Fill Me In

This week, Ryan and Brian reflect on hot sauce, explore the various ELIs in crosswords, and learn that knickers are not socks. There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.l…

This week, we get a visit from the Barnacle where we learn some new words and word origins, all courtesy of Ben Zimmer's signature linguistic brilliance. Also included: a supervocalic or two, a thund…

This week, we delve a bit deeper into old puzzles, learn how to pronounce a name, read old poetry, and attempt to sort out seals and spiders. There's a contest crossword, which you can download at ht…

This week, we revisit a puzzle from 1953, introduce two new clubs, and get a surprise on-the-street interview with Tyler Hinman whilst eating pizza. There's a new contest crossword, which you can dow…

This week, Brian is in Maine and Ryan still can't sell Wingspan. Also: other word games, the history of AREA, a personal P&A challenge, and a new club! There's a contest crossword, which you can down…

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss the history of ERA clues, talk through the past week of NYT crosswords, and announce one or two details about Lollapuzzoola 14. There's a new contest crossword, whic…

This week, Ryan and Brian blast to the past and revisit some older puzzles to see how they've held up over time. In current events, there's still a contest crossword, which you can download at https:…

This week, Ryan and Brian open with puzzles, talk about puzzles, and actually it's all quite surprising the amount of proper puzzle content. It's almost like 299 episodes in, they figured out what to…

"Explicit," you say? This week, Ben Zimmer (aka "The Barnacle") stops by to talk about a bunch of dirty words! Ryan expresses his love for Sinead O'Connor, Brian is scared of financial risk, and the …

This week, Ryan and Brian talk about ass (no, actually, like the ways it's been clued in puzzles), read a selection from a relatively old play (also actually, yes), and take great joy in being (not a…

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss at least five musicals, one obsolete baseball player, and whether you like it or not, a sandwich. Also, Oracle II: Return of the Oracle! There's a contest crossword,…

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss the serenity of board games, the genius of Jack Lemmon, and the quality of celery. There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi295con…

Brian has returned from the UNDERWATERTOILET (16)! This week, Ryan and Brian talk about raisins, tough blogs, and other things that are better than Split Decisions. There's a contest crossword, which…

Other than Brian sounding like he recorded this episode from an underwater toilet (he didn't, but sorry for the audio quality), we've got a great show this week – post-ACPT conversations with champio…

Wait, didn't you specifically ask for a nearly 2-hour episode for the ACPT weekend? Well, too bad - we're giving you one anyway. Highlight: 48 minutes with Ben Zimmer. Lowlight: Probably the rest. Th…

This week, Ryan and Brian question fictional alter egos, disagree on a puzzle theme, and reach a conclusion about hot dogs. There's a contest crossword (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi290con…

This week, Ryan and Brian feel super old, don't understand bean memes, and fail to pronounce names accurately. There's a new contest crossword (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi290con), and yo…

This week, Brian screws up his microphone input (sorry, viewers), and it almost sounds as bad as the first series of the show, ca. 2009. Also: a new grid from Sid, a new song from a-ha, and a new wor…

This week, Brian and Ryan strategize how to get fried chicken into what is allegedly a no-chicken zone in California, spend more time than usual talking about crosswords (hello, super long episode), …

This week, Brian and Ryan campaign to join apocalyptic survival teams, argue about the powers imbued in Mjölnir, and learn a little bit about the Montreal Expos. There's a contest crossword (you can …