Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - No KAOS in today's grid ... well, *almost* none 😀

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 Dec 11min

This was a gentle Tuesday crossword, slightly more challenging than Monday, and prepping us for the even more rigorous crosswords sure to come this week. Difficulty level not withstanding, the grid featured some awesome clues, most notably the incredible 62A, The IBM Simon Personal Communicator is considered the world's first one, SMARTPHONE. We were also highly pleased to learn of the existence of 13D, Grammy-winning R&B artist whose stage name is said to have been inspired by "The Matri...

17 Dec 6min

Today's puzzle checks all the Monday crossword boxes: Clever and straightforward theme? ✅Built with the novice-solver in mind? ✅Published on a Monday? 😉✅Apparently it took multiple revisions before this crossword got accepted, but the end result was picture-perfect. Kudos to Jeff Jerome for his first crossword, and Andrea Carla Michaels, for her 92nd! Being Monday, we've chosen our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), so check out today's episode to see if your ...

16 Dec 12min

This was a jaw-dropping pick-me-up of a Sunday crossword by debut constructor Zachry Edward-Brown (a high-school student, no less!) and veteran John Kugelman. The theme was spectacular, with a twist at the end that would have Agatha Christie nodding her approval. The rest of the grid was equally impressive, and if you want proof check out today's episode. Show note imagery: ELISHA Gray, inventor of the telephone (at least according to ELISHA Gray 😉) We love feedback! Send us a text... C...

15 Dec 21min

Today's crossword, by Gene Louise De Vera, was one for the record books. Exactly what record was broken we are not going to reveal here, but rather keep you in suspense, dear listeners, for the approximately 15-30s it will take to download the podcast and get to the point where we "spill the beans", so to speak. It'll be worth the wait, trust us. 😀 Show note imagery: Alyssa Michelle Stephens, aka LATTO We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a li...

14 Dec 13min

This was a pitch-perfect Friday crossword, with a host of tricky clues designed to limber you up for the boss puzzle -- aka the Saturday NYTimes crossword -- about to drop and potentially wreak havoc upon the unsuspecting, unfortunate, unlimbered 🙄 Deets inside, so do have a listen; and after you've done so, take a moment to add the NYTimes Crossword to your holiday shopping list. Show note imagery: Duino Castle, where RILKE wrote the Duino Elegies We love feedback! Send us a text... Co...

13 Dec 19min

Kevin Curry has done it again - crafted an elegant puzzle designed to challenge, educate, and entertain. Challenge: 63A, Reunion group, CLAN; Educate: 57D, Popular, stick-figure web comic, XKCD; andEntertain: 28D, Big wheels in the Vatican?, POPEMOBILE 😀 tldr: we found this crossword to be 28A, Utopia ... 10 ... Ideal, PICTUREPERFECT. Show note imagery: The POPEMOBILE through the ages We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, cr...

12 Dec 11min