Fill Me In

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...

This week, Ryan and Brian make no progress in understanding international travel, cultural holidays, or the distinctions between two playwrights. Thanks to a mouse, this week's show was recorded on a Friday, so it'll be up to the viewers to tell the hosts all about the Saturday and Sunday puzzles. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling...

This week, Ryan and Brian revisit Manet/Monet mnemonics, make an effort to self-educate on Jewish holidays, question the powers of various fruit juices, and get an abundance of antipodal advice on maintaining crossword streaks. All that plus annoying the crap out of Ryan with another Kealoa. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the  Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philan...

This week, Ryan and Brian delve back into food curiosities through no fault of their own! It was you, gentle viewers, who sent this stuff in! That, plus the usual junk (including an arboreal Kealoa). Stuff to click: Grid Prix, a new crossword tournament in Michigan (March 19) The Breakfast Simplex Garson O'Toole discusses an alleged Groucho Marx quote Burgerittoville [sic] If you get bored (how co...

This week, Ryan and Brian ponder Manet/Monet mnemonics (say that ten times fast), feel ancient when faced with allegedly comedic "memes" and "other internet lore," and realize they don't actually understand how groundhogs determine the weather. 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 o...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss levels of pain (some of which they inflict on each other), listen to 50-year-old music, and dismiss potentially quality sandwiches by virtue of poor personal relationships. Stuff to click: The Globe and Mail Puzzles and Games "Cover of the Rolling Stone" Manet & Morisot a cat eating salami, as a treat (it looks like bologna, but whatever) a Weltanschauung If you g...

This week, Ryan and Brian plan on matching dinners, nearly break records, and appreciate that an overseas listener wants America to find more positive new vocabulary. Go watch some Catherine O'Hara movies this week. She was a legend. (This has nothing to do with the podcast, we're just fans.) If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philan...

This week, it's truly the highlight of any Fill Me In Season, because Ben Zimmer joins Ryan and Brian to talk about the 2025 Word of the Year! There's still plenty of the same slop there's always been, but jump ahead to about the 31-minute mark if you're just here for The Barnacle. Stuff to click: Ben Zimmer on BlueSky , Facebook , and Slate The American Dialect Society Nardelli's Grinder Shoppe S...

This week, Ryan is off doing Ryan things, so Shannon Rapp (aka Norah Sharpe, an expert in sconces; the name is fake but the puzzles are real) steps in for discussions of crosswords, sandwiches, and thunder gods -- yup, even without Ryan, the topics still don't really change. Stuff to click: Daily Crossword Links Shannon on BlueSky Gioia's Deli Big Top Deli The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament...

This week, Ryan and Brian continue to suffer from bronchial ailments despite having both gotten all the appropriate vaccines. To be clear, we still believe in vaccines! Things we don't necessarily believe in: whether we should move to Malta, whether Hello Kitty is a cat, and whether the host of a murder mystery party should be a critical part of the story. If you get bored (how could you?!), write...

This week, Ryan and Brian attempt to launch into 2026, but Brian is exhausted from a trip to Portugal and Ryan has "a throat thing." All that plus recording the show on a Friday just means that the year is off to a stumblier start than anyone expected. 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...

This week, Ryan and Brian don't really recap 2025 -- but it is the last show of the year. With that, we all wish you a happy holiday season, and look forward to continuing our weekly delivery of top*-tier, high*-quality, information-packed* podcast content in 2026! *not any of those things If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthr...