Fill Me In

Latest Episodes:

Fill Me In #467: As the tub gets emptier, the diction falters. Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

It's Round Two (the round of 32) of Ryan's Middle Name -- vote AGAIN in the bracket (and see the previous round's scores here). This week, Ryan and Brian do some non-NYT puzzles in the Thunder Round, so solve them if you haven't:

Sat. 9/28/24 Spyscape ("Bridge of Spies") by Shannon Rapp and Will Eisenberg (online link)
Tues. 10/8/24 Universal by Shmuel Schmell (PUZ link)
Wed. 10/9/24 Vulture ("With a Twist") by J. Smith-Cameron, Kate Hawkins, and Rachel Fabi (online link)
Wed. 10/23/24 AVCX ("Down the Drain") by Rebecca Goldstein (free trial subscription available)
Fri. 11/1/24 People ("Thanks for the Memories") by Robyn Weintraub (online link)
Fri. 11/8/24 Slate by Ben Zimmer (online link)

And there's also a Contest of Still Going On, available at https://bemoresmarter.com/contest

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.

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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

Fill Me In #466: The Mongol Empire is known for its sentiment. Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian get Viewer Mail from Alex Verdugo, a Little Known Fact from Matthew Gritzmacher, and launch the Official Ryan's Middle Name Bracket. There's also a new Contest of Now, available at https://bemoresmarter.com/contest

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.

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

Fill Me In #465: Maybe they greased up their rooves. Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian encounter a spicy meatball, try (and fail) to understand how multiverses work, and envision a Punnett square combining baseball and government.

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.

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

Fill Me In #464: The worst Hanukkah prayer. Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian argue about what is and is not meat, try to remember movies they may have never seen, and learn exactly what's exciting enough for Brian's personal Mount Rushmore. There's also a new Contest of Now, available at bemoresmarter.com/contest.

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.

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

Fill Me In #463: Solve a crossword and remain a pagan. Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian enjoy frothy beverages whilst podding, examine the peculiar lyrics of "Pippin," and try out a not-particularly-thrilling variation on Kealoa. Solve our current contest puzzle at bemoresmarter.com/contest.

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.

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

Fill Me In #462: So I have to fatten up my foot. Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian bring two new challenges to the table, one you should try and one you should not. They are a new Contest of Now (at bemoresmarter.com/contest) and the notion of mixing beer and milk. You decide which we endorse. Also: how many Fleet Streets, how many spellings of Zihuatanejo, and how many middle names is Ryan allowed to veto?

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.

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

Fill Me In #461: Intense and very a lot. Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

It's the return of many things: crosswords in real life, the ground level club of indeterminate length, references to Episode #442, the long lost FMI musical, and best of all, cohost Ryan Zwickel Hecht! (Also, solve our Contest of Still Going On at bemoresmarter.com/contest)

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.

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

Fill Me In #460: The Zimmerzine Teaser Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

Ryan is away this week so once again, Brian is joined by The Great and Powerful Barnacle, Ben Zimmer! Topics include baseball nightmares, rhyming word etymology, #rip Googlewhacks, and a brand new Contest of Now at bemoresmarter.com/contest

Stuff to click:

Ben's new newsletter at https://buttondown.com/benzimmer
Ben's old "From A to Zimmer" post on hapax legomenon
Ben's passion project, The Crossword Craze

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.

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

Fill Me In #459: Everything since then has been a gradual retreat. Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

Front runners are beginning to emerge in the "pick Ryan's middle name" game, but is the voting secure? This week, Ryan and Brian yak about Bangor, the rising number of Raising Cane's, and whether or not names like Cottontail, Intriligator, and Wecht are real. Sounds like a bunch of tittle-tattle.

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.

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

Fill Me In #458: If stubborn foolishness wins out. Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

Season Ten! Sounds exciting, no? Well, if you know the show then you know exactly how exciting it is. This week's topics: Wilbur, chicken, more chicken, Kealoa, Greek phrases, middle names, a contest puzzle, a Thunder Round, some glitchy Zoom, and a big shout out and thank you to our loving and dear Patreon supporters. Also: buy the Lollapuzzoola set if you haven't yet!

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.

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

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