Helen Zaltzman

Helen Zaltzman, a talented podcaster known for her wit and charm, joins comedian Josh Gondelman to bring humor to current events. They tackle the absurdity of U.S.-Canada trade tensions impacting jigsaw puzzle lovers and poke fun at royal visits while critiquing modern governance. The duo shares witty insights on Trump's controversial dining events and the chaos of cryptocurrency. They also explore the strange intersection of masculinity and environmental issues through the lens of plastic straws, all while finding joy in the wonders of technology.

Helen Zaltzman, an etymologist, discusses word origins, gender in language, slang, emoji decoding, step parents, babies wearing glasses, Greek kimonos, language evolution, tomatoes, avocados, and fish trails with Alie.

The brilliant and dazzling Helen Zaltzman, host of The Allusionist podcast and person who technically for a living researches the origins of language and thus is an etymologist, visits Alie's apartment to chat about various word origins, gender in language, the Bible a.k.a. The Oxford English Dictionary, origins of the filthiest slang, emoji decoding, mediocrity, step parents, babies wearing glasses, Greek kimonos, the romance of languages and the fundamental truth that language is always changing whether you want it to or not. Also tomatoes, pliable boobs, avocados, and fish trails.The Allusionist Podcast, HelenZaltzman.comFollow Helen on Twitter & InstagramSponsor links: TrueandCo.com/ologies (code: ologies) & Amazon.com/popchips (code: 20ologies)This week's donation was made to POPStheclub.comMore links at alieward.com/ologies/etymologyBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologiesOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Follow @Ologies on Twitter or InstagramFollow @AlieWard on Twitter or InstagramSound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray MorrisTheme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies

Smart cookie Helen Zaltzman shares her gingerbread creations. The hosts discuss favorite cookies, controversial oatmeal raisin cookies, and types of cookie tins. They search for a lost lemon icebox cookie recipe, reaching out to old Gourmet Magazine staff. They troubleshoot cakey and flat cookies. The host receives a surprise gift and expresses gratitude to KitchenAid.

From investigating Beyoncé's potential product placement to exploring the controversy of tuning music to 432 Hertz, this live podcast episode in Brooklyn covers a wide range of intriguing musical topics with twists, turns, and even a live parody performance.