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Crossnerds
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Crossnerds
For Thee, Ass King
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! 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...
2023-03-04
32 min
Crossnerds
Cut to Wabbit Season
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 ta...
2023-02-10
28 min
Crossnerds
Query Theory
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...
2022-12-12
42 min
Crossnerds
Solve 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...
2022-11-20
37 min
Crossnerds
SOUL 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...
2022-09-26
46 min
Crossnerds
Podcast...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...
2022-09-08
40 min
Crossnerds
DIDN'T WE JUST HAVE THIS? | Isomerds
Hey 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...
2022-06-19
40 min
Crossnerds
TWO-BY-TWO | Skater vs sk8r
omg 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...
2022-05-12
46 min
Crossnerds
MAGAZINE RACKET | Be as you wish to seem
Happy 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!
2022-04-29
43 min
Crossnerds
SOFT 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!
2022-04-07
46 min
Crossnerds
EXES & NOS | Don't be a duck
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 < >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...
2022-03-24
56 min
Crossnerds
PARLOR TRICK | Heal the [cross]world
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!
2022-03-12
45 min
Crossnerds
CINEMAGRAMS | Yes SHIRRee
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!
2022-03-01
47 min
Crossnerds
PARDON MY FRENCH | Down the RAT HOLE
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. Pl...
2022-02-24
57 min
Crossnerds
SCI-FI SHOWDOWN | It's a triomph
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 comm...
2022-02-13
1h 15
Crossnerds
Medley Week #1 | Chaotic good
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: 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...
2022-01-27
54 min
Crossnerds
PLAYING THE HITS | Whoomp there it is
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!
2022-01-21
52 min
Crossnerds
COLOR MIXING | I Bega your pardon
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
2022-01-06
42 min
Crossnerds
SEASON TO TASTE | Accept all cookies
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!
2021-12-27
35 min
Crossnerds
There's a new game in town | TNY's Liz Maynes-Aminzade
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...
2021-12-24
29 min
Crossnerds
JOB SHARING | RIP Phife
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!
2021-12-18
40 min
Crossnerds
GARAGE SALE PITCHES | Symmetry, shammetry
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 t...
2021-12-03
45 min
Crossnerds
SCREEN SHARING | Hey Shorti
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!
2021-11-24
35 min
Crossnerds
CHOICE WORDS | I want candy
You 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!
2021-11-10
36 min
Crossnerds
SPORTS NUTS | No m&ms, but I do have two EMS
What 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...
2021-10-28
35 min
Crossnerds
COMMON CORE | Balls in a pocket
From 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!
2021-10-23
36 min
Crossnerds
STUDY BREAKS | A real rowdydow
Ready 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!
2021-10-01
41 min
Crossnerds
NEW LOOK | Semordnilap
L'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!
2021-09-24
32 min
Crossnerds
WHAT A CHARACTER! | Cat with tears of joy emoji
In 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!
2021-09-15
39 min
Crossnerds
GO UP IN SMOKE | Getting bro vibes, sis
Rebecca. 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!
2021-09-10
38 min
Crossnerds
UH? OH... | Please don't eat the bathware
Join 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!
2021-09-02
38 min
Crossnerds
RESETTLING LETTERINGS | Let's get Nast-y
Whether 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!
2021-08-25
40 min
Crossnerds
THINK 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!
2021-08-18
38 min
Crossnerds
OFF BRAND | AMI at the Love Shack
Rebecca 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
2021-08-06
38 min
Crossnerds
STAR 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/
2021-07-27
35 min
Crossnerds
Laura Braunstein Will Take You There
Have 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...
2020-10-31
39 min
Crossnerds
Good 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...
2020-09-02
47 min
Crossnerds
Let's Be Friends with Brooke and Sid
What'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!
2020-08-11
48 min
Crossnerds
A. Ladee Made Your Crossword Puzzle, Ep. 1
2 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...
2020-07-03
54 min
Crossnerds
Nerding Out with Eric Berlin
For 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...
2020-06-22
31 min
Crossnerds
Chris King and the Island of Misfit Words
Come, 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).
2020-01-05
35 min
Crossnerds
OPEN WIDE! | The Giving Of Thanks 2019
Situationships. 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!
2019-11-30
49 min
Crossnerds
LINES OF WORK | 2 Nerdy 2 Email-Curious
Welcome 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!
2019-10-20
31 min
Crossnerds
WELL, WELL, WELL, IF IT ISN'T ... | You démodé, bae
Ground... 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.
2019-09-13
31 min
Crossnerds
FLIP '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!
2019-07-08
32 min
Crossnerds
TAKE TWO | McDevito and the Radioactive Bananas
Hold 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/.
2019-06-26
42 min
Crossnerds
★Very Special Episode★ Interview with Erik Agard
Leader 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.
2019-04-02
21 min
Crossnerds
THAT'S A MOUTHFUL | Kñockout
The 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.
2019-02-19
40 min
Crossnerds
EJECTION LETTERS | Milking our wild oats
We'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.
2019-02-10
35 min
Crossnerds
QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY | UNEMPLOYMENT LINES | Thank u next
Scandalous 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.
2019-02-03
58 min
Crossnerds
PARLOR 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.
2019-01-19
48 min
Crossnerds
BREAKING NEWS | It's 2019
Happy 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.
2019-01-12
40 min
Crossnerds
WHAT A ZOO! | Let's get wiiierd
Just 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.
2018-12-26
34 min
Crossnerds
REPRESENT! | A break in the pursuit of barbarity
Three-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.
2018-12-06
49 min
Crossnerds
SILENT FINALES | To each Clippy his own
Please 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.
2018-11-28
56 min
Crossnerds
MATCH 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!
2018-11-03
59 min
Crossnerds
YOU'RE GOING DOWN | But keep your Agourds up
Welcome 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.
2018-10-24
50 min
Crossnerds
GAME HUNTING | NO BALLS and tough nuts to crack
Check 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.
2018-10-21
37 min
Crossnerds
THE ART OF PUZZLE-MAKING | Ceci n'est pas un bonne semaine
Oy. (New York Times crossword puzzles, 9/17/18 - 9/23/18. Reviewed by Andy Kravis and Rebecca Neipris.)
2018-09-27
42 min
Crossnerds
UH, WHAT? | A cat punmergency and the Great Murse Debate
Rebecca 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
2018-09-20
55 min
Crossnerds
CHANGING THE SUBJECT | All the world's a burrito
Lollapuzzoola 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.
2018-08-23
34 min
Crossnerds
GHOSTED | Paging Randy Quad
Plus 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.
2018-08-09
55 min
Crossnerds
THREE 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
2018-08-02
31 min
Crossnerds
CREATURE FEATURE | The year the Times got woke
NYT crossword, Sunday 7/24/18: "Creature Feature," by Timothy Polin. Guest co-host: Alex Gelman! Producer and hostess: Rebecca RN
2018-07-27
43 min
Crossnerds
TRICKY 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
2018-06-25
1h 10
Crossnerds
May 27, 2018 | 21 | Goodbye, Jack
Date: May 27, 2018 Theme: 21 Constructor: Andrew Chaikin
2018-06-01
38 min
Crossnerds
May 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
2018-05-16
36 min
Crossnerds
May 6, 2018 | LET'S PLAY TWO | Under where?
Date: May 6, 2018 Theme: LET'S PLAY TWO Constructor: Brendan Emmett Quigley
2018-05-08
36 min
Crossnerds
April 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
2018-05-03
37 min
Crossnerds
April 22, 2018 | PLUSES & MINUSES | Earth Day presented by Richard Gere
Date: April 22, 2018 Constructor: Ross Trudeau Theme: PLUSES & MINUSES
2018-04-23
36 min
Crossnerds
April 8, 2018 | TRIPLE SPOONERISMS | Batrick Perry's masterpiece
Date: April 8, 2018 Theme: Triple Spoonerisms Constructor: Batrick Perry
2018-04-09
35 min
Crossnerds
April 1, 2018 | 1 + 1 = 5 | The 'snerds are back!!
Date: April 1, 2018 Theme: 1 + 1 = 5 Constructor: Sam Ezersky
2018-04-03
38 min
Crossnerds
ACPT 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).
2018-03-30
05 min
Crossnerds
Crossnerds @ 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/
2018-03-28
07 min
Crossnerds
March 18, 2018 | TAKING YOUR Q | C'est la Qantas
2018-03-18
38 min
Crossnerds
March 11, 2018 | IF FOUND, CALL... | Bayou by u
Date: 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/
2018-03-12
35 min
Crossnerds
Mar 7, 2018 | CHARACTER BUILDING | Excuse you, Aristotle
Apologies 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
2018-03-07
39 min
Crossnerds
Feb 25, 2018 | LETTER RECYCLING | Cher's no Celine; Ethan Allen is more than furniture
Date: Feb 25, 2018 Theme: LETTER RECYCLING Constructor: Will Nediger
2018-02-26
36 min
Crossnerds
Feb 18, 2018 | NAME DROPPER | Lotus Eaters on Endor
Date: Feb 18, 2018 Theme: NAME DROPPER Constructor: Elizabeth A. Long
2018-02-20
28 min
Crossnerds
Feb 11, 2018 | PARONOMASIA | Wilde'n out
Date: Feb 11, 2018 Theme: PARONOMASIA Constructor: Matt Ginsberg
2018-02-14
34 min
Crossnerds
Feb 4, 2018 | CRACKING WISE | Iggles & Oms
Date: Feb 4 2018 Constructor: David Levinson Wilk Theme: CRACKING WISE
2018-02-04
31 min
Crossnerds
Jan 28, 2018 | SURPRISE ENDINGS | John Jacob Jingleheimer What!?
Date: Jan 28, 2018 Theme: SURPRISE ENDINGS Constructor(s): Priscilla Clark & Jeff Chen
2018-01-29
34 min
Crossnerds
Crossnerds 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/
2018-01-27
45 min
Crossnerds
Jan 21, 2018 | SUBSTITUTIONS | 'Swordin' and Snoggin'
Date: Jan 21 2018 Theme: SUBSTITUTIONS Constructors: Victor Barocas and Andy Kravis
2018-01-22
33 min
Crossnerds
Jan 14, 2018 | SUPREME INTELLIGENCE | Capuchin' it up
Date: Jan 14 2018 Constructor: Joel Fagliano Theme: SUPREME INTELLIGENCE
2018-01-14
28 min
Crossnerds
Jan 7, 2018 | VOWEL PLAY | Cho Chang Cha Ching!
Date: Jan 7 2018 Theme: VOWEL PLAY Constructor: David Steinberg
2018-01-08
28 min
Crossnerds
Dec 31, 2017 | Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New | Orangutans tango'ing in Paris
Date: Dec 31, 2017 Constructor: John Lampkin Theme: Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New
2017-12-31
26 min
Crossnerds
Dec 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
2017-12-19
28 min
Crossnerds
Dec 10 2017 | FULL-BODY CAST | Pocky, professional bowler John Elway
Date: Dec 10 2017 Theme: Full-Body Cast Constructors: Erik Agard & Laura Braunstein
2017-12-11
33 min
Crossnerds
Dec 3, 2017 | SHELL GAME | Woo(p)t, there it is
Date: Dec 3, 2017 Constructor: David Steinberg Theme: SHELL GAME
2017-12-04
31 min
Crossnerds
Nov 26, 2017 | Inside Out | Skorts, Godzilla, Hatha
Date: Nov 26, 2017 Constructor: Jeff Chen Theme: Inside Out
2017-11-28
31 min
Crossnerds
Nov 19, 2017 | COUNTERPRODUCTIVE | Toucan Sam
Date: Nov 19 2017 Constructor: Tom McCoy Theme: COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
2017-11-20
30 min
Crossnerds
Nov 12, 2017 | "S-Q'S ME!" | El Barto, Shaq
Date: Nov 12 2017 Theme: S-Q'S ME Constructor: Ed Sessa
2017-11-12
35 min
Crossnerds
Nov 5 2017 | Lane Changes | They might be Gildas
Date: Nov 5, 2017 Theme: Lane Changes Constructor: Natan Last
2017-11-06
31 min
Crossnerds
Oct 29, 2017 | Going Off Script | Lines and planes and Poe
Date: Oct 29 2017 Theme: Going Off Script Constructor: Ross Trudeau
2017-10-29
34 min
Crossnerds
Oct 22 2017 | Selfies | We're back! Twain misquotes and tutees
Date: October 22 2017 Constructor: Tracy Gray Theme: Selfies
2017-10-23
36 min
Crossnerds
Oct 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
2017-10-02
32 min
Crossnerds
Sep 24, 2017 | STATE LINES | Is Adam Driver an A-List Celeb?
2017-09-25
36 min
Crossnerds
Sep 17 2017 | Super Looper | Thermidor, Computerator
Date: Sep 17, 2017 Theme: Super Looper Constructor: Mark MacLachlan
2017-09-18
35 min
Crossnerds
April 24 | Crossnerds in Britain, Part I | The Tao of Cee-Lo
Date: April 24, 2017 Theme: A Century of Song Constructor: Olivia Mitra Framke
2017-04-25
31 min