Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - The only thing messy about today's crossword was... MESSY
This was Tarun Krishnamurthy's second NYTimes crossword. It was just as good as his first, and considering that he wrote it while still in high school, we can anticipate him constructing a long, long string of great puzzles. A few clues (not mentioned in the podcast) of note include 26D, Get tangled up, RAVEL (oh, so that's what happens when you don't UNRAVEL); 36D, A sixth of the way through the hour, TENPAST (uh, oh, math 😀); and 61A, Reason for overtime, TIE (un, not PAY, gotcha!). T...
18 Juni 15min
Monday, June 16, 2025 - A not-at-all LOOPY Monday crossword
This was the second crossword and collaboration between Jill Rataloff and Michelle Sontarp. Both are lawyers, and while they might be, and it would be awesome if they were, partners in the firm Cross, Down and Diagonal, Attorneys at Law, that is only speculation on our part. The puzzle itself was great -- a gentle Monday with several surprising clues and answers that we hone in on in today's episode. Show note imagery: A KITTENHEEL We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love lis...
17 Juni 13min
Saturday, June 14, 2025 - Medic!
This was yet another highly challenging NYTimes crossword, but, since it was a Saturday, we were not surprised in the least. [Truthfully, we thought that maybe Will would give us a break after yesterday's mental marathon, but nooooo... 😀]. So, written at exactly the right level of difficulty, and with stellar cluing throughout, today's oeuvre by Barbara Lin definitely deserves 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. In unsurprising news (since it is Saturday, and we do this every Saturday) we have our ...
15 Juni 17min
Friday, June 13, 2025 - Evan Mulvihill delivers the goods!
Friday crosswords are supposed to be a challenge, and we can only imagine Evan Mulvihill cracking his knuckles while saying "I got this". And what we got out of the deal was this excellent, challenging Friday puzzle. Definitely worth a full 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, for reasons that we make clear in today's podcast. Show note imagery: Yes, beast mode is a thing! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we'...
14 Juni 14min
Thursday, June 12, 2025 - Double, double, toil and trouble
It took just one teensy-weensy act to shift this crossword from nigh-well impossible to fun and eminently doable. Unfortunately, that act was to figure out the theme. If you know, in your heart of hearts, that an answer is correct, yet won't fit, then one word should emblazon itself in your frontal lobe, and that word should be ... rebus! Deets inside, so have a listen, subscribe, and then tell others about us on social media. Show note imagery: NASA's pumpkin suit, aka the "Advanced Cr...
13 Juni 12min
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - Quick, get your shades, this is one *brilliant* Wednesday crossword!
If crosswords were paintings, today's would be hanging in the Louvre, it is that good. The theme is a winner, but the rest of the clues are magnificent. We're not just speculating here, though, we have proof -- all of which can be found in today's episode. Show note imagery: The mighty MISSISSIPPI 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, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversa...
12 Juni 13min
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - Was this a fine crossword? To quote 10D, YESREALLY!
Today's grid had a few surprising entries. One that in particular caught our eye, because it has never caught our eye, was 30A, Altar constellation, ARA. It is located in the southern hemisphere, and, alas, never visible from Northeast Wisconsin (and when we've been in the southern hemisphere, we forgot to look). We also liked 44A, Flim-________, FLAM, mainly because of its origin story: it came from the Norse, flim, which at some point, for reasons unknown, became yoked to flam. Really, that...
11 Juni 15min
Monday, June 9, 2025 - Expect the unexpected!
Even if you do expect the unexpected, we predict that you'll still laugh when you figure out today's crossword, as the theme is delightful. Note that if you do not figure it out, fear not, we have the 411 for today's puzzle right here, and, if we may be permitted the indulgence of mixing 14th and 21st century English, cordially beseech thee to have a listen. Show note imagery: Rupert of Hentzau (by Anthony Hope). The former was apparently quite adept with an EPEE, whereas the latter is better...
10 Juni 13min
