Best Doug Fraser Podcasts (2025)

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Lynx 16:02

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35m ago16:02

16:02

😺 Tonight, we're going on a sleepy adventure to meet the fluffy and mysterious lynx! A special thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters in the Miss Meow Meow and Wowzeriffic tiers: Noelle from Nebraska, Zinnia from Washington, DC, Abram and Leah from Virginia, Layla from Florida, Esme and Rory from Massachusetts, Kaija from New Mexico, Etta and …

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From clay tablets to the Gutenberg press, with Keith Houston 25:19

4d ago25:19

25:19

1115. This week, we talk with Keith Houston about his book, "The Book." We look at how writing technology evolved from clay tablets and bamboo slips to papyrus and paper. He shares some surprising facts, including why books are rectangles, how museums try to deacidify books, and how printing was once political. Keith Houston - Shadycharacters.co.uk…

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Why we have indents. More on Formica. Running on Edgar. 19:13

6d ago19:13

19:13

1114. This week, we look at the history and purpose of indents, from medieval manuscripts to modern word processors, and the difference between a first-line indent and a hanging indent. Then, we look at the fascinating, multi-layered story behind the word "Formica," and its connection to both a plastic substitute for mica and the Latin word for "an…

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Charles Kergaravat: Founder of the Interceltic Business Forum 25:45

1d ago25:45

25:45

In this episode of the Scottish Business Network Podcast, we sit down with Charles Kergaravat, a New Yorker with Breton roots who has built a remarkable career bridging cultures, business, and innovation across the Celtic nations.Charles shares his journey from Wall Street to Brittany, France, where he left behind a finance career to embrace a new …

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Rescue Cats (feat. @abanaturally) 16:48

9d ago16:48

16:48

😻 Tonight, we're visiting rescue cats with our friend, Jenna Mazzillo (aka @abanaturally on Instagram)! A special thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters in the Miss Meow Meow and Wowzeriffic tiers: Noelle from Nebraska, Zinnia from Washington, DC, Abram and Leah from Virginia, Layla from Florida, Esme and Rory from Massachusetts, Kaija from Ne…

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Coming Sept. 3: Binge Untested for free! 1:17

11d ago1:17

1:17

On Sept. 3, you’ll be able to binge the entire season of the true crime series Untested from USA TODAY – for free. Following along with detectives who work unsolved cases and serial crimes, you’ll get an insider’s view of how Marshawn Curtis sweet-talks cops in multiple states, avoiding arrest and terrorizing more women. See Privacy Policy at https…

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Coming May 6: ‘This guy is dangerous’ 2:04

11d ago2:04

2:04

For decades, hundreds of thousands of rape kits sat ignored in warehouses and evidence rooms around the country. As a result, a lot of sex offenders – many of them serial rapists – were never caught. They’re still out there, free to assault more women. Untested, an exclusive true crime podcast series from WITNESS and USA TODAY, brings listeners alo…

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Coming Soon: Untested 1:17

11d ago1:17

1:17

He terrorized women. He slipped through the cracks. But one detective refused to give up. Untested, an exclusive true crime podcast series from WITNESS and USA TODAY, brings listeners along on this detective’s quest to bring a serial sex offender to justice. Coming on May 6. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not…

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The surprising ways we gesture about time and space, with Lauren Gawne 22:58

11d ago22:58

22:58

1113. This week, we talk with linguist Lauren Gawne about her book "Gesture: A Slim Guide." We look at how different cultures gesture about abstract concepts like time and space, and how we unknowingly gesture from our left-to-right writing system. We also look at why pointing is often rude, how different cultures point in different ways, and wheth…

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Episode 5: Justice delayed 28:40

9d ago28:40

28:40

In the final episode of the true crime podcast Untested from USA TODAY, Marshawn Curtis goes to trial, accused of serial crimes. Prosecutors have evidence from rape kits, but when it comes to criminal justice, a guilty verdict is never guaranteed - especially in cold cases. Untested: A true crime podcast is hosted by crime reporter Gina Barton and …

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Episode 4: Predators choose vulnerable prey 33:03

12d ago33:03

33:03

In episode four of Untested: A true crime podcast from USA TODAY, three more women come forward. Cold case Detective Annie Harrison spends hours trying to get alleged serial rapist Marshawn Curtis to confess to unsolved cases with previously untested rape kits. Untested: A true crime podcast is hosted by crime reporter Gina Barton and rooted in inv…

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Episode 3: Slipping through the cracks 28:57

12d ago28:57

28:57

In episode three of the true crime podcast Untested from USA TODAY, Michigan Detective Annie Harrison delves into the background of cold case rape suspect Marshawn Curtis. What she finds is terrifying, and it motivates her to seek overdue justice for victims in unsolved cases. Untested: A true crime podcast is hosted by crime reporter Gina Barton a…

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Episode 2: The interrogation 31:40

12d ago31:40

31:40

In episode two of Untested: A true crime podcast from USA TODAY, Georgia police dismiss a woman’s rape complaint as “unfounded,” meaning they don’t believe a crime occurred. But then two cold case cops from Michigan knock on her door. They work unsolved cases and serial crimes, and they have new information about her rape kit. Untested: A true crim…

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Vonnegut’s semicolon rule. What age has to do with language. Chocolate donut. 15:42

13d ago15:42

15:42

1112. This week, we look at why you can safely ignore Kurt Vonnegut’s famous advice about ignoring semicolons. We also look at why taking punctuation advice from fiction writers may not be a good idea for business writing. Then, we look at how major life events, not age, change how you speak as you get older. The age segment was by Valerie Fridland…

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Soundscape: Green Anacondas 1:04:57

14d ago1:04:57

1:04:57

🐍 Tonight, we're visiting green anacondas! A special thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters in the Miss Meow Meow and Wowzeriffic tiers: Noelle from Nebraska, Zinnia from Washington, DC, Abram and Leah from Virginia, Layla from Florida, Esme and Rory from Massachusetts, Kaija from New Mexico, Etta and Lance from Columbus, Ohio, Joey from Washi…

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Why we say 'near miss.' How dogs got their names. Stupid dog Jackie. 18:31

20d ago18:31

18:31

1111. This week, we look at the phrase "near miss" and why this seemingly illogical term actually makes sense. Then, in honor of National Dog Day, we look at how 16 different dog breeds got their names, including why a dachshund is a "badger dog," a poodle is a "puddle dog," and a mastiff is a "tame dog." The "near miss" segment was by Natalie Schi…

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How to build a successful writers’ newsletter, with Jane Friedman 18:29

25d ago18:29

18:29

1110. This week, we talk with Jane Friedman, an expert on the business of being a writer. We look at how to build a strong email newsletter and why it's a critical tool for authors in today's publishing world. Jane shares her best tips for getting started, what to write about, and how to get new subscribers — offering advice that can help any write…

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What is 'versing'? ‘Whatchamacallit' and other placeholder words. Chicken. 13:14

27d ago13:14

13:14

1109. This week, we look at why kids and video gamers talk about "versing" someone. Then, we look at the linguistics of placeholder words like "whatchamacallit" and "thingamajig," including some fun international examples and the now-obsolete word "whiblin." The "thingamajig" segment was by Ursula Kania, a Senior Lecturer in English Language and Li…

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Mini: Honey Badgers 8:59

22d ago8:59

8:59

🍯 Tonight, we're going on a mini adventure to visit honey badgers! A special thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters in the Miss Meow Meow and Wowzeriffic tiers: Noelle from Nebraska, Zinnia from Washington, DC, Abram and Leah from Virginia, Layla from Florida, Esme and Rory from Massachusetts, Kaija from New Mexico, Etta and Lance from Columbu…

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AI's impact on translators, untranslatable Dutch words, and more, with Heddwen Newton 19:38

1M ago19:38

19:38

1108. This week, we talk to Heddwen Newton about some of the unique and untranslatable words she's discovered while translating. She shares her thoughts on why the translation profession is being hit hard by AI and the kind of work that is likely to be lost. We also hear her book recommendations, including a novel and a nonfiction book about the hi…

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Mini: Inland Taipans and Wingback Spiders 11:21

1M ago11:21

11:21

🐍🕷️ Tonight, we're going on a mini adventure to visit not one, but two animals: Inland Taipans and Wingback Spiders! A special thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters in the Miss Meow Meow and Wowzeriffic tiers: Noelle from Nebraska, Zinnia from Washington, DC, Abram and Leah from Virginia, Layla from Florida, Esme and Rory from Massachusetts, …

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Double possessives. Words that do double duty. The monkeys aren't working. 14:53

1M ago14:53

14:53

1107. This week, we look at double possessives, such as "a friend of Mignon's" and whether they are grammatically correct. Then, we look at words that do double duty, from the nautical origins of "scuttlebutt" to "beetle" — which can be both an insect and a tool. The double possessives segment was written by Susan Herman, a retired multidisciplined…

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Saber-Tooth Tigers 17:21

1M ago17:21

17:21

🦷 Tonight, we're traveling back in time to visit saber-tooth tigers, also known as Smilodon! A special thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters in the Miss Meow Meow and Wowzeriffic tiers: Noelle from Nebraska, Abram and Leah from Virginia, Layla from Florida, Esme and Rory from Massachusetts, Kaija from New Mexico, Etta and Lance from Columbus,…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 529 - Why Collaboration is Key - Ed Finn, Victor Hoskins, and James Barlia 42:47

1M ago42:47

42:47

Building the future isn’t just about technology—it’s about how we imagine, innovate, and take action together. Jonathan Aberman sits down with Ed Finn, professor and founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University. Together, they take a closer look at our relationship with AI and discuss why the future ne…

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New words: 'beer muscles' & 'waka jumpers,' with Fiona McPherson. 16:34

1M ago16:34

16:34

1106. We talk with Fiona McPherson, a senior editor at the Oxford English Dictionary, about the playful words that get added to the OED. We look at the dictionary's ongoing work to expand its coverage of World Englishes, and Fiona shares some of her favorite recent additions, including "waka jumper" from New Zealand politics and "Rolex," a term for…

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How pronouns reveal our psychology. How'd we get our alphabet? Tabagogox. 14:46

1M ago14:46

14:46

1105. This week, we look at how the pronouns you use can reveal your psychological state — for example, how using "I" versus "we" can signal how you are coping with a breakup or a tragic event. Then, we look at where our alphabet started, from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to the Phoenicians and Romans. The psychology of pronouns segment was written…

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Poison Dart Frogs 17:43

2M ago17:43

17:43

🐸 Tonight, we're hopping over to Central and South America to visit poison dart frogs! A big high-five to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center for sharing their expertise about poison dart frogs. A special thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters in the Miss Meow Meow and Wowzeriffic tiers: Noelle from Nebraska, Abram and Leah from Vi…

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‘Spark words’ and the hidden history of ‘panic’ and ‘Ritalin,’ with Martha Barnette 32:23

2M ago32:23

32:23

1104. This week with Martha Barnette, co-host of "A Way with Words" and author of "Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland," we look at the concept of a "spark word" — the word that ignites a love of language. We also look at fascinating etymologies from ancient Greek, including the surprising connections between "Nike" and "fennel," and the…

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'Heat wave' vs. 'cold snap.' Why reading stories makes you smarter. Rogering. 14:15

2M ago14:15

14:15

1103. Why do we talk about "heat waves" but "cold snaps"? This week, we look at the history behind these common weather phrases and other quirky idioms like "raining cats and dogs" and "under the weather." Then, we look at what kind of reading is best for improving your language skills, including research on the benefits of fiction versus nonfictio…

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Why plain English matters in science (and everywhere else), with Anne Greene 31:57

2M ago31:57

31:57

1102. This week, Anne Greene joins us to talk about the importance of writing in plain English, especially in scientific fields. We look at why short words are easier for our eyes to read and how a well-structured story with characters and action verbs can improve understanding. We also discuss how the historical origins of English words influence …

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Mini: Highland Cows 8:57

2M ago8:57

8:57

🔔 Tonight, we're going on an adventure to visit highland cows! A special thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters in the Miss Meow Meow and Wowzeriffic tiers: Noelle from Nebraska, Abram and Leah from Virginia, Layla from Florida, Esme and Rory from Massachusetts, Kaija from New Mexico, Etta and Lance from Columbus, Ohio, Joey from Washington To…

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'Y' plurals. Bill Labov's linguistic legacy. Choo-choo 14:53

2M ago14:53

14:53

1101. Do you know when to change a "y" to an "ies" for a plural, and when to just add an "s"? Today, we look at the rules. Then, we look at linguist Bill Labov's famous department store study, which shows how social class relates to speech patterns. The 'y' segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dr…

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How 'algospeak' is changing language, with Adam Aleksic 25:03

2M ago25:03

25:03

1100. This week, we talk with popular online linguist Adam Aleksic, also known as Etymology Nerd. We discuss "algospeak" and how social media algorithms are changing language. We discuss euphemisms like "unalive," the spread of trending words, and how content creators adapt their speech to go viral. Adam Aleksic - The Etymology Nerd Adam's book - "…