MP3 • APPLE PODCASTS • RSS • GOOGLE • TRANSCRIPT
Next episode is the 200th, therefore this is the 199th. I raid the 66-page documents of ideas for episodes, that I have been keeping for nearly a decade, and present to you 199 ideas that I have not yet made into podcasts (except for this one).
And if you’re listening thinking, “Oh, that idea is a topic I know all about!” then get in touch, maybe the idea could become a podcast at long last.
Be in the 200th episode please! Come up with a language-related quiz question and submit it by 6 September at theallusionist.org/quiz.
And! Come to see the Allusionist live show Souvenirs, we are RIGHT NOW on tour in the UK, with a funny and beautiful show about the 900-year-old roots of modern day tech problems, the -gate suffix, and very strong font-based emotions. Listings and ticket links are at theallusionist.org/events. Oh and the merch is very nice.
EXTRA MATERIALS:
The story of the word ‘volcano’.
Michael Rosen on the contentiousness of the letter H.
17th century pastry letters.
I've also just appeared on new episodes of The Bugle and The Gargle. And here is a playlist of me guesting on other podcasts.
Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes info about every episode, regular relaxing livestreams with me and my dictionaries, and membership of the Allusioverse Discord community. We’ll be watching the new season of Taskmaster together because my brother is in it.
YOUR RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
scute, noun, zoology: a thickened horny or bony plate on a turtle's shell or on the back of a crocodile, stegosaurus, etc.
Origin Middle English (denoting a coin): from Latin ‘scutum’.
CREDITS:
This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman.
The original Allusionist music is by Martin Austwick. Download his songs at palebirdmusic.com and listen to his podcasts Song By Song and Neutrino Watch.
Find the Allusionist at youtube.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshow, TikTok @allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow, @allusionistshow.bsky.social… Essentially: if I’m there, I’m there as @allusionistshow.
Back in a couple of weeks with a new episode - HZ.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:
• Home Chef, meal kits that fit your needs. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering Allusionist listeners eighteen free meals, plus free shipping on your first box, and free dessert for life, at HomeChef.com/allusionist.
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running your online empire/new home for your cryptic puzzle that takes months to solve. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothing essentials, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase.
• LinkedIn Ads convert your B2B audience into high quality leads. Get $100 credit on your next campaign at linkedin.com/allusionist.
