How did our holidays become so 'corny'? Why do some words have accent marks in English? Cubby hole
1063. Why is it called "corned beef" when there’s no corn involved? We look at how the word "corn" evolved to mean different things over time. Then, we look at the role of accent marks in English — wh...
11 Mar 202515min
Why kids can't read (and what we can do about it), with Kate Crist
1062. Did you know that 21% of U.S. adults struggle with basic literacy? In this eye-opening episode, literacy specialist Kate Crist talks about the literacy crisis in America, how reading is taught i...
6 Mar 202527min
The mystery of ‘it’ in English. The most dramatic moments in grammar history. Ghost Town Mad, the song
1061. Ever wonder why we say "It's raining" even though "it" doesn't refer to anything? We explain the logic behind this quirky English rule. Then, we look at some of the most dramatic moments in gram...
4 Mar 202516min
From 'Parasite' to 'Emilia Pérez': How movies shape language, with Andrew Cheng
1060. Why do villains always have British accents? Why was "Parasite" a game-changer for non-English films? And how is AI secretly shaping the voices you hear on screen? With the Oscars coming up, Dr....
27 Feb 202531min
Why Americans write 'canceled' but still write 'cancellation.' How printing history gave us 'fine print.' Fluff.
1059. Ever wonder why Americans use "canceled" with one L but still write "cancellation" with two? We explore how spelling rules, stress patterns, and historical quirks explain this inconsistency. Plu...
25 Feb 202515min
Writing Motivation Hacks, with Mary Robinette Kowal
1058. If you struggle to sit down and write, you’ll love this conversation with award-winning author and podcaster Mary Robinette Kowal. Learn how to conquer writing obstacles with tips on managing di...
20 Feb 202528min
Why we misuse ‘literally.’ How ham radio got its name. District
1057. Why do people use "literally" when they mean "figuratively"? This week, we look at how the meaning of "literally" changed over time. Plus, we look at how amateur radio operators came to be known...
18 Feb 202517min
How to be a ghostwriter, with Dan Gerstein
1056. Ghostwriting is more than just anonymous book writing — it’s a thriving industry. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, shares how writers can break into ghostwriting, what types of proj...
13 Feb 202533min
