Latest Puzzling Podcast Episodes
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...
Fill Me In #328: 85% quality content; 15% pants.
Fill Me In - January 11, 2022 08:00 - 2 hours ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan is in Hawaii so Brian is joined by Ben "The Barnacle" Zimmer! It's a super-sized episode jam-packed with Word of the Year reflections, New York Times crosswords in the Thunder Round, a little behind-the-scenes at Daily Crossword Links, Wordle (the wildest new word puzzle craze), ...
Fill Me In #327: I think I’m expressing the amount of surprise I have.
Fill Me In - January 04, 2022 08:00 - 51 minutes ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian try out a new recipe, dabble in a few mini puzzles, and attempt to learn what a double dactyl is. The amount of sock talk is out of proportion with the prominence of this week's artwork. Oh, and there's a contest crossword as well, which you can download at https://bit....
Fill Me In #326: You would make that up 60-fold.
Fill Me In - December 28, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian go diving with the EELs, ponder on life as an understudy, and rave about the MIT Mystery Hunt (which hasn't happen and which Brian is too scared to attend). There's a new contest crossword as well, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi326con If you get bored, ...
Fill Me In #325: Why are they both named after cold things?
Fill Me In - December 21, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week -- look, it may seem (at the outset) that this is a sandwich-dominated show, but somewhere around the halfway point we do a big old Thunder Round, so stick with it. We've got our favorite Viewer Mail of the year, plus a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi324...
Fill Me In #324: You can see how their interest just evaporated.
Fill Me In - December 14, 2021 08:00 - 54 minutes ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian welcome crossword artist Quiara Vasquez to the show, and we talk up the current AVCXpansion Kickstarter! If you have a few coins to spare, help out the AV folks with this wonderful venture. There's also a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/...
Fill Me In #323: The Greek alphabet is out to get us.
Fill Me In - November 30, 2021 08:00 - 58 minutes ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian attempt to pronounce colors, German words, and the name of a cryptic crossword setter. There's also a deep dive into IRE clues and a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi323con. Stuff to click: The AVCXpansion: Embiggening an Indie Puzz...
Fill Me In #322: I can’t see it, and I can’t say it.
Fill Me In - November 23, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian untangle a movie theater, learn about Tamil poetry, and question the economic motives of The Music Man. There's also a deep dive into ODE clues and a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi321con. Please note: this podcast references, but does no...
Fill Me In #321: If it makes you happy and doesn’t hurt anyone.
Fill Me In - November 16, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian hear a long German word pronounced, discuss the ingredients of an unfamiliar recipe, and thunder their way through the past week of New York Times crosswords. There's also a deep dive into ALA clues and a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/f...
Fill Me In #320: Walter assistant.
Fill Me In - November 09, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian christen a new boat, and dedicate at least 53% of the show to a chat with its captain. Included: Shakespeare, sandwich tacos, long German words, a wee bit of baseball, a full week of New York Times crosswords, and our latest contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi319con...
Fill Me In #319: A superfluity of nuns.
Fill Me In - November 02, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian learn a new song about cherpumple, get challenged by language that isn't real, and nearly forget to summon Thor. But the piece de resistance is a master class in both constructing and solving crosswords from reigning Lollapuzzoola champion Will Nediger! Check out Will's...
Fill Me In #318: It’s like Shakespeare and Shaggy teamed up to write stage directions.
Fill Me In - October 26, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian compare the piecaken to the cherpumple, ask questions about birds, and revisit the latest episode of #GBBO. There's a contest crossword (courtesy of Norah Sharpe!) at https://www.dropbox.com/s/w6ak3autbknv3a7/fmi317con.puz?dl=1 and you should visit us on Twitch on Satur...
Fill Me In #317: An expert in sconces.
Fill Me In - October 19, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian don't talk much about baseball (okay, a little), don't spoil the Great British Baking Show (okay, a little), and don't talk about a few crosswords from the New York Times (okay, a little). Please join us for Puzzle Boat 8, and use our Discord to talk with the rest of th...
Fill Me In #316: Chances are the British are coming!
Fill Me In - October 12, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian examine the cherpumple, learn about l’esprit d’escalier, and listen to a smidgen of classical music. Please join us for Puzzle Boat 8, and use our Discord to talk with the rest of the team. There's a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi315con, and we hang out on Twit...
Fill Me In #315: Carrot cake is the gefilte fish of cake.
Fill Me In - October 05, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian talk about pie, cake, Old Opoldeldoc (nope, we don't know either), take a deep dive into ERIE clues, and time-travel to a week ago for a New York Times thunder round. There's a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi315con, and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7...
Fill Me In #314: There’s no juice in a nut.
Fill Me In - September 28, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian talk about aliens, veronicas, and pecan pie, and the Thunder Round is all about New Yorker puzzles! There's a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi313con, and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics. If you get bored, writ...
Fill Me In #313: You never forget a smell.
Fill Me In - September 21, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian dip into flying, the Japanese feudal class system, Ed Asner, and they promote Rachel Fabi as the next host of Jeopardy! There's a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi313con, and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics. ...
Fill Me In #312: Lesson from life: when you touch it, it doesn’t work.
Fill Me In - September 14, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian take a deep dive into ETA clues, revisit their love for "Crossword Mysteries," and the Thunder Round is a week of USA Today puzzles! There's a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi311con, and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoor...
Fill Me In #311: Disemvowelment ... in which the object "ass" is implied.
Fill Me In - September 07, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian arbitrarily launch Season 7 of "Fill Me In" with a visit from Ben "The Barnacle" Zimmer. Topics include vowel omissions, puzzle pain, and a potential new arc for the show. There's a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi311con, and we expect to be streaming again o...
Fill Me In #310: I smoked a chicken last night.
Fill Me In - August 31, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian tie off Season 6 of Fill Me In with a double episode devoted to extensive Viewer Mail and a thorough recap of Lollapuzzoola. Question of the week: What should be the story arc for Season 7? Write us at [email protected] with your suggestion! If you get bored, wri...
Fill Me In #309: It's going to eat the malt.
Fill Me In - August 17, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian talk about the history and evolution of ATE clues, wonder if there are plants native to Detroit, and marvel at the excessive cost of old baseball cards. There's a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi308con, and ... well, there's usually a Twit...
Fill Me In #308: In which matzo ball soup is a salad.
Fill Me In - August 10, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian take deep dives into sandwiches (sorry), ALE (as a crossword entry), and a handful of puzzles they both enjoyed! There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi308con, and ... well, there's usually a Twitch promotion here, but the stream is...
Fill Me In #307: How many gallons go down in a flush?
Fill Me In - August 03, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian check in with Crucinova.com, and sit down for a chat with editor Lisa Bunker. Also included: an unrelated story about how Emperor Palpatine made Ryan sick, a deep dive into ORE clues, and the briefest of Viewer Mail. There's a contest crossword, which you can download a...
Fill Me In #306: Gonzo would eat anything for an audience.
Fill Me In - July 27, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian reflect on hot sauce, explore the various ELIs in crosswords, and learn that knickers are not socks. There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi306con, and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nex...
Fill Me In #305: It could be called “The Kathryn Sigh” … It could be called “The Kathryn Leaves The Room” question ...
Fill Me In - July 20, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, we get a visit from the Barnacle where we learn some new words and word origins, all courtesy of Ben Zimmer's signature linguistic brilliance. Also included: a supervocalic or two, a thunder round, and a Viewer Mail from Brian's father! There's an ongoing contest crossword, which you ...
Fill Me In #304: One box at a time.
Fill Me In - July 13, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, we delve a bit deeper into old puzzles, learn how to pronounce a name, read old poetry, and attempt to sort out seals and spiders. There's a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi303con, and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.tw...
Fill Me In #303: We have three pounds of cream cheese in today’s show.
Fill Me In - July 06, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, we revisit a puzzle from 1953, introduce two new clubs, and get a surprise on-the-street interview with Tyler Hinman whilst eating pizza. There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi303con, and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at htt...
Fill Me In #302: Not hanging out with us, and enjoying his hair.
Fill Me In - June 29, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Brian is in Maine and Ryan still can't sell Wingspan. Also: other word games, the history of AREA, a personal P&A challenge, and a new club! There's a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi301con, and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at http...
Fill Me In #301: Whether you like it or not, the password is Scott Conant.
Fill Me In - June 22, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian discuss the history of ERA clues, talk through the past week of NYT crosswords, and announce one or two details about Lollapuzzoola 14. There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi301con, and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch ...
Fill Me In #300: Have we started?
Fill Me In - June 15, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsThis week, Ryan and Brian blast to the past and revisit some older puzzles to see how they've held up over time. In current events, there's still a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi299con, and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch...
Related Puzzling Topics