Fifty Words For Snow

Maggie and Emily discuss the words isophene and asymptote with fiction writer Susan Sechrist and learn the musical term mondegreen  from jazz singer Sarah Spiegel. Poem by Emily: Isophene.

Maggie and Emily learn Hebrew words asir toda and nefesh from native speaker Leila Eden. Reporter at large Peter Baynham reports on the Finnish word kalsarikännit and Susie McDonnell shares “embarrask.” Poem by Maggie: Asir Toda (Gratitude Prisoner)

Maggie and Emily discuss the Pashto words  gharzai and sabar with native speaker Sanjar Qiam from Afghanistan and learn the word "contemplocean" from the author of The Cosmic Dictionary, Norm Millstein. Poem by Emily: Gharzai.

Maggie and Emily learn the words khomar and melamastia from native speaker Sanjar Qiam. They speak with Italian actress Laura James about the Italian word pantofoliao and observe the French word flaneur in action with Jim Vallely. Poem by Maggie: It Happens Sometimes. 

Maggie and Emily speak with Chris Reuland about the French words flaneur and dépaysement and learn a very particular use of the word “scripted” from John Ekezian. Poem by Emily: Dépaysement.

 Maggie and Emily learn the words pomalo and fjaka from native Croatian speaker Saskia Neal. They discover the word hustletivity with Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan. Poem by Maggie: It is Time.

Maggie and Emily talk to Majken Nillson about the Swedish words slutspurt and lagom . They explore a "Word in Action" with Nerys Miller-Baynham and the word "woolfthdt." Poem by Emily: Lagom.

Maggie and Emily discuss the words scarpetta and spaghettata with Italian guest Sofia Milos. They coin the term "highlight huddle" with C. Brian Smith and discuss gossip with Jim Vallely. Poem by Maggie: Scarpetta.

Maggie and Emily learn the Farsi words taarof and khaste nabashid with native speaker Navid Naderi Alizadeh and put the term “happy birthday” on linguistic trial. Poem by Emily: Taarof.

Maggie and Emily learn the ancient Greek words eunomia and eudomonia with scholar and theologian Peter Rollins. They coin the word "tempfatum." Poem by Maggie: Eunomia in the Aftermath.

Maggie and Emily learn the Hawaiian words pono and ha’aha’a  from native speaker Luana Kawaa. They coin the word "pommies" with Vern M and put a usage of "cringe" on trial with Judge Matt Aitken. Poem by Emily: Getting Low.

Maggie and Emily learn the Yiddish words machatunim and kvell with guest Annie Korzen. They coin the word “yuck yum” with Nerys Miller-Baynham and “flink” with Tammy Schlofterson. Poem by Maggie: They Kvell.

Maggie and Emily discuss the Spanish diminutive and the word estrenar . They put the word sweet (usage of “compliant woman”) on trial with judge Matt Aitken and coin the word  conker. Poem by Maggie: To Be Dear.

Maggie and Emily learn the Chinese words guimi 诡 秘   and houpa 后 怕  from native speaker Sheng Zhong. They coin the word “schaudenfriend” with Eric Giancoli and put the word “bromance” on trial with judge Matt Aiken. Poem by Emily: “Houpa: A Poem About PTSD.”

Maggie and Emily talk to native Hindi speaker Shashi Bandhu and learn the words jigivisha and jugaad. They coin the word “snoob” and rescue “scurrifunge” from the brink of extinction. Poem “Necessity Labors” by Maggie.

Maggie and Emily explore the Bengali words aram and jhapang jhapang with native speaker Safeera Ahmed. They put the word “canoodle” on trial with judge Jim Vallely, coin the word “rain-newel” and explore the concept of a soul wink from hotline caller Tammy Slofterson. Poem by Emily: Aram.

Maggie and Emily explore the German words  torschlusspanik ,  waldensemkeit , and  kaputreparium  with linguist Charley Rowe and native German speaker Merle Emrich. They put the word “mine” on trial with judge Jim Vallely and coin the word “torschlusspresence.” Poem by Maggie “Nothing at All.”

Maggie and Emily explore the Japanese words  wabi sabi  and  shoshin  with native Japanese speaker Taka Tora in Tokyo. They put the word “should” or trial with judge Matt Vern and coin the words “winblunder” and “loomingloss.” Poem by Emily “A Japanese View of Love.”

Our mission.

Maggie and Emily explore the Dutch words  gezellig  and  niksen  with Dutch native speaker Natanel Bohmer. They put the word “lazy” on trial with judge Matt Vern, coin the word “sacred flakery,” and learn how long it takes it the average human being Jim Vallely to eat a banana. Poem by Maggie:  Pilgrim! Stop your Progress!