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

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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 The episode centers around the etymology of the word "plumber" and segues into a broader discussion about pride, personal achievements, and learning styles.

Key Points:

  • Origin of "Plumber":
    The hosts discuss the word "plumber," tracing its roots to the Latin word plumbum (meaning lead), which is why the chemical symbol for lead is Pb. Historically, plumbers worked with lead pipes, ...
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May 30, 2025 5 secs

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 Bonus knock knock joke, following our humorous episode from yesterday!

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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May 29, 2025 39 mins

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 Episode Milestone and Word of the Day

  • The hosts discuss the significance of reaching episode 60, debating whether 50 or 60 is a more exciting milestone.
  • The featured word is "rubric." They explore its meanings:
    • In education and structure: a checklist or set of criteria to fulfill a purpose.
    • In liturgical context: instructions for how a religious service should be conducted, not the service itself.
    • As a c...
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May 22, 2025 25 mins

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 Key Terms and Etymology

  • De Minimis: This Latin phrase, from "de minimis non curat lex" meaning "the law does not concern itself with trifles," refers to a threshold value in tariff law. Goods imported into the US below a certain dollar amount (e.g., $800) are considered trivial and not subject to tariffs, while those above are.
  • Ad Valorem: Also Latin, meaning "according to the value," ...
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May 15, 2025 28 mins

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 Word of the Episode: Tariff

  • The hosts define a tariff as a tax imposed by a government on goods, usually on imports, with the goal of making foreign goods less competitive compared to domestic products. Tariffs can also be applied to exports, though this is less common and often used when a country has a unique product or resource.

Types and Purposes of Tariffs

  • There are two main types:
    • Specific tariff: ...
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May 8, 2025 33 mins

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 The episode opens with the hosts noting there are no major announcements and moves directly into discussing the “word or phrase of the episode”: instrumental. The hosts observed that “instrumental” has come up frequently in their recent personal conversations, prompting them to explore its meanings and usage.
Etymology and Definitions
•Etymology: The word “instrumental” traces back to Latin instruere (constru...

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 Episode 56 of “I Hate Talking” celebrates the podcast’s one-year anniversary since its launch in May 2024, reflecting on the journey and thanking listeners for their support. The hosts announce that all episodes now have transcripts and improved show notes to enhance accessibility and discoverability.

The episode’s featured phrase is “Norman Door,” a term named after design expert Don Norman, referring to doors whose ...

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April 24, 2025 32 mins

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Discussion Focus:
The hosts explore the origin and meaning of the phrase "mind your P's and Q's," sharing theories, personal experiences, and research.

Main Theories Discussed:

  • Typesetting/Printing Press Theory:
    The phrase may have originated from early printing, where printers had to be careful not to confuse the lowercase letters "p" and "q," which look similar when ...
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