I Hate Talking

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

October 16, 2025 16 mins

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 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...
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 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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Word of the Episode: Polemical

  • Definition (Oxford): Expressing or constituting a strong critical attack or controversial opinion.
  • Etymology: From Greek polemos (“war”) → polemikós (“warlike/hostile”).
  • Discussion:
    • Related to debate and controversy, not to Ptolemaic (Claudius Ptolemy’s geocentric astronomy).
    • Hosts joked about confusing the two since they sound similar, imagining a “Ptolemaic polemic.”
    • Takeaway: ...
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September 25, 2025 22 mins

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Words of the Episode: Morals vs. Morale

  • Morals
    • Definition: Standards of behavior or principles of right/wrong by which a person lives; also lessons drawn from stories.
    • Etymology: From Latin mos/morismoralesmoralia (used by St. Gregory in his exposition on Job) → Middle English.
    • Can be good or bad, but always refers to a guiding code.
  • Morale
    • Definition: Confidence, discipline, and outlook of a pe...
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 Links to materials mentioned in the episode:


Word(s) of the Episode

  • ʻOumuamua
    • Hawaiian name for the first observed interstellar object (2017).
    • Meaning: “A messenger from afar arriving first” or “advance scout...
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Episode Milestone

  • Hosts note that Episode 75 feels like a meaningful number (cool, but not as significant as 60 was for them). Next true milestone will be Episode 100, expected in ~25 weeks.

Word of the Episode: Pareto (Pareto Principle)

  • Definition: The Pareto Principle or 80/20 rule: roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes.
  • History:
    • Coined by Italian economist Wilfredo Pareto (1848–1923)...
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September 4, 2025 34 mins

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 Word of the Episode: Pontificate

  • Hosts’ Initial Guess:
    • They believed it meant to think deeply to arrive at a decision.
    • They even associated it with careful contemplation and resolution.
  • Actual Definition (Oxford Languages):
    • To express one’s opinions in an annoyingly pompous or dogmatic way.
    • Far from quiet reflection—it's about pompous expression.
    • Negative connotation, closer to “know‑it‑all” behavior.
    • <...
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August 28, 2025 17 mins

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 Word of the Episode: Libfix

Definition: A “libfix” is a liberated suffix—when part of a word (often mistaken as a suffix) gets reanalyzed and reused as a suffix for other words.

  • Examples:
    • -gate (from Watergate): now used to mean “scandal” (e.g., Pizzagate, Elsagate).
    • -core (from hardcore): extended to music genres or aesthetics (metalcore, cottagecore, tropicore in Animal Crossing).
    • -holic (from alcoholic): become...
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August 21, 2025 29 mins

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 Word of the Episode: Penitent

  • Usage: Came up while studying Psalm 6 (one of the “penitential psalms”).
  • Common Associations:
    • Hosts thought it related to humility, kneeling, or seeking forgiveness.
    • One recalled Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where the “penitent man kneels before God.”
    • Also connected to penance.
  • Dictionary Definition: Feeling or showing sorrow/regret for wrongdoings; repentant. As a noun, so...
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 This episode is Part 1 of the Chicago recap. Find Part 1 in episode 70 last week.

Word of the Episode: Porta Potty

  • Definition: A portable, temporary toilet facility.
  • Etymology:
    • “Porta Potty” comes from portable potty, but its popularization is linked to a brand name, much like Kleenex.
    • “Potty” derives from “pot” (as in chamber pot) with the diminutive suffix “-y/-ie.”
  • In other cultures, “toilet” is the more co...
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 This episode is part 1 of the Chicago recap; it will continue in the next episode, including the promised description of the "Taj Mahal of porta potties" and covering the remaining tourist adventures.

Word of the Episode: Flabbergast

  • The hosts dive into the word "flabbergast," inspired by previous use when describing the "Coldplay incident." They share their own definitions (astonished...
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July 31, 2025 30 mins

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 Theme & Word of the Episode:

  • The episode focuses on the word "oldie," exploring its definition, history, and how its meaning has shifted over time, especially in the context of music.

Origin and Evolution:

  • "Oldie" combines "old" with the suffix "-ie," recorded first in 1874 to describe an old person.
  • By the 1940s, it expanded to refer to old tunes or films.
  • In the 1...
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July 25, 2025 30 secs

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 Special behind the scenes bonus episode:

  • The hosts discuss how to represent a rewind sound (onomatopoeia). They debate whether to cut out a portion of the recording or continue, and ultimately decide to keep the candid moment because it's funny, then agree to continue from where they left off.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes ...

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 The hosts continue their discussion on the word "onomatopoeia," elaborating on its definition (words that imitate sounds, like "splash" or "ping") and etymology (from Greek meaning "name making"), and exploring examples of onomatopoeia, especially in animal and bird names. They highlight how different languages create onomatopoeia differently (e.g., a duck’s sound is “quack” in...

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July 17, 2025 33 mins

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 The Word of the Episode: "Bloop"

  • "Bloop" Origins and Mysteries: The episode opens with a discussion about the word "bloop," notable in the hosts' family for its mysterious oceanic association. The "bloop" refers to an ultra-low-frequency underwater sound detected in 1997 by two hydrophones 5,000 miles apart. It initially fueled speculation about an unknown sea creature,...
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 Episode 66 of "I Hate Talking" shifts to a more lighthearted tone after two serious episodes, focusing on the word "Rochambeau," which is another name for the game rock-paper-scissors. The hosts discuss the debated origins of the term. One popular but incorrect urban legend claims that a French general named Rochambeau used the game to make battlefield decisions during the American Revolutionary W...

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July 3, 2025 28 mins

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 Episode 65 of "I Hate Talking" centers on the word "cogitate" and continues the discussion about parallel play.

  • The hosts introduce and explore the word "cogitate," which means to think deeply about something, tracing its Latin roots and comparing it with "meditate." They note that while both words involve deep thought, "cogitate" implies active, problem-focused th...
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June 26, 2025 31 mins

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 The hosts discuss the concept of "parallel play," ultimately choosing it over other potential topics like "predictive programming" or "apse" for this episode.

Definition and Origins:

  • Parallel play originally describes a stage in child development where children play side by side without direct interaction, as a precursor to cooperative play.
  • The term is now also applied to adults: it re...
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 Example #1: Person Standing Over Edge of A Cliff Seen In Background of One Photo but Not Another.

Example #2: My family member went on a hike – but someone (or something) else showed up in her photo.


The Pareidolia episode:

  • Pareidolia is the tendency to perceive familiar patterns, especially faces, in random or ambiguous images and objects.
  • Common examples include seeing faces in clouds, rock formations, or ever...
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 Main Topic: The Word "Gangbusters"

  • The episode centers on the meaning, usage, and origin of the word "gangbusters," prompted by a listener request.
  • The hosts initially discuss their own understanding, associating "gangbusters" with something that is very successful, energetic, or goes "all out."
  • Dictionary definitions are referenced:
    • (1) A police officer or person who break...
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