Fill Me In

Latest Episodes:

Fill Me In #357: The best conspiracies have a grain of truth in them. Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

This week, the Fill Me In studio is invaded by barnacles! Or actually, just one barnacle -- THE Barnacle, a.k.a. Ben Zimmer, linguist to the stars. There's still some baseball and sandwich talk, but it's word-related, so stick around for that.

Also in the news:

Lollapuzzoola, the greatest crossword puzzle tournament ever held annually on a Saturday in August!
Hayley Gold & friends are doing a Twitch stream on Thursday, August 18 at 9pm Eastern
Ben Zimmer's "sunsetted" podcast, Spectacular Vernacular, is still available online. Also available, his new video content with Wired

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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, movies, musicals, mystery, oscar, pizza, puzzle, puzzles, soup, trivia, words

Fill Me In #356: They once will have bumped. Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

This week, two randos wander into the studio and start talking like they're running a tournament or something. Oh wait, it's just Brooke and Sid here to talk about Lollapuzzoola, the greatest crossword puzzle tournament ever held annually on a Saturday in August!

In today's show, we announce the tournament theme, the list of constructors, and share news about some of the bonus content. Keep up with Lollapuzzoola via Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

If you get bored, 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 / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #355: I think it's disgusting, but it's the only way she eats 'em. Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

This week, Ryan records without a microphone, opens the Viewer Mail bag without snapping, and essentially ad libs the entire show without a script. All that plus a contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/g4pvk5sqfsl9qoh/fmi354con.puz?dl=1

Also - sign up for Lollapuzzoola, the greatest crossword puzzle tournament ever held annually on a Saturday in August.

If you get bored, 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 / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #354: People could just pin a beard straight onto my face. Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian seek value in Taylor Swift, Usain Bolt, Bojack Horseman, and the musical Wicked, and struggle pronouncing words like "restaurant" and "comfortable." All that plus a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/g4pvk5sqfsl9qoh/fmi354con.puz?dl=1

Stuff to click:

Lollapuzzoola! Coming to NYC or your computer on August 27
Daily Crossword Links (because it's waaay better than a repository)
People we mentioned on the show who make puzzles: Lila Goldenberg, Steve Mossberg, Paolo Pasco (the latest post features Chandi Deitmer, also mentioned on today's episode!), Brooke Husic, Laura Braunstein, Adam Aaronson, Rachel Fabi, Shannon Rapp, Ross Trudeau

If you get bored, 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 / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #353: Why not Marco Polo, Alan Arbesfeld? Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian read some Viewer Mail poetry, separate the good (puzzle) from the bad (website) with the #NYTXW, and SEE what they can SEE. All that plus a contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/as5w921fkvdhfxx/fmi352con.puz?dl=1

Stuff to click:

Lollapuzzoola! Coming to NYC or your computer on August 27
These Puzzles Fund Abortion (always a worthy donation)
Daily Crossword Links (because it's waaay better than a repository)
Brian Gubin's website, including his Taylor Swift tribute puzzle

If you get bored, 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 / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #352: A piper's age. Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian go APE, marvel at a thrilling Saturday puzzle, and duplicate each other's brilliance in under three minutes. All that plus a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/as5w921fkvdhfxx/fmi352con.puz?dl=1

Stuff to click:

These Puzzles Fund Abortion (always a worthy donation)
Daily Crossword Links (because it's waaay better than a repository)
Will Nediger and Hayley Gold Twitch-streaming some cryptics (7/13 de Cuevas; 8/18 Sondheim)

If you get bored, 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 / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #351: I cannot multitask the acceptance of stimuli. Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian get lost in musicals and movies (though not musical movies), and finally interrupt the uselessness with a Thunder Round on the past week of AVCX puzzles! Included are works by Rachel Fabi, Soleil Saint-Cyr, Billy Bratton, Erich Bratton, Jenna LaFleur, and Ada Nicolle. All that plus a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/vnfa2lz1gjxh27d/fmi351con.puz?dl=1

Stuff to click:

If you get bored, 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 / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #350: I can demolish a challenge just like that carpet can demolish Deb. Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

We are utterly ecstatic to welcome a special guest interview this week with the one and only Shannon Rapp (a.k.a Norah Sharpe)! Shannon brings news of the St. Louis Crossword Tournament (#stlxwt), a look at her work with the #avcx universe, and it only takes Brian about ten tries to get the name of her website right (correct link below). Standard conversations about musical theater have been replaced this week by a meowing two-year-old at the movies, and we'll end the paragraph by apologizing for Ryan's distorted microphone (which we'll try to fix before next week). All that plus a contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/06lgyxcyz0byf4w/fmi349con.puz?dl=1

Stuff to click:

If you get bored, 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 / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #349: The amount of rowdy that is too rowdy is any amount of rowdy. Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

After a week of vacation and a week of illness, Ryan Hecht is back in the studio, and to celebrate his return, he and Brian talk about musical theater way too much. Not sure why. There's also broken headphones, too much dancing, and a semi-rapid-fire thunder round, especially as the clock winds down. All that plus a brand new contest, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/06lgyxcyz0byf4w/fmi349con.puz?dl=1

If you get bored, 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 / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #348: An abundance of 7-letter musicals. May 31, 2022

Show notes

This week, it's a double dose of Syracuse hosts as Rachel Fabi joins Brian on the show. They explore XW Stats, a fantastic new site all about individual statistics on the #NYTXW, ponder the difference between a die hard fan and a "Die Hard" fan, and dig into a Thunder Round from this past week of puzzles. All that plus a brand new contest, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/l8zcpelz1srsgba/fmi348con.puz?dl=1

Stuff to click: