Best Ben Maynard Podcasts (2026)

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EP. 116 Three Friends Reflect On 2025, Trade Stories On History And Family, And Toast To A Brighter 2026 1:47:55

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13h ago1:47:55

1:47:55

Send us a text A different backdrop, the same heartbeat. We took the year-end show to the patio and opened the door to a free-flowing conversation with friends—part celebration, part confession, all connection. Between mic tests, guest links, and a stubborn winter cough, we found a groove that felt like a living room: holidays recapped, family upda…

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The Goth letters: why the alphabet goes off the rails after T, with Danny Bate 26:13

2d ago26:13

26:13

1147. In this bonus segment that originally ran in October, we look at the fascinating history of the "new letters" of the alphabet — V, W, X, Y, and Z. Danny Bate explains why T was the original end of the alphabet and how letters were added by the Greeks and Romans. We also look at the origin of the letter Y, which was originally a vowel, and the…

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War of the dots. Why we say 'pitch black.' Pitch hot. 15:38

4d ago15:38

15:38

1146. This week, we look at the history of Braille, from the tragic accident that inspired Louis Braille's six-dot system to the "War of the Dots"—a decades-long conflict over competing reading standards in the U.S. Then, we look at the origin of the phrase "pitch black," revealing how the intensifier "pitch" refers to an ancient, dark wood tar and…

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The Skeptic Zone #899 - 28.December.2025 57:33

1h ago57:33

57:33

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:22 NO Future Seen in Fortune Telling The GWUP (Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften - Society for the Scientific Investigation of Pseudosciences) in Germany evaluated 2099 annual predictions from fifty-two sources. One quarter were too vague to test, more than half were …

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How a long-lost yearbook revealed the origin of 'hella,' with Ben Zimmer 30:31

9d ago30:31

30:31

1145. In this bonus segment from October, I talk with Ben Zimmer about "hella" and how even yearbook messages can be digitized to help preserve the language record. Ben shares the full story of this slang term, and we also talk about the detective work that led to the OED using Run DMC's use of "drop" in “Spin Magazine” as a citation. Ben Zimmer's …

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The origin of X in algebra. Why we say ‘how come’ for ‘why.’ Water handles. 17:37

11d ago17:37

17:37

1144. This week, we look at the origin of the letter X as the variable for the unknown in algebra. Then, we look at the phrase "how come," explaining why it's more informal than "why" and how its grammar subtly differs from other question words. That X segment was written by Peter Schumer, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Middlebu…

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The Skeptic Zone #898 - 21.December.2025 57:09

5d ago57:09

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0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:04:26 2026 Bent Spoon Now's your chance to nominate an individual, company or product in Australia that, in your opinion, is worthy of the Bent Spoon Award. Do you have your eyes on a psychic? Or maybe a particularly wacky peddler of magical thinking. Or could it be an alternative medicine practitioner using…

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2025 Words of the Year, with Jess Zafarris and Danny Hieber 24:00

16d ago24:00

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1143. This week, we look at the 2025 words of the year with Jess Zafarris and Danny Hieber. We look at viral slang like "six seven" and cultural terms like "rage bait" and "fatigued." We also look at the dramatic rise of "slop" to describe low-quality AI content and how words like "parasocial" are changing function. Find Jess Zafarris at UselessEty…

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'Pride and prejudice' before Jane Austen. Was Parson Brown a real person? Happy Panda. 15:24

18d ago15:24

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1142. This week, we look at the history of the phrase "pride and prejudice," which was used frequently before Jane Austen’s 1813 novel. Then, we look at whether Parson Brown from “Winter Wonderland” was a real person, and why his name is sometimes replaced with a “circus clown.” Links to Get One Month Free of the Grammar Girl Patreon (different lin…

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The Future of Marketing: AI, Audience Understanding, and Innovative Campaigns – Andrea Rosi – StatSocial 25:56

9d ago25:56

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Andrea Rosi, Head of Operations and Marketing at StatSocial, shares her career journey and offers insights into how StatSocial helps brands understand audience interests, media preferences, and influencer relationships to drive more effective marketing strategies. She highlights the importance of an audience-first approach, especially in B2B market…

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EP. 115 IT'S THE CHRISTMAS SHOW 2025! 1:26:03

15d ago1:26:03

1:26:03

Send us a text Holiday shows should feel like a living room: a little noisy, full of laughter, and anchored by stories that matter. This Christmas special does exactly that. We start with a simple question—what does Christmas mean to you?—and follow it into memories of ping pong tournaments in the garage, first stereos with eight-track decks, and t…

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The Skeptic Zone #897 - 14.December.2025 1:05:07

12d ago1:05:07

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0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:06:46 TikTok Psychic Attack Only the Skeptic Zone podcast is brave enough to investigate the important but little spoken about public health imperative of...."Psychic Attack!" Is your psychic being attacked? Is your psychic attacking you? What can we do about this dangerous situation in our society? A look a…

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The 'sheeple' incident, with Stefan Fatsis 25:27

23d ago25:27

25:27

1141. We look at the controversy that caught Stefan Fatsis by surprise when he defined the word "sheeple" for Merriam-Webster, leading to public complaints. We also look at the origin and purpose of the obscure "Backward Index" invented by Webster's Third editor Philip Gove and how quickly Merriam added COVID-related words to the dictionary. Find S…

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EP. 114 BILLBOARD'S 50 "BEST" BANDS....WHAT A JOKE! 1:17:12

17d ago1:17:12

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Send us a text Rock deserves better than vague labels and fuzzy math. So we pulled up Billboard’s “50 Best Rock Bands” and put it under a bright stage light, testing every pick against a simple, honest standard: influence, longevity, catalog depth, cultural impact, and rock radio airplay. When “rock” balloons to include pop, funk, and industrial, t…

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Nesrine Changuel: Delight vs Utility: Why Emotional Connection Wins in Product Design - Productized 2025 TalkInTen 11:33

15d ago11:33

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Send us a text Productized in Lisbon is exceptional — an energising, thoughtful conference for product leaders. We're honoured to partner with Productized again and grateful to Bobcats Coding for making this Lisbon series possible. In this Talk in Ten from the Product Agility Podcast recorded live at Productized Lisbon, Nasreen (author of Product D…

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YCFC Supporters Trust Social Event (December 2025) - Josh Stones, Mark Kitching and Andy Leaning 47:53

15d ago47:53

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Recorded live at Brew York as part of the supporters trust social events, Dan Tait (Hospital Ball) interviewed current York City players Josh Stones and Mark Kitching as well as club ambassador Andy Leaning. Sharing insights and memories from playing for York City this was a great night. Trust events are free and held at Brew York the first Wednesd…

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The rise of the 'hamster wheel.' The many names of Santa Claus. Unattractive turtles. 14:04

25d ago14:04

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1140. This week, we look at the difference between the modern phrase "hamster wheel" and the older "rat race," and why the former gained popularity. We also look at the similar concept of the hedonic treadmill. Then, we look at the many names for Santa Claus, including the Dutch "Sinter Klaas" and the German "Christkindlein." The Santa Claus segmen…

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The Skeptic Zone #896 - 7.December.2025 1:19:06

19d ago1:19:06

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0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:02:00 The "Why Smart Women Zone" Podcast - Part #1 LIVE from the Occidental Hotel in Sydney Australia, comes a combination of two of Australia's favourite critical thinking and skeptical podcasts. The combination of the "Why Smart Women" podcast and "The Skeptic Zone" podcast. Join hosts Annie McCubbin and R…

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EP. 113 ASHLEY FELTON! Blending 90s Heart With Today’s Country 1:15:50

19d ago1:15:50

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Send us a text Country music hits different when you hear the story behind the song. We welcome Southern California’s own Ashley Felton, a powerhouse vocalist who blends the heart of 90s country with a bold, modern edge—and a schedule packed with 150-plus shows a year. We talk about the real work of building a career today: how to win over a room w…

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An inspiring tutor, 'New York System' hot dogs, and 'queen spotting.' 25:11

1M ago25:11

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1139. In this bonus discussion with Martha Barnette back in March, we look at Martha's pivotal twelve-year journey with a polyglot tutor who transformed her understanding of ancient Greek, starting with the etymology of "Oedipus." We also look at her beekeeping adventures, including the unknown-to-me history of the term 'queen bee' and a unique boo…

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Why Brits eat biscuits and Americans eat cookies. Why brands keep nouning everything. Hamster alert. 17:46

1M ago17:46

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This week, in honor of National Cookie Day, we look at the vocabulary split between British and American English, including the differences between a cookie and a biscuit, and the two meanings of "pudding." Then, we look at anthimeria, the advertising trend of turning one part of speech into another, as in the slogan "Together makes progress." The …

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The Promotion Express 1:07:10

24d ago1:07:10

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Dan Tait hosts another crux of it panel discussion about all things York City. Regulars Jim Calverley and Steve Ovenden are joined by special guest, Michael Miles creator of the brilliant Y front fanzine. On the agenda are the free scoring Minster men, homage to Marvin Armstrong and Josh Stones as well as debating where Ollie Pearce ranks in the al…

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The Skeptic Zone #895 - 30.November.2025 1:01:43

26d ago1:01:43

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0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:14 3i Atlas Update As Comet 3i Atlas emerges from behind the sun, we take a look at the latest news from NASA that confirms the object is not in fact being piloted by space racing aliens. Will this stop the UFO crowd from posting nonsense on social media? Avi Loeb is a Fraud Part 2 - Prof. Dave https://you…

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Rob Drummond on languaging and our fluid speaking identities 18:36

1M ago18:36

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In this bonus conversation with Rob Drummond from back in June, he and I get into the fascinating concept of "languaging" — the idea that speaking is an active process we use to constantly shape and project our identities. Rob explains how our "speaking identities" are incredibly fluid, changing based on context, audience, and even the language we'…

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The sinful fork (and other dinner-table surprises) 14:49

1M ago14:49

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1136. This week, we go full Thanksgiving, talking about the origin of butter knives, forks, and more. You'll love all the tidbits you can share with your family or friends during dinner. 🔗 Share your familect recording via Speakpipe, by calling 833-214-4475 (or via WhatsApp chat.) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the new…

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The Skeptic Zone #894 - 23.November.2025 1:08:48

1M ago1:08:48

1:08:48

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 00:07:18 The Think Tank Our international team spent time with Dr Siouxsie Wiles from New Zealand. Dr Siouxsie has been the victim of outrageous harassment after her efforts to promote vaccines and good science during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Siouxsie is joined by Adrienne Hill, Kat McLeod, Kate Thomas and Lar…

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Why B2B Needs Its Own Social Media Platform – Adi Krysler – Oktopost 23:58

1M ago23:58

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Oktopost’s VP of Marketing, Adi Krysler, joins the podcast to discuss how the platform is reshaping the way B2B companies approach social media. She explains why Oktopost was built specifically for the needs of B2B marketers—where relationships, attribution, and measurable business impact matter most—and how its social suite unifies publishing, emp…

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Why print dictionaries still matter, with Peter Sokolowski 35:31

1M ago35:31

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1135. This week, we talk with Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, about the new print 12th Collegiate Dictionary. We look at why print still matters, how the dictionary used lookup data to decide which words to drop (least looked-up compounds), and the importance of serendipity when researching words in a physical book. Find Peter…

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Phil Hornby: Empower to Succeed: How to Make High‑Quality Decisions in Product - Productized 2025 TalkInTen 11:26

1M ago11:26

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Send us a text Welcome to another brisk Talk in Ten recorded live at this year's Productized conference. In this episode, Phil Hornby (founder of For Product People) explains why empowerment in product teams really means the ability to make decisions that stick — and how to raise the quality of those decisions. Key topics discussed: What a "high-qu…

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Isabel Novais Machado: Designing Privacy by Default: Why Cookie Banners Can't Be the Future - Productized 2025 TalkInTen 11:57

1M ago11:57

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Send us a text We’re honoured to partner again with the excellent Productized conference in Lisbon, Portugal — a brilliant gathering of product leaders, designers and builders that consistently sets the bar for thoughtful, practical conversations. A huge thank you to Productized for hosting us and to Bobcats Coding for making this Lisbon series pos…

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Personification in language and AI. Dictums, maxims, and proverbs. Expensitive. 17:26

2M ago17:26

17:26

1134. This week, we look at the poetic power of personification (the language quirk that gives human traits to nonhuman things) and why style guides advise against using it for AI. Then, we look at the different names for common sayings, defining a proverb and breaking down the four main types: maxim, adage, dictum, and truism. The personification …