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
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...
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: ...
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/moris → morales → moralia (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...
Links to materials mentioned in the episode:
- Link to book by Avi Loeb: Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.
- Link to the paper co-authored by Avi Loeb: Is the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Alien Technology? (PDF)
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...
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)...
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. <...
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...
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...
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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