Jeffrey Martinovic has graced the pages of the NYTimes before, and one glance at this crossword will tell you why he was invited back - a splendid piece of work, a brilliant (and helpful) theme, with an ARMY (60A, Host) of educational and entertaining clues. Those included 5D, Sound of hesitation ERM, and its counterpart, 68A, Sounds of hesitation, UMS; 71A, Media inits. since 1851, NYT (yay, our favorite newspaper!!); and, of course, the unforgettable 70A, Bottomless pit, ABYSM, a clue into which we hope to take a, ahem, deep dive, at a later date! Show note imagery: An example of LATERALSYM ..read more

Judy Bower's debut crossword has much to commend it, including 45D, Word with bad or blood, SPORT;  34D, Certain Scotsman, GAEL; 38D, "Ha, no surprise there!", IKNEWIT; and, of course, the awesome theme of which we have more to say inside, so to speak. Show note imagery: SCREENAGERS! 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 ..read more

Michael Schlossberg has created a dazzling Sunday crossword with a doozie of a theme, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We have all the deets inside, so we cordially invite you to have a listen (and don't forget to subscribe!) Show note imagery: TEDTtalks, which are apparently limited to 18 minutes in length 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 ..read more

Another challenging Saturday crossword  - no surprise there, Saturdays are designed to be the toughest crossword of the week - but at least the trivia / pop culture references were mercifully few. Jean had a spot of bother in the middle of the crossword, while Apple aficionado Mike thrashed about trying to recollect 48A, Popular video editing software, IMOVIE. Deets inside, as usual, as well as the big reveal, this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner. Show note imagery: An APPLETINI Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@iclou ..read more

An entertaining and educational Friday crossword by Kate Hawkins - just the way we like 'em! Jean knew pretty much every answer in the grid, although it took some time to connect each word/phrase to its clue! Mike, meanwhile, knew ... PHASERS and EDEN, although many of the rest of the answers looked vaguely familiar. Besides our analysis of the crossword proper, it's Fun Fact Friday, so check out that segment (including the US Fish & Wild Service web site  mentioned there). Show note imagery: The Alhambra PALACE, in Spain Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswor ..read more

Today's crossword did not have the rebuses (rebusae?) that one of us (cough, Mike, cough) forecast yesterday, but it made up for that omission with a terrific, and terrifically taxing, theme, and an accompanying throng of challenging clues. We're still gasping, in awe and exhaustion, from having gotten this puzzle solved. For all the deets, have a listen, and then let us know what you think - crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Show note imagery: Check out those pink PLUMES Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to dro ..read more

Another fabulous midweek NYTimes crossword, thanks to a glorious theme that is about as NYTimes-ish as they come. We will leave you in suspense as to what that theme might be, or ... you could just download today's episode where all will become clear, in particular why this crossword  rates a full and enthusiastic 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Show note imagery: A real escape pod (from a B-58 Hustler) 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 ..read more

A splendid Tuesday crossword by Adam Vincent (edited most ably by Joel Fagliano), with quite a few lively clues to keep the solver interested. We are referring to (beyond those mentioned in the podcast proper) to 51A, San Fran athlete, NINER; 65A, Deserving of a fire emoji, as a party, LIT (say what? ?); and 36D, Quartet + Quintet, NONET (awesome!). In addition to our deep dive into the grid, it's also Triplet Tuesday, and Jean's in the hotseat! To find out how she fared, subscribe / download / listen up / enjoy! Show note imagery: Dimension X, a marvelous old time radio show Contact Info: W ..read more

We are philosophical about today's crossword (a debut by Amanda Winter), mainly because today's crossword -- particularly the theme -- contained a large dollop of philosophy. We will leave you in mild suspense as to the exact nature of that philosophy, but you may assuage that suspense by checking out today's episode! Show note imagery: Yesterday, a DERBY; today, FEDORAS; tomorrow's forecast ... TAMs! 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 ..read more

A crunchier than usual Sunday crossword by John Rippe and Jeff Chen, a side-effect, perhaps, of a brilliant theme that had Jeff Chen's fingerprints all over it. There were many clever clues - 35A, Something you might break into, SONG (ha!); 9D, Game with annoying pop-ups, WHACAMOLE (raising again, that epic question, where'd the K go?); and 97A, Outstanding, OVERDUE (like Lucy v. Charlie Brown, we always fall for that clue!). But the pièce-de-résistance of the entire puzzle had to be the theme, timely, epic, and elegant. Deets await inside, so have a listen, and please tell others about us on ..read more