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
98 episodes
Pants and Other Clothing That Could Go To Waste
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 definitio...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 87
•
30:39
The Interesting Etylmology of Goodbye
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 rela...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 86
•
36:13
Happy Thanksgiving and Episode Recommendations
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 choos...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 85
•
2:59
Raingutter Regatta, Kayaks, Canoes, Rowboats, and More
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 ...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 85
•
29:09
The Word of the Year Isn't Even a Word?
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 dic...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 84
•
21:46
More Debate on the Quote "Nostalgia is simply a longing for a time we know we can survive"
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 short...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 83
•
29:56
Fetid Smells and Debate on Nostalgia
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 mi...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 82
•
31:40
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
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 81
•
37:05
All the Variations, Shades, and Definitions of Blue
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 r...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 80
•
16:10
Is Timidity Even a Word?
Word of the Episode: TimidityDefinition (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 Bib...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 79
•
28:29
Polemics on Morals, Morale, and Worldviews
Word of the Episode: PolemicalDefinition (Oxford): Expressing or constituting a strong critical attack or controversial opinion.Etymology: From Greek polemos (“war”) → polemikós (“warlike/hostile...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 78
•
31:38
Morals Versus Morale
Words of the Episode: Morals vs. MoraleMoralsDefinition: Standards of behavior or principles of right/wrong by which a person lives; also lessons drawn from stories.Etymology: From Latin mos/moris...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 77
•
22:03
Interstellar Objects: 'Oumuamua, 3I-ATLAS, and more
Links to materials mentioned in the episode:Link to book by Avi Loeb: Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond ...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 76
•
28:52
Pareto Principle, the 80/20 Rule, and More Jumbotron Antics
Episode MilestoneHosts 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:...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 75
•
26:55
Pontification of Deadlines and Urgency
Word of the Episode: PontificateHosts’ Initial Guess:They believed it meant to think deeply to arrive at a decision.They even associated it with careful contemplation and resolution.
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 74
•
34:35
Libfixes, Diving Boards, and Generosity
Word of the Episode: LibfixDefinition: 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 W...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 73
•
17:51
Self-Care versus Self-Indulgence
Word of the Episode: PenitentUsage: Came up while studying Psalm 6 (one of the “penitential psalms”).Common Associations:Hosts thought it related to humility, kneeling, or seeking forgiveness.One reca...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 72
•
29:53
Our One-Day Whirlwind Trip To Chicago - Part 2
This episode is Part 1 of the Chicago recap. Find Part 1 in episode 70 last week.Word of the Episode: Porta PottyDefinition: A portable, temporary toilet facility.Etymology:“Porta Potty” comes from ...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 71
•
29:04
Our One-Day Whirlwind Trip To Chicago - Part 1
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: Flabbergas...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 70
•
26:03
Oldies, Remakes, and Spin-Offs
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:
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 69
•
30:34
Bonus Onomatopeia Behind the Scenes
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 m...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 68
•
0:30
Onomatopeia and the Sounds of Coldplay
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, e...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 68
•
39:55
Bloops, Bloopers, and Trees
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...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 67
•
33:10
Roshambo (alternatively known as Rock Paper Scissors)
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. On...
•
Season 2025
•
Episode 66
•
16:00