Friday, July 11, 2025 - Run for your life, it's an onion volcano, yum!! 🧅🌋
Kudos to James McCarron, on creating an excellent Friday crossword, a debut, no less. Among our favorite clues (not mentioned in the podcast) were 21D, Film star whose name consists of two presidents, HARRISONFORD (not to be confused with the slightly lesser-known star, ABRAHAMNIXON); 6D, Nash who wrote "The cow is of the bovine ilk; / One end is moo, the other, milk" (udderly brilliant 🙄); and 36A, "Poppycock!", PISH (the most British word ever 😀). Show note imagery: A BENIHANA chef sho...
12 Jul 18min
Thursday, July 10, 2025 - Pick a card, any card ...
This was an awesome Thursday crossword, courtesy of Emily Biegas and Sala Wanetick (with Will Shortz, as always, at the helm). The were oodles of cunning clues, some of which were quite educational. Par example (as the French like to say), we had: 10D, Like Stonehenge vis-à-vis the Parthenon, OLDER (🤔); 67A, It can follow anyone, ELSE (😀); and 49A, Sparking water additive, ESSENCE (🧐). We cover many of the remainder in today's podcast, and wrap it up with another letter from the ol' mailbox. ...
11 Jul 18min
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - A true test of your peripheral vision 😉
Just when you think the NYTimes crossword could not possibly come up with one more theme -- they've all been done before -- they prove you wrong (which, happily, seems to happen every day they have a themed crossword!). Today's crossword definitely confirms that observation, as you will discover upon listening to today's episode. In addition, we have some awesome listener mail harkening way back to Monday's episode. Have a listen, and, as always, let us know what you think! Show note imagery:...
10 Jul 16min
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - No need to grade *this* crossword on a curve!
This was a SERENE crossword -- and we say that not because of the presence of SERENE in the grid, but because of the, well, SERENE theme -- one that ought to bring a smile to your lips, or, if you're having a frowny sort of day, at least help you transit from ☹️ to 🫤. We have the deets inside, as well as Jean's epic battle in today's Triplet Tuesday segment , so do have a listen. Show note imagery: Let's all do the Bunny HUG! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love lis...
9 Jul 14min
Monday, July 7, 2025 - Blasts from the past!
Today's crossword, the 39th (!) by Daniel Raymon, was replete with musical performers of various vintages, from composer Aaron Copland to a band that had its origins in the last century, but is continuing to write and perform today, to wit ... nope, we need to maintain at least a modicum of of suspense here, so we will wrap it up here and let you get to today's episode, where the name of that band, and some other highly droll commentary, awaits! Show note imagery: Two Treatises of Government,...
8 Jul 7min
Sunday, July 6, 2025 - There's no escaping it: this crossword was absolutely fabulous!!
Once again the NYTimes crossword has set a new high bar, thanks to the dynamic duo of Zhou Zhang and Kevin Curry. This magnificent opus featured a puzzle within a puzzle, surrounded by a sea of crisp and amusing clues -- just a delight. If there was an Academy Award for best crossword in a major newspaper, this would definitely get the nom. Show note imagery: GIZA, home of the Sphinx We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@iclo...
7 Jul 18min
Saturday, July 5, 2025 - Tracy Bennett strikes again!
Tracy Bennet is the driving force behind both Wordle and Strands, and the appearance of this crossword therefore means that an impressively large percentage of today's NYTimes games are attributable to her. Jean found this crossword to be a bit on the crunchy side whereas Mike -- for some unfathomable reason that he attributes to a surfeit of neutrinos -- did not. Both agreed, however, that it was an excellent example of the genre. Fun Fact Friday™️ took the day off yesterday, and even t...
6 Jul 13min
Friday, July 4, 2025 -- Happy Fourth!!!
Although there were not any literal fireworks in today's crossword, it was filled with innumerable flashes of brilliance and crackles of wit. Among our favorites not covered in today's episode were 48D, What comes before B?, ORAL 😀; 3D, Order in the court, PLEASERISE 😀 😀. ; and the sneaky 60A, To pieces?, ODES 😀 😀 😀. This is Colin Adams' 6th NYTimes crossword, and we eagerly await number 7. Show note imagery: The incredibly versatile SHOHEIOHTANI We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact In...
5 Jul 12min
