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.

The way you speak has rhythm, timbre, and pitch. It’s more like music than you might think. We chat with The Allusionist host Helen Zaltzman, Martin Zaltz Austwick from Song by Song, Music Psychologist Dr. Ani Patel of Tufts University, and Drum Composer David Dockery on how musical our speech really is. Twenty Thousand Hertz is hosted by Dallas Taylor and produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound. Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.Watch our video shorts on YouTube, and join the discussion on Reddit and Facebook.Consider supporting the show at donate.20k.org Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/themusicinspeech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices