Very Bad Words

By Matt Fidler

As long as there’s been language, there have been forbidden words. What gives these words their power? Why are they considered “bad”? Producer and Host, Matt Fidler, reaches out to experts, linguists,... more

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FAQs about Very Bad Words:

How many episodes does Very Bad Words have?

The podcast currently has 42 episodes available.

Very Bad Words episodes:

April 18, 2018 32: Minicast - Terms of Abuse
On this minicast, Matt talks to one of our listeners about how terms of abuse are used to dehumanize certain segments of society.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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8min
April 11, 2018 31: Cock-a-doodle-do!
There are many ways people refer to the human penis, but one word sticks out as the most vulgar. Join us as we learn about the other c-word, its complicated origins, and why it doesn’t mean the same thing to all people.
With guests:
Mark Morton, Emily Feuerherm, and Ben Westhoff

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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25min
April 04, 2018 30: Minicast - Superman is a D*ck and Batman is an A-Hole!
Matt talks to Superhero PhD, Peter Coogan about why Superman is a d*ck and a Batman is an a-hole.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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8min
March 28, 2018 29: Swearing is Good Medicine
In this episode, Matt tries to find out if a study saying that swearing has an "opiate" like effect on pain is valid. He calls in journalist Jeff Harder, doctoral Northwestern student, Jim Kloet and pain psychologist Dr. Samantha Rafie to help him figure it out. Plus, he first gets some help from Helen Zaltzmen of The Allusionist to explain a little more about the brain and pain.
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24min
March 21, 2018 28: Minicast - Matt Vists a Karate Dojo
In this Minicast, Matt goes to a Karate Dojo to chase a story about swearing and pain.
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6min
March 14, 2018 27: B!#ch is Back
Is the B-Word the “most stinging word that we use carelessly”? To explore this, the word’s history, and other questions regarding this common expletive, we talk to Shannon Dea, associate professor in philosophy and women’s studies at the University of Waterloo and BitchMedia co-founder, Andi Zeisler.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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28min
March 07, 2018 26: Minicast - Reclaiming B!#ch?
In this Minicast, Matt briefly chats with Shannon Dea about who gets to reclaim words like "slut" and the B-word.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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5min
February 28, 2018 25: Minicast - What's coming up on Very Bad Words
Matt is back after a break with a bunch of new topics around swearing and taboo language. In this Minicast, he lets you all know a little about what he has coming up for Very Bad Words.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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6min
December 13, 2017 24: Minicast - Do the Irish really swear more than the rest of us?
Matt tells a story about his foul-mouthed Irish friend and wonders what you would like to get out of the new season of Very Bad Words.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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9min
November 15, 2017 23: The Other F-Word
Matt is joined by Dan Savage, creator of "It Gets Better" and Savage Love to talk about the cultural impact and reclamation of the Fa-word. He also talks with Mark Morton, author of Dirty Words: The Story of Sex Talk, to discuss the origins of the actual word.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
26min

FAQs about Very Bad Words:

How many episodes does Very Bad Words have?

The podcast currently has 42 episodes available.

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