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 Mars 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
Why some holidays have apostrophes. Why Californians say ‘the 405.’ MIGD
1055. Ever wonder why some holidays have apostrophes while others don’t? We look at Mother’s Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents’ Day. Then, we look at why Southern Californians say "the 405" while the ...
11 Feb 202518min
Word games and the joy of playing every day, with Lex Friedman
1054. Ever wonder what goes into designing daily word games? Lex Friedman, creator of Lex.games, shares his journey from puzzle lover to puzzle maker, how he keeps his games fresh, and why some puzzle...
6 Feb 202525min
