Two lifelong friends chat, rant, and rave about words, word games, and the New York Times Spelling Bee.
Despite the widening GULF between knowledge and the lack thereof, we're having a virtual POTLATCH and you're invited! Whether you're KEMPT or UNKEMPT, a MUTT or a muttonhead, join us for this penultimate episode of Season 7. It's a CALLITHUMP you won't want to miss.
This week on T&B: C is all about the BUNG, Jenn says BINGO, and we want to TEACH you something while we still can. So put on your CLOGs and try to KETCH up!
HECTIC times call for MALAPROP measures...or something like that. On this week's episode of T&B, we're approving the PAPAL succession, calling out the CLAPTRAP, and demanding due process. In America, everybody gets a TRIAL!
"We are very tired, we are very merry." We're back from Japan and we're giving you a groggy recap of our trip told through...Bee words! It may be an uphill climb but with FAUNA, OOLONG, and a crying baby sumo festival ahead, it's 100% worth it.
With C & Jenn on holiday, your trusty T&B emergency host and lesser-known 'Georgia Wonder', Jared, is here to keep the word herd humming along. For a whale of a good time, join us for a look into all things animal-related in this week's Bees, a new slate of Civil Words, and a Sad Sack Sentence that may have you questioning your APIAN existence.Note: No, it's not your speakers, the audio quality is a bit wonky at times—apologies!
If you have a BEEF with a word in the NYTimes Spelling Bee (or the policies of the current administration), you've come to the right place! This week on T&B, we're talking TOPONOMY, muttering our MOTTOs, and playing a fun little game we like to call...Is It LEGAL? Take a listen and play along! It's not nearly as hard as it sounds.
On this week's episode we contend with COCHAIR, noodle on NEOLITH, and linger on LUGGAGE...or should it be baggage? We're trying our best the remain RIANT, but we can't hide the fact that we're HOWLING mad about what's happening to ELITE universities. Our message: Get smart, America!
This week on T&B C's making a COMEBACK, Jenn's hogging the conversation, and we're both sitting pretty in the CATBIRD seat! It's your CHOICE whether to listen, but we're in the pro camp!
What's left to say after "Omigod"? A lot, apparently! This week on T&B, Jared's filling in for C and we opinions: PUCE is gross. MOONING is unadvisable. And this administration is totally COUP COUP.
We're in high DUDGEON 'cause the GOON Squad is here! Join us this week as we DOETH a review of the week in Bees, talk about all the GOONs in the current government, and take on DENGUE fever.
This week on T&B we're making a FUSS about Sam's most FABULOUS surprise, POUNCING on the opportunity to OPPUGN a COUP in progress, and flipping the bird at censorship by saying controversial words like: women, Black, and disability. No COUPONING needed. The fun is all free.
Who's ADJUDGING the New York Times Spelling Bee? We are! Put on your HARDHAT and step into our CIVIC center where CIVIL discourse is wildly overrated. It's just another WINGDING here on T&B!
T&B is back for an all new season! And we're still a 100% indie podcast. So we're using our INDEPENDENCE to say all the words that need to be said! Plus, in these FARCICAL days of BUNGLING INANITY, we could all use a few laughs, right?
It's the final episode of T&B Season 6 and we're not being scrooges about it! Or MOOCHes for that matter! Find a hunky Santa, jump on the UNfun bandwagon, and join us for carol singing, #BeeTheChange scheming, and, as always, laughs galore. Happy holidays, Hivemind!
This week on T&B, C just got her wisdom teeth pulled, nothing makes sense to Jenn, and the jinglizing continues! Listen to learn about the meaning of TRACKWAY, the deal with CARAT vs. KARAT, and the fate of the Philly jeweler who had a diamond in his beard. We promise we'll have you in stitches!
It's been an ANTICLIMATIC Bee week, but that won't stop us! On this episode of T&B, we tout the TOWHEE, extol the EGGHEAD, and call PHONY baloney on DOGTROT! Join in the convo and send us your "Bees ALEE" jingles while there's still time!
It's our annual family Thanksgiving episode, and spoiler: it's low-key awesome! But don't quote us on that (we prefer to remain UNQUOTED.) Join us to talk "hard climb" spellings (C-H-L-O-R-O-P-H-Y-L-L ), share "wow-worthy" words, and break out into spontaneous ALEE jingles. There's always more fun to bee had on T&B!
On T&B we don't just MICROCRACK each other up, we macrocrack each other up! This week we reject UNMAN, rejoice in CARIOCA, and recap where we are with the #BeeTheChange campaign to..."ALEE-viate the injustice"? So skip the BACKTALK, take the CLICKBAIT, and get on board!
Now that the NYT Tech Guild strike is over, we're back on our game! On this week's episode, C's going nuts for AQUANAUTS, Jenn's delighting in DITTO, and we're both shouting, "Bees ALEE"! If you know how to get Ed Helms on board (puns fully intended) for #BeeTheChange, write us ASAP.
On T&B when times are hard, you can be sure we have things to say about the word PRIAPIC! This week on the show, we're taking stock of the CRAP that happened on Tuesday, CARPing about dicks, and standing in solidarity with the striking NYTimes Tech Guild workers. We're also revealing the final results of the #BeeTheChange polls. You'll have to listen to find out what word won, but let's just say that here on T&B, we still believe in democracy!
It's scary times in the #NYTSpellingBee and beyond! Join us for some BULLHEADED TOMMYROT, spooky monster talk, and an update on our #BeeTheChange campaign. We're not HOTFOOTing you when we say this election is heating up! Cast your vote for ALEE, NUTRIA, or BENNE on FB, IG, or Tiktok (or by emailing us at tomtitandbaobab@gmail.com) this week. And cast your vote for democracy this Tuesday, Nov. 5th! For info on voting in the US election, visit iwillvote.com.
If you're looking for HORROR, you've come to the wrong ROOM! On this week's episode of T&B, we're DOLLOPING out the laughs, finding a COLONEL of truth, and debated whether ALEE is truly the strongest candidate to carry our #BeTheChange campaign. ENJOY the show!
With age comes wisdom and as usual, C and Jenn are acting like a couple of wise asses on this week's episode of T&B! We're talking lemon laws, TYCOONs, and the origins of FAKE in 18th century Thieves' Cant. We're also reviewing your candidates and plotting next steps for our #BeeTheChange Campaign. Have ideas about words that should count in the #NYTSpellingBee? Have thoughts about what factors will sway Sam to make a change? Let us know! Email us at tomtitandbaobab@gmail.com or message @tomtitbaobab on FB and IG.
Tomtit & Baobab is back for Season 6 and we're slaying episode 1 like a couple of MATADORas! Come for the JOGGLING, stick around for the LOAF, and get ready for a few October surprises. If you're looking for joy, optimism, and friends who share your obsession with the NYTimes Spelling Bee, you've come to the right place.
It's the final episode of Season 5, and do we have a treat for you! We're being BATTY, talking TUBBY, WHINGEING about ARBITRARY words, and serving up just desserts. Join us for a fun summer send-off and subscribe to be the first to know when T&B returns this fall. K.I.T. on FB and IG or email TomtitAndBaobab@gmail.com.
PFFT, PISH, HMPF, HAH! Not sure what that all MIENs? Come find out. This week on T&B EMCEE C and DEEJAY J are in the PALAPA and they want you to MAKE. SOME. NOISE!
Put on your seatbelt, grab hold of the ROLLBAR, and get ready for a wild ride! This week on T&B we're celebrating Beatrice's sixth birthday, taking stock of what we've learned from the Bee, wondering if LEMMA should count, and doing some much needed housekeeping.
We prefer to think of ourselves as ECLECTIC, but if you wanted to call us nuts, we wouldn't care a TITTLE! Don't be CHARY, it's nothing but a good time on this episode of T & B. We're going to the Bee-Ball game, breaking down WORRYWART, and generally YUCCA-ing it up.
Who's there? Jenn and C are live from NYC with two special guests, one unfunny NOCK NOCK joke and exactly zero LILLIPUTIANs! If you're wondering whether you're a DUMDUM for not knowing NUMBAT or tanking on TANTALUM...you're not. But take a listen and you'll never miss them again!
What's the difference between BONK and BOINK? Why should you know BOBOLINK? And what is Vintage Vocab anyway?? Grab a seat at the Boomer Bar with C, Jenn, and Jenn's mom, Bonnie. We're about to spill everything we know about Spelling Bee words!
It's an episode full of bouquets, BRICKBATs, SYZYGY, and BACCARAT. So shut your PIEHOLE, wipe your mouth on a NAPKIN, and put on your eclipse glasses. It's show time! Content Warning: We talk about a word related to sexual violence in this episode. Take care while listening.
This show has TITs. This show has COCKs. But if you think we're talking about anything other than words, you are barking up the wrong tree, PUPPY! Join us for YIPPEEs, YODELs, a bit of LOLLYGAGGing and a lot of excitement over a wild card discovery so good, we can't stop saying DAG.
We're away this week, but don't worry. We've picked out the perfect episode to re-air: the April Fool's show from our very first season! The deep dive on "HOODWINK" is a T&B classic. Come back next Monday for an all new episode.
T&B is having a wild time this week--we're breaking all our own rules and dedicating the entire episode to one very special guest. William Shunn, the mastermind behind Spelling Bee Solver, is back and we couldn't BEE happier.
This week on T&B we're revisiting a few “strands” from last week's episode, rehashing an old conversation about FILLIP, taking another look at those GLUTEI, and having feelings about MICROMINI. Are we VICTIMs of the Bee's befuddling ways…or are we active agents in the experience of our own game play? There's only one way to find out.
This week on T&B we're figuring out how to play the new NYTimes game, Strands, and following the strands of conversation wherever they take us! It's an episode full of tangents, PENTATHLETEs, ARMADILLOs, and ARANCINI that might just serve as a NEPENTHE for your troubles. Step into the DIORAMA and enjoy the show!
It's March madness on T&B this week! What are we mad about? Oh, you know, only the exclusion of EFFABLE, the inclusion of NUDIE, all the Bee ARGOT, and the terrible results of our NYTimes' Puzzle Personality Quiz! Join us for spontaneous PLAUDITs and linguistic BEDIZENMENT, then head over to @TomtitBaobab on Facebook to see our INEFFABLE Puzzle Quiz avatars and share yours!
We're back from Puerto Rico and freezing cold! So bear with us as we reminisce about the beach, fruity cocktails, and…BURGOO? From LIVIDITY-producing words for gruel to big ideas like GOOGOL, we're covering more ground than a MANKINI. Jared joins us for surf speak in an extra wild Wild Card.
C & Jenn are on holiday (yet again), so it's up to self-styled super guest host extraordinaire Jared Goodman to take y'all through the bee this week. Come for the Week in Bees, the Word of the Week & UNBEELIEVABLE WORDS™, stay for the ridiculous tangents, including Tutankhamun: His Tomb & His Treasures and the Step Up film franchise. Don't ask. Just go with it.
In this episode, Valentine's Day meets the Super Bowl meets the NYTimes Spelling Bee. The result? AGELONG entertainment and BALLYARD (sem)antics! It doesn't matter whether you go LONGAN or go wide, with T&B hitting play is the winning play every time.
C and Jenn are back for a whole new season of #NYTimesSpellingBee banter! This episode we're running through the best and worst Bees of our winter break, boondoggling our way into the hearts of all Americans, and learning a very fancy word for the study of flags. No hoodwinkery or mountebankery here! T&B is the real deal for #WordNerds.
♫ It's the most wonderful time of the year. ♫ We're wrapping up 2023--and Season 4 of Tomtit &Baobab--with a show full of gifts, cheer, and of course, words! We've got a list of best pangrams for C, limerick singing for Jenn, ETYMOLOGY for everybody, and Nearly Twelve Christmas Pangrams for Tim Alborn! We also have a special appearance from Jenn's dad, the Rev. Dr. James Hallam, who boasts a big vocabulary and believes we can create a kinder, more peaceful, more just world through the cultivation of our "human gifts." T&B will BEE back in February. Until then, catch up past seasons, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, or drop us a line at tomtitandbaobab@gmail.com.
If your HOBBY is the NYTimes Spelling Bee, come HOBNOB with us! On this penultimate episode of T&B Season 4, we're tackling crucial questions like: What the heck happened with HAMACHI? Who wouldn't want a CHIA bee? When is a PINNY not a penny? And why is “Pop Goes the Weasel” a perfect tune for word puzzle enthusiasts? We may have limited rizz, but we've got risibility galore…and a rousing performance inspired by Tim Alborn, if you can make it to the end.
Here at T&B, we like our TAMARI on a TATAMI and our belly laughs by the BOTTLEFUL. We also like a good interview with a NYTimes Spelling Bee-inspired limerick writer! That's right, fellow Word Nerds, we're talking with the very poetic Tim Alborn, and all INDICIA suggest this is one hu-MUNG-ous episode you won't want to miss.
It's our second annual live, mostly unedited, Thanksgiving show! In this week's extraORDINARY episode of T&B, our families are gathered ‘round the table to give thanks for “word things and language stuff”. We're sharing some of our favorite word-related apps, places, and games; dishing out un-BEE-lievable words; and serving up a second helping of hilarity. It's loud, it's crazy, and…it's just like being with us for the holidays. (Listen to the end for a musical TUQUE surprise!)
This week's episode of T&B is TEETOTALLY for the birds--and we mean that in the most literal possible way! We're talking about the puteketeke, the gooney, and the LINNET. But don't get your tailfeatherses ruffled if winged words aren't your thing. MEATLOAF, PANDITs, and NOOGIEs are also in the mix, along with a wild card that Scrabble-lovers will fall over laughing for.
Do foot bones count in the NYTimes Spelling Bee? What's the deal with New England donuts? And what the heck is Gen Z talking about?? This week we're going back to answer these and other burning questions from previous episodes. But it's not all housekeeping: We're also checking the LOOKBOOK, attending the LUNCHEON, and loading up the BOOKMOBILE. It's an episode of BIBLICAL proportions!
Whether you had a problem with PAPAW, forgot how to spell FETTUCCINE, or didn't have a clue about DAPHNE, T&B has something to lift every Bee player's spirits…and it's probably a COCKTAIL! On this week's episode, we're serving up funny words, fabulous ducks, and old-fashioned attitudes about informal talk in the workplace. Warning: you might just burst out laughing ;)
If you like your Halloween silly, spooky, and full of word candy, Tomtit & Baobab is the place to Bee! This week on T&B, we're counting up the tricks and treats from last week's puzzles, unmasking the meaning of HORROR, and just about laughing our heads off talking Trash Words with C's mom. When you knock on this door, we hand out FIVEFOLD the fun.
Remember the carefree days of youth, when all seemed right with the world and the only bodily pains you had were growing pains? Nope, we don't either! On this episode of T&B, we are officially claiming the status of ANCIENT, distracting ourselves from reality with a GIGUE, and delving into the realms of fantasy and Facebook, where anyone can be a god and everyone has an AVATAR to prove it. To top it all off, we're using our ancient brains to solve the NYTimes word game, Connections…live! If you're looking for escapism, you've come to the right place.
To paraphrase J.R.R. Tolkien, not all those who stravaig are lost! On this episode of T&B, we're taking the long way, going ERRANT, and branching off as the roads RAMIFY. So, embrace your inner HOBBIT and join us for a TANTARA-filled adventure that stretches from Wales to New Zealand to New England and back again.
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