Fifty Words For Snow

Fifty Words For Snow

A linguistic expedition into brave new words. Maggie Rowe and Emily John Garcés hunt for words that lack an English equivalent. They like to think of themselves as Dora the Explorers of language, with their rucksacks and hats and notebooks and magnifying glasses, embarking on a cultural adventure, hunting and gathering useful new word specimens from far flung continents, and holding them up to see what new light they shine on old ideas.

Episodes

October 22, 2026 • 24 mins
Maggie and Emily talk with Alexandra Shunrun about the Ukrainian word "dacha" and put the word "vacation" on trial with Judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Emily: Dacha.
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Maggie and Emily discuss the Greek word "kenosis" with rock star priest Kenneth Katona and the word "retrograde" with astrologer Cate Root. Poem by Maggie: Retrograde.
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Maggie and Emily learn the astrology word "metakosmia" from Cate Root. Man at Large Eric Giancoli goes stargazing in Hollywood. Poem by Emily: Metakosmia.
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Maggie and Emily discuss the word jouissance with philosopher Peter Rollins then put the word "toxic" on trial with Judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Maggie: The Rabbit.
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September 24, 2026 • 32 mins
Maggie and Emily talk about the German word "gestalt" with gestalt therapist Chris Gilbert and philosopher Peter Rollins. Poem by Emily: Eat the Soup
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September 17, 2026 • 34 mins
Maggie and Emily discuss with Ralph Levinson the word "deboxing" he coined and put the word "cool" on trial with Judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Maggie: Cool.
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Maggie and Emily learn the Sanskrit and Hindi word bhakti from Vikas and Shashi Bandhu. They put the word "needy" on trial with Judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Emily: In Admiration of Trees.
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September 3, 2026 • 27 mins
Maggie and Emily learn the words "lek" and "fledge" from Ballona Wetlands tourguide Susan Levinson. Word in action with reporter Eric Giancoli: lek. Poem by Maggie: For Today I Have Feathers.
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August 27, 2026 • 28 mins
Maggie and Emily learn the Russian words avos and avoska from Natasha Kamneva and coin a word with Susan Sechrist. Poem by Emily: Avoska.
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Maggie and Emily learn the Russian word byt from Natasha Kamneva. Eric Giancoli joins for word in action: byt. Poem by Maggie: The Love Boat.
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August 13, 2026 • 26 mins
Maggie and Emily discuss the Russian word "nadryv" with Natasha Kamneva from Moscow and then put the word "crybaby" on trial with Judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Emily: Nadryv.
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Maggie and Emily learn the German words fremdschämen and fernweh from Philipp De Vries. Word in action fremdschämen with Eric Giancoli. Poem by Maggie: Fernweh.
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Maggie and Emily learn the word tabanca and jumbie from Trinidad native Kacheve Stafford. Word in action "lime" with man at large Eric Giancoli. Poem by Emily: Tabanca.
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July 23, 2026 • 28 mins
Maggie and Emily learn the German word urlaubsreif from Philipp DeVries and put the word "wellness" on trial with judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Maggie: Urlaubsreif.
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Maggie and Emily learn Trinidadian words "lime" and "bacchanal" from Kasheve Stafford. Poem by Maggie: Unfindable.
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Maggie and Emily discuss the word "molt" with Ballona Wetlands tour guide Susan Levinson and learn the invented word "poppybloom" from wordsmith Norm Milstein.  Poem by Emily: Molt. Song by Norm: Spring is Like a Valentine.
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July 2, 2026 • 30 mins
Maggie and Emily talk with language expert, polyglot Tally Beck and learn the word "curio-ocean" from wordsmith Norm Milstein. Poem by Maggie: Curiosity Killed The Cat.
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Maggie and Emily talk to whiskey sommelier Colonel Sam Green about words from the world of whiskey. Whiskey Tasting with Eric Giancoli and Arlo Miller-Baynham. Poem by Emily: Drinking on Jura.
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Maggie and Emily learn the French words Émerveillement and Éblouissement from Luc Lewitanski and put the word "masterpiece" on trial with judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Emily: l'émerveillement.



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Maggie and Emily learn the French words la mie and gourmand from French and English educator Luc Lewitanski and explore a "word in action" with reporter at large Eric Giancoli. Poem by Maggie: La Mie.
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