atlantic, The New Yorker, his XWordInfo profil...
Fill Me In #437: The theme is the pimento.
Fill Me In - April 09, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Brian returns from the ACPT with all the news (but none of the puzzles), and Ryan hacks and coughs his way through another Thunder Round with all the puzzles (but none of the news?). Look, just because we don't think Alex Eaton-Salners is actually Will Shortz doesn't mean that he coul...
Fill Me In #436: Whence this confidence?
Fill Me In - April 02, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian make their ACPT predictions, consider their options for another eclipse in 2241, and attempt to learn pronunciation. We edited out most of Ryan's ills and woes, but there may be a few stray sneezes. On behalf of the wonderful constructors of our most recent Contest of...
Fill Me In #435: Looking back fondly on the days when we could hurkle-durkle in peace.
Fill Me In - March 26, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian are joined by correspondent and superlinguist Ben Zimmer, who chats it up on topics like fluffles, ghost words, mountweazels, Hamburglars, Horshacks, and hurkle-durkles. Also, the Content of Still Going On still goes on — solve it here! If you get bored (how could...
Fill Me In #434: Okay, Godot.
Fill Me In - March 19, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week's long show is attributed in no small part to analyses of poetry, of cultural songs, and of hot dogs. Ryan and Brian are also thrilled to present a brand new contest puzzle, thanks to Shannon and Will — solve it here! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fil...
Fill Me In #433: Bags come from crates. And what’s a crate? A box.
Fill Me In - March 12, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian touch UPON topics such as Cheez-Its, Carrie Underwood, and Candleshoe (yes, we've bantered on this topic before), but it's clear Ryan won't wind up ATOP any tournament leaderboards if he can't get to Stamford. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for t...
Fill Me In #432: I'd like a very gently vermouthy martini.
Fill Me In - March 05, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian realize they know less than they thought about the "Welcome Back, Kotter" universe, mixology, and French pastries ... though Ryan knows more than anyone expected about geography -- but does anyone know who he is? If you get bored (how could you?!), write something fo...
Fill Me In #431: One minutia, two minutiae.
Fill Me In - February 27, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian dig into a spate of television and movies, make but one small reference to a musical, and otherwise feel old about everything. (Someone, dear lord, send us email -- we need to hear from you to feel validated!) If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for t...
Fill Me In #430: Announced first, heard last … and something about bulls.
Fill Me In - February 20, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian make more plans to see the solar eclipse in April, take a brief trip down a BEQ-specific memory lane, and invent a new contest that may require people to have never listened to this show. Ah, so very poetic. Stuff to click: nationaleclipse.com an article and video...
Fill Me In #429: A vast array of prosthetic beards.
Fill Me In - February 13, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan is away, so Brian is joined by fellow Syracusian and all-around crossword superstar Rachel Fabi! Topics include rice, the eclipse, Taylor Swift, Super Bowl updates -- but also breaking news about These Puzzles Fund Abortion 4, coming out in March! If you get bored (how could y...
Fill Me In #428: We have a Jack Nicholson collection connection.
Fill Me In - February 06, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian are in a hurry, but that doesn't stop them from learning more about soup, stew, barnacles, and Jack Nicholson. Did you know there's going to be a total eclipse in April in Syracuse? Consider thee informed. Stuff to click: The 46th Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tou...
Fill Me In #427: Tom Hanks does not steal eggs.
Fill Me In - January 30, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan pronounces names and shapes, and emails famous people whilst Brian plots mischief, tries again to know anything about soup, and stews over what is and isn't fair. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, ...
Fill Me In #426: Rooked by ambiguous that does not give me asymptonic memory relapse.
Fill Me In - January 23, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan challenges the equity of Kealoa AND knows something about soup, all of which puts Brian into a rather grumpy mood. It's either a week of frustration and mediocrity, or of eggs and chickens. ¿Por qué no los dos? If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill M...
Fill Me In #425: Schtick in your thirties becomes lifestyle choices in your fifties.
Fill Me In - January 16, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsFriends, viewers, countrymen, loan us your ears? Ryan and Brian take turns in two different quizzing hot seats and a surprise audio segment includes MLB predictions and new developments in breakfast namesakes. Stuff to click: Where's Waldo got banned? Boswords' 2024 Winter Wondersolve Th...
Fill Me In #424: Now don't you wish you'd traded it for Paul McCartney?
Fill Me In - January 09, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsJanuary! Again! Ryan's back for a Kealoa he wishes he could avoid, and Ben Zimmer returns with a Word of the Year recap. There's some saucy language (courtesy of the WOTY content), so let this be your warning. Stuff to click: Westport Library crossword tournament Great British Bake Off hos...
Fill Me In #423: Remember when we talked about Jotto the last time? We're going to do it again in two years.
Fill Me In - January 02, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsHappy New Year! To celebrate, Ryan has gone AWOL, so we're delighted to bring Ben Zimmer back into the studio. We've got announcements and teasers and puzzles and Lingo and ... does anyone have a Hebrew word list? Stuff to click: Natan Last's essay in The New Yorker, "Can Crosswords Be More ...
Fill Me In #422: Puddle to Mamaragan to plasma to ocean.
Fill Me In - December 19, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian learn more about a very specific librarian (boy oh boy is this amazing!), investigate Oz-adjacent cinema, and take a lesson in musical modality with a new spin on Kealoa. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeli...
Fill Me In #421: I don’t know what the table is.
Fill Me In - December 12, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian rank desserts, learn about The Waldos, and (at the time of recording) know more about Pablo Picasso than Shohei Ohtani. There's also a fascinating Shcrödinger puzzle from Israel, merch from Long Island, a lot less music (but a better arrangement of it) to welcome Paul ...
Fill Me In #420: All the same stories, none of the same characters.
Fill Me In - December 05, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian remember the Oscars, are riddle-color blind, and have questions about beer. If you feel the same way, vote aye (or yea). There's also a brilliant contest sudoku from Jaime Stearns! A note from Scott Weiss: "I just wanted to give one more reminder to your viewers about...
Fill Me In #419: We have a lot of alternative grains.
Fill Me In - November 28, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian bicker about soup, banter about a sign in Florida, and dig into a fresh Kealoa like the good little nerdy geeks they are. They also say Paul McCartney's name nine times (sorry), and present a brand new contest sudoku (!) from Jaime Stearns! (Different but important sand...
Fill Me In #418: Their names seem like phonetic anagrams of each other.
Fill Me In - November 21, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian don't know the size of a trilobite, the origin of a certain pasta dish, the difference between Sharon Stone and Madonna, nor what they're doing in the C Rundle, but Decker Math is still a core value, and for that, they shout a unified cry of victory. If you get bored...
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