Sunday, February 16, 2025 - CHOCULA, SKORs, and DEEPFRIEDOREOS, so ... not the *healthiest* crossword ever 😉

It's a new year, so why not start it off with a new constructor? That may or may not be Will's reasoning, but today's crossword is indeed a debut for Topher Booth, and it is an auspicious beginning. We were keen on the theme (and yes, there's a trace of a pun there), and found the rest of the clues to be just right for a Thursday. Apart from those mentioned in the podcast, we'd like to salute 47A, Prefix with genetics, EPI (ok, if you say so!); 54D, Kind of wind ... or an alternative to wind,...

2 Jan 13min

In honor of the ultimate day of 2025, Jeffrey Martinovic has donned both his party hat and thinking cap, the end result of which is today's fine crossword. We have, as always, the deets inside, plus something a little extra to send out 2025 in style. Have a listen, and then — assuming you're on the Gregorian calendar — have a great New Year's Eve / New Year's Day!! Show note imagery: A BOXSOCIAL, without which the second act of Oklahoma! would be a lot shorter 🙄 We love feedback! Send us a te...

1 Jan 14min

After a week to recharge and reenergize, both cohosts are back and in peak fighting form -- or, to be more precise, crossword-solving form. And we had an excellent crossword to welcome us back, the second collaboration between Geoffrey Schorkopf and Will Eisenberg (edited, as always, by the inimitable Will Shortz). We have all the deets inside, as well as another of our famous Triplet Tuesday segments, so tune in to enjoy all that goodness! Show note imagery: The beautiful ISOLA (island)...

31 Des 202517min

Today's crossword was (as you can deduce from the episode title) a fun, Christmas-themed puzzle by famed magician David Kwong. Jean & Co. solved it expeditiously, whereas David almost made Mike's streak disappear thanks to some cruciverbial magic in the top-center of the grid. All turned out well, though, for both cohosts and their streaks. Deets inside. FYI, we will be taking a hiatus this week (starting up again on the 29th). For those of you who want your daily fix, fear not -- we're p...

22 Des 202519min

This is Robert S. Gard's second Saturday crossword. It was not quite as difficult as his first, but the cluing was deliciously deceptive, and included five debuts. Jean got through it in her usual time; Mike found it to be a tad easier than usual, but an enjoyable solve nonetheless. Remember that if you're still hunting around for the perfect holiday gift, there's still time to send the gift that keeps on giving -- a subscription to the best crossword puzzle on the planet. Show no...

21 Des 202510min

This is a stellar Friday crossword, chockfull of effervescent clues that make it clear that an ace constructor -- in this case, Hemant Mehta -- is at the helm. There is no doubt that today's puzzle is entitled to a full 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and we therefore gladly bestow it. Deets inside. Show note imagery: Yum, a delectable SMORE 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,...

20 Des 202513min

The genius required to craft an NYTimes-worthy crossword is on full display today: Joseph Gangi has created a cuuute theme, and the hilarity of that last clause will become apparent upon listening to today's podcast and/or solving today's puzzle. Numerous other clues in the grid are also worth celebrating. We chortled at 62A, The time of one's life?, AGE (😀); puzzled over 27D, About 35,000 for the Taj Mahal: Abbr., SQFT (🧐); and chortled once more at 52D, Fabrication expert, LIAR (😁). Show no...

19 Des 202511min

This was a whimsical Wednesday crossword by the talented duo of Gary Larson and Doug Peterson. The theme was a triumph, buoyed up by a bevy of crisp clues, including: the clever 8D, Marchers in sidewalk cracks, ANTS; the helpful reminder that was 50A, Easter Island's country, CHILE; and the hilarious 41A, Welcome figure on Wall Street, unwelcome figure in a china shop, BULL. In other news, we have some fascinating listener mail about the subtle distinctions between Bro, Bruh, B...

18 Des 202514min