Word Bomb

Polyamory in North America is on the rise-and with it comes a plethora of brand-new words to describe how non-monogamous relationships work, like "polycule" and "compersion". Karina and Pippa talk to a polyamorous reporter and a family lawyer about this linguistic wellspring and the stumbling blocks that poly families face in Canada.

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Listen to hosts Pippa Johnstone and Karina Palmitesta in season 2 of Word Bomb. Subscribe now!

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In this episode, Karina and Pippa consider the word Native, using it to explore Canada's painful colonial past and present. They discuss the labels applied to Indigenous peoples and sit down with two Indigenous artists to talk self-identification, word choice, and the power of capitalization.

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What happens when landlords evict tenants to renovate their units and triple the rents? Bitter disputes, drawn-out court battles, fierce housing activism - and a brand-new portmanteau that's catching on so fast, it seems poised for dictionary status. Pippa and Karina discuss the phenomenon of "renoviction" in Canada and interview the word's creator.

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Girlfriend, boyfriend, S.O., bae, better half, sweetheart, beau ... what's in a name? Pippa and Karina debate and dismantle all the names you may choose to call that special someone and discuss the social utility of the word partner - and its important LGBTQ backstory.

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Pippa and Karina journey from the fifteenth century to the present day, tracing the course of a small word with an outsized impact. As singular "they" gains ground as the gender-neutral pronoun of choice for nonbinary folks, are publications and the public following suit?

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Why are people so hung up on the word "moist"? Pippa and Karina wade into the damp, the humid and the slightly wet as they dismantle English's most hated word (and repeat it enough to cure themselves of word aversion).

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TW: everything. This week, Pippa and Karina tackle the word "trigger", interviewing a PhD student, a mental health advocate and a filmmaker. Safe spaces, content warnings and "snowflakes" all feature in this exploration of the words we use when we talk about trauma.

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In our very first episode of Word Bomb, hosts Pippa Johnstone and Karina Palmitesta discuss the word "fat," bias, and the "euphemism treadmill."

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What does it mean to "doxx somebody?" Word Bomb hosts Pippa Johnstone and Karina Palmitesta delve deep into the dark history of an ever-evolving culture of online discourse.

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