Ryan Paulsen and Amy Hanlon

Lexitecture

A Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) talking about the words in the English language that fascinate them most at the moment, looking at their histories and origins and trying to piece together just how they got to where they are today. This is a podcast for anyone interested in etymology (the study of words and their origins/history). If you've ever found yourself happier after discovering some bizarre bit of trivia about a word that you hadn't even given a second thought to (such as how the word 'trivia' relates to its Latin components meaning "three roads"), this might just be the podcast for...

Author

Ryan Paulsen and Amy Hanlon

Category

Education

Podcast website

www.lexitecture.com

Latest episode

Mar 13, 2026

Where to listen?

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Episodes

Episode 93: Quit Quite Quiet 28.06.2021

In this episode, Ryan is all alone, leaving to find a complete amount of peace with " quit ", " quite " and " quiet ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each (normal) episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about word...

Episode 92: Violet Murder 14.06.2021

In this episode, Amy secretly kills us with " murder " and Ryan wonders whether a flower or colour came first with " violet ". Huge and heartfelt thanks going out to Fish Expert Andy for signing up as our newest Patreon supporter!! Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current...

Episode 91: Sport Slogan 17.05.2021

In this episode, Amy goes to war with " slogan " and Ryan is totally thinks about wearing a mutation with " sport ". Huge and heartfelt thanks going out to Elizabeth and Scott, who signed up as our most recent Patreon sponsors!! Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use...

King Bleach 03.05.2021

In this episode, Amy sees black and white with " bleach " and Ryan is totally a guy among dudes a.k.a. a " king ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, word origi...

Suspicious Map 19.04.2021

In this episode, Amy thinks about naprons with " map " and Ryan looks askance at " suspicious ". Here is the Smithsonian Magazine article Amy references: From Ptolemy to GPS, the Brief History of Maps Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is a guest episode that *NEEDS* to happen. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Can...

Superstitious Gymnasium Opportunity (Feat. Andy Hollandbeck!) 05.04.2021

In this episode, Amy gives the supernatural a lot of credence with " superstitious " and Ryan revels in the " opportunity " to hear Andy Hollandbeck talk about the nudity of the " gymnasium ". Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is a guest episode that *NEEDS* to happen. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (R...

Ramshackle Problem 22.03.2021

In this episode, Amy thinks about how to throw a puzzle with " problem " and Ryan wonders about decrepit houses with " ramshackle ". Huge, heartfelt thanks going out to Alex and Roberto for signing up as our newest Patreon sponsors!! THANK YOU!! Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is a guest episode that *NEEDS* to happen. Lexitecture is...

Guest Adult Face (Feat. Paul Anthony Jones!!) 08.03.2021

In this episode, Amy ponders how nice you have to be to visiting enemies with " guest "; Ryan wonders whether rocks or noses came first with " face "; and special guest Paul Anthony "Haggard Hawks" Jones discussed getting fully waxed as an " adult "!! You can find Paul Anthony Jones on Twitter as Haggard Hawks or as Paul Anthony Jones , and in his writings all over the internet and in actual for-r...

Episode 85: Trampoline Mildew 22.02.2021

In this episode, Amy pictures a camel on stilts bouncing on a " trampoline " and Ryan gets honey all over his hands with " mildew ". Huge, heartfelt thanks going out this time to our new Patreon sponsors: Chris Ansel Dermot Scott Glasses of Justice Here's where you can find The Endless Knot talking about colours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaDc5J2LD08 Also, if anyone reading this knows how we...

Episode 84: Slight Hyperbole 08.02.2021

In this episode, Amy asks many rhetorical questions of " hyperbole " and Ryan tries to avoid insubstantial insults with " slight ". Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is a guest episode that *NEEDS* to happen. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite wo...

Episode 83: Juggler Pants 27.01.2021

In this episode, Amy talks about Italian buffoons with " pants " and Ryan wonders about how good wizards are with their hands with " juggler ". Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is a guest episode that *NEEDS* to happen. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current...

Episode 82: January Vaccine 11.01.2021

In this episode, Amy talks about cows and disease with " vaccine " and Ryan ponders transitions and endless winter bleakness with " January ". Here is the Mental Floss article talking about the Germanic calendar months: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/61127/month-month-guide-anglo-saxon-calendar Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is...

Episode 81: Quick! Despot! 28.12.2020

In this episode, Amy talks about the land of the living with " quick " and Ryan considers Les Misérables with " despot ". Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is a guest episode that *NEEDS* to happen. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and tal...

Bonus Episode: Merry Humbug! 25.12.2020

In this bonus episode, Ryan takes a dive into the surprisingly long-lived " humbug " and the curiously short " merry ". Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is a guest episode that *NEEDS* to happen. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each (normal) episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word...

Episode 80 - Doctor Fascinating 14.12.2020

In this episode, Amy talks about dicks that tell women what to call themselves with " doctor " (6:15) and Ryan has attempts a description of a flying penis monster with " fascinate " (17:58). Huge and heartfelt thanks to Alejandro for signing up as our newest supporter on Patreon ! Also, if anyone reading this knows how we can get in touch with Nicolas Cage, let us know. This is a guest episode th...

Episode 79: Read English 30.11.2020

In this episode, Amy gathers mysterious etchings and meanings with " read " (27:58) and Ryan is a not-historian learning about fishing and billiards with " English " (0:56). Huge and heartfelt thanks to Leah for signing up as our newest supporter on Patreon ! Also, for anyone interested in the Fosbury Flop, check out this video that talks about how Dick Fosbury revolutionized the high jump at the...

Episode 78: Scunnered Instrument 16.11.2020

In this episode, Amy just gets so tired of it all with " scunnered " (27:58) and Ryan takes very precise measurements with " instrument " (0:56). Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and...

Episode 77: Ghost Engine 02.11.2020

In this episode, Amy becomes an angry, vengeful stranger (but probably not) with " ghost " (11:30) and Ryan does the thing he was always meant to do with " engine " (30:31). Special and enormous thanks to Sara and Fede for joining up as supporters of the show on Patreon! We wildly appreciate you and all our fabulous sponsors! Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan)...

Episode 76: Grab Bag 19.10.2020

In this episode, Ryan reaches into a " bag " to " grab " some " spice " fit for a " vegetable " " sausage " (41:40). Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each (normal) episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words,...

Episode 75: Identity Twit 05.10.2020

In this episode, Amy distinguishes one from another with " identity " (18:30) and Ryan rebukes (gently, eventually) a " twit " (41:40). Special and enormous thanks to Alicia and David for joining up as supporters of the show on Patreon! We wildly appreciate you and all our fabulous sponsors! Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present thei...

Episode 74: Hybrid Gun 21.09.2020

In this episode, Amy gets bloodlines crossed with " hybrid " (18:30) and Ryan finds a new eponym in " gun " (41:40). For anyone interested in checking out " Kids Mental Health in a Time of Covid ", just follow the link (with thanks!) Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, curren...

Episode 73: Fear Tab 07.09.2020

In this episode, Amy thumbs through a variety of definitions of " tab " (18:30 - with a side-trip into the story of " tag " at 34:20) and Ryan tries not to get ambushed by " fear " (41:40). Also, thanks to new Patreon supporter, Laurel (0:55) and to Luca for (1:30) for transcribing a couple of our early episodes!!  We also talk about a guy who doesn't speak/know Scots writing the bulk of Scots Wik...

Episode 72: Listener Wordstravaganza 3! 28.08.2020

In this episode, Amy's not here, so Ryan answers listener questions about " jet ", " drink ", " paint " and " guinea pig ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, w...

Episode 71: ********* (Redacted) 10.08.2020

In this episode, all of an Amy-less podcast's word-nerdery is " redact " into Ryan. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each (normal) episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, word origins, or just random bit...

Episode 70: Cleave (to the) Future 27.07.2020

In this episode, Amy is frustrated by as-yet-unencountered irregularities " future " (19:06) and Ryan splits and sticks with " cleave ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking a...

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