The Good Words Podcast

The Good Words Podcast is for kids and grown-ups to delight in hilarious, fascinating, wonderful words while we all learn together to use words better, and use better words. It is written and created by Lynn Hickernell, who also writes and performs music for kids and adults under the name Miss Lynn. Learn more and hear lots of her songs at misslynn.com.

2023 Kids Listen Summer Sampler 06/19/2023

2023 Kids Listen Summer Sampler Miss Lynn produced this year's Kids Listen Summer Sampler, featuring short bites of eleven different Kids Listen member podcasts for kids! Learn more about Kids Listen at Featured in this episode: Girl Tales: Book Club for Kids: Like You: Power Dog Adventures: Unspookable: Stoopkid Stories: Peace Out: What If World: Newsy Pooloozi: Dorktales Storytime Podcast: Fina Mendoza Mysteries: Kids Listen audio transitions by Dan Saks of Summer Sampler artwork by Jodi Murphy of KL Summer Sampler 2023 produced by Lynn Hickernell of /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/27194343

EPHEMERAL (The Good Words Podcast) 08/01/2022

EPHEMERAL (The Good Words Podcast) In this final episode of the Good Words Podcast, Miss Lynn discusses the word ephemeral with an explanation of the expression, "ships that pass in the night" and a passage from H.W. Longfellow, a "Do Over" about The Camp Friend, two poems by Stephanie Pepper and some jokes and riddles in GET IT?!?!? Thanks to all the contributors to this episode: Ari Kelly of Leela of Grady of Eric O'Keeffe of Stephanie Pepper's two poems that close the episode are: You can find more information about the expression "ships that pass in the night" at these two links: /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/23840180

CHASM (The Good Words Podcast) 06/04/2021

CHASM (The Good Words Podcast) In this episode, Miss Lynn explains the word, "chasm" with the assistance of passages from the Sherlock Holmes case, The Final Problem and Oscar Wilde's play Lady Windermere's Fan, as well as feedback from friends about what they have missed most during the pandemic. The episode concludes with the song, "Frosted with Sprinkles (The Doughnut Store Song)." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/19280687

SUPERLATIVE (The Good Words Podcast) 02/24/2021

SUPERLATIVE (The Good Words Podcast) In this episode, Miss Lynn talks about the word, "superlative" with an excerpt from Charles Dickens's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, "Say What?!?" about the expression, "the GOAT," a discussion about ALA book awards with former award committee member Angela Frederick, and the "humorous monologue with piano accompaniment," "Runcorn Ferry." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/17970557

OSTENTATIOUS (encore) 10/26/2020

OSTENTATIOUS (encore) Getting all dressed up for Halloween? In this episode, updated in honor of the big day (and night), Miss Lynn explains the word OSTENTATIOUS. Includes an excerpt from Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad, "Say What?" about the phrase, "Dressed to the nines," and an overview of cosplay and historical costuming from contributor Glynnis. /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/16438802

QUAGMIRE (encore) 06/22/2020

QUAGMIRE (encore) In this re-edited encore episode (originally released in October 2018), host Lynn Hickernell explains the literal and metaphorical uses of the word, "quagmire" with a passage from Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, and a personal story about a complicated situation called, "The 8th Grade Quagmire." The episode concludes with a selection from the Robert Burns poem, "Elegy on Captain Matthew Henderson." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/14885087

FOIBLE (encore) 06/09/2020

FOIBLE (encore) In this revised encore episode, host Lynn Hickernell discusses her own foibles, and those Aesop pointed out in his fables, including, "The Gnat and the Lion." Includes bonus word, "subjective," and a "Do Over" about "Duck Feet," and concludes with the song, "Normal ('s Just a Town)." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/14723222

ANTEDILUVIAN (encore) 05/25/2020

ANTEDILUVIAN (encore) In this re-edited encore episode (originally released in April 2019), host Lynn Hickernell explicates the word, "antediluvian." Includes excerpts from the books The Velveteen Rabbit and The 14th Goldfish (courtesy of the folks from Book Power for Kids!), "Say What?" about the expression, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," "It Came From the Internet," "GET IT?!?!?" and the Miss Lynn song, "Studebaker Truck." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/14490641

AUDACITY (encore) 05/11/2020

AUDACITY (encore) This encore episode (originally released in September 2018) focuses on the word, "audacity." It includes an excerpt from Kat Shepherd's book, The Shadow Hand, a "Do Over" discussion about, "The Invention," and concludes with Miss Lynn's song, "A Bit Shy." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/14237390

UNORTHODOX (The Good Words Podcast) 04/27/2020

UNORTHODOX (The Good Words Podcast) This episode celebrates Autism Acceptance Month with the word, "unorthodox." Miss Lynn talks with family therapist Bonnie Witmer about feeling out-of-place among her 5th grade classmates in, "Do Over: The Lunch Box," and discusses making unconventional theater with Yellow Finch Project creators Tara O'Boyle and Patrick Denny. The episode concludes with autistic poet Benjamin Giroux reading his poem, "I am odd, I am new." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/14104847

EDIFYING (encore) 04/06/2020

EDIFYING (encore) In this episode, specially updated in spring 2020 with content related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Miss Lynn talks about, "edifying." Includes recurring segments, "Ads that Subtract," "Say What?!?" about the expression, "A rising tide lifts all boats," and a "Do Over" discussion with family therapist Emily King about, "The Special School." The episode concludes with the song, "I Contact." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/13735358

COMESTIBLE (The Good Words Podcast) 03/23/2020

COMESTIBLE (The Good Words Podcast) Food is front and center as Miss Lynn takes a look at the word, "comestible"! Includes a discussion of the phrase, "Don't yuck someone else's yum," 15-year old Nathaniel's experience living with food allergies, and some funny foodstuffs in, "GET IT?!?!?" The episode concludes with Miss Lynn's song, "Sweet Treat." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/13517843

OBSTREPEROUS (The Good Words Podcast) 03/09/2020

OBSTREPEROUS (The Good Words Podcast) Miss Lynn celebrates Women's History Month with the word, "obstreperous," and explains how Christabel Pankhurst was forced to break rules in order to get women the vote. "Activist, You!" host Lindz Amer tells why activists like Greta Thunberg need to be uncooperative, and family therapist Bonnie Witmer discusses how to cope with an unruly little brother in "Do Over: The Board Game." The episode concludes with Stephanie Pepper's poem, "Catfight." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/13348211

ULTRACREPIDARIAN (The Good Words Podcast) 02/24/2020

ULTRACREPIDARIAN (The Good Words Podcast) In this first episode of the third series, host Lynn Hickernell discusses the word, "ultracrepidarian." Includes a passage from Charles Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby, "Do Over" about The Doctor (featuring Book Club for Kids host Kitty Felde), "Embrace Vulnerability," and "GET IT?!?!?" Concludes with a new adaptation of the Alexander Pushkin poem, "The Shoemaker," read by What If World's Eric O'Keeffe. /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/13164089

UPROARIOUS (encore) 02/03/2020

UPROARIOUS (encore) In this bonus "earpetizer" of The Good Words Podcast (originally released in 2019), host Lynn Hickernell features an excerpt from Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the poem "The Bells of Shandon" by Francis Sylvester Mahony read by Una Clancy, and a special listener-submitted edition of, "GET IT?!?!?" /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/12700046

RETROSPECTIVE (GWP Earpetizer) 01/20/2020

RETROSPECTIVE (GWP Earpetizer) Host Lynn Hickernell welcomes the new year with a Kids Listen Sweeps episode of the Good Words Podcast about the word, "retrospective." Featured in this bonus episode: a "Say What?!?" segment about the expression, "Hindsight is 20/20," a poem by Emily Dickinson, a reprise of favorite jokes from past episodes, and, "Clear," from Miss Lynn's song cycle, "Bottle Builder." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/12699941

PREPOSTEROUS 01/06/2020

PREPOSTEROUS In this bonus episode, host Lynn Hickernell explains the word, "preposterous" with a true story from the Kids Listen podcast, "The Past and the Curious" about meat falling from the sky, some extremely ridiculous riddles in, "GET IT?!?!?" and the Edward Lear poem, "The Table and the Chair." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/12428390

EUPHONIOUS (encore) 12/23/2019

EUPHONIOUS (encore) In this encore episode, host Lynn Hickernell explains the word, "euphonious" with some information about the brass instrument called a euphonium, and lots of examples of things that sound pleasing to different people, both because of the sounds themselves and because of what the sounds signify. Concludes with the Lewis Carroll poem, "Jabberwocky." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/12143039

TEMPORAL (GWP Earpetizer) 12/09/2019

TEMPORAL (GWP Earpetizer) Host Lynn Hickernell discusses the word, "temporal" with the poem, "Epitaph" by Alan L. Strang, an overview of the Kids Listen podcast "Timestorm," a temporally-related edition of "GET IT?!?!?" and the song, "Grandfather's Clock" performed by the Haydn Quartet. /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/12142997

CONGLOMERATION (GWP Bonus) 11/25/2019

CONGLOMERATION (GWP Bonus) In this bonus episode, host Lynn Hickernell explains the word, "conglomeration" with a "Say What?!?" segment about the Latin phrase, E Pluribus Unum, the traditional song, "Dona Nobis Pacem," and overviews of other kids' podcasts that are part of the conglomeration of podcasters known as Kids Listen. /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/12084944

NESCIENCE (encore) 11/11/2019

NESCIENCE (encore) This encore episode, originally released in November 2018, centers on the word, "nescience." Host Lynn Hickernell explains this word in an excerpt from philosopher Herbert Spencer's First Principles, a "Do Over" about The School Play, and concludes with the Miss Lynn song, "Still Learning." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/11826961

PERIPETEIA (GWP Earpetizer) 10/28/2019

PERIPETEIA (GWP Earpetizer) In this short bonus episode, host Lynn Hickernell introduces the word, "peripeteia" with a feature on Kids Listen podcast, "The Past and the Curious," recurring segments, "Embrace Vulnerability" and "GET IT?!?!?" Concludes with the Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/11711747

ECHELON (encore) 10/14/2019

ECHELON (encore) Originally released in July 2018, this updated encore episode focuses on the word, "echelon." Host Lynn Hickernell discusses the instances of levels throughout life. Includes "It Came From the Internet," "Wow, That's a Good Question," and a "Do Over" with family therapist Emily King about, "Epidermis." Concludes with the Miss Lynn song, "The Race." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/11405825

HIATUS (GWP Earpetizer) 09/30/2019

HIATUS (GWP Earpetizer) In this short earpetizer, host Lynn Hickernell discusses the word, "hiatus" with a "Say What?!?" segment juxtaposing the phrases, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," and "Out of sight, out of mind." Also includes a specifically hiatus-related encore edition of "GET IT?!?!?" and actor Kwana Martinez presenting Lola Ridge's poem, "Interim." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/11405600

JUXTAPOSITION (The Good Words Podcast) 09/16/2019

JUXTAPOSITION (The Good Words Podcast) Host Lynn Hickernell explicates the word, "juxtaposition" in recurring segments, "Ads that Subtract," "It Came From the Internet," "Embrace Vulnerability," and "GET IT?!?!?" Includes opera singer Nellie Melba's interpretation of, "Home Sweet Home," Nate from "The Show About Science" explaining the Scientific Method, and a speech from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/11062391

SHAMBOLIC (The Good Words Podcast) 09/02/2019

SHAMBOLIC (The Good Words Podcast) In this episode, host Lynn Hickernell expounds on the word, "shambolic" with an excerpt from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, an overview of library cataloging with Arden Kirkland, a discussion of order and chaos with city planner Scott Adams, an examination of the term, "Autism Spectrum Disorder," and concludes with the song, "Wild Strawberries." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/10980647

TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA (The Good Words Podcast) 08/19/2019

TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA (The Good Words Podcast) This episode is about the fear of the number 13, "triskaidekaphobia." Miss Lynn discusses this, and other superstitions and phobias, with an excerpt from, "Unspookable," a "Say What?!?" segment about the expression, "Break a leg," a "Do Over" with family therapist Emily King about "The Dress Shoes," and concludes with the poem, "The Supper Superstition" by Thomas Hood, read by "Just Us Weirdos" creator and host, Charlie White. /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/10845887

CORPOREAL (The Good Words Podcast) 08/05/2019

CORPOREAL (The Good Words Podcast) Host Lynn Hickernell talks about the word, "corporeal," and explores the question, "What does it mean to have a 'good' body?" Features recurring segment, "Ads that Subtract" as well as a new segment, "Embrace Vulnerability," a story from contributor Pam Mungroo, and a new original song, "Good Body." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/10686110

EDIFYING (The Good Words Podcast) 07/22/2019

EDIFYING (The Good Words Podcast) This episode about the word, "edifying" includes a "Say What?!?" segment about the expression, "It is better to give than to receive," a "Do Over" with family therapist Emily King about, "The Special School," and concludes with the Miss Lynn song, "I Contact." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/10610471

SQUELCH (The Good Words Podcast) 06/24/2019

SQUELCH (The Good Words Podcast) This episode for Kids Listen's Pride-themed sweeps is full of collaborations with other KL podcasts! Miss Lynn explains the word, "squelch" with help from Little Stories for Tiny People's "Tad and Fish," a poem read by What If World's Mr. Eric, and a "Do Over" about "The Boob Tube," with Circle Round's Rebecca Sheir. Also a discussion with family therapist Emily King, and "Say What?" about the phrase, "Wear your heart on your sleeve." /episode/index/show/goodwordspodcast/id/10178678

The Good Words Podcast

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