Episode notes
Sometimes you read something that makes you throw the book against the wall, never to pick it up again.
Podcast
You're Saying It Wrong
From KMUW Studios and part of the NPR Podcast Network, You're Saying It Wrong is a podcast that looks at what we get wrong—and what we sometimes get right—when it comes to this English language. Hosted by KMUW's Fletcher Powell, each episode features a conversation with the sister and brother who wr
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3 Oct 2026 · 30 min
Insults 2: Return of the Clunch
We continue our look into the etymologies of various (mild) insults, including the origins of rube, bum, schmuck, and dweeb. (You're none of these things, don't worry, we love you.)
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26 Sep 2026 · 35 min
Insults: The Blah-Blahs Are at the Gate
We look at the etymologies of various insults throughout history, including the origins of barbarian, brat, dunce, and fool.
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19 Sep 2026 · 37 min
Sh-sh-sh-shibboleths
Be careful how you say these words! It could be a matter of life and death.
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12 Sep 2026 · 36 min
Toponymy!
Hydronyms, dromonyms… toponyms! (Place names. We’re talking about place names.)
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5 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Yep, still different
We gaze again into the ocean of difference between American English and British English.
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22 Aug 2026 · 29 min
Canadian English [ENCORE]
We've tackled the differences between American and British English, but let's not forget Canadians also have a language of their own.
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15 Aug 2026 · 39 min
Back to School!
Kathy and Ross throw Fletcher a devil of a grammar quiz as we all get set for back-to-school season.
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8 Aug 2026 · 33 min
Mailbag Day!
We answer some of your most burning questions as we take a dip into the ol' mailbag.
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1 Aug 2026 · 33 min
An (ahem) Odyssey Through Ancient Greek
For no reason whatsoever, we look at some words that come from Homer's famous tale and Ancient Greek more generally.
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25 Jul 2026 · 29 min
It's Summertime, and the Etymology is... Questionable [ENCORE]
We'll look at the surprising origins of some common summer-related words, phrases, and idioms.
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