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lexiconvalley.bsky.social
Lexicon Valley
@lexiconvalley.bsky.social
A podcast about language.
290: Playing the Angles

From St. John the Apostle to Miller’s Crossing grifter Bernie Bernbaum—and from fishing to geometry—Mike Vuolo and Bob Garfield cast about for the origin of ‘angle.’

🎧Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast #angle #angler
February 10, 2026 at 7:17 PM
289: You Get the Gist

During an appearance on The Gist with Mike Pesca, hosts Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo discussed the curious backstory of, you guessed it, the word gist.

🎧Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #podcast #onlanguage #gist @milkepescs.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Bonus: What Is a Blazer?

Derek Guy (@dieworkwear.bsky.social) on the blazer, associated with prep schools and date nights. Where does the term originate?

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #podcast #derekguy #onlanguage #blazer #bonus
January 27, 2026 at 5:57 PM
288: Derek Guy on the Language of Clothing

The vocabulary of outerwear and dress as a form of social language with the menswear historian behind @dieworkwear.bsky.social.

🎧Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #podcast #onlanguage #derekguy #dieworkwearg
January 20, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Bonus: Why We Don't Say "the" Ukraine

John McWhorter on why, and a Slavic language few have heard of.

Plus: what do you call two Slovenian blacksmiths? (It’s not Lovro and Oskar.)

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #podcast
January 13, 2026 at 7:27 PM
287: McWhorter vs. McWhorter

The world was shocked by a controversial article published by "John McWhorter." Here, he sets the record straight. 🎧 Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast #johnmcwhorter
January 6, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Lexicon Valley
Thanks for another very entertaining and informative episode. Ad salute tuam bibo.
December 31, 2025 at 12:28 AM
286: A Toast to Toast

From a medieval recipe for Glazed Sops to the Ghostbusters franchise, Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo raise a glass to the unlikely journey of the word toast. 🎧 Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #toast #nye #happynewyear #happy2026 #podcast
December 30, 2025 at 10:52 PM
285: All the Rage Bait

Oxford English Dictionary editor Fiona McPherson talks to host Mike Vuolo about the terms that caught her attention this year. 🎧 Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #oed #woty #ragebait #aura #aurafarming #biohack #onlanguage #podcast
December 23, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Bonus: From Onism to Perdickety

John Koenig weighs in on a few of Mike Vuolo's obscure sorrows — what are yours?

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast #onism #perdickety #neologism #obscuresorrows
December 16, 2025 at 7:05 PM
284: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Author John Koenig talks about inventing words for those subtle emotions that hitherto had no name. 🎧 Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #anemoia #obscuresorrows #dictionaryofobscuresorrows #onlanguage #podcast
December 9, 2025 at 11:09 PM
6 7: Everything You Don't Know About the Word of the Year

Mike Vuolo and Bob Garfield join and The Gist’s Mike Pesca @milkepescs.bsky.social to talk #67 —from rapper Skrilla to the basketball court to #wordoftheyear.

🎧 Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...
#podcast #lexiconvalley
December 2, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Bonus: The Original Maverick

The story of the word maverick has many versions. This one is true.

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen:
lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast #maverick
November 25, 2025 at 10:42 PM
283: Gobbledygook Explained

Gobbledygook sounds like one of those words that somebody just made up — so is it?

🎧 Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #gobbledygook #gobble #onlanguage #podcast
November 18, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Bonus: The Fuss Over Nonplussed

Are you nonplussed over the misuse of nonplussed? You're not the only one.

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast #nonplussed
November 12, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Reposted by Lexicon Valley
The best and most entertaining language podcast.
November 5, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by Lexicon Valley
Apparently I may be somewhat responsible for coining cringe comedy? Sorry and you’re welcome
Bonus: Laugh Till You Cringe

When did we start calling it cringe comedy? Featuring the great tv critic Joy Press (@joypress.bsky.social)!

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast #cringecomedy
November 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Bonus: Laugh Till You Cringe

When did we start calling it cringe comedy? Featuring the great tv critic Joy Press (@joypress.bsky.social)!

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast #cringecomedy
November 4, 2025 at 10:58 PM
282: Gen Alpha Thinks You're Cringe

Our parents were cringe-inducing, but we're just cringe.

🎧 Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #cringe #podcast #onlanguage
October 28, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Bonus: Ghost Town

On the rise of ghosting: to haunt, to leave and to ignore.

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast #ghost
October 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Bonus: Grate Beyond

First we shredded ginger root and stale bread and then a harsh sound landed on the ear. When did we start grating on each other's nerves?

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen:
lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast
October 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
281: The Amazing Great

Good is no longer good enough. 🎧 Listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #great #onlanguage #podcast
October 7, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Lexicon Valley
As a follower of Lexicon Valley from its inception, I'm very happy to hear that we're going to be getting new episodes from both Bob+Mike and from John going forward.
September 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Bonus: Is Unique Still One of a Kind?

John McWhorter on the evolution of the word “unique” — from unparalleled to unusual.

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen: lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #unique #podcast
September 30, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Bonus: In a Hot Minute

John McWhorter takes the linguistic topic of 280: It’s Been a Minute to an unexpectedly bawdy place.

🔑 Unlock bonus episodes to listen:
lexiconvalley.supportingcast.fm/listen/lexic...

#lexiconvalley #onlanguage #podcast
September 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM