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I love this podcast. It’s about language. More specifically you could say it’s about conversational speech, intonation, and the host John McWhorter does a great job of bending his voice around the phrases and words he’s talking about. He’s a fan of musical theatre and plays a few show tunes with lyrics which relate to the themes of the episode. I like to have podcasts, or tv, people talking, on pretty much all the time I’m at home. I also need that on flights (I don’t like to fly but I have to do it often). So this podcast feels like a friend.
Jun 23, 2022
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this is my comfort podcast, a great way to learn something new about language or discover a new side to something you already know. callers come in with words or phrases they want more info on (definitions, origins, stances on use), and a lot of time it's phrases that have been passed down in their family. it's not very technical, anyone can listen and follow along!
calls are international, though they generally get callers from all over the US. they also take emails and just stories about anything from submissions. part way they also have a little language game that can be challenging, but it's engaging hearing the hosts try and solve along with you. I just find the whole thing very charming!
Mar 11, 2025
Very wholesome yet very informative Podcast about the origin of certain words and phrases!!! just the right about of noncommittal mental stimulation without feeling overburdened. its a good vibe all around 🌀
Jun 5, 2024
Nov 13, 2024
Top Recs from @florence-shaw
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I was first given this by my friend Elizabeth who bought it at Books Peckham, an excellent second hand bookshop in South London (highly recommended!) run by another old friend, Peter Willis. It’s homemade by a woman called Sophie and contains Lavender, Clary Sage, Majoram, Mugwort and Roman Chamomile. I realise this is quite a mysterious description but if you find yourself in London go to Books Peckham and it will be there. It makes a tour bus smell like home! And when you are staying in a different bed every night it offers a familiar and heady smell to fall asleep to.
Jun 23, 2022
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A designer specialising in romantic, funny, slouchy, pre raphaelite cabbage leaf clothes. If you want to look like a grumpy baby in a long christening gown and at the same time a medieval vision emerging from a lake with some pond weed trailing then this is for you. I hope I can own some one day. At the moment they’re a little out of my league financially speaking ;) but for now I’m ok to enjoy them with my eyes only. But the need is great. I think they’re the most beautiful clothes.
Jun 23, 2022
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An incredible resource. This exhaustive archive of newspaper cuttings was assembled by Edda and Hans Tasiemka, and is now housed at Hymag in Woolwich Arsenal, London. Bulging foolscap document wallets in muted yellows, pinks and blues have themes jotted on ad hoc printer paper spines in Sharpie, groupings like Crimes Committed by Children, Accupuncture, Coal, Sienna Miller, Whales. Each file is bursting with hand cut articles from the British press on these very subjects. I spent a productive day there last year, reading and writing in the run up to recording our second album.
Jun 23, 2022