Latest Puzzling Podcast Episodes
Fill Me In #358: Super hot and neck-and-neck.
Fill Me In - August 23, 2022 07:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian race through the podcast in part because it's way later than when they normally record, and in part because Zoom put up a timer midway through the call and everyone got scared. Sign up for Lollapuzzoola. That's the show. If you get bored, write something for the Fil...
Fill Me In #357: The best conspiracies have a grain of truth in them.
Fill Me In - August 16, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, the Fill Me In studio is invaded by barnacles! Or actually, just one barnacle -- THE Barnacle, a.k.a. Ben Zimmer, linguist to the stars. There's still some baseball and sandwich talk, but it's word-related, so stick around for that. Also in the news: Lollapuzzoola, the greatest cro...
Fill Me In #356: They once will have bumped.
Fill Me In - August 09, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, two randos wander into the studio and start talking like they're running a tournament or something. Oh wait, it's just Brooke and Sid here to talk about Lollapuzzoola, the greatest crossword puzzle tournament ever held annually on a Saturday in August! In today's show, we announce t...
Fill Me In #355: I think it’s disgusting, but it’s the only way she eats ‘em.
Fill Me In - August 02, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan records without a microphone, opens the Viewer Mail bag without snapping, and essentially ad libs the entire show without a script. All that plus a contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/g4pvk5sqfsl9qoh/fmi354con.puz?dl=1 Also - sign up for Lolla...
Fill Me In #354: People could just pin a beard straight onto my face.
Fill Me In - July 26, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian seek value in Taylor Swift, Usain Bolt, Bojack Horseman, and the musical Wicked, and struggle pronouncing words like "restaurant" and "comfortable." All that plus a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/g4pvk5sqfsl9qoh/fmi354con.puz?...
Fill Me In #353: Why not Marco Polo, Alan Arbesfeld?
Fill Me In - July 19, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian read some Viewer Mail poetry, separate the good (puzzle) from the bad (website) with the #NYTXW, and SEE what they can SEE. All that plus a contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/as5w921fkvdhfxx/fmi352con.puz?dl=1 Stuff to click: Lolla...
Fill Me In #352: A piper's age.
Fill Me In - July 12, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian go APE, marvel at a thrilling Saturday puzzle, and duplicate each other's brilliance in under three minutes. All that plus a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/as5w921fkvdhfxx/fmi352con.puz?dl=1 Stuff to click: These Puzzles Fu...
Fill Me In #351: I cannot multitask the acceptance of stimuli.
Fill Me In - June 28, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian get lost in musicals and movies (though not musical movies), and finally interrupt the uselessness with a Thunder Round on the past week of AVCX puzzles! Included are works by Rachel Fabi, Soleil Saint-Cyr, Billy Bratton, Erich Bratton, Jenna LaFleur, and Ada Nicolle. A...
Fill Me In #350: I can demolish a challenge just like that carpet can demolish Deb.
Fill Me In - June 21, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsWe are utterly ecstatic to welcome a special guest interview this week with the one and only Shannon Rapp (a.k.a Norah Sharpe)! Shannon brings news of the St. Louis Crossword Tournament (#stlxwt), a look at her work with the #avcx universe, and it only takes Brian about ten tries to get the name...
Fill Me In #349: The amount of rowdy that is too rowdy is any amount of rowdy.
Fill Me In - June 14, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsAfter a week of vacation and a week of illness, Ryan Hecht is back in the studio, and to celebrate his return, he and Brian talk about musical theater way too much. Not sure why. There's also broken headphones, too much dancing, and a semi-rapid-fire thunder round, especially as the clock winds d...
Fill Me In #348: An abundance of 7-letter musicals.
Fill Me In - May 31, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, it's a double dose of Syracuse hosts as Rachel Fabi joins Brian on the show. They explore XW Stats, a fantastic new site all about individual statistics on the #NYTXW, ponder the difference between a die hard fan and a "Die Hard" fan, and dig into a Thunder Round from this past week o...
Fill Me In #347: Mutual eponymity.
Fill Me In - May 24, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian talk sandwiches, clubs, a handful of famous people no one talks about anymore, Scott Weiss's latest Anti-Match Quiz, and a strong week of puzzles. All that plus a contest crossword at https://www.dropbox.com/s/vqrhm56ysn1qoab/fmi346con.puz?dl=1 If you get bored, write...
Fill Me In #346: In which Brian is told he's a bad man.
Fill Me In - May 17, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian are thrilled to welcome author A.J. Jacobs (website, Twitter) and puzzlemaker Greg Pliska (website, Twitter), who discuss their new book "The Puzzler." Also, a hardcore quiz on Sondheim lyrics, some time traveling, and a false start to what was supposed to be a quick Th...
Fill Me In #345: I understand what it could be, but I’m pretty sure what it is.
Fill Me In - May 10, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Brian plays Ryan for a bit, an unnamed visitor mumbles in the background, and there's more musical theater and sports than anyone wanted. All that plus a contest crossword at https://www.dropbox.com/s/uiv5fladppg2s01/fmi344con.puz?dl=1 Stuff to click: These Puzzles Fund Abortion T...
Fill Me In #344: There’s no expiration on glory.
Fill Me In - May 03, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsTHE STORY: Ryan Hecht is a published crossword constructor. That's the show note. Okay, we also fail to pronounce things we've allegedly learned in the past, shout out our wonderful Patreon supporters, and have a new crossword contest at https://www.dropbox.com/s/uiv5fladppg2s01/fmi344con.puz?...
Fill Me In #343: There is definitely a salt sprinkle to be had at the end.
Fill Me In - April 26, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian learn a bunch about the Easter season holidays, ponder the pronunciation of Qatar, and get the hot tea on a 53-second solve. All that plus a contest crossword at https://www.dropbox.com/s/bzp48gkqhc0xtq9/fmi342con.puz?dl=1 If you get bored, write something for the Fil...
Fill Me In #342: The onset of the extra toasty business.
Fill Me In - April 19, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian edit out a bunch of nonsense about synth books, but leave behind a bit of Learned League cryptic clues, a deep dive into the use of IRA as a crossword entry, and fail to name two constructors in one take. All that plus a new contest crossword at http://ow.ly/ZjiS50IMq1M...
Fill Me In #341: It was not, in this case, clambakos.
Fill Me In - April 12, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsIt was just a matter of time. Brian's got the 'vid, but we stumble along nevertheless, bringing you puzzles, food, and a relatively decent amount of two guys being doofuses. All that plus a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi340con If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki....
Fill Me In #340: If it’s not for the audience, what is the point? (or, I might read more poetry if it was about meat.)
Fill Me In - April 05, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsIt's the ACPT recap! Ryan is on vacation, so Rachel Fabi joins Brian in the Syracuse studio for this thorough exploration into the past weekend's tournament. Spoilers abound -- we warn you now! All that plus a brand new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi340con Stuff to click: Rachel Fabi...
Fill Me In #339: There are shepherds now, but there were eclogues then.
Fill Me In - March 29, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian explore the Erdös number of dining clubs, can't find an authentic Standing Room Only sign to save their lives, and thunder their way through a week of New York Times crosswords. All that plus a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi338con Stuff to click: Article ...
Fill Me In #338: I’ve got a pint of ice cream and I know who to give it to.
Fill Me In - March 22, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian discuss pasta salad, clubs within clubs, the etymology of the obviously Latin word "ante," and lay down the final predictive word on who will win the ACPT. All that plus a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi338con If you get bored, write something for the Fil...
Fill Me In #337: Ryan Hecht is a disappointing experience.
Fill Me In - March 15, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian visit the spa, compare chicken fingers, and throw down some serious pi knowledge (not really). All that plus a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi336con If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to ou...
Fill Me In #336: Today’s episode is dedicated to Harold T. Bers.
Fill Me In - March 08, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian cover the diverse topics of hot sauce, #enigmarch, solving streaks, and a bit about a crossword constructor from the 1950s. All that plus a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi336con Other stuff to click: These Puzzles Fund Abortion Too, a fundraiser + crossw...
Fill Me In #335: I had a phone call with a yegg once.
Fill Me In - March 01, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian are joined in the studio by the illustrious Rachel Fabi! And it's not just an interview - she's here for the whole show! Rachel is the co-host of Just Gridding (both the blog and Twitch stream), columnist at Wordplay, and co-editor of These Puzzles Fund Abortion Too, a...
Fill Me In #334: How about Lassie?
Fill Me In - February 22, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsRyan's still sick, but he gives at least 42% during this newest episode of Fill Me In. Also within: ice cream (and a puzzle promo), the 12 Guess Movie Game, and a beep. You'll know it when you hear it. All that, plus a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi334con. If you get bored, write...
Fill Me In #333: Dude, I could wreck you.
Fill Me In - February 15, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsTurns out it was Covid. But Ryan soldiers on and we bring you another week of Fill Me In. More news on Franklin, gluttonous ice cream joy, and a new Anti-Match Quiz courtesy of Scott Weiss! All that, plus a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi332con. If you get bored, write something for ...
Fill Me In #332: Death tastes good on toasted rye.
Fill Me In - February 08, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan fights through some non-Covid illness LIKE A BOSS, and Brian plays along because what else is there to do? Lotsa Viewer Mail, including lessons on frosting, baseball, nicknames -- and the piece de resistance, some Where Are They Now? news from FMI's fake production studio. All th...
Fill Me In #331: Let's wreak some joy out there.
Fill Me In - February 01, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian get a bit deeper into some Hex history, learn a bunch about Hebrew crosswords, get some backstory on the use of "Ace" for baseball stars, take a tic tac toe lesson from a pro, and explore a deep dive into ADO clues. All that, plus a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/f...
Fill Me In #330: One wrecking ball away from heaven.
Fill Me In - January 25, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsHe's back! This week, Brian is thrilled to welcome Ryan back into the studio for a show full of stories Hawaiian, deep dives ACEd, and thundery puzzles NewYorkTimesed. All that, plus there's a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi330con! If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me I...
Fill Me In #329: Cryptics, cryptics, (almost) nothing but cryptics!
Fill Me In - January 18, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsWhile Ryan is still on vacation, Brian is once again joined by Ben "The Barnacle" Zimmer! Coming in a smidge shorter than last week's show, Ben and Brian spend most of the episode talking all about cryptic crosswords -- history, evolution, Twitch streaming, and a Thunder Round of some of their fa...
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