Personally, I live for an info-dump. I genuinely want to hear you go on and on about that random thing you’re obsessed with. My brother-in-law has fun facts about peregrine falcons? Yes. My partner needs to vent about the perfect texture of latte foam? Me, me, me. The other day my bestie was sharing conspiracy theories about the glitter industry (look it up), and I was RAPT.
What can I say? I love hearing people nerd out. Podcasts are perfect for this (duh), and I’ve discovered some of my all-time favorite eggheads this way. Last week I stumbled upon the motherlode, a podcast about one of my favorite obsessions: language.
KMUW’s You’re Saying It Wrong debates the conundrums and controversies of language every week. In the most recent episode, host Fletcher Powell discusses the different connotations words have based on who’s using them. (NPR definitely has its own lexicon. If I tell you I’m “crashing”, I promise I’m not “crashing out”.)
Fletcher, plus the other co-hosts (who are siblings!), are curious, playful, and game for any rabbit hole that comes their way. In another recent episode, they copy-edited the Declaration of Independence — with a delightfully heavy hand, might I add. And since I just found the show, I have years’ worth of nerdy deep dives to keep me company. Down the rabbit hole I gooooooo!
Podspeed my friends,
Julia
P.S. What are you a nerd about? Send us your favorite fun fact (or better yet, a podcast!) at podclub@npr.org.
The week’s best episodes
…to share with your long-distance bestie or your next-door neighbor
🤝💻 The good, the bad and the ugly of AI in the workplace
We’re in the messy middle of a big shift towards AI. Listeners from The Indicator share how they’re currently using it at work, from analysis to creating lesson plans for their students. And we’re keeping a close eye on this story because things move FAST in the world of AI.
🥵💸 Don’t get burned
Y,all. One time I bought counterfeit sunscreen that was really just… lotion. Life Kit is here to keep you from making the same mistake, and has expert tips for not getting duped by dupes.
🌞👀 The nuance behind #JoyIsResistance
On Code Switch, self-described curmudgeon Leah Donella digs into the idea of joy as a form of protest. There are LAYERS to this, but writer and activist Adrienne Maree Brown says joy is a crucial part of the “ecosystem of resistance” because it helps fight despair.
➕ For subscribers: The interviewer becomes the interviewee
When Terry Gross was asked to find someone to interview her on stage for an event, she chose Marc Maron. Listen as he grills her about her upbringing, her daily life, and her friendships in this unforgettable live interview. To get access — plus sponsor-free listening — sign up for NPR+.
One to Watch
Hasan Piker is polarizing, charismatic, and kind of a bro. And he’s on It’s Been a Minute with Brittany Luse, explaining why the political left doesn’t need its own Joe Rogan.
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