Episodes

  • Ep 24 Bird Brilliance: Zugunruhe and Murmuration

    Ep 24 Bird Brilliance: Zugunruhe and Murmuration
    Mar 6 2025
    Maggie and Emily learn about murmurations and zugunruhe from Ballona Wetlands tour guide Susan Levinson. Isi the Scribe discuss (and shares a poem) about animal collective nouns. Poem by Maggie: Zugunruhe.
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    32 mins
  • Ep 23: Wine Wisdom: Terroir and Noble Rot (Botrytis)

    Ep 23: Wine Wisdom: Terroir and Noble Rot (Botrytis)
    Feb 27 2025
    Maggie and Emily learn the words from “terroir” and “noble rot” from wine educator Nora Murphy. They discover “apisoir” with Michael Alberty and “aha-mnesty” with C. Brian Smith. Poem by Emily: Terroir.
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    30 mins
  • Ep. 22 Buddhist Blessings: Dukkha and Mudita

    Ep. 22 Buddhist Blessings: Dukkha and Mudita
    Feb 20 2025
    Maggie and Emily discuss the Buddhist words dukkha and mudita with Zen priest Senshin and put the word “karma” on trial with judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Maggie: Not To My Liking.
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    31 mins
  • Ep 21: Valentines: Love Around The World

    Ep 21: Valentines: Love Around The World
    Feb 13 2025
    Maggie and Emily talk to guests from around the world about love and learn how people say “I love you” across the globe. Poem by Emily: galaxies.
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    29 mins
  • Ep 20 Armenian Ardor: Mousmous and Qti Maz

    Ep 20 Armenian Ardor: Mousmous and Qti Maz
    Feb 6 2025
    Maggie and Emily learn the Armenian words qti maz and mousmous from Gagik Hakobyan and John Ekezian. They discuss the term brickianity with Rob Bell and see the word kalsarikänni in action with Eric Giancoli. Poem by Maggie: Tapping Out.
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    28 mins
  • Ep 19 Math and Music: Isophene, Asymptote, and Mondegreen

    Ep 19 Math and Music: Isophene, Asymptote, and Mondegreen
    Jan 30 2025
    Maggie and Emily discuss the words isophene and asymptote with fiction writer Susan Sechrist and learn the musical term mondegreen from jazz singer Sarah Spiegel. Poem by Emily: Isophene.
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    29 mins
  • Ep 18: Hebrew Heart: Asir Toda and Nefesh

    Ep 18: Hebrew Heart: Asir Toda and Nefesh
    Jan 23 2025
    Maggie and Emily learn Hebrew words asir toda and nefesh from native speaker Leila Eden. Reporter at large Peter Baynham reports on the Finnish word kalsarikännit and Susie McDonnell shares “embarrask.” Poem by Maggie: Asir Toda (Gratitude Prisoner)
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    31 mins
  • Ep. 17 Pashto Pearls Part Two: Gharzai and Sabar

    Ep. 17 Pashto Pearls Part Two: Gharzai and Sabar
    Jan 14 2025
    Maggie and Emily discuss the Pashto words gharzai and sabar with native speaker Sanjar Qiam from Afghanistan and learn the word "contemplocean" from the author of The Cosmic Dictionary, Norm Millstein. Poem by Emily: Gharzai.
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    32 mins