Fill Me In

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss the serenity of board games, the genius of Jack Lemmon, and the quality of celery. There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi295con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Trash Panda Puzzles Connections Onlin...

Brian has returned from the UNDERWATERTOILET (16)! This week, Ryan and Brian talk about raisins, tough blogs, and other things that are better than Split Decisions. There's a contest crossword, which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi293con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to...

Other than Brian sounding like he recorded this episode from an underwater toilet (he didn't, but sorry for the audio quality), we've got a great show this week – post-ACPT conversations with champion Tyler Hinman (@thatpuzzleguy on both Twitter and Twitch ) and our very own field reporting rapport-er, Katja Brinck (@katjabrinck on Twitter ). No puzzle spoilers, but plenty of insight to the full s...

Wait, didn't you specifically ask for a nearly 2-hour episode for the ACPT weekend? Well, too bad - we're giving you one anyway. Highlight: 48 minutes with Ben Zimmer. Lowlight: Probably the rest. There's a contest crossword (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi290con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays...

This week, Ryan and Brian question fictional alter egos, disagree on a puzzle theme, and reach a conclusion about hot dogs. There's a contest crossword (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi290con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Dave's No Frills Fills Spyscape Cros...

This week, Ryan and Brian feel super old, don't understand bean memes, and fail to pronounce names accurately. There's a new contest crossword (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi290con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Buy a set of puzzles and support the Baltimor...

This week, Brian screws up his microphone input (sorry, viewers), and it almost sounds as bad as the first series of the show, ca. 2009. Also: a new grid from Sid, a new song from a-ha, and a new word for the spelling bee. There's a contest crossword from Sid Sivakumar (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi288con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.t...

This week, Brian and Ryan strategize how to get fried chicken into what is allegedly a no-chicken zone in California, spend more time than usual talking about crosswords (hello, super long episode), but the highlight of the day is a chat with Ben Zimmer! There's a contest crossword from Sid Sivakumar (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi288con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitc...

This week, Brian and Ryan campaign to join apocalyptic survival teams, argue about the powers imbued in Mjölnir, and learn a little bit about the Montreal Expos. There's a contest crossword (you can download it at https://www.dropbox.com/s/rnzvztp9rpoys2d/fmi286con.puz?dl=1 ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturda...

This week, Brian and Ryan sit down with Hayley Gold and Mike Selinker to talk about the upcoming graphic novel "Letters to Margaret," a beautifully drawn story about politics, crosswords, and funny stuff. We encourage you to support their Kickstarter campaign , which launches at 3pm ET on Tuesday, March 9. We also have a new contest crossword (you can download it at https://www.dropbox.com/s/rnzvz...

This week, Brian and Ryan welcome a new member into the Pantheon of Compleatists, discuss whether Disney should support local comic book shops (they should), and pose an over/under on Will Shortz's retirement. Our contest puzzle comes from Neville Fogarty, and it's presented in Episode 284 (go listen!). Finally, join us on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays...

This week, Brian and Ryan are in the hot seat as special guest Neville Fogarty stops by to twist their brains with some fun puzzles! Neville gives us this week's Contest Puzzle (which is described in the episode, but not available for download). Also, Ryan taunts Brian about what is to come on our next Twitch stream -- join them at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays...

This week, the Barnacle is back with talk of all kinds of "nyms" as well some racy background on "ya yas." We also got Necco wafers and bread flour, and maybe even a few crosswords. There's a non-crossword contest (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi282con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT...

This week, Brian goes back to school, Ryan suffers no sophomore slumps, and both agree that old candy is old. There's a brand new non-crossword contest (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi282con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Mokelfish's new blog and puzzle site...

This week, Ryan and Brian hang out for a while with self-proclaimed computer girl and crossword maker Malaika Handa , creator of 7xwords.com . We have a contest crossword (you can download it at ( https://bit.ly/fmi280con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Malaika Handa...

This week, Ryan and Brian double down on interviews, and share conversations with both NYT Spelling Bee aficionado Deb Koker and our very own Barnacle, Ben Zimmer . We have a new contest crossword (you can download it at ( https://bit.ly/fmi280con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuf...

In this week's super-sized episode, Ryan and Brian join forces with Chelsea Rowan and Grace Topinka , hosts of "Two Girls, One Crossword." We hope you like meandering conversations about musicals (especially Cats ) and food (including "pizza"). We also have a contest puzzle by Brian Gubin (you can download it at ( https://bit.ly/fmi277con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream...

This week, The Barnacle (our own word oracle Ben Zimmer ) stops by for a little behind-the-scenes on his linguistic research syst. We also have a contest puzzle by Brian Gubin (you can download it at ( https://bit.ly/fmi277con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. In this show, we also lau...

This week, Ryan and Brian welcome guest author and crossword maker Milo Beckman to the show to talk about his new book, "Math Without Numbers." Milo graciously entertains the Great Decker Debate, though it's clear no one warned him that the topic of sandwiches might come up. We also have a new contest puzzle by Brian Gubin (you can download it at ( https://bit.ly/fmi277con ), and you should check...

This week, Ryan and Brian count down the best of 2020, and reflect on all the positive things the past year has brought them. We also have a contest puzzle (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi275con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Some of our favorites from 2020:...

This week, Ryan and Brian have the great privilege of talking crosswords and more with the illustrious Brooke Husic ! We also have a new contest puzzle (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi275con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Brooke Husic's crossword blog: xword...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss cancel culture, the Cleveland Spiders, and Japanese onomatopoeia. We have a currently impossible contest puzzle (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi273con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Lots of stuff to click this week! Advent of Code - and jo...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss clue-writing, ketchup (catsup), and talk about a new book, "So to Speak" (@sotospeakbook). There's a new contest puzzle (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi273con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: So to Speak: 11,000 Expressions T...

This week, Ryan and Brian talk turkey, amaze at aeronautics, and banter 'bout buttcheeks. Yup. There's a Contest of Still Going On (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi271con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: The DaroCaro Pixar Puzzle Hunt starts on December 4. Joi...

This week, R&B talk puzzles, representation, and inclusivity with Michelle McGhee, author of "Who's In the Crossword?" (pudding.cool/2020/11/crossword). We have a new contest puzzle (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi271con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: The D...