Crossnerds

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Crossnerds is the world's best—er, nerdiest—crossword puzzle podcast. It is about the New York Times crossword puzzle, words, wordplay, and the whole weird, wide, wild Crossworld. Oh, and other things, like things that are funny; celebrities, including sled dogs; and advertising from the 1860s. New…

Crossnerds


    • Mar 4, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 133 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Crossnerds

    For Thee, Ass King

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2023 32:33


    Discussed! NYT crossword puzzles from Weds 2/22/23 (Adam Wagner), Thurs 2/23/23 (Joe Deeney), and Sun 2/28/23 (Will Nediger). Disgust! Black History Month did not seem to matter to the NYTXW. But racial representation in crosswords matters deeply to us. Find our ep with Kameron Austin Collins here. Also! OPPO: British 1960s bae? MS PAINT and Brooke's minicity masterpieces Tourney szn approacheth! The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, Boswords, and  more TK. Reminisce with the original 'Nerds interviewing Erik Agard back in 2019, right before Erik won ACPT. Anigrams. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    Cut to Wabbit Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 28:11


    SCENE: Season 8. Year of the Rabbit. 2023. Cut to: Rebecca & Brooke, Crossworld's most beloved showgirls, reviewing New York Times crossword puzzles. On this episode...they (we) peruse three (3) puzzles, from 2/2/23 - 2/4/23. Featuring.....: Bisexual lighting SARD: new year, new gem?! On app-lessness CUT TO THE CHASE: What, why, how. Jannings escapes ... AVCX is not sending people to the moon In 2022, 21% of NYTXWs were written by exclusively women (h/t XWord Info) Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    Query Theory

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 42:10


    WORDPLAY ON THE FRITZ ⋇ DEFY THE HEGEMONY ⋇ THINK FOR YOURSELF ⋇ DO NOT PANIC Happy holidaze and welcome back to the show! This week, Rebecca and Brooke calmly discuss four New York Times crossword puzzles published 11/22/2022 - 11/26/22. We also poke a stick at the curious corpus of

    Solve for x[Nerds]

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2022 37:03


    In this ep, Rebecca and Brooke review New York Times crossword puzzles from 11/9/22 - 11/12/22. Including! The first-ever, no-details-necessary, void-where-prohibited Crossnerds challenge: ⭐ Guess Our Zodiac Signs! ⭐️ Tweet us @Crossnerds or message us to play. Also!: "Reduplicative names" puzzles "Reduplicative": redundant? Repeated clues: ALLOWED! Non-semantic themes Letterbanks Two takes on GOTTI Things that don't look like boats Reverse reveals The grammar of adverbs (disjuncts, e.g. "Hopefully...") Evocativeness in clues What sound owls make (hint: it is not "PEEP") Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    Podcast...But Good(?)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 40:50


    Nerds here! Get yer Spicy Summer 'Ssnerds here! Featuring a husk of future residents (Rebecca and Brooke) discussing New York Times crossword puzzles (we selected 4 from the week of 8/22/22), PLUS PLUS PLUS Lollapuzzoola 2022 (puzzles still available here)!! Sundry chatter also includes: The great HOOHA-baloo Meta puzzles Towns with no business in crosswords Stacking elevens COVID content in puzzles And in hurricane news: WAIT IT OUT, or evacuate? Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    DIDN'T WE JUST HAVE THIS? | Isomerds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2022 40:22


    Hey bb whats ur sign? In the crossword zodiac, we mean. I bet you're a Gridbearer. The Block? Butterfly (for symmetry)? Anyway, we're both Crossnerds, and in this ep we discuss New York Times crossword puzzles (published 6/6/22 - 6/12/22), as well as the following topics (which are also great sitcom episode/children's book names ™️): The Trouble with Tightening Revealers We-all Need Will Nediger Carly Schuna and the German Wheel Question Marks (Again?

    TWO-BY-TWO | Skater vs sk8r

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 46:10


    omg have WE GOT AN EP FOR YOU. 'Twixt our reviews of New York Times crossword puzzles (5/2/22 - 5/8/22), Rebrooka discover: The truly absurd history of "Louie Louie" (I chose the Toots version) The city of Ur Short fill, destigmatized #SettlerSaturday Why four-leaf clovers are rare

    MAGAZINE RACKET | Be as you wish to seem

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 43:48


    Happy belated Spring Festivals! We are celebrating with a new round of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews (4/18/22 - 4/24/22). Also featuring: A crossword for everyone(?) Punchline revealers Using a curated list to source a puzzle:

    SOFT OPTIONS | How are you?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2022 46:45


    Rebecca and Brooke are returnt like the U.S. Football League, except that our sporty forte is tackling NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLESSSS (from 3/28/22 - 4/3/22)!! Also in this ep:  Americanisms, Bacchanalia for marginalia, and fie-ing the ex who absconded with intimacy (which may or may not have been a STAGED disappearance

    EXES & NOS | Don't be a duck

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2022 56:54


    PARLOR TRICK | Heal the [cross]world

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2022 45:53


    So, all the things, mm? Alllllll the things. Anyway, here is another episode, featuring, as usual, Rebecca and Brooke's reviews of the New York Times crossword puzzles (2/28/22 - 3/6/22). Also discussed: What's in a crossword theme? Whenfore a question mark clue? Teresa Teng Unchecked squares. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    CINEMAGRAMS | Yes SHIRRee

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 47:31


    Another week (2/21/22 - 2/27/22), another seven New York Times crossword puzzles reviewed! Also featuring: Kelly "Wintertime" Kapow!ski and the Rugrats grandpa ("new LOU, who dis") Rebuses Chocolate v. candy Theme queries and the crossword submission process. Check out These Puzzles Fund Abortion Too and donate here! Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    PARDON MY FRENCH | Down the RAT HOLE

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 57:51


    Grab some refreshing ADES and Cool American-flavoured snackies and settle into this stripped-down sesh of Classic R&B: Rebecca and Brooke reviewing the last week of New York Times crossword puzzles (2/14/22 - 2/20/22). Discussed: Holes (rabbit, rat, worm, and on a green) Non-solver fans of this podcast(???) The history of TEA as "gossip" What makes a theme "tight" Narrative crosswords, such as Kim Vu's affecting AVCX ALTE Ableism Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    SCI-FI SHOWDOWN | It's a triomph

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 75:11


    Well, well, well, if it isn't our favorite puzzlemaker/film critic/bowl made with love and erotic spirits, Kameron Austin Collins! Buckle up for Rebecca, Brooke, and Kam taking down the last week of New York Times crossword puzzles (1/31/22 - 2/6/22, which includes Kam's 2/5 stunner of a puzz). Discussed: Wereproblems -onyms Tasers (Batman Returns stun gun scene) ENRON clues Kitchen items (PARERs,  peelers, mashers, bowls) The art of appearing effortless High beams in NJ: literally everybody, all the time And continued PSA: RiRi is still only worth 25 points. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    Medley Week #1 | Chaotic good

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 54:25


    Hang on to your aardwolves, you're going on an xword xventure: Crossnerds' first-ever MEDLEY WEEK [emphasis on the "eeek"]!!! We've selected seven luscious puzzles from seven gorgeous professional crossword outlets that are *not* the New York Times: Universal American Values Club ("AVCX") Inkubator The New Yorker USA Today The Atlantic The Washington Post Don't worry, we still love you, NYTXW. We'll be back with the usual next time. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    PLAYING THE HITS | Whoomp there it is

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 52:53


    That's one small step for man, one glaring lack of steps for non-menkind: i.e., another week (1/10/22 - 1/16/22) of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews. That's ANO from me! Featuring: Circular nose breathing Tails [Unrelated] Baby's barnyard bovines Dataaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    COLOR MIXING | I Bega your pardon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2022 42:36


    Season 7 2022 LET'S GOOOOOOO! Let's get through today, every day. Together! With Rebecca and Brooke. Who, this week, review New York Times crossword puzzles from 12/27/21 - 1/2/22! Including: KISSING BUTT The heroic efforts of the NYTXW Editorial Team OAT clues LOU clues Vague clues Shout out to all the pears; and Beating the "Sunday 140-word cap" trap. Adam A-aronson's other-other AA plus-plus puzzle puzzle is here. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    SEASON TO TASTE | Accept all cookies

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2021 35:57


    Wrap up 2021 with a bow and these BIBIMBangin' reviews of the New York Times crossword puzzles published 12/13/21 - 12/19/21! Rebecca and Brooke also talk about list themes and a puzzle's purpose. YAY ME! Yay WE. Ross Trudeau's essay, The Necessity of Filling Certain Boxes, is on his puzzle blog, Rossword Puzzles.   Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    There's a new game in town | TNY's Liz Maynes-Aminzade

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 29:43


    Is the Big Apple big enough for two major crossword puzzle outlets? Liz Maynes-Aminzade, the first-ever Puzzles & Games Editor at The New Yorker, drops in to Xnerds HQ to celebrate the magazine's inaugural Cartoons & Puzzles issue (December 27, 2021) and its new(ish) foray into puzzles and games. TNY's digital offerings include the Name Drop trivia game. Subscribe to its crosswords newsletter for forthcoming goodieeees! Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in SPOTIFY and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    JOB SHARING | RIP Phife

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2021 40:06


    What even IS a Thursday crossword these days? Is a Thursday crossword, like time itself, "only a stubbornly persistent illusion"? A memory? A fable?

    GARAGE SALE PITCHES | Symmetry, shammetry

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 45:41


    Gratitude, greetings, and Happy Chanukah/Hanukkah 5782! R&B here, gifting you the miracle of our thoughts on the New York Times crossword puzzles from 11/22/21 - 11/28/21. Including: Baby's first rebus The next installment of the "who ate the last cookie" drama Rosalind Franklin was a Boss Big crossnews from the American Values Club!   AVCX Kickstarterrrrrrrrrr Will Nediger's asymmetric puzzles Ryan McCarty's asymmetric puzzles Vox crossword puzzles USA Today crossword puzzles Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    SCREEN SHARING | Hey Shorti

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 35:30


    To Bork, or not to Bork? That is not the question. The question is, what will Rebecca and Brooke SAY about the last week (11/15/21 - 11/21/21) in New York Times crossword puzzles? A sampling: The Great Alfred Nobel Obituary Mixup How to make grid art CHEETO: implications for Mento? Happy [Un]Thanksgiving! Namaste. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    CHOICE WORDS | I want candy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 36:25


    You and your lawn decorations better get into Crosstume: Rebecca and Brooke are Rebacka, reviewing New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/25/21 thru 10/31/21. Included: the Great David S. Pumpkins SNUB of 2021, the NYT's Amazon Alexa obsession, urchin injuries, and guff. More worms, mama! Read about zombies' Haitian roots here, in the Atlantic.   Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    SPORTS NUTS | No m&ms, but I do have two EMS

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 35:34


    What do you get when a meta 4 meets the right pants leg?  While you're coming up with the answer, please enjoy this list we compiled based on New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/18/21 thru 10/24/21. Are They Out There?: Aliens Santa (Lapland??) The "d" in "handsome" We also talk about other conspiracies, such as themes that appear vertically (in the Downs). Sleep tight, sweet humans.......

    COMMON CORE | Balls in a pocket

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2021 36:34


    From Beelzebub and the shillelaghs we're esporting to lead pipes, "so-what" clues, and that blasted Off!: it's a whirlwind tour of New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/11/21 thru 10/17/21.  Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts!  Comment @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

    SNOOZEFEST | You losefest

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 34:04


    Rebecca and Brooke reunite IRL to bulk up our crossword podcasting r*sum*s by discussing New York Times puzzles from 9/27/21 - 10/3/21. We ask Important Questions Of Our Time (WHO IS EATING THE COOKIES???), explore kangaroos (mutual sniffing), the history of diagonal symmetry in the NYT (abridged), and how to use the puzzle as a platform (if you want). Will Nediger's indie puzzle roundups are on his blog, Bewilderingly Puzzles.

    STUDY BREAKS | A real rowdydow

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 41:17


    Ready the snow scythes and bring in the beakers! Rebecca and Brooke review the New York Times crossword puzzles from 9/20/21 - 9/26/21.  The Crossword Collaboration Directory is a beautiful thing!! Among other sources, here is CNN's piece on Ole Miss. Go forth and clue responsibly. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!

    NEW LOOK | Semordnilap

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 32:05


    L'jai alai'm! In this episode of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews: lovin' on some diagonal symmetry, crossword cocktails*, RiRi, and GAY PORN. Cruciverbs from 9/13/21 thru 9/19/21.  Join the crossword Discord (d/b/a Crosscord)! *Cocktails suggestion box: @Crossnerds. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!

    WHAT A CHARACTER! | Cat with tears of joy emoji

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 39:52


    In the words of the Backstreet Boys: "Oh my God, we're back again." Rebecca and Brooke, that is. Reviewing the New York Times crossword puzzles from 9/6/21 thru 9/12/21. Support equality and women's rights here. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!  

    GO UP IN SMOKE | Getting bro vibes, sis

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 38:58


    Rebecca. Brooke. New York Times crossword puzzle reviews. August 30 thru September 5, 2021. EOM. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!

    UH? OH... | Please don't eat the bathware

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2021 38:04


    Join Rebecca and Brooke and Oscular The Grouch as we crack up and open the last week in New York Times crossword puzzles! August 23-29, 2021. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!

    RESETTLING LETTERINGS | Let's get Nast-y

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 40:19


    Whether you're a teehee, a tehee, a heh heh, har har, haha, or a ROFLcopter, all laughs are welcome this (and every!) week, as Rebecca and Brooke review the New York Times crossword puzzles from 8/16/21 - 8/22/21.  The Lollapuzzoola puzzles and Twitch stream are still available at bemoresmarter.com.  Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!

    THINK TWICE | It's probably alright?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 38:03


    Ponytails UP, headphones IN, pencils DOWN: it's HOT 'NERDS SUMMER, Crossbabes! BexVex and Bballstar09946 are back puzzling out the last week in New York Times crosswords (08/09/21 - 08/15/21). Featuring appearances by KEKE Palmer, UHH, and

    OFF BRAND | AMI at the Love Shack

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 38:57


    Rebecca Neipris and Brooke Husic review New York Times crossword puzzles from 7/26/21 thru 8/1/21 and talk about other Pressing Issues in Crossworld, but all you really need to hear is DJ Cummerbund & The B-52's "Love Shack (Tik Toxic Remix)." You are welcome. Enjoying Crossnerds? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in iTunes! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Word-upped: Themelesses by Brian Thomas: puzzlesthatneedahome.blogspot.com Matthew Stock's 21x's: happylittlepuzzles.com

    STAR SEARCH | E.T. home phone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2021 35:35


    ⭐️✨Star stuff everywhere!✨⭐️ That is what you can expect from this stellar. New. Episode. Of. What? CROSSNERDS! Rebecca Neipris and--in-person in our NYC "studio"--Brooke Husic review the last week in New York Times crossword puzzles (7/19/21 - 7/25/21). Pardon the tangentialos... If you like us, please rate us stars and comment in iTunes! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Word-upped Lollapuzzoola: https://bemoresmarter.com/lollapuzzoola/  Brooke's puzzle site: xwordsbyaladee.blogspot.com  Adam Aaronson's puzzles: https://aaronson.org/crosswords/  Ricky Cruz's Cruzzles: https://cruzzles.blogspot.com/

    Try-Hard with a Vengeance, starring Milo Beckman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 29:05


    Ok um sooooo why didn’t anyone tell us it’s already 2021??? In honor of the [belated] New Year of the Ox, we mic’ed up Milo Beckman (@milobela), constructor of the January 1, 2021 New York Times crossword puzzle; author of the new book Math Without Numbers; and card-carrying try-hard (his words, not ours). Observed: Singaporean chicken-rice is tasty Math is about to get schooled And more! Milo’s comparison of accepted vs. changed clues: https://twitter.com/milobela/status/1346893142210076672.

    Laura Braunstein Will Take You There

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020 39:05


    Have you ever wondered... What makes a crossword, like, good, from an editor's-eye view If Laura Braunstein is good at karaoke What Laura Braunstein’s favorite emoji is Whether there is a more graceful option than crying yourself to sleep at night when you’ve had your a** handed to you at a crossword puzzle tournament? YES? ME TOO THAT'S SO AMAZING THIS PODCAST IS FOR YOU!!!!!!! Welcome to Crossnerds' SERENITY NOW special! To distract you from living your worst nightmares, we hit the (digital) books and get absolutely learnt with Laura Braunstein (@laurabrarian): accomplished constructor, speed-solver, and commentator, plus founder and editor of The Inkubator, which publishes puzzles exclusively by women (cis, trans, and woman-aligned). Looking for MORE FUN STUFF TO DO? VOTE Wear a mask Subscribe to The Inkubator (@InkubatorXWords) at inkubatorcrosswords.com Take Laura and Jesse Lansner's free online crossword-constructing classes on November 17, 2020 or December 15, 2020.   XOXOXO, Xnerds.

    Good Grid, It's Sid!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 47:00


    Welcome to Crossbirds! We've ALIT beside Sid Sivakumar (@sid_sivakumar) who, in just the last three months, made his debut (6/22), dibut (8/8), and tribut (9/3) in the New York Times; celebrated the yearniversary of his indie crossword blog, Sid's Grids; and contributed puzzles to several charity packs and to xword tournament Lollapuzzoola. Meanwhile, I was eating a popsicle. We gab about the wonders of the crossword community, the beauty of indie publishing, and Important Topix such as: Lexical gatekeeping The dangers of specialization Constructor credit as a commodity Crosswords vs. Scrabble Sizeism (in puzzles, ahem) Cryptics in India, Britain, and the US SUPPORT Crossnerds ON PATREON! Then visit some of the indie sites word-upped in this episode: Themelesses: Bryan Thomas on Puzzles That Need A Home Clues to make you smile: Amanda Rafkin's Brain Candy Freshest fill: Adam Nicolle, luckystreak xwords Puzzles by Crossword Jesus: A-Frame Games Brain-benders: Stella Zawistowski's Tough As Nails Liz Gorski's Crossword Nation Brendan Emmett Quigley Happy Little Puzzles by Matthew Stock Paolo Pasco's Grids These Days Master puzzle newsletter by Matt Gritzmacher

    Let's Be Friends with Brooke and Sid

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2020 48:25


    What's it like to write a crossword puzzle for the New York Times, and why does it matter? Co-constructors of Saturday's puzzle and frequent collaborators (and FRIENDS) Brooke Husic and Sid Sivakumar spill the crossbeans on: Authorship in crosswords The editorial process at the NYT The joy of synchronized puzzling Plus ever so much more! Check out Brooke's and Sid's puzzles at Lollapuzzoola 13 (this Saturday, 8/15!) and on Sid's indie puzzle site, sidsgrids.com. They're also active on crossword Twitter: @xandraladee and @sid_sivakumar. Masks up, ducklings!

    A. Ladee Made Your Crossword Puzzle, Ep. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2020 54:30


    2 many DEBUT!!!!s 2 count in our first-ever two-part episode, which features our first-ever female guest (Brooke Husic) and is accompanied by Rebecca's first-ever crossword puzzle (available here)!! Did we mention: !!!!!!!?!?! Since solving her first New York Times just six months ago, Brooke's taken Crossworld by storm, publishing in USA Today, the American Values Club Crossword, and several other indie outlets in the last month alone. Many thanks to Sid Sivakumar (who recently made his own DEBUT! in the New York Times crossword) for hosting the Crossnerds collabzzle on his site, Sid’s Grids. https://www.sidsgrids.com/post/puzzle-38-crossnerds-themeless-by-brooke-husic-rebecca-neipris

    Chris King and the Island of Misfit Words

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2020 35:27


    Come, all ye bell polishers, ye crepe hangers, ye highjohns, ye janes: ring in the New Year with a special dingle dangle to Chris King (@ckingsc)! Gather round yer device of choice and hear tell of thoughtful crossword construction, the best online and indie puzzles, the boon of cluing cities, and the bane of adjectives and awkward abbreviations.

    OPEN WIDE! | The Giving Of Thanks 2019

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2019 49:06


    Situationships. Popyrights(?). Emu eggs. Rampant mispronunciations. These are but a taste of the ingredients that flava-ed the last week of New York Times crossword puzzles (11/20/19 through 11/27/19). Here to help you digest them all are your trusty (vs. crusty) nerds du jour, Rebecca and Nate. We're so thankful for your listens and support. Please dig in. If you like us, please give us all the stars and comment in iTunes! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Happy holidaze!

    LINES OF WORK | 2 Nerdy 2 Email-Curious

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2019 31:28


    Welcome to Qrossnerds: a v spesh ep featuring NATE CARDIN (@naytnaytnayt), who joins host REBECCA NEIPRIS to talk about Queer Qrosswords, representation in puzzles, and creating a safe space in crossworld‒one in which everyone can feel seen. Plus! Your weekly dose of New York Times crossword puzzle analysis, for 10/11/2019 - 10/15/2019. Enjoi!

    WELL, WELL, WELL, IF IT ISN'T ... | You démodé, bae

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2019 31:44


    UPDATED 9/17! "It ain't my fault that I'm out here makin' news," my grandmother used to say. "I'm the pudding in the proof/ Gotta blame it on the New York Times crossword puzzle." And then we would watch this animation of Dock Ellis's LSD no-hitter together. Over and over. And over again. Then I grew up to be a totally normal human and Natan and I talked about the daily NYTXW, 9/4/19 - 9/8/19. Ground... nut... Meg?

    FLIP 'PHONES | ( -☞´◔‿ゝ◔`)-☞

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2019 32:44


    Welcome to the last-past week in the finest New York Times crossword puzzle analysis on the PLANET! This week, Rebecca "Etui 2020" Neipris and Natan "Crazy But Unbelievable" Last discuss bracketologists. kaomoji, who knows or does not know Tolkien (cough, Natan), and the cultural influence of the filme "Independence Day." We're talking #NYTXW, 6/24/19 - 6/30/19. Enjoi!

    TAKE TWO | McDevito and the Radioactive Bananas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2019 42:02


    Hold on to your seashells: we're BACK, beaches!! And we're joined by crossword constructor and individual human Natan Last, whose esteemed puzzles have been published in the New Yorker, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and beyond. This week, we take on ice McQueens, good "oh"s, Chaka Khan, and oodles more. It's the week in New York Times crossword puzzles, 6/17/19 - 6/23/19. What's beyond the #NYTXW? Check out newyorker.com/crossword/puzzles-dept and crosswordnation.com/.

    ★Very Special Episode★ Interview with Erik Agard

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2019 21:35


    Leader of the crossword vanguard, fashion icon, Jeopardy winner, and all-around stellar human Erik Agard drops by Crossnerds HQ for an eclectic discussion of Soulja Boy/Drake meme, representation in crosswords, land otters, and the history of printers. Also: Erik gets his drag name! Tens across the board.

    THAT'S A MOUTHFUL | Kñockout

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2019 40:00


    The approximate history of Balto and some real bushwa: the very best in New York Times crossword puzzle reviewing, performed live on stale air by some Crossnerds! The week in question (and answers): 2/4/19 - 2/10/19. CE.

    EJECTION LETTERS | Milking our wild oats

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2019 35:26


    We're funky! We're fruit-y! We're fair-weather fans of, like, sports! And also of frosted tips 2.0 (heeeeey, Chris Messina)! Or...anyway. Listen to this podcast episode. We talk about the last week in New York Times crossword puzzles, 1/28/19 to 2/3/19. Enjoy.

    QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY | UNEMPLOYMENT LINES | Thank u next

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2019 58:17


    Scandalous acceptances! 90s feels! Diversity! McDLTs! It's double the pleasure, double the fun, same number of Crossnerds: the past two weeks of New York Times crossword puzzles, reviewed by your loyal Crossservants, Andy and Rebecca. 1/14/19-1/27/19.

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