Thursday, July 24, 2025 - Name notwithstanding, OBELI is *not* an ancient Star Wars race
This was a delightfully crunchy crossword by Ginny Too - her third NYTimes crossword in about a year. There were a boatload of novel clues†, which made the solve just that much more satisfying. We have the deets inside, so have a listen, and please tell others about us on social media. Show note imagery: Behold, a MELISMA (multiple notes sung over one syllable) †like 14A, † symbols on manuscripts, OBELI We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a lin...
25 Jul 19min
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - Joseph Gangi, Wizard of the Wednesday Crossword!
Joseph Gangi has had 4 NYTimes crosswords published, all of them Wednesdays. He clearly has the difficulty level down pat, and his themes are always inventive: today's crossword being a case in point. Apart from the clues scrutinized in today's podcast, we'd like to draw your attention to 33A, "I don't mind ___ / Except as meals. / And the way they feels": Ogden Nash, EELS; 37D, Word aptly hidden in "turned yellow", DYE; and our favorite rapper, 61D, ______ Nas X, LIL. Show note imagery: The ...
24 Jul 13min
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 - A scrumpdelicious Tuesday crossword!
In honor of the heatwave that some of you may be experiencing, Jeremy Newton has crafted a cool crossword to cool you down. ☃️ You are cordially invited to chill out with us as we frolic through the grid (and, of course, another great edition of Triplet Tuesday™️). Show note imagery: CICERO, who presumably was at a very bad party when he uttered his famous phrase, "Silence is one of the great arts of conversation". We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! ...
23 Jul 16min
Monday, July 21, 2025 - Fear not, ENOLA Holmes is on the case!
Alright, here's a challenge: what word has appeared in the NYTimes crossword grid a whopping 926 times, counting today? We'll let you ponder that, and wait until the end of these show notes for the "big reveal". There were a lot of very fine clues in today's puzzle. We were fans of 4A, What an angry customer may leave, NOTIP. We also liked the zing of 60D, Something to pick up at a beach, TAN; and finally we enjoyed trying to figure out how much our local walk-in clinic would charge for 54D, ...
22 Jul 12min
Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Famed mystery author ... Mary Westmacott???
This was a fun crossword by Michael Schlossberg. The theme gave us an opportunity to -- at last! -- use the word "idiom" in a sentence without sounding like an idiot 🙄, and the clues gave us a chance to exercise our little grey cells (as Mary Westmacott (or, to be precise, the writer whose ALIAS was Mary Westmacott) would have put it). Among our favorite clues not heretofore mentioned were 55D, More than wanna, GOTTA (three cheers for colloquial English!); 66D, Mast attachment above a gaff, T...
21 Jul 8min
Saturday, July 19, 2025 - Another Erik Agard spectacular
In the pantheon of great cruciverbalists, there clearly needs to be a pedestal with Erik Agard's name on it. Why? Just check out today's crossword (and podcast!), or any of Erik's 81 other crosswords that have appeared in the NYTimes. This one being a Saturday, it was tough -- and Mike found it almost streak-breakingly-so, whereas Jean, to whom people are apt to turn when Wikipedia doesn't deliver the goods, had a much easier time of it. Deets inside! Show note imagery: An AIREDALETERRIER (fr...
20 Jul 19min
Friday, July 18, 2025 - This was a CORKER of a crossword!
Kelly Morenus has crafted a superb Friday crossword, challenging but not overwhelming (although YMMV depending upon your life experiences, how many crosswords you have solved previously, and, at least a SKOSH of good luck). We've covered a hefty tranche of clues in today's episode, but we'd also like to give a shoutout to 4D, The Brickyard 400 or Southern 500, e.g., NASCARRACE; 32A, Between then and now, SINCE (good one!); and something that you should utter once you've solved a crossword thi...
19 Jul 17min
Thursday, July 17, 2025 - Sam Brody doesn't just knock it out of the ball park, he clears the parking lot, too 😀
Thesauri will have to be cracked open to do justice to today's crossword, it was that extraordinary/astonishing/engrossing/ingenious/delightful. It was, of course, the theme that made it so, one that took both cohosts, working independently as always, no little time to suss out; but that just made the eventual "aha!" moment that much sweeter. Deets inside! Show note imagery: From left to right, Alpha Centauri A, Alpha Centauri B, and Proxima Centauri, a triple star system! We love feedback! S...
18 Jul 18min
