Fill Me In

This week, Ryan and Brian fumble more name pronunciations [insert deep apologies], mourn over baseball and a lack of Cheez-Its, and marvel-slash-worry about the unmotivated free food on one particular airplane. What about the Spanish?!  If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show?...

This week, Ryan shocks Brian with hitherto unknown animal basics, and Brian stirs and agitates Ryan with his least favorite podcast segment ever. There's another indie game that may or may not be good, a bit of off-season Learned League discussion, and tangible (or whatever the aural version of "tangible" is) evidence of Antipodean pronunciations. If you get bored (how could you?!), write somethin...

This week, Ryan and Brian reminisce jumping the shark, lie about the plot of Les Misérables , and revisit the undesirable debate of which actors are or are not Australian. All that plus a new segment about an old friend. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it do...

This week, Ryan and Brian tackle the solstice, Australian accents, more Hemsworths than you even knew existed, and two more new online puzzle games that may or may not be worth playing [ 1 | 2 ]. And it all happens with barely a mention of baseball (hello, Claire). If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Pat...

This week, Ryan and Brian try a few new games, learn (and don't learn) some pronunciation, and the biggest cliffhanger of the season so far will have been resolved before this show even airs. The (De)morest DeForrest, demerrier. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actuall...

This week, Ryan and Brian's notabilia includes calendrical math, added NYT puzzles, a book too prestigious for this program's hosts, and a week of crosswords worth discussing and then forgetting. All this attempted in good faith while Ryan is away from home with an uncooperative computer. If you don't have patience for Zoom lag and mediocre audio quality (from Ryan), we urge you to skip this week....

At the dawn of Season 12, Ryan and Brian discuss Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Shohei Ohtani, Alex Verdugo, Paul McCartney, Ava DuVernay, and Ana de Armas. This may or may not include crosswords, the MCU, and a fresh round of Kealoa. (Actually, it includes all three of those things.) If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, dona...

This week on the Season 11 finale (why? we don't know why), Ryan and Brian explore the nuances of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, compare the legacy of Fill Me In to that of classic 1980s television, and mention a few places for puzzles, including  Lollapuzzoola , Scott Weiss's Squonkland (plus the results of his latest Anti-Match Quiz ), and a new game called  Long Story Short . If you get bored (...

This week, Ryan and Brian count down the days to Lollapuzzoola! Although the NYC venue is sold out, there's both a waiting list and a way to just order the puzzles for home solving . What else? The science of finger-snapping, left-handed brass instruments, minor league baseball, a cranky rant about the NYT Games site, and a threat of further ice cream in Pleasantville. If you get bored (how could...

This week, Ryan and Brian announce the constructor slate for Lollapuzzoola! The tournament happens on Saturday, August 15, and while the NYC venue is sold out, there's both a waiting list and a way to just order the puzzles for home solving . Otherwise the show includes solfege, Cooper cheese, Tarik Skubal, FMI's alleged ranking among comedy podcasts in Hong Kong, and the latest Anti-Match Quiz fr...

This week, Brian tortures Ryan with a Frozen -themed Kealoa, yet Ryan's attempt to retaliate turns out to not be quite so evil. That, plus baseball, vacation plans, and a new online crossword game with a twist. Lollapuzzoola tickets are running low, so visit bemoresmarter.com to sign up! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthro...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss canning, time travel, and begin the countdown to Lollapuzzoola (coming up on Saturday, August 15, which is a Saturday in August). Visit bemoresmarter.com for tickets and information! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn'...

This week, Brian is in Maine, and Ryan is about to perform the fabled Reverse Hecht, whatever that means. There's also a deep dive into the wonderful world of Kealoa, including Kealoa Reference , a new website from Eric Peterson! Goooooo, Max Muncy ! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you e...

This week, Ryan and Brian try again to understand the ides, to pronounce things in Greek, and to offer more crossword content than food content -- and likely fail at all three. Also, between recording and releasing, it was confirmed that Brian was not, in fact, going to prepare steaks. Stuff to click: Anna Karenina, the musical The Coinage Act of 1792 The results of Scott Weiss's latest Anti-Match...

This week, Ryan and Brian consider the pros and cons of watching "Elsbeth," call into question the value of 128th notes in music, and finally finish the Learned League cryptic clues they started about a month ago. This show was recorded on the Ides of June, so anything that comes out wrong can be blamed on ... something. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki...

Ryan is off losing money in Las Vegas, so we all chanted "Barnacle! Barnacle! Barnacle!" -- and lo and behold, Ben Zimmer appeared in the studio to regale everyone with tales of the Scripps National Spelling Bee ! That, plus jealousy of the British, misery around baseball, and even discussion of some crosswords. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if...

This week, Ryan and Brian celebrate the Marx Brothers, Van Halen, and mediocre cryptic clues, all at varying levels of ... celebration. Consider participating in the upcoming NPL Convention and/or Scott Weiss's newest Anti-Match Quiz . If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show?...

This week, Ryan and Brian continue their efforts to understand unusual math, this time courtesy of the Dozenal Society . Other topics include the Minute Cryptic , Les Miserables (but not really digging into Musical Theater analysis, sorry), and whether your streak stories are "interesting."   If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling phila...

This week, Ryan and Brian try to understand sexagesimal counting, take a crack at some cryptic crossword clues, and say the number five in a way they haven't said it in over two years. Also, check out the new charity pack of crosswords, Midis for Minnesota . If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon ....

This week, Ryan and Brian can't find a burger at a burger bar, learn about the Peanut Butter Lacuna, and marvel at the existence of a 6-day week. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please consider leaving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts....

This week, Ryan and Brian receive information about nuclear fusion, non-placental reproduction, and Högertrafikomläggningen, and yet feel they've actually learned nothing. (Cover art this week is by John Froehlich , and it's pretty cool.) If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show...

This week, Ryan and Brian investigate driving across borders, brainstorm modern means of cheating, and keep Carl the dog away from Coco (the cat). If you haven't already donated to These Puzzles Fund Abortion 6 , you should consider doing so. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our...

This week, Ryan and Brian wonder about the Ides of April, the calendrical specificity of matzo ball soup, and how one learns to stay in their lane. All that plus a celebration for two new members of the International Viewers Who Eat Club! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our sho...

This week, Ryan and Brian get existentialist about technology, time travel, and driving on the other side of the road. Also, Lollapuzzoola 19 is happening on Saturday, August 15, and tickets are available now ! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matt...

This week, Ryan and Brian investigate mustard , theme parks , and calendars -- and still, Ryan has no confidence over the security of his crossword streak as he travels back in time to New Zealand. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please co...