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

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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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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Maggie and Emily learn the Bengali word shukhi shoreer from Sandeep Mukherjee, discuss Mr. Pleasure with C. Brian Smith, and talk about the democratization of connoisseurship with Paul Jackson. Poem by Maggie: Mr Pleasure.
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May 28, 2026 33 mins
Maggie and Emily learn the word torpor from Ballona Wetlands tour guide Susan Levinson and put the word "hardworking" on trial with judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Emily: Surrender.
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May 21, 2026 25 mins
Maggie and Emily learn the Sanskrit word viriya from Katherine “Senshin” Griffith, head teacher at the Zen Center of Los Angeles and discuss “sick in bed without a fever day” with Jim Vallely. Poem by Maggie: Tiny Hero.
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Maggie and Emily learn the words from “terroir” and “noble rot” from wine educator  Nora Murphy. They discover “apisoir” with Michael Alberty and “aha-mnesty” with C. Brian Smith. Poem by Emily:  Terroir.
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Maggie and Emily discuss the Buddhist words dukkha and mudita with Zen priest Senshin and put the word “karma” on trial with judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Maggie: Not To My Liking.
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Maggie and Emily talk to guests from around the world about love and learn how people say “I love you” across the globe. Poem by Emily: galaxies.
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Emily and I will be back with new episodes in May, but for now, we have a rerun of episode 19 words from math and music. Here we go.
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