This week, Ryan and Brian are each a little pestier than usual, and ... okay, being real, Brian was super grumpy and Ryan wasn't making things any better. No Kealoa this week, but there is a useless fact, plus a Thunder Round of non-NYT puzzles: "Permanent Record" by Daniel Bodily (Universal, April 24) "Academic Terms" by Erica Hsiung Wojcik (The Modern Crossword, March 30) Crossword Club by Ada Nicolle (April 22) Los Angeles Times by Sarah Sinclair and Kelsey Dixon (April 25) "Ambitious Constraint Practiced Thoroughly" by Kieran J Boyd (April 5) "Fie! (Themeless)" by Ada Nicolle (Lucky Strea ..read more

This week, Ryan and Brian don't have iPads, don't have endorsement deals, don't enjoy meaningless facts or guessing games, and don't really like most of the puzzles they solved. Honestly, if you're looking to take a week off from FMI, this might be the week to take. 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 find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Q ..read more

This week, Ryan and Brian speak over music, customize their burgers, share more McCartneys than Jesuses, and offer one of the most nail-biting thrillers Kealoa has ever known -- but we won't harp on it, give a listen yourself. 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 find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club. Drop us a n ..read more

This week, reigning ACPT champion Paolo Pasco stops by for a chat, but not before Ryan and Brian learn a few new facts about defiant bagel slingers, George Lopez, and the curious lives of Captain and Tennille. Here are links to Paolo's work at the Atlantic, The New Yorker, his XWordInfo profile, his blog (which has good content, though hasn't been updated in a while), his crossword book for kids, and even though we cut most of the discussion from the podcast, he loves the movie Cats. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropi ..read more

This week, Brian returns from the ACPT with all the news (but none of the puzzles), and Ryan hacks and coughs his way through another Thunder Round with all the puzzles (but none of the news?). Look, just because we don't think Alex Eaton-Salners is actually Will Shortz doesn't mean that he couldn't be. 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 find our s ..read more

This week, Ryan and Brian are joined by correspondent and superlinguist Ben Zimmer, who chats it up on topics like fluffles, ghost words, mountweazels, Hamburglars, Horshacks, and hurkle-durkles. Also, the Content of Still Going On still goes on — solve it here! 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 find our show, and you'll be inducted into the ..read more

This week's long show is attributed in no small part to analyses of poetry, of cultural songs, and of hot dogs. Ryan and Brian are also thrilled to present a brand new contest puzzle, thanks to Shannon and Will — solve it here! 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 find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club. Drop us a ..read more

This week, Ryan and Brian touch UPON topics such as Cheez-Its, Carrie Underwood, and Candleshoe (yes, we've bantered on this topic before), but it's clear Ryan won't wind up ATOP any tournament leaderboards if he can't get to Stamford. 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 find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Clu ..read more

This week, Ryan and Brian realize they know less than they thought about the "Welcome Back, Kotter" universe, mixology, and French pastries ... though Ryan knows more than anyone expected about geography -- but does anyone know who he is? 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 find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club ..read more

This week, Ryan and Brian dig into a spate of television and movies, make but one small reference to a musical, and otherwise feel old about everything. (Someone, dear lord, send us email -- we need to hear from you to feel validated!) 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 find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club. Dr ..read more