Shows
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordSunday, January 18, 2026 - ¡Hola, MAMI! 😘This was an excellent crossword by Rena Cohen, a Washington University in St. Louis student. If the university sounds familiar, that might be because another NYTimes crossword contributor, Sid Sivakumar, also hails from there. What are the odds? And we'll leave it to the reader to contemplate whether the appearance of 77A, Sloth in 2002's "Ice Age", SID, is coincidence or the result of meticulous planning.Today's puzzle had a brilliant theme (covered thoroughly in today's episode) and many, many amusing clues. Among the latter was the informative 57A, Discontinued iPods designed to fit into watch pockets...
2026-01-1917 min
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordSunday, November 3, 2024 - A Sid Sivakumar spectacular!Sid Sivakumar, known for his exceedingly crunchy Saturday crosswords, goes easy on us (relatively speaking) in this fun Sunday outing. There are oodles of delightful clues, including 29A, Who has successfully juggled 15 balls simultaneously, NOONE (nice!); 103A, Name that sounds like its first two letters reversed, ELLY (oho!); and the magnificent 118A, Tower in a port, TUG (just brilliant!). The theme's a pretty piece of work too, and to hear more about that -- as well as a selection of other great, great clues -- download today's episode and take a listen.Show note imagery: Johannes GUTENBERG...
2024-11-0421 min
Fill Me InFill Me In #455: Reflecting on this quirk of English.This week, Ryan and Brian get big news from Brooke Husic and Sid Sivakumar about Lollapuzzoola, which happens in less than two weeks (August 24, 2024). Learn who's writing the puzzles, and sign up now at bemoresmarter.com to get all the content while it's still hot and fresh. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon. Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please consider leaving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. This will help new listeners f...
2024-08-1345 min
Fill Me InFill Me In #445: Ice cream with the added impact of root beer.This week, Ryan and Brian dig into some fusion cuisine (we sincerely hope the chewing sounds aren't disgusting), learn a little more about the English horn (though not enough), and imbue two scoops of Kealoa into something of a cola war. Also, a non-NYT Thunder Round (featuring Wyna Liu's 5/14 New Yorker, Ryan McCarty's "Chasm No. 14 (Themeless)", Sid Sivakumar's 5/20 Slate Midi, Will Nediger's 5/23 Vox [you'll have to go through their archives], and Chris Adams's "We Bought a Zoo"), and a plug for a new acrostic blog (courtesy of XWordInfo guru Jim Horne). If you get bored (how could...
2024-06-041h 21
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordSunday, February 18, 2024 - We 🎶 HEARDITTHROUGH THEGRAPEVINE 🎶 that this was an awesome crossword!Sid Sivakumar dials it back as he slips into his Sunday best, and this was indeed one of his best Sundays, his fourth for the NYTimes. There were some fine clues in the grid, including 75A, Home to the Great Ziggurat of Ur, IRAQ (we just like the sound of "Great Ziggurat of Ur" 😀); 116A, What hits the ground running, SOLE (ha!); and 55D, So ... or a word following "so", TRUE (double ha!); and a hidden gem at 89A, Windy part of a kite?, REEL (triple ha!).To sum up, we were impressed, this definitely rate...
2024-02-1921 min
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordSunday, October 8, 2023 - It's a superlative Sid Sivakumar Sunday spectacular, woo-hoo!This is Sid Sivakumar's 16th crossword, and practice makes perfect, because this puzzle is spot-on, with a brilliant theme and a vast array of awe-inspiring clues. We've got all the deets inside, so check out today's episode and don't forget ... our Triplet Tuesday Contest is coming right up, just a scant 2 days from today, which definitely warrants another woo-hoo!Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
2023-10-0917 min
Fill Me InFill Me In #403: Everybody stumbling on the red carpet and just kind of collapsing on their way into the grand hall.This week, Brooke Husic and Sid Sivakumar visit the studio to drop the big news of the week — the Lollapuzzoola constructor lineup! Ryan's also got a new favorite sandwich, plus at least one viewer doesn't have rabies. If you haven't clicked Lollapuzzoola yet, you should do that. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon. Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please consider leaving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. This will help new...
2023-08-081h 17
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordSaturday, April 8, 2023 - Sid Sivakumar, ONETOWATCHSid Sivakumar, the author of today's fine, fine crossword, has definitely got a reputation (at least here, at Jean And Mike Do The New York Times Crossword HQ) for writing extra-challenging crosswords, and he definitely lived up to that reputation today, with clues that were stellar, sneaky, and (if you can figure them out!) extremely satisfying. We enthusiastically approve - 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.If you want to see the solved crossword -- clues and answers -- you can check it out here.Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a...
2023-04-0919 min
Fill Me InAchy, sweaty, like my eyes were uncomfortable.Wait, didn't you specifically ask for a nearly 2-hour episode for the ACPT weekend? Well, too bad - we're giving you one anyway. Highlight: 48 minutes with Ben Zimmer. Lowlight: Probably the rest. There's a contest crossword (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi290con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Sid Sivakumar's puzzle in The Juggernaut The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament Anya Seton vs. Anne Sexton - who ya got? The guy from N...
2021-04-201h 41Fill Me InThe goal is going to be to tolerate hot sauce while solving a cryptic crossword puzzle.This week, Brian screws up his microphone input (sorry, viewers), and it almost sounds as bad as the first series of the show, ca. 2009. Also: a new grid from Sid, a new song from a-ha, and a new word for the spelling bee. There's a contest crossword from Sid Sivakumar (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi288con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." Round Britain Q...
2021-03-301h 05Fill Me InThe goal is the sauce, not the chicken.This week, Brian and Ryan strategize how to get fried chicken into what is allegedly a no-chicken zone in California, spend more time than usual talking about crosswords (hello, super long episode), but the highlight of the day is a chat with Ben Zimmer! There's a contest crossword from Sid Sivakumar (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi288con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Brooke Husic's self-proclaimed "stunt puzzle" on Chris Piuma's b...
2021-03-231h 30Fill Me InYes Arizona, no Gertie.This week, The Barnacle (our own word oracle Ben Zimmer) stops by for a little behind-the-scenes on his linguistic research syst. We also have a contest puzzle by Brian Gubin (you can download it at (https://bit.ly/fmi277con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. In this show, we also launch a proposal for a Crosswords Hall of Fame! We'd love to hear your nominations for the inaugural ballot – email those to us at fmi@bemoresmarter.com. St...
2021-01-121h 13Fill Me InYou just put an omelet on the pile.This week, Ryan and Brian count down the best of 2020, and reflect on all the positive things the past year has brought them. We also have a contest puzzle (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi275con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Some of our favorites from 2020: Panda Magazine Scott Weiss's Escape Rooms Et Tu, Etui? Sid Sivakumar's blog Amanda Rafkin's blog Grids For Good Matt Gritzmacher's Daily Crossword Links Half-Baked Puzzles A...
2020-12-291h 09Fill Me InWe are not to be trusted.This week, Ryan and Brian discuss cancel culture, the Cleveland Spiders, and Japanese onomatopoeia. We have a currently impossible contest puzzle (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi273con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Lots of stuff to click this week! Advent of Code - and join our leaderboard with code 1292270-d88e4b58 Fireball Newsflash Crosswords American Dialect Society's Word of the Year Livestream ComedyCrosswords.com Datalexic.com (Enrique Henestroza Anguiano) SidsGrids.com (Sid S...
2020-12-151h 15Fill Me In"Style" without the S; "Rattle" without the attle.This week, Ryan and Brian argue about pluralization, (re)learn about clams, and struggle with moral quandaries. Our biweekly contest is still running (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi269con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Bonus Material! Do you want to hunt for Sid Sivakumar? He's hiding somewhere. Listen to this (and to part of this episode) for an extra contest. Have you looked at Beyond Wordplay? You should. There's another contest crossword there a...
2020-11-171h 16
CrossnerdsGood 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 minFill Me InHe does detail ... in very detailed detail ...This week, Ryan and Brian present a montage of nostalgia "music," amazing speed-solve times from an avid baseball fan, and a book report like none other. We have a Contest, guest constructed by Sid Sivakumar (which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi258con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Blog about New Yorker crosswords Peter Gordon's review of "Inside the Box" (complete text with errata) If you get bored, write something for...
2020-09-011h 12Fill Me InI want you to take some ownership for what I just said.This week, Ryan and Brian fail to premiere Season Six with any kind of excitement as they show up to the studio to discover an empty Viewer Mail Bag. Ah well. We have a new Contest of Now, guest constructed by Sid Sivakumar (which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi258con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Mike Selinker solves the Batman Trailer Quinapalus.com If you get bored, write something for...
2020-08-2554 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 minFill Me InThe hidden secrets of the spreadsheet.This week, Ryan and Brian welcome indie crossword legend Sid Sivakumar to the show for a conversation about indie vs. mainstream, representation, and the art of crosswords. There's a brand new contest crossword courtesy of Neville Fogarty (download it here), and we invite you to our Twitch stream for cryptic crosswords (Wed @ 7:00pm Eastern). Sid's Grids A-to-Z crosswords Cracking the Cryptic, and the Miracle Sudoku Chris Adams, arctanxwords If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon. Do you enjoy our...
2020-05-191h 21Fill Me InThere is no consistency.This week, Ryan and Brian discuss road atlases, scary numbers, and someone lets a four-letter word slip. We left it in just so we could mark this episode "explicit." The Contest of Still Going On is still going on, and you should watch us try to streamsolve a cryptic (Wed @ 7:30pm Eastern). Article from Vice.com New Yorker crosswords (with "partner mode") Matt Gritzmacher's Daily Crossword Links Sid Sivakumar – Sid's Grids If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon. Do yo...
2020-04-281h 16