Podcast appearances and mentions of Will Shortz

We have it on good authority that yesterday was Wordle Day - ironic, because one of the answers in today's puzzle also solved today's wordle! That cannot possibly be a coincidence, in our humble opinion, because the odds are too low and Will Shortz is too smart. The rest of the crossword was a delight, as constructor Tom McCoy apparently does not know how to write any other kind. Deets inside, so have a listen, and, as always, we welcome your feedback.Show note imagery: Pittsburg, PA, meet Pittsburgh, PAWe love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword must've surely been challenging to construct, but the end result is brilliant, thanks to constructor Brandon Koppy (under the keen supervision, no doubt, of editor Will Shortz). This puzzle was also very well timed, for reasons that will become clear as soon as you start listening (or have figured out the episode title, whichever comes fourth, er, first).Show note imagery: One AFGHANI (worth approximately US$ 0.014, C$ 0.019, and € 0.012)We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Both cohosts found this to be an exceptionally tough Thursday crossword -- but they are not complaining, as many of the clues were home runs, and the theme was a grand slam. Somehow, Adam Wagner -- the author of today's oeuvre (ably abetted by Will Shortz) -- always manages to produce great works. Deets inside, so have a listen, and let us know what you think!A reminder, our Triplet Tuesday Contest is coming up this Tuesday. If you haven't already, start practicing up (re-memorizing the OED, limbering up those fingers, etc., etc.).Show note imagery: A photo that needs absolutely no narration

There were a lot of long answers in this crossword, but fortunately they were also very common phrases. Otherwise, this would've been a Saturday or perhaps an Impossiday™️ crossword. As it stands, this puzzle was a terrific Friday, and the reason why is no mystery: Karen Steinberg wrote it and Will Shortz edited it.Show note imagery: JETHRO Tull (the band, not the agriculturalistWe love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword was the perfect April 1st crossword -- as a Tuesday, it was not too difficult, but it was very meta, and very relatable, making for a great solve. We have Sande Milton (supervised, of course, by Will Shortz)  to thank for this, his third crossword for the NYTimes.Beyond the crossword, we have our heavily trademarked and patented Triplet Tuesday™️ segment, so have a listen, and let us know how you did!Show note imagery: A Commodore AMIGA, with a whopping 256K of RAM!We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Love Life in NYC.  Dan Neil buys a Tesla.  Will Shortz on the mend.  Howie Rose nostalgia.  AI comes to the Art History rescue. Big applications for Gorilla Glass. Credits: Talent:  Tamsen Granger and Dan Abuhoff Engineer:  Ellie Suttmeier Art:  Zeke Abuhoff

One of Will Shortz's greatest innovations was the strategy of making Monday crosswords easy, then making them progressively harder throughout the week, with Saturday being quasi-impossible. [Sunday is often described as a "large Wednesday" in terms of difficulty.] And it's not like Will forgot his greatest innovation, but this was a trickier-than-usual Monday, which may (or may not) presage a challenging week ahead -- we'll let you know for sure on Saturday.In the meantime, we did enjoy this crossword -- a fine work by Patti Varol, and an opportunity to make our pitch for a Moby Dick / Peter Pan crossover -- look for it on AppleTV+ sometime in the near future (or possibly not

This was an extraordinary Sunday crossword, thanks to one of those "oh, I can't believe they did that!" themes that makes crossword solving such an utter delight. This delight came to us courtesy of Derrick Niederman (edited, as always, by Will Shortz), and we will be savoring it for a loooong time to come. To find out exactly why, and possibly how long is loooong, download today's episode (and don't forget to hit subscribe, so you never miss any future installments!).Show note imagery: The Short-Tempered Clavier, billed as "Preludes and Fugues in All the Major and Minor KeysExcept for the Really Hard Ones", edited by Professor Peter Schickele.We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

This was a tricky Wednesday, thanks mainly to its clever theme (created by Sophia Maymudes, adroitly edited by Will Shortz). We have nothing but good things to say about it, although we are now on tenterhooks wondering what Thursday will bring.Just a reminder that our show notes always include a link to the wonderful website xwordinfo.com, where you can find a completed version of the day's crossword (i.e., a massive spoiler, but also massively useful), look up clues and answers, etc. If you're a cruciverbalist (and you're reading this, so you are!), you definitely owe it to yourself to check it out.Show note imagery: Some delicious EMPANADASWe love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

This was a fun and challenging Thursday crossword by David P. Williams, his sixth for the NYTimes, deftly edited by the indomitable Will Shortz. The theme was very helpful, providing a distinct tactical advantage (which we discuss in today's episode). There were scads of thought-provoking clues throughout the puzzle, like 37A, Danger in a Wile E. Coyote cartoon, TNT; 36D, At the end of the day, ALLINALL; and 26D, Leader of Germany?, SOFTG

We're wrapping up 2024 and putting a bow on it, the actual present being today's crossword, a fine bit of work by Michael Lieberman, his 25th for the NYTimes, as deftly edited by -- it gives us such joy to write this -- Will Shortz (see yesterday's episode for the deets on why).Beyond the crossword, we have a magnificent Triplet Tuesday segment, and some awesome listener mail, so check that all out, and, as usual, let us know what you think.Show note imagery: Mauna KEA, not to be confused with Mauna LOA (but it will be!We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword is a cause for celebration. First, it was a great crossword (no surprise there -- check out the podcast for the deets), and second, it was edited by Will Shortz, the long time editor of the NYTimes crossword who had a stroke earlier this year. But demonstrating his indomitable spirit, Will has returned to the editor's chair, for which we are grateful. [Not that Joel Fagliano wasn't doing a fabulous job -- he was -- but it's just good to see Will's name back up on the marquee.]Show note imagery: UBE tiramisu, which looks deeeeeelish!We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Will Shortz is the editor of the New York Times Crossword and NPR's Puzzle Master. He sold his first puzzle at the age of 14, earned a degree in Enigmatology, the study of puzzles, and later came to UVA to study law. Will Shortz has served as the editor of the New York Times crossword and NPR's Puzzle Master for over 30 years, and has become a prolific name in the world of puzzles.

In this episode of the Brain & Life podcast, co-host Dr. Katy Peters is joined by Will Shortz, the crossword editor for the New York Times and puzzle master of Weekend Edition Sunday on National Public Radio. Will shares how he is recovering from two strokes that he suffered in February 2024 and which types of rehabilitation really worked for his mind and body. He also discusses how he found his love for puzzles and puts Dr. Peters on the spot with one to solve on her own! Dr. Peters is then joined by Dr. Argye Hillis, Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Neurology and the Director of the Cerebrovascular Division of Neurology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Hillis explains how strokes are diagnosed and treated, and what exciting research is happening right now. Additional Resources Crossword Editor Will Shortz Shares How He's Recovering from Stroke How Board Games Helped This Man Recover from a Stroke Get Smart about Stroke Navigating the Complexities of Stroke   Other Brain & Life Episodes on this Topic Matt and Kanlaya Cauli on Rebuilding Life After Stroke Timothy Omundson on Stroke Recovery and His Return to Television Peloton Instructor Bradley Rose on Returning to Life After Stroke   We want to hear from you! Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast? ·       Record a voicemail at 612-928-6206 ·       Email us at BLpodcast@brainandlife.org   Social Media:   Guests: Will Shortz @shortzwill; Dr. Argye Hillis @hopkinsneurons Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

Send us a Text Message.This is a beaut of a debut by Aidan Deshong, a high school senior just about to graduate, and head off to Harvey Mudd. Perhaps he'll major in Engimatology like legendary NYTimes crossword editor Will Shortz. The clues and answers in today's grid were, simply put, brilliant, as seen in 47A, Pricey oils, e.g., ART; 48A, Wet blanket?, DEW; and many, many others. To hear more, including a fascinating fact for Fun Fact Friday™️ -- you are cordially invited to download and listen up to today's podcast.Show note imagery: An INNING is the  fundamental unit of time in a game of horseshoesContact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

This week, Brian returns from the ACPT with all the news (but none of the puzzles), and Ryan hacks and coughs his way through another Thunder Round with all the puzzles (but none of the news?). Look, just because we don't think Alex Eaton-Salners is actually Will Shortz doesn't mean that he couldn't be. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon. Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please consider leaving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. This will help new listeners find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club. Drop us a note or a Tweet or a postcard or a phone call — we'd love to hear from you. Helpful links: Apple Podcasts link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fill-me-in/id1364379980 Google Play link: https://player.fm/series/fill-me-in-2151002 Amazon/Audible link: https://www.amazon.com/item_name/dp/B08JJRM927 RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram We're putting these words here to help with search engine optimization. We don't think it will work, but you probably haven't read this far, so it doesn't matter: baseball, crossword, crosswords, etymology, game, hunt, kealoa, movies, musicals, mystery, oscar, pizza, puzzle, puzzles, sandwiches, soup, trivia, words

This week, host June Thomas talks to Anna Shechtman, a crossword puzzle creator whose new book is called The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. In the interview, Anna talks about her experience writing crossword puzzles as a teenager and then going on to work with New York Times puzzle maker Will Shortz. She also discusses the subjectivity of “common knowledge” and recalls debates with Shortz about which words and phrases were puzzle-worthy.  After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about crosswords and the ever-expanding pool of “common knowledge.”  In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid. She also discusses a more sensitive topic: her struggle with anorexia, which coincided with her early interest in crossword puzzles. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host June Thomas talks to Anna Shechtman, a crossword puzzle creator whose new book is called The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. In the interview, Anna talks about her experience writing crossword puzzles as a teenager and then going on to work with New York Times puzzle maker Will Shortz. She also discusses the subjectivity of “common knowledge” and recalls debates with Shortz about which words and phrases were puzzle-worthy.  After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about crosswords and the ever-expanding pool of “common knowledge.”  In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid. She also discusses a more sensitive topic: her struggle with anorexia, which coincided with her early interest in crossword puzzles. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host June Thomas talks to Anna Shechtman, a crossword puzzle creator whose new book is called The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. In the interview, Anna talks about her experience writing crossword puzzles as a teenager and then going on to work with New York Times puzzle maker Will Shortz. She also discusses the subjectivity of “common knowledge” and recalls debates with Shortz about which words and phrases were puzzle-worthy.  After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about crosswords and the ever-expanding pool of “common knowledge.”  In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid. She also discusses a more sensitive topic: her struggle with anorexia, which coincided with her early interest in crossword puzzles. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host June Thomas talks to Anna Shechtman, a crossword puzzle creator whose new book is called The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. In the interview, Anna talks about her experience writing crossword puzzles as a teenager and then going on to work with New York Times puzzle maker Will Shortz. She also discusses the subjectivity of “common knowledge” and recalls debates with Shortz about which words and phrases were puzzle-worthy.  After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about crosswords and the ever-expanding pool of “common knowledge.”  In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid. She also discusses a more sensitive topic: her struggle with anorexia, which coincided with her early interest in crossword puzzles. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host June Thomas talks to Anna Shechtman, a crossword puzzle creator whose new book is called The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. In the interview, Anna talks about her experience writing crossword puzzles as a teenager and then going on to work with New York Times puzzle maker Will Shortz. She also discusses the subjectivity of “common knowledge” and recalls debates with Shortz about which words and phrases were puzzle-worthy.  After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about crosswords and the ever-expanding pool of “common knowledge.”  In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid. She also discusses a more sensitive topic: her struggle with anorexia, which coincided with her early interest in crossword puzzles. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host June Thomas talks to Anna Shechtman, a crossword puzzle creator whose new book is called The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. In the interview, Anna talks about her experience writing crossword puzzles as a teenager and then going on to work with New York Times puzzle maker Will Shortz. She also discusses the subjectivity of “common knowledge” and recalls debates with Shortz about which words and phrases were puzzle-worthy.  After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about crosswords and the ever-expanding pool of “common knowledge.”  In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid. She also discusses a more sensitive topic: her struggle with anorexia, which coincided with her early interest in crossword puzzles. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A delightful Saturday crossword by Carolyn Davies Lynch and Jeff Chen - edited adroitly, as always, by Will Shortz. Your intrepid cohosts had vastly different experiences solving today's puzzle, but they both agreed that it contained a cornucopia of clever clues. Deets inside, as well as the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award™️).Show note imagery: Sir Georg SOLTI, conductor extraordinaireContact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

“Fun, bite sized, and entertaining.” In the final episode of season 6, we're back with author and now podcaster A.J. Jacobs, along with his Chief Puzzle Officer, Greg Pliska. We first interviewed A.J. about his book, The Puzzler, in S3E11. The idea for the podcast originated in part while recording the audio book version of The Puzzler. A.J. realized many of the puzzles in the book were visual and wouldn't work for an audio book. He created a bunch of audio puzzles that only worked in the audio form. But when it came to a podcast, he knew he couldn't do it alone, and so he pulled in puzzle guru Greg Pliska, who collaborated with A.J. on The Puzzler book. Greg Pliska has created puzzles for the Ask Me Another podcast and the Mohonk Mountain House's Wonderful World of Words. This is a fun-filled weekend in a mountain resort with puzzle-hunts for people who love language. He's also a commentator for Will Shortz's annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, the YouTube recordings of which, to David's surprise, “really sucked [him] into it.” Between A.J. and Greg, they possess a powerful pile of podcast puzzling prowess, so I was thrilled to pick their brains about crafting audio puzzles. At the end of the episode, I turned the tables, surprising them with my own game segment called Tilted Titles. Play along, and see if you can beat the puzzle gurus! If you're looking for pint-sized puzzles for your listening pleasure, make sure to check out The Puzzler Podcast.   Timestamps & Full Show Notes   Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, and COGS:  Morty Morty is a free app for discovering, planning, tracking, and reviewing your escape rooms and other immersive social outings.  Morty News: Morty now features haunt attractions Morty for Android is here Special Badge for REPOD listeners: You can learn more at morty.app/REPOD to sign up and get a special badge for our listeners (works for existing users also).   Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.   COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.   Production Credits Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law Produced by Theresa Piazza Supported by Lisa Spira & Richard Burns Edited by Steve Ewing of Stand Inside Media  Music by Ryan Elder Logo by Janine Pracht

Lords: * Maxx * Nick Topics: * Puzzmo * I'm worried about my tableware rotation strategy * Ennigaldi-Nanna's museum * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ennigaldi-Nanna's_museum * It Was A Coffin That Sang, by Olena Davis * https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/3597ddeb-e52e-4cda-a59c-c64600489fea/xBLG36yN.png Microtopics: * Instead of giving someone a business card, stamping your information on them so they have to call you before they take a shower. * Where's George? * George isn't here. George was never here. * Canadians looking forward to when they can walk around with King Charles' face in their pocket. * Giving the barista a coupla chucks for a cup of coffee. * Money with RadarSat on it. * inaturalist dot org. * Taking a photo of a weird plant with a weird seed pod. * The fantasy of collecting information. * The game where you try to name every street in San Francisco. * Running all the streets in your city over the course of a decade. * Games Genie. * Lexicographic Ordering and Time Travel. * A sanctioned topic. (It's on the list.) * Wario Ware presenting you with a full sized crossword and giving you six seconds to solve it. * A fun little histogram. * Finally implementing the letter T. * Doing the crossword on paper and making your daughter enter your answers into the app. * Will Shortz coming out of his orb to carry out a hit on a competing puzzle. * Fugue Orbs. * Comparing the interface design of Connections and Red Herring. * Things Relating to Wonder Woman. * Extremely well SEO'd pestilences. * Arranging your dinner plates in a stack vs. in a queue. * Using all your plates evenly so they all break at the same time. * Rotating the Stock. * The dangers of Low-Sodium Perpetual Stew. * Default plates from the food service factory. * Airplane boarding algorithms and how to convince everyone in the terminal to follow yours. * Plates that are made for using. * A whole Jefferson, in your Republic dollars. * The urge to queue. * Lanesplitting your backpack. * History: it's a lot older than we think * Ancient cash registers. * Pranksters organizing the topic bucket. * How many museums deep are we? * The human wife. * Efficient.. Successful. Human. * Top five lists of your life. * How small a flavoring agent has to be to be considered a spice. * A twelve foot tall statue of either Zeus or Poseidon. * Myth- and Nationhood- Making. * A museum where you can feel wood cut with various tools. * Hearing about a cool metalworking museum but fixating on how the bathroom works. * Cool Bathroom Ghost. * The toilet commenting on your performance. * Piping bookshop noises into your bathroom. * Robert Stack's Solved Mysteries. * Being sad and trying to have a good sadness. * Michael Brough talking about his design process. * Fun exercise vs. shitty boring exercise. * What to do about the world ending. * Driving in circles around the McDonald's drive-thru ordering more and more coffee until they catch on. * Telling a joke on Twitter and an archaeologist getting it 1000 years from now. * The world's oldest joke. * A fart joke from 1900 BCE. * Reconstructive historical linguistics. * The linguistics of swearing and taboo. * Eater of bees. * Top five stanzas.

In Episode 57, let's talk about our very first Hardy Boys book - The Tower Treasure! (Spoiler alert, we both friggin' love the Hardy Boys now!). But first, Kelly loves an earmuff, Karen has a brain meld with Will Shortz, the word “panopticon” is used for the first time on this show, and Aileen's gonna hook us up with proof of robotic puppets. Over in . . . Bayside? Baywatch? Bayport?….we have our first perishing, there's lots of reckless driving, and Joe & Frank get paid even though they probably couldn't take a fingerprint off a moving horse. Rated 9.5 out of 12 Decrepit Water TowersUp Next:Baby-Sitter's Club Super Mystery 1: Baby-sitter's Haunted HouseRecommendations:All the Sinners Bleed by SA CrosbyLovelight Farms by B.K. BorisonSupport the showhttps://www.instagram.com/itsacluepodcast/

Today on The Sunday Story host Ayesha Rascoe heads to Westchester County, in upstate New York to meet with The New York Times Crossword editor Will Shortz. The two sit down at the table tennis center Will owns to talk about how he became the Puzzlemaster on Weekend Edition Sunday, his love for all things puzzles and how recently, in his seventies, he has finally found love in his personal life as well.

NYTimes Crossword Editor Will Shortz joined Budd Mishkin — an avid fan of the puzzle — on Newsline with Brigitte Quinn to discuss his career.

Will Shortz, NPR's puzzlemaster and New York Times' crossword puzzle editor, brings a special word puzzle that include the letters N Y and C.

Today we are presented with an amusing and well-timed Tuesday crossword by Daniel Grinberg (ably edited, as always, by Will Shortz, may his beard, if he has one, grow ever longer). It manages to STAYCLASSY and never has us thinking its TIMEFORACHANGE, for a variety of reasons outlined in today's grid. Beyond those, we'd like to give a shoutout to a few other fine clues, including 60D, Music genre that influenced The Clash, SKA; 37D, One whose taste buds may not crave Buds, BEERSNOB (nice!); and 9D, TV character George who says "I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!", COSTANZA (

This week, Ben Zimmer (30D!) joins Brian for discussions of #gridspotting, the Bryant Park tournament, and the Baby Mets. ALSO: Brian is not shy to perpetuate conspiracy theories about Will Shortz's alter ego, and contrary to the episode's title, we did actually get Zoom-bombed. Stuff to click: XWordInfo, all that remains CrossCord, the crossword Discord server Puzzability, where you can find links to the Bryant Park tournament puzzles Ugleh's crossword grid search Crosserville the maybe-it's-a-podcast featuring Robyn Weintraub If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon. Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please consider leaving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. This will help new listeners find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club. Drop us a note or a Tweet or a postcard or a phone call — we'd love to hear from you. Helpful links: Apple Podcasts link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fill-me-in/id1364379980 Google Play link: https://player.fm/series/fill-me-in-2151002 Amazon/Audible link: https://www.amazon.com/item_name/dp/B08JJRM927 RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892) We're putting these words here to help with search engine optimization. We don't think it will work, but you probably haven't read this far, so it doesn't matter: baseball, crossword, crosswords, etymology, game, hunt, kealoa, movies, musicals, mystery, oscar, pizza, puzzle, puzzles, sandwiches, soup, trivia, words

A trendy, Tuesday  crossword by Malaika Handa, with a smattering of rarer clues, such as 18D, Gun control activist David, HOGG; 11D, Payment after a split between unmarried partners, PALIMONY (amusing word for a decidedly unamusing subject);  and 12D, Italian sparkling wine, PROSECCO (not to be confused, as Mike was wont to do, with PROSCIUTTO). It's Triplet Tuesday, so see if you can beat Mike to the answers in today's thrilling battle of wits. Finally, Will Shortz, the head honcho at NYTimes Crossword HQ, was interviewed by the New Yorker, and is definitely worth a read.Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

If you follow Martha very closely, you may know that she is one of the legions of puzzle players who obsessively play The New York Times' word games. The NYT launched its famous crossword puzzle in 1942. Now, 81 years later, they are paying serious attention to the business of games. Sudoku. Wordle. Spelling Bee. Tiles. As the news organization grows its digital portfolio of games, waves of puzzle players are signing up. Martha is delighted to talk word games with Will Shortz, The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor, and Everdeen Mason, the first-ever Editorial Director of Games at The New York Times. Listen in as they discuss how puzzles are constructed, the origin of Sudoku, their favorite Wordle “starter words,” and so much more.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Shortz has been The New York Times' crossword editor for 30 years. He tells us about why puzzles mean so much to people — and how to keep them relevant for a new generation.

Sad news for all of us: producer Rachael Cusick— who brought us soul-stirring stories rethinking grief (https://zpr.io/GZ6xEvpzsbHU) and solitude (https://zpr.io/eT5tAX6JtYra), as well as colorful musings on airplane farts (https://zpr.io/CNpgUijZiuZ4) and belly flops (https://zpr.io/uZrEz27z63CB) and Blueberry Earths (https://zpr.io/EzxgtdTRGVzz)— is leaving the show. So we thought it perfect timing to sit down with her and revisit another brainchild of hers, The Cataclysm Sentence, a collection of advice for The End. To explain: one day in 1961, the famous physicist Richard Feynman stepped in front of a Caltech lecture hall and posed this question to a group of undergraduate students: “If, in some cataclysm, all of scientific knowledge were to be destroyed, and only one sentence was passed on to the next generation of creatures, what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words?” Now, Feynman had an answer to his own question—a good one. But his question got the entire team at Radiolab wondering, what did his sentence leave out? So we posed Feynman's cataclysm question to some of our favorite writers, artists, historians, futurists—all kinds of great thinkers. We asked them “What's the one sentence you would want to pass on to the next generation that would contain the most information in the fewest words?” What came back was an explosive collage of what it means to be alive right here and now, and what we want to say before we go. Featuring: Richard Feynman, physicist - The Pleasure of Finding Things Out (https://zpr.io/5KngTGibPVDw) Caitlin Doughty, mortician - Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs (https://zpr.io/Wn4bQgHzDRDB) Esperanza Spalding, musician - 12 Little Spells (https://zpr.io/KMjYrkwrz9dy)  Cord Jefferson, writer - Watchmen (https://zpr.io/ruqKDQGy5Rv8)  Merrill Garbus, musician - I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life (https://zpr.io/HmrqFX8RKuFq) Jenny Odell, writer - How to do Nothing (https://zpr.io/JrUHu8dviFqc) Maria Popova, writer - Brainpickings (https://zpr.io/vsHXphrqbHiN) Alison Gopnik, developmental psychologist - The Gardener and the Carpenter (https://zpr.io/ewtJpUYxpYqh) Rebecca Sugar, animator - Steven Universe (https://zpr.io/KTtSrdsBtXB7) Nicholson Baker, writer - Substitute (https://zpr.io/QAh2d7J9QJf2) James Gleick, writer - Time Travel (https://zpr.io/9CWX9q3KmZj8) Lady Pink, artist - too many amazing works to pick just one (https://zpr.io/FkJh6edDBgRL) Jenny Hollwell, writer - Everything Lovely, Effortless, Safe (https://zpr.io/MjP5UJb3mMYP) Jaron Lanier, futurist - Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now (https://zpr.io/bxWiHLhPyuEK) Missy Mazzoli, composer - Proving Up (https://zpr.io/hTwGcHGk93Ty)   Special Thanks to: Ella Frances Sanders, and her book, "Eating the Sun" (https://zpr.io/KSX6DruwRaYL), for inspiring this whole episode. Caltech for letting us use original audio of The Feynman Lectures on Physics. The entirety of the lectures are available to read for free online at www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu.All the musicians who helped make the Primordial Chord, including: Siavash Kamkar (https://zpr.io/2ZT46XsMRdhg), from Iran  Koosha Pashangpour (https://zpr.io/etWDXuCctrzE), from Iran Curtis MacDonald (https://zpr.io/HQ8uskA44BUh), from Canada Meade Bernard (https://zpr.io/gbxDPPzHFvme), from US Barnaby Rea (https://zpr.io/9ULsQh5iGUPa), from UK Liav Kerbel (https://zpr.io/BA4DBwMhwZDU), from Belgium Sam Crittenden (https://zpr.io/EtQZmAk2XrCQ), from US Saskia Lankhoorn (https://zpr.io/YiH6QWJreR7p), from Netherlands Bryan Harris (https://zpr.io/HMiyy2TGcuwE), from US Amelia Watkins (https://zpr.io/6pWEw3y754me), from Canada Claire James (https://zpr.io/HFpHTUwkQ2ss), from US Ilario Morciano (https://zpr.io/zXvM7cvnLHW6), from Italy Matthias Kowalczyk, from Germany (https://zpr.io/ANkRQMp6NtHR) Solmaz Badri (https://zpr.io/MQ5VAaKieuyN), from IranAll the wonderful people we interviewed for sentences but weren't able to fit in this episode, including: Daniel Abrahm, Julia Alvarez, Aimee Bender, Sandra Cisneros, Stanley Chen, Lewis Dartnell, Ann Druyan, Rose Eveleth, Ty Frank, Julia Galef, Ross Gay, Gary Green, Cesar Harada, Dolores Huerta, Robin Hunicke, Brittany Kamai, Priya Krishna, Ken Liu, Carmen Maria Machado, James Martin, Judith Matloff, Ryan McMahon, Hasan Minhaj, Lorrie Moore, Priya Natarajan, Larry Owens, Sunni Patterson, Amy Pearl, Alison Roman, Domee Shi, Will Shortz, Sam Stein, Sohaib Sultan, Kara Swisher, Jill Tarter, Olive Watkins, Reggie Watts, Deborah Waxman, Alex Wellerstein, Caveh Zahedi.EPISODE CREDITS Reported by - Rachael Cusick (https://www.rachaelcusick.com/)Our newsletter comes out every Wednesday. It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)! Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org Leadership support for Radiolab's science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

American filmmaker Patrick Creadon who is primarily known for his work in documentaries. His first film, Wordplay, profiled New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz and premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Then in 2016, Patrick directed ESPN" s 30 for 30 film, "Catholics vs. Convicts," about the October 15, 1988, Notre Dame-Miami football game. In this episode, we discuss Patrick's latest film, "The Loyola Project," about the historic 1963 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball national championship team and the racial barriers they faced and overcame on their incredible journey. I loved how Patricks weaves together actual footage and modern-day interviews to tell this captivating story, which continues to inspire the fight for equality. You can stream The Loyola Project on Paramount+, or if you are interested in viewing the film and don't have Paramount+, please reach out to me, and we will get you the link to view the film.Episode Resources:The Loyola ProjectLink to purchase:FYLPxWRDSMTH Merch Collaboration*suggestion is to size upDownload this episode of For Your Listening Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you follow us on Instagram @foryourlisteningpleasure Click here to listen to the For Your Listening Pleasure Theme Song Playlist on Spotify.To continue the conversation, feel free to DM me at https://www.instagram.com/foryourlisteningpleasure/ or email me at foryourlisteningpleasure@gmail.com.

A very pleasing Tuesday crossword, with a theme that was an echo / homage to Monday's HUMANNATURE -- surely not a coincidence, with the crossword force-of-nature Will Shortz in charge. Today's puzzle included a few spicier clues - 17A, Best competitive stuff, AGAME (cute); the combo 28D, That one and that one, in Spanish, ESOS, paired with 65A, That one and that one, THOSE (now that's artisanship). Definitely a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and for all the deets, please download, listen up, enjoy and ... let us know what you think!Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

For nearly half a century, Will Shortz has left a lingering mark on the the world of crossword puzzles. After starting his career at Penny Press and Games magazine, he was hired by the The New York Times in 1993 where he still works in 2023. He's also known as NPR's Weekend Edition's Puzzlemaster. He and 5 Things Sunday host James Brown discuss his life, work, and the world of puzzles.https://willshortz.com/James Brown on Twitter If you like the show, write us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening. And do me a favor, share it with a friend. What do you think of this show? Email me at jabrown@usatoday.com or leave me a message at 585-484-0339. We might have you on the show.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can we say about a crossword that includes the word VICHYSSOISE? First, that we are in awe of it, and to be more precise its constructor, Bruce Haight, as we are just amazed that he can even spell VICHYSSOISE -- Mike took about 3 running starts to get it sorted out. Second, it reminds us once again of Will Shortz's towering genius, as we now realize it was portended by yesterday's 9D, Something you need to do to solve crosswords, SPELL. We are not worthy

It is entirely possible that Will Shortz is training us for halloween, because some of the crosswords this week have been scarily difficult. Exhibit A is today's. Jean got stuck in the bottom-center, Mike was temporarily ATSEA in the top left, but it's hard to stay mad at a crossword that's this good - 5 squares on the JAMCR scale!!Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

While both Jean and Mike agreed that today's crossword was tough, only one had the comically long solve time to prove it - hint: it wasn't Jean. The southwest was almost Mike's undoing, but a tremendous amount of luck (or, more likely, very clever plotting on the part of the crossword constructor abetted by the esteemed Will Shortz) made it possible for him to, eventually, and not without much gnashing of teeth, get to the solve. In short, the perfect Saturday NYTimes crossword, seemingly absolutely impossible but willing to yield its secrets to the intrepid cruciverbalist.Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Kate realizes she could have been the first butter influencer and Doree has a pod-sausage update. Then, Forever35 listener, cruciverbalist, and award-winning musical theater lyricist Amanda Yesnowitz joins them to chat about why humans love puzzles, how Will Shortz was involved in both her engagement and her wedding, and her upcoming feminist holiday musical comedy Christmas In Connecticut. To leave a voicemail or text for a future episode, reach them at 781-591-0390. You can also email the podcast at forever35podcast@gmail.com.Visit forever35podcast.com for links to everything they mention on the show or visit shopmyshelf.us/forever35.Follow the podcast on Twitter (@Forever35Pod) and Instagram (@Forever35Podcast) and join the Forever35 Facebook Group (Password: Serums). Sign up for the newsletter! at forever35podcast.com/newsletter. This episode is sponsored by:BETTER HELP - Get 10% off your first month with the discount code FOREVER35. Go to betterhelp.com/FOREVER35 to get started today.ROTHY'S - For free shipping and free returns/exchanges, visit rothys.com/forever35.PROSE - Get a FREE consultation and 15% off custom hair supplements! Go to Prose.com/forever35.JENNI KAYNE - Get 15% off your first order at jennikayne.com when you use code FOREVER35 at checkout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Break out your barbecue sauce and your crosswords, it's time for a very bloody episode of Cluedunnit! Jessica gets all suspicious of Will Shortz, and Jacob takes not one, not two, but three stabs at guessing who did it. Will he get it right this time? Or will he pack it all in to become a super-fan of “Murder Flip”?  We watched season 7, episode 6 of “Bones,” entitled “The Crack in the Code.” We streamed it on Hulu.  Join the fun and tell us your guesses online at:  Twitter: @cluedunnit   Facebook: @cluedunnitpodcast   Instagram: @cluedunnitpodcast 

The Montana winter isn't the only thing ice-cold and unrelenting in God's Country, directed by newcomer Julian Higgins and starring Thandiwe Newton. We've got Vulture's TV critic and film writer Roxana Hadadi along to unpack all that this indie is bringing us. (Btw, today's conversation is relatively spoiler-free.)Then we'll play a word quiz inspired by the title of this week's movie.What's GoodAlonso - Hallmark's upcoming slate, especially The Holiday SitterDrea - Kitchen deep cleanRoxana - newly planted White Oak treeITIDICTom Hardy Quietly Entered a Local Martial Arts Tournament Last WeekJon Hamm Gave Back Over Half His Salary to Extend Confess, Fletch Shoot Saoirse Ronan will lead the cast of Steve McQueen's upcoming World War II MovieRead the short story Winter LightSound of Metal is out on Criterion with an intro essay by Roxana HadadiStaff PicksDrea - Athena (2022)Alonso - Benediction (2022)Roxana - Athena and The Battle of Algiers (1966)SoylentGo to Soylent.com/maxfilm and use promo code MAXFILM to get 20% OFF your first order.With:Alonso DuraldeDrea ClarkRoxana HadadiProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

There were SCADS of good clues in this crossword, and AUGHT bad ones - thanks to the efforts of constructor Colin Ernst (aided and abetted, undoubtedly, by Will Shortz). A few old friends dropped in - 63A, Indian tea region, ASSAM; 22A, Shakespearean schemer, IAGO. who, blessed with 3 vowels and a G, has managed to worm his way into a NYTimes crossword  grid a total of 408 times,  including 5 this year!; and of course, what appears to be the official cheese of the NYTimes crossword, 26A, Mild yellow cheese, EDAM, yum! 

Sam Koperas and Jeff Chen provide a master class in crisp crossword clues, with numerous LOL examples. There are too many to list here, but trust us (better yet, download the podcast and listen to us!) -- the grid is bursting to the seams with 'em. It definitely pegs the scale on the JAMCRmeter (that's Jean And Mike Crossword Rating meter), kudos to both constructors (and Will Shortz, it goes without saying but we just did anyway).

A. J. Jacobs, journalist, NPR contributor, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, Thanks a Thousand, It's All Relative and his latest The Puzzler: One Man's Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life (Crown, 2022), talks about his new book that tries to puzzle out why we like puzzles and what they do for us. →A.J. Jacobs will be at 92nd Street Y tonight in conversation with Will Shortz, the crossword editor at the New York Times, at 7:30. In-person or online ticket info here.

On today's episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben talk about the difference between a dialect and a language as they revisit a prior conversation about Ukraine. They also interview Will Shortz, crossword puzzle editor at the New York Times, about how he got into the world of puzzles. And finally, our hosts are in the hot seat for a wordplay quiz set by the puzzle master himself. You don't want to miss this! You could win a year's membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com.   Produced by Jasmine Ellis.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Cambridge Language Surveys, “The Slavic Languages” (including Russian, Ukrainian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian)  Phillip M. Carter, “Long before shots were fired, a linguistic power struggle was playing out in Ukraine” Information on the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (April 1-3)  Register here for the ACPT's non-competitive virtual event   Ben's article on how Stephen Sondheim popularized cryptic crosswords in the U.S.  Ben, Nicole, and Will compete in Webster's War of the Words, a fundraiser for the Noah Webster House Subscribe to Slate Plus. It's only $1 for the first month. To learn more, go to slate.com/spectacularplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben talk about the difference between a dialect and a language as they revisit a prior conversation about Ukraine. They also interview Will Shortz, crossword puzzle editor at the New York Times, about how he got into the world of puzzles. And finally, our hosts are in the hot seat for a wordplay quiz set by the puzzle master himself. You don't want to miss this! You could win a year's membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com.   Produced by Jasmine Ellis.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Cambridge Language Surveys, “The Slavic Languages” (including Russian, Ukrainian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian)  Phillip M. Carter, “Long before shots were fired, a linguistic power struggle was playing out in Ukraine” Information on the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (April 1-3)  Register here for the ACPT's non-competitive virtual event   Ben's article on how Stephen Sondheim popularized cryptic crosswords in the U.S.  Ben, Nicole, and Will compete in Webster's War of the Words, a fundraiser for the Noah Webster House Subscribe to Slate Plus. It's only $1 for the first month. To learn more, go to slate.com/spectacularplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 14-letter phrase for a trivia podcast: It's a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!Jaret Reddick is best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the band Bowling for Soup. Between his band and the theme song for  “Phineas & Ferb,” his music has been a fixture for children -- but so has his iconic role as the voice of Chuck E. Cheese. You can hear more of Jaret's voice in his podcasts “Jaret Goes to the Movies'' and “Rockstar Dad.”Jaret's opponent is Time magazine journalist Molly Ball. She's known for her political scoops and her book about Nancy Pelosi, but Molly got involved in covering politics almost entirely by accident. Plus, she'll tell us about what it was like to win big money on the show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”Our guests will answer trivia about comedy, crosswords, scents and censorship!What's the Difference: Something Stinks!What's the difference between a scent and an odor?What's the difference between “instinctive” and “instinctual”?Areas of Expertise:Jaret: John Hughes movies, The band Mötley Crüe, and comedian George Carlin.Molly: Crossword puzzles, The life and works of the American poet James Merrill, and The 1990s Colorado Rockies baseball team.Appearing in this episode:J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongJaret ReddickMolly BallWith guest experts:Kelly Carlin, writer, performer, producer and radio host and author of the book A Carlin Home Companion,Will Shortz, founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament andPuzzle Editor of the New York Times since 1993.Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Vaccine-getting by YOU.