Crosstalk
@thecrosstalkpod.bsky.social
A crossword construction podcast hosted by Daniel Grinberg
Episode 6 of Crosstalk with @aimeelucido.bsky.social is out now!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2wpa...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2wpa...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
November 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Episode 6 of Crosstalk with @aimeelucido.bsky.social is out now!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2wpa...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2wpa...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Episode 6 with renowned author and constructor @aimeelucido.bsky.social is out now! We chat about her new crossword-themed book, getting in the comments, our least favorite fill, the pleasures of trivia and etymology, failing the breakfast test, the clues she still thinks about, and much more!
November 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Episode 6 with renowned author and constructor @aimeelucido.bsky.social is out now! We chat about her new crossword-themed book, getting in the comments, our least favorite fill, the pleasures of trivia and etymology, failing the breakfast test, the clues she still thinks about, and much more!
Reposted by Crosstalk
Lil AVCX is looking for new and emerging constructors to be a part of our 2026 constructing roster. Deadline for applications is November 14, 2025. Here's the information: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Lil AVCX: Call for applications for our 2026 constructor roster
Lil AVCX: Call for applications for our 2026 constructor roster We’re looking for new and emerging crossword puzzle constructors to regularly contribute “midi” puzzles. Yes, you’ll get paid, and you ...
docs.google.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Lil AVCX is looking for new and emerging constructors to be a part of our 2026 constructing roster. Deadline for applications is November 14, 2025. Here's the information: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Episode 5 of Crosstalk with @norahsharpe.bsky.social is out now!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0c1d...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0c1d...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
August 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Episode 5 of Crosstalk with @norahsharpe.bsky.social is out now!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0c1d...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0c1d...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Episode 5 with super-prolific constructor and 2025 Lollapuzzoola Pairs co-champ @norahsharpe.bsky.social is out now! We chat about creating fresh themes, the secrets of successful collaborations, training for tournaments, repping the Midwest, fave puzzles, advocating for asymmetry, and much more!
August 28, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Episode 5 with super-prolific constructor and 2025 Lollapuzzoola Pairs co-champ @norahsharpe.bsky.social is out now! We chat about creating fresh themes, the secrets of successful collaborations, training for tournaments, repping the Midwest, fave puzzles, advocating for asymmetry, and much more!
Episode 4 of Crosstalk with @melvillmatic.bsky.social is out now!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0BjW...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0BjW...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
June 9, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Episode 4 of Crosstalk with @melvillmatic.bsky.social is out now!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0BjW...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0BjW...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Episode 4 with the illustrious @melvillmatic.bsky.social is out now! We cover topics such as designing themelesses, getting a "villain edit," his jumbling of cultural lexicons, the politics of fill, personalizing word lists, the entry he was most excited to include, fave puzzles, and much more!
June 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Episode 4 with the illustrious @melvillmatic.bsky.social is out now! We cover topics such as designing themelesses, getting a "villain edit," his jumbling of cultural lexicons, the politics of fill, personalizing word lists, the entry he was most excited to include, fave puzzles, and much more!
My new Universal crossword, "Inside Information," is out now! syndication.andrewsmcmeel.com/puzzles/cros...
May 8, 2025 at 6:59 PM
My new Universal crossword, "Inside Information," is out now! syndication.andrewsmcmeel.com/puzzles/cros...
Reposted by Crosstalk
The word 'clue' was originally a variant spelling of 'clew,' meaning “ball of thread or yarn.”
Our modern sense of clue, “guide to the solution of a mystery,” grows out of a motif in myth and folklore, the ball of thread that helps in finding one’s way out of a maze.
Our modern sense of clue, “guide to the solution of a mystery,” grows out of a motif in myth and folklore, the ball of thread that helps in finding one’s way out of a maze.
April 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The word 'clue' was originally a variant spelling of 'clew,' meaning “ball of thread or yarn.”
Our modern sense of clue, “guide to the solution of a mystery,” grows out of a motif in myth and folklore, the ball of thread that helps in finding one’s way out of a maze.
Our modern sense of clue, “guide to the solution of a mystery,” grows out of a motif in myth and folklore, the ball of thread that helps in finding one’s way out of a maze.
Reposted by Crosstalk
attn: xword constructors!
spread the word(list) now has all of q1, 2025! new highly-ranked answers @enriqueha.bsky.social and i like: TAMAL, BEDCHEM, OKAYBYE, ACEPRIDE, INDIEDEV, VEGANMENU, JERSEYSWAP, LOGICPUZZLE, IVESEENWORSE, ENERGYVAMPIRE, SPOTIFYWRAPPED, CHOICESWEREMADE
spreadthewordlist.com
spread the word(list) now has all of q1, 2025! new highly-ranked answers @enriqueha.bsky.social and i like: TAMAL, BEDCHEM, OKAYBYE, ACEPRIDE, INDIEDEV, VEGANMENU, JERSEYSWAP, LOGICPUZZLE, IVESEENWORSE, ENERGYVAMPIRE, SPOTIFYWRAPPED, CHOICESWEREMADE
spreadthewordlist.com
spread the word(list)
spreadthewordlist.com
April 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
attn: xword constructors!
spread the word(list) now has all of q1, 2025! new highly-ranked answers @enriqueha.bsky.social and i like: TAMAL, BEDCHEM, OKAYBYE, ACEPRIDE, INDIEDEV, VEGANMENU, JERSEYSWAP, LOGICPUZZLE, IVESEENWORSE, ENERGYVAMPIRE, SPOTIFYWRAPPED, CHOICESWEREMADE
spreadthewordlist.com
spread the word(list) now has all of q1, 2025! new highly-ranked answers @enriqueha.bsky.social and i like: TAMAL, BEDCHEM, OKAYBYE, ACEPRIDE, INDIEDEV, VEGANMENU, JERSEYSWAP, LOGICPUZZLE, IVESEENWORSE, ENERGYVAMPIRE, SPOTIFYWRAPPED, CHOICESWEREMADE
spreadthewordlist.com
Episode 3 of Crosstalk with @sidsivakumar.bsky.social is out now!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1sq5...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1sq5...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
April 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Episode 3 of Crosstalk with @sidsivakumar.bsky.social is out now!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1sq5...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1sq5...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Sorry for the delay, but Episode 3 with @sidsivakumar.bsky.social is definitely worth the wait! We cover topics like crosswords as art, how science and engineering relate to constructing, South Asian culture, crafting the final ACPT puzzle and Super Mega, and the surprising places Sid writes clues.
April 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Sorry for the delay, but Episode 3 with @sidsivakumar.bsky.social is definitely worth the wait! We cover topics like crosswords as art, how science and engineering relate to constructing, South Asian culture, crafting the final ACPT puzzle and Super Mega, and the surprising places Sid writes clues.
My first Thursday in the Times. Hope you enjoy!
March 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM
My first Thursday in the Times. Hope you enjoy!
If you enjoyed my NYT collaboration with @rafaxword.bsky.social yesterday, check out our discussion of all things crossword in the debut episode of Crosstalk!
open.spotify.com/episode/1T1y...
open.spotify.com/episode/1T1y...
February 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
If you enjoyed my NYT collaboration with @rafaxword.bsky.social yesterday, check out our discussion of all things crossword in the debut episode of Crosstalk!
open.spotify.com/episode/1T1y...
open.spotify.com/episode/1T1y...
Support These Puzzles Fund Abortion (@tpfa.bsky.social) at www.abortionpuzzles.com and pre-order their new puzzle pack (fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...) now!
February 14, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Support These Puzzles Fund Abortion (@tpfa.bsky.social) at www.abortionpuzzles.com and pre-order their new puzzle pack (fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...) now!
In Episode 2, Rachel shouted out puzzle people such as:
- David Steinberg (@davidsteinberg.bsky.social)
- Jeff Chen
- Nate Cardin (@naytnaytnayt.bsky.social)
- Finn Vigeland (@fvigeland.bsky.social)
- Claire Rimkus
- Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)
- David Steinberg (@davidsteinberg.bsky.social)
- Jeff Chen
- Nate Cardin (@naytnaytnayt.bsky.social)
- Finn Vigeland (@fvigeland.bsky.social)
- Claire Rimkus
- Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)
February 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
In Episode 2, Rachel shouted out puzzle people such as:
- David Steinberg (@davidsteinberg.bsky.social)
- Jeff Chen
- Nate Cardin (@naytnaytnayt.bsky.social)
- Finn Vigeland (@fvigeland.bsky.social)
- Claire Rimkus
- Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)
- David Steinberg (@davidsteinberg.bsky.social)
- Jeff Chen
- Nate Cardin (@naytnaytnayt.bsky.social)
- Finn Vigeland (@fvigeland.bsky.social)
- Claire Rimkus
- Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)
As Rachel mentions in Episode 2, make sure to check out and bookmark this terrific Crossword Publication Specs resource from Matthew Stock: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Crossword Publication Specs
docs.google.com
February 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
As Rachel mentions in Episode 2, make sure to check out and bookmark this terrific Crossword Publication Specs resource from Matthew Stock: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
In Episode 2, Rachel and I discuss topics like:
- Being mentored and mentoring others
- Writing the Wordplay column
- The construction process
- What makes a good theme
- Cryptics
- Collaborating with a celebrity
- Grid art
- Fundraising for These Puzzles Fund Abortion
- Advice for constructing
- Being mentored and mentoring others
- Writing the Wordplay column
- The construction process
- What makes a good theme
- Cryptics
- Collaborating with a celebrity
- Grid art
- Fundraising for These Puzzles Fund Abortion
- Advice for constructing
February 10, 2025 at 5:07 PM
In Episode 2, Rachel and I discuss topics like:
- Being mentored and mentoring others
- Writing the Wordplay column
- The construction process
- What makes a good theme
- Cryptics
- Collaborating with a celebrity
- Grid art
- Fundraising for These Puzzles Fund Abortion
- Advice for constructing
- Being mentored and mentoring others
- Writing the Wordplay column
- The construction process
- What makes a good theme
- Cryptics
- Collaborating with a celebrity
- Grid art
- Fundraising for These Puzzles Fund Abortion
- Advice for constructing
I'm excited to share Episode 2 of Crosstalk with Rachel Fabi (@fabioethics.bsky.social) is out now! We discuss mentorship, cryptics, where to submit, Jeopardy!, and more!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1BMz...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Amazon: music.amazon.com/podcasts/f7c...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1BMz...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Amazon: music.amazon.com/podcasts/f7c...
February 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I'm excited to share Episode 2 of Crosstalk with Rachel Fabi (@fabioethics.bsky.social) is out now! We discuss mentorship, cryptics, where to submit, Jeopardy!, and more!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1BMz...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Amazon: music.amazon.com/podcasts/f7c...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1BMz...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Amazon: music.amazon.com/podcasts/f7c...
In episode 1, folks that Rafa shouted out include:
- Sid Sivakumar (@sidsivakumar.bsky.social)
- Robyn Weintraub (@robynw414.bsky.social)
- Adam Wagner (@adamwagner.bsky.social)
- Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)
- Kate Chin Park
- Michael Lieberman (@footnote24.bsky.social)
- Sid Sivakumar (@sidsivakumar.bsky.social)
- Robyn Weintraub (@robynw414.bsky.social)
- Adam Wagner (@adamwagner.bsky.social)
- Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)
- Kate Chin Park
- Michael Lieberman (@footnote24.bsky.social)
February 9, 2025 at 10:52 PM
In episode 1, folks that Rafa shouted out include:
- Sid Sivakumar (@sidsivakumar.bsky.social)
- Robyn Weintraub (@robynw414.bsky.social)
- Adam Wagner (@adamwagner.bsky.social)
- Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)
- Kate Chin Park
- Michael Lieberman (@footnote24.bsky.social)
- Sid Sivakumar (@sidsivakumar.bsky.social)
- Robyn Weintraub (@robynw414.bsky.social)
- Adam Wagner (@adamwagner.bsky.social)
- Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)
- Kate Chin Park
- Michael Lieberman (@footnote24.bsky.social)