Shows
CrossnerdsFor Thee, Ass KingDiscussed! 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! OPPO: British 1960s bae? MS PAINT and Brooke's minicity masterpieces Tourney szn approacheth! The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, Boswords, and more TK. Reminisce with the original 'Nerds interviewing Erik Agard back in 2019, right before Erik won ACPT. Anigrams. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Pod...
2023-03-0432 min
CrossnerdsCut to Wabbit SeasonSCENE: 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 ta...
2023-02-1028 minCrossnerdsQuery TheoryWORDPLAY 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...
2022-12-1242 minCrossnerdsSolve for x[Nerds]In this ep, Rebecca and Brooke review New York Times crossword puzzles from 11/9/22 - 11/12/22. Including! The first-ever, no-details-necessary, void-where-prohibited Crossnerds challenge: ⭐ Guess Our Zodiac Signs! ⭐️ Tweet us @Crossnerds or message us to play. Also!: "Reduplicative names" puzzles "Reduplicative": redundant? Repeated clues: ALLOWED! Non-semantic themes Letterbanks Two takes on GOTTI Things that don't look like boats Reverse reveals The grammar of adverbs (disjuncts, e.g. "Hopefully...") Evocativeness in clues What sound owls make (hint: it is not "PEEP") Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon...
2022-11-2037 minCrossnerdsSOUL Shakedown Party👋🤓🎙 Live from Berlin and a Dalíesque sea of toilets: Rebecca and Brooke review the week of 9/12/22 - 9/18/22 in New York Times crossword puzzles, covering such topics as: "Noted" in crossword clues The world's kickiest animals Triple-checked squares Does Europe have Daylight Savings Time? Green paint "Representation Without Transformation" (h/t Sally Hoelscher's USATXW blog) Wacky Wednesdays Where difficulty comes from (misdirects, vagueness) And if you don't know the Bob Marley song "Soul Shakedown Party," check it out. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or jus...
2022-09-2646 minCrossnerdsPodcast...But Good(?)Nerds here! Get yer Spicy Summer 'Ssnerds here! Featuring a husk of future residents (Rebecca and Brooke) discussing New York Times crossword puzzles (we selected 4 from the week of 8/22/22), PLUS PLUS PLUS Lollapuzzoola 2022 (puzzles still available here)!! Sundry chatter also includes: The great HOOHA-baloo Meta puzzles Towns with no business in crosswords Stacking elevens COVID content in puzzles And in hurricane news: WAIT IT OUT, or evacuate? 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. Ple...
2022-09-0840 minCrossnerdsDIDN'T WE JUST HAVE THIS? | IsomerdsHey bb whats ur sign? In the crossword zodiac, we mean. I bet you're a Gridbearer. The Block? Butterfly (for symmetry)? Anyway, we're both Crossnerds, and in this ep we discuss New York Times crossword puzzles (published 6/6/22 - 6/12/22), as well as the following topics (which are also great sitcom episode/children's book names ™️): The Trouble with Tightening Revealers We-all Need Will Nediger Carly Schuna and the German Wheel Question Marks (Again? 😜) When Misdirects Fail 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...
2022-06-1940 minCrossnerdsTWO-BY-TWO | Skater vs sk8romg have WE GOT AN EP FOR YOU. 'Twixt our reviews of New York Times crossword puzzles (5/2/22 - 5/8/22), Rebrooka discover: The truly absurd history of "Louie Louie" (I chose the Toots version) The city of Ur Short fill, destigmatized #SettlerSaturday Why four-leaf clovers are rare 🍀 Brooke luvs to rollerblade And if nothing else, pls pls pls experience Brooke's essay puzzle, then go to abortionpuzzles.com to learn about These Puzzles Fund Abortion Too, and then donate and get your puzzlepack here. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Podcasts! @ us on Twitter! S...
2022-05-1246 minCrossnerdsMAGAZINE RACKET | Be as you wish to seemHappy belated Spring Festivals! We are celebrating with a new round of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews (4/18/22 - 4/24/22). Also featuring: A crossword for everyone(?) Punchline revealers Using a curated list to source a puzzle: 👍/👎? Oil wrestling 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!
2022-04-2943 minCrossnerdsSOFT OPTIONS | How are you?Rebecca and Brooke are returnt like the U.S. Football League, except that our sporty forte is tackling NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLESSSS (from 3/28/22 - 4/3/22)!! Also in this ep: Americanisms, Bacchanalia for marginalia, and fie-ing the ex who absconded with intimacy (which may or may not have been a STAGED disappearance 👀). 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!
2022-04-0746 minCrossnerdsEXES & NOS | Don't be a duckHappy 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 < >Links "After You've Gone" by Joyce Bryant Portia Lundie on being a Black female constructor (WaPo) Women's History Month crosswords collection in the Washington Post Erica Hsiung Wojcik on the Expanded Crossword Name Database (NYT Gameplay) Ryan McCarty's McGrids Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in Spotify! Comment in Apple Pod...
2022-03-2456 minCrossnerdsPARLOR TRICK | Heal the [cross]worldSo, 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!
2022-03-1245 minCrossnerdsCINEMAGRAMS | Yes SHIRReeAnother 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!
2022-03-0147 minCrossnerdsPARDON MY FRENCH | Down the RAT HOLEGrab 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. Pl...
2022-02-2457 minCrossnerdsSCI-FI SHOWDOWN | It's a triomphWell, 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 comm...
2022-02-131h 15CrossnerdsMedley Week #1 | Chaotic goodHang 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: Universal American Values Club ("AVCX") Inkubator The New Yorker USA Today The Atlantic The Washington Post 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...
2022-01-2754 minCrossnerdsPLAYING THE HITS | Whoomp there it isThat'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!
2022-01-2152 minCrossnerdsCOLOR MIXING | I Bega your pardonSeason 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
2022-01-0642 minCrossnerdsSEASON TO TASTE | Accept all cookiesWrap 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!
2021-12-2735 minCrossnerdsThere's a new game in town | TNY's Liz Maynes-AminzadeIs 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...
2021-12-2429 minCrossnerdsJOB SHARING | RIP PhifeWhat 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!
2021-12-1840 minCrossnerdsGARAGE SALE PITCHES | Symmetry, shammetryGratitude, 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 t...
2021-12-0345 minCrossnerdsSCREEN SHARING | Hey ShortiTo 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!
2021-11-2435 minCrossnerdsCHOICE WORDS | I want candyYou and your lawn decorations better get into Crosstume: Rebecca and Brooke are Rebacka, reviewing New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/25/21 thru 10/31/21. Included: the Great David S. Pumpkins SNUB of 2021, the NYT's Amazon Alexa obsession, urchin injuries, and guff. More worms, mama! Read about zombies' Haitian roots here, in the Atlantic. 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!
2021-11-1036 minCrossnerdsSPORTS NUTS | No m&ms, but I do have two EMSWhat do you get when a meta 4 meets the right pants leg? While you're coming up with the answer, please enjoy this list we compiled based on New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/18/21 thru 10/24/21. Are They Out There?: Aliens Santa (Lapland??) The "d" in "handsome" We also talk about other conspiracies, such as themes that appear vertically (in the Downs). Sleep tight, sweet humans.......👽 👽~~ 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...
2021-10-2835 minCrossnerdsCOMMON CORE | Balls in a pocketFrom Beelzebub and the shillelaghs we're esporting to lead pipes, "so-what" clues, and that blasted Off!: it's a whirlwind tour of New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/11/21 thru 10/17/21. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Comment @ us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you!
2021-10-2336 minCrossnerdsSTUDY BREAKS | A real rowdydowReady the snow scythes and bring in the beakers! Rebecca and Brooke review the New York Times crossword puzzles from 9/20/21 - 9/26/21. The Crossword Collaboration Directory is a beautiful thing!! Among other sources, here is CNN's piece on Ole Miss. Go forth and clue responsibly. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!
2021-10-0141 minCrossnerdsNEW LOOK | SemordnilapL'jai alai'm! In this episode of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews: lovin' on some diagonal symmetry, crossword cocktails*, RiRi, and GAY PORN. Cruciverbs from 9/13/21 thru 9/19/21. Join the crossword Discord (d/b/a Crosscord)! *Cocktails suggestion box: @Crossnerds. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!
2021-09-2432 minCrossnerdsWHAT A CHARACTER! | Cat with tears of joy emojiIn the words of the Backstreet Boys: "Oh my God, we're back again." Rebecca and Brooke, that is. Reviewing the New York Times crossword puzzles from 9/6/21 thru 9/12/21. Support equality and women's rights here. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!
2021-09-1539 minCrossnerdsGO UP IN SMOKE | Getting bro vibes, sisRebecca. Brooke. New York Times crossword puzzle reviews. August 30 thru September 5, 2021. EOM. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!
2021-09-1038 minCrossnerdsUH? OH... | Please don't eat the bathwareJoin Rebecca and Brooke and Oscular The Grouch as we crack up and open the last week in New York Times crossword puzzles! August 23-29, 2021. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!
2021-09-0238 minCrossnerdsRESETTLING LETTERINGS | Let's get Nast-yWhether you're a teehee, a tehee, a heh heh, har har, haha, or a ROFLcopter, all laughs are welcome this (and every!) week, as Rebecca and Brooke review the New York Times crossword puzzles from 8/16/21 - 8/22/21. The Lollapuzzoola puzzles and Twitch stream are still available at bemoresmarter.com. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!
2021-08-2540 minCrossnerdsTHINK TWICE | It's probably alright?Ponytails UP, headphones IN, pencils DOWN: it's HOT 'NERDS SUMMER, Crossbabes! BexVex and Bballstar09946 are back puzzling out the last week in New York Times crosswords (08/09/21 - 08/15/21). Featuring appearances by KEKE Palmer, UHH, and 😑! Oh btw if you're free this Saturday, August 21, join Brooke, Sid, and Brian at Lollapuzzoola 2021. Enjoying Crossnerds? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in Apple Podcasts! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you!
2021-08-1838 minCrossnerdsOFF BRAND | AMI at the Love ShackRebecca Neipris and Brooke Husic review New York Times crossword puzzles from 7/26/21 thru 8/1/21 and talk about other Pressing Issues in Crossworld, but all you really need to hear is DJ Cummerbund & The B-52's "Love Shack (Tik Toxic Remix)." You are welcome. Enjoying Crossnerds? Give us five ⭐️s and comment in iTunes! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Word-upped: Themelesses by Brian Thomas: puzzlesthatneedahome.blogspot.com Matthew Stock's 21x's: happylittlepuzzles.com
2021-08-0638 minCrossnerdsSTAR SEARCH | E.T. home phone⭐️✨Star stuff everywhere!✨⭐️ That is what you can expect from this stellar. New. Episode. Of. What? CROSSNERDS! Rebecca Neipris and--in-person in our NYC "studio"--Brooke Husic review the last week in New York Times crossword puzzles (7/19/21 - 7/25/21). Pardon the tangentialos... If you like us, please rate us stars and comment in iTunes! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Word-upped Lollapuzzoola: https://bemoresmarter.com/lollapuzzoola/ Brooke's puzzle site: xwordsbyaladee.blogspot.com Adam Aaronson's puzzles: https://aaronson.org/crosswords/ Ricky Cruz's Cruzzles: https://cruzzles.blogspot.com/
2021-07-2735 minCrossnerdsLaura Braunstein Will Take You ThereHave you ever wondered... What makes a crossword, like, good, from an editor's-eye view If Laura Braunstein (@laurabrarian) is good at karaoke What Laura Braunstein’s favorite emoji is Whether there is a more graceful option than crying yourself to sleep at night when you’ve had your a** handed to you at a crossword puzzle tournament? YES? ME TOO THAT'S SO AMAZING THIS PODCAST IS FOR YOU!!!!!!! Welcome to Crossnerds' SERENITY NOW special! To distract you from living your worst nightmares, we hit the (digital) books and get absolutely learnt with Laura Braunstein: accomplished cons...
2020-10-3139 minCrossnerdsGood Grid, It's Sid!Welcome to Crossbirds! We've ALIT beside Sid Sivakumar (@sid_sivakumar) who, in just the last three months, made his debut (6/22), dibut (8/8), and tribut (9/3) in the New York Times; celebrated the yearniversary of his indie crossword blog, Sid's Grids; and contributed puzzles to several charity packs and to xword tournament Lollapuzzoola. Meanwhile, I was eating a popsicle. We gab about the wonders of the crossword community, the beauty of indie publishing, and Important Topix such as: Lexical gatekeeping The dangers of specialization Constructor credit as a commodity Crosswords vs. Scrabble Sizeism (in puzzles, ahem) Cryptics in India, Britain, and...
2020-09-0247 minCrossnerdsLet's Be Friends with Brooke and SidWhat's it like to write a crossword puzzle for the New York Times, and why does it matter? Co-constructors of Saturday's puzzle and frequent collaborators (and FRIENDS) Brooke Husic and Sid Sivakumar spill the crossbeans on: Authorship in crosswords The editorial process at the NYT The joy of synchronized puzzling Plus ever so much more! Check out Brooke's and Sid's puzzles at Lollapuzzoola 13 (this Saturday, 8/15!) and on Sid's indie puzzle site, sidsgrids.com. They're also active on crossword Twitter: @xandraladee and @sid_sivakumar. Masks up, ducklings!
2020-08-1148 minCrossnerdsA. Ladee Made Your Crossword Puzzle, Ep. 12 many DEBUT!!!!s 2 count in our first-ever two-part episode, which features our first-ever female guest (Brooke Husic) and is accompanied by Rebecca's first-ever crossword puzzle (available here)!! Did we mention: !!!!!!!?!?! Since solving her first New York Times just six months ago, Brooke's taken Crossworld by storm, publishing in USA Today, the American Values Club Crossword, and several other indie outlets in the last month alone. Many thanks to Sid Sivakumar (who recently made his own DEBUT! in the New York Times crossword) for hosting the Crossnerds collabzzle on his site, Sid’s Grids. ht...
2020-07-0354 minCrossnerdsNerding Out with Eric BerlinFor the 45-year-old kid in all of us, Pro puzzler Eric Berlin (@puzzleeric) joins for a FAB! NEW! EP! of ✨📣🤓🤘!!Crossnerds!!🤘🤓📣✨ Eric shares his earliest memories of mysteries, the joy of word games, the pleasure of co-solving, and a list of his favorite outlets and constructors. Word-upped in this episode... Eric Berlin's Social Distancing Puzzles (benefiting Feeding America) Puzzlesnacks The New York Times Crossword Evan Birnholz's Sunday WaPo crosswords Joon Pahk's Outside the Box variety puzzles Nathan Curtis on Patreon Thomas Snyder's Grandmaster Puzzles Crosswords, variety puzzles, and cryptics in the Wall Street Journal Sta...
2020-06-2231 minCrossnerdsChris King and the Island of Misfit WordsCome, all ye bell polishers, ye crepe hangers, ye highjohns, ye janes: ring in the New Year with a special dingle dangle to Chris King (@ckingsc)! Gather round yer device of choice and hear tell of thoughtful crossword construction, the best online and indie puzzles, the boon of cluing cities, and the bane of adjectives and awkward abbreviations. 🎊Happy 2020!🎊 Chris is the author of https://chriswords.com/ and "5 Easy-to-Read Crossword Puzzles: Medium-Level Puzzles to Challenge Your Brain." Slang courtesy of A Flapper's Dictionary (1922).
2020-01-0535 minCrossnerdsOPEN WIDE! | The Giving Of Thanks 2019Situationships. Popyrights(?). Emu eggs. Rampant mispronunciations. These are but a taste of the ingredients that flava-ed the last week of New York Times crossword puzzles (11/20/19 through 11/27/19). Here to help you digest them all are your trusty (vs. crusty) nerds du jour, Rebecca and Nate Cardin. We're so thankful for your listens and support. Please dig in. If you like us, please give us all the stars and comment in iTunes! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Happy holidaze!
2019-11-3049 minCrossnerdsLINES OF WORK | 2 Nerdy 2 Email-CuriousWelcome to Qrossnerds: a v spesh ep featuring Nate Cardin (@naytnaytnayt), who joins host REBECCA NEIPRIS to talk about Queer Qrosswords, representation in puzzles, and creating a safe space in crossworld‒one in which everyone can feel seen. Plus! Your weekly dose of New York Times crossword puzzle analysis, for 10/11/2019 - 10/15/2019. Enjoi!
2019-10-2031 minCrossnerdsWELL, WELL, WELL, IF IT ISN'T ... | You démodé, baeGround... nut... Meg? Featuring New Yorker contributor Natan Last! "It ain't my fault that I'm out here makin' news," my grandmother used to say. "I'm the pudding in the proof/ Gotta blame it on the New York Times crossword puzzle." And then we would watch this animation of Dock Ellis's LSD no-hitter together. Over and over. And over again. Then I grew up to be a totally normal human and Natan and I talked about the daily New York Times crossword puzzle, 9/4/19 - 9/8/19.
2019-09-1331 minCrossnerdsFLIP 'PHONES | ( -☞´◔‿ゝ◔`)-☞Welcome to the last-past week in the finest New York Times crossword puzzle analysis on the PLANET! This week, Rebecca "Etui 2020" Neipris and Natan "Crazy But Unbelievable" Last discuss bracketologists. kaomoji, who knows or does not know Tolkien (cough, Natan), and the cultural influence of the filme "Independence Day." We're talking #NYTXW, 6/24/19 - 6/30/19. Enjoi!
2019-07-0832 minCrossnerdsTAKE TWO | McDevito and the Radioactive BananasHold on to your seashells: we're BACK, beaches!! And we're joined by crossword constructor and individual human Natan Last, whose esteemed puzzles have been published in the New Yorker, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and ever so many more. This week, we take on ice McQueens, good "oh"s, Chaka Khan, and oodles more. It's the week in New York Times crossword puzzles, 6/17/19 - 6/23/19. What's beyond the #NYTXW? Check out newyorker.com/crossword/puzzles-dept and crosswordnation.com/.
2019-06-2642 minCrossnerds★Very Special Episode★ Interview with Erik AgardLeader of the crossword vanguard, fashion icon, Jeopardy! winner, and all-around stellar human Erik Agard drops by Crossnerds HQ for an eclectic discussion of Soulja Boy/Drake meme, representation in crosswords, land otters, and the history of printers. Also: Erik gets his drag name! Tens across the board.
2019-04-0221 minCrossnerdsTHAT'S A MOUTHFUL | KñockoutThe approximate history of Balto and some real bushwa: the very best in New York Times crossword puzzle reviewing, performed live on stale air by some Crossnerds! Andy Kravis and Rebecca Neipris. The week in question (and answers): 2/4/19 - 2/10/19. CE.
2019-02-1940 minCrossnerdsEJECTION LETTERS | Milking our wild oatsWe're funky! We're fruit-y! We're fair-weather fans of, like, sports! And also of frosted tips 2.0 (heeeeey, Chris Messina)! Or...anyway. Listen to this podcast episode. We talk about the last week in New York Times crossword puzzles, 1/28/19 to 2/3/19. Andy Kravis. Rebecca Neipris. Enjoy.
2019-02-1035 minCrossnerdsQUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY | UNEMPLOYMENT LINES | Thank u nextScandalous acceptances! 90s feels! Diversity! McDLTs! It's double the pleasure, double the fun, same number of Crossnerds: the past two weeks of New York Times crossword puzzles, reviewed by your loyal Crossservants, Andy Kravis and Rebecca Neipris. 1/14/19 - 1/27/19.
2019-02-0358 minCrossnerdsPARLOR TRICKS | Oh, what an actress!Prii! 23andNOT me! Did pogs smell bad! And more! Join your two fave crossnerdburgers, Rebecca Neipris and Andy Kravis, for our weekly romp through the past week in New York Times crossword puzzles: 1/7/19 - 1/13/19.
2019-01-1948 minCrossnerdsBREAKING NEWS | It's 2019Happy New Year! Could 2019 be the Year Of The Reckoning for the NYT? The Crossnerds take on the Notorious 2 Down...and ALSO get into the O-zone and the origins of the word "sinister," while Rebecca plays Regis to Andy Kravis's Pat Sajak/Vanna White wheeler/dealer. Hashtag, fortunate. All while discussing the New York Times crossword puzzles from the last week, 12/31/18 to 1/6/19.
2019-01-1240 minCrossnerdsWHAT A ZOO! | Let's get wiiierdJust in time for Candlenights! In this episode, Rebecca Neipris horrifies Andy Kravis with a rendition of "This Is How We Do It," Uzo Aduba rules, and Andy dishes on his first-ever puzzle[fail]! Ta-ta, 2018! The week in NYT crossword puzzles, 12/3/18 - 12/9/18.
2018-12-2634 minCrossnerdsREPRESENT! | A break in the pursuit of barbarityThree-letter words are the four-letter words of crosswords! Also, what is a rebus; authorship matters; and other detours as Andy Kravis and Rebecca Neipris discuss the last week, 11/26/18 - 12/2/18, in New York Times crossword puzzles.
2018-12-0649 minCrossnerdsSILENT FINALES | To each Clippy his ownPlease enjoy this most seasonal episode: veritable cornucopia of knowledge on relevant topics such as "how to take a picture" and "how to wish someone a happy--or not--Thanksgiving." Yes! We're back! Andy Kravis and Rebecca Neipris. Celebrating the past week in New York Times crossword puzzles, 11/19/18 - 11/25/18.
2018-11-2856 minCrossnerdsMATCH PLAY | Vote kale for whatever 2018!Boo!/Yay: it's another episode of Crossnerds, where Andy Kravis and Rebecca RN discuss another week (10/22/18 - 10/28/18) in the New York Times crossword puzzle. Also, kale; how Andy "doesn't" hate the Beatles; our favorite Halloween costumes; and, like, other stuff. You've stopped reading. K, love you, miss you, bye!
2018-11-0359 minCrossnerdsYOU'RE GOING DOWN | But keep your Agourds upWelcome to the Erik Agard Fan Club Podklatsch! Wherein, oh right, we also discuss the week in New York Times crossword puzzles (10/14/18 - 10/21/18). Lift your voices up! Put your jazz hands down! Watch out for soupy pies! And vive le Agard! Rebecca Neipris and Andy Kravis are at it again.
2018-10-2450 min
CrossnerdsGAME HUNTING | NO BALLS and tough nuts to crackCheck your turmeric lattes at the door, people. Rebecca Neipris and Andy Kravis discuss the virtues and pitfalls of light board gamery and the rare beauty of puzzles with an arc. The week in New York Times crossword puzzles, 10/8/18 - 10/14/18.
2018-10-2137 min
CrossnerdsTHE ART OF PUZZLE-MAKING | Ceci n'est pas un bonne semaineOy. (New York Times crossword puzzles, 9/17/18 - 9/23/18. Reviewed by Andy Kravis and Rebecca Neipris.)
2018-09-2742 minCrossnerdsUH, WHAT? | A cat punmergency and the Great Murse DebateRebecca and Andy Kravis are BACK! With the sassiest episode of Crossnerds to grace this past week in New York Times crossword puzzles. We're talkin' Red Vines v. Twizzlers. A $ource of ca$h. Wilford Brimley. The height of Ponce de Leon. "Dr. T and the Women." And so, so, SO much more. 9/10/18-9/16/18
2018-09-2055 minCrossnerdsCHANGING THE SUBJECT | All the world's a burritoLollapuzzoola 2018!! Plus Aqua Zumba, Irish goodbyes, Hungarian hellos, shrooms, and tribute puzzles. That's right: it's another week in crossworld. Rebecca rn and Andy Kravis. New York Times crossword puzzles. 8/13/18-8/19/18. Let's do this.
2018-08-2334 minCrossnerdsGHOSTED | Paging Randy QuadPlus friendzones, teat rays, Monet X-Change, and #protips on how to improve as a crossword puzzle solver. Andy Kravis and Rebecca Neipris, talkin' New York Times crossword puzzles, 7/30/18 - 8/5/18.
2018-08-0955 minCrossnerdsTHREE IN ONE | Dance or dip?NYT crossword puzzles | 7/22/18-7/29/18 Sunday 7/29 | THREE IN ONE | Will Nediger Producer, hostess, and borderline ma'am | Rebecca Ryder Neipris Illustrious co-host and perpetual sir | Andy Kravis
2018-08-0231 minCrossnerdsCREATURE FEATURE | The year the Times got wokeNYT crossword, Sunday 7/24/18: "Creature Feature," by Timothy Polin. Guest co-host: Alex Gelman! Producer and hostess: Rebecca RN
2018-07-2743 minCrossnerdsTRICKY TRIOS | What is your spirit onomatopoeia?NYT crossword, Sunday 6/17/18: "Tricky Trios." Amanda Chung, Karl Ni and Erik Agard. Guest co-host: Andy Kravis! Guest sound wizard: Jack Reeves! Producer and host: Rebecca RN
2018-06-251h 102018-06-0138 minCrossnerdsMay 13, 2018 | LOVE AT FIRST SITE | Rubber? I hardly know 'er!Date: May 13, 2018 Constructors: Neville Fogarty & Erik Agard Theme: LOVE AT FIRST SITE
2018-05-1636 minCrossnerdsMay 6, 2018 | LET'S PLAY TWO | Under where?Date: May 6, 2018 Theme: LET'S PLAY TWO Constructor: Brendan Emmett Quigley
2018-05-0836 minCrossnerdsApril 29, 2018 | MIS-UNABBREVIATED | In which Jack goes NUTS on the idea of "post-truth"Date: April 29, 2018 Constructor: Peter Wentz Theme: MIS-UNABBREVIATED
2018-05-0337 minCrossnerdsApril 22, 2018 | PLUSES & MINUSES | Earth Day presented by Richard GereDate: April 22, 2018 Constructor: Ross Trudeau Theme: PLUSES & MINUSES
2018-04-2336 minCrossnerdsApril 8, 2018 | TRIPLE SPOONERISMS | Batrick Perry's masterpieceDate: April 8, 2018 Theme: Triple Spoonerisms Constructor: Batrick Perry
2018-04-0935 minCrossnerdsApril 1, 2018 | 1 + 1 = 5 | The 'snerds are back!!Date: April 1, 2018 Theme: 1 + 1 = 5 Constructor: Sam Ezersky
2018-04-0338 minCrossnerdsACPT Interviews: David Steinberg! & Jeffrey Krasnick!The second installment of our interview series. Live from the floor of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament! (Apologies for the sound quality).
2018-03-3005 minCrossnerdsCrossnerds @ ACPT — Erik Agard interview (tournament champ!)Special eps! This weekend, the Crossnerds went to the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, an incredible experience filled with amazing, brilliant, quirky constructors & solvers. This first interview is with tournament CHAMP Erik Agard, conducted after puzzle 6. We apologize for the sound quality. Our mics were packed up and we used a stereo room recorder :3 Still, you can hear Erik's wisdom on speed-solving! Enjoy! LINKS MENTIONED: Puzzle Collaboration Directory: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1515117638602016/ Indy500: https://www.theindie500.com/
2018-03-2807 min2018-03-1838 minCrossnerdsMarch 11, 2018 | IF FOUND, CALL... | Bayou by uDate: March 11 2018 Theme: IF FOUND, CALL... Constructor: Matthew Sewell See Matthew's CRAWL SPACE puzzle here: http://www1.chem.umn.edu/groups/baranygp/puzzles/crawlspace/
2018-03-1235 minCrossnerdsMar 7, 2018 | CHARACTER BUILDING | Excuse you, AristotleApologies for late upload! The Crossnerds ran into technical issues that took a few days to fix :-/ Theme: CHARACTER BUILDING Constructor: Byron Walden Date: Mar 7, 2018
2018-03-0739 minCrossnerdsFeb 25, 2018 | LETTER RECYCLING | Cher's no Celine; Ethan Allen is more than furnitureDate: Feb 25, 2018 Theme: LETTER RECYCLING Constructor: Will Nediger
2018-02-2636 minCrossnerdsFeb 18, 2018 | NAME DROPPER | Lotus Eaters on EndorDate: Feb 18, 2018 Theme: NAME DROPPER Constructor: Elizabeth A. Long
2018-02-2028 minCrossnerdsFeb 11, 2018 | PARONOMASIA | Wilde'n outDate: Feb 11, 2018 Theme: PARONOMASIA Constructor: Matt Ginsberg
2018-02-1434 minCrossnerdsFeb 4, 2018 | CRACKING WISE | Iggles & OmsDate: Feb 4 2018 Constructor: David Levinson Wilk Theme: CRACKING WISE
2018-02-0431 minCrossnerdsJan 28, 2018 | SURPRISE ENDINGS | John Jacob Jingleheimer What!?Date: Jan 28, 2018 Theme: SURPRISE ENDINGS Constructor(s): Priscilla Clark & Jeff Chen
2018-01-2934 minCrossnerdsCrossnerds BONUS: Interview with Constructor Andy Kravis!Andy Kravis stopped by to talk crossword constructing (and much more) with the Nerds. To learn more about Andy and grab his puzzles, visit: http://cruciverbalistatlaw.blogspot.com/ Puzzle Collaboration Directory: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1515117638602016/about/
2018-01-2745 minCrossnerdsJan 21, 2018 | SUBSTITUTIONS | 'Swordin' and Snoggin'Date: Jan 21 2018 Theme: SUBSTITUTIONS Constructors: Victor Barocas and Andy Kravis
2018-01-2233 minCrossnerdsJan 14, 2018 | SUPREME INTELLIGENCE | Capuchin' it upDate: Jan 14 2018 Constructor: Joel Fagliano Theme: SUPREME INTELLIGENCE
2018-01-1428 minCrossnerdsJan 7, 2018 | VOWEL PLAY | Cho Chang Cha Ching!Date: Jan 7 2018 Theme: VOWEL PLAY Constructor: David Steinberg
2018-01-0828 minCrossnerdsDec 31, 2017 | Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New | Orangutans tango'ing in ParisDate: Dec 31, 2017 Constructor: John Lampkin Theme: Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New
2017-12-3126 minCrossnerdsDec 17, 2017 | Oh, One Last Thing |Paul Anka! Pete Best! Tutti Frutti!Date: December 17 2017 Theme: Oh, One Last Thing Constructor: Andrew J. Ries
2017-12-1928 minCrossnerdsDec 10 2017 | FULL-BODY CAST | Pocky, professional bowler John ElwayDate: Dec 10 2017 Theme: Full-Body Cast Constructors: Erik Agard & Laura Braunstein
2017-12-1133 minCrossnerdsDec 3, 2017 | SHELL GAME | Woo(p)t, there it isDate: Dec 3, 2017 Constructor: David Steinberg Theme: SHELL GAME
2017-12-0431 minCrossnerdsNov 26, 2017 | Inside Out | Skorts, Godzilla, HathaDate: Nov 26, 2017 Constructor: Jeff Chen Theme: Inside Out
2017-11-2831 minCrossnerdsNov 19, 2017 | COUNTERPRODUCTIVE | Toucan SamDate: Nov 19 2017 Constructor: Tom McCoy Theme: COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
2017-11-2030 minCrossnerdsNov 12, 2017 | "S-Q'S ME!" | El Barto, ShaqDate: Nov 12 2017 Theme: S-Q'S ME Constructor: Ed Sessa
2017-11-1235 minCrossnerdsNov 5 2017 | Lane Changes | They might be GildasDate: Nov 5, 2017 Theme: Lane Changes Constructor: Natan Last
2017-11-0631 minCrossnerdsOct 29, 2017 | Going Off Script | Lines and planes and PoeDate: Oct 29 2017 Theme: Going Off Script Constructor: Ross Trudeau
2017-10-2934 minCrossnerdsOct 22 2017 | Selfies | We're back! Twain misquotes and tuteesDate: October 22 2017 Constructor: Tracy Gray Theme: Selfies
2017-10-2336 minCrossnerdsOct 1, 2017 | One Way To Put It | Bosc pears, and prepositions(?)Date: Oct 1 2017 Theme: That's One Way To Put It Constructor: Robert Fisher
2017-10-0232 min2017-09-2536 minCrossnerdsSep 17 2017 | Super Looper | Thermidor, ComputeratorDate: Sep 17, 2017 Theme: Super Looper Constructor: Mark MacLachlan
2017-09-1835 minCrossnerdsApril 24 | Crossnerds in Britain, Part I | The Tao of Cee-LoDate: April 24, 2017 Theme: A Century of Song Constructor: Olivia Mitra Framke
2017-04-2531 min