Saturday, October 18, 2025 - Fasten your seatbelts, Samuel Smalley is baaaaaack!
This was Samuel Smalley's second crossword, and his second on a Saturday . He certainly seems to have internalized the make-it-as-tough-as-you'd-like spirit that distinguishes Saturday crosswords, and unquestionably knows how to peg the meter. There were 13 debut answers in today's grid, and virtually every single clue put up a fight. We have the deets inside, including the highs, the lows, and the BASSOS 😀. Show note imagery: a HELIOSTAT, which — based on how much extra electricity ChatGPT a...
19 Loka 17min
Friday, October 17, 2025 - VOLARE!
This was a splendiferous Friday crossword by Karen Steinberg. It was not particularly difficult, but it was particularly fun to solve, and for that we are grateful! Check out today's episode for all the deets, and drop us a line -- we love feedback! Show note imagery: What may (or may not: we make absolutely no promises) be the correct set of rules for BEERDARTS We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're o...
18 Loka 6min
Thursday, October 16, 2025 - We choose ... the REDPILL!
This was an ingenious and entertaining crossword by Kareem Ayas, his 7th for the NYTimes. The theme was very (n)ice indeed, but the rest of the clues were not just there for show. We loved 34A, High lights?, AURORA; were delighted by the nostalgia-inducing 25D, What allows Neo to disconnect from the Matrix, REDPILL; and were amazed to discover the answer to 47A, Tonkatsu coating, PANKO. All in all a fabulous effort, a solid 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Show note imagery: for practitioners of...
17 Loka 20min
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - Ah, those halcyon, cerulean skies!
We find it difficult to resist a crossword with the word "cerulean" anywhere in it, or even in near it, when the constructors were working their magic. But it is not only for that reason that we have bestowed upon this fair opus a full 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. To find out what those other reasons are ... merely download today's episode (after clicking follow / like / subscribe, of course), listen up, and enjoy! Show note imagery: The Classics Illustrated version of LORDJIM (for those of ...
16 Loka 11min
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 - Contemplating the RIGHTNESS of RIGHTNESS 🙄😉
This was an excellent crossword by Stella Zawistowski, her 24th for the NYTimes and her 7th Tuesday. There were some awesome clues in the grid, such as 28D, "A pox on thee!", FIE (a truly excellent insult 😀); 23A, Heavily edit with beauty filters, as a photo, in modern lingo, YASSIFY (how do scholars classify YASSIFY, anyways? 😉); and in retrospect an obvious answer (but a fun one nonetheless), 50D, Country whose national soccer team is nicknamed the Pharaohs, EGYPT. In addition to our analys...
15 Loka 12min
Monday, October 13, 2025 - YOSHI, Everyone's favorite pixel-based lifeform 😉
This was an intriguing debut crossword by Katherine Xiong. Both cohosts -- solving independently as usual -- found it to be a tad longer than one might expect for a Monday. That just means more time spent savoring the crossword, though, and so more a cause for celebration than anything else. Besides the crossword, we also have our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award). Also, as an exclusive, we have left in the mix the origin story of our next contest (currently unnamed: ...
14 Loka 15min
Sunday, October 12, 2025 - FENNELBULBS: when LCDs just aren't bright enough 🙄😎
Both cohosts found today's puzzle to be particularly crunchy due to cruciverbial challenges in different areas of the grid. Jean struggled mightily in the southeast corner, while Mike was temporarily waylaid by his ignorance of sports -- and any pop culture references more recent than around 1850. Still, both eventually prevailed, and lived to tell (podcast) the tale. Deets inside! Show note imagery: Benedick, the comic relief in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, who swore he'd never marr...
13 Loka 21min
Saturday, October 11, 2025 - Another Sam Ezersky Thriller
Sam Ezersky crosswords can be quite thrilling, as he is renowned for making highly challenging puzzles. He certainly does not disappoint this Saturday, quite the contrary. However, he has managed to inject a lot of humor into the grid, making for an epically challenging but also quite entertaining solve: no slogs here. We have all the deets inside, so have a listen, and, as always, we welcome your feedback! Show note imagery: LAMARJACKSON, a Baltimore Ravens quarterback getting ready to unlea...
12 Loka 13min
