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
107 episodes
The Etymology of Errors and Erroneous, and the Oktoberfest Experience
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 misha...
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Season 2026
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Episode 92
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25:25
The Continuity of Hershey's Chocolate World
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 c...
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Season 2026
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Episode 94
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24:47
Old Hats, New Hats, and WonderWorks
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 They unpack its meaning as something outdated, overused, or overly familiar, often carrying a slightly negative sense of being boring or un...
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Season 2026
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Episode 93
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22:08
Beating a Dead Horse, Tilting at Windmills, and Universal Studios
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...
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Season 2026
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Episode 91
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41:07
Defunct Stores and Active Waterparks
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 dis...
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Season 2026
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Episode 90
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32:20
Adam Gets Pied in the Face
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 r...
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Season 2026
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Episode 89
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27:49
Happy New Year and a Brief on New Years Resolutions
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 stan...
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Season 2025
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Episode 88
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3:51
Merry Christmas and the Mystery of the Missing Color of the Year Episode
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 fri...
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Season 2025
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Episode 88
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4:48
Color of the Year and More Color Discussion
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‑...
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Season 2025
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Episode 88
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27:26
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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 87
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 86
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 85
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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 ...
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Season 2025
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Episode 85
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 84
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 83
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 82
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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
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Season 2025
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Episode 81
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 80
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 79
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 78
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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...
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Season 2025
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Episode 77
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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 ...
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Season 2025
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Episode 76
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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:...
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Season 2025
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Episode 75
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26:55