I Hate Talking
A podcast about talking, including etymology, frustrating topics, current events, and other random subjects. Want to contact the hosts or have a suggestion for a future episode? Email us at ihatetalkingpodcast@gmail.com. Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.
Episodes
In episode 95 of I Hate Talking, the hosts introduce the delightfully nerdy word “sesquipedalian”—a term that describes long, multi‑syllabic words or overly long‑winded speech. They trace its roots back to Latin, where it literally meant “a foot and a half long,” and joke about how perfectly self‑referential it is: a long, fancy word that means “long, fancy words.” The pair play with how it could be used both as a backh...
In episode 92 of I Hate Talking, the hosts lean into a real‑life continuity error: the original recording for this episode was corrupted, so they had to re‑record it after already releasing episodes 93 and 94. They use that mishap to introduce the word “erroneous,” exploring its meaning as “wrong” or “incorrect,” and tracing its roots back to Latin ideas of “straying” and even “vagabond,” which gives the term a sense of...
In episode 94 of I Hate Talking, the hosts center their discussion on the word “continuity.” They define it both as the unbroken, consistent existence of something over time and, more specifically, as the careful maintenance of consistent details in films and shows so that scenes flow smoothly. Using their own multiple false starts recording this episode as a jumping-off point, they joke about editing to preserve con...
In episode 93 of I Hate Talking, the hosts tackle a listener‑requested phrase: “old hat.” They unpack its meaning as something outdated, overused, or overly familiar, often carrying a slightly negative sense of being boring or unstylish. Drawing on early 20th‑century usage, they note how “old hat” shifted from literal fashion—when last season’s hat quickly became passé—to a broader metaphor for ideas or practices tha...
In episode 91 of I Hate Talking, the hosts tackle another word or phrase of the episode—this time the idiom “beating a dead horse.” After clarifying its proper form (“beat a dead horse”) and meaning—wasting energy on a lost cause—they explore its 19th‑century origins and related alternatives such as “chasing rainbows” or “tilting at windmills,” the latter traced to Don Quixote (1615). Their lighthearted detour even t...
In episode 90 of I Hate Talking, the hosts welcome new listeners for the new year with a quick refresher on their show’s format—each episode features a word or phrase of the week, its definition and etymology, and a real-life discussion it inspires. This time, the word is “defunct”, meaning something that no longer exists or functions. The conversation begins with the closure of all 99¢ Only Stores in 2024 and moves ...
In episode 89 of I Hate Talking, the hosts return from the holidays with a full conversation centered on the word aplomb—a fitting term for confidence, balance, and maintaining composure under pressure. After tracing its French roots (à plomb, “according to the plumb line”), they explain how it evolved to describe someone poised and self-assured even in demanding situations. The discussion cleverly ties the literal i...
This New Year’s mini episode skips the usual full-length conversation so the hosts can briefly ring in 2026 and connect with listeners. Dropping on January 1, they share lighthearted New Year’s resolutions: one aims to see or watch a stand-up comedy show at least once a month to prioritize joy and laughter, while the other jokingly renews an old “resolution” to never make formal resolutions again, but admits wanting ...
This Christmas-day mini episode is a warm holiday check‑in rather than a full installment. The hosts pause regular programming on December 25, 2025 to wish listeners a Merry Christmas, acknowledging that many are spending the day with friends and family, working essential jobs, or maybe even heading to a movie theater instead of a big gathering. They invite anyone who feels alone—or just wants some company while comm...
In episode 88 of I Hate Talking, the hosts revisit the idea of “color of the year” and unpack Pantone’s 2026 pick: Cloud Dancer. Instead of finding it calming or inspiring, they both react strongly against it, describing the off‑white shade as dingy, dirty, and more like a stained wall or leaky dishwasher water than a serene, billowy cloud. They also read and gently roast Pantone’s poetic marketing language about cla...
Episode 87 of I Hate Talking dives into the surprisingly rich world of pants—sparked by the hosts’ recent closet decluttering and reflections on how many clothes a typical American household accumulates. They start with definitions and regional differences: in North America, “pants” means trousers, while in British English “pants” often means underwear and can even be slang for “nonsense” or “rubbish.” They trace the...
In episode 86 of I Hate Talking, the hosts take on the deceptively simple word “goodbye” and discover how emotionally loaded it has become in modern conversation. They unpack why “goodbye” can feel harsh or final—more like a relationship-ending period than a casual sign‑off—and contrast it with softer alternatives such as “bye,” “see you later,” and even the more cheerful “good morning.”
Digging into etymology, they e...
No new episode this week—your hosts are taking a break to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States! If you’re looking for something to listen to while you cook, travel, or relax, there’s a rich catalog of over 85 past episodes to choose from.
For a listener favorite, check out the 'Synesthesia' episode (Jan 23, 2025), which offers a deep dive into the fascinating phenomenon of mixing senses. If your mood ...
In episode 85 of I Hate Talking, the hosts open with a milestone announcement: November marked their most downloaded month since the podcast launched, second only to their debut month. Listeners are encouraged to catch early episodes and share feedback—preferably with a dose of kindness or even pure praise!
The word of the episode is "regatta," inspired by the recent Cub Scout rain gutter regatta boat race. ...
Episode 84 explores Dictionary.com's controversial 2025 "Word of the Year"—the number —and the explosion of meme culture in everyday language. The hosts debate whether numerals can truly count as words, and dissect what it means for a dictionary to embrace viral Gen Alpha fads as legitimate lexicon. They unpack the origin of 67 as slang: from a rapper's lyric and TikTok trends, to schoolyards and ...
In Episode 83 of I Hate Talking, the hosts dive into the concept of "nostalgia," sparked by a listener suggestion and a memorable quote: "Nostalgia is just a longing for a time we know we can survive." The duo debates the merits and shortcomings of this definition, reflecting on whether nostalgia is more about overcoming hardships or an emotional longing for the best moments of our pasts. With per...
In Episode 82, the hosts take a listener suggestion and spotlight the word fetid—a recent Wordle answer—and trace its meaning, origins, and less obvious relatives. The hosts discuss both their Wordle strategies, starter words, and the minor heartbreaks and little victories that come with daily word games, before diving into vocabulary.
They explain that fetid means “having a heavy, offensive smell”—think stinky swamp...
Conclusions on Blue, When Does Christmas Start, the Value of Thanksgiving Day, and Day Light Savings
In this richly layered episode, the hosts follow up on unanswered questions from last week’s exploration of blue. They start by confirming what Russians actually call their beloved “Blue” cats—Синий русский (Siniy russkiy)—and dive into why Puritan “blue laws” might have literally come from blue paper or blue clothing. From there, the couple unpacks theories on how “blue” came to mean both “religious strictness” and ...
Overview:
- An unexpectedly multifaceted English word examined through color, emotion, temperature, and cultural usage—plus comparisons to Russian and historical linguistics.
Why it came up:
- The hosts had recently discussed Russian—the language’s treatment of blue inspired today’s topic.
Linguistic Insight: Russian Words for “Blue”
- Russian distinguishes light and dark blue with two separate terms:
- с...
Word of the Episode: Timidity
- Definition (Oxford): Lack of courage or confidence.
- Usage: More common historically (esp. 1800s), in decline until a slight uptick since 2019—possibly linked to its appearance in modern Bible translations (e.g., NLT). Example usage: “She believes everyone can overcome their timidity.”
- Etymology: From Latin timidus (“fearful”) ← timere (“to fear”). Related to timid, intimidate, etc.
- Compa...
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