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
Episode 106 of I Hate Talking traces the phrase “under the weather” back to nautical language, where it originally described being below deck in a more stable part of the ship. From there, the hosts discuss how the phrase evolved to mean feeling sick, and briefly touch on its older, less common financial sense before comparing it to being “underwater.”
The conversation then shifts into vivid memories of Semester at ...
Episode 105 of I Hate Talking examines the word “paywall” and how it has come to define access-limited content online, using the Oxford Language Dictionary’s shift behind a paywall as the jumping-off point. The hosts discuss how dictionary access, search engines, and AI-generated summaries have changed the way people find definitions, and compare Oxford’s approach with alternatives like the American Heritage Dictio...
Episode 104 of I Hate Talking unpacks the real meaning of “pro and con,” tracing it back to the Latin pro et contra and the separate root contra meaning against or opposite. The hosts compare this with the earlier discussion of “convivial,” then use the language lesson as a springboard into a lively debate about open-concept houses, why they became popular, and the practical tradeoffs of living in one big shared sp...
Episode 103 of I Hate Talking explores the meaning of “convivial,” from its Latin roots to its modern sense of lively, friendly togetherness around food and drink. That idea becomes the springboard for a bigger conversation about open-house versus closed-house family styles, how different upbringings shape expectations around visitors, and why the hosts see growing kids’ friendships as a reason to make home feel mo...
Episode 102 of I Hate Talking explores the word “blithe,” tracing its spelling, meaning, and shifting connotations from carefree and lighthearted to heedless or careless. The hosts also dig into the curious connection between the word and Blythe, California, then branch into a broader conversation about names, language change, and how April Fool’s jokes land depending on whether they’re playful or hurtful.
Along the...
Episode 101 of I Hate Talking dives into the Latin roots of “second,” exploring how time was divided into minutes, seconds, and even smaller units. The hosts then spiral into a funny and surprisingly deep conversation about nanoseconds, internet speed, metric versus imperial measurements, and a child’s determined refusal to abandon Celsius in a Fahrenheit world.
What starts as an etymology lesson becomes a broader r...
In episode 100 of I Hate Talking, the hosts mark their milestone with a reflection on time—how quickly it passes and how much life has changed since they started the podcast. The word of the episode is the Latin phrase “tempus fugit” (“time flies”), which they unpack as more than a cliché, leaning into the nuance that time not only passes quickly but flees irretrievably, never to be recovered. That naturally opens ...
In episode 99 of I Hate Talking, the hosts gear up for a milestone and ask listeners to help them decide what to do for episode 100. Big “top 100” countdown ideas are quickly ruled out as too long, so they invite audience suggestions via comments, text, or email—and encourage listeners to share the show so friends can weigh in too.
The word of the episode is “diss”, a slang term for disrespecting or criticizing some...
In episode 98 of I Hate Talking, the hosts deliver the promised IKEA episode, starting with brief cameos from two young “guest experts” who offer earnest life advice about brushing your teeth and plug a YouTube channel before weighing in on a new dinosaur documentary.
The main segment’s word of the episode is “IKEA” itself, which they explain is an acronym formed from founder Ingvar Kamprad’s initials plus the nam...
In episode 97 of I Hate Talking, the hosts introduce the Diderot effect, a behavioral economics concept named after French philosopher Denis Diderot. After Diderot received a luxurious new red robe, he suddenly viewed his other possessions as shabby and began replacing them in a costly spiral—a pattern many people recognize today when one “nice” purchase (a couch, outfit, or gadget) triggers a cascade of upgrades. ...
In this episode of I Hate Talking, the hosts explore the word “somniferous,” meaning sleep‑inducing or soporific. They trace its Latin roots from “somnium” (dream) and explain how it’s used to describe drugs or experiences that bring on sleep, from strong sedatives to painfully dull lectures. The word surfaces via a Tool song lyric, and they joke about whether being called somniferous is an insult or a strange sort...
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 ...
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 sen...
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 c...
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 t...
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...
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 move...
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...
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 wantin...
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 co...
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