Wednesday, September 24, 2025 - Let's do the CHARLESTON!
This was Peter A. Collins' 122nd NYTimes crossword, a very impressive statistic. The reason why he got to 122 is apparent everywhere you look in today's grid. From 8D, One who's given many instructions nowadays, SIRI, to 42D, Like the scent of some air fresheners, PINEY, and all the way to 25D, Lightheaded sorts?, BLONDES, this was a delightful piece of work - definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. In other news, we have listener mail! So to check that out and more, start downloading ...
25 Sep 14min
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 - For the record, the NAVI never lived on Naboo 😀
It has been over four years since Jacob Stulberg last appeared in the NYTimes crossword marquee, but it's good to have him back. We were tickled to see TOFU (48D, Staple of vegan cooking) in the grid, suitably distanced from the non-vegan 34D, Mayo ingredient, EGG. We also had 70A, Alternative to white, RYE, and 5A, Teacher for just a day, informally, SUB. Between all of these, we felt a sudden urge to check out Cousin's, but were able to restrain ourselves long enough to complete today's ver...
24 Sep 14min
Monday, September 22, 2025 - JUSTINTRUDEAU is in the grid ... but not in The House
For those of you unfamiliar with Canadian politics, JUSTINTRUDEAU ruled Canada from 2015-2025, when he stepped aside in favor of Mark Carney, the current PM. The entire political saga will probably be a hit on AppleTV+ in a few years; it certainly has all the plot elements! In other news, we've moved our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) to Monday, so that each winner will be the best-of-the-best from the previous Monday to Sunday. Check out our first Monday JAMCOTWA in t...
23 Sep 11min
Sunday, September 21, 2025 - A crossword that melts in your mouth, not in your hand 😀
A rebus -- for those of you new to the crossword-solving realm -- is a square containing more than one letter. Rebuses come in several varieties; in today's crossword we have two words per square, one intended to be read horizontally, the other vertically. Spotting rebuses is a bit of an art. Usually the tip-off is when the answer that you know, absolutely, positively, is correct ... but it won't fit. When that happens, it's time to fire up the ol' rebus key (if you're solving on the ap...
22 Sep 15min
Saturday, September 20, 2025 - A FEARSOME Saturday spectacular!
This is Katie Hoody's fourth NYTimes Saturday crossword, and it is apparent that she has mastered the genre. The clues are devious, to be sure; and diabolical, also true; but you likely know the answers, if you can just maneuver through the maze to get to them. For example, 42D, Demand upon reaching an "enemy border", KINGME (ah, that kind of enemy border!); 27D, What's wrong?, ERROR (cute!); and 58A, Blow it!, SMOKERING. The entire puzzle has the same feel, making this an absolutely splendid...
21 Sep 14min
Friday, September 19, 2025 - You can pronounce magniloquence? OK but don't BRAG about it 😉
This was a tough Friday crossword, following a couple of crunchier than usual Wednesday and Thursday offerings. Extrapolating, we are therefore quaking in our metaphorical shoes awaiting Saturday's puzzle to drop. Will it be impossible? Or merely very, very nearly impossible? 😉 Only time will tell (but then we'll tell you, in tomorrow's episode). Also in today's show ... we have a Fun Fact Friday™️ segment, and some terrific listener mail! Show note imagery: FAILLE fabric never fails to impre...
20 Sep 18min
Thursday, September 18, 2025 - Huh, a Saturday crossword fell through a wormhole into Thursday!
Adam Wagner has a reputation for making tough, high-quality crosswords, which explains ... today's, tough, high-quality crossword. Even after grokking the theme, the rest of the clues required no little effort to unravel. We have the whole story inside, so do have a listen and then let us know: how did you find today's puzzle? Show note imagery: The Earl and Countess of Wessex We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com....
19 Sep 18min
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - A crossword that's waaaaay more than OK!
The remarkable xwordinfo.com has compiled a list of the maximum number of times each letter has appeared in a crossword. Up until today, K had appeared a total of 18 times, but now -- thanks to Jackson Matz -- that record stands at 24, all in the aid of a good cause, aka "the theme". Both cohosts found this to be a slightly crunchier than usual Wednesday, and Jean in particular had to put on her deerstalker hat for the win. Deets inside. Show note imagery: AKIRA Kurosawa's greatest epic...
18 Sep 17min
