In It's Puzzling: The Power of Crosswords and Games, host Natan Last, author of the cultural history of crosswords, Across the Universe, moderates a discussion at the Brooklyn Book Festival with Barry Joseph, game designer and author of Matching Minds with Sondheim, and Juliana Pache, the creator of Black Crossword. The conversation delves into the cultural significance of games and puzzles and how they reflect history and community. Barry shares insights from his book while Juliana discusses the creation of Black Crossword and how it connects the African diaspora through daily mini puzzles. They explore themes such as the joy of solving cryptic crosswords, the social dynamics of community-based puzzles, and the personal impacts of puzzling on their own lives. The episode also introduces listeners to the intricacies of cryptic crosswords and how Sondheim popularized them in America.

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00:00 Introduction and Book Tour Updates

01:54 Brooklyn Book Festival Panel Introduction

02:49 Meet the Panelists

04:20 The Cultural Significance of Games and Puzzles

09:05 Creating Black Crossword

11:58 Sondheim's Fascination with Games

13:38 The Intersection of Puzzles and Culture

20:00 Challenges and Innovations in Crossword Puzzles

25:55 The Everything Bagel Crossword Controversy

26:25 The Art of Clue Writing

28:38 Community and Crosswords

30:32 The Power of Black Crosswords

34:42 Cryptic Crosswords Explained

37:08 Sondheim's Puzzle Legacy

41:42 Personal Stories and Puzzle Connections

44:26 Closing Thoughts on Crosswords and Community

Special Links:

Natan Last
Juliana Pache
Brooklyn Book Festival
Locavore Variety Store
Recent talk: Interview and book reading at The Drama Book Shop
Recent talk: Playing and Composing with Graduate Students at NYU
Recent talk: Sondheim Week at the New York Public Library for The Performing Arts
Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Exhibit

Thanks to everyone who contributed behind the scenes to this episode, specifically the musical stingers composed by Mateo Chavez Lewis, and the theme song to our podcast with lyrics and music by Colm Molloy, and sung by the one and only Ann Morrison, who created the role of Mary in Merrily We Roll Along.

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