Fill Me In

Latest Episodes:

Fill Me In #277: This imagined opponent who claims that it's a triple decker. Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian welcome guest author and crossword maker Milo Beckman to the show to talk about his new book, "Math Without Numbers." Milo graciously entertains the Great Decker Debate, though it's clear no one warned him that the topic of sandwiches might come up. We also have a new contest puzzle by Brian Gubin (you can download it at (https://bit.ly/fmi277con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Stuff to click:

"Math Without Numbers" via Penguin Random House
Milo Beckman, via website and Twitter
Artist M Erazo
The Browser (and its new cryptic crossword subscription)

If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki.

And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon.

Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please consider leaving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. This will help new listeners find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club.

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

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 #276: You just put an omelet on the pile. Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian count down the best of 2020, and reflect on all the positive things the past year has brought them. We also have a contest puzzle (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi275con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Stuff to click:

Some of our favorites from 2020:
Matt Gritzmacher's Daily Crossword Links
Half-Baked Puzzles
American Values Club Crossword
Rossword Puzzles
Evan Birnholz's latest Washington Post puzzle (PDF)

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #275: Are you happy or are you frustrated? Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian have the great privilege of talking crosswords and more with the illustrious Brooke Husic! We also have a new contest puzzle (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi275con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Stuff to click:

Brooke Husic's crossword blog: xwords by a ladee and Twitter feed @xandraladee
Article about FSU and the Seminole tribe
Desert Bus (8 hours of driving in a video game)
Women of Letters (the crossword collection)

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #274: We are not to be trusted. Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss cancel culture, the Cleveland Spiders, and Japanese onomatopoeia. We have a currently impossible contest puzzle (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi273con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Lots of stuff to click this week!

Advent of Code - and join our leaderboard with code 1292270-d88e4b58
Fireball Newsflash Crosswords
American Dialect Society's Word of the Year Livestream
ComedyCrosswords.com
Datalexic.com (Enrique Henestroza Anguiano)
SidsGrids.com (Sid Sivakumar)
Xwords By A Ladee (Brooke Husic)

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #273: Don't repeat a clue. Dec 08, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss clue-writing, ketchup (catsup), and talk about a new book, "So to Speak" (@sotospeakbook). There's a new contest puzzle (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi273con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Stuff to click:

So to Speak: 11,000 Expressions That'll Knock Your Socks Off
Two puzzly posts from Lawrence Denes
CrossWorthy.net
Home for the Holidays, the show Brian is doing with Syracuse Stage

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #272: A secretary for someone else's solution. Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian talk turkey, amaze at aeronautics, and banter 'bout buttcheeks. Yup. There's a Contest of Still Going On (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi271con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Stuff to click:

The DaroCaro Pixar Puzzle Hunt starts on December 4. Join our team!
Find us on Slack, especially to talk turkey about the Pixar hunt, and any other group events we put together. https://bit.ly/fmislack
Scott Weiss's Anti-Match Quiz, Grammys 2021 Edition
Dani Siller's Audio Escape Room (more info on squonkland.net)
"My Journey to the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament"
Puzzles That Need a Home (Brian Thomas)
Brain Candy (Amanda Rafkin)

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #271: It's where money intersects pounds. Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

This week, R&B talk puzzles, representation, and inclusivity with Michelle McGhee, author of "Who's In the Crossword?" (pudding.cool/2020/11/crossword). We have a new contest puzzle (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi271con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Stuff to click:

The DaroCaro Pixar Puzzle Hunt starts on December 4. Join our team!
Find us on Slack, especially to talk turkey about the Pixar hunt, and any other group events we put together. https://bit.ly/fmislack
William Safire orders two Whoppers Junior

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #270: "Style" without the S; "Rattle" without the attle. Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian argue about pluralization, (re)learn about clams, and struggle with moral quandaries. Our biweekly contest is still running (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi269con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Bonus Material!

Do you want to hunt for Sid Sivakumar? He's hiding somewhere. Listen to this (and to part of this episode) for an extra contest.
Have you looked at Beyond Wordplay? You should. There's another contest crossword there as well, and it's awesome.

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #269: Screwery is a beer from Croatia. Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian wax nostalgic about ACTPs gone by, play a round of the 12-guess movie game, and wonder where Sid is. There's a new contest crossword (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi269con), you're invited to join our Puzzle Boat (https://bit.ly/fmiSLACK), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

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
RSS feed: http://bemoresmarter.libsyn.com/rss
Contact us: Email (fmi@bemoresmarter.com) / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Google Voice (315-510-9892)

Fill Me In #268: Welcome to reality. Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

VOTE.

This week, Ryan and Brian are confronted by a potential undercover operative and also launch a boat. There's another week left on our current contest (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi266con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Things 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: