Crossnerds

Crossnerds is the world's best—er, nerdiest—crossword puzzle podcast. Editors, constructors, solvers, and allies deliver piping-hot takes on the New York Times crossword puzzle and the vast cruciuniverse of wordplay beyond.

For Thee, Ass King 03/04/2023

For Thee, Ass King Discussed! NYT crossword puzzles from Weds 2/22/23 (Adam Wagner), Thurs 2/23/23 (Joe Deeney), and Sun 2/28/23 (Will Nediger). Disgust! Black History Month did not seem to matter to the NYTXW. But racial representation in crosswords matters deeply to us. Find . Also! OPPO: British 1960s bae? MS PAINT and Brooke's minicity masterpieces Tourney szn approacheth! The , , and more TK. Reminisce with the right before Erik won ACPT. . Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/26126442

Cut to Wabbit Season 02/10/2023

Cut to Wabbit Season SCENE: Season 8. Year of the Rabbit. 2023. Cut to: Rebecca & Brooke, Crossworld's most beloved showgirls, reviewing New York Times crossword puzzles. On this episode...they (we) peruse three (3) puzzles, from 2/2/23 - 2/4/23. Featuring.....: Bisexual lighting SARD: new year, new gem?! On app-lessness CUT TO THE CHASE: What, why, how. Jannings escapes ... is not sending people to the moon In 2022, 21% of NYTXWs were written by exclusively women (h/t ) Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/25887792

Query Theory 12/12/2022

Query Theory WORDPLAY ON THE FRITZ ⋇ DEFY THE HEGEMONY ⋇ THINK FOR YOURSELF ⋇ DO NOT PANIC Happy holidaze and welcome back to the show! This week, Rebecca and Brooke calmly discuss four New York Times crossword puzzles published 11/22/2022 - 11/26/22. We also poke a stick at the curious corpus of 😱 LOGIC PUZZLES 😱 such as sudoku, ken ken, and star battles! We are two kra-z kids!!! Plus: Red alert! Reds are red, but violet may or may not be blue: colors, categories, and linguistic relativity vs. universalism in by Chelsea Wald PICTURE cards How not to fall for the myth of crossword's 'unwritten rules' The joy of connecting the dot dot dots Theme queries: emotional risks vs. open submissions (again) And the Inkubator is available at https://inkubatorcrosswords.com/. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/25294821

Solve for x[Nerds] 11/19/2022

Solve for x[Nerds] In this ep, Rebecca and Brooke review New York Times crossword puzzles from 11/9/22 - 11/12/22. Including! The first-ever, no-details-necessary, void-where-prohibited Crossnerds challenge: ⭐ Guess Our Zodiac Signs! ⭐️ Tweet us or to play. Also!: "Reduplicative names" puzzles "Reduplicative": redundant? Repeated clues: ALLOWED! Non-semantic themes Letterbanks Two takes on GOTTI Things that don't look like boats Reverse reveals The grammar of adverbs (disjuncts, e.g. "Hopefully...") Evocativeness in clues What sound owls make (hint: it is not "PEEP") Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/25071414

SOUL Shakedown Party 09/26/2022

SOUL Shakedown Party 👋🤓🎙 Live from Berlin and a Dalíesque sea of toilets: Rebecca and Brooke review the week of 9/12/22 - 9/18/22 in New York Times crossword puzzles, covering such topics as: "Noted" in crossword clues The world's kickiest animals Triple-checked squares Does Europe have Daylight Savings Time? Green paint (h/t 's USATXW blog) Wacky Wednesdays Where difficulty comes from (misdirects, vagueness) And if you don't know the Bob Marley song "Soul Shakedown Party," . Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/24492114

Podcast...But Good(?) 09/08/2022

Podcast...But Good(?) Nerds here! Get yer Spicy Summer 'Ssnerds here! Featuring a husk of future residents (Rebecca and Brooke) discussing New York Times crossword puzzles (we selected 4 from the week of 8/22/22), PLUS PLUS PLUS Lollapuzzoola 2022 (puzzles still available )!! Sundry chatter also includes: The great HOOHA-baloo Meta puzzles Towns with no business in crosswords Stacking elevens COVID content in puzzles And in hurricane news: WAIT IT OUT, or evacuate? Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/24306201

DIDN'T WE JUST HAVE THIS? | Isomerds 06/18/2022

DIDN'T WE JUST HAVE THIS? | Isomerds Hey bb whats ur sign? In the crossword zodiac, we mean. I bet you're a Gridbearer. The Block? Butterfly (for symmetry)? Anyway, we're both Crossnerds, and in this ep we discuss New York Times crossword puzzles (published 6/6/22 - 6/12/22), as well as the following topics (which are also great sitcom episode/children's book names ™️): The Trouble with Tightening Revealers We-all Need Question Marks (Again? 😜) When Misdirects Fail Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/23471597

TWO-BY-TWO | Skater vs sk8r 05/12/2022

TWO-BY-TWO | Skater vs sk8r omg have WE GOT AN EP FOR YOU. 'Twixt our reviews of New York Times crossword puzzles (5/2/22 - 5/8/22), Rebrooka discover: The of (I chose the Toots version) The Short fill, destigmatized Why four-leaf clovers are rare 🍀 Brooke luvs to rollerblade And if nothing else, pls pls pls experience , then go to to learn about These Puzzles Fund Abortion Too, and then . Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/23091665

MAGAZINE RACKET | Be as you wish to seem 04/29/2022

MAGAZINE RACKET | Be as you wish to seem Happy belated Spring Festivals! We are celebrating with a new round of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews (4/18/22 - 4/24/22). Also featuring: A crossword for everyone(?) Punchline revealers Using a curated list to source a puzzle: 👍/👎? Oil wrestling Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/22955063

SOFT OPTIONS | How are you? 04/07/2022

SOFT OPTIONS | How are you? Rebecca and Brooke are returnt like the U.S. Football League, except that our sporty forte is tackling NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLESSSS (from 3/28/22 - 4/3/22)!! Also in this ep: Americanisms, Bacchanalia for marginalia, and fie-ing the ex who absconded with intimacy (which may or may not have been a STAGED disappearance 👀). Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/22719653

EXES & NOS | Don't be a duck 03/24/2022

EXES & NOS | Don't be a duck Happy Spring, sweet (and bitter) peas! 🌱 Your favorite average-but-clean wee lasses celebrate the season by coming for the bloggers and continuing to review New York Times crossword puzzles (from 3/14/22 - 3/20/22). Discussed: Brooke's new Tinder bio Littering is bad ... as is toxic crossword commentary Mini vs. fun-size Knowing < learning The brassiere cup debate (it's CUP for grabs?) Patti Varol at the LAT crossword 🎉 Links by Joyce Bryant being a Black female constructor (WaPo) collection in the Washington Post the Expanded Crossword Name Database (NYT Gameplay) Ryan McCarty's Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/22556024

PARLOR TRICK | Heal the [cross]world 03/12/2022

PARLOR TRICK | Heal the [cross]world So, all the things, mm? Alllllll the things. Anyway, here is another episode, featuring, as usual, Rebecca and Brooke's reviews of the New York Times crossword puzzles (2/28/22 - 3/6/22). Also discussed: What's in a crossword theme? Whenfore a question mark clue? Unchecked squares. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/22426514

CINEMAGRAMS | Yes SHIRRee 03/01/2022

CINEMAGRAMS | Yes SHIRRee Another week (2/21/22 - 2/27/22), another seven New York Times crossword puzzles reviewed! Also featuring: Kelly "Wintertime" Kapow!ski and the Rugrats grandpa ("new LOU, who dis") Rebuses Chocolate v. candy Theme queries and the crossword submission process. Check out and donate ! Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/22303463

PARDON MY FRENCH | Down the RAT HOLE 02/24/2022

PARDON MY FRENCH | Down the RAT HOLE Grab some refreshing ADES and Cool American-flavoured snackies and settle into this stripped-down sesh of Classic R&B: Rebecca and Brooke reviewing the last week of New York Times crossword puzzles (2/14/22 - 2/20/22). Discussed: Holes (rabbit, rat, worm, and on a green) Non-solver fans of this podcast(???) The history of What makes a theme "tight" Narrative crosswords, such as ALTE Ableism Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in ! Comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/22246499

SCI-FI SHOWDOWN | It's a triomph 02/13/2022

SCI-FI SHOWDOWN | It's a triomph Well, well, well, if it isn't our favorite puzzlemaker/film critic/bowl made with love and erotic spirits, Kameron Austin Collins! Buckle up for Rebecca, Brooke, and Kam taking down the last week of New York Times crossword puzzles (1/31/22 - 2/6/22, which includes Kam's 2/5 stunner of a puzz). Discussed: Wereproblems -onyms Tasers () ENRON clues Kitchen items (PARERs, peelers, mashers, bowls) The art of appearing effortless High beams in NJ: literally everybody, all the time And continued PSA: RiRi is still only worth 25 points. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/22114157

Medley Week #1 | Chaotic good 01/27/2022

Medley Week #1 | Chaotic good Hang on to your aardwolves, you're going on an xword xventure: Crossnerds' first-ever MEDLEY WEEK [emphasis on the "eeek"]!!! We've selected seven luscious puzzles from seven gorgeous professional crossword outlets that are *not* the New York Times: Don't worry, we still love you, NYTXW. We'll be back with the usual next time. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21926123

PLAYING THE HITS | Whoomp there it is 01/21/2022

PLAYING THE HITS | Whoomp there it is That's one small step for man, one glaring lack of steps for non-menkind: i.e., another week (1/10/22 - 1/16/22) of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews. That's ANO from me! Featuring: Circular nose breathing Tails [Unrelated] Baby's barnyard bovines Dataaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21851933

COLOR MIXING | I Bega your pardon 01/06/2022

COLOR MIXING | I Bega your pardon Season 7 2022 LET'S GOOOOOOO! Let's get through today, every day. Together! With Rebecca and Brooke. Who, this week, review New York Times crossword puzzles from 12/27/21 - 1/2/22! Including: KISSING BUTT The heroic efforts of the NYTXW Editorial Team OAT clues LOU clues Vague clues Shout out to all the pears; and Beating the "Sunday 140-word cap" trap. Adam A-aronson's other-other AA plus-plus puzzle puzzle is . Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21689477

SEASON TO TASTE | Accept all cookies 12/26/2021

SEASON TO TASTE | Accept all cookies Wrap up 2021 with a bow and these BIBIMBangin' reviews of the New York Times crossword puzzles published 12/13/21 - 12/19/21! Rebecca and Brooke also talk about list themes and a puzzle's purpose. YAY ME! Yay WE. Ross Trudeau's essay, , is on his puzzle blog, Rossword Puzzles. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21602873

There's a new game in town | TNY's Liz Maynes-Aminzade 12/24/2021

There's a new game in town | TNY's Liz Maynes-Aminzade Is the Big Apple big enough for two major crossword puzzle outlets? Liz Maynes-Aminzade, the first-ever Puzzles & Games Editor at The New Yorker, drops in to Xnerds HQ to celebrate the magazine's inaugural Cartoons & Puzzles issue (December 27, 2021) and its new(ish) foray into puzzles and games. TNY's digital offerings include the trivia game. Subscribe to its for forthcoming goodieeees! Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s in and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21594962

JOB SHARING | RIP Phife 12/18/2021

JOB SHARING | RIP Phife What even IS a Thursday crossword these days? Is a Thursday crossword, like time itself, "only a stubbornly persistent illusion"? A memory? A fable? 😱 Whatever it is, we're talking about the last "week" of xword puzzles in the New York Times (12/6/21 - 12/12/21). ... and . Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21529715

GARAGE SALE PITCHES | Symmetry, shammetry 12/03/2021

GARAGE SALE PITCHES | Symmetry, shammetry Gratitude, greetings, and Happy Chanukah/Hanukkah 5782! R&B here, gifting you the miracle of our thoughts on the New York Times crossword puzzles from 11/22/21 - 11/28/21. Including: Baby's first rebus The next installment of the "who ate the last cookie" drama Rosalind Franklin was a Boss Big crossnews from the American Values Club! Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21370634

SCREEN SHARING | Hey Shorti 11/24/2021

SCREEN SHARING | Hey Shorti To Bork, or not to Bork? That is not the question. The question is, what will Rebecca and Brooke SAY about the last week (11/15/21 - 11/21/21) in New York Times crossword puzzles? A sampling: The Great Alfred Nobel Obituary Mixup How to make grid art CHEETO: implications for Mento? Happy [Un]Thanksgiving! Namaste. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21273716

CHOICE WORDS | I want candy 11/10/2021

CHOICE WORDS | I want candy You and your lawn decorations better get into Crosstume: Rebecca and Brooke are Rebacka, reviewing New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/25/21 thru 10/31/21. Included: the Great David S. Pumpkins SNUB of 2021, the NYT's Amazon Alexa obsession, urchin injuries, and guff. More worms, mama! Read about zombies' Haitian roots . Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/21121418

SPORTS NUTS | No m&ms, but I do have two EMS 10/27/2021

SPORTS NUTS | No m&ms, but I do have two EMS What do you get when a meta 4 meets the right pants leg? While you're coming up with the answer, please enjoy this list we compiled based on New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/18/21 thru 10/24/21. Are They Out There?: Aliens Santa (Lapland??) The "d" in "handsome" We also talk about other conspiracies, such as themes that appear vertically (in the Downs). Sleep tight, sweet humans.......👽 👽~~ Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/20964464

COMMON CORE | Balls in a pocket 10/23/2021

COMMON CORE | Balls in a pocket From Beelzebub and the shillelaghs we're esporting to lead pipes, "so-what" clues, and that blasted Off!: it's a whirlwind tour of New York Times crossword puzzles from 10/11/21 thru 10/17/21. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! Comment ! Support us ! Or just keep listening. Or all. Ideally all. But we'll take any. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/20913917

SNOOZEFEST | You losefest 10/08/2021

SNOOZEFEST | You losefest Rebecca and Brooke reunite IRL to bulk up our crossword podcasting r*sum*s by discussing New York Times puzzles from 9/27/21 - 10/3/21. We ask Important Questions Of Our Time (WHO IS EATING THE COOKIES???), explore kangaroos (mutual sniffing), the history of diagonal symmetry in the NYT (abridged), and how to use the puzzle as a platform (if you want). Will Nediger's indie puzzle roundups are on . /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/20755841

STUDY BREAKS | A real rowdydow 10/01/2021

STUDY BREAKS | A real rowdydow Ready the snow scythes and bring in the beakers! Rebecca and Brooke review the New York Times crossword puzzles from 9/20/21 - 9/26/21. The is a beautiful thing!! Among other sources, on Ole Miss. Go forth and clue responsibly. Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/20672240

NEW LOOK | Semordnilap 09/24/2021

NEW LOOK | Semordnilap L'jai alai'm! In this episode of New York Times crossword puzzle reviews: lovin' on some diagonal symmetry, crossword cocktails*, RiRi, and GAY PORN. Cruciverbs from 9/13/21 thru 9/19/21. Join the *Cocktails suggestion box: . Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/20589914

WHAT A CHARACTER! | Cat with tears of joy emoji 09/15/2021

WHAT A CHARACTER! | Cat with tears of joy emoji In the words of the Backstreet Boys: "Oh my God, we're back again." Rebecca and Brooke, that is. Reviewing the New York Times crossword puzzles from 9/6/21 thru 9/12/21. Support equality and women's rights . Enjoying "Crossnerds"? Give us five ⭐️s and comment ! Or just keep listening. Or both. Ideally both. But we'll take either. Please and thank you! /episode/index/show/crosscast/id/20486828

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