The Allusionist
@allusionistshow.bsky.social
Podcast of adventures in language with @helenzaltzman. theallusionist.org patreon.com/allusionist
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Allusionist 223. Bonus 2025 — The Allusionist
MP3 • APPLE PODCASTS • RSS • GOOGLE • POCKETCASTS • TRANSCRIPT It's the annual parade of bonus bits ! Every year, the show's guests say too many inte...
theallusionist.org
there's a new episode in your podfeed! Featuring dino gobs, feminist cookbooks, and swear school, with @aketchum22.bsky.social, @martinaustwick.bsky.social, @suchmayer.bsky.social, #HannahMcGregor, #KellyElizabethWright and @mixedlinguist.bsky.social theallusionist.org/bonus2025
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Me ranting about pronouns, why it's ok to make a mistake & how to ask for help.
there's a new episode in your podfeed! Featuring dino gobs, feminist cookbooks, and swear school, with @aketchum22.bsky.social, @martinaustwick.bsky.social, @suchmayer.bsky.social, #HannahMcGregor, #KellyElizabethWright and @mixedlinguist.bsky.social theallusionist.org/bonus2025
Allusionist 223. Bonus 2025 — The Allusionist
MP3 • APPLE PODCASTS • RSS • GOOGLE • POCKETCASTS • TRANSCRIPT It's the annual parade of bonus bits ! Every year, the show's guests say too many inte...
theallusionist.org
January 22, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Me ranting about pronouns, why it's ok to make a mistake & how to ask for help.
there's a new episode in your podfeed! Featuring dino gobs, feminist cookbooks, and swear school, with @aketchum22.bsky.social, @martinaustwick.bsky.social, @suchmayer.bsky.social, #HannahMcGregor, #KellyElizabethWright and @mixedlinguist.bsky.social theallusionist.org/bonus2025
Allusionist 223. Bonus 2025 — The Allusionist
MP3 • APPLE PODCASTS • RSS • GOOGLE • POCKETCASTS • TRANSCRIPT It's the annual parade of bonus bits ! Every year, the show's guests say too many inte...
theallusionist.org
January 22, 2026 at 12:57 AM
there's a new episode in your podfeed! Featuring dino gobs, feminist cookbooks, and swear school, with @aketchum22.bsky.social, @martinaustwick.bsky.social, @suchmayer.bsky.social, #HannahMcGregor, #KellyElizabethWright and @mixedlinguist.bsky.social theallusionist.org/bonus2025
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Today is @allusionistshow.bsky.social's eleventh birthday! Happy birthday, show! My voice has returned sufficiently so there'll be a new episode this week, and there are 200+ not-new ones at theallusionist.org to catch up on if this is your first time hearing that this podcast exists
The Allusionist
Episodes of The Allusionist
theallusionist.org
January 14, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Today is @allusionistshow.bsky.social's eleventh birthday! Happy birthday, show! My voice has returned sufficiently so there'll be a new episode this week, and there are 200+ not-new ones at theallusionist.org to catch up on if this is your first time hearing that this podcast exists
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Welp, laryngitis has compelled me to postpone the last episode of the year (and also AMT) to 2026. But now is a fine time to listen to some Festivelusionists, which are gathered in a playlist at theallusionist.org/festivelusionist
Festivelusionists — The Allusionist
'Tis the season for the festive Allusionists! Here’s your playlist of episodes from the back catalogue, which are all also available in your podcast app, of course: A Christmas Carol I read the ...
theallusionist.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Welp, laryngitis has compelled me to postpone the last episode of the year (and also AMT) to 2026. But now is a fine time to listen to some Festivelusionists, which are gathered in a playlist at theallusionist.org/festivelusionist
Welp, laryngitis has compelled me to postpone the last episode of the year (and also AMT) to 2026. But now is a fine time to listen to some Festivelusionists, which are gathered in a playlist at theallusionist.org/festivelusionist
Festivelusionists — The Allusionist
'Tis the season for the festive Allusionists! Here’s your playlist of episodes from the back catalogue, which are all also available in your podcast app, of course: A Christmas Carol I read the ...
theallusionist.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Welp, laryngitis has compelled me to postpone the last episode of the year (and also AMT) to 2026. But now is a fine time to listen to some Festivelusionists, which are gathered in a playlist at theallusionist.org/festivelusionist
Reposted by The Allusionist
8. @allusionistshow.bsky.social reading the whole of A Christmas Carol with music and sfx by @martinaustwick.bsky.social is a festive delight. Well worth 2 and a bit hours of your time www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Allusionist 222. A Christmas Carol — The Allusionist
Today, we read the novelisation of The Muppet Christmas Carol , also known as the 1843 festive lit hit A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
www.theallusionist.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
8. @allusionistshow.bsky.social reading the whole of A Christmas Carol with music and sfx by @martinaustwick.bsky.social is a festive delight. Well worth 2 and a bit hours of your time www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Reposted by The Allusionist
Did you guys know they made a book out of that really good Muppet movie?
New episode in your podfeed: I read all of A Christmas Carol, with musical backing from @martinaustwick.bsky.social. It’s a banger! theallusionist.org/christmascarol
Allusionist 222. A Christmas Carol — The Allusionist
Today, we read the novelisation of The Muppet Christmas Carol , also known as the 1843 festive lit hit A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
theallusionist.org
December 9, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Did you guys know they made a book out of that really good Muppet movie?
Reposted by The Allusionist
If you've not yet before experienced @helenzaltzman.bsky.social's festive offerings, you're in for a treat! She and @martinaustwick.bsky.social create such a wonderful, cosy mood with their readings. Plus, once you've experienced the book, you'll realise just how close the Muppet version is!
New episode in your podfeed: I read all of A Christmas Carol, with musical backing from @martinaustwick.bsky.social. It’s a banger! theallusionist.org/christmascarol
Allusionist 222. A Christmas Carol — The Allusionist
Today, we read the novelisation of The Muppet Christmas Carol , also known as the 1843 festive lit hit A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
theallusionist.org
December 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
If you've not yet before experienced @helenzaltzman.bsky.social's festive offerings, you're in for a treat! She and @martinaustwick.bsky.social create such a wonderful, cosy mood with their readings. Plus, once you've experienced the book, you'll realise just how close the Muppet version is!
Reposted by The Allusionist
Things I’m not mad about today:
2) Enjoying @hels.bsky.social reading “A Christmas Carol” on @allusionistshow.bsky.social and hearing “Keep it in your pants, Dickens!” 😂
2) Enjoying @hels.bsky.social reading “A Christmas Carol” on @allusionistshow.bsky.social and hearing “Keep it in your pants, Dickens!” 😂
December 9, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Things I’m not mad about today:
2) Enjoying @hels.bsky.social reading “A Christmas Carol” on @allusionistshow.bsky.social and hearing “Keep it in your pants, Dickens!” 😂
2) Enjoying @hels.bsky.social reading “A Christmas Carol” on @allusionistshow.bsky.social and hearing “Keep it in your pants, Dickens!” 😂
New episode in your podfeed: I read all of A Christmas Carol, with musical backing from @martinaustwick.bsky.social. It’s a banger! theallusionist.org/christmascarol
Allusionist 222. A Christmas Carol — The Allusionist
Today, we read the novelisation of The Muppet Christmas Carol , also known as the 1843 festive lit hit A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
theallusionist.org
December 9, 2025 at 11:12 AM
New episode in your podfeed: I read all of A Christmas Carol, with musical backing from @martinaustwick.bsky.social. It’s a banger! theallusionist.org/christmascarol
Reposted by The Allusionist
new episode is in your podfeed! @timbrookes.bsky.social of #EndangeredAlphabetsProject takes us on a delightful journey of handwriting. Listen/read via theallusionist.org/scribe and find Tim's book By Hand at endangeredalphabets.com
Allusionist 221. Scribe — The Allusionist
"I have never felt so naked. That's how exposed I felt at the idea that my handwriting was going to be seen by the world," says Tim Brookes, founder of the Endangered Alphabets Project and author of t...
theallusionist.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:12 PM
new episode is in your podfeed! @timbrookes.bsky.social of #EndangeredAlphabetsProject takes us on a delightful journey of handwriting. Listen/read via theallusionist.org/scribe and find Tim's book By Hand at endangeredalphabets.com
new episode is in your podfeed! @timbrookes.bsky.social of #EndangeredAlphabetsProject takes us on a delightful journey of handwriting. Listen/read via theallusionist.org/scribe and find Tim's book By Hand at endangeredalphabets.com
Allusionist 221. Scribe — The Allusionist
"I have never felt so naked. That's how exposed I felt at the idea that my handwriting was going to be seen by the world," says Tim Brookes, founder of the Endangered Alphabets Project and author of t...
theallusionist.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:12 PM
new episode is in your podfeed! @timbrookes.bsky.social of #EndangeredAlphabetsProject takes us on a delightful journey of handwriting. Listen/read via theallusionist.org/scribe and find Tim's book By Hand at endangeredalphabets.com
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November 18, 2025 at 11:37 AM
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I hate portmanteau words but “slopaganda” is magnificent
Gone down a weird rabbithole with far-right Facebook slopaganda* about celebrities cancelling things as a result of the New York election result.
*I just invented this word: AI-generated disinformation content pumped onto social media by right-wing think tanks, and "slopaganda" was right there.
*I just invented this word: AI-generated disinformation content pumped onto social media by right-wing think tanks, and "slopaganda" was right there.
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
I hate portmanteau words but “slopaganda” is magnificent
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Powered by vegan chocolate truffles & queer feminism, this was SO MUCH (fun). Intense & exhilarating!
New episode in your podfeed, starring @suchmayer.bsky.social, whose new book #BadLanguage is out next week! We talk about many things, including coming out as a speech act, power, shame, finding vocab for oneself... Listen/read via theallusionist.org/disobedience and The Podplaces
Allusionist 220. Disobedience — The Allusionist
“The more we look into social structures, the more many of us realize we don't fit into them," says So Mayer, author of the new book Bad Language, "So each phrase or set of vocabulary is another piece...
theallusionist.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Powered by vegan chocolate truffles & queer feminism, this was SO MUCH (fun). Intense & exhilarating!
Reposted by The Allusionist
I *just* listened to this excellent episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social about Dr. Alex Ketchum’s Feminist Restaurant Project and went to check out Bloodroot…only to learn they announced *today* that they’re closing after nearly 50 years!
November 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I *just* listened to this excellent episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social about Dr. Alex Ketchum’s Feminist Restaurant Project and went to check out Bloodroot…only to learn they announced *today* that they’re closing after nearly 50 years!
New episode in your podfeed, starring @suchmayer.bsky.social, whose new book #BadLanguage is out next week! We talk about many things, including coming out as a speech act, power, shame, finding vocab for oneself... Listen/read via theallusionist.org/disobedience and The Podplaces
Allusionist 220. Disobedience — The Allusionist
“The more we look into social structures, the more many of us realize we don't fit into them," says So Mayer, author of the new book Bad Language, "So each phrase or set of vocabulary is another piece...
theallusionist.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:15 PM
New episode in your podfeed, starring @suchmayer.bsky.social, whose new book #BadLanguage is out next week! We talk about many things, including coming out as a speech act, power, shame, finding vocab for oneself... Listen/read via theallusionist.org/disobedience and The Podplaces
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Excellent real world example of a chilling effect @allusionistshow.bsky.social
SCOOP: Last year, Ubisoft cancelled an Assassin's Creed game set during Reconstruction. Was to feature a Black Assassin who, among other things, fought the rise of the Klan
Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke
www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke
www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Scoop: Ubisoft cancelled a post-Civil War Assassin’s Creed last year
Company leadership deemed the project too controversial for the moment, sources tell Game File
www.gamefile.news
October 9, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Excellent real world example of a chilling effect @allusionistshow.bsky.social
New episode is in your podfeed, for Banned Books Week theallusionist.org/bannedbooks
Allusionist 218. Banned Books — The Allusionist
It's Banned Books Week. Honorary youth chair Iris Mogul and Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association, talk about what it is, why it matters so much, and how you can get involved.
theallusionist.org
October 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
New episode is in your podfeed, for Banned Books Week theallusionist.org/bannedbooks
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So excited to have my work featured on @allusionistshow.bsky.social by @helenzaltzman.bsky.social !! www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Check it out!
@arsenalpulp.bsky.social @concordiapress.bsky.social @mcgillarts.bsky.social @mcgillumedia.bsky.social
Check it out!
@arsenalpulp.bsky.social @concordiapress.bsky.social @mcgillarts.bsky.social @mcgillumedia.bsky.social
Allusionist 217. Feminist coffee houses — The Allusionist
In their heyday of the 1970s and 1980s, there were more than 200 - possibly more than 400 - feminist restaurants and coffee shops in the USA and Canada. These places were aiming to change ways of work...
www.theallusionist.org
September 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
So excited to have my work featured on @allusionistshow.bsky.social by @helenzaltzman.bsky.social !! www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Check it out!
@arsenalpulp.bsky.social @concordiapress.bsky.social @mcgillarts.bsky.social @mcgillumedia.bsky.social
Check it out!
@arsenalpulp.bsky.social @concordiapress.bsky.social @mcgillarts.bsky.social @mcgillumedia.bsky.social
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@allusionistshow.bsky.social I think this might be relevant to a recent episode, 6:27 specifically! youtu.be/yRh6OTPPVwM?...
Let's Look at the Super Sewer!
YouTube video by Jago Hazzard
youtu.be
September 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
@allusionistshow.bsky.social I think this might be relevant to a recent episode, 6:27 specifically! youtu.be/yRh6OTPPVwM?...
Happy tenth anniversary of Pig-gate theallusionist.org/gate
September 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Happy tenth anniversary of Pig-gate theallusionist.org/gate
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Really unexpectedly lovely song about Scunthorpe from @martinaustwick.bsky.social on this episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social
www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Allusionist 216. Four Letter Words: Terisk — The Allusionist
Watching the film Legally Blonde one day with the subtitles on, numerous perfectly innocuous words were partially asterisked out, because of a technological problem I can't name here lest this episo...
www.theallusionist.org
September 9, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Really unexpectedly lovely song about Scunthorpe from @martinaustwick.bsky.social on this episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social
www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
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like so many products to come out of silicon valley in the last decade or so, AI is a legal innovation masquerading as a tech innovation. the legal theory seems to be that AI is entitled to everything but liable for nothing.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
like so many products to come out of silicon valley in the last decade or so, AI is a legal innovation masquerading as a tech innovation. the legal theory seems to be that AI is entitled to everything but liable for nothing.
The finale of Four Letter Word season is heading to your podfeed this weekend. Which word do you think it’ll be about?
September 5, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The finale of Four Letter Word season is heading to your podfeed this weekend. Which word do you think it’ll be about?