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Butter No Parsnips
By Butter No ParsnipsComedy
Butter No Parsnips episodes
- 114. Mortsafe
Kyle and Emily get grave this week, discussing what might become of them after they have shuffled off this mortal coil, and digging into the history of the word mortsafe.
This Victorian invention has our hosts asking a delightfully macabre question: Do we need to keep the living safe from the dead… or the dead safe from the living? Turns out Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was more a product of its time than you thought!
Kyle takes us through a time when every graveyard and every coffin was at risk, from that most frightening villain of them all: the ambitious medical student. Emily learns just how dire the pursuit of anatomy can get, even leading to murder most foul.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
37 min - 113. Thaumaturgy w/ Amy Vorpahl
This week, Emily and Kyle are joined by Amy Vorpahl, a Dungeons and Dragons pro you might recognize from Critical Role, D20, and the recently released Goblin Mode! Amy and Kyle are guided by their DM Emily on an adventure into the magical world of thaumaturgy.
Thaumaturgy might be familiar to the DnD players out there, but the history of the thaumaturge goes all the way through Ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, and more! Our trio explore the magic of priests and occultists, the many words used for mages and prophets, a dubious miracle and a decidedly cool saint.
Amy and our hosts discuss thaumaturgy alongside some other iconic DnD spells, and the challenge a Dungeon Master faces in keeping track of the nitty gritties of magic. They also chat about thaumaturgy as it appears in other tabletop games and media, as well as the etymologies of some other 5e spells.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
49 min - 112. Miasma
There’s something in the air this week on Butter No Parsnips… and it just might be toxic. Kyle and Emily strap on their beaked masks and dive into the history of the word miasma.
The roots of the word lie not just in a literal cloud of vapor, but also in the noxious atmosphere of shame and moral pollution. It turns out that even the most famous physicians like Hippocrates and Galen thought diseases were caused by bad smells and swamp gasses!
Speaking of diseases, our hosts take a look at some Plague history as well! Kyle explains the reasoning behind the iconic plague doctor mask, and Emily discovers it’s not quite what she thought. They also explore the delightful, poison soup full of monsters that is the River Thames.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
36 min - 111. Quiddity
Emily and Kyle discuss the quality of what, this, that, and the other thing as they explore the confusing but useful word, quiddity.
Our hosts dive into the nitty gritties of metaphysics philosophy from both Ancient Greece and Medieval Europe. Reality starts to unravel as Kyle and Emily talk about the works of Aristotle, the essence of an individual, and the nature of being.
In addition to this word for the “whatness” of a thing, it turns out metaphysics philosophers have words for “thisness,” “thatness,” and more. And quiddity itself has plenty to effer as well, encompassing definitions for the quibbling, the quippy, and the quirky.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
31 min - 110. Aegis
Kyle and Emily take a ride to the Aegean Sea and Ancient Greece, exploring the divine and danger-filled history of the word aegis.
Our hosts run through a number of uses for this word, encompassing not just a literal shield but figurative protection, guidance, support, and endorsement. Aegis may have come from some strange cross-section of goats and storms… But the real meat and potatoes of this episode lies in Greek mythology.
This humble shield (or goatskin? or lightning bolt?) has been used to protect Zeus, Athena, and more against terrible foes such as Medusa. But aegis still has some uses today, in everywhere from naval protection systems to the video game Hades.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
34 min - 109. Malinger
This episode goes out to anyone who’s calling out from work when they weren’t quite as sick as they implied, as this week Emily and Kyle chat all about the word malinger.
Emily starts by diving into this word’s French roots, which once described actual sickly people–and even, perhaps, the MOST sickly person. But this word came to be more associated with fake illness and injury–and not always just little white lies. Kyle learns about where malingering intersects with psychiatry, and the medical tests used to sort fact from fiction.
Our hosts then explore some real cases of falsified symptoms. Malingering has been used for some unsavory goals, such as attempts to use psychology to escape criminal justice. But there are also more positive examples where malingering has helped Jews escape the Holocaust or helped a transgender person transition.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
29 min - 108. Aptronym
Ever wondered if your name could influence your destiny? Kyle and Emily have, and this deep question brings them to the hilarious world of aptronyms.
In this episode, our hosts explore the inception of the aptronym and delve into the theory's deeper implications, touching on ideas from Carl Jung's Synchronicity, to concepts like nominative determinism and implicit egotism. The duo discusses famous examples like sprinter Usain Bolt and poet William Wordsworth, and how these “coincidences” might not be so coincidental after all.
From its humble origins in newspaper and magazine columns, to modern, large-scale scientific studies, Kyle and Emily chat about the birth of last names and the plethora of lists created by the noble comiconomenclaturists. Their conversation uncovers the intriguing intersection of surnames, irony, and Jungian psychology, allowing baby name suggestions to take on a whole new meaning.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
34 min - 107. Borak
This week, Emily and Kyle thoroughly roast each other. But don’t worry; it’s all in good fun. And it’s the perfect segue to chatting about the Aussie and Kiwi slang word, borak!
Our hosts look at some of the many Aboriginal languages of Australia, most notably one from the Melbourne area called Wadawurrung. They talk about the impact that colonialism had on Australian languages, and the ways borat could be used to mean no, not, or nothing in both Wadawurrung, English, and everywhere in-between.
Exploring this word as it appears in newspaper articles and playful poems alike. Emily demonstrates how borak can also mean nonsense, chatter, or banter. Kyle also learns an everyday phrase using borak, a surprising connection to borax soap, and a few more boraks from around the world.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
36 min - 106. Fissiparous
Our apologies on the lack of video this week, we made a mistake during recording and forgot to record video!
Kyle and Emily address a question that has haunted romantic partners for years--but this divisive worm conversation leads them to a much more fruitful discussion on the word fissiparous.
Lovers of zoology, biology, and even microbiology, this is the episode for you. Our hosts discuss everything from nuclear fission, to how cells clone themselves, to the regeneration of all those worms we split in half as children…We all did that, right?
Kyle also takes the opportunity to answer some vital questions about animals of the sea. Like, is it starfish or sea star? Will a whole starfish regrow from just a fragment? And what exactly defines a fish? That last one, it turns out, is a topic Emily’s been DYIN’ to cover.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
34 min - 105. Spadassinicide
Our apologies on the lack of video this week, we made a mistake during recording and forgot to record video!
Emily and Kyle square up for an Alexander Hamilton style duel, but trade their pistols for fencing swords as they discuss the meaning and origin of the word spadassinicide.
Our hosts begin by diving into the word spadassin, its history in French and Italian, and its relation to sword fighters. And, it turns out there’s a reason the word sounds so similar to assassin, although OG Assassin’s Creed fans might not be surprised to hear it.
A spadassin might be just a bully in the eyes of Victor Hugo, but can also be a swordsman for hire in the middle of a revolution! Our hosts discuss uses of spadassinicide in the context of a passionately-written history of the French Revolution, and in a novel called Scaramouche with some surprising twists and turns.
For reference, the woodblock print mentioned at in the episode can be seen here: https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/15512
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast
Follow us on TikTok @ButterNoParsnips
Support us
www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips or by visiting www.bnppod.com
Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore
32 min
About Butter No Parsnips
From the publisher's feed
Every week on Butter No Parsnips, your hosts Emily Moyers and Kyle Imperatore take you on an adventure through the weird, wacky, wonderful, and sometimes wicked history of one wayside word. Strange…
characters, delightful bits, and general joyousness abound, join them as they test each other's etymological expertise!