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 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 share feedback—preferably with a dose of kindness or even pure praise!

The word of the episode is "regatta," inspired by the recent Cub Scout rain gutter regatta boat race. The hosts break down the origins and meaning of "regatta," tracing it from its Italian (and possibly Latin) roots as a contest or race, to its present-day use for boat races—whether rowing or sailing—around the world. The discussion dives into the differences between regattas, races, and familiar Cub Scout events, with fun asides about Pinewood Derby and the now-discontinued Space Derby. The episode also unpacks the distinctions between canoes, kayaks, and rowboats, exploring both their historical design and the mechanics of how each is paddled or rowed.

Expect scout stories, random nostalgia, aquatic terminology, and a spirited debate about which watercraft reigns supreme. The episode is a relatable blend of family anecdotes, scouting tradition, and word history, plus a reminder about their upcoming holiday break for Thanksgiving.

Keyword highlights: regatta, Cub Scouts, rain gutter regatta, kayak, canoe, rowboat, word origins, paddle vs. oar, water sports, scouting traditions.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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 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 dictionary to embrace viral Gen Alpha fads as legitimate lexicon. They unpack the origin of 67 as slang: from a rapper's lyric and TikTok trends, to schoolyards and sports memes, to its status as an in-joke that, paradoxically, includes everyone in the fun.

Alongside plenty of real-life stories (including how a scout meeting devolved into a chorus of 6-7 jokes), the couple examines the language philosophy from "Findle," asking: is a word simply whatever enough people agree that it means? The show also touches on the psychology of belonging and why nonsense fads like 67 make it easy, for a brief moment, for anyone—kid or adult—to join an inside joke. They critique the dark origins of the number as a street reference but ultimately focus on its evolution into a lighthearted, inclusive meme.

Runners-up for Word of the Year are discussed (including "agentic," "tradwife," and "kiss cam"). The episode closes by questioning what dictionaries are now and whether other viral moments will claim word-of-the-year status before December ends. As ever, listeners are invited to weigh in on whether this kind of linguistic chaos should be celebrated or scorned.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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 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 shortcomings of this definition, reflecting on whether nostalgia is more about overcoming hardships or an emotional longing for the best moments of our pasts. With personal stories about parenting, childhood memories, and once-in-a-lifetime trips, they explore how nostalgia is shaped by both triumph and struggle, and whether it applies to adulthood memories or just the carefree days of youth. The conversation draws on classic dictionary definitions and the term’s Greek roots—νόστος  (homecoming/return) and ἄλγος  (pain)—to illuminate how nostalgia has evolved from literal homesickness to a complex, bittersweet emotion. Listeners are invited to weigh in: is nostalgia just about survivable times, is it rooted in the happiest memories, or can it arise from adversity as well?

Along the way, the episode highlights the ways in which nostalgia shapes our perception of life’s eras, why certain periods or places draw us back emotionally, and whether it’s possible to intentionally create nostalgia in adulthood. As always, the hosts use humor, candid disagreement, and lively storytelling to unpack the episode’s word—concluding that through talking (and sometimes disagreeing), we begin the journey to understanding.

Keywords: nostalgia, homesickness, parenting memories, emotional meaning, Greek etymology, life reflection, bittersweet, survival, sentimental longing, Richard Greenberg quote, adult vs. childhood memories.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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  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 minor heartbreaks and little victories that come with daily word games, before diving into vocabulary.

They explain that fetid means “having a heavy, offensive smell”—think stinky swamps, unwashed gear, or foul breath. Drawing on its Latin roots (fetidus from fetere, "to stink"), they clarify that it’s not related to words like fetish, despite some surface resemblance. They also discuss how fetid differs from putrid (which typically refers to rotting organic matter).

The conversation then shifts to Japanese slang for “uncool,” teaching listeners how ‘dasai’ or ‘janai kakoi’ offers a softer alternative to “dumb” or “gross”—and marveling at the nuance of language learning versus the bluntness of “that’s disgusting.”

Stories from a recent camping trip bring “fetid” to life—one host found the campground delightfully pristine, while the other (downwind of the septic tank) insists pockets of air were truly fetid, especially mixed with campfire smoke. A tangent about showering, towels, and sentimental childhood toys pivots the episode toward nostalgia—a mood they plan to tackle deeply next time, closing with a debate about whether nostalgia is about survival or moments of thriving.

Keywords: fetid, etymology, Wordle, Japanese slang, language learning, camping, nostalgia, vocabulary, parenting, word history.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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 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)—and dive into why Puritan “blue laws” might have literally come from blue paper or blue clothing. From there, the couple unpacks theories on how “blue” came to mean both “religious strictness” and “indecency,” tracing its tangled linguistic roots through New England idioms and 19th‑century slang.

The new word of the week, crèche, opens a thoughtful discussion on the Latin, French, and Greek origins of the manger scene and how baby Jesus’ “feeding trough” evolved into Christmas iconography. The episode closes on a spirited debate about when the holiday season should really begin, whether Thanksgiving deserves more respect, and even if daylight savings time should be abolished for good.

Keywords: Russian Blue cats, blue laws, etymology of “blue,” crèche, Christmas decorations, holiday culture, language history.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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 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 recently discussed Russian—the language’s treatment of blue inspired today’s topic.

Linguistic Insight: Russian Words for “Blue”

• Russian distinguishes light and dark blue with two separate terms:
  • синий
     (siniy) — dark blue
  • голубой
     (goluboy) — light blue
• Scientific studies show Russian speakers identify shades of blue faster and more precisely than English speakers because their brains associate distinct words with each hue.
• English only modifies blue with adjectives (e.g., sky blue, navy blue, midnight blue), while Russian encodes the difference as separate words entirely.

English Uses of “Blue” - The hosts brainstormed, then checked definitions in the Oxford Language Dictionary.

1. Color:
   • Basic meaning: hue between green and violet.
   • Nuances: sky blue, ocean blue, navy, azure.
   • Describes appearance of things (skin tone from cold, animals like blue jays or Russian Blue cats).
   • Used categorically (even in physics: “blue quark”).
2. Feeling:
   • Emotional state of sadness or melancholy (“feeling blue”).
3. Content Rating:
   • “Blue humor” or “blue movie” = off-color, obscene, or adult-themed material.
4. Moral Tone (dated):
   • “Blue” once meant rigidly religious or moralistic — ironic given the modern usage for adult entertainment.
5. Nouns Representing Things:
   • Civil War: Union Army (“the Blues”).
   • Clothing color references, butterflies, and species names.
6. Verbs:
   • To “blue” metal (giving it a gray-blue finish).
   • “Bluing” laundry (washing whites with blue tint).
   • Historical variant of “blow” (as in “blew it all on sweets”).
7. Cooking Temperature (modern usage):
   • “Blue” or “extra rare” steak (110–115°F / 43–46°C).
   • So little cooked that the reddish interior gives the surface a bluish reflection.
   • Not temperature-safe per USDA guidelines (minimum 145°F).

Cultural and Personal Tangents

• Mention of “Code Blue” (hospital emergency) and “Blue Light Special” (retail slogan).
• “Feeling blue” leads to nostalgic reference to the song “I’m Blue.”
• Discussion of food safety and different national norms.
• Anecdote: earlier favorite restaurant’s rare steak special (so cheap, it may have caused bankruptcy).
• Humor about having a “Russian Blue” cat — ironic, since in Russia the name would mean something else entirely.

Closing Observations

• Russian’s two blues highlight linguistic relativity — vocabulary shapes perception.
• English compensates with creative modifiers but lacks built-in semantic depth for shades.
• Russian possibly “superior” linguistically: clearer color distinctions, simpler consonant system, and no confusion over English C/K/S spelling.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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 Word of the Episode: Timidity

• Definition (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 Bible translations (e.g., NLT). Example usage: “She believes everyone can overcome their timidity.”
• Etymology: From Latin timidus (“fearful”) ← timere (“to fear”). Related to timid, intimidate, etc.
• Comparison: Timidness exists, but AI claims timidity is more established—a claim the hosts dispute, saying they had never encountered it until now.
• Biblical Connection: Appears in 2 Timothy 1:7 in NLT (“spirit of timidity”), contrasted with KJV “spirit of fear.”
  • Greek root deilia: cowardice, shrinking back.
  • Discussion of translation nuances—“spirit of fear” preferred by hosts for theological clarity.

Name Tangent

• Timothy: From Greek Timotheos (“honoring God”), unrelated in meaning to timidity despite phonetic similarity.
• Interesting contrast: Timothy = honor; timidity = fear.

Language and Teaching Anecdotes

• Story about teaching reading: oldest child insisted the letter “C” was unnecessary (preferred K for hard sounds, S for soft sounds).
• Hosts reflect on English language idiosyncrasies and societal norms—sometimes you must teach or conform to standard usage even if logically flawed to maintain group consistency (e.g., scripture memorization in one translation).
• Discussion of debate skills:
  • One host enjoyed logical fallacy education but disliked formal debate constraints.
  • Questioning realism of debate rules in everyday argumentation (should everything be allowed?).

Fun Debates

• Waffles vs. pancakes:
  • She: waffles for crunch and syrup pockets.
  • He: soft, cake-like waffles preferred; long-term choice would be pancakes.
• Crunchy vs. soft dessert preferences and cookie texture differences.
• Crunch in food: she likes chips in sandwiches; he prefers only certain crunchy foods.

Cultural Reflection

• On language reform: can’t rewrite every word/book; sometimes must “share empathy” about constraints.
• Suggestion: learn languages without English’s “C” problems (e.g., Russian, Asian languages).

Closing Notes

• Core lesson: functioning in society often means aligning with group standards (like using C in spelling or reciting scripture in a shared translation), even if logically imperfect.
• Encouragement: “Need not have a spirit of timidity” in learning or sharing—be bold, though the hosts admit they’re still working on that confidence.

Tone & Takeaway:

• This episode is playful, linguistic, and philosophical—mixing etymology with personal stories about teaching, language quirks, group conformity, and confidence. It ties biblical language curiosity to everyday communication and social norms.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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Word of the Episode: Polemical

• Definition (Oxford): Expressing or constituting a strong critical attack or controversial opinion.
• Etymology: From Greek polemos (“war”) → polemikós (“warlike/hostile”).
• Discussion:
  • Related to debate and controversy, not to Ptolemaic (Claudius Ptolemy’s geocentric astronomy).
  • Hosts joked about confusing the two since they sound similar, imagining a “Ptolemaic polemic.”
  • Takeaway: polemical ≠ Ptolemaic, but both useful as play on words.

Connection to Past Episodes

• Revisited pontificate: noted they’re now noticing frequent (often incorrect) uses of the term in culture and academics.
• Bridge to discussion: morals vs. morale can easily become “polemical topics” depending on viewpoints.

Main Discussion: Morals vs. Morale

• Her perspective:
  • As an adult, her morals (e.g., Christian faith, honesty, ethics) are “locked in,” unlikely to change.
  • Thus, she is more affected by other people’s morale (positive or negative energy) in everyday life.
  • With children, morals matter more since they are still shaping beliefs and behaviors—she prefers surrounding them with adults who share her moral framework.
• His perspective:
  • Defines morals as a “systematized pattern of acceptable behavior” (actions/ethics), distinct from worldview (beliefs about God, humanity, existence).
  • Argues even people with different worldviews can reach the same moral behaviors (e.g., both an atheist and a Christian can refrain from cutting in line).
  • For him, morals take priority over morale, since behavior aligns society regardless of mood or energy.

Illustrative Debates & Anecdotes

• Examples:
  • Trash pickup — Is it moral duty to clean up? What if someone rationalizes leaving trash as “providing jobs”?
  • Grocery/self-checkout — Some claim it’s moral to avoid kiosks to preserve jobs.
  • Baseball/foul ball incident & golf ball souvenir — personal anecdotes about moral codes, property, and differing interpretations.
• Reflection: disagreements often reveal overlap of moral codes vs. worldviews and how they shape actions.

Conclusions

• She: In her daily life, morale matters more (shapes her energy and interactions). With young children, morals come first.
• He: Morals hold higher priority as they define acceptable action, though morale influences group dynamics.
• Both agree: ideally society holds to good morals, which then produces high morale.
• Polemical debates about morals vs. morale show how easily language and worldview shape conflict.

Other Notes

• Joking sidebars:
  • Don’t be “polemical” if you want good morale.
  • Don’t be “Ptolemaic” (thinking the world revolves around you).
  • Musings about Mars missions and abandoned past sign-ups.
  • Reminder of abandoning planned 3I/Atlas probes.

Tone & Takeaway:

• Playful but reflective exploration of language lessons (polemical, Ptolemaic, pontificate) tied to deeper life discussions (morals, morale, worldview, behavior).
• Closing mantra: disagreements aside, “through talking we begin the journey to understanding.”

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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Words of the Episode: Morals vs. Morale

• Morals
  • Definition: Standards of behavior or principles of right/wrong by which a person lives; also lessons drawn from stories.
  • Etymology: From Latin mos/moris → morales → moralia (used by St. Gregory in his exposition on Job) → Middle English.
  • Can be good or bad, but always refers to a guiding code.
• Morale
  • Definition: Confidence, discipline, and outlook of a person or group at a given time (e.g., workplace morale).
  • Etymology: From French moral in the mid‑18th century; respelled morale in English to preserve stress on the final syllable.
  • No root connection to morals—it is its own word, with earliest English usage around 1752.

👉 Key Takeaway: Despite sounding similar, the two words have completely different origins. “Morale” was modified in English to avoid confusion with “moral.”

Discussion

• Both hosts were close on definitions, but one assumed they shared a common root—turns out they do not.
• They explored how confusing it would be in speech if a leader said “group morals are high” versus “group morale is high,” since both phrases make sense but mean very different things.
• Reflection on homonyms/homophones in English—words that sound/look the same but differ in meaning. Unlike typical homonyms (e.g., “bat” the animal vs. “bat” in baseball), morale was respelled precisely to avoid that category.

Personal Anecdotes About Misunderstanding

• Jumper cables story:
  • During a Cub Scout campout, one leader asked if anyone had jumper cables.
  • Host assumed it was for a skit prop (since they were prepping for skits), but the leader’s truck battery was actually dead.
  • Quick laugh followed, then real jumper cables solved the issue—illustrating how context can cause misinterpretation.
• Name misunderstanding:
  • One host admitted to mishearing someone’s name due to an accent, thinking it was something odd, only to learn later it had an important cultural meaning.
  • Tied into the larger lesson of how cultural background and preconceived ideas affect how we interpret words.

Closing Reflection

• Clear, precise speech matters to reduce misunderstandings.
• People bring different contexts, cultural baggage, and assumptions into conversations.
• Full-circle conclusion: good morals help ensure right speech and actions, while good moralekeeps groups positive and functional.

Final Question Raised:

• Which is more important, morals or morale?
  • Answer given: Morals come above morale—though morale strongly affects group energy, it does not outweigh a person’s guiding moral code.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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 Links to materials mentioned in the episode:

• Link to book by Avi Loeb: Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.
• Link to the paper co-authored by Avi Loeb: Is the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Alien Technology? (PDF)

Word(s) of the Episode

• ʻOumuamua
  • Hawaiian name for the first observed interstellar object (2017).
  • Meaning: “A messenger from afar arriving first” or “advance scout.”
  • Had unusual properties—possibly pancake-shaped, non-natural trajectory, and odd light reflections that led some scientists (e.g., Avi Loeb, Harvard) to propose it might be an artificial probe.
• 3I/Atlas
  • The third confirmed interstellar object, discovered July 1, 2025.
  • Name breakdown: “3” (third), “I” (interstellar), “ATLAS” (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System).
  • Oddities observed:
    • Appears to off-gas methane based on color/spectral readings.
    • Its “tail” sometimes points toward the sun instead of away.
    • Shows unexplained accelerations—speeding up, slowing down, changing course beyond gravity’s pull.
    • Trajectory lies unusually close to the orbital plane of the planets.

Discussion

• Alien Connection?
  • Avi Loeb suggests these interstellar objects could be probes from advanced civilizations, linking them to the Dark Forest Theory (a proposed answer to the Fermi Paradox).
  • Fermi Paradox: If alien life should exist widely, why don’t we see evidence?
  • Dark Forest Theory: Civilizations hide in fear that others will annihilate them; some may send probes to preemptively eliminate threats.
• Alternative Views:
  • Could just be an unusually shaped or chemically different rock.
  • Only 3 interstellar objects have been observed—too small a data set to generalize.
  • Likelihood of danger is deemed infinitesimally small.
• Hosts’ Take:
  • One host doubts alien life entirely (prefers theological explanation of humanity as unique).
  • The other finds it interesting but not worth worrying about—no control if it were dangerous.
• Speculation:
  • What if aliens invited humans aboard—would you go? (Hosts conclude “not alone, only maybe with whole family, and only with proof of trust.”)
  • Playful talk of aliens celebrating Christmas, or whether to buy presents early if Earth were to be destroyed December 19th (closest approach).

Pop Culture Tangents

• Netflix’s Don’t Look Up (mixed opinions on its ending).
• Light detour into Hawaiian names and humorous restaurant memories.

Closing

• They note how social media obsessions with “jumbotron scandals” drown out real, fascinating science.
• Suggest listeners check out Avi Loeb’s book and recent paper.
• Tease but skip over talking about Charlie Kirk, noting “everyone else is already covering him.”

Tone & Takeaway

• Language lesson: Hawaiian terms like ʻOumuamua; technical naming of 3I Atlas.
• Science lesson: Pareto principle revisited in practice—only a few rare objects spark most debates.
• Life lesson: Balance curiosity with perspective—most things (like alien probes) are unlikely threats, but thinking them through can be fascinating.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.