Monday, October 20, 2025 - All hail HAYAO Miyazaki, animator extraordinaire!
This was a nice Monday crossword, the 17th by Adam Aaronson, who is more partial to Saturday but we're glad to see him wander over to this half of the week. Jean tore through the puzzle so quickly her iPad caught fire, whereas Mike's was never at risk. The clues were mainly Monday fare, but we did have the fabulous 2D, End of some sentences, PAROLE (walked right into that one!); the high-falutin' 39D, Aforementioned, VERYSAME; and an apt description of this VERYSAME podcast, 55D, Not interrup...
21 Okt 8min
Sunday, October 19, 2025 - A crossword with just the right number of CRONUTs 😀 🍩
This was a truly epic Sunday crossword by Daniel Grinberg, one with a theme guaranteed to put a smile on your face and/or cause your jaw to drop in amazement at the artistry and effort that clearly went into today's puzzle. We have much more to say about this magnificent opus, so pull up a chair, go for a jog, whatever it is that you do while listening to this podcast, and enjoy! Show note imagery: Domo arigoto, MRROBOTO 🤖 We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mai...
20 Okt 13min
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 Okt 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 Okt 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 Okt 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 Okt 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 Okt 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 Okt 15min
