Fill Me In

This week, Ryan and Brian remember the Oscars, are riddle-color blind, and have questions about beer. If you feel the same way, vote aye (or yea). There's also a brilliant contest sudoku from Jaime Stearns! A note from Scott Weiss : "I just wanted to give one more reminder to your viewers about Conline 5 happening over Zoom this Sunday, December 10 beginning at 2 PM Eastern Time. Click the link to...

This week, Ryan and Brian bicker about soup, banter about a sign in Florida, and dig into a fresh Kealoa like the good little nerdy geeks they are. They also say Paul McCartney's name nine times (sorry), and present a brand new contest sudoku (!) from Jaime Stearns! (Different but important sandwich info here .) If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if y...

This week, Ryan and Brian don't know the size of a trilobite , the origin of a certain pasta dish , the difference between Sharon Stone and Madonna , nor what they're doing in the C Rundle , but Decker Math is still a core value, and for that, they shout a unified cry of victory. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, dona...

This week, Ryan and Brian talk crosswordese in great detail with David Bukszpan , author of "Crosswordese," a brand new book taking a deep dive into the vocabulary you all write into grids each and every day. Plus a #NYTXW Thunder Round, and we go wading into a new avian Kealoa. Stuff to click: Crosswordese , and everything you could want to know about David Bukszpan's new book Buy "Crosswordese"...

This week, Ryan and Brian revisit non-related sauces and homeowner miseries, and everything Brian thought he knew about Sweeney Todd is apparently meaningless. PSA: No matter what the kids say, candy corn is actually delicious. 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,...

This week, Brian actually IS in the episode (and so is Ryan) -- and so are special guests Shannon Rapp (tnifbtpar) and Will Eisenberg to talk about their recent contest puzzle, Paul McCartney, and bringing the fam back together for a Kealoa reunion. All that, plus a surprise Thunder Round of AVCX puzzles from the last few weeks of October. Stuff to click: Lil AVC X: Call for auditions for 2024 con...

This week, Ryan reports on Back to the Future (the musical), attempts multiple foreign languages, and bemoans the Dodgers. Also, Brian is present for the episode. All that plus a Contest of Still Going On , courtesy of Shannon Rapp and Will Eisenberg! 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 is at ComiCon, so Ben Zimmer sails through to join Brian in talks of gridspotting, baseball+word nerdery, and potential new FMI clubs. All that plus a new Contest of Now , courtesy of Shannon Rapp and Will Eisenberg! Stuff to click: The Defector Crossword The Spam Haiku Archive 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 learn a bit about Drake's Drum and a tad about Clayton Kershaw, and present a Harvest Round like nothing you've ever heard. Because it's never been a thing. Also, Peter Gordon wrote a book called Word Solitaire, and here's a link to buy a copy!  If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our...

This week, the geniuses behind Lemonade Disco – Taylor Johnson, Steve Mossberg, and Shannon Rapp – visit the studio to discuss their efforts in puzzles, publishing, and punctually putting out prompted content. Also, Kealoa, which is just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Taylor Johnson (he/him) is a taco enthusiast who can be found at  www.lemonadedisco.com , writes Squared Away puzzl...

This week, Francis Heaney and Scott Weiss stop by to discuss escape rooms, logic puzzles, and their fantastic new book, " Escape Room Logic Puzzles ." Also: Ryan looks for redemption in a new Kealoa that may have some of you drooling with hunger. Stuff to click: Buy Francis and Scott's book on Barnes & Noble , Amazon , or Maggie Mae's Bookshop Test out a couple sample puzzles from the book! ( PDF...

This week, Ryan is back in spite of his overwhelming TikTok fame, and rejoins Brian for an episode like literally every other – musicals, baseball, some crosswords, and a somewhat disappointing Kealoan accomplishment. 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, Ben Zimmer (30D!) joins Brian for discussions of #gridspotting, the Bryant Park tournament, and the Baby Mets. ALSO: Brian is not shy to perpetuate conspiracy theories about Will Shortz's alter ego, and contrary to the episode's title, we did actually get Zoom-bombed. Stuff to click: XWordInfo , all that remains CrossCord , the crossword Discord server Puzzability , where you can find l...

This week, Ryan and Brian welcome Jim Horne back to the show. Jim created XWordInfo.com , and now with major changes happening , shares his perspectives, stories, and highlights. And for a bit of nostalgia, you can listen to Jim's last FMI interview in 2008 ! 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 ....

Psst! — we forget that we've said things on the show before. But, *ahem* — we don't mind repeating ourselves! Best way to complain is to write us email. We love it. Today: The Sound of Music, the words of Cody Bellinger, and please join everyone on Crosscord ! 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 ....

We call it a "season finale," but it's really just Ryan and Brian babbling at each other, like always. This week, it's a spoiler-free Lolla recap (you can still get the puzzles!) -- plus, don't you want a wild variation on Kealoa? So do I. 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 down and dirty with French impressionist art -- that's right, it's the long-awaited MONET/MANET edition of Kealoa. Plus: NYT crosswords, undeniable sandwiches, and Ryan plans to go to space. If you haven't clicked  Lollapuzzoola yet, you should do that. The NYC option is sold out, but you can still get PDF or USPS delivery. If you get bored (how could you?!), write so...

This week, Brooke Husic and Sid Sivakumar visit the studio to drop the big news of the week — the Lollapuzzoola constructor lineup! Ryan's also got a new favorite sandwich, plus at least one viewer doesn't have rabies. If you haven't clicked  Lollapuzzoola yet, you should do that. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, don...

This week, Will Eisenberg and Shannon Rapp join Ryan and Brian in the studio to talk about meta crosswords, flowers they don't understand, and exactly where the crook goes in the leadpipe -- plus, things get a little intense with a three-way Kealoa! Things to click: Will's crossword blog , Twitter , and Bluesky Shannon's crossword blog , Twitter , and Bluesky The AVCX , which you should definitely...

This week, Ryan and Brian get in deep with movies, Twitter, Vicki Lawrence, and what does or does not belong in a small velvet pouch. You might think that's all, but -- AHA! Kealoa is back, plus we have a contest puzzle from Shannon Rapp and Will Eisenberg! Download it here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gobe662em5guups/fmi400con.puz?dl=1 Things to click: Lemonade Disco's Gin + Grapefruit , a new "bit...

This week, Ryan and Brian reach a milestone and celebrate with a weird discussion about tooth-pulling, musicals that need not be, and a general haze of feeling old. No kealoa this week, but we do have a new contest puzzle from Shannon Rapp and Will Eisenberg! Download their puzzle here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gobe662em5guups/fmi400con.puz?dl=1 Things to click: Will Nediger's unbelievable double...

This week, there are clubs without hosts, songs without performances, and a first-time Viewer Mail correspondent thinks he's super funny. Kealoa is back, if you give a darn about that sort of thing. 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, Brian descends upon Cloverdale and the boys go old school, recording the show with one microphone, a hot studio lacking ventilation, and zero audio editing capabilities. If you're in California, drop by Next Door Comics and get an authentic behind-the-scenes tour of how the podcast is made. And if you're in NYC in August, come to  Lollapuzzoola ! If you get bored (how could you?!), writ...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn new principles of sandwich-making, struggle with late week crosswords, and attempt to promote the hell out of the upcoming Lollapuzzoola tournament in August. But puhlease, no fuss or fanfare, we keep things stoic and stony around here. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  P...

This week, Ryan and Brian are joined by Ben Zimmer for a spot of spelling and a piece of apizza . There's also the return of Kealoa and a fantastic  contest puzzle from Brian Gubin ! 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 u...