Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

By MP

A short, fun and occasionally not unintentionally educational podcast in which two fans of the New York Times crossword describe their puzzle-solving travails.

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2828 ratings

FAQs about Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword:

How many episodes does Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword have?

The podcast currently has 2,144 episodes available.

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword episodes:

August 31, 2026 Sunday, August 30, 2026 — Tempus Fugit? Perhaps Tempus Has a Terrible Memory 🙄
Today's crossword relied on an anagram-adjacent concept, that of a letter bank: all the letters in the clue can be used as many times (but at least once) in the answer. Once you realize this (which may only happen once you get the revealer figured out), you can rule out answers that include non-banked letters, considerably shortening the solve. 😀
What makes the puzzle particularly challenging (and therefore fun!) is the need to recognize the names in the answer based only on an unrelated name. Both cohosts were able to get through this, Jean through talent and encyclopedic knowledge, Mike by repeating his mantra, aka the Galaxy Quest theme — never give up, never surrender*.
There were a slew of difficult (read: abfab) head scratchers in today's crossword. We don't have enough room to list all of them(!), but these certainly got our attention: 82D, Barolos e Brunellos, VINOS; 52D, John ___ Day (California commemoration), MUIR; and 42D, Double-breasted pieces of menswear, POLOCOATS.
Show note imagery: John MUIR, environmentalist extraordinaire!
*unless it's a Saturday Sam Ezersky puzzle, in which case knock yourself out 😀
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15min
August 29, 2026 Saturday, August 29, 2026 — Red Alert! Deviously Difficult Saturday Crossword at Twelve O'Clock, High!
Rafael Musa and Kate Chin Park have put together an awesome Saturday crossword, tough, fair, with some absolutely magnificent cluing. Both cohosts had to follow the advice of 42A, Put your backs into it, TRY — while reconciling that with the Yoda's famous quote and meme, "Do or do not. There is no try".
We've covered some of our favorite clues in the podcast, but others stood out as well. We were enthralled with 35A, Ones giving a toast at an outdoor party?, PATIOHEATERS. 😀 Right beneath it was the nicely misleading 37A, Court session, perhaps, TENNISLESSON (ah, that kind of court...). Finally we had the rarely spotted 11A, Half-spoken, half-sung passages of an opera, ARIOSI.
Show note imagery: Three of the founders of TECHNO — Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May — in their native habitat, aka the recording studio.
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15min
August 29, 2026 Friday, August 26, 2026 — Let's Hear It For SCREAMO 🎸🎸
Jack Hatchett seems to be getting a good handle on Friday crosswords. This marks his second in just over two months, and both have been quite entertaining. Today's did include a large dollop of pop culture, which Jean barely noticed, but caused Mike to mutter "heavens to murtagroyd!", and, in particularly sticky corners, "what the deuce!", while en route to victory.
We have all the deets inside, plus a Fun Fact Friday segment that just may cause you to adjust your travel plans. Have a listen, and let us know what you think!
Show note imagery: BRER Rabbit, getting ready to do something very tricky indeed
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14min
August 28, 2026 Thursday, August 27, 2026 — Captains Ahab, Noah and Kirk Walk Into a Bar ...
We wouldn't say that today's crossword had a boring theme, au contraire. But you still might think about snoozing as you solve, for reasons that will become abundantly clear once you've looked at the puzzle. Apart from the non-snoozefest of a theme, we did admire 38D, French bread?, EURO (trés drôle!). We also were astonished that 56A, Large storage unit, GIGABYTE, was a debut. Finally we loved the nostalgia-inducing 31D, "Heavens to Murgatroyd!", EGAD. EGAD!
Show note imagery: The mysterious, awe-inspiring NAZCA Lines, of Southern Peru.
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Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
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16min
August 27, 2026 Wednesday, August 26, 2026 — You Don't Know EDUMACATE? Prepare To BE EDUMACATED!
Today's crossword, a collaboration between John Kugelman and Lance Enfinger, had a bonus puzzle within a puzzle. First, there was the traditional 15x15 grid we all know and love (to solve); then we had the theme, whose revealer seemed to be more of a concealer. Fortunately, the light eventually dawned, so we've got the full 411 right here for your listening pleasure.
Show note imagery: The one, the only, it's Mr. Rockhead Sylvester Nate Oscar George Slate (really, that's his full name!).
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13min
August 26, 2026 Tuesday, August 25, 2026 — Bryan Kaproth-Gerecht Swings For the Fences and ... It's Outta Here!
Bryan Kaproth-Gerecht's debut NYTimes crossword is a marvel, with an insanely clever theme brilliantly executed. We can't say enough good things about it, but in today's episode, we give it the ol' college try.
We also have a Triplet Tuesday™️ segment to test your mettle, so have a go, and let us know how you did!
Show note imagery: There's nothing like a quick holiday getaway to Saturn's largest moon, [NAME REDACTED TO AVOID SPOILERS], for a little water skiing, er, hydrocarbon skiing 😀
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Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
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16min
August 25, 2026 Monday, August 24, 2026 — Zing ZANG, Runner Up, 2026's Most Amusingly Named Drink Mix Contest
Steven Jopek is making his debut in the NYTimes, so kudos, congrats, huzzah, etc., etc. Although after the fact the crossword seemed like a typical Monday, during the solve it seemed to put up just a bit more resistance than usual, although, of course, YMMV*.
One thing that stood out: we were impressed by the progression represented by 44A, She, in Portuguese, ELA, 40D, Actor Idris, ELBA, and 57A, Jazz great Fitzgerald, ELLA. It's that attention to detail that gets you, well, published in the NYTimes. 😀
We've also picked our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) for the week, and had to reach waaaaay back to find it. How far back? Let's just say that we are currently seeking chiropractic treatment to recover from the effort. Medic!
Show note imagery: ANGELFALLS, Canaima National Park, Venezuela, the world's tallest waterfall.
*or if you're on the Metric system, YKMV

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Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
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12min
August 23, 2026 Sunday, August 23, 2026 — A Crossword That Has Absolutely Nothing to Do With Tubular Pasta 🙄🍝
Today's puzzle marks Jill Singer's debut Sunday NYTimes crossword, which playfully pays homage to a now passé form of coinage. We'll let you mull over that cryptic hint, or, if you can't wait, simply download today's episode, where all will be revealed.
Show note imagery: One of our favorite stores, which, if you stretch it a lot, is indeed related to today's theme
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Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
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15min
August 23, 2026 Saturday, August 22, 2026 — Box Jellyfish, *Incredibly* Difficult to Sneak Up On 🪼😎
Today's crossword was, by Saturday standards, quite straightforward. But since a) Friday's crossword was a real battle royale, and b) today's clues were suitably amusing/intriguing/educational, we are not complaining, quite the contrary. Our analysis waits within, so have a listen, and, as always, please let us know what you think!
Show note imagery: A Box Jellyfish, in search of a Lens Crafters that offers quantity discounts
We love feedback! Send us a text...
Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
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10min
August 22, 2026 Friday, August 21, 2026 — It's a Proper Noun Playground! 😱
This, Adryel W. Robles Ojeda's second NYTimes crossword, was uber difficult, thanks to a plethora of relatively obscure names, abetted by some rather cryptic crosses: we loved it (as today's podcast makes clear).
As an example of the cryptic crosses, we had 29D, Diamond wear, MITT (nice one!); 49A, Especially ornate, ROCOCO (we definitely had to dredge that out of long-term storage); and 7D, Sport similar to pétanque, BOCCE (a clue that helped ...not at all 😀, which was surely the point).
tldr: this was a delightful piece of work, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.
Besides the crossword, we have a Fun Fact Friday segment which may be of particular interest to those of you suffering from, well, just about any malady at all (although remember, we are not medical doctors, and under no circumstances, whatsoever, should you listen to us as opposed to persons who are, you know, qualified 😉).
Show note imagery: The Schaezlerpalais' Festival Hall, in Augsburg: it doesn't get much more ROCOCO than this!
We love feedback! Send us a text...
Contact Info:
We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
...more
16min

FAQs about Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword:

How many episodes does Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword have?

The podcast currently has 2,144 episodes available.

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Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

FAQs about Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword:

How many episodes does Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword have?

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword episodes:

FAQs about Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword:

How many episodes does Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword have?

More shows like Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

99% Invisible