Fill Me In

We're back! After a nearly unprecedented two-week absence, Ryan and Brian return with their greatest hits -- hidden name crosswords, nachos-or-not-nachos, and failed efforts at pronunciation. All that plus a brand new 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 e...

This week, Ryan and Brian ... well, the predictable truth is that they talk about food and baseball, Ryan gleefully upsets Brian, and Brian rants for about ten minutes too long on topics no one cares about. Typical show. 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 doe...

This week, Ryan and Brian kibbitz about Jewish food, practice pronunciation, and discover the abundant array of thunder gods in the universe. And because you're all barking and braying for more Kealoa content, there's some of that too. Please consider supporting  Crosswords For Cancer , a new collection of puzzles you can get in exchange for making a donation to any number of worthy cancer-related...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn the numerically least amount about football possible, experiment with words and phrases no one actually says, and fantasize that there's a parallel universe with a French edition of "Fill Me In." All that plus the best choral singing you've ever heard, and a relatively stupid return of Kealoa. Please consider supporting Crosswords For Cancer , a new collection of pu...

If you're into listening to Ryan and Brian talk, then you're in luck this week. They take a crack at the ACPT puzzles from both 2023 and 1983, examining the good, the bad, and the stuff they didn't understand.  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 matte...

This week, Ryan and Brian mention Passport Rummy, Banana Slingshot, and Lemonade Disco -- but only two of three are actually things. Brian cackles more than usual, and Ryan screws up the Viewer Mail song, so gape and gawk all you want. 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? A...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss copyright, collectibles, tobacco, and the apparently hysterical death of a cat. Content is scarce ... or is it sparse? Listen to this week's Kealoa to find out! 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 consid...

Fill Me In is almost entirely rooted in the unnecessary glorification of the E Division ... and despite all of Brian's attempts at celebration, Ryan makes a complete disaster of everything. All that, plus a contest puzzle (!!!) from Stephanie Lane and Norah Sharpe (aEiS, WotED). If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donat...

This week, Brian is joined by musical theater connoisseur Rachel Fabi for an in-depth analysis of Bad Cinderella. Actually, yes -- but we also talk crosswords and most notably draw your attention to These Puzzl3s Fund Abortion , a charity puzzle pack in support of reproductive healthcare. All that, plus a new contest puzzle (!!!) from Stephanie Lane and Norah Sharpe (aEiS). If you get bored (how c...

This week, Ryan and Brian are joined by Norah Sharpe (aEiS) for a recap of the first ever Naked Crossword Challenge! (It's not what you think.) Also: bassless accusations , "facts" about Mountain Dew , and Kealoa featuring CREED vs. CREDO. Stuff to click: Norah Sharpe aka Shannon Rapp – website and Twitter lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings (boneless wings are nuggets, not wings) Alex Boisvert's C...

You know what an extra long show (usually) means? More Ben Zimmer! This week, Ryan and Brian are joined by their dear friend The Barnacle who educates on demonyms and other wonderful topics. Also: a week in crosswords and a rousing edition of Kealoa featuring EON vs. ERA. Click ahead to read Ben's Wall Street Journal articles on " hoosier " and " dude ."  If you get bored (how could you?!), write...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn about Michigeese, Saturn's Hexagon, the seaplanes of Canada, and some lyrics from a musical Ryan has to guess. Also: a week in crosswords and a rousing edition of Kealoa featuring ASAP vs. STAT. 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, Ryan and Brian learn about Jupiter , flying to the moon , Velma , the Underwater Music Festival , charity puzzles you get by donating to the Red Cross , and the values of  TSA PreCheck . There's a week in crosswords, some algorithm tweaking, and a rousing edition of Kealoa featuring AVER vs. AVOW. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you'r...

This week, Brian can't seem to do anything right, Ryan is tested on his knowledge of music, and we leave the opening countdown in the MP3 for no discernable reason. There's a week in crosswords, some interstellar existentialism, and a rousing edition of Kealoa featuring LENTO vs. LARGO. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropi...

At roughly twelve minutes per viewer mail, we can all only hope Ryan didn't get his wish of 7+ "My Cousin Vinny" messages. (HINT: He didn't.) Also: Puns & Anagrams (and why they are good), crosswords for charity (and why they are good), and Split Decisions (just kidding). Stuff to click: Hayley Gold & friends stream cryptics on 2/17 at http://twitch.tv/bewilderingly Francis Heaney may or may not s...

This week's episode is loaded with late 1980s nostalgia, the 12-Guess Movie Game, an excessive rant about some bad decisions from the New York Times, a rousing game of "Kealoa" featuring A TON vs. A LOT, and a bold reminder to make a donation to get some puzzles from Grids For Kids . If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic,...

It's a long show, but it's worth it, as Ryan and Brian are joined in the studio by Shannon Rapp (aka Norah Sharpe / an Expert in Sconces / "the name is fake but the puzzles are real."™). We've got surprising homophones eunuchs/UNIX, more Eric than you knew was possible, a Thunder Round of non-NYT delicacies, and a new segment of "Kealoa," featuring UGH vs. ICK. Stuff to click: Daily Crossword Link...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn about the Eric Conspiracy , dip into the FMI time capsule courtesy of fans who are listening to shows from 2019, and tackle a Sondheim-themed Learned League quiz. Also: this week's "Kealoa," featuring ELUDE vs. EVADE. If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actua...

This week, Ryan and Brian are graced with the return of The Barnacle! Ben Zimmer stops by with the inside scoop on the Word of the Year (which earned us an "explicit" rating). Other news: 64-card decks, Brian doesn't know the difference between Latin and French, and this week's "Kealoa," featuring ACME vs. APEX. Stuff to click: American Dialect Society's 2022 Word of the Year wrapup another articl...

This week, Ryan and Brian find great joy in an FMI tribute puzzle, attempt to learn the word "veridical," fail to remember what is or is not a sea, and play a second rendition of "Kealoa," this time featuring ROAM vs. ROVE. If you get bored, 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! Pl...

Happy New Year! This week, Ryan and Brian learn more about The Little Mermaid , reflect on the value of a V-neck sweater, and introduce a new game show, "Kealoa!" If you get bored, 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. T...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn a bit more about folding paper, attempt to make sense of soup, and analyze the minutiae of a musicalized Disney princess. Stuff to click: join our Discord for some extremely sparse conversation " Despacito ," if (like Brian) you've never seen it Blooming Onion vs. Bloomin' Onion come see The Little Mermaid in Syracuse ! If you get bored, write something for the Fill...

This week, Ryan and Brian get some education in math, Italian playing cards, and baseball players who don't belong in the Hall of Fame. If anyone can teach us how to make Rows Gardens, that would be pretty cool. Stuff to click: Peter Gordon's Fireball Newsflash Crosswords Steve Mossberg's Square Pursuit (and the upcoming Eight Cryptic Nights suite) Will Nediger's Twitch stream (to watch Will, Hayl...

This week, Ryan turns FIFTY! Also, he and Brian learn a little more about acrostics, hear from the time-traveling Hersh family, propose a new club (not the sandwich) (though the sandwich comes up in conversation as well). Stuff to click: Alex Boisvert's Crossword Nexus , including the Acrostic Machine Taylor Johnson's Lemonade Disco project come see The Little Mermaid in Syracuse ! If you get bore...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss getting older, examine the history of cereal, and ponder the predictive powers of musical theater programming in central New York. Stuff to click: Crossword Discord -- worried about the demise of Twitter (and Crossword Twitter)? Join Discord! Blockables.app -- new online word game come see The Little Mermaid in Syracuse ! cereals of the day: Weetabix , Shredded Wh...