Best Fondant Podcasts (2025)

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Friday, December 12, 2025 - We're fond of FONDANT ... and the rest of the grid, too! 😀 19:20

Play Pause

18d ago19:20

19:20

This was a pitch-perfect Friday crossword, with a host of tricky clues designed to limber you up for the boss puzzle -- aka the Saturday NYTimes crossword -- about to drop and potentially wreak havoc upon the unsuspecting, unfortunate, unlimbered 🙄 Deets inside, so do have a listen; and after you've done so, take a moment to add the NYTimes Crosswo…

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Sunday, December 21, 2025 - Ho, ho, ho!!! 🎅🏼 19:55

3d ago19:55

19:55

Today's crossword was (as you can deduce from the episode title) a fun, Christmas-themed puzzle by famed magician David Kwong. Jean & Co. solved it expeditiously, whereas David almost made Mike's streak disappear thanks to some cruciverbial magic in the top-center of the grid. All turned out well, though, for both cohosts and their streaks. Deets i…

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Saturday, December 20, 2025 - Like a latté at Starbucks, this crossword is hot and frothy 10:05

4d ago10:05

10:05

This is Robert S. Gard's second Saturday crossword. It was not quite as difficult as his first, but the cluing was deliciously deceptive, and included five debuts. Jean got through it in her usual time; Mike found it to be a tad easier than usual, but an enjoyable solve nonetheless. Remember that if you're still hunting around for the perfect holid…

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Friday, December 19, 2025 - Let's Make Some ILLINOISE! 13:34

5d ago13:34

13:34

This is a stellar Friday crossword, chockfull of effervescent clues that make it clear that an ace constructor -- in this case, Hemant Mehta -- is at the helm. There is no doubt that today's puzzle is entitled to a full 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and we therefore gladly bestow it. Deets inside. Show note imagery: Yum, a delectable SMORE We love …

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Thursday, December 18, 2025 - A SCARYGOOD Thursday crossword! 11:43

6d ago11:43

11:43

The genius required to craft an NYTimes-worthy crossword is on full display today: Joseph Gangi has created a cuuute theme, and the hilarity of that last clause will become apparent upon listening to today's podcast and/or solving today's puzzle. Numerous other clues in the grid are also worth celebrating. We chortled at 62A, The time of one's life…

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Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - No KAOS in today's grid ... well, almost none 😀 14:15

7d ago14:15

14:15

This was a whimsical Wednesday crossword by the talented duo of Gary Larson and Doug Peterson. The theme was a triumph, buoyed up by a bevy of crisp clues, including: the clever 8D, Marchers in sidewalk cracks, ANTS; the helpful reminder that was 50A, Easter Island's country, CHILE; and the hilarious 41A, Welcome figure on Wall Street, unwelcome fi…

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Tuesday, December 16, 2025 - PROGROCK ... rocks!!! 🎸 😀 6:57

8d ago6:57

6:57

This was a gentle Tuesday crossword, slightly more challenging than Monday, and prepping us for the even more rigorous crosswords sure to come this week. Difficulty level not withstanding, the grid featured some awesome clues, most notably the incredible 62A, The IBM Simon Personal Communicator is considered the world's first one, SMARTPHONE. We we…

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Monday, December 15, 2025 - Dibs on top! 12:23

9d ago12:23

12:23

Today's puzzle checks all the Monday crossword boxes: Clever and straightforward theme? ✅ Built with the novice-solver in mind? ✅ Published on a Monday? 😉✅ Apparently it took multiple revisions before this crossword got accepted, but the end result was picture-perfect. Kudos to Jeff Jerome for his first crossword, and Andrea Carla Michaels, for her…

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Sunday, December 14, 2025 - ELISHA and ENOS, together again! ☎️ 21:18

10d ago21:18

21:18

This was a jaw-dropping pick-me-up of a Sunday crossword by debut constructor Zachry Edward-Brown (a high-school student, no less!) and veteran John Kugelman. The theme was spectacular, with a twist at the end that would have Agatha Christie nodding her approval. The rest of the grid was equally impressive, and if you want proof check out today's e…

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Saturday, December 13, 2025 - A record breaking crossword!! 13:17

11d ago13:17

13:17

Today's crossword, by Gene Louise De Vera, was one for the record books. Exactly what record was broken we are not going to reveal here, but rather keep you in suspense, dear listeners, for the approximately 15-30s it will take to download the podcast and get to the point where we "spill the beans", so to speak. It'll be worth the wait, trust us. 😀…

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Thursday, December 11, 2025 - A dreamy Thursday crossword 11:43

18d ago11:43

11:43

Kevin Curry has done it again - crafted an elegant puzzle designed to challenge, educate, and entertain. Challenge: 63A, Reunion group, CLAN; Educate: 57D, Popular, stick-figure web comic, XKCD; and Entertain: 28D, Big wheels in the Vatican?, POPEMOBILE 😀 tldr: we found this crossword to be 28A, Utopia ... 10 ... Ideal, PICTUREPERFECT. Show note im…

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Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 🎶 Thunderbolt and ⚡️, very, very frightening 🎸 12:40

14d ago12:40

12:40

There were several deities in today's grid — ARES, ZEUS, and the lesser known DOER, Lord of Bad Puns. None of them prevented our cohosts from having a grand time while solving this crossword, Kareem Ayas' second in under two months. While all the clues were fine, they were particularly impressed by the Matrix mini-theme, consisting of 37A, Iconic r…

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Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - No need to hem or haw, we loved this crossword! 13:30

21d ago13:30

13:30

This was Kate Hawkins' eighteenth NYTimes crossword, and while mainly distinguished by its brilliant theme, gems could be found throughout the grid. We enjoyed the range of emotions conveyed by 32D, "By Jove, that's it!", AHA, and 45D, "How stupid of me!", DOH. We also were absolutely enthralled by, and are now seeking a t-shirt emblazoned with, 54…

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Monday, December 8, 2025 - Nothing HOHUM about today's crossword! 12:20

22d ago12:20

12:20

Today's puzzle had a wry, perfect-for-a-Monday theme: if it was a hat, it would definitely be stylish and arranged at a rakish angle. We were surprised, tickled, and put into full chortle mode by, respectively, 1D, Magic charms, MOJOS (assuredly not on our Monday crossword bingo card); 5D, The eyes may have it, MASCARA; and 24A, Run out of clothes?…

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Sunday, December 7, 2025 - A Frabjous Sunday Crossword! 16:29

23d ago16:29

16:29

We treasure any excuse to break out into Lewis Carroll adjectives, and today's frabjous crossword provides just that opportunity. This is a debut, no less, by University of Wisconsin Madison professor Kate Jensen, who we imagine, based on the clues in today's grid, to be particularly beamish, and not at all manxome (except when dealing with irksome…

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Saturday, December 6, 2025 - CHARLIXCX is baaaaack! 11:50

24d ago11:50

11:50

Our cohosts had vastly different experiences tackling today's crossword. Jean found it to be quite challenging, whereas Mike was (for a change) definitely working, but not fighting tooth-and-nail to keep his streak alive. Deets inside: we cordially invite you to download, listen up, and enjoy! Show note imagery: "A New English Dictionary", as the f…

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Friday, December 5, 2025 - Kotoka International, repeat winner of the "Best Airport in Africa" award! 🏆 6:30

24d ago6:30

6:30

This was a challenging Friday crossword, the second by James McCarron since August, of the year: in short, he's on a roll. There were some simultaneously terrific (if you like a challenge) and terrifying (if you value your streak) clues. Among the best not mentioned in the podcast were 37D, Minimal coverage provider?, THONG (ha!); 27D, Silent sort,…

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Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - Do or do not. There is no try. 6:42

27d ago6:42

6:42

Today's crossword, by Victor Barocas, had a fun and frothy theme that came from a galaxy far, far away. We loved it! We also enjoyed the very strong cast of supporting characters, including 49D, Cold call?, ACHOO (🤧); 43D, Golden-tan dog of multiple films, BENJI (wait, a tanning booth was involved? 🙄); and 42A, Animal in more than70 Bugs Bunny titl…

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Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - This crossword was absolutely CAPITAL! 6:59

28d ago6:59

6:59

Today's crossword was a debut for Jonathan Baude, kudos for that! The theme was uplifting (literally), and the rest of the puzzle was perfect Tuesday fare. We had some entertaining clues -- 46A, Top of the hour?, XII (😀); some educational clues -- 62D, Communication syst. in which the letter Z is drawn with one's index finger, ASL; and some clues o…

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Monday, December 1, 2025 - Masa, which, sadly, is not available at any NASA commisary 🙄 11:02

28d ago11:02

11:02

Today's crossword was perfectly timed, at least for those of us living in those northern regions currently besieged by winter storms. We were intrigued to learn of the existence of NAURU, the world's third smallest country (behind Vatican City and Monaco, for those of you keeping score). We were glad to see that Ms. Adler made a reappearance in the…

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Sunday, November 30, 2025 - Welcome back, LOUDOUTS! 14:41

30d ago14:41

14:41

The easy-to-spell and fun-to-say LOUDOUTS has appeared a grand total of two times in the NYTimes crossword: today, and on June 15, 2013. We are on tenterhooks awaiting its next appearance, which according to our calculations should be in 2037, or thereabouts. For the record, the crossword also featured 9 debut answers, and our favorite, by far, had…

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Saturday, November 29, 2025 - YAISC (Yet Another Impossible Saturday Crossword 😀) 13:35

1M ago13:35

13:35

Did an early version of Elton John's Saturday Night include the lyric "Saturday night's alright for fighting crosswords"? We don't know for certain, but we do know that today's crossword was an epic battle -- at least for Mike. Jean, as usual, found this to be a more of a minor skirmish. As we have come to expect from Adrian Johnson, author of toda…

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Friday, November 28, 2025 - All hail ARTTATUM, not just a jazz pianist, a jazz genius 11:12

1M ago11:12

11:12

This was a fine crossword by constructor -- aka SETTER, depending on which side of the pond you live on -- Jacob McDermott, for whom we are thankful for this entire crossword, but especially the revelation about SETTERS. We found many noteworthy clues to sing about today. For instance, we had 44A, One-named rock idol who was born Paul David Hewson,…

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Thursday, November 27, 2025 - Happy Thanksgiving / Black Friday Eve!! 13:17

1M ago13:17

13:17

On this dual US holiday -- Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday Eve -- we wish to say how thankful we are for our myriad faithful listeners, and for the geniuses who labor day in and day out to deliver the best crosswords in the world to our metaphorical doorstep. Speaking of best crosswords, we liked today's: it had, as usual, a theme that we did not…

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Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - Two thumbs up, waaaaaay up! 14:07

1M ago14:07

14:07

Today's crossword -- a debut by John McClung -- paid homage to one of the great movie critics of the last century, to wit, ROGEREBERT; and he was full of wit, heaping praise when deserved and throwing raspberries when not. Today's grid has just 4 examples, and they are a hoot. Deets inside. Show note imagery: The Khan el-Khalili bazaar, in CAIRO We…

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Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - A crossword engineered to leave you completely ENRAPT 🧐😍 18:09

1M ago18:09

18:09

This was a splendid Tuesday crossword, thanks to an ingenious theme surrounded by a bevy of bedazzling clues. We appreciated the aptness of seeing 3D, In an angry way, CROSSLY, in a CROSSWORD; were flabbergasted by 13D, Weight of every U.S. bank note, ONEGRAM; and were gobsmacked by 20A, U.K. : H.M.R.C. :: U.S.A. : ___, IRS. Today being Tuesday, we…

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Monday, November 24, 2025 - It's not just a RUMOR: this was a magnificent Monday crossword 11:34

1M ago11:34

11:34

We're just GAGA about today's crossword. It included some of our favorite words in the English language, such as 3D, Flabbergasted, GOBSMACKED; our favorite Shakespearean insult, 63A, Playing card better known as a Jack, KNAVE 😀; and our favorite equine, 44A, Horse with a spotted coat, DAPPLE. Besides this puzzle, we also have much to say in favor …

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Sunday, November 23, 2025 - In Praise of the Ol' Switcheroo 21:48

1M ago21:48

21:48

The NYTimes has not shied away from publishing GOL (Groan Out Loud) Sunday crosswords, so we're delighted to report that today's is of the lesser known but always appreciated LOL variety. We will spoil nothing here, but you'll find the full 411 in today's episode. Show note imagery: Wile E. Coyote, ever the optimist We love feedback! Send us a text…

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Saturday, November 22, 2025 - A Historic Saturday Crossword 14:57

1M ago14:57

14:57

Prior to today, only 3 NYTimes crosswords qualified as double pangrams -- ones where the grid includes the entire alphabet, A-Z, twice. Today's crossword marks the fourth. Writing any NYTimes-worthy crossword is a challenge, but writing a pangram really ups the difficulty. Blaker Slonecker was willing to accept the challenge, however, and we doff o…

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Friday, November 21, 2025 - AYOEDEBIRI, remember that name (and how to spell it!!!) 13:53

1M ago13:53

13:53

There were MANY GEMS in today's puzzle, and that's not even counting 3D, A host of, MANY, and 34A, Prized people, GEMS. We had 8D, Senescent, OLD; 48D, Real hoot, RIOT; and the colorful (?) 22D, Camel and fawn, TANS. Those were just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though, because today's grid was chockfull of awesome clues. We dive into the deet…

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Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - IBIZA, in the grid and on our bucket list 😀 10:44

1M ago10:44

10:44

This was a fine crossword to solve, but it must've been a bear to construct. Jeremy Newton was up to the task, though, serving up a perfect midweek puzzle. He had us at 16A, Times noted in Captain Kirk's logs, STARDATES; enthralled us at 11D, Finito or kaput, DUNZO; and endeared us with 13A, Establishment whose name means "lounge" in French, SALON.…

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Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Avast, thar be JETSAM ahead, me hearties!🏴‍☠️ 13:25

1M ago13:25

13:25

Joe Deeney's crosswords always seem to include a little extra spice, a little extra pizzazz: we present today's puzzle as an exemplar, and that's not just because we've been itching to use exemplar in a sentence 😀. As evidence, we have 59A, Timeless, to a poet, ETERNE; our favorite E. C. Segar heroine, 58D, Toondom's Olive, OYL; and the rarely seen…

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Monday, November 17, 2025 - DEF not a MID crossword 🤔😀 10:45

1M ago10:45

10:45

This was a not-at-all-MID, nor, for that matter -MEH, Monday crossword: the theme was above average, the clues crisp and clever. We especially want to give a shoutout to 22D, Sch. with a T section, MIT; and the presence of both 10D, Nickname for Dorothy, DOT, and 59A, Play-_____, DOH, in the grid. Kudos to Rena Cohen for this, her 6th NYTimes cross…

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Sunday, November 16, 2025 - This crossword packs a pun(ch)! 12:01

1M ago12:01

12:01

If you like Shakespeare, and if you like puns, you will be in ecstasy by the time you've finished today's crossword. And even if you are not a huge fan, we predict that you'll find this crossword to be a hoot. What makes it so special, you ask? Check out today's podcast, where all will be revealed! Show note imagery: The logo of TCM, Turner Classic…

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Saturday, November 15, 2025 - Was this a fabulous Saturday crossword?? OBVI 😁 11:07

1M ago11:07

11:07

If this crossword were a drink, it would be a chamomile tea. However, it was even better than that: a bliss-inducing, soul-lifting crossword. We certainly feel happier for having solved it, and we hope you'll feel the same for having listened to this podcast! Show note imagery: PTOWN, aka Provincetown, Cape Cod We love feedback! Send us a text... C…

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Friday, November 14, 2025 - This crossword wasn't just great ... it was POG 🤔 14:06

2M ago14:06

14:06

Several clues in today's crossword gave both cohosts reason to pause. Most notably we had a debut at 6D, Aesthetic associated with classical literature and vintage fashion, DARKACADEMIA; we also had the mysterious 1D, Cool, in streaming slang, POG; and we were intrigued to discover 62D, ID whose lowest possibility is 001-01-0001, SSN. In addition t…

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Thursday, November 13, 2025 - 🎶 In the circle, the circle of life 🎶🦁 16:06

2M ago16:06

16:06

This was a tricky Thursday crossword and a magnificent debut for Kyle Perkins. Jean struggled and Mike strugggggled, to get to the happy music; both eventually persevered, but not before much gnashing of teeth had taken place. We have all the dental records inside, so have a listen (as one will, to dental records 🙄), and enjoy! Show note imagery: A…

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Wednesday, November 12, 2025 - It was a horse! Mule! Horse! Mule! ... 15:31

2M ago15:31

15:31

The father and daughter duo of Brad Wiegmann and Nicole Wiegmann have teamed up to create a wonderful connect-the-dots-er-squares puzzle-within-a-puzzle. Elizabeth Gorski, an NYTimes contributor with a whopping 219 crosswords to her credit apparently pioneered this approach: and the Wiegmann opus is a fine addition to the oeuvre. Besides the crossw…

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Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - Happy Veteran's Day! 6:36

2M ago6:36

6:36

This is the second Christina Iverson - Scott Hogan collaboration, and the first NYTimes crossword ever to include WORCESTERSHIRE as an answer. It usually takes us several takes before we can pronounce the word, and even more before we can spell it. We enjoyed 52A, Copenhagen's "The Little Mermaid", for one, STATUE (which for all the attention it ge…

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Monday, November 10, 2025 - Happy Veteran's Day Eve!! 7:18

2M ago7:18

7:18

This was an excellent crossword by a prolific cruciverbalist. It was a Monday, and as far as being fun and appropriate for novice puzzle solvers, a smashing success. We enjoyed the challenge of how to spell 9D, Shrub with bright flowers, AZALEA; the reappearance (for the second time in two days) of a by-gone internet pioneer, AOL; and the opportuni…

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Sunday, November 9, 2025 - Amie Walker swings for the fences! 19:11

2M ago19:11

19:11

If crosswords had moods, we'd classify this one as feisty. It took both cohosts, working independently as always, longer than usual to get to the happy music. But the journey is the reward, as they say, so rather than complain, we prefer to celebrate this, the fourth NYTimes crossword by Amie Walker. Deets inside. Show note imagery: A LORIS, in its…

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2025 Episode 10 - Madeleine Tower and Table Cake 29:47

2M ago29:47

29:47

A bake off final, a birthday, and a visit from the Ghost of Bake Offs Past on this week's Worth The Calories. Madeleine tower recipe Subscribe to our RSS feed here Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here We're on Spotify Get in touch! If you have thoughts about the episode or want to suggest something for a future episode, you can comment on this post at …

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Saturday, November 8, 2025 - MANSAMUSA, the original golden boy 🙄 8:56

2M ago8:56

8:56

This was a good Saturday workout: not the hardest Saturday ever, but engaging, with some truly effervescent cluing. We covered the best-of-the-best in today's episode, but we would also like to note 26A, John Coltrane album whose title suggests making major progress, GIANTSTEPS (check it out, an awesome work); 46D, Pussyfoot: SNEAK; and the star of…

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Friday, November 7, 2025 - Today's crossword had an ENNEAD of debut entries (which, sadly, did not include ENNEAD🙄) 12:36

2M ago12:36

12:36

This was a challenging crossword for both cohosts, as both -- solving independently as is their custom -- ended up in the same area of the grid, temporary waylaid by the crossing of 40A, The Brady household, including Alice, e.g., ENNEAD, and 29D, "The Fall of the House of Usher" actress ___ Miller, TNIA. In the end, though, Jean managed to get thr…

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Thursday, November 6, 2025 - YOWZAH, what a crossword!! 12:53

2M ago12:53

12:53

For you polyglots out there, the NYTimes has written a love letter, cleverly disguised as a crossword -- today's, to be precise, a magnificent opus by Sam Brody. For the rest of us, the crossword was (for reasons that will be come clear once you've heard the podcast and/or seen the completed grid) a lot more challenging, which means, of course, a l…

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Wednesday, November 5, 2025 - All hail ANNA Lee Fisher, first mother in space! 13:14

2M ago13:14

13:14

The first author of today's crossword, Chad Hazen, had over 40 rejections before finally getting a crossword published -- but when he did get it published it was in the New York Times, so there is that. He was aided in his efforts by legendary crossword constructor Jeff Chen, an ideal person to have your six when the crossword deities conspire agai…

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Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - Make ROOM for the ROOMBA 15:08

2M ago15:08

15:08

This was a debut crossword by Patrick Hayden, and a very nice one, to boot. The theme was sly, and the author has a knack for writing novel clues for common answers. We covered many of them in the podcast, but we admired many more. For instance, we had 58A, What you eat, DIET; 52D, Metaphor for a bad goalie, SIEVE (awesome!); and 61D, Start of a br…

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Sunday, November 2, 2025 - A veritable ocean of white squares 😳 8:45

2M ago8:45

8:45

If you fear crosswords with large swathes of white squares, infrequently interrupted by a black square or two (and psychiatrists have a technical name for that: "normal"), you might want to give this crossword a bye. But if you do so, be warned: you'll be missing out on one of the best Sunday crosswords of the year, courtesy of Rafael Musa (adeptly…

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2025 Episode 9 - Framboisier and Macaron Centrepiece 36:12

2M ago36:12

36:12

Yes we did the sugar dome. We melted clingfilm. But other than that we also got to use our favourite piping gadget and our favourite cream substitute, so it's a good week. Framboisier Le Tube - The best piping gadget ever! The Coconut Collab - The best cream alternative ever! Subscribe to our RSS feed here Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here We're on …