Monday, February 9, 2026 - SADIE Jones is in the grid (and ought to be on your reading list!)

This was a Super Crossword for a Super Bowl Sunday. The theme was straightforward but cute, and the rest of the puzzle featured a SEA of crafty clues. For instance, we had 24D, Quick hellos, HIS (ha!); 37D, Villainous chortle, HEHE (heh, heh); and 11D, Wee mewer, KITTEN (cute!). Show note imagery: The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, by BERNINI We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to ...

9 Feb 16min

Mark Diehl has been writing NYTimes Crosswords - predominantly Friday and Saturday puzzles - since 1984. He's eased off as of late, his last appearing in 2020. But he's back with an ingenious Saturday crossword that charmed both cohosts. Check out today's podcast to find out why. Show note imagery: Some SONYREADERS Show note URL: The House of PUTTEES, one of many, many hilarious skits from the masters of deadpan, Bob & Ray. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listene...

8 Feb 15min

There were some truly awesome clues in today's crossword. We definitely hit the highlights in the podcast, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention 44D, Stage name of South Korean rapper Park Jae-sang, PSY (Mike's favorite artist!); 47D, Tie one on at dinner, BIB (ha!); and an oldie but goodie, 21D, Parliament constituent, OWL. What a hoot! Show note imagery: One of Disney's greatest creations, ITSASMALLWORLD We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop u...

7 Feb 16min

Today's crossword, a debut (huzzah!) by Dario Salvucci, was one of those puzzle-in-a-puzzle challenges that we just adore. In this case, one had to decipher some emoticon-like clues to get the correct answer. Jean cottoned on to the theme fairly quickly, and Mike, alas, had to piece it together after the fact. Still, the crossword was a gem, and kudos to Dario for such a fine work. Show note imagery: Toronto's 401, not so much a highway as an oozing parking lot, at least at certain times of t...

6 Feb 20min

Today's crossword leveraged a hilarious line from a very well-known sitcom, and with just the slightest change in syllabification, turned it into the foundation of a terrific theme. Sheer genius from the gifted minds of Hanh Huynh and Ted Mayer. Deets inside. Show note imagery: DELHI, land of 16+ million people and — inevitably and indubitably — the best curry restaurants on the planet! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpod...

5 Feb 11min

It's been almost 2 years since Nate Cardin last graced the pages of the NYTimes, and from our perspective that's almost 2 years too long. But he's back now, and in excellent form, with a wry theme and some amusing other clues. We were buoyed by the juxtaposition of 53A, Beyond well-done, BURNT, and 56A, Exceptionally good, in Gen Z slang, FIRE (a GUCCI of a clue, in our opinion 😀). We also were cheered by the appearance of both 57A, "Very funny!", HAHA, and 66A, "Say cheese!", SMILE. We did b...

4 Feb 15min

The Cardinal Rules of Crossword Construction: Rule # 1: never repeat an answer in the gridRule # 2: ignore rule 1 if it'll make for an especially awesome crosswordWe are pleased as punch to report that the authors of today's crossword — John Ewbank and Colin Thomas — have taken great pains to adhere to the aforementioned cardinal rules, and the result of that adherence is most gratifying: check out the podcast to find out why. In addition, it's Monday, and we therefore have a new ...

3 Feb 13min