I Hate Talking

Send us Fan Mail  In episode 90 of I Hate Talking , the hosts welcome new listeners for the new year with a quick refresher on their show’s format—each episode features a word or phrase of the week, its definition and etymology, and a real-life discussion it inspires. This time, the word is “defunct”, meaning something that no longer exists or functions. The conversation begins with the closure of...

Send us Fan Mail  In episode 89 of I Hate Talking , the hosts return from the holidays with a full conversation centered on the word aplomb—a fitting term for confidence, balance, and maintaining composure under pressure. After tracing its French roots ( à plomb , “according to the plumb line”), they explain how it evolved to describe someone poised and self-assured even in demanding situations. T...

Send us Fan Mail  This New Year’s mini episode skips the usual full-length conversation so the hosts can briefly ring in 2026 and connect with listeners. Dropping on January 1, they share lighthearted New Year’s resolutions: one aims to see or watch a stand-up comedy show at least once a month to prioritize joy and laughter, while the other jokingly renews an old “resolution” to never make formal...

Send us Fan Mail  This Christmas-day mini episode is a warm holiday check‑in rather than a full installment. The hosts pause regular programming on December 25, 2025 to wish listeners a Merry Christmas, acknowledging that many are spending the day with friends and family, working essential jobs, or maybe even heading to a movie theater instead of a big gathering. They invite anyone who feels alone...

Send us Fan Mail  In episode 88 of I Hate Talking , the hosts revisit the idea of “color of the year” and unpack Pantone’s 2026 pick: Cloud Dancer. Instead of finding it calming or inspiring, they both react strongly against it, describing the off‑white shade as dingy, dirty, and more like a stained wall or leaky dishwasher water than a serene, billowy cloud. They also read and gently roast Panton...

Send us Fan Mail  Episode 87 of I Hate Talking dives into the surprisingly rich world of pants—sparked by the hosts’ recent closet decluttering and reflections on how many clothes a typical American household accumulates. They start with definitions and regional differences: in North America, “pants” means trousers, while in British English “pants” often means underwear and can even be slang for “...

Send us Fan Mail  In episode 86 of I Hate Talking , the hosts take on the deceptively simple word “goodbye” and discover how emotionally loaded it has become in modern conversation. They unpack why “goodbye” can feel harsh or final—more like a relationship-ending period than a casual sign‑off—and contrast it with softer alternatives such as “bye,” “see you later,” and even the more cheerful “good...

Send us Fan Mail  No new episode this week—your hosts are taking a break to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States! If you’re looking for something to listen to while you cook, travel, or relax, there’s a rich catalog of over 85 past episodes to choose from. For a listener favorite, check out the 'Synesthesia' episode (Jan 23, 2025), which offers a deep dive into the fascinating phe...

Send us Fan Mail  In episode 85 of I Hate Talking, the hosts open with a milestone announcement: November marked their most downloaded month since the podcast launched, second only to their debut month. Listeners are encouraged to catch early episodes and share feedback—preferably with a dose of kindness or even pure praise! The word of the episode is "regatta," inspired by the recent Cu...

Send us Fan Mail  Episode 84 explores Dictionary.com's controversial 2025 "Word of the Year"—the number —and the explosion of meme culture in everyday language. The hosts debate whether numerals can truly count as words, and dissect what it means for a dictionary to embrace viral Gen Alpha fads as legitimate lexicon. They unpack the origin of 67 as slang: from a rapper's lyric...

Send us Fan Mail  In Episode 83 of I Hate Talking, the hosts dive into the concept of "nostalgia," sparked by a listener suggestion and a memorable quote: "Nostalgia is just a longing for a time we know we can survive." The duo debates the merits and shortcomings of this definition, reflecting on whether nostalgia is more about overcoming hardships or an emotional longing for t...

Send us Fan Mail   In Episode 82, the hosts take a listener suggestion and spotlight the word fetid—a recent Wordle answer—and trace its meaning, origins, and less obvious relatives. The hosts discuss both their Wordle strategies, starter words, and the minor heartbreaks and little victories that come with daily word games, before diving into vocabulary. They explain that fetid means “having a hea...

Send us Fan Mail  In this richly layered episode, the hosts follow up on unanswered questions from last week’s exploration of blue . They start by confirming what Russians actually call their beloved “Blue” cats—Синий русский ( Siniy russkiy )—and dive into why Puritan “blue laws” might have literally come from blue paper or blue clothing. From there, the couple unpacks theories on how “blue” came...

Send us Fan Mail  Overview: An unexpectedly multifaceted English word examined through color, emotion, temperature, and cultural usage—plus comparisons to Russian and historical linguistics. Why it came up: The hosts had recently discussed Russian—the language’s treatment of blue inspired today’s topic. Linguistic Insight: Russian Words for “Blue” Russian distinguishes light and dark blue with two...

Send us Fan Mail  Word of the Episode: Timidity Definition (Oxford): Lack of courage or confidence. Usage: More common historically (esp. 1800s), in decline until a slight uptick since 2019—possibly linked to its appearance in modern Bible translations (e.g., NLT). Example usage: “She believes everyone can overcome their timidity.” Etymology: From Latin timidus (“fearful”) ← timere (“to fear”). Re...

Send us Fan Mail   Word of the Episode: Polemical Definition (Oxford): Expressing or constituting a strong critical attack or controversial opinion. Etymology: From Greek polemos (“war”) → polemikós (“warlike/hostile”). Discussion: Related to debate and controversy, not to Ptolemaic (Claudius Ptolemy’s geocentric astronomy). Hosts joked about confusing the two since they sound similar, imagining a...

Send us Fan Mail   Words of the Episode: Morals vs. Morale Morals Definition: Standards of behavior or principles of right/wrong by which a person lives; also lessons drawn from stories. Etymology: From Latin mos/moris → morales → moralia (used by St. Gregory in his exposition on Job) → Middle English. Can be good or bad, but always refers to a guiding code. Morale Definition: Confidence, discipli...

Send us Fan Mail  Links to materials mentioned in the episode: Link to book by Avi Loeb: Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth . Link to the paper co-authored by Avi Loeb: Is the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Alien Technology? (PDF) Word(s) of the Episode ʻOumuamua Hawaiian name for the first observed interstellar object (2017). Meaning: “A messenger from afar arriving f...

Send us Fan Mail   Episode Milestone Hosts note that Episode 75 feels like a meaningful number (cool, but not as significant as 60 was for them). Next true milestone will be Episode 100, expected in ~25 weeks. Word of the Episode: Pareto (Pareto Principle) Definition: The Pareto Principle or 80/20 rule: roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes . History: Coined by Italian economist Wilf...

Send us Fan Mail  Word of the Episode: Pontificate Hosts’ Initial Guess: They believed it meant to think deeply to arrive at a decision . They even associated it with careful contemplation and resolution. Actual Definition (Oxford Languages): To express one’s opinions in an annoyingly pompous or dogmatic way. Far from quiet reflection—it's about pompous expression . Negative connotation, clos...

Send us Fan Mail  Word of the Episode: Libfix Definition: A “libfix” is a liberated suffix —when part of a word (often mistaken as a suffix) gets reanalyzed and reused as a suffix for other words. Examples: -gate (from Watergate ): now used to mean “scandal” (e.g., Pizzagate, Elsagate). -core (from hardcore ): extended to music genres or aesthetics (metalcore, cottagecore, tropicore in Animal Cros...

Send us Fan Mail  Word of the Episode: Penitent Usage: Came up while studying Psalm 6 (one of the “penitential psalms”). Common Associations: Hosts thought it related to humility, kneeling, or seeking forgiveness. One recalled Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where the “penitent man kneels before God.” Also connected to penance . Dictionary Definition: Feeling or showing sorrow/regret for wrong...

Send us Fan Mail  This episode is Part 1 of the Chicago recap. Find Part 1 in episode 70 last week. Word of the Episode: Porta Potty Definition: A portable, temporary toilet facility. Etymology: “Porta Potty” comes from portable potty , but its popularization is linked to a brand name, much like Kleenex. “Potty” derives from “pot” (as in chamber pot ) with the diminutive suffix “-y/-ie.” In other...

Send us Fan Mail  This episode is part 1 of the Chicago recap; it will continue in the next episode, including the promised description of the "Taj Mahal of porta potties" and covering the remaining tourist adventures. Word of the Episode: Flabbergast The hosts dive into the word "flabbergast," inspired by previous use when describing the "Coldplay incident." They sha...

Send us Fan Mail  Theme & Word of the Episode: The episode focuses on the word "oldie," exploring its definition, history, and how its meaning has shifted over time, especially in the context of music. Origin and Evolution: "Oldie" combines "old" with the suffix "-ie," recorded first in 1874 to describe an old person. By the 1940s, it expanded to refer t...