The Watch Your Mouth Podcast

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A father-daughter duo explores the origins of commonly used phrases and why we say the things we say.


    • Sep 8, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 65 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Watch Your Mouth Podcast

    Profanity (feat. Professor Carol Wilson-Tiesma!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 44:56


    This week on the pod Dave and Milo are joined by French Professor Carol Wilson-Tiesma! She guides them through the inner workings of why people swear. Along the way they learn about Quebecois cursing, why it's important to enunciate in French class, and why you can't say ab-f*ing-solutely!

    Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2022 35:20


    This week Dave and Milo are on a wild goose chase, exploring the history of this slightly morbid prayer for children! Along the way they learn about curmudgeonly writers, 17th century Mission Impossible, and a very mysterious flag that changed the history of children's literature!

    Hoisted By His Own Petard

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 40:22


    On this episode of the podcast Milo and Dave explore the origins of "Hoisted By His Own Petard"! Along the way they learn about the role irony plays in our language and narratives, Shakespearean flatulence humor, and the mystery of the cranberry. Original Pronunciation Shakespeare clip can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2QYGEwM1Sk

    Stool Pigeon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2022 43:09


    This week on the pod, David and Milo are sniching on the origin of "stool pigeon"! Along the way they learn about hunting furniture, magnetic tissue, and some dubious bird studies. Content Warning: Descriptions of animal cruelty

    The Irish Phrase Game

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 36:10


    It's a great day for young ducks, there's a new episode of the Watch Your Mouth Podcast! This week Milo and Dave are playing a game with old Irish phrases, along the way learning about Irish culture conservation, tea troubles, and swine seating. Learn more about the Irish Folklore Commission here! https://www.ucd.ie/folklore/en/

    Grain of Salt

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 46:37


    This week on the pod Dave and Milo are exploring the history of salt and salt phrases! Along the way they learn about Roman naturalists, holy water, and how bad Milo is at math.

    Caught Red-Handed/Right Hand Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 44:04


    Dave and Milo have been caught red-handed learning about these handy phrases! Along the way they discuss biblical boy bands, violent brotherly rivalries, and Hercules's lesser-known little cousin.

    Bathroom Euphemisms

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 44:08


    On this episode of the pod, Milo and Dave explore the wide world of euphemistic language around the room no one wants to talk about. Along the way they learn about an exiled inventor, the euphemism treadmill, and just how far humanity will go to avoid talking about bodily functions.

    Kit and Caboodle and the Whole Shebang

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2022 44:03


    This week on the pod Dave and Milo are talking it all in as they explore the phrases that mean "everything"! Along the way they learn about country slow jams, English martial history, and the best word of all time.

    Sides of the Road and Two Left Feet

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 43:43


    Milo and Dave are off of the beaten track this week as they look into the reasons why different parts of the world drive on certain sides of the street! Along the way they learn about the Frenchman's perspective on English women, unfortunate dance pupils, and the infrastructure of Rotterdam.

    Witches and Their Brooms

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 35:53


    In this delayed Halloween episode, Dave and Milo conjure up the history of witches and their odd mode of transport. Along the way they learn about local holiday displays, hallucinogenic medicines, and the hats of mysterious mummies.

    Speak of the Devil

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 36:18


    Milo and Dave are speaking of the devil on the podcast this week! Along the way they learn about shoulder angels, bible fanfiction, and goat anatomy.

    Chef Boyardee

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 47:05


    This week Dave and Milo have cooked up a biopic episode about the man behind the Chef Boyardee brand! Along the way they learn about atrocious Italian accents, noodle nostalgia, and Milo's quiz skills.

    Bloody Mary/Mirror Mirror

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 53:24


    It's spooky season y'all! Milo and Dave go through the looking glass this episode to explore the ghostly past of Bloody Mary. Along the way they learn about English royalty, witchy history, and spectral bullies. Content Warnings: Talk of horror, violence, and fertility issues.

    Good Samaritan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 39:13


    The pod is getting biblical this week as Dave and Milo explore the Bible Story that lead to this phrase! Along the way they learn about false eyelashes, musical theater, and Midwestern snow etiquette.

    Close But No Cigar

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 44:44


    This week on the Pod, Milo and Dave explore the origins of "Close But No Cigar!" Along the way they learn about old timey radios, fair ride dangers, and just how pricey cigars can get.

    The Third Degree

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 49:49


    You may want to give us the third degree over where we've been all summer, but thankfully we're back now and can tell you the origin of the phrase instead! Along the way we learn about ancient boy's clubs, burn severity, and how stupid the imperial system of measurement is.

    Makes the Socks Go Up and Down (Feat. Veronica Kirin)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2021 43:36


    This week on the pod, Milo and Dave have author, podcaster, and Ted Talker Veronica Kirin on to share the history of this chiropodic phrase! Along the way they learn about German dads, fabric technology, and new sock religions.

    The Name Game (Feat. Betsy, Pete, Alec, and Flynn)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2021 31:01


    This week on the pod Milo and Dave are playing a new game! Lots of idioms mention people by name, but which one is a real person? Listen in and find out! Along the way we learn about huckleberry periodicals, duping dukes, and overconfidence.

    Push the Envelope

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2021 38:24


    This week on the pod Dave and Milo are pushing the envelope and finding out why it's called that! Along the way they learn about mathematics, bad movies, and the various kinds of pasties.

    Rain, Rain, Go Away!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2021 49:14


    This week on the Watch Your Mouth Pod Dave and Milo do a deep-dive into some war history that surprisingly lead to this rainy phrase! Along the way they learn about pirates, hell ships, and a heck of a lot about foreign relations in Europe in the 16th century.

    Four Leaf Clover

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2021 46:02


    Milo and Dave are belatedly celebrating Saint Patrick's Day on the pod this week! They look into what makes four leaf clovers so special, along the way learning about portals to other worlds, why we wear green on March 17, and why it's really important to share water.

    Raining Cats and Dogs

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 33:57


    In this episode of the pod meteorologist Ellen Bacca joins Milo and Dave to discuss the origins of the phrase "Raining Cats and Dogs"! Along the way they learn about Norse puppies, unsanitary streets, and why meteorologists are more like Batman than you think.

    Son of a Gun/Reading the Riot Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 43:10


    On this episode of the pod, Dave and Milo go a bit off the rails. Along the way they learn about long-form jokes, military maternity, and weird ways to name political parties.

    Yo Mama

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 45:48


    This week Milo and Dave are flyting it out as they discuss the history of maternal insults. Along the way they learn about naval gallivanting, scoundrelous Scottish satirists, Nigerian gameplay, and that they should probably let each other know what topic they're bringing before recording starts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC1FxI1yWYc&ab_channel=OddSalon

    Dr. Seuss

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 64:58


    This week Milo and Dave are accidentally topical as they discuss Theodore Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. Info about the discourse around Dr. Seuss's work: apnews.com/article/dr-seuss-books-racist-images-d8ed18335c03319d72f443594c174513 www.slj.com/?detailStory=new-study-published-on-racism-and-dr-seuss Anti-Racism reading: www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/antiracist-books-for-kids-and-teens/ nymag.com/strategist/article/anti-racist-childrens-books.html Info about the Internment of Japanese-American citizens in WWII: www.colorincolorado.org/booklist/japanese-american-wwii www.npr.org/2019/07/17/742558996/george-takei-recalls-time-in-an-american-internment-camp-in-they-called-us-enemy https://densho.org/campu/ Learn more about interacting with complicated content from black and queer perspectives through the podcast Fanti: https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/fanti/

    In a Pickle

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 36:14


    This week Milo and Dave are podcasting from in a pickle! Along the way they learn about Shakespearean drunkards, peat bogs, and a weird use for British boat brandy.

    Okay!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2021 44:16


    Okie Dokie then, welcome to this week's episode! Milo and Dave explore their shortest subject yet with this affirmative word/acronym/initialism! Along the way they learn about old timey memes, presidential nicknames, and questionable gestures!

    Head Over Heels

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2021 48:00


    Happy Valentine's Day! This week on the pod, Milo and Dave are falling head over heels for some facts about the words and symbolism around love and its patron holiday. Along the way they learn about non-Euclidian angels, Davy Crockett's love life, and lobsters in love.

    Rabbit Rabbit

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2021 49:24


    We're starting out the month with a bit of good luck! Put away the charms and trinkets, words can be lucky too! This week Milo and Dave explore the origins of Rabbit Rabbit and other lucky bunny things. Along the way they learn about logic loopholes, Celtic evolution, and magical thinking.

    Days of the Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2021 50:45


    Join Milo and Dave this week as they talk about the week and the words we use within it! Along the way they learn about mythology, planets, and musical peas!

    Down the Rabbit Hole

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2021 65:36


    Milo and Dave go down the rabbit hole this week to explore Lewis Carroll, fossorial animals, math quarrels, and a disturbing medical hoax.

    Booby Trap

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2021 66:17


    Welcome to this week's ep in which Dave and Milo explore the roots of the phrase "booby trap" and, in the meantime, say "boob" a hundred times. Along the way, they learn about collective nouns, gorilla/guerilla warfare, dumb birds, and wild patriarchal archetypes. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special unboxing of Australian treats from lovely listener Jane! Thanks Jane!

    Overly Specific Words/Year End Wrap

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2020 41:38


    Happy New Year! We're ringing it in by going through some of our favorite things we covered this year and sharing some delightfully specific words. Thanks for listening to this show, we'll see you next year!

    Say Uncle!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2020 44:03


    On this episode of the pod Milo and Dave explore the roots of this bullying phrase! Along the way they learn about Christmas movies, Roman family hierarchies, and some truly awful jokes.

    Filler Words

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 63:33


    On this episode of the pod, Dave and Milo inspect speech a little more closely and learn about filler words! Roots, roles, and reputations: there's a lot to learn about these little sounds!

    Solfege

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 53:18


    We're back after a couple weeks away, we missed you all! This week on the podcast Milo and Dave get musical and look into the origins of Solfege. Along the way they learn about awesome old names, Latin hymns, and synesthesia!

    Driving Me Nuts!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 55:19


    On this nutty episode of the pod, Milo and Dave seek out the roots of "nuts" and other words that weirdly signify neurodiversity. Along the way they learn about newspaper comics, bird behavior, and Egyptian medical perfume. They also open up about their history with mental health and therapy. CW: Discussion of ableism, sexism, homophobia, and genitals *The Michel Foucault book referenced is Madness and Civilization 1961

    Social Security Numbers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2020 52:57


    This week Milo and Dave get curious about the history of Social Security Numbers! Join them as they explore ill-thought-out marketing ploys, startling stats, and conspiracy theories.

    Saved By The Bell/Dead Ringer/Graveyard Shift

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 49:40


    It's three for the price of none today on The Watch Your Mouth Pod as Milo and Dave quickly explore the true origins of these phrases, then longly explore the phony root they all share. And when we say phony we mean it's not connected to the phrases, but it's still very very real and dark. Like, dark-as-the-grave dark. Buckle up for the last and spookiest of our Halloween eps!

    Boo!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2020 49:09


    Oh no, did the title scare you? Let us make it up to you with this episode about why ghosts like to say "boo!" so much. Along the way Milo and Dave learn about fearful phonetics, Italian theater, and Sweet Daddy Jesuses.

    Clowns

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2020 55:12


    Send in the podcast this week as Milo and Dave explore the origins of clowns, from silly to scary. Along the way they learn about clown hierarchies, secret circus musical code, and the dreaded clown alley. Coulrophobics beware!

    Jack O' Lantern

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2020 45:11


    Get spooky with the Watch Your Mouth Pod this week! Milo and Dave carve out the origins of seasonal veggie decor, learning about Irish folklore, will o' the wisps, and how to avoid hell by exploiting the devil's gullibility along the way! All sound effects were sourced from freesound.org

    On the Rag

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 56:51


    It's that time of the month for a celebration of menstruation on the Watch Your Mouth pod! Dave and Milo explore worldwide phrases for periods and the psychology of euphemism, finding alternative uses for moss, new lyrics to Disney songs, unfortunate fruit metaphors, and questionable Japanese menstrual products along the way. https://drawnandquarterly.com/grass https://bookshop.org/books/tongue-of-war-from-pearl-harbor-to-nagasaki/9781886157712?aid=9012 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22809641-anne-franck-au-pays-du-manga

    Bury the Hatchet

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2020 60:10


    This episode of the pod explores the phrase Bury the Hatchet and the history of the atrocities against Indigenous tribes in North America, continuing to this day. This is a heavier episode folks, but it's important information. Support Mike's Mission here https://www.4fires.org/ Native populations are disproportionately affected by Covid-19. Support them here https://www.firstnations.org/covid-19-emergency-response-fund/and here http://www.nativepartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pwna_home Native people are worth far more than their plight. Consume media that celebrates their cultures and identities. Here is a list of podcasts hosted by Indigenous Americans. https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/for-your-online-listening-pleasure-12-great-native-podcasts-8q0el3xRdkG8jI10cUNlEw PLEASE VOTE. https://register.rockthevote.com/

    Malaprops

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2020 49:13


    It's the most pedantry-based episode of the pod yet, and that's saying something! Play along with Milo and Dave as they go through the first Watch Your Mouth Pod Quiz show, all about misheard words.

    Cute as a Button

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 49:29


    On this adorable episode of the pod Milo and Dave stitch together the history of this comely phrase, exploring a triangle/diamond map, medical history, and sneaky French fish.

    Teetotalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 51:15


    Welcome to this week's episode of the pod where Milo and Dave tour temperance, probe prohibition, and analyze anti-alcohol words and folks. Also they lose their minds about the wildest character on the pod yet! Grab a tea and listen in!

    Colonel Sanders

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 53:51


    Welcome to the first biography episode of the Watch Your Mouth Pod, wherein Dave and Milo learn a bit about the man, the myth, the chickeny legend: Kentucky Colonel Harland David Sanders.

    Knock On Wood

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 48:58


    This lucky episode is full of facts about magic materials and the finer points of statue burnishing! Come along with Milo and Dave and learn about superstitions across the globe! Information on Confederate Statues: https://www.npr.org/2020/06/12/876293231/confederate-monuments-the-history-of-controversial-symbols BLM Resources: https://blacklivesmatter.com/ Birthday Skeleton Comic: https://www.deviantart.com/bostondanceparty/art/Birthday-Skeleton-162070160

    Names of Fingers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2020 50:12


    In this week's handy episode Milo and Dave discuss the origins of finger names, plus learn about botany, lewd gestures, and reenact an ancient Greek play!

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