Fill Me In

Latest Episodes:

Fill Me In #497: Most of what I know about Iowa I learned from "The Music Man." Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan is on vacation, so Ben Zimmer saves the day and joins Brian with renewed excitement over the National Spelling Bee, the National Puzzlers' League, and the National League East-leading Mets. Also: follow-up news on the 2025 Tonys Anti-Match Quiz, as well as several upcoming puzzle get-togethers (Westwords, SPAMcon, Boswords, and Lollapuzzoola)!

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

Fill Me In #496: My Great Struggle Keeps Hope. Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

This week, Claire, the kids, and I learn more about hot lead in the New York Times, the Pope in the mini crossword, and Phil Silvers musicals in the 1950s.

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 #495: Ox, but more fancy-like. Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian learn something new about the newspaper, reminisce about body-swap films, and aim to put the ASS into this first clASS podcast.

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 #494: Unpleasant icing on the challenging cake. May 27, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian have not watched NCIS (well, not both of them), not watched Susunu! Denpa Shōnen (not either of them), and have not critically reviewed ramen from overseas (but someone else has).

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 #493: Nothing morbid about Boop. May 20, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian have no Pope news! Instead, it's baseball (shocking), musicals (also shocking), and arrogant opinions (you've probably turned it off by now). Sorry -- we don't mean to yuck your yum. You might have better luck with Ryan's other podcast, Adventures Assemble.

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 #492: The pre-Pope life of Popes. May 13, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian examine the balance between good and bad, the origin of names they already know, and the demographics of the average NCIS episode. Check out Scott Weiss's new Anti-Match Quiz, and be sure to subscribe to Ryan's other podcast, Adventures Assemble.

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 #491: Thursday America, Friday Japan. May 06, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian rank people and fruit, try to remember Snoopy's friends, and travel west by a continent or two for a special request Kealoa.

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 #490: Not everything is for everybody. Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan is a little less sick but still just as much in Japan. He's visited both Tokyo and Kyoto, which you'd think would come in handy a little later in the show. Otherwise, Brian and Ryan deal with typos, horse races, more coughing than we'd like, and multiple spellings of "wolf."

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 #489: This is gonna be a corker. Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan is both sick and in Japan -- and he still shows up for a fresh episode. (Brian is neither sick nor away from home, so his contributions are adequate and predictable. Derbies, Verdugos, and (hopefully not vulgar) stories about bathrooms. Also, check out Ryan's other podcast, Adventures Assemble, available here, and anywhere else you find podcasts.

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 #488: Bob Cobb and Herbie Derby. Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ryan and Brian learn about crossing the street, what may or may not be in a salad, and raise questions about hats and horses. Bon voyage to Ryan as he departs soon for his favorite Asium -- follow his new podcast, Adventures Assemble, available here, and anywhere else you find podcasts.

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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