Fill Me In

This week, Ryan and Brian's interview studio is graced by the great Ben Zimmer! Known to much of world as a renowned linguist, lexicographer, and language columnist for the Wall Street Journal (among…

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss Avengers, Dole Whip, and learn a ton about cryptic crosswords courtesy of a great conversation with Neville Fogarty! There's a new Contest of Now (PDF only this time…

This week, Ryan and Brian take a dive into a bowl of soup with Learned League 1-Day Special champion (and New Yorker food writer) Helen Rosner! Laura Braunstein (who co-smithed the LL quiz with Brian…

This week, Ryan and Brian welcome indie crossword legend Sid Sivakumar to the show for a conversation about indie vs. mainstream, representation, and the art of crosswords. There's a brand new contes…

This week, Ryan and Brian spend an inordinate amount of time being amazed at other people's skills and accomplishments, and almost completely forget to talk about crosswords. There's still a Contest …

This week, Ryan and Brian welcome special guest Robyn Weintraub to the show! In addition to the celebrity interview, we have a new Contest of Now (download it here), and we invite you to our Twitch s…

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss road atlases, scary numbers, and someone lets a four-letter word slip. We left it in just so we could mark this episode "explicit." The Contest of Still Going On is …

This week, Ryan and Brian learn about the days of the week, the months of the year, and develop a fresh fascination for the Jew's harp. There's a brand new Contest of Now (free crossword!), and you s…

This week, Ryan and Brian learn of more sources for cryptic crosswords, more activities to do online with others, and how many more puzzles Brian is trying to finish from 2019. The Contest of Still G…

This week, Ryan and Brian learn why "Lost" was allegedy good, why alto horn is a legit instrument, and why we should know the name Ximenes. There's a brand new Contest of Now (get it here), and join …

This week, Ryan and Brian attempt to stay connected to the outside world, spend an inordinate amount of time talking about cryptics without actually doing any, and imagine a world in which they might…

This week, Ryan and Brian recap the joy of #couchword, propose an oracle podcast, and can't pronounce a crossword luminary's name. All that, plus a brand new contest puzzle JUST FOR YOU!

• Crossword …

This week, Ryan and Brian (like the rest of you, most likely), can't quite deal with reality ... so we made another podcast. At the very least, it's 71 minutes that you won't spend feeling stressed a…

This week, Ryan and Brian attempt to begin a variety cryptic, learn about crosswordese in the wild, and present a brand new contest crossword, which is available here. You have to listen to the show …

This week, Ryan and Brian finish a cryptic, learn more about the Barnacle's family, and connect with a real life member of professional baseball. The Contest of Still Going On is still going on, so g…

This week, Ryan and Brian welcome a new club, announce an upcoming tournament, and someone actually solved the last contest. There's a new contest puzzle this week, so grab it now. You have to listen…

This week, Ryan and Brian talk cryptics, number puzzles, and the New York Times Spelling Bee – and you'll be lucky if any of it came out right, thanks to some shoddy internet service in California. E…

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss dental work, review the Oscars, take baby steps in a P&A Magazine, and debate whether Brian is forgettable. We've got a brand new Contest of Now, which can be found …

This week, Ryan and Brian talk make brief reference to the Super Bowl, commit to a Panda Magazine, and don't understand kids' games. We continue last week's contest (now the Contest of Still Going On…

This week, Ryan and Brian talk cryptics, metas, Cheez-Its, a mostly-good #NYTXW week, and a very special Contest of Now that you have to download (hint: it's a crossword puzzle).

Other links:

• Peter …