Something Rhymes with Purple

This week’s podcast is an absolute joke… in a good way! Join Gyles and Susie as they whisk us through the history of the things that make us laugh. From the first recorded joke in history (newsflash: toilet humour is nothing new) to the best jokes of recent Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, prepare to guffaw (and groan) your way through the next 45 minutes. We’ve got chickens crossing roads, a banned Christmas cracker joke, the origin of Knock Knock humour, and Gyles keeps things ticking over by dusting off a few old classics as well as throwing in a couple of up-to-date rib-ticklers for good measure. In the second half Susie dives into the etymology of humorous language, from puns to shaggy dog stories, and always, sends us off with a trio of words to take into the week. Get ready to slap those thighs! A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s Trio: Bovarism - an unreal or romanticised perception of oneself Balatronic - characteristic of a buffoon Chawbacon - a country-dweller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dictionaries, depression, a doctorate and a 311th birthday to celebrate…can you guess? Oh yes, this week Susie and Gyles are saluting one of their literary heroes: Doctor Samuel Johnson! We will journey from Litchfield to London and whilst liaising with the literary greats of the day (and falling in love) we will discover how Johnson's desire to halt the degradation of the English language gave us his dictionary. A tumultuous tale involving embryos, rants, hiccups and kisses and a trip to the brothel (not by Johnson himself, of course!) and a tale that has put him amongst one of the most important people in the history of recording language. A Somethin’ Else production. If you would like to nominate your word for ‘that’ sound that older people make when they sit down or stand up, or if you have any other questions for Susie and Gyles, you can get in touch at purple@somethinelse.com Susie’s Trio: Psittacism - meaningless or mechanical repetition of words and phrases Exfamiliation - exclusion from ones family Scrouging - inconvenience or discomfort someone by standing too close to them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cheers! This week we're looking for answers at the bottom of the glass as we drink in the history behind the fascinating names of the boozers of Britain. Like Chaucer's pilgrims we start at The Tabard before cantering through the rivalry between the Red Lion and the White Hart. We find a stowaway king inside the Royal Oak, a rather befuddled duck in Ambleside, and we wonder why Livery Companies always move in threes. Along the way there's time for Susie to get up on the bar and entertain us with her three words for the week and for Gyles to get soaked with Oliver Reed. A Somethin' Else production Please do get in touch via purple@somethinelse.com Susie's Trio: Vellichor - the smell of old books Umbriphilous - fond of the shade Bedinner - to give someone dinner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3..2..1..Get ready to launch into an episode that is out of this world as Susie and Gyles explore the language of outer space. Via the fast-flighted messenger Mercury to the saturnine tendencies of an overthrown Roman God, we explore how the planets came to be named and the legacy they have left within our everyday vocabularies. There’s just about time to stop off for a chocolate bar or two while Susie takes the opportunity to drop a celebrity name and Gyles discusses their compatibility… based entirely on their star signs… Susie’s Trio: Empleomania - Manic compulsion to hold public office at any cost Glump - To look solemn or glum Nibbling - Nephew/niece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doctor, Doctor, I’ve forgotten to listen to my favourite podcast! This week we delve into to the world of non-medical doctors… from Dr Johnson through to Dr Dolittle by way of Dr Frankenstein, we explore the fascinating world behind all those who have had that title bestowed upon them… for better or for worse! Along the way Gyles recounts meeting ALL those who have played Doctor Who and Susie reveals the murky world behind medical slang. As always Susie has three new words to introduce to your vocabulary, Gyles drops a name or two, and much laughter is to be had amongst the learning. A Somethin’ Else production. Susie's trio: Nuncheon - a drink taken at noon Fellowfeel - empathy Empurple - to make something purple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do Humpty Dumpty, Contrary Mary, and Baa Baa Black Sheep all have in common? Well, you might think twice about reading them as bedtime stories, I’m afraid. This week, Gyles and Susie are delving into those centuries old Nursery Rhymes to uncover their - often sinister - meanings and possible origins. Expect ‘silver bells and cockleshells’ to sound less like gardening utensils and more like instruments of torture, and be prepared to have that image as Humpty Dumpty as an egg dispelled forever. If you would like to get in touch to share your favourite Nursery Rhymes with Susie and Gyles or debate any of the many origin stories linked with the Nursery Rhymes discussed today, please do get in touch at… purple@somethinelse.com A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s Trio: Dispester - to get rid of a nuisance Fornale - to spend money before you have it Avidulous - somewhat greedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we officially became the Best Entertainment Podcast of the year at the British Podcast Awards. Thank you so much to all the Purple People who listen… you make this show what it is and we couldn’t do it without you. But to provide some balance to all this happiness, this week we’re talking about those linguistic tics that really get on our wick. I mean, you know, you could care less, but we’ll give it 100%, so… As well as swapping their language bugbears, Susie offers us three words for the week, Gyles’ grandson has slipped us a couple of jokes, and we find out about Yul Brynner’s aversion to aftershave… A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s trio: Salvo: an intentionally bad excuse Sequacious: prone to slavishly following the opinions of others Toe-cover: a present that is both useless and cheap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From elite sports to class systems, it’s a hairy episode this week as Glyes and Susie delve into the history of hair which prompts Gyles to spill all on his past life’s involvement with the Porn industry. Via the astronomical, tribal and in some cases very bloody history of hair, you’re in for some fascinating tales or should that be "(pig)tails"... We’ll also be hearing Susie’s trio of words for the week and Gyles sends us off with a powerful poem. If you would like to ask Gyles & Susie a question, get in touch at purple@somethinelse.com. A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s trio: - Bobbins: rubbish or nonsense - Indread: secret inner dread - Inadvertist: someone who consistently fails to notice what is going on around them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Music makes (Purple) people, come together." That’s not the only Madonna lyric that gets mistreated in this lyrical romp through the fascinating world of musical genres and phrases. We’ll be hip-hopping our way from the house (and garage) all the way to the discotheque to soak up the funk, with just enough time for Susie to channel her inner Wonder Mike and for Gyles to let his hips do the talking… We’ll also be going through the fabulous ‘mondegreens’ you’ve been mishearing, Susie has a brilliant trio, and we learn why you should never, ever let Gyles hold on to something valuable for you… Purple@somethinelse.com A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s trio: Well-woulder - someone who wishes you success, so long as it’s not more success than they have Quobbled - to have wrinkly fingers Oxyphonia - excessive shrillness of voice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Susie and Gyles as they venture back to pre-biblical times to uncover the history of punctuation marks. This week we’ll be diving into the drama of the comma whilst teasing out the moments when the semi-colon provides the perfect pause. We also unearth a confession from both Gyles and Susie about their - as of yet, unsuccessful - attempts to read James Joyce's Ulysses (hint: there's a sentence that contains 4391 words). We also get through lots of your brilliant emails and we want you to get in touch with any questions you may have, or any differing views on punctuation… purple@somethinelse.com. A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s trio: Insordescent - growing in filthiness Misdelight - pleasure in something wrong Leese - to be a loser. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices