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Explore every episode of the podcast Crossnerds

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TitlePub. DateDuration
For Thee, Ass King04 Mar 202300:32:33

Discussed! NYT crossword puzzles from Weds 2/22/23 (Adam Wagner), Thurs 2/23/23 (Joe Deeney), and Sun 2/28/23 (Will Nediger).

Disgust! Black History Month did not seem to matter to the NYTXW. But racial representation in crosswords matters deeply to us. Find our ep with Kameron Austin Collins here.

Also!

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Cut to Wabbit Season10 Feb 202300:28:11

SCENE: Season 8. Year of the Rabbit. 2023. Cut to: Rebecca & Brooke, Crossworld's most beloved showgirls, reviewing New York Times crossword puzzles. On this episode...they (we) peruse three (3) puzzles, from 2/2/23 - 2/4/23. Featuring.....:

  • Bisexual lighting
  • SARD: new year, new gem?!
  • On app-lessness
  • CUT TO THE CHASE: What, why, how. Jannings escapes ...
  • AVCX is not sending people to the moon
  • In 2022, 21% of NYTXWs were written by exclusively women (h/t XWord Info)

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

EXES & NOS | Don't be a duck24 Mar 202200:56:54

Happy Spring, sweet (and bitter) peas! 🌱 Your favorite average-but-clean wee lasses celebrate the season by coming for the bloggers and continuing to review New York Times crossword puzzles (from 3/14/22 - 3/20/22). Discussed:

  • Brooke's new Tinder bio
  • Littering is bad
  • ... as is toxic crossword commentary
  • Mini vs. fun-size
  • Knowing < learning
  • The brassiere cup debate (it's CUP for grabs?)
  • Patti Varol at the LAT crossword 🎉

Links

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

Sep 17 2017 | Super Looper | Thermidor, Computerator18 Sep 201700:35:13

Date: Sep 17, 2017

Theme: Super Looper

Constructor: Mark MacLachlan

Sep 10, 2017 | Size Matters | Yahweh, Queequeg11 Sep 201700:32:07

Date: September 10, 2017

Theme: Size Matters

Constructor: Brendan Emmett Quigley

August 27, 2017 | Location, Location, Location | Hoagies, grinders and heroes — oh my!27 Aug 201700:33:41

Date: August 27, 2017

Constructor: Jeff Chen

Theme: Location, Location, Location

Aug 22, 2017 | Found In Your Inbox | Zsa Zsa Gabor23 Aug 201700:29:53

Date: August 22, 2017

Constructor: Ruth B. Margolin

Theme: Found In Your Inbox

August 13, 2017 | Magic Show | Ukulele madness15 Aug 201700:27:35

Date: August 13, 2017

Constructor: Eric Berlin

Theme: Magic Show

August 6, 2017 | Anchors Away | Roscoe & Matisse10 Aug 201700:24:33

Date: August 6, 2017

Constructor: Patrick Berry

Theme: Anchors Away

July 30, 2017 | By Design | Fashionably informed30 Jul 201700:28:49

Date: July 30 2017

Theme: By Design

Constructors: Isaac Mizrahi and David J. Kahn

July 23, 2017 | Back on the Charts | The magic of music23 Jul 201700:28:49

Date: July 23, 2017

Theme: Back on the Charts

Constructor: Caleb Madison

July 16, 2017 | If the Spirit Moves You | M-m-m-my Sharona17 Jul 201700:31:07

Date: July 16, 2017

Theme: If the Spirit Moves You

Constructors: Andrea Carla Michaels and Pete Muller

July 9, 2017 | First for Knowledge | Kefir vs Kombucha, bawds and lies10 Jul 201700:30:51

Date: July 9, 2017

Constructor: Will Nediger

Theme: First for Knowledge

PARLOR TRICK | Heal the [cross]world12 Mar 202200:45:53

So, all the things, mm? Alllllll the things. Anyway, here is another episode, featuring, as usual, Rebecca and Brooke's reviews of the New York Times crossword puzzles (2/28/22 - 3/6/22). Also discussed:

  • What's in a crossword theme?
  • Whenfore a question mark clue?
  • Teresa Teng
  • Unchecked squares.

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

July 2, 2017 | The Long and Winding Road | Beatles puns, North Dakotan rioting02 Jul 201700:30:55

Date: July 2, 2017

Constructor: Patrick Blindauer

Theme: The Long and Winding Road

June 25, 2017 | Cropped | Mauve/moot/kramer26 Jun 201700:29:53

Date: June 25, 2017

Constructor: Jacob Stulberg

Theme: Cropped

 

Jun 18 | Silent Treatment | Snoop Lion, LBJ, Lara Croft18 Jun 201700:29:29

Date: June 18 2017

Constructor: Sam Trabucco

Theme: Silent Treatment

Jun 4, 2017 | Advice to Writers | Ackbar!, Pogo sticks, Fan fiction04 Jun 201700:40:01

Date: Jun 4 2017

Constructor: Tom McCoy

Theme: Advice for Writers

 

May 28, 2017 | In Bad Taste | Me Tarzan, You Ogre28 May 201700:29:09

Date: May 28, 2017 

Constructor: Andrew Zhou

Theme: In Bad Taste

May 21, 2017 | Misquoting Scripture | Trolls n' Teepees22 May 201700:38:55

Date: May 21, 2017

Theme: Misquoting Scripture

Constructor: Randolph Ross

May 14, 2017 | Places, Everyone! | Beastie Boys, gas mains, law school16 May 201700:36:17

Date: May 14 2017

Constructor: Will Nediger

Theme: Places, Everyone!

May 7, 2017 | Duality Quality | Adam Driver, Blue Hens, Reb is sick07 May 201700:33:21

Date: May 7, 2017

Theme: Duality Quality

Constructors: Finn Vigeland, Natan Last and the JASA Crossword Class

May 1, 2017 | New England Chatter | Essenes, Raceme, Acid Rock (?)02 May 201700:33:05

Date: May 1, 2017

Constructor: Alan Arbesfeld 

Theme: New England Chatter

April 24 | Crossnerds in Britain, Part I | The Tao of Cee-Lo24 Apr 201700:31:45

Date: April 24, 2017

Theme: A Century of Song

Constructor: Olivia Mitra Framke

CINEMAGRAMS | Yes SHIRRee01 Mar 202200:47:31

Another week (2/21/22 - 2/27/22), another seven New York Times crossword puzzles reviewed! Also featuring:

  • Kelly "Wintertime" Kapow!ski and the Rugrats grandpa ("new LOU, who dis")
  • Rebuses
  • Chocolate v. candy
  • Theme queries and the crossword submission process.

Check out These Puzzles Fund Abortion Too and donate here!

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

Apr 16, 2017 | Saddle Up! | Patois, Triggering, Buttermilk donuts16 Apr 201700:39:27
April 9 2017 | Having Nothing On | Hobbit-holes, spleens, sign language10 Apr 201700:29:53

Date: April 9 2017

Theme: Having Nothing On

Constructor: Byron Walden

 

April 2 2017 | Initial Description | Abigail Adams, frisson, Mama Cass02 Apr 201700:34:07

Date: April 2 2017

Theme: Initial Description

Constructor: Jerry Miccolis 

Jack & Reb talk the Sunday NY Times Crossword with the help of a bottle of rosé

March 26, 2017 | Mixed Results | Pomegranates, diners, the White(?) Panther26 Mar 201700:37:29

Date: March 26, 2017

Constructor(s): Jeff Chen & Tracy Gray

Theme: Mixed Results

Jack & Reb take on the Sunday Times Xword. 

March 19, 2017 | 111-Across! | Fools n' ferrules19 Mar 201700:31:15

Date: March 19, 2017

Constructor: Grant Thackray

Theme: "111-Across!" (SPOILER ALERT!)

Jack & Reb talk the Sunday NY Times puzz. 

Mar 12, 2017 | Taking the Fifth | Maine, Waldo, Aleut13 Mar 201700:39:42

Date: Mar 12 2017

Theme: Taking the Fifth

Constructor: Alan Arbesfeld

Jack & Rebecca tackle the NYT sunday puzz

Mar 5 2017 | Elemental | Encores, Barthes, Daguerre06 Mar 201700:44:35

Date: March 5 2017

Constructor: Timothy Polin

Theme: Elemental

Feb 26, 2017 | Mixed Feelings | Yetis, tea time, Fritos26 Feb 201700:41:37

Date: 2/26/17

Constructor: Josh Knapp

Theme: Mixed Feelings

Feb 19, 2017 | Uh Oh | Royal pugs, soviet jets, Delaware, Ikea20 Feb 201700:42:41

Date: Feb 19 2017

Constructor: Bruce Haight

Theme: Uh Oh!

Jack & Rebecca take on the Sunday Times crossword! Includes a nostalgic memory of Delawurr. 

Feb 12, 2017 | Do The Splits | Drive-thrus, Ogden Nash, Romeo & Juliet, chicken coops12 Feb 201700:42:21

Date: Feb 12 2017

Constructor: Lynn Lempel

Theme: Do The Splits

Jack & Rebecca take on the Sunday Times crossword! Includes a surprise on-air gifting. 

PARDON MY FRENCH | Down the RAT HOLE24 Feb 202200:57:51

Grab some refreshing ADES and Cool American-flavoured snackies and settle into this stripped-down sesh of Classic R&B: Rebecca and Brooke reviewing the last week of New York Times crossword puzzles (2/14/22 - 2/20/22). Discussed:

  • Holes (rabbit, rat, worm, and on a green)
  • Non-solver fans of this podcast(???)
  • The history of TEA as "gossip"
  • What makes a theme "tight"
  • Narrative crosswords, such as Kim Vu's affecting AVCX
  • ALTE
  • Ableism

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

Feb 5, 2017 | First Ladies06 Feb 201700:37:04

Feb 5th crossword. First ladies, "Bohemian Rhapsody," gypping, Sheena Easton, A Wrinkle in Time

Jan 29 2017 | Blackjack!02 Feb 201700:25:45

Date: 1/29/2017

Constructors: Jim Hyres and David Steinberg

Theme: HIT THE DECK

Sorry for the delay on this one. Travel + work combined to make this a few days late... but still good! 

Mishmash / yoko ono / wwi / snarf24 Jan 201700:27:45

Jack and Rebecca take on the Sunday, Jan 22 puzz. 

Sex scenes/Namby-pamby/Auntie Mame/Melville16 Jan 201700:30:29

Jan 15, 2017

Constructor: Joel Fagliano

Jack & Rebecca take on the Sunday Times crossword. Topics include steak, Auntie Mame, Herman Melville and whatever "namby-mamby" is (hint: British). 

 

Crossword info: www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=1/15/2017

SCI-FI SHOWDOWN | It's a triomph13 Feb 202201:15:11
Well, well, well, if it isn't our favorite puzzlemaker/film critic/bowl made with love and erotic spirits, Kameron Austin Collins! Buckle up for Rebecca, Brooke, and Kam taking down the last week of New York Times crossword puzzles (1/31/22 - 2/6/22, which includes Kam's 2/5 stunner of a puzz).

Discussed:

  • Wereproblems
  • -onyms
  • Tasers (Batman Returns stun gun scene)
  • ENRON clues
  • Kitchen items (PARERs,  peelers, mashers, bowls)
  • The art of appearing effortless
  • High beams in NJ: literally everybody, all the time

And continued PSA: RiRi is still only worth 25 points.

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

Medley Week #1 | Chaotic good27 Jan 202200:54:25
Hang on to your aardwolves, you're going on an xword xventure: Crossnerds' first-ever MEDLEY WEEK [emphasis on the "eeek"]!!! We've selected seven luscious puzzles from seven gorgeous professional crossword outlets that are *not* the New York Times:

Don't worry, we still love you, NYTXW. We'll be back with the usual next time.

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

PLAYING THE HITS | Whoomp there it is21 Jan 202200:52:53
That's one small step for man, one glaring lack of steps for non-menkind: i.e., another week (1/10/22 - 1/16/22) of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews. That's ANO from me! Featuring:
  • Circular nose breathing
  • Tails
  • [Unrelated] Baby's barnyard bovines
  • Dataaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

COLOR MIXING | I Bega your pardon06 Jan 202200:42:36
Season 7 2022 LET'S GOOOOOOO! Let's get through today, every day. Together! With Rebecca and Brooke. Who, this week, review New York Times crossword puzzles from 12/27/21 - 1/2/22! Including:
  • KISSING BUTT
  • The heroic efforts of the NYTXW Editorial Team
  • OAT clues
  • LOU clues
  • Vague clues
  • Shout out to all the pears; and
  • Beating the "Sunday 140-word cap" trap.

Adam A-aronson's other-other AA plus-plus puzzle puzzle is here.

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

SEASON TO TASTE | Accept all cookies26 Dec 202100:35:57

Wrap up 2021 with a bow and these BIBIMBangin' reviews of the New York Times crossword puzzles published 12/13/21 - 12/19/21! Rebecca and Brooke also talk about list themes and a puzzle's purpose. YAY ME! Yay WE.

Ross Trudeau's essay, The Necessity of Filling Certain Boxes, is on his puzzle blog, Rossword Puzzles.

 

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify and comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

There's a new game in town | TNY's Liz Maynes-Aminzade24 Dec 202100:29:43

Is the Big Apple big enough for two major crossword puzzle outlets? Liz Maynes-Aminzade, the first-ever Puzzles & Games Editor at The New Yorker, drops in to Xnerds HQ to celebrate the magazine's inaugural Cartoons & Puzzles issue (December 27, 2021) and its new(ish) foray into puzzles and games.

TNY's digital offerings include the Name Drop trivia game. Subscribe to its crosswords newsletter for forthcoming goodieeees!

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in SPOTIFY and comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

Query Theory12 Dec 202200:42:10

WORDPLAY ON THE FRITZ ⋇ DEFY THE HEGEMONY ⋇ THINK FOR YOURSELF ⋇ DO NOT PANIC

Happy holidaze and welcome back to the show! This week, Rebecca and Brooke calmly discuss four New York Times crossword puzzles published 11/22/2022 - 11/26/22. We also poke a stick at the curious corpus of 😱 LOGIC PUZZLES 😱 such as sudoku, ken ken, and star battles! We are two kra-z kids!!!

Plus:

  • Red alert! Reds are red, but violet may or may not be blue: colors, categories, and linguistic relativity vs. universalism in this Nautilus article by Chelsea Wald
  • PICTURE cards
  • How not to fall for the myth of crossword's 'unwritten rules'
  • The joy of connecting the dot dot dots
  • Theme queries: emotional risks vs. open submissions (again)

And the Inkubator is available at https://inkubatorcrosswords.com/.

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

JOB SHARING | RIP Phife18 Dec 202100:40:06

What even IS a Thursday crossword these days? Is a Thursday crossword, like time itself, "only a stubbornly persistent illusion"? A memory? A fable? 😱 Whatever it is, we're talking about the last "week" of xword puzzles in the New York Times (12/6/21 - 12/12/21). 

NPR on "POC"

The Trouble with Tribe ... and the glory of Quest.

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

GARAGE SALE PITCHES | Symmetry, shammetry03 Dec 202100:45:41

Gratitude, greetings, and Happy Chanukah/Hanukkah 5782! R&B here, gifting you the miracle of our thoughts on the New York Times crossword puzzles from 11/22/21 - 11/28/21. Including:

  • Baby's first rebus
  • The next installment of the "who ate the last cookie" drama
  • Rosalind Franklin was a Boss
  • Big crossnews from the American Values Club!

 

AVCX Kickstarterrrrrrrrrr Will Nediger's asymmetric puzzles Ryan McCarty's asymmetric puzzles Vox crossword puzzles USA Today crossword puzzles

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

SCREEN SHARING | Hey Shorti24 Nov 202100:35:30

To Bork, or not to Bork? That is not the question. The question is, what will Rebecca and Brooke SAY about the last week (11/15/21 - 11/21/21) in New York Times crossword puzzles? A sampling:

  • The Great Alfred Nobel Obituary Mixup
  • How to make grid art
  • CHEETO: implications for Mento?

Happy [Un]Thanksgiving! Namaste.

Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts@ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!

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