Fill Me In

This week, Ryan challenges the equity of Kealoa AND knows something about soup, all of which puts Brian into a rather grumpy mood. It's either a week of frustration and mediocrity, or of eggs and chi…

Friends, viewers, countrymen, loan us your ears? Ryan and Brian take turns in two different quizzing hot seats and a surprise audio segment includes MLB predictions and new developments in breakfast …

January! Again! Ryan's back for a Kealoa he wishes he could avoid, and Ben Zimmer returns with a Word of the Year recap. There's some saucy language (courtesy of the WOTY content), so let this be you…

Happy New Year! To celebrate, Ryan has gone AWOL, so we're delighted to bring Ben Zimmer back into the studio. We've got announcements and teasers and puzzles and Lingo and ... does anyone have a Heb…

This week, Ryan and Brian learn more about a very specific librarian (boy oh boy is this amazing!), investigate Oz-adjacent cinema, and take a lesson in musical modality with a new spin on Kealoa.

I…

This week, Ryan and Brian rank desserts, learn about The Waldos, and (at the time of recording) know more about Pablo Picasso than Shohei Ohtani. There's also a fascinating Shcrödinger puzzle from I…

This week, Ryan and Brian remember the Oscars, are riddle-color blind, and have questions about beer. If you feel the same way, vote aye (or yea). There's also a brilliant contest sudoku from Jaime S…

This week, Ryan and Brian bicker about soup, banter about a sign in Florida, and dig into a fresh Kealoa like the good little nerdy geeks they are. They also say Paul McCartney's name nine times (sor…

This week, Ryan and Brian don't know the size of a trilobite, the origin of a certain pasta dish, the difference between Sharon Stone and Madonna, nor what they're doing in the C Rundle, but Decker M…

This week, Ryan and Brian talk crosswordese in great detail with David Bukszpan, author of "Crosswordese," a brand new book taking a deep dive into the vocabulary you all write into grids each and ev…

This week, Ryan and Brian revisit non-related sauces and homeowner miseries, and everything Brian thought he knew about Sweeney Todd is apparently meaningless. PSA: No matter what the kids say, candy…

This week, Brian actually IS in the episode (and so is Ryan) -- and so are special guests Shannon Rapp (tnifbtpar) and Will Eisenberg to talk about their recent contest puzzle, Paul McCartney, and br…

This week, Ryan reports on Back to the Future (the musical), attempts multiple foreign languages, and bemoans the Dodgers. Also, Brian is present for the episode. All that plus a Contest of Still Go…

This week, Ryan is at ComiCon, so Ben Zimmer sails through to join Brian in talks of gridspotting, baseball+word nerdery, and potential new FMI clubs. All that plus a new Contest of Now, courtesy of…

This week, Ryan and Brian learn a bit about Drake's Drum and a tad about Clayton Kershaw, and present a Harvest Round like nothing you've ever heard. Because it's never been a thing. Also, Peter Gord…

This week, the geniuses behind Lemonade Disco – Taylor Johnson, Steve Mossberg, and Shannon Rapp – visit the studio to discuss their efforts in puzzles, publishing, and punctually putting out prompte…

This week, Francis Heaney and Scott Weiss stop by to discuss escape rooms, logic puzzles, and their fantastic new book, "Escape Room Logic Puzzles." Also: Ryan looks for redemption in a new Kealoa th…

This week, Ryan is back in spite of his overwhelming TikTok fame, and rejoins Brian for an episode like literally every other – musicals, baseball, some crosswords, and a somewhat disappointing Kealo…

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 …

This week, Ryan and Brian welcome Jim Horne back to the show. Jim created XWordInfo.com, and now with major changes happening, shares his perspectives, stories, and highlights. And for a bit of nosta…